Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1220 - 1216: Harvest

Chu Zhiyuan looked rattled, swiftly hiding the Golden Sword in his sleeve while sighing deeply in relief: "That was close!"

He glanced up at the heavens, shook his head, and muttered, "My Giant Spirit Sword is really lost forever."

The four elders watched him with keen interest.

Chu Zhiyuan suggested, "Fellow seniors, you must possess spirit swords or other spiritual artifacts yourselves—why not test them here? This altar hides countless secrets."

The round-faced elder grumbled roughly, "Do you believe spiritual artifacts appear just because you desire them?!"

Chu Zhiyuan only smiled in silence.

The round-faced elder snorted derisively, "You must hold great favor in the Heavenly Sword Sect, right?"

Chu Zhiyuan responded, "I obtained this sword through my own efforts; it didn't come from the sect."

"A fateful encounter?"

"Exactly."

"Your fortune is simply outstanding!" The round-faced elder sounded irritated.

Spiritual artifacts remain exceedingly scarce across the realm, and these four elders served only as mere attendants, unworthy of claiming such treasures.

Chu Zhiyuan let out a sigh, "If my luck were truly so remarkable, I wouldn't have obtained the Giant Spirit Sword only to lose it moments later... ah, my Spirit Sword!"

Heartache etched across his face.

The four elders felt a surge of dark satisfaction.

The worth of a spirit sword staggers the imagination; its loss represents a devastating blow.

This massive setback stemmed directly from his bold recklessness, sparing them the hassle of confronting him.

Chu Zhiyuan inquired, "Seniors, what precisely is this Secret Land known as the Imperial Ancestral Temple?"

"No need for you to know!" The burly elder growled deeply, "It's time you departed!"

Chu Zhiyuan replied, "In that case, this junior takes his leave to offer respects."

"A word of warning: such arrogant behavior inside the Four Saints Hall would cost you your martial arts at minimum—or your life at worst!" The burly elder warned icily.

The round-faced elder nodded vigorously, "Precisely, unlike this place where you can get away with antics; there, punishment comes fast!"

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fists, "My deepest gratitude to you four seniors for your magnanimity in pardoning this junior's impudence."

"Hmph, as long as you get it." The round-faced elder huffed, "That martial hero act of yours won't fly in the Imperial City—you'd better adapt!"

"Understood." Chu Zhiyuan nodded obediently, "This junior now departs."

"Off with you." The round-faced elder dismissed him with a wave.

Chu Zhiyuan bowed once more, stepped down from the altar, and proceeded toward the southern main hall.

...

One hour passed before he emerged beyond the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Huang Zhengyang waited by the entrance.

Spotting his exit, Huang Zhengyang approached, scanned him quickly, sighed in relief, and offered his hand.

Together they strolled side by side, slowly distancing themselves from the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Super Sense scanned the area anew, revealing only thick mist with no clear details.

"How did it go?" Huang Zhengyang inquired, "You didn't violate any rules, I hope?"

"Nothing major." Chu Zhiyuan grinned back, "Brother Huang, were you worried I'd stir up trouble?"

Huang Zhengyang explained, "The Imperial Ancestral Temple enforces ironclad rules— even minor infractions spell disaster. Brother Chu, coming from the Heavenly Sword Sect, you're unaccustomed to such rigidity."

Chu Zhiyuan agreed with a nod, "The regulations are incredibly stringent... truly eye-opening."

Huang Zhengyang observed, "Brother Chu, something about you has shifted noticeably."

Chu Zhiyuan arched a brow.

Huang Zhengyang added, "The alteration is faint, yet unmistakably present."

Only those intimately acquainted with Chu Zhiyuan could detect this subtle shift.

This tiny transformation imparted a wholly new aura.

Before, Chu Zhiyuan resembled a sheathed Treasure Sword, its sharpness faintly perceptible.

Now, he blended seamlessly into the Void, his prowess utterly concealed.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, "Maybe the atmosphere here altered my mindset."

He now sensed his profound transformation.

Within his mental void floated a pool of autumn water, radiating crystalline light, pure and radiant.

