Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1230 - 1226: Desire to Destroy

Lu Xiaolu cried out in shock, "Junior Brother, what kind of Miracle Technique is this?"

"I just mastered it," Chu Zhiyuan responded with a grin, "I’ve been training hard on it lately. What do you think?"

"Do it again!" Lu Xiaolu demanded.

Chu Zhiyuan placed his palm on her slender shoulder, and in a blink, they returned to the valley.

Lu Xiaolu glanced around curiously before turning to Chu Zhiyuan, "Junior Brother, is this the Earth Origin Technique?"

She looked toward Qi Qingmei, "Senior Sister, this isn’t Qinggong, right?"

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, "It’s somewhat like Qinggong, I guess."

"Qinggong isn’t nearly this swift!" Lu Xiaolu exclaimed.

Qi Qingmei nodded faintly, "It surpasses Qinggong entirely. How long did it take you to master it?"

Chu Zhiyuan answered, "I spotted the Cultivation Technique down there, practiced it relentlessly, and finally grasped it here."

"Such a long time... no surprise," Lu Xiaolu giggled, "Given your talent, Junior Brother, taking so long to master it means this Miracle Technique is truly remarkable."

She then inquired eagerly, "How far can you jump in a single bound?"

Chu Zhiyuan grinned, "A few miles won’t be a problem if the path is known."

"Let’s head back to the Imperial City!" Lu Xiaolu suggested, "Show us your top speed."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded smilingly.

Qi Qingmei spoke up, "No need to hurry back yet. Let’s check out this Evil Venerable first."

She examined the white-robed young man closely, "Junior Brother, is this the Wanxiang Sect’s Evil Venerable?"

"Yes."

"Junior Brother, turning him over to the Court could earn you a Lifespan Extension Pill."

An Evil Venerable’s appearance is extremely rare, especially one getting slain.

Chu Zhiyuan could be the first ever to slay an Evil Venerable. Delivering this corpse would count as a huge merit, equivalent to slaying hundreds of Evil Demons.

Huang Zhengyang couldn’t match such an accomplishment.

This Lifespan Extension Pill was surely destined for Chu Zhiyuan.

"No thanks, Senior Sister Qi," Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "The Court probably won’t recognize him as an Evil Venerable anyway."

Evil Venerables descend via spirit and soul, channeling power into a body.

Once the body perishes, the Evil Venerable’s soul departs, carrying the power away.

The white-robed corpse shows no signs of an Evil Venerable. Why would the Court accept it?

No sense in embarrassing oneself.

"...You’re right." Qi Qingmei frowned slightly, scanned the area, and sighed, "Even grabbing Wanxiang Sect disciples wouldn’t help."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded in agreement.

Lu Xiaolu complained, "Isn’t that too unjust?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Just slaying an Evil Venerable brings massive gains, like helping me perfect the Earth Origin Technique at least."

Lu Xiaolu asked curiously, "Killing him aided your Earth Origin Technique practice?... Junior Brother, isn’t your Earth Origin Technique awfully strange?"

Chu Zhiyuan explained, "Facing the Evil Venerable surged my spirit immensely, yielding tons of advantages, including perfecting the Earth Origin Technique."

"Good thing you won," Lu Xiaolu huffed, "Weren’t we holding off until Senior Sister arrived?"

"He was escaping, so I struck, watched him awhile, then went for it."

"And you handled it all on your own quietly?"

Chu Zhiyuan stated, "Wanxiang Sect summons Evil Venerables; other Evil Sects might too, so more shots at slaying them could come."

Lu Xiaolu asked with interest, "So how exactly do you slay an Evil Venerable?"

"Evil Venerables rely on Spirit Secret Techniques; you need a mighty spirit to destroy them." Chu Zhiyuan tapped the sword at his waist, "Treasures like my Golden Sword work best."

"Spirit Secret Technique..." Lu Xiaolu wondered, "Did the one from before work well?"

"Extremely well." Chu Zhiyuan beamed, "Thankfully, cultivating it purified and bolstered my spirit."

Lu Xiaolu laughed, "That’s perfect... oh, people approaching."

She darted to a far spot and zipped back, "It’s those three from earlier."

"Grab them, question them fully." Chu Zhiyuan ordered, "Traitors inside the Imperial City are outrageous."

Qi Qingmei knitted her brows lightly, "Yes, seize them... don’t let them die; deliver to the Court for questioning, or they won’t trust it."

