Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1079: Chapter 1075: Descent

The young girl was petite and delicate, with a beautiful appearance and lively features, charming and attractive.

Li Hongzhao clasped her fist in greeting and smiled, ”Li Hongzhao, nice to meet you, Senior Sister.”

The charming girl giggled, ”New to the Inner Sect, right?”

Li Hongzhao nodded.

The charming girl laughed and said, ”I’m Dong Muyu, been in the Inner Sect for ten years.”

Li Hongzhao looked at her in surprise, ”Ten years?”

”Doesn’t seem like it?” Dong Muyu laughed.

Li Hongzhao shook her head.

Dong Muyu giggled and said, ”I entered the Inner Sect at eighteen, was the youngest. ... Haven’t heard of anyone new entering the Inner Sect lately, oh, weren’t you ascended?”

Li Hongzhao gently nodded.

Although she was cautious, she knew this matter couldn’t be hidden and had no reason to keep it secret.

”Did you really ascend?” Dong Muyu looked at her in wonder, ”How come you are so young?”

Li Hongzhao smiled, ”I was lucky to ascend early.”

”Hmm...” Dong Muyu nodded repeatedly, then giggled, ”I was the youngest to join the Inner Sect, you ascended early, we should be together.”

Li Hongzhao smiled, ”Senior Sister Dong, I was lucky to ascend early.”

”I was lucky too, born with good talent.” Dong Muyu laughed, ”Those who ascend are usually older, have limited potential, and spend their years in peace on the mountain, only holding the title of Inner Sect Disciple, Li, you’re different.”

”Senior Sister Dong, are there many disciples who have ascended?”

”Not many, not few, Heavenly Sword has nine Avatars, each Avatar has six projections. Which day did you come?”

”Should be the Little Outer Heaven, right?” Li Hongzhao said.

She heard the name Little Outer Heaven from Chu Zhiyuan’s mouth.

”Hmm... Little Outer Heaven...” Dong Muyu tilted her head thinking, ”Haven’t had ascended disciples in a long time, right?”

Li Hongzhao nodded, ”As far as I know, none in a century.”

”Let me think...” Dong Muyu tilted her head and moved her delicate fingers, finally nodding, ”Yes, seems like none in five hundred years, the sect thought the Heavenly Sword Avatar of Little Outer Heaven had issues.”

”Five hundred years...” Li Hongzhao sighed.

She truly didn’t know how many had ascended, how many hadn’t.

The Imperial Family kept these matters in secret, silent and tight-lipped.

It seems now, ascension is no longer a hidden affair, the silent replacement of the imperial throne indicates non-ascension.

”Your ascension proves the Heavenly Sword Avatar of Little Outer Heaven is fine.” Dong Muyu laughed, ”This is good news, and with someone as gifted as Li, it’s worth celebrating. Come, come, let’s have a celebratory drink at my courtyard.”

”Thank you, Senior Sister.” Li Hongzhao smiled.

She wanted to inquire about the situation in the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Vaguely understanding why she received such cold treatment.

Not all Inner Sect disciples are treated this way, it’s because she ascended.

Those who ascended were seen as not very useful, so the Heavenly Sword Sect paid no mind to these Inner Sect disciples.

Li Hongzhao discovered the seemingly simple courtyard was extraordinary.

Rock gardens and flowing water, winding paths and pavilions, flower beds arranged perfectly, blooming flowers, extremely elegant indeed.

Dong Muyu led her to the pavilion and sat, immediately surrounded by fragrant flowers.

She tugged the copper bell beside a red pillar in the pavilion, and after the chime, two agile girls arrived.

Dong Muyu instructed them to prepare two dishes, then opened a jar of wine herself.

The wine in the black jar, once opened, released an overflow of rich fragrance.

Two dishes quickly brought over, Dong Muyu filled two jade cups.

Li Hongzhao drank with her while chatting idly.

Dong Muyu patiently explained the situation within the sect.

Li Hongzhao gained a rough understanding.

Her mind somewhat eased.

At the same time, she felt a bit excited.

Her primary inquiry was about Biyuan Heaven’s situation and the Heavenly Sword Sect’s standing.

