Sect Master Tongtian: Just blow up a few more times. Zhunti: This time, Tongtian's people stole them too.

Sect Master Tongtian reached out and pressed down on Xuandu, using a trace of Saintly pressure to stimulate his primordial spirit and make him understand that he truly existed.

Xuandu's reaction made him admire Li Er's formations immensely.

To make someone with Xuandu's temperament unable to distinguish illusion from reality...

However, Xuandu had drawn his sword against him. It could be said that he had shattered the god in his heart. This child had a promising future.

"Martial Uncle? Wuwu—Martial Uncle, I want to sleep for a while. This illusion was too miserable.

The people inside were too awful—

The people inside simply couldn't be killed off—my sword had been hacked dull.

Little Master was too awful..."

Xuandu cried like an eight-hundred-pound child, constantly complaining to Sect Master Tongtian about everything he had encountered in the illusory space.

He did not notice at all that Sect Master Tongtian's expression changed when he heard him badmouthing Li Er.

Although you were a nephew I admired, Li Er was my disciple and my friend. How dare you say bad things about him?

Anyway, your master was calmly drinking tea over there and wasn't worried about you at all, so why should I worry—

Then Sect Master Tongtian's lips curled into a wicked smile. He shoved Xuandu aside and appeared some distance away, instantly transforming into Li Er's appearance. Even his aura was identical to Li Er's.

"Speaking ill of others behind their backs is immoral.

Fellow Daoist, please—draw your sword."

Xuandu froze for a moment, then instantly saw red.

He felt an unprecedented rage. The Supreme Emotionless Scripture he had cultivated for so many years broke apart. This deception had been far too real.

Xuandu's face darkened, his eyes bloodshot. Gripping his sword hilt, he spat out each word.

"Heaven—Slaying—Sword—Draw—"

Pfft—

Xuandu spat out a mouthful of clotted blood. His eyes were filled with confusion as he flew backward and fell into the illusory space again.

"Ah! Li Er! I'll be back!"

Sect Master Tongtian glanced at his hand, then toward the Grand Pure Saint. Somewhat embarrassed, he said, "Big Brother, that... I didn't mean to."

"Yes, I know. You meant to." The Grand Pure Saint spoke blandly, a trace of helplessness flashing through his eyes.

How could he not understand Xuandu's feelings? Back then, he and Yuanshi Tianzun had also undergone trials and challenges within that illusion. It truly was perverse inside.

"Oh? Third Brother Pan, that appearance of yours is quite good—exactly like mine.

You really put a lot of thought into it!" Li Er said in a displeased tone, narrowing his eyes as his fingers lightly tapped the table.

"Cough, cough—what are you saying? I—I... Damn it, a sneak attack—

I have something to do, so I'll be leaving first—"

Before Sect Master Tongtian could finish speaking, he sensed a faint fluctuation of Purple Firmament Divine Lightning. Without another word, he tore through space and left.

The Grand Pure Saint's eyes lit up. He praised Li Er, "An impressive technique. Purple Firmament Divine Lightning combined with the laws of space, with a trace of the laws of time mixed in—it truly is formidable for sneak attacks.

This new method you developed, Brother Li Er, could offer the Human Race another path. Are you planning to pass it on?"

Li Er poured the Grand Pure Saint a cup of tea and handed him a jade slip. Helplessly, he said, "No matter how powerful it is, it's useless. Third Brother Pan's sword heart is clear and bright; he can sense any danger in advance.

This technique is incomplete. It can only reach the Golden Immortal realm, though I have already completed the subsequent cultivation deductions.

It's just that this method is dangerous. If the practitioner cannot control the sword intent or saber intent within their body in the end, they will explode."

The Grand Pure Saint took a sip of tea, brought out the jade slip, and swept his senses through it. He saw its contents:

Sword Codex and Saber Codex.

Use five-element spiritual materials to temper the golden core, forming sword patterns on its surface. One must consume rare spiritual materials such as Geng Metal Marrow and Profound Water Essence.

