Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1285 - 1281: Departure

To allow such a formidable opponent to slip away signifies a lapse in control.

While Dongning City is fortified with thirty-two tributes and a defensive array, other cities lack similar protections.

Some are even entirely undefended, where the City Guards might fend off Evil Demons but would certainly be no match for him.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, stating, "We cannot keep him."

The Golden Sword returned to him lightly, its buzz seeming like speech.

The Sword trembled, its clear light rippling like the surface of a tranquil lake.

With a gesture, Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.

The Golden Sword sheathed itself, emanating an aura of reluctance.

Sensing this aura, Huang Zhengyang chuckled and shook his head, asking, "It's unwilling, isn't it?"

Chu Zhiyuan replied, "It has never been so frustrated until now. It's unwilling because it encountered a master who could suppress it."

"Alas..." Huang Zhengyang sighed deeply. "Brother Chu, this situation is truly troublesome now!"

Chu Zhiyuan's expression grew solemn, and he shook his head in resignation. "It's beyond our ability to control; we've done all we could."

Huang Zhengyang then inquired, "Will he kill people?"

Chu Zhiyuan pondered this with a frown.

"He won't kill people?" Huang Zhengyang's spirits lifted, and he quickly pressed.

Chu Zhiyuan remained lost in thought.

Huang Zhengyang fell silent, fixing his gaze upon him.

Chu Zhiyuan's eyes seemed to drift further and further away, as if he were in a trance.

At this precise moment, thirty-two middle-aged men descended, their expressions grim.

Every Jade Pendant they held had cracked.

Huang Zhengyang clasped his fists in gratitude. "Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen."

The leading middle-aged man spoke gravely, "This escaping Evil might unleash endless trouble!"

Another middle-aged man sighed, "He is more powerful than we anticipated; I fear no one can control this fiend!"

The formation they had employed was the Six Elements Demon Locking Array.

Despite its astonishing power, it proved vulnerable before this Undying Evil Venerable.

Such an Undying Evil Venerable, unprecedented, poses a great threat.

"It appears that with the Court's tributes, we cannot control him."

"Only a Spirit Venerable can achieve this!"

"A Spirit Venerable..."

"When will the Spirit Venerable arrive?"

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear; the speed of a Spirit Venerable is beyond our comprehension."

"We only fear he might not come."

"It is difficult to invite a Spirit Venerable, and it is not yet time for the Court's life-and-death crisis."

"Without the Spirit Venerable, if this fiend is allowed to run rampant, won't the Court be in grave danger?"

"If the Divine Artifact were repaired, it could deal with this fiend."

"Alas... the Divine Artifact..."

Suddenly, Chu Zhiyuan's eyes snapped open.

Huang Zhengyang eagerly inquired, "Brother Chu, what is it?"

Chu Zhiyuan stated, "He is heading towards the Imperial City."

"Hmm—!" Huang Zhengyang's face contorted in alarm. "Heading straight for the Imperial City."

Chu Zhiyuan confirmed, "It seems his target is the Imperial City."

Huang Zhengyang's countenance turned grim. "Damn it!... If it's the Imperial City..."

The leading elder interjected, "Huang Sizheng, there's no need to worry excessively about the Imperial City. They possess numerous tributes, and even if the Divine Artifact is incapacitated, other treasures remain."

"Precisely."

"I only fear they are unprepared," Huang Zhengyang said darkly. "We must send a signal."

Chu Zhiyuan urged, "Do it as swiftly as possible, lest it be too late. His speed is exceptionally fast."

Huang Zhengyang retrieved a Jade Pendant from his sleeve, channeling his power and infusing True Yuan into it.

The Jade Pendant gradually deepened in color, shifting from a light pink to a rich red, then to an almost purplish hue.

"Pop!"

With a crisp sound, the Jade Pendant suddenly flared with light before transforming into a beam of red light that shot skyward.

Its trajectory was directly towards the Imperial City.

Huang Zhengyang exhaled a sigh of relief. "The Director will soon be alerted to the impending danger."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded in agreement.

As observed by Super Sense, the red light's speed was astonishing; a hundred-mile distance was traversed in mere moments.

By now, it had likely reached the Imperial City, its signal detected by the Director, thus initiating a warning to bolster defenses.

Huang Zhengyang asked solemnly, "Brother Chu, is there truly no other way?"

Chu Zhiyuan replied, "I am no match for him. He is different from other Undying Evil Venerables."

"Indeed, he is different," Huang Zhengyang concurred with a sigh.

The Undying Evil Venerables they had encountered typically existed merely as statues, projecting their power within a limited area.

Alternatively, they might possess an Evil Demon.

However, this particular entity transformed directly from a statue into an Evil Demon, possessing significantly greater power and proving far more troublesome.

The destruction he wrought would disregard conventional boundaries; how could such a threat be resisted?

A Courtier couldn't hold back his sigh and declared in a deep voice, "Huang Sizheng, there's no need for such anguish. If he dares to set foot in the Imperial City, he is simply inviting his own doom!"

He found Huang Zhengyang's current demeanor unbearable, constantly seeking counsel from Chu Zhiyuan and relying on an outsider, completely abandoning the dignity expected of the Evil Extermination Department's Deputy Director.

Such behavior was nothing short of a disgrace to the Court.

Chu Zhiyuan, as formidable as he was, was merely a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, not an official of the Court.

