Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1374 - 1370: Peering into Secrets

The Cloud Stepping Leopard’s voice, usually gentle and lazy, echoed within his mind, asking, "What is your assessment?"

"I had initially supposed that the elder had an agreement with our sect’s ancestors to remain here and guard this place."

"That is one factor," the Cloud Stepping Leopard affirmed. "I did make an arrangement with Xiaofu to reside here for three thousand years."

"Grandmaster Fu?" Zhu Lingyun inquired. "If you refer to Grandmaster Fu, it has been over thirteen thousand years."

Within the lineage of Wanxiang Cliff’s Sect Masters, only one bore the surname Fu, and that was Fu Jingyong.

This Grandmaster Fu was undeniably a prodigious talent, his fame spanning the entire continent. It was a profound tragedy that despite everyone’s belief he would achieve Spirit Venerable status, he stumbled at the most crucial juncture.

Even without reaching the Spirit Venerable realm, his combat prowess was exceptionally formidable, enabling him to withdraw unharmed in the face of a Spirit Venerable.

Grandmaster Fu’s life was replete with legendary exploits.

Merely mentioning Grandmaster Fu was enough for everyone to know precisely who was being discussed.

"Thirteen thousand years..." The voice, soft and unhurried, carried an undeniable detachment.

"Elder, you are free to depart now, yet you seem hesitant?"

"Hmm, perhaps. But tell me, where would I go?"

"In such a boundless world, is there truly no place you could venture?"

"Everywhere feels monotonous, filled with encounters I would rather avoid or matters that hold no interest for me. Remaining here is preferable."

Zhu Lingyun pondered aloud, "Spirit Venerables possess the ability to sense one another; if the elder were to relocate, would you not be aware of other Spirit Venerables?"

"You sharp-witted youth, displaying such knowledge regarding Spirit Venerables. Do you perhaps have a Spirit Venerable elder... within Wanxiang Cliff, maybe Xiaoguo?"

"I am merely speculating," Zhu Lingyun offered with a chuckle. "Just idle talk, I beg your pardon if my conjecture is incorrect, elder."

He quickly added, "I have never encountered Master Guo."

"Indeed, you have not, for he is already deceased. Such are the consequences of a carefree existence."

Zhu Lingyun’s expression shifted dramatically. "Ancestor Guo...?"

"Surely you do not harbor the naive belief that Spirit Venerables are immortal, do you?"

"Spirit Venerables can also perish?"

"There are hierarchies even among Spirit Venerables; why would they be immune to death?"

"They enjoy exceptionally long and seemingly endless lifespans, yet even they eventually succumb to the relentless march of time. What is there to concern oneself with?"

"Hehehehe..." A light, almost musical laugh resonated in his mind.

Zhu Lingyun observed with a touch of bewilderment.

The Cloud Stepping Leopard had completely suppressed its imposing aura, presenting itself as a languid feline, easily mistaken for something gentle and innocuous.

Zhu Lingyun, having personally experienced its terrifying might, naturally refrained from any rash actions.

A playful glint appeared in its eyes as it chuckled, "Little one, you are far too innocent."

"For those who are not Spirit Venerables," Zhu Lingyun stated, "a thousand years is almost enough time to fade into obscurity."

"For a Spirit Venerable, a thousand years is insignificant; a single night can be unbearable!" the Cloud Stepping Leopard scoffed. "They prize swift retribution; vengeance is never delayed beyond a single night!"

Zhu Lingyun, only partially convinced, pressed, "So, a greater number of Spirit Venerables meet their end?"

The Cloud Stepping Leopard replied matter-of-factly, "Out of every ten Spirit Venerables, six perish due to mutual conflict."

Zhu Lingyun’s brows furrowed.

This revelation starkly contrasted with his preconceived notions.

In his mind, Spirit Venerables were the absolute apex beings of the world, possessing unparalleled power and lifespans that bordered on eternal.

Such individuals, he imagined, would be detached from earthly concerns, viewing all matters with indifference.

They would live lives of great freedom and comfort, journeying from the North Sea at dawn to the South Mountain by dusk, unhindered and at their leisure.

However, according to the Cloud Stepping Leopard’s account, Spirit Venerables were, in fact, far more unrestrained and prone to impulsive actions.

They had forfeited their inner peace and serenity, their grudges burning even more fiercely than those of ordinary martial artists.

The Cloud Stepping Leopard let out another snort, "Mortals... are far more terrifying than we beasts!"

"With Master Guo gone, do we still have any Spirit Venerables within Wanxiang Cliff?" Zhu Lingyun inquired.

"What do you surmise?"

"I am uncertain."

"No."

"Are you absolutely certain there are none?" Zhu Lingyun asked, surprised, then his expression turned serious. "Fortunately, we still have you, elder."

The Cloud Stepping Leopard emitted a soft chuckle. "All of you... are becoming less capable."

"Elder," Zhu Lingyun began, "do you possess knowledge on how one attains the Spirit Venerable realm?"

"I do not," the Cloud Stepping Leopard responded.

"Elder must have witnessed Elder Guo’s breakthrough, surely?" Zhu Lingyun persisted.

"Indeed, I have observed many such advancements."

