Chapter 362 ·Both Sides Filling in the Gaps

Within the Earthfire Cave.

Inside the blazing sea of flames, a black long blade gradually took shape. Strange patterns were engraved upon the blade itself. Merely glancing at it once—

Cultivators with weaker cultivation would feel their minds become dazed.

“According to the records within the inheritance of the Sinister Soul Sect, magical artifacts refined primarily from Yin Nether Stone possess the ability to devour souls and absorb essence blood.

This is a purely demonic supreme treasure. The more slaughter it undergoes, the stronger the magical artifact becomes. It is even a demonic blade destined to awaken an artifact spirit.

But the drawback is that it will devour its master.”

At this moment, before the formation platform, Lin Chang’an stared solemnly at the magical artifact he had painstakingly refined over many years.

The Yin Nether Stone had been left behind by that Shape-shifted Sinister Spirit Beast King from before. The fact that even a shape-shifted great demon carried it personally showed just how important this treasure was.

Moreover, he had also added a Yin Spirit Drill—the terrifying spirit drill left behind by the Sinister Spirit Beast King previously. The Fourth-rank material greatly increased this magical artifact’s growth potential.

“This demonic magical artifact is powerful, but its drawbacks are equally enormous. The artifact spirit awakened through slaughter is formed from the resentment and baleful aura of the cultivators and demon beasts it kills.

Therefore, cultivators wielding this treasure will gradually be eroded by resentment and baleful aura. Over time, the cultivator themselves becomes irritable and violent, extremely prone to qi deviation.

Basically, it severs the road toward Nascent Soul.”

As these records surfaced in his mind, Lin Chang’an remained calm without the slightest concern.

Ordinary cultivators feared being corroded by the baleful aura of demonic magical artifacts.

But for him, possessing Profound Heaven mana, he feared none of it.

He could even purify refined Demonic Energy, much less this lower-grade baleful aura.

“This magical artifact still requires countless killings before its power can greatly increase. I’m not some ancient demonic monster addicted to slaughter.”

Thinking this, Lin Chang’an smiled faintly. With a raise of his hand, a jade bottle sealed with Demonic Energy appeared.

As the jade talisman seal was removed, an extremely cold, violent aura capable of corroding life itself filled the cave abode.

The Wind-Chirp Bird resting upon the Fusang Divine Tree instantly awoke after sensing this aura.

However, after seeing it was its own master, it simply shook its head and buried its head back into its feathers.

“This unpurified Demonic Energy is perfect for refining this demonic magical artifact.”

As large quantities of Demonic Energy surged in, the black demonic blade grew even darker in color.

If previously it had merely been a pure Yin-attributed magical artifact—

Then after greedily devouring so much Demonic Energy, the demonic blade now emitted an intensely ominous aura. Even Core Formation cultivators could feel its oppressive presence.

“It’s finished!”

Several days later, the moment the magical artifact fully formed, Lin Chang’an revealed a smile.

“Blood Fiend Demonic Blade. According to legend, it was a magical artifact developed by a certain great demonic powerhouse within the cultivation world. It is even said to have once slain a legendary Deity Transformation powerhouse.”

With a raise of his hand, Lin Chang’an looked at the Blood Fiend Demonic Blade radiating ominous aura in his palm and nodded in satisfaction.

Pitch black from end to end.

As for the so-called “blood” aspect, it simply had not yet tasted blood.

The reason he refined this magical artifact was first because of its tremendous power and its natural suppression against sinister soul-type entities.

Secondly, its growth speed was astonishingly fast, requiring very little nurturing effort from him.

Holding the Blood Fiend Demonic Blade, he flicked the blade lightly with his finger, producing a crisp ringing sound. The texture alone left Lin Chang’an deeply satisfied.

“After its initial refinement, it already possesses the power of a High-grade Third-rank magical artifact. Due to the materials used, its growth potential is extremely high and may even reach Fourth-rank someday.”

Naturally, this treasure was not intended for his main body.

It was for one of his incarnations.

His three incarnations were also one of his trump cards. Sometimes his true body could not personally appear, meaning certain magical artifacts also could not easily be exposed.

Especially in recent years, as his incarnations secretly cooperated with the Seven Kingdoms Alliance and sold spirit mine information, many factions had already learned of this.

Some people wished to secretly make contact.

