Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1302 - 1298: Gathering

Zhang Ji Yuan paused for a moment before he clapped his hands together, exclaiming with great delight, "Good, good, good! Congratulations!"

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fists in response. "Please pardon my laughter, but is there a formal ceremony for joining the Sect?"

"It's not that cumbersome," Zhang Ji Yuan replied, retrieving a jet-black token from his robes and presenting it to Chu Zhiyuan. "With this, you are now officially a disciple of the Heaven-Reaching Sect."

Chu Zhiyuan accepted the token.

It was roughly palm-sized, perfectly circular like a full moon, and appeared entirely black at first glance, with no discernible features.

However, it was intricately etched with patterns.

The designs on each side were distinct: one complex, the other simple.

Gazing at these patterns, Chu Zhiyuan could faintly make out two characters: "Heaven-Reaching."

"This is the identity token for disciples of our Heaven-Reaching Sect; it is a genuine treasure," Zhang Ji Yuan elaborated.

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

A proud expression bloomed on Zhang Ji Yuan's face. "With this, we can proceed to return to the Sect."

Chu Zhiyuan inquired, "Directly return to the Sect?"

"The location where our Sect resides is a place where no outsiders have ever set foot. What troubles you?" Zhang Ji Yuan chuckled.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "It is not located within Biyuan Heaven, is it?"

"It is neither in Biyuan Heaven, nor in Outer Heaven, nor in Little Heaven Beyond," Zhang Ji Yuan stated. "It is situated in a separate, distinct First Layer Heaven."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

He had already begun to suspect this.

The persistent mystery surrounding its exact location, with no one able to ascertain the details, strongly suggested the existence of a unique Grotto Heaven.

Now, it seemed, his suspicions were confirmed.

"Outsiders cannot attain entry. Only disciples of the Heaven-Reaching Sect, by virtue of the Heaven-Reaching Order and the Sect's unique cultivation methods, can enter the domain where the Heaven-Reaching Sect is located."

"Can I enter?"

"Not at this moment. You need to master two additional techniques first. Given Junior Brother Chu's exceptional talent, you will likely master them swiftly, won't you?"

"How long do you estimate it will take?"

"Within a year."

"A year..." Chu Zhiyuan murmured thoughtfully.

"It took me three years back then," Zhang Ji Yuan recalled. "Your talent surpasses mine; a mere glance should suffice for you!"

Chu Zhiyuan questioned, "So I can only enter the Heaven-Reaching Sect after a year?"

"Is a year too long?" Zhang Ji Yuan inquired.

Chu Zhiyuan replied, "I had anticipated the possibility of entering the Heaven-Reaching Sect immediately."

"Haha..." Zhang Ji Yuan burst into laughter. "Without mastering the three essential techniques, entry is impossible. There's no need to rush; focus on mastering the three techniques first."

"Senior Brother, are you not in a hurry?"

"Hehe... There's no pressing need for this matter. We have already waited for tens of thousands of years; a year or two will make no significant difference."

"Aren't you in a hurry, Senior Brother?" Chu Zhiyuan pressed. "Is it not better to obtain the complete cultivation method as soon as possible?"

"Even this remnant scroll has not been fully comprehended yet," Zhang Ji Yuan explained. "First, practice the remnant scroll diligently, and then proceed with the rest. There's no need to rush... Moreover, even if individuals gather, true accomplishment may not materialize."

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded in understanding.

Zhang Ji Yuan continued, "Setting excessively high expectations often leads to greater disappointment. Many have gathered before, yet none have succeeded."

A sudden realization dawned on Chu Zhiyuan, and he smiled. "It appears, Senior Brother, that you do not place much hope on me either. I shall simply do my best and leave the rest to fate."

"Hehe..." Zhang Ji Yuan responded. "At the very least, it represents an additional glimmer of hope. What if..."

Chu Zhiyuan solemnly declared, "Very well. I will swiftly master the remaining two techniques and proceed to the Heaven-Reaching Sect as soon as possible to ascertain if I can unlock the complete inheritance."

"The other two secret techniques possess a difficulty comparable to the Ascension Technique. Having already mastered the Ascension Technique will undoubtedly make learning them significantly easier; they should naturally fall into place."

"Yes."

Zhang Ji Yuan produced two slender books from his sleeves and offered them to Chu Zhiyuan. "Here, take these. Guard them diligently and do not reveal them to anyone. While the Ascension Technique is widely known and its mastery by others is inconsequential, these two are different."

"Understood."

"I must depart now, as I have other pressing matters to attend to," Zhang Ji Yuan stated, tucking the Ink Jade Box into his sleeve. "I will visit you again after some time."

"Travel safely, Senior Brother," Chu Zhiyuan said, cupping his fists.

Zhang Ji Yuan simply waved his hand and vanished from sight.

Chu Zhiyuan's smile gradually faded as he opened the two thin books, carefully turning their pages.

Upon finishing his perusal, he retrieved the Heaven-Reaching Order once more, his fingers gently exploring its surface.

