Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1201 - 1197: The Course of Action

Chu Zhiyuan lifted his gaze toward the distant horizon.

The bond with Zhu Lingyun was utterly severed, but Super Sense continued to grasp Insight.

Via Super Sense, a soft glow radiated from Zhu Lingyun’s form.

This veil of radiance obstructed Super Sense’s Insight while severing his spiritual and heart link to the Clone.

He wondered intensely if Zhu Lingyun’s spirit and heart had been fully remade right now.

Did the Evil Venerable’s arrival mean body possession, or a mere overlay? Was it to erase Zhu Lingyun’s spirit and heart entirely, or just shove it aside?

Was this arrival short-lived, or forever?

Was Zhu Lingyun merely the Divine Son as a temporary vessel, or completely reborn?

Driven by this intrigue, he kept the Insight active.

Twelve powerhouses from Giant Spirit Sect dropped to their knees, heads bowed low, roaring in unison: "Greetings, Divine Venerable!"

"Heh heh..." A gravelly tone erupted from Zhu Lingyun’s lips.

Zhu Lingyun’s usual voice rang clear and crisp, but this coarse timbre clashed harshly with his refined looks, stirring discomfort.

"Rise." Zhu Lingyun lifted his palm.

An unseen power hoisted the twelve experts upright, forcing their legs ramrod straight.

"Thank you, Divine Venerable!" They all saluted with clasped fists in deep respect.

Zhu Lingyun spoke mildly: "I, the Venerable, have descended upon this place—your contributions won’t escape my notice; bountiful rewards await!"

"The Divine Venerable’s arrival brings immense joy and fortune to us; summoning you is our sacred obligation!"

"Heh heh..." Zhu Lingyun chuckled hoarsely once more, flicking his hand: "Spare me the flattery, I despise such drivel. Is that the Imperial City?"

He jabbed a finger toward the Imperial City’s location.

A youthful cultivator saluted with fists: "To the Divine Venerable: yes, that’s the Imperial City. With the Divine Artifact weakened, it’s our prime chance to storm it."

"Hmm..." Zhu Lingyun nodded, murmuring softly: "Imperial City..."

"Divine Venerable, when do we breach the city?" another youth pressed eagerly.

Zhu Lingyun eyed him coolly, replying flatly: "When would you prefer to storm it?"

"The earlier, the better!" the youth blurted: "Aside from you, Divine Venerables from Wanxiang Sect and Feiling Sect seem poised to descend soon too."

"Them?" Zhu Lingyun’s brows furrowed: "All flocking for the spectacle!"

"With our Divine Son, your descent ought to be swiftest and seamless," the youth grinned: "They’ll lag behind, but dawdling might let them seize the advantage..."

Zhu Lingyun intoned calmly: "And what of Zhao Ruilin and the Elders?"

The youth responded swiftly: "Sect Master and Elders are clashing with the Four Great Sects’ powerhouses."

"Quite occupied, aren’t they." Zhu Lingyun sneered mockingly.

The youth pressed on: "The Four Great Sects’ experts are far too brazen, plus treasures lurk there, so..."

"What treasures?" Zhu Lingyun queried softly.

The youth faltered, then rushed: "Rumors say it’s the Strange Treasure from Feixue Cave Mansion, brimming with profound mysteries."

"What purpose does this Strange Treasure serve?" Zhu Lingyun probed.

"It’s whispered to aid cultivation," the youth answered.

Zhu Lingyun let out a light chuckle: "For purifying the heart and steadying the mind?"

"...appears to ward off demonic deviation."

"Heh heh..." Zhu Lingyun unleashed an eerie cackle, shaking his head: "Worried about the Venerable?"

"Absolutely not—please don’t misconstrue, Divine Venerable."

"Humph, misconstrue!" Zhu Lingyun sneered icily: "Summon them here; I’ll inquire personally if it’s a misunderstanding."

"Yes!" The youth assented gravely.

He drew a bamboo tube from his robes, hurled it skyward, and yanked hard.

A shrill, ghostly wail pierced the heavens instantly.

"Bang!"

Black radiance burst across the sky, coalescing into a massive hand.

The enormous black hand hovered unmoving in the air, aimed straight at their position.

Chu Zhiyuan watched it all with keen interest, sensing something off in the Evil Venerable’s demeanor.

A bid for control, perhaps?

Or simply a tyrannical nature, scorning laziness and dodges from underlings?

Only vigilant watching reveals truths—this Evil Venerable bore malicious intent, hellbent on charging the Imperial City.

Still, he exhaled inwardly in relief.

The Evil Venerable hadn’t detected his Insight, proving it wasn’t invincible.

Not that invincible meant it could be countered.

The black hand lingered steadily.

Moments later, a cluster of middle-aged experts rushed over at blinding speed.

Drawing near, they beheld Zhu Lingyun standing tall and aloof, face frosty, eyes flashing like lightning.

Hu Chengxiang, leading the pack, paused uncertainly, eyeing Zhu Lingyun with bewilderment.

