Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1231: Chapter 1227: Departure

After he left the hall, his expression changed.

He felt excitement, worry, and a bit of yearning.

Yearning for the days when only the Wanxiang Sect ruled the world.

But then he vaguely felt that it might not be so smooth.

Once other sects sensed something was wrong, they would surely find ways to save themselves.

They might unite or summon their own Evil Venerables.

It wasn’t just the Wanxiang Sect’s Evil Venerable that could descend; many Evil Sects’ Evil Venerables could also descend, but they were just too lazy to do so.

Once they realized their sects were in danger of being annihilated, cutting off tribute, how could they stand by and watch their sects be destroyed?

Thinking of this, his expression became solemn.

This matter needed to be reported to the Sect Master as soon as possible.

The Elders would discuss it together to plan major decisions.

How to proceed more smoothly, how to destroy more sects.

Zhu Lingyun returned to the hall and began to perform the Wanxiang Cliff mental method with hand seals.

The memory stripped from the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror contained the most fundamental mental method of the Wanxiang Cliff.

In the entire You Meng Heaven, Wanxiang Cliff was not an exceptional sect, not reaching the level of the Four Great Sects, but it was still first-rate.

Comparing the memories of Zhong Lingyun and the youth in the white robe, the mental methods they practiced in Wanxiang Cliff were almost identical.

It’s just that the Evil Venerable who descended to Zhong Lingyun’s body had cultivation inferior to the Evil Venerable who descended to the youth in the white robe.

The method of cultivation of the Evil Venerables was fundamentally spiritual cultivation, a different system of cultivation.

At the core was spiritual power.

What accompanied them was spiritual power, other powers couldn’t break through space limitations.

As they died, their souls were drawn into the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror, but their spiritual power dissipated.

But such spiritual power was not scarce to Zhu Lingyun; instead, it was endless.

As Zhu Lingyun practiced the Wanxiang Cliff mental method, it was like a venerable master beginning a practice from scratch, and his realms advanced rapidly, like traveling a thousand miles in a day.

...

Chu Zhiyuan appeared in the Heavenly Sword Sect.

He first went to the Sect Leader’s Hall of the Heavenly Sword Sect and met Sect Leader Lu Wanshan.

Lu Wanshan was still reading documents behind his desk and waved him over to sit.

Chu Zhiyuan sat in the high-backed chair under the steps, and Lu Wanshan came over and sat beside him.

Chu Zhiyuan recounted his experience going to the Imperial City, almost without holding back.

If he wanted to be Sect Leader, the first hurdle was Lu Wanshan, so naturally, he had to gain Lu Wanshan’s trust.

Since he didn’t know the mysteries and limits of the Heavenly Sword, he assumed it could monitor his every move.

Say what could be said as much as possible.

Hide what needed hiding; no need to divulge everything.

The sudden appearances of Chu Liezhao and Leng Tieya could be considered his secret weapons.

When he completed the second layer of the Earth Origin Technique, they could be explained as masters having perfected this technique, one of his trump cards.

Without saying this, Lu Wanshan wouldn’t think much of it.

He needed to clearly communicate his thoughts to Lu Wanshan, letting Lu Wanshan understand his mindset and actions.

This was an important way to gain Lu Wanshan’s trust.

He finally handed the Golden Sword to Lu Wanshan.

Lu Wanshan listened carefully, and after hearing his experiences, he received the Golden Sword with a look of appreciation: ”To have achieved so much progress, your fortune is indeed extraordinary.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Indeed, my journey has been smooth, as if the Imperial City and I are very compatible.”

”I hope it continues smoothly,” Lu Wanshan smiled and said, ”What do you think of the Evil Suppressing Abyss?”

Chu Zhiyuan furrowed his brows and pondered, ”Disciple thinks it’s worth visiting again to see what peculiar things lie beneath.”

”Aren’t you afraid of danger?” Lu Wanshan said, ”The mysterious things below can be truly lethal, and the Golden Sword can’t save you.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Disciple thinks it’s worth a try.”

