Chapter 3728: Rong Qiao Technique

Half a year passed. Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a futon, his gaze fixed intently on the Azure Lotus Cauldron.

A white-glowing banner floated within the cauldron, bearing the image of a white vulture on its surface.

After a moment, Wang Changsheng flicked his sleeve, and the snow-white flames at the bottom of the Azure Lotus Cauldron retreated into his sleeve. He stood up, walked forward, and opened the cauldron lid. A white-glowing banner flew out and hovered in mid-air. The room's temperature rapidly dropped, and the stone walls and ground began to freeze.

"It's finally done," Wang Changsheng said, his face showing joy. If he had used any other refining furnace, it would have been impossible to fuse the Ice Vulture's spirit into the Black Jade Banner in half a year, especially since the Black Jade Banner was an immortal artifact.

Wang Changsheng put away the Black Jade Banner, then looked at the characters on the cauldron's wall, his expression becoming solemn.

Over the years, he had frequently used the Azure Lotus Cauldron for artifact refining. Each time he did, he had to inject a massive amount of immortal spiritual power.

After the Azure Lotus Cauldron absorbed a large amount of immortal spiritual power, new characters would slowly appear on its wall. Sometimes a half-character, sometimes a full character would appear, depending on the amount of immortal spiritual power absorbed. The more spiritual power injected, the more new characters would appear.

It only absorbed immortal spiritual power when refining immortal artifacts; injecting any amount of immortal spiritual power into it during normal times was useless. This was a major reason why Wang Changsheng often helped outsiders refine artifacts.

Simply put, the more immortal artifacts he refined with the Azure Lotus Cauldron, the more characters would appear on its wall.

"Fusion Aperture Art! What kind of secret technique is this?"

Wang Changsheng was slightly taken aback. After years of effort, the newly appeared characters on the cauldron wall had formed a complete secret technique: the "Fusion Aperture Art."

The Fusion Aperture Art was a secret technique accompanying the "Profound Infant Aperture Opening Great Art." Practitioners could merge multiple divine abilities or laws to enhance their power. However, it had very high physical requirements; only a body comparable to that of a true spirit could wield this secret technique.

"Merging divine abilities or laws... it's a bit like a combined attack technique," Wang Changsheng mused to himself. When cultivators fought, one move was one divine ability, two moves were two divine abilities. According to the Fusion Aperture Art, immortals whose physical bodies were comparable to true spirits could merge divine abilities or laws to stack attacks. Of course, only immortals who cultivated the "Profound Infant Aperture Opening Great Art" could master this secret technique.

Wang Changsheng had exchanged insights on aperture opening and combat with other True Immortal cultivators, but he had never heard them discuss secret techniques similar to the Fusion Aperture Art. Could this be a unique secret technique of high-level aperture opening methods, or was it exclusive to the "Profound Infant Aperture Opening Great Art"?

If the Azure Lotus Cauldron was a Dao Artifact, Wang Changsheng believed the Fusion Aperture Art was an exclusive secret technique of the "Profound Infant Aperture Opening Great Art."

Dao Artifacts were the most supreme treasures in the Immortal Realm, possessing heaven-defying abilities that transcended the Heavenly Dao's laws. Even Dao Ancestors might not necessarily possess a Dao Artifact, which explained why Wang Changsheng couldn't fully control the Azure Lotus Cauldron.

In the lower realms, the Azure Lotus Cauldron could absorb spiritual energy and magic power to purify artifact refining materials. Its first major change occurred when it withstood a Nine-Heaven Divine Thunder. The second change happened when it endured the final tribulation lightning of the Ninety-Nine Thunder Tribulation. The third change was triggered by absorbing a sufficient amount of immortal spiritual power.

Wang Changsheng had consulted numerous ancient texts and inquired with other True Immortals about unusual immortal artifacts. He had formed a bold conjecture.

For some reason, the Azure Lotus Cauldron had fallen into slumber. Its material purification ability was a passive function, and it only showed signs of awakening after withstanding the Nine-Heaven Divine Thunder. It was still not fully awake.

