Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1379 - 1375: Seizing the Sacred Flower

With the three elders observing, the elder whose complexion was purple appeared worried, his gaze fixed upon the White Jade Rose.

Previously, his interest in the Sect Hierarch position was at seventy percent, but now, it had completely vanished.

Little did anyone anticipate that the Sect Hierarch would genuinely contemplate self-sacrifice.

And this Divine Flower, once activated, would indeed consume its master!

As a Supreme Elder, he occupied a sufficiently elevated status and wielded significant authority; why would he involve himself in such a precarious situation?

When the pivotal moment truly arrived, he would be compelled to clench his teeth and activate the Divine Flower.

Has that sneak attack force already been annihilated?

Once the Divine Flower was set in motion, it ought to obliterate everything.

But what if it somehow survived and persisted in its assault?

Would he then be forced to offer himself as a sacrifice?

In the grand scheme of things, all of this is entirely needless.

The elder with the round face let out a sigh and stated, "Senior Brother, you should simply accept this position."

"Fifth Junior Brother, I genuinely cannot," the elder with the purple complexion sighed and replied. "If I truly possessed the capability, Master would have bestowed this position upon me back then, rather than our nephew."

"However, the circumstances are different now," the round-faced elder asserted. "This is a period of turmoil, and your esteemed prestige, Senior Brother, makes you the most suitable person to assuage the anxieties of the people."

The other two elders chimed in with their affirmative nods.

Senior Brother possessed a benevolent temperament, was honorable and kind, and consistently displayed gentleness and mildness towards the younger generation, never exhibiting any anger.

Consequently, the younger disciples held him in high regard and offered him their sincere respect.

With him assuming the mantle of Sect Hierarch, it was highly improbable that any significant opposition or discontent would arise among the disciples.

The human heart is notoriously fickle.

The disciples of the Flower God Sect were, at the outset, brimming with confidence and pride, harboring the conviction that within Dan Yang Heaven, no other power could truly rival the might of the Flower God Sect.

They viewed other Sects and factions as mere imposters, incompetent and unfit to withstand a single blow compared to the elite ranks of the Flower God Sect.

This devastating blow has sent them plummeting from their lofty heights into the depths of despair, forcing them to confront the vulnerability of the Flower God Sect.

Even their Sect Hierarch had met their end.

The psychological impact on all the disciples of the Flower God Sect was truly terrifying.

At this critical juncture, if someone of unimpeachable character does not step forward to stabilize the hearts of the people, and if someone not universally revered and admired does not succeed the Sect Hierarch, dissension will inevitably sprout among the disciples.

Under such conditions, this discontent could readily escalate into fierce anger or even outright rage, potentially leading to the disintegration of the Flower God Sect.

"But I..." The elder with the purple complexion offered a disconsolate smile.

He truly harbored no desire to shoulder such a heavy burden and felt utterly incapable of bearing its weight.

"Senior Brother, are you perhaps afraid of death?" the round-faced elder inquired.

"Fifth Junior Brother, are you not afraid of death yourself?"

"Certainly, I am afraid, and I admit it readily. However, when the moment arrives, it is simply a matter of dying. To perish for the sake of the entire sect would be a glorious act!"

"Such lofty rhetoric!" The elder with the purple complexion shot him a disapproving glance.

"Fear not, Senior Brother," the round-faced elder chuckled reassuringly. "When the critical juncture arises, it may not be necessary to deploy the Divine Flower. After all, it failed to eliminate that individual last time; its current usefulness is questionable."

"It should have annihilated him by now," interjected one of the elders. "Regardless of that individual's strength, he could not possibly withstand a single strike from the Divine Flower."

"Precisely. If he were truly that formidable, there would be no need for clandestine ambushes; he would have launched a direct, overt assault upon the valley."

"Is he truly, definitively eliminated?"

"It is highly probable that the assailant was a Spirit Venerable."

"It's unlikely to have been a Spirit Venerable; otherwise, such guarded caution would not have been necessary."

"If it wasn't a Spirit Venerable, then they certainly could not have survived a single blow from the Divine Flower."

"That is good to hear then..." The elder with the purple complexion exhaled a breath of relief, his gaze returning to the Divine Flower contained within the Purple Lacquer Box. "I shall temporarily assume the role of Sect Hierarch for a period of one year. Following that term, we shall seek out another suitable successor!"

The other three elders immediately let out sighs of relief and quickly concurred.

As Supreme Elders, they had no genuine desire to become entangled in the day-to-day administrative affairs of the sect.

Serving as Sect Hierarch for a mere year was, indeed, the absolute limit they were willing to commit.

The sentiment of the populace is prone to shift. Despite the present somber atmosphere, a resurgence of pride might manifest within two to three months.

