Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1286 - 1282: Encounter

Chu Zhiyuan commented, "Each of these Undying Evil Venerables possesses a unique cultivation method, making their actions truly unpredictable."

Huang Zhengyang responded, "If his intention were merely to slaughter innocents for personal strengthening through their essence, he would not have directly targeted the Imperial City."

"Hmm." Chu Zhiyuan nodded in agreement. "One might estimate he would first decimate nearby villages and towns to bolster his strength before venturing towards the Imperial City. ... So, why would he choose to come here?"

Huang Zhengyang pondered aloud, "Could it be that the treasures within the Imperial City are his ultimate objective?"

That was indeed his primary supposition.

In the past, when malevolent demons attempted to breach the Imperial City, the majority of the Undying Evil Venerables who manifested had their sights set upon it.

It was evident they weren't concerned with eliminating the masters of the Imperial City, nor were they targeting the princes and important ministers.

It was the invaluable treasures housed within the Imperial City that drew their avarice.

Chu Zhiyuan mused, "If only we could ascertain precisely which treasure he seeks..."

"Perhaps we could employ it as bait?" Huang Zhengyang inquired.

Chu Zhiyuan offered a slow, deliberate nod.

Huang Zhengyang resolved, "I shall dispatch individuals to commence an investigation immediately."

Chu Zhiyuan’s gaze drifted towards the colossal light wall, stretching a hundred meters high and ten meters wide, and he couldn't help but voice his admiration, "Truly, this is befitting of the Court; such magnificent displays."

It stretched across the sky, a breathtaking spectacle of imposing grandeur.

Such a display of power, coupled with potent treasures and formations, was exclusively within the purview of the Court.

The Heavenly Sword Sect lacked such capabilities.

The expanse of Heavenly Sword Peak paled in comparison to the Imperial City, and the light shield protecting Heavenly Sword Peak was likewise vastly inferior to this formidable light wall.

Huang Zhengyang flashed a grin.

"Brother Huang, please attend to your tasks. I shall return to the branch; summon me at your convenience."

"Understood."

...

The Golden Sword was reluctantly sheathed at his waist, and he vanished in a swift movement.

Huang Zhengyang’s eyes widened in astonishment.

He witnessed Chu Zhiyuan materialize within the light barrier, upon the thoroughfares of the Imperial City, extend a beckoning gesture, and then vanish once more in an instant.

Huang Zhengyang’s brow furrowed in concern.

This peculiar formation and treasure failed to impede Chu Zhiyuan, who moved in and out with effortless freedom.

Would it, then, prove effective against the Undying Evil Venerable?

Did the Undying Evil Venerable truly depart due to the presence of this light wall?

He peered into the city with a grave expression, ascended into the air, and attempted to vault over the luminous barrier.

However, the higher he ascended, the more the light wall seemed to rise in tandem, perpetually preventing his passage, regardless of his efforts.

Unyielding, he propelled himself straight upward, altering his breathing technique mid-air and drawing a deep, powerful inhalation. He surged over two hundred meters, only to be forcefully repelled.

He ultimately descended in a state of helpless resignation, landing once again atop the city's imposing ramparts.

Chu Zhiyuan, having already settled onto his bed within the Heavenly Sword Branch, observed this unfolding scene and could not suppress a chuckle.

The Imperial City’s divine treasure could obstruct Qinggong techniques, yet it was powerless against the Earth Origin Technique.

Theoretically, it should be capable of restraining the middle-aged man clad in black, thereby preventing his escape.

Since they had elected to confine him within the city, it was clear they possessed absolute confidence in their ability to vanquish this Undying Evil Venerable.

A subtle shift within his heart and spirit drew his attention towards Zhu Lingyun.

Zhu Lingyun was seated beside a stone table in a secluded courtyard, cradling a palm-sized Divine Communication Spirit Jade.

At this precise moment, the intricately carved eyes adorning the jade had indeed opened.

Through this jade pendant, Zhu Lingyun had aligned his heart and spirit with the middle-aged man in the black robe located below.

Chu Zhiyuan possessed the sensation of manipulating the middle-aged man in the black robe. Yet, he had willingly relinquished this direct control to Zhu Lingyun, refraining from personal intervention.

Utilizing the Divine Communication Spirit Jade, Zhu Lingyun became one with the middle-aged man in the black robe, experiencing the situation as if he were physically present.

Zhu Lingyun perceived a peculiar sensation, as if his own senses had become extraordinarily acute, and his heart and spirit amplified in strength.

He could not help but marvel at the miraculous Divine Embryo Technique, acknowledging its superiority even over conventional clone techniques.

The Divine Embryo Technique facilitated not only the transmission of one's power through the Divine Communication Spirit Jade but also the conversion of the accumulated Faith Power from the Undying Evil Venerable Statue into a foundational basis.

Consequently, its efficacy surpassed his own personal cultivation.

Typically, descending transferred only a portion of one's power, with five to six parts being the absolute maximum.

However, the Divine Embryo Technique managed to achieve twelve to thirteen parts.

Zhu Lingyun was already aware of Zhuo Yifan’s overarching objective: to orchestrate a city-wide sacrifice in pursuit of a breakthrough opportunity.

He was immensely eager to attempt this method himself, to ascertain if he could catch a glimpse of the spiritual light signaling a breakthrough.

