Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 1215 - 1211: Interception

He wanted to see, through multiple conversations, if he could force some clues to surface.

"Hehe... It seems, Mr. Zhu, you are unaware of the mystic uses of this treasure," He Lingchuan said with a smile.

"You know?" Zhu Lingyun asked coldly.

"I have some understanding," He Lingchuan replied, "This treasure doesn’t need to be integrated with us. Just using it once will allow us to undergo a spiritual transformation and enter the Spirit Realm."

"Just once?" Zhu Lingyun sneered, "What exactly is this thing?"

He secretly felt invigorated.

He didn’t expect these two Evil Venerables to genuinely know what this treasure was.

No wonder Wanxiang Cliff and Feiling Cliff were indeed superior to Giant Spirit Cliff by more than just a notch.

"It’s something unmentionable," He Lingchuan said, "You will know when you see it. It is ever-changing and elusive."

"Mystifying things deliberately!"

"It’s truly not mystifying deliberately," He Lingchuan shook his head with a smile, "It’s not a fixed physical object, but a spiritual object, which might attach to this object or that one."

Zhu Lingyun frowned in contemplation.

Zhong Lingyun said, "Mr. Zhu, even if we find it, there’s no way to capture it or take it away, so there’s no need to worry about dividing it, you can’t divide it even if you want to."

Zhu Lingyun slowly nodded.

Zhong Lingyun continued, "For us, we have the information and know the location, but unfortunately, we can’t break in."

Zhu Lingyun showed a smile.

Zhong Lingyun added earnestly, "And you, Mr. Zhu, not knowing the news or the location, our cooperation can be considered a perfect match. ... What do you think, Mr. Zhu?"

Zhu Lingyun’s eyes suddenly narrowed, golden light bursting forth, "You’re not trying to trick me, are you?"

"Mr. Zhu, even if we die, we could only be severely injured and have to return, it’s not a big deal, but opportunities like this are rare, and missing it might mean never getting another chance again."

He Lingchuan said gravely, "We barely encountered the Divine Artifact malfunctioning, and once it resumes functioning, there’s no hope of entering the Imperial City, ... no skill would help."

"...Let me think about it."

Both of them immediately fixed their eager eyes on him.

Feeling their gaze, Zhu Lingyun paced with his hands clasped behind his back, his brow furrowed.

After a long while, he looked up at them, "Can just the three of us break in?"

Zhong Lingyun sincerely replied, "We’ve found the best path; if we enter silently, we can leave silently."

"Hehe..." Zhu Lingyun chuckled, shaking his head, "If it’s really that easy, why would you need me?"

"This treasure is not physical, no need to divide it, one more person or less doesn’t matter, we might even form a connection," He Lingchuan laughed, "That’s why we brought along you, Mr. Zhu, just as a precaution, because no plan can keep up with the unexpected changes."

"Mr. Zhu, don’t worry, even if we die, we’d only be severely injured, and need to return to our world. What’s in it for us? There’s no need to create an enmity, is there?" Zhong Lingyun said earnestly.

"Is it really that easy?" Zhu Lingyun asked.

"It’s definitely not that difficult," Zhong Lingyun nodded solemnly.

Zhu Lingyun said, "Then tell me, how many hurdles do we have to go through?"

"First is entering the city," He Lingchuan said, "We first need to blend in, which is not a problem."

"Seems not that easy." Zhu Lingyun shook his head, "Nowadays the City Guard has some treasure, hard to deceive."

He Lingchuan was stunned, "Treasure?"

Zhu Lingyun replied, "It seems you haven’t tried, ... what about after entering the city?"

"...Then we go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple," He Lingchuan said, "The temple is in the northeast corner of the Imperial City, with the Imperial Palace to the west, woods to the east, a main street to the south, and a river to the north, the Gongji River, ... it’s easiest to mix into the temple from that river."

Zhu Lingyun asked, "Do you have an insider?"

"Yes indeed," He Lingchuan smiled, "With the insider, we can enter the temple without a sound."

"The riverside ..." Zhu Lingyun said, "Are you not talking about using the incense barrels?"

