Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1261 - 1257: A Solution

With a snort, he declared, "It must be the work of those evil demons!"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded in agreement.

Regardless of how the news had spread, the evil demons were definitely behind it all.

It involved a partnership with the Undying Evil Venerable.

Huang Zhengyang furrowed his brows. "Why are these evil demons dispatching so many people there? Do they aim to use the statue to dominate more experts?"

He looked over. "What’s your view, Brother Chu?"

"I fear it’s even graver than that."

"Graver? Are they planning to slaughter these experts?"

"The Undying Evil Venerable statues we’ve encountered typically perform just two functions: controlling individuals via illusion techniques, or slaying them via illusion techniques."

"Precisely, spot on!" Huang Zhengyang concurred. "Is it possibly the latter case?"

"It’s highly probable to be the second one. Even if it starts as the first, the end result could still lead to the second. Either way, the arrival of the Undying Evil Venerable always brings death and carnage, nothing more."

"Damn them! They all deserve to perish!" Huang Zhengyang spat with fury. "Countless innocents have fallen to their clutches!"

"We must eradicate it at its source, but alas..." Chu Zhiyuan shook his head regretfully.

Huang Zhengyang let out a sigh.

Regrettably, the Court’s bans on secret techniques stemmed from their wariness toward Chu Zhiyuan, preventing any real threat to the Undying Evil Venerable.

If things persisted like this, the Undying Evil Venerable would grow bolder and more unchecked.

Chu Zhiyuan remarked, "The Court has surely detected this pattern by now, hasn’t it? Increasing numbers of Undying Evil Venerables are manifesting, and their power keeps rising."

"Indeed."

"...We must halt these experts from rushing there now. It’ll demand deploying numerous Court experts, though I doubt even that will suffice."

Chu Zhiyuan saw no point in elaborating further.

The more he spoke, the more it appeared he sought favors, heightening the Court’s suspicions and reluctance to provide aid.

"I’ll rally the Evil Extermination Department to secure a fifty-li radius, while Dongning City’s City Guards seal the gates, barring all entry and exit!"

"Brother Huang, that approach will create immense strain; the Evil Extermination Department alone can’t manage it."

"In dire straits, we take extreme steps!"

"Should we also lock down the towns and villages within fifty li beyond Dongning City?"

"Absolutely, seal everything—no one in or out!"

Chu Zhiyuan inquired, "How many personnel will it require to pull this off?"

"I’ll enlist the City Guards and Demon Hunting Bureau for support, ensuring nobody gets near the statue!"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly. "It won’t be simple; we must act swiftly."

"I’m heading out right away!" Huang Zhengyang declared. "Brother Chu, hold off on coming; let me position the forces and assess the situation first, then join once it’s safer."

"Agreed." Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Huang Zhengyang clasped his hands and departed.

He spun around and strode off quickly.

The handsome youth hastened after him.

Chu Zhiyuan saw him off at the Heavenly Sword Branch entrance, observing as experts escorted him away.

His heart weighed heavy.

...

Fifty li from the Undying Evil Venerable Statue, Zhu Lingyun shivered with unease, desperate to flee.

He focused his mind, circulating the Wanxiang Cliff Heart Method and Wanxiang Returning to God Technique, until his thoughts settled like a still pond.

As the Wanxiang Returning to God Technique flowed, it drew in the peculiar aura permeating the air—distinct from the spiritual energy that True Yuan absorbed.

From the Undying Evil Venerables’ memories, he understood that Biyuan Heaven’s strange aura was far too sparse, unfit for the Evil Venerables’ cultivation needs.

The disparity resembled that between Little Outer Heaven and Outer Heaven’s spiritual energy density.

Upon descending, an Evil Venerable carried some power along, sparing the need to cultivate anew from nothing.

Yet this brought power represented only a fraction, not the entirety.

Hence, his present strength matched the Evil Venerable realm’s quality, but lacked its full magnitude.

Recovery had to occur gradually, piece by piece, until reaching Evil Venerable Perfection and breaking through to Undying Evil Venerable.

Advancing to Undying Evil Venerable demanded cultivation in You Meng Heaven, not Biyuan Heaven.

The Wanxiang Returning to God Technique he cultivated was Wanxiang Cliff’s supreme Miracle Technique, leading straight to Undying Divine Venerable.

However, ascending to the Divine Venerable Realm made further progress akin to scaling the heavens, each level fraught with immense challenges.

