Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1231 - 1227: Departure
Previously on Imperial Cultivation...
Upon departing from the hall, his face underwent a transformation.
Excitement, concern, and a hint of longing surged through him.
Longing for those times when the Wanxiang Sect alone commanded the world.
Yet, a subtle hunch warned him that events might not unfold without hitches.
Should rival sects detect any anomalies, they would undoubtedly seek methods to preserve themselves.
They could form alliances or call forth their own Evil Venerables.
Not only the Wanxiang Sect’s Evil Venerable had the ability to descend; Evil Venerables from numerous Evil Sects could descend too, though they had been too indolent to bother.
Faced with the threat of their sects’ total destruction and severed tributes, how could they idly permit their own downfall?
With these thoughts, his countenance turned grave.
This issue demanded immediate report to the Sect Master.
The Elders would convene to deliberate on pivotal strategies.
On advancing with greater ease, on obliterating even more sects.
Back in the hall, Zhu Lingyun formed hand seals to cultivate the Wanxiang Cliff mental method.
Extracted from the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror, the memory held Wanxiang Cliff’s core mental method.
In all of You Meng Heaven, Wanxiang Cliff ranked as a top-tier sect, though shy of the Four Great Sects’ stature.
Memories from Zhong Lingyun and the white-robed youth revealed nearly identical mental methods practiced at Wanxiang Cliff.
Merely, the Evil Venerable possessing Zhong Lingyun boasted weaker cultivation than the one in the white-robed youth.
Evil Venerables’ cultivation path centered on spiritual cultivation, a wholly distinct system.
At its heart lay spiritual power.
Only spiritual power could accompany them, transcending spatial barriers; other forces could not.
Upon death, their souls got pulled into the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror, while spiritual power dispersed.
Yet for Zhu Lingyun, such spiritual power proved abundant beyond measure, virtually inexhaustible.
As Zhu Lingyun cultivated the Wanxiang Cliff mental method, progress soared like a master restarting from the basics, realms surging forward at breakneck speed, advancing leagues daily.
…
Chu Zhiyuan materialized within the Heavenly Sword Sect.
He headed straight to the Sect Leader’s Hall, encountering Sect Leader Lu Wanshan.
Lu Wanshan remained immersed in documents at his desk, gesturing for him to take a seat.
Chu Zhiyuan settled into the ornate chair below the dais, with Lu Wanshan joining him shortly after.
Chu Zhiyuan shared his Imperial City adventures candidly, sparing few details.
To claim the Sect Leader position, securing Lu Wanshan’s approval stood as the primary obstacle, demanding utmost trust.
Uncertain of the Heavenly Sword’s surveillance depths, he presumed it tracked his every action.
Speak all that could be voiced, maximally so.
Conceal necessities; full disclosure proved unnecessary.
Chu Liezhao and Leng Tieya’s abrupt emergences served as his hidden aces.
Upon mastering the Earth Origin Technique’s second layer, they could pass as perfected experts therein, key assets in reserve.
Omit this, and Lu Wanshan would dismiss it lightly.
He must convey his intentions transparently to Lu Wanshan, revealing his thought process and deeds.
Gaining Lu Wanshan’s confidence hinged on such openness.
At last, he presented the Golden Sword to Lu Wanshan.
Lu Wanshan attended intently, accepting the Golden Sword post-narration with admiring eyes: “To have achieved so much progress, your fortune is indeed extraordinary.”
Chu Zhiyuan replied, “Indeed, my journey has been smooth, as if the Imperial City and I are very compatible.”
“I hope it continues smoothly,” Lu Wanshan smiled and said, “What do you think of the Evil Suppressing Abyss?”
Chu Zhiyuan knitted his brows in thought, “Disciple thinks it’s worth visiting again to see what peculiar things lie beneath.”
“Aren’t you afraid of danger?” Lu Wanshan said, “The mysterious things below can be truly lethal, and the Golden Sword can’t save you.”
Chu Zhiyuan laughed, “Disciple thinks it’s worth a try.”
“...Alright, if you want to try, then go ahead, consider it yourself.” Lu Wanshan thought for a moment, “I believe in your luck.”
