Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1186 - 1182: Breaking the Seal

Chu Zhiyuan remarked, "This is likely the first time they have utilized this Jade Pendant."

"That might not be entirely certain," replied Ding Huanchun.

Chu Zhiyuan gave a slow nod.

Whether it had been employed before remained impossible to verify.

It was entirely possible that it had seen previous use.

Ding Huanchun carefully inspected the Jade Pendant in his grip, gritted his teeth, and declared, "We cannot suppress this matter; it must be reported immediately."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded in agreement, "With haste, then. You should depart now."

Clasping his fists, Ding Huanchun turned and hurried away, his expression heavy with concern.

Chu Zhiyuan tracked his departure with a grave face, pulling the Jade Pendant from his robes.

He shut his eyes, focusing his intentions to begin sensing.

His Super Sense radiated outwards.

Standing on a mountain peak ten miles away, three middle-aged men gazed fixedly in his direction.

The mountain loomed majestically, shrouded by white clouds and mist that rendered the scenery indistinct.

Cloaked within the mist, their wolf-like eyes peered coldly at his position.

Clearly, their vision allowed them to pierce through the vapor to monitor the scene.

Squinting his eyes, Chu Zhiyuan studied the trio, recognizing them as the masterminds behind the scheme.

The three men appeared solemn, their gazes icy and deliberate, maintaining a profound silence for several moments.

Only after Ding Huanchun had fully retreated did they speak.

"Who is that?" asked the central figure, a tall, brawny man with a face like polished jade and a demeanor calm as an abyss. "He has interfered with our master plan."

"We have no idea," replied the others, shaking their heads.

"Never seen this individual before."

"However, judging by his familiarity with Ding Huanchun, he must be an acquaintance."

"Could he be a Court Honored Expert from the City Guard?"

"It is a possibility."

"We have to find a way to dispose of him!"

"..."

A heavy silence fell over the three once more.

They acknowledged that if they were to face the onslaught of over sixty Venerable Realm experts, they would never manage it with such ease.

Their only option would be immediate flight.

Those sixty-plus experts possessed varying strengths—ranging from the First Transition to the Eighth, with one as high as the Ninth Transition.

To attack with so many Venerable Realm experts at once would dwarf even a Ninth Transition expert's capacity for resistance.

Not to mention the inclusion of a Miracle Technique, capable of burning Jade and Stone indiscriminately.

The speed at which this man had slaughtered all sixty in barely a dozen breaths displayed a terrifying, unbelievable level of strength.

"Senior Brother is right, we must find a method to eliminate him!" stated a lean, powerful man in a deep voice. "However, this opponent seems incredibly difficult to handle."

"Difficult or not, he must be dealt with!" the tall, burly man retorted. "If he remains, our agenda will be nearly impossible to execute... has he already discerned the secrets behind the Dustless Tears?"

"It appears he has noticed something suspicious."

"...He has completely ruined our great plan!" the leader declared coldly. "He cannot be allowed to continue living!"

"Senior Brother, how do we propose to kill him?" The third member, an ugly man who usually kept to himself, shook his head this time. "It appears that we simply cannot."

"...The only way is to invoke the power of the Evil Venerable!" the tall man said slowly, his voice grave.

The other two shifted, expressions darkened.

"Consider this carefully, Senior Brother!" the ugly man warned.

The slender man added, "It is not the right time."

Invoking the Evil Venerable’s power demanded a price that was both immense and nearly unbearable to pay.

The tall man persisted, "Can our Elders handle him instead?"

The other two shook their heads.

"Then how do we dispose of him?" the leader demanded coldly. "Should we allow him to roam free and sabotage our plans?"

"I have heard the Court is offering a Lifespan Extension Pill as a reward, and both the Evil Extermination Department and the Demon Hunting Bureau are competing for it," noted the ugly man. "This person does not seem to belong to either organization."

The other two nodded.

The Evil Extermination Department was well-versed in the activities of the Evil Sect, and vice-versa.

An expert this young and capable surely would not be unknown to them.

"Why not manipulate another force to kill him?" the ugly man suggested. "The Wanxiang Sect and the Qianye Sect are both plotting to infiltrate the Imperial City, and rumor has it the Giant Spirit Sect has dispatched their Divine Son."

"Is the report of the Giant Spirit Sect’s Divine Son true?" inquired the leader.

