Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1167: Chapter 1163: Eighth Transition

Chu Zhiyuan knew that this was caused by the Heavenly Sword.

The Jade Heaven Sword acts as a small container for the power of the Heavenly Sword, naturally able to receive its power.

It instantly restored itself, comfortably and easily.

This absorption of the Heavenly Sword’s power results in a real loss of power for the Heavenly Sword, which needs time to recover.

The Emperor’s Sword is the true clone of the Heavenly Sword; compared to it, the Jade Heaven Sword is far inferior, serving only as a container for power.

He often wondered if, aside from being a clone of power, it had other functions.

Could it serve as the eyes of the Heavenly Sword, with every move of his seen by Lu Wanshan?

If that were the case, it would not be entirely a bad thing.

As they say, there is nothing that cannot be spoken openly.

All his actions were upright and honorable. Certainly, his clone needed to be kept secret.

This was a secret among secrets, which must not be revealed to outsiders.

Other matters, even with the Jade Heaven Sword, remained inscrutable.

The existence of Super Sense no longer needed to be completely hidden, as everyone in the Heavenly Sword Sect knew of his acute perception, especially regarding demons.

Being sensitive to evil demons was only natural.

Lu Wanshan advised, ”Be careful.”

Chu Zhiyuan replied with a smile, ”Rest assured, Sect Leader, I won’t take unnecessary risks.”

Lu Wanshan said, ”You, your courage is too great.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled sheepishly and then said, ”Sect Leader, I have some doubts about cultivation.”

”Let’s hear it,” Lu Wanshan said.

Chu Zhiyuan then drew the Shadowless Divine Sword and began practicing the Heavenly Sword Secret Scripture.

He practiced this scripture through visualization, and once he mastered the first layer of the Heavenly Yuan Technique, his progress was extremely rapid.

Now he was on the verge of the Eighth Transition.

But he was always just a little bit short.

This slight barrier hindered his progress, like a layer of paper that could be pierced with a poke.

Yet it wasn’t so easy to pierce.

Lu Wanshan watched him, observing every move and every subtle detail.

After Chu Zhiyuan finished practicing twice, Lu Wanshan took the Shadowless Divine Sword and began to practice.

Chu Zhiyuan watched intently, then slowly closed his eyes, entering Super Sensing Illumination.

He ignored Lu Wanshan’s movements, focusing only on the fluctuations of aura and divine charm.

Gradually, as he visualized in his mind, he also began to move.

Lu Wanshan stopped and tossed the Shadowless Divine Sword.

Chu Zhiyuan caught it with his eyes closed and began to practice, his aura gradually changing, his clothing billowing.

After completing a practice round, his garment suddenly ballooned and then abruptly fell.

He opened his eyes and smiled.

Eighth Transition!

He carefully sensed the changes in his body, transitioning to an even higher level.

”Eighth Transition!”

Lu Wanshan appraised him.

Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes, cupped his fists, and said with a smile, ”Thank you, Sect Leader.”

”Your comprehension is truly astonishing,” Lu Wanshan remarked, ”Your cultivation method is incredibly effective.”

Within the sect, this cultivation trial indeed proved astonishing and progressed remarkably fast.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”That would be ideal, but this cultivation method also has its drawbacks.”

”What drawbacks?”

”After all, it is different from physical cultivation. When reaching the Seventh Transition, it becomes noticeably strenuous,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Cultivation slows down, and some insights can’t keep up.”

”Hmm...” Lu Wanshan pondered, ”It requires time to hone and compensate for previous deficiencies? The Heavenly Sword Secret Scripture is, after all, a method that practices both body and mind.”

Chu Zhiyuan responded, ”The Sect Leader is right; honing is necessary to gain insights.”

”It seems you haven’t needed much honing, have you?” Lu Wanshan chuckled, ”It appears that excellent comprehension is needed.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”If comprehension is not high, it must be supplemented later.”

But with inadequate comprehension, spiritual power often fails, making it impossible to use this method for cultivation.

Lu Wanshan thought for a moment and slowly said, ”It seems practicing both methods simultaneously is best, complementing each other.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The Sect Leader is absolutely right.”

