Zhang Liusun watched in dismay as Mei Qing, instead of retreating, charged forward toward the bronze figure. But to his surprise, Xu Fu himself was equally astonished.
This bronze figure was different from the great cauldron Xu Fu had crafted. It was cast during the Qin Dynasty by gathering all the finest bronze weapons across the land. At that time, many powerful cultivators existed within the Qin court, who inscribed powerful spells upon the figure to stabilize the nation’s fortune. It was considered a national treasure, and even within the cultivation world, it was an extremely rare and valuable artifact.
Zhang Liusun watched in dismay as Mei Qing, instead of retreating, charged towards the bronze statue. To his surprise, Xu Fu, standing opposite, was equally astonished.
This bronze statue, unlike the massive cauldron, was not crafted by Xu Fu. It was forged during the Qin dynasty by gathering the finest metals from across the land. The Qin court was home to many skilled artisans who imbued it with powerful spells to stabilize the empire’s fortune, making it a national treasure. In the realm of cultivation, it was also a rare and precious artifact.
Back then, Xu Fu had secretly hoarded a large amount of bronze while ostensibly collecting materials for the emperor. Under the guise of seeking treasures for the First Emperor, he led a thousand boys and girls to build ships and set sail, but in reality, he hid the bronze beneath Jieshi Mountain, intending to forge it into a treasure. However, despite his efforts and numerous sacrifices, he could never match the quality of the bronze statue.
As the Qin dynasty crumbled after only two generations, even with such a treasure to stabilize it, the empire’s decline was inevitable. Various factions and powerful individuals emerged, and conflict became unavoidable. Though Xu Fu had hidden himself at Jieshi, he knew that his cultivation was tied to the fate of Qin. If Qin fell, his own cultivation would inevitably suffer.
In desperation, Xu Fu took a great risk and managed to steal one of the bronze statues from Xianyang.
The journey was fraught with peril, and he was pursued by the statue’s elite guards, narrowly escaping death multiple times. Fortunately, Xu Fu was well-prepared, and with the Qin court in disarray, he eventually made it back to Jieshi safely.
However, he hadn’t anticipated that the bronze statue would attract the attention of other cultivators. Shortly after his return, various factions began to arrive, seeking the statue. Before Xu Fu could complete his rituals, a massive battle erupted.
The cultivators, driven by greed and Xu Fu’s manipulations, turned on each other. The conflict escalated into a full-scale war, with several powerful figures on the verge of ascension perishing in the chaos.
The final battle was so intense that it turned the hundred-mile area around Jieshi into a wasteland. Xu Fu, who had the advantage of terrain and careful planning, was still caught off guard when the Qin dynasty fell. The cauldron he had forged and the bronze statue he was refining became unstable, unleashing a wave of malevolent energy that threatened to overwhelm him. In a last-ditch effort, Xu Fu sacrificed his body, escaping with his soul into the cauldron and sinking it, along with the statue, to the bottom of the sea.
The cultivators, realizing the world had changed and seeing Xu Fu’s sacrifice, ceased their fighting. They worked together to seal the remnants of Jieshi beneath the sea, setting up a formation to suppress Xu Fu and prevent others from seeking the bronze statue.
As they left, the chaos of the late Qin and the Chu-Han contention engulfed the land, and the cultivators were drawn into the conflict. The war over the empire’s fate was devastating, and the sinking of Jieshi was lost to history, even within the cultivation world.
Xu Fu remained trapped beneath the sea for over a thousand years. During that time, he managed to cultivate into a loose immortal. However, the seal placed on Jieshi by several powerful cultivators prevented him from escaping.
It wasn’t until the Yuan dynasty that Zhang Liusun discovered the ruins of Jieshi at Qianjin Ye. Using his considerable power, he broke the formation and entered. Zhang Liusun was primarily seeking a secluded place for his own cultivation, so he paid little attention to Qianjin Ye but focused on Jieshi. He stayed there to cultivate until the heavenly tribulation struck.
The power of the tribulation was immense. Despite Jieshi’s ancient defenses, it was weakened enough for Xu Fu to seize the opportunity and escape. As soon as he emerged, he attacked Zhang Liuson without hesitation, clearly intending to take advantage of the situation.
However, Xu Fu underestimated Zhang Liusun’s cunning. Even within his own sanctuary, Zhang Liusun was never defenseless. Over the centuries, while the overall power of cultivators had declined, the variety and ingenuity of their techniques had greatly improved.
