Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1560 - 1556: Peril

"More importantly, this layer of heaven very likely contains a Divine Artifact."

"A Divine Artifact?"

"Yes, very likely a Divine Artifact capable of unifying all heavens."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed and shook his head. "Unifying all heavens, I’m afraid a single Divine Artifact isn’t enough for that, is it?"

He didn’t really believe it.

Such things are usually just legends, and might even be a trap.

"Just treat it as a rumor for now." Zhou Muyin said, "In any case, better to believe it exists. Even if we can’t obtain it, we mustn’t let others get it."

"Best if we seize it first?"

"Exactly."

Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile, "If I find the Divine Artifact, wouldn’t I be able to use it to directly unify all heavens?"

Zhou Muyin shook his head. "This Divine Artifact can only be controlled by those of the Holy Vein."

"No wonder." Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

So they weren’t afraid he’d keep it for himself.

More importantly, he had a close relationship with Li Hongzhao, and Li Hongzhao was of the Phoenix Lineage.

Even if he obtained the Divine Artifact, he would hand it over to Li Hongzhao, which was equivalent to handing it to the Phoenix Lineage.

No wonder they were at ease inviting him into the New Cave Heaven to explore.

Zhou Muyin said, "Once Mr. Chu goes in, you must be extremely careful. The danger in this New Cave Heaven far exceeds imagination."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Then what dangers are there? The Court should have some clues by now, right?"

"As for clues regarding the Divine Artifact, we have none at all." Zhou Muyin shook his head. "But we do have some clues about the New Cave Heaven itself."

Chu Zhiyuan made a gesture of listening intently.

Zhou Muyin said, "Inside the New Cave Heaven there are Six Ferocious Beasts. They’re suppressed, but who knows when they’ll break free. Once they come out, all we can do is run for our lives."

Chu Zhiyuan gave a slight smile. "If the Six Ferocious Beasts get out, I suspect there won’t even be time to run, will there?"

"With your Qinggong, Mr. Chu, you should be able to escape. As for the others..." Zhou Muyin shook his head.

Chu Zhiyuan’s Qinggong was astonishing; he could vanish in an instant and escape danger.

This was also the key to him entering the Grotto Heaven to explore.

Aside from him, any other Spirit Venerable entering the New Cave Heaven would face extreme peril and could fall at any moment.

Such danger was something Spirit Venerables instinctively rejected.

Even Cheng Qian and Cheng Kun, who were most closely tied to the Court in crucial matters, were unwilling to go in again.

In this situation, only Chu Zhiyuan, this Spirit Venerable whose intuition for danger was astonishing and whose escape abilities were equally astounding, would agree to enter the New Cave Heaven to explore.

Zhou Muyin continued, "You should already know about the Six Ferocious Beasts, Mr. Chu. But there are several other deadly zones you aren’t aware of yet."

"Please go ahead, Lord Zhou."

"There is also a lake, extremely beautiful, like a piece of jade. Yet within the lake lies a serpent, vicious beyond measure. We lost a Venerable there."

"Do you have detailed information on this serpent?"

Zhou Muyin shook his head. "After it hid in the lake, it never appeared again. When a Spirit Venerable approaches, it does not show itself."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "Looks like it’s afraid of Spirit Venerables, knows it’s no match, so it stays hidden."

"A Venerable had no power to fight back in front of it and was swallowed whole." Zhou Muyin said. "Even a Spirit Venerable couldn’t do that."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "So we can conclude that it surpasses a Spirit Venerable?"

"It should be no weaker than a Spirit Venerable," Zhou Muyin said.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "That’s not really how one compares... but even if we compare like that, it’s not far off. Better to overestimate an enemy than underestimate it."

Even if it was slightly weaker than a Spirit Venerable, it wouldn’t be by much; there was no need to quibble. Just treat it as equivalent to a Spirit Venerable.

Besides, it might not have shown all its strength at the time; its true power could be even greater.

It might even be stronger than a Spirit Venerable.

Thinking this, the smile on his face slowly faded. "Which Venerable saw that serpent?"

"Shan Xiangnan, Mr. Shan." Zhou Muyin said. "He is not in the palace. Do you wish to meet him?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Yes, I’d like to see him and ask him some questions."

