Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 273 - 270: Harvest

"So we’re leaving empty-handed this time?"

Li Hongzhao surveyed the surroundings and shook her head helplessly, "It’s really as clean as a whistle. Miss Song, your junior brother Cheng really has quite the talent."

She glanced at Chu Zhiyuan, "So stingy, just like the Princely Heir."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "If it were you, you’d do the same. Take everything you can. Why leave anything for those who come after?"

"Sigh..." Li Hongzhao felt dejected.

An exhausting and fruitless effort that ended up being all for nothing, gaining nothing at the end.

And she had to give up a lifesaving favor in the process.

Still, borrowing the Detoxification Pearl to clear her vicinity was one of the gains.

It’s something she could console herself with.

Chu Zhiyuan examined the transparent tombstone, reaching out to touch and feel its internal material.

There were no patterns left inside it.

This was the biggest difference compared to the White Tripod.

Could it be possible to imprint some patterns into it?

Unfortunately, not knowing how the patterns inside the White Tripod were imprinted, if a method could be found, then more storage bags could be made?

Perhaps even in different shapes.

The White Tripod made him think of the Yuding Sect; if it could be made into the shape of a sword or bracelet, it would be more acceptable.

Li Hongzhao huffed, "Since there’s only this left, let’s split it into four parts, one for each."

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her.

Li Hongzhao smiled cheerfully, "Seeing your look, I know this is a good item."

"It’s a good item, but you can’t use it."

"Even if it’s useless to me, a good item shouldn’t be greedily kept by one person, right?"

"...Alright." Chu Zhiyuan relented, "You split it, then, if you can figure out a way."

Li Hongzhao, unwilling to concede, drew her sword to cleave it open.

The Phoenix Divine Sword she wielded was not an ordinary Treasure Sword but a Breaking Gang Divine Weapon, with even stronger power when used with the Phoenix Sword Technique.

Capable of cutting through any Gang Qi, even any hard object.

"Ding..."

"Ding..."

The clear sound was melodious and pleasant to the ear.

Having failed at the first attempt, she unsparingly swung for a second strike, her sword blazing deep purple, intimidating with heat.

The result was still the same after the second cut, with the blade unable to break the tombstone.

Li Hongzhao glared at it furiously.

Xu Yingying laughed, "An Outer Heaven Strange Stone, you need an Outer Heaven Weapon for that."

Li Hongzhao turned to Xu Yingying, "Sister Xu, do you have an Outer Heaven Weapon?"

"Hehe, I happen to have one." Xu Yingying took out a delicate dagger from her sleeve.

The dagger with its sheath was only palm-length, and the sheath was lavish and grand, embedded with many small gems, sparkling brilliantly.

Seeing this, Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but grin.

This kind of luxury wasn’t something a martial artist would design, not conducive to storage or use.

Daggers are usually used in secret, not brandished openly, otherwise, their power diminishes greatly.

It should be used in surprise during crucial moments to exhibit its strength.

Such opulence moved away from the proper use of a dagger, clearly showing the hand of an outsider.

Xu Yingying held the dagger sheath with her fair and soft hand and pulled out the dagger.

Yet the dagger was simple and unadorned, like ordinary iron, neither shiny nor exuding coldness.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at it, his Super Sense Insight having already permeated its innermost.

The dagger appeared ordinary, but its internal structure was entirely different from usual divine weapons.

It was a completely unique construction.

"Let me do the division," Xu Yingying said as she lightly traced the dagger on the tombstone, cutting a cross.

Like a knife through butter, it passed through without hindrance, splitting the tombstone into four pieces, equal in size with smooth cuts like a mirror.

Xu Yingying, full of pride, waved the dagger, making a "sizzle" sound in the air.

It seemed as if the void was carved with cracks.

Chu Zhiyuan praised, "Great knife!"

Xu Yingying beamed, "It’s also from a Secret Land, best used for cutting meat without getting oily."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Not getting oily means less cleaning, and it doesn’t retain odors. That’s indeed good."

