Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1279 - 1275: Tongtian

Front and center on the cover, three colossal characters materialized: "Ascension Technique".

These characters flickered, appearing and vanishing with bewildering speed, their presence fleeting.

Merely a few moments of observation induced a sense of dizziness.

Utilizing his Super Sensing Illumination, Chu Zhiyuan perceived that these three characters pulsed with an inherent mystical power.

The ebb and flow of this power caused its manifestation and disappearance, making it elusive and unpredictable.

Chu Zhiyuan then creased his brow, turning his attention to the text and illustrations accompanying the cover.

Within, both the written words and the depicted imagery were imbued with this same mystical power, and it felt even more potent.

Huang Zhengyang, nudging the booklet towards Chu Zhiyuan with a laugh, declared, "This secret technique is absolutely forbidden to be shared. I myself have never laid eyes on it; it was directly bestowed from the Imperial Palace Vault."

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled in response, inquiring, "Could this Ascension Technique be a treasured secret of the Imperial Palace Vault? Has anyone ever succeeded in practicing it in the past?"

"It's actually called the Ascension Technique?" Huang Zhengyang asked, his gaze landing curiously on the slender, green-bound booklet. He then added with a laugh, "How did you come to know this?"

"Brother Huang, can't you perceive the characters inscribed upon it?"

"There are words on it?" Huang Zhengyang leaned in for a closer inspection of the thin booklet.

He squinted, bringing his face nearer and scanning it multiple times with his eyes. Finally, he looked up at Chu Zhiyuan, utterly perplexed, "Are there genuinely words there?"

A slow nod from Chu Zhiyuan confirmed its presence.

It appeared that Huang Zhengyang was incapable of seeing the three characters emblazoned on the cover.

Could this peculiar phenomenon be attributed to the booklet's intrinsic mystical power?

"Ascension Technique, you say? Three characters?" Huang Zhengyang queried.

Chu Zhiyuan affirmed with a nod.

A frown creased Huang Zhengyang's brow as he reached out to touch the booklet. He felt its surface but then shook his head.

It felt smooth and supple, yet imparted no discernible sensation.

Chu Zhiyuan let out a laugh, stating, "If you cannot perceive it, then let it be. This should perhaps serve as the initial trial.

"Alas... it's truly exasperating!" Huang Zhengyang chuckled ruefully. "This supreme manual is presented right before me, and yet I cannot even glimpse its contents."

As he spoke, he opened the cover and gazed at the first page, which was starkly blank. The second page followed, then the third.

In total, there were nine pages within the booklet.

He flipped through each one, only to find them all empty.

"Could this be some sort of Wordless Book of Heaven?" Huang Zhengyang mused, shaking his head with a bitter chuckle. "It's utterly useless even if I possess it."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed and proposed, "This might very well be a form of selection. If one cannot even see it, it's perhaps best not to attempt practicing it. It seems practicing this technique carries inherent dangers.

"If I had stumbled upon this book myself, given its age, I would have assumed the writing had faded and simply discarded it."

"That would likely not be the case; the material itself is rather special. You would probably still keep it."

"Hey, what's the use of special materials!" Huang Zhengyang touched the blank pages once more, shaking his head. "There are countless items made from special materials, and not all of them are true treasures."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded in agreement.

Indeed, that was an undeniable truth: the greater the history, the more ancient artifacts were preserved.

Many appeared magnificent on the outside, yet were inwardly decayed.

They might seem extraordinary, but in reality, they were worthless.

A spark of energy ignited within Huang Zhengyang. "Since you are able to see this book, does that perhaps mean you can master it?"

Chu Zhiyuan inquired, "Has anyone ever managed to master it?"

"...I've never heard of such a thing."

"Then what is its origin?" Chu Zhiyuan pressed, "There must be a source, correct?"

If a technique lacked a source or origin, and no one had ever mastered it, how could one ascertain its nature as a powerful secret technique?

Therefore, at least one of these three aspects must hold true.

"I've heard it's an ancient secret technique, but whether anyone has mastered it remains unknown."

"An ancient secret technique, what about its lineage?" Chu Zhiyuan frowned, a sense of foreboding washing over him. "The inheritance should follow an orderly progression, shouldn't it?"

"I have no knowledge of that," Huang Zhengyang replied, shaking his head. "However, being kept within the Vault, cherished, and possessing such uniqueness, it must possess extraordinary power."

Chu Zhiyuan exclaimed with mild annoyance, "Numerous secret techniques boast extraordinary power, but just how powerful are they? Are they potent enough to vanquish the Undying Evil Venerable in You Meng Heaven?"

He then reached out and picked up the slender booklet.

The moment his fingers made contact, the booklet emitted a gentle, verdant luminescence.

"Eh?" Huang Zhengyang exclaimed, clearly intrigued. "Let me try."

Chu Zhiyuan passed the booklet to him.

The soft, jade-like green light instantly diminished, rapidly receding back into the booklet.

Huang Zhengyang, unconvinced, attempted to channel his Qi.

