Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1416 - 1412: On the Verge of Breaking Through

Even though they were dozens of miles away, he could clearly feel the aura of the eight Spirit Venerables.

It was as if eight mountains were pressing down on him, making it difficult to breathe.

The clearer the Super Sense became, the more deeply he felt this overwhelming pressure, and the more pressure he bore.

Eight Spirit Venerables, four beautiful women facing off against four men, quietly suspended in the Void, their gaze shooting like lightning.

Unlike the experts from the Profound Yin Palace and Li Huo Palace, they did not need to rely on any external force to stay suspended.

The experts from the two sects relied on the snow peaks condensed from white clouds for support; without the clouds, it would be hard for them to remain in the air for long.

But these eight Spirit Venerables were different.

They stood effortlessly in the Void as if it were solid ground.

"Li Huo Palace, foolishly ambitious, utterly ridiculous!"

A beautiful, gentle woman softly spoke in a voice like pearls and jade.

The handsome middle-aged man opposite her frowned, "It’s just a fluke, Miss Zhou; there’s no need to be so proud!"

"Quite stubborn!" The gentle woman snorted, "Refusing to admit defeat! Today, those watching will spread your disgrace far and wide."

The handsome middle-aged man looked indignant, "If you didn’t have that Spiritual Artifact, could you resist our Red Sun Needle?"

"If you put it that way," the gentle woman said, "would you dare come without your Red Sun Needle?"

"..." The handsome middle-aged man fell silent.

The Li Huo Palace dared to come to the Profound Yin Palace because they had the Red Sun Needle.

Without the Red Sun Needle, attacking the Profound Yin Palace was futile; they could not break the Sect’s Spiritual Artifact.

"It’s the same with Spiritual Artifacts; you can use them, but we can’t?" The gentle woman shook her head, "So domineering, how laughable!"

The handsome middle-aged man asked, "What kind of Spiritual Artifact is this?"

"Why would I tell you?" the gentle woman replied, "This time, our Profound Yin Palace will definitely exact revenge!"

The handsome middle-aged man chuckled indifferently, "Do you think your Profound Yin Palace dares to attack our Li Huo Palace’s gate?"

"Why not?" The gentle woman sneered.

The handsome middle-aged man laughed, "Then we’d be delighted to have you."

The gentle woman said calmly, "You have the Red Sun Needle; are we not allowed to have similar Spiritual Artifacts?"

"Your Profound Yin Palace doesn’t have any."

"Humph, that may not be true. Just because we don’t have it now, doesn’t mean we won’t in the future!"

"Wait until your Profound Yin Palace has such a Spiritual Artifact, then it’s not too late to speak." The handsome middle-aged man said, "Miss Zhou, shall we continue to fight?"

"Get lost." the gentle woman said, "Tell them, if your Li Huo Palace disciples come near our Profound Yin Palace again, they’ll lose their lives!"

The handsome middle-aged man clasped his fists, "Same to you, until we meet again!"

After speaking, he turned his head, "Brother Chen, Senior Brother Zhao, Junior Brother Luo, shall we go?"

"Let’s go."

The three middle-aged men nodded with sullen faces.

Then suddenly they shot towards the distance, disappearing in the Void within moments.

Chu Zhiyuan withdrew his gaze.

They didn’t end up fighting after all.

He was quite surprised.

Earlier, the Donghuan Saint Technique had shown him that the two groups of Spirit Venerables engaged in battle.

It was a grand scene, with the Void trembling, like angry waves crashing against the shore.

At the Profound Yin Palace, enveloped by the Spiritual Artifact, he could still feel the roaring winds.

Inside Xiao Ruoling’s small courtyard, it was as if a tornado had swept in, threatening to lift people off their feet.

However, what he saw now was the exact opposite.

He understood now.

It was his intervention that saved these would-be fallen experts of the Profound Yin Palace, altering the outcome.

His actions had inexplicably caused a change, leading the two groups of Spirit Venerables to ultimately decide not to fight.

He shook his head.

These twelve experts from the Profound Yin Palace were not supposed to perish, but because he altered the future, they did.

This was karma he had created, and he naturally needed to make amends, ensuring they didn’t die.

Xiao Ruoling watched him retrieve his gaze, drift down, and stood to greet him.

