The Golden Sword drifted into the void, he did not use Super Sense, he couldn’t even see it clearly.

The Golden Sword could now be called the Shadowless Sword.

Its form dimmed to near nothingness, yet the power of the Golden Sword was several times stronger, causing him subtle alarm.

Even after continuously refining it, becoming one with the Golden Sword as if controlling his own limbs, he still felt alarmed.

A kind of power was too dominant, inducing a sensation of being unable to fully grasp it.

If it continues to grow stronger, activating the Golden Sword would require utmost caution, for it could easily slip out of control, hard to retract once unleashed.

The two had just stepped through the Imperial City South Gate, Chu Zhiyuan frowned immediately.

Huang Zhengyang was high-spirited, brimming with energy, looking at the bustling crowds around, he was eager to laugh out loud.

He turned his head, noticing Chu Zhiyuan’s odd expression, he quickly asked, "Brother Chu, what’s wrong?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "The Heaven-Reaching Sect has arrived."

"Ah—!?" Huang Zhengyang was startled, glancing around: "Where?"

"Waiting in my courtyard." Chu Zhiyuan replied.

His Super Sense had already clearly seen a middle-aged man standing in his courtyard.

Tall and slender, with an outstandingly handsome appearance, face like Crown Jade, eyes like cold stars.

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing skyward like a motionless statue.

Chu Zhiyuan had sensed the aura on him, it was indeed the Ascension Technique.

Knowing the man had likely sensed his aura too, knowing he had returned.

"Arrived so quickly." Huang Zhengyang said, "Can you sense if his intentions are good or ill?"

Chu Zhiyuan pondered.

He still couldn’t sense the good or ill intentions of the other party.

As if shrouded by a thin mist, visible yet unclear.

His current Super Sense, growing stronger with cultivation, had few treasures capable of concealing it.

Clearly, this person possessed such a treasure.

"Let’s go see the Director together." Huang Zhengyang quickly suggested.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered, gently shook his head: "I’ll face him first, you go find the Director."

He had already sensed the middle-aged man looking his way.

Even separated by miles, via the Ascension Technique, he could feel his gaze.

Huang Zhengyang said, "You should hide in the Evil Extermination Department first and let the Court negotiate with him."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Judging by now, it should be fine, I’ll handle it myself."

Through the Ascension Technique, he hadn’t sensed malice from the other party, his Super Sense activated, and instinct hadn’t issued warnings.

This indicated no danger.

Hence, it wasn’t necessary to involve the Court, which might complicate things unnecessarily.

"Brother Chu, don’t be careless!"

"Brother Huang, rest assured, if there’s truly danger, I won’t go over."

"Then let me fetch the Director to accompany you."

"Judging now, it seems there shouldn’t be an issue," Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "If there’s indeed trouble, I’ll send a signal, even escape, no need to involve the Director."

"...That works too." Huang Zhengyang nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan’s cultivation had already reached Venerable Ninth Rank Perfection, no less than the Director.

The Director hadn’t yet taken that further step to Entering Spirit.

Thus, if Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t handle it, likely the Director couldn’t either.

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands in farewell to him and floated back to his courtyard, arriving before the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man took two steps forward, smiling widely, "Chu Zhiyuan?"

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands: "May I ask who you are, senior...?"

"I am your senior brother Zhang Ji Yuan." The middle-aged man said with a smile, "A disciple of the Heaven-Reaching Sect."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "So, an expert from the Heaven-Reaching Sect, yet my senior brother?"

Zhang Ji Yuan chuckled, "Anyone who masters the Ascension Technique is under the Heaven-Reaching Sect, we’ve finally got a new member."

Chu Zhiyuan hesitated.

"Rest assured, the Heaven-Reaching Sect is different from other sects, more liberal and relaxed, won’t force disciples to quit other sects." Zhang Ji Yuan said, "You’re still a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect."

"Indeed, it sounds lenient, but..." Chu Zhiyuan said, "Just afraid the Heavenly Sword Sect might not be willing."

"Haha..." Zhang Ji Yuan laughed heartily.

Chu Zhiyuan was puzzled.