Zhang Liusun, who was nearing the end of his tribulation, saw an opportunity. He knew that even if he ascended to immortality, his future prospects were bleak. Seeing Xu Fu appear, he decided to use the situation to his advantage. He first used various traps and formations to catch Xu Fu off guard, then sacrificed his own body to deliver a devastating blow that nearly destroyed Xu Fu’s soul.
Xu Fu, though severely injured, managed to escape by abandoning a sub-cauldron he had cultivated over the years. This sub-cauldron, which had developed a semblance of intelligence, was left behind.
This encounter left Xu Fu greatly weakened, and he retreated to the depths of the sea to recover. After many years, he returned, determined to avenge his humiliation.
When Xu Fu arrived at Jieshi, he sensed the sub-cauldron within Mei Qing. He assumed that Zhang Liusun had refined it into an immortal body, much like how he had cultivated a loose immortal. Since Zhang Liusun had not appeared and Mei Qing’s energy seemed to align with Zhang Liusun’s, Xu Fu initially treated Mei Qing as if he were Zhang Liusun.
This wasn’t entirely unreasonable, as in the cultivation world, especially for those who had lost their physical bodies and cultivated loose immortals or second souls, such transformations were common. Although Xu Fu noticed that Zhang Liusun’s attacks didn’t directly come from Mei Qing, he didn’t dwell on it.
But when Mei Qing suddenly charged towards the bronze statue without any defense, while Zhang Liusun’s presence remained at Jieshi, Xu Fu was momentarily stunned.
Xu Fu had suffered too many losses at Zhang Liusun’s hands, and he couldn’t help but be cautious. Every time they had clashed, despite his superior power and experience, Xu Fu had always been outmaneuvered by Zhang Liusun’s cunning.
So, when Mei Qing charged directly at him, Xu Fu instinctively assumed it was another of Zhang Liusun’s schemes. He immediately halted the bronze statue’s advance, absorbed the massive cauldron into his body, and retreated several steps, setting up multiple layers of defense.
Meanwhile, Mei Qing, charging towards the bronze statue, was inwardly panicking. He had no intention of confronting the statue; his actions were entirely involuntary.
Strangely, though the sub-cauldron within him should have been more closely connected to the main cauldron, Mei Qing felt a stronger affinity with the bronze statue. Regardless, he knew they were on opposing sides, and the statue, being inanimate, wouldn’t distinguish friend from foe. He wanted to escape, but the energy from the sub-cauldron within him grew increasingly intense, preventing him from moving away.
In desperation, Mei Qing attempted to use a simple teleportation spell. To his horror, instead of retreating to Jieshi, he found himself hurtling towards the bronze statue and the cauldron.
Mei Qing cursed his luck, recalling a previous incident where a similar spell had sent him crashing into a small cauldron. It seemed his body had a tendency to fail him at critical moments.
Zhang Liusun, seeing this, was both furious and alarmed. If Mei Qing’s body were destroyed, all his years of planning would be for naught, and he would lose a significant portion of his soul, which would be a fate worse than death.
Without hesitation, Zhang Liusun abandoned the boy he had temporarily possessed and flew towards Mei Qing. As he flew, he unleashed several small sparks of purple flame, a technique he had cultivated from the tribulation’s lightning, which he had never used before due to its immense power.
The sparks quickly formed a barrier between Mei Qing and the bronze statue. The statue, made of metal, was naturally vulnerable to fire, and the flames began to take effect, causing the statue to show signs of fear.
Zhang Liusun, now in his soul form, transformed into a rainbow streak and merged into Mei Qing’s body, taking control to ensure his escape from the danger.
As his efforts neared completion, the Qin Dynasty collapsed after only two generations. Despite possessing such powerful treasures, it could no longer suppress the shifting tides of fate. A surge of extraordinary cultivators emerged, each vying for dominance, and conflict became inevitable. Although Xu Fu remained hidden beneath Jieshi, he knew that his cultivation would inevitably be affected once the Qin fell.
With no other choice, he took a desperate gamble. After meticulous planning, he successfully stole one of the bronze figures all the way from Xianyang back to Jieshi.
The hardships and dangers he faced along the way were indescribable. Especially the several elite guards assigned to protect the bronze figure, who pursued him relentlessly across thousands of miles, nearly costing him his life on multiple occasions.
Fortunately, Xu Fu was well-prepared, and by that time, the Qin court was already in disarray and unable to mount an effective pursuit. Thus, he finally managed to return safely.
However, he had not anticipated that although the Qin court no longer had the strength to chase him, the bronze figure would attract the covetous eyes of other cultivators.
