Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1274 - 1270: Replacement

The sky was awash with Sword Qi, forming a crisscrossing Sword Net that ensnared Zhuo Yifan.

Meanwhile, Chu Zhiyuan maintained a distance outside the Sword Net, watching and assessing the situation.

Simultaneously, Chu Liezhao was positioned atop a mountain peak, the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror held in his hand.

The Heavenly Illusion Pavilion shimmered on the mountain, its influence extending over an area of two miles in radius.

Zhu Lingyun stood nearby, his eyes narrowed slightly, his aura carefully concealed.

Leng Tieya occupied a position on the opposite side of Zhuo Yifan, his presence melding into the environment as the Great Heavenly Demon Scripture's cultivation speed increased dramatically.

The Great Heavenly Demon Scripture proved significantly more efficient and swift to cultivate here than in the Demon World.

This scripture was indeed a Spirit Secret Technique, primarily focused on nurturing spiritual power.

The spiritual power within You Meng Heaven was considerably more abundant than in the Demon World; he estimated it to be at least ten times richer.

It became evident that this location was the true sanctuary for cultivating the Great Heavenly Demon Scripture, vastly outperforming the Demon World.

From this point forward, this would be his chosen place for cultivation.

As moments ticked by, Chu Zhiyuan observed Zhuo Yifan’s Sword Posture begin to decelerate.

In the following instant, a flash illuminated the scene.

Two radiant beams of light simultaneously struck Zhuo Yifan.

One of these was the Swift Light Sword.

The other projectile was the Golden Sword.

These two swords impacted him almost concurrently.

"Bang! Bang!"

With dull thuds, a dazzling luminescence burst forth around him, giving rise to a Seven-colored Light Shield.

Enclosed within this shield, Zhuo Yifan watched as the two swords were repelled from the exterior.

Chu Zhiyuan's eyebrow arched as he formed a hand seal with both hands.

The aura of Merit and the Demon Suppressing Divine Tree converged, generating an enhanced Great Demon Suppressing Seal, which unleashed a torrent of Golden Light that rapidly descended upon the light shield.

"Pop!"

The Seven-colored Light Shield vibrated intensely, flickering erratically.

In the subsequent moment, Leng Tieya materialized behind him, breaching the light shield with effortless grace.

Both the Golden Sword and the Swift Light Sword possessed immense power, and the light shield, having reached its breaking point, could not withstand the onslaught of Leng Tieya’s Flying Scale Sword.

The Flying Scale Sword pierced his chest as if it were mere tofu, effortlessly penetrating his very heart.

Zhuo Yifan stood immobilized, a look of utter disbelief on his face as he lowered his head to witness the sword tip protruding from his chest.

The tip of the Flying Scale Sword was already crimson, still bearing distinct layers of scales.

Abruptly, the sword tip dematerialized.

Leng Tieya withdrew the Flying Scale Sword, thrusting it into the back of his head, the tip emerging from his forehead.

The sword tip was now tinged white.

Zhuo Yifan’s eyes had grown dim, disbelief still etched upon his features.

A mass of seven-colored light detached itself, soaring towards Wanxiang Cliff.

Chu Liezhao swiftly moved to intercept, blocking the path toward Wanxiang Cliff with a single step and unleashing Golden Light from the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror in his grasp.

The Golden Light ensnared the lump of seven-colored light, drawing it into the mirror.

Zhu Lingyun had already arrived, his facial features and physical form undergoing rapid transformation.

In the span of a breath, another Zhuo Yifan stood in his place.

The Zhuo Yifan that Zhu Lingyun had become was virtually identical to the original.

Both in appearance and physique, even down to the birthmarks on his skin, they were perfect replicas, inside and out.

The Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror vanished from Chu Liezhao’s hand. With both palms forming seal gestures, he continuously channeled energy to purify the soul and extract memories.

Leng Tieya lightly shook the Flying Scale Sword, restoring its pristine, untarnished brilliance before sheathing it.

He conjured a Light Gate, stepped through it, and vanished without a trace.

Chu Zhiyuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, observing the events unfolding around Wanxiang Cliff with his spiritual sight.

No disturbances were detected within Wanxiang Cliff.

After approximately fifteen minutes, Chu Liezhao completed his hand seals and opened his eyes, which now radiated with vibrant energy.

The Heavenly Illusion Pavilion dematerialized into him, closely followed by the Swift Light Sword, which also plunged into his body.

He summoned a Light Gate, entered it, and disappeared from the scene.

Chu Zhiyuan then transmitted the memories he had gleaned from Chu Liezhao to Zhu Lingyun.

Zhu Lingyun closed his eyes, his aura surging and circulating rapidly, ascending once more.

In an instant, he became indistinguishable from Zhuo Yifan, possessing the exact same aura and mannerisms.

Chu Zhiyuan offered a smile.

In the following moment, Zhu Lingyun approached the still-standing Zhuo Yifan, pried open his right hand, and retrieved the slightly dimmed Jade Pendant.

The instant the Jade Pendant was in his possession, its previously subdued glow reignited with full brilliance.