With each tempering, the sword patterns deepen until the core transforms into a crystalline sword embryo.

The sword embryo absorbs the power of celestial phenomena such as lightning and astral winds. The cultivator must use their physical body to withstand the backlash of sword intent amid lightning tribulation. A single misstep will shatter the sword core and end their path.

The sword embryo merges with the primordial spirit. Upon completing the Golden Immortal realm, a single sword strike can shatter stars. However, if the physical body has not reached the realm of Glass Jade Bones, forcibly attempting the seventh refinement will inevitably result in death from sword intent backlash.

The Grand Pure Saint frowned and asked in confusion, "At the Golden Immortal realm, this is equivalent to enhancement plus six, also called the sixth refinement.

Why not continue to enhancement plus seven? Was it because you could not deduce the corresponding resources?"

At that, Li Er revealed an awkward expression and said helplessly, "Enhancement plus seven easily explodes. If the physical body isn't strong enough, the person just dies."

In his previous life, everyone who played games knew that weapons enhanced to plus seven basically exploded. If one succeeded in enhancing a weapon to plus seven, it would practically glow.

Moreover, each additional enhancement came with the danger of explosion and the waste of resources.

The seventh refinement required drawing "special sword fiend energy" into the body. The cultivator had to guide it with a secret technique at the instant the sword fiend energy erupted, but ninety-nine percent of cultivators would have their bodies collapse in the first wave.

After the sixth refinement, one needed heavenly treasures like Netherdark Mystic Iron and Solar True Crystal. And with every refinement breakthrough, the required resources increased tenfold.

Where could ordinary members of the Human Race find so many resources to cultivate the seventh refinement?

Besides, this was a new method, different from the cultivation paths circulating throughout the Primordial World. Those who had already achieved success in their cultivation could not possibly destroy their own cultivation to practice this technique.

Furthermore, those who practiced this method would find it difficult to behold the Great Dao and achieve the path of transcendence.

"What if a cultivator's body can withstand the explosion? Or uses the explosive power to strengthen their body?

Look, Egg Kong repeatedly danced on the edge of life and death like this, converting that energy every time." The Grand Pure Saint offered his view. He secretly deduced it and found that it could work.

"He refined Nirvana Fire into a divine ability. He can't be used as a reference case.

The trial of enhancement plus seven requires enduring the force of the sword embryo's self-destruction with one's body. Even an ordinary Great Luo Golden Immortal might not be able to withstand it.

You just said Egg Kong used Nirvana Fire to temper his body... but those first learning this method aren't even Golden Immortals. Where would they get Nirvana Fire to protect themselves?

This method is meant for widespread use, so stability comes first.

Although Golden Immortal cultivation is only a slightly larger ant in the Primordial World, its attacks can absolutely erupt with the power of a Great Luo Golden Immortal.

If matching sword formations are developed further, sword formations formed by hundreds of thousands or even millions of sword cultivators would possess terrifying power.

I made this assessment based on the strength of the three Quasi-Sage brothers. Third Brother Pan has already verified it in advance."

After Li Er finished speaking, he directly summoned a light screen and began displaying his deductions upon it.

He continued, "If we follow the safe route, the sixth refinement is already the limit.

If someone is willing to risk their life... they may perhaps use the power of a 'sword explosion' to temper their body and forcibly break through to the seventh refinement on the edge of life and death. It's just that... the success rate is less than one in ten thousand.

If the power of the 'sword explosion' is channeled into an Eight Trigrams Formation to cushion it, then protected with Three Lights Divine Water, perhaps the risk can be reduced to thirty percent.

That still isn't ninety-eight percent. It's no different from seeking death.

But Three Lights Divine Water might as well not exist.

So if this cultivation technique is to be widespread, it can only go as far as the Golden Immortal realm."

But the Grand Pure Saint did not see it that way. It was enough for him to know there was a method that could succeed. What he wanted was elites, not ordinary disciples.