Not long after his return to Jieshi, various sects of cultivators began arriving one after another. At that time, the bronze figure had not yet been fully refined. This led to a massive and earth-shaking battle.
Fortunately, the arriving cultivators were not united. With Xu Fu’s manipulation and the pre-existing conflicts among them, what began as a struggle over the bronze figure escalated into a full-scale war within the cultivation world. In the end, the fighting became so intense that several cultivators on the verge of ascension were reduced to ashes.
During the final decisive battle, the clash was so fierce that the sky and earth seemed to darken, and the entire hundred-mile expanse of Jieshi Mountain was nearly leveled.
Xu Fu, holding the advantage of terrain and having planned ahead, should have had the upper hand. However, fate was unpredictable. Just at that moment, the Qin Dynasty fell, and the treasure cauldron Xu Fu had crafted, along with the bronze figure still undergoing refinement, suddenly became restless. The suppressed violent and vengeful energies surged forth uncontrollably, overwhelming him.
With no other choice, Xu Fu was forced to perform a soul severance, a last-resort escape technique. Being alone and without allies in such a desperate situation, he fled his yuan-shen into the cauldron, dragging the bronze figure with him, and sank into the depths of the sea.
At that moment, the furious cultivators also sensed the great change in the world’s fate. With the fall of the Qin Dynasty and Xu Fu’s retreat into the sea, they lost the will to fight. After discussion, the representatives of the various sects joined forces to perform a ritual, submerging the remnants of Jieshi Mountain into the sea and setting up a formation above it—to seal Xu Fu and prevent further conflict over the bronze figure at the ocean’s bottom.
Once they departed, the chaos of the late Qin era erupted into war, particularly the Chu-Han contention, which inevitably drew the cultivation world into its turmoil. This battle, which determined the fate of the nation, caused massive losses across all sects. As a result, the submergence of Jieshi Mountain was not only lost from historical records due to the chaos of war, but even within the cultivation world, no one remembered it anymore.
Buried beneath Jieshi Mountain at the ocean’s depths, Xu Fu remained sealed for over a thousand years. During that time, he finally seized an opportunity and transformed into a wandering immortal.
However, Jieshi Mountain had been sealed by several powerful cultivators working together. Although Xu Fu became a wandering immortal, he still had no chance of escape.
Zhang Liusun was inwardly dismayed to see Mei Qing not retreating but instead charging towards the bronze statue. Unexpectedly, Xu Fu on the opposite side was equally astonished.
This bronze statue, unlike the massive cauldron, was not crafted by Xu Fu. It was forged during the Qin dynasty by gathering the finest metals from across the land. At that time, the Qin court was filled with skilled artisans who inscribed powerful spells on it to suppress the nation’s fortune, making it a national treasure. In the realm of cultivation, it was also a rare and precious artifact.
Back then, Xu Fu had secretly hoarded a large amount of bronze while collecting fine metals for the emperor. Under the guise of seeking treasures for the First Emperor, he took a thousand boys and girls, built ships, and set sail. In reality, he hid the bronze beneath Jieshi and cast it into a cauldron as a treasure. However, despite his efforts and numerous sacrifices, he could never achieve the same level of craftsmanship as the bronze statue.
Just as he was on the verge of success, the Qin dynasty, having only lasted two generations, began to crumble. Despite the presence of such a treasure, it could not hold back the tide of history. Talented individuals and factions emerged, and conflict became inevitable. Although Xu Fu hid at Jieshi, he knew that his fate was tied to the Qin dynasty. If Qin fell, it would inevitably affect his cultivation.
In desperation, he took a bold risk and, through meticulous planning, managed to steal a bronze statue from Xianyang.
The journey was fraught with danger and hardship, especially as several elite guards pursued him across thousands of miles, bringing him to the brink of death multiple times.
Fortunately, Xu Fu was well-prepared, and the Qin court, already in disarray, could no longer maintain control. Thus, he managed to return safely.
However, he hadn’t anticipated that although the Qin court had lost the power to pursue him, the bronze statue would attract the attention of other cultivators.
Shortly after his return to Jieshi, various cultivators began to arrive. The bronze statue was not yet fully refined, and this led to a cataclysmic battle.
Fortunately, the cultivators were not united. Under Xu Fu’s manipulation and the schemes of various factions, the conflict escalated into a massive battle within the cultivation world. By the end, all sides were bloodthirsty, and several powerful figures on the verge of ascension were reduced to ashes in the chaos.
The final battle was so intense that it turned the hundred-mile area around Jieshi into a flat plain.