She learned the Heavenly Sword Sect is one of Biyuan Heaven’s Four Great Sects, has a very high status.

The biggest difference between Biyuan Heaven and Little Outer Heaven is abundant spiritual energy, higher cultivation realms.

A Grandmaster is merely the starting point of the Inner Sect.

Achieving Grandmaster status, entering the Inner Sect, officially begins the cultivation road.

Cultivation comprises three realms, each realm has nine transitions: Qi Transformation, Divinity Transformation, Spirit Transformation.

Qi Transformation realm is called Qi Refiner, Divinity Transformation realm is called Venerable, Spirit Transformation Venerable is called Spirit Venerable.

According to Dong Muyu, Qi Transformation is easy, Divinity Transformation is difficult, Spirit Transformation is more difficult, nearly impossible.

The Heavenly Sword Sect has Spirit Venerables, but they are rarely seen.

Only during life-and-death moments of the sect can they appear.

The strongest entity in the current world is the Court, Biyuan Dynasty, unrivaled under the heaven.

Fifty thousand years ago, Biyuan Dynasty was formed from the merging of Eight Great Dynasties.

Originally, the Eight Great Dynasties each ruled a region, considered prosperous.

However, later on, the rise of Evil Demons with high demon flames, formed a Demon Army sweeping across the land, shattering the mountains and rivers of the Eight Great Dynasties.

In moments of life and death, the National Guardian Spirit Venerables of the Eight Great Dynasties collectively swore an alliance, forming the Biyuan Dynasty.

The Biyuan Dynasty does not have an Emperor but is governed by the Eight Great Kings collectively.

For fifty thousand years, the Dynasty has prospered, repelled the Demon Army, and protected the world.

And the Four Great Sects have been martial arts sanctuaries since ancient times, with extraordinary martial arts and supreme in the realm.

Whether during the Eight Great Dynasties period or the Biyuan Dynasty period, they have maintained an exceptional status.

After the eight dynasties merged to form the Biyuan Dynasty, the Four Great Sects would send disciples down the mountain to assist the Dynasty in suppressing evil demons.

In the Imperial City, auxiliary courtyards were established, manned by elite disciples within the sect, facilitating communication between the Dynasty and the sect, and safeguarding the Imperial City’s safety while suppressing the invasion of evil demons.

Dong Muyu wiped the wine stain off her cherry lips and boldly said, ”Li, don’t rush into cultivation. If you aren’t a Venerable yet, it’s best not to go down the mountain to vanquish evil.”

”Are they very dangerous?”

”Too dangerous for those in the Qi Transformation Realm. They have illusion techniques, hard to guard against. When you reach the Divinity Transformation Realm and become a Venerable, you’ll be able to resist the illusion techniques.”

”Got it.” Li Hongzhao solemnly nodded, ”Thank you, Senior Sister!”

Dong Muyu waved her hand, ”With your aptitude, you’ll soon become a Venerable. Even then, be careful. These evil demons are very sinister. A single mistake, and you might get hurt or even perish. ... Every year, we lose ten to eight disciples within the Inner Sect. Who knows if it could be oneself?”

Li Hongzhao asked, ”How many disciples are there in our Inner Sect?”

”More than a thousand,” Dong Muyu replied, ”Every year, there are new additions and casualties. Vanquishing evil demons is a dangerous task.”

Li Hongzhao said solemnly, ”I will be extremely cautious.”

”You can be at ease on the mountain; evil demons can’t come in,” Dong Muyu laughed, ”Down the mountain, it’s different. We’re near the evil demons, and they appear at any moment.”

Li Hongzhao asked, ”Can’t we conduct large-scale cleanups?”

Dong Muyu replied, ”When many experts gather, they’ll be immediately discovered, and the demons will flee instantly. Similarly, if they gather in large numbers, we’ll be alerted and steer clear.”

Li Hongzhao slowly nodded.

She had already roughly understood the surrounding environment and knew how to respond.

But she decided to find an opportunity to talk to other fellow disciples and compare their words with Dong Muyu’s conversation.