"Fine. We'll first spread the method up to the Golden Immortal realm. Once there are prodigies in the future who cultivate to that level, we can take them as disciples." The Grand Pure Saint proposed, a gleam flashing through his eyes.

Deep down, he was somewhat envious of his third brother. Whenever Li Er had anything good, he gave it to his third brother first. This thing probably had an advanced version as well.

Based on Li Er's personality, there definitely had to be several versions of this thing. What he was seeing now was likely only one of them, while his third brother surely had received the complete version.

"No rush. Let Chen Qingjiu practice it first and collect more valuable reference data.

Then I'll improve it further and make it more stable." Li Er poured the Grand Pure Saint another cup and spoke seriously.

The Grand Pure Saint frowned at this. "This child has a good temperament. Would letting him cultivate this be..."

"This is a rapid cultivation method. As long as there are sufficient resources and one's temperament is acceptable, cultivation can change by the day.

He urgently needs cultivation so that he can return and do certain things. First Brother Pan, you can tell from how he performed in the illusion.

Everyone who comes into this world has their own responsibilities and tasks. He likely wants to return and protect his people.

His saber is not domineering. His saber is protection.

When a saber possesses the will to protect, it will fight until it is shattered to pieces without taking a single step back." Li Er spoke seriously, his eyes full of appreciation.

After passing through so many stages in the illusion formation he had arranged, this boy was still able to maintain his original heart. He was the first.

The Grand Pure Saint picked up his teacup and took a sip, saying with deep emotion, "Perhaps this is his fate. Then arrange it as you see fit.

By the way, your Second Brother Pan asked whether you wanted to visit the Trading Market. He is currently busy preparing for its opening."

Li Er finished the tea in his cup, rose to his feet, and let out a long sigh toward the heavens, revealing a worried expression.

His voice full of endless distress, he said, "First Brother Pan, I'm merely an ant at the Golden Core Stage. Any living being in the Primordial World could crush me to death.

I'm not qualified to attend such a grand event. Enough talk—I'll go cultivate and break through the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible."

The Grand Pure Saint: ...

Watching Li Er run off to cultivate, the Grand Pure Saint was speechless. Other than his Golden Core Stage realm, Li Er's actual strength was not low at all, especially his ability to wield laws.

There were some laws that even he, a peak Saint, could not see through.

Through the formation disk on the table, the Grand Pure Saint watched everyone cultivate diligently and still felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Because every one of them was trying too hard.

However, one pair was an exception: Jade Cauldron True Man, whom Black Dog taught. Nobody knew what had gotten into the dog and man lately, but they often let out sinister chuckles.

Black Dog would even occasionally take Jade Cauldron True Man around to watch the others cultivate, then return and begin chuckling sinisterly.

Still, Black Dog truly had some ability. He had forcibly tempered Yu Ding's physical body to an extreme degree, with basic laws essentially fused into his flesh. This was the minor accomplishment stage of the Nine-Nine Mystic Art.

"But what did Black Dog mean by that phrase, 'If you aren't strong enough, spreading rumors will get you killed'?" The Grand Pure Saint muttered to himself, somehow feeling that this matter was related to him.

"Forget it. I should go support my second brother first. Later, I'll visit the Chaos Forbidden Zone and the Innate Sacred Forbidden Zone to find some treasures, then have Li Er forge a saber for Chen Qingjiu."

Golden Ao Island—Biyou Palace.

Sect Master Tongtian entered with a gloomy expression. Looking at Lingbao Tianzun, he said dissatisfiedly, "You called me back over this?

You even used merit to condense a Karma Thread and contact me. Even if you have plenty of merit, you can't waste it like that.

The Interception Sect's gates are always open for taking disciples. If they want to come, they can take part in the Trial of Heart. Are they trying to use the back door?"

Sect Master Tongtian did not even look at Taiyi. If his nephew wanted to join the Interception Sect, he could simply come and formally become a disciple.

Why waste this merit? Did he not know it took a month to obtain one Merit Golden Body?