Xu Fu, who initially held the advantage due to his strategic planning and knowledge of the terrain, was caught off guard when the Qin dynasty fell. The cauldron he had crafted and the bronze statue he was refining began to stir uncontrollably. Unable to suppress the malevolent energy within, he was forced to sacrifice his physical body. Alone and without support, he fled into the cauldron, taking the bronze statue with him, and sank into the depths of the sea.
At this point, the cultivators, who had been fighting fiercely, noticed the drastic changes in the world’s fortunes. Seeing Xu Fu’s sacrifice and the sinking of the cauldron, they lost their motivation to fight. Representatives from various factions convened, jointly casting spells to submerge the remnants of Jieshi beneath the sea and set up a formation to suppress Xu Fu and deter others from coveting the bronze statue.
After this, the late Qin period saw the chaos of the Chu-Han contention, and the cultivation world inevitably became involved. This war, which affected the nation’s fate, caused heavy losses on all sides. As a result, the sinking of Jieshi was not only unrecorded in history due to the turmoil but was also forgotten in the cultivation world.
Xu Fu, sealed beneath Jieshi, spent over a thousand years there. During this time, he managed to find an opportunity to transform into a loose immortal. However, the seal placed on Jieshi by several powerful figures was so strong that even as a loose immortal, he could not escape.
It wasn’t until the Yuan dynasty that Zhang Liuson discovered the ruins of Jieshi at Qianjin Ye. Using his considerable influence, he broke the formation and entered. Zhang Liuson’s original intention was to find a paradise for himself, so he paid little attention to Qianjin Ye but focused intensely on Jieshi. From then on, he cultivated there until the heavenly tribulation arrived.
The power of the heavenly tribulation was formidable. Although Jieshi was an ancient sacred mountain protected by a powerful formation, it still showed signs of weakening under the tribulation’s assault. Seizing this opportunity, Xu Fu broke free. As soon as he emerged, he immediately attacked Zhang Liuson, clearly intending to take advantage of his weakened state.
However, Xu Fu hadn’t anticipated that someone as cunning as Zhang Liuson would be completely defenseless, even within his own sanctuary. Moreover, over the centuries, although the cultivation world’s overall power had declined, the variety and ingenuity of techniques had greatly advanced.
At this point, Zhang Liuson was nearly done with his tribulation. However, he glimpsed a hint of heavenly insight and realized that even if he ascended to immortality, his future prospects would be bleak. He had already considered reincarnating to start anew. Seeing Xu Fu suddenly appear, he decided to turn the situation to his advantage. First, he used various traps and formations to catch Xu Fu off guard. Then, he lured Xu Fu into a trap by sacrificing his physical body and delivering a powerful blow that nearly destroyed Xu Fu’s spirit, which had endured a thousand years of hardship.
Fortunately, Xu Fu, being a seasoned cultivator, managed to escape by sacrificing a smaller cauldron he had crafted during his time at the bottom of the sea. This smaller cauldron, which had developed a semblance of intelligence, was left behind.
This encounter left Xu Fu severely weakened. He retreated to the depths of the sea to recover and, after many years, returned to seek revenge.
When he arrived at Jieshi, he immediately sensed the presence of the smaller cauldron within Mei Qing. He assumed that Zhang Liuson had refined the cauldron into an immortal body, similar to how he had become a loose immortal. Additionally, since Zhang Liuson had only spoken and not appeared, and his energy seemed to resonate with Mei Qing’s, Xu Fu had been treating Mei Qing as if he were Zhang Liuson.
This wasn’t entirely unreasonable, as in the cultivation world, especially for those who had lost their physical bodies and become loose immortals or cultivated second spirits, there were many strange and varied forms. Although Xu Fu sensed that Zhang Liuson’s attacks weren’t directly coming from Mei Qing, he didn’t dwell on it.
But now, seeing Mei Qing suddenly charge towards the bronze statue without any defense, while Zhang Liuson’s presence remained at Jieshi, Xu Fu was momentarily stunned.
The reason was simple: he had been tricked by Zhang Liuson too many times, and the saying “once bitten, twice shy” applied perfectly.
Every time Xu Fu had encountered Zhang Liuson, he had been outmaneuvered despite his superior cultivation and age. Zhang Liuson was simply too cunning.
Therefore, when Mei Qing charged directly at him, Xu Fu didn’t consider Mei Qing’s identity. He instinctively believed it was another one of Zhang Liuson’s schemes.
Reacting quickly, Xu Fu halted the bronze statue’s advance, absorbed the massive cauldron into his body, and retreated several steps, setting up multiple layers of defense. Only then did he feel somewhat secure.
