Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1224 - 1220: Verification

"Is it really that impressive?" Xiao Lu asked with curiosity.

She understood that Chu Zhiyuan wouldn’t hand her just any ordinary secret technique.

It had to be much better than typical ones, even exceeding those found in Guanghan Palace.

Chu Zhiyuan grinned and replied, "Senior Sister, give it a try. It’s great for masking your aura, perfect for sneak attacks, and it goes perfectly with your Qinggong."

Lu Xiaolu’s face brightened with delight as she chuckled, "Is it truly that incredible?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "You’ll find out once you practice it, Senior Sister."

Lu Xiaolu completed skimming the slim booklet and shut her sparkling eyes to circulate her aura.

Among Guanghan Palace’s highly talented disciples, she shone as a true genius.

This aura-concealing secret technique proved simple for her, and shortly after, her presence started shifting.

Moments later, her aura grew fully subdued.

Each cycle of the technique boosted her skill, enhancing the effect further.

An hour passed as night deepened and the bright moon hung high, until she vanished entirely into the shadows.

Her body remained visible, yet her aura blended perfectly with the darkness.

She became one with the night, impossible to distinguish.

A grin appeared on Chu Zhiyuan’s face.

What a genuine prodigy—mastering such a secret technique in mere moments.

She had now fully grasped it, ready to wield it masterfully.

"How does it feel?" Lu Xiaolu opened her sparkling eyes and whispered.

Right away, she sensed the shift in her own voice.

It sounded profound and calm, echoing from afar.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded smilingly.

"Let me test it properly." She exclaimed excitedly, drifting away with lightness.

Chu Zhiyuan observed her departure without pursuit, hands clasped behind, wandering slowly.

His mind dwelled on the intelligence from the Evil Suppressing Abyss.

That rare beast at the Evil Suppressing Abyss depths appeared immortal, rendering his aid pointless.

Yet why did Guan Zhengying and Hu Qixuan still seek his involvement?

Deep in the Evil Suppressing Abyss, they must recognize the creature’s invincible nature.

By calling for him, either it had mutated, providing a chance to slay it, or they had devised a strategy.

Thrill surged within him, itching for the challenge.

What exactly was this extraordinary beast?

The world’s marvels surpassed all expectations. He once believed this realm, caught between Little Heaven Beyond and Outer Heaven without Grotto Heaven or Secret Realm, held no secrets to uncover.

But circumstances suggested otherwise now.

...

After a few loops around, a white silhouette darted past his vision.

He vanished in an instant, materializing behind Lu Xiaolu the next second.

Lu Xiaolu had crept up to him, her slender hand extended to poke his shoulder.

Suddenly he appeared, so she quickly pulled back, dodged aside, and spun around.

There stood Chu Zhiyuan behind her, hand outstretched toward her shoulder.

Lu Xiaolu burst into laughter, "You sensed me?"

Chu Zhiyuan gave a faint smile, "I detected you more precisely this time."

"This secret technique is fantastic. It fools even Senior Sisters," Lu Xiaolu remarked, "and it deceives City Guards, Evil Extermination Department experts, and even Heavenly Sword Branch masters."

She realized she could slip into the City Guard’s Government Office rear, Guanghan Palace Villa’s back, or the Heavenly Sword Branch undetected.

Previously, such feats lay beyond her reach.

With this aura-hiding skill, matched to her Qinggong and Swordsmanship, the results would be utterly devastating.

Her excitement bubbled over as she declared, "Junior Brother, let’s head out for a stroll."

"To hunt Evil Demons?" Chu Zhiyuan inquired.

Lu Xiaolu replied with enthusiasm, "I want to test this secret technique’s true might."

"Alright, let’s move." Chu Zhiyuan agreed smilingly.

They glided from the small courtyard, first slipping back into Guanghan Palace Villa unnoticed by any masters.

She donned green robes, then together with Chu Zhiyuan, they soared over the massive city walls.

Those walls loomed high and brimmed with evil-suppressing power, draining True Yuan heavily.

Most ordinary experts found them nearly impossible to scale.

Silently they crossed, touching down beyond the South City Gate.

Chu Zhiyuan gestured southeast.

