Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1241 - 1237: Devour

True Yuan frantically battles to contain the rampaging power, while Miao Jing Spirit Water flashes endlessly in his mind.

He senses himself caught in a ferocious gale, fragile like a mere leaf, poised to be flung away in an instant.

The Dragon Soaring Bell gradually manifests.

Pure and immense spiritual energy erupts from the ancestral acupoint between his eyebrows; a portion surges into the Golden Sword, the rest directs the Dragon Soaring Bell.

Both he and the Golden Sword levitate in mid-air, shuddering and glimmering.

His figure successively radiates white, purple, and golden brilliance.

The Golden Sword gleams with ceaseless golden radiance.

Abruptly, he weaves hand seals.

In the Void above, the Demon Suppressing Divine Tree materializes, its crystalline pure branches softly swaying as they disperse starlight.

Starlight descends onto his body and seeps into the Golden Sword's blade.

Golden brilliance erupts at once.

Nevertheless, the savage force lingers unsubdued, launching its unceasing onslaught.

It only achieves a tense standoff.

Chu Zhiyuan gives a faint shake of his head.

He had underestimated this Golden Staff; it proved a magnificent treasure matching Miao Jing Spirit Water in rank.

Far from easy to conquer.

Though he deployed every technique available, full suppression eludes him, leaving only a fragile impasse.

Teeth clenched, a mere thought from him.

Immense refined spiritual energy floods the Golden Sword, which promptly unleashes blinding white luminescence.

It steadily drives the Merit-converted power to its utmost limit.

"Hiss!"

Transforming into a white beam, it hurtles once more into the Nu River.

"Dang..." Golden brilliance flares intensely.

Once again, the Golden Sword rebounds from the river depths, streaking toward him before halting at his side, pulsing wildly.

The ferocious energy prowls inside the sword's core, slamming about in efforts to demolish it.

Chu Zhiyuan weaves hand seals, his face set in solemn gravity.

A Light Gate emerges in the Void; Chu Liezhao steps forth, forming seals and aiming them at the Nu River.

A chunk of Nu River water abruptly ascends into the sky, Golden Staff enclosed within.

Chu Zhiyuan tilts his gaze upward.

Within the Void, a colossal Golden Dragon weaves through swirling clouds and mists.

Chu Liezhao crafts seals with both hands, summoning an arm-length small Golden Dragon before him.

The gigantic Golden Dragon overhead exhales a powerful breath.

This breath morphs into golden radiance, cascading onto the small Golden Dragon.

The little Golden Dragon's golden glow explodes outward, then rapidly draws back inside.

It hardens abruptly into unyielding solidity, akin to purple gold forging.

Its purple-gold luster darkens, exuding calm stability.

Next, it becomes a purple-gold ray, launching at the mid-air Golden Staff.

The Golden Staff and its river water segment resemble a massive frozen block hovering aloft.

The purple-gold mini-dragon smashes into it, igniting another blaze of resplendent golden light from the Golden Staff.

Having tamed the wild force in his body and Golden Sword, Chu Zhiyuan urges the Golden Sword to strike anew upon this sight.

"Bang!"

Golden radiance surges once more.

The Golden Staff's power resides at an extraordinarily elevated tier, brutally overbearing and ruthless.

His True Yuan barely manages to hold it in check.

Yet Chu Liezhao’s Outer Heaven boasts denser spiritual energy, cultivating purer and more potent True Yuan.

Additionally, he wields not merely True Yuan but bloodline power too.

Heavenly Dragon Introduction centers on bloodline power, equally of supreme caliber.

His True Yuan falls short, yet the Merit-forged essence of the Golden Sword stands apart, enhanced by Miao Jing Spirit Water's support.

Assailed by both onslaughts, the Golden Staff forfeits its danger, steadily diminishing.

...

After a quarter-hour passes, the Golden Staff's glow fades to near invisibility.

Chu Liezhao passes through the Light Gate and vanishes.

Alone, the Golden Sword persists in battering the suspended Golden Staff.

Chu Zhiyuan’s spiritual energy appears inexhaustible, fueling the Golden Sword's ongoing evolution amid the fray.

Beneath crushing strain, it advances swiftly, mutating at breakneck speed.

"Hiss!"

The instant after, the Golden Sword thrusts clean through the Golden Staff, impaling it outright.

The Golden Sword erupts in golden brilliance without delay.

Golden light swallows the Golden Staff whole.

