Chapter 1141: Lingbao (2+1/2)

Mount Quy, South Sea.

Wind and clouds surged and shifted at the mountaintop. Red light and flames shot skyward from the platform; golden patterns rolled across it. Beneath numerous bronze lamps lay a colossal profound furnace. The flames suppressed within it twisted and rose, their overlapping colors shimmering with a seven-hued brilliance.

Beside the profound furnace, the True Man in the sky-blue Daoist robe looked somewhat pale. His divine powers were stretched to their absolute limit as he strained to control the brilliance within the furnace. Yet, even with all his might, flames occasionally leaped out from it, forcing him to turn his head away.

This was True Man Liao Luo, the steward of Mount Quy and a cultivator at the Mid-Purple Mansion stage.

Above this bronze hall, a handsome man, simply clad in a robe, leaned against the main seat, drinking wine. His eyes casually swept over the furnace. Setting down his golden cup, he turned to look elsewhere. He saw a woman prostrating herself on the ground, holding a jade talisman, awaiting his words. Yet, no sound came from him for a long time. Instead, Di Yan rose and conjured a letter from thin air.

He gently unfurled the letter with a shake. A single glance sharpened the expression in his eyes considerably. Releasing it, he watched the letter dissipate into smoke, then turned his gaze. His dark golden eyes, like polished bronze, fixed intently on the flickering flames within the furnace. He watched the weapon taking shape there, his voice calm:

“Six whole years... you've done well, but after all, you added a Six-Kill Imperial Essence, so it’s still slow.”

Those two words made a bead of sweat trickle down Liao Luo's face, and a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the Great True Man turn, gaze at the bronze sword hanging on the wall, and suddenly grasp its hilt!

A splash of watery, cold light erupted. The Great True Man had already reversed the blade, resting it against his palm. His five fingers suddenly tightened, and divine power surged. Then came the clang of metal. Drops of dark golden, mercury-like spiritual blood flowed down the sword hilt, like a trickling stream, falling onto the weapon in the furnace.

This act caused Liao Luo's expression to subtly change, while Kuang Yu raised her head, a hint of worry in her eyes. Di Yan, however, remained impassive, his fingers tightening further. With a clang, he crushed the sword to pieces!

The trickle of dark golden blood finally ceased. The man casually tossed the shattered sword to the ground, seemingly unconcerned. He then took the jade talisman from the woman's hand, turned his head, and smiled:

“You've gained quite a bit, haven't you?”

Kuang Yu promptly replied, saying: “Five years ago, I began cultivating the magic arts, but progress was slow. Only now have I achieved a smooth flow of spiritual energy. I shall choose a day for secluded cultivation.”

A flicker of joy crossed Di Yan's brow. His five divine powers responded instantly, all channeling into the furnace flames. He chuckled, saying: “The path I've shown you will never be wrong. You've failed a few times, but this 'Separation of Yin and Yang, Monarch in Peril' is not just one facet. It is also a wondrous method of 'Wielding Yin to Cross Yang and the Yin Lord of the Central Palace'. It's a pity your cultivation cannot surpass Li Ximing, or your gains would be even greater.”

Kuang Yu nodded, but dared not disturb him.

The brilliant colors in the furnace fire were slowly contracting. With Di Yan's intervention, Liao Luo's complexion visibly eased. He exhaled, stepped aside, and watched the iridescent flames in the furnace gradually coalesce, then said with shame: “This disciple is incompetent; I have troubled your Celestial Majesty…”

Di Yan shook his head. His five divine powers, like great suns suspended in the sky, suppressed the furnace. He said: “You cultivate water-affinity arts, after all, so you cannot bring this matter to a close. Ultimately, I had to intervene.”

“As for this blood…” He smiled faintly: “My divine powers are perfected, primed to seek gold, akin to the morning's first light or the bird that quickens the dawn. This blood, like a spiritual essence, is locked within this weapon. It is also the ancient Way of Radiant Qi, perfecting the Bright Yang.”

“Your Highness has not yet undergone the Violet Ascent. After all, I will remain here to cultivate. The damaged vitality will slowly recover; there is enough time.”

