Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1290: Chapter 1286: Emerging from Seclusion

As Huang Zhengyang waited in the small courtyard, Chu Zhiyuan slowly opened his eyes in Li Hongzhao’s small courtyard.

His eyes were in a daze, as if he were immersed in distant memories.

After a long while, he sighed softly, and his eyes returned to clarity.

He looked up at the sky.

The sky was clear, without a trace of cloud.

This was the Phoenix Secret Land, the air dry and fresh, like autumn in the outside world.

His gaze seemed to penetrate the clear sky, looking towards the heavens above.

The Ascension Technique was already mastered.

He had the Divine Power of Clone, the Earth Origin Technique, the Heavenly Transmigration Technique; mastering the Ascension Technique was indeed natural, effortlessly achieved.

The most exertion was retrieving the true mental method, once acquired, it was mastered in one go.

In his view, the Ascension Technique wasn’t as formidable as the Divine Power of Clone, its power wasn’t that strong.

The greatest strength of the Ascension Technique was in condensing spiritual power into a seed, to be cast into another world.

This seed floated in another world like a dandelion, able to possess someone who had just died.

This person must have breathed their last within twelve hours; upon possession, it’s a revival from death.

This seed is a spiritual bridge; once possessed, it links one’s spirit to this body and manipulates it.

This seed is purely spiritual power, lacking cultivation; possession does not increase cultivation, merely sustaining it as it was.

Thus, it depends on luck; if the person had deep cultivation, it’s a great boon; if shallow, it’s unfortunate and requires gradual cultivation.

This seed also has a time limit; it cannot remain attached to this body indefinitely.

This depends on the Realm of the Ascension Technique.

Currently, this Realm only allows the seed to attach for a month.

A month’s time is not sufficient to significantly increase cultivation.

If unable to possess, the seed’s lifespan is even shorter, lasting only twelve hours.

After twelve hours, it dissipates, needing to be re-condensed.

Condensing a seed severely consumes spiritual power, leaving one listless and unable to condense again quickly.

The primary advantage of the Ascension Technique is that the seed can traverse worlds, entering another realm.

Other than that, it pales in comparison to the Divine Power of Clone and the Heavenly Transmigration Technique.

”Mastered it?” Li Hongzhao descended lightly in front of him.

Her crimson robe like a flame, it made her face appear as white as jade, with red lips like fire, stunningly beautiful.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded gently.

Li Hongzhao said, ”You don’t seem happy at all, is something wrong?”

”This Ascension Technique isn’t as powerful as I imagined.” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”It might be disappointing.”

”Can’t solve the trouble of the Undying Evil Venerable?”

”Well, it’s probably difficult.”

”What is the Court doing?” Li Hongzhao frowned, ”Don’t they know this?”

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, ”Originally, I wanted to practice a Secret Skill that could sweep across You Meng Heaven, not something to just gather intelligence.”

Li Hongzhao said, ”Can only gather intelligence?”

”Depends on luck.” Chu Zhiyuan explained the subtle use of the Ascension Technique.

Li Hongzhao pondered, ”It’s not completely useless, is it? If used well, its power is astonishing.”

”It depends on luck.” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”How likely is it to find a top-tier expert who’s dead within twelve hours?”

”It requires luck.” Li Hongzhao nodded, ”And top-tier experts have long lifespans; they might not die for a long time.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Relying on this technique to solve the problem of the Undying Evil Venerable is difficult.”

”What to do now?” Li Hongzhao said, ”As far as I know, more and more Undying Evil Venerables are appearing in the Imperial City, and they’re even appearing together in places that the Court can’t handle.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

This was clearly Su Qi’s doing, targeting himself.

Li Hongzhao said, ”Now the people are eagerly looking to you, waiting for you to master the secret technique to solve the Undying Evil Venerable.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”They don’t realize I’m not that capable.”

”The public is easy to manipulate; with someone stirring up, plus the Court’s instigation, almost everyone believes you can deal with the Undying Evil Venerable, uproot it from the root.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”They haven’t even seen me, don’t know me.”

”Your prior achievements are clear,” Li Hongzhao said, ”others can’t deal with the Evil Venerable Statue, but you can; others can’t handle the Undying Evil Venerable, but you can destroy them; if not you, who should they believe? Those incompetent of the Evil Extermination Department?”

”The Evil Extermination Department is quite formidable.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”There are Court Honored Experts not to be underestimated.”

”But they can’t destroy the Evil Venerable Statue, can’t kill the Undying Evil Venerable.”

”...Not necessarily impossible.”

”Stop being so modest!” Li Hongzhao rolled her eyes, ”In any case, now you’re deeply relied on.”

”Alright, I’ll give it a try.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I’ll head out now.”

”Not resting a bit longer?” Li Hongzhao said, ”The Court is now in a mess, eagerly waiting for you to appear, you can hold off.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”Going now.”

He waved his hand and disappeared in a flash.

Li Hongzhao shook her head gently, disapproving of his choice.

Clearly, he could wait a bit longer, let people know his importance.

But he hurried out, perhaps to save more experts from dying.

Still so soft-hearted.

...

Chu Zhiyuan appeared back in his small courtyard, seeing Huang Zhengyang.

Huang Zhengyang was flipping through records at a stone table, his face sullen.

He suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes widening.

Then joy replaced his expression, ”Brother Chu!”

Chu Zhiyuan examined him, frowning, ”Brother Huang, what happened to you...?”

”Don’t mention it!” Huang Zhengyang waved his hand, then nervously asked, ”Did you master it?”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

Huang Zhengyang quickly said, ”It’s okay if you haven’t; no one’s successfully mastered it so far.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Mastered it, but it’s not as powerful as everyone thinks.”

Huang Zhengyang quickly asked further.

Chu Zhiyuan then explained the uses of the Ascension Technique, concluding, ”It can only gather a little information, not very useful.”

”...” Huang Zhengyang pondered.

The Court concealed many secret techniques; why choose this one?

There must be a reason.

He didn’t think the Court would randomly select a secret technique to fool Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Brother Huang, maybe you can investigate?”

”Well, I’ll check it out.” Huang Zhengyang nodded, ”If it can descend to You Meng Heaven, that’s good too; we’re in the dark here.”

”The Spirit Venerable hasn’t appeared?”

”No.”

”...Shall I try it now?”

”Brother Chu, let’s deal with those Undying Evil Venerables first.” Huang Zhengyang sighed, ”They’re increasing, we can’t manage.”

Chu Zhiyuan’s face darkened, ”These guys, where to first?”

”Dongning City.” Huang Zhengyang said.

Chu Zhiyuan was stunned.

Huang Zhengyang said, ”Dongning City is plagued with disasters and has another Undying Evil Venerable descending.”

”Is it hard to deal with?”

”Difficult.” Huang Zhengyang shook his head, ”Experts from the Evil Extermination Department are there, but it’s not handled yet.”

”Let’s go.” Chu Zhiyuan placed a hand on his shoulder.

The two appeared in a mountain cave after a few breaths, watching from afar a gleaming statue.

Under the setting sun, the statue seemed to hover in the air, glowing brightly.

Around the statue lay sixteen middle-aged men.

They lay on their backs, blood at the corners of their mouths, eyes wide open in anger, facial muscles twisted, bodies trembling slightly.

A few meters away, thousands of commoners knelt, encircling the statue, eyes downcast, expressions pious.

Chu Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief, ”Luckily, we aren’t too late.”

The Golden Sword silently unsheathed, shooting off into the distance.

Huang Zhengyang also breathed a long sigh of relief.