Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1342 - 1338: Extermination

At this moment, Chu Zhiyuan’s heart was heavy and filled with anger.

It was evident that the elegant middle-aged man had employed a technique that silenced an entire village with seemingly no effort.

A hundred lives within the village vanished in the blink of an eye.

The sheer efficiency of this massacre far exceeded any martial arts capability.

This atrocity was directed at a single village, but what if the target had been a small town, or even a large city?

What would the consequences have been then?

"Brother Huang, let’s investigate another village."

"Indeed, let’s go."

The two figures vanished from the hall, only to reappear in the very village they had just observed moments later.

They then proceeded about ten miles westward, arriving at another now-silent village.

The scene was almost an exact replica of the previous one.

The same small river flowed to the south of both villages.

Chu Zhiyuan positioned himself once more atop South Mountain peak, utilizing the Donghuan Saint Technique.

He witnessed the same elegant middle-aged man employing the identical miraculous technique, eradicating the inhabitants of this village.

"It’s still him," Chu Zhiyuan muttered, rubbing his temples.

Even though he had only traced back three days, the double use of the technique in succession had left him feeling utterly drained.

This Donghuan Saint Technique was simply too taxing.

Huang Zhengyang stated with a cold tone, "This individual holds no regard for human life."

Chu Zhiyuan could only nod in agreement.

It was clear this elegant middle-aged man viewed the villagers not as people, but as mere sustenance for his cultivation.

His nefarious skill was undoubtedly devouring their spirits and souls to bolster his own power.

Yet, the flower itself remained beautiful and resplendent, devoid of any malevolent aura.

At that very moment, a shadow materialized like a swift gust of wind upon the clearing at the village’s outskirts.

The martial arts masters who were examining the corpses looked up in unison.

A young man clad in mystic robes stood before them, retrieving a scroll from his chest and presenting it: "Gentlemen, this is the portrait of the perpetrator."

One of the younger men accepted it, cast a brief glance, and then passed it around for others to see.

"One truly shouldn't judge by appearance; he looks respectable yet commits such heinous acts!"

"Do these evildoers ever betray their nature through their faces? Aren't the Undying Evil Venerables exactly like that?"

"Truly despicable!"

Chu Zhiyuan let out a soft chuckle: "Brother Huang, your Evil Extermination Department operates with remarkable efficiency."

Following his statement, the artists began their work, and a messenger was dispatched.

The entire process, from receiving the request to dispatching the artists, took no longer than the time it takes to eat a meal – their efficiency was truly impressive.

"For such vile incidents, naturally, the response must be of the highest level and the greatest speed."

"Admirable," Chu Zhiyuan remarked, nodding.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a resonant sound emanated from the sky, echoing in all directions.

Chu Zhiyuan looked up, observing a large, vibrant red flower blooming in the heavens.

"Have they found him?" Huang Zhengyang’s spirit was instantly uplifted: "Brother Chu, let us proceed to investigate."

Chu Zhiyuan gave a slight nod.

The two figures ascended, transforming into streaks of shadow as they surged towards the direction of the red bloom.

In less than a moment, they found themselves hovering above a dense forest.

Four experts from the Mysterious Robe Evil Suppression Bureau were being overwhelmed by the elegant middle-aged man.

"Boom boom boom boom..."

The mystic-robed experts were sent flying, and trees were snapped in half by the impact.

The elegant middle-aged man's eyes glowed with a white light, his palms radiating a moon-like luminescence.

The four mystic-robed experts struck by this ethereal radiance were repelled.

Despite being thrown back, ignoring the pain in their bodies and the blood trickling from their mouths, they launched themselves forward to re-engage him.

The elegant middle-aged man simply shook his head: "Ignorant beings!"

The radiance emanating from his palms intensified, his power surging.

The four mystic-robed experts were sent flying even further back, snapping two more trees in their trajectory.

Chu Zhiyuan and Huang Zhengyang arrived on the scene, choosing not to charge in immediately.

Huang Zhengyang let out a long, piercing cry, followed by a second, and then a third.

Chu Zhiyuan’s eyebrows rose slightly.

Utilizing his Super Sense sight, he observed that after the third prolonged cry, the charging experts from the Evil Extermination Department abruptly altered their course.

Within an instant, they formed a surrounding formation, with Huang Zhengyang at its epicenter.

Chu Zhiyuan inwardly let out a sigh of admiration, truly a testament to their rigorous training.

Twelve experts had already secured their positions, while another twelve were en route to a village approximately ten miles away.

"Boom boom boom boom..."

The four mystic-robed experts appeared visibly pale, their movements becoming sluggish and weakened.

They gritted their teeth, their gazes fixed on the elegant middle-aged man with unwavering resolve.

Huang Zhengyang declared, "I shall make my move now. Brother Chu, please provide cover."

Chu Zhiyuan, however, shook his head: "Never mind that. As the esteemed director, you should not personally intervene. Allow me to handle this."

A flying knife silently shot out from his sleeve.

Above his head, it was as if a tranquil pool of autumn water was suspended.

Melding seamlessly with the void, it remained undetectable unless one concentrated intently.

It glided forward quietly, poised to launch a covert assault.

