Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1205 - 1201: Mobilization

He softly shook his head.

No useful traces linger from the Golden Sword's inflicted wound.

Mimicking the Shadowless Divine Sword's stealth, the Golden Sword hides its aura almost completely, woven with the will of the people's hearts to bewilder their senses.

Regardless of their profound cultivation levels, this prevents them from detecting my presence.

Standing up with a frown, Zhao Ruilin declared, "Let’s go, head back quickly."

"Junior Brother Lu, he...?" Sun Haoyang inquired.

Zhao Ruilin shook his head, "We can’t find the murderer, let’s call the Divine Venerable."

"Right, with the Divine Venerable here!" Sun Haoyang clapped his hands excitedly, "I almost forgot about that!"

Bursting with enthusiasm, he added, "With the Divine Venerable’s intervention, we’ll definitely uncover the murderer!... Senior Brother, gather the disciples, I’ll go invite the Divine Venerable over."

"...Let’s go together." Zhao Ruilin scanned the surroundings quietly before speaking.

A chilling sensation crept over him, hair standing on end, as if peril lurked close by, poised to attack anytime.

The killer is probably observing from nearby; better to avoid solitude.

Speaking gravely, he commanded, "Let’s go together, take Junior Brother Lu’s body to see the Divine Venerable."

"Alright." Sun Haoyang nodded, crouching to hoist the corpse.

Flanked by astonished stares from the crowd, the trio approached Zhu Lingyun.

Zhu Lingyun’s eyes snapped open; he scowled at the corpse and beckoned with his hand.

The body soared swiftly, crashing down before him with a resounding "bang."

His hand pressed against the sword gash as he shut his eyes.

Moments passed before his eyes flew open, gaze piercing and radiant like frigid bolts slicing the emptiness.

Giant Spirit Sect powerhouses all averted their eyes, unable to meet his stare.

"Hey, a good fellow!" Zhu Lingyun sneered mockingly, "This insults the present Venerable!"

Sun Haoyang opened his mouth but clamped it shut under Zhao Ruilin’s fierce glare.

Zhu Lingyun intoned deliberately, "In that case, this Venerable shall confront him!"

"Divine Venerable, silently slaying Junior Brother Lu in one blow demands no ordinary powerhouse," Zhao Ruilin stated gravely, "Likely a master from the Four Great Sects."

He pondered if it stemmed from the Evil Extermination Department but rejected the notion.

He had witnessed such Evil Extermination Department experts personally, yet none showed up.

For those beyond his detection, with such mighty cultivation, they must hail from one of the world’s Four Great Sects.

After all, the Four Great Sects focus on battling demons in remote wilds, seldom striking at Giant Spirit Sect disciples.

"The Four Great Sects meddling?" Zhu Lingyun scoffed disdainfully, "Daring to slaughter my followers, he’ll beg for death!"

His countenance darkened progressively.

An anomaly had caught his notice.

Encircling the injury swirled an aura of will—a superior tier of force!

Frowning, he eyed the Undying Evil Venerable statue, his look growing even grimmer.

Hu Chengxiang murmured softly, "Divine Venerable, might this tie to the Divine Statue?"

Zhu Lingyun’s face shadowed further, staying mute.

Hu Chengxiang took the silence as agreement, sighing inwardly at the Divine Venerable’s evident caution toward the slayer.

Did the Divine Statue have a heir, with the killer as that heir?

Or did the statue harbor descending power akin to the Divine Venerable’s own arrival?

Zhao Ruilin asked, "Divine Venerable, what’s our course?"

"What’s your view?" Zhu Lingyun responded coolly.

Zhao Ruilin continued, "Since he strikes covertly, he’s probably acting solo."

Zhu Lingyun offered no affirmation or denial.

Zhao Ruilin pressed on, "He targeted Junior Brother Lu, maybe over Lu’s status, or to stop the blood pool from those hundred lives... or dreading the statue’s restraint, or upholding justice... the first links to this statue, the rest points to a Four Great Sects master!"

"Can you deal with him?" Zhu Lingyun queried.

Zhao Ruilin sighed deeply, "This gash is strange; tracking his position proves impossible."

"With that interfering will, sensing him is naturally futile," Zhu Lingyun snorted coldly.

Zhao Ruilin suggested, "Could the Divine Venerable dispel this interference, letting us detect him?"

Zhu Lingyun clasped his palms, eyes closing as he chanted softly; his hands wove seals, unfurling gradually like a lotus in bloom.

It appeared as if he elegantly plucked a flowering bloom, calm like a legendary ethereal being.

Seals complete, he lightly brushed the Golden Sword’s wound.

"Buzz..."

A deep hum echoed from the void.

Like a massive bell tolled, the vibration rippled through the atmosphere, stirring their blood and life force.

Sight hazed over; faintly, a golden glow manifested at the corpse’s skull base.

Upon contact with his palm, the gold light coalesced into a blinding, ominous mini-sun.

It detonated in an instant.

"Bang!"

Zhu Lingyun recoiled sharply; his palm seals dissolved into chaos, prior poise shattering into turmoil.

"Divine Venerable!" Sun Haoyang rushed up, extending hands to steady him.

Regaining balance, Zhu Lingyun shot him a glare, barking sternly, "Shut up!"

Sun Haoyang zipped his lips at once, pulling back his arms, eyeing the body and Zhu Lingyun in confusion.

Onlookers brimmed with intrigue.

Evidently, Zhu Lingyun had taken a covert setback, sparking intense wonder at the method.

Sun Haoyang’s inquisitiveness burned fiercer.

Zhao Ruilin intoned seriously, "Divine Venerable, does this assailant’s blade hold peculiarities?"

