[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-imperial-cultivation":3,"chapter-imperial-cultivation-imperial-cultivation-chapter-372":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},1054531,1365,"Chapter 372: 369: Soft and Hard","imperial-cultivation-chapter-372",372,"\u003Cp>Chapter 372: Soft and Hard\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“`html\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan frowned at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao smiled: “Isn’t there such a possibility?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan’s fatal weakness is his fear of death. As long as this weakness is exploited, a single strike can be fatal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan said: “There’s also the possibility that the Great Grandmaster from Wentian Cliff would assassinate you and take the Eighteenth Princess as a hostage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then laughed: “To speak truthfully, it is Da Meng that Wentian Cliff hates the most, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have Mr. Su here, so Zhu Caifu can’t do anything to me,” Li Hongzhao said, “but you don’t have a Great Grandmaster with you, especially when the Eighteenth Prince enters your mansion in the future. Zhu Caifu will follow and enter your mansion and assassinate you. It’s unpredictable, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan scoffed: “Your Highness is quite vicious indeed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This move is indeed extremely sinister. It has directly planted a thorn in my heart, making me more vigilant against Zhu Caifu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao smiled brightly: “The feeling is mutual.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan stared at her beautiful face and suddenly laughed: “Don’t worry, I’m already at the Ninth Layer Heaven. By the time the Eighteenth Princess enters the mansion, I’ll be a Great Grandmaster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ninth Layer Heaven?!” Li Hongzhao’s expression changed drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right, Ninth Layer Heaven.” Chu Zhiyuan laughed heartily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao glared at him hatefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time, she was disgusted by this trick of his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having just progressed to the Sixth Layer Heaven, she originally planned to give him a taste of his own medicine and disgust him as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she still ended up disgusted by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan was overjoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time he saw her like this, it brought him immense satisfaction and joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, her progress was also astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique should be similar to the Glazed Blade Scripture in its heritage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It leads straight to beyond the Great Grandmaster, progressing rapidly towards it, far surpassing other mental methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s understandable that such a mental method is extremely picky about its inheritors in this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could only say that she is exceedingly lucky, just like him, both being darlings of the heavens, the beloved son and daughter of the old heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t get too happy. Let’s see how long you can be stuck at Grandmaster Perfection. I will soon catch up with you, surpass you, and enter the Great Grandmaster first. By then, we’ll see if you can still smile!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao stared at him coldly, watching him laugh heartily, as if watching a monkey perform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan was unaffected by her and was overjoyed: “Your Highness, you do know how to comfort yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This will become a fact.” Li Hongzhao scoffed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed and shook his head: “Think whatever you want. Isn’t it the case that every time you meet with me, you make significant progress?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He vaguely guessed the essence of the Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique is to grow more robust the more it’s challenged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more setbacks she faced in front of him, the quicker her progress, and this Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique was truly divine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao snorted: “Is this your doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed: “We are simply fulfilling each other’s needs. By the way, does your Da Meng have a blade used by a Great Grandmaster?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.” Li Hongzhao responded without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan said: “Your Da Meng’s sword technique is exceptionally strong; the Golden Saber Sect is quite famous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think I would give it to you?” Li Hongzhao sneered, curling her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan chuckled: “How about if we trade it for the Linglong Bookstore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You want to seal the Linglong Bookstore?” Li Hongzhao curled her lips coldly: “Do you think you have that capability? Do you know who is behind the Linglong Bookstore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thirteenth Uncle?” Chu Zhiyuan smiled as he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew there was a problem with the Linglong Bookstore, so he had looked into it carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, he thought it was secretly built by Da Meng, and it had a strong backer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the backer was hidden, it couldn’t escape the Inspection Department; he found out that the Thirteenth Prince, Prince Huai, was involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who was also the father of Chu Zhichuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for being Chu Zhichuan’s father, he wouldn’t have had any means to deal with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would break a major taboo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it were other princely heirs’ industries, he couldn’t act on it randomly, let alone a prince’s, as it would be a higher-level crime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were to act, he would be the target of scorn. Not only would the entire Imperial Family see him as a traitor, but so would the Court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao stared at him closely, with a trace of a cold smile at her red lips, sneering: “Dare you seal? Then I would see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed: “Actually, I don’t need to act myself. All I need to do is ask the Tenth Brother for help to investigate Linglong Bookstore thoroughly and even clean it up comprehensively, replacing everyone up and down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao frowned slightly, sneering: “The Tenth Princely Heir is not a fool.