Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1396 - 1392: The Future

This tavern stands towering, three stories high but over thirty meters.

The wine flag flutters in the high sky, the three large golden characters "Hongtu Building" shimmering brilliantly.

Originally supposed to be bustling, the tavern is now cold and deserted with no one around.

The surrounding two taverns are similarly cold and deserted, forming a strong contrast to the distant clamor.

Ultimately, it is because the City Guards have formed a barricade, preventing people from entering.

When Chu Zhiyuan and Huang Zhengyang arrived, they were also blocked outside by the City Guards.

Huang Zhengyang took out a token, was then allowed in, and entered the front of the tavern.

Chu Zhiyuan’s eyes rapidly became hollow.

A moment later, his eyes returned to clarity, and he silently walked outside.

As he walked out, his eyes continually changed, sometimes hollow, sometimes clear.

He left the tavern, walked east along the street, about a hundred meters, turned left into an alley, and finally stopped outside a small courtyard in the middle of the alley.

He floated into the courtyard.

Huang Zhengyang followed him, and as soon as he landed in the courtyard, his face changed.

He detected a faint, abnormal scent, followed it to open the cellar, and saw three corpses below.

Two women and one man, all dead, yet appearing lifelike, without decayed bodies.

It was evidently a family of three, a young girl and her parents, who had met a violent end.

Huang Zhengyang’s face turned somber: "Was it done by that killer?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Huang Zhengyang solemnly looked at the three, slowly approached, squatted down, and cautiously probed the man’s chest.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Brother Huang, are there any clues?"

Huang Zhengyang solemnly looked at him, his eyes shooting electricity, and said in a deep voice: "Unique scent!"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, his eyes suddenly turned hollow.

Huang Zhengyang looked at him solemnly.

Chu Zhiyuan’s eyes restored clarity and gently shook his head.

"What?"

"This clue is useless." Chu Zhiyuan said: "Unable to trace the origins of the killer."

With every step he takes, the future changes, requiring him to check each step.

He hadn’t expected to find this place with clues but still unable to find the killer.

Huang Zhengyang exclaimed: "Impossible, right?"

He could sense a lingering trace of scent on the corpse, an abnormal scent.

With this scent, the court’s extraordinary individuals and tributes should be able to identify it.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Even with scent, it’s useless."

"Still can’t trace it?"

"No trace found."

"Can’t trace it... strange..." Huang Zhengyang frowned.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "If it’s an expert from an Evil Sect or Demon Sect, they shouldn’t be able to hide it."

The Evil Extermination Department or the Demon Hunting Bureau may not be aware of all Evil Sects and Demon Sects.

But some Great Sects are known.

Huang Zhengyang’s face grew solemn: "Not done by Evil Sect or Demon Sect?"

Chu Zhiyuan said: "For now, it seems not necessarily them, it might have other origins."

"Other origins..." Huang Zhengyang tightly knitted his brows and shook his head.

Then it’s tough to begin.

Chu Zhiyuan sighed: "It’s difficult."

"Is there truly no way?" Huang Zhengyang sighed.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered: "Let’s do this, Brother Huang, let’s go back to my courtyard."

Huang Zhengyang perked up.

...

The two floated out of the courtyard, left the alley, and went directly to the Heavenly Sword Branch.

Gu Junqi was in the front hall, heard the news, and came out, just happened to bump into the two heading into the front courtyard.

He glanced at Chu Zhiyuan and helplessly shook his head.

Chu Zhiyuan had obviously agreed not to get involved, yet couldn’t withstand.

This Huang Sizheng, after all, is a high-ranking official of the court, not in league with the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Nephew Chu treated him so sincerely, may not be a good thing, fear he’ll suffer a big loss.

Unfortunately, Nephew Chu is such a character, afraid is unlikely to heed other’s advice, believes more in his judgment.

Nothing more to say from oneself.

In the mid of his thoughts, Chu Zhiyuan’s voice reached his ears: "Uncle Master, this matter has other difficulties, cannot leave unchecked."

