Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1179 - 1175: Strange Grass

Chu Zhiyuan remarked, "It seems we must rely on fortune."

My luck has always been quite reliable. Still, while I consistently exert my full effort, others do the same; my triumphs cannot be attributed to wisdom or diligence alone—fate has looked upon me with favor.

Song Shoufang observed, "Your Four Great Sects lack sufficient familiarity with the Evil Sect, leaving you blind to where the most formidable demons reside. Slaying a multitude of common demons is hardly comparable to finishing off a few of the elite ones."

Chu Zhiyuan gave a nod.

He immediately inquired, "The Evil Extermination Department knows exactly where these high-level demons are hiding, yet they refrain from eliminating them?"

Song Shoufang replied, "It is unavoidable; such is the nature of men."

Chu Zhiyuan offered a smile: "Much like how the various Martial Arts Sects no longer dare to cull the demons lurking outside the Imperial City."

Song Shoufang let out a soft snort.

He grasped the underlying thorns within Chu Zhiyuan’s response.

The Evil Extermination Department leaves these demons untouched to avoid peril, precisely mirroring the way experts from the various Martial Arts Sects shy away from demons beyond the Imperial City walls.

To understand the Evil Extermination Department yet condemn the Martial Arts Sects—this was clearly a case of double standards, unfairly biased and unjust.

Chu Zhiyuan arched his hands and said, "Lord, might I be granted a look at the Tongming Grass?"

Song Shoufang raised his eyebrow: "It would be futile; the Tongming Grass thrives only in one specific location, a place you are barred from entering."

Chu Zhiyuan persisted: "I am merely curious. I wish to see what this plant looks like, given its legendary properties."

"The Tongming Grass cannot be removed from its home." Song Shoufang shook his head.

Chu Zhiyuan then asked, "Is there at least a portrait of the Tongming Grass?"

"You are certainly tenacious." Song Shoufang chuckled while shaking his head. "You insist on viewing it to track it down personally?"

"Exactly." Chu Zhiyuan freely admitted.

Song Shoufang countered, "You are unable to return to Little Outer Heaven; even if you knew its form, what good would it do you?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Should my Cultivation meet with success, there might eventually be an opportunity to return."

"...Ha, your ambitions run high." Song Shoufang laughed lightly.

He was well aware of the marvels surrounding the Heavenly Sword; reaching the status of Lord of Heaven Sword or the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect granted one the power to transmit messages back into the Little Outer Heaven. This single capability served as sufficient motivation to spur Chu Zhiyuan toward the seat of the Sect Leader.

He pondered for a fleeting moment: "Very well, stay right there."

"I thank you, Lord!" Chu Zhiyuan bowed solemnly.

Voicing his intent to vie for the position of Sect Leader had been a decision reached after grave deliberation. Particularly with a figure like Song Shoufang, pretense was unnecessary. For the sake of the Heavenly Sword Sect, the most vital asset is the Sect Leader—be it the current occupant or the successor. He demonstrated this with proper decorum, effectively bolstering his own standing.

Song Shoufang gestured with his hand and turned to exit the hall.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned in deep thought.

A former ally had transitioned into a rival; with the lives of his kin hanging in the balance, compromise was not an option. He suspected Huang Zhengyang felt similarly, exhausting every avenue to secure the elixir. But aside from Huang Zhengyang, what of Qi Chunyu? While Qi likely lacked such confidence, he would certainly be unwilling to fold.

Then there remained the Four Great Sects. Even rival Martial Arts Sects would seize any opportunity to slay demons. With the Evil Sect issuing bounties and the Imperial Court following suit, were they all preparing for a massive clash?

He analyzed the sudden shift in the landscape and speculated about the volatile future.

Moments passed, and Song Shoufang returned, holding a scroll which he handed over.

Chu Zhiyuan accepted it with both hands and began to slowly unfurl the canvas.

Displayed in the artwork was an unassuming, peculiar small grass nestled among flowers, easily ignored by the casual eye. Its leaves were elongated and slender, glowing with the vivid green of foliage after a spring storm, marked by tiny white specks on their underside. At first glance, it appeared as nothing more than common wild grass.

He closed his eyes, searching through his memory.

Truly, no other vegetation mirror its likeness. It appeared mundane, yet carried an aura of mystery.

