Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 1160 - 1156: Countermeasures

They exchanged glances, then withdrew their gaze.

Regarding Zhu Lingyun’s mission this time, as the top elders, they naturally understood it well.

Seeing Zhu Lingyun return alone now, and with no change in his aura, they sensed things hadn’t gone smoothly.

There must have been a mishap in between; otherwise, Zhu Lingyun returning at this moment shouldn’t be like this.

But this matter is confidential and not suitable for discussion here, especially when the Sect Master is not present.

Zhu Lingyun walked to a corner of the great hall, sat on the ground with legs crossed, eyes closed, and entered into meditation motionlessly.

The surrounding elders occasionally glanced at him.

Chu Zhiyuan, observing them like this, was extremely curious about the power operation rules of the Giant Spirit Sect.

As elders, do they not question this matter?

Knowing that something is amiss yet not speaking a word, not saying a single extra word?

This shows the Sect Master’s high prestige, overshadowing all the elders.

...

An hour later, a stern-looking middle-aged man floated into the hall.

Zhu Lingyun sensed it, suddenly opened his eyes, turned to look, then leapt up and landed in front of him, clasping his fists, "Master!"

Chu Zhiyuan watched him through Zhu Lingyun.

This middle-aged man’s face was square, his eyes large and spirited, with a piercing glow.

Almost everyone’s gaze would be drawn to his eyes and overlook other features.

Overlooking that he was neither tall nor muscular, merely of moderate build, even a bit thin.

Through Zhu Lingyun’s memories, Chu Zhiyuan knew this middle-aged man was the Sect Master Zhao Ruilin of the Giant Spirit Sect.

Zhao Ruilin glanced at the other elders in the hall and slowly said, "What happened?"

Zhu Lingyun slowly replied, "Master, when I woke up, I found all the senior and junior apprentices dead."

"Dead?!" An elder couldn’t help but exclaim, "Who did it?"

Zhu Lingyun shook his head.

"You didn’t see?"

"No." Zhu Lingyun looked bewildered, "I was cultivating, mysteriously entering a strange realm, unaware of how long had passed, and upon waking, found daylight had broken, surrounded by the corpses of seniors and juniors."

He looked pale, showing confusion and doubt, "Everyone is dead, not a single one survived, and all died bleeding from the forehead."

"Bleeding from the forehead?!" The middle-aged elder frowned, "What weapon caused this?"

Zhu Lingyun shook his head repeatedly, "It’s hard to tell, only saw a blood hole, seemed like a sword, yet also something else."

Another middle-aged man said gravely, "Xiaozhu, are you saying all the disciples died unknowingly by one person’s hand?... Is that possible?"

Zhu Lingyun said, "It’s possible many people did it, using the same martial arts, the same weapon."

An elder said seriously, "Xiaozhu, it’s also possible it truly was by one person’s hand."

Zhu Lingyun curiously looked at him, "Master Sun, even Master doesn’t have such cultivation, right?"

"Humph." Zhao Ruilin snorted, "I might be able to do it!"

Everyone understood that his words meant it was almost impossible.

The ones sent for secret operations were all experts, killing them all at once without any escape was nearly impossible.

An elder said seriously, "Was an array used?"

"Illusion array?"

"Highly likely."

Zhu Lingyun gently shook his head, "If it were an illusion array, it wouldn’t fool me."

Everyone exchanged glances and slowly nodded.

That statement was correct.

Zhu Lingyun had a unique constitution, with sharp senses and strong spirit, not concealable by an illusion array.

An elder sighed, "How was it done, then?"

Zhao Ruilin said gravely, "This matter will eventually get out, slowly inquire, there will be news."

An elder said seriously, "Senior, it’s unsettling not knowing it, if it was one person, it’s terrifying, if a group, will there be more actions?... Should we continue?"

Zhao Ruilin said, "Naturally."

As per the Spirit Venerable’s command, it must not be defied.

If it fails once, then try again, this matter must be completed.

He looked at Zhu Lingyun, "Lingyun, do you still dare to leave the valley?"

"Master..." Zhu Lingyun hesitated and said slowly, "Not figuring this out worries me, going out would be futile, it might get ruined again."

"Things can’t be that coincidental." Another elder shook his head, "Besides, we’re not the only ones acting, there’s other sects too, surely these folks won’t just target us?"