Gu Junqi glanced at him, gently nodded, cupped his hands to salute Huang Zhengyang, and said with a smile: "Director, forgive my poor hospitality."

Huang Zhengyang replied with a smile: "Master Gu, don’t treat me as an outsider, no need to be courteous."

"Haha, Director indeed not an outsider, then feel free."

"Exactly."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Chu Zhiyuan took Huang Zhengyang back to his courtyard.

Sitting down by a stone table in the courtyard, Chu Zhiyuan solemnly said: "I will exert myself fully to try and see what the future holds."

"Thank you, Brother Chu."

"I have no certainty, and what I see may not be accurate."

"Understood, understood," Huang Zhengyang replied.

Chu Zhiyuan added no more words, sat cross-legged by the pavilion’s railing, his back against the Vermilion Pillar.

His eyes turned hollow.

Huang Zhengyang knew he was putting all his effort into operating his Miracle Technique, trying to lift the fog to see the future.

Although this future is only a possibility and rather vague.

Sometimes knowing a fragment of the future already provides endless benefits.

Like this event.

The killer couldn’t randomly assassinate Prince Ying’s Heir, there must be a purpose.

Now, shrouded in fog, no clue is visible, because the purpose is unclear.

Once the purpose is understood, trace upwards to find the killer.

Chu Zhiyuan’s face quickly turned pale.

Huang Zhengyang felt ashamed in his heart.

He thought he had been over-reliant on Chu Zhiyuan.

Everything required Chu Zhiyuan’s trouble, unable to help him greatly in return.

...

Chu Zhiyuan closed his eyes.

Huang Zhengyang breathed a sigh of relief.

Being gazed upon by those hollow eyes felt like countless ants crawling over him, as if tortured.

Now finally free.

If continued, he felt on the verge of collapse.

Chu Zhiyuan’s face pale, eyes closed still, seemed instantly aged by ten years.

Huang Zhengyang shook his head with a bitter smile.

A quarter of an hour later, Chu Zhiyuan rubbed his forehead and opened his weary eyes.

Despite the fatigue, his eyes remained bright and clear.

"Saw some vague fragments." Chu Zhiyuan said: "A Spirit Venerable descended upon the Imperial City."

"Spirit Venerable?" Huang Zhengyang’s face slightly changed.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Spirit Venerable launched an attack, infiltrated the Imperial City, heavily injured four Princes, along with tributes from the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

Huang Zhengyang frowned in puzzlement.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Possibly two Spirit Venerables acted, stole a treasure and left."

"Spirit Venerable..." Huang Zhengyang frowned and asked: "What’s the relation with Prince Ying’s Heir?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "This I don’t know, just saw this."

"Spirit Venerable..." Huang Zhengyang pondered and asked: "Is it our Biyuan Heaven’s Spirit Venerable?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "Unknown."

He vaguely had a conjecture but chose not to speak more to avoid misguiding.

"Spirit Venerable..." Huang Zhengyang sighed: "When will it happen?"

"In a year," Chu Zhiyuan said: "During this period, the other three Princely Heirs also suffered attacks."

"The three Princely Heirs attacked too!" Huang Zhengyang startlingly asked: "Will they survive?"

"All died," Chu Zhiyuan said.

Huang Zhengyang’s face turned gloomy.

If this is true, wouldn’t the four Princes go mad?

Will the entire court’s dignity crumble, and will the world start to tumult?

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "As of now, seems they all died, then the Spirit Venerable arrived."

Huang Zhengyang asked: "Were the heirs killed by the Spirit Venerable, so impossible to find them?"

Promptly he shook his head: "Were they Death Soldiers?"

"Yes, all were Death Soldiers," Chu Zhiyuan sighed: "Each jade and stone burning, shattering to pieces,... this secret technique is more rapid than the Evil Sect’s Dismantling Technique, never seen before."

Even though the heirs’ experts were prepared, they could still be ambushed successfully, and after succeeding still could commit suicide.

This is no ordinary secret technique, nor ordinary cultivation.

Even typical Perfect Venerables couldn’t achieve.

So formidable, yet act as Death Soldiers, increasingly reveal the scariness of their hidden backers.