[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-imperial-cultivation":3,"chapter-imperial-cultivation-imperial-cultivation-chapter-380":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},1054539,1365,"Chapter 380 - 377 Sword Intent","imperial-cultivation-chapter-380",380,"\u003Cp>```html\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, \"Mr. Zhu, don’t worry, the Emperor will also pretend not to know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?\" Zhu Caifu frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan said, \"This...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Caifu looked as if she was all ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt she needed to broaden her knowledge. Her martial arts were indeed excellent, but she was lacking in this area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one had explained these intricacies to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intrigue in this was quite interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let me elaborate,\" Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, \"Whether the scars are real or fake, the rumor has spread, and everyone knows that Your Highness’s face is disfigured.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At this point, if we say Your Highness’s face was never disfigured or has already been cured, do you think people will believe it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It doesn’t matter if they don’t believe it; we just need to make an appearance in public, right? Seeing is believing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, \"Mr. Zhu, you’re thinking too simply. Making a public appearance would seem too deliberate, and people would believe it even less.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Caifu frowned, \"Even seeing no scars with their own eyes, they wouldn’t believe?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t forget, there’s the Disguise Technique.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Then it really can’t be explained!\" Zhu Caifu was stunned, showing a helpless expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Great Grandmaster, she could subdue people with force, but she couldn’t change everyone’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t force them to believe, could she?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan said, \"The Emperor knows that the scars are gone and it doesn’t matter. He can guess this is a self-directed play, but through this matter, at least he knows Your Highness’s fierce temperament... This fake suicide this time, but what about next time? If it really results in a death, the arranged marriage between the two dynasties may turn into trouble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, that’s true.\" Zhu Caifu nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan said, \"Once I submit my plea for forgiveness, the Emperor will go along with it, preserving face, and we can each go our separate ways.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then... there shouldn’t be any more problems, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, \"I reckon the Emperor will soon approve my plea for forgiveness, also fearing prolonged dreams at night.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fortunately, fortunately, if we fuss any more, I really won’t be able to take it,\" Zhu Caifu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, \"As long as we cooperate on both sides, no big waves can arise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, I’m leaving then.\" Zhu Caifu nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She flickered and disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan looked towards the direction of Da Zhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything was settled on the Da Jing side, but on the Da Zhen side, things might not go so smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s best to cut through the mess quickly, handle things here, and prevent Wentian Cliff from causing any more disturbances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gradually figured out some of Wentian Cliff’s tactics and intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he didn’t want to marry the Eighteenth Princess, the more they insisted on marrying her to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What they wanted was his suppressed rage, his anger at his own helplessness, which would push him to train desperately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last two or three levels of cultivation couldn’t be rushed; using the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill would trap him at the Grandmaster Perfection Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he felt too suppressed and angry, even knowing this, he might arrogantly try hard, thus getting stuck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was just his speculation, but Wentian Cliff might actually be capable of such a plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he could think of, Wentian Cliff should be able to think of too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze once again fell on the spot where Zhu Caifu had stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Caifu was an excellent breakthrough point, the best candidate to understand the internal affairs of Wentian Cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now was not the right time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To probe the situation of Wentian Cliff, one couldn’t ask directly, but rather catch hints through interactions and subtle slips during communication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bright Moon Tower\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao leaned on the windowsill, watching the bustling crowd below through the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore the same red palace dress, her expression lazy, and her graceful figure relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Chu Zhiyuan appeared before her, her face remained as usual, with no trace of yesterday’s anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, \"Has the sword arrived?