Chapter 975: Upper Instrument (1+1/2)

Chapter 977: The 974th Supreme Rite

"Clang!"

The long halberd swept left and right, deflecting two incoming spiritual weapons. The immense recoil forced two Profound Suppression Constructs to retreat a step. A golden figure then leaped from the halberd, smashing heavily into the head of one house-sized construct, stirring up a storm. A ray of heavenly light seized the opportunity to pierce through the storm, aiming directly at the spiritual official protected by the two constructs. However, this spiritual official displayed considerable spiritual agility and immediately retreated. But the attacking True Master had already summoned the Upper Radiance, which struck heavily onto the spiritual official’s body.

Instantly, white smoke billowed. The two Profound Suppression Constructs immediately turned their weapons and thrust at the man behind them. Yet, Li Zhouwei did not lower his Heavenly Pass; his body was already ablaze with black flames, activating his:

Jiazi Soul Refining Halberd Technique!

Black flames surged behind him, extending four arms that suddenly grabbed the two beam-sized weapons. Though Li Zhouwei was tiny compared to them, like an ant shaking a tree, he stood perfectly still. Instead, the two constructs stumbled, kicking up dust everywhere. His divine ability condensed, and his two hands formed seals in front of him before he unleashed his power:

Ritual to Heaven’s Gate!

The enormous Heavenly Gate immediately descended from the sky, carrying fierce purple flames. It did not strike the constructs behind him, nor did it smash down on the spiritual official held by the Upper Radiance. Instead, light and flames intertwined, pressing down on the silver-white Profound Bell in the sky! He had no need to engage in prolonged combat with the three Profound Suppression Constructs. The Ritual to Heaven’s Gate excelled at suppression, and constructs are foolish; naturally, he would seize the item and leave. The power of Investigate the Obscure unfurled, and every spiritual lightning point in the entire sky instantly appeared in his mind.

"Boom!"

Although the Profound Bell was indeed a treasure, and its connection with the spiritual official was extremely deep, how could it withstand the full suppression of the Ritual to Heaven’s Gate? In an instant, its magical light dissipated, returning to its original form: a fist-sized silver bell.

Li Zhouwei’s movements did not slow down in the slightest. His golden eyes lit up, and scale patterns reappeared on his face. The hands that had been forming seals to fully unleash his divine ability immediately relaxed. He suddenly turned around, placing one hand in front and one behind on the two weapons! He clenched his teeth, and golden light, like lightning, quickly climbed from his hands onto the weapons, then swiftly passed to the two constructs. The bodies of the sixteen Profound Suppression Constructs were sturdy, but Li Zhouwei’s magical body was certainly no less formidable.

"Rise!"

Instantly, terrifying dust spread. These two mountain-sized constructs were pulled from the ground in an instant, becoming as fragile as dolls kicked violently from a seesaw. They stirred up sonic booms, spinning rapidly in the air for two full rotations before being released. Like a blazing comet radiating heat, they shot into the sky. Their target was precisely where the lightning-dense Purple-Gold Profound Mace was, right where Miao Huanzun had just seized it! Li Zhouwei was covered in flickering light and energy waves. His divine ability had already pulled the silver bell back. He did not delay with the spiritual official in front of him. With the spiritual embryo in hand, his body transformed into golden light and vanished across the void!

Thunder was raging in the sky. The three Purple Mansions surrounding the Purple-Gold Profound Mace and Miao Huanzun felt a chill behind them simultaneously. They almost instantly looked up, but the terrifying sonic boom arrived in a flash, leaving them stunned:

"Boom!"

The two mountain-sized constructs had crashed down!

These constructs were inherently heavy and sturdy. The thunder in the sky was instantly shattered, creating scattered light. Miao Huanzun, directly in their path, his pupils suddenly dilated. He managed to shift half a body length sideways. His entire body’s lightning magic power dispersed upon impact, transforming into rolling thunder-plasma that first scattered then reformed. Only then did he stand dumbfounded, but a golden light descended from the sky at an even faster speed. The rapidly enlarging golden body and the face full of golden scale patterns were reflected in his pupils. Miao Huanzun only had time to immediately retreat, letting out a rolling shriek with his divine ability:

"It's White Kylin!"