"It is said he has finished his seclusion and will reveal himself soon."

The tall man scowled, "The Giant Spirit Sect harbors immense ambitions!"

"The release of their Divine Son is of great consequence; perhaps he will be the one to deal with our target."

"That Divine Son will not answer to us."

"We could relay the information; the Divine Son is notoriously arrogant."

"It is unlikely to succeed," the tall man sighed. "Ultimately, we must rely on our own strength."

"Senior Brother..."

The two were clearly attempting to dissuade him.

"I cannot swallow this humiliation!" The tall man inhaled sharply.

After such painstaking planning—thought to be entirely foolproof—their efforts had vanished in an instant.

This frustration stoked a murderous intent in his heart that he found difficult to suppress.

The ugly man murmured, "Senior Brother, with the Dustless Tears in our possession, we will eventually breach the Imperial City; we simply cannot be the first to enter."

"He might have already seen through the true nature of the Dustless Tears," the leader muttered.

"So what?" the ugly man smiled faintly. "Does knowing matter? Can he truly break the Dustless Tears?"

"Impossible!" The tall man shook his head.

The slender man concurred.

The ugly man frowned, "I have a bad feeling. Should we depart for now?"

The slender man nodded eagerly, "Let us leave quickly, lest he track our movements."

He had long wished to retreat but stayed out of pride; now, a chilling sense of dread had finally taken hold.

The enemy was far too enigmatic; if he possessed the ability to track them, caution was paramount.

This person defied standard logic; if he could sense them and chose to pursue...".

"We depart," the tall man commanded.

The three turned and leaped away from the peak, disappearing into the distance.

Moments after their exit, a Light Gate manifested in the Void, and Leng Tieya stepped through, claiming their former vantage point.

He glanced down at where they had stood before departing gracefully.

His Super Sensing Illumination enveloped the three, tracking them at a leisurely pace.

...

Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes but chose not to leave the city gate, remaining with his arms folded.

The City Guards felt their resolve return.

Having witnessed Chu Zhiyuan decimate the Evil Demons with such Insight, they were struck with profound admiration.

With him standing guard, they felt a sense of absolute security.

The four men employing the Candle Demon Eye felt particularly reassured.

The initial incidents had left them rattled and doubting their own abilities, but Chu Zhiyuan’s presence steadied their hearts, allowing them to perform without fear of error.

Chu Zhiyuan retrieved the Jade Pendant, examining it closely with his inner Insight.

He channeled various auras into the artifact, attempting to plumb its depths.

His Super Sense, however, hit a wall; the object’s secrets remained occluded.

Only the aura emitted by the Demon Suppressing Divine Tree triggered any form of reaction.

The Jade Pendant emitted a bright Golden Light.

Gaining a brief glimpse, his Super Sense perceived a swirling mass of Golden Light trapped within the pendant.

It resembled a miniature star.

While it radiated Golden Light, it also seemed to consume any surrounding aura, creating a bizarre and contradictory internal loop.

Any ambient aura that touched it was promptly devoured.

Yet, when the aura of the Demon Suppressing Divine Tree contacted the light, it did not consume it; instead, it resisted, attempting to repel the influence entirely.

The Golden Light pulsed, pushing the Divine Tree’s aura outward.

Chu Zhiyuan was struck with amazement.

Since he first acquired the Demon Suppressing Divine Tree, he had never once encountered a power that could push back against its influence.

Indeed, the Dustless Tears lived up to its reputation.

However, further attempts to probe its mysteries yielded no additional progress.

He shook his head and suddenly turned his gaze.

Ding Huanchun approached with two Elders—the Court Honored Experts from the General Mansion, Su Lingxuan and Zhou Chaoyang.

Chu Zhiyuan offered a respectful fist salute.

Su Lingxuan and Zhou Chaoyang returned the gesture with warm smiles.

Su Lingxuan sighed, "Only one with your talent, Mr. Chu, could uncover such an artifact."

"Senior Su, have you managed to determine the secrets of this Jade Pendant?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.

Su Lingxuan shook his head, "I have never encountered such an item. It is quite troublesome; we shall have to devise a way to suppress it."

He produced a White Pearl from his robes, which glowed with a faint, dim luminescence, "This is the All Things Pearl, known for its deep Insightful properties."