Zhang Ji Yuan said with a laugh, "The Heavenly Sword of the Heavenly Sword Sect is truly exceptional, but compared to the Heaven-Reaching Sect, it’s still quite far off."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Our Heavenly Sword Sect also has Spirit Venerables, who can traverse worlds."

"How many Spirit Venerables exist in the world?" Zhang Ji Yuan shook his head, "Moreover, Spirit Venerables perceive time and space differently than ordinary people, what seems a moment to them might be centuries for us."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

He was diligently contemplating and fathoming this situation, what the Spirit Venerable truly is, how to achieve such perception of time and space.

"Spirit Venerables are no longer akin to mortals, they see mortals as ants, so having Spirit Venerables doesn’t prove the strength of a sect, our Heaven-Reaching Sect has more Spirit Venerables than your Heavenly Sword Sect."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "What responsibilities do Heaven-Reaching Sect disciples hold?"

"None."

"None?"

"You wouldn’t think Heaven-Reaching Sect disciples need to exterminate those Undying Evil Venerables, right?"

Chu Zhiyuan hesitated.

Zhang Ji Yuan said, "Our Heaven-Reaching Sect pursues carefree freedom, unrestrained liberation."

"As a Heaven-Reaching Sect disciple, are there natural enemies?"

"None."

"What benefits do Heaven-Reaching Sect disciples receive then?"

"Benefits? It’s the Miracle Techniques and secret knowledge like the Ascension Technique, also the Void-breaking Skill, truly unimpeded, any world free to traverse."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "I don’t wish to join the Heaven-Reaching Sect."

Zhang Ji Yuan looked at him, puzzled.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I’m a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, unwilling to change allegiance."

"Makes no difference, you can be both a Heavenly Sword Sect disciple and a Heaven-Reaching Sect disciple." Zhang Ji Yuan said, "The two sects are unrelated with no interaction."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

Zhang Ji Yuan eyed him with confusion.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled slightly, "If I don’t join the Heaven-Reaching Sect, would you retrieve the Ascension Technique?"

Zhang Ji Yuan said, "After me, you’re the only one who mastered the Ascension Technique in the world, but as I know, you’re the first in history to refuse joining the Heaven-Reaching Sect."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "The Heaven-Reaching Sect is so enticing?"

"Our Heaven-Reaching Sect’s martial arts are rare in the world, disciples also face few restrictions, truly no reason not to join."

"Few restrictions mean one acts without scruples?"

"Naturally, acts of crime are unacceptable," Zhang Ji Yuan said, "Yet Heaven-Reaching Sect disciples aren’t heavily restricted, nor engage in such acts, which would contradict our mental method, causing extreme aversion."

"So that’s it..." Chu Zhiyuan realized.

The mental method of the Heaven-Reaching Sect is evidently like the Great Brightness Scripture, acts contrary to brightness affect cultivation, an inherent repulsion at its core.

Zhang Ji Yuan said, "Junior Brother Chu, think carefully, truly not joining the Heaven-Reaching Sect?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

Zhang Ji Yuan wore a puzzled expression, "Why not join the Heaven-Reaching Sect?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I’m a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, won’t pledge myself elsewhere."

"Your thinking is rather rigid, didn’t ask you to break out of your sect, you can join both sects simultaneously."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "If I don’t join the Heaven-Reaching Sect, would the Ascension Technique need retrieving?"

Since one can’t commit crimes, there’s no need for excessive caution.

"...Retrieving is unnecessary." Zhang Ji Yuan snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Though I can’t join the Heaven-Reaching Sect, I can befriend its members, right?"

Zhang Ji Yuan studied him.

Chu Zhiyuan looked back, smiling calmly.

Zhang Ji Yuan asked, "Do you not want to learn the Ascension Technique and the Breaking Sky Skill?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

Zhang Ji Yuan shook his head, "No one in the world can refuse these two techniques."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, shaking his head, "If I can become a Spirit Venerable, these techniques won’t be of much use, right?"

Zhang Ji Yuan said, "Learning these techniques aids in becoming a Spirit Venerable."