Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1692: Unleashed Potential

They all appeared quite disheveled.

Especially Zhou Qingyu, with her hair a mess and her face pale.

The stones she threw were particularly targeted, with nearly half of them aimed at her.

The other half of the stones were distributed between Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue.

The two of them had superior swordsmanship, so they deflected more stones.

Zhou Qingyu’s swordsmanship displayed a lack of finesse at this moment, allowing more stones to break through her sword light.

If not for the Jade Pendant nourishing her body, she would have already collapsed from severe injuries.

Yet she knew that she couldn’t use the Jade Pendant unless it was a matter of life and death.

“Seems like we’ll have to use a special move!” Shen Hanyue sidestepped two stones, grumbled.

“What kind of special move?” Zhou Qingyu hurriedly asked, “Use it now, we can’t handle them! … These guys really hold a grudge!”

Half of their firepower was directed at her as retaliation.

“Use the Spirit Shuttle.”

Shen Hanyue swung her sword, shattering two stones and looked at Xiao Ruoling, “Senior Sister?”

Xiao Ruoling replied, “Yes, I’ll take Qingyu.”

Shen Hanyue said, “Senior Sister, can we return?”

Xiao Ruoling said, “Perhaps we can.”

As long as it’s a Grotto Heaven, the Spirit Shuttle can traverse and return to the original location.

While talking, the Spirit Shuttle appeared, Xiao Ruoling grabbed Zhou Qingyu, and alongside Shen Hanyue, they vanished within the Spirit Shuttle.

A dense rain of stones fell but was deflected by the Spirit Shuttle.

Two Spirit Shuttles suddenly shone brightly, and when the light faded, the Spirit Shuttles had disappeared.

They appeared in front of Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan did not intervene, wanting to observe the operation of the Spirit Shuttle and whether it could pass through the Inner Universe.

Now proven, if he didn’t want the Spirit Shuttle to pass, it couldn’t.

The barrier between the Inner Universe and Outer Universe was under his control, allowing him to manipulate it freely.

The Spirit Shuttle’s method of Breaking Sky wasn’t to break forcibly; rather, it was to find opportunities.

The spaces aren’t completely isolated; there are slight gaps, and space fissures inevitably exist.

The Spirit Shuttle can find these gaps.

The fissure between the Inner Universe and Outer Universe can be perceived by him, allowing him to prompt the Inner Universe to repair its gaps.

As long as he blocks the gap before the Spirit Shuttle attempts to pass, he can stop it.

Other Spiritual Artifacts that traverse the Void likely work on this principle.

Zhou Qingyu sorted her disheveled garments and lamented, “Master, the White Apes within this Grotto Heaven are truly formidable.”

“Princely Heir, what kind of strange species are these White Apes?” Shen Hanyue asked.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, “They are ancient species from the Divine Domain, with high spirituality and great strength. Provoking them was unwise.”

Zhou Qingyu said, “Initially thought they were lethargic, seemed easy to provoke, just joking with them.”

Shen Hanyue said, “Could they be more difficult than those White Tigers and Golden Lions?”

Chu Zhiyuan replied, “They aren’t as troublesome as the White Tigers and Golden Lions but aren’t weak either.”

“Are there any weaker than the White Apes?” Shen Hanyue asked.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, “Most strange beasts here are from the Divine Domain, few are weak, like the Colorful Pheasant.”

Shen Hanyue said, “That Colorful Pheasant looks weak, not worth provoking.”

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, “Too weak to provoke, too strong to dare provoke, tried to find one not too strong nor too weak, but misjudged.”

“Yes.” Shen Hanyue chuckled, “Indeed misjudged. This Grotto Heaven is quite mysterious; the strange beasts are strong due to the strong Spiritual Energy?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

“How strong is the Spiritual Energy?”

“Not inferior to the Divine Domain, considered the strongest presence.”

“Then it’s a holy land for cultivation, Princely Heir, can—”

“For ordinary cultivators, indeed. For Spirit Venerables, it makes little difference.”

Shen Hanyue asked, “So it’s not beneficial for us?”

