Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 240 - 237 Income

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Li Hongzhao sheathed her sword and stood still.

She stared in shock at Xu Gujian, who stood there with his eyes and heart pierced through by bloody holes, blood still spraying out.

Chu Zhiyuan took a few steps back.

This Xu Gujian was extremely formidable, but his instincts weren’t sharp enough to guard against my Heart Inquiry Saber Skill and Sword Control Technique.

No wonder it’s linked to the power of the soul, a Miracle Technique with a hint of the Great Grandmaster’s shadow.

The power was immensely overwhelming.

Xu Gujian couldn’t hold on until he performed the Jade and Stone Burning move, and eventually perished.

His brain had been shattered by the Flying Knife Gang Qi that entered through the eye socket.

He could fend off the Breaking Gang Divine Weapon because the Gang Qi was peculiar.

But this Gang Qi couldn’t protect the chief part, and inside the head, it was even more defenseless.

"Ahem." Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward a few paces, coming beside Li Hongzhao and asked, "He’s dead, right?"

"Yeah." Li Hongzhao looked at Xu Gujian’s corpse, her expression complex.

This person, who she had tried so hard but couldn’t overcome, was killed so effortlessly.

Died not in a blaze of glory, but was kind of too casual about it.

With a tint of frustration.

She felt embarrassed for him.

Killed before he even got a chance to fight Chu Zhiyuan; taken down in a single blow.

As a True Disciple, Xu Gujian carried many of the Fearless Sect’s Miracle Techniques, yet had no chance to use them.

Died no differently than any ordinary Secret Shadow Sect disciple.

Perhaps, in front of Chu Zhiyuan’s flying knife, everyone in a lower realm than him is the same—a single strike is all it takes.

...

"Ahem," Chu Zhiyuan broke the silence with a laugh, "This can’t be counted in the overall score, can it?"

Li Hongzhao turned her head and glared at him, giving him a fierce look.

The grand image that had just surged in her heart was instantly shattered.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "If we count this, then that would be too unscrupulous."

Li Hongzhao said angrily, "Why not count it? Wasn’t he an Evil Sect demon who broke into Taizhou? ... You still want to renege?!"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "You are really not giving an ounce of humanity."

Li Hongzhao snorted, "Who needs humanity with a shameless man like you!"

"I shouldn’t have been so hasty to strike just now," Chu Zhiyuan laughed. "Let’s see what other tricks he could pull."

"Besides the Fearless True Body, there’s the Fearless Fist, which is extremely powerful too."

"Anything else?"

"Heartless Finger, also very powerful."

"No treasure?" Chu Zhiyuan pursed his lips.

Zou Fang stepped forward.

With two swift motions, the clothes were sliced open.

The scattered pouches and books fell down but were directly swept into his sleeve with a flick.

Then he retreated behind Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "I’ll gladly accept these."

Li Hongzhao curled her lips in disdain, "Chu Zhiyuan, you’re... truly a stingy man!"

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "What Her Highness says is true, I’m timid like a mouse, I’m stingy and miserly... but I am Seventh Layer Heaven."

"... I’ll take the corpse to offer it at my junior sister’s grave."

"Take it then." Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand generously.

Li Hongzhao snorted, "Let’s go, see how well they’ve fared."

Guards naturally took Xu Gujian’s blood-soaked corpse away.

——

Chu Zhiyuan waited idly, watching as teams of Military Suppression Department experts returned.

Each was excited and high-spirited.

Each held a corpse in hand.

"Your Highness, we really must thank you, otherwise, this time we would’ve been done for!"

A Military Suppression Department expert tossed two corpses on the ground, stepped forward, and cupped his fists to thank Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Mr. Zheng, no need to be so polite."

He could remember the names of more than a hundred Military Suppression Department experts.

"If not for remembering that expression, this little life of mine would’ve been lost today." Zheng Feng from White Cloud Sword Palace said solemnly, "Your Highness, no words to thank such a great favor."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "You exaggerate, Mr. Zheng had quite the harvest this time."

"Heh, slaughtered four demons, but one used Jade and Stone Burning, couldn’t retrieve the corpse, such a pity."

"Be grateful for saving your own life, that’s good fortune enough," Chu Zhiyuan laughed.

"Exactly, exactly." Zheng Feng nodded hurriedly.

He still felt a chill in his heart.