”There’s no rush for this matter. Take it slowly. First, test whether your method has any drawbacks before promoting it,” Lu Wanshan stated.

Involving cultivation methods, which affect a lifetime, must be approached with caution.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded solemnly.

...

At dusk, with the setting sun casting its residual light.

The mountain forest was dyed red, while weary birds were returning to their nests.

Zhu Lingyun floated down to a mountainside, landing outside a group of people.

Thirty-two men, dressed differently, sat in a circle.

A bonfire in the center burned fiercely.

The firelight cast shadows on their faces, giving their features a somewhat sinister appearance.

Zhu Lingyun cupped his fists, ”Elder.”

”How is it?” Hu Chengxiang asked in a deep voice, ”Any news?”

Zhu Lingyun frowned, ”Nothing unusual, the City Guard remains lax, and I didn’t dare approach the Demon Hunting Bureau or the Evil Extermination Department.”

”Mm, not approaching there is wise,” Hu Chengxiang nodded, ”Though you can evade the Candle Demon Eye, you may not escape the abnormal skills of the Evil Extermination Department. ... There’s no other news?”

Zhu Lingyun said, ”I heard some news in a tavern.”

”Speak,” Hu Chengxiang said.

”Old Hu,” an elderly man slowly spoke, ”Is this the Divine Son?”

His hair and beard were white, and his face was kindly, showing no sign of evil energy.

Zhu Lingyun knew this was the infamous evil demon, Zheng Ke, known as the Thousand People Slaughter.

”Indeed,” Hu Chengxiang said proudly, ”Heaven’s chosen one.”

”Finally willing to show yourself,” Zheng Ke chuckled.

They all had heard of the Divine Son, a tale that the Giant Spirit Sect had incredible luck in obtaining a Divine Son.

This Divine Son was the incarnation of the Evil Venerable in this world, serving as a clone.

Ultimately, he would unify all sects.

This legend was met with skepticism.

Now, with Zhu Lingyun demonstrating traits that could evade the Candle Demon Eye, the legend gained some credibility.

Hu Chengxiang chuckled arrogantly and said in a deep voice, ”What exactly is the news?”

”Feixue Cave Mansion.” Zhu Lingyun replied, ”News about Feixue Cave Mansion.”

”Feixue Cave Mansion?”

”Is it really Feixue Cave Mansion?!”

”Isn’t that just a rumor?”

”It’s not a rumor, I saw the Cave Mansion myself, but unfortunately couldn’t enter.”

”They say that the Myriad Blood Sect was exterminated because of this Cave Mansion.”

”What exactly is the news?!”

The crowd was buzzing with chatter, lively debates filled the forest.

The campfire roared, with firelight dancing on their excited faces.

Zhu Lingyun looked at Hu Chengxiang.

Hu Chengxiang said, ”Then go ahead and speak.”

He now slightly regretted his decision, realizing he shouldn’t have let Zhu Lingyun speak publicly about this.

But since things had progressed this far, there was no way to keep it quiet.

Zhu Lingyun said, ”It’s said that the treasure of this Feixue Cave Mansion has already been obtained by the Four Great Sects.”

”The Four Great Sects?!”

”Wasn’t it the Evil Extermination Department? Wasn’t the last destruction of Myriad Blood Sect by the Evil Extermination Department?”

”Seems like the Four Great Sects are up to something good!”

”The Four Great Sects, always meddling, damned! Really want to wipe them out!”

”Who doesn’t want to wipe out the Four Great Sects?”

”Is this news true?”

They stared fiercely at Zhu Lingyun.

Zhu Lingyun faced their piercing gazes, which seemed intent on seeing through him, and shook his head calmly, ”Don’t know if it’s true, I just overheard it, not many people are discussing it.”

Someone doubted, ”Such coincidence, that you overheard it?”

Someone sighed, ”Is this the luck of the Divine Son?”

Zhu Lingyun hurriedly said, ”Maybe it was intentionally leaked, a trick to deceive us.”

”Which sect among the Four Great Sects?” Someone pressed.