The Golden Staff responds by exploding in golden radiance, blending seamlessly with the Golden Sword's glow.

The golden brilliance swells ever fiercer.

The Golden Staff unleashes mounting bursts of golden light, shining ever brighter until it dazzles the eyes.

Via Super Sensing Illumination, as golden eruptions rage, the Golden Staff shrinks with haste.

It dissolves as if into pure golden light, integrating fully with the Golden Sword's radiance.

Once the golden light climaxes, it ebbs gradually, dimming away.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the golden radiance fully gathered inside the Golden Sword.

Chu Zhiyuan felt the ecstatic joy and cheers emanating from the Golden Sword, a smile tugging at his lips.

The sensation he perceived was immense power, vastly surpassing his previous might.

Having swallowed the Golden Staff, the Golden Sword achieved a massive breakthrough, experiencing a profound transformation.

This was particularly true for its Spirituality.

It was as if a toddler of three years had abruptly matured into a child of ten.

Delighted by its own advancement, it soared upward rapidly, twirling joyfully through the sky.

With a stir of Chu Zhiyuan’s mind and spirit, it darted forth swiftly, traveling ever farther until it halted atop the peak three miles distant.

Through Super Sense, it threaded nimbly among the branches on that mountain summit multiple times, not harming even one leaf.

Soon after, it returned flying to hover before Chu Zhiyuan, still brimming with delight in mid-air.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled and shook his head.

The Golden Sword’s spirituality grew ever more profound, allowing smoother and effortless control.

Continuing like this, future kills might need no direct involvement—just a mere thought to reap a life from miles away.

Such were the immortal techniques described in ancient scrolls.

He extended his hand to caress the Golden Sword, and the Miao Jing Spirit Water stayed utterly serene.

A breath of relief escaped him.

His greatest concern had been exactly this; the Golden Staff’s origins were mysterious and malevolent, complete with its own spirituality.

The boost it provided to the Golden Sword’s evolution outstripped the essence from every statue of the Undying Evil Venerables combined.

The prior combined strike had demolished its spirituality, letting the Golden Sword consume its core substance—the Undying Golden Essence.

Unlike the statues of the Undying Evil Venerable, this Undying Golden Essence stood apart.

Evidently, no lingering issues remained now.

…

Back in his modest courtyard, Dong Muyu and Li Hongzhao continued chattering without pause.

They appeared to possess an inexhaustible supply of subjects, their discussion vibrant and moods elevated.

‘Junior brother, where have you been?’ Dong Muyu inquired offhandedly.

Chu Zhiyuan grinned, ‘No big deal, Senior sister, planning to head down the mountain?’

‘Hold on a little more.’ Dong Muyu’s eyes gleamed as she smiled, ‘Confirm everything first before descending, to dodge any mishaps.’

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Li Hongzhao laughed, ‘With this evil demon crisis resolved, peace should reign for some time. Senior sister, no need to hurry down.’

Dong Muyu smiled, ‘I felt restless earlier, but meeting you both has calmed me completely.’

Li Hongzhao looked baffled.

Dong Muyu explained, ‘I used to burn with rivalry and drive, yet witnessing you two has steadied my heart, curbing my rashness.’

Li Hongzhao chuckled, ‘Senior sister, you’re not feeling downhearted?’

‘I believed my talent was exceptional, a heaven’s favored child, driving me to cultivate without cease, lest I waste my gifts… But now I see cultivation thrives without such strain—relaxation suits it better.’

‘Senior sister possesses superb insight!’ Li Hongzhao declared, her smile blooming like a flower.

Dong Muyu shot her a glare, ‘My insight must be sharp, or life would be intolerable—especially alongside junior brother!’

Li Hongzhao possessed the Phoenix Bloodline, beyond question, no jealousy there.

But Chu Zhiyuan lacked any bloodline, yet surged ahead faster, a true prodigy of the highest order.

This was the visage of a supreme genius; her own talents paled to mere averageness.

That epiphany melted away her burdens, filling her with sudden ease, patience, and the true delight of cultivation.

‘Oh, junior brother, Brother Chonglou got badly wounded and fled back to the sect two days back,’ Dong Muyu said with a frown, ‘His injuries were dire, cultivation base shattered.’

Chu Zhiyuan questioned, ‘Brother Chonglou?’

‘A promising figure in our sect, who descended the mountain prior to your arrival.’

Chu Zhiyuan furrowed his brow, ‘Who was responsible?’