The black-clad man on the other side reacted the fastest. He just raised his hand, facing the oncoming heavenly light, and quickly conjured a gust of black water wind. It blew directly at the attacking man, and he cursed with an ugly expression:

"How did another one come?!"

This black water wind surged like a sea cliff wind, carrying a damp, sticky yin energy. It blew directly at the attacking golden light, turning into strands of entangling, confusing light, intending to push it away. Li Zhouwei, however, opened his eyes wide, and intense heavenly light instantly turned his pupils pure gold, activating:

Monarch's Perilous Path!

Adapting to the times, returning to the right path!

This rolling black wind seemed to become a certain proof and extension. The man in front of him, ironically, sped up by three points, breaking through the black water. The long halberd instantly magnified before his eyes, exploding with a crash onto the black-clad man’s hands, which he had raised in horror!

"Buzz..."

The man instantly became an arrow loosed from a bow, falling with a crash into the sea of clouds. Rolling colorful light and heavenly light intertwined on his body. Li Zhouwei did not unleash a divine ability but suddenly turned his head. His dark golden eyes, revealed after the pure gold faded, pierced towards Miao Huanzun.

Miao Huanzun felt both aggrieved and furious, a burning thought flashing through his mind:

"What a beast! Am I a mid-stage Purple Mansion, or are you a mid-stage Purple Mansion... Do you really think no one can control you?!"

The most powerful figures in a Grotto-Heaven were the Grand True Masters. Below them, naturally, were the mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivators with three divine abilities. Miao Huanzun believed himself to be a step below figures like Tuoba Ci, but aside from a few major powers, he, Miao Huanzun, was still a ranked figure!

‘Let me teach you to respect your elders!’

In a flash, the White Kylin’s long halberd had already thrust forward, carrying three bright, dancing white streams of light, radiating colorful light. Miao Huanzun sneered inwardly, lightly flicking his sleeve, already summoning a small purple trident. The small trident was about an arm's length, intertwined with purple and white, and infused with dark purple lightning, making it quite striking. With a clang, the trident precisely parried the halberd. Miao Huanzun then summoned a purple gourd, but then felt a chill behind his head. Presumably, those who had previously surrounded him had made a move again. He had to obstruct them with his divine ability, his eyes transforming into lightning light, seeing through the incoming green divine ability. This delay was only a single step, yet another golden light leaped from the halberd in front of him, thrusting towards his face, activating:

Great Ascension Effect Attached!

This miraculous technique had repeatedly achieved success, and this time was no exception. It made Miao Huanzun slightly stunned, forcing him to interrupt his action and respond with a mouthful of thunder. Li Zhouwei, however, suddenly exerted force, condensing his divine ability and rotating the halberd again.

"Bang!"

The purple lightning on both sides instantly exploded. The Great Ascension, resisting the lightning trident, advanced another inch, almost piercing Miao Huanzun’s eyes. The dazzling heavenly light had already dissipated the divine ability on his face, causing cold sweat to silently appear.

"You!"

Li Zhouwei, by surprise, reached him, giving him no time to react. The light from his glabella exploded forth, smashing heavily onto the divine ability on the opponent’s face!

"Boom!"

Miao Huanzun reacted extremely quickly. He had long known that Li Zhouwei had a glabella technique. Intense purple lightning had already enveloped his face. But the Upper Radiance, empowered by Monarch’s Perilous Path, had advanced another level. It immediately caused his head to snap back violently, leaving him dizzy and coughing up a mouthful of black blood. He extended two fingers, his eyes cold with fury, and likewise activated his divine ability!

