Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1200 - 1196: Descent

From the bottle, Chu Yi extracted the Lifespan Extension Pill and promptly pushed it into Li Suyue’s mouth.

Li Suyue parted her lips, gulped down the Lifespan Extension Pill, and inquired, "How high has the Young Master’s cultivation reached?"

"Venerable Ninth Transitions," Chu Yi answered, "The cultivation limit of the Upper Realm is Venerable Ninth Transitions, and Big Brother is on the verge of reaching that peak."

Li Suyue let out a sigh, "This cultivation speed is truly shocking."

Her own cultivation progress, along with Chu Yi’s, was already remarkable, having attained Great Grandmaster at such a tender age.

Few Great Grandmasters exist in the world, and their master had labored for countless years to reach it, while they achieved it with ease in their youth.

This proves that on the cultivation path, opportunity matters just as much as talent.

When fortune arrives, advancement surges forward, making a single year surpass decades of grueling effort.

Chu Yi chuckled, "Yet Big Brother still thinks it’s too slow."

Li Suyue smiled lightly, "The Young Master is rather ambitious, huh?"

"Who wouldn’t say the same!" Chu Yi pouted her red lips.

Li Suyue’s lovely features shifted abruptly, and she quickly said, "I’ll go change my clothes."

With those words, she drifted away gracefully, vanishing like a elegant bird soaring through the room.

Chu Yi let out a soft giggle.

…

Chu Zhiyuan arrived at the Heavenly Sword Branch and spotted Gu Junqi anxiously pacing in the front courtyard.

Sunlight beamed down brightly, wrapping him in a golden glow.

"Dean," Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward and clasped his fists in salute.

Gu Junqi sighed deeply upon seeing him, "You’re finally here."

Chu Zhiyuan replied sheepishly, "Please forgive me, Dean."

"No issues arose, did they?" Gu Junqi questioned, "They didn’t trouble you?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head with a grin, "Inside, there were just some Court tributes; they didn’t cause any problems."

The Lifespan Extension Pill affair remained utmost confidential, unfit for casual mention.

He’d discuss it solely with the Sect Leader.

"Excellent," Gu Junqi nodded approvingly, "You’ve contributed so much to the Evil Extermination Department; it’d be unfair to burden you further."

Yet the world holds many wrongs, and fairness isn’t guaranteed everywhere.

Before the Evil Suppressing Abyss, even the Heavenly Sword Sect’s influence might fall short.

Chu Zhiyuan inquired, "How are the Elders and Senior Brothers faring there?"

"They’re en route," Gu Junqi grinned, "They’ve slain hundreds of Evil Demons already; this expedition’s haul is impressive."

Chu Zhiyuan remarked, "That ought to suffice, no?"

"Brother Zhou and the rest say there’s no hurry," Gu Junqi explained, "The chance is too precious to miss."

Chu Zhiyuan furrowed his brow.

Gu Junqi probed, "Something amiss?"

"Better to return swiftly," Chu Zhiyuan advised, "If they linger, they’ll draw everyone’s ire, and the Evil Sect folks will lose their minds."

"Wouldn’t that be ideal?" Gu Junqi countered.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "Right now, it’s just treasure hunts, not desperate battles."

From Zhu Lingyun’s reports, he learned multiple sects were plotting to unite against the Four Great Sects’ powerhouses.

This intelligence stayed hidden, even from the Evil Extermination Department.

The Evil Sect experts scattered to seize Feixue Cave Mansion treasures, planning a Jade and Stone Burning assault to cripple the Four Great Sects’ elites.

This shift in intent brought far greater devastation.

Prolonging their stay would inevitably cause deaths.

Gu Junqi shook his head, "Our words won’t sway them; we must inform the Sect Leader, and when he commands, they’ll rampage."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded gravely.

He’d urge Lu Wanshan personally to hasten them toward the Imperial City.

Gu Junqi added, "You’ve toiled all day; rest well now."

Chu Zhiyuan saluted once more and headed to his modest courtyard.

He sensed Gu Junqi suppressing his inquisitiveness; how could he ignore the Evil Suppressing Abyss’s emergence?

Yet few knew of the Evil Suppressing Abyss, and secrecy had its purpose.

Until he grasped the Evil Suppressing Abyss’s nature, he’d hold his tongue.

