Chapter 368: The Fragile Immortal Sword

Tao Tianye was also helpless. Spreading her hands, she said, "There's nothing I can do. When I was creating the illusion, I discovered a big problem: people conjured out of thin air look unreal."

"Later, Master told me this is a common issue when building illusions. Whether you create people from scratch or combine features from several familiar individuals into one, it always looks fake."

"So, I had no choice but to use the images of people I knew. I thought about it, then asked for input from Master, the Second Elder, and the Eighth Elder. In the end, we all agreed that the Sect Master's image was the most suitable."

"Senior Brother, you're familiar with the Sect Master, so watching him as the protagonist doesn't give you a sense of immersion. But outsiders don't feel that way; they don't know the Sect Master."

Lu Yang: "..."

"Alright, you have a point."

The Fifth Elder said slowly, "Aside from Old Ninth's image, the plot is still very interesting."

The Fifth Elder had never considered this before. After experiencing this illusion, he suddenly realized that it seemed quite satisfying to pretend to be a low-level cultivator and then reveal one's true cultivation at a critical moment.

The Fifth Elder saw the immense business potential in Tao Tianye's invention. It held absolute appeal for mortals and low-level cultivators, and even mid-to-high-level cultivators found it very attractive.

Furthermore, this set of illusions is simple to promote and can be mass-produced.

Setting up the illusion isn't difficult; Tao Tianye developed a framework in less than half a month. If outsiders were to learn of it, piracy would become an issue.

The real challenge with this illusion system lies in who thought of it first.

"We need to apply for a patent soon."

"The formation array and the talismans are a set. Have you thought of a name for them?"

"Not yet. Senior Brother, can you help me come up with a name?" Tao Tianye asked Lu Yang for help, knowing that Senior Brother Lu was always quick-witted and had unique insights.

"Me?" Lu Yang was just enjoying the show. How did this task fall to him?

"Let me think. Illusions aren't real. Although one delves deeply into them while watching, wishing to take part, and feels melancholic afterwards, they are ultimately like reflections in water, dreamlike and ephemeral, not existing in reality… How about calling it…?"

"Illusory Bubble?"

"Illusory Bubble?" Tao Tianye's eyes lit up. She silently repeated the name several times, liking it more with each repetition.

"Yes, 'Illusory Bubble' it is!"

"'Illusory Bubble,' a good name," the Fifth Elder nodded. He had always trusted Lu Yang's naming ability.

His own title, "Heavenly King of Many Treasures," was also given by Lu Yang.

"Nephew Tao, do you have any more talismans? I need to take them back. How do we apply for the patent?"

"Yes, I do." Tao Tianye was surprised by how readily the Fifth Elder agreed. She handed over all the remaining talismans to him, then rolled up the formation array scroll and gave it to him as well.

After putting away the talismans and the formation array scroll, the Fifth Elder remembered something else and gave a meaningful smile. "Applying for the patent isn't difficult, but Nephew Tao, have you considered who the patent will belong to?"

"Who would the patent belong to?"

Seeing the Fifth Elder smile, Tao Tianye suddenly realized that she had only provided the idea. The actual conversion of the illusion into talismans and the simplification of the array were done by the Second Elder and the Eighth Elder.

Strictly speaking, the Second Elder and the Eighth Elder also had a share in the patent.

How much of the patent would they claim? Or would they want to buy the entire patent from her?

She had heard that some sect elders enjoyed taking advantage of their disciples' opportunities, leaving the disciples no choice but to endure silently.

Grand-uncle Ba chuckled, playfully shoving the mischievous Fifth Elder. "You've been sly since you were a child! Back when we tricked the Nine Nether Sect's treasury, you put in only slightly less effort than Old Eight!"

The Sixth Elder gazed pointedly at the Fifth Elder, making him break out in a cold sweat. The Fifth Elder could only wave his hands, denying it.

"It was just a joke with a junior. She needs to know the world is dangerous. Learning a lesson from me is better than being deceived by outsiders, right?"

Grand-uncle Ba said kindly, "Nephew Tao, Old Eight and I don't need this patent. We don't have anything to spend spirit stones on. We merely helped you to find something to do in our spare time. The patent is all yours."

The Eighth Elder nodded in agreement; he never did anything to harm his own sect.

Tao Tianye was deeply moved. Once "Illusory Bubble" earned spirit stones, she vowed to repay the sect.

Tao Tianye and the others left, but Lu Yang remained, which puzzled the Fifth Elder.

"Nephew Lu, is there something you need?"

"Nothing major. I just wanted to ask if my flying chariot patent has earned any money."

The Fifth Elder looked even more confused. "It has, yes. I already gave the spirit stones to Nephew Yun. Didn't you receive them?"

After ensuring he hadn't lost his memory, Lu Yang firmly shook his head.

"That's strange then. Why don't you go ask Nephew Yun what happened?"

Lu Yang: "..."

He suddenly felt that the patent fees weren't that important after all.

"No, no, I can't think like that. These are the spirit stones I'm owed; I must ask Senior Sister about it!" "Fairy, how about you handle this matter for me?"

The Immortal Fairy was just enjoying the spectacle. How did she get dragged into this?

"Huh?"

"Fairy, you've never been afraid of Senior Sister, right?"

"That's right, that mere girl Yun? Who's afraid of her?" the Immortal Fairy declared, sticking out her neck. She couldn't show fear in front of Lu Yang.

Lu Yang applauded the Immortal Fairy's courage.

"You and I share one body, so your business is my business, and my business is your business, right?"

"Right."

"Then wouldn't it be perfect for you, Fairy, to ask Senior Sister?"

"It does seem that way... Alright, don't worry, I'll handle this!" the Fairy guaranteed, patting her chest.

"There's one more thing," Lu Yang said, taking out an immortal sword from his identity jade tablet. It was refined by Immortal Ying Tian and used by Immortal Qilin.

"Please take a look at this flying sword. Can it be repaired?" One Azure Edge Sword wasn't enough, and Lu Yang wanted to refine another.

The moment the flying sword was taken out, the Fifth Elder's eyes went wide, and his lips trembled. "Good heavens, this is an immortal sword, a sword refined by an immortal! Where did you find it?"

"I found it at a stall during the Azure Province Grand Gathering."

The Fifth Elder looked at Lu Yang enviously. This child had incredible luck.

The Fifth Elder shook his head. "It's incredibly difficult. A sword refined by an immortal is indestructible; even a heavenly tribulation would barely damage it. Don't let its broken state deceive you, with only half remaining. If I'm not mistaken, it must have been shattered during a great battle."

Lu Yang nodded. When the Dragon and Phoenix Heavenly Talents discovered Immortal Qilin's deception, there was bound to be a furious confrontation, which indeed was a great battle.

The Fifth Elder showed a look of longing. "That level of combat is beyond what you or I could participate in. Only a battle of that magnitude could damage an immortal sword."

"You might not believe me when I say this, but you see how fragile this sword looks? Do you think I could just snap it, like this?"

As the Fifth Elder spoke, he casually bent the immortal sword.

*Snap*—

A faint snapping sound echoed, and the immortal sword broke into two pieces.

The Fifth Elder: "..."

"How many spirit stones will it cost to compensate for an immortal sword? Will selling myself be enough?"