"Have you encountered this before?" Song Shoufang asked, a smile playing on his lips.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "Never, yet I find myself surprised by its appearance."

"Grounded by its name and rumored effects, you assumed it would possess some extraordinary, uncanny form?"

"I had assumed I would recognize it instantly upon sight." Chu Zhiyuan shook his head again: "I did not expect it to appear so pedestrian."

Song Shoufang stated, "Even if you stare at it, the image will quickly vanish from your mind."

Chu Zhiyuan reflected on this, closed his eyes, and surely enough, felt an unseen, ethereal force blurring his recollection of the Tongming Grass. What once seemed ordinary now carried a strange, intangible weight. Opening his eyes, he asked with curiosity: "Lord, is this the influence of that Secret Land?"

"Indeed it is." Song Shoufang affirmed.

Chu Zhiyuan followed up: "What is this Secret Land, precisely?"

"I cannot say." Song Shoufang shook his head.

Chu Zhiyuan was struck: "You cannot even speak of it?"

Song Shoufang replied, "To voice its name would invite a power that would prove detrimental to you."

"I understand." Chu Zhiyuan replied: "With this Tongming Grass in hand, can the Lifespan Extension Pills be refined?"

"The recipe for the Lifespan Extension Pills is no deep secret; you can acquire it easily. But without the Tongming Grass, the formula serves as nothing more than useless parchment."

Song Shoufang added, "At the end of the day, if you truly desire those pills, you would do best to secure them through the bounty."

"My gratitude, Lord." Chu Zhiyuan bowed again.

Song Shoufang waved him off: "Once you succeed in obtaining this elixir, it will signify far more than just the medicine itself."

"Yes." Chu Zhiyuan understood fully.

Rising to lead the pack would catapult one to fame, recognized by every corner of the world. Such status is immensely precious to those who walk the path of martial arts. Cultivation is a grueling, agonizing journey; beyond safety, fame and profit are the primary pillars that sustain a master. Among the countless martial artists, the title of a legendary expert brings immeasurable tangible and intangible rewards. It is the pinnacle of human ambition.

As Chu Zhiyuan departed the Prince Zhuang Mansion, he could feel several gazes tracking his movements. This time, the gazes belonged to the mansion's guards and guests, stripped of the previous hostility. Prince Zhuang had successfully purged the demons that had infested his estate.

Upon returning to the Heavenly Sword Branch, he arranged ink, paper, and brush at his stone table and retreated into deep concentration. The image of the Tongming Grass remained hazy, with an unseen force persistently scrubbing at his mental faculty.

Chu Zhiyuan offered a faint smile.

Had this happened earlier, he would have been helpless; a lost connection to the memory would have been final. But things were different now. The inaugural layer of his Heavenly Yuan Technique was complete, and, focusing, streams of light began to flicker within his mind. The once-blurred memory solidified with remarkable clarity.

He kept his eyes shut, his hand dancing swiftly across the parchment. Within mere breaths, a small cluster of grass coalesced on the page. Though restricted to ink and unable to replicate the lush greenery, the shape was precise. The shape alone would be enough.

He finished the sketch, closed his eyes once more, and initiated the process again. He produced over twenty copies before his inkstone ran dry. After a moment of contemplation, he stepped into the courtyard and had a servant procure pigments from the city. He carefully applied the deep greens and delicate white spots. This time, the representation was flawless, an exact mirror of the original.

He promptly left the Imperial City and ascended to a remote mountain peak. Moments later, a Light Gate manifested. Chu Liezhao emerged, taking the stack of drafted images from him. Within the hour, both the Little Outer Heaven and the Outer Heaven were flooded with the imagery of the Tongming Grass. Chu Liezhao and the Prince Qing Mansion utilized their networks to distribute the portraits, galvanizing secret enclaves and hidden grotto heavens to begin the search.

He maintained faith that the Tongming Grass would eventually be unearthed in one of those rare locations, particularly within the mystical cave heavens where wonders defy common comprehension.

Returning to the Heavenly Sword Branch, he received word that Huang Zhengyang had sent an envoy. He knew immediately this concerned the Lifespan Extension Pill and released a weary sigh. He surmised that Huang sought for him to withdraw from the struggle. He sighed inwardly—was it now truly come to this, for them to turn against one another?