Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1262 - 1258: Advancement

Chu Zhiyuan shot her a fierce glare.

Li Hongzhao let out a chuckle. "The master won't boot me from the school over this... That secret technique holds no real importance; it's worthless to anyone else."

"That's pure favoritism."

"And if it is favoritism?" Li Hongzhao replied. "Am I forbidden from showing favoritism?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head. "You'll forfeit the Imperial Family's trust, particularly given your delicate position."

"I never anticipated their full trust anyway; my origins are obvious and unchangeable."

"...Avoid rash actions." Chu Zhiyuan shook his head once more. "I desire the Court to publicly grant me that secret technique."

"Backing down here will only make them more reluctant."

"If they refuse to hand it over, fine," Chu Zhiyuan grinned. "Even if they did provide the secret technique, I might not manage to cultivate it anyway."

Li Hongzhao declared, "Others could fail, but you surely won't."

"...Behold my sword." The Golden Sword flashed out from its sheath in an instant, floating right before her.

Her delicate jade hand grasped the hilt, while her left formed the sword gesture, softly stroking along the blade's edge to sense its inner essence.

Her brows arched faintly. "Its spiritual essence has grown remarkably... the more the Undying Evil Venerable assaults, the greater the gain; just spare me from it being utterly crushing."

"No such fortune exists." Chu Zhiyuan burst into laughter.

"Will you truly skip cultivating the secret technique?" Li Hongzhao swung the Golden Sword lightly, sensing its vibrant spirit.

"No necessity for it."

"Refusing to cultivate it squanders the opportunity." Li Hongzhao huffed. "No concerns over its source."

Chu Zhiyuan simply shook his head.

Li Hongzhao rolled her eyes toward him before flinging the Golden Sword back his way. "View it as my personal plea to you."

Chu Zhiyuan roared with laughter.

The Golden Sword lingered mid-air for a beat, then plunged swiftly back into its sheath.

Their dynamic was utterly bizarre—one desperate to seize the secret technique, the other desperately needing it yet stubbornly declining.

To onlookers, it appeared downright strange.

"Is Senior Song still in cultivation?"

"Indeed, the master devotes most days to cultivation, only occasionally guiding me—sigh!"

"How about a stroll outside?" Chu Zhiyuan grinned. "Confined in this Secret Land feels suffocating."

"Let's head out!" Li Hongzhao's phoenix eyes lit up with excitement.

"Onward."

Chu Zhiyuan rested his hand upon her fragrant shoulder, and the pair vanished instantly from sight.

In the next instant, they materialized on a vibrant city street teeming with life.

Li Hongzhao scanned the area with her phoenix eyes.

Crowds thronged the street, buzzing with energy and clamor.

Vendors' calls echoed from both sides, vying fiercely, shouting endlessly without yielding.

Every passerby bore a sword or blade, exuding a fierce, valiant air.

Gazing at the structures lining the way, hearing the chatter nearby, inhaling the blend of aromas, Li Hongzhao felt a dreamlike return to Da Meng.

She pivoted to Chu Zhiyuan, querying tentatively, "Is this...?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "Correct, this is Tianjing."

"The authentic Tianjing of Da Meng?" Li Hongzhao's phoenix eyes gleamed brightly. "Have we truly come back?"

"Yes, we've returned... My Earth Origin Technique has advanced further."

"Can we return there still?"

"Let's move." Chu Zhiyuan laid his hand on her fragrant shoulder again, and they blinked out of existence.

Onlookers nearby noticed absolutely nothing.

Chu Zhiyuan's spiritual power now bent their perceptions, causing them to ignore the sight entirely.

Shortly after, the duo reemerged.

Li Hongzhao gazed skyward.

Chu Zhiyuan followed her gaze upward.

High in the sky's void, the Emperor's Sword spanned the expanse, immense and awe-inspiring, resembling a coiled dragon in slumber.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced down at his Golden Sword.

He could almost see the Golden Sword bowing its head low, too intimidated to stir.

This was pure oppressive might, akin to a child before its parent.

Chu Zhiyuan inquired, "Can you still command the Emperor's Sword?"

Li Hongzhao nodded softly. "It still acknowledges me."

"Then, if you and Li Biyang wielded it together, whose orders would it heed?"

Li Hongzhao pondered briefly, shutting her phoenix eyes momentarily, then flashed a sweet smile. "At present... it obeys me."

