Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1373 - 1369: Reunion

His thoughts swirled, desperately seeking a ray of hope. Suddenly, the Spirit Summoning Talisman, residing deep within his mind, illuminated and activated. Zhu Lingyun took two arduous steps forward, positioning himself before the distorted light and shadow perceived by his Super Sense. Slowly, deliberately, he raised his left palm, inch by inch, to gently make contact with the warped luminescence. An immediate repelling force met his touch—smooth, resilient, and utterly unyielding. Despite his persistent efforts, the obstruction remained immovable. He continued to push, but the result was always the same. The Heaven-Reaching Spirit Talisman had activated, yet it proved useless, unable to establish a connection with the entity on the other side. Helplessness washed over him. This Cloud Stepping Leopard, he realized, was incredibly wary. Even with such a vast disparity in power, its caution prevented him from getting any closer. His only recourse was to push forward with all his might; there was no alternative. He channeled his True Yuan, causing his robes to billow outwards as white steam rapidly evaporated from the top of his head. Jiao Hengtian’s eyes widened in confusion. "What is Junior Brother Zhuo doing?" he wondered. While he himself was immobile, Zhuo possessed this remarkable mobility—a clear sign of his superiority. He mused that Zhuo’s practice of the Descent Technique should result in spiritual power, but not with such exceptional purity. Such purity was indeed a rare exception, likely the result of a fortunate encounter. He observed the white steam above Zhu Lingyun’s head thicken, coalescing into a swirling white cloud about a meter high, refusing to dissipate. Zhu Lingyun’s robes ballooned, his eyes blazed with intensity, and his face flushed as if intoxicated. This was the unmistakable sign of True Yuan being pushed to its absolute limit. Secretly, Jiao Hengtian shook his head. "A futile endeavor," he thought. "Against such immense and volatile power, I couldn’t budge, entirely unable to struggle; even though Junior Brother Zhuo can exert himself, it serves no purpose." At Wanxiang Cliff, possessing such absolute power could only signify the presence of either a Spirit Venerable or the Cloud Stepping Leopard. He gazed upwards at the sky. Recalling Zhu Lingyun’s recent actions, his thoughts naturally turned to the Cloud Stepping Leopard. "It’s the Cloud Stepping Leopard?!" The realization struck him, and he urgently wished to speak but found himself unable to utter a sound. He could only look anxiously towards Zhu Lingyun instead. However, Zhu Lingyun paid him no mind, his gaze fixed on the distorted light and shadow. With great effort, he managed to ask, "Senior, do you have something to say to me?" Jiao Hengtian inwardly shook his head again. "Junior Brother Zhuo must be mistaken; it's not the Cloud Stepping Leopard he needs to talk to, but himself!" Zhu Lingyun gritted his teeth, speaking slowly and with difficulty, "I... I can understand your words, senior." At that moment, the resilient force before his hand vanished, and his body surged forward. He made contact with feathers as smooth as satin. A flicker of electric light danced across the plumage, instantly paralyzing him entirely, rendering him utterly immobile. As his body trembled, a soft, melodious voice echoed within his mind, "Little one, you understand my words? Haha, what a jest!" The voice resonated through his mind, seeming to permeate the entire world, lingering endlessly. It instilled within him a profound sense of vastness and boundless expanse. Zhu Lingyun was taken aback. He hadn't anticipated a female voice; could the Cloud Stepping Leopard actually be female? He communicated mentally, "Senior, this junior had a fortuitous encounter and gained the ability to communicate with all spirits." "Oh? You truly can hear me?" "Yes." "Interesting. After all this time, something amusing has finally appeared." "Would senior please release Brother Jiao and me first?" "Come with me!" Zhu Lingyun ascended into the air. An unseen force gently lifted him out of the small pavilion, carrying him diagonally upwards from the rockery. He skimmed over the low courtyard wall and soared towards the distance. The oppressive air within the small pavilion suddenly dispersed, and Jiao Hengtian felt his body loosen, breaking out in a cold sweat. Witnessing Zhu Lingyun being taken away, he quickly leaped out to give chase. Mid-air, Zhu Lingyun turned his head and waved, calling out, "Brother Jiao, I will return soon, do not worry." "Junior Brother Zhuo, where are you going?" "To ascertain the senior’s intentions." "Which senior?" Jiao asked urgently. Zhu Lingyun smiled, replying, "The Cloud Stepping Leopard senior; I am going to meet her." Jiao Hengtian’s pursuit abruptly halted as he landed atop a treetop. From afar, Zhu Lingyun waved, then suddenly accelerated, transforming into a streak of white light that shot towards the distant mountain peak.

Reaching the peak, he didn't pause but ascended further, hurtling towards the void above the mountain and vanishing into it completely.