If he ever needed to interact with others through an incarnation again, without sufficient self-protection strength, he ultimately would not feel at ease.

Currently, one incarnation wielded the Thunder Halberd left behind by the Thunder Flood Dragon.

Another wielded this Blood Fiend Demonic Blade.

“As for the third incarnation, there’s nothing suitable for now. I’ll wait until I find something appropriate.”

With a raise of his hand, the flames atop the artifact refinement platform extinguished. Lin Chang’an contentedly stored the magical artifact away.

Although the External Incarnation Divine Ability was powerful, it ultimately depended upon the strength of his Divine Sense.

Everyone knew that controlling magical artifacts required Divine Sense.

In intense battle, controlling three incarnations with each wielding one magical artifact was already his limit.

“The External Incarnation Divine Ability differs from something like the Second Nascent Soul, which possesses independent consciousness. It’s more accurate to describe it as a puppet—or magical artifact—controlled by one’s own consciousness.”

After all, the incarnations used the immortal leaves of the Profound Heaven Immortal Vine as vessels.

Watching its master walk out from the Earthfire Cave entrance, the Wind-Chirp Bird curled upon the Fusang Divine Tree lazily opened its sleepy bird eyes before letting out a bored yawn.

“I truly don’t understand what my master is busy with every day. He was born to toil endlessly.”

Meanwhile, after walking out of the Earthfire Cave, Lin Chang’an sensed his Natal Spiritual Plant and silently pondered along the way.

“After years of nourishment from spiritual liquid, the Natal Spiritual Plant has grown somewhat stronger. Yet the fourth spiritual leaf still refuses to sprout.

Could it be that the Profound Heaven Immortal Vine itself still needs to grow another level larger?”

After pondering for a moment, Lin Chang’an decided to leave it as it was for now.

Excessively increasing the nurturing effort would affect his cultivation progress.

Given the current situation and his present needs, his focus still needed to remain on cultivation first—

Then planning for Nascent Soul afterward.

Yet at this moment, a transmission jade talisman carried close to his body suddenly lit up brightly.

Lin Chang’an’s expression instantly changed drastically.

“The Sword Attendant is in danger!”

In an instant, baleful aura surged outward.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Chang’an raised his hand, causing the Fusang Divine Tree within the Earthfire Cave to transform into thirty-six Sun-Piercing Divine Swords, sweeping the Wind-Chirp Bird upward toward the cave abode.

“Master!”

“Shut up. We’re going to kill people!”

The Wind-Chirp Bird was still confused, but Lin Chang’an’s face had become cold as frost.

Having never seen its master this enraged before, even the Wind-Chirp Bird shrank its neck in fear.

Damn it.

Which blind fool had offended its master this badly?

The next moment, Escape Light flashed without the slightest hesitation as they vanished from Celestial Spring Peak and rushed straight toward the Fog Sea of Tongtian.

……

The Fog Sea of Tongtian.

Amid roaring waves, the formation barrier surrounding a spirit ship was already covered in cracks.

“Who are you? Our Seven Kingdoms Alliance will never let you off!”

“Senior, our Seven Kingdoms Alliance serves True Lord Lu of Nascent Soul. Do not go too far!”

Upon the spirit ship, countless cultivators desperately held out while frantically invoking the name of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

However, the cultivator attacking them this time wore a mask and coldly stared at the people aboard the spirit ship before angrily shouting:

“I don’t care about any Nascent Soul cultivator or not! Cheap servant! All I know is that you killed my disciple. Today I absolutely will not spare you!”

The masked burly man roared thunderously while pointing directly at the Sword Attendant, the person in charge of the spirit ship this time.

“Moo!”

The Azure-Horned Ox roared while the Sword Attendant breathed heavily, coldly staring at the evil cultivator who had come to ambush them.

“A Third-rank Formation-breaking Talisman. The other side clearly came prepared.”

As for talk about killing disciples or such, cold light flickered within the Sword Attendant’s icy eyes.

Over these years, she naturally had killed some fools who failed to recognize their place.

She did not believe a single word from the other side.

“This person is clearly targeting me specifically. Did he come for the spirit mines? Or is it merely coincidence that he happened to set his sights on me?”

As someone carrying deep secrets, the Sword Attendant could not help but overthink.

Although she differed greatly from before, especially after her bloodline fused even further, even her once obvious heterochromatic eyes were no longer the dull appearance they once possessed.