Originally known as Divine Venerables, they are referred to as Evil Venerables in Biyuan Heaven.

Those who descend truly deserve the title of Evil Venerables, as they resort to a Quick Method, which qualifies as an Evil Technique.

Progressing through the Nine Grades of Divine Venerable demands immense difficulty; steady cultivation calls for extended periods of intense dedication, paling in comparison to the speed of an Evil Technique.

Among the descending Evil Venerables, some lust after rapid advancement, while others desperately seek promotion, compelling them to forsake the righteous path for the evil one.

The Wanxiang Returning to God Technique is not inherently an Evil Technique, yet taking shortcuts turns it into one.

——

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly appeared in Li Hongzhao’s small courtyard.

Li Hongzhao stepped out from the house, clad in a red robe, her face like polished jade and lips a striking vermilion, her beauty utterly peerless.

She beamed sweetly, "You've finally come, I was just about to go find you."

Chu Zhiyuan settled at the stone table and accepted the tea she offered, "What's going on?"

Li Hongzhao eyed him closely, "You look pale, run into some trouble?"

Chu Zhiyuan sipped the tea, furrowed his brow, and shook his head, "Another troublesome Undying Evil Venerable has descended—extremely vexing."

Li Hongzhao remarked, "Does it pose a lethal danger? ...These descending Undying Evil Venerables are growing stronger, which is indeed peculiar."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

Li Hongzhao asked, "What's the background of this Undying Evil Venerable?"

"Haven't uncovered it yet," Chu Zhiyuan replied, "we'll observe for now—the Court is dispatching forces to encircle it, stopping anyone from rousing him."

"Oh, so you're not charging in directly this time!" Li Hongzhao's eyes sparkled as she smiled, "The Court might think you're acting arrogant on purpose, getting back at them for withholding the secret technique."

Chu Zhiyuan gave a light chuckle and shook his head, "Let them believe whatever they want."

Li Hongzhao continued, "Do you know who pushed hardest against handing you the secret technique?"

"Prince Zhuang?" Chu Zhiyuan ventured.

"How did you figure that?"

"The person who knows me best is probably Prince Zhuang," Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "so the one eager to dodge suspicion would naturally be him."

"Prince Zhuang stands closest to the Heavenly Sword Sect, yet he opposed granting you the secret technique most fiercely—otherwise, you'd nearly have it by now."

"Which two princes backed it?" Chu Zhiyuan took another leisurely sip of tea.

"Both Prince Su and Prince Ying supported it, with only Prince Cheng against," Li Hongzhao explained, "Prince Su aligns with Guanghan Palace, and Prince Ying with Fuyun Sect."

"So that's the hidden dynamic." Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

"Anyway, swaying Prince Zhuang would secure the Court's secret technique for you." Li Hongzhao noted, "But skipping this contribution might shift things—they won't bow to pressure."

"If they see it as pressure, I can't help that."

"Is this Undying Evil Venerable that perilous?"

"The most perilous yet," Chu Zhiyuan stated, "likely targeting me directly—can't evade it."

That gut feeling struck him the moment it appeared.

Otherwise, he wouldn't contemplate advancing; he'd retreat to Heavenly Sword Peak, enter secluded cultivation, and dodge the disaster.

Li Hongzhao declared, "I'll seek aid from my master!"

"No need." Chu Zhiyuan dismissed with a wave.

Li Hongzhao frowned, "Why? Can't master handle it?"

"It seems tough." Chu Zhiyuan replied deliberately, "A strike from a superior realm might overwhelm even Senior Song."

"Then what's the plan?" Li Hongzhao pressed, "You're not rushing to your doom, are you?"

Chu Zhiyuan responded, "We'll test its strength first; a solution will emerge."

Li Hongzhao stared at him, eyes gleaming brightly, then grinned, "Looks like you've got an ace up your sleeve."

She understood Chu Zhiyuan's nature intimately—his profound caution.

Without assurance of his own safety, he wouldn't remain so composed.

Thus, the Undying Evil Venerable threatened him, but only as a threat—he possessed a countering trump card.

Chu Zhiyuan lightly tapped the Golden Sword at his waist, "That's my safeguard."

Li Hongzhao offered, "I can acquire a secret technique, using some methods if needed—desperate measures for desperate times."

Chu Zhiyuan's brow creased, "From Senior Song?"

"Master has permission to access those secret techniques." Li Hongzhao affirmed.