Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1347 - 1343: Butterfly

Chu Zhiyuan materialized within the grand hall of the Heaven-Reaching Sect.

The hall was notably vacant, with both Zhang Ji Yuan and Ning Dongge conspicuously absent.

He made his way directly towards the Ten Thousand Knowledge Tower.

Upon entering, he perceived the Ten Thousand Knowledge Tower as an immense treasure trove, though the majority of its contents remained beyond his comprehension.

A subtle realization dawned upon him: mastering the Second Layer of the Human Element Skill and commencing the practice of the Second Layer of the Heavenly Yuan Technique would significantly amplify the power of the Donghuan Saint Technique.

At that juncture, he might finally uncover the path to break through to the Spirit Venerable realm.

This would efficiently address two objectives simultaneously.

However, his current stagnation at the Second Layer of the Human Element Skill meant his cultivation progress was deplorably slow.

He harbored a strong conviction that a shortcut existed; it simply awaited his discovery.

And it was highly probable that this elusive shortcut lay hidden within the confines of the Ten Thousand Knowledge Tower itself.

Ascending to the fifth floor, he once more found himself before the Karma Stone Wall. After a thorough examination, he let out a sigh, shaking his head.

The Karma Stone Wall no longer radiated any power, as if he had completely assimilated its entire essence.

Closing his eyes, he consciously relaxed his physical form and allowed his mind to drift into a state of complete tranquility.

Remaining utterly still, his heart and spirit settled like sediment in murky water, gradually becoming clear.

Deep within the recesses of his consciousness, a faint glimmer of light flickered into existence.

This subtle luminescence represented his deepest desire.

It was neither so urgent as to erupt into a raging inferno, nor so weak as to fade into oblivion.

It existed in a delicate balance of presence and absence, resonating perfectly with the rhythm of his heart and spirit.

Within this unique state, his intuition and perceptive abilities were heightened to their absolute zenith.

His senses meticulously scanned every nook, every shelf, and every ancient artifact within the tower.

Eventually, his attention became fixed upon an ancient scroll resting beside the Karma Stone Wall.

This scroll was a mere remnant, consisting of only a few delicate pages. Crafted from peculiar, radiant purple-gold paper, it exuded a faint luminescence.

The script inscribed upon it was bizarre; at first glance, each character appeared distinct and orderly, yet their true form eluded clear definition.

The moment he attempted to focus, the characters would begin to shift and dance.

They moved like ephemeral butterflies taking flight.

The harder he strained to see, the more intensely he concentrated, the faster these illusory butterflies flitted, becoming increasingly indistinct.

To perceive them clearly, he had to release his focus, viewing them casually with his peripheral vision—a state of effortless concentration, neither fully engaged nor entirely detached.

He closed his eyes, activating the Super Sensing Illumination technique.

Under the influence of the Super Sensing Illumination, the enigmatic texts transformed into unconventional symbols.

He attempted to draw these symbols into his mind, seeking to manipulate them.

Linking them together, he sought to assemble a pattern that stood as tall as a person.

This pattern evoked a sense of profound familiarity, and he instantly recognized its resemblance to the intricate markings found on a butterfly's body and wings.

Maintaining his closed eyes, he moved towards the desk by the window. He first meticulously ground the ink, then swiftly took up his brush to meticulously render the pattern.

Upon opening his eyes, he discovered that the pattern before him was not the one he had perceived through the Super Sensing Illumination.

Instead, it was a sequence of characters, identical to those on the ancient scroll but arranged in a different order.

This perplexing outcome prompted deep contemplation.

He questioned why his visual perception and his mental focus seemed to operate independently, and what peculiar nature this pattern possessed.

He attempted to visualize the pattern directly within his mind, disengaging from the individual characters and concentrating solely on the overall pattern.

In the ensuing moment, his spiritual power erupted like a bursting dam, surging outward with unconcealable force.

The expenditure was comparable to that required for the full activation of the Donghuan Saint Technique.

As his mental energy diminished, a distinct pattern gradually materialized within the ethereal space of his mind.

Though only palm-sized, this intricate pattern exacted a tremendous toll on his spiritual power.

Once the palm-sized pattern solidified, he persisted in his visualization, continuously channeling spiritual power into it.

The sheer volume of spiritual power poured forth felt almost inexhaustible, with the palm-sized pattern acting as a bottomless void, voraciously consuming the immense reserves.

As spiritual power was infused, the pattern began to emit a soft luminescence, glowing gently like the serene light of the moon.

The spiritual power from his three clones was continuously channeled to provide crucial assistance.

Just as the spiritual power from the three clones reached its near depletion point, the intensifying light abruptly contracted inward.

In the subsequent instant, a translucent butterfly materialized gracefully, drifting serenely within the void of his mind, radiating a soft, moon-like glow.

A surge of exhilaration coursed through him.

With the advent of this luminous butterfly, his mind was instantly sharpened, and his body felt remarkably lighter.