Zhou Muyin raised his voice. "Lord Yu."

"Lord Zhou." A purple-clothed old eunuch drifted over and cupped his fists in salute.

"Invite Shan Xiangnan, Mr. Shan, over. Mr. Chu wishes to see him."

"Yes."

The purple-clothed old eunuch responded, cupped his fists, withdrew, and soon returned.

Zhou Muyin said, "That serpent is one danger. Another place is a river, a not-so-wide river that a single Qinggong leap could cross. But within the river dwells a type of fish whose speed is incredibly fast, their bodies carrying Abnormal Power. One collision from them leaves you numb and paralyzed; once you fall into the river, they devour you."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

Zhou Muyin shook his head. "We also lost a Venerable in that river."

"Lord Zhou, how many Venerables have been lost so far in total?"

"Nine." Zhou Muyin sighed. "They were all the elite of the elite, each one extremely important. The loss is far too tragic!"

Those Venerables who entered the New Cave Heaven all had extremely high cultivation and were also trusted confidants of the Court.

To the Court, each of them was incredibly precious. Losing nine of them was a grievous loss.

The Court could no longer bear such losses, so they had to seek another way and invite outsiders to explore.

Chu Zhiyuan was the most suitable candidate, so no matter the cost they had to make him a Tribute and ask him to enter the New Cave Heaven to explore.

"Nine..." Chu Zhiyuan’s expression grew solemn. "With danger like this, besides these two places, what else is there?"

"There is also a swamp..."

Zhou Muyin listed the other areas one by one, nine in total, all deadly zones.

In each of these nine places, Venerables had fallen; they would need to be careful, and then even more careful.

Chu Zhiyuan first met with Shan Xiangnan.

Shan Xiangnan was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man, yet his figure was straight as a pine.

His expression was grave and solemn. When he arrived before Chu Zhiyuan, he cupped his fists in salute, said, "I have met Mr. Chu," and then fell silent.

Chu Zhiyuan returned the salute, apologized with some embarrassment, and then asked about what had happened at the time.

Shan Xiangnan had already recounted it more than once; now, as he spoke again, a few concise sentences made the whole incident clear.

Chu Zhiyuan followed up with a few more questions, then his eyes suddenly turned vacant.

After Shan Xiangnan secretly frowned, Chu Zhiyuan returned to normal and sighed. "Mr. Shan, your life is blessed. Having survived such a great calamity, fortune is sure to follow."

Shan Xiangnan gave a bitter smile. "Then I’ll borrow your auspicious words, Mr. Chu."

He then took his leave.

Zhou Muyin had remained silent at the side. Only after Shan Xiangnan left did he speak. "This Mr. Shan..."

Chu Zhiyuan’s gaze had been following Shan Xiangnan’s retreating back, and he remarked, "He’s suffered an enormous blow."

Zhou Muyin nodded. "The one who died was his bond of life-and-death, close as brothers."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded. "This Mr. Shan also has luck upon him."

Zhou Muyin said, "He was just a hair’s breadth from dying along with him. His luck truly is extraordinary."

Chu Zhiyuan withdrew his gaze.

After suffering such a blow, Shan Xiangnan never recovered and completely cut off his path upward.

In the end, he never managed to cross into the realm of Spirit Venerable, sinking into silence until his death.

This made Chu Zhiyuan quite reflective.

Shan Xiangnan was far too sentimental; if he’d been a bit more selfish, things might not have turned out like this.

One’s nature is hard to change; in such a situation, persuasion is useless.

He felt there was very little he could actually do.

Zhou Muyin said, "Mr. Chu, have you decided from where to enter the Cave Mansion?"

"Let’s start from that lake." Chu Zhiyuan said. "I’ll pay that serpent a visit."

Zhou Muyin asked, "When will you go in?"

"Right now." Chu Zhiyuan said. "Is that convenient?"

"Of course." Zhou Muyin said. "Sir, please follow me."

...

After several breaths, Chu Zhiyuan was already standing beside a jade-like lake.

Super Sensing Illumination.

The Spring Sun Sword was already leveled, ready to strike at any moment.