Chu Zhiyuan smiled.
Lu Wanshan lightly flicked the Golden Sword with his finger, eliciting a crisp chime.
A dragon’s roar echoed throughout the hall.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, “Sect Leader, how is my sword?”
Lu Wanshan marveled, “Its spiritual nature is formed, the rest is just gradual accumulation.”
He shook his head and said, “The Awakening step is the most crucial and decisive one. You’ve crossed it, and the rest is simple.”
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, “Do I just need to accumulate merit?”
“You also need to continuously refine it, nourishing and strengthening its spirituality; the stronger the spirituality, the greater the power.”
“Understood.” Chu Zhiyuan nodded solemnly.
“That you reached this point is indeed surprising. We never thought our Heavenly Sword Sect would gain another Heavenly Sword.”
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, “It’s my fortune and also the fortune of our Heavenly Sword Sect.”
“Exactly.” Lu Wanshan nodded.
Chu Zhiyuan said, “Sect Leader, I want to take Li with me down the mountain.”
“Li Hongzhao?” Lu Wanshan asked.
Chu Zhiyuan nodded, “Her cultivation has progressed rapidly, she needs some tempering.”
Lu Wanshan smiled, “You’re a step late.”
Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback, puzzled.
He then furrowed his brows.
He had already found a letter under the stone table in his yard.
The handwriting was Li Hongzhao’s.
He read the content in an instant.
Lu Wanshan said, “She’s no longer on our mountain.”
Chu Zhiyuan showed an even more confused expression, “She’s left the mountain?”
“Taken by a senior to a secret land for cultivation,” Lu Wanshan said.
Chu Zhiyuan was surprised, “Which senior?”
“Senior Song.” Lu Wanshan sighed, “It’s a good thing, don’t worry.”
Chu Zhiyuan eagerly listened and softly said, “Is this Senior Song carrying the Phoenix Bloodline?”
“You are indeed clever.” Lu Wanshan gently nodded, “Senior Song is a golden branch and jade leaf of the imperial family, a heaven-supporting jade pillar, traveling to a secret land for cultivation, one unfathomable by ordinary people.”
“Cultivation...” Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.
He had already seen in Li Hongzhao’s letter what was stated and her self-satisfaction between the lines.
Clearly, this Senior Song was no ordinary person, far from it.
“Don’t worry, this is Hongzhao’s fortune,” Lu Wanshan said, “A fortune others could only dream of.”
Chu Zhiyuan asked, “Who exactly is this Senior Song?”
“Prince Zhuang’s aunt,” Lu Wanshan said, “She has surpassed the level of Nine Transitions Perfection, with hopes of advancing further.”
Chu Zhiyuan asked, “Sect Leader, isn’t Nine Transitions Perfection the strongest?”
“It’s hard to say,” Lu Wanshan shook his head, “Not all Nine Transitions Perfections are the same; some can match up to two or even three others.”
“Can Senior Song overpower Nine Transitions Perfection?”
“Yes, almost overpowering, unless I had external assistance, without the Heavenly Sword, I wouldn’t be a match for Senior Song.”
Chu Zhiyuan asked, “Is this the power of the bloodline?”
“Indeed, the Phoenix Bloodline, one of the strongest bloodlines, can overpower Nine Transitions Perfection at its peak,” Lu Wanshan said, “It even holds the potential to break open this realm.”
“Isn’t Biyuan Heaven the highest?”
“It’s said to be, but who knows,” Lu Wanshan shook his head, “Some things are hard to clarify, always changing.”
Chu Zhiyuan pondered.
Outer Heaven was said to be richer in spiritual energy than Biyuan Heaven, and the martial arts realm there was also higher.
But the relationship between Outer Heaven and Biyuan Heaven was something he couldn’t decipher.
Lu Wanshan took a token from his sleeve and handed it to Chu Zhiyuan, “This is Senior Song’s token; if you wish to find her, you may use this.”
Chu Zhiyuan accepted it.
It burned hot to the touch, like a scalding iron.
It was a White Jade Pendant, palm-sized, with a phoenix carved on each side.
The phoenixes on both sides appeared different, as if they were about to soar into the sky at any moment.