However, as it drew near, the elegant middle-aged man sensed its presence, and his body suddenly erupted in a brilliant radiance.

A flying knife materialized abruptly in his chest, embedded within a radiant glow.

It was translucent, slender, quivering slightly, inching forward as if to breach the protective light.

"Who is it!"

The comely middle-aged man bellowed, extending his palm toward the airborne blade.

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle sizzle!"

Accompanied by sharp whistling sounds, eight more flying knives materialized instantly, all embedding themselves within the radiance.

Two were positioned at his feet, two at his chest, two at his back, one at the nape of his head, and the final one between his eyebrows.

All nine flying knives trembled, striving to penetrate the barrier of light.

"How troublesome!"

Huang Zhengyang grimaced.

The ability to repel this flying knife indicated that the handsome middle-aged man's cultivation realm was undoubtedly at the Perfection level of a Venerable.

A Venerable at the Perfect Realm posed a significant challenge; he could not be simply crushed, but rather overwhelmed through sheer numbers.

The handsome middle-aged man waved his palm towards the transparent flying knife lodged in his chest.

The flying knife shifted, angling itself to stab towards his palm.

Upon witnessing the multitude of flying knives, the four middle-aged men clad in black robes discerned that Chu Zhiyuan had made his arrival.

Consequently, they withdrew.

Huang Zhengyang appeared before them, bestowing an elixir pill upon each: "Take these and recuperate."

"Thank you, Director."

They accepted the crimson pills, consuming them in a single gulp, and then assumed a cross-legged posture, circulating their unique techniques to activate the medicinal properties.

With the advent of Chu Zhiyuan and Huang Zhengyang, their apprehension completely dissipated.

"Ding..."

The transparent flying knife collided with the radiance in the handsome middle-aged man's palm, producing a metallic clanging.

"Ding ding ding ding..."

The handsome middle-aged man's brow furrowed, finding these flying knives unexpectedly vexing.

Chu Zhiyuan inquired, "Brother Huang, shall we eliminate him directly?"

"Shouldn't we first ascertain his origins?" Huang Zhengyang countered.

"He likely won't divulge anything," Chu Zhiyuan responded with a shake of his head, "We will need to investigate ourselves."

"Then let's end him; he has perpetrated numerous killings and deserves retribution."

"Agreed."

"Ha, slay me?!" The handsome middle-aged man emitted a chilling, derisive laugh. "What audacious blasphemy!"

Within the seemingly casual remarks of Chu Zhiyuan and Huang Zhengyang, he detected a palpable disdain directed at him.

In his estimation, this was an offense beyond forgiveness.

His extreme arrogance forbade him from enduring being looked down upon by individuals he considered akin to mere insects.

In a surge of fury, the radiance surrounding him intensified, transforming into a milky white luminescence, resembling liquid milk.

"Ding..."

All nine flying knives were repelled, wobbling aimlessly in the air.

Chu Zhiyuan's eyebrow twitched involuntarily.

A peculiar force permeated his flying knives, attempting to dismantle the spirit he had imbued within them.

The Golden Sword was drawn, and the ethereal blade materialized behind the handsome middle-aged man.

"Swoosh!"

It sliced through the milky radiance with effortless grace, piercing his heart.

"Uh..."

The handsome middle-aged man's eyes widened in astonishment as he gazed down at the sword tip protruding from his chest.

The sword tip remained pristine and transparent, utterly unblemished.

Incredulous, he lifted his gaze to meet Chu Zhiyuan's eyes.

He then swiveled his head to survey his surroundings.

Chu Zhiyuan stated calmly, "The sword is mine."

The handsome middle-aged man's visage contorted, rapidly transforming into a hideous and terrifying mask.

Raising both hands, he began to form a peculiar hand seal when, in the ensuing moment, the tip of the Golden Sword erupted from his forehead.

The Golden Sword retracted with astonishing speed, impaling itself into the back of his head, obliterating the crucial point within his forehead.

The grotesque expression froze mid-formation, and the milky radiance lingering in his eyes flickered and vanished as swiftly as it had appeared.

The transparent sword tip at his forehead retracted instantaneously.

The Golden Sword detached itself, vibrating intensely in the air before swiftly sheathing itself at Chu Zhiyuan's waist.

The handsome middle-aged man remained frozen in place, the light extinguished from his eyes, his vital breaths ceased.

By this juncture, the elite cultivators from the Evil Extermination Department had already formed a tight cordon.

They observed the now-deceased handsome middle-aged man.

"Whoosh—!"

Huang Zhengyang released a deep breath, a look of relaxed satisfaction gracing his features.

To dispatch a Venerable at the Perfection Realm with such apparent ease was indeed a rare feat.

Every Venerable of the Perfect Realm presented an exceptionally formidable opponent, necessitating a considerable sacrifice to overcome.

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly called out, "Retreat! Everyone, retreat!"

The assembled individuals promptly withdrew with great haste.

"Pop!"

The handsome middle-aged man suddenly exploded in a burst of brilliance, and within the effulgence, a rose-like flower bloomed slowly.

Fist-sized, it unfurled with numerous layers of petals.

Upon reaching full bloom, it ascended rapidly into the sky, vanishing into the void.