Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1360 - 1356: Detour

Zhu Lingyun appeared to be at a loss, letting out a sigh.

The esteemed cultivators of the Green Bamboo Sect offered looks of understanding.

They imagined themselves in Zhu Lingyun’s predicament, considering the anxiety and despair one might experience when departing from Dan Yang Heaven for a more formidable and perilous domain.

However, Zhu Lingyun exhibited none of these sentiments.

Instead, Zhu Lingyun radiated positivity and optimism, alongside remarkable resilience and unwavering determination.

This demeanor evoked their deep admiration, compounding their existing sympathy.

Combined with their profound gratitude for his life-saving intervention, they felt a strong desire to aid his return to Biyuan Heaven.

A young cultivator chuckled, asking, "Brother Zhou, do you not have a relative in the Flower God Sect?"

A slender, middle-aged man responded with a sigh, "They are a disciple of the Flower God Sect, carrying themselves with great pride. How could they possibly notice a distant relative like myself?"

"Nevertheless, they are still your relative."

The lean middle-aged man cast a glance at Zhu Lingyun and slowly affirmed, "I shall make an attempt to reach out, though I suspect they may offer little regard."

"It is certainly worth a try," Meng Qingchuan laughed. "Junior Brother Zhou, who would have ever fathroned that you possessed a connection to an expert within the Flower God Sect, and kept such a detail so discreetly. "

"It is nothing particularly noteworthy," the slim middle-aged man demurred, shaking his head. "Having such a relative offers scant assistance; it is akin to having no connection at all."

"Yet, it presents a different scenario," Meng Qingchuan posited, "at the very least, you could facilitate an introduction."

"Indeed, an introduction. Experts from the Flower God Sect are seldom encountered."

The lean middle-aged man waved away the suggestion, stating, "They are merely human, possessing a single nose and two eyes. Their martial prowess may be somewhat superior, and besides, it is rumored that our Green Bamboo Sect maintains a cordial relationship with the Flower God Sect."

"I have only glimpsed a disciple of the Flower God Sect from a considerable distance, a single opportunity in my lifetime."

"I, too, have seen one on one occasion, but was unable to approach."

"I managed to get close once, yet observed nothing particularly extraordinary. They seemed quite ordinary, making it impossible to gauge their true strength."

"Brother Chang, that is likely because your own cultivation is insufficient to perceive their might."

"Perhaps that is the case. They speak of the Flower God Sect's formidable power, but where precisely does this strength lie? I have yet to witness it."

Meng Qingchuan declared with solemnity, "The disciples of the Flower God Sect possess unparalleled cultivation, seldom encountering equals in this world."

"But among themselves?" a young man inquired with a smile. "Brother Meng, surely there are distinctions in their abilities, are there not?"

"The number of disciples within the Flower God Sect is not exceedingly large."

"How many, precisely?"

Meng Qingchuan gestured vaguely, "Even the Sect Master might not possess an exact figure, let alone us."

"Brother Meng, it is said that we share a common origin with the Flower God Sect, and that our founder was once a disciple there. Is this tale accurate?"

Meng Qingchuan responded, "To the best of my knowledge, this is not true. Our founder was not a disciple of the Flower God Sect."

"What a profound pity..."

A collective sigh of regret rippled through the group.

Should they have maintained such deep affiliations with the Flower God Sect, innumerable advantages would have followed.

Amidst the myriad sects populating Dan Yang Heaven, establishing one's position demanded both formidable power and robust alliances.

With the backing of the Flower God Sect, the Green Bamboo Sect would undoubtedly attain greater stability, rendering them impervious to external provocations.

Chu Zhiyuan, overhearing this exchange, offered a subtle nod of approval.

Zhu Lingyun was skillfully maneuvering the conversation, employing a tangential approach to the Flower God Sect in order to stimulate their active involvement.

This presented an opportune moment to gain deeper insight into the Flower God Sect's disposition.

...

Chu Zhiyuan's eyes fluttered open, and he gracefully rose from his resting place, extending his limbs in the tranquil courtyard.

The heavens above were aglow, painted with the rich hues of the setting sun, resembling a magnificent tapestry.

He mused internally: The skies of Glazed Heaven possess an exceptional purity, and the sunset arrays itself in an even more breathtaking spectacle.

His gaze drifted towards the interior of the dwelling.

Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue remained engrossed in their cultivation, their progress notably swift.

The attainment of the Second Layer of the Heavenly Yuan Technique had significantly amplified their spiritual power, making it more potent than ever before.

The enhancement in spiritual power, in turn, accelerated the circulation of the Taihao Jade Void Scripture, which consequently hastened the development of their mental cultivation methods.

Each instance they engaged in joint cultivation, their mental methods operated with increased rapidity compared to the previous session.

This accelerated pace of cultivation brought immense excitement to him, a sentiment mirrored by the two women.

However, the threshold of becoming a Spirit Venerable remained a distant aspiration.

He harbored a degree of dissatisfaction.

If only the Second Layer of the Heavenly Yuan Technique could be fully mastered, their cultivation speed would undoubtedly experience an even greater surge.

A persistent sense of urgency and underlying insecurity gnawed at him.

Until he achieved the status of Spirit Venerable, he felt perpetually vulnerable and unsettled.

