[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-imperial-cultivation":3,"chapter-imperial-cultivation-imperial-cultivation-chapter-240":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Imperial Cultivation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1054649,1365,"Chapter 240: 237 Income","imperial-cultivation-chapter-240",240,"\u003Cp>Chapter 240: Chapter 237 Income\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“`html\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao sheathed her sword and stood still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared in shock at Xu Gujian, who stood there with his eyes and heart pierced through by bloody holes, blood still spraying out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan took a few steps back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder it’s linked to the power of the soul, a Miracle Technique with a hint of the Great Grandmaster’s shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power was immensely overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Gujian couldn’t hold on until he performed the Jade and Stone Burning move, and eventually perished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brain had been shattered by the Flying Knife Gang Qi that entered through the eye socket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could fend off the Breaking Gang Divine Weapon because the Gang Qi was peculiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this Gang Qi couldn’t protect the chief part, and inside the head, it was even more defenseless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem.” Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward a few paces, coming beside Li Hongzhao and asked, “He’s dead, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.” Li Hongzhao looked at Xu Gujian’s corpse, her expression complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This person, who she had tried so hard but couldn’t overcome, was killed so effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Died not in a blaze of glory, but was kind of too casual about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a tint of frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt embarrassed for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killed before he even got a chance to fight Chu Zhiyuan; taken down in a single blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a True Disciple, Xu Gujian carried many of the Fearless Sect’s Miracle Techniques, yet had no chance to use them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Died no differently than any ordinary Secret Shadow Sect disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem,” Chu Zhiyuan broke the silence with a laugh, “This can’t be counted in the overall score, can it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao turned her head and glared at him, giving him a fierce look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grand image that had just surged in her heart was instantly shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed, “If we count this, then that would be too unscrupulous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao said angrily, “Why not count it? Wasn’t he an Evil Sect demon who broke into Taizhou? … You still want to renege?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan said, “You are really not giving an ounce of humanity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao snorted, “Who needs humanity with a shameless man like you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I shouldn’t have been so hasty to strike just now,” Chu Zhiyuan laughed. “Let’s see what other tricks he could pull.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides the Fearless True Body, there’s the Fearless Fist, which is extremely powerful too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heartless Finger, also very powerful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No treasure?” Chu Zhiyuan pursed his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zou Fang stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With two swift motions, the clothes were sliced open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scattered pouches and books fell down but were directly swept into his sleeve with a flick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he retreated behind Chu Zhiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed, “I’ll gladly accept these.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao curled her lips in disdain, “Chu Zhiyuan, you’re… truly a stingy man!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… I’ll take the corpse to offer it at my junior sister’s grave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take it then.” Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand generously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao snorted, “Let’s go, see how well they’ve fared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guards naturally took Xu Gujian’s blood-soaked corpse away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan waited idly, watching as teams of Military Suppression Department experts returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each was excited and high-spirited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each held a corpse in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, we really must thank you, otherwise, this time we would’ve been done for!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Military Suppression Department expert tossed two corpses on the ground, stepped forward, and cupped his fists to thank Chu Zhiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan smiled, “Mr. Zheng, no need to be so polite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could remember the names of more than a hundred Military Suppression Department experts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed, “You exaggerate, Mr. Zheng had quite the harvest this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, slaughtered four demons, but one used Jade and Stone Burning, couldn’t retrieve the corpse, such a pity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be grateful for saving your own life, that’s good fortune enough,” Chu Zhiyuan laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly, exactly.” Zheng Feng nodded hurriedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still felt a chill in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A “boom” roared, blood mist exploded and instantly covered a ten-meter range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All thanks owed to Chu Zhiyuan’s reminder and aid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From now on, facing Evil Sect experts, he had no fear, could go all out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would completely change the fate of these hundred men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Military Suppression Department experts returned, all with their gains, many went to thank Chu Zhiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as they all came back, more than a hundred Military Suppression Department experts were intact, none lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And each had gains, the whole atmosphere was relaxed and lively, imagining how many merits they could exchange for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao personally came forward to check, how many Grandmasters, how many Innates, and ten-plus Postnatal Realms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then they buried the bodies and returned to the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two rode side by side on horses back to the city, Li Hongzhao clearly in a great mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having avenged a great enemy, Xu Gujian’s death, and calculating how many prisoners they could trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chu Zhiyuan, you better not renege, don’t use some old sick ones to fob off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, the old and the sick, are they not Da Meng people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…” Li Hongzhao knew he would pull this trick, glaring at him, “What did you promise back then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All young and strong is impossible, of course not all old and sick, let’s say half and half.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten for one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten old and sick?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chu Zhiyuan!” Li Hongzhao snorted, “Don’t forget the Phoenix Immortal Pill is still in my hands!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, if you do this, there can be no further cooperation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Humph, what cooperation is there to talk about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seems like no interest in exchanging prisoners anymore, then forget about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… Alright, then half and half.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, Your Highness, have you ever considered peace talks between Da Jing and Da Meng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, what do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not now, in the future it won’t be so easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha!” Li Hongzhao laughed coldly, curling her lips, completely disdainful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan smiled with narrowed eyes, looking north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing another one or two chiliarches wouldn’t be hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning to Yujing, for the remaining prisoner exchange matters, Chu Zhiyuan did not handle it personally, transferring it to the Ministry of War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ministry of War would select Da Meng prisoners to be sent to the Northern Territory, and returned to the Da Meng army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning to the capital, Cheng Tianfeng and his group had quietly left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the departure of the Da Zhen Mission, the number of Martial Arts experts in Yujing City quickly dwindled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Martial Arts experts were somewhat disheartened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Jing ultimately negotiated with Da Zhen, reaching a complete reconciliation, even planning a marriage alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only consolation was not sending a princess over there, but instead, marrying a princess from Da Zhen, considered a gain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan, while eating at a restaurant, heard these discussions and felt helpless at heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary people always imagined Da Jing to be too strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s no wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Court always hid unfavorable news, only sharing good news, reports of joy without reports of sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding such phenomena, Chu Zhiyuan said nothing further, not in a position to manage the affairs of state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Habit formed over many years, with too many interests at stake up and down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening Waves Pavilion\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat cross-legged on the bed, examining a Jade Pendant before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a Jade Pendant obtained from Xu Gujian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other items on Xu Gujian didn’t catch his eye, Spirit Pills and elixirs, all of low grade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A martial arts manual, in his view, was ordinary too, far less than the Great Heavenly Dragon Fist, not worth cultivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only this ancient Jade Pendant seemed unearthed from a tomb, stained with a blood hue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it contained spirit light, not allowing itself to be Insight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been studying it for quite some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“`\u003C\u002Fp>",1533,"2026-06-03T09:57:58.105Z","2026-06-03T09:58:02.812Z",1,"novelbin.me","9ca079a5daea5bb1e8362882f698d3aa695066402ac3b89c2dd2a1203f0a74bb","imperial-cultivation-chapter-241","imperial-cultivation-chapter-239",1378,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimperial-cultivation-cover.jpg"]