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao lazily tossed the longsword on the table to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan caught it, gently unsheathed it, and immediately frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He originally thought that once the sword was unsheathed, its Sword Intent would pour out, and he would struggle to resist it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in reality, there was no hint of Sword Intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of Great Grandmaster sword was this? It did not have any Sword Intent gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face turned gloomy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air seemed to freeze in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao gave a light cough, breaking the tension: \"What’s wrong, doesn’t it feel right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan turned to glare at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao furrowed her brows: \"I have already confirmed this sword, there’s absolutely no problem, it’s the sword of a Great Grandmaster from the Golden Saber Sect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan snorted, \"Most Great Grandmasters of the Golden Saber Sect probably also left their swords unused, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s true now, but the owner of this sword was a sword fanatic, still training even as a Great Grandmaster.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan snorted, \"It seems the sword technique of the Golden Saber Sect has no continuation at the Great Grandmaster Realm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That I don’t know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know.\" Chu Zhiyuan snorted, \"This sword...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining two-thirds of the blade was fully drawn, causing his expression to change slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao was constantly observing his expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his transition from a cold sneer to seriousness, she secretly sighed in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed this sword could indeed trick him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword technique of the Golden Saber Sect was indeed remarkable, but once reaching the Great Grandmaster level, it relied on personal cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sword Technique was just a Martial Skill, whereas the Great Grandmaster was a Realm. They should not be confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Great Grandmaster level, the pursuit was no longer Martial Skill but enhancing one’s Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even among Great Grandmasters, there were differences in Realm; Martial Skill was too insignificant for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they continued sword training as Great Grandmasters, it was hard to achieve anything significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the same across any sect for Great Grandmasters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So a Great Grandmaster’s sword was nothing special, not much different from a Grandmaster’s sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword before him was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan slowly sheathed the sword, his face solemn, faintly pale, as if suffering from a severe headache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sword was very ordinary, and the owner did not infuse Sword Intent into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, at the broken edge of the blade, there lay a strand of peculiar Sword Intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Sword Intent was hidden in the break, contained but unexpressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for his own sword intent, he might not have discovered it, nor been harmed by it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Sword Intent was like a hunter, targeting martial artists with Sword Intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Intent entered his body as if spikes were being driven into his head, causing bouts of intense pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He struggled to circulate the Heavenly Yuan Technique, allowing endless sweet rain to fall, dispelling the pain, and preventing him from passing out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Sword Intent was entirely different from that of the silver-sheathed longsword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver-sheathed longsword’s Sword Intent was fierce and domineering, felt from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Intent at the broken edge was subtle and concealed, catching one off guard once noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh,\" Li Hongzhao asked with a smile, \"why the long face? Is there something wrong with this sword?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, when he reopened them, his complexion had improved significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Li Hongzhao, \"What kind of sword is this, you’re fooling a ghost, perhaps.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is truly a Great Grandmaster’s sword!\" Li Hongzhao retorted indignantly, \"From the Golden Saber Sect’s Great Grandmaster!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan snorted, \"The sword was broken, yet the Great Grandmaster is still alive, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That Great Grandmaster is no longer around, died of natural causes, not by being killed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan said, \"The sword is broken, and the person is still alive; that is not someone who’s obsessed with swords.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The saying ’sword exists when a person exists, perished when a person perishes’ is just a saying,\" Li Hongzhao snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan said, \"This time, you deliberately fooled me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao sneered, \"Are you trying to cheat?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan frowned at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao snorted, \"If you insist on cheating, we should interact less in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, \"As if I’m begging for interactions. Alright, from now on, let’s not meet again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique was still reliant on his cultivation. Would she dare not see him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I’ll look around again, but I can’t guarantee I’ll find anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look again, and if you truly find it, there will be a hefty reward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What hefty reward?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we encounter your spies, I’ll spare their lives.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao sneered, \"Goodbye!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she stood up and left, like a flame floating away amidst the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>```\u003C\u002Fp>",1511,"2026-06-03T09:57:58.105Z","2026-06-03T09:58:02.813Z",1,"novelbin.me","5553749e97275afc0a36089a33cd617478537a0aed5b78a8b2114148a2bcb915","imperial-cultivation-chapter-381","imperial-cultivation-chapter-379",1378,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimperial-cultivation-cover.jpg"]