At that point, they might perceive the leadership of an elder as a detrimental obstacle.

Holding the position of Sect Hierarch for only one year represents a prudent decision, allowing for an honorable retirement while preserving their esteemed reputation.

The elder who possessed a purplish complexion slowly reached out, aiming to touch the Purple Lacquer Box. Suddenly, a blinding flash erupted before their eyes. Shocked, they unfurled their sleeves, channeling surging Qi as they rapidly retreated. The flash was so swift, their reactions were purely instinctive. "Bang!" "Bang!" ... "Where is the Divine Flower?!" the elder with the purple complexion suddenly ground out those words through gritted teeth. The other three elders drifted back, their gazes falling upon the vacant table where the Purple Lacquer Box had rested. They turned to the elder with the purple complexion. He clenched his jaw, his face twisting in distress, "That person snatched the Divine Flower just now!" "Senior Brother, did you get a clear look?" the round-faced elder inquired urgently. He then turned his head to survey the remaining two elders. Their expressions were grim as they stated, "It appeared to be a man?" "What age?" the round-faced elder pressed. They simply shook their heads, "We couldn't see clearly, no face was visible, only the sense of it being a man." The elder with the purple complexion gnashed his teeth, "Taking advantage of the chaos!" The round-faced elder mused, "Senior Brother, could it have been that fellow from before?" "Under the impact of the Divine Flower, even if someone survived, it's impossible for them to be unharmed and then come to seize our Divine Flower!" "Then who could it be?" "..." They were irked and perplexed, their teeth grating in sheer annoyance. The elder with the purple complexion's face grew progressively more unpleasant, on the verge of unleashing a furious roar, but he was restrained by the round-faced elder's touch, "Senior Brother!" The elder with the purple complexion shot him an irritated glare. The round-faced elder maintained his composure and advised, "It is not wise to publicize this matter at present; let us act as if the Divine Flower never returned." "Hm—?" The elder with the purple complexion appeared taken aback. The round-faced elder explained, "Our Sect disciples cannot endure such a blow right now." "But that individual...." "What if he managed to acquire the Divine Flower?" the round-faced elder scoffed, "The Divine Flower will eventually come back!" "Indeed, he is merely expending his energy fruitlessly," the other two elders concurred with slow nods, "The Divine Flower cannot be truly stolen!" The elder with the purple complexion clenched his teeth, "But that person acted as if in an empty realm, truly..." "He still operated in secrecy, unwilling to confront us directly," the round-faced elder countered, "We shall meticulously arrange the formation and reinforce the defenses, and he will not be able to infiltrate stealthily." He glanced towards the hall's exterior, "Right now, amidst all this commotion, their defenses were lax, allowing him easy access; next time, he won't dare to return!" He sneered, "When the Divine Flower reappears and our defenses are restored, let's see if he dares to show his face again!" The elder with the purple complexion acknowledged thoughtfully, "Hmm, that reasoning holds! ...Then this Sect Hierarch position should rightfully be yours, Fifth Junior Brother!" The round-faced elder responded with slight impatience, "Senior Brother, stop delaying and let us proceed with haste!" ... Chu Zhiyuan materialized within the grand hall of the Heaven-Reaching Sect, the Purple Lacquer Box held firmly in his grasp. Ning Dongge and Zhang Ji Yuan happened to be present. They cast curious glances towards the Purple Lacquer Box. Chu Zhiyuan carefully set it down beside the Golden Meditation Mat, his expression taut. "Junior Brother, what is that...?" Zhang Ji Yuan inquired, leaning closer curiously. Chu Zhiyuan swiftly motioned for him to stop, "Brother Zhang, please do not approach!" Zhang Ji Yuan halted his movement, his curiosity piqued further, "Is this item dangerous?" Ning Dongge asked, "Junior Brother, the thing that attacked us earlier, was it this?" Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly, "It was." Zhang Ji Yuan clicked his tongue, "Such a small item, possessing such formidable power? Comparable to a Spirit Venerable level, what exactly is it?" Chu Zhiyuan revealed, "It is the Divine Flower of the Dan Yang Heavenly Flower Divine Sect." Ning Dongge stated, "I investigated Dan Yang Heaven. The Flower God Sect is known for its profound mystery, guarded by a Divine Object. It seems this must be that Divine Flower, is it not?" Chu Zhiyuan, despite his own considerable strength, could not suppress the power of a Spirit Venerable level. This Divine Flower before them, however, did not emanate such an overwhelming aura. Chu Zhiyuan explained, "It requires a particular method for its activation." Among the spirits imprisoned within the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror, there are two Elders. They possess knowledge of the method to Master the Divine Flower.