Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1221 - 1217: Targeted

"Mr. Zhu, I’ve kept you waiting."

With a smile, He Lingchuan cupped his fists in salute, scrutinizing Zhu Lingyun intently.

Not a single subtle shift in his expression escaped He Lingchuan's sharp eyes, as he wondered if Zhu Lingyun had departed.

Zhu Lingyun's eyes fluttered open; he cast a glance at the pair and spoke flatly, "When do we begin?"

"Better to strike tonight without delay," He Lingchuan declared. "While they're finally taking a breather after their hectic day, we'll storm right in and claim victory for sure!"

A soft snort escaped Zhu Lingyun. "Won't the City Guards be vigilant? They're no fools."

He Lingchuan let out a hearty laugh. "Mr. Zhu, fear not—even their sharp senses won't save them."

Zhu Lingyun's brows knitted together.

"We'll create a distraction," Zhong Lingyun explained, "pulling a bunch of elites to the North City area to divert their focus."

"The Demon Hunting Bureau of the Court and the City Guard forces are stiff and rule-bound, utterly predictable!" He Lingchuan chuckled.

Deep in contemplation, Zhu Lingyun pondered the words.

"These little schemes will have them spinning in confusion!" He Lingchuan boasted with pride.

"Are they truly that dim-witted?" Zhu Lingyun questioned skeptically.

Zhong Lingyun shook his head. "Obsessed with protocols, they report every tiny issue up the chain before deciding—how could they adapt on the fly?"

"By the time they've filed their reports, we'll have long completed our task!" He Lingchuan added.

Slowly, Zhu Lingyun nodded in agreement.

Military rules reigned supreme, flexibility sacrificed to uphold discipline without fail.

"Mr. Zhu, are you prepared?" He Lingchuan inquired. "We'll plunge into the fray amid the turmoil!"

"Fine, let's move and observe," Zhu Lingyun replied coolly. "Just ensure your inside men don't falter."

"No chance of that," He Lingchuan assured with unwavering confidence.

"Worst case, we brute-force our entry," Zhong Lingyun suggested.

Zhu Lingyun shook his head firmly. "Storming in directly spells doom."

As the Evil Venerable, losing this vessel meant nothing—it was merely a shell, a mere instrument.

Yet to him, this form held immense value.

He masked his concern with casual indifference toward life and death.

"Having you with us, Mr. Zhu, guarantees we stand a real chance," Zhong Lingyun stated.

He Lingchuan nodded vigorously in support.

Uninterested in further chatter, Zhu Lingyun shut his eyes and resumed concentrating on the radiant clear light within his mind.

This purifying glow wrought miraculous transformations in his body.

Employing the Heavenly Transmigration Technique rather than outright Body Seizing, he still inhabited another's flesh.

The original owner's soul lingered faintly, its barrier thin yet persistent.

Bathed in the clear light's purification, that fragile remnant swiftly melted away.

Beyond dissolving the barrier, traces of the Evil Venerable's dark energy within also vanished completely.

Suddenly, everything felt pristine and unobstructed, as if he had always been the rightful inhabitant—a perfect fusion, utterly gratifying.

Testing the Evil Venerable’s cultivation method, he found its power utterly renewed.

The True Yuan, stripped of all malevolent taint, retained its full might while its essence shifted into something extraordinary and pure.

Surprise flickered across the faces of He Lingchuan and Zhong Lingyun as they watched him.

Zhu Lingyun ignored their stares completely.

His identity as the Evil Venerable remained beyond question; any oddities stemmed from that very origin.

They could never suspect he wasn't the genuine article.

"Mr. Zhu, what was that...?" He Lingchuan asked, curiosity piqued.

"A small trick to fool prying eyes," Zhu Lingyun dismissed indifferently.

"Impressive technique!" Zhong Lingyun praised in awe.

"Do we go together or separately?" Zhu Lingyun inquired.

"Together," He Lingchuan responded promptly.

"Sticking together makes us too conspicuous, drawing unwanted eyes—better to rendezvous inside," Zhu Lingyun countered.

"Well..." He Lingchuan hesitated thoughtfully.

"Pick a meeting spot," Zhu Lingyun pressed.

"Mr. Zhu..." He Lingchuan protested reluctantly.

