Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1219: Chapter 1215: The Outcome

The altar ground was jade-green, inconspicuous.

The Giant Spirit Sword was inserted into the center of the altar as effortlessly as slicing tofu.

”Buzz...”

It was as if thousands of bees flapped their wings simultaneously, the air seemed to be boiling.

The ground trembled as if an Earth Dragon turned over.

Chu Zhiyuan’s body quivered, feeling as though he was going to fall.

”You brat!... Preposterous! Reckless!”

The round-faced old man pointed at him, scolding.

They retreated to the corners of the altar, gripping the railing, staring wide-eyed at the anomaly before them.

How could the impenetrable altar ground be pierced by a sword?

What kind of transformation was this?

”Swoosh!” The Giant Spirit Sword sank a foot in and then stopped, instantly being ejected from the ground, shooting straight into the sky.

It transformed into a streak of white light, ascending ever higher, eventually disappearing from sight.

As soon as the Giant Spirit Sword was ejected, the altar instantly calmed, as if no disturbance had occurred.

Chu Zhiyuan stared blankly at the sky, waiting for the Giant Spirit Sword to fall.

But as time passed, the Giant Spirit Sword did not reappear.

Chu Zhiyuan turned his head toward the four elders, smiling bitterly: ”What is happening here?”

”I should be asking you what’s happening!” The round-faced old man glared at him: ”You reckless fool, where did you get the courage to act so rashly? This is the Imperial Ancestral Temple!”

Chu Zhiyuan awkwardly replied: ”I initially wanted to see what peculiarities there were here, what was so special about the Secret Land.”

”Lawless, you Four Great Sects are always so reckless, disregarding the Court!” The round-faced old man reprimanded: ”Foolish antics!... There’s no need to try this way to see what’s special here!”

”Yes, yes, this junior was presumptuous, it was a momentary lapse, I apologize to the four elders, there was no intention of offense...”

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fists in apology.

The faces of the four elders were grim, angry and cold, glaring at him, then looking down at the center of the altar.

Yet no trace was left there, showing no sign of a sword having been inserted.

But they still felt uneasy, highly annoyed, facing off coldly.

If it weren’t for tempering their temper here over the years, they would’ve acted long ago.

The key concern was also that there was no guarantee of victory in a fight.

Calling other experts over was too embarrassing, especially since Chu Zhiyuan continued to smile amicably.

They could only face him coldly.

”Elders, isn’t the Giant Spirit Sword a Spirit Sword?” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: ”Has it been directly destroyed?”

”Destroyed serves it right!” The round-faced old man snorted.

They too looked up to the sky.

Black clouds pushed down, today was indeed not a good day.

Yet no matter how dense the black clouds, a sword could still be seen clearly, especially with their eyes powered by inner force.

Yet in the sky above, that sword’s trace was long gone.

It seemed it had never appeared.

The round-faced old man coldly laughed: ”Is it directly destroyed then?”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned: ”I’ve already lost the connection with it.”

”Then it must be destroyed.” The burly old man said indifferently: ”Let it be destroyed, after all, it’s a Evil Demon Sword.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Within our sect we have a purification method, we can re-refine it, remove the Evil Energy, it will still be a Spirit Sword, a Spirit Sword, elders you aren’t oblivious to the value of a Spirit Sword, are you?”

”Serves as a good lesson for you, absolutely unrestrained, utterly absurd!” The round-faced old man said irritably: ”If you continue to act this way, we’ll capture you and exile you to the Evil Suppressing Abyss!”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: ”Honestly, elders, I’ve actually been to the Evil Suppressing Abyss once, and had delightful conversations with several elders inside.”

”Boasting!”

”Elder Guan and Elder Hu treated me well, even invited me to visit again.”

”Elder Guan?”

”Elder Guan Zhengying and Elder Hu Qixuan.” Chu Zhiyuan said.

The burly old man frowned: ”You really have entered the Evil Suppressing Abyss... Can your relationship with the Evil Extermination Department’s Xiaohuang not count either? Are you close with any Princes?”

The round-faced old man smiled: ”Old Zheng, do you even need to ask.”

The burly old man looked at Chu Zhiyuan: ”Only Prince Zhuang?”

Chu Zhiyuan coughed lightly, showing an embarrassed smile, but said nothing more.

He then changed the subject and smiled: ”Perhaps because ever since I descended the mountain, I’ve slain too many Evil Demons, that’s why the elders appreciate me, and I had the opportunity to enter here, considered a reward from the Court.”

”How many Evil Demons have you slain?”

”Around a few hundred.” Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Especially recently, I’ve helped the City Guard kill a large batch of rioting Evil Demons.”

”No wonder.” The burly old man nodded.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple was tranquil but of extremely high status, ordinary officials simply had no right to enter here.