Chu Zhiyuan replied, “It still has use but compared to cultivators below Spirit Venerable, the difference is vast, serves only for Heavenly Rule comprehension, not for Cultivating Spirit Essence.”

At the Spirit Venerable Realm, merely moving Spiritual Essence can’t lead to a breakthrough.

It comes down to comprehension.

In the Inner Universe, various Heavenly Rules can be comprehended.

But in other universes, different rules can also be understood.

The Inner Universe’s benefits aren’t as prominent, unlike for those below Spirit Venerable.

Shen Hanyue glanced at Zhou Qingyu smilingly, “If Qingyu cultivated here earlier, wouldn’t her cultivation speed be faster?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Zhou Qingyu smiled, “Aunt, my current speed is already fast enough.”

She felt her current pace in entering the Spirit Venerable was astonishing, even surpassing her master.

If it were any faster, it would likely pose numerous problems, leading to instability.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled approvingly.

Zhou Qingyu has the inherent wisdom.

“If used for disciple training…” Xiao Ruoling sighed, “That would be impressive.”

Shen Hanyue nodded vigorously.

Zhou Qingyu smiled, “Master will recruit disciples in the future, and I’ll have juniors. By then, it’ll be even faster.”

“It’s challenging.” Shen Hanyue said, “For someone like Qingyu to progress so quickly, Spiritual Energy purity isn’t enough; aptitude counts.”

Zhou Qingyu’s rapid progress was due in part to Chu Zhiyuan’s prowess, precise guidance and creation of a precise cultivation technique, alongside Zhou Qingyu’s exceptional aptitude.

Both are indispensable.

Even if he recruits more disciples, finding someone with Zhou Qingyu’s aptitude is difficult; pure Spiritual Energy and precise cultivation techniques may not bridge aptitude gaps.

“Try entering again.” Chu Zhiyuan said.

“Let’s go again!” Shen Hanyue was eager to explore the Grotto Heaven further.

As soon as the trio appeared atop the mountain, they were enveloped in a sky-blotting rain of stones.

They hurriedly swung their swords and retreated, forming a triangular formation to fend off the stones.

But soon couldn’t withstand the onslaught, preparing to escape, only to find the Spirit Shuttle could not be activated.

“Senior Sister, the Spirit Shuttle is malfunctioning!” Shen Hanyue cried.

Xiao Ruoling also realized the Spirit Shuttle couldn’t be activated, her expression changed slightly.

“What’s going on?”

“Aunt, could these White Apes be causing this disruption, can they bind Spirit Shuttle use?”

“Could they be this terrifying?” Shen Hanyue exclaimed.

Xiao Ruoling solemnly turned, “Qingyu, try the Jade Pendant.”

“Yes.” Zhou Qingyu took out the Jade Pendant from her bosom, attempting to activate it.

But found the Jade Pendant had fallen silent, not releasing its power.

She even lost her connection with her Master, always subtly perceiving Master’s presence regardless of the circumstance.

Her expression shifted, “Aunt, it doesn’t work!”

Shen Hanyue was surprised, “These creatures are truly impressive, what kind of skill is this?!”

Xiao Ruoling said, “Quickly devise a solution, or we’ll be trapped here.”

Shen Hanyue nonchalantly said, “Senior Sister, don’t worry, we have the Princely Heir, we wouldn’t die here.”

Xiao Ruoling said, “What if he didn’t notice the anomaly here?”

Shen Hanyue sighed, “Pity this isn’t Little Outer Heaven, otherwise, we could be revived, eliminating the fear of death.”

As they spoke, stones became denser and more powerful.

They noticed more White Apes, layer upon layer.

Outer layers sorted stones, massive rocks shaped into fragments like tofu in their hands.

Inner layers were responsible for throwing, with vicious precision and speed.

Their interwoven sword light gradually showed more flaws, with more stones hitting their Protective Spirit Gang, rebounds shortening.

Their faces turned paler, gaze grew fiercer, birthing a resolve to fight to the death.

All Spiritual Artifacts were bound, leaving only Miracle Techniques usable.

Zhou Qingyu’s swordsmanship advanced rapidly.

The swordsmanship of the two others was the same.

At a life-and-death juncture, their potential surged forth, all accumulation began to erupt.