Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1228 - 1224: Strange

Having withdrawn three miles to a mountain summit, Chu Zhiyuan let out a heavy breath of relief before halting.

Lu Xiaolu whispered, "Is that Evil Venerable really so formidable?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded solemnly and replied, "Far stronger than I anticipated, likely the most powerful Evil Venerable I've encountered!"

This Evil Venerable surpassed the three he had faced previously by at least double in strength.

A foe of such might presented an enormous danger to him.

Should he meet it solo, his three clones would handle it effortlessly.

Yet with Lu Xiaolu accompanying him now, revealing the three clones was impossible.

"Just how formidable is it?" Lu Xiaolu inquired with curiosity.

Chu Zhiyuan contemplated deeply.

Lu Xiaolu fixed her sparkling eyes on him without blinking.

Chu Zhiyuan sighed and admitted, "Even combining our strengths, we couldn't stand against him."

"Not even your Demon Suppressing Saber would prevail?"

"No, it wouldn't."

Lu Xiaolu furrowed her brow faintly, "That powerful... so we can't confront him directly?"

Chu Zhiyuan answered, "Better to observe from a distance and avoid drawing near."

"...Or perhaps Senior Sister could summon others to tackle this Evil Venerable as a group?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

"Even if Senior Sister and the rest joined forces, they couldn't handle him?"

"The Evil Venerable's cultivation method differs from ours; sheer numbers alone won't suffice," Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

His effectiveness with the three clones stemmed from their potent cultivations, bolstered by spiritual treasures and specialized counter techniques, beyond mere headcount.

"Even with Senior Sister and others arriving, it'd be pointless?"

"Senior Sister Qi's Bright Moon Divine Sword could threaten him; Senior Sister Qi alone might suffice... Senior Sister, hurry and bring Senior Sister Qi here; I'll stand guard."

"Junior Brother standing watch by yourself..."

"Having Senior Sister nearby would make me even more uneasy," Chu Zhiyuan explained, "I can detect threats early and withdraw promptly."

"...Fine then." Lu Xiaolu pondered briefly and agreed it made sense.

Her lingering here felt less safe than letting her junior brother monitor.

With that in mind, she clenched her teeth, "I'm off—stay cautious."

Chu Zhiyuan grinned and waved her off.

Lu Xiaolu transformed into a streak of light mist, darting swiftly across the treetops.

Chu Zhiyuan maintained Insight, vigilantly tracking both Lu Xiaolu and the valley.

Within the valley, a pristine flying knife clung to a tree trunk.

The valley, once veiled in dense fog, now lay fully exposed.

Beneath a statue in the valley, three figures knelt before a white-robed youth.

"Divine Venerable!" The middle-aged man declared gravely, "This grudge demands vengeance this time!"

"Divine Venerable!" A youth urged hastily, "Without avenging this, the shame lingers; Wanxiang Sect's prestige will shatter, and none will respect us further!"

Another youth nodded vigorously, "Divine Venerable, avenge us, please!"

The white-robed youth swept a chilling glance over them, his eyes piercing like thunderbolts.

The trio instantly bowed their heads, bodies quivering faintly.

This was an innate suppression from their bloodlines, like sheep cowering before a savage tiger, trembling uncontrollably.

"Hmph!" The white-robed youth snorted coldly, "What nonsense!"

The three fell utterly silent.

The white-robed youth sneered, "You believe rallying Wanxiang Sect's full might lets you slaughter City Guards and storm the Imperial City?"

The three stayed mute.

The white-robed youth snorted, "Duan Zhongqi, speak up!"

Duan Zhongqi, the middle-aged man, responded, "We fear slaying many City Guards is impossible now. Elites must be swarming the City Guard ranks."

"And still you crave revenge?" The white-robed youth mocked, "Or wish them all dead?"

"I wouldn't dare!" Duan Zhongqi protested swiftly.

"Hmph, you dare plenty!" The white-robed youth narrowed his eyes at him.

