Imperial Cultivation

Encountering one group might be nothing, but running into two consecutive groups of Demon Clan experts is unusual.

The experts of the Demon Clan outside the Phoenix Imperial City have all withdrawn, and there are actually very few Demon Clan experts as well.

During this period, Fu Zheng went on a rampage, scouring a radius of thirty miles around the Phoenix Imperial City over and over again, nearly wiping out all the Demon Clan experts.

He turned his head to look at Fu Zheng.

Fu Zheng also wore a puzzled expression.

She remembered clearly handling all the Demon Clan experts nearby, so how did so many suddenly appear?

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Capture a couple of Demon Clan members and ask them the reason."

"Yes." Fu Zheng responded.

Her figure flickered and disappeared, quickly reappearing in the midst of combat, where a flash of sword light sent two Demon Clan experts flying as if struck by a massive log.

They were caught by Fu Zheng in mid-air, with their acupoints sealed, and were carried into the woods like little chickens.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at Li Yuzhen.

Li Yuzhen nodded lightly and drifted into the woods.

Xu Yuhuo smiled, saying, "The Prince Consort’s personal guard is truly formidable."

Chu Zhiyuan replied, "A series of fortunate coincidences, she’s lucky."

Xu Yuhuo smiled with narrowed eyes and said, "Being by the Prince Consort’s side indeed brings good fortune."

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, "Elder Xu, you’re praising me too much."

Xu Yuhuo said, "Look at Lu Qingyuan, originally very ordinary, but now extraordinary, all thanks to the Prince Consort’s efforts."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, shaking his head without speaking.

Better not to say too much when it comes to Lu Qingyuan.

Seeing him like this, Xu Yuhuo could only change the topic, talking about events in the Martial Arts world.

She had the gift of the gab, with plenty of such strange tales and events to share, one after another.

Chu Zhiyuan listened intently, enjoying the stories.

Fu Zheng and Li Yuzhen soon returned, their faces tense, with piercing eyes.

"What’s the reason?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.

"It’s for a Demon Artifact." Fu Zheng replied softly, "A Demon Artifact appeared near the Phoenix Imperial City."

"A Demon Artifact?" Chu Zhiyuan frowned, "What kind of Demon Artifact?"

"They don’t actually know what kind of Demon Artifact it is. Whenever the Demon Artifact appears, all Demon Clan experts can sense it and try to fight for it."

"How do they know the Demon Artifact will appear here?"

"The Great Heavenly Demon Palace spread the news, it can’t be wrong."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, "And they truly don’t know what kind of Demon Artifact it is?"

Fu Zheng shook her head, "We separated and questioned the two Demon Clan members. Both claimed ignorance, so it must be true."

Chu Zhiyuan looked towards Xu Yuhuo.

Xu Yuhuo shook her head, "This is the first time I’ve heard of it too, but since it’s from the Great Heavenly Demon Palace, the message should be accurate."

The Great Heavenly Demon Palace is akin to Fengtian Palace’s Observatory and Wentian Pavilion, with an extraordinary status and unbelievable capabilities.

The Heavenly Demons are typically arrogant and disdain lying.

The Great Heavenly Demon Palace even more so, it would never spread false news.

Chu Zhiyuan surveyed the surroundings, shaking his head, "Xiao Zheng, you should stay."

Fu Zheng’s eyes immediately lit up, "Continue clearing out the nearby Demon Clan?"

Li Yuzhen said, "Prince Consort, we can deal with them after we return, there’s no rush in a moment, is there?"

Fu Zheng’s red lips moved, as she was actually quite anxious.

Chu Zhiyuan contemplated for a moment and nodded, "Alright, we’ll clear them out upon returning."

"Understood." Fu Zheng reluctantly agreed.

Xu Yuhuo frowned, "We should inform the city."

The Demon Clan often disdain to kill, yet when they do, they don’t hesitate.

They see humans as ants, not worth the effort to stomp, but they’d crush them without a second thought if they got in the way.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Xu Yuhuo turned and said, "Yuxuan, take two people back to the city and let them know about the situation outside the city, there’s no need to return."

"Understood." Fan Yuxuan solemnly replied.

She looked at Chu Zhiyuan, cupping her fist, "Prince Consort, then I’ll take my leave."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Xiao Zheng, you accompany Miss Fan back."

"Yes." Fu Zheng responded softly.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Quickly return, don’t tarry on the road."

"Understood." Fu Zheng again showed a look of helplessness.

