Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1318 - 1314: Leak

Xiao Ruoling shot her a look of playful displeasure.

She stuck out her tongue. "Alright, alright, I take back what I said."

Chu Zhiyuan remarked, "Then, we shall soon discover if we can defy convention."

"It's diffiicult—" Shen Hanyue let out a sigh.

"Junior Sister, hush now!" Xiao Ruoling admonished.

"Fine, I'll be quiet then." Shen Hanyue responded with a coquettish sigh.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, shaking his head. "If you put it like that, I seem to have caused trouble for my lady."

"Hus—band—!" Xiao Ruoling exclaimed, feigning indignation. "Listen to Junior Sister speaking such nonsense."

"You're right, you're right, I am indeed talking nonsense," Shen Hanyue agreed.

Xiao Ruoling cast her a sideways glance. "If you continue spewing nonsense, I won't allow you to cultivate with us!"

Shen Hanyue's smile immediately bloomed like a flower. "Senior Sister, it was my fault, I was just babbling foolishly."

She then turned to Chu Zhiyuan with a smile. "Young Master, this sort of challenge might perplex others, but not you. I am certain you will find a solution."

Chu Zhiyuan replied with a smile, "Let us hope so."

"Then let us resume our cultivation," Chu Zhiyuan proposed. "Let's aim to make another advance before your trial."

"That's utterly impossible," Shen Hanyue declared. "How could it happen so swiftly?"

Chu Zhiyuan insisted, "Let's give it a try nonetheless."

"...Very well." Shen Hanyue glanced at Xiao Ruoling. "Senior Sister, may we continue practicing?"

"Let's go," Xiao Ruoling agreed.

With one more breakthrough achieved, their spirits soared, empowering them to continue their cultivation.

"When you are circulating the Qi," Chu Zhiyuan instructed, "try to be as lax as possible, do not strain yourselves. I will handle the propulsion."

"What do you mean?" Shen Hanyue asked, not quite grasping his meaning.

Chu Zhiyuan elaborated, "The Taoye Marrow Cleansing Technique places a heavy burden on the mind, making it difficult to sustain for extended periods. Your current Realm is sufficient that even without intense concentration to guide it, no harm will come... Try to release the tension in your minds. If you were exerting ninety percent of your spirit before, now use sixty, or even thirty percent."

"Like this..." Shen Hanyue mused, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Xiao Ruoling declared, "Then let's give it a go."

Their palms met, and Chu Zhiyuan placed both of his hands on Xiao Ruoling's back.

Through the light gauze of her robe, the firm, supple muscles of her back transmitted clearly into his palms, akin to touching a piece of warm jade.

He activated the Taihao Jade Void Scripture, and a torrent of pure, blazing Qi immediately surged forth from the vortex within his Dantian, searing his internal organs.

This intense Qi flowed into her back through his left palm, while an opposing frigid aura returned to him through his right palm.

It was like introducing ice water into boiling water, causing an instantaneous drop in temperature. The sensation remained fiery, but considerably less so than before.

A smile touched Chu Zhiyuan's lips.

The Taoye Marrow Cleansing Technique had indeed advanced another level, transitioning from a 'cool' sensation to an 'icy cold' one.

With the integrated Qi from the two women, it became even more potent and substantial, further countering the blazing Qi and significantly diminishing the burning sensation within their bodies.

The blazing Qi continued to flood into Xiao Ruoling's body, propelling the icy aura to circulate at an accelerated pace alongside it.

They endeavored to relax their hearts and spirits, allowing the blazing Qi to enter and guide their own internal breath.

From their initial exertion of ninety percent spirit, they gradually relaxed to eighty, then seventy, sixty... all the way down to thirty percent.

Faintly present, faintly absent, there and yet not there.

In this state of relaxed awareness, the expenditure of spirit was practically negligible.

With ample mental room to spare, they began to ponder the true extent of spirit Chu Zhiyuan was expending, and how long he could possibly sustain this effort.

One individual channeling the True Yuan of three, and furthermore, True Yuan external to his own body—the energy depletion had to be astronomical and simply could not last.

Yet, as time continued to unfold, their own estimations began to falter.

Could it be possible that he wasn't expending any spirit either?

...

A sliver of morning light pierced the tranquil courtyard, illuminating the trio.

The morning mist, like gossamer silk, endlessly swirled above the small courtyard.

They sat there, as serene and unmoving as ancient Buddha statues.

As the mist neared, it was repelled by an unseen force, scattering harmlessly away.

Suddenly, Chu Zhiyuan's eyes snapped open, his gaze as piercing and sharp as lightning.

The two women's eyelids remained slightly lowered, utterly still, lost in a profound and peculiar state.

Chu Zhiyuan allowed himself a smile.

His hypothesis had proven correct: by reducing the strain on their spirits, they could extend the duration of their Cultivation.

Their spirits, originally capable of sustaining themselves for only one to two hours, would now remain virtually unexhausted.

The Taoye Marrow Cleansing Technique's continuous cultivation yielded far superior results compared to practicing sporadically.

