Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1203 - 1199: Instructions

They all aspire to reach the Divine Venerable realm, yet none grasp the immense gap separating them from it.

He now grasps that a Divine Venerable's might truly dwarfs their own power.

A concrete goal stands before them now; the Divine Venerable himself serves as the perfect benchmark for comprehension.

Perishing at the hands of the Divine Venerable in this instant would bring utter frustration and reluctance.

In the face of such danger, how does Senior Brother remain so composed?

Perhaps his heart holds some secret assurance.

"Senior Brother, shall we set off then?" Hu Chengxiang uttered gravely.

"Junior Brother," Zhao Ruilin grinned: "Don’t view the Divine Venerable as something so fearsome."

Hu Chengxiang shook his head, offering a wry smile.

When one's frailty leaves life and death in another's grasp, that helpless sensation proves utterly horrifying.

Chu Zhiyuan contemplated deeply.

The bond between Sect Master Zhao Ruilin and Hu Chengxiang as senior and junior brothers runs far deeper than expected.

Even these wicked entities treat others as cultivation fodder yet harbor genuine feelings.

Such sentiments run profoundly deep, far from the cold indifference one might assume.

Moreover, the Divine Venerable's actions reveal not mere detachment, but rich human emotions.

This Evil Venerable differs markedly from the one in Little Outer Heaven.

Zhao Ruilin first headed back to his modest dwelling to switch outfits.

Then, the pair soared out from the valley.

Upon exiting the valley, Zhao Ruilin halted atop the facing peak, glancing back.

From the summit, the valley lay concealed by arrays, revealing nothing.

Zhao Ruilin gazed intently for moments, his eyes brightening gradually, before turning to declare: "Let’s depart."

Chu Zhiyuan maintained Insight, observing Zhao Ruilin’s every move.

He noticed Zhao Ruilin swallowing an Elixir Pill in his humble abode.

Size of a dragon's eye, black as deepest ink.

He paused briefly, then popped it into his mouth and gulped it down.

Chu Zhiyuan observed the Elixir Pill surviving intact in the stomach, defying the acid's erosion.

Judging by the acid's wear, the pill's shell could endure at least an hour.

Chu Zhiyuan wondered what this Elixir Pill might be—was it the source of Zhao Ruilin’s boldness against the Divine Venerable?

Through Super Sensing Illumination, Hu Chengxiang and Zhao Ruilin glided toward the location.

Meanwhile, Zhu Lingyun circled the statue of the Undying Evil Venerable slowly, employing a unique Step Technique—now swift, now languid, drifting erratically.

His hands formed Seals at times, or struck, pressed, pinched, or raised, sending white light streams from his palms toward the statue.

Dazzling Golden Light radiated from the statue.

The white light clashed with the Golden Light, dimming it progressively fainter.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head slightly.

Zhu Lingyun’s palm lights failed to suppress the Golden Light effectively; the impact remained feeble.

It merely softened the Golden Light's blinding glare somewhat.

He faintly discerned its purpose: dispelling mental illusions for clearer vision.

Chu Zhiyuan tracked the flow of his power via Insight, syncing with the Step Technique and Seals—True Yuan shifting in varied patterns.

This Cultivation Technique proved quite extraordinary.

Hu Chengxiang and Zhao Ruilin arrived upfront.

All present bowed in unison.

Zhao Ruilin gestured dismissively.

Sun Haoyang drew near, whispering via Sound Transmission into Secret: "Senior Brother, stay cautious—this Divine Venerable follows no logic."

Zhao Ruilin nodded, replying in Sound Transmission into Secret: "What’s his cultivation level?"

Sun Haoyang transmitted back: "Far superior to Senior Brother; you stand no chance against him."

Zhao Ruilin dismissed it with a wave, then cupped his fists respectfully toward the halted Zhu Lingyun: "Greetings, Divine Venerable—congratulations, Divine Venerable!"

Zhu Lingyun stood hands clasped behind, staring coldly: "You’ve finally shown up to meet me!"

Zhao Ruilin declared solemnly: "I admit my fault!"

Zhu Lingyun snorted: "Since you admit fault, what punishment do you deserve?"

