Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1326 - 1322: Reappeared

Chu Zhiyuan offered a smile, inquiring, "Elder, do you believe other Spirit Venerables remain unaware?"

Qin Ruolan gazed at him, her eyes sparkling with intensity.

"This Grotto Heaven is connected to the Divine Race, is it not?" Chu Zhiyuan ventured.

Qin Ruolan's gaze brightened further as she slowly responded, "You all discovered this as well?"

"This is a secret of our Sect; I beg your forgiveness, but as a junior, I cannot elaborate," Chu Zhiyuan stated.

Qin Ruolan huffed, "Your perception is quite sharp! …However, it's not confirmed that you truly found it."

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

Qin Ruolan continued, "That Grotto Heaven is not easily discovered."

"A Spirit Venerable makes a move, and still, it cannot be found?" Chu Zhiyuan questioned.

Qin Ruolan let out a light chuckle, "Do you assume it was found by a Spirit Venerable?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Could it be otherwise? It wasn't a Venerable, nor someone below a Venerable, correct?"

Observing Qin Ruolan's reaction, he deduced that a Spirit Venerable had not been the one to locate this Grotto Heaven.

This presented a perplexing situation, exceeding his expectations.

Qin Ruolan laughed, "You truly haven't found it; you were attempting to deceive me, you cunning one!"

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists, offering a smile, "My apologies, Elder."

Qin Ruolan snorted and shook her head, "It's futile; you cannot find it, so there's no need to exert yourself."

Chu Zhiyuan fell into silent contemplation.

Qin Ruolan then declared, "Do not even contemplate tracking the movements of the trial disciples."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "I trust that the Elders within the Sect will devise a method."

"Then let us observe their capabilities," Qin Ruolan responded. "The Spirit Venerables are powerful, but not omnipotent. This is all I shall say… Ruoling, Hanyue, you two shall commence your closed-door cultivation."

"Yes, Master."

The two young women solemnly clasped their fists in acknowledgment.

Qin Ruolan looked towards Chu Zhiyuan, stating, "It is perhaps for the best if Ruoling and Hanyue do not participate; otherwise, even with their words, they would be unable to provide an explanation."

Chu Zhiyuan assured her, "Rest assured, Elder, even if they were to participate, I would not utilize them to pinpoint the location of that Grotto Heaven."

Qin Ruolan chuckled softly, "That cannot be guaranteed; let us depart."

With graceful movements, like a lotus adrift on autumn waters, she turned.

Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue swiftly followed, escorting her to the courtyard entrance. They watched her elegant figure recede until she was out of sight.

The two disciples returned to the small courtyard and turned their attention to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan commented, "Elder Qin is both reasonable and deserving of respect."

Shen Hanyue inquired, "Princely Heir, is the Heaven-Reaching Sect also in pursuit of that Grotto Heaven? They have not yet located it, have they?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

"Would you like our assistance?" Shen Hanyue offered.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, "How could you possibly help? It is impossible for you to know."

"If we were to enter this time, you would be able to find it, correct?"

"Hmm."

"That is truly a pity."

"It is not a pity," Chu Zhiyuan countered, shaking his head. "If I were to find it because of this, would you not then become sinners of the Profound Yin Palace?"

Shen Hanyue responded, "We also do not understand how you found us."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head again, "It is not like a court determining guilt; it does not necessitate concrete evidence."

Xiao Ruoling asked, "Did the Heaven-Reaching Sect intend for you, my husband, to discover it through us?"

"The Heaven-Reaching Sect disdains such methods," Chu Zhiyuan declared.

"How noble!" Shen Hanyue giggled. "After all, it is a Great Sect, comparable to our Profound Yin Palace."

"Come, let us resume our cultivation," Chu Zhiyuan suggested. "Let us strive to advance to another transition."

"Senior Sister has reached the Sixth Transition," Shen Hanyue noted. "After the Sixth Transition, advancement becomes significantly more challenging."

Xiao Ruoling said, "Husband, you still intend to search for that Grotto Heaven? Since we are not participating in the trials, there is no immediate rush; you may attend to your matters first."

"Being occupied does not matter for these one or two days," Chu Zhiyuan replied. "I might as well take a brief respite."

The three engaged in cultivation together, their progress swift, and his own progressed equally.

He surmised that his inability to locate the New Cave Heaven was likely due to his insufficient cultivation.

Further refinement might potentially bring forth hope.

"Will this truly not impede your important matters?"

"No, no, my dear, rest assured. Come now."

"Very well then."

...

You Meng Heaven

Chu Zhiyuan stood atop a mountain peak, his gaze fixated upon the sky.

The setting sun cast its final, lingering rays, painting the sky with magnificent and splendid golden clouds.

The warm glow of the clouds illuminated his face, highlighting the profound confusion etched upon his handsome features.

The Grotto Heaven continued its unpredictable shifts, moving from south to north, then swiftly to the east, or veering towards the west.

