Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1463: Chapter 1459: Counterkill

He shook his head.

It seems this path is a dead end. To achieve Spirit Venerable status, one must solidly strengthen their foundation and supplement the Five Elements, waiting for inspiration to strike.

Xiao Ruoling said, ”Then let’s stick to the original plan and take it slow. ...I actually think becoming a Spirit Venerable might not be so great.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.

To achieve Spirit Venerable means entering a more dangerous world.

The timing isn’t right yet; I’m not strong enough to protect them.

Even if they become Spirit Venerables, they can only stay sheltered in the Profound Yin Palace for cultivation, unsuitable to go out.

So there’s no rush for them to become Spirit Venerables. It’s best for them to become Spirit Venerables after I advance to the Second Transition.

Of course, truly becoming Spirit Venerables is good too.

At least it adds two more Spirit Venerables to the Profound Yin Palace, greatly boosting morale and intimidating the Li Huo Palace even more.

If one could achieve it in a single leap by directly practicing Cloud Dragon Fist, they would save a lot of time that could be used to elevate the Spirit Venerable realm.

All things considered, still better to attain it.

His gaze fell on Zhou Qingyu once more.

Zhou Qingyu reluctantly let go of Xiao Ruoling: ”Mistress, I will go practice now.”

Xiao Ruoling laughed: ”Rest for a bit if you’re really tired, don’t push yourself too hard.”

”Indeed, I’m tired,” Zhou Qingyu quickly replied.

Xiao Ruoling looked toward Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan grunted: ”Then take a short rest!”

Instantly, Zhou Qingyu’s face blossomed with a smile: ”Thank you, Master.”

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, pacing with his hands behind his back, dividing his heart and spirit into two parts.

One part focused on Huang Zhengyang inside the New Cave Heaven, the other on Shen Hanyue.

Simultaneously, Leng Tieya, Chu Liezhao, and Zhu Lingyun were all practicing Cloud Dragon Fist.

With three clones plus himself, it was equivalent to four Spirit Venerables working together, their power even more astounding.

More importantly, each of these four Spirit Venerables had their own Spiritual Artifacts to aid them.

Openly two Spirit Venerables, while the other two lurk in the shadows for an ambush. Such a tactic would indeed be effective.

The New Cave Heaven contained lethal dangers, so he wasn’t in a hurry to let the clones venture inside.

He needed to observe more through Huang Zhengyang.

The three clones still required more practice in the Cloud Dragon Fist, as they hadn’t withstood the Divine Artifact’s attack or the lightning strikes. Their mastery of Cloud Dragon Fist wasn’t deep enough.

He always felt that any one of the three clones entering the New Cave Heaven wouldn’t be safe enough.

In such unknown environments, dangers could come too swiftly, leaving no opportunity to draw a Light Gate.

Shen Hanyue, driving the Spirit Shuttle, gracefully traversed through the Void, suddenly stopping and frowning at a middle-aged intercepting her from afar.

The middle-aged man sat cross-legged on a jade mat, smiling at her.

”Who are you?” Shen Hanyue frowned, ”What do you want?”

”Hehe...” The middle-aged man’s handsome features and eyes shone like cold stars as he smiled at Shen Hanyue: ”Miss Shen, isn’t it?”

Shen Hanyue replied coldly, ”Who on earth are you?”

”Zheng Xiu of the Li Huo Palace.” The middle-aged man cupped his fists and smiled, ”I’ve long admired Miss Shen’s reputation.”

”I have no such reputation,” Shen Hanyue huffed, ”Are you a disciple of Li Huo Palace, here to seek revenge?”

”Miss Shen’s fame is tremendous, one of Profound Yin Palace’s most talented disciples, progressing swiftly with unlimited potential,” Zheng Xiu smiled, ”But to be traveling alone, is this a trap?”

Shen Hanyue said, ”That’s right, it’s a trap. Yet you obediently walked right into it? Your Li Huo Palace disciples truly are courageous.”

Her words carried a hint of sarcasm, obviously mocking their previous rash attack that ended in defeat.

Zheng Xiu shook his head, ”The more it seems like a trap, the more I want to dive in and see. What kind of trap could possibly capture me?”

Shen Hanyue’s gaze fell onto the White Jade Meditation Mat beneath him, and she snorted, ”Is that a Spiritual Artifact?”