Liao Luo sighed inwardly, no longer disturbing him. He watched as time intertwined and flames soared. After precisely eighty-one days of nurturing, Di Yan finally slapped open the furnace lid. A brilliant golden light emerged, settling into his hand. Both individuals beside him looked, but only saw a hazy golden glow. Liao Luo, mesmerized, stepped forward and simply said: “Such a divine weapon, I fear, would be difficult for even a Purple Mansion stage cultivator with ordinary divine powers to wield.”

Di Yan, meanwhile, examined it for a few moments, praised it, but said little more, a hint of nostalgia on his face.

Kuang Yu, however, was concerned about her elder using spiritual blood. Seeing that Di Yan was unharmed, she bowed and withdrew, saying: “This junior will now enter secluded cultivation.”

She bid farewell gracefully, appearing to be in good spirits. Seeing his junior sister cross a threshold years in the making, Liao Luo beside him also exhaled, rising to offer congratulations. Di Yan simply stared at the halberd and asked: “Has Shitang been pacified?”

Liao Luo quickly clasped his hands and replied: “All disturbances have ceased. General Liu Bai, the Protector of Jinghai and Great General who Conquered the South, possesses considerable skill. He also rode the light of True Qi, and even the Great Konghai Temple could not defeat him. This junior held back Ting Lei Island, and both Nan Shun Luojie and Nan Wu intervened. Thus, it has finally been pacified.”

“It's just that Liu Bai sustained some injuries.”

After listening to Liao Luo, Di Yan said: “The sea menace must be pacified. The northern cultivators have joined forces, and by coincidence, they have stirred things up, using Shanji to vex the Yang clan. However, this issue must ultimately be resolved. They dare to target the Yang clan, but they wouldn't dare to vex the Underworld Court.”

He gave a cold laugh, listening as Liao Luo lowered his gaze and said: “After all… the last person who vexed the Underworld Court perished, even with a celestial tome in hand.”

Di Yan made no comment, saying: “The celestial tome hasn't been found. Even Mount Changhuai could only vent by tormenting Jiang Boqing. What use was it to examine it? It merely disrupted fate. You say Duanmu Kui perished, which is true, but did the Underworld Court truly win?”

Liao Luo shook his head, somewhat incredulous, remaining silent for a long time. Di Yan dismissed the topic and asked in return: “What was Nan Wu's reply?”

Liao Luo paused, momentarily stagnant, then said: “Back then… without us, that formation could not have been negotiated. He also understood Your Lordship's intentions and was quite proactive. In this disciple's view, Nan Wu… is a clever man, capable of discerning this disciple's unspoken meaning.”

Di Yan's expression, however, remained largely unchanged. This Great True Man, confined to one place, took a step, looking self-possessed, and simply instructed: “Tell him to send the halberd over immediately, without delay.”

Liao Luo immediately acknowledged, hastily withdrawing. Only the Great True Man remained standing in the main hall. A hint of satisfaction appeared on his dark golden face. He quietly put away the jade talisman in his hand, leaned back against the main seat, and revealed a mysterious smile.

Profound Mystery Temple.

Gusts of wind swept through the mountain forests. Inside the temple, red candles flickered brighter and dimmer in the breeze, constantly dancing. Above, the portrait of the patriarch riding a donkey remained unmoving in the wind, its face blank.

Below, a Daoist priest, simply clad in a robe, stood quietly. He held three incense sticks in his hand, respectfully offering them. He then heard the man beside him whisper: “My Lord, the esteemed one from the Numinous Treasure Path has arrived… He should be descending from Qi territory now and is making his way here.”

Qi Lanyan raised his head, bowed to the portrait of the Patriarch Xuxiang, and praised: “Since he is at the Profound Mystery Temple, it is fitting for someone from the Numinous Treasure Path to arrive.”

The man lowered his brow and said softly: “Once he arrives, this southern expedition is sure to yield significant gains…”

Qi Lanyan, however, fell silent for a moment, then let out an impatient breath. Just