Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1183 - 1179: Reunion

A sudden flash of inspiration struck his mind; with but a single thought, the Golden Sword shattered the statue. He did not rely on the power of the Void, but rather utilized the collective spirit of the people.

This truly serves as a form of counteraction.

Huang Zhengyang inspected the fine dust and cast a wary gaze toward the heavens.

"Have no fear, Brother Huang, it shall not reform," Chu Zhiyuan declared.

Once the Golden Sword had absorbed the golden powder, the statue was stripped of its spiritual essence and ceased to hold any lingering anchor.

The influence of the Evil Venerable could no longer descend upon the effigy.

Huang Zhengyang let out a breath of relief, though his features soon darkened again: "Does this imply it is not the same Evil Venerable as before?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head. "No. This suggests their methods of slaughter must differ significantly."

Huang Zhengyang turned his gaze toward the path where Gong Junliang and his party had vanished, praying silently for no grim tidings.

Three small, dark silhouettes appeared on the horizon, and before long, Gong Junliang and his companions arrived.

Their expressions were stern, with flickers of barely concealed fury.

"What were the findings?" Huang Zhengyang inquired.

Gong Junliang offered a respectful salute. "Director, in the past month, there have been nine incidents of mass murder. In every case, individuals suddenly succumbed to madness and slaughtered their own kin."

"And the perpetrators?"

"They have vanished. We were unable to apprehend them."

"All nine have escaped?!" Huang Zhengyang retorted, incredulous.

Gong Junliang offered a slow, solemn nod.

"Incompetent!" Huang Zhengyang ground his teeth. "What a useless lot!"

"These nine were commoners,” Gong Junliang explained. “They simply went insane and fled the scene. The local officials attempted to pursue them, but they were beyond reach."

Huang Zhengyang issued a cold, cynical laugh. "It seems everyone’s heart is hollow, isn’t it? They take great pains to avoid seeking help from our Evil Extermination Department."

Possessing immense authority and status, the Evil Extermination Department often preferred to avoid entanglement in local squabbles, as such matters frequently dragged hidden corruption into the light.

"If viewed as an isolated incident, it appears to be a common massacre," Gong Junliang noted.

Huang Zhengyang scoffed coldly. "And what of the situation across the entirety of Daozhou?"

Gong Junliang remained silent.

If localized, such events might be passed off as ordinary tragedies; however, when simultaneous massacres erupted throughout Daozhou, the Evil Extermination Department could no longer ignore them.

"Playing with human lives while clutching their own petty ranks—such pests! Why should they be permitted to remain in office?" Huang Zhengyang spat.

Gong Junliang nodded in somber agreement.

Stifling his rage, Huang Zhengyang turned to Chu Zhiyuan. "Brother Chu, was this the work of the statues?"

"I believe so," Chu Zhiyuan replied. "We must track these people down."

"Determine if they were possessed by spirits or if they have mastered some vile Evil Skill!" Huang Zhengyang commanded gravely.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded. Of the two possibilities, the latter was far more perilous.

Huang Zhengyang looked at Gong Junliang. "Delegate the task to another and locate the culprits—immediately!"

"Understood!" Gong Junliang saluted solemnly.

Huang Zhengyang signaled with a wave of his hand.

Gong Junliang promptly beckoned twelve disciples in Mystic Robes to accompany him.

Chu Zhiyuan surveyed the landscape, pacing the mountaintop while stealing glances at the sky.

His Super Sense rendered the world with crystalline clarity.

Why do these statues manifest in specific locations? Is there a hidden pattern?

An hour passed before Huang Zhengyang could refrain from asking no longer. Upon hearing Chu Zhiyuan’s analysis, he shook his head: "Perhaps they truly land at random, devoid of any discernible cycle."

Chu Zhiyuan mentally compared the environments of the previous two statues but found no clues.

...

Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged upon his bed, the hilt of the Golden Sword resting across his knees.

The morning light filtered through the paper window, bathing his room and his face in a soft glow.

He closed his eyes, his expression deeply focused.

The Golden Sword pulsated rhythmically, syncing with the slow cadence of his breath.

It felt as if the sword were merging into his soul, and eventually with the Void itself, threatening to vanish entirely.

Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes slowly.

The shimmering brilliance of the Golden Sword subsided.

He gazed down at the blade, his eyes sparkling with renewed clarity.