Zheng Xiu chuckled, ”Miss Shen, aren’t you going to call for help?”

Shen Hanyue was listed by the Li Huo Palace as a target to be killed on sight, and if he could slay her in one move, he’d be handsomely rewarded, perhaps even receiving another Spiritual Artifact.

”Call for help?” Shen Hanyue glanced at him dismissively, ”Are you a Spirit Venerable?”

”Naturally not,” Zheng Xiu shook his head, ”A Spirit Venerable wouldn’t take action lightly.”

”Since you’re not a Spirit Venerable, why should I call for help?” Shen Hanyue chuckled, disdain clear in her voice, ”Shouldn’t it be you who needs help? Coming alone to intercept me, who gave you such courage?”

”Hehe...” Zheng Xiu laughed, ”Miss Shen, you talk big, though it’s said you’re a genius among geniuses, surely you’re not of the Nine Transitions?”

”I am of the Nine Transitions,” Shen Hanyue snorted, ”How did you find me?”

”Nine Transitions?” Zheng Xiu’s smile faded.

He couldn’t discern Shen Hanyue’s realm because she had completely suppressed her aura, clearly wearing some artifact that isolated it.

If her realm were truly profound, there would be no need to conceal it with such an artifact.

Shen Hanyue tilted her head, laughing melodiously.

The laughter was like silver bells, echoing far into the air.

Zheng Xiu’s face darkened, forcing a smile, ”Impossible.”

As he knew, Shen Hanyue hadn’t been at Profound Yin Palace for long, possibly not even ten years.

In such a short time, even for a genius among geniuses, it was unlikely she had reached the Nine Transitions.

Shen Hanyue snorted, ”Your Spiritual Artifact isn’t bad, hand it over and I’ll let you go. What other Spiritual Artifacts do you have on you, surrender them all!”

This Spiritual Artifact might be the Tracking Spiritual Artifact, best to probe first.

”Haha...” Zheng Xiu burst out laughing.

Shen Hanyue sneered at him, ”What’s so funny? You’re far inferior to this Spiritual Artifact.”

”True, I’m not as important as this Spiritual Artifact,” Zheng Xiu laughed heartily, ”But this Spiritual Artifact is part of me, you can’t take it away.”

”Then I can only kill you?” Shen Hanyue huffed.

She looked around, ”Where are your companions? Let them come over.”

”I alone am enough!” Zheng Xiu lightly smiled, ”Miss Shen, excuse me then!”

He stood up, stepping onto the White Jade Meditation Mat, which began to glow, transforming into a beam of white light shooting towards Shen Hanyue.

The speed was as if performing Chu Zhiyuan’s Technique of Shifting.

”Die!”

Shen Hanyue snorted.

Four Flying Knives shot out from her sleeve simultaneously with a palm strike.

”Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!”

”Woo—!”

The sound of four soft whistles pierced the air, launching from four directions, piercing through the white light.

In the wake of the knives, came a strange and shrill whistle.

The white light brightened suddenly, but his body was already frozen, staring at Shen Hanyue.

The White Jade Palm Seal, condensed in Shen Hanyue’s right hand, had struck his heart.

Solidly and accurately hitting his heart, even Shen Hanyue was surprised.

More importantly, the strike met no resistance, whether it was a protective artifact or Gang Qi, none were there.

She quickly understood it had been neutralized earlier, due to the work of the four Flying Knives.

The Flying Knives hovered in mid-air, eager to pounce like four eagles ready to swoop.

”You...” Zheng Xiu opened his mouth, then spewed a Blood Arrow.

”Bang!” Another Palm Seal accurately struck his forehead.

She knew that this was the most critical point, the truly lethal spot.

Zheng Xiu’s eyes dimmed and extinguished.

”Stop!” A distant voice bellowed.

”Damn it!”

”Spare him!”

”Junior Brother Zheng!”

Angry shouts echoed from the sky afar, four red shadows shot forward like flames.

Fast as falling stars, what was once a single red light now revealed silhouettes in the blink of an eye.

Shen Hanyue snorted, scooping up the falling White Jade Plate and Zheng Xiu, she accelerated the Spirit Shuttle, turning back toward the Profound Yin Palace.

”Stop!”

”Release Brother Zheng!”

The four figures behind pursued relentlessly.

Without a glance, Shen Hanyue focused only on spurring the Spirit Shuttle to accelerate.