While Zhuo Yifan intended to utilize innocent civilians as sacrifices, Zhu Lingyun's ambition was to harness the power of evil demons.

The outcome, he believed, should be virtually indistinguishable.

Nevertheless, the current scarcity of evil demons presented a significant obstacle; a potent sacrifice necessitated a greater number of individuals and beings with more formidable cultivation bases.

However, the utilization of wicked demons for sacrificial purposes presented its own set of difficulties.

On one hand, the populations within the various Evil Sects were not particularly substantial; on the other hand, each sect was guarded by formidable wicked demons, even an Undying Evil Venerable.

A sect as expansive as the Wanxiang Sect was an infrequent sight; to muster adequate numbers, multiple Evil Sects would need to be consolidated.

But how could several Evil Sects be brought together?

The strategy involved launching severe assaults upon the Imperial City. The Evil Sects, perceiving this as a prime opportunity, would then have their avarice stoked, causing them to congregate outside the city walls.

Yet, the might of the Imperial City was beyond comprehension, their Spiritual Treasures being virtually inexhaustible.

In prior confrontations with wicked demons, these Spiritual Treasures had remained unused, but now, they had been brought forth.

...

Chu Zhiyuan swiftly regained his focus and recommenced his study of the Ascension Technique.

As dusk approached, the lingering glow of the sunset cast its final rays.

Zhu Lingyun, while controlling the middle-aged man clad in black robes, departed from Wanxiang Cliff and entered Qingyun City.

Qingyun City teemed with a vibrant cacophony, its streets overflowing with people, and the clamor of vendors’ calls blended into a unified din.

He strolled with an unhurried pace, venturing deeper into the city's heart, and located a tavern named Yao Yue Building.

Upon reaching the third floor, he took a seat by a window, ordered a jug of wine, and began to sip it at leisure.

His Super Sense diffused outward, encompassing the entirety of the tavern. Information flooded his mind, rapidly identified and meticulously categorized.

These various pieces of intelligence spanned a broad spectrum, from minor neighborhood disputes and intriguing Martial Arts encounters to scandalous romantic gossip.

Zhu Lingyun did not dismiss any of it, instead absorbing it all thoroughly, thus transforming it into a more profound comprehension of this world.

Concurrently, faces began to materialize before him, which he meticulously compared against those held within his memory.

Time flowed onward; the Yao Yue Building grew increasingly lively, bathed in brilliant illumination.

Under the effulgence of the lights, the patrons were even more animated than during the day, their laughter echoing as they drank from large bowls, completely uninhibited.

Suddenly, Zhu Lingyun's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

A middle-aged man sporting a green robe, who had just entered the tavern, superimposed perfectly with a face residing in his mind.

This particular face had been observed by Chu Zhiyuan during the destruction of the Evil Venerable Statue.

Chu Zhiyuan possessed a crystal-clear recollection of every face present when both the Undying Evil Venerable Statue and the Evil Venerable Statue were obliterated.

Among them was a single face that belonged to an Undying Evil Venerable.

Zhu Lingyun was overcome with elation.

At long last, he had encountered another Undying Evil Venerable!

His foremost desire was to ascertain the reason behind the descent of the Undying Evil Venerables.

The memories inherited from Zhuo Yifan offered no clarity on this matter.

It had simply been a fortuitous encounter with the Divine Communication Spirit Jade, which contained the Divine Embryo Technique.

Driven by an intense longing for a breakthrough, he had attempted its use, leading to his descent into Biyuan Heaven.

As for the specific choice of Biyuan Heaven, it was not a deliberate selection but rather a random occurrence dictated by the activation of the Divine Communication Spirit Jade.

It was akin to launching a stone into the sky; its landing point remained entirely unpredictable.

The middle-aged man in the green robe ambled leisurely up to the third floor, his gaze sweeping across the room before finally settling upon Zhu Lingyun.

He approached Zhu Lingyun directly, stood at his opposite side, cupped his fists, and inquired, "Brother, as there is no other seat available, may I presume to sit here?"

Zhu Lingyun cast a glance around the room, then slowly nodded, stating, "Please, do sit."

He had already concluded that the middle-aged man in the green robe's choice of him was not accidental but a deliberate act.

The middle-aged man in the green robe took a seat, cupped his fists with a smile, and announced, "I am Su Qi, a disciple hailing from Qianye Valley."

Zhu Lingyun was momentarily taken aback, and he quickly reciprocated by cupping his fists with a laugh, "Ah, so you are from Qianye Valley! I am Zhuo Yifan, a disciple of Wanxiang Cliff."

From Zhuo Yifan's recollections, he knew that Qianye Valley was also a Great Sect, possessing a standing comparable to that of Wanxiang Cliff.

However, it was situated quite a distance from this region, and it was a rare occurrence for disciples from Qianye Valley to be seen here.

"Wanxiang Cliff... The honor is mine," Su Qi chuckled. "Su was merely passing through this area and did not anticipate encountering a disciple from Wanxiang Cliff."

Zhu Lingyun offered a smile, responding, "It is indeed rare to meet a distinguished individual from Qianye Valley. Shall we partake in a good drink together?"

"An excellent suggestion," Su Qi replied with a smile.

Zhu Lingyun signaled for a waiter, ordered another jug of wine, and requested a few additional dishes.

The two engaged in conversation over their drinks, sharing anecdotes about Martial Arts, and as they consumed their wine, their familiarity grew, leading to more open discourse.