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed: “I have a deep brotherhood with the Tenth Brother. If I ask for a favor, he will agree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhichuan, and Chu Zhitian loved drinking and visiting Linglong Bookstore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he knew that the Linglong Bookstore was an industry owned by his family, he would undoubtedly be very unhappy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d feel that as a prince, having a hand in such an industry would be disgraceful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I ask him to thoroughly clean the Linglong Bookstore and remove Da Meng’s spies, Chu Zhichuan wouldn’t refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao leaned back lazily against the chair, indifferent: “Then go ahead and clean up the Linglong Bookstore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed: “Your Highness, it seems you are afraid; after all, there are indeed quite a few spies in Linglong Bookstore, and they hold very high positions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao gritted her teeth but maintained a calm demeanor: “Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan said: “It seems Your Highness does not plan to protect these spies; then, let’s forget about it… Isn’t it time to serve the food?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You still want to eat?!” Li Hongzhao scoffed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed: “Since I’m already here and Your Highness has extended the invitation, how can I refuse?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao let out a breath and called out: “Serve the food.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” the voice came from what seemed like a great distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soundproofing of this room was excellent, and no sound from outside could penetrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, a table full of delectable dishes was laid out, rich in color, aroma, and taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Various enticing fragrances wafted around the room, mingling and overpowering the gentle fragrance she emitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan raised his cup, clinked it with hers, and drained it in one go: “When reaching the Grandmaster Realm, one often abandons weapons. The Great Grandmasters of the Golden Saber Sect are the same, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.” Li Hongzhao huffed: “You want a weapon used by a Great Grandmaster, aren’t you just looking for trouble? What Great Grandmaster still has weapons, especially blades?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Golden Saber Sect doesn’t have any?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s unlikely they do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wuxiang Sect might have, or the Praying Spirit Sect, or your Phoenix Sword Sect,” Chu Zhiyuan said: “I’m practicing a sword technique and need a blade used by a Great Grandmaster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What sword technique requires a Great Grandmaster’s blade?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To comprehend the Sword Intent on a Great Grandmaster’s blade and thereby condense my own Sword Intent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your flying knife is enough. It might be better to invest the time in improving your realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Skill almost reaches the Dao; sword technique also informs the realm,” Chu Zhiyuan said: “Endlessly focusing on mental method advancement may not be the shortcut.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao was pensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew Chu Zhiyuan’s understanding was exceptionally high, and his rapid cultivation progress was not due to luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were luck, he couldn’t have reached Grandmaster Ninth Layer in one leap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never lied, and all he said was genuine and true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skill nearly reaches the Dao; would practicing swordsmanship aid in increasing cultivation speed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is worth a try, taking some time to practice the Phoenix Sword Technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several cups of wine and feeling sated, Li Hongzhao stood up as she was about to leave and said: “Fine, I’ll try to see if I can find a Great Grandmaster’s blade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands and smiled: “Then thank you, Your Highness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be careful of the Eighteenth Princess,” Li Hongzhao huffed: “She is not as gentle as she seems; don’t actually fall victim to her assassination; that would make me die of laughter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan smiled and clasped his hands again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao curled her lips and left Bright Moon Tower under the escort of the Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“`\u003C\u002Fp>",1485,"2026-06-03T09:57:58.105Z","2026-06-14T10:33:17.214Z",1,"novelbin.me","0920e7502531c5b16dc570f6ec9fc22cb7e3573e1a5d82d86b093bd74be56436","imperial-cultivation-chapter-373","imperial-cultivation-chapter-371",1378,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimperial-cultivation-cover.jpg"]