Chapter 99: Immortal-Slaying Flying Sword

Ao Lie went off to direct his subordinates in rebuilding Fengbie Palace. He noticed the Yin Cold Ice Evils weren’t gathering again, and simply assumed the Earth Vein had been ruptured by the Heavenly King Polaris Vanquisher. He felt quite resentful about it. Mu Yuan, of course, kept his triumph quiet. That strange natural stone had been placed inside the Black Water Gourd!

The Mountain Elf’s Condensing Evil Energy was incredibly fast. Not long after the Flame-Mouth Sea Glow Dragon King left, the evil energy swirling around the Mountain Elf rolled and churned violently before finally withdrawing entirely into its body. It let out a long howl and then fell silent, seemingly inspecting its own condition. After that, it began wildly thrashing its limbs and stamping around!

Seeing the Mountain Elf succeed in condensing evil, Mu Yuan was also overjoyed. Secretly, he scolded himself for forgetting to check up on the cultivation progress of his “pet.” If he hadn’t remembered the Mountain Elf because of the battle, it might have stayed stuck inside the gourd indefinitely! Its excellent cultivation prospects could have been completely wasted by his neglect!

Thinking of this, Mu Yuan suddenly remembered the Feng Luan inside his gourd. Now that he’d put that strange stone inside, generating evil energy, he wondered what impact it might have on the bird.

He quickly sank his spiritual sense into the gourd. Sure enough, near the holes and hollows of the strange stone, it was constantly absorbing and exhaling the Black Water Gourd’s Primordial Qi, transforming it into Yin Cold Ice Evils that sprayed out, thread by thread. The chilling mist was already starting to spread, making the space inside the gourd feel notably cold. Looking upwards, it seemed ice particles were beginning to form!

Mu Yuan sighed internally. He moved the Mirage Dragon Thousand Illusions Array he had set up inside the gourd earlier to cover this specific area. As the great array activated, it opened up another separate space. Now the evil energy could only roll around within it, unable to penetrate outwards.

As for the Feng Luan, it remained peacefully roosting in the dense forest far away. Since Mu Yuan had taught it soul-tempering methods, the Feng Luan’s absorption of Primordial Qi had accelerated, and its innate fiery qi had deepened considerably. The only problem was it was bored senseless inside the gourd. It passed the time hunting for blood prey, making it grow increasingly robust and sturdy!

Mu Yuan had harbored thoughts of refining the gourd for a while. However, lacking the specific incantations for crafting a gourd magic treasure, he could only set aside the idea for now. He recalled the Mountain Elf back into the gourd and withdrew his spiritual sense.

Water soldiers busily went back and forth repairing the palace. Meanwhile, Ao Lie had already used a Water-Repelling Pearl to reconstruct a protected space. Inside, he sat comfortably chatting and laughing with Qi Wei and Chu Yunfei. Before long, a rumbling sound announced the arrival of several large ships. They were transports from the Dragon Palace, carrying numerous water soldiers. Having heard the Flame-Mouth Sea Glow Dragon King’s account, Ao Feng had sent them to assist Ao Lie in rebuilding Fengbie Palace. At their head was a young woman with skin as pale as willow flowers. She jumped down from a ship and greeted Ao Lie with a smile!

“This is Princess Ao Jing,” Ao Lie introduced. “Little sister, these are Cultivators who came from the Central Plains. They helped me fend off that evil demon this time.” He made the introductions for both sides. Mu Yuan gave her a quick glance and realized Princess Ao Jing’s cultivation base was not weak either; she had already reached the Condensing Evil Energy level. She wore a deep emerald green long skirt, cinched at the waist by a jade belt that accentuated her slender figure. Most eye-catching was a vibrant green jade gourd hanging from it, its internal aura palpable. This caused Mu Yuan’s heart to stir unexpectedly.

Princess Ao Jing was very humble and courteous. After exchanging pleasantries for a short while, she directed the troops she had brought to begin helping Ao Lie construct the palace. Once these tasks were arranged, she asked Ao Lie about the details of the recent battle. Ao Lie didn’t hold back, recounting the events to her meticulously. When he described the complex divine abilities involved, particularly those in the middle of the conflict, Ao Jing seemed quite impressed. She couldn’t resist glancing at Mu Yuan.

