Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1210 - 1206: Toying

"Listen carefully now." Zhu Lingyun declared in a grave tone, his lips starting to move without producing any sound.

Sun Haoyang and Hu Chengxiang detected no audible words.

Zhao Ruilin maintained a solemn expression, nodding now and then while deeply contemplating.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Zhu Lingyun ceased his silent movements and asked coldly, "Have you memorized it?"

Zhao Ruilin looked somewhat ashamed.

Zhu Lingyun shook his head. "I’ll repeat it once more. If you fail to commit it to memory, then abandon the practice!"

"Yes, forgive me, Divine Venerable!" Zhao Ruilin responded with gravity.

Zhu Lingyun’s lips resumed their motion, still silent.

Chu Zhiyuan hid behind a tree, his eyes narrowed slightly as he fell into contemplation.

Super Sense picked up Zhu Lingyun’s silent transmission, perceiving it as if hearing directly.

He carefully analyzed this mysterious secret technique.

The method aimed to awaken hidden potential and erupt with immense power.

Its complexity was extraordinary, demanding the deployment of Power of Soul at an advanced level.

Yet it inflicted severe harm, not only to the mind but also to the Power of Soul—the foundation of future potential.

For a person on the brink of death, such concerns seemed irrelevant.

What good is vast potential in a corpse?

Survive the crisis first, then worry about the rest. Besides, another Secret Technique likely exists to restore the soul.

Thus, how to disrupt this technique?

He mulled over countermeasures, finally determining: interrupt it during activation, or stopping it afterward proves nearly impossible.

With that realization, his eyes sharpened, and a faint smile curved his lips.

He glanced briefly westward.

From that direction, Zhou Chongming and the masters of the Four Sects rushed forward.

A hundred miles posed no challenge for them; an hour sufficed.

Could he eliminate the statues in the Giant Spirit Sect within that hour?

His gaze shifted toward the valley, fixing on those statues.

These statues originated from the Evil Venerable who had possessed Zhu Lingyun.

Through them, the Evil Venerable empowered Giant Spirit Sect disciples while harvesting their accumulated power.

Destroying the statues—would it block the transmission of the disciples’ condensed heart and spirit to the Evil Venerable?

If there was even a chance to cut this power link, attempting it made sense.

It was worth the effort.

...

Zhao Ruilin soared alone from the valley, directing himself toward the prior Undying Evil Venerable Statue.

Zhu Lingyun trailed a mile behind, concealing his presence completely, breath undetectable.

Chu Zhiyuan arched a brow.

Zhu Lingyun’s Concealing Breath Technique reached a profound level, his form wavering between seen and unseen.

This secret technique proved exceptionally powerful.

The Divine Venerable possessed an arsenal of extraordinary secret techniques, each more astonishing than the last.

Without previously suppressing the Giant Spirit Sword’s Sword Spirit by force, he couldn’t have countered the abrupt assassination.

Strikes from the void, impossible to anticipate.

The current secret technique was no less wondrous. Without Super Sense’s vigilant watch, it would have escaped notice.

One could only say fortune disfavored him; Chu Zhiyuan’s abilities perfectly countered these methods.

Once they departed the valley entirely, he darted inside.

The moment he materialized, the Golden Sword lashed out, shattering one statue.

Instantly vanishing, he reemerged beside another, demolishing it as well.

In mere flickers, every Evil Venerable Statue in the valley lay in ruins.

"Woo—!"

A beam of black light rocketed skyward, unleashing a shrill cry that echoed across the valley.

The tranquil night exploded into chaos.

"Who’s there?"

"What happened?!"

"The Divine Statue! The Divine Statue!"

"What’s happened to the Divine Statue?"

"The Divine Statue is broken!"

"Someone smashed the Divine Statue—seize him now!"

The sharp wail and furious cries reverberated through the valley.

Giant Spirit Sect disciples buzzed like frantic flies, darting everywhere in search of Chu Zhiyuan.

Atop the Sect Master Hall’s roof, Sun Haoyang and Hu Chengxiang wore darkened expressions.

Sun Haoyang ground his teeth. "That vile coward!... Did he spot us and strike at this moment?"

This sneak attack and sabotage couldn’t be mere chance.

Only one explanation: he’d been spying on them, lurking nearby in secret, timing his move perfectly.

"That must be it." Hu Chengxiang replied calmly, face stern. "Junior Brother, stay close—we mustn’t split up."

"Hmm—?" Sun Haoyang looked confused.

"Separating leaves us open to his ambushes and kills." Hu Chengxiang explained.