Lu Xiaolu’s eyes gleamed as she dashed that way, her elegant form merging into the night.

Chu Zhiyuan trailed right behind.

About thirty miles on, Lu Xiaolu slowed abruptly, melting quietly into a forest.

Within the woods, a band of men lounged by a roaring campfire.

Skewered beast meat roasted over it, fat dripping to make flames leap, fire blazing strong, savory scents wafting everywhere.

They clutched meat in one hand, wine jars in the other, gulping booze now and then.

"Damn it, what a letdown!" A youth roughly wiped wine from his mouth with his sleeve. "Wanxiang Sect and Feiling Sect live up to no reputation—they’re just hot air!"

Another youth let out a sigh, "They never should’ve lost so badly."

These fellows had witnessed firsthand the two sects’ experts getting utterly crushed.

Hundreds of them massacred by City Guards, survivors fewer than one in ten.

Such a disaster hadn’t struck in years.

Evil Sect powerhouses rarely gathered in hordes, preferring small teams or lone strikes for ambushes.

This bold, massive assault by Wanxiang Sect and Feiling Sect stood out as exceptional.

When they mustered like that, triumphs often followed, displays of overwhelming force.

But this time, City Guards lay in wait, deploying elite forces to deliver a crushing counterblow.

"You can’t call Wanxiang Sect and Feiling Sect weak or overhyped," a middle-aged man stated gravely. "Evil Extermination Department experts hid among the City Guards—I spotted several I knew!"

A voice questioned, "Don’t the Evil Extermination Department and City Guard hate each other?!"

"Yeah, are you sure you didn’t mistake them?"

"No mistake—they were definitely Evil Extermination Department elites!"

"They’re working together?"

"This changes everything. Their rivalry used to help us, tying up the City Guards."

"I doubt they’ll stay allied!... Fresh off this win, they’ll fight over glory and turn on each other!"

"Exactly, their bad blood runs too deep for lasting teamwork. They’ll split soon, giving us our opening!"

"Can we actually breach the city?"

"We will!"

...

Chu Zhiyuan glanced toward Lu Xiaolu.

Lu Xiaolu’s brows furrowed slightly, cold gleam in her sparkling eyes as she met his gaze.

Chu Zhiyuan gave a nod.

He stooped, grabbed a rock, and hurled it at the campfire.

"Bang!"

The fire erupted violently, embers blasting outward to strike the encircling Evil Demons.

"Who goes there!"

Amid yells, Evil Demons struck back with palms, blades, or swords to fend off the flying sparks.

Yet the energy in those sparks proved bizarre, impossible to fully deflect.

"Ah!"

"Who is it?!"

"Ambush!"

"Damn them!"

...

Yells, bellows, and cries erupted into pandemonium.

The campfire died out, thick woods blocking moonlight with tangled branches and leaves.

In the gloom, foes toppled one by one.

Chu Zhiyuan and Lu Xiaolu darted through, felling an Evil Demon at every turn.

A quarter-hour later, even those fleeing the woods dropped dead without fail.

Chu Zhiyuan and Lu Xiaolu stood at the former campfire spot, ground still radiating heat, meat’s fragrance hanging in the air.

Corpses of Evil Demons littered the earth, no foul odor rising—their injuries sealed, no blood spilled.

Chu Zhiyuan spoke, "Senior Sister, ready for more?"

"More out there?" Lu Xiaolu’s eyes blazed with thrill.

Lurking unseen in shadows, launching lethal surprises, one-shot kills—the rush was intoxicating.

"Plenty more." Chu Zhiyuan confirmed with a nod.

"Yes, keep going!" Lu Xiaolu urged eagerly.

"Follow me." Chu Zhiyuan took the lead as they launched into another hunt.

...

Come morning, the pair returned outside the South City Gate.

Spotting them, Ding Huanchun hurried over beaming.

Chu Zhiyuan waved him off, "Brother Ding, I’m exhausted—let’s chat later."

After a night purging Evil Demons, Lu Xiaolu had savored the thrill fully.

Ding Huanchun eyed Lu Xiaolu curiously.

Clad in cyan robes, she glowed vibrantly, showing none of Chu Zhiyuan’s weariness.