"Lin'er, you're being watched."
[Doumu Yuanjun], who has been pretending not to exist, interrupts.
"Who is it?" Li Lin asked in his mind as he joked and made the others laugh.
"A disciple of [Original], a [Artifact Refiner]," said [Doumu Yuanjun].
"[Artifact Refiner]?" Li Lin asked in surprise.
He knew that the "Artifact Refiner" mentioned by Doumu Yuanjun referred to a cultivator who "uses weapons as elixirs, carries the Dao through weapons, and cultivates Qi through weapons." The Way of the Sword Immortal was actually a variant of the "Artifact Refiner."
They are usually known for their combat power exceeding the realm.
The reason is that the [Tribulation Crossing Stage] is difficult to achieve, but the [Tribulation Crossing Stage Magic Artifact] is easy to forge.
Even in order to avoid "tainting" the Dao and to prevent the Dao of the wielder from being restricted, the created artifacts are all "Artifact Embryo," blank sheets of paper that need to be written on by the "Artifact Refiner" himself.
But even blank paper can be immortal paper. If a [Artifact Refiner] has enough talent, it is not impossible to use the [Immortal Artifact Embryo] to build a foundation and write their own path.
If it weren't for the fact that [Artifact Refiner] also have [Artifact Master Dao Assistant], and that [ Those in the Tribulation Crossing Stage] are prone to [Weaponization], cultivating themselves into intelligent [Weapons], this path would definitely dominate today.
After all, one can achieve immortality by obtaining the Golden Core, and the combat power gained by becoming a magical artifact can also be achieved through external objects. It would be unwise to gain immortality by becoming a magical artifact.
Even the most advanced [Flesh Artifact] and [Humanoid Puppet] are not as good as the Heavenly Dao Body formed after transcending tribulation.
Of course, as a disciple of the [Artifact Immortal], one must have successfully established one's foundation through the [Artifact Scripture], which fully elucidates the [Origin and Flow of Weapons], and thus one would not fall into the [Artifact Transformation Tribulation].
This is because cultivators of the "Artifact Scripture" emphasize "using the Dao to imbue the physical weapon, and the physical weapon reflecting the illusory weapon," and "the Dao and Life Separation." The illusory weapon that is formed within the body during the "Artifact Construction Stage" is their natal golden core, while the physical weapon that reflects their Dao is merely the "Second Primordial Spirit."
After Artifact Passes Dao Tribulation of the Dao, the Virtual Artifact Solidification the real artifact, the Real Artifact Virtualization into the Virtual and Real Unity, and the unification of the Artifact Immortal and the real artifact, one achieves the unique realm of the Immortal Artifact, which is lower than the Dao Fruit but has the same combat power.
Thinking of this, Li Lin continued, "Although that person's [physical artifact] is designated as the [Immortal Artifact Embryo], it is still quite remarkable that it possesses the immortality of a celestial being in front of my [Candle Dragon Body]."
"No, his [physical artifact] contains the [primordial] [Immortal Dao Law]." [Doumu Yuanjun] was extremely shocked. "Although I had heard that [Primordial] wanted to create the [Innate Divine Prohibition], a method to harmlessly seal the [Immortal Dao Law] into the [immortal artifact], I never thought that this would actually be successfully created one day."
"Oh? Through the [Sealing Method]?" Li Lin was even more surprised, so much so that he didn't even notice that Luna's body was almost pressing against his arm.
It should be understood that the [Immortal Dao Law] are the derivative of the [Dao Fruit], and are the most direct source of the [Dao Imprint]. Even the [Great Dark Magic Curse] and the [Jade Exquisite] are not as direct.
This is equivalent to sealing a single milligram of a potent toxin that could kill hundreds of millions of people inside dentures and implanting it into the gums, or replacing a mobile phone battery with a radioactive nuclear battery.
"Is it really necessary to go to such lengths just to allow disciples to borrow the [Immortal Dao Law]? This martial arts competition isn't based on survival time or combat strength as the main parameters. The important thing is the competition itself, the [differences] in the paths cultivated, and the clash between paths." Li Lin was somewhat puzzled.
