Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1371 - 1367: Suspicion

For the first time, he intensely and palpably experienced the might of the Spirit Venerable Realm.

What he had felt before in the valley of the Flower God Sect from those few Flying Knives was but a prelude.

These Flying Knives amplified that sensation, making it more potent and distinct.

He relentlessly juxtaposed this power against his own, engaged in perpetual analysis.

A comprehensive breakdown from every conceivable angle.

Repeated scrutiny was applied, deconstructing the power from its unified essence to its intricate details, not merely to grasp the magnitude of the disparity, but to understand the multifaceted nature of the difference.

Consequently, he attained comprehension: advancement was required across multiple dimensions.

The precise identification of these dimensions was paramount to unlocking the profound enigmas of the Spirit Venerable.

His gaze meticulously examined the Crystal Rose, now within his immediate reach.

Bathed in sunlight, its crystalline clarity exuded an alluring sanctity and delicate charm, rendering it utterly irresistible.

A grimace twisted his features, and with gritted teeth, he averted his gaze.

His eyes deliberately shied away from the Crystal Rose; he compelled himself to suppress the brewing melancholy and void, descending from the hall's apex back to its main floor.

Out of sight, out of mind – distancing himself from the Crystal Rose severed the incessant current of temptation.

Seated upon the Golden Meditation Mat, he closed his eyes, continuing his dissection of this formidable power.

"Boom boom boom boom..."

A resonant, muffled detonation vibrated through the hall, causing it to tremble slightly.

Chu Zhiyuan's eyebrows arched; his eyes snapped open, and his unparalleled Super Sense, now imbued with Insight, perceived the Crystal Rose shattering.

A Soft Light Shield flared brilliantly, instigating a ripple in the fabric of the void.

The hall itself was not shaking; rather, the surrounding atmosphere was in a state of intense vibration.

The internal alarm signal receded, his apprehension subsided, and the lingering chill down his spine dissipated.

He exhaled a long, slow breath, a smile touching his lips, coupled with an eager anticipation to test the Taihao Jade Void Scripture.

In the subsequent moment, he materialized within a secluded courtyard in the Glazed Heaven.

...

You Meng Heaven

At the summit of a colossal, towering mountain, a luminous gateway suddenly materialized.

Zhu Lingyun emerged from this ethereal portal.

His expression grave, he strode forth from the Light Gate and swiftly ascended towards a more imposing peak in the distance.

Within mere moments, he reached the base of the mountain, its slopes thick with dense foliage.

Standing at the mountain's foot, he glanced back briefly, a sigh of relief escaping him.

"Master Zhuo." From the dense thicket, two young disciples appeared, offering formal bows.

Zhu Lingyun offered a curt nod in acknowledgment.

The very next instant, his countenance shifted subtly as he flicked his sleeve.

The two disciples, still in their salutation, were propelled outward in sheer astonishment, likened to cannonballs hurtling towards the mountainside halfway up.

Zhu Lingyun’s form blurred, vanishing from his original position and reappearing equally swiftly halfway up the mountain.

"Boom!"

The exact spot where he had stood moments before was now a gaping, deep crater.

The surrounding trees, verdant grass, and unyielding stones were utterly annihilated, leaving only a flattened, smooth abyss.

It resembled the impact site of a celestial body.

"What in the world...?"

The two disciples abruptly halted their ascent, suspended miraculously mid-air, perched upon a tree branch.

While they marveled at Zhu Lingyun's masterful control over his energies, capable of both retraction and deployment at mere will, their attention was captivated by the newly formed pit.

They were utterly incapable of discerning the force that had wrought such devastation.

Zhu Lingyun executed a horizontal maneuver through the air.

"Boom!"

Another pit, precisely mirroring the first, materialized in the very location he had just occupied.

"Boom boom boom boom..."

Zhu Lingyun continued his swift evasions, each movement accompanied by the instantaneous creation of a new pit upon the ground.

In the span of a fleeting moment, over a dozen such craters had formed, the sequence of events unfolding with blinding speed.

A sense of mounting dread began to weigh upon him.

Could it be that the venerable master would be compelled to intervene?

Yet, where was the Sect Treasure of Wanxiang Cliff? Why had its activation not yet occurred?

"Junior Brother Zhuo!"

"Come swiftly and render aid!"

...

A contingent of figures materialized, positioning themselves directly before him, intercepting an unseen force.

"Boom boom boom boom..."

Scarcely had they appeared before Zhu Lingyun when they were violently repelled.

They spewed forth crimson arterial blood in their aerial trajectory.

Zhu Lingyun’s voice rang out, "Senior Brother Huang, the Array?"

"Activate the Array!"

"Yes!"

The airborne experts responded in unison with fervent assent.

"Buzz——!"

A profound, resonant hum suddenly filled the air.

This sound sent a jolt through Zhu Lingyun's very blood, stirring it as if it were on the verge of boiling.

Concurrently, a spectral apparition materialized in the void above the mountain's pinnacle – a colossal bestial entity.

