“This matter is indeed of great importance and requires careful deliberation by the council of elders. This Purple Shadow knows quite a bit, and Master Jinyue can interrogate it thoroughly.” The middle-aged scholar nodded and, with a flick of his hand, tossed the jade bowl over.
“Many thanks, Holy Emperor! It’s just a pity for those sent to the various clans—they are likely in grave danger.” The old monk caught the bowl, his face showing regret.
“To avoid alerting the enemy, we couldn’t directly intervene at the time. We could only slightly adjust and redeploy some personnel. It’s likely the Shadow Clan will strike them en route. We can only hope their luck holds and they escape unscathed. But, Master, is what you said earlier true? Could these ascendant cultivators from the past century really possess that Profound Heaven Slaying Spirit Sword?” The Tianyuan Holy Emperor sighed before asking again.
“How could that be? What I said earlier was three parts false, seven parts true. Once a Profound Heaven Artifact forms in a realm, it can indeed be taken to another realm before being activated. But one thing is certain: once such a treasure leaves its original realm, it loses the chance to awaken. And a Profound Heaven Artifact that cannot awaken is of little use and won’t appear on the Myriad Spirit Ranking. I only said that to buy more time.” The old monk smiled faintly.
“I see. Master truly lives up to being the foremost expert on Profound Heaven Artifacts.” The middle-aged scholar smiled slightly, his expression unreadable as to whether he truly believed the monk’s words.
…
Han Li had no idea that his mission would involve so many twists and turns. At the moment, he and the other four were encircling a white cloud, slaughtering strange birds and ancient beasts.
These bizarre birds were each about ten feet in size, with four wings on their backs and bodies resembling oversized bats. However, their heads were oddly shaped like those of goats, with two curved horns arching backward. When they opened their mouths, rows of sharp fangs were revealed, making them look extremely ferocious.
Hundreds of these birds flapped their wings, generating gusts of grayish wind out of thin air. Simultaneously, they spat out bolts of lightning as thick as bowls. In terms of strength alone, they were on par with ordinary Core Formation cultivators. Moreover, these birds had a pair of black iron claws beneath their bodies, making them exceptionally fierce in close combat.
If an ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator encountered such a flock, they might find it troublesome and choose to avoid them temporarily to minimize complications.
But among the five—including a direct descendant of a True Spirit family, a shapeshifting demonic cultivator from one of the seven great demon clans, and Han Li himself—they easily slaughtered the birds while protecting the giant spirit cloud vessel.
The youth with a blood mole on his forehead manipulated two white beams over ten feet long, covering an area of a hundred feet ahead. The beams sliced through wind and lightning effortlessly, and with each flash, one or several birds were bisected.
The black-robed woman stood enveloped in raging black flames, motionless in midair. Neither wind nor lightning had any effect on her. Any bird that touched the flames instantly turned to ash.
Despite the birds’ ferocity, after losing over a dozen, they dared not approach further.
The white-browed youth adopted a completely different approach, charging into the flock without any artifacts. His back sprouted a pair of dark, glossy wings, and his arms thickened, transforming into a semi-demonic form. He darted through the flock like a shadow, tearing birds apart with his bare hands, leaving a trail of blood and gore.
Han Li, meanwhile, fought conventionally, deploying all seventy-two of his Emerald Swarm Swords. Golden beams several feet long whirled around him, deflecting attacks and slicing any bird that came too close.
The most relaxed among them was the white-robed maiden named Ye Ying. She cradled a jade pipa, her delicate fingers strumming its strings. Rings of deep yellow light radiated outward, petrifying any bird they touched, causing them to plummet and shatter on the ground.
Though none of the five used their most powerful techniques, they annihilated the entire flock in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Afterward, they retracted their techniques and returned to the giant cloud vessel.
As their lights faded, the five landed at the bow of the jade boat.
“These birds are quite unusual to have detected my Spirit Cloud Boat’s disguise,” Long Dong remarked, glancing at the others.
“I’ve never heard of such birds before, but the wilderness is vast, and unknown ancient beasts are countless. It’s no surprise we haven’t encountered them. Frankly, I’m surprised the Spirit Cloud Boat’s disguise lasted this long,” Xiao Hong replied calmly.
“This confirms we’ve truly entered the depths of the wilderness. Encounters like this will only increase. These birds were manageable, but if we face stronger ancient beasts, we may have to abandon the boat,” the white-browed youth added.
“Naturally. If we encounter something like the legendary Hundred-Eyed Giant, survival will be our priority. Brother Han, it’s your turn to take watch. You’ll have to stay vigilant,” Long Dong said, turning to Han Li with a faint smile.
Han Li nodded expressionlessly.
The white-robed maiden suddenly asked Xiao Hong, “Sister Xiao, the black flames you used earlier—were they the famed Black Phoenix Clan’s innate ability, the Black Inferno? Truly as formidable as the legends say!”
Xiao Hong paused, her brows furrowing slightly before replying with a strange glint in her eyes, “Indeed, it is the Black Inferno I cultivated, though it’s nothing remarkable. But Sister Ye’s pipa reminds me of a legendary artifact. Tens of thousands of years ago, a senior from the Tianling Realm crafted a supreme treasure called the ‘Awe-Inspiring Pipa,’ listed on the Myriad Spirit Ranking. It could petrify, melt metal, and freeze simultaneously. Is your pipa related to that artifact?”
Ye Ying giggled. “Sister Xiao is quite knowledgeable about human treasures! Mine is merely a replica, capable only of petrification and far weaker than the original.”
“Even so, it rivals ordinary treasures. Petrification is a rare and unpredictable ability,” Xiao Hong mused.
As the two exchanged veiled remarks, Long Dong wore an enigmatic smile before turning back to Han Li. “Brother Han, your flying swords are quite unique—seventy-two in a set, each unusually powerful. They remind me of a senior, also an ascendant cultivator, who once wielded seventy-two swords in a formation that allowed him to rival a Body Integration cultivator despite being only at the Void Refinement stage. His swords were green, unlike yours. Do your swords also form a sword formation?”
Long Dong seemed particularly interested in Han Li’s Emerald Swarm Swords.
“Oh? Who was this senior, and what was his sword formation called? I merely use many swords to overwhelm foes—I know nothing of formations,” Han Li replied calmly, though inwardly intrigued.
“The person Brother Long mentioned is known as ‘Green Origin Master.’ He was indeed extraordinary, said to have created his own cultivation method. Sadly, he vanished into the wilderness years ago. With his talent, he might have reached Body Integration,” Ye Ying interjected cheerfully.
Long Dong merely smiled.
Han Li fell silent for a moment. From the name, the swords, and the self-created technique, this “Green Origin Master” was likely the same senior who had devised the Green Origin Sword Art in the lower realm. It was unexpected to learn of his fate here. Had Han Li not chosen the dual cultivation path, seeking this master’s legacy would have been ideal.
With these thoughts, Han Li bowed slightly to the others and flew to the highest point of the boat, sitting cross-legged in meditation.
Seeing Han Li’s disinterest in further conversation, Xiao Hong and the others exchanged glances before dispersing—some returning to their chambers to cultivate, others attending to other matters aboard the vessel.
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