”Didn’t say which sect.” Zhu Lingyun shook his head, ”Just said the Four Great Sects destroyed the Myriad Blood Sect last time and obtained the treasure of the Feixue Cave Mansion.”

”This is actually easy to find out, just need to inquire carefully, and you can find it out.”

Zhu Lingyun said, ”They say the Four Great Sects are going to present this treasure to the Court, and have already sent people to the Imperial City.”

”What a great opportunity!”

”Who knows if this is a trap?”

”Hey, it doesn’t matter if it’s a trap, we have many people, might as well play along!”

”This is a wonderful idea, play along, whether it’s a trap or not, just grab first, if there’s no treasure, just destroy them!”

”Yes, destroy them!”

...

The crowd was buzzing with chatter, eyes shining brightly, expressions excited.

Chu Zhiyuan was a hundred miles away, observing the situation through Zhu Lingyun, sneering inwardly.

This is how the Evil Sect operates.

Never satisfied, once benefits are known, even knowing there’s a problem, they can’t help it.

This plan is easily successful.

But unexpectedly, these Evil Sects can really join forces.

Even if each has their own calculations, they pose a considerable threat when gathered together.

Thinking of this, Zhu Lingyun softly said, ”But surely the Four Sects will act carefully, it’s not easy to leak their movements.”

”Then set up secret posts along the way, they have to take the main road, right?”

”Yes, set up secret posts, keep a close watch, must intercept halfway.”

”Once they enter the city, it’s impossible, must intercept outside the city, does any sect within the Four Great Sects have an insider?”

The crowd suddenly quieted.

They stared at an elderly man who spoke, the kind and amiable Zheng Ke.

”Old Zheng, what nonsense, where’s the insider?!” A middle-aged man said deeply, ”Who can infiltrate an insider into the Four Great Sects?!”

Zheng Ke chuckled and said, ”Not necessarily impossible, right?”

Zhu Lingyun curiously asked, ”Senior Zheng, can insiders really be inserted? The Four Great Sects have strict selection and vigilance, right?”

”There are no walls that don’t let the wind through.” Zheng Ke chuckled and said, ”Xiaozhu, right? You must believe that where there’s a will, there’s a way, nothing is impossible.”

”Old Zheng, does your Qianye Sect have insiders in the Four Great Sects?”

”No.” Zheng Ke said with a smile, shaking his head.

The middle-aged man replied irritably, ”You don’t have, so why say other sects might?”

”I know one sect does.” Zheng Ke chuckled and said.

”Which sect?!” The middle-aged man asked.

The others also widened their eyes, staring at Zheng Ke.

Zheng Ke’s gaze swept across their faces and he said with a smile, ”Wanxiang Sect.”

”Wanxiang Sect’s Disguise Technique is formidable, but no matter how formidable, it can’t hide from the Four Great Sects, right?”

”Wanxiang Sect’s mental method, when practiced to the extreme, can hide from the Four Great Sects, besides, not every sect among the Four Great Sects is so strict.”

”Old Zheng, don’t keep us in suspense, which sect has Wanxiang Sect infiltrated?... Huh, haven’t Wanxiang Sect’s people arrived yet?”

”Hehe, I can’t say.” Zheng Ke shook his head, ”If it leaks and gets purged, where would we get the information?”

”Ridiculous, who among us would leak this?” The middle-aged man said irritably, ”Old Zheng, you’re making it up, right?”

Zheng Ke showed a profound expression, smiling and shaking his head without speaking.

Zhu Lingyun said, ”Senior Zheng, it’s the Heavenly Sword Sect, right?”

The crowd looked at Zheng Ke.

Zheng Ke smiled and shook his head, ”Can’t say, can’t say.”

”It’s that you don’t know, just guessing blindly.”

”Hehe, just let it be.” Zheng Ke smiled, his expression confident.

Zhu Lingyun said, ”Then it’s the Guiyang Sword Sect.”

He then said, ”It couldn’t be the Fuyun Sect, right?”

He shook his head, ”Even less likely to be Guanghan Palace.”

Far away, a hundred miles away, Chu Zhiyuan’s heart slightly tightened.

It’s the Fuyun Sect!