Precisely at this moment, a sharp, cold edge emerged from the darkness, pointing directly at Miao Huanzun’s glabella! Li Zhouwei did not look back, already knowing who had struck: One of the three who had surrounded Miao Huanzun! Also, one of the reasons Li Zhouwei believed there was an opportunity to seize! With spiritual perception restricted, others might not know who was seizing what, only able to seize whatever was nearby. But Li Zhouwei saw it most clearly, even able to gauge how much certainty he had in each direction he went. That’s why he didn’t strike immediately, but quietly waited for the opportune moment! And now the situation was clear. The Grotto-Heaven was truly vast, and even with intense lightning creating a grand spectacle, the most advantageous competitors in the short term were still Miao Huanzun and Tuoba Ci. Tuoba Ci was clearly more interested in the three sets of short swords... As long as Chen was on his side, even if he showed some favoritism, dealing with Miao Huanzun in front of him was certainly not a problem!

Miao Huanzun felt both cold and angry. Even if Chen hadn’t made a big name for himself, he had spent a lot over the years, forging a spiritual sword. Coupled with his sword essence, even Miao Huanzun couldn’t ignore it. Finally, purple light burst from his eyes, and he roared:

"You’re going too far!"

Then, a purple-black light pierced through heaven and earth. Silver-white profound lightning descended from the vast dark clouds, but upon touching him, it immediately transformed, becoming purple-black lightning rotating around him, emitting a deep, heavy roar:

"Roar!"

Pacifying Edict!

A powerful surge of purple-black light spread out. The spiritual sword trembled continuously within the lightning. Chen was instantly pushed back several dozen feet, streams of lightning entering his body, causing him great pain. Along with him, an invisible figure in the air was also pushed out, retreating several steps with an ugly expression. His Thousand-Eyed Demonic Robe shimmered, revealing him to be True Master Luo from Southern Border.

"Clang!"

The purple-black light pressed forward. Li Zhouwei heavily planted his halberd in the air. Similarly, heavenly light and colorful clouds converged. Monarch’s Perilous Path operated, and the talismans within his body resonated and dissolved, sweeping away all the lightning within him. He only retreated three steps!

Li Zhouwei was suddenly surprised.

‘It can even activate the talismans?’

The Bright Yang lineage inherently possessed the miraculous power of demon-breaking. But the Miao family’s lightning was special. Although it had been tainted with blood qi through special methods, it didn't fall within the scope of various demon-breaking spells. Hence, it had always been able to roam freely, claiming to be the righteous path. But Bright Yang did not recognize evil lightning; the demon-breaking and evil-dispelling power that illuminated the sun and moon had reacted!

Such a good opportunity! He couldn't think too much. The scale patterns on his face became brighter, and the light from his glabella was boundless. Taking advantage of the person in front thinking he was stunned by the lightning and his magic power was insufficient, his divine ability rapidly activated:

Imperial Qi Light.

Then, a circular hole immediately appeared in his glabella. Inside, it was dim without any light, but the surrounding edge was extremely bright, like an eclipse omen, facing Miao Huanzun! Miao Huanzun specialized in lightning magic power, moving to defeat enemies with techniques. And the divine ability Pacifying Edict was a clearing ability; the closer the distance, the greater its power. It was perfectly suited for use when being forced close by a powerful figure with such a divine ability. He had waited a long time, precisely to activate Pacifying Edict when everyone was around him, so he could withdraw in time.

Now, having intimidated everyone, he immediately conjured lightning. He even had time to raise his purple gourd, preparing to leave a cluster of flashing lightning for several people. Unexpectedly, just as his magic power began to circulate, his life divine ability again transmitted a sense of danger.

"Hm?"

Then, the eclipse omen at the center of the man’s glabella abruptly contracted. Infinite light surged out from within, countless fine and sharp rays, curving and continuous, golden in front and black behind, trailing long, thin tails, like venomous snakes. They rushed towards him one after another with terrifying speed.

"What kind of spell is this?!"

