Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 1053 - 1049: The Pursuit
"Tieya, you..." Zheng Shanggong shook his head repeatedly, "You insist on wasting effort."
"Elder, I still think this is a more prudent approach. What clues do we have?"
Zheng Shanggong looked at Zhou Jiangming.
Zhou Jiangming replied irritably, "Since he’s willing to give it a try, let him try."
Zheng Shanggong waved, "Follow me."
They walked out of the grand hall, slowly descended the steps, crossed a flat plaza, passed through several courtyards, and finally arrived outside a courtyard at the northwest corner.
Zheng Shanggong directly pushed the door open and entered.
The Great Heavenly Demon Palace was situated at a high altitude, far away from the dust layer, so hardly any dust fell.
This courtyard clearly showed signs of long unoccupation; it was elegant yet cold, showing no signs of life.
Withered leaves and faded flowers had piled up in a thick layer, covering the soil of the flowerbeds.
A small stream remained clear, flowing from the base of the east wall, babbling past a small pavilion, through the flowerbeds, and out at the base of the west wall.
A few fish swam leisurely in the stream.
"This is Senior Brother He’s residence."
Zheng Shanggong’s gaze was intense, revealing an emotional expression as if lost in past memories.
Leng Tieya asked, "Were you well-acquainted with this senior?"
"I entered the palace a thousand years after Senior Brother He. When I first joined, he took great care of me," Zheng Shanggong sighed, shaking his head, "Without Senior Brother He’s help, I wouldn’t be where I am today."
Leng Tieya solemnly nodded.
Zheng Shanggong said, "Senior Brother He had extraordinary talent but sought thrill and danger in his actions, unrestrained and free-spirited."
Leng Tieya frowned.
Such actions may bring gratification, but they might not lead to a long life.
After all, this world remains very dangerous, full of unexpected events.
"But Senior Brother He’s luck was always fantastic, gaining many fortuitous encounters, leading to increasingly powerful cultivation."
"The elder must have been very envious."
"Every disciple of our generation envied Senior Brother He; he was the most dazzling presence."
"Was the Phoenix Blood Jade also a fortunate encounter?"
"Indeed, not everyone would have such fortune, only Senior Brother He could obtain such a treasure."
"Does it have uses for those without the Phoenix bloodline?"
"Phoenix True Blood can accelerate one’s cultivation growth rate by at least doubling it."
Leng Tieya said, "Such a treasure would surely attract coveting, wouldn’t it?"
"Naturally, we also judged there were those coveting this treasure, and besides, Senior Brother He didn’t possess just this one treasure, but at least four or five captivating treasures."
Leng Tieya said, "It couldn’t be disciples of our Great Heavenly Demon Palace, right?"
"That’s impossible!" Zheng Shanggong’s expression changed, hastily waving his hand, "Disciples of the Great Heavenly Demon Palace are strictly forbidden from killing each other; otherwise, they will face backlash from the Demon Abyss."
He then snorted, "Tieya, you don’t presume that this palace rule is merely decorative, do you?"
Leng Tieya said, "What if they collude internally and externally, just providing information?"
The disciples of the Great Heavenly Demon Palace cannot kill each other, but that only means they cannot personally deal the killing blow.
Secretly leaking whereabouts leading to an ambush and death cannot be blamed on them, right?
Zheng Shanggong said, "As long as the intent to harm arises, and actions are taken, it constitutes mutual destruction... while they might deceive the outside world, they can’t deceive their own hearts, and naturally not the Demon Abyss. During realm advancement, they will suffer backlash from the Demon Abyss... Tieya, you must be cautious!"
"Understood." Leng Tieya slowly nodded.
He truly did not know about this.
If this were indeed the case, he might have to abandon this clone.
Fortunately, he hadn’t acted yet. If he weren’t aware of this and really dealt with Zhao Yuanfeng, he might face a backlash from the Demon Abyss the next time.
If he wishes to preserve this clone longer, he must avoid causing harm to disciples of the Great Heavenly Demon Palace first.
Zheng Shanggong sighed, "The other sects are all jealous of Senior Brother He, and it’s highly possible they were the perpetrators."
Leng Tieya said, "With the means of the palace, couldn’t they trace Senior He’s aura and find his whereabouts?"
