Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1245 - 1241: The Result

Li Hongzhao gently shut her phoenix-shaped eyes, focusing intently to probe the area around them.

Her innate Phoenix Bloodline endowed her with tremendous spiritual power and razor-sharp perception.

Abruptly, she snapped open her radiant eyes and peered toward the southeast.

Ding Chonglou concentrated deeply as well, his brows furrowed like drawn swords, but he sensed absolutely nothing.

Li Hongzhao advanced and tapped Chu Zhiyuan’s shoulder, her crimson lips indicating the southeast direction.

Chu Zhiyuan gave a nod and motioned with his hand.

Li Hongzhao and Ding Chonglou drew near.

Chu Zhiyuan laid his hands on their shoulders and vanished without a trace in that instant.

A mere blur flashed before their eyes, and in the next heartbeat, the landscape shifted dramatically.

The thick forest stretched before them still, yet amid the lush undergrowth and towering ancient trees, black-robed figures reclined against the gnarled roots.

They bulged their eyes wide, vaulted up with exaggerated flair, and charged ahead, right palms already hurling forth crimson glows.

Chu Zhiyuan spoke in a grave tone, "Senior Brother, it’s them, right?"

From the gazes and expressions in those black-robed men’s eyes, he instantly recognized them.

Their stares landed first on Ding Chonglou, betraying peculiar looks.

Ding Chonglou roared, "It’s indeed them!"

Masked then and bare-faced now, their mannerisms and piercing eyes had etched themselves indelibly into his memory.

In a flash, nine beams of light erupted from Chu Zhiyuan’s sleeve, skewering their bodies instantaneously.

These beams shattered their defensive true essence, lanced through flesh and bone, then hung suspended in midair coated in blood; a faint quiver flung the gore clean, unveiling nine petite, gleaming daggers.

The nine black-robed foes hurtled skyward and crashed brutally into the tree trunks.

Far too near they were, and the daggers’ velocity blisteringly swift—no chance even to twitch.

Li Hongzhao surged forward in a blur of scarlet, streaking past the nine black-robed men and sealing their acupoints with effortless precision.

"Bang bang bang bang..."

The nine black-robed men thudded heavily right at Ding Chonglou’s feet.

Ding Chonglou shot furious glares at these black-robed scum and unleashed a chilling snort.

Chu Zhiyuan declared, "Senior Brother, an eye for an eye—you handle them however you deem fit."

The nine tiny daggers zipped back into his sleeve like swallows returning home.

Ding Chonglou nodded deliberately, flames of rage burning in his eyes as he fixed them on the nine captives.

Li Hongzhao clapped her palms, "What identities do these fellows hold, exactly?"

Chu Zhiyuan replied, "Whatever their identity, anyone daring to slay a Heavenly Sword Sect disciple merits just one fate—death."

Li Hongzhao nodded faintly, "They’re truly under the Undying Evil Venerable’s command, but which subordinate is it?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

Ding Chonglou suggested, "Junior Brother, let’s haul these back to the sect for a thorough interrogation."

"Senior Brother’s plan is spot on," Chu Zhiyuan agreed, "but no need to spare them all—keep two or three, execute the rest to vent Senior Brother’s hatred!"

"...Forget it; we can always kill them after the questioning."

Chu Zhiyuan’s suggestion tempted Ding Chonglou fiercely, yet ironclad reason restrained him, teeth clenched to smother the surging impulse.

"Impressive." Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fist, "In that case, shall we transport them back?"

Li Hongzhao remarked, "Why not summon Elder Xu and the others here."

Nine captives in all, and with Ding Chonglou unfit for long journeys, dragging them to the sect would prove quite taxing.

"Very well, I’ll fetch Elder Xu and the rest." Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

He flickered away in an instant, rematerializing atop a mountain peak the very next moment.

A mighty river flowed at the mountain’s base, beside which a cluster of people rested.

In the group’s midst sat a striking middle-aged man, lost in a daze as he watched the river’s torrents and rolling waves.

The others nearby—youths and elders alike—perched wordlessly on bizarre riverside boulders, some nibbling dry provisions, others shutting eyes to regulate breathing and recuperate.

A bleak air hung over them.

The middle-aged man abruptly lifted his gaze, turned toward the peak, and informed his companions, "I shall go for a moment."

With those words, he bounded upward, lightly skimming treetops, scaling swiftly to land before Chu Zhiyuan in a twinkling.