The world around him seemed to decelerate, appearing to move in extreme slow motion.

He immediately grasped the profound implication: his thought processes had accelerated, and his spiritual power now operated with unprecedented swiftness.

This luminous butterfly possessed the extraordinary faculty of enhancing cognitive speed.

Activating the Heavenly Yuan Technique, he felt the spiritual power originating from his brow acupoint surge forth with remarkable velocity.

As his spiritual power began to recover, he tried to activate the Second Layer of the Human Element Skill, focusing his mind on the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Peaks.

An immediate difference was felt.

During his visualization, the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Peaks materialized swiftly and with greater clarity, accelerating the process of injecting spiritual power.

He distinctly perceived the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Peaks taking on a more solid form.

Spiritual power was continuously channeled, only ceasing reluctantly when his reserves were depleted.

He let out a sigh.

Regrettably, the recovery pace of the spiritual power across his three clones was not as swift; otherwise, his cultivation would be far more convenient at this moment.

He observed the dispersal time of the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Peaks, noting that they remained stable for a considerable duration.

For a moment, he almost convinced himself that he had successfully mastered the Second Layer of the Human Element Skill.

However, after an entire hour, the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Peaks gradually dissolved.

A sense of slight disappointment washed over him, yet his hope was simultaneously bolstered.

If his three clones were fully prepared, restored to their peak condition, alongside his own complete recovery.

Then, with the aid of the Soul Reviving Pill.

It might genuinely be achievable to complete the Second Layer of the Human Element Skill in a single attempt.

He arrived at the Heaven-Reaching Sect hall and found Zhang Ji Yuan seated on a mat against the wall.

Zhang Ji Yuan opened his eyes, a spark of electricity flashing within them, and offered a smile as he said, "Little Junior Brother, you've been quite occupied lately."

Chu Zhiyuan responded, "And how have you been, Senior Brother?"

"I am well, merely taking things easy," Zhang Ji Yuan stated. "I have no earthly ties, enjoying my freedom."

"Senior Brother, do we have any Spirit Pills available to restore spiritual power?"

"How many do you require?" Zhang Ji Yuan produced a Jade Bottle from his robes, tossing it to Chu Zhiyuan. "Take them all; will this suffice?"

Chu Zhiyuan caught the bottle and opened it.

The Jade Bottle felt unnaturally cold, a chilling sensation permeating his palm and reaching deep within.

Six White Pills were contained within.

He sampled one, bringing it close to his nose, and was instantly revitalized, feeling a surge of clarity.

Though sealed with wax, allowing only a faint, indistinct aroma to escape, its potency was remarkable.

This particular Spirit Pill was as effective as the Soul Reviving Pill.

"Are there any more available?" Chu Zhiyuan carefully stored the pills, placing them within his robes.

"Are these not sufficient?" Zhang Ji Yuan questioned. "Generally, these Moon Spirit Pills are not needed so frequently."

"The more, the better," Chu Zhiyuan replied earnestly.

Zhang Ji Yuan conceded, "Very well, I shall procure two additional bottles for you."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Chu Zhiyuan exclaimed with a smile. "Where did these originate from?"

"You needn't concern yourself with such details," Zhang Ji Yuan dismissed with a proud wave of his hand, a slight curl to his lips.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled softly, "It must have come from a woman, and a beautiful one at that."

"Haha..." Zhang Ji Yuan laughed heartily. "I can neither confirm nor deny that."

Chu Zhiyuan pressed, "Senior Brother, the sooner the better."

"Understood, I shall depart now." Zhang Ji Yuan stood, a chuckle escaping him. "What Miracle Technique are you practicing now?"

Chu Zhiyuan simply nodded with a smile.

"I'm leaving." Zhang Ji Yuan waved goodbye, activated the Heaven-Reaching Order, stepped through the Light Gate, and vanished.

Chu Zhiyuan also presented his Heaven-Reaching Order, stepped through the Light Gate, and found himself at the Heavenly Sword Branch.

...

Morning

Heaven-Reaching Sect Hall

Chu Zhiyuan materialized outside the hall, radiating a vibrant aura.

He entered the deserted hall and took a seat on a mat.

From his sleeve, he produced numerous Small Jade Bottles, arranging them in a circle around his mat for a total of twelve bottles.

His gaze was fixed intently upon these Jade Bottles, a look of deep satisfaction gracing his features.

Half of the contents were Moon Spirit Pills, and the other half were Soul Reviving Pills – both were potent Miracle Pills renowned for restoring spirit.

Concurrently, in their respective chambers, Chu Liezhao, Leng Tieya, and Zhu Lingyun were all seated with their legs crossed on their mats.

Spirit-restoring pills were placed equidistant before each of their knees.

With solemn expressions, they slowly closed their eyes, entering a state conducive to maximizing spiritual power restoration.

Chu Zhiyuan commenced the activation of the Second Layer of the Human Element Skill, focusing his visualization and manifestation of the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Peaks upon the Lao Gong Acupoint.