All present possessed cultivation bases, so naturally, they noticed Ao Jing’s particular regard for Mu Yuan. Realizing something, Ao Lie gave a knowing laugh. “Ah, I forgot! Little sister cultivates the Dragon Palace’s Profound Netherworld Heaven-Slaughtering Art. It shares some affinity with friend Bing Chengzi’s Ice Soul Divine Light.”

Mu Yuan smiled faintly, “So that’s how it is.” He started to inquire further but felt it might be abrupt, so he didn’t continue the line of thought.

Ao Jing, however, smiled gently. “The Profound Netherworld Heaven-Slaughtering Art cultivates an Undying Body, a technique passed down from the ancient Torch Dragon. I have trained over twenty years and only reached its fourth layer. I am quite keen on comparing insights regarding the Ice Soul Divine Light technique of the Daoist brother. Would you be willing?”

Mu Yuan thought to himself, “If it were the Longevity Art, I naturally wouldn’t share it openly. But just an Ice Soul spell I acquired incidentally? Nothing that special!” He had obtained the Ice Soul Divine Light technique scroll after disarming two disciples of the Ice Soul Sect. Honestly, he hadn’t paid that much attention to it initially. It was only later, comparing it with his Tidal Flow insights, that he practiced a bit. Sect transmitted techniques gradually, preventing leakage. This particular Ice Soul Divine Light scroll only contained the formulas for the first three Qi Refining layers, similar to the Forge Furnace Art. Even his own sect’s Longevity Art had only been taught up to Elixir Formation level by Cang Qing Zi during his time in Qingguang Hall.

Still, by using the “Icecold Path” principles within Tidal Flow, Mu Yuan managed to patch together a method for advancing the Ice Soul Divine Light to Elixir Formation. While it wasn’t the original form, it was good enough to be used credibly!

“Since the Princess is interested, I naturally wouldn’t be stingy with the formulas,” Mu Yuan said with a smile. “On the Great Dao of Eternal Life, one shouldn’t cling to narrow doctrines. Mutual exchange and support are the way forward.”

Ao Jing seemed pleased to hear this. While the Dragon Palace held countless techniques and divine abilities, few complemented the Profound Netherworld Heaven-Slaughtering Art well. The chance to witness a Central Plains legacy was indeed a happy occasion.

Their exchange proved mutually beneficial. The Profound Netherworld Heaven-Slaughtering Art pursued the Undying Body path, yet clearly, Princess Ao Jing trained her Primordial Spirit simultaneously through a dual-cultivation method. Alongside the Profound Netherworld Heaven-Slaughtering Art, her Primordial Spirit method originated from the Buddhist Sect. Mu Yuan focused solely on the Profound Netherworld Heaven-Slaughtering Art insights, ignoring the rest. Both felt gratified by the exchange.

“My sect transmission only went up to Elixir Formation. Formulas for subsequent stages are usually imparted after achieving the Elixir Formation,” Mu Yuan explained later. “If it were otherwise, I would certainly provide them fully to the Princess.”

“That is perfectly common,” Ao Jing reassured him softly, her voice as melodious as pipes and strings. “Many sects follow the same practice. Brother need not mind.”

“By the way,” Mu Yuan changed the topic, his curiosity piqued, “I saw that gourd on the Princess just now. Might I ask what kind of magical artifact it is? Could you show me?”

Ao Jing smiled at Mu Yuan’s question, unhooking the gourd from her waist. She gave it a gentle shake. Instantly, dazzling rays of bright green light danced wildly. “I found this among the Dragon Palace’s treasure vaults and chose it because it looked pretty, just hanging it for ornament. Inside, it holds thunder evils and earthly fire, along with venomous miasma and blood insects. Honestly, it’s not particularly powerful. Is this of interest to the Daoist Brother?”

Mu Yuan had encountered descriptions of similar gourd artifacts in his sect’s records. Most housed and projected flying swords or released toxic miasma. While not rare, he took the opportunity to ask Ao Jing about refining and enchanting methods specifically for gourd-type treasures.