”...Alright, if you want to try, then go ahead, consider it yourself.” Lu Wanshan thought for a moment, ”I believe in your luck.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

Lu Wanshan lightly flicked the Golden Sword with his finger, producing a clear ringing sound.

The sound of a dragon’s roar filled the entire hall.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Sect Leader, how is my sword?”

Lu Wanshan marveled, ”Its spiritual nature is formed, the rest is just gradual accumulation.”

He shook his head and said, ”The Awakening step is the most crucial and decisive one. You’ve crossed it, and the rest is simple.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Do I just need to accumulate merit?”

”You also need to continuously refine it, nourishing and strengthening its spirituality; the stronger the spirituality, the greater the power.”

”Understood.” Chu Zhiyuan nodded solemnly.

”That you reached this point is indeed surprising. We never thought our Heavenly Sword Sect would gain another Heavenly Sword.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”It’s my fortune and also the fortune of our Heavenly Sword Sect.”

”Exactly.” Lu Wanshan nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Sect Leader, I want to take Li with me down the mountain.”

”Li Hongzhao?” Lu Wanshan asked.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”Her cultivation has progressed rapidly, she needs some tempering.”

Lu Wanshan smiled, ”You’re a step late.”

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback, puzzled.

He then furrowed his brows.

He had already found a letter under the stone table in his yard.

The handwriting was Li Hongzhao’s.

He read the content in an instant.

Lu Wanshan said, ”She’s no longer on our mountain.”

Chu Zhiyuan showed an even more confused expression, ”She’s left the mountain?”

”Taken by a senior to a secret land for cultivation,” Lu Wanshan said.

Chu Zhiyuan was surprised, ”Which senior?”

”Senior Song.” Lu Wanshan sighed, ”It’s a good thing, don’t worry.”

Chu Zhiyuan eagerly listened and softly said, ”Is this Senior Song carrying the Phoenix Bloodline?”

”You are indeed clever.” Lu Wanshan gently nodded, ”Senior Song is a golden branch and jade leaf of the imperial family, a heaven-supporting jade pillar, traveling to a secret land for cultivation, one unfathomable by ordinary people.”

”Cultivation...” Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

He had already seen in Li Hongzhao’s letter what was stated and her self-satisfaction between the lines.

Clearly, this Senior Song was no ordinary person, far from it.

”Don’t worry, this is Hongzhao’s fortune,” Lu Wanshan said, ”A fortune others could only dream of.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Who exactly is this Senior Song?”

”Prince Zhuang’s aunt,” Lu Wanshan said, ”She has surpassed the level of Nine Transitions Perfection, with hopes of advancing further.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Sect Leader, isn’t Nine Transitions Perfection the strongest?”

”It’s hard to say,” Lu Wanshan shook his head, ”Not all Nine Transitions Perfections are the same; some can match up to two or even three others.”

”Can Senior Song overpower Nine Transitions Perfection?”

”Yes, almost overpowering, unless I had external assistance, without the Heavenly Sword, I wouldn’t be a match for Senior Song.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Is this the power of the bloodline?”

”Indeed, the Phoenix Bloodline, one of the strongest bloodlines, can overpower Nine Transitions Perfection at its peak,” Lu Wanshan said, ”It even holds the potential to break open this realm.”

”Isn’t Biyuan Heaven the highest?”

”It’s said to be, but who knows,” Lu Wanshan shook his head, ”Some things are hard to clarify, always changing.”

Chu Zhiyuan pondered.

Outer Heaven was said to be richer in spiritual energy than Biyuan Heaven, and the martial arts realm there was also higher.

But the relationship between Outer Heaven and Biyuan Heaven was something he couldn’t decipher.

Lu Wanshan took a token from his sleeve and handed it to Chu Zhiyuan, ”This is Senior Song’s token; if you wish to find her, you may use this.”

Chu Zhiyuan accepted it.

It burned hot to the touch, like a scalding iron.

It was a White Jade Pendant, palm-sized, with a phoenix carved on each side.

The phoenixes on both sides appeared different, as if they were about to soar into the sky at any moment.