Li Yuzhen pursed her lips, smiling and shaking her head.

Xiao Zheng wanted to take the opportunity to sweep the surroundings, yet the Prince Consort saw through her.

...

Fu Zheng and Fan Yuxuan, along with two experts from the Qingwu Sword Sect, headed back.

Fan Yuxuan said, "Miss Fu, no need to accompany me. This road was just traveled by us, there won’t be more Demon Clan experts in such a short time."

Fu Zheng said, "Since His Highness commanded it, I can’t defy it. Besides, there’s always a reason for His Highness’s orders."

Fan Yuxuan looked at her, puzzled.

Fu Zheng said, "His Highness always acts with purpose, every decision has deeper meaning."

"So, you’re saying that His Highness implies there will still be Demon Clan experts on the road from here to the Imperial City?"

"Indeed, most likely." Fu Zheng nodded.

Fan Yuxuan’s expression became serious.

Fu Zheng smiled, "These Demon Clan experts aren’t that terrifying."

Fan Yuxuan shook her head, "They’re formidable, hard to guard against,... without Elder Guan, we wouldn’t notice Demon Clan ambushes."

Fu Zheng said proudly, "Why do you think His Highness sent me? It’s because I can spot their ambushes."

Her bright eyes suddenly flashed, she whispered, "I’ll go to the dark, you stay in the light."

"...Okay." Fan Yuxuan could only agree.

The three of them had walked about a mile when a muffled groan sounded from the dense woods on the left.

Soon after, a green shadow flashed, and Fu Zheng appeared, clapping her hands, "As His Highness predicted, there was indeed an ambush."

Fan Yuxuan quickly asked, "How many?"

"Four little demons." Fu Zheng shook her head, "No wonder they hadn’t come out earlier, I’ll go check again."

She flickered and disappeared again into the dense woods.

Fan Yuxuan watched her disappearing back with envy, shaking her head.

A personal guard with such abilities is due to top-notch Miracle Technique inheritance.

This is the result of following the right person.

...

Chu Zhiyuan and his party continued forward, and by noon, as they reached the peak of Qingwu Sword Sect a hundred miles away, Fu Zheng suddenly appeared by his side.

She looked excited, her eyes glowing, "Your Highness, the Demon Artifact has appeared!"

"Hmm—?" Chu Zhiyuan frowned, "It emerged so quickly?"

"It was just that fast!" Fu Zheng said excitedly, "The Demon Artifact was snatched by a Demon Clan expert, who began fleeing while being pursued."

"What Demon Artifact?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.

"...I don’t know." Fu Zheng shook her head, her excitement paused, "No one is saying!"

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, "Could it be they don’t know either?"

"They can sense the Demon Artifact, but having never seen it, they don’t know what it is." Fu Zheng said, "Even if they saw it, they might not recognize it."

"Has the Demon Artifact already left?"

"Probably a hundred miles away by now." Fu Zheng said, "I can’t sense it anymore and we can’t pursue, only manage to kill some little demons."

Chu Zhiyuan pondered.

Xu Yuhuo asked, "Prince Consort, is this Demon Artifact very important?"

"A Demon Artifact is like our Spiritual Treasure, and since it originated from our Human World, it’s extraordinary." Chu Zhiyuan said, "It should be taken seriously."

"But we can’t catch up, right?" Xu Yuhuo said.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "He’s probably aiming to flee to the Outer Realm Battlefield."

The Outer Realm Battlefield is the best place to hide.

Better than escaping to the Demon World.

Once the Demon Artifact is refined and subdued, the Demon Clan expert won’t need to run and hide anymore.

So as long as we wait in a gorge in the Outer Realm Battlefield, we can intercept him.

"We know he wants to flee to the Outer Realm Battlefield, but can’t catch up, right?"

"It’s worth a try." Chu Zhiyuan said.

Xu Yuhuo was puzzled.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Elder Xu, let’s postpone the matter of the Divine Treasure for two days. I’ll first see about this Demon Artifact."

Xu Yuhuo quickly said, "Can you make it in time?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded, "It’s worth trying; we can’t just watch the Demon Clan get the Demon Artifact."

More than that reason, curiosity was a stronger motivator.

Xu Yuhuo looked helpless and sighed, "Then be careful, Prince Consort."

"Let’s go." Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded.

He placed a hand on Fu Zheng’s and Li Yuzhen’s shoulders, and the three of them turned into a streak of light, shooting into the distance, disappearing in the blink of an eye.