When Duan Zhongqi and his group reentered the valley, they saw nothing odd with the white-robed youth, rushed forward, and halted mid-sentence.

Chu Zhiyuan and Lu Xiaolu materialized soundlessly behind, blocking their acupuncture points.

They brought the trio plus the white-robed youth’s body back to the Imperial City, handing them to Ding Huanchun.

...

At first light, Zhu Lingyun exited the Imperial City via the South Gate.

He sped southward, leaping with Qinggong for roughly a hundred miles, then veered east for another ten-plus miles, landing in a valley.

He had disguised himself as Zhong Lingyun.

He strode into the valley with icy composure.

The valley lay hushed and grim.

Four statues loomed at the corners, backed against the cliffs, watching over all inside like sentinels.

A towering statue dominated the valley’s heart, reaching ten meters tall.

Dozens of small courtyards dotted the area, spaced apart.

Before the statues, several men meditated cross-legged, young and middle-aged alike.

As Zhu Lingyun arrived, they turned, rose swiftly, and saluted with clasped hands.

"Divine Venerable!"

"Greetings, Divine Venerable!"

"Divine Venerable!"

...

Dimness filled their gazes, a heavy aura weighing on them.

Zhu Lingyun pressed on without pause, straight to the central hall.

A grand statue towered before the hall.

Before it, he coldly eyed the Evil Demons: "Heavy casualties, I take it?"

A middle-aged man advanced, fists cupped: "Divine Venerable, we failed miserably and couldn’t breach the Imperial City."

Zhu Lingyun declared: "This failure isn’t your fault; the Court played dirty."

The middle-aged man grinned wryly: "We got sloppy, dismissing the City Guards as worthless after years of peace, never imagining they’d hidden so many powerhouses!"

The Imperial City’s Divine Artifact always protected it, so guards mainly patrolled to deter sects’ experts.

They figured the long-peace City Guards had dulled and weakened.

Recent guard showings confirmed their uselessness.

Thus, they amassed forces for a bold assault on the Imperial City.

Yet the City Guards concealed hordes of elites, ambushing them and inflicting brutal losses.

"Enough dwelling on it; the dead stay dead." Zhu Lingyun gestured dismissively: "Focus on our next move."

"For now, we lay low, take the hits, and cultivate fiercely," the middle-aged man said gravely.

Zhu Lingyun sneered: "Zheng Pingzhang, such timid thinking!"

Zheng Pingzhang, the middle-aged elder, smiled bitterly: "Divine Venerable, reality is harsh... strong, we dominate; weak, we get crushed—it’s the natural order!"

The world works that way: mighty, strut arrogantly; feeble, swallow pride to survive, lest the sect vanishes.

Wanxiang Sect’s Evil Skill is mighty; strength will return, so long as they persist.

Zhu Lingyun snorted: "Few above us—why cower?"

"Divine Venerable..." Zheng Pingzhang faltered.

Zhu Lingyun announced: "I’ll act myself to boost Wanxiang Sect’s fame!"

He swept a chilly gaze over them: "Wipe out a few sects!"

"Many thanks, Divine Venerable!" Zheng Pingzhang bowed hastily.

Joy surged through everyone.

The earlier gloom lifted greatly, replaced by thrill.

With the Divine Venerable striking personally to destroy sects, Wanxiang Sect’s prestige would soar, maybe even claim top spot.

As the premier Evil Sect, recruits would flock, geniuses arise endlessly, propelling Wanxiang Sect to greater heights.

The prospect thrilled them.

Zhu Lingyun said coolly: "You’re in no shape to rush; depart in two days!"

He turned and stepped into the hall.

"Yes!"

Wanxiang Sect disciples responded with fervent fist salutes.

Discussions erupted among them.

Beaming faces replaced the prior heaviness.

No grief for lost comrades; self-preservation mattered more.

Now, with the Evil Venerable intervening, prospects brightened, worries vanished, cheer returned.

Zhu Lingyun sat in the hall, Zheng Pingzhang trailing in.

Taking the head seat, Zhu Lingyun spoke flatly: "You know those Evil Sects’ main altars, yes?"

"Fear not, Divine Venerable—we control at least twenty!"

"Good." Zhu Lingyun nodded, adding coolly: "Rest up; we strike soon after!"

Zheng Pingzhang wavered: "All of them?"

"Why spare any?" Zhu Lingyun huffed: "Erase every sect, leaving Wanxiang alone at the top!"

"...Understood." Zheng Pingzhang clenched his jaw, nodded reluctantly, and left.