Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1229 - 1225: Mastered

Duan Zhongqi and the two young men bowed once more, then withdrew from the mountain valley.

Just the white-robed youth lingered within the valley.

The white-robed youth rose to his feet, stretched out lazily, and morphed into a strand of mist, floating away from the valley into the horizon.

Chu Zhiyuan dashed into the valley.

Super Sense Illumination revealed every single detail.

His last glance landed on the Evil Venerable Statue, examining it closely.

The Golden Sword eased out of its sheath gradually.

The sword quivered faintly, displaying a trace of eagerness, as though it was rejoicing.

He gave the sword a gentle flick to soothe it.

In the next instant, Chu Liezhao emerged from the Light Gate.

The Heavenly Illusion Pavilion emerged from his sleeve, settling onto the neighboring peak.

Among the Evil Venerables' Spirit Secret Techniques, the mightiest were the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion and the Dragon Soaring Bell.

Chu Liezhao concealed himself inside the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion.

Chu Zhiyuan grinned, ascended into the sky, and swung his sword with precision.

"Swoosh!"

"Bang!"

A fissure emerged, rapidly expanding like a spiderweb, before crumbling into dust that floated downward.

"How dare you!"

A thunderous voice resounded in Chu Zhiyuan’s mind.

Shortly after, a beam of white light streaked toward him, and the white-robed youth materialized again, charging straight at him.

Chu Zhiyuan flickered away from his position in a blink.

The white-robed youth formed a seal with his hands, emitting a piercing cry: "Die!"

Golden radiance flared up instantly in Chu Zhiyuan’s mind, where the Dragon Soaring Bell thwarted the ferocious spiritual assault.

This savage energy took the form of a white glow sheet, resembling a blade's beam.

When it collided with the Dragon Soaring Bell, the white light dispersed.

Chu Zhiyuan noticed it was tough to absorb the dispersed white light, pure as it was, yet the Golden Sword gobbled it up, bolstering its own power.

This revelation filled him with joy.

The Golden Sword kept delivering astonishing wonders, nothing short of miraculous.

Mistaking his brief stupor for weakness, the white-robed youth rejoiced inwardly and surged forward, targeting Chu Zhiyuan’s chest with his palms.

The Golden Sword thrust forward, piercing right through his chest.

Stunned, the white-robed youth glanced down at the Golden Sword embedded in his chest, then lifted his eyes to Chu Zhiyuan.

The shock in his gaze quickly morphed into fury, and he prepared to form hand seals.

Chu Zhiyuan vibrated the sword.

The Golden Sword blazed with intense light, channeling the aura forged from hearts and merit into the white-robed youth’s body.

The white-robed youth’s form glowed brilliantly, golden beams erupting like those from a gilded statue.

His sealing hands halted midway, the rage and killing intent in his eyes shifting to shock, then reluctance, as his gaze swiftly faded.

He froze in place, rigid as stone, while the glow enveloping him dimmed rapidly, mirroring his eyes.

Chu Liezhao positioned himself in front of the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion, forming seals to manifest the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror in empty space.

A golden beam from the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror sucked in a cluster of multicolored light.

No soul, not even an Evil Venerable’s, could withstand the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror in its present state.

As souls—particularly Evil Venerable souls—were drawn inside, the mirror’s power intensified, its hold on souls becoming ever more unyielding.

With the multicolored light absorbed into the mirror, the white-robed youth stood utterly still, his breathing halted.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered briefly, then shook his head, abandoning the idea of the Heavenly Transmigration Technique.

This white-robed youth’s identity held no further value for manipulation.

The Wanxiang Sect was fated for destruction.

Chu Liezhao withdrew the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion, entered the Light Gate, and disappeared completely.

Chu Zhiyuan settled calmly at the square’s center, exactly where the white-robed youth had sat before.

He resumed visualizing the mountain and earth in the Spring Gushing Acupoint, channeling more spiritual power and merit into it.

By dispatching this white-robed youth—an Evil Venerable—he had amassed another huge surge of merit.

At the same time, Chu Liezhao started refining the white-robed youth’s soul.

By the time Lu Xiaolu and Qi Qingmei arrived gracefully at the valley, they spotted Chu Zhiyuan flickering in and out of sight.

He resembled a figure in a serene deep pond, his form visible amid rippling waves that distorted his image.