"I submit to Divine Venerable’s judgment!" Zhao Ruilin stated: "This statue has claimed several of our disciples; I was powerless. Divine Venerable resolved it effortlessly—a true boon inside and out for Giant Spirit Sect, a gift from Divine Venerable himself!"

Zhu Lingyun remarked flatly: "The statue’s level exceeds what anyone in this world can handle."

Zhao Ruilin affirmed gravely: "Without Divine Venerable’s heavenly arrival, Giant Spirit Sect faced unknown devastation—perhaps total annihilation by it!"

Zhu Lingyun waved: "How many disciples does Giant Spirit Sect boast, and how many powerhouses?"

"Giant Spirit Sect counts one thousand three hundred twenty-four disciples total, including the prior ten lost and eight slain by the statue—grand total one thousand three hundred forty-two."

"Venerables of the Venerable Realm?"

"Twenty-five in all."

"Those at Fourth Transition and higher?"

"Eight."

"Pathetically weak—you as sect master prove utterly inept, disgracefully lacking!"

"Indeed, my failings abound," Zhao Ruilin intoned solemnly: "Utter incompetence."

Sun Haoyang parted his lips, but Hu Chengxiang’s glare silenced him.

Zhu Lingyun shook his head: "For raising a Divine Son, I’ll let you off."

Zhao Ruilin hastily cupped fists reverently: "Divine Venerable’s mercy overwhelms me—profound thanks!"

"Spare me the flattery." Zhu Lingyun waved: "Speak your strategy for assaulting the Imperial City."

"Borrow a knife to slay." Zhao Ruilin explained: "Harness Wanxiang Sect and Feiling Sect’s forces to purge the Imperial City’s peak experts first—the concealed ones."

"They’re no idiots."

"They strike more viciously, more radically, craving bold risks."

"Haha..." Zhu Lingyun bellowed laughter, rough and hearty: "Spot on—you see true."

Laughter lit his face, yet his eyes gleamed coldly without mirth: "Those two—reckless profit-chasers, yielding to every lure, intolerant of any edge lost—will charge ahead. Thus, you’re not wholly worthless as sect master."

Zhao Ruilin noted: "Divine Venerable, risks abound; they might claim the spoils."

Zhu Lingyun replied icily: "Spoils they snatch aren’t mine to begin with."

"Divine Venerable’s vision inspires awe," Zhao Ruilin quickly added.

Zhu Lingyun’s gaze slid past him to Sun Haoyang: "Speak your mind?"

"Divine Venerable, what’s with this statue?" Sun Haoyang blurted: "All those faces, grotesque forms!"

"You took them at face value?" Zhu Lingyun snorted.

Sun Haoyang exclaimed in shock: "Not sculpted true to life?"

"An Abnormal Skill unlocked at peak cultivation realms." Zhu Lingyun gestured: "No point explaining—you’d never grasp it, outside your cultivation path."

"Abnormal Skill?" Sun Haoyang pressed: "Does power at full surge warp the form like this? Three heads for tripled wits, each commanding a section?"

Zhu Lingyun eyed him, nodding faintly: "Not entirely dim."

Sun Haoyang marveled: "Yet one body limits it—two arms, two legs—no extra limbs, so gains stay bounded, no?"

"Certain mental methods foster Mental States: power at ten alone, but dual states yield fifty, triple hits a hundred."

"Such wondrous techniques exist?"

"Beyond your ken, for you’ve never touched those mental methods."

"Could we train in them?"

"Impossible." Zhu Lingyun stated calmly: "They drive one mad, skulls bursting."

"Such a shame..."

"With insufficient cultivation, untrainable... Fine, first address resolving this statue." Zhu Lingyun waved gravely: "Mishandle it, and you all perish!"

"We heed Divine Venerable’s guidance." Zhao Ruilin responded swiftly.

Zhu Lingyun instructed: "You three, sit here—I’ll transmit a Secret Technique."

He indicated Zhao Ruilin, Hu Chengxiang, and Sun Haoyang, then the statue’s forefront.

Zhao Ruilin consented instantly: "Gratitude, Divine Venerable."

He settled before the statue, shooting glances at Hu Chengxiang and Sun Haoyang.

They wavered briefly before yielding, seating themselves beside him—one left, one right, flanking him closely.