"Then what is the crucial element?"

"How could I possibly know what the key element is? Your cultivation paths are intricate, employing diverse mental techniques. My assertion is this: the more convoluted the method, the less likely one is to achieve Spirit Venerable status!"

"The more complex, the less feasible?"

"Precisely. Before attaining Spirit Venerable status, every individual must undergo a form of death and rebirth," the Cloud Stepping Leopard explained. "If they manage to revive, they ascend to Spirit Venerable; otherwise, their demise is absolute."

"Dying once?" Zhu Lingyun was left in astonishment.

"I have witnessed this outcome multiple times; it always concludes this way."

"Dying once..." Zhu Lingyun closed his eyes, his mind consumed by deep contemplation.

This single statement held profoundly significant clues.

The Taihao Jade Void Scripture, upon reaching higher cultivation realms, did not appear to induce a state of coma or death.

Then, how could one achieve the coveted Spirit Venerable stage?

Was it truly as Ning Dongge had suggested, a matter of ceaselessly pushing forward until one naturally became a Spirit Venerable?

The immediate priority was to seek an audience with the existing Spirit Venerables within the Heaven-Reaching Sect; without their guidance, clarification seemed impossible.

"It appears the Spirit Gate Secret Technique must be unearthed," he mused.

"Spirit Gate Secret Technique..."

Zhu Lingyun's eyes ignited with a fierce determination.

Suddenly, his thoughts turned to the Cultivation Method of Little Outer Heaven. The final stage for a Great Grandmaster involved locating specific secret acupoints.

Could it be that the Spirit Venerable realm was the equivalent of the Great Grandmaster stage in Little Outer Heaven?

If viewed from this perspective, the situation became much clearer.

The path would involve discovering this secret acupoint, breaking through it, and undergoing an experience of life and death.

To be reborn from the brink of death, thus shedding one's mortal form and acquiring a spirit bone, would lead to becoming a Spirit Venerable.

"That is all for now," the Cloud Stepping Leopard stated, its voice echoing in Zhu Lingyun's mind. "Follow me."

With those words, it leaped gracefully into the Void, vanishing instantly.

Zhu Lingyun, initially taken aback, soon realized he too was being propelled forward, drawn into the swirling vortex of distorted light and shadow.

Upon reappearing, he found himself standing within a colossal palace.

This edifice dwarfed anything he had ever encountered. Its dome soared approximately a hundred meters high, and its expansive area could easily encompass ten football fields.

At the very heart of the grand hall stood an imposing, dark stone tablet.

The tablet stretched thirty meters tall and ten meters wide, its sword-like shape resembling a colossal stone blade piercing the heavens.

He observed that this monumental stone tablet was supported by a peculiar, mythical beast.

This creature bore a striking resemblance to the Cloud Stepping Leopard.

He couldn't help but compare the Cloud Stepping Leopard beside him with the stone-carved beast supporting the tablet.

As dark as obsidian, it appeared seamlessly fused with the stone tablet, as if carved from the same monolithic block.

Moreover, while this Strange Beast shared about thirty percent of its features with the Cloud Stepping Leopard, the remaining seventy percent were distinctly different.

The Cloud Stepping Leopard fixed its gaze upon the stone tablet, its tail lightly brushing against Zhu Lingyun's foot. A voice resonated within his mind, "Do you recognize the inscriptions upon this tablet?"

Zhu Lingyun shook his head. "I do not recognize them. Are they not written characters?"

"They are indeed written characters," the Cloud Stepping Leopard replied indifferently. "Now, direct your attention to the scroll positioned nearby."

Zhu Lingyun turned towards the northwest corner of the hall. There, an overturned square tripod rested.

This black stone tripod, crafted from the identical material as the tablet, was adorned with rough, ancient patterns.

The tripod stood ten meters high, its inverted base forming a one-meter square. Upon this base lay a scroll.

The scroll itself was square, matching the dimensions of the tripod's base, and possessed a thickness of half a meter.

He cast a questioning glance at the Cloud Stepping Leopard.

The Cloud Stepping Leopard instructed, "See if you can decipher its contents."

With a sudden burst of agility, Zhu Lingyun leaped forward, retrieved the scroll, and landed heavily. The impact echoed with a resonant boom, causing the very ground to tremble.

His complexion turned noticeably pale.

This scroll was substantially heavier than he had anticipated, so much so that it seemed to impede the flow of his True Yuan as he struggled to carry it.

Had it been even slightly heavier, he would have been forced to relinquish his grip on the scroll mid-air.

He lowered his gaze to the scroll's cover, where the inscriptions remained as incomprehensible as before.

Consequently, he proceeded to turn through its pages one by one.

After completing his perusal, he looked up at the Cloud Stepping Leopard, a sense of helplessness evident as he shook his head. "Elder, I still cannot comprehend these markings. I do not recognize this script. Are you certain these are actual written words?"

"Incompetent fool!" the Cloud Stepping Leopard scoffed, its tone laced with disappointment. "I had hoped I had finally encountered an intelligent individual!"

Zhu Lingyun persisted, "Elder, whose writing is this, then?"

"You have no need to know."

"But if I do not know its origin, how can I possibly investigate thoroughly?"