Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1423 - 1419: Gift of Congratulations

The Donghuan Saint Technique is remarkably mystical, capable of glimpsing scenes from the future.

What he was most curious about was, what exactly was this power?

Pure spiritual power couldn’t accomplish it; it required that mysterious force from the void.

This power is said to originate from Emperor Dong Huan.

Is Emperor Dong Huan dead or alive?

Could it be from this divine statue, or, like the Evil Venerable, from the living Emperor Dong Huan?

This question lingered in his mind.

Now, he finally had the chance to explore its mysteries, yet unfortunately, he was still a little short.

Only by clarifying this could he confidently wield the Donghuan Saint Technique.

It seemed he had to focus on cultivation, immersing himself in arduous training for a while.

With this thought, he suddenly flickered and appeared in the Tongtian Hall.

Upon his arrival, his eyebrows lifted.

Within Tongtian Hall, besides Ning Dongge and Zhang Ji Yuan, there was another person.

His hair and beard were white, looking both aged and youthful.

He sat happily on a meditation mat, observing Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Ning Dongge and Zhang Ji Yuan.

Zhang Ji Yuan said, "Junior Brother, this is the Sect Master."

Chu Zhiyuan was astonished and cupped his hands in salute: "Disciple Chu Zhiyuan greets the Sect Master."

He knew that the Sect Master of Heaven-Reaching Sect, Lu Tiancheng, was in seclusion, striving to break through to Spirit Venerable.

Now, it seemed he hadn’t succeeded.

Lu Tiancheng waved his hand: "No need for formalities, sit down and talk."

"Yes." Chu Zhiyuan sat on his original meditation mat.

"Ah..." Lu Tiancheng shook his head with a wry smile: "I never expected you to become a Spirit Venerable so soon, Zhiyuan."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: "It’s all thanks to the mystery of the Taihao Jade Void Scripture, a fortunate accomplishment."

"Indeed... the Taihao Jade Void Scripture, your comprehension of it naturally leads to becoming a Spirit Venerable." Lu Tiancheng nodded, full of emotion: "Such innate talent is enviable."

He was the most envious.

After laboring over comprehension for hundreds of years, he still couldn’t achieve Spirit Venerable, while Chu Zhiyuan did it in less than a year.

People are as different as clouds and mud.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled without speaking.

Lu Tiancheng asked: "Zhiyuan, now that you’re a Spirit Venerable, what are your plans?"

Chu Zhiyuan replied: "Spirit Venerable has nine transitions, so I must continue to cultivate diligently and not slack off."

The world of Spirit Venerables is different.

The spirit light is hard to conceal; all Spirit Venerables can see each other.

Although unable to discern strength or weakness, they can see each other’s positions, making it impossible to hide, giving him a strong sense of insecurity.

So, after achieving Spirit Venerable, he didn’t feel the ecstatic triumph of a great success.

He faced an even more uneasy environment, requiring greater effort in cultivation.

"For you to think this way is quite rare indeed." Lu Tiancheng nodded in admiration.

Of the Spirit Venerables he had met, none was as calm and humble as Chu Zhiyuan.

They usually cast off their shackles and became more reckless in their actions.

"Disciple is also driven by necessity," Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "With my level still too low, I must seek shelter within the hall, not daring to show myself too much."

The Second Transition is entirely different from the First Transition, along with the Earth Origin Technique and assistance from other clones, self-preservation isn’t an issue.

Yet he remained cautious, avoiding unfamiliar Spirit Venerables outside.

He planned first to sort out his mental method and treasures to find a better path.

Lu Tiancheng smiled: "You entering our sect means there’s no worry."

Chu Zhiyuan asked: "Sect Master, do we have Spirit Venerable Martial Arts within the sect?"

The Heaven-Reaching Sect is a Heavenly Person Sect, with Martial Arts on a different level, having an extremely high ceiling.

The Taihao Jade Void Scripture is an example.

If not for the Taihao Jade Void Scripture, it would be much harder for him to step into Spirit Venerable.

"Spirit Venerable Martial Arts... As for the mental method," Lu Tiancheng said: "It’s still the Taihao Jade Void Scripture; you’re already compatible with it, and it has a sufficiently high ceiling, likely enough to reach the Ninth Transition."

"What about beyond the Ninth Transition?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.

"Actually, in the Ancient Era, Spirit Venerables were just at the ordinary Divine Race level; achieving Spirit Venerable allows you to practice Divine Clan Martial Arts, which can rise above Spirit Venerable to a higher level."