Having consumed the golden powder once more, the blade had evolved. Its spirituality was profound, its resilience near absolute, and his command over its force had grown immense.

He harbored an indistinct feeling that the Golden Sword was cultivating alongside him.

As he practiced Cultivation, the sword imitated him. Absorbing the golden powder was akin to consuming Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to purge impurities and refine its essence. Moreover, gathering the energy of the people’s cohesion bolstered its spiritual might. With this strength, wielding the energy of the Void felt as natural as controlling his own True Yuan.

Two paths lay before the sword for advancement: consuming golden powder and strengthening his connection to the people. If it were truly an Emperor’s Sword, it could only rely on the latter method.

He stood up, tucked the Golden Sword away, and stepped out into the courtyard, embracing the morning sun.

Faint echoes of activity from the Heavenly Sword Branch drifted in, carrying the tempting scents of breakfast.

His stomach rumbled in protest; he decided to leave the courtyard and wander the streets in search of a meal.

As he navigated the busy thoroughfare, he scanned the martial arts experts milling about.

A surge of warriors had descended upon the Imperial City recently.

Most wore swords or blades at their sides, radiating confidence and vigor. They were clearly talented individuals; mere martial artists would never risk their necks in the Imperial City.

Believing they possessed the skill to claim the bounty, they had gathered in force.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head in silence. Few of them had the strength to confront an Evil Demon; throwing themselves into the fray was essentially suicide.

At the same level of Cultivation, Evil Demons reigned supreme in slaughter, as their techniques were purpose-built to strike at the vulnerabilities of standard martial arts. When an Evil Demon unleashed their blood-devouring Miracle Technique, one required a significantly higher stage of Cultivation to survive.

Men die for gold; birds perish for seed. Without the promise of a Lifespan Extension Pill, these experts never would have come to join the fray.

Suddenly, he felt a pull and accelerated his pace down the street.

After walking a hundred paces, a voice rang out over the din of the crowd: "Junior Brother Chu! Junior Brother!"

The melodic tone cut through the chaotic noise, commanding everyone’s attention.

The sheer joy in her voice tugged at the hearts of the nearby passersby.

Three women clad in robes of snow-white stood near a jewelry stall along the roadside.

Their wide sleeves draped over their lithe figures, and white veils obscured their faces, revealing nothing but glistening, expressive eyebrows and eyes.

Even without seeing their full countenances, the observers could sense they were rare beauties.

Chu Zhiyuan raised a hand with a smile. "Senior Sister."

He had not imagined Lu Xiaolu would descend upon the Imperial City.

Lu Xiaolu waved her hand playfully, a white blur dancing toward him as a delightful fragrance wafted through the air. She giggled, "I finally found you!"

"When did you arrive, Senior Sister?" Chu Zhiyuan asked warmly.

He saluted the other two women, who inclined their heads gracefully in greeting.

"We just passed through the gates," Lu Xiaolu said, eyes filled with curiosity. "Junior Brother, why are you not with that detachment? What is happening?"

She had been certain that Chu Zhiyuan would be a leading figure in the group tasked with luring out the Evil Demon, as the strategy had been his own design.

Finding him absent had fueled her anger. She assumed the Sect Elders were consumed by envy and were actively suppressing him.

Thus, she had rushed here to comfort him.

"I had other pressing matters to address, so I could not join them," Chu Zhiyuan explained.

"Is that true?" Lu Xiaolu stared at him, her eyes searching for any sign of dishonesty.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "Truly, I am quite busy. It concerns the Evil Venerable Statue... Shall we talk over a meal? Have you eaten, Senior Sister?"

"We just arrived; we haven't touched a thing."

"Follow me, then. I promise you will enjoy the fare here."

He led them to a quiet restaurant and booked a private chamber. As they dined, he spoke of their recent discoveries regarding the statue. Upon hearing that the structure could regenerate and was virtually indestructible, their eyes widened in disbelief.

"I have heard of this!" Lu Xiaolu exclaimed. "There are ancient scrolls within the palace that mention it."

Chu Zhiyuan’s attention was instantly captured.

"This is the Undying Evil Venerable," she explained, "the most formidable tier of its kind!"

Chu Zhiyuan furrowed his brows. "Stronger in Cultivation?"

"Far stronger," Lu Xiaolu affirmed, her expression grim. "And far more treacherous to deal with."