Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1305 - 1301: The Price

With a laugh, Zhang Ji Yuan announced, "Senior Brother Ning, your junior brother has arrived."

"Haha... the junior brother has finally arrived?" A booming laugh reverberated through the air.

In the blink of an eye, a burly man, as robust as a bear, materialized before them.

A strong gust of wind swirled around them, making the attire of all three flutter wildly.

"Senior Brother Ning," Zhang Ji Yuan greeted, hands clasped in a respectful gesture, a smile on his face. "This is the junior brother."

He then turned and introduced, "This is Senior Brother Ning Dongge."

Chu Zhiyuan mirrored the gesture, offering a polite smile, "I pay my respects to Senior Brother Ning."

The imposing figure, built like a bear, possessed thick eyebrows, large eyes, a prominent nose reminiscent of a lion, and a beard, all contributing to an aura of untamed freedom.

Currently, his eyes sparkled with curiosity as he appraised Chu Zhiyuan.

"Haha..." His laughter, akin to rolling thunder, shook the very heavens. "Excellent, excellent! Junior brother, your arrival is most welcome!"

Chu Zhiyuan responded with a gentle smile.

Ning Dongge remarked, "Regrettably, you arrived slightly late. The Sect Master and several senior brothers are currently in secluded cultivation."

"In seclusion?" Zhang Ji Yuan inquired, a hint of a frown creasing his brow.

"Indeed. They are striving to achieve a breakthrough."

"If they break through again, they will become Spirit Venerables. Will the legacy still be accessible?" Zhang Ji Yuan voiced his concern with some irritation.

"Alas... Patience has worn thin, and they are eager to ascend to the Spirit Realm soon."

"So, the legacy opportunity will be missed? Is it that they doubt the junior brother's contribution can unlock it after all?" Zhang Ji Yuan expressed his displeasure. "Do the Sect Master and the senior brothers not trust my words?"

He had previously informed several senior brothers and the Sect Master that this junior brother was a prodigy of unparalleled rarity.

With his assistance, nine individuals working in concert could undoubtedly unlock the legacy and reveal the complete heritage.

However, it seemed they had not taken his words seriously and had dismissed their importance.

This sentiment stirred anger within him.

"After all, it has never been successfully opened before," Ning Dongge stated, shaking his head.

He then turned to Chu Zhiyuan with a smile. "Junior brother, come, allow me to show you around."

Chu Zhiyuan replied with a smile, "Senior Brother Ning, I had initially believed I was arriving specifically to unlock the legacy."

"Haha, once they emerge from their seclusion, we shall commence," Ning Dongge chuckled. "No need for haste, no need for haste."

"Senior Brother Ning, how can this not be urgent!" Zhang Ji Yuan insisted, his dissatisfaction evident. "The sooner we unlock it, the sooner we can cease our struggles and directly attain the rank of Spirit Venerable!"

"Alas, junior brother, the legacy does not yield so easily; there is a price to be paid," Ning Dongge explained with a sense of helplessness. "If it were that simple, the senior brothers would not have waited until this moment."

"Even a small price is worth paying," Zhang Ji Yuan contended.

Chu Zhiyuan then inquired, "Senior Brother Ning, what is this cost?"

"Cultivation will regress by one stage," Ning Dongge revealed. "However, it can be swiftly recovered."

Chu Zhiyuan pressed, "Does this mean regressing from the Ninth Rank to the Eighth, or perhaps dropping from the Venerable stage?"

"Not a major rank," Ning Dongge clarified, shaking his head.

Chu Zhiyuan cast a glance towards Zhang Ji Yuan.

Zhang Ji Yuan cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly.

Chu Zhiyuan then said, "Senior Brother Zhang, you did not act with complete fairness by concealing such a significant cost!"

"Given your talent, regaining a single stage is trivial. You've only been a Venerable for less than a month, correct?" Zhang Ji Yuan asked with a smile. "Dropping one level to retrain is much faster, a matter of mere days, hardly worth mentioning."

"Nothing worth mentioning..." Chu Zhiyuan murmured, shaking his head.

Ning Dongge erupted into hearty laughter, his mirth a deafening thunder.

Zhang Ji Yuan then questioned, "Senior Brother Ning, since the Sect Master and the others are in seclusion, why did you still bring the junior brother here!"

"Let him enjoy himself within our Sect. There is much to experience here," Ning Dongge stated with a laugh. "He can also leisurely study some of our Secret Skills."

Chu Zhiyuan posed a question, "Senior Brother Ning, the Evil Venerables from You Meng Heaven continuously descend into our Biyuan Heaven. Is there any method to eradicate them definitively?"

"Those lunatics from You Meng Heaven?" Ning Dongge furrowed his brow. "Simply eliminate them one by one. If they are intimidated, they will cease their incursions. It is the most straightforward and effective approach."

"Precisely! Only one word is needed: kill!" Zhang Ji Yuan exclaimed.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

Ning Dongge continued, "Once you master the Void-breaking Skill, you will be able to traverse to You Meng Heaven at will, eliminate whomever displeases you, and if any dare to descend, annihilate their entire Sect."

Chu Zhiyuan let out a soft chuckle.

Ning Dongge added, "The madmen of You Meng Heaven pose no genuine threat; simply defeat them."

Chu Zhiyuan affirmed with a nod, "Understood."

Ning Dongge smiled and proposed, "Let us proceed; we shall head towards the Sect."

Transforming into a gust of wind, he vanished in mere moments.

Chu Zhiyuan and Zhang Ji Yuan increased their pace, walking side-by-side.

The surrounding clouds and mist grew denser.

As they moved swiftly, a powerful breeze was generated, causing the gentle mist to swirl around them.

