Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1712: Unrestricted
Previously on Imperial Cultivation...
Huang Zhengyang’s actions are fraught with immense risk.
Helping him without first reporting to the Court could lead to suspicions of disloyalty from the Court.
Once suspicion arises, further promotions are out of the question, and he may even gradually face demotion instead.
Huang Zhengyang’s unwavering decision stems from recognizing his strong desire to accomplish this, and he wants to lend a hand, an act of loyalty.
Huang Zhengyang said, “Brother Chu, wait a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Chu Zhiyuan nodded.
After Huang Zhengyang left, he quickly returned with a square purple lacquer box.
The box was one meter square, completely sealed without a single gap, simple yet expertly crafted.
He unlocked the copper lock, lifted the lid, and reached out with a smile: “Brother Chu, inside here is a rundown of the Evil Sect’s activities over the past month. Take a look.”
Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward.
Inside the box were six stacks of dossiers, which he bent down to take out one by one and examined thoroughly.
The dossiers detailed the geographical locations, terrain, number of disciples within the sect, and the number of experts at each Realm within various Evil Sects.
With this information, one could target them accurately, combined with personal cultivation prowess, and effortlessly eradicate the Evil Sect.
Going through the dossiers, he quickly memorized their contents in his mind.
“Brother Huang, it’s settled, leave the rest to me!”
“Do you not need me to gather experts for assistance?”
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: “If you mobilize experts, wouldn’t it put you in trouble? Brother Huang, what you’ve done is already enough!”
Huang Zhengyang frowned: “Since I’ve already taken these steps, it wouldn’t hurt to ensure we completely eradicate them.”
Chu Zhiyuan replied: “If you mobilize forces, it will expose our plan.”
“…that’s true.” Huang Zhengyang sighed.
The Evil Extermination Department is not a monolith, with many ears belonging to other factions.
Including those of the Evil Sect.
Chu Zhiyuan laughed: “Brother Huang, just pretend you know nothing. I was never here today.”
“Haha…” Huang Zhengyang laughed, “Turns out, Brother Chu, you were prepared all along.”
This time, Chu Zhiyuan did not appear at the Evil Extermination Department; he suddenly appeared in his own small courtyard.
No outsider saw him; only he knew of his appearance.
Chu Zhiyuan said: “Once the Evil Sect of our Biyuan Heaven is eradicated, we’ll discuss other matters. As for the Court, by the time they react, it’s already too late, and they’ll have no choice but to commend me.”
Huang Zhengyang said: “By the way, the Court has agreed to grant you a mountain range.”
Chu Zhiyuan replied: “Where?”
Huang Zhengyang said: “They plan to bestow upon you the Qinglian Sea Mountain Range where your Heavenly Sword Peak resides. If you agree, the Court will issue a decree.”
“Qinglian Sea Mountain Range…” Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, “Isn’t this a bit excessive?”
The Qinglian Sea Mountain Range is a vast and expansive mountain range.
But the Qinglian Sea Mountain Range is also uninhabited, filled with Demon Beasts.
Otherwise, Heavenly Sword Peak wouldn’t have chosen this location.
By bestowing such a barren mountain range, the Court clearly lacks sincerity.
“Brother Chu, it’s still something, right?” Huang Zhengyang said: “There is no precedent like this from the Court.”
Chu Zhiyuan said: “No precedent for granting mountains to people in Martial Arts?”
Huang Zhengyang nodded: “Previously, any grants were given only to Court high officials, never to outsiders.”
Chu Zhiyuan snorted: “Based on my merits, aren’t I worthy of being granted a mountain near the Imperial City?”
“Difficult,” Huang Zhengyang shook his head: “Near the Imperial City, Court officials wouldn’t feel comfortable.”
Chu Zhiyuan snorted: “When they need me, they’d rather have me right in the Imperial City, and when granting rewards, they’d rather send me as far away as possible, never to be seen again.”
Huang Zhengyang smiled wryly: “Those Court officials indeed lack integrity.”
Their excessive apprehension towards various Martial Arts sects, especially the Four Great Sects, puzzled him.
They were far too cautious.
Even with the Four Holy Veins, four Princes, and numerous tributes, why such apprehension towards the Four Great Sects?
