Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1238 - 1234: Power

As the pair neared Zhu Lingyun, he closely inspected the Golden Staff.

His face showed deep seriousness.

He had originally intended Chu Liezhao to wield the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror. Even under the gaze of Ji Qingyun and Zheng Pingzhang, he wished for Chu Liezhao to step forward.

The Undying Evil Venerable's soul refused to surrender.

To his shock, the Golden Staff's might proved overwhelming, smashing the Undying Evil Venerable's soul in one strike.

He failed to capture it swiftly, and it had already escaped back to You Meng Heaven.

This grudge is now sealed, demanding the No Heart Sect's total annihilation.

Annihilating the No Heart Sect will sever the pathway for the Undying Evil Venerable's arrival.

The ultimate revelation was the Golden Staff itself, boasting strength that surpassed all expectations.

"Divine Venerable!"

"Congratulations, Divine Venerable!"

Ji Qingyun and Zheng Pingzhang glided forward, grins on their faces as they cupped fists in salute.

Zhu Lingyun shot them a look, observing their ashen, frail conditions, and spoke mildly, "Didn’t retreat far enough?"

Zheng Pingzhang answered, "We pulled back another mile, yet it was still too much. This Golden Staff is incredibly mighty!"

His gaze fixed on the Golden Staff with awe, "It overpowered even the Supreme Divine Venerable!"

Ji Qingyun chimed in, "This staff holds tremendous power, yet it hinges on its wielder. Absent the Divine Venerable, its true potential remained untapped."

Zhu Lingyun stated, "This time, you two have truly achieved something major. ... I’ll grant you a Secret Technique."

"Thank you, Divine Venerable!" Ji Qingyun quickly clasped his fists.

He considered humbly claiming that presenting the staff to the Divine Venerable was merely his obligation, unworthy of reward.

Yet he dreaded forfeiting the Secret Technique.

Zheng Pingzhang eyed Ji Qingyun with jealousy, seeing Zhu Lingyun had no plans to reward him similarly, and clutched his throbbing head, face twisted in agony.

Zhu Lingyun ignored it entirely, remarking flatly, "The rest is up to you."

With the Golden Staff, he indicated the facing mountain peak, thickly wooded, hiding houses and pavilions within.

Zhu Lingyun declared, "Those within likely stand no chance against it."

The duo recoiled in surprise.

Zhu Lingyun pressed on, "Deal with them, and we advance to the next site."

"Yes!" They bowed with cupped fists in unison.

Sharing a quick look, they soared toward the opposing peak.

They harbored no doubts about Zhu Lingyun's assertion.

From more than ten miles distant, their minds had nearly burst.

No Heart Sect disciples, positioned much nearer, surely couldn't endure.

These disciples are likely already slain; they just need to tally the bodies.

At the structures' fringe stood a pavilion, evidently a watchpoint.

As they neared, four black-robed men stumbled out, faces drained of color.

Without questioning their origins, the four launched attacks.

The pair paused briefly, then struck back with palm strikes.

A loud "bang" echoed as the four staggered back several paces.

All at once, one pursed his lips, unleashing a shrill whistle.

Responding to the signal, swarms of experts poured from pavilions and yards, encircling the two and assaulting with fury.

"What’s happening?!" Zheng Pingzhang bellowed.

Ji Qingyun clenched his jaw, "Some treasure must be shielding the sect here, no?"

No treasure's power is absolute; counters always exist.

The No Heart Sect apparently wields one that neutralizes the Golden Staff, safeguarding its members.

Regrettably, this strikes when the pair is at their frailest, heads pounding, bodies limp and aching, managing just thirty to forty percent strength.

"Fall back!" Zheng Pingzhang urged, "We can’t last!"

No Heart Sect experts fell short of Venerable status; they lingered below the Venerable Realm.

Otherwise, the two would already lie gravely wounded.

These sub-Venerables possessed modest cultivation; normally, they’d pose no threat to the pair.

But now, sheer numbers threatened to overwhelm, like ants devouring an elephant; lingering meant peril.

"Retreat!"

Ji Qingyun ground his teeth.

Zheng Pingzhang abruptly unleashed a palm blast, channeling full remaining force to shove back several foes.

The two exploited the opening, morphing into streams of faint smoke, fleeing straight to Zhu Lingyun.

Zhu Lingyun perched cross-legged upon a verdant boulder, utterly composed, coldly eyeing them as they crumpled to the ground, gasping raggedly, blood spurting from their mouths.