His calculation was certainly good, but who could have imagined that his divine ability would be so easily countered by the opponent? Fortune and misfortune were intertwined; this slight pause instead plunged him into endless trouble. Moreover, the distance was extremely close, so much so that he couldn't even shift sideways in time. He only had time to raise his sleeve, forcibly interrupting the divine ability he was performing, attaching a ray of lightning to his body, and sternly saying:

"How audacious!"

These words were still in his mouth, not yet uttered, when dense Imperial Qi Light already danced and leaped, raining down upon him. These tiny streams of light, golden in front and black behind, were only thumb-thick, yet they were fast and sharp. Lightning was not inherently good at defense, let alone at such close range! For a moment, his body violently shook. Even though his divine ability was also operating, it was like being in an infernal fire prison. Purple blood mist sprayed from his body front and back. Streams of light embedded themselves in his flesh and lightning. Even more, streams of Qi light climbed onto the Purple-Gold Profound Mace, forcibly suppressing his lightning light and locking it down! But what terrified him even more was that Li Zhouwei’s eyes lit up again, and the eclipse omen at his glabella suddenly reversed, glowing from within.

Upper Radiance!

Miao Huanzun, through one misstep, felt an infinite chill in his heart. He immediately understood: he either abandoned the spiritual artifact in his hand and fled, or he would solidly take this magical light, falling into a more troublesome and potentially seriously injured situation! In such fierce competition, he would certainly gain no significant rewards in the Grotto-Heaven! Even though he was reluctant to part with the lightning artifact in his hand, Miao Huanzun ultimately decisively let go. He transformed into rolling thunder-plasma and scattered away, not even leaving a single harsh word, only silently and embarrassingly dispersing.

Only the small snake-like, golden-black Imperial Qi Light streams locked the Purple-Gold Profound Mace, which then fell into White Kylin’s hands.

Li Zhouwei held the halberd in one hand, while the black flames behind him extended an arm to receive it. He stood in the clouds like a fearsome god. Behind him, two black flame arms held a green cauldron and a thunder mace, respectively. His gaze was sharp, without any slack, and he slightly tilted his head, as if listening to something.

"Petty tricks!"

He sneered, suddenly raising his hand, and with lightning speed, he conjured something from thin air. Hearing a piercing sound, rolling black energy emerged from his hand, faintly boiling with golden energy. It was a flying divine ability dart! The dart was still struggling in his hand. His gaze was not focused on his hand but directly on the pale-faced black-clad man in front of him. This Purple Mansion cultivator had just been struck down from the clouds by him but was then caught by the Profound Suppression Constructs that also fell. After being dragged for over a dozen rounds, he urgently suppressed them with a divine ability and quickly rushed over, but he was already a step too late. He could only look at Li Zhouwei with a wary gaze.

Li Zhouwei did not retreat by conjuring wind like Miao Huanzun. Miao Huanzun cultivated lightning; he could certainly escape from the three people’s grasp. But Li Zhouwei’s Monarch’s Perilous Path was not good at escape, nor did he want to make a big fuss. So his eyes were fierce as he quietly watched him, and the hand that held the other’s divine ability tightened slightly.

"Boom!"

Golden fire exploded, and black water rippled. The dart was actually crushed in his hand. As his golden eyes scanned around, the sword-wielding old man bowed slightly and disappeared. The demon wearing the Thousand-Eyed Demonic Robe gave an awkward smile, silently put away his dagger, and the black-clad man sighed deeply, also retreating.

At this moment, the entire world gradually quieted down. Only the rumbling pursuit sounds of the Profound Suppression Constructs remained. Separated by thick clouds, Tuoba Ci on the other side also put the three lightning short swords into his embrace. He gave Li Zhouwei a deep look, summoned his carriage, and then the rumbling sound of wheels quickly faded into the distance. As the cultivators who had obtained spiritual lightning quickly retreated, the sixteen Profound Suppression Constructs were rapidly converging. Seeing that Tuoba Ci’s side was already finished and there was no opportunity to exploit, Li Zhouwei did not linger for another moment. He immediately transformed into a ray of heavenly light and sped away.