Jiao Hengtian stood there, utterly astonished.

He peered up at the sky, but Zhu Lingyun was no longer visible.

Several figures descended beside him, their forms solidifying in the air.

"Brother Jiao, what happened? What's going on with Junior Brother Zhuo?" someone inquired.

"Where did he fly off to?"

"That flying technique seemed quite peculiar. Was that his own Qinggong?"

Jiao Hengtian cast his gaze over them, a flicker of weariness in his eyes.

He perceived their concern, their rampant curiosity, and even a hint of burgeoning excitement.

He shook his head inwardly.

It appeared Zhuo Yifan was also a focal point of envy, likely attributed to his numerous fortunate encounters.

"The Cloud Stepping Leopard, the senior beast, took him," Jiao Hengtian stated slowly.

"The Cloud Stepping Leopard?"

An immediate, profound silence befell the group.

They exchanged rapid glances, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and apprehension, until one finally dared to voice their collective fear.

"Did Junior Brother Zhuo somehow offend the Cloud Stepping Leopard?"

"Perhaps we disturbed it when we were conversing earlier."

"Could any of our words have been disrespectful?"

"Impossible!" another retorted immediately.

"Then why... why did it take him?"

"That remains unknown," Jiao Hengtian replied, shaking his head once more. "How could we possibly fathom the Cloud Stepping Leopard's intentions? Let us return. He will be perfectly fine."

"Even if something were to happen, there's naught we could do to assist."

"Junior Brother Zhuo's luck has been exceptionally good lately. Perhaps this is another fortuitous turn of events."

"Yes, one must assume it's for the best."

Agreement rippled through the group in quick succession.

They too harbored a burgeoning curiosity as to whether Zhu Lingyun could once again transmute misfortune into fortune, turning adversity into yet another serendipitous experience.

...

Within the grand hall of the Heaven-Reaching Sect, Chu Zhiyuan expelled a prolonged breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

The Cloud Stepping Leopard had displayed no signs of hostility.

This presented a magnificent opportunity, a truly exceptional chance.

His focus coalesced once more upon the figure of Zhu Lingyun.

Zhu Lingyun found himself ascending effortlessly, the distant white clouds drawing nearer with alarming speed.

The ambient temperature plummeted noticeably.

Indeed, his velocity continued to increase.

Casting his gaze downwards, Wanxiang Cliff had shrunk to the size of a mere hillock. The cluster of peaks appeared like scattered chess pieces, and the dense forests resembled verdant carpets.

The entirety of the world lay spread out beneath him, and a sense of boundless expansion filled his heart.

He wondered with growing intensity just where the Cloud Stepping Leopard was conveying him.

As he pierced through the thick blanket of white clouds, the sunlight struck him with dazzling intensity.

Before him unfolded a vast, white expanse, reminiscent of immense, snow-capped mountain ranges.

His ascent abruptly halted.

Instantly, his body felt a sense of liberation as the invisible binding vanished.

He hastily assessed his surroundings, finding no impediment in any direction except from below, where a persistent force continued to sustain him.

He looked down once more. Through faint gaps in the dense white cloud, he could discern the landscape far beneath.

"Senior," Zhu Lingyun inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity, "Where exactly is this place...?"

The light and shadow before him coalesced and twisted, revealing the majestic form of the Cloud Stepping Leopard.

It traversed the cloud with effortless grace, as if treading upon solid ground, its gait unhurried and remarkably steady.

With an air of leisure, it approached him.

The sheer, overwhelming pressure emanating from the beast caused his breath to catch in his throat.

At such close proximity, the Cloud Stepping Leopard's immense power was palpably more pronounced, its impact far more profound.

It gave a gentle flick of its tail, letting it rest softly upon his foot.

A voice immediately resonated within his mind: "This is my dwelling place."

Zhu Lingyun was visibly taken aback. "Here?"

"Does it not meet your approval?"

"...Isn't it far too simple? There's virtually nothing here."

The Cloud Stepping Leopard responded, "Nothing else is required."

Zhu Lingyun hesitated, then ventured, "Does attaining a certain level of power grant an immensely long lifespan, leading one to become bored and listless over the years, devoid of any desire to act?"

The Cloud Stepping Leopard stated, "A lack of desire to move, coupled with a sense of ennui, makes witnessing lively events most desirable."

Zhu Lingyun's eyes widened in sudden comprehension. "Senior observes our lives at Wanxiang Cliff merely to pass the time?"

"I also observe the nearby city," the leopard added.

A profound realization struck Zhu Lingyun. "So, Senior resides here, too indolent to move, and does not wish for anyone to damage Wanxiang Cliff, thereby disrupting your form of entertainment?"