241: Cao Zhengchun visits Lu Jiuyuan at night

Lu Jiuyuan looked up at the giant golden roc diving down with talons like hooks, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.

This feathered beast, which had been lurking in the clouds, now saw its master dead and immediately rushed to devour the corpse. It was clear that it had been feeding on human flesh for a long time, its ferocity fully developed, and it could not be allowed to live.

"Imperial Uncle, be careful!"

Cheng Shifei exclaimed, the power of this large bird was truly terrifying.

Lu Jiuyuan neither dodged nor avoided. The moment the golden talons were about to strike, his body swayed slightly, narrowly avoiding the claw attack at the last possible second. At the same time, his right hand formed a sword with his fingers, and a wisp of extremely condensed Sword Qi suddenly burst forth!

"Chh--!"

The Sword Qi pierced through the air, faster than imagination.

Before the golden roc could react, the invisible Sword Qi had accurately and precisely pierced through its skull.

"Reee..."

A short, sharp, and mournful cry abruptly ceased.

The roc's massive body, like a kite with a broken string, crashed to the ground with immense inertia, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Its sharp golden eyes instantly dimmed, twitching twice before falling silent.

The fierce bird that once soared through the Nine Heavens and fed on humans was now dead.

Cheng Shifei watched, dumbfounded, and only after a long while stammered, "Imperial Uncle, Imperial Uncle... you... you just killed it? That big bird looked quite magnificent... it would be very impressive as a mount..."

Lu Jiuyuan glanced at the roc's corpse, his expression indifferent: "It feeds on human flesh, its nature is ferocious; keeping it would surely bring disaster.

Moreover, a beast that has grown accustomed to eating human flesh is, after all, an unclean thing, unworthy of serving me."

He paused, then looked at the three Devil Head corpses and added, "As for these three bodies... when they were alive, they killed people to absorb their Qi, and drank blood to cultivate.

Let them be exposed in the wilderness here, to be eaten by wild beasts, and nourish the plants.

Consider it a final, small compensation for the sins of their lives."

With that, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

"Let's go, back."

Cheng Shifei looked at his Imperial Uncle's calm demeanor, then at the huge bird corpse and the three Devil Head bodies on the ground, and couldn't help but shrink his neck.

His Imperial Uncle's decisive and ruthless nature... truly not to be provoked!

Dragon Guard Manor, secret chamber.

Zhu Wushi stood there quietly.

The spy knelt on the ground, reporting the final outcome of the battle in the valley with an unruffled voice:

"...Shi Youming, Yan Wuyou, and Xin Shisan Niang were all executed.

Their accompanying golden roc attempted to pounce on the corpses but was instantly killed by Lu Jiuyuan's finger-sword. The three individuals and the roc were all left exposed in the valley."

The spy's voice echoed in the secret chamber, each word making the air around Zhu Wushi a degree colder.

"Shi Youming... died under Cheng Shifei's extremely potent and rigid fist force, his chest caved in, and his internal organs shattered.

Through the Telescope (thousand-mile mirror), it was observed that Cheng Shifei's entire body seemed cast of Vajra, and he directly beat Shi Youming to death. His performance should be attributed to the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill and the Great Vajra Fist."

"Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill..."

Zhu Wushi slowly uttered these words.

It's this martial art again!

Gu Santong! Even if you are now but dry bones, this martial art still haunts me like a nightmare!

It can only be practiced by those who maintain their virginity, and once mastered, it can only be used five times in one's lifetime!

Shi Youming's Blood Hand Energy Dissolving Skill, derived from the Energy Absorption Skill, though not as exquisite as the original, still retained its characteristics of absorbing others' power and dissolving their True Qi. After years of dormancy, he had killed nearly a hundred people, accumulating at least three to five hundred years of cultivation.

Yet, despite all this, he still perished under the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill!

This fully proved one point: the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill's suppression of the Energy Absorption Skill is absolute! It is an essential, fundamental crushing!

"Did Lu Jiuyuan ever engage Shi Youming in combat?"

"He did not!"

"Was it that he dared not, or that he was unwilling?" Zhu Wushi asked, his hands clasped behind his back. Whether it was daring not or being unwilling, it indicated apprehension towards the Blood Hand Energy Dissolving Skill.

The Three-Part Yuan Qi is merely so-so, not worth fearing. The real major hidden danger is still the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill!