"Shouldn’t it be used for killing?" Li Hongzhao huffed.

Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Yingying both cast disapproving glances at her, blaming her for ruining the elegance.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "You see? This Princess only knows killing, not how to enjoy the beauty of the world."

Xu Yingying joked, "Because she’s ambitious... I’ll take one piece then."

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "What will you do with it?"

Xu Yingying whispered, "Carve a little trinket."

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at Li Hongzhao and them, then asked secretly via Sound Transmission into Secret, "What?"

"Carve a little deer." Xu Yingying leaned close to his ear, using Sound Transmission into Secret, "My Dharma Form is a spiritual deer; carving a little deer out of this may strengthen the Dharma Form."

Chu Zhiyuan responded with an "Oh."

Could there really be a method to enhance the Dharma Form?

Could she also see her own Dharma Form?

It surely wasn’t Super Sense, so it must be a unique Cultivation Technique. Xu Yingying truly seemed to know everything.

She continued, moving her cherry-like mouth and said via Sound Transmission into Secret, "This method to enhance the Dharma Form is the Replenishing God Method. It’s key to stepping into the realm of Great Grandmaster. Do you want to learn?"

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her amused.

Xu Yingying laughed, "This method is too difficult; I can’t fully comprehend it. The master said your comprehension surpasses mine. How about we study it together?"

"That would be great."

"Then next time you come over, we’ll study together."

"Alright."

They smiled at each other, reaching an agreement of cooperation.

Li Hongzhao watched, pouting, then bent to pick up a piece of transparent stone, "Alright, shall we go?"

Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Yingying ended their Sound Transmission into Secret and each picked up a piece of transparent stone.

Li Yilong also picked up a piece.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "This adventure was a complete success, so let’s head back to our respective homes."

Li Hongzhao huffed in response.

She didn’t feel it was a success at all.

Xu Yingying picked up a piece of stone and joyfully exclaimed, "Then I’ll leave first, master."

Xu Suying nodded toward Huang Cheng and Chu Zhiyuan, without looking at Su Qiuyan, she took Xu Yingying’s small hand and vanished in a flash.

Song Yichun and Li Yilong bid farewell.

They were going back to report on this visit, especially to verify the matter concerning Junior Brother Cheng.

Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao walked side by side out of the cave.

Standing at the cave entrance, the strong wind blew against them, causing her jet-black hair to flutter and a few strands to blow up, adding to her charm.

Her robe billowed, her graceful curves exposed, her phoenix eyes sparkling, glancing sidelong at Chu Zhiyuan, "Aren’t you Xiao Meimei’s husband?"

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "You have such a petty mind. Yingying has no distractions, no personal feelings, yet you insist on thinking otherwise."

Li Hongzhao curled her fiery-red lips, "Men are all the same, not a single good thing among them."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "There aren’t two people the same in the world."

"All equally lustful and greedy." Li Hongzhao huffed, "You’re no different!"

Chu Zhiyuan laughed heartily, "If I were really like that, I’d have long harbored fantasies about you, like Brother Cheng does."

"Don’t mention that guy!" Li Hongzhao immediately huffed, "Let’s get going, and use Qinggong to head back directly."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

The two of them leaped up the cliffside, then darted through the pine forest, heading off into the distance.

Huang Cheng and Su Qiuyan had already disappeared, hiding in the darkness.

...

Chu Zhiyuan returned to the Prince Mansion with a piece of transparent stone, only to hear news: Chu Zhitian was gravely injured and in critical condition.

Chu Zhiyuan’s expression changed, and without bothering to change clothes, he turned and left, heading straight to the Prince Ying Mansion.

The guards at the Prince Ying Mansion were the Chasing Wind Cavalry. Seeing him arrive, they stepped aside, and the gatekeeper opened the door while running inside to report it.

Chu Zhiyuan went directly to the front hall, not waiting for anyone to greet him, and proceeded straight to Chu Zhitian’s Zhi Ge Courtyard.