Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1264 - 1260: Making a Move

With that thought, Zhu Lingyun dematerialized from his original position, instantly reappearing behind a middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man, clad in a gray combat uniform that melded seamlessly with the dense forest surroundings, was crouched low behind a patch of grass. He utilized the thicket to obscure his presence, all while meticulously scanning the environment.

His eyes were narrowed, a deliberate effort to prevent his gaze from appearing too piercing or noticeable.

He relied on his peripheral vision to survey his surroundings.

His breathing was suppressed, blending with the ambient natural sounds.

Through Zhu Lingyun, Chu Zhiyuan had observed the area for some time and was thoroughly impressed by this individual's mastery of stealth.

The man's secret technique was formidable, with a cultivation level approximate to the Fourth Transition of a Venerable. Such a level met the requirements for a Heavenly Sword Sect disciple descending the mountain and would be considered exceptional within other Martial Arts Sects.

He advanced stealthily, weaving between groups of Court experts undetected, penetrating the perimeter.

Even after breaching the blockade, his caution and vigilance remained paramount.

Zhu Lingyun's sudden appearance startled him, and he prepared to react.

However, Zhu Lingyun acted faster. Before the man could mobilize, a spiritual attack had already struck.

The middle-aged man's eyes focused momentarily before growing dazed, and then his eyelids fluttered shut.

Zhu Lingyun placed a hand on his shoulder, and in the next instant, both figures vanished from their location, reappearing atop a mountain peak.

The peak was adorned with rugged, jagged rocks, resembling a cluster of marine reefs.

Zhu Lingyun deposited the man into a crevice between the peculiar rocks and then disappeared once more.

He reappeared behind a trio of individuals, his hands forming intricate seals.

The ensuing spiritual attack rendered the three unconscious instantly, and they were transported to the same location as the middle-aged man, nestled within the rocky gulch.

An hour later, as Zhu Lingyun returned to his original cave to rest, a total of twenty-five martial arts experts lay unconscious among the strange rocks on the mountain peak.

Zhu Lingyun let out a long, resonant roar and then vanished.

The surrounding Court experts converged on the sound, exchanging bewildered glances.

"What is this...?"

A contingent of six Court experts was present: three from the Evil Extermination Department and three from the Demon Hunting Bureau.

They divided into two groups, left and right, to examine the unconscious individuals.

Amidst the jagged rocks, people were strewn everywhere, nearly filling the crevice.

"These fellows must have infiltrated our perimeter, correct?"

"I recognize this one; it's Zhao Yiyin from the Tianfeng Sword Sect."

"And this is Song Lixian from the Linghua Sword Sect, known for his tracking and concealment skills."

"They definitely used some trick to get past us while we were distracted!"

"Damn it, despite our extensive blockade, they still managed to slip through!"

"This is a direct insult to our capabilities!"

"What shall we do with these intruders?"

"If you ask me, we should just cripple them!"

"Yes, shatter their cultivation! Then we'll see if they can still cause trouble!"

...

The chorus of indignant voices called for severe retribution, leaving no room for mercy.

This approach served as a deterrent, setting an example to prevent future breaches of the blockade.

Among the six present, two maintained a stoic silence.

One was burly, resembling a bear, while the other was solidly built and sturdy. Their eyes continuously scanned the surroundings, remaining alert.

After the other four had voiced their anger for a period, they gradually fell silent, shifting their attention to the two quiet figures.

"Brother Zhong, what are your thoughts?"

The bear-like middle-aged man nodded slowly. "Hmm, these individuals have certainly overstepped, and a stern lesson is warranted. But how did they manage to appear here? What's your assessment, Brother Li?"

The stout middle-aged man responded deliberately, "It was likely Mr. Chu's doing."

"Mr. Chu, Chu Zhiyuan?"

"Indeed."

"Are you certain it was Mr. Chu?" the bear-like man inquired. "Could it have been a tribute from the Imperial Palace possessing exceptional Qinggong?"

"It's unlikely to be a tribute," the stout man countered, shaking his head. "These people breached our blockade and infiltrated silently; they are hard to detect. Furthermore, capturing all of them – what tribute could accomplish such a feat?"

"Chu Zhiyuan is capable of this?"

"Mr. Chu's Qinggong is unparalleled and exceeds all expectations."

"That impressive?"