Counting this time, Cheng Shifei has used it three times in total; there are still two more times!

The Lord Protector waved his hand, and his subordinate bowed and left.

"No one, no one can stop me!" Zhu Wushi slowly clenched his fist:

"Su Xin, I will definitely make you the most noble woman in the world!"

Eastern Sea, Yagyu Shinkage School dojo.

In the courtyard where cherry blossoms fell, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami slowly put away his bamboo sword and accepted the secret letter handed to him by a Disciple.

"Father?" Yagyu Piaoxu, who was nearby, noticed her father's unusual demeanor.

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami handed her the secret letter, his voice low: "Piaoxu, prepare yourself, we depart immediately for the Central Plains."

"The plan is about to begin?" Yagyu Piaoxu quickly scanned the secret letter, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes,

"Father, our Yagyu Shinkage School's swordsmanship has reached the Transcendent realm, why bother getting involved in the turbulent waters of the Central Plains..."

"You don't understand."

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami interrupted her, his gaze directed into the distance, "Eastern Sea is too small. Even if our Shinkage School's Dao of the Sword is unparalleled in the Eastern Sea, we are still only reigning supreme in a tiny land!"

"If we help the Lord Protector ascend to the throne, then our Yagyu Shinkage School can truly be unparalleled under Heaven."

Yagyu Piaoxu lowered her head, looking at the few brief lines on the secret letter, her fingertips slightly cold.

She wasn't afraid of the unfathomable Martial Forest of the Central Plains, but instinctively sensed that behind her father's decision lay a massive vortex capable of devouring everything.

"Unparalleled under Heaven..."

She repeated softly, raising her clear, cold eyes, "Father, is the Lord Protector truly a wise ruler worthy of entrusting the entire Shinkage School's future to?

He wields immense power in the Central Plains, and his schemes are deep; he may not be an easy person to deal with."

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami turned around, his resolute face appearing exceptionally stern under the dappled cherry blossom shadows.

"Precisely because his schemes are deep and his ambition vast, we have an opportunity.

There's an old saying in the Central Plains, 'When the birds are gone, the good bow is put away.' The Lord Protector needs us now, and this is our time to exact a price.

Once his great endeavor is complete, our Yagyu Shinkage School will already be deeply rooted in the Central Plains. By then, even if he wishes to discard us, he will have to weigh the cost."

He paused, his gaze sharply fixed on his daughter: "Piaoxu, your talent is unparalleled, far surpassing your elder sister. You have now grasped ninety percent of my Dao of the Sword's true essence. This journey to the Central Plains is precisely an opportunity for tempering."

"Yes, Father."

Yagyu Piaoxu said no more, bowing in acceptance.

"Brother-in-law... I am coming to the Central Plains!"

A few days later, the father and daughter, accompanied by dozens of elite Disciples, quietly crossed the sea by boat and set foot on the land of the Central Plains.

The night was deep, and Number One Estate Under Heaven was silent, save for the light still burning in Lu Jiuyuan's study.

He was reading a medical book under the lamp when, suddenly, a faint whooshing sound came from outside the window. A dark figure, like a ghost, swept across the courtyard and landed silently outside the study door.

"Director Cao has graced us with his presence; why not come in for a chat?"

Lu Jiuyuan said calmly without lifting his head, as if he had long anticipated this visit.

There was a moment of silence outside the door, followed by a delicate and gentle chuckle.

The study door was gently pushed open, and Cao Zhengchun, clad in the Eastern Depot Director's python robe, slowly entered, a characteristic humble smile on his face.

"Imperial Uncle has such keen senses; I had barely landed when you discovered me."

Cao Zhengchun said with a smile in his voice.

"Director Cao's late-night visit, I presume, is not merely to praise my good hearing, is it?" Lu Jiuyuan put down the medical book, looked up at him, his eyes calm and unruffled, "Please sit."

Cao Zhengchun did not stand on ceremony, sitting down on the pear blossom wood chair opposite Lu Jiuyuan, and with an orchid-like finger, smoothed the white hair at his temples:

"Imperial Uncle is a straightforward man, so I shall be direct. That day, Imperial Uncle saved Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, and I have yet to properly thank him.

My visit tonight is to express my gratitude for Imperial Uncle's great kindness."

With that, he rose and bowed.