"No, this is for the purpose of 'Demonstrate Dao with Dao,' using fire to promote water, using light to create darkness, and using creation to attract destruction." Doumu Yuanjun's voice revealed a hint of horror. "Perhaps it is also to make the 'Positive and Negative Great Dao' unite at the moment of the final leap, so as to prove the Dao fruit."
The original artifact for proving one's Artifact Immortal is the "Thirty-three Heavens Creation Divine Artifacts," which is a "Portable Grotto-Heaven" composed of thirty-three immortal artifacts. Each layer is more tightly packed than the last and can take any one of the immortal artifacts as the main element to create different forms.
Its main weapon, the Dao One Annihilation Divine Light Cannon, is based on the Nine Heavens Ten Earth Vital Energy Cannon. The Dao Yi Annihilation Divine Light it unleashed once had the terrifying feat of instantly killing three demon immortals with a single shot. Even though the immortals were immortal, it took seventy-seventy-nine days for the three demon immortals to return from the void.
"Positive and negative?" Following the clue, Li Lin found a man who exuded an aura of annihilation, like a god of destruction descending.
Phoebe noticed Li Lin's gaze shift from her chest and followed it, exclaiming, "That's... the End Calamity Boat! It's Merlin! Merlin, the disciple of the Artifact Immortal!"
"Do you know him?" Li Lin asked, while scrutinizing the ancient, dark golden flying boat. He was secretly astonished that it, as a [virtual artifact], had materialized outside the body, while the unknown [Embryo of Creation Immortal Artifact], which originated from [Primordial], remained hidden within the body.
It should be understood that the [physical artifact] is clearly stronger, and as a celestial artifact, it is immortal and indestructible, while the [illusory artifact] is the natal golden core, which is not only related to the path of cultivation, but also to one's life.
This is like having a bulletproof vest but not wearing it, and instead using your bare body to withstand the bullets, for fear that the vest will be damaged.
However, in just a moment, Li Lin understood the secret.
This [End Calamity Boat] is powered by the Power of Creation and will revive and become stronger amidst destruction.
To be precise, every moment, this "End Calamity Boat" is decaying and being reborn!
Using the inexhaustible Source of Creation within the Embryo of Creation Immortal Artifact, it was destroyed, and then reborn from destruction.
This has created an eternal cycle!
Only a second had passed in the outside world when Li Lin came to this thought.
Phoebe answered just in time, "I know him. He is a [Artifact Refiner], a freak who used the [Immortal Artifact Embryo] to build his foundation and cultivated the [Artifact Scripture] to the [Artifact Construction Stage]!"
"Unlike other Immortal Sutra, the [Artifact Scripture] is difficult at first and easy later. Only those who achieve the Dao and Life Separation and the duality of illusory and real artifacts can be considered to have truly reached the [Artifact Construction Stage]."
"[The Immortal Artifact Embryo]!" Cassandra frowned, furious that Li Lin wasn't participating in the martial arts competition. "This is completely unfair!"
Such magical artifacts, which embody one's own Dao, are often regarded as an inseparable part of the cultivator.
Just like the [Sword Embryo] that manifested along with Robin's consciousness at his waist.
The same applies to the [Candle Dragon Blood] that Li Lin refined into his body.
"This is indeed unfair, but it doesn't affect the rankings," Li Ke interjected. "Participants in the [Mount Sumeru Illusionary Realm] will not truly die, and only by defeating their opponent with their own Dao and eliminating the [Shadow of Dao] left behind will the opponent truly be eliminated."
"Relying solely on combat strength only provides a negligible advantage."
"The real competition is about understanding the great principles."
"The real competition lies in the understanding of the Great Dao."
Appearing in the Cloud Top, attracting everyone's attention, and delivering a long speech, the Phoenix Immortal concluded with this sentence, announcing that the martial arts competition was about to begin.
The Spirit Illusory Yuanjun of Professor Cat, holding a raccoon dog, begins reading the list of participants.
"[Cycle Sect] [Qi Sect] Wude".
"[Four Symbols Sect] [Crimson Firmament Pavilion] Hugo".
"Li Lin of the Four Symbols Sect Kun Yuan Valley".