Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1361 - 1357: Divine Blood

After consuming the Moon Spirit Pill, he proceeded to the grand hall and settled onto his golden meditation cushion, releasing a protracted sigh.

Within the confines of the grand hall, a genuine sense of security finally enveloped him.

His eyes then closed, initiating a deep dive into his recollections, endeavoring to pinpoint the origin of the lurking danger.

A primal instinct rarely deceives; peril must be drawing near.

Yet, as he dedicated himself to practicing the second layer of the Heavenly Yuan Technique, his premonitions grew increasingly acute.

A perplexing question arose: why was there no hint of an impending threat when he first ventured beyond the valley's borders, and only now does this sense manifest?

This strongly suggests that initially, no danger was present, and it has only recently emerged.

However, according to his Super Sense, not a single living entity was detected within hundreds of miles. Where then could this danger lie?

He found himself shaking his head.

Ultimately, the reason for this uncertainty was his insufficient cultivation.

The paramount objective was to achieve a rapid advancement to the Spirit Venerable realm.

To attain Spirit Venerable, diligent cultivation of the Taihao Jade Void Scripture was imperative.

Furthermore, enhanced spiritual power was a prerequisite for more effective practice of the Taihao Jade Void Scripture.

Consequently, the most crucial task at hand was to perfect the second layer of the Heavenly Yuan Technique.

Even with the aid of the Moonlight Butterfly, mastering the second layer of the Heavenly Yuan Technique proved to be an arduous and sluggish process, significantly more so than the second layer of the Human Element Skill.

Nevertheless, despite the slow progress, the benefits derived from cultivating the second layer of the Heavenly Yuan Technique were substantial.

Each passing day of dedicated practice demonstrably amplified his spiritual power, thereby facilitating the execution of the Donghuan Saint Technique.

The sheer magnitude of spiritual power upon achieving full mastery of the second layer was almost unimaginable.

With eyes shut, he commenced his rigorous training.

His heart and spirit delved into the Jade Sea and Sky, initiating the formation of a resplendent sun in the heavens within his mindscape.

The newly formed sun, akin to a blazing fireball, hovered above the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Peaks.

The sky, a serene jade blue, lacked the golden radiance of a true dawn.

This represented the current limit of his spiritual power, insufficient to imbue the sun with ten thousand feet of golden light, as would be expected of a genuine morning sun.

Should the sun within his Lao Gong Acupoint one day mirror the sun in the celestial void of his consciousness, emanating ten thousand rays of light, then the second layer would be deemed fully mastered.

He estimated that at his current rate of progress, achieving this goal within one or two months was improbable, and perhaps not even within one or two years.

The sheer difficulty of cultivating the second layer of the Heavenly Yuan Technique, and the vast chasm separating it from the first layer, dwarfed the difference between the first and second layers of the Human Element Skill.

Moreover, advancement in the second layer of the Heavenly Yuan Technique was demonstrably slower.

...

Heavenly Sword Peak

Li Hongzhao reclined languidly in her secluded courtyard, finding repose within the small pavilion overlooking the vibrant flower garden.

Her striking red robes accentuated her dazzling allure, casting a radiance that was almost too intense to behold directly.

The atmosphere within the tranquil courtyard was imbued with an enduring, captivating charm.

As Chu Zhiyuan made his appearance, she remained in her relaxed posture, leaning against the pavilion's vermilion pillar, her gaze captivated by the blooming flora.

He took a seat opposite Li Hongzhao, a smile gracing his lips. "Now that you've mastered the Phoenix Divine Palm, do you no longer need to train with such intensity?"

"Indeed," she replied.

Li Hongzhao rose with elegant poise, lifting the Red Clay Small Stove to pour him a cup of tea before extending it to Chu Zhiyuan.

Accepting the cup, Chu Zhiyuan took a delicate sip and inquired with a smile, "And what of your realm?"

Li Hongzhao gently inclined her head. "In the presence of the Phoenix Divine Palm, one's realm holds less importance; furthermore, there is no need for haste. Perfection will naturally unfold with the passage of time."

Chu Zhiyuan regarded her, a smile playing on his lips as he nodded slightly.

Li Hongzhao added, "I find myself unable to break through to the Spirit Venerable realm; achieving perfection is my ultimate limit."

"And why is that?"

"It stems from the limitations of my bloodline," Li Hongzhao sighed softly. "My bloodline is simply too diluted."

"If your bloodline were stronger, you could indeed reach Spirit Venerable?"

"Yes, that is correct."

"Does your Phoenix Burning Heaven Scripture not possess the ability to purify bloodlines?"

"It can refine the existing bloodline, augment its potency, and accelerate cultivation, but it cannot transcend the inherent limitations imposed by the bloodline itself," Li Hongzhao explained, shaking her head. "Consider this cup of tea; no matter how much you refine its essence, you cannot alter the fundamental quantity of tea contained within."

"Hmm..."

"The quantity of Phoenix Divine Blood within our lineage is fixed. Without altering this fundamental aspect, surpassing these established boundaries is impossible."

Chu Zhiyuan posed a question, "Has your Phoenix Lineage produced Spirit Venerables in the past?"

Li Hongzhao responded, "There were some in earlier generations, but none in recent times."

Chu Zhiyuan slowly brought his head up in understanding.

Li Hongzhao shook her head, stating, "Even if I perfect the Phoenix Burning Heaven Scripture to its absolute limit, it won't be enough to break through the bottleneck and ascend to the Spirit Venerable realm."

