Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1232 - 1228: Apprenticeship

He gave it a quick glance without scrutinizing too much, drawing it straight into his vision.

Lu Wanshan chuckled and remarked, "Your spiritual power is truly robust enough to endure it."

Chu Zhiyuan lifted his eyes toward him.

Lu Wanshan explained, "This token is the Phoenix Order, which holds the Phoenix Realm and can scorch the soul."

He stayed unharmed thanks to the protection of the Heavenly Sword. Any other person grasping this token would have their soul incinerated, enduring agony too intense to bear, forcing them to release it.

Chu Zhiyuan grinned and replied, "It feels a tad uncomfortable, but one can push through it."

"Without sufficient spiritual power, enduring it is impossible," Lu Wanshan shook his head.

If it were mere bodily torment from burning, it might be tolerable, yet the soul's searing pain defies endurance.

This fact alone demonstrated his soul's immense power, his spirit extraordinarily potent, surpassing regular cultivators by far.

Even surpassing his own.

With this realization, he shook his head and sighed deep inside.

The soul's strength is mostly innate, and though acquired enhancements can bolster the spirit, matching true soul depth remains elusive.

Chu Zhiyuan was born with such a mighty soul, a genuine prodigy, heaven's chosen son.

He too was heaven's chosen, yet his talent fell just short of Chu Zhiyuan's.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Sect Leader, where might Senior Song’s Secret Land be?"

Lu Wanshan shook his head: "Its location remains unknown to all. It drifts without a fixed spot, and the Phoenix Order serves as the key for entry and departure."

Chu Zhiyuan drew out the Phoenix Order once more, focusing his perception intently.

A sudden blaze ignited in his vision, flames manifesting vividly within his consciousness.

The ferocious inferno expanded wildly, as if set to consume the whole mental void, searing his very soul.

He gathered his focus slightly, not yet taking further action.

The pristine water from the Imperial Ancestral Temple he had acquired gleamed at once, resembling the sun bursting forth above clear autumn waters.

Wherever its radiance touched, the ferocious flames dissipated in an instant, like mere phantoms from moments ago.

He recognized it wasn't purely illusory earlier; no illusion could breach his mind so deeply.

That was a distinctive spiritual secret art, a manifestation of will, akin to the will of the Undying Evil Venerable.

From the white-robed evil venerable's memories, he had discovered the true name of that wondrous item from the temple: Miao Jing Spirit Water.

Miao Jing Spirit Water embodies ultimate purity, impeccably clear, cleansing all spiritual impurities and keeping the Spirit Platform pristine.

All the flames swiftly withdrew, finally coalescing inside the fiery crimson Phoenix, which emanated a brilliant seven-colored glow at its core.

Gathered fully within, the flames made it shine even more brilliantly and magnificently.

It drifted leisurely through the void, wings fluttering softly, encircled by shimmering seven-colored lights.

Beyond the seven-colored aura, flame clusters morphed into tiny birds, wheeling around it in reverence, creating the spectacle of a hundred birds homage to the Phoenix.

Chu Zhiyuan sharpened his senses, faintly detecting a pull toward the southwest.

He realized pursuing that bearing would guide him to the Secret Land's entrance.

Lu Wanshan observed him closely, noting the shifts in his face, and upon seeing his smile at last, inquired, "Found any leads?"

Chu Zhiyuan responded, "I believe I can locate it."

"Care to check it out?" Lu Wanshan questioned.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "Sect Leader, I wish to see her."

Lu Wanshan advised, "Having mastered Qinggong, you may visit whenever. Keep it brief, then hurry back to the Imperial City to prevent any shifts."

Chu Zhiyuan clearly couldn't brush aside Li Hongzhao's situation so easily.

Both originating from Little Outer Heaven, in this Biyuan Heaven realm, they leaned on each other as the nearest kin.

How could Chu Zhiyuan find peace without witnessing Li Hongzhao's condition firsthand?

"I won't linger overly," Chu Zhiyuan assured with a smile, "Sect Leader, affairs in the Imperial City near conclusion—the Evil Sect’s remnants are crumbling, the great tide ebbs away, and they plot a final desperate escape."

"Has the great tide truly ended?" Lu Wanshan said, "Merely two Evil Sects allying is one thing. Without the Divine Artifacts shielding the Imperial City recovering, hope lingers. If two fail, three might unite, or even a dozen Evil Sects could band together."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head smilingly, "Sect Leader, Evil Sects differ from us—they obsess over profits and losses, intolerant of defeats, making alliances rare. Two sects uniting was already extraordinary; three is nearly unthinkable, much less more."

With a heavy sigh, he remarked, "Even as two sects unite their strength, they fail to rattle the City Guards, leaving all Evil Sect powerhouses demoralized, unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless additional Evil Venerables arrive, only then could the tide turn," he declared.

"Do you believe more Evil Venerables will come?"

"Indeed," Chu Zhiyuan affirmed with certainty.

Lu Wanshan inquired, "Why is that?"