Zhang Ji Yuan said: "Sect Master, now we can’t train to a higher level, can we?"

"Hmm," Lu Tiancheng said, "With the world’s anomalies and the disappearance of the Divine Race, Spirit Venerables became the highest realm, making it difficult to achieve the Mythical Realm beyond."

He shook his head, "Since the disappearance of the Divine Race, I’ve never heard of anyone reaching the Mythical Realm."

Ning Dongge said: "Junior Brother is different; it seems there’s been no one as young as Junior Brother to achieve Spirit Venerable throughout the ages."

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand: "I was just lucky."

Reaching this stage, luck played a major role.

Ning Dongge said earnestly: "Junior Brother, every Spirit Venerable is achieved by luck, none have a hundred percent certainty."

Zhang Ji Yuan nodded repeatedly.

Even those perfected at Venerable Ninth Transitions, few manage to achieve Spirit Venerable.

It’s not about which Venerable is stronger, but rather who has better luck.

This is a common understanding among all.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Although Taihao Jade Void Scripture is wondrous, it’s lacking in Martial Skills."

The Taihao Jade Void Scripture is a mental method and does not contain aggressive techniques.

Combining the Taihao Jade Void Scripture’s mental method with Martial Skills always felt a bit lacking, not powerful enough.

Lu Tiancheng said: "Upon reaching Spirit Venerable, it’s about cultivation, techniques seem less crucial, Martial Skills from the Venerable Realm should be enough, right?"

Chu Zhiyuan frowned: "Spiritual Essence and True Yuan are ultimately different."

Lu Tiancheng sighed: "Our Heaven-Reaching Sect’s inheritance is incomplete; the Inheritance Hall is already closed, and amongst current inheritances, only the Taihao Jade Void Scripture is the strongest, capable of reaching the Venerable Realm. In a complete inheritance, one could train up to the Mythical Realm."

"Sect Master," Chu Zhiyuan said: "Do other sects have such Martial Skills?"

"Profound Yin Palace does," Lu Tiancheng slowly said: "Li Huo Palace is hard to say; at the Spirit Venerable Realm, they become self-sufficient, creating their own Martial Skills, most would self-create Martial Arts."

Chu Zhiyuan’s spirit was lifted.

Profound Yin Palace having Spirit Venerable Realm Martial Arts was indeed unexpected.

Zhang Ji Yuan laughed: "Junior Brother, just create your own Martial Arts, there’s no problem, your comprehension is far superior to theirs!"

Ning Dongge slowly nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan’s comprehension was far beyond anyone of his generation.

At least more advanced than any disciple in the history of the Heaven-Reaching Sect.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have mastered the Taihao Jade Void Scripture.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Self-creating Martial Arts is good, but it’s too time-consuming, there’s no time now."

He could indeed create Martial Arts, but not now, as he was only in the Second Transition.

Creating Martial Arts requires sufficient energy and time; his energy should be spent on improving his realm, not on Martial Skills.

Creating Martial Arts involves extensive study, gaining Insight into the Martial Arts of all sects and schools, then forming his own.

This also requires a long time.

All of these should be done later, slowly after reaching Spirit Venerable’s Ninth Transition.

"Regrettably..." Lu Tiancheng shook his head: "I emerged from seclusion a step too late to open the Inheritance Hall."

If I had come out of seclusion earlier, before Chu Zhiyuan became a Spirit Venerable, nine people joining forces could have opened the Inheritance Hall.

Now, it’s too late.

Chu Zhiyuan has become a Spirit Venerable and can’t form a nine-person array to open the Inheritance Hall.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled: "Is the Sect Master suggesting I find disciples, just like how Brother Zhang found me back then?"

Zhang Ji Yuan chuckled: "Junior Brother, it’s your turn for this task."

"Ji Yuan, you don’t slack off, you still take the lead," Lu Tiancheng smiled: "Zhiyuan doesn’t need to look specifically, just keep an eye out, and if you encounter anyone, bring them into the sect."

"Alright, I’ll keep an eye out." Chu Zhiyuan readily agreed.

The most crucial part is the inheritance; the complete inheritance of the Heaven-Reaching Sect very likely contains Spirit Venerable Martial Arts.

Though the Taihao Jade Void Scripture is wondrous, what if there’s something even more wondrous? Progress could be even faster.

Lu Tiancheng took out a small knife from his robe and handed it to Chu Zhiyuan: "This is a gift from within the sect for you."