Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1359 - 1355: Killing Intent

Without a word, he materialized directly beside the ancient tree.

Chu Liezhao promptly put away the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion and stepped through a Light Gate, vanishing from sight.

The sky above the valley returned to its former tranquility, as if nothing had transpired.

Chu Zhiyuan placed his hand upon the ancient tree, closing his eyes.

Through the venerable tree, his sight pierced the shadows, observing the valley below.

The valley, stretching from its entrance to its deepest recesses, spanned nearly three hundred meters.

Multiple tiers of courtyards were artfully arranged around nine grand palaces.

Blossoming flowers were interspersed among these courtyards, perfuming the entire valley.

Via the ancient tree, he detected the rich fragrance emanating from within.

In a meticulously leveled square before the main hall situated in the southeast corner, four middle-aged men clad in green robes hovered, their gazes fixed vigilantly towards the sky above.

Their eyes blazed with a sharp intensity, and their green robes billowed in the breeze.

Upon witnessing this, Chu Zhiyuan's brow furrowed.

They had indeed detected his presence.

Could the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion have lost its efficacy?

Considering the immense power of the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion, especially now with both his and Chu Liezhao's formidable cultivation reaching Venerable Perfection, it should be impossible for it to be countered.

Not even a cultivator at the Venerable Perfection stage should be capable of resisting such a profound bewilderment.

Perhaps it was due to an unusual cultivation technique, or maybe the valley harbored spiritual artifacts possessing the ability to Clear the Heart and Calm the Mind.

"What is happening?" a lean yet sturdy middle-aged man inquired in a deep tone. "Did someone fly overhead?"

"I sensed it!"

"I saw it!"

"Then where did that individual go?"

"Let's go investigate!"

"Hold on!"

The sturdy middle-aged man raised a hand, stating gravely, "This person's cultivation is extraordinary. If they make a move, it must be a decisive strike to ensure they cannot escape."

"Brother Fang, what course of action should we take?"

"Summon additional personnel."

"I shall go find them!"

Nine experts swiftly convened and, hugging the mountain walls, ascended to the crest of the valley in a single bound. From this vantage point, they surveyed the entire valley and the surrounding mountain range.

All nine were exceptionally serious, their minds taut with tension, scanning their surroundings like flashes of lightning.

Moments later, they lowered their gazes, exchanging perplexed glances.

The sturdy middle-aged man declared with gravity, "It appears they have escaped."

"Brother Fang, surely they couldn't have pinpointed our location here, could they?"

"There is an array safeguarding this place; they shouldn't have been able to detect us. It might have been pure coincidence, a mere passing by."

"Impossible, such a coincidence is unlikely," the sturdy middle-aged man countered, shaking his head.

"Then what shall we do? How do we track them?"

The sturdy middle-aged man turned his head, gazing down at the forest below, and slowly pronounced, "Request the Mountain Guardian Beast to intervene."

"But without any personal effects from that individual, not knowing their aura, would the Mountain Guardian Beast not also be powerless?"

"Search for any lingering traces."

"...Very well."

They dispersed, dividing into three teams of three, each proceeding to search a different direction from the mountaintop downwards, thereby covering the entire peak.

Chu Zhiyuan, leaning against the ancient tree, watched their methodical search, which resembled fishermen casting a net, and couldn't help but shake his head.

A futile effort.

He had not lingered within their search radius, leaving no trace behind.

He redirected his gaze into the void, towards the location where the White Jade Rose habitually materialized.

Observing through the ancient tree, he found nothing there either.

In that case, was it summoned through their secret techniques?

An idea sparked within him, and a Golden Pupil, emanating Seven-Colored Light, flared from the depths of his brow.

Time reversed its course.

All that lay before his eyes rewound.

Wisps of white light detached from every individual present, coalescing in the air into a cluster of luminescence. This cluster subtly dimmed before reforming into a pristine rose, which gradually intensified, transforming into a majestic White Jade Rose.

The White Jade Rose then slowly dissolved into the void.

The void shimmered and distorted, as though the White Jade Rose had submerged into a placid, clear lake.

Chu Zhiyuan finally perceived it clearly: this was a spatial distortion.

This White Jade Rose undoubtedly originated from another dimension, perhaps a Grotto Heaven, or even another world entirely.