This jar of wine, initially tasting rich and soft, gradually made one slightly intoxicated, even the True Yuan couldn’t dispel it.

Li Hongzhao also became slightly intoxicated, growing bold with her words, playfully asking if she could return to Little Outer Heaven again.

”Unless you reach the Spirit Venerable,” Dong Muyu said, ”The Heavenly Sword won’t put in this effort anymore, only relying on oneself. Only as a Spirit Venerable can you ignore spatial constraints and come and go freely.”

”Spirit Venerable...” Li Hongzhao shook her head, ”If we ascend directly from Little Outer Heaven without needing the Heavenly Sword, are we considered Inner Sect disciples?”

”Naturally.”

Li Hongzhao breathed a sigh of relief.

Dong Muyu smiled, ”What, are there such extraordinary talents in Little Outer Heaven?”

Li Hongzhao slowly nodded, ”There’s someone whose cultivation is stronger than mine, likely to ascend directly without the Emperor’s Sword.”

Chu Zhiyuan’s cultivation was still advancing rapidly, having reached an unknown realm.

Through this ascension, she speculated and concluded that with his aptitude, he could ascend without the Emperor’s Sword.

”That must be extraordinary talent, but whether extraordinary or not, we must cultivate along this path,” Dong Muyu said, ”Our Heavenly Sword Sect is never short of extraordinary talents.”

Li Hongzhao smiled, ”This person isn’t just a typical talent; far surpasses me, but how does he compare with you, Senior Sister Dong?”

”I’d like to see that,” Dong Muyu said, ”When can he come up?”

Li Hongzhao replied, ”He’s cautious, even if he can ascend, he’ll probably seek stability and not rush.”

”That won’t do, delaying the opportunity for cultivation will cost more time, ... Unfortunately, our cultivation isn’t enough to ask the Heavenly Sword to send messages down.”

Li Hongzhao shook her head with a smile, thinking of the flying knife in her arms.

Just then, a figure flickered, and Chu Zhiyuan suddenly appeared.

Dong Muyu struck with a palm; a hand seal as white as jade materialized, striking toward Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan evaded.

Li Hongzhao hurriedly said, ”Senior Sister Dong, it’s one of ours!”

Dong Muyu looked at her with surprise.

Li Hongzhao said, ”He’s the one I mentioned.”

Dong Muyu replied in amazement, ”Ascended on his own?”

She looked Chu Zhiyuan up and down, unable to sense the depth of his cultivation.

Perceiving him as just a Great Grandmaster, yet intuition told her he was more than that.

”This is Senior Sister Dong,” Li Hongzhao said aloud, ”We who have ascended are all Inner Sect disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect.”

”Greetings, Senior Sister Dong. I am Chu Zhiyuan, princely heir from the Prince Qing Mansion of Da Jing Dynasty in Little Outer Heaven, sorry for the sudden intrusion.”

”Chu Zhiyuan... Junior Brother Chu, did you really ascend on your own?”

”... I suppose so,” Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Easier than I imagined.”

”Easy? Hahaha...” Dong Muyu laughed charmingly, ”You’re the second in nearly a thousand years to ascend on your own.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked in surprise, ”Who else?”

”It’s Lu Jian, Brother Lu of Little Outer Heaven,” Dong Muyu said, ”A stunning genius, now a Sixth Transition Venerable, reaching Divinity Transformation Sixth Transition in sixty years, astonishing!”

Hearing this, Chu Zhiyuan looked at Li Hongzhao.

Li Hongzhao thus explained the realm, expressing that ”Indeed, ascending early was the right choice; waiting till sixty would be too late.”

Dong Muyu said, ”Ascending at sixty, hope for breakthrough to Venerable is lost, only left to enjoy old age within the sect doing trivial tasks.”

Chu Zhiyuan felt strange.

He carefully sensed the spiritual energy here compared to Outer Heaven.

Found that the spiritual energy was a bit stronger.

Stronger spiritual energy means faster cultivation, quicker realm advancement.

Except if, cultivation barriers are greater.

An unparalleled genius taking sixty years to reach Sixth Transition Venerable.

This piqued his curiosity—is it the cultivation technique or something else peculiar about this world?