"Since the Divine Artifacts are failing, entry into the Imperial City is possible, and it harbors treasures they desperately desire," Chu Zhiyuan explained. "Sect Leader, I wish to examine the ancient records on those oddities."

"Records of such oddities? ... You must go to the Ancient Hall for that," Lu Wanshan responded. "When will you go to see them?"

"Let us check them out right away," Chu Zhiyuan suggested. "To prevent rushing later with no chance to review."

Grasping the nature of these oddities proved essential, preventing clueless encounters with them.

From the white-robed youth’s descent as an Evil Venerable, he had discovered their immense importance, offering paths to breakthroughs and the key to exceeding the Undying Venerable.

The Undying Venerable stood at cultivation’s peak, yet a enigmatic item promised hope for further ascent into a realm beyond words.

Within the Imperial City Temple lay the Miao Jing Spirit Water. What secrets hid in Outer Heaven? Little Heaven Beyond? Or elsewhere in Biyuan Heaven?

What if others existed, and he stumbled upon them ignorant of their miraculous properties and precautions? That would squander a golden chance!

...

At dawn, Chu Zhiyuan hovered over a sheer cliff, eyes fixed on the concealed valley beneath.

Dense mist cloaked the valley, concealing its secrets deep within.

Not even Super Sense pierced the fog to reveal the valley’s depths, hinting at profound mysteries below.

The Phoenix Order had pinpointed this very valley.

Rather than plunging in hastily, he paused at the cliff’s edge, then unleashed a resounding howl.

The howl reverberated through the valley.

Fog churned and billowed wildly.

Chu Zhiyuan grinned, his instincts confirmed: the Secret Land’s entrance lay here, and sound penetrated inside.

A crimson streak flashed, and Li Hongzhao burst from the mist, alighting gracefully before him.

Folding her wings like a phoenix, she radiated elegant nobility.

A captivating scent drifted over, teasing his senses.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, appraising her. "Congratulations."

Li Hongzhao beamed proudly, spinning lithely. "Had you arrived a day later, I’d have hit Nine Transitions."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed lightly. "Does cultivating in the Secret Land speed up your progress?"

"It’s not just quicker—it’s far steadier," Li Hongzhao answered. "The prior unease has utterly faded."

"Truly congratulations," Chu Zhiyuan nodded, observing her closely before extending his hand.

Li Hongzhao offered her slender jade hand.

His fingers touched her fine wrist, instantly scanning her body’s secrets.

In an instant, a brilliant phoenix blazed vividly in his mind.

It mirrored the vision from gripping the Phoenix Order.

Chu Zhiyuan recognized it as a bloodline manifestation.

Yet this phoenix missed some spiritual essence compared to the Phoenix Order’s version.

That one brimmed with vitality and ferocity, its stare piercing soul and spirit alike.

This one merely mimicked the shape, devoid of the original’s divine spirit and liveliness.

Soon after, he withdrew his hand, nodding. "Your cultivation nears completion at Nine Transitions, though it seems a bit hollow."

"Hollow how?" Li Hongzhao frowned in confusion.

Chu Zhiyuan clarified, "Your spirit lacks depth; heart and soul aren’t solid or refined enough."

"How can I fix it?"

"Senior Song surely possesses a fitting secret art," Chu Zhiyuan advised. "Seek it from Senior Song."

Though he knew spirit techniques, they might not fit Li Hongzhao perfectly.

Phoenix Bloodline cultivation demanded a unique path, not to be treated lightly.

A technique tailored to the Phoenix Bloodline was ideal.

"Yes, I’ll consult my teacher," Li Hongzhao agreed with a nod.

Chu Zhiyuan blinked in surprise. "You’ve taken Senior Song as your master already?"

Li Hongzhao nodded, smiling radiantly. "The Sect Leader arranged it, so naturally I accepted."

"...Makes sense," Chu Zhiyuan murmured thoughtfully.

Senior Song, an Imperial Family princess of noble royal lineage, offered Li Hongzhao from Heavenly Sword Sect a discipleship that could forge stronger ties between Heavenly Sword Sect and Prince Zhuang’s faction.

Thus, the Sect Leader had established this master-disciple bond.

Li Hongzhao declared, "Come with me to meet my teacher."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded in agreement.

He was eager to personally assess what sort of individual Senior Song truly was.

He relied on Li Hongzhao's sharp judgment, knowing she wouldn't err in her evaluation.

Should she deem Senior Song unfit, Li Hongzhao would boldly defy Lu Wanshan's command and cast it aside.

Li Hongzhao rested her hand on his shoulder before vaulting down into the valley.

Thick fog shrouded their sight, trapping them in a milky emptiness that even Super Sense couldn't pierce.

Abruptly, the scene distorted, their environment morphed—beginning with a lush floral aroma, then vast trees sprouting into a dense forest that veiled the winding hills.

Mountain peaks rose like impenetrable walls cleaving heaven from earth.

Every massive tree demanded three people to wrap their arms around its trunk, soared roughly thirty meters high, and thrust directly toward the heavens.

Super Sensing Illumination unveiled everything in a one hundred and fifty mile radius.