This mysterious artifact came from the altar.

Its extraordinary effects had already revealed themselves.

It relentlessly cleansed both mind and soul's radiance.

Such soul-level refinement lay beyond the grasp of any cultivation technique.

Possessing this奇宝 allowed endless purification of soul and mind, sparking a fundamental evolution.

As the Evil Venerable revealed, this marked the gateway to the Spirit Realm.

How did this Spirit Realm compare to a Spirit Venerable's? Did they align in stature?

"Regardless, congratulations, Brother Chu, on your further advancement."

"I owe it to your assistance, Brother Huang."

"Hey, spare us the formalities!" Huang Zhengyang waved dismissively with a frown, "We're beyond that."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded, "Any updates on the Evil Sect's scheme to attack the city gates?"

"I've stationed watchers already."

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Is the statue of the Undying Evil Venerable still appearing?"

"None in recent days—that's promising; perhaps they've stopped."

"Quite likely." Chu Zhiyuan noted, "With no results, why squander more effort?"

Undying Golden Essence proved immensely valuable; repeated waste would sting even the Undying Evil Venerable.

Secretly, he wished they'd persist, bolstering his Golden Sword.

Yet the Undying Evil Venerables appeared stingy, halting further statue deployments.

...

Back at the Heavenly Sword Branch, Chu Zhiyuan lounged on his courtyard couch, cradling the Golden Sword.

He inspected the Golden Sword, beaming with joy.

The Golden Sword had evolved dramatically, achieving a qualitative leap.

Earlier, he labored tirelessly to awaken its spirit, but such progress demanded ages of nurturing—not feasible overnight.

That buildup might span years, decades, or centuries.

Yet now, infused with that enigmatic energy, the Golden Sword had stirred to life.

A nascent consciousness, childlike in innocence, had blossomed inside the Golden Sword, eternally imprinting its spirituality.

Though feeble, this spark of spirit marked a world apart from lifelessness.

Under his arcane techniques' nurture, this frail spirituality would flourish relentlessly.

With his boundless spiritual power, its advancement would astonish all.

Soon, the Golden Sword would rival a true Heavenly Sword in might.

A spirited Golden Sword could now bolster his cultivation, no longer draining him solely for its growth.

In turn, it nourished him back.

Moreover, its combat prowess had surged.

...

Zhu Lingyun perched cross-legged on a towering boulder crowning a mountain summit, fingers weaving seals as he gradually parted his eyelids.

He lifted the Giant Spirit Sword from his lap, scrutinizing it closely.

This Giant Spirit Sword too bore remnants of that peculiar energy.

Armed with the Evil Venerable's memories, techniques, cultivation, and this strange energy, breakthrough to Undying Evil Venerable loomed—followed by ascension to Spirit Realm as a Divine Venerable.

Per the Evil Venerable's recollections, a Divine Venerable endured as long as heaven and earth, eternally undying, traceless in movement.

For Chu Zhiyuan, pursuing this path might not guarantee such heights.

The allure proved immense nonetheless.

With a heavy sigh and headshake, he dismissed the notion.

Contemplating the Undying Evil Venerable's brutal path of plunder and carnage sapped his enthusiasm.

This realization shattered all temptation; he flung the Giant Spirit Sword aside.

Instantly, Chu Zhiyuan materialized, snatching the Giant Spirit Sword mid-air before vanishing.

...

Fifteen minutes later, Zhu Lingyun tilted his head westward, spotting He Lingchuan and Zhong Lingyun gliding toward him elegantly.

He eyed the pair briefly before shutting his eyes once more.

Having claimed that奇宝, unraveling their intentions proved effortless.

The strange energy mirrored the Demon Suppressing Divine Tree's essence, innately suppressing Evil Venerables.

Both Giant Spirit Sword and Golden Sword harbored evil forces—abundant in the former, faint traces in the latter.

This encounter purged them entirely, leaving pristine purity.

Their overture to ally stemmed from a sinister ploy: lure forth the奇宝 at a pivotal instant, inflicting grave harm or utter destruction.

Thereby siphoning the strange energy indirectly for themselves.