Holy Sword Tempering the Bead, Blessing in Disguise

That terrifying sword intent, which descended from Sect Master Tongtian, was not a physical attack. Instead, it was an idea condensed to its absolute limit, containing the supreme origin of the Heaven-Severing Sword Dao!

It bypassed all of Xuanwei's defenses and struck directly into the deepest part of his sea of consciousness, hitting the dormant fragment of the Chaos Bead with pinpoint accuracy!

"Buzz--!!!"

Stimulated by the external sword intent, the Chaos Bead fragment instantly erupted with unprecedented resistance! The gray, hazy primordial chaos surged like an enraged beast, attempting to obliterate and devour this sword intent! The entire sea of consciousness vibrated violently, and Xuanwei felt as if his consciousness would be torn to shreds by the aftershocks of the collision between these two supreme powers!

"Master!" he cried in horror, not understanding why Sect Master Tongtian had suddenly attacked him! Could it be that a treasure like the Chaos Bead was not tolerated in the eyes of a Saint?

However, the scene he had anticipated—the Chaos Bead being shattered or seized—did not occur.

Although the Heaven-Severing Sword Intent was sharp and unparalleled, it did not carry destructive intent. It was like a master craftsman, using the supreme sword dao as a hammer and the Chaos Bead as a blank, performing a profound and mysterious "tempering"!

With each strike of the sword intent, it precisely removed the unstable, chaotic threads of law within the Chaos Bead fragment that arose from its incompleteness, obliterating its impurities and malevolence! Simultaneously, the supreme Dao charm of "intercepting a sliver of life" contained within the sword intent, like a sweet rain, merged into the core origin of the Chaos Bead, guiding those shattered law fragments to slowly recombine and mend in a more orderly manner, more in line with the origin of the Great Dao!

This process was undoubtedly a hellish torment for Xuanwei! His sea of consciousness had become a battlefield for two "big shots," and each collision caused him unbearable pain. His Immortal Qi main body trembled violently in the outside world, its brilliance flickering unstably, as if it might dissipate at any moment. All the disciples in the plaza watched in stunned silence, not understanding why their junior brother was suddenly in such agony, nor what Sect Master Tongtian's intentions were.

The San Xiao sisters looked anxious and worried, Bixiao even preparing to stand up, but Yunxiao sternly stopped her with a look.

[Warning! High-intensity external force has intervened in the Chaos Bead's core!]

[Analysis: Target energy is Saint-level Sword Dao origin, nature: non-destructive tempering and guidance!]

[Unstable structure within the Chaos Bead (fragment) is being removed, core law fragments are being reorganized... Repair progress is being forcibly increased!]

[Warning! The repair process is generating a massive energy overload, host's sea of consciousness and origin are about to overload and collapse!]

The System's prompts were urgent. In the midst of extreme pain, Xuanwei grasped the key information—tempering! Guidance! Repair!

Sect Master Tongtian was not destroying the treasure, but helping him! Using this incredibly overbearing method to forcibly enhance the Chaos Bead's completeness!

He instantly understood. Sect Master Tongtian saw that he possessed a rare treasure but had difficulty controlling it, and might even suffer harm from it. Therefore, he had intervened with his Saintly power to "polish" this supreme treasure for him! This was a unique form of reward and protection!

With this realization, Xuanwei's fear vanished, replaced by an indescribable gratitude and shock. He no longer resisted. Instead, he proactively opened his mind and wholeheartedly circulated the Supreme Pure Immortal Method and the Chaos Heaven-Opening Art, guiding his own Immortal Qi and his Wu Tu and Yi Mu origins to withstand and adapt to the aftershocks of the tempering, and attempting to absorb the extremely pure primordial chaos Dao charm that had leaked out!

This was a gamble! If he survived, the future would be boundless! If he didn't, his body and soul would be annihilated!

"Ahhh--!" The intense pain almost made him roar, but he gritted his teeth and endured. His Immortal Qi, his very essence, twisted and deformed in the sky above the plaza, yet stubbornly refused to dissipate. The three-colored light of blue, yellow, and chaos, under the tempering of the sword intent, actually became purer and more integrated!

After an unknown period, which felt like an instant yet also like eons.

The terrifying Heaven-Severing Sword Intent suddenly retracted, as if it had never appeared.

And the Chaos Bead fragment in Xuanwei's sea of consciousness had undergone a drastic transformation! Its original dull, gray appearance covered in fine cracks was gone. In its place was a treasure bead about the size of a pigeon's egg, perfectly round, with a color as deep as chaos, and countless fine Dao patterns flowing naturally on its surface! Although it could still be felt that it was not complete, the aura it exuded was more than ten times stronger than before! It was more stable, more restrained, and more profound!

[Chaos Bead (fragment) repair progress significantly increased! Current repair progress: 5%!]

[New function unlocked: Basic Chaos Domain (can deploy a Chaos Domain with a diameter of ten zhang. Within the domain, laws are distorted, perception is shielded, enemy's Spiritual Power is weakened, and self is enhanced. Duration and effect are related to the host's cultivation and energy).]

[New function unlocked: Mustard Seed Space (internal space expanded to a diameter of five li, can store living beings, time flow rate can be adjusted up to 1:15).]

[Host successfully endured Saint-level tempering, willpower and origin resilience greatly increased! Lineage potential slightly evolved!]

[Energy level increased to 55%! Cultivation consolidated at the peak of early Heavenly Immortal stage!]