He understood that this Heaven-Reaching Order was intrinsically linked to the contents of the two slender books. Without it, attempting to cultivate the knowledge within those books would inevitably lead to madness.

The Heaven-Reaching Sect imposes incredibly strict requirements upon its disciples, demanding a confluence of talent, comprehension, and luck, where a deficiency in any aspect is unacceptable.

The initial stage necessitates the ability to perceive the aforementioned content; even remarkably talented individuals like Lu Xiaolu cannot grasp it, let alone any hero across the land.

The second stage allows for the perception of the content, but without sufficient luck, one might misinterpret it, leading to dire consequences like madness.

...

Fairy Peak is situated over a hundred miles from the Imperial City, encircled by numerous mountain ranges.

Zhu Lingyun stood with his hands clasped behind his back atop a treetop, its gentle swaying mirroring his posture.

Dense bamboo forests surrounded him, resembling vast, undulating waves of verdant green.

He cast his gaze towards the Evil Demons lurking within the woods.

Disciples from the Qianye Sect, alongside four from the Evil Sect, had converged at this very Fairy Peak.

It appeared as though a figure concealed itself behind every tree; an overwhelming number of evil beings had assembled.

The rustle of silk garments announced Su Qi's arrival beside him.

The treetop remained remarkably still, as though the lightest feather had settled upon it.

Zhu Lingyun turned his head to address him: "Brother Su, have you managed to assemble the individuals?"

Su Qi's brow furrowed, his expression one of clear displeasure.

"They have not gathered?" Zhu Lingyun inquired.

"Hmph!" Su Qi emitted a frigid, derisive laugh.

At that precise moment, two figures pierced through the sky, landing gracefully beside the pair.

These were the remaining two Undying Evil Venerables.

Upon observing Su Qi's discontented visage, they cupped their fists in salutation and conveyed their regret with a shake of their heads.

Zhu Lingyun queried: "Why are they delaying their arrival?"

"They harbor doubts about our chances of success," the stout, middle-aged man responded, shaking his head. "They believe we are squandering our efforts."

The gaunt middle-aged man added with a cold tone: "Chu Zhiyuan has already instilled significant fear in them, compelling their submission."

Zhu Lingyun countered: "However, Chu Zhiyuan has not yet demonstrated any large-scale destructive techniques, have they?"

The gaunt middle-aged man elaborated: "The Heavenly Sword Sect, in concert with the other Three Sects, launched a decisive offensive, eradicating a considerable number of the Evil Sect members. This has left them in a state of profound fear and apprehension."

Su Qi interjected coldly: "What possible connection does this have to Chu Zhiyuan?"

"They are concerned that confronting Chu Zhiyuan would provoke a unified retaliatory strike from the Four Sects," the round-faced middle-aged man explained.

Su Qi scoffed: "Are they so utterly terrified of the Four Sects?"

The round-faced middle-aged man nodded in affirmation. "According to their assessment, the Four Sects have grown even more formidable than prior, making any provocation ill-advised."

"Heh, utter cowards, paralyzed by fear!" Su Qi’s derisive laughter echoed continuously as he shook his head.

Zhu Lingyun stated gravely: "So, we are unable to gather the requisite number of participants?"

"We must make do with what we have; the current number is all we can muster," Su Qi retorted with a snort.

Zhu Lingyun shook his head, a hint of concern in his voice. "Brother Su, our current numbers are insufficient to overcome Chu Zhiyuan. This presents our sole opportunity; a subsequent chance will be exceedingly difficult to secure."

Su Qi's brow furrowed further as he inquired: "Is it an absolute necessity to gather ten thousand individuals for this endeavor?"

Zhu Lingyun articulated slowly: "Chu Zhiyuan possesses unparalleled Qinggong. Should we fail to fell him in a single, decisive blow, we will forfeit any subsequent opportunity, allowing him to vanish without a trace."

"With ten thousand proficient cultivators..." Su Qi mused, "Will the formation remain flawless? This is truly a singular chance."

Zhu Lingyun responded with an arrogant smile: "Provided a sufficient number of individuals convene, and are organized with relative parity, they can establish a formation potent enough to annihilate Chu Zhiyuan in one swift strike!"

"Excellent, then we must devise methods to summon more participants!" Su Qi declared, gritting his teeth. "I shall instruct the Qianye Sect to dispatch additional recruiters."

Zhu Lingyun urged: "We must act with utmost celerity. Mobilizing such a vast multitude will inevitably draw the scrutiny of the Evil Extermination Department, thereby alerting Chu Zhiyuan. This would render all our preceding efforts futile!"

"Expedite, expedite," Su Qi commanded before vanishing into the air.

Zhu Lingyun surveyed the dimly perceptible figures of the assembled evil figures within the woods, suppressing a burgeoning sense of unease.

Without the required numbers, the sacrificial formation’s might would prove insufficient, incapable of facilitating the desired ascension to greater cultivation levels.

Should one achieve entry into the Spirit Realm prior to mastering the Heaven-Reaching Sect’s potent martial arts, the outcome would be nothing short of perfect.

In such a scenario, the perceived landscape would transform, and one’s freedom of action would be significantly amplified.