Meanwhile, Mei Qing, as he charged towards the bronze statue, was inwardly panicking.
He had no intention of confronting the bronze statue. His reckless charge was entirely involuntary.
Strangely, the smaller cauldron within him should have been more closely connected to the larger cauldron. Yet, for some reason, Mei Qing felt a stronger affinity with the bronze statue.
Regardless of his feelings, Mei Qing knew that their current positions were adversarial, and the bronze statue was not a living being that could distinguish friend from foe. If a fight broke out, he would inevitably be caught in the crossfire. It was best to leave as soon as possible.
However, despite his desire to flee, the energy from the cauldron within him grew increasingly intense, making it impossible for him to move away.
In desperation, Mei Qing activated a simple teleportation technique. His current cultivation level allowed him to perform basic spells without the need for talismans. In this critical moment, he focused his mind and cast a swift movement spell.
To his dismay, he found himself moving—but not back towards Jieshi as he had intended. Instead, he was propelled forward, straight towards the bronze statue and the massive cauldron!
Mei Qing regretted his decision, recalling a previous incident where he had used a similar technique and ended up next to a small cauldron. It seemed his body had a tendency to fail him at crucial moments.
Seeing this, Zhang Liuson was both shocked and furious. If Mei Qing’s body were destroyed, all his years of planning would be for naught, and he would lose a portion of his spirit, making life unbearable.
Realizing the danger, Zhang Liuson gritted his teeth and, without further hesitation, detached his spirit from the boy he had temporarily possessed and flew towards Mei Qing.
As his spirit flew out, Zhang Liuson let out a furious shout, and several small sparks erupted in front of him.
Although Zhang Liuson had started later than Mei Qing, his spirit form was much faster. The sparks quickly reached the bronze statue.
Without hesitation, Zhang Liuson charged towards Mei Qing, his spirit transforming into a rainbow streak that vanished into Mei Qing’s body.
In this critical moment, Zhang Liuson had no choice but to possess Mei Qing’s body to quickly escape the danger.
The small sparks formed a strange pattern in front of the bronze statue, and before they could do much, the bronze statue’s face showed signs of fear.
These seemingly insignificant sparks were actually Zhang Liuson’s Purple Radiance Heavenly Fire, refined from the purple lightning of the heavenly tribulation during his physical tribulation.
Both the bronze statue and the cauldron were metal-based, and fire naturally countered metal. In previous battles with Xu Fu, Zhang Liuson had never used this technique due to his careful planning and advantage.
But now, he had no choice.
The small flames, only about a foot high, formed a peculiar pattern in front of the bronze statue. Before they could do much, the bronze statue’s face already showed signs of fear.
The power of the Heavenly Tribulation was indeed formidable. Although Jieshi Mountain had once been a sacred peak protected by powerful formations, it still showed signs of weakening under the assault of the tribulation. Xu Fu seized this slight loosening of the seal to escape. The moment he emerged, he immediately attacked Zhang Liusun, clearly intending to take advantage of his weakened state.
However, Xu Fu had not expected that someone as cunning as Zhang Liusun would never be completely unguarded, even within his own cave dwelling. Moreover, although the cultivation world had declined over the centuries, in terms of intricate and clever techniques, it had actually made significant progress.
At that time, Zhang Liusun was already nearing the completion of his tribulation. However, he had glimpsed a cosmic omen indicating that even if he ascended to immortality, his future would not be promising. Thus, he had already decided to seek a way to reincarnate and start anew. When Xu Fu suddenly appeared, Zhang Liusun seized the opportunity, first launching a surprise attack using hidden formations, catching Xu Fu off guard. Then, using his physical body as bait, he lured Xu Fu into a trap, abandoning his body and unleashing a full-force strike that nearly shattered Xu Fu’s yuan-shen, which had suffered greatly after a thousand years of imprisonment.
Fortunately, Xu Fu was an ancient cultivator with immense experience. Despite his grave injuries, he managed to sacrifice a small cauldron he had nurtured during his time at the ocean’s depths. This cauldron, forged during his refinement of the bronze figure, had gradually developed sentience and had become a true magical artifact. Without it, he might have perished there.
This encounter left Xu Fu severely weakened, forcing him to retreat into hiding beneath the sea for many years before he could return, determined to avenge this humiliation.