An unprecedented sense of power surged through him! Xuanwei felt as if his Immortal Qi core had undergone a baptism of rebirth. Not only were his injuries completely healed and his cultivation advanced, but more importantly, his control over the Chaos Bead had reached a new level! The "Basic Chaos Domain" and the expanded "Mustard Seed Space" were undoubtedly two powerful trump cards!

He slowly opened his "eyes." His aura was harmonious and restrained, all three-colored brilliance retracted into his body. Only his eyes (focus of his intent) became deeper and brighter. He bowed deeply towards the cloud bed: "Disciple Xuanwei thanks Master for the grace of tempering! I will surely not fail Master's high expectations, cultivate diligently, and bring glory to our sect!"

The plaza fell silent. Everyone could feel that their junior brother's aura was completely different from before the lecture! There was an indescribable depth and mystery to it!

A hint of satisfaction rippled through Sect Master Tongtian's vast consciousness: "Good. The treasure's grade has improved, but do not slacken in your heart of mastery. This matter is concluded; you may all disperse."

With a flash of green light, Sect Master Tongtian's figure disappeared.

Only then did a huge uproar erupt from the plaza!

"Was that... Master personally tempering a magic treasure for junior brother Xuanwei just now?!"

"What kind of treasure could provoke Master to act personally?"

"Junior brother Xuanwei's aura... it's so terrifying!"

"This child is truly soaring to the heavens!"

Envy, jealousy, astonishment, desire for friendship... all sorts of voices could be heard. Many disciples of the Intercepting Sect now looked at Xuanwei with evident reverence.

The San Xiao sisters also flew over.

Bixiao patted her chest, still shaken. "That scared me to death! I thought Master was going to... I didn't expect it to be such a fortunate encounter! Junior brother Xuanwei, your luck is too good!"

Qiongxiao's eyes sparkled, and she smiled gently, "Congratulations, junior brother, for receiving Master's personal tempering of your treasure and greatly advancing your cultivation."

Yunxiao maintained her usual cool demeanor, but the admiration in her gaze towards Xuanwei was even stronger. She nodded slightly, "Master's actions this time are of great significance. You must take care of yourself."

Xuanwei thanked his three senior sisters again, his heart filled with immense gratitude towards Tongtian. He knew that after today's events, his status within the Intercepting Sect would be completely solidified, and no one would dare to look down on him because of his lineage.

However, he could also clearly feel a gaze from the Heavenly Origin Sect's area, as cold and venomous as a snake, filled with extreme hatred—Lingxiao.

Xuanwei sneered inwardly. With his greatly improved strength and the new functions of the Chaos Bead, why should he fear him anymore? If he dared to provoke him again, he would definitely make him taste the power of the Chaos Domain!

As the crowd dispersed, Xuanwei was about to return to the Medicine Garden to familiarize himself with the enhanced Chaos Bead and his newly acquired power when a voice called out to him.

"Junior brother Xuanwei, please wait a moment."

Xuanwei turned around and saw Daoist Duobao appearing behind him at some unknown time.

"Senior Brother." Xuanwei bowed respectfully.

Daoist Duobao looked at him. His ancient face showed no particular expression, but his eyes were gentler than before. "Our master has high expectations for you. Do not disappoint him."

"This disciple understands."

"Good." Daoist Duobao nodded, then changed the subject. "You have now advanced to Heavenly Immortal and received our master's treasure refinement, so you have truly entered the sect. According to sect rules, you may enter the upper levels of the Myriad Laws Tower and select a Spiritual Power or secret art to cultivate. Additionally..."

He paused, then took out a silver talisman emitting faint spatial fluctuations and handed it to Xuanwei.

"This is a Minor Void Shifting Talisman. When activated, it can instantly transport you ten thousand miles away, ignoring most spatial blockades. It is a life-saving item. I bestow it upon you, hoping you will use it wisely."

Xuanwei's heart trembled. This was a life-saving talisman countless times more advanced than an Evasion Talisman! It was priceless! He quickly accepted it. "Thank you, Senior Brother, for this generous gift!"

Daoist Duobao waved his hand, his figure slowly dissipating. "Cultivate diligently. Tribulation is imminent, and preparations must be made."

Tribulation is imminent...

Daoist Duobao's last words struck Xuanwei like a warning bell. He understood that this referred to the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods that would sweep across the Primordial World!

Clutching the Minor Void Shifting Talisman and feeling the revitalized Chaos Bead in his sea of consciousness, Xuanwei took a deep breath, his gaze becoming resolute.

Power! He needed greater power! Not only to protect himself but also to change his predetermined tragic fate!

He turned and walked without hesitation towards the Myriad Laws Tower, where the Intercepting Sect stored its more profound scriptures.

However, just as he stepped into the Myriad Laws Tower, preparing to select a powerful offensive Spiritual Power, the communication jade talisman from Daoist Duobao in his embrace suddenly grew warm, and an urgent message entered his mind:

"Return to the Medicine Garden immediately! Something has happened! The underground of your Medicine Garden seems to be leaking the aura of a rare treasure, causing anomalies in the Earth Veins!"

Xuanwei's face changed drastically!

Under the Medicine Garden? Aura of a rare treasure? His first thought went to the spiritual pond and the passage at its bottom leading to the mysterious space where the Chaos Bead originally resided!

Could it be... something had gone wrong there again? Or perhaps the refinement and enhancement of the Chaos Bead had triggered some chain reaction?

He could no longer afford to choose a Spiritual Power. He transformed into a streak of light and rushed towards the Medicine Garden in the back mountains!