"Since you haven't directly interacted with Mr. Chu, you cannot fully grasp his abilities."

"Then what is Mr. Chu's objective in doing this?"

"He's providing assistance," the portly, middle-aged man offered with a smile. "Mr. Chu shares a strong connection with our Evil Extermination Department; we mutually support each other."

"Should these individuals truly manage to infiltrate the Cave Mansion..." a younger man mused with a sigh, "our transgression would be immense."

"There is no Cave Mansion!" the stout, middle-aged man interjected swiftly.

"Heh heh..." the young man chuckled.

The stout, middle-aged man’s brow furrowed. "You harbor such thoughts? The Director explicitly stated that the Cave Mansion is merely a rumor."

The young man laughed. "Do you genuinely believe it's a rumor, Lord Li?"

He spoke, shaking his head with an expression that conveyed 'you are rather naive'.

The stout, middle-aged man’s countenance turned grave. "The Director's pronouncements are invariably true!"

"Indeed, indeed, Director Huang is truly a person of integrity and selflessness; I hold him in high regard." The young man grinned mischievously.

The stout, middle-aged man’s expression grew increasingly grim.

"Brother Li, let us concentrate on devising a solution to this predicament," the burly, bear-like middle-aged man implored in a deep voice. "If they were capable of sneaking in, who knows if others might not follow suit."

He cast a stern glance at the young man, gesturing for him to cease his impudent remarks.

The stout, middle-aged man drew a deep breath, containing his ire, and inquired, knitting his brows, "Brother Zhong, do you have any proposals?"

"Request reinforcements."

"...Our current contingent is already stretched thin; dispatching additional personnel at this juncture proves challenging."

"We must request reinforcements. We cannot maintain a forceful resistance; otherwise, should a catastrophe occur, we would be unable to bear the accountability."

"My Lord," a slender, middle-aged man interjected deliberately, "Lord Zhong is entirely correct. If we feign ignorance and hesitate to promptly request reinforcements, and an incident does materialize, the culpability will fall upon us."

As members of the Evil Extermination Department, their foremost priority was not the vanquishing of malevolent demons, but rather their own survival.

While self-preservation was essential when confronting demonic entities, the same principle applied when dealing with the upper echelons of the Evil Extermination Department.

Failure in the former could lead to demise at the hands of fiends; failure in the latter might result in expulsion from the Evil Extermination Department.

"...Very well, we shall request reinforcements then!" the robust and steadfast middle-aged man declared with a resonant tone.

...

Zhu Lingyun, positioned within a cavern, observed their exchanges and actions with acute clarity through his Insight ability.

Chu Zhiyuan listened and offered a nod.

The conduct of these six individuals from the Evil Extermination Department and the Demon Hunting Bureau was appropriate.

If an objective cannot be achieved, one should not force the issue; seeking reinforcements represented the most prudent course of action.

He then knitted his brows.

Within Zhu Lingyun’s Insight, a cluster of Golden Light was pulsating, akin to the rhythmic breathing of a fetus.

The frequency of its respiration had altered, becoming progressively slower and more drawn out.

Chu Zhiyuan contemplated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and vanished in a swift movement.

In the subsequent instant, he materialized within a cave.

This particular cave was situated sixty miles distant from the Undying Evil Venerable Statue, the very location where Zhu Lingyun had previously arrived.

Were it not for his Nine Transitions Perfection cultivation, he would not have dared to personally materialize there.

With his mastery of Nine Transitions Perfection, everything within a sixty-mile radius fell under the purview of his Super Sensing Illumination.

Under the expansive reach of Super Sense, a seven-colored column of light ascended, bridging the heavens and the earth, encompassing the statue.

Filaments of seven-colored radiance, as fine as hair, emanated from all directions. Though seemingly sparse, they were in endless supply, continuously flowing into the Undying Evil Venerable Statue.

Within the scope of Super Sensing Illumination, a cluster of Golden Light, approximately the size of a date, was visible at the very center of the Undying Evil Venerable Statue’s forehead.

The Golden Light flickered, mirroring the breath of a developing fetus.

With the constant influx of the seven-colored radiance, the Golden Light's pulsations grew increasingly slow.

Chu Zhiyuan perceived a subtle premonition.

The moment the Golden Light at the Undying Evil Venerable’s forehead underwent a significant alteration, it could signify the onset of its awakening.