Having fully absorbed Zhuo Yifan’s memories, he recognized the immense depth of this undertaking.

For ten years, Zhuo Yifan found himself imprisoned within the Undying Divine Venerable Realm, an unbearable predicament that compelled him to seek an escape through an Evil Technique.

Across the vast history of You Meng Heaven, the Undying Divine Venerable Realm had been an eternal trap for countless individuals.

Yet, Zhuo Yifan, having endured only a decade, with forty years remaining until the eighty-year age limit, felt no immediate pressure to rush.

However, Zhuo Yifan had been a celebrated prodigy since his youth, his cultivation journey swift, allowing him to ascend from the Divine Venerable to the Undying Divine Venerable realm with remarkable ease.

Initially, he had anticipated that breaching into the Spirit Venerable realm would be a straightforward endeavor. Alas, after a full ten years, not a single step of progress had been made.

With no glimmer of hope for a breakthrough, desperation began to consume him.

Time and again, his aspirations for advancement were brutally extinguished, and he recognized that the passage of time would only render a breakthrough increasingly arduous.

Thus, with a resolute decision, he embraced an Evil Technique.

His intention was to utilize the Divine Communication Spirit Jade, an item obtained by sheer chance, and employ the Divine Embryo Technique to descend into Biyuan Heaven.

Upon arrival in Biyuan Heaven, he planned to employ the Heaven Sacrifice Method to seize a spirit light, thereby facilitating his breakthrough.

This remarkable Divine Communication Spirit Jade possessed the capability not only to transfer a significant portion of his power to Biyuan Heaven via the Divine Embryo but also to autonomously identify the most suitable vessel.

The designated target was none other than Chu Zhiyuan.

Zhu Lingyun, invoking a highly specialized Secret Technique, channeled his power into the Divine Communication Spirit Jade, initiating the transfer to the Divine Embryo within Biyuan Heaven.

A sigh of relief escaped his lips.

Immediately upon activating this Secret Technique, and through the conduit of the Divine Communication Spirit Jade, he established a connection with the Divine Embryo situated in Biyuan Heaven.

This connection confirmed his continued ability to influence the Divine Embryo, much in the same manner as Zhuo Yifan himself.

This capability was absolutely critical for Chu Zhiyuan's purposes.

Perceiving the unfolding situation, Chu Zhiyuan offered a subtle smile.

Zhu Lingyun cast his gaze upon Zhuo Yifan's distinctive robes, ultimately choosing not to don them, and instead, shook his head in quiet refusal.

He then turned and leisurely glided towards Wanxiang Cliff, returning to its familiar embrace with effortless grace.

Wanxiang Cliff was protected by its formidable Sect Protection Array, and the unique aura of the Wanxiang Returning to God Technique that clung to him passed unhindered through the array, guiding him back to Zhuo Yifan's humble courtyard.

Upon his return to the quaint courtyard, he exchanged his attire for a Mystic Robe, a garment Zhuo Yifan frequently favored, and began to pace, hands clasped behind his back, while simultaneously activating the Divine Communication Spirit Jade.

Chu Zhiyuan, with a swift translocation, reappeared within the small courtyard belonging to the Heavenly Sword Branch, his attention also keenly focused on Zhu Lingyun's current activities.

Meanwhile, Leng Tieya had successfully made his return to You Meng Heaven.

He sought out a secluded and desolate mountain forest, where he excavated a Cave Mansion, sealed its entrance meticulously, and then assumed a cross-legged position to commence his cultivation.

The benefits of cultivating within You Meng Heaven far surpassed anything the Demon World could offer.

Chu Zhiyuan materialized in a flash before the imposing statue of the Undying Evil Venerable.

As he gazed upon the statue, an inexplicable sense of melancholy washed over him, a profound contemplation of the transient nature of mortal endeavors.

Curiously, the Undying Evil Venerable offered no hint of danger at this particular moment.

Instead, a peculiar and uncanny feeling permeated the air.

He then proceeded to carefully put away the Binding Dragon Rope.

The previously dim Seven-colored Light Pillar was instantly infused with brilliant light, and the luminescence emanating from within the Undying Evil Venerable Statue began to flicker and slow its rhythm.

The rate at which the statue absorbed power dramatically surged, instilling in him a palpable sense of an impending tempest.

The latent power residing within the Undying Evil Venerable Statue was escalating at an astonishing pace.

Chu Zhiyuan felt a surge of invigoration coursing through his spirit.

Through Zhu Lingyun's perceptive senses, it was evident that the Divine Embryo was on the very cusp of birth.

As this was Zhuo Yifan's inaugural use of the Divine Communication Spirit Jade, Zhu Lingyun's experiential knowledge in this domain was limited, providing only a hazy intuition and speculative judgment, rendering precise timing impossible to ascertain.

He vanished from sight in a blur.

Approximately a mile away, Lu Zhenhui and his accompanying group halted their progress and turned to observe the phenomenon.

A middle-aged man among them furrowed his brow and voiced his unease, stating, "Brother Lu, something feels amiss."