Thus, he resolved to uncover what horrors lay sealed within the Evil Suppressing Abyss.

…

That evening, Chu Zhiyuan strolled casually into a tavern.

No sooner had he settled at a third-floor window table than Lu Xiaolu, clad in pristine white, materialized.

Their rendezvous was prearranged via messages, set here for ease.

Not at Guanghan Palace Villa or Heavenly Sword Branch, purely for simplicity.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned at the veiled Lu Xiaolu, "Senior Sister, did you push that Secret Technique too hard?"

A white veil masked her stunning visage, but her weariness shone through instantly.

Her fine brows and eyes brimmed with fatigue, as though a mere gust might topple her.

Lu Xiaolu sighed, "I wanted to test it out, but..."

She refused to accept her talent lagged so far behind Chu Zhiyuan’s effortless mastery of the Secret Technique, while she struggled endlessly.

Their aptitude difference shouldn’t be that extreme.

Harboring this, she persisted relentlessly.

The fiercer her efforts, the fiercer the agony, tormenting her deeply and draining her completely.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "This Secret Technique hinges on fortune; without it, forcing matters invites deviation."

"Hehe, I carry a protective treasure, so no deviation for me," Lu Xiaolu chuckled.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "Senior Sister, set it aside for now."

Her safety net emboldened such reckless training.

"Fine," Lu Xiaolu sighed, "I’ve poured everything into this attempt."

She sensed further tries would bring no change.

Chu Zhiyuan stated, "I need to inquire about a location, Senior Sister."

"Which one?" Lu Xiaolu perked up.

Via Sound Transmission into Secret, Chu Zhiyuan whispered three words, "Evil Suppressing Abyss."

Lu Xiaolu appeared baffled.

Chu Zhiyuan murmured, "The Court’s hidden realm for sealing wondrous artifacts—does Guanghan Palace hold records?"

"Never heard of it; I’ll consult the Palace Master," Lu Xiaolu shook her head softly.

Chu Zhiyuan continued, "I have a proposal for the Palace Master too."

"What’s that?"

"They must hasten; no more delays, or peril will mount immensely."

"Got it, I’ll relay to the Palace Master," Lu Xiaolu agreed, "Why the interest in Evil Suppressing Abyss?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head.

Lu Xiaolu shot him a playful glance, "So mysterious, fine—I’ll inquire right away."

She whirled and departed.

Chu Zhiyuan let her go; prioritizing the Four Sects’ acceleration trumped the Evil Suppressing Abyss probe.

He narrowed his eyes, channeling his mind and spirit toward Zhu Lingyun.

Deep in a thick forest, over a dozen middle-aged men encircled a statue.

A youth sat before it—his clone, Zhu Lingyun.

Zhu Lingyun meditated solemnly in front of the statue.

Gentle radiance poured from the statue, shrouding him.

Seated at the table, Chu Zhiyuan gazed out the window with squinted eyes, yet his mind fixed wholly on Zhu Lingyun.

Lacking total concentration, his link to Zhu Lingyun nearly severed.

The statue’s influence threatened to snap their spiritual bond constantly.

As Chu Zhiyuan eyed the scenery outside with narrowed gaze, his core turned icy cold.

Zhu Lingyun teetered on the brink; the Evil Venerable’s descent loomed.

Once it happened, Zhu Lingyun would cease to be himself.

This clone proved invaluable, revealing Evil Sect secrets.

Not only Giant Spirit Sect intel, but from rival factions too.

Via Zhu Lingyun, he learned two more sects’ Evil Venerables prepared descent.

Unlike Zhu Lingyun’s Divine Son possession, the others would wield lesser might.

Still, three Evil Venerables uniting unleashed devastating force.

The Four Great Sects’ elites, though mighty, faced grievous casualties even in victory.

Should he deploy Zhu Lingyun’s clone against this Evil Venerable?

To track and eradicate its true form?

But that risked obliterating the clone entirely.

He pondered the optimal choice.

Time ticked onward; the glow brightened steadily, Zhu Lingyun’s face growing ever graver.

The surrounding figures rose, circling the statue and Zhu Lingyun via a peculiar Step Technique—an Array.

Eighteen laps later, their forms blazed with light, converging on the statue.

A tremendous force plummeted from above.

The Evil Venerable had arrived.