They most likely had mastered a secret technique enabling them to summon this White Jade Rose into their realm, thereby channeling its power to fortify themselves.

Then, what purpose did these Flower God Sect disciples serve in Biyuan Heaven?

Were they replicating this Rose Infusion Technique, manifesting power into a rose form, and then absorbing it into their own beings?

Contemplating this, his murderous intent began to stir.

This truly disregards human life, treating people as mere cultivation resources, lacking any human compassion.

How might one directly eradicate this Flower God Sect?

Initially, his goal was to prevent the Flower God Sect from descending upon Biyuan Heaven; now, a murderous intent rose, wanting to directly annihilate them, eradicating the threat for good.

First, eliminate the experts in this valley, then destroy that White Jade Rose.

Otherwise, as long as this Secret Technique spreads, others will still be able to evoke the White Jade Rose, and this heritage will never break.

Who knows if their secret technique hasn’t been passed on, or if they have preparations to prevent it from being lost.

He’s seen too many sects that have measures to prevent loss, keeping contingencies.

The ancient tree suddenly quivered, sensing his chilling murderous intent, somewhat displeased.

Chu Zhiyuan promptly withdrew his murderous intent, restoring a kindly and peaceful Bright Heart Mental State.

The ancient tree calmed down, ceased trembling.

Chu Zhiyuan merged the Earth Power with the ancient tree, using the power of the ancient tree to penetrate the valley.

Despite the great distance, the ancient tree, through its roots connecting with other trees, allowed the Earth Power to remain undispersed, eventually entering the valley.

The intangible resistance was easily broken through; the Earth Power continued further in.

Chu Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief.

This meant he could teleport there in an instant, without needing to rely on Super Sensing Illumination.

Inside the valley, a force blocked Super Sense; if not for the Earth Power as a guide, teleportation would not have been possible.

He withdrew his attention and vanished swiftly.

At this time, the three groups of experts continued to spread out, arriving at this forest.

They soon left without discovering anything.

...

Zhu Lingyun and a group of Green Bamboo Sect experts paused halfway up a mountain peak.

He leaped onto a treetop, gazing into the distance, then lightly landed, settling beside the fourteen others.

"Mr. Zhu, have something to eat," Meng Qingchuan chuckled, "We are safe now, completely away from that monster’s territory; it won’t chase us anymore!"

"Surviving such a calamity must bring future blessings," Zhu Lingyun smiled at the six middle-aged men who had opened their eyes and awakened.

"Haha, thanks for your kind words, Mr. Zhu. What plans do you have?"

"Plans... Just take one step at a time; have to find the way home eventually." Zhu Lingyun showed a lost expression and sighed, "There are young and old ones back home."

"Indeed, must go back; can’t leave family behind. If there were no family worries, staying here isn’t bad either," Meng Qingchuan agreed seriously, "But how to return?"

Zhu Lingyun said, "Since I could come here, I can naturally go back. There must be a way between Biyuan Heaven and this Dan Yang Heaven; surely there is a way back."

"I’m ignorant and have never heard of such a path."

Zhu Lingyun said, "I wonder if those top-notch sects know."

From the conversation, Zhu Lingyun already knew that Green Bamboo Sect was not considered a top-notch sect, but also not a small or insignificant one.

Green Bamboo Sect is first-rate; above that are the super first-rate Nine Sects.

And the Flower God Sect is one of them.

Zhu Lingyun casually asked, "Does the Flower God Sect have such a method?"

The nearest super first-rate sect here is the Flower God Sect.

The Flower God Sect doesn’t have many disciples, but each one is a top expert, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, rarely encountered.

This makes the Flower God Sect even more mysterious and powerful, with an extremely strong deterrent force.

"The Flower God Sect... might have." Meng Qingchuan pondered for a moment, "We have connections with the Flower God Sect. I’ll inquire after returning."

"Thank you, Brother Meng."

"Mr. Zhu, compared to the life-saving grace, this little help is nothing!"

"Senior Brother Meng, I’m afraid even if the Flower God Sect truly has a path, they may not let Mr. Zhu take it," said a middle-aged man, shaking his head, "Such a path must be top secret."

"Yes, afraid it can’t be."

"Might not even mention having such a path."

"Tough indeed..."

The others nodded in agreement.