Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1202 - 1198: Countermeasures

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fists in salute, saying, "Elder."

Zhou Chongming returned the gesture lightly and whispered, "Is there a confidential issue?"

Thanks to the special connection among cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Secret Scripture, he had stealthily drawn near.

Spotting Chu Zhiyuan, he realized the man had hidden intentions and had chosen this secluded spot on purpose.

"Yes, there's important news," Chu Zhiyuan murmured, "Uncle Master, I witnessed..."

He described the happenings at the Giant Spirit Sect in full detail, including the Evil Venerable's descent.

He felt no need to conceal this information.

Zhou Chongming's eyebrows knitted tighter and tighter.

"The Evil Venerable has descended?"

"Yes."

"Did it really descend? Are you certain you saw it right?" Zhou Chongming pressed for confirmation.

"Elder, I saw it with perfect clarity. That Divine Son of the Giant Spirit Sect transformed into someone else entirely, radiating overwhelming majesty, and he even disciplined their Elder, Sun Haoyang."

"You even recognize Sun Haoyang," Zhou Chongming sighed.

Chu Zhiyuan explained, "I used the Shadowless Divine Sword to sneak in close and watch carefully."

"Your Qinggong has truly advanced impressively," Zhou Chongming nodded in approval.

Chu Zhiyuan's Qinggong had outstripped even his master's, advancing at a blistering pace—faster than his cultivation itself.

It wasn't an overstatement to claim he held the top spot in Qinggong within the Heavenly Sword Sect.

With the Shadowless Divine Sword's marvels, he could eavesdrop and observe up close in secret; if spotted, he'd vanish in a flash, untouchable by any pursuer.

"The Evil Venerable descended..." Zhou Chongming's face grew grave as he uttered slowly, "This is genuinely a major problem!"

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Do we possess any method to counter this descended Evil Venerable?"

Zhou Chongming shook his head, replying, "I've never faced a descended Evil Venerable before. We must consult the Sect Leader."

Chu Zhiyuan suggested, "His cultivation level is exceptionally profound. It's wiser to steer clear of him for the moment."

"Indeed, that makes sense," Zhou Chongming agreed. "I'll instruct everyone to bypass the area."

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fists once more.

Zhou Chongming added, "You stay cautious too—avoid unnecessary risks. We'll wait for the Sect Leader's guidance before proceeding."

"Understood," Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Zhou Chongming dismissed him with a wave and departed.

Via Super Sense, Chu Zhiyuan observed Zhou Chongming rejoining the main party, assembling the Three Sects' experts, and proposing a route change to go around.

No resistance arose; the Three Sects' powerhouses swiftly consented, shifting their path accordingly.

Chu Zhiyuan's brows creased.

He hadn't anticipated such effortless persuasion.

Once they veered away, skipping the Giant Spirit Sect entirely, Chu Zhiyuan finally exhaled in full relief.

Zhu Lingyun kept a stern visage, paying no heed to those passing by.

Hu Chengxiang and Sun Haoyang noted his bearing and refrained from pressing him to move.

Besides, Sun Haoyang had already suffered injury earlier, underscoring his fearsome cultivation might.

This came right after the descent; his strength could swell even further over time.

Soon enough, he might reign as the supreme force in the world.

That moment would signal the Giant Spirit Sect's chance to conquer all—not the present.

Chu Zhiyuan didn't trail them but pressed onward toward the Giant Spirit Sect's Main Altar.

Nearly a dozen miles from the Giant Spirit Sect's Main Altar, he halted, scanning for the Undying Evil Venerable Statue.

Soon, he located one just three miles beyond the Giant Spirit Sect's Main Altar.

Super Sense revealed a broad expanse of soothing Golden Light.

He couldn't make out the precise form within.

From past encounters, he recognized it as the Undying Evil Venerable Statue.

Though the Undying Evil Venerable Statue itself remained obscured, he spotted twelve youths stationed close by.

They faced away from the statue, vigilantly securing the surrounding three mountain peaks to bar outsiders.

These twelve were Giant Spirit Sect disciples, all wearing grave looks.

Chu Zhiyuan held back from smashing it immediately; instead, he perched on a peak ten miles distant, keeping distant watch.

Half a day passed before Zhu Lingyun's group reached the statue's base.

Zhu Lingyun positioned himself beneath the statue, gazed at it briefly, then swept his head side to side, demanding coldly, "Where is Zhao Ruilin?"

Hu Chengxiang signaled, and a youth stepped forward to whisper a report.

Hu Chengxiang nodded, then bowed to Zhu Lingyun, "Divine Venerable, the Sect Master is inside the sect."

"Summon him here now!" Zhu Lingyun snorted.

Hu Chengxiang responded swiftly, "I'll fetch the Sect Master myself."

Zhu Lingyun shot him an icy look.

Hu Chengxiang smirked coldly and glanced toward Sun Haoyang.