‘The harvest is quite good! Miao Huanzun just condensed his third divine ability, and two others didn't want him to succeed...’

The golden light on his face slowly receded, and the eclipse omen at his glabella also faded and disappeared. Using his Investigate the Obscure ability, he had long locked onto an unexplored direction. Only then did he pretend to observe his surroundings, walking casually with light, but subtly raising his hand to reveal the Purple-Gold Mace. This mace was purple-gold, four feet two inches long, with a short handle. The mace body was quadrangular, densely covered with patterns depicting demon-slaying, evil-dispelling, and pacifying heaven and earth. It felt numb upon touch, and its silver-white light was restrained, truly a fine weapon! The weapon was sealed in the cauldron, but it had a master, making it difficult to refine or store for a while. He only bound it with heavenly light and fastened it to his waist. He then flipped his hand again, revealing a hint of green light.

In the previous battle, he obtained the two most important treasures, and this item was precisely the green square cauldron used to contain treasures in the Letter Kettle Palace—it had no supernatural power left by previous owners! As his Bright Yang divine ability continuously poured in and imbued it, the green square cauldron gradually began to glow. Golden light began to converge within its square mouth. First, the profound patterns of flying birds lit up, then the turtle patterns on its belly lit up one by one, and the lake patterns also shone brightly. By the time Li Zhouwei’s escape light stopped, pausing before a mountain peak, this spiritual artifact was finally refined by him. With a tremor, all the light suddenly converged, leaving behind a rich green glow:

Beneficent Courtyard Green Serene Profound Cauldron!

This item was a container used to hold spiritual materials in Wanling Heaven, but it was also one of the ritual vessels used for sacrifices. The Wanling Grand Sect was immensely wealthy; this item was even superior to Chang Xi’s Mountain-Moving Sea-Visiting Tiger.

"It's a spiritual artifact of the Gathering Wood lineage. This is my first time getting a Gathering Wood spiritual artifact... though I don't have many spiritual artifacts anyway..."

The most significant miraculous power of this item was called "Renovation." It could place damaged spiritual plants, pills, and spiritual resources of the same Dao lineage within it, causing them to regenerate vitality and restore quality. If a large quantity of Purple Mansion spiritual resources that did not conflict with Gathering Wood and were of the same Dao lineage were placed inside, this item would gather divine abilities, transforming them into spiritual elixirs. And this great cauldron’s Renovation also had an extremely important benefit: if water-attribute spiritual resources were placed inside instead of water-attribute spiritual items, and their quality was high enough, under the guidance of the Gathering Wood divine ability, it could even transform them into Purple Mansion spiritual water! As for fire-attribute... most conflicted with Gathering Wood, so it wouldn't work.

‘This is probably the most important function of this cauldron...’

Li Zhouwei secretly mused:

‘Fortunately, spiritual perception is restricted in the Grotto-Heaven. True Master Luo, who arrived hearing the commotion, only saw the spiritual lightning. Otherwise, he would have definitely fought for this item! It has great use in my hands anyway. At worst, when I need this miraculous ability, I can just ask him.’

After all, it was an item of the Dou Xuan Dao lineage. There were surprisingly two other miraculous powers. One was called "Yuan Heng," which could provide the owner of the artifact with a negligible amount of good fortune. He didn't know how much use it would be, but it seemed to be a method of auspicious qi. The second was "Beneficent Rite," which could finally be used in combat. It could continuously absorb lightning, water, metal, and light to suppress enemy divine abilities. Once full, it could release a ray of white light to protect the owner. Although the white light’s power was not great, its absorption ability had significant uses.

‘Next time I encounter Miao Huanzun, I’ll just use this to absorb his lightning torrent.’