"You already knew?" Lingbao Tianzun frowned deeply and asked in confusion.

He began checking himself, certain that Sect Master Tongtian must have set up some formation on him without his knowledge and overheard his conversation with Taiyi.

Watching Lingbao Tianzun's little movements, Sect Master Tongtian said unhappily, "For such a trivial matter, would I need to set something up on you?

Also, you really are bored. You had your True Spirit transform into an outer disciple—who are you pretending to be a big shot for?

If you think this book is good, please remember to add it to your bookshelf so you won't lose it next time.

Perfecting yourself? Not a bad idea—"

This was his Interception Sect. He had arranged all the formations here, and there were so many Merit Golden Bodies present. Wasn't it easy for him to know certain things?

Look at Li Er's methods. He had directly refined the secret realm into a small world, completely avoiding the Heavenly Dao's surveillance, existing like those forbidden zones.

Furthermore, that small world was constantly being layered, containing an unknown number of formations and dozens of small worlds. Controlling the formation disk was equivalent to controlling the small world. That formation disk bore some resemblance to the Creation Jade Disc.

How far had his Golden Ao Island progressed? How many small worlds had he layered? His goal was to refine Golden Ao Island into a forbidden zone, even into a supreme treasure.

If a real crisis emerged in the future, he could simply drive Golden Ao Island into Chaos. If he could not provoke them, he could at least hide from them.

Sect Master Tongtian turned to Taiyi and said blandly, "If those Golden Crows of yours want to join the Interception Sect, they merely need to think it through.

Presumably, you can see what will happen in the future. When that time comes, they cannot intervene to help the Demon Race."

"Yes, Saint Tongtian, we have thought it through. If the nine of them can join the Interception Sect, it will be their Dao fortune." Taiyi spoke seriously, his eyes filled with sincerity.

"Send someone to the Trading Market. I'll give you a spot where you can sell your things and conduct trade."

"Many thanks, Saint Tongtian." Taiyi gave a respectful salute, turned, and left.

Sect Master Tongtian looked at Lingbao Tianzun, raised a hand, and sent out a stream of information. He said seriously, "Tempering the heart amid mortal life is indeed a fine choice.

You should travel throughout the Primordial World, preferably to the Human Race.

Also, it would be best if you condensed a somewhat stronger merit body. Then it can house the Dao Fruit of the Saint's position."

After digesting the information, Lingbao Tianzun said helplessly, "Easy for you to say. Once a merit body is stacked to a certain degree, it can no longer be layered.

The technique you just gave me... won't have any problems, right? Why does it feel somewhat insane?

Refining a sword within the body? To replace the Golden Core Dao?"

Sect Master Tongtian patted his chest and said seriously, "Don't worry, this technique is extremely safe. Perhaps it can even directly bear the Dao Fruit of a Saint when the time comes.

Besides, you have plenty of Merit Golden Bodies now. Why not just try it?

At most, you'll blow up a few more times."

Lingbao Tianzun: ...

Mount Buzhou Secret Realm, Small World.

Time Brother walked through the secret realm's small world with Thirty Years, unable to help feeling that this place was like a maze.

Duobao looked at another shattered Dharma treasure in his hand, a pained look flashing through his eyes. His precious Dharma treasure had broken again.

He walked out from where he cultivated. His current artifact-refining level had reached a bottleneck, so he needed to ask Little Master whether there was a new direction.

Soon, he passed the place where Sixth Crow was located. It was his cultivation grounds, a miniature world constructed from countless formations.

He discovered that this fellow was refining an artifact with his natal sacred fire, hammering it with his primordial spirit. The Dharma treasure was a small knife.

Yet the little knife actually had eyebrows, eyes, and a pair of wings. It was as bizarre as could be.

He merely glanced at it, but the small knife gave him the feeling that his primordial spirit had been locked onto by it.

"Senior Brother Li, how about taking a look at my flying knife?" Sixth Crow directly carried his flying knife in his beak and came over, humbly asking for guidance.