However, the booklet remained devoid of any glow, appearing as nothing more than an ordinary, unremarkable paperback.

"How peculiar!" Huang Zhengyang shook his head and returned the booklet to Chu Zhiyuan. "Is it related to channeling one's power?"

Chu Zhiyuan lightly declined the booklet with a smile, clarifying, "It's not True Yuan, but rather Spiritual Power."

"Let me attempt it once more," Huang Zhengyang declared, directing his concentration toward the slender manual.

However, the booklet remained listless and unresponsive, offering no flicker of luminescence.

Huang Zhengyang's eyes widened, bloodshot, as he resigned himself to failure.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, remarking, "It appears you truly have no connection to it."

A sigh escaped Huang Zhengyang. "Isn't it vexing? My cultivation is not weak, and my spiritual power is sufficiently potent."

"It's not a matter of your weakness," Chu Zhiyuan's laughter echoed. "Perhaps it simply isn't compatible with you."

Annoyance tinged Huang Zhengyang's voice. "I know, it's just that I'm too weak!"

He returned the thin booklet to Chu Zhiyuan, shaking his head. "This is already a breach of protocol."

Chu Zhiyuan inquired with a grin, "The Court forbids you from viewing it, Brother Huang?"

"Indeed," Huang Zhengyang confirmed with a sigh. "Access to its contents is prohibited."

Chu Zhiyuan offered a smile and expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Brother Huang."

He grasped the rationale behind Huang Zhengyang's daring action.

It stemmed from a suspicion that the Court might have employed a stratagem within this Secret Manual, perhaps setting a trap.

Huang Zhengyang had sought to confirm this, probing the situation beforehand.

The moment Chu Zhiyuan accepted the booklet, it resumed emitting a soft, verdant glow.

It was as if a spring resided within the emerald luminescence, its flow causing the light to pulse vibrantly.

He opened the cover, and his gaze was immediately drawn to the minuscule characters inscribed on its inner side.

During his earlier Insight, these densely packed glyphs had escaped his notice.

Their activation was contingent upon a specific pattern, a cryptic design woven into the very fabric of the paper.

Without his Super Sense, discerning their presence would have been an impossibility.

As the tiny characters materialized, a smile spread across Chu Zhiyuan's face. "Ah, it belongs to the Heaven-Reaching Sect."

"The Heaven-Reaching Sect...?"

"The Heaven-Reaching Sect," Chu Zhiyuan affirmed with a nod. "This is a secret technique from the Heaven-Reaching Sect. Have you heard of it, Brother Huang?"

"No," Huang Zhengyang replied. "You should refrain from hasty practice. I shall investigate the origins of the Heaven-Reaching Sect upon my return."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded. "Incidentally, regarding the Imperial Court's bestowal of this Ascension Technique upon me, was the announcement made discreetly, or was it a public affair?"

"Naturally, it would be announced with a certain degree of ceremony," Huang Zhengyang stated. "This is to preempt any criticism regarding the court's perceived parsimony."

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

Huang Zhengyang chuckled. "Brother Chu, though your recent accomplishments have not been widely publicized, they are evident to all. Should the court remain silent and offer only monetary compensation, it would be disheartening. Bestowing secret techniques as a reward for Brother Chu's merit would surely inspire envy and motivate others to strive harder."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded. "So, it is common knowledge then?"

"I surmise it is already circulating within the Imperial City," Huang Zhengyang replied. "It may even serve to bolster morale. With the impending arrival of the Undying Evil Venerable, such matters cannot be simply overlooked."

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded, a contemplative sigh escaping him. "It appears a grand announcement is indeed in order."

"I imagine it will be known far and wide," Huang Zhengyang continued. "Why should one fear others being unaware of the court's impartial judgments, irrespective of status?"

Chu Zhiyuan's smile returned. "I am truly indebted to the court for this reward."

"It is thoroughly deserved, Brother Chu," Huang Zhengyang replied, waving a dismissive hand. "I shall depart to conduct my investigation. Brother Chu should diligently study it first, but avoid rushing into practice."

Chu Zhiyuan inclined his head in a gesture of respect.

Huang Zhengyang then strode away.

Picking up the thin booklet, Chu Zhiyuan slowly turned its pages, examining the intricate patterns engraved on each one.

"These are not the Divine Language I am familiar with."

"However, they bear a resemblance to the Divine Language, all possessing mystical applications."

Upon channeling spiritual power into a pattern, the previously visible text underwent a transformation.

Some portions remained familiar, while others diverged, yet the overall presentation had shifted dramatically.

The refining methodology had been completely altered.

Chu Zhiyuan let out a soft shake of his head.

"If activating the pattern reveals the accurate content, then attempting to practice without doing so would likely lead one astray."

"But can one be certain that the content revealed through pattern activation is indeed correct?"

He closed his eyes, gradually emptying his mind, and focused his entire being on his intuition, specifically his danger intuition.

Thoughts began to coalesce in his mind, which he then impressed upon his intuition.

After more than ten breaths, he opened his eyes, his expression now etched with gravity.