Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1378 - 1374: Yielding Leadership

Li Hongzhao chuckled, "I made sure to learn it specifically for you, knowing you'd be interested."

Chu Zhiyuan responded, "That's truly excellent! I never imagined..."

He hadn't anticipated acquiring the Great Wilderness Text with such ease.

His initial thought was a prolonged search, involving inquiries at various locations: here, then the Profound Yin Palace, followed by the Heavenly Sword Sect, and finally the Guanghan Palace.

His three clones commenced their movements, diligently seeking any available clues.

He had foreseen a path fraught with considerable challenges, with no guarantee of success.

After all, the Cloud Stepping Leopard possessed a keen intellect; though incapable of verbal communication, it was adept at reconnaissance.

Given its capabilities, it might have already gained insight into the private collections of numerous prominent sects.

The prospect of obtaining the Great Wilderness Text so readily had never crossed his mind.

Li Hongzhao stated, "You've consistently aided me, and now I finally have an opportunity to assist you in return."

"Let's commence," she declared.

"Bring it on!" Chu Zhiyuan replied.

...

Li Hongzhao's method of instruction was remarkably straightforward: she first penned the characters, then elucidated their meanings.

The Great Wilderness Text consisted of a total of 7,655 characters; a swift movement of her brush would render a character, followed by a concise explanation, which Chu Zhiyuan would acknowledge with a nod of comprehension.

Chu Zhiyuan grasped the essence of the Great Wilderness Text almost instantly upon hearing it, his understanding developing with great speed.

As he listened and absorbed the information, he simultaneously cross-referenced it with the intricacies of the Divine Language.

It became apparent that the Great Wilderness Text bore no connection to the Divine Language.

These were two completely distinct writing systems, underscoring the unparalleled uniqueness of the Divine Language.

The Great Wilderness Text, quite unlike any other script he had encountered, shared no similarities with existing forms.

It did not appear to stem from pictograms or logograms; its pronunciation was peculiar, proving difficult to articulate, and its sound was truly odd.

He found himself intensely curious about the origin of the Great Wilderness Text and how such an extraordinary individual had come to possess it.

Could there still be a lingering legacy of the Great Wilderness?

What form did this legacy take? Was it perhaps passed down by Divine Beasts?

Creatures like the Phoenix and the Sky Dragon, believed to originate from the era preceding the Divine Race, seemed to predate even the Divine Race itself.

...

Zhu Lingyun attempted to open a Light Gate, intending to return to that magnificent, expansive palace.

He discovered, however, that passage was impossible.

A translucent veil of mist obstructed the palace entrance, denying him entry.

He did not resort to forceful methods to breach the barrier.

Nor did he hasten his search for the Cloud Stepping Leopard; instead, he made the decision to establish his base and cultivate within the confines of Wanxiang Cliff.

During his cultivation, he meticulously transcribed the Great Wilderness Text from both the booklet and the stone tablet.

He then devoted himself to contemplating its profound meanings.

This, he realized, constituted the cultivation path followed by the Cloud Stepping Leopard's ancestral line.

Comprehending its true meaning, however, proved to be an exercise in futility.

Without the innate bloodline, embarking on this particular cultivation path would be tantamount to suicide.

Nevertheless, through this Cultivation Secret Technique, he gained valuable insights into methods of power accumulation.

His understanding of bloodlines deepened considerably.

This knowledge was particularly beneficial for Chu Liezhao and essential for grasping the nuances of the Heavenly Dragon Introduction.

After carefully examining the Cloud Stepping Leopard's established cultivation path, he achieved a more profound comprehension of the Heavenly Dragon Introduction.

Upon activating it once more, the Golden Dragon residing within the Void exhibited enhanced agility, and the Golden Light began to converge with greater intensity.

This transformation signified a significant step in bloodline evolution.

...

Chu Zhiyuan returned to Glazed Heaven, dedicating his time to cultivating the Taihao Jade Void Scripture alongside the two women.

Following their cultivation session, he first made his way back to the Heaven-Reaching Sect for a period of rest and the consumption of a Spirit Pill.

Concurrently, Zhu Lingyun materialized in Dan Yang Heaven, positioning himself beneath that ancient, venerable tree.

He placed one palm firmly against the tree's trunk.

His other hand remained poised, ready at a moment's notice to draw a Light Gate for immediate escape, while also carrying the Dragon Soaring Bell.

Chu Liezhao had entrusted him with the Dragon Soaring Bell for defensive purposes, preparing him to withstand any potential assaults from the Crystal Rose.

After resting his left hand upon the tree, he gained access to its perspective and memories, allowing him to witness the events that had transpired previously.

He also observed the current condition of the Flower God Sect.

The valley had been cleared and restored to order, no longer in a state of disarray, yet the pervasive sense of desolation remained indelible.

The valley felt starkly empty.

The disciples of the Flower God Sect moved with an unnatural quietude, their voices hushed, seemingly afraid that any loud sound might disturb the profound silence.

Zhu Lingyun remained impassive to their listless existence, experiencing instead a sense of grim satisfaction.

