Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1226 - 1222: Operation

Just as he expected, after altering his appearance, he trailed behind two young men hauling aromatic barrels back to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

During their return path, the duo explained his assumed identity, everyday personality, habits, and the duties awaiting him.

They promised to shield him, so he merely needed to stick close and perform the assigned chores.

Zhu Lingyun stayed quiet, merely nodding casually.

In the modest courtyard of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, he refrained from activating Super Sense, relying solely on his Cultivation to probe the vicinity.

A bundle of pristine light was already cleansing his soul and presence, evoking no resistance but rather a faint feeling of kinship.

It felt like this place was his true home, filling him with profound comfort and serenity.

He settled on a stone bench, soaking in the morning sun's warmth, without circulating his energy.

"Squeak..." The courtyard gate creaked open.

The two young men slipped in silently, bearing a lunch box.

"Time to eat..." one young man announced.

They set the lunch box on the courtyard's stone table and unveiled it, displaying an abundant spread of six dishes and two soups.

"Today's dishes are good," the other young man remarked approvingly.

The pair chatted about the meal while gossiping on minor affairs, such as who got busted for laziness and faced punishment, or who botched training and ended up hurt...

Zhu Lingyun kept mute, sampling only a few mouthfuls.

His instincts picked up no threats, allowing him to dine safely, though he ate sparingly.

One young man grinned, "Xiaozhuang, after eating, let's clean the altar."

"It's finally our shift for the altar—such an easy, enviable job."

Zhu Lingyun nodded silently.

"After the altar, we gotta sweep the leaves too—no slacking today."

"They should hire more hands here; why hold back? It's the Imperial Ancestral Temple—the Court won't skimp on it, right?"

"Too many folks would liven it up, ruining the sacred vibe."

"Alas..."

Post-meal, Zhu Lingyun tagged along with them, grabbing a broom en route to the altar.

The altar glistened with dew, vast and forsaken, devoid of any Tribute guards.

Only now did Zhu Lingyun grasp that the four Tributes' presence when Chu Zhiyuan arrived earlier was deliberate.

"Let’s begin!"

The trio advanced to the altar, commencing a thorough scrub from summit to base.

Zhu Lingyun froze stock-still at the altar's heart, broom in hand, eyes shut.

The other two youths feigned ignorance, diligently sweeping away.

Abruptly, Zhu Lingyun slammed his foot down.

"Bang!"

The altar trembled violently.

"Bang!"

He stomped once more.

"Bang!"

He pounded again.

The two young men furrowed brows, shooting him glances before scanning about.

They deemed the racket excessive.

However, Zhu Lingyun showed no signs of halting, poised for another strike.

"Bang!"

He thumped yet again.

Still, the altar stood firm.

Shaking his head in dismay, he snatched up the broom and resumed sweeping.

Upon finishing the altar cleanup, Zhu Lingyun headed back to the courtyard and shook his head at the youths. "I’m leaving tomorrow."

"Did it work?" one young man inquired urgently.

Zhu Lingyun snorted derisively. "Nothing at all!... They’re just toying with me!"

"Impossible!" the other young man declared firmly.

Zhu Lingyun explained, "I can sense that thing, but it’s under the altar—gotta dig it up."

"Then dig it out."

"It’s too tough; impossible to excavate." Zhu Lingyun shook his head. "You can only ogle it hungrily, but never claim it."

"Isn’t there another way?"

"I need to head out and inquire properly if there’s a method; I’m stumped now."

"I see..."

"The information is unreliable," Zhu Lingyun shook his head. "it’s too risky."

The two young men shared a powerless look.

Zhu Lingyun urged, "If you’ve got a solid plan, act fast—slipping in this time was simple; next won’t be."

"...Let us think." The two young men nodded deliberately after exchanging glances.

Zhu Lingyun arched a brow discreetly.

Indeed, they hid more schemes.