He uttered not a word, merely scrutinizing the pair.

Zheng Pingzhang winced, smeared blood from his lips, "Divine Venerable, those foes emerged unscathed, full of vigor, and almost overpowered us!"

With a deep frown on his face, Zhu Lingyun gazed down at the Golden Staff.

"Might a certain treasure be suppressing it?" Zheng Pingzhang questioned.

"Not even a single scratch on them?" Zhu Lingyun responded in a frosty tone.

"None whatsoever, completely unharmed!" Zheng Pingzhang confirmed resolutely.

Zhu Lingyun shifted his gaze toward Ji Qingyun.

Ji Qingyun furrowed his brows, immersed in profound contemplation.

"Was there anything strange?" Zhu Lingyun inquired.

Ji Qingyun glanced over at Zheng Pingzhang. "No Venerable Realm experts seem present; all of them rank below the Venerable Realm."

"...That's correct, no Venerables around," Zheng Pingzhang agreed, "or we'd face massive peril!"

"Where have their Venerable experts disappeared to?" Ji Qingyun wondered. "Were they all dispatched by the Undying Divine Venerable's orders, leaving the sect unguarded?"

"That can't be?" Zheng Pingzhang replied. "For all the Undying Divine Venerable's power, they'd surely keep at least two behind to defend the sect instead of sending everyone away."

Ji Qingyun's expression darkened. "Are they aiming straight for us?"

"No way!" Zheng Pingzhang insisted. "They wouldn't possess... the guts?"

His statement petered out, conviction waning.

But it wasn't entirely implausible.

Given their scheme to destroy the No Heart Sect, that sect would certainly grasp the chance to obliterate the Wanxiang Sect.

He shook his head afterward. "If they were truly after us, wouldn't the Undying Divine Venerable take action?"

"We have no choice but to accept it! ... Divi..." Ji Qingyun declared gravely.

Halting abruptly, he added, "Divine Venerable?"

Zhu Lingyun shook his head. "You're overanalyzing. ... Scout the area once more for any Venerable experts lurking inside."

"Yes," Ji Qingyun assented instantly. "I'll go verify."

He gestured to hush Zheng Pingzhang. "It's finalized!"

Zheng Pingzhang nodded with reluctance. "Fine, I'll rest briefly; I can't persist much longer."

As their wounds intensified, postponement was out of the question—even after taking a Spirit Pill, a period of stabilization was essential.

"Divine Venerable, I'm heading out." Ji Qingyun clasped his fists.

Zhu Lingyun nodded coolly, slipping the Golden Staff into his sleeve before shutting his eyes anew.

The moment Ji Qingyun pivoted to depart, Zhu Lingyun's detached voice echoed. "It's possible they've already been slain."

Ji Qingyun froze in shock.

Zhu Lingyun had sealed his eyes and lips, offering no further words.

Ji Qingyun wavered briefly, saluted once more with cupped fists, then soared away.

Mulling over Zhu Lingyun's remark, he advanced.

All Venerable experts eradicated?

Who had slain those Venerables? The Undying Divine Venerable, or this Divine Venerable?

In the event of the Undying Divine Venerable, what devious plot was unfolding?

Should it be the Divine Venerable, how had it been done? ... Via the Golden Staff?

His silhouette dimmed progressively, fusing with the encircling trees as his aura synchronized perfectly with the woodland essence.

He looped around, stealthily infiltrating the No Heart Sect through a separate external pavilion.

.....

Fifteen minutes passed before he reappeared before Zhu Lingyun, eyes burning fiercely. "Divine Venerable, those Venerables are truly all deceased, blood gushing from their seven apertures."

"The Golden Staff's miraculous power," Zhu Lingyun remarked serenely.

Zheng Pingzhang blurted out uncontrollably, "But the others remain totally unscathed... Does the Golden Staff target only Venerable experts, sparing those below? ... That's ridiculous, no chance!"

Zhu Lingyun cast a glance his way.

"Divine Venerable, is that genuinely possible?" Ji Qingyun queried somberly.

"Without reaching Venerable, Divine Essence fails to manifest," Zhu Lingyun explained indifferently. "It provokes the Divine Essence to rebound destructively inward."

"I get it..." Ji Qingyun comprehended suddenly.

Zheng Pingzhang's eyes lit up with thrill. "Divine Venerable, eradicating rival sects will be a breeze now, even straight-up crushing the Evil Extermination Department!"