Among all the disciples, the publicly recognized strongest artifact refiner was Senior Brother Duobao.

Although most of the Dharma treasures he refined eventually exploded, one had to admit that they were truly powerful.

"Mm, you referenced the Saber Codex, combined it with Junior Brother Zhao's primordial spirit projection method, and—hiss—you even used the method of severing the three corpses, directly hammering your good and evil thoughts into this knife—

Junior Brother Crow, I have to admire your creativity in artifact refinement. Genius—" Duobao could not help sighing. He immediately constructed the method for refining this flying knife in his mind, and a high-quality imitation refining method promptly formed in his thoughts.

This was his specialty. With just one look, he could imitate seventy percent of another person's Dharma treasure.

"Senior Brother Li has sharp eyes. I named this flying knife the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife.

And I saw that boastful Senior Brother Xuandu's catchphrase, 'Fellow Daoist, please draw your sword,' was especially good.

So I also gave my flying knife a catchphrase: 'Treasure, please turn around.'" Sixth Crow said proudly, a trace of smugness flashing through his eyes.

When he refined this flying knife, he had seen how powerful Zhao Gongming's primordial spirit was. That inspired him to realize that other people's primordial spirits surely could not be stronger than this senior brother's.

Therefore, to wipe out an enemy, he only needed to directly sever their primordial spirit and defeat them in one move.

"Not bad, not bad.

When are you going to take human form, Sixth Crow? Senior Brother will give you a few treasures to cross the heavenly tribulation and raise your success rate by a few points." Duobao could not help asking. Lately, he had not seen Sixth Crow plucking his own feathers.

He probably could no longer pull out his own feathers.

Sixth Crow stored his flying knife in his primordial spirit and said helplessly, "Sigh~ I'm currently ninety-eight percent certain. That's no different from seeking death."

I asked Senior Brother Kong. He said it was best to be a hundred percent certain, so I could endure more heavenly tribulations then and use them as potential after my breakthrough.

Now the Old Master wasn't home, Great-Grandfather Master wasn't here, and the Great Old Master wasn't around either. No one could protect my path, so I didn't dare undergo tribulation.

Black Divine Beast was watched when he underwent tribulation, and Senior Brother Kong was watched too. I'm afraid I'll be watched as well."

Duobao nodded in agreement. "That is indeed a problem. Polish up your flying knives properly. I think they have great potential.

Also, it would be best to add divine locking inscriptions. If your comprehension is strong enough, Little Master has spatial divine inscriptions. Go and engrave those onto them too."

Sixth Crow smiled upon hearing this and said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

Then he turned and flew toward Li Er's library.

Duobao smiled at the sight, then muttered to himself, "Should I try refining a magic treasure like that too?

Forget it. I'll ask Little Master first."

Before long, Duobao passed by the place where Kong Xuan and Zhao Gongming were battling. The two were testing their respective divine abilities against each other.

When he passed Wudang's training grounds, he stopped to watch for a while. As he left, he cried inwardly that she was a monster and not someone he could afford to provoke.

When he passed Chen Qingjiu's training grounds, he stopped to watch as well. His brows furrowed tightly before he left, because he could not understand it.

He had seen that fellow practicing that one slash more than a decade ago, and even now, he was still practicing that same slash. It was as though he knew no other saber technique besides it.

When he passed Black Dog and Yu Ding's grounds, he quickened his pace and left. Every so often, sinister cackling rang out from within, and the entire place constantly reeked of conspiracy.

When he reached Taiyi True Man's grounds, he nearly went inside because that fellow was preparing a grand feast. Taiyi was the most tireless person in the entire secret realm's small world.

But no one dared underestimate him. That fellow's mouth was particularly formidable. He was currently sweet-talking Yellow Dragon into helping him, and the two were preparing a grand feast.

At one of the grills, dragon scales were being roasted. That was right—they had been pulled from Yellow Dragon's body.

