Zhou Chongming said: "The Heaven-Reaching Sect is so formidable, it’s truly a pity to miss this opportunity. Based on Mr. Zhang’s conduct, it does seem righteous, so you can join without worry. People should always seek higher ground, Zhiyuan, you should take a step further."

Chu Zhiyuan replied: "Sect Leader, Martial Uncle, I believe with the Heavenly Sword Secret Scripture, it is sufficient to become a Spirit Venerable, so I don’t really want to join the Heaven-Reaching Sect... Besides, there might be a heap of responsibilities, which are more troublesome than the current ease."

"Becoming a Spirit Venerable is uncertain," Meng Xusheng said: "There are countless young geniuses whose progress is rapid beneath the Spirit Venerable level, but ultimately get stuck before reaching Spirit Venerable."

Xu Qianfan said: "The Heaven-Reaching Sect can accommodate both sects. Even if you join them, you’ll still be a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. If I were you, I would have agreed a long time ago. Zhiyuan, don’t you want to see what higher-level absolute skills look like?"

Meng Xusheng chuckled: "Higher-level absolute skills... truly irresistible."

They nodded in agreement.

Not to mention Chu Zhiyuan, so young and brimming with natural talent; even they were itching to glimpse such skills.

Lu Wanshan said: "Zhiyuan, don’t have any reservations, just decide on it!"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled wryly.

He couldn’t reveal that he possessed the Three Elements Technique, his most core secret.

"Zhiyuan, you’re the one benefitting here, don’t put on a sour face!" Meng Xusheng joked: "Your good days are here!"

"I’m just afraid that my hardship days have arrived. My current days are quite good," Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

Xu Qianfan laughed: "One has to have a bit of ambition to strive for a swift entry into the Spirit Realm, as we have yet to see anyone become a Spirit Venerable before a thousand years of age!"

"Fine, I’ll do my best," Chu Zhiyuan sighed.

...

In the evening, as the setting sun descended, Chu Zhiyuan and Huang Zhengyang entered the Imperial City.

Huang Zhengyang let out a long breath and chuckled: "These guys have quite an insight."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

The Undying Evil Venerable in You Meng Heaven was also at the Venerable Perfect Realm, all top-level experts.

Their death was big news.

With several Venerable Perfect Realm experts dying consecutively, You Meng Heaven was already roiling with turbulence.

All kinds of information spread, and those with guilty consciences immediately felt uneasy.

In such circumstances, they dared not act recklessly nor easily descend into Biyuan Heaven.

The two walked among the bustling crowds, sensing the prosperity of a peaceful age.

Huang Zhengyang laughed: "Brother Chu, at this rate, it won’t be long before the Undying Evil Venerable is eradicated."

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Eradication is difficult. These Undying Evil Venerables don’t give up easily, won’t stop trying, and will continue probing."

To give up easily, one couldn’t become an Undying Evil Venerable.

Therefore, there will inevitably be repeated testing and entanglements.

But there won’t be as frequent and numerous descents as before; there will be hesitations.

"That makes things much easier," Huang Zhengyang mused: "It’s as if the toughest times have been endured."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

"Brother Chu, now you can focus on your cultivation," Huang Zhengyang said: "And I can relax a bit and train properly."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and cupped his hands.

The two parted ways, each returning to their own residence.

As he stepped into his courtyard, he found Zhang Ji Yuan standing in the center, hands behind his back, gazing at the sky with a melancholic expression.

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his hands respectfully: "Mr. Zhang."

"Sigh..." Zhang Ji Yuan let out a sigh, gestured towards the stone table with his mouth: "This is for you."

Chu Zhiyuan looked at the Ink Jade Box in the center of the stone table.

Under the setting sun, the Ink Jade Box emitted a gentle glow, exuding a sense of age and wear.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and asked: "What is this?"

"A part of our Heaven-Reaching Sect’s mental method," Zhang Ji Yuan said: "If you read this and still don’t want to join the Heaven-Reaching Sect, then so be it."

Chu Zhiyuan approached, looking at the Ink Jade Box, and smiled: "This won’t be easy to open, right?"