As he approached Jieshi Mountain once again, he sensed the presence of the small cauldron within Mei Qing. In his mind, Zhang Liusun must have refined this cauldron into a body similar to that of a wandering immortal. Additionally, since Zhang Liusun had only spoken without revealing himself, and his spiritual energy seemed to match Mei Qing’s, Xu Fu had assumed the entire time that Mei Qing was actually Zhang Liusun in disguise.
This misunderstanding was understandable. After all, in the cultivation world, especially among those like them—yuan-shen beings who had lost their physical forms—there were countless methods of cultivation, including wandering immortals and second yuan-shen transformations, each more bizarre than the last. Although Xu Fu had noticed that the attacks did not originate directly from Mei Qing’s body, he did not dwell on it much.
But now, seeing Mei Qing rise suddenly and charge headlong toward the bronze figure he controlled, while Zhang Liusun’s presence still lingered at Jieshi Mountain, Xu Fu was momentarily stunned.
It was simply because he had suffered too many defeats at Zhang Liusun’s hands before, making him overly cautious—like someone who, once bitten by a snake, fears even a rope for ten years.
Ever since Xu Fu had first met and clashed with Zhang Liusun, each encounter had been deeply frustrating. Despite his superior cultivation and seniority, he had always been outmaneuvered and suffered silently.
That man was simply too cunning.
Therefore, when Mei Qing charged forward so recklessly, Xu Fu did not immediately question Mei Qing’s identity. His instinct told him this must be another of Zhang Liusun’s schemes.
Thus, by reflex, Xu Fu waved his hands, halting the bronze figure’s advance. Then, with a shake of his body, he instantly retracted the giant cauldron into himself. He quickly stepped back several paces, setting up multiple layers of protective barriers before finally calming his mind.
Meanwhile, Mei Qing, rushing toward the bronze figure, was inwardly groaning in despair.
He had no intention of challenging the bronze figure. His reckless charge was entirely beyond his control.
Strange as it seemed, the small cauldron within him should have had a stronger connection to its original cauldron. Yet for some unknown reason, Mei Qing felt a closer affinity to the bronze figure instead.
Regardless of his feelings, Mei Qing clearly understood that the two sides were enemies. Moreover, the bronze figure was not a living being and had no concept of friendship or enmity. If things escalated, he might be caught in the crossfire. It would be best to escape quickly.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried to flee, the energy from the yuan-cauldron within him grew stronger and stronger, rendering his body unresponsive.
In desperation, Mei Qing activated a secret technique. By now, his cultivation had advanced to the point where he could perform simple Daoist spells without talismans, using only his mind.
At this critical moment, he focused his thoughts, and a Dash Talisman instantly formed.
Then he saw himself move—but not in the way he intended. Instead of retreating back toward Jieshi, he shot forward like the wind, straight toward the bronze figure and cauldron!
Zhang Liusun, seeing Mei Qing not retreating but instead advancing towards the bronze statue, felt a pang of distress in his heart. Unexpectedly, Xu Fu, standing opposite, was equally astonished.
This bronze statue, unlike the giant cauldron, was not forged by Xu Fu but was cast during the Qin dynasty by gathering the finest metals from across the land. The Qin court was home to many skilled craftsmen who inscribed it with spells to suppress the nation’s fortune, making it a national treasure. In the realm of cultivation, it was also a rare and valuable artifact.
When Xu Fu was collecting fine copper for the golden statues, he secretly hoarded a large amount of copper and gathered it at Qianjin Ye. Under the guise of seeking treasures for the First Emperor, he took a thousand boys and girls, built ships, and set sail, actually hiding the treasures under Jieshi and casting them into a cauldron. However, despite his efforts and numerous sacrifices, he could not achieve the level of the bronze statue.
Just as he was on the verge of failure, the Qin dynasty, having only lasted two generations, could not suppress the rising tide of rebellion despite its treasures. Various factions and extraordinary individuals emerged, and conflict became inevitable. Although Xu Fu hid at Jieshi, he knew that his cultivation would inevitably be affected once the Qin dynasty fell.
In desperation, he took a bold risk and successfully stole a bronze statue from Xianyang.
The journey was fraught with dangers and hardships, especially as several skilled guards pursued him relentlessly, bringing him to the brink of death multiple times.
Fortunately, Xu Fu was well-prepared, and with the Qin court in disarray and unable to maintain control, he managed to return safely.
However, he did not anticipate that the bronze statue would attract the attention of other cultivators.
Shortly after his return to Jieshi, various cultivators began to arrive. The bronze statue was not yet fully refined, leading to a monumental conflict.
Fortunately, the cultivators were not united, and under Xu Fu’s manipulation and the schemes of various factions, the conflict escalated into a massive battle within the cultivation world. In the end, many cultivators were killed, including several who were on the verge of ascension.