He lightly flicked his finger, and the spiritual artifact transformed into a small cauldron the size of a finger. Its divine ability magic power condensed into a rope, automatically fastening itself to his waist. Li Zhouwei drew his Huayang King’s Battle Axe, raised an eyebrow, and looked. Before him was a beautiful, picturesque scene of Peach Blossom Spring mountains. Below stood a stele:

Clear Rite Peak.

The array here was much weaker than in the Letter Kettle Palace, and its connection to the Grotto-Heaven’s Profound Tactics was even more tenuous. However, the aura of the array was quite novel. Although he couldn’t discern its Dao lineage, he could vaguely estimate it to be one of the Twelve Qis, causing Li Zhouwei to take a second look:

"Another one... Having entered this Wanling Heaven, there are countless Dao lineages I don't recognize!"

Li Zhouwei split his light into three axes, shattering the grand array. Above it was a large plaque with four characters in clear, cloud-like white:

Shangyi Celestial Firmament.

On either side were two large white jade treasure vases, with faint patterns, spewing out bursts of spiritual energy. Unfortunately, they were not of the Purple Mansion level, and he deemed them too space-consuming for his storage bag. Li Zhouwei simply stepped inside, reaching the inner hall. Six large pillars stood in array, and at the very front were two rows of silver characters:

Comprehending Nine Profound Methods, Four Venerable LandsSix Harmony Treasure Vase, One Spiritual Heaven

Only then did he see painted screens standing on both sides, densely covered with golden characters at the top. Li Zhouwei scanned them and immediately knew that the paintings contained a discourse on artifact refining, called the "Six Harmony Treasure Vase Treatise," which discussed methods for refining treasure vases. Li Zhouwei merely memorized this information. With a flick of his sleeve, his divine ability opened all the surrounding display cabinets. He successively took out six bottles of pills. With a sweep of his spiritual perception, he noted that due to the immense passage of time, even with the Grotto-Heaven’s excellent preservation capabilities, three bottles were ruined. They must have been stored for some time even back then. The remaining three bottles pulsed with energy; they were also spiritual pills of this lineage. They were silvery-white, like refined metal, and their aura was already somewhat unstable, without any discernible medicinal fragrance. He casually put them away and walked into the inner chamber of the cave dwelling. There, on the futon, lay a crystalline white skeleton, surrounded by magical light. Its cultivation in life was not high, probably at the Qi Refining stage, and it had committed suicide.

The skeleton held a jade slip, a jade pot, and two spiritual artifacts that had degenerated from spiritual embryos. Li Zhouwei casually collected the items and saw that the jade pot contained a cloud-like spiritual liquid, possessing an extraordinary, transcendent, bright, and profound aura.

‘Also of the same lineage!’

Even if this item was not a Purple Mansion spiritual material, it was at least a spiritual elixir. Li Zhouwei put it away with a flip of his hand and took out the jade slip to examine it. With a spiritual scan, he found:

Essence-Gathering Profound Origin Technique.

This item was surprisingly a Purple Mansion cultivation method with a Qi-gathering formula. It was an ancient method, its grade indiscernible. The latter half was incomplete, indicating that such major Dao lineages kept their secret techniques separately. The condensed divine ability was called "Clear Mind Banquet." But what moved Li Zhouwei even more was that this technique proclaimed itself to be "Shangyi," one of the Twelve Qis.

‘The Twelve Qis... Only eight are prominently known in the current era. Adding Hua Qi, which was obtained by Buddhist cultivators, and Zhe Qi, which sank into the Netherworld, there are only ten in total: Dao is Hua Qing Xi Zi Rui, Zhen Sha Sui Han Zhe... Two have almost become extinct...’

‘And of these ten, I've seen almost all of them. This lineage doesn't feel like the dazzling Hua Qi, nor like the obscure Zhe Qi... That means it's one of the remaining two.’

Characters appearing in this chapter:Li Zhouwei: early-stage Purple MansionMiao Huanzun: mid-stage Purple Mansion, Thunder Listening IslandTuoba Ci: mid-stage Purple Mansion, Tuoba familyChen: early-stage Purple Mansion