Zhu Lingyun scoffed: "At least you’re not total fools."

"Divine Venerable?" Hu Chengxiang saluted hesitantly with clasped fists.

"Reluctant to face me, the Venerable?" Zhu Lingyun demanded coldly.

"Greetings, Divine Venerable!" Hu Chengxiang bowed deeply with clasped fists in haste.

He spotted Sun Haoyang gawking in shock and yanked his sleeve.

Sun Haoyang snapped to, stammering: "Is it really the Divine Venerable?"

Zhu Lingyun grumbled: "Looks like I’m truly unwanted here!"

Sun Haoyang shot back: "Lingyun, stirring trouble once more?"

"Junior Brother Sun!" Hu Chengxiang barked.

Sun Haoyang insisted: "How did the Divine Venerable manifest so fast? The grand ceremony hasn’t even begun. It’s way too early."

Senior elders and masters handled the core rites, while these juniors merely performed standard rituals.

How could mere routine summons draw the Divine Venerable?

"Insolent!" Zhu Lingyun swept his sleeve.

Sun Haoyang flew backward violently, slamming into a tree trunk.

"Bang!"

Foliage rained down.

He lodged deep in the bark, face twisted in agony.

A bizarre energy rampaged inside him, like myriad tiny blades slashing away.

"Divine Venerable, spare him!" Hu Chengxiang pleaded swiftly: "Junior Brother Sun speaks bluntly from rashness, no offense intended."

Zhu Lingyun humphed, sparing him a disinterested glance: "Where’s Zhao Ruilin?"

"The Sect Master returned to the sect for an emergency."

"What emergency?"

"A statue emerged near the sect," Hu Chengxiang explained.

"What sort of statue?"

"This..."

"Hesitating? Planning to end up like that one?"

He nodded toward Sun Haoyang, who writhed to free himself from the trunk.

Sun Haoyang’s swarthy features darkened further; he gnashed his teeth, dropped to the ground, and coughed up blood.

The onlookers’ hearts clenched.

This Divine Venerable struck without mercy!

Hu Chengxiang sighed helplessly: "It appears to be another Divine Statue, said to bear three heads."

"Three heads..." Zhu Lingyun scowled: "Those fools are overreacting too!"

"Does the Divine Venerable know it?"

"We must handle it at once," Zhu Lingyun urged gravely: "How distant from the sect?"

"Reportedly within ten miles."

"...Back we go!" Zhu Lingyun mulled it over, then commanded firmly.

Hu Chengxiang parted his lips, glancing toward the Imperial City.

Zhu Lingyun’s icy stare swept across.

"...As you command." Hu Chengxiang saluted respectfully.

Sun Haoyang limped forward gradually.

Hu Chengxiang declared: "Junior Brother Sun, we head back to the sect!"

"Is that statue truly so crucial?" Sun Haoyang queried, baffled: "Could it endanger us?"

"Foolishness!" Zhu Lingyun glowered, snorting: "Shall this Venerable heed your whims?"

Sun Haoyang saluted: "Divine Venerable, shouldn’t we seize the Imperial City first for the upper hand?"

"No haste," Zhu Lingyun dismissed coolly: "The Imperial City won’t fall easily. If they rush, let them take the front."

"Understood." Sun Haoyang bowed with clasped hands.

Hu Chengxiang exhaled softly in relief.

He dreaded Sun Haoyang’s bullheadedness sparking conflict, defying the Divine Venerable recklessly.

The Divine Venerable wasn’t the Sect Master; such defiance might not be forgiven.

Soon after, Hu Chengxiang and Sun Haoyang forged ahead, escorting Zhu Lingyun back toward Giant Spirit Sect.

Chu Zhiyuan knitted his brows in thought.

He slipped from the tavern, making for the other courtyard.

He sought out Gu Junqi first, voicing his plan to exit the city briefly, perhaps delayed by days.

Gu Junqi probed for details urgently.

Chu Zhiyuan explained his aim to scout the Evil Sect’s maneuvers beyond the walls.

Guided by Lu Wanshan’s orders not to meddle in Chu Zhiyuan’s doings, Gu Junqi merely urged caution.

Chu Zhiyuan ventured beyond the gates, shadowing the Giant Spirit Sect group from afar.

Concurrently, Insight scanned a hundred miles wide, detecting the Four Sects’ elites.

They sped along without battling Evil Demons.

Yet some bore wounds, binding them en route.

Even so, their morale soared vibrantly, buoyed by slaughtering hordes of Evil Demons.

Chu Zhiyuan’s frown deepened.

Collision with the Evil Venerable loomed; Hu Chengxiang was plainly steering them into it.

With that realization, he blinked out of sight, reappearing mid-path.

Another flicker placed him a mile distant.

Along the route, Zhou Chongming’s face changed; he peered leftward ahead, murmured to a nearby middle-aged man, then veered left-front, parting from the masters.

He materialized swiftly before Chu Zhiyuan, just beyond a modest grove.