The final battle was so intense that it turned the hundred-mile area around Jieshi into a flat plain.
Xu Fu, who had the advantage of terrain and careful planning, should have had the upper hand. However, fate had other plans. Just as the Qin dynasty was destroyed, the cauldron he had forged and the bronze statue he was refining became restless. Unable to suppress the murderous resentment, the backlash overwhelmed him, and he had no choice but to sacrifice his body. Alone and without help, he fled into the cauldron with his spirit, taking the bronze statue and sinking it to the bottom of the sea.
The cultivators, caught up in the heat of battle, noticed the great changes in the world and the shift in fortunes. Seeing Xu Fu’s sacrifice and the sinking of the cauldron, they lost their will to fight. Representatives from various factions convened, jointly casting spells to submerge the remnants of Jieshi under the sea and set up a formation to suppress Xu Fu and prevent others from coveting the bronze statue.
After they left, the chaos of the late Qin period and the Chu-Han contention ensued, drawing in various cultivators. This great war, which affected the nation’s fate, caused heavy losses, so much so that the submergence of Jieshi was not recorded in history due to the turmoil, and even within the cultivation world, it was forgotten.
Xu Fu, suppressed under Jieshi at the bottom of the sea, spent over a thousand years there. During this time, he found an opportunity to become a loose immortal. However, Jieshi was sealed by several powerful cultivators, and even as a loose immortal, Xu Fu could not escape.
It wasn’t until the Yuan dynasty that Zhang Liuson found Qianjin Ye and discovered the remnants of Jieshi. With his powerful influence, he broke the formation and entered. Zhang Liuson’s original intention was to find a paradise for himself, so he paid little attention to Qianjin Ye but focused on Jieshi. From then on, Zhang Liuson cultivated there until the heavenly tribulation arrived.
The power of the heavenly tribulation was formidable. Although Jieshi was an ancient sacred mountain with a powerful formation, it could not withstand the tribulation and showed signs of weakening. Xu Fu seized this opportunity to escape. As soon as he appeared, he attacked Zhang Liuson without hesitation, intending to take advantage of his predicament.
However, Xu Fu did not expect that someone as cunning as Zhang Liuson would be unprepared, even within his own cave. Moreover, over the centuries, although the cultivation world’s overall power had declined, the variety and ingenuity of techniques had greatly improved.
At this time, Zhang Liuson was almost through the heavenly tribulation but glimpsed a hint of destiny, realizing that even if he ascended to immortality, his future would not be bright. He had already considered reincarnating to start anew. Seeing Xu Fu suddenly appear, he decided to turn the situation to his advantage. First, he used various traps and formations to catch Xu Fu off guard. Then, using his body as bait, he tricked Xu Fu into attacking, sacrificing his body to deliver a powerful blow that nearly destroyed Xu Fu’s spirit, which had endured for a thousand years.
Fortunately, Xu Fu, being an old monster with years of cultivation, managed to escape by sacrificing a small cauldron he had nurtured in the sea while refining the bronze statue. This small cauldron, having developed a spirit, had become a treasure, but it was lost in the process.
This incident left Xu Fu severely weakened. He hid at the bottom of the sea, cultivating for many years before returning to seek revenge.
When he arrived at Jieshi, he sensed the small cauldron within Mei Qing. He assumed that Zhang Liuson had refined the small cauldron into an immortal body, similar to how he had become a loose immortal. Since Zhang Liuson had only spoken and not appeared, and his true essence seemed to align with Mei Qing’s, Xu Fu treated Mei Qing as if he were Zhang Liuson.
This was not unreasonable, as in the cultivation world, especially for those who had lost their physical bodies and cultivated loose immortals or second spirits, there were many strange and varied forms. Although he sensed that Zhang Liuson’s attacks were not directly from Mei Qing, he did not think much of it.
Until now, seeing Mei Qing suddenly rise and charge towards the bronze statue without any defense, while Zhang Liuson’s presence remained at Jieshi, Xu Fu was momentarily stunned.
The reason was simple: he had been tricked by Zhang Liuson too many times, and he was naturally wary.
In both encounters with Zhang Liuson, Xu Fu had been frustrated. Despite his superior cultivation and age, he was always outmaneuvered by Zhang Liuson, suffering in silence.
This guy was just too cunning.
Therefore, when Mei Qing charged directly at him, Xu Fu did not consider Mei Qing’s identity. He instinctively thought this was another of Zhang Liuson’s schemes.