Shen Hanyue also floated over, "Princely Heir, is it over there?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "It’s over."

"It’s finally over!" Shen Hanyue was excited, "We didn’t lose a single Senior Sister or Master Uncle today!"

Xiao Ruoling smiled and nodded, "We won a great victory."

The seated experts of the Profound Yin Palace who were meditating with crossed legs opened their eyes.

They got up one after another, cupped their fists, and saluted Chu Zhiyuan.

These twelve experts, all with weak auras and severely wounded.

The Li Huo Palace experts had desperately used the Jade and Stone Burning technique, severely injuring them.

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fists and smiled, "Senior Sisters, no need to be formal; it was nothing to save you."

"Brother-in-law, if it weren’t for you, we would have died." A charming young girl laughed, "I had already given up hope then, resigned to my fate, until you suddenly appeared."

She looked at him with admiration, "Your Qinggong is truly amazing."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Senior Sister Sun, you overpraise."

Sun Jing said, "I’m not exaggerating at all; your Qinggong is most apt for stealth attacks."

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled and nodded.

Sun Jing turned to Xiao Ruoling, "Junior Sister Xiao, you did a great deed this time."

Xiao Ruoling laughed, "Senior Sister Sun, I don’t think I did anything great; I didn’t manage to kill any Li Huo Palace experts."

"Brother-in-law saved our lives, which is like you saving ours," Sun Jing laughed, "If not for you, Brother-in-law wouldn’t have come to our Profound Yin Palace and helped us."

Xiao Ruoling pursed her lips and laughed lightly.

Shen Hanyue laughed, "Senior Sister Sun is wise, indeed!"

The other eleven girls agreed.

Whether they supported or opposed Xiao Ruoling in her relationship with Chu Zhiyuan before, they were all in favor now.

They were all gravely injured, unable to even employ Qinggong, falling straight towards the ground, nearly to their deaths.

Between life and death, there is great terror.

Having personally experienced that terror, feeling life regained after it was almost lost, a deep sense of gratitude welled up, indescribable.

This gratitude, joy, and emotion mingled together, surging within them.

"Junior Sister Xiao, you truly achieved a great merit; the Palace Master should reward you well."

"Hehehe..."

...

Shen Hanyue laughed, "Senior Sisters, there’s no need to be so formal; after all, the Princely Heir is family."

"Little Junior Sister, you’re absolutely right; we’re all family."

The women all agreed.

Xiao Ruoling pursed her lips and smiled, not saying much, but her eyes radiated joy.

She knew that the obstacles between her and Chu Zhiyuan had vanished from now on.

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly felt a stir in his heart and smiled, "Senior Sisters, I must take my leave and be on my way."

The women were taken aback.

They looked at him in utter confusion.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "There are matters back at the sect I need to attend to."

"Heaven-Reaching Sect?"

"Heavenly Sword Sect?"

Someone asked curiously.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "It’s at Heaven-Reaching Sect."

"Then go quickly," Sun Jing laughed, "I used to think the Heaven-Reaching Sect was full of bad people, but now I see that’s not entirely true. Brother-in-law, you’re different."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Senior Brother Ning is quite good."

Sun Jing said, "Ning Dongge is alright, but Zhang Ji Yuan isn’t that great."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Senior Sister Sun, have you dealt with Brother Zhang and Senior Brother Ning?"

Sun Jing showed an expression of reluctance to elaborate, shook her head, and said, "Brother-in-law, just go back and talk to them, and you’ll know."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile, "Alright, then I’ll be off."

He cupped his fists in a salute and suddenly disappeared.

"What amazing Qinggong!"

"Is that even Qinggong anymore?"

...

The women immediately began chattering and discussing excitedly.

Chu Zhiyuan had already appeared at the Heaven-Reaching Sect.

As soon as he appeared, he said to Ning Dongge and Zhang Ji Yuan, "Senior Brother Ning, Brother Zhang, I need to retreat into seclusion."

Both looked at him, curious, and Zhang Ji Yuan asked, "Junior Brother, why the rush to retreat into seclusion?"

"I feel like I’m about to break through," Chu Zhiyuan said.

"To become a Spirit Venerable?" they asked almost simultaneously.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.