Seizing the moment, Chu Zhiyuan spoke, "Senior brothers, since the legacy cannot be accessed, I shall first proceed with cultivating the Taihao Jade Void Scripture."

"Are you truly set on cultivating the Taihao Jade Void Scripture?" Zhang Ji Yuan inquired, his brow furrowed.

Ning Dongge glanced at Zhang Ji Yuan. "Junior Brother Zhang, you did inform Junior Brother about the risks associated with the Taihao Jade Void Scripture, didn't you?"

"How could I not have mentioned it?" Zhang Ji Yuan replied.

Ning Dongge let out a chuckle. "Junior Brother Zhang, your words are most adept at deception."

"Senior Brother Ning, please do not slander me!" Zhang Ji Yuan protested. "I have never deceived anyone!"

Ning Dongge responded with a smile, "You may not outright lie, but your truths are often incomplete."

He then turned his attention to Chu Zhiyuan. "Little Brother, Junior Brother Zhang must have lauded the combined might of the three techniques, boasting of their astonishing power, am I right?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile. "Indeed, but he also cautioned that the Taihao Jade Void Scripture is a cultivation method that shortens one's lifespan."

"That is accurate. The Ascension Technique, the Ascension Technique, and the Void-breaking Skill are all exceptionally potent individually, and even more so when integrated. However, their sheer power is almost too much for us to bear."

"Senior Brother Ning, I will not be satisfied without attempting it myself," Chu Zhiyuan declared.

Ning Dongge laughed heartily. "Very well, we cultivators are all quite similar in that regard."

We possess inflated self-esteem, believing that while others might falter, we ourselves will not.

Even if others face failure, we feel compelled to try regardless.

This very stubbornness is a common trait among all those blessed with talent.

Our young junior brother is no exception; he will only relinquish his pursuit after enduring hardship.

"The inheritance of the Taihao Jade Void Scripture resides within our grand hall; we shall visit it shortly."

Ning Dongge accelerated his movements once more, the surrounding clouds vanishing in a blur as the sounds of wind and thunder resonated around them.

Chu Zhiyuan and Zhang Ji Yuan mirrored his increased speed, and thunderous roars erupted wherever they passed.

...

A magnificent, imperial purple grand hall crowned a towering snow-capped mountain.

Encircled by endless, majestic snow-capped peaks, it created an ethereal realm of ice and snow, exuding purity, sanctity, and solemnity.

The mountain itself supporting the grand hall was a literal landmass, while the surrounding towering peaks were mere formations of white clouds.

They had ascended above the fog and cloud layer, emerging onto the mountaintop.

The sky above was an unblemished azure, as clear as if washed, resembling a flawless gemstone.

The solitary and dignified purple grand hall stood resplendent, its imposing purple grandeur starkly contrasted against the pristine snow-white backdrop, creating a visually arresting spectacle.

Zhang Ji Yuan smiled. "Junior Brother, we have arrived."

Chu Zhiyuan's gaze was fixed upon the purple grand hall, an edifice spanning over a thousand square meters.

Massive pillars of purple jade, each requiring two people to encircle, supported the immense structure.

Intricately carved mythical beasts were coiled upon these jade pillars, rendered with astonishing lifelikeness.

The pillars themselves were adorned with peculiar glyphs, strikingly similar to those found on the Heaven-Reaching Order.

Gazing up at the colossal pillars, Chu Zhiyuan felt an overwhelming sense of his own insignificance, as if he were shrinking, eventually diminishing to the size of an ant.

His vision soon cleared, and his mind felt revitalized, shedding an inexplicable sense of interference.

This colossal grand hall was indeed awe-inspiring, but not quite as world-shattering as initially perceived.

The strange beasts and the patterns etched onto the pillars possessed an uncanny quality, capable of disorienting the mind.

"Let us proceed inside," Ning Dongge suggested with a smile.

They advanced, stepping onto the smooth, level plaza before the grand hall.

A sensation of warmth and unyielding solidity met their feet as the Heaven-Reaching Order began to emit a glow, becoming noticeably warmer.

As they drew nearer to the entrance, the surrounding atmosphere grew frigid, carrying a bone-penetrating chill.

This intense cold was exceptionally pure, exceeding the capabilities of his True Qi to resist.

Had it not been for the comforting warmth radiating from the Heaven-Reaching Order, he might have succumbed to the cold.

Chu Zhiyuan mused inwardly, acknowledging the rigorous security measures of the Heaven-Reaching Sect.

Was this the reason for its unbroken lineage through the ages?

Upon reaching the threshold of the grand hall, a shimmering curtain of light materialized, barring their entry.

This golden barrier exuded an aura of imminent peril.

Zhang Ji Yuan instructed, "Junior Brother, employ the mental technique I imparted to activate the Heaven-Reaching Order."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, channeling his True Qi into the Heaven-Reaching Order.

The gentle, white luminescence of the Heaven-Reaching Order rapidly transformed into a deep, imperial purple.

With a shared sentiment, Zhang Ji Yuan and Ning Dongge proceeded into the shimmering golden barrier.

A veil of purple luminescence descended upon them, enveloping their forms.

Observing himself, Chu Zhiyuan noticed the Heaven-Reaching Order’s purple radiance swiftly engulfing his entire being.

The perilous golden light curtain now seemed to pose no threat whatsoever.

He then made his entry.

It felt as though he donned ceremonial robes, the purple aura acting as a shield against the external golden brilliance, allowing him passage into the grand chamber.

His vision intensified, becoming even more luminous.

What captivated him were not the ornate decorations within the hall, but the intricate, densely packed carvings adorning the walls.

These depictions writhed and coiled as if imbued with life, their forms in perpetual motion.