Even her mana aura had changed completely.

Yet she had once appeared openly on Bibo Island.

The Sword Attendant understood exactly what kind of disaster her Spirit Body secret could bring upon her master.

A dense killing intent instantly surged within her heart.

Whether or not the other side had truly recognized her identity—

Even though her master had said the group led by Fatty Lei had already been completely eliminated and her identity should not be exposed—

Even if there was only the slightest possibility, she absolutely could not allow this person to live.

“Hide the spirit ship.”

Without the slightest hesitation, the Sword Attendant directly fled toward the Fog Sea of Tongtian together with the Azure-Horned Ox, abandoning the spirit ship behind.

“Cheap servant, don’t run!”

“Bandit cultivator, the cultivators of our Seven Kingdoms Alliance will arrive soon enough!”

The Sword Attendant coldly shouted. Twin swords flashed with thunderlight in her hands as she and the Azure-Horned Ox carved a path through the clouds and mist before rapidly fleeing.

However, in the eyes of the masked robber cultivator, this scene merely appeared as the Sword Attendant abandoning the spirit ship to create an escape opportunity for herself.

He secretly sneered inwardly.

“What a pity. The thing I targeted from the start was never that spirit ship—it was you!”

Without hesitation, the robber cultivator pretended to pursue her in the guise of a personal vendetta, leaving the lonely spirit ship behind upon the sea.

“What do we do?”

The cultivators aboard the ship looked at one another in panic.

However, some experienced Foundation Establishment cultivators, though unaware of the exact reason, still noticed certain clues.

“Quick! Quickly notify the elders! This robber cultivator was never targeting the spirit ship itself. He’s targeting the spirit mines of our Seven Kingdoms Alliance! He must have discovered our spirit mines!”

When heading toward the spirit mine region, the spirit ship’s formation remained fully activated for concealment purposes, ensuring even the cultivators aboard from their own side would not know the precise location.

Only the Core Formation cultivators of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance knew the exact spirit mine locations, guaranteeing strict secrecy.

At this moment, the cultivators of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance panicked, believing the robber cultivator had set his sights on the spirit mines they had mined over these years.

“Even if we must use the precious Thousand-mile Voice Transmission Talismans, the elders must learn that someone has targeted our spirit mines!”

The利益 from spirit mine mining were enormous.

Within the cultivation world, it was common for two factions to fight until blood flowed over spirit mine disputes.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators aboard the spirit ship had all been carefully selected by their sects.

Perhaps they were not the strongest.

But their loyalty was unquestionably reliable.

Thus, every Foundation Establishment cultivator panicked.

Now lost within the boundless Fog Sea of Tongtian, unable to determine direction, they could only hide for the moment while using transmission talismans to notify the elders of their respective sects and clans.

Because of the information gap, both the Sword Attendant and the Seven Kingdoms Alliance created the greatest misunderstanding possible in their own minds.

The Seven Kingdoms Alliance believed that someone had become envious of the spirit mines they had mined these past years and targeted them.

Meanwhile, the Sword Attendant believed she herself might have been exposed.

Although the greatest possibility still involved the spirit mines, the secret of her Spirit Body was even more dangerous.

Therefore, rather than fleeing toward the Five Dragon Island sea region, she instead doubled back and directly escaped into the Fog Sea of Tongtian.

As for the masked member of the Meng Clan, he merely sneered.

What spirit mines?

What not spirit mines?

These external possessions could never compare to strength itself.

As long as his son could break through to late Core Formation sooner, he did not mind acting as a robber cultivator once.

……

Meanwhile, upon Bibo Island, Meng Xinghai silently sat within the great hall.

“Xinghai, your father possesses late Core Formation cultivation. Although he carries injuries, there is no need to overly worry about his strength. She’s merely an early Core Formation female cultivator and cannot stir up much trouble.”

“I’m worried about the Core Formation cultivators of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.”

“Relax. With your father’s strength, nothing will happen.”

Madam Meng comforted him. She truly was not worried.

Her husband was a late Core Formation cultivator who also possessed treasures. How could he fail to capture a mere early Core Formation female cultivator?

After hearing this, Meng Xinghai nodded.

Yet for some reason, he still possessed a faint sense of foreboding.

The update was a bit late. I hope all fellow Daoists can forgive me.