The Evil Demon from Wanxiang Sect proved utterly fearsome, and these two hadn't even cultivated Evil Skill.

Those who had likely posed even greater horrors—best to wipe them out swiftly.

...

Fresh from dinner, Chu Zhiyuan cultivated the Second Layer of Earth Origin Technique in a separate courtyard when Lu Xiaolu sought him out.

Entering the yard, she pressed him to leave at once, warning against delay.

Hunting the Evil Demon from Wanxiang Sect could consume the entire night.

Chu Zhiyuan consented without hesitation.

He'd toiled through the day in Cultivation: first refining the Golden Sword, then sifting memories from He Lingchuan and Zhong Lingyun, sorting the Secret Techniques of Feiling Cliff and Wanxiang Cliff.

At last, he revisited the Second Layer of Earth Origin Technique.

A break was truly in order.

Thus, the pair soared from the Imperial City, gliding northward beneath the moonlit sky.

"The Evil Demon of Wanxiang Sect lurks north of the city?"

Lu Xiaolu's green robe billowed as she glided like Lingbo Micro-step, her voice soft.

Under the moon's glow, her features gleamed like polished Mutton Fat Jade.

"Yes, northward."

"How did you pinpoint it, Junior Brother?" Lu Xiaolu wondered. "You didn’t sense it directly, right?"

His perception was extraordinarily keen, yet detecting an Evil Demon wouldn't reveal its Sect affiliation.

Chu Zhiyuan replied, "I possess a personal belonging from a Wanxiang Sect expert."

With that, he drew a Longsword from his sleeve and flung it toward Lu Xiaolu.

Lu Xiaolu whisked her sleeve, sending the flying Longsword back to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan caught it grinning.

"...No wonder!" Lu Xiaolu comprehended.

This explained everything.

She marveled next, "With that, no need to pursue—just grasp it and trace back to their hideout."

Chu Zhiyuan sighed helplessly. "Past a hundred miles, sensing fades."

"Then let’s locate it swiftly." Lu Xiaolu nodded.

This was logical.

After all, mere objects made long-range aura tracking arduous.

A hundred-mile detection stretched credibility.

The night flowed like water, moonlight crisp and chill.

They dashed roughly forty miles north of the city before halting at a mountain base.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded toward it.

Lu Xiaolu assented and vanished soundlessly into the woods.

Her eyes dulled, her presence dissolved, merging seamlessly with the darkness.

In the forest, nocturnal critters brushed past her, mistaking her for a trunk or weed.

She moved without a whisper, branches no barrier.

She burrowed or twisted, clung tight or skimmed by, morphing forms wordlessly as she neared three figures deep within.

A middle-aged man and two young men sat cross-legged on tree stumps.

Three newly felled ancient trees provided broad, sturdy stumps wafting subtle scent.

Suddenly, the middle-aged man snapped open his eyes.

The two young men across from him mirrored him.

"Elder?" a young man whispered.

Another young man queried, "Elder, where precisely is the Divine Venerable?"

The middle-aged man replied offhandedly, "You’ll know soon enough."

"What commands does the Divine Venerable bear?" the young man asked, baffled. "Why such secrecy?"

The middle-aged man shook his head mutely.

The other young man asserted gravely, "The Divine Venerable must be here for our vengeance!"

"This grudge shall be settled." The first young man grew resolute.

Memories flooded of Sect and Feiling Sect elites dispatched together, almost utterly destroyed.

Such a crushing loss was rare lately, fueling their fury and itch to assault the Imperial City.

All hopes pinned on the Divine Venerable.

Yet the Divine Venerable's actions grew covert, summoning them clandestinely.

Lu Xiaolu halted stock-still.

She caught 'Divine Venerable' and shivered faintly.

Then Chu Zhiyuan's voice whispered in her ear: "Let’s retreat a few steps first."

Lu Xiaolu dipped her head subtly, withdrawing noiselessly.