Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1193: Chapter 1189: Divine Statue

The Heaven-Reaching Spirit Talisman is unaffected by the world, able to connect with all things no matter where it is.

When he first obtained the talisman, he used it frequently and was often pleasantly surprised by its results.

As time passed, he naturally connected with trees and flowers, like quenching a thirst, like breathing.

With animals, however, he tried to use it less, as their emotions could impact him and create disturbances.

Too many disturbances affected his mental state, thereby slowing his cultivation.

As for lifeless and soulless objects, he naturally wouldn’t use the Spirit Summoning Talisman on them.

He never used the Spirit Summoning Talisman on the Golden Sword either, simply refining it constantly, feeling its slowly growing spirituality.

He thought it over and shook his head, saying, ”It’s not the right time yet.”

What she meant wasn’t mastery but embrace, applicable to the Emperor’s Sword, which was full of spirituality.

But the Golden Sword currently lacked enough spirituality to use the talisman.

The next step was to continue adding gold dust and refining, thereby increasing its spirituality.

Once the spirituality was sufficient, he would use the Spirit Summoning Talisman to fully merge with it, thus enhancing his realm.

Suddenly, he felt a desire, a longing to see more Undying Evil Venerable statues.

Or clones of the Undying Evil Venerable.

After the Golden Sword annihilated a projection clone of the Undying Evil Venerable, its spirituality vastly increased.

His eyes burned as he gazed in the direction of the Imperial City.

Who knows where the Evil Suppressing Abyss is, or what it suppresses inside.

Is it the statue of the Undying Evil Venerable, or projection clones of the Undying Evil Venerable?

Whichever it is, it would greatly benefit the Golden Sword.

”When and how, you decide on your own.” Li Hongzhao said, ”The Emperor’s Sword took this path, but your Golden Sword may differ.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

”Next time you return, I estimate I’ll reach Nine Transitions.” Li Hongzhao chuckled, ”It’s getting faster and faster now.”

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at her, shaking his head.

”What’s wrong?” Li Hongzhao asked.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”It’s better to slow down, lest your foundation becomes unstable.”

Li Hongzhao said, ”I initially worried it was too fast, but found that with the help of the divine statue, my body and mind are changing, comprehension and knowledge expanding—not merely cultivation.”

”...It’s still not suitable.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Too fast.”

Li Hongzhao faintly furrowed her brows.

She examined Chu Zhiyuan, shaking her head: ”Aren’t you also nearing Nine Transitions?”

”Yes,” Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”Probably within the next two months.”

”And you say I’m fast!” Li Hongzhao cast a sidelong glance at him, ”Alright, I’ll slow down a bit.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Keep this jade pendant with you, don’t put it aside.”

”Still uneasy about the divine statue?” Li Hongzhao asked.

”Not particularly uneasy about it,” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”But your cultivation method is somewhat astonishing.”

His own advancement required various conditions—the help of clones, secret techniques; each improved, raising his cultivation higher.

Thus, although the speed of advancement was quick, the effort was considerable.

She, however, just stayed on the mountain, meditating daily before the divine statue, and her cultivation soared towards Nine Transitions.

This was exceedingly illogical.

”I once wielded the Emperor’s Sword, otherwise I couldn’t withstand this influx of power nor advance so swiftly.”

”Really?”

”This is what the Sect Leader said.”

”... In any case, slowing down is more secure.” Chu Zhiyuan said.

Despite Lu Wanshan likely not intending harm towards Li Hongzhao, he trusted his own judgment more.

”Hmm.” Li Hongzhao nodded.

Compared to Lu Wanshan, she trusted Chu Zhiyuan more too.

She herself felt something was awry, so she specially asked Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan judged the same, naturally affirming her unease.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Can I see this divine statue?”

”Follow me.”

Li Hongzhao led him away from the small courtyard into a large hall—the Scripture Pavilion.

Li Hongzhao led him through this main hall into the rear hall.

Chu Zhiyuan had never been to this rear hall, only glimpsed its appearance through Super Sense.

Hall after hall, arranged according to the southeast, northwest, forming a square clearing in the middle.

The square clearing was paved with red clay, where a group of disciples was practicing martial arts.

They crossed the Martial Arts Training Ground, entering the main western hall.

The interior of the hall was completely white.

The walls and floor were paved with glistening, smooth white jade, clear, pure, flawless, and immaculate.

At the center of the hall was a cluster of flames, at first glance seemingly real; not only in form and figure but also exuding heat.

A closer look would reveal this fire was a statue.

The flames seemed to sway in the wind, forming phoenix shapes, akin to a state of nirvana.

Every hair on Chu Zhiyuan’s body stood on end, causing him to step back unwittingly.

Li Hongzhao turned to look at him curiously.

At this moment, no one else was inside the hall.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced around: ”Is it really only you within the sect practicing the Phoenix Burning Heaven Scripture?”

”Hmm.” Li Hongzhao gently nodded, ”There used to be a senior sister, but she hasn’t returned to the sect for a long time, her whereabouts unknown.”

”Alive or dead?” Chu Zhiyuan asked.

”Alive, but unclear where.” Li Hongzhao lightly shook her head, ”That was over a thousand years ago.”

”Interesting,” Chu Zhiyuan mused.

”Something’s wrong?” Li Hongzhao asked.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”If the sect discovers a disciple missing, they’d certainly pursue it, shouldn’t they be able to track her down?”

Li Hongzhao said, ”Some places are very hard to enter. There are many such strange lands, secret places, and extreme lands within Biyuan Heaven that seem numerous. This senior sister might’ve entered one.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded, ”I see, ... the divine statue is very dangerous.”

He sensed an overwhelming presence opposite, keenly watching, readying a mortal strike against him.

Previously, during Insight with Super Sense, the statue appeared an ordinary statue.

Yet now standing before it, he felt as though it had come alive.

Was it not alive during Insight, or did it deceive Super Sense’s perception?

He pondered, yet remained calm, steadily observing the statue: ”Standing here, can you grasp the path of flame?”

”Yes.” Li Hongzhao smiled sweetly, ”Simply staring at the flame allows one to merge into it, as if embodying the flame, merging with heaven and earth, thus unconsciously advancing cultivation and altering the body.”

Chu Zhiyuan concentrated on the statue, and instantly a flame materialized before him.

Immediately he felt indistinct pain, as a flame surged into his mind, burning fiercely, consuming his soul.

His hands quickly performed the sealing, the breath of the Demon Suppressing Divine Tree flooding in.

A refreshing breath subsequently soaked into his mind, alleviating the burning sensation and extinguishing the flame.

”What’s wrong?” Li Hongzhao curiously asked seeing his pallid face.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”It truly is worthy of a bloodline inheritance.”

”Injured?” Li Hongzhao said with a laugh.

Half in jest, Chu Zhiyuan remarked, ”Almost injured. You were testing if I could withstand it, weren’t you?”

Li Hongzhao chuckled, ”I wanted you to experience its might so you’d understand better.”

”Indeed, it’s no ordinary artifact.” Chu Zhiyuan gazed at the sky.

Its power didn’t materialize out of thin air, but stemmed from the void.

Before visualizing the flame, before his soul was scorched, even Super Sense hadn’t seen the phoenix above the void.

Now, however, he clearly saw a phoenix suspended in the void, resembling the Sky Dragon atop Chu Liezhao’s clone.

Compared to the Sky Dragon, this phoenix was more lively, more powerful.

Chu Zhiyuan inexplicably felt that the Sky Dragon was merely a child, while the phoenix was a wise adult.