A disciple from the Heavenly Sword Sect almost never had the chance to enter.

Yet the directive from above allowed him entry.

Breaking the norm, there must be a reason.

For one, his background was fine, though a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, his heart leaned toward the Court. Secondly, he was valued by four Princes.

It may also involve the Court’s relationship with the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Elders, don’t you want to uncover the mysteries of the Imperial Ancestral Temple? Is it truly impenetrable?... This isn’t considered offense, right?”

If I dare to draw my sword in the four great halls, I will surely invite the attack from all the tributes and be punished.

But before the offerings are placed, this altar is merely a structure.

Although it appears disrespectful, it hasn’t reached the point where severe punishment is necessary.

In pursuit of that strange treasure, I can only resort to this desperate measure; after all, time waits for no one, and adhering strictly to the rules will inevitably cause me to miss the opportunity.

This is the plan I settled on after countless thoughts and bursts of inspiration.

The burly and strong elderly man snorted, ”Do you have another sword? Try again.”

Chu Zhiyuan quickly waved his hand, ”I don’t dare to.”

”I’m telling you to try, so try!” The burly and strong elderly man said coldly, ”Just use an ordinary sword.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”How about the elders try first... you haven’t tried it yet, have you?”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled apologetically, ”Shall I try again then?”

The Giant Spirit Sword was naturally taken away in the air by Chu Liezhao.

With the Heavenly Concealment Pearl masking his presence, along with his positioning here, Chu Liezhao appeared directly in the air and took away the Giant Spirit Sword.

”Give it a try!” The round-faced elder snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan took another longsword from his sleeve.

This longsword is merely a High Grade Cyan Blade Sword, not classified as a Treasure Sword.

He stepped to the center of the altar and thrust down.

”Ding...”

The tip of the Qingfeng Sword was bounced back by the ground, scattering a few sparks.

Chu Zhiyuan, puzzled, uttered an ”eh” and thrust down again, the blade tip even emitting a white glow.

”Ding...”

Amid the clear ringing, the tip of the sword was once more flung away.

Chu Zhiyuan snorted, ”Interesting!”

The blade surged out a foot-long white glow and thrust down instantly.

”Ding...”

The tip of the sword actually broke and shot towards the burly elder with incredible speed.

The burly elder swept his sleeve.

A layer of white light floated on the surface, trapping the blade tip, which then slid to the ground.

”Ding...” The blade tip fell to the altar’s ground.

Yet the altar’s ground didn’t even bear a trace, remaining as smooth and clean as new.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at the greenish surface, shaking his head, ”Strange.”

The round-faced elder snorted, ”Strange? ...Your previous Giant Spirit Sword was strange!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Could it be because of the Spirit Sword?”

”Most likely so.” The round-faced elder nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan drew out a warm, white-jade-like Golden Sword from his sleeve.

”Another Spirit Sword?” The four elders widened their eyes.

The round-faced elder snorted, ”Does your Heavenly Sword Sect have such luxuries?”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”This is my own sword; the Giant Spirit Sword earlier was a spoils of war.”

The burly elder snorted, ”Just how many Spirit Swords does your Heavenly Sword Sect possess?”

”Junior does not know,” Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”only the Sect Leader would know.”

”Heavenly Sword Sect, huh...”

The four elders exchanged glances.

The world really has changed, the Heavenly Sword Sect actually has other Spirit Swords besides the Heavenly Sword.

Spirit Swords are not just ordinary Treasure Swords; they are swords that truly nurture spiritual nature.

A Treasure Sword, made of exceptionally fine material, through endless ages and the purifying intent of several owners, may become a Spirit Sword.

The threshold is too high, the criteria too strict, the chances too low, hence they are extremely precious.

Chu Zhiyuan raised the Golden Sword and laughed, ”Shall I give it a try then?”

”...Hand the sword to me.” The round-faced elder snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan handed the Golden Sword over.

The round-faced elder received it, swung it twice, then lightly pointed it towards the ground.

”Ding...” In a clear ring, the blade tip was blocked.

He applied a bit more force, but still just a clear ring, the blade tip couldn’t pierce it.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Elder, let me do it, I’ll be gentler.”

”Here you go.” The Golden Sword was handed back to him.

Chu Zhiyuan gently thrust the Golden Sword, and it actually pierced through.

He quickly stopped, allowing only an inch of the Golden Sword to penetrate.

The ground suddenly trembled.

He immediately ascended, hands gripping the Golden Sword, soaring up a hundred meters.

Chu Zhiyuan floated slowly downward, exhaling a long breath.

The four elders, however, kept their eyes on the unblemished altar ground.

This time they could finally be certain without a doubt that the Spirit Sword could pierce the ground, and it was not because of the Giant Spirit Sword.