Such an event would be profoundly terrifying.

Could its awakening be halted?

By what means could it be disrupted?

Thoughts coursed through his mind with the speed of lightning, birthing idea after idea.

He directed his gaze upward towards the seven-colored light column that connected the earth with the sky.

The root of the matter lay with this phenomenon.

With this critical realization dawning upon him, twelve Flying Knives emerged from the folds of his sleeve.

Several of the Flying Knives bore the distinct aura of the Demon Suppressing Divine Tree, while others were devoid of any extraneous energy, imbued solely with pure True Yuan.

The twelve Flying Knives dispersed, scattering in various trajectories, all converging towards the epicenter – the Undying Evil Venerable Statue.

After the passage of approximately fifteen minutes, two of the Flying Knives were observed hurtling directly towards the seven-colored light column.

They moved through the iridescent light pillar without any obstacle.

The seven-colored light column remained as if merely a phantom, its resistance to force appearing negligible.

A frown creased Chu Zhiyuan's brow.

The two Flying Knives he wielded possessed distinct properties: one held the aura of the Demon Suppressing Divine Tree, while the other was imbued with the power of both the void and tangible substance.

He had anticipated its lack of substantial resistance, aiming to ensure it could not evade his assault even if it were a mere shadow.

However, the attack was still dodged.

Another Flying Knife was deployed from his sleeve.

This particular Flying Knife shimmered with a golden radiance, moving with astonishing speed. It traversed the sixty-mile expanse in an instant, its trajectory aimed directly at the seven-colored light column.

"Pfft!"

With a faint whistling sound, the Golden Light emanating from the Flying Knife rapidly dissipated, its brilliance diminishing by half.

It abruptly altered its course mid-air, once again propelling towards the seven-colored light column. Then, with another "pfft," the Golden Light vanished entirely.

As it curved a third time, targeting the seven-colored light column, it silently slipped through, as though passing through an insubstantial illusion.

This Flying Knife subsequently veered off with agility into the distance, ultimately lodging itself within a tree approximately a mile away.

Chu Zhiyuan fell into deep contemplation.

What this Flying Knife had carried was, in fact, the Power of Merit.

It seemed the Power of Merit originating from the Demon Suppression Divine Palace could indeed influence the seven-colored light column.

Although the light column itself showed no outward change, under his Super Sense, its luminescence had indeed faded slightly.

Another Flying Knife, blazing with fierce Golden Light, was dispatched from his sleeve.

This Flying Knife was itself unseen, with only its brilliant Golden Light bursting forth like a miniature sun.

It transformed into a streak of Golden Light across the sky, rushing towards the seven-colored light column.

"Bang!"

The seven-colored light column visibly shuddered.

A smile touched Chu Zhiyuan's lips.

In the very next moment, he vanished instantly, reappearing at Heavenly Sword Peak.

Concurrently, a miniature sword fashioned from the seven-colored radiance abruptly sliced past the location he had just occupied.

Standing within his courtyard at Heavenly Sword Peak, Chu Zhiyuan’s smile vanished as he wiped his damp forehead.

Sweat had already slicked his skin.

He was drenched in a cold sweat.

The preceding moment had been fraught with extreme danger.

Through Zhu Lingyun’s Insight, a small sword radiating seven-colored light had suddenly launched from the pillar, directly aiming for his former position.

This seven-colored miniature sword possessed incredible speed, appearing without warning, its attack utterly unpredictable.

Had it not been for an instinctive premonition, compelling him to depart instantaneously amidst a surge of intense intuition, being struck by that seven-colored light saber could have proven fatal.

This searing seven-colored light saber was exceedingly perilous, absolutely not something to be faced directly.

He cast a glance at the Golden Sword, ultimately shaking his head.

Proceeding with the Golden Sword without certainty would not be prudent.

Fortunately, his earlier actions had demonstrably influenced the seven-colored light column.

The pattern of the flickering Golden Light cluster situated on the Undying Evil Venerable Statue’s forehead had shifted.

No longer intermittent and drawn out, it had returned to its original, more rapid rhythm.

Chu Zhiyuan let out a sigh of relief.

At the very least, he had managed to impede its accelerated awakening; the remaining course of action would necessitate a new strategy.

A viable solution must be devised to counteract its inevitable retaliation and strike.

Otherwise, the situation remains far too hazardous.