"...No separating then." Sun Haoyang spat through clenched teeth. "So underhanded!... Should we summon Senior Brother back?"

Hu Chengxiang sighed. "The Divine Venerable would rage."

They were mere playthings in his palm.

Not just them—the entire Giant Spirit Sect and even the Divine Venerable suffered the same manipulation.

At the Divine Venerable’s arrival, they’d viewed him as majestic, untouchable, a godlike figure dominating mortals with overwhelming might and enigma.

Now, that reverence crumbled silently.

The Divine Venerable too was toyed with, outmaneuvered, powerless against that foe.

Without realizing, their reverence for the Divine Venerable faded away.

They knew better, yet emotions overrode reason.

Hu Chengxiang warned gravely, "Junior Brother, never breathe a word of this to the disciples."

Sun Haoyang felt powerless. "But with countless masters slain, how can the disciples stay ignorant?"

Word of deaths spread like wildfire; fewer perished before the Divine Venerable’s descent.

Since then, masters fell in droves, yet the killer evaded capture.

Disciples feigned obedience outwardly, but privately, doubts must brew.

After all, they were living beings, not mindless dolls.

Hu Chengxiang furrowed his brow, eyeing the chaotic Giant Spirit Sect disciples, and bellowed, "Why scramble about!?"

A middle-aged man hovered before the hall, cupping his fists and bowing. "Elder Hu, the vandal who ruined the divine statue has vanished—we’re hunting him."

"That stealthy wretch—if he’s gone, forget him." Hu Chengxiang roared. "Return to your posts!"

"But the divine statue..."

"Disregard the divine statue—pretend nothing occurred!" Hu Chengxiang thundered. "All resume duties, form groups of at least four, no solitary wanderers!"

"...Understood."

Though baffled and reluctant, the middle-aged man yielded under Hu Chengxiang and Sun Haoyang’s icy glares, saluting stiffly before departing.

He berated the disciples upon leaving, gradually restoring order to the valley.

Yet under the surface peace, greater turmoil brewed.

Hu Chengxiang’s heart weighed heavy.

Sun Haoyang murmured, "Senior Brother Hu, matters grow dire."

Ambushed in their own stronghold, they couldn’t retaliate and now feared further strikes.

A chill crept over him; the valley felt perilously unsafe.

Hu Chengxiang’s visage turned grave.

He too recognized the peril—if the Divine Venerable targeted disciples instead of statues, casualties would mount sky-high.

Chu Zhiyuan knitted his brows.

He watched Zhao Ruilin abruptly veer, steering toward Zhou Chongming’s group.

Chu Zhiyuan instantly grasped that Zhao Ruilin’s perception was keen, sensing the arrivals ten miles distant.

In a flash, Chu Zhiyuan vanished, materializing behind Zhou Chongming.

Zhou Chongming detected him upon arrival, turning for a look before floating closer.

Chu Zhiyuan saluted with clasped fists. "Elder."

"More intelligence?"

"Ten miles ahead lie Giant Spirit Sect Master Zhao Ruilin and the descended Evil Venerable."

"Ten miles..." Zhou Chongming mused.

Chu Zhiyuan advised, "Elder, I recommend veering off to evade them."

"...I’ll confer with the others." Zhou Chongming replied.

Chu Zhiyuan inclined his head.

Ahead, Qi Qingmei glanced back, shooting him a sharp side-eye.

Chu Zhiyuan offered an apologetic fist salute and a smile.

He discerned Qi Qingmei’s irritation.

Qi Qingmei huffed.

Zhou Chongming approached with a smile, drawing Lu Gengshen and Li Xinhe to Qi Qingmei, relaying Chu Zhiyuan’s report.

Brief discussion followed; soon Qi Qingmei gestured with her elegant hand.

Chu Zhiyuan advanced, saluting with a grin. "Senior Sister, time presses—we must move swiftly."

"No course change; we confront Zhao Ruilin and the Divine Venerable."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned. "Senior Sister, Zhao Ruilin poses no issue, but the Divine Venerable..."

"We face the Divine Venerable as well!" Qi Qingmei snorted.

Lu Gengshen stated firmly, "This Divine Venerable awaits us inevitably."

Li Xinhe declared, "Let’s test if he truly boasts three heads and six arms, or if he endures our united assault!"

Zhou Chongming asked, "Zhiyuan, odds of triumph?"

He trusted Chu Zhiyuan’s assessments deeply.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head lightly.

Though Nine Transitions Venerables all, against the descended Evil Venerable Zhu Lingyun, they lagged a full realm behind.

Comparable to the gulf between Ninth and Eighth Transition, or even Ninth versus Third or Fourth Transition.