Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1280 - 1276: Inquiries

The two methods of practice are actually both wrong, both have dangers, both may lead to madness.

Could it be that this secret technique requires the basic mental method of the Heaven-Reaching Sect to work?

If that’s the case, is there no Heaven-Reaching Sect’s mental method available?

Does the Court hold it in their hands and deliberately not provide it to me, or does the Court not have it either?

All possibilities exist.

His thoughts were racing, his expression grave.

Things have become complicated.

He put away the thin booklet, returned to his bedroom, and continued refining the Golden Sword.

According to Sect Leader Lu Wanshan, the Golden Sword is still far off, a long way from being truly mature.

It’s possible that when the Spirit Venerable appears, it won’t be ready and will be destroyed by the Spirit Venerable.

This is actually very difficult to resolve.

He can shuttle between different worlds, and the Spirit Venerable can too; even bringing the Golden Sword to the Outer Heaven or even the Little Heaven Beyond won’t escape the Spirit Venerable’s pursuit.

However, for him, it can be easily resolved.

Simply storing the Golden Sword in the Spring Acupoint or Lao Gong Acupoint will not be detected.

He has demonstrated the power of the Earth Origin Technique, capable of moving through the void.

Yet he has never exposed the Human Element Skill and Heavenly Yuan Technique, and they can’t imagine such a Miracle Technique could be achieved by him.

The refining of the Golden Sword cannot be slackened.

In the early morning of the next day, just as he returned to his small courtyard from the Prince Qing Mansion, he heard Huang Zhengyang’s voice from outside.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward and opened the courtyard door; the two came to the stone table in the courtyard to talk.

Seeing Huang Zhengyang’s expression, he knew it was not good news.

Huang Zhengyang shook his head and said, "Brother Chu, we couldn’t find the Heaven-Reaching Sect."

"There’s no such sect in ancient times?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.

Huang Zhengyang replied, "There’s no record. I asked the Tribute at the library, no one has any impression. A sect like this must be very famous; even if it was an ancient sect, it should be noteworthy. If recorded, the Tribute would definitely remember."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Indeed, with an Ascension Technique such as this, the Heaven-Reaching Sect can’t be obscure.

Moreover, the name is quite striking; once seen, it would certainly pique curiosity, leading to a memorable investigation.

The Tributes have no impression, likely indicating there’s no record.

"So what now?" Huang Zhengyang sighed, distressed, "How do we practice?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "We’ll temporarily stop practicing it."

"Then stop, it is," Huang Zhengyang quickly added, "Don’t act recklessly and harm yourself. To practice it, it must require knowing about the Heaven-Reaching Sect? Does it need the Heaven-Reaching Sect’s mental method?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "This Ascension Technique is too difficult to practice; it needs the Heaven-Reaching Sect’s mental method for reference."

Huang Zhengyang said, "I suspect this Heaven-Reaching Sect may have already become extinct. But even if it has vanished, it shouldn’t be completely unrecorded, should it?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, finding it indeed peculiar.

"Well... let’s give up on it for now," Huang Zhengyang said, "Regarding the Undying Evil Venerable affair, see if the Court can invite the Spirit Venerable to act."

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

The Undying Evil Venerable Statue hasn’t appeared again, which left him quite disappointed, unable to absorb the Undying Golden Essence to strengthen the Golden Sword.

After sending Huang Zhengyang off and returning to his small courtyard, Gu Junqi called him over.

He went to the main hall where Gu Junqi was, and sat in the chair below the steps.

"Uncle Master, what is it?"

"Have you heard about the matter outside?"

"What matter?"

"There’s a rumor spreading outside, saying the Court rewarded you with a secret technique, and if you master it, you can completely destroy the Undying Evil Venerable, preventing its reappearance."

"So, it’s already spread," Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Gu Junqi said, "How is it going, any progress? Is the secret technique difficult?"

"It’s a bit troublesome." Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "I haven’t found any clues yet."

Gu Junqi said, "If there’s any difficulty, go directly to the Sect Leader for help. At this time, finding a way to master this secret technique is best."