"Exactly, it can’t be that coincidental."

"Moreover, our actions are secretive, it couldn’t have been leaked, how could these folks find us again?"

"Move to another place."

"This time, it must be even more confidential."

"Only we know about this, could it really leak?... This time it’s all a coincidence, just bad luck. By the way, what happened to the Divine Statue?"

"Right, the Divine Statue must be retrieved, hopefully it wasn’t discovered by those City Guards."

"If they saw it, they’d certainly take it back."

"Then we’ll have to raid the city to retrieve it."

"Xiaozhu, what about the Divine Statue?" An elder looked at Zhu Lingyun.

Zhu Lingyun said solemnly, "The Divine Statue has been destroyed."

"Destroyed?!" All the elders exclaimed in shock.

Sect Master Zhao Ruilin also widened his eyes, saying seriously, "Destroyed?!"

Zhu Lingyun nodded gloomily, "It has turned into a pile of fragments, completely destroyed."

"Impossible!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"Hey, Xiaozhu, you misjudged."

"Hmm, likely the Divine Statue was moved away, and a pile of stones was used to deceive you."

No one can destroy the Divine Statue, no matter how strong, even a Divine Weapon can’t do it.

"Definitely mistaken."

"I think it was to fool Xiaozhu."

"Who are these people? Doesn’t seem like the Court’s work."

"Indeed doesn’t, very strange, could it be the Four Great Sects?"

"The Four Great Sects seem not to have such means, never heard of it,... is it the Dynasty’s secret force?"

"Looks like finding this group is necessary, without uncovering them, there won’t be peace of mind."

"... Agreed."

They nodded, reaching a consensus to first find out who this group of enemies is.

Only by identifying them can they continue planning with a calm mind.

"How to search?" Zhao Ruilin frowned at the elders.

They directed their gaze at Zhu Lingyun.

Zhu Lingyun said solemnly, "I truly didn’t see these people, can’t find them."

"No way at all?" An elder laughed, "Xiaozhu, your sensitivity far surpasses common people, surely you sensed something?"

Zhu Lingyun solemnly shook his head.

Zhao Ruilin frowned, "Junior Brother Hu, Junior Brother Sun, accompany Lingyun on a round, see what the situation is there, find any clues."

"Yes." Two middle-aged men sternly clasped their fists.

They were both skilled in tracking, particularly sensitive to traces.

"Go, be cautious." Zhao Ruilin motioned, "Lingyun, if anything goes amiss, withdraw promptly, don’t engage rashly."

"Yes, Master." Zhu Lingyun solemnly clasped his fists.

Since entering the valley, he’s maintained a serious demeanor, rarely smiling, hardly saying a word.

This cold and taciturn nature, ingrained deeply.

The Giant Spirit Sect members wouldn’t blame him, knowing there’s no need to haggle with a destined figure.

Chu Zhiyuan led the two elders, floating away from the hall, leaving the valley, heading towards the Imperial City.

By dusk, they reached a peak a mile away from the woods, stopping at a distance.

He looked solemnly, frowning, fixed on the distant woods.

Two middle-aged men whispered, "What is it?"

"There’s an ambush." Zhu Lingyun said solemnly, "Something’s off."

"There?" The two middle-aged men looked along his line of sight, concentrating, then shook their heads.

"Doesn’t seem like anyone’s there, Xiaozhu, did you spot them?" One middle-aged man asked quietly, "Who is it?"

Zhu Lingyun replied, "Didn’t see anyone, but sense something’s amiss, could be a trap."

He turned to leave, heading back towards the Giant Spirit Sect.

This made the two middle-aged men pause, then hurriedly floated to block him.

"Xiaozhu, what’s this...?"

"Better not to linger, return is best." Chu Zhiyuan said, "Master instructed earlier, avoid reckless ventures."

"... How about I go with Junior Brother Sun, while you stay here observing, if truly something’s wrong, you return to the sect, don’t worry about us."

A middle-aged man hesitated, then decided.

Zhu Lingyun hesitated.

The middle-aged man smiled, "We know some escape methods, if really outmatched, we’ll find a way to withdraw."

"... Alright." Zhu Lingyun thought a moment, glanced at them, then reluctantly nodded.

The two middle-aged men smiled.

Exchanging glances, they quietly floated forward in silence.