Ao Jing proved unselfish. She handed the gourd directly to Mu Yuan for examination. While listening to her recite the necessary incantations, Mu Yuan sent his spiritual sense roaming within the gourd. Inside, vibrant green light shimmered. Suspended within floated countless thunder evil fire orbs, encircled and restrained by a layered shimmer. These orbs circulated freely. Moreover, Mu Yuan observed the thunder evils actively gathering Primordial Qi, steadily creating more thunder evil fire orbs.

Probing with his spiritual sense, Mu Yuan discovered that the surrounding shimmer was actually Zhenqi-formed restrictions. There were twenty-one layers, each overlapping and rubbing against others, creating friction that sparked the generation of even more complex secondary prohibitions. This was a new concept for him!

Truthfully, apart from some flying swords, Mu Yuan only possessed the Numinous Jade Belt as a proper artifact treasure. He wasn’t very familiar with artifact refining methods, though he knew perfection required thirty-six layers of restrictions. Crafting an artifact with thirty-six perfect layers, given immense fortune, could awaken an Artifact Spirit. Such awakened artifacts were then called Dao Artifacts!

So far, throughout his cultivation journey, Mu Yuan had never encountered such a spirit-endowed Dao Artifact. He hadn’t even heard of one within the Longevity Palace!

While the gourd in Ao Jing’s hand was selected from the Dragon Palace treasure vault, it came with proper refining methods. Enchanting an artifact with restrictions was laborious work. This particular gourd was refined by someone in the Dragon Palace generations ago. They only managed up to the twenty-first layer before progress ceased, but they left behind the incantations for further refinement. Studying the formulas now and examining the artifact itself, Mu Yuan grasped the fundamental principles.

Withdrawing his spiritual sense from Ao Jing’s gourd, Mu Yuan became eager to refine his own Black Water Gourd. The Black Water Gourd could now produce Yin Cold Ice Evils. Condense those further into thunder evils, and he’d possess thunder evils far more potent than those in Ao Jing’s gourd.

“Daoist Brother seems quite interested. Do you perhaps also have a gourd?” Ao Jing’s curiosity finally got the better of her.

Mu Yuan didn’t conceal it, replying with a smile, “Indeed, I do possess a gourd. It has been rather unutilized up to now, which is why I sought refining formulas suitable for gourds. Meeting the Princess today couldn’t be more opportune!” As he spoke, he produced the Black Water Gourd. Mu Yuan wasn’t particularly fearful; the most problematic item inside was the strange stone, currently locked away by the Mirage Dragon Thousand Illusions Array, making it completely hidden to outsiders.

“So it’s truly a gourd!” Ao Jing’s face lit up with gentle pleasure. She then said, “I’ve heard that within the Great Sun Divine Sect of the Central Plains, there exists a specialized sword formula dedicated solely to refining gourds. Its power is claimed to be astonishingly profound! If such a gourd could be refined to the thirty-sixth layer, awakening its Artifact Spirit, then even if wielded by a minor cultivator still in Qi Refinement, it could supposedly slay lofty experts who have attained their Primordial Spirit! A pity I’ve never seen it myself.”

“Oh?” Mu Yuan’s heart jolted. The mention of the Great Sun Divine Sect startled him at first, but the idea of a treasure capable of slaying Primordial Spirit stage experts deeply impressed him. He pressed urgently, “Princess, do you know the name of this sword formula?”

Ao Jing lowered her head, thinking pensively, seeming a bit unsure. “I’ve only heard fragments of hearsay. Some say that sword formula is called ‘Gourd Ten Thousand Swords Art’. Others mention the Great Sun Divine Sect possessing such a treasure itself, specifically named ‘Immortal-Slaying Flying Sword’. Opinions vary considerably; I don’t know clearly which it is.”

Mu Yuan found himself deeply attracted to the concept of the Great Sun Divine Sect’s gourd magic treasure. He knew well, however, that such a powerful artifact was inevitably a top-grade treasure of an entire sect. Fantasizing about it immediately was unrealistic. Still, the name “Gourd Ten Thousand Swords Art” casually dropped by Ao Jing struck a chord. He thought his own Witch Clan Sword Formula might lend itself well to refinement via the Black Water Gourd.