"Yes," Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Gu Junqi said, "This secret technique must be hard to master. Otherwise, no one would have succeeded. It’s putting you on the spot. If you don’t master it, you’ll become the sinner; people’s anger toward the Undying Evil Venerable will turn on you, while the Court gets off the hook."

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled.

The Court doing so indeed carries such intent, truly a multi-pronged approach.

The Court’s important ministers and princes are all sly and cunning.

Gu Junqi asked, "How about it, Zhiyuan, do you have confidence?"

"None," Chu Zhiyuan shook his head firmly.

Gu Junqi snorted, "There’s no need to force yourself excessively. No one else has succeeded, so why expect Zhiyuan to. Moreover, dealing with the Undying Evil Venerable should be the Court’s responsibility, not pushed onto you!"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I’ll do my best. It’s too soon to say whether I can master it."

"Indeed, no hurry," Gu Junqi nodded, "But the people outside don’t have such patience, especially with the constant reappearances of the Undying Evil Venerable."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I also want to master it quickly, but unfortunately..."

He shook his head and stood up, "Uncle Master, I need to return to the sect to consult the Sect Leader."

"Alright, it’s a good idea. The most important thing now is to stabilize your mental state, don’t rush or become chaotic," Gu Junqi advised.

"Yes."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded and walked away slowly.

He remained calm and composed, but Gu Junqi, the Elder, seemed to have a troubled mental state.

Clearly, the discussions outside must be very heated, and suspicions about him are growing.

It’s not a big deal if his reputation suffers, but he is a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The disappointment and dissatisfaction of the people might be directed at the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The prestige accumulated by the Heavenly Sword Sect over the years could be damaged.

If it were an ordinary matter, people wouldn’t be so irrational.

The reappearance of the Undying Evil Venerable, however, incites fear and anger among the people; under such intense emotions, they lose their rationality.

At times like this, reasoning with them becomes impossible.

...

Guanghan Palace

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly appeared on the White Jade Square.

On the White Jade Square, a group of women in flowing white were practicing an array.

Each with graceful postures, movements light and elegant, clothes fluttering, like fairies.

Seeing Chu Zhiyuan appear, Lu Xiaolu emerged from the crowd.

She lightly landed in front of Chu Zhiyuan, "Junior Brother, you finally arrived!"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, clasping his hands, "Senior Sister, I came pretty quickly, didn’t I?"

"Fast? What fast!" Lu Xiaolu snorted, "You should’ve arrived long ago."

"Just three days."

"In any case, you’re too late!"

"Yes." Chu Zhiyuan acknowledged with a smile, clasping his hands in greeting to the women.

They smiled back at him, continuing their array practice.

Lu Xiaolu then led him to her small courtyard.

In the clean and elegant small courtyard, there was a flower garden, and the two of them sat at the stone table in front of it.

A steaming cup of tea was handed over, and Lu Xiaolu said, "I heard the Court has bestowed the secret technique?"

Chu Zhiyuan took the booklet from his sleeve and handed it over.

Lu Xiaolu was amazed and examined it, slowly taking it and flipping through it, curiously saying, "Ascension Technique?"

Chu Zhiyuan picked up the booklet, activated the patterns, and let her view it again.

Lu Xiaolu’s eyes widened immediately, "Two sets of secret techniques?"

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "I’ve come to seek guidance. Senior Sister, do you know the Heaven-Reaching Sect? The Sect Leader hasn’t heard of this sect."

Lu Xiaolu’s bright eyes flickered, her eyebrows lightly furrowing as she pondered, ultimately shaking her head, "I’ll go ask the Palace Master."

She turned and left.

Chu Zhiyuan picked up his tea cup, took a light sip, his expression relaxed.

Meanwhile, in the Outer Heaven, Chu Liezhao left the Prince Consort Mansion and headed to Fengtian Palace to inquire about the origin of Tongtian Pavilion.

The Little Heaven Beyond also has a Tongtian Pavilion, but it’s just a library, whereas the Tongtian Pavilion of Outer Heaven is a Secret Realm of Fengtian Palace.

The former can be ignored, and he has already perused the manuscripts in the Tongtian Pavilion, with no memory of the Heaven-Reaching Sect.

Whether the Tongtian Pavilion of Fengtian Palace has any connection to the Heaven-Reaching Sect remains unknown.