The Great Heavenly Demon Palace houses so many brilliant individuals. With their skills, shouldn’t this be manageable?
Zheng Shanggong forced a smile and shook his head.
Leng Tieya seemed puzzled.
Zheng Shanggong sighed, "Senior Brother He possessed treasures that could mask his aura and life force."
Leng Tieya came to a realization.
Zheng Shanggong shook his head, "The ways of the world are indeed rather wondrous; benefits and drawbacks often lie so closely together."
Leng Tieya said, "Without such treasures, our Great Heavenly Demon Palace would have long identified the culprit?"
"Exactly!" Zheng Shanggong sneered, "This vendetta would have long been avenged!"
"Elder, there’s another possibility," Leng Tieya said, "That this Senior He might still be alive."
"If alive, he should have returned long ago," Zheng Shanggong shook his head.
Leng Tieya said, "How can you be sure that Elder He has indeed perished?"
Zheng Shanggong said, "Senior Brother He’s identity token has shown cracks; it signifies that his soul has returned to the Demon Abyss."
Leng Tieya lowered his head to look at his own identity token.
Zheng Shanggong said, "The identity tokens of our Great Heavenly Demon Palace are made from Strange Stone and connected to a disciple’s soul. Once it shatters, it means the soul has returned to the Demon Abyss."
Leng Tieya asked, "What if entering the Grotto Heaven?"
"Entering Grotto Heaven would not cause cracks on the identity token; only returning to the Demon Abyss results in cracks."
"Senior He is undoubtedly doomed?"
"He has long reincarnated, perhaps not even knowing how many lives it has been."
Leng Tieya nodded slowly.
His time spent in the Great Heavenly Demon Palace was too long, and there were many mysteries he did not understand.
Huang Daochu would not reveal these things, nor would Zhao Yuanfeng.
Luckily, in this chat with Zheng Shanggong, he gleaned these insights.
Otherwise, he’d continue in his ignorance, making mistakes unknowingly, possibly even costing this clone.
Having reached this point, suffering such a loss would indeed be unwise.
Zheng Shanggong surveyed the small courtyard with sentimental eyes, "Search carefully and see if you can find any clues."
"This place has surely been searched many times by the elders already?"
"Naturally, everything that could be found has been. Tracking Senior Brother He’s whereabouts through the items here is already impossible."
"Where did Senior He go that time?"
"We don’t know," Zheng Shanggong said, "He acted on whims, did as he pleased, and wouldn’t inform us when he left."
Leng Tieya sighed, "Alright, I’ll give it a try and see."
Zheng Shanggong said, "As long as you don’t damage anything, feel free to search."
He turned around and walked out, "If there really are no clues, then so be it. By now, this matter isn’t considered a task anymore."
Leng Tieya slowly nodded.
Zheng Shanggong stepped outside the courtyard, leaving Leng Tieya there alone.
Leng Tieya began inspecting the main hall, which was elegantly decorated, yet old and desolate.
He finally came to the living quarters.
He hoped to sense any auras from personal belongings, thus finding the Phoenix Blood Jade.
The Phoenix Blood Jade was his ultimate goal.
The existence of the Sealing Spirit Talisman was a sharp blade hanging over Li Miaotan’s head.
And the Phoenix Blood Jade was Li Miaotan’s finest treasure to rapidly advance her bloodline evolution.
When Li Miaotan became strong enough, even with the Sealing Spirit Talisman, it couldn’t kill her or be used against her.
...
After searching around, he shook his head in disappointment; the items in the living quarters were useless.
Through them, he couldn’t sense any aura of this Senior He.
He then went to the study.
The north, east, and west walls had shelves filled from floor to ceiling with books.
Leng Tieya began inspecting the books.
He even directly stored them in his Storage Silver Ring, then opened a Light Gate and arrived at the Demon Suppression Divine Palace.
He divided them into three parts.
Chu Zhiyuan, Chu Liezhao, and himself, each reviewed a portion.
In the books, they finally found a clue about the Phoenix Blood Jade.
It was written on a page of a travel journal, just a few short sentences.
This travel journal narrated a legend.
It was the legend of the Phoenix Blood Jade.
Through this travel journal and legend, that Senior He found the Phoenix Blood Jade.