A "boom" roared, blood mist exploded and instantly covered a ten-meter range.

If he hadn’t sensed something wrong ahead of time and retreated one step back, he wouldn’t have escaped the red mist, been dead on the spot.

All thanks owed to Chu Zhiyuan’s reminder and aid.

From now on, facing Evil Sect experts, he had no fear, could go all out.

This would completely change the fate of these hundred men.

As Military Suppression Department experts returned, all with their gains, many went to thank Chu Zhiyuan.

It proved that Chu Zhiyuan’s mimicked expressions were precise, etched in their minds, they retreated immediately upon seeing it, avoiding Jade and Stone Burning.

And as they all came back, more than a hundred Military Suppression Department experts were intact, none lost.

And each had gains, the whole atmosphere was relaxed and lively, imagining how many merits they could exchange for.

Li Hongzhao personally came forward to check, how many Grandmasters, how many Innates, and ten-plus Postnatal Realms.

After counting, the Auditing Department’s officials checked again with clerks who entered the city with the Military Suppression Department, confirming there were no mistakes.

Then they buried the bodies and returned to the city.

The two rode side by side on horses back to the city, Li Hongzhao clearly in a great mood.

Having avenged a great enemy, Xu Gujian’s death, and calculating how many prisoners they could trade.

"Chu Zhiyuan, you better not renege, don’t use some old sick ones to fob off!"

"Your Highness, the old and the sick, are they not Da Meng people?"

"You..." Li Hongzhao knew he would pull this trick, glaring at him, "What did you promise back then?"

"All young and strong is impossible, of course not all old and sick, let’s say half and half."

"Ten for one."

"Ten old and sick?"

"Chu Zhiyuan!" Li Hongzhao snorted, "Don’t forget the Phoenix Immortal Pill is still in my hands!"

"Your Highness, if you do this, there can be no further cooperation!"

"Humph, what cooperation is there to talk about?"

"Seems like no interest in exchanging prisoners anymore, then forget about it."

"... Alright, then half and half."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

"By the way, Your Highness, have you ever considered peace talks between Da Jing and Da Meng?"

"Heh, what do you think?"

"Not now, in the future it won’t be so easy."

"Haha!" Li Hongzhao laughed coldly, curling her lips, completely disdainful.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled with narrowed eyes, looking north.

At this moment in the Northern Territory, Uncle Ten should have established more achievements, right? With the Thunder Spear Formation’s power well activated, surely achieving wonders.

Killing another one or two chiliarches wouldn’t be hard.

——

After returning to Yujing, for the remaining prisoner exchange matters, Chu Zhiyuan did not handle it personally, transferring it to the Ministry of War.

The Ministry of War would select Da Meng prisoners to be sent to the Northern Territory, and returned to the Da Meng army.

After returning to the capital, Cheng Tianfeng and his group had quietly left.

With the departure of the Da Zhen Mission, the number of Martial Arts experts in Yujing City quickly dwindled.

The Martial Arts experts were somewhat disheartened.

Da Jing ultimately negotiated with Da Zhen, reaching a complete reconciliation, even planning a marriage alliance.

The only consolation was not sending a princess over there, but instead, marrying a princess from Da Zhen, considered a gain.

Even so, they were still dissatisfied, feeling Da Jing acted too weakly and shouldn’t have negotiated with Da Zhen; they should’ve defeated Da Zhen completely.

Chu Zhiyuan, while eating at a restaurant, heard these discussions and felt helpless at heart.

Ordinary people always imagined Da Jing to be too strong.

It’s no wonder.

The Court always hid unfavorable news, only sharing good news, reports of joy without reports of sorrow.

Regarding such phenomena, Chu Zhiyuan said nothing further, not in a position to manage the affairs of state.

Habit formed over many years, with too many interests at stake up and down.

——

Listening Waves Pavilion

He sat cross-legged on the bed, examining a Jade Pendant before him.

It was a Jade Pendant obtained from Xu Gujian.

The other items on Xu Gujian didn’t catch his eye, Spirit Pills and elixirs, all of low grade.

A martial arts manual, in his view, was ordinary too, far less than the Great Heavenly Dragon Fist, not worth cultivating.

Only this ancient Jade Pendant seemed unearthed from a tomb, stained with a blood hue.

Yet it contained spirit light, not allowing itself to be Insight.

He had been studying it for quite some time.

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