Chu Zhiyuan saluted with clasped fists, a smile on his face, "Greetings, Elder Xu."

"Nephew Chu?" Xu Qianfan queried in surprise, "How did you arrive here? I figured it was some senior brother."

The distinctive awareness of Heavenly Sword Secret Scripture cultivators let him pinpoint Chu Zhiyuan’s location precisely.

He had figured it was just another elder upset over their slow progress and here to prod them onward, never imagining it would be Chu Zhiyuan instead.

"I arrived together with Junior Sister Li Hongzhao and Senior Brother Ding to track down those offenders."

Xu Qianfan shook his head. "Why make Chonglou relive it all? He's endured plenty already."

Chu Zhiyuan grinned. "We located them, seized them, and now we're set to haul them back to the sect for judgment."

Realization dawned on Xu Qianfan. "Located... located them? The actual offenders? No chance of error?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "That's right, we tracked them down."

Xu Qianfan stared in astonishment. "You truly caught them? Did Chonglou verify it was them in person?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded smilingly. "It was them for sure. Their acupoints are sealed tight, just awaiting transport back to the sect."

Curiosity filled Xu Qianfan. "How on earth did you discover them?"

Chu Zhiyuan explained, "At the ambush location, I spotted some traces, pursued the lead, then set up an ambush and struck decisively, taking them in one swift move."

"You uncovered clues?"

"Elder, you know I'm especially sharp in perception—that's my greatest strength."

"Your senses are remarkably keen," Xu Qianfan agreed with a nod. "But I never thought they were this sharp... Come on, let's go see them!"

"They're not far from here," Chu Zhiyuan noted. "Should we call the senior brothers to join us?"

"Drag these good-for-nothings along too!" Xu Qianfan snorted.

Walking beside Chu Zhiyuan, Xu Qianfan kept glancing over at him now and then.

Only after facing those black-robed men's hiding skills firsthand could one grasp the sheer difficulty of nabbing them.

They had poured every ounce of effort in, yet ended up empty-handed.

That mix of rage and hopelessness left them utterly downcast and seething.

Seething at their own failings.

Who would have guessed Chu Zhiyuan would snag them with such ease.

He shook his head in private thought.

The chasm between individuals can be immense. Certain people, simply by existing, instill despair in others from the start.

...

As dawn broke and the sun climbed, its golden light bathed Heavenly Sword Peak.

Chu Zhiyuan shoved open the door and strode into the courtyard, savoring the crisp morning air.

Heavenly Sword Peak's atmosphere was remarkably pure, invigorating both spirit and flesh.

He had rested at Prince Qing Mansion the previous night; upon rising, he whisked himself straight here.

For him these days, the span from Prince Qing Mansion to Heavenly Sword Peak was no more than a single stride, crossed without effort.

He inhaled deeply a few times; Heavenly Sword Peak's air vastly outshone that at Prince Qing Mansion.

Stretching his limbs in the courtyard, he heard Dong Muyu's voice from beyond the gate. "Junior Brother! Junior Brother!"

"Come on in, Senior Sister Dong."

"Creak..."

Dong Muyu swung the door wide, entering the courtyard with light steps and drawing near. "Junior Brother, you heard? All those guys are dead!"

Chu Zhiyuan inquired, "Did they get slain after the questioning?"

Absent from the peak last night at Prince Qing Mansion, he knew nothing of the evening's happenings.

"They perished before the interrogation even wrapped up," Dong Muyu shook her head. "Not a single detail emerged from it."

Chu Zhiyuan's brows knitted together.

Dong Muyu continued, "All nine dropped dead at the exact same instant... They weren't even confined in one spot—each was separated by great distances. It's downright eerie! Could this be the Undying Evil Venerable's doing?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded deliberately.

"Techniques like these are horrifying, utterly impossible to defend against," Dong Muyu remarked. "Fortunately, the other brothers and sisters dodged any ambushes... They must have been gunning for Brother Qi Zhou; you got there just in time to rescue him."

Chu Zhiyuan questioned, "What's the Sect Leader's take on it?"

"The Sect Leader stayed silent," Dong Muyu replied. "From his grim look, things seem serious, so I rushed here to inform you."

Chu Zhiyuan stated, "Failing to uncover why the Undying Evil Venerable abruptly dispatched assassins our way is truly a headache."