This phantom beast was indistinct, initially resembling a great cat, perhaps a leopard.

It coiled in the upper atmosphere, situated approximately a hundred meters above the peak, its gaze fixed intently on the scene below.

With a sudden, prodigious leap, it traversed the intervening space instantaneously, landing before Zhu Lingyun in the next breath and unleashing a devastating swipe of its massive paw.

"Boom boom boom boom..."

A furious gale erupted, tearing ancient trees from their roots, which then exploded into countless fragments amidst the swirling air.

Zhu Lingyun retreated with a powerful surge, his jade-green robes billowing, his complexion ashen.

The onlookers gazed, perplexed, only perceiving the immense leopard's paw swing, which appeared to generate a ferocious gale.

Yet, the resounding thud was unmistakably the impact, the paw striking an unseen entity in the void.

Zhu Lingyun, possessing Super Sense, clearly discerned a rose at the extremity of the paw.

This rose, the size of a fist, was intricately carved from White Jade in a tripartite manner.

The light and shadows of the void warped, resembling ripples on a tranquil lake; this White Jade Rose seemed submerged within, making it difficult to perceive.

"What is happening?" Two middle-aged men, sustaining minor injuries, drifted towards Zhu Lingyun: "Junior Brother Zhuo?"

Zhu Lingyun offered a wry smile: "I haven't the faintest idea myself, how I became ensnared in this situation."

"Impossible!" one of the middle-aged men scoffed: "Such a potent force wouldn't target you without cause; did you perhaps stumble upon a Cave Mansion or offend a powerful cultivator?"

Zhu Lingyun responded, "Brother Qin, I assure you, I am genuinely unaware. I was merely dining in Wanxing City."

"Curious."

The two exchanged glances, their expressions mirroring his own, then turned their attention to the giant leopard's relentless assault, a frown etched upon their faces.

"Boom boom boom boom..."

The muffled impacts continued without cessation.

In the vicinity, swathes of trees were violently uprooted, disintegrating mid-air and leaving behind bare patches of earth.

Gazing down, the mountain's landscape was now disfigured.

Several other individuals also materialized, all bearing visible wounds, their complexions ashen and their spirits clearly depleted.

One of the middle-aged men observed Zhu Lingyun multiple times: "Junior Brother Zhuo, your cultivation has advanced substantially."

Zhu Lingyun smiled faintly: "I experienced some fortunate encounters and gained certain insights, leading to a modest improvement."

A middle-aged man with a square-cut jaw and an air of integrity about him inquired gravely, "Junior Brother Zhuo, I have heard that you have been practicing the Descent Technique."

Zhu Lingyun recoiled in shock, his countenance shifting dramatically. He replied with gravity, "Brother Jiao, what precisely do you imply by that?"

"Boom boom boom boom..."

The muffled detonations persisted.

Trees rooted in the ground were torn out and shattered.

Meanwhile, the colossal leopard gradually propelled the White Jade Rose, inching away from the mountain's summit.

A collective sigh of relief swept through the group.

This artifact represented their ultimate reliance, the very treasure of their Sect.

Zhu Lingyun declared with earnestness, "Brother Jiao, who exactly disseminated such a fabrication? They clearly cannot bear to witness my success!"

"Have you truly not practiced the Descent Technique?" Jiao Hengtian fixed him with a cold, penetrating gaze.

Zhu Lingyun vehemently shook his head: "If I have indeed practiced the Descent Technique, may I suffer a most agonizing demise!"

Jiao Hengtian's brow furrowed. He extended his hand: "Junior Brother Zhuo, allow me to ascertain."

Without hesitation, Zhu Lingyun offered his hand, meeting Jiao Hengtian's palm.

"Boom!"

Both figures recoiled a single step.

Jiao Hengtian's eyes widened, shining with intensity as he stared at Zhu Lingyun: "Indeed, a significant enhancement; it truly isn't the Descent Technique?!"

Reaching the Perfect Realm, any further advancement was considered exceedingly difficult.

Such a pronounced leap in cultivation strongly suggested the characteristics associated with practicing the Descent Technique.

Zhu Lingyun countered, "Brother Jiao, you doubt my word yet place credence in the pronouncements of others?... To assert I practice the Descent Technique, there must be some form of evidence, correct?"

Jiao Hengtian conceded, "Yes, thus far, there is indeed no concrete proof."

Zhu Lingyun stated with a chill in his voice, "Is there any other corroborating evidence? Pray, let me see it."

Jiao Hengtian emitted a soft chuckle and shook his head: "The truth will ultimately prevail."

"It has finally been repelled." At that precise moment, someone broke the palpable tension that hung between the two men.

All eyes turned, the giant leopard had retreated to hover above the mountaintop once more, its form gradually dissipating.

The entirety of the mountain lay in utter disarray, casting a pall over their countenances.

This was their cherished Sect, the very place they had called home for so long, now ravaged into such a state.