Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1421 - 1417: Predicament

"Senior Brother Ning, Brother Zhang, I have already become a Spirit Venerable," Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile.

He opened his Super Sense, illuminating the hall.

The hall was still shrouded in a faint white light.

Even the Super Sense couldn’t completely see through all the patterns within the hall.

He guessed that the patterns were engraved inside the jade of the hall, carved within, making them unclear.

Previously, the Super Sense was also unable to penetrate it.

Originally, he thought that upon entering Spirit Venerable, the enhanced Super Sense would make everything clear.

Now he realized that the Heaven-Reaching Sect hall was more formidable than imagined.

The faint white light obscured the Super Sensing Illumination.

"Truly become a Spirit Venerable?!" Zhang Ji Yuan exclaimed in surprise, "So soon?"

Ning Dongge also looked Chu Zhiyuan up and down, remarking, "Spirit Venerable, indeed."

Chu Zhiyuan overtook the rest, achieving Spirit Venerable right under their noses, giving them an especially strong shock.

Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile, "It was a fortunate success."

"As expected of you, Junior Brother!" Zhang Ji Yuan praised, "Which Spirit Venerable wasn’t achieved by a stroke of fortune?!"

Ning Dongge nodded, "Indeed, reaching Spirit Venerable requires a bit of luck. Without luck, it’s nearly impossible to become one."

He then laughed, "Junior Brother, now that you can enter the Heaven-Reaching Hall, you no longer need to worry about safety."

Zhang Ji Yuan remarked, "Is this the wonder of the Taihao Jade Void Scripture?"

Taihao Jade Void Scripture includes Ascension Techniques, and Void-breaking Skills.

Unexpectedly, it could break through the Heaven-Reaching Sect’s Guardian Divine Artifact.

Truly, it’s a Miracle Technique capable of reaching directly to Spirit Venerable.

Chu Zhiyuan just smiled.

He couldn’t clearly say whether it was the Taihao Jade Void Scripture or the Earth Origin Technique’s wonder.

He vaguely felt that perhaps only by merging the two could he ignore defenses and teleport directly.

Whether it was the defense of the Profound Yin Palace or the Heaven-Reaching Sect, all could be passed through.

"Junior Brother, now that you’ve become a Spirit Venerable, your status and standing are different," Ning Dongge said, "There’s a huge difference from before."

Zhang Ji Yuan hastily nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "In what way is it different?"

"You now have the right to establish your own sect," Ning Dongge said, "You can branch off independently and become a subsidiary line of our Heaven-Reaching Sect."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

He had no such intention at the moment.

Ning Dongge said, "As a Spirit Venerable, you have the ability to determine the rise and fall of a sect. Biyuan Heaven’s Heavenly Sword Sect or the Court must treat you with sufficient respect."

"What kind of respect can they offer?" Chu Zhiyuan laughed.

Ning Dongge shook his head, "Every sect is different, it’s not one size fits all, but the Court should grant you a position as a Great Tributor."

Zhang Ji Yuan said, "It’s best if they can have your assistance. Even if you don’t help, they can’t let you undermine things, as you have too much destructive power."

Ning Dongge said, "Actually, upon becoming a Spirit Venerable, you no longer need to be concerned with the Court. Rather, the Court has to be mindful of you."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "It’s not as if they have to cater to me, after all, the Court also has Spirit Venerables."

Ning Dongge shook his head, "Spirit Venerables and the Court are not one entity; rather, Spirit Venerables could potentially band together, which is something the Court desperately wants to prevent."

Chu Zhiyuan was deep in thought.

If Spirit Venerables banded together, it would indeed be troublesome for the Court.

After achieving Spirit Venerable, one’s mindset might unconsciously change, likely seeing Spirit Venerables as peers and looking down on others, including the Court.

As a newly ascended Spirit Venerable, he was aware of the Court’s situation, knowing that their Divine Artifacts were temporarily disabled.

With this in mind, the Court of Biyuan Heaven might be extremely wary of him.

Zhang Ji Yuan said, "If you ask me, there’s no need to be concerned with the Court; they’ve been just so-so towards you!"

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Brother Zhang, the Court has actually treated me quite well."

Zhang Ji Yuan snorted, "You’re a smart one, Junior Brother. Do you really think they’ve been good to you?"

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, "They’ve played their little tricks, but whatever should be given, they’ve given without stinginess."

Zhang Ji Yuan widened his eyes, "Then you’re not thinking of contributing to the Court, are you?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile, "I still intend to contribute where I should."

Zhang Ji Yuan looked at him in surprise, then glanced at Ning Dongge.