"... Yes." He Lingchuan confessed helplessly, "Mr. Zhu, you are clever, indeed, we will use the incense barrels to transport us in, ... it will smell and be dirty, but for a treasure, it’s worth it, isn’t it?"

"This trick is indeed not bad," Zhu Lingyun nodded, "A bit dirty and smelly is no big deal, ... once inside the temple, can the treasure be found?"

"As long as we go in, we will feel it," Zhong Lingyun nodded, "No need to search."

"Then how do you use the treasure?" Zhu Lingyun asked.

Zhong Lingyun said, "Seeing it, you will naturally know how to use it."

Zhu Lingyun frowned at him.

Zhong Lingyun said, "Mr. Zhu, I am being completely honest, not a single word is false."

Zhu Lingyun smiled but didn’t comment, indicating he didn’t fully believe.

"Facts will prove our sincerity," Zhong Lingyun said, "Shall we set off then?"

"We can’t enter now." Zhu Lingyun shook his head, "We need to find a way to deceive the City Guard."

"I’ll give it a try," Zhong Lingyun said.

He Lingchuan quickly said, "Mr. Zhong, why not send someone to try first?"

Zhong Lingyun shook his head, "I should go personally to be more accurate and know whether we can truly get through."

"But ..."

"My Qinggong is up to the task."

"... Be careful, if anything looks wrong, escape immediately, and we’ll figure out another way."

"Alright," Zhong Lingyun nodded.

He looked at Zhu Lingyun, "Mr. Zhu, you observe from afar."

Zhu Lingyun nodded, "Then let’s give it a shot."

The three of them floated along, heading towards the Imperial City.

...

Chu Zhiyuan drifted into the Imperial City and found Huang Zhengyang.

In his small courtyard, Huang Zhengyang curiously said, "Brother Chu, you want to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "Is it possible to enter and pay respects?"

Huang Zhengyang appeared hesitant, "Outsiders are not allowed into the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Can’t it be compromised at all?"

"... Let me think about it." Huang Zhengyang frowned contemplatively.

He paced back and forth, murmuring under his breath.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Brother Huang, you haven’t been to the Imperial Ancestral Temple either?"

Huang Zhengyang shook his head, "I’m not qualified to enter yet, as for Prince Zhuang ..."

"I don’t have such great influence before Prince Zhuang either." Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

He had considered going directly to Prince Zhuang, but he felt it would be overkill. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The favor of Prince Zhuang is not easy to owe, and even harder to repay.

He felt he’d already owed Huang Zhengyang enough favors; if there was trouble, it was definitely right to ask him.

He initially thought Huang Zhengyang held sufficient status to let him into the temple, but now seemed he underestimated the strictness of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

"Forget it, I’ll go find Prince Zhuang then." Chu Zhiyuan said.

Huang Zhengyang sighed, "Wait a moment, let me think of a way, see if there’s a way in, but Brother Chu, why do you want to enter the temple?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "To feel the aura of former emperors, to comprehend the Cultivation Realm."

Huang Zhengyang said, "That is indeed a wonderful cultivation method, but not everyone can use it, I’ll go first."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Thank you, Brother Huang."

"Between us, don’t mention it," Huang Zhengyang waved his hand and turned away, striding off briskly.

Chu Zhiyuan stood with hands behind his back in the courtyard, observing the entire Evil Extermination Department, while also watching Zhu Lingyun’s side.

Zhu Lingyun and his companions were extremely fast, reaching the peak of a mountain two miles outside the South City Gate of the Imperial City within a quarter of an hour.

Zhu Lingyun and He Lingchuan stopped while Zhong Lingyun continued forward, striding on the official road.

He eventually arrived outside the South City Gate, joining a long line.

Outside the South City Gate, more than forty City Guards stood at the gate, with four guards at the forefront.

These four City Guards all had faintly glowing golden eyes, scrutinizing the queue, as one by one, people moved forward.

After being inspected by two guards, another pair of guards checked again before letting people into the city.

The queue before Zhong Lingyun faced no issues, moving swiftly.

After a cup of tea’s time, it was his turn.

He saw the four City Guards suddenly wave, and the forty-eight lazy City Guard experts abruptly rushed at him.