Just two hours prior, he had journeyed to the Outer Heaven, perceiving several Grotto Heavens through the Taihao Jade Void Scripture and gaining profound insight into their nature. These Grotto Heavens were in motion, but their movements were slow and fluid, unlike the abrupt shifts observed elsewhere.

The newly discovered Cave Heaven, it seemed, employed its own unique Earth Origin Technique, allowing it to traverse the Void instantaneously rather than gliding with the grace of Qinggong. He then shook his head, commencing a comparison of the situations he had sensed within Biyuan Heaven.

A moment later, a crease formed on his brow. The Grotto Heavens he had perceived within the Two Layer Heaven were distinctly different. In Biyuan Heaven, the distances were far greater, yet within You Meng Heaven, they were considerably closer.

He pondered this discrepancy. If things were truly as they appeared, it would indeed be a formidable challenge, necessitating constant traversal of layer after layer to reach the desired Grotto Heaven. However, the Grotto Heaven itself seemed to constantly shift its position, making precise interception exceedingly difficult. This path appeared impassable.

How then did the Profound Yin Palace manage to locate this Grotto Heaven? According to Qin Ruolan's account, it was not through the deliberate efforts of the Spirit Venerables or any other individuals. It must have been a fortuitous discovery, a stroke of sheer luck rather than a forced outcome.

If that were the case, how did the Spirit Venerables of the Heaven-Reaching Sect come into possession of this information? Suddenly, a possibility dawned on him. Could it be that the Spirit Venerables were informed because the Profound Yin Palace intentionally disseminated the news?

The Profound Yin Palace possessed the Xuan Guang Shuttle, a treasure capable of piercing the Void to reach the New Cave Heaven, allowing them to evade pursuit from other Spirit Venerables. Knowing of a New Cave Heaven's existence, expending significant effort to locate it, only to ultimately find nothing. This would inevitably lead to envy and frustration, yet leave them utterly helpless.

Was this the precise outcome the Profound Yin Palace intended to achieve? He immediately discarded this notion, feeling that the Profound Yin Palace would not engage in such idle machinations. There had to be a purpose he was not yet privy to.

The setting sun cast long shadows, and the vibrant hues of the sky gradually faded, leaving only streaks of dark red clouds gathered in the western expanse. The sun finally dipped below the horizon.

In the fading twilight, Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and vanished without a trace. The following instant, he materialized atop a mountain peak in the Outer Heaven, focusing his senses on the New Cave Heaven. Ultimately, he shook his head once more.

As the bright moon ascended, casting its ethereal glow, he appeared outside the main hall of the Heaven-Reaching Sect. The moon hung high, its pristine light bathing the hall in a serene luminescence. The main hall of the Heaven-Reaching Sect seemed to transform into a crystalline structure, resembling a palace carved from pure crystal. However, this ethereal transparency did not grant any view into the hall's interior.

He produced the Heaven-Reaching Order and stepped through the luminous gateway, entering the hall. Within, the cool lunar essence permeated the space, creating an illusion of daylight despite the absence of any illumination. Amidst the moonlit ambiance, Ning Dongge and Zhang Ji Yuan were seated in meditation, each cross-legged and diligently practicing their techniques.

Upon hearing his arrival, both opened their eyes. Chu Zhiyuan offered a smile and inquired, "Senior Brother Ning, Brother Zhang, you both remain here constantly. Have you not taken the time to return home for a visit?" Every time he visited, he found the two of them present. Ning Dongge, in particular, seemed to practically reside within the hall day and night. Zhang Ji Yuan was somewhat more mobile, his presence often intermittent.

"It is peaceful here; why would we return home?" Ning Dongge replied, then asked, "Little Junior Brother, have you made any progress?" Chu Zhiyuan responded, "I have been unable to locate it. By the way, Senior Brother Ning, are the Spirit Venerables within our sect capable of finding it?" Ning Dongge explained, "The Grotto Heaven possesses a natural repulsion towards Spirit Venerables, deliberately concealing itself from their perception."

Zhang Ji Yuan chuckled, adding, "A Spirit Venerable cannot enter the Grotto Heaven, nor can they pinpoint its location." "Then how did the information leak out?" Chu Zhiyuan pressed, "Was it not with ulterior motives?" "...Well, that is difficult to say," Ning Dongge admitted, nodding slowly in contemplation. "It could potentially be a trap." Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "Senior Brothers, I am truly at a loss." As he spoke, he retrieved a translucent stone from his robes and offered it to Ning Dongge.

Ning Dongge waved his hand dismissively. Just as Chu Zhiyuan was about to press the matter, he suddenly paused, his gaze fixed intently on the stone. A faint black line had appeared upon its surface. "What is it?" Ning Dongge inquired. Chu Zhiyuan then handed the stone to Zhang Ji Yuan.

Zhang Ji Yuan accepted the stone with a look of puzzlement, noticing Chu Zhiyuan's expression had shifted once more. He smiled and asked, "What is it? Have you seen the black line again?" Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly. Zhang Ji Yuan's smile faltered, "There is truly a black line?" Chu Zhiyuan simply nodded in confirmation.