Ning Dongge laughed, "Thinking Junior Brother is foolish would be the real foolishness."

Zhang Ji Yuan asked, "But having become a Spirit Venerable, you could act as you please. Why cater to the Court?"

Ning Dongge looked towards Chu Zhiyuan, "Junior Brother, there must be a reason?"

The Golden Sword at Chu Zhiyuan’s waist unsheathed itself, gleaming like a pool of autumn water.

"Because of this," Chu Zhiyuan reached out, and the Golden Sword floated before him, its hilt falling into his palm.

He flicked a finger, and a clear tintinnabulation rang incessantly.

He gently swung the Golden Sword, "I want to cultivate it into the Heavenly Sword."

"The Heavenly Sword..." Ning Dongge and Zhang Ji Yuan pondered and slowly nodded.

They had some understanding of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Especially when they initially wanted to bring Chu Zhiyuan into the Heaven-Reaching Sect, they conducted an in-depth investigation of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Although they hadn’t studied the Heavenly Sword Secret Scripture, they knew about the Heavenly Sword’s existence.

They were aware of the foundation of the Heavenly Sword.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "The Heavenly Sword is a sword of trust, a sword of virtue. Without the aid of the Court, it’s difficult to obtain."

After becoming a Spirit Venerable, he had a deeper understanding of the Heavenly Sword, recognizing its formidable power.

Even against Spirit Venerables, its threat was considerable.

Therefore, he couldn’t abandon the cultivation of the Heavenly Sword, and the Golden Sword must continue to be strengthened.

"It would be challenging," Ning Dongge shook his head, "Junior Brother, now that you’re a Spirit Venerable, even if you wish to assist the Court, they will be wary."

Zhang Ji Yuan quickly nodded, "Courts, no matter which in Biyuan Heaven, all keep their distance from Spirit Venerables. They prefer to make them Tributes, but dare not employ them."

Chu Zhiyuan pondered.

Ning Dongge and Zhang Ji Yuan were not wrong.

The Court would now be increasingly wary of him, likely maintaining strict precautions.

Attempting to train the Golden Sword in Biyuan Heaven was extremely challenging, almost impossible.

It seemed he would have to rely on his clone.

...

Outer Heaven

Thirteenth Prince Consort Mansion

Bedroom

Chu Liezhao suddenly woke up, opened his eyes, and turned to look at Li Miaotan, who was sleeping like a spring flower.

Li Miaotan’s bright eyes were closed, her delicate nose breathing long and softly, her red lips slightly pursed, hinting at a smile.

Her jade peaks slightly rose and fell, causing her long eyelashes to gently quiver.

Chu Liezhao smiled and stroked her lustrous black hair.

Li Miaotan awoke and looked at him, somewhat confused.

Chu Liezhao said with a smile, "My lady, I have ascended to Spirit Venerable."

Li Miaotan’s eyes flashed brightly, filled with clarity and brilliance, "Spirit Venerable?"

She immediately felt something different.

The once close Chu Liezhao suddenly seemed untouchable.

He was right in front of her, audible breathing, yet beyond her senses, as if everything was an illusion.

She turned her head to look out the window, where the sun’s golden light lit up the glass with golden hues.

She could feel the brightness of the sunlight outside, the fresh and crisp air.

She sensed Chu Liezhao again and confirmed it wasn’t her senses playing tricks; Chu Liezhao had indeed changed.

Overnight, he had undergone a profound transformation.

Chu Liezhao watched her busying about with amusement, letting out a light laugh, "I didn’t expect to grasp enlightenment in a dream and step into Spirit Venerable prematurely."

Li Miaotan furrowed her brows, "Is this... real? ...not just a dream?"

Chu Liezhao pulled her into his embrace, hugged her tightly, then released her.

Li Miaotan’s bright eyes shimmered with disbelief, "Husband, have you truly become a Spirit Venerable?"

Chu Liezhao nodded with a smile.

Li Miaotan’s eyes grew increasingly bright, her excitement quickly surfacing on her face, "Spirit Venerable! A Spirit Venerable indeed!"

She never expected Chu Liezhao to achieve Spirit Venerable so quickly.

Such an achievement is typically the realm of millennia-long cultivation.

How could it possibly be accomplished within a century?

Even with her Phoenix Bloodline, destined to be the foremost in the world, it was impossible to achieve within a hundred years.

Yet Chu Liezhao achieved it so swiftly, unfathomable.

Truly a joyous occasion.

From this moment on, the many injustices and prejudices placed upon him would vanish like smoke.

No one in the Phoenix Dynasty would dare to ridicule or belittle him.

He was no longer simply the Prince Consort; he was a Spirit Venerable!