Qi Qingmei abruptly extended her hand, causing the pair to stop short at the valley’s entrance.

Lu Xiaolu gazed curiously and looked toward Qi Qingmei.

Qi Qingmei shook her head softly, her expression grave, her red lips parting slightly to send a voice transmission: "He’s at a critical juncture, on the verge of a breakthrough."

"Breakthrough?" Lu Xiaolu replied via transmission: "He’s already at the Nine Transitions."

Qi Qingmei shook her head: "It’s a unique Miracle Technique."

Lu Xiaolu then gestured at the white-robed youth and murmured, "It’s that fellow!"

Qi Qingmei stated, "He’s already dead."

"Dead?!"

Lu Xiaolu’s sparkling eyes widened in shock.

She glided forward silently, peeked at the white-robed youth, pouted her lips, and shot a look at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan was mere steps away, yet felt distant, like a being atop clouds, beyond reach.

In defiance, she reached out her slender jade hand.

A delicate hand intercepted hers, pushing it down—Qi Qingmei had floated over to halt her.

Lu Xiaolu pulled back her hand, her small mouth moving to transmit to Qi Qingmei: "What Miracle Technique is Junior Brother cultivating? It’s so peculiar."

Qi Qingmei shook her head lightly: "Far from ordinary... you’re being playful, how can you interrupt him!"

Lu Xiaolu scrunched her dainty nose: "He’s totally safe, cultivating solo here, clearly not worried about interruptions."

Qi Qingmei shook her head: "Even so, better not disturb him. Let’s watch and wait."

She inspected the white-robed youth’s body and finally shook her head, puzzled.

The fatal injury was a sword thrust through the heart, oddly bloodless, leading to his demise.

The two women studied the corpse, then probed his body.

They found only the heart wound, no other internal damage, and no trace of True Yuan going berserk.

Qi Qingmei furrowed her brows delicately.

"What’s wrong?" Lu Xiaolu asked hastily, "Senior Sister, is there something strange?"

"You can tell their fighting method." Qi Qingmei explained.

"What method?" Lu Xiaolu inquired eagerly.

"What’s your guess?"

"Me?... Didn’t Junior Brother’s sword kill him? That sword’s no mere Treasure Sword."

Qi Qingmei replied: "It was a clash of spirits."

Lu Xiaolu’s bright eyes gleamed with insight, and she nodded thoughtfully: "I get it!"

Comprehension dawned instantly, revealing the white-robed youth’s cause of death.

Qi Qingmei added: "You’ve read the accounts—spiritual battles are deadlier than physical ones, outcomes hinge on a single thought."

Lu Xiaolu remarked: "I never imagined we’d face this. This Evil Venerable was powerful, but he crossed paths with our Junior Brother."

She gazed at Chu Zhiyuan, who seemed submerged in a deep pool, and chuckled softly, "Junior Brother’s Demon Suppressing Saber is exceptional, so his spiritual strength must be immense."

His ability to command dozens of Flying Knives simultaneously showcased his spiritual prowess.

All the Guanghan Palace senior sisters conceded they couldn’t match it, yielding to him.

This was like clashing against Junior Brother’s might—the Evil Venerable’s misfortune.

Qi Qingmei nodded faintly.

As the women continued their inspection, a sudden anomaly caught their sense; they turned, but Chu Zhiyuan had vanished.

"Huh?" Lu Xiaolu cried out in astonishment: "Junior Brother?"

Qi Qingmei scanned the surroundings carefully.

The instant after, Chu Zhiyuan materialized back in his prior spot.

"Junior Brother?!" Lu Xiaolu rushed forward, clutching his sleeve; sensing its reality, she relaxed: "What’s this Miracle Technique?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Earth Origin Technique, the Miracle Technique I cultivated in the Little Heaven Beyond."

The Second Layer of the Earth Origin Technique had at last been perfected.

He had also grasped its marvelous applications.

"Earth Origin Technique..." Lu Xiaolu cocked her head, pondered briefly, and shook her head.

Qi Qingmei shook her head too.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Ladies, come with me."

He rested his hands on their soft shoulders.

Trusting him completely, the two allowed his hands on their shoulders. Abruptly, their view twisted, and moments later, they stood not in the valley but atop a mountain peak.

Surveying around, they realized this peak faced the valley directly.

Though the distance wasn’t great, the swiftness defied belief.