Only upon reaching the Spirit Venerable realm could he finally allow himself to fully relax.

This pressing urgency and pervading unease served as a powerful impetus, driving him to achieve substantial progress.

Abruptly, he vanished from sight.

In the blink of an eye, he materialized atop a mountain peak. Gazing into the Void, a golden pupil embedded in his brow radiated a seven-colored luminescence.

Mere moments later, his presence vanished from the summit, only to reappear outside a secluded valley.

An immense power surged forth, intent on violently expelling him.

He met this overwhelming force with his own palms raised in defiance.

The torrent of power was instantly absorbed into his palms, flowing directly into his Lao Gong Acupoint.

Within the vast expanse of Jade Sea and Sky, the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Peaks rose majestically from the ocean's surface, resembling a colossal dragon slumbering with its back exposed.

The moment this formidable power breached the boundaries of Jade Sea and Sky, it manifested as a fierce gale and turbulent, angry waves.

Yet, as the tempestuous winds and surging waters drew near the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Peaks, they subsided into an immediate calm.

The overwhelming power stabilized above the peaks, transforming into a gentle, sweet rain that descended gracefully.

A rain akin to the soft drizzles of spring.

This spring rain settled upon the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Peaks, coalescing into a delicate mist that draped a sheer veil over their majestic forms.

The inexhaustible torrent of power continued its descent, yet it was systematically absorbed through the Lao Gong Acupoint.

This relentless influx failed to dislodge Chu Zhiyuan from his steadfast position.

Chu Zhiyuan remained rooted, no longer swept away by the chaotic forces.

His gaze shifted towards the valley lying opposite.

Filled with profound uncertainty, he questioned whether this was truly the fabled East Huan Sacred Valley.

A fierce desire to probe deeper surged within him.

However, his limbs felt heavy, anchored to the spot, preventing any advance toward the East Huan Sacred Valley.

An unseen force ensnared him, rendering him utterly immobile.

While the Lao Gong Acupoint could readily absorb the potent force descending from the Void, it proved incapable of assimilating this intangible restraint, and his body could not break free.

He refrained from forcing his way through, electing instead to employ Super Sense for reconnaissance.

Yet, upon reaching the valley's threshold, his Super Sense faltered, its efficacy nullified by the powerful energies emanating from within the valley.

His Super Sensing Illumination could only penetrate as far as the protective mountain ranges encircling the valley.

These mountains, stretching for hundreds of miles, were densely forested, utterly devoid of any signs of human civilization.

He tentatively classified this location as a Grotto Heaven.

Without such a classification, such a vast and untouched territory should logically harbor some form of life.

Not even a single animal was present, only an unspoiled expanse of trees, wildflowers, and verdant grasses.

Only the existence of a Grotto Heaven could plausibly account for this anomaly.

Could this be the very Grotto Heaven previously unearthed by the Profound Yin Palace? The elusive Grotto Heaven that the Heaven-Reaching Sect had been relentlessly pursuing?

Concurrently, did this Grotto Heaven conceal the legendary East Huan Sacred Valley?

A cascade of thoughts flooded his mind, and a strong intuition suggested he was on the right path.

Having reached this conclusion, he ceased his fixation on the valley and directed his attention outward.

Employing his Insight ability, he scanned the surrounding region for any latent Spiritual Treasures.

If this indeed proved to be the coveted Grotto Heaven, legends spoke of its connection to the ancient Divine Race.

However, based on his current observations, no extraordinary phenomena were apparent.

The mountains stood grand and imposing, the trees ancient and venerable, bearing a resemblance to the Dan Yang Heaven.

Yet, apart from these superficial similarities, nothing else seemed out of the ordinary.

Unlike the Dan Yang Heaven, this sprawling territory, encompassing hundreds of miles, contained only plant life, conspicuously lacking any fauna.

With such abundant vitality present, why was there an absence of animals?

The instant this question formed in his mind, his hair stood on end—an intense, primal warning screaming from his instincts.

The image of Miao Jing Spirit Water flashed before his eyes. In the very next moment, he shattered the invisible restraints, vanishing completely from sight.

Emerging outside the grand hall of the Heaven-Reaching Sect, he expelled a long, shuddering sigh of relief.

Suddenly, a portal of light materialized within the hall. Zhang Ji Yuan emerged, his gaze falling upon Chu Zhiyuan, and he exclaimed, "Junior Brother, what transpired?"

In Zhang Ji Yuan’s perception, Chu Zhiyuan appeared deathly pale, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead.

Chu Zhiyuan weakly shook his head.

Zhang Ji Yuan moved closer, his eyes scanning Chu Zhiyuan with concern, and pointed a finger towards his brow.

Chu Zhiyuan wiped the perspiration away and offered a wry smile, "It's nothing serious. Where are you headed, Senior Brother?"

"I'm going to see Senior Brother Ning. He hasn't appeared for two days, so I'm going to check on him."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded in understanding.

"Are you quite sure you are alright?"

"I am perfectly fine, proceed ahead, Senior Brother."

"Very well. You should rest here in the hall. Allow me to offer you a Spirit Pill."

He retrieved a Jade Bottle from his pocket, dispensed a single Moon Spirit Pill, and presented it to Chu Zhiyuan before gracefully departing.