At last, he arrived before Li Er's cave abode and rang the bell on the door.

After waiting for a moment, the door opened. He entered and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Little Master."

"Fat Li, have you run out of materials again?" Li Er asked curiously. He greatly approved of Fat Li's spirit of research.

After all, he had also learned quite a few things from Duobao's artifact-refining methods and ideas. When a group of people gathered together, there was bound to be someone full of clever ideas.

"I haven't run out of materials, Little Master. My artifact-refining skills and understanding have reached a bottleneck. I would like you to guide me.

How can I refine an existence like Black Protector?" Duobao asked seriously, his eyes filled with thirst for knowledge.

Li Er frowned with a headache. To be honest, he did not know how he had managed to refine an existence like Black Dog.

He had already told Duobao the refinement method. Even when he refined more artifacts afterward, he had never managed to make another existence like Black Dog.

"Can you escape from the hands of a Quasi-Sage now?"

"It shouldn't be a problem. As long as I don't encounter someone like the Old Master, I can basically get away," Duobao said confidently, though a trace of confusion appeared in his eyes. What did this have to do with refining magic treasures?

"In the Primordial World, there is only one place that can truly create living beings: the Sea of Blood.

You can go there and study the Asuras. In what form do they exist? Where does their intelligence come from?

But the entire Sea of Blood is Ancestor Minghe's Blood God Doppelgangers, so be careful when you go.

Go capture a few Asuras for study. Perhaps you'll find the answer.

Here, take these formation discs. Don't use those disposable ones of yours anymore.

Also, bring more pills.

This time, survival comes first and research comes second. If anything feels wrong, leave immediately." Li Er directly took out tens of thousands of formation discs and handed them to Duobao, speaking seriously.

After Duobao accepted the formation discs, his eyes lit up. Why had he never thought of going to the Sea of Blood to capture a few Asuras for research?

"Thank you, Little Master." Duobao bowed respectfully and turned to leave.

He could not wait to find the answer.

Li Er stroked his chin and muttered to himself, "Should I let these fellows go out and gain some experience? Or should I wait for Third Brother Pan to return and have him take them out for training?

Otherwise, their way of thinking will never change, and I won't be able to get any new ideas from them.

Huh? Little Xuandu has some skill. He actually cleared the trial and came out?

Hm? He's even acting so cocky. Have Egg Kong teach him a lesson."

Kong Xuan, who was still fighting Zhao Gongming, then received Li Er's voice transmission. He immediately tore through space and appeared before Xuandu.

Without another word, he merged the Innate Five Elements Divine Light into one and condensed a streak of sword intent to attack Xuandu.

Xuandu rapidly retreated at the sight. He snorted. "Another sneak attack! Sword, come!"

The two streaks of sword intent collided and annihilated each other—

Yet Kong Xuan remained silent. The Innate Five Elements Divine Light behind him directly condensed into one Five Elements sword after another, which shot toward Xuandu.

"Heaven-Slaying Sword Draw—"

Seeing how fierce their battle was, Li Er raised a hand and reinforced the area around them.

"Not bad, not bad. I can learn something again."

Sea of Blood.

Zhunti the Sage, who was secretly converting Asuras, suddenly shuddered. His Dao of Affinity, which had remained unmoved for years, had suddenly reacted intensely.

This reaction was especially strong. It seemed connected to the karmic cause behind the rise of the Western Sect.

"Damn it! This time, it can't still be one of Tongtian's people, can it?!

Even if it is his person, I'll still snatch them away."

Somewhere in the Sea of Blood.

Duobao stared wide-eyed at the continuously surging baleful aura and karmic power. Even if he could not discover why the Asuras possessed intelligence, this place alone could increase the Red Lotus Karmic Fire within him countless times over.

"This is simply a holy land for cultivation. Once I'm done here, I have to go back and tell Little Master so the other senior brothers and sisters can come here too.

We're rich, we're rich—can the Sea of Blood refine even a trace of Pangu's blood?"