"In the world, only a few can open it. Xiao Chu, you can give it a try; you can only see what’s inside if it opens."

"Then I’ll give it a shot." Chu Zhiyuan scrutinized the Ink Jade Box, placing his hands on the two corners.

Each corner contained a pattern hidden within the ink jade, invisible to the naked eye.

Zhang Ji Yuan sighed: "Indeed."

Chu Zhiyuan looked up at him.

Zhang Ji Yuan said: "You truly are extraordinarily gifted to be able to sense them."

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled: "If I couldn’t sense them, I wouldn’t be able to master the Ascension Technique."

"It seems it’s not by chance," Zhang Ji Yuan said: "Look at it, it will broaden your horizons."

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled while gently pressing on the patterns, channeling the aura of the Ascension Technique, causing lines to appear on the Ink Jade Box.

The golden lines grew denser, resembling countless golden threads rapidly entwining the box.

In the blink of an eye, the lines became so dense they formed a sheet of golden light.

"Pa!"

A crisp sound.

The golden light instantly converged within the opened box, diving into a thin booklet inside.

The thin booklet was made of golden silk, polished in purple gold hue, exuding a sense of elegance.

The golden light entered the booklet, causing it to flicker twice before slowly floating up.

Chu Zhiyuan was astonished, looking at Zhang Ji Yuan.

Zhang Ji Yuan’s expression was calm, observing this floating golden booklet as it slowly opened.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at the booklet.

The Super Sense couldn’t make out its contents; he could only see with the naked eye.

The booklet’s cover bore no words, only intricate patterns, like thousands of flowers packed together, layer upon layer, densely intertwined.

Chu Zhiyuan focused his eyes.

Through the patterns, he quickly discerned three characters: Returning God Technique.

Chu Zhiyuan’s eyebrows twitched.

The first page slowly turned, still filled with dense patterns.

Mysteriously, he could make out the illustrations and text.

Remarkably familiar, the First Form was similar to the First Form of the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Forms.

He shut his eyes to ponder, noting only subtle differences.

When he reopened his eyes, the booklet had gradually turned to the second page.

The second page’s designs differed from the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Forms, and the Third Form remained dissimilar, with no resemblance.

Then nothing more was there.

It slowly descended back into the box, and suddenly, golden light burst forth, enveloping the Ink Jade Box.

From the gold light that shimmered like water, a "pa" sound emerged.

Gold light vanished instantly, revealing the ink jade box had closed once more on the table.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned thoughtfully.

Zhang Ji Yuan remarked: "You truly should be a disciple of our Heaven-Reaching Sect!"

Chu Zhiyuan closed his eyes, contemplating the contents of these three forms, comparing them with the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Forms.

He mentally rehearsed them.

Feeling unsatisfied, Chu Liezhao started practicing in his own courtyard at the Prince Consort Mansion.

First, he practiced the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Forms, then rehearsed these three forms.

Carefully examining and comparing the differences between the two.

He discovered these three forms were expansions and extensions of the First Form of the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Forms.

Practicing all three forms together led to faster progress than solely practicing the First Form of the Spiritual Abyss.

It was akin to breaking down the Spiritual Abyss First Form into three parts; practicing the trio was more efficient than practicing the spiritual form alone.

A realization dawned.

The Heavenly People were undoubtedly dissatisfied with the slow advancement of the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Forms, hence concocting methods for improvement. Judging by the results, it’s effective.

The wisdom of the Heavenly People was exceptional, not to be underestimated.

He opened his eyes as Zhang Ji Yuan smiled: "How was it? Enlightened?"

"Impressive!" Chu Zhiyuan responded gradually.

Zhang Ji Yuan asked: "Yet you’re still unwilling to join the Heaven-Reaching Sect?"

Chu Zhiyuan pondered.

Zhang Ji Yuan became invigorated and quickly said: "If it weren’t for needing manpower to unlock inheritances, joining the Heaven-Reaching Sect would not be this easy. This opportunity is rare."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Well, refusing again would indeed be ungrateful."