Utilizing Super Sense, he observed their subtle transformations, realizing they could advance another First Realm before the trial nine days hence.

With the Taoye Marrow Cleansing Technique enhanced, its synergy with the Taihao Jade Void Scripture became even more potent, significantly boosting the body-strengthening effects.

As his physique grew stronger, he felt an intangible closeness to that elusive threshold.

Shen Hanyue slowly regained consciousness, her bright eyes resembling a hazy, dreamlike mist.

Xiao Ruoling also awoke, her clear eyes shining. She softly inquired, "Husband, are you alright?"

Chu Zhiyuan responded with a smile, "I am very well."

"That consumed far too much spirit," Xiao Ruoling sighed. "We were the ones who slacked off."

By the end of their practice, they had grown drowsy and succumbed to sleep without realizing it.

Now, it felt akin to awakening from a profoundly satisfying slumber, their minds exceptionally clear and revitalized.

There was no lingering fatigue from their training, yet all the benefits of their efforts were present—a truly ineffable feeling.

Chu Zhiyuan stated with a smile, "Practicing in this manner allows for extended sessions and yields better outcomes."

"It truly is astonishing," Shen Hanyue exclaimed. "Senior Sister, I feel like this is equivalent to a month of my usual practice."

"Mm, approximately so," Xiao Ruoling nodded subtly.

Chu Zhiyuan inquired with a grin, "If we train like this for a few more days, you'll be able to advance another level before the trial, won't you?"

"...We can," Shen Hanyue considered for a moment before nodding vigorously, her eyes alight. "Young Master, shall we commence again?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and retrieved the Heaven-Reaching Order from his sleeve. The token was currently emitting a flashing light.

A white luminescence pulsed within it, alternately brightening and dimming, much like breathing.

Chu Zhiyuan announced, "Senior Brother is summoning me back."

"Husband, you should depart swiftly," Xiao Ruoling urged.

Chu Zhiyuan promised, "Upon my return, we shall resume our cultivation."

"Very well," Xiao Ruoling agreed.

With a smile and a wave, Chu Zhiyuan vanished in a flash.

"Senior Sister, the Young Master is truly remarkable," Shen Hanyue murmured with admiration.

Xiao Ruoling playfully shot her a knowing glance.

Shen Hanyue giggled. "Yes, yes, yes, I am prying again. However, some matters truly cannot be concealed from the Young Master. He ought to be informed."

"Meddler!" Xiao Ruoling huffed. "I shall inform him myself. This is a critical juncture for him—how can he be permitted to be distracted?"

"Senior Sister, it is also a critical time for you," Shen Hanyue pointed out. "You are on the verge of undertaking the trial and then heading to the Outer Realm Battlefield."

"Enough, let's practice!" Xiao Ruoling interjected. "No more talking."

"Understood," Shen Hanyue complied. "I shall remain completely silent, alright?"

Xiao Ruoling fixed her with an intense gaze.

...

Chu Zhiyuan materialized outside the main hall of the Heaven-Reaching Sect to find Zhang Ji Yuan and Ning Dongge standing with their hands clasped behind their backs, their eyes fixed upon the vast expanse of the sky.

"Senior Brothers," Chu Zhiyuan greeted, cupping his fists. "What is the matter?"

Zhang Ji Yuan stated, "Junior Brother, we have received intelligence regarding the appearance of a new Grotto Heaven."

Chu Zhiyuan's sharp brows rose in surprise. "A new Grotto Heaven?"

Internally, however, he grew tense.

Could word of this have already spread?

Zhang Ji Yuan continued, "This Grotto Heaven pertains to an ancient secret and must not be overlooked."

Chu Zhiyuan's interest piqued. "Brother Zhang, what sort of ancient secret does it involve?"

"The secret of the Divine Race," Zhang Ji Yuan revealed slowly. "We may finally uncover why the Divine Race vanished so abruptly, why they disappeared entirely overnight."

Chu Zhiyuan inquired, "Is it a Grotto Heaven belonging to the Divine Race?"

"It is difficult to ascertain," Zhang Ji Yuan replied. "There might even be actual Divine Race beings present. Therefore, this investigation must be thorough, and we absolutely cannot allow this opportunity to slip through our fingers."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with solemnity. "Where is it located?"

"We do not yet know," Zhang Ji Yuan confessed, shaking his head. "The Profound Yin Palace likely possesses this information."

Chu Zhiyuan remarked, "Brother Zhang, are you suggesting I ask my wife to inquire?"

He sighed inwardly.

So, the information had indeed leaked. No secret is truly impregnable.

If he was aware, others could be as well.

Zhang Ji Yuan elaborated, "Your lady may not be privy to such high-level secrets, and even if she were, she could not divulge them to you. We must uncover this through our own efforts."

"How do we proceed?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.

Ning Dongge instructed, "There exists a secret technique that the three of us can employ collaboratively to pinpoint the new Grotto Heaven's location. Hurry and learn it."