Sun Haoyang flinched and jabbed a finger at himself.

He waved it off hastily, saying, "Divine Venerable, Senior Brother Hu should handle it. I'll remain here with you!"

Hu Chengxiang eyed Zhu Lingyun expectantly.

Zhu Lingyun turned to the other youths, scoffing, "Fine, you handle it."

Hu Chengxiang blurted, "My thanks, Divine Venerable."

Zhu Lingyun flicked his hand, then stood with arms clasped behind, staring upward at the radiant statue.

Chu Zhiyuan had already shifted to a mountaintop a mile off, concealed behind a boulder, surveying everything.

At this range, the scene unfolded crystal clear; the Undying Evil Venerable Statue had shed its hazy glow, manifesting as a solid, real presence.

The statue's spiritual power failed to warp his sight or thoughts, allowing him a sharp view of its shape.

Three heads bore faces of grief, fury, torment.

Chu Zhiyuan's brow furrowed.

These facial expressions varied from prior ones, signaling another fresh Undying Evil Venerable!

In the end, how many Undying Evil Venerables would keep emerging endlessly?

Destroy one, and two more arise—was it an infinite cycle?

Repairing that Divine Artifact alone could halt the Undying Evil Venerable's intrusions, blocking further statue descents?

He watched Hu Chengxiang glide into the Giant Spirit Sect's valley, enter the grand hall, and draw near Zhao Ruilin.

Zhao Ruilin pored over scrolls intently, glanced up at the noise, then resumed.

"Senior Brother." Hu Chengxiang sighed, claiming a seat on a lower step's chair.

Zhao Ruilin, still scanning scrolls, remarked, "It's unusual to see you so subdued, Senior Brother Hu—facing some trouble?"

Hu Chengxiang stated, "The Divine Venerable has descended; Lingyun is now the Divine Venerable."

"At last?" Zhao Ruilin set aside the scrolls, locking eyes on him.

Hu Chengxiang continued, "The descent differed from my expectations."

"In what way?"

"I figured the Divine Venerable would tower above all, utterly fearless."

"What do you believe now?"

"The Divine Venerable skipped a direct assault on the Imperial City, opting to handle the statue first upon return."

"The statue outranks the Imperial City?"

"The Divine Venerable might lack assurance to charge the Imperial City, maybe detecting a threatening force within."

"That's no shock; the Imperial City hoards countless secrets from years past—hidden experts and treasures abound, who can say what lurks there."

"Senior Brother, the Divine Venerable isn't the Divine Weapon itself but its wielder." Hu Chengxiang shook his head: "I fear his initial target is you."

"No chance." Zhao Ruilin dismissed it.

Hu Chengxiang sighed: "I hate to speculate thus, but his murderous aura toward you feels palpable."

Zhao Ruilin's frown deepened: "As Sect Master, how could he slay me on a whim?"

"To seize total command of our Giant Spirit Sect, wouldn't eliminating you come first?"

"You're overthinking!" Zhao Ruilin snorted: "What's the Divine Venerable up to now?"

"Examining that statue."

Zhao Ruilin revealed, "That statue depicts the Undying Divine Venerable—a rank above ours."

Hu Chengxiang perked up: "Can we tap its power?"

Zhao Ruilin nodded faintly: "Contacting the Undying Divine Venerable follows the same ritual as our own."

Hu Chengxiang's gaze gleamed: "Then let's reach out to the Undying Divine Venerable!"

"Without the Divine Venerable's descent, we might have, but now..." Zhao Ruilin shook his head: "Abandon that notion."

"...Yes." Hu Chengxiang nodded reluctantly.

Zhao Ruilin furrowed his brow, lost in heavy thought.

He paced slowly at the steps' base, his face turning ever more serious.

Through Super Sense, Chu Zhiyuan sensed his inner turmoil, a agonizing choice brewing.

Surface calm masked inner storm.

Zhao Ruilin halted at last, his countenance shadowed.

"Senior Brother?" Hu Chengxiang urged: "Maybe hide away for now, reemerge once the Divine Venerable departs."

Zhao Ruilin shook his head: "Come on, let's meet the Divine Venerable."

"Senior Brother, you doubt my warning?" Hu Chengxiang pressed anxiously.

"I trust you fully." Zhao Ruilin affirmed.

"Then..."

"We have no choice but to face the Divine Venerable."

"It'll be too late by then!" Hu Chengxiang cried: "Escape will prove impossible."

Zhao Ruilin declared gravely: "Should the Divine Venerable truly seek my death, so be it."

Hu Chengxiang gaped in shock.

In his view, Zhao Ruilin had never shown such fervent devotion.

Prior to Sect Master role, he devoutly served the Divine Venerable, yet afterward, his outlook shifted.

He understood Zhao Ruilin's burning ambition: to ascend higher, grasp greater authority, and ascend to true Divine Venerable status.