The Azure Lotus Cauldron absorbing enough immortal spiritual power would help its awakening. Some special immortal artifacts behaved similarly: falling into slumber due to damage or other reasons, requiring specific conditions to awaken, and only upon awakening could all their functions be unlocked.

Wang Changsheng formed a hand seal, and the azure lotus pattern on the surface of the Azure Lotus Cauldron glowed brightly and slowly rose into the air. Soon, the lotus pattern's spiritual light faded, and the Azure Lotus Cauldron settled back onto the ground.

"Do I have to cultivate to the Dao Ancestor realm to fully control the Azure Lotus Cauldron?" Wang Changsheng wondered.

After absorbing a large amount of immortal spiritual power, he could operate the Azure Lotus Cauldron, but only for a very short time. Perhaps as the number of times he refined immortal artifacts increased, the duration he could wield the Azure Lotus Cauldron would also lengthen. It might even unlock new functions, and subsequent incantations for the "Profound Infant Aperture Opening Great Art" might appear on the cauldron's wall.

This was his analysis based on the changes the Azure Lotus Cauldron had undergone, and he also didn't rule out other possibilities.

This meant that Wang Changsheng using the Azure Lotus Cauldron to refine immortal artifacts would greatly aid its awakening. It would also unlock new functions and provide subsequent incantations for the "Profound Infant Aperture Opening Great Art."

Wang Changsheng memorized the content of the "Fusion Aperture Art." He sat cross-legged, silently recited the incantations, and began to cultivate.

Mastering this secret technique could enhance his strength.

***

In a secluded manor, Gao Shiyao sat in an azure stone pavilion while a burly young man in a green shirt reported to her.

"What? People from the Sun Family of Golden Egret Island and the Heavenly Ghost Sect have crossed the border and are active in our Nine Immortal Sect's territory?" Gao Shiyao frowned.

"Yes, they seem to be looking for something, or possibly someone. Their exact purpose is still unclear. We have already dispatched people to gather information on them," the young man in green reported.

Gao Yiming, an early Mahayana cultivator, worked in the Nine Immortal Sect's Intelligence Hall.

"The Bright Moon Alliance isn't trying to start a war with our Nine Immortal Sect, are they? Pass down my orders: instruct our affiliated forces to strengthen their vigilance and observe the movements of the cultivators from the Sun Family of Golden Egret Island and the Heavenly Ghost Sect. Ideally, capture one or two alive; if not possible, kill them." Gao Shiyao instructed.

"They have deployed True Immortal cultivators; we cannot handle them," Gao Yiming said, looking troubled.

"Regarding the True Immortal cultivators, I will have the Zhang Family and the Ice Clan send their True Immortal cultivators to deal with them. Since the Bright Moon Alliance's disciples haven't personally acted, our Nine Immortal Sect's disciples won't either." Gao Shiyao said gravely.

Gao Yiming breathed a sigh of relief and repeatedly assented.

"Oh, by the way, I heard there's Wind-Parting Grass on the Golden Star Archipelago," Gao Shiyao added. "Send someone to investigate. It's best if they find it, but don't worry if they don't."

Gao Yiming assented repeatedly and left to carry out the order.

"Is the Bright Moon Alliance causing trouble again, or is this just a test?" Gao Shiyao murmured to herself, her expression solemn.

She took out a golden-glowing dharma plate, cast a magic incantation into it, and said, "Fellow Daoist Yang, didn't you wish to establish a sect? Now there's an opportunity. True Immortal cultivators from the Sun Family of Golden Egret Island and the Heavenly Ghost Sect are active in our Nine Immortal Sect's territory, with unknown intentions. Send your people to eliminate them and ascertain their purpose. It would be best to leave their Nascent Souls intact. Later, I will commend your efforts before the Sect Master and grant you some well-situated islands to establish your sect."

"Alright, we'll get right to it," a clear male voice responded.

Putting away the golden dharma plate, Gao Shiyao let out a relieved breath. She murmured to herself, "With the Zhang Family, the Ice Clan, and Fellow Daoist Yang and his group, there shouldn't be any problem."