Zhu Lingyun snorted, "A will far mightier than anticipated!... Perhaps the Four Great Sects’ Sect Masters are behind it?"

"This..." Zhao Ruilin wavered.

He deemed it improbable.

Four Great Sects Sect Masters seldom venture from their mountains absent dire crises.

Nor would they covertly eliminate a Giant Spirit Sect elder.

"This transcends mere swordplay; it’s power of a loftier realm." Zhu Lingyun huffed, "That blade must be a spiritual artifact!"

"What now?" Sun Haoyang blurted urgently, "Can we pursue him?"

Zhu Lingyun cast him a sidelong scowl.

Wrong moment, wrong words—utter foolhardiness!

Hu Chengxiang advised, "Senior Brother, we three move as one; he won’t strike again post-act."

Zhao Ruilin assented, "Divine Venerable, we’ll rally folks to erect the blood pool first."

"Go ahead." Zhu Lingyun dismissed with a wave, staring blankly at the cadaver.

The sword wound’s aura on the body had vanished entirely, traces erased, leads severed.

Fury and caution warred within him.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered deeply.

Evidently, curbing this Divine Venerable offered prime prospects via his Golden Sword.

The trio drifted off.

Zhu Lingyun swept his gaze over nearby Giant Spirit Sect elites, commanding rigidly, "Stay beyond ten meters of this statue!"

"Yes." They chorused, fists clasped.

His form blurred into a gust, vanishing from sight.

Covertly tailing Zhao Ruilin’s group.

Arms folded atop the peak, concealed by boulders, Chu Zhiyuan withdrew his eyes, smirking.

This Divine Venerable seems less formidable; his spiritual power failed against the Golden Sword’s popular will.

A clash opportunity arises.

Emboldened, he delayed assault, scheming an impeccable strategy.

Thus resolved, his silhouette winked away, rematerializing amid woods.

Resting Zhou Chongming arched a brow, muttered briefly to adjacent Heavenly Sword Sect specialists, then ascended, departing the Four Great Sects assembly.

This piqued observers’ notice.

He’d slipped away earlier, returned, veered course.

Vanishing again—another covert summons?

Zhou Chongming materialized before Chu Zhiyuan, grinning, "Zhiyuan, updates?"

Chu Zhiyuan whispered, "Master Zhou, I’ve pinpointed the Giant Spirit Sect’s lair."

Zhou Chongming perked up eagerly.

Chu Zhiyuan proposed, "Shall we charge in to wipe them out?"

"Seize this chance, absolutely strike!" Zhou Chongming’s gaze gleamed fiercely; he intoned gravely, then paused, "Yet our forces may fall short."

Chu Zhiyuan assured, "I’ve informed the Sect Leader; he prepares to mobilize."

Zhou Chongming beamed, "The Sect Leader loathes these vile demons. Destroying their nest? Unmissable!"

Chu Zhiyuan outlined, "I’ll maneuver covertly first; you lead with others, Sect Leader dispatches reinforcements—sufficient."

Zhou Chongming queried, "How counter that Evil Venerable?"

"I’ve tested his depths, nearly grasped it." Chu Zhiyuan replied.

Zhou Chongming invigorated.

Chu Zhiyuan elaborated, "Likely weakened from recent descent, not so mighty... Sect Leader summons four court honored experts internally, plus my Jade Heaven Sword—enough."

Zhou Chongming murmured profoundly, "Slaying one Evil Venerable equals purging myriad demons; true evil eradication at root!"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded firmly.

Zhou Chongming decided, "Then... best relay personally; grave affair, my say insufficient."

"Yes." Chu Zhiyuan agreed.

Accompanied by Zhou Chongming, he faced the Four Sects experts, bowing salutations all around.

Fuyun Sect’s Li Xinhe commanded, Guiyang Sword Sect’s Lu Gengshen led; both recognized Chu Zhiyuan.

They bantered heartily with Chu Zhiyuan, ribbing his stealthy ways over forthrightness.

Chu Zhiyuan now boasted fame across Four Sects, future limitless; all sought ties.

Guanghan Palace’s Qi Qingmei furrowed brows lightly, chiding mildly, "Junior Brother Chu, you..."

"Senior Sister Qi, forgive me..." Chu Zhiyuan flashed an apologetic smile, then detailed his findings.

Qi Qingmei’s fair visage hardened, "Locating the demons’ den demands its obliteration, like our prior raid on Myriad Blood Sect’s base."

"Exactly."

"Right."

Other sects’ powerhouses voiced accord swiftly.

Last Myriad Blood Sect nest demolition, mere duo sects irked them sorely.

Another demon lair spotted? They’d seize it fiercely.

"Straight to it—no Imperial City detour."

Guiyang Sword Sect’s Lu Gengshen itched impatiently for instant assault.

Fuyun Sect’s Li Xinhe chuckled, "I fretted over demon-slaying chances; fate delivers!"

Zhou Chongming clarified details.

First Evil Venerable’s advent, then Heavenly Sword Sect scheme: vanguard this lot, reinforcements incoming.

Chu Zhiyuan recounted sightings—the Evil Venerable’s statue handling, blood pool ambitions.

Lu Gengshen bristled at this.

He insisted not solely Heavenly Sword Sect court honored; other three must contribute.

Gauge foes widely—lest Evil Venerable prove bottomless, concealed perils, wild aces?

Court honored not squanderable.

Even Qi Qingmei urged extra court honored deployments.

Helpless, Zhou Chongming messengered Sect Leader.

Dispatch delayable, but lair assault immediate.

Thwart blood pool construction foremost.

Guided by Chu Zhiyuan’s sketch, they hastened.

Chu Zhiyuan surged ahead solo.