Thus, Xu Fu instinctively stopped the bronze statue’s advance, quickly absorbed the giant cauldron into his body, and retreated several steps, setting up several layers of protection before he felt somewhat secure.
Meanwhile, Mei Qing, charging towards the bronze statue, was inwardly panicking.
He had no intention of competing with the bronze statue; his reckless charge was entirely involuntary.
Strangely, the small cauldron within him should have been more closely related to the mother cauldron, but for some reason, Mei Qing felt a closer connection to the bronze statue.
Regardless of his feelings, Mei Qing clearly knew that their current positions were adversarial, and the bronze statue was not a living being that could distinguish friend from foe. Once it attacked, he would inevitably be caught in the crossfire. It was better to leave as soon as possible.
However, despite his desire to leave, the energy from the small cauldron within him grew increasingly intense, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not move his body away.
In desperation, Mei Qing activated his divine abilities. With his current cultivation, he could perform simple spells without talismans, directly from his heart. In this critical moment, he immediately activated a swift movement talisman.
Then Mei Qing saw that he was indeed moving, but not retreating back to Jieshi as he had intended. Instead, he was rushing forward, straight towards the bronze statue and the giant cauldron!
Mei Qing regretted his decision, recalling the last time he used the Five Elements Escape Technique and ended up next to the small cauldron in the room. It seemed his body had a problem, always failing at critical moments.
Zhang Liuson, seeing this, was both shocked and furious. If Mei Qing’s body were destroyed, all his years of planning and effort would be wasted, and he would lose a part of his spirit, making life worse than death.
Seeing the situation turn bad, Zhang Liuson gritted his teeth and, without further hesitation, left the boy he was temporarily possessing and flew towards Mei Qing in mid-air.
As his spirit flew out, Zhang Liuson let out an angry shout, and several small sparks shot out ahead of his rapidly moving body.
Although Zhang Liuson started later than Mei Qing, as a spirit, his speed was naturally much faster. The sparks quickly reached the bronze statue.
Without hesitation, Zhang Liuson charged towards Mei Qing, his spirit transforming into a rainbow streak that disappeared into Mei Qing’s body.
In this critical moment, Zhang Liuson had no choice but to enter Mei Qing’s body with his spirit to quickly escape the danger.
The several small sparks had already formed a barrier between Mei Qing and the bronze statue, and they began to burn gently.
These sparks, seemingly insignificant, were actually the Purple Xuan Heavenly Fire that Zhang Liuson had painstakingly cultivated, derived from the purple lightning of the heavenly tribulation during his physical tribulation.
Both the bronze statue and the cauldron were of metal nature, and fire naturally had an advantage over them. In previous battles with Xu Fu, Zhang Liuson had never used this technique due to his careful planning and advantage.
But now, he had no choice.
The small sparks, with flames only a foot high, formed a strange symbol in front of the bronze statue. Before any further action, the bronze statue’s face already showed signs of fear.
Watching from the side, Zhang Liusun was both shocked and furious. If Mei Qing’s physical body were destroyed, all his years of planning and effort would be in vain. Worse, he would suffer a loss of yuan-shen, which would make existence unbearable.
Realizing the danger, Zhang Liusun gritted his teeth, no longer hesitating. His yuan-shen emerged from the temporary vessel of the boy and shot toward Mei Qing in midair.
As his yuan-shen flew forward, Zhang Liusun let out a furious roar. Several small fireballs erupted from his body, flying ahead of him.
Although Zhang Liusun had launched after Mei Qing, as a yuan-shen, his speed was naturally much greater. The fireballs quickly reached the bronze figure’s position.
Meanwhile, Zhang Liusun charged directly toward Mei Qing, his yuan-shen transforming into a seven-colored rainbow beam that flashed and merged into Mei Qing’s body.
In this moment of crisis, Zhang Liusun had no choice but to take control of Mei Qing’s body to escape the danger.
The fireballs now hovered between Mei Qing and the bronze figure, and with a soft flicker, they ignited.
Though small, these flames were none other than Zhang Liusun’s painstakingly cultivated Purple Xuan Heaven Fire, drawn from lightning during his physical tribulation. Since both the bronze figure and the cauldron were metal-based, fire was their natural weakness. Zhang Liusun had never used them before in his previous battles with Xu Fu due to his meticulous planning and advantage in strategy.
But now, there was no time to hesitate.
The small flames, barely a foot in size, formed a strange talisman-like pattern before the bronze figure. Even before any significant action, the bronze figure’s expression had already shifted to one of fear.
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