"How so?" Chu Zhiyuan pressed. "Weren't you its original master?"

"My contributions to the throne outweigh hers." Li Hongzhao smiled lightly.

Chu Zhiyuan comprehended fully.

Li Hongzhao added, "My achievements upon the imperial seat remain etched in the world's memory, hehe, I've gained from your own prestige."

"The Emperor’s Sword, huh..." Chu Zhiyuan stared toward the Jade Dynasty's direction.

His deepest regrets included the failure to fully master the Emperor’s Sword.

Had he conquered the Emperor’s Sword, could the Golden Sword now boast greater power, even evolving into the genuine Emperor’s Sword?

Li Hongzhao chuckled, "Since you can return, do you want to reclaim the imperial throne?"

"...Forget it." Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

After all, the endeavor was utterly unattainable.

The Emperor’s Sword had rejected him entirely, since he could not linger here as Emperor.

Cultivation conditions in Little Heaven Beyond lagged far behind those at Heavenly Sword Peak, to say nothing of Outer Heaven.

Li Hongzhao abruptly thrust out her jade hand. "Give me your sword."

"Why?" Chu Zhiyuan laughed, asking, "Is there a good method?"

From the sheath at his waist, the Golden Sword flashed out swiftly, hovering right before Li Hongzhao.

Li Hongzhao seized the hilt with her right hand, her left forming the sword mudra as the blade rested softly against her brow.

The sword's ridge pressed gently to the spot between her brows.

A crimson glow gradually ignited between her brows.

As the crimson light bloomed, a phoenix flickered faintly deep inside it.

The phoenix fused into the Golden Sword, causing the blade to flush red.

Red light cloaked the sword entirely, making it seem like a longsword hewn from rouge, etched with elaborate patterns along its edge.

Those patterns loosely shaped a phoenix, swirling with the red light like the bird in mid-flight dance.

Through their bond, Chu Zhiyuan sensed the Golden Sword overflowing with curiosity and thrill.

Li Hongzhao’s spiritual power and bloodline force blended into the Golden Sword without dominating its spirit—rather, they amplified it.

The Golden Sword, perched as if astride a phoenix, was borne aloft into the heavens by the fiery bird.

Chu Zhiyuan gazed upward at the sky.

High in the empty void, the Emperor’s Sword drifted idly, its tremendous majestic aura filling the air.

Abruptly, it unleashed a surge of power.

This colossal force slammed directly into the Golden Sword, igniting it in instant brilliance.

The dazzling light erupted like a crashing sun, onlookers shouting as they shielded their eyes.

Chu Zhiyuan had already squeezed his eyes shut, his Super Sense still revealing everything clearly.

Under the torrent of this ferocious power, the Golden Sword morphed from icy clarity to gleaming pure gold.

Chu Zhiyuan probed the Golden Sword.

Drenched in blazing heat, the Golden Sword felt a strange blend of discomfort and ecstasy.

Chu Zhiyuan sensed intently, detecting that it was refining the Golden Sword.

Amid the raging power storm, the Golden Sword shed impurities, purifying itself to greater heights.

Even through the unease, it grew more translucent and feather-light.

Chu Zhiyuan grinned.

...

A quarter-hour passed before the Golden Sword’s radiance dimmed, settling back to normal.

It looked outwardly the same, like a flawless ice sculpture—crystal clear, exquisitely refined.

Internally, though, a massive shift had occurred, elevating its essence dramatically.

Li Hongzhao withdrew her jade hand, flashing him a joyful smile.

The Golden Sword lingered in the air momentarily before drifting smoothly back into his waist sheath.

Chu Zhiyuan laid his hand once more on her fragrant shoulder, and the pair vanished.

The surrounding crowd sprang up in shock, rubbing their eyes before glancing about.

That piercing light from before lingered in their minds, having nearly blinded them all.

Now, however, no pain remained; their vision was clear, nothing amiss.

As if the spectacle had been a mere ephemeral dream, nothing but illusion.

Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao appeared in his humble courtyard, taking seats by the stone table.

Li Hongzhao adeptly set about brewing tea.

Chu Zhiyuan unsheathed the Golden Sword, scrutinizing its transformations closely.

Pleasure danced in Li Hongzhao’s phoenix eyes.

Channeling the Emperor’s Sword’s might this time to spur the Golden Sword’s evolution proved highly effective.