Duan Zhongqi lowered his head, "I truly harbor no such notions; I seek genuine revenge."

"Then how do you propose to avenge it?" The white-robed youth chuckled, "Expecting me to intervene?"

Duan Zhongqi affirmed, "Divine Venerable is invincible; dispatching them would be effortless."

"Heh heh..." The white-robed youth emitted a strange chuckle.

Duan Zhongqi's expression shifted, and he bowed deeply.

The other two youths ducked their heads even lower.

One abruptly lifted his head, clasped his hands, and declared, "Divine Venerable, revenge eludes us now, but forsaking it dooms Wanxiang Sect to eternal disgrace!"

"So what if disgrace hangs over you?" The white-robed youth snorted.

The youth stood tall, eyes defiant, "We'll swiftly crumble. Without mighty reputation, disciples won't flock, and we'll fade away."

"Fade..." The white-robed youth shook his head, "Wanxiang Sect's standing in the world rests not on Martial Arts or cultivation."

The youth countered, "Yet cultivation forms the core; all else merely embellishes."

"Intriguing..." The white-robed youth smirked, "I descend here only to mop up your failures!"

"The disciples' failings are to blame," Duan Zhongqi intoned deeply.

"It might not stem from your failings." The white-robed youth shook his head, "My senior brother's rashness bears the fault."

The three promptly bowed low.

Divine Venerables' internal conflicts were beyond their ken to eavesdrop or meddle in.

"Ah, my senior brother..." The white-robed youth murmured with a light sigh, "Overly ambitious but inept, impulsive and rash, birthing this mess."

"..." Duan Zhongqi and the others kept heads down, mute as statues, feigning deafness.

"Enough of him," the white-robed youth dismissed, "Any word from your spies?"

Duan Zhongqi nodded briskly, "News has come."

"What is it?"

"The Giant Spirit Peak Divine Venerable appears located, but extraction failed, so they retreated empty-handed and intend departure this morning."

"Useless!" The white-robed youth sneered.

"..."

"That fool should have exited by now, correct?"

"Yes."

"I shall visit the Imperial Ancestral Temple myself," the white-robed youth stated calmly.

Duan Zhongqi declared, "With Master's direct hand, triumph is assured!"

"I enter the city today," the white-robed youth announced.

"City gates are tightly sealed now," Duan Zhongqi warned hastily, "Infiltration proves arduous."

"You lot can't breach them," the white-robed youth snorted.

"But..."

"My junior brother proves equally worthless, descending incompletely, wielding but half his might, yet plunging ahead recklessly, belittling this realm's heavenly laws!"

"..." Duan Zhongqi stayed silent, acting oblivious.

"Prepare escorts; I depart immediately; by dawn tomorrow, I must reach the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

"Yes."

Overhearing this, Chu Zhiyuan sank into contemplation.

So this was Zhong Lingyun's senior brother, a truly daunting figure.

Claiming Zhong Lingyun's incomplete descent, his words implied his own full manifestation.

Thus unleashing complete power, vastly exceeding Zhong Lingyun's.

Oddly, did the worshipped Evil Venerable Statue represent one entity or multiple Evil Venerables?

Did Wanxiang Sect's statues depict a single individual uniformly, or varied ones?

He shut his eyes, revisiting sights from Giant Spirit Sect and Myriad Blood Sect.

Recalling the Evil Venerable Statues in their dens.

Swiftly confirming they matched exactly, no differing visages.

Then how did two Divine Venerables manifest?

What secret lay herein?

From the three Evil Venerables' memories, each local Evil Sect pledged to one Evil Venerable, not the collective of a cliff or peak.

He directed Insight anew at the valley's Evil Venerable Statue, scrutinizing its face—nearly mirroring the white-robed youth's.

This deepened the enigma.

Evil Venerable descent involved spirit and soul, not flesh, so why the identical likeness to the statue?

Did they employ Wanxiang Sect's secret arts, disguises, or some hidden cause?