His primary concern revolved around the fate of the Flower God Sect's Sect Hierarch and the lives of those few esteemed Elders.

He recalled the moment the Sect Hierarch unleashed the power of the Crystal Rose.

Following a blinding white light, the void rippled momentarily before settling into an unnerving calm.

The entire valley fell into an absolute silence, all activity ceasing abruptly.

The nine elevated platforms had crumbled into ruin, and Zhou Tianji and the others were nowhere to be seen, having truly met their demise.

Even the Sect Hierarch, wielding Strange Flowers as he did, when bathed in their brilliant luminescence, suddenly became frozen in place. Subsequently, his form began to slowly dissipate, gradually emitting light.

Ultimately, he transformed into scattered starlight, slowly fading into the ambient air.

Witnessing this spectacle, Zhu Lingyun simply shook his head.

Chu Zhiyuan also let out a sigh, shaking his head. This was hardly surprising, actually. Given the immense power radiated by the Crystal Rose, the fate of the Flower God Sect’s Sect Hierarch could be easily predicted. It was a strike comparable to that of a Spirit Venerable, and the Sect Hierarch clearly was not one. As such, he was naturally incapable of withstanding the resulting surge of power. It seemed the Strange Flowers had shown no mercy, eliminating the messenger along with the message, not sparing him even for the sake of the Riding Messenger.Zhu Lingyun conjectured that the Flower God Sect’s Sect Hierarch might have erroneously perceived the attack as originating from a Spirit Venerable. Despite a strong personal desire to see the Sect Hierarch dead, Zhu Lingyun grudgingly admired the man for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of the Flower God Sect under such dire circumstances. Such altruistic self-abnegation was indeed a rare and noble act, as everyone harbored a deep-seated fear of death. The more profound one’s Cultivation, the more they yearned to escape mortality, desiring to take that final step towards achieving Spirit Venerable status and its accompanying extended lifespan.

Zhu Lingyun continued to meticulously sift through the ancient tree’s residual memories. Within the swirling white light, individuals slowly began to regain consciousness, their agonized cries echoing one after another. Several esteemed elders emerged, diligently directing disciples towards rescue operations or the grim task of clearing the aftermath. They felt a firm conviction that after the Strange Flowers unleashed their terrifying power and the Sect Hierarch made his ultimate sacrifice, no enemy combatant could possibly have survived the cataclysm.Four solemn elders convened within the central hall. Upon their arrival at the heart of the chamber, their gazes fell upon the ornate Purple Lacquer Box, and their expressions immediately turned grave. Not a single trace of the Sect Hierarch could be found within the hall; it was as if he had never existed. The only remaining artifact was the Purple Lacquer Box, the sacred vessel designated for the safekeeping of the precious Divine Flower. Only the Sect Hierarch possessed the unique ability to open it. However, the very act of unlocking the Divine Flower also signified the Sect Hierarch’s complete demise.

"Alas... our Sect Hierarch, he..." a purple-faced elder lamented, his voice heavy with sorrow. The other three elders solemnly nodded in agreement. Their Sect Hierarch was gone, with no possibility of return. Perhaps he had returned to the Flower God Domain, or perhaps he had truly vanished from existence entirely. They silently surrounded the Purple Lacquer Box, their vigil lasting for a full hour.Suddenly, a soft white light emanated from within the confines of the Purple Lacquer Box. The light then intensified, coalescing into the form of a delicate White Jade Rose. The White Jade Rose pulsed faintly before gradually settling into a state of tranquility. Its petals appeared to be crafted from pure white jade, its stem from gleaming jade, and its leaves from verdant jade, presenting an outwardly normal appearance. Yet, as they observed it, their hearts were filled with profound terror. This object was the very entity responsible for the Sect Hierarch’s destruction. Despite its unassuming facade, its power was so astonishingly immense that they could not possibly regard it as ordinary."Senior Brother, you must take it," one round-faced elder declared with utmost gravity. The purple-faced elder, however, slowly shook his head. "I am not suited for this. I cannot bear such a monumental responsibility!""Senior Brother, you are our leader!" the round-faced elder insisted. "Fifth Junior Brother, among all of us, you possess the keenest intellect; you should assume the mantle of Sect Hierarch." "I am also unqualified," the round-faced elder demurred, shaking his head once more. "Setting aside my insufficient Cultivation, my prestige is also not enough to command respect." He then turned his gaze towards the other two elders, who remained in contemplative silence.The round-faced elder prompted, "Third Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother, what are your thoughts?" "Senior Brother, you should be the one to take it," the other two elders responded, exchanging a glance before looking back at the purple-faced elder. The purple-faced elder simply shook his head, his gaze fixed intently on the White Jade Rose. The other three exchanged significant glances. They understood their Senior Brother’s inner turmoil, but at this critical juncture, there was simply no other viable option. The elite disciples of the second generation had been almost entirely annihilated, leaving only these aging veterans standing. Among the four of them, only their Senior Brother possessed sufficient authority and respect; during this period of profound instability, he alone was capable of stepping into the role of Sect Hierarch.