Should trouble arise, Zhu Lingyun's prowess offered a shot at resistance.

Discovery would doom the duo's forced entry attempt.

Yet Zhu Lingyun's attitude showed zero willingness to exert himself.

Inwardly cursing, He Lingchuan shot a reluctant glance at Zhong Lingyun.

Zhong Lingyun gave a slight nod. "Alright then, North City Pier it is—bustling crowds there reduce suspicion."

Zhu Lingyun acknowledged with a nod.

Once more, he sealed his eyes, seemingly too aloof for more words.

He Lingchuan and Zhong Lingyun shared a look, sighing in helpless resignation.

They noted Zhu Lingyun's heavy wariness toward them, yet he tagged along solely for the allure of the Strange Treasure.

In secret, they smirked—greed ensnared even the mightiest cultivators, ripe for manipulation.

...

Moments ticked by steadily.

As dusk fell westward, the dying sun painted the woods beyond the Imperial City in crimson hues.

Exhausted birds flocked back to the trees, filling the air with raucous cries.

City-bound queues stretched longer, while outbound traffic dwindled.

A piercing whistle echoed from afar in the north.

A flare rocketed skyward, bursting with a resounding "bang" into a massive crimson bloom overhead.

City Guards at the gate snapped their gazes upward.

"General, do we rush to help?" a youthful guard urged gravely.

Towering with hands gripping his sword, Ding Huanchun eyed the fiery display coldly. "Stand down—ignore it!"

"But..." the young guard pressed urgently, "doesn't that violate protocol?"

Ding Huanchun snorted dismissively. "Military command is clear: hold your post, disregard other gates—reinforcements come from inside the walls!"

"Understood," the young guard exhaled, tension easing.

Ding Huanchun's eyes narrowed. "Xiao Fan, fretting over your comrades? Relax— we've got it all locked down, preparations solid!"

"...Yes, General, your foresight is unmatched."

The youth rubbed his head sheepishly, flashing a simple grin.

Relief washed over him.

Ding Huanchun shot a stern glare. "Our duty is this gate—when Evil Demons strike, stay sharp and don't throw your life away!"

The young guard grinned defiantly. "No worries, General—if they charge here, we'll send them packing!"

"Never underestimate foes," Ding Huanchun warned. "No bragging now only to cower later!"

"Hey, General, that's selling us short!" another nearby youth grumbled.

Ding Huanchun snorted. "Prove it when the time comes."

Zhu Lingyun's eyes opened, flicking indifferently toward the gate. "No stir yet?"

He Lingchuan and Zhong Lingyun creased their brows, sharing a tense look, faces darkening.

"The City Guards aren't the idiots you claimed, it seems," Zhu Lingyun remarked.

He had already tipped off Huang Zhengyang about the scheme, who relayed it to General Wei De Zhao Wuyou.

Thus, City Guards and Evil Extermination Department fortified their defenses impeccably.

His Super Sense detected the north erupting into chaos: over two hundred Evil Demons clashing fiercely against more than forty City Guards.

Reinforcements of four hundred City Guards soon poured from the city, turning the tide decisively.

"Bang!"

The heavens split abruptly.

A dark mask materialized gradually above.

Zhu Lingyun recognized it instantly as the Wanxiang Sect’s call for aid.

His eyes snapped open. "Now what?" he asked flatly.

Zhong Lingyun furrowed his brow, lost in deliberation.

"Plan's crumbling—charge the North Gate?" He Lingchuan proposed.

Gloom settled on Zhong Lingyun's features as he mulled it over.

"Or let them keep hitting, and we aim for the South Gate," Zhu Lingyun suggested.

"Abandon the North Gate entirely?" He Lingchuan queried.

Zhu Lingyun chuckled coldly. "A handful of fallen disciples? Let them perish."

"Mr. Zhu!" He Lingchuan barked in fury. "Those aren't your Giant Spirit Sect followers!"

"Securing the Strange Treasure demands sacrifice—this is the cost we pay," Zhu Lingyun stated.

He Lingchuan whirled to Zhong. "Brother Zhong, send the disciples north—we slip in from there too!"

Zhong Lingyun wavered uncertainly.

Zhu Lingyun pierced his character: shrewd yet plagued by hesitation.