Chu Zhiyuan said: “Since the Court lacks sincerity, let’s forget it.”
“Brother Chu, it is a grant after all. Why not take it?”
“What use is the Qinglian Sea? How should the sect manage it?”
“…Alas!”
“The Court is intentionally vexing me!” Chu Zhiyuan remarked indignantly, “It seems they have no use for me and don’t need Divine Blood.”
Huang Zhengyang hurriedly asked: “Did you find Divine Blood, Brother Chu?”
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.
He didn’t reveal if he had found it, merely shaking his head.
The gesture meant that even if he found it, he wouldn’t hand it to the Court, not that it wasn’t found.
But he wouldn’t explain this to Huang Zhengyang.
Huang Zhengyang sighed: “It’s natural not to find it.”
Chu Zhiyuan said: “If the Court acts this way, then forget it. I’m not interested in entering the Divine Domain; I’ll focus on eliminating the Evil Sect first.”
Huang Zhengyang shook his head and stayed silent, not persuading further.
The Court indeed acted without integrity, asking Brother Chu to exert effort in finding Divine Blood while behaving this way.
The repeated hurt they caused Brother Chu had long cooled his heart.
After countless help only to be repaid in such ways, it was understandable for Brother Chu to feel disheartened and no longer offer assistance.
Helping further would not only not earn the Court’s gratitude but make them think Brother Chu is easy to manipulate.
It’s time to show some strength, after all, he is the Spirit Venerable.
“Alright, let’s eliminate the Evil Sect first!” Huang Zhengyang solemnly stated: “I’ll find a way to keep it under wraps.”
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: “Brother Huang, don’t go out of your way to hide it, instead, inform them ahead about my unusual actions. By then, the Court will be too late to prevent me.”
“This…” Huang Zhengyang hesitated.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled: “Brother Huang, you won’t be implicated by me, and I’ll feel at ease.”
“It won’t hinder you?” Huang Zhengyang questioned: “What if the Court immediately orders a prohibition, will you comply, Brother Chu?”
“I’ll avoid the Court.” Chu Zhiyuan smiled: “Let them be unable to locate me.”
“What if the Court orders the Heavenly Sword Branch and Heavenly Sword Sect?”
“As Spirit Venerable, I don’t need to obey sect orders. Even if the Court knows I’m doing it intentionally, let them show their hand.”
“They’ll suppress the Heavenly Sword Sect.” Huang Zhengyang said.
Chu Zhiyuan laughed: “I trust the Heavenly Sword Sect can withstand it.”
Huang Zhengyang looked at Chu Zhiyuan with doubt.
Chu Zhiyuan laughed: “The Heavenly Sword Sect isn’t that weak; I can’t keep being threatened by the Court.”
“If they truly wish to suppress the Heavenly Sword Sect…”
“Then let them,” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and laughed: “With or without me, the Heavenly Sword Sect would still be suppressed by the Court.”
“This…” Huang Zhengyang was stunned.
Chu Zhiyuan laughed: “After the Evil Sect is gone, won’t the Court change its target to the Four Great Sects?”
“…Hard to say.” Huang Zhengyang smiled wryly.
He found Chu Zhiyuan’s words reasonable.
Once the Court loses the Evil Sect as a target, they will indeed seek another, with the Four Great Sects being the best option.
Chu Zhiyuan said: “Given this, why concern ourselves with the Court? They wouldn’t go too far and provoke our sect.”
“Sigh…” Huang Zhengyang shook his head.
Chu Zhiyuan said: “Brother Huang, caught in the middle, it’s tough. You might as well switch to another position sooner rather than later.”
Huang Zhengyang nodded: “If the Court truly acts like this, I’ll change positions.”
He didn’t want to be an enemy of Chu Zhiyuan nor could defy the Court’s decree, so he could only relocate.
In the following three days, reports of each Evil Sect’s demise spread.
The news spread swiftly.
Not only in the Imperial City, but in all the major prosperous cities of Biyuan Heaven, word spread of the Heavenly Sword Sect’s Chu Zhiyuan’s intent to annihilate all Evil Sects.
Initially, people were skeptical.
But as one after another, Evil Sects were eradicated, they began to believe and gradually grew excited.