Chu Zhiyuan inquired, "What if you were to switch to employing the Heavenly Sword Sect Heart Method?"

"That is a possibility," Li Hongzhao responded, "however, the process of cultivating it would be considerably slower, and the likelihood of success remains rather slim."

Her innate talent is indeed good, but when contrasted with the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect, it doesn't appear quite as exceptional.

The number of disciples from the Heavenly Sword Sect who manage to reach the Spirit Venerable stage is exceptionally small, thus her own chances are not particularly high either.

While Chu Zhiyuan could offer assistance in numerous aspects of her cultivation journey, reaching the Spirit Venerable realm was ultimately a solitary endeavor, with the final step being one that no one else could truly help with.

Chu Zhiyuan remarked, "There is always some hope, isn't there? And what exactly is this Phoenix Divine Blood you speak of?"

Li Hongzhao explained, "It is the blood of the Ancient Phoenix Divine Beast, a creature that is said to have possessed an existence akin to immortality and indestructibility."

Chu Zhiyuan pondered aloud, "Given that the Ancient Phoenix Divine Beast is no longer in existence, then this Phoenix Divine Blood must also be impossible to find, correct?"

"That is not necessarily the case," Li Hongzhao countered, "It is rumored that even after the Phoenix Divine Beast vanished from the world, traces of its divine blood still made appearances."

"And what became of it subsequently?" he pressed.

"It vanished without a trace, and there has been no news of it since; its ultimate whereabouts remain unknown to all."

Chu Zhiyuan mused, "Phoenix Divine Blood is primarily beneficial only to those of your Phoenix Lineage; if anyone else were to obtain it, it would serve no purpose for them, would it?"

"For individuals outside of the Phoenix Lineage, it acts as a highly potent poison; obtaining it would not only be useless but actively detrimental."

"In that case, its existence should not have remained so obscure."

"If the other three lineages were to acquire it, then its origins would indeed remain a mystery," Li Hongzhao scoffed.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded in agreement.

This was a truth that could not be disputed.

As long as the other three lineages were not utterly foolish, they would absolutely never hand over the Phoenix Divine Blood to the Phoenix Lineage.

They would actively endeavor to prevent the Phoenix Lineage from obtaining it.

If such a thing were to occur, the Phoenix Lineage would inevitably gain overwhelming dominance among the Four Veins.

The current governance structure maintained by the Four Royal Families would likely crumble instantaneously, with the Phoenix Lineage ascending to supreme power and ruling the entirety of the world.

Chu Zhiyuan contemplated, his thoughts drifting, "Phoenix Divine Blood..."

He gently shook his head, admitting, "I have never once heard of such a thing, let alone laid eyes upon it."

He then considered, if it were the Heavenly Sword Sect, would they willingly offer Phoenix Divine Blood to the Phoenix Lineage?

The answer, unequivocally, was no.

Any sect, faced with such a choice, would likely make the same decision.

It was a universally accepted principle that the continued balanced rule of the Four Holy Veins over the Jade Sea and Sky was far more preferable than the unchecked dominance of a single lineage.

This was the prevailing consensus among all sects, all officials, and indeed, everyone.

Li Hongzhao sighed, her voice tinged with resignation, "Therefore, it seems I am destined never to become a Spirit Venerable. It was only recently that I came to learn this disheartening information."

"Was it Senior Song who conveyed this grim news to you?"

"Yes," Li Hongzhao confirmed with another sigh, "My master witnessed my intense dedication and ceaseless immersion in arduous cultivation; unable to bear seeing my struggles, he felt compelled to inform me."

Chu Zhiyuan let out a light chuckle, "No wonder Senior Song always presents such a laid-back demeanor."

Song Chaoge consistently exuded an aura of relaxation, appearing entirely calm and composed, with no apparent sense of urgency.

Initially, Chu Zhiyuan had attributed this to his exceptionally long lifespan, but now he understood the underlying reason: the path forward was effectively blocked, leading to a state of detachment from worldly desires.

Li Hongzhao then turned to him, her gaze hopeful, "You possess the ability to perceive the future; could you perhaps assist me by looking, to see if you can find any indication of Phoenix Divine Blood?"

"Very well, let us give it a try," Chu Zhiyuan responded with a smile.

Now, augmented by his formidable spiritual power, his application of the Donghuan Saint Technique allowed him to peer even further into the future.

The golden pupil situated at his brow began to glow with a mesmerizing seven-colored light.

The flow of time around him seemed to accelerate dramatically.

Everything around him spun forward at an increased pace.

He witnessed the subtle transformations within Li Hongzhao, observed future occurrences, and experienced glimpses of Li Hongzhao's destined path.

After a brief interval, his previously vacant gaze slowly regained its clarity, his expression shifting to one of profound complexity.

Noticing his altered state, Li Hongzhao inquired with a faint smile, "Did I... did I die?"

Chu Zhiyuan remained silent for a moment, processing the vision.

"You truly died?" Li Hongzhao expressed surprise, "Could that be it? When exactly did I meet my end?"

"You did not die, precisely," Chu Zhiyuan finally sighed, his tone heavy, "However, you were subjected to severe injuries."

"Then it is alright," Li Hongzhao said with a sense of relief.

Once the Phoenix Divine Palm technique was activated, she would be capable of undergoing the process of Phoenix Nirvana, thereby restoring herself to complete health.

Chu Zhiyuan, however, shook his head slowly.

He had seen the events that were to unfold a full year from the present time.