Huang Zhengyang then queried, "Mr. Cheng, can the Imperial City truly withstand him?"

The middle-aged man responded with unwavering confidence, "Deputy Director Huang, you are still young and unaware of the might that the Imperial City possesses."

Huang Zhengyang recalled, "The last time a demon invaded the city..."

The middle-aged man offered a slight smile, dismissing the memory. "That was merely a minor disturbance, hardly warranting the deployment of our heavy armaments."

"So you say..." Huang Zhengyang was only partially convinced. "Should we then return to the Imperial City to investigate?"

Chu Zhiyuan voiced a concern, "I fear he might launch a surprise counter-attack while we are away."

Huang Zhengyang startled at the possibility.

Chu Zhiyuan continued, "Since Mr. Cheng assures us of the Imperial City's formidable defenses and the notification of the Director, perhaps it would be prudent to wait a while longer."

"This..." Huang Zhengyang hesitated, his gaze sweeping over the thirty-two Courtiers.

They silently nodded in agreement. The elder among them spoke, echoing Chu Zhiyuan's sentiment, "Mr. Chu speaks wisely. If we depart and he returns, Dongning City could be reduced to ashes."

"...Very well. In that case, gentlemen, maintain your vigilance. I shall return alone first." Huang Zhengyang declared with solemnity.

Chu Zhiyuan simply stated, "Let us depart then."

"Brother Chu..." Huang Zhengyang called out hesitantly.

Chu Zhiyuan raised a hand, dismissing the concern. "We cannot allow Brother Huang to face potential danger alone. Furthermore, by the time we return, the matter may already be concluded."

"...Understood." Huang Zhengyang slowly acquiesced.

Chu Zhiyuan placed a hand on his shoulder, and in an instant, the two figures transformed into streaks of light, soaring a mile into the distance before vanishing from sight.

Mere moments later, they alighted on a mountain peak, their eyes fixed upon the Imperial City spread out below.

"He has indeed arrived!"

Huang Zhengyang's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing as he observed the man in the mystic robes hovering directly above the Imperial City.

The mysterious figure, positioned a hundred meters above the city, was meticulously forming hand seals, directing them towards a beam of light that originated from below.

This fiery red beam erupted from the Imperial City, piercing the air straight at the man in the mystic robes, seemingly pinning him in place.

From the man's palms, a gentle golden luminescence emanated, pushing back against the red beam in a tense visual stalemate.

Chu Zhiyuan remarked with admiration, "The Court undeniably possesses potent artifacts."

Huang Zhengyang acknowledged, "While the Court lacks for nothing in terms of treasures, activating such powerful items is no simple feat."

Chu Zhiyuan let out a light chuckle. "It appears our intervention may not be necessary."

Even as he spoke, his Golden Sword was already drawn, humming softly in the air, radiating an palpable aura of martial pride.

It was evident he was eager to reassert his honor.

Huang Zhengyang, too, let out a breath of relief.

During the ongoing struggle, another beam shot upwards from the city towards the mystic-robed man.

This beam, a deep emerald hue, ascended like a pillar of dark jade, on a collision course with the figure.

The man's eyes snapped open wide.

Two golden beams of light erupted from his eyes, meeting the dark green beam head-on.

"Boom!"

The sound was like a clap of thunder, shaking the very heavens and earth, causing the Imperial City to tremble.

"Magnificent," Huang Zhengyang could not help but exclaim.

The sheer power contained within that single collision was evident even from the sound alone.

The convergence of the golden light from the man's eyes and the dark green beam resulted in mutual annihilation.

Chu Zhiyuan's expression turned serious. "I fear this may not be enough to stop him."

"He will not prevail," Huang Zhengyang stated with a confident smile. "There is more to come!"

Yet another beam, this time black, surged straight upwards, impacting the mystic-robed man.

Once more, the man's eyes blazed with golden light.

"Boom!"

The black beam vanished, consumed along with the golden light.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

Huang Zhengyang's own expression grew grave.

It was clear that the man in the mystic robes was not exerting his full strength; the beams could not overcome him.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at his Golden Sword, then stated, "Intervening now would only lead to needless chaos. It is best to wait a little longer."

Huang Zhengyang nodded in agreement.

He refused to believe that the Court had exhausted all its resources; surely, there were greater means yet to be employed.

Suddenly, the mystic-robed man let out a soft, resonant laugh.

The laughter reverberated throughout the entirety of the Imperial City.

Following his laughter, he turned and began to float away. The pursuing red beam was effortlessly dispelled by a mere gaze from his eyes, accompanied by a muffled "boom."

He continued his departure, eventually vanishing from their sight.

A wave of relief washed over Huang Zhengyang, his mouth opening to speak, but then he noticed the city ramparts shimmer with sudden luminescence.

Brilliant light erupted from the walls, coalescing into a formidable barrier of light, a hundred meters in height.

Chu Zhiyuan let out a slight shake of his head. "It’s already too late."

This was undeniably another deadly tactic, designed to ensnare the man clad in the mystical robe. Regrettably, its deployment was delayed, allowing the middle-aged man to perceive the impending danger and depart moments prior.

"It's fortunate they managed to stall him," Huang Zhengyang commented.

"And what transpires now?" Chu Zhiyuan inquired.

"It appears he harbors no intention of harming the innocent," Huang Zhengyang observed.