Shi Nandang's blatant favoritism made everyone on the mountaintop look at Zheng Fa with envy.
But nobody thought it was wrong.
Zheng Fa plundered the most spiritual materials from the Hundred Immortals Alliance, possibly even more than Shi Nandang, making it the only bright spot that could be reported to the sect.
He is still a disciple of the Holy Ancestor, and the < Scarlet Firmament Jade Register > he cultivates is as authentic as it gets.
According to Zheng Fa's understanding, this is equivalent to your company's top salesperson being your brother-in-law, and promoting him is called "recommending the worthy without avoiding relatives."
Seeing that no one spoke, Shi Nandang then instructed Zheng Fa, "I have only one expectation for the Profound Mystery Sect: to do your best to interfere with the development of the Hundred Immortals Alliance, to hinder Zheng Fa, and at the same time, to let the Profound Mystery disciples become familiar with our sect's true methods and improve their cultivation."
"Also, you will be in charge of the grand formation, which will likely leave you with limited time. Li Hao, select a group of disciples, teach them some of the grand formation techniques, and have them imprint Spirit Stone."
The group on the mountaintop fell silent.
The sect Sect Leader of the Profound Mystery Sect lowered his head and remained silent.
The Ninth Elder once told Zheng Fa that Vast Sun Mountain was so generous in bestowing pills and true techniques in large quantities, but in reality, it was for the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array —the day the array was completely perfected would be the day these Profound Mystery Sect disciples perished.
Come to think of it, this method sounds quite familiar to Zheng Fa: the Great Freedom Devil Ancestor did the same thing back then.
Shi Nandang looked around at everyone, then at the seemingly unwilling Profound Mystery Sect Leader: "You have a problem with that?"
"I wouldn't dare!" Profound Mystery Sect Leader Chongxuan said urgently, "But... this is, after all, the foundation of our ancestors, and I cannot bear to part with it."
Shi Nandang nodded slightly, his tone still quite gentle. "This is only human nature. The Holy Ancestor is not heartless. Didn't he allow you to send a group of disciples back to the mountain the other day?"
"I will forever remember the kindness of our Holy Ancestor!"
The sect Sect Leader of the Profound Mystery Sect quickly pledged his loyalty.
"I don't need you to remember it. Just do your best when you're refining the Immortal-Trapping Sword." Shi Nandang's expression remained unmoved. "To be honest, if the Immortal-Trapping Sword weren't so difficult to refine, the Holy Ancestor wouldn't have wanted to use such methods."
Seeing that Zheng Fa and the other three were glancing towards the crater, Shi Nandang seemed to sense their curiosity and said:
"You will also have to help refine the Immortal-Trapping Sword in the future. Do you know what power this Immortal-Trapping Sword possesses? Is it worth such a price? Even sparing Spirit Stone and materials?"
Everyone shook their heads.
Even Zheng Fa was full of anticipation. He only knew the origin of the Immortal-Trapping Sword, but not its power.
"This Immortal-Trapping Sword was created by Venerable Tianhe."
" The Venerable Tianhe?"
Profound Mystery Sect Leader exclaimed in surprise, clearly not understanding why Venerable Tianhe's treasure would end up in Vast Sun Mountain's hands.
"It is indeed Venerable Tianhe." But Shi Nandang seemed unwilling to explain this point, and simply continued, "This sword is a supreme treasure forged by Venerable Tianhe after he attained enlightenment, by collecting all the Cultivation Method and spiritual materials in the world."
"In terms of power alone, this sword is one of the most powerful immortal Immortal Sword in the Xuanwei."
Throughout history, there have been very few weapons of war that can rival them.
The three leaders of Profound Mystery Sect Leader looked at each other in disbelief. Although Shi Nandang made it sound simple, the origin of the Immortal-Trapping Sword was truly astonishing.
These few comments carry immense weight.
"This sword has been in the hands of the Holy Ancestor and his followers for hundreds of thousands of years, but it is unruly and difficult to tame. The sect has tried every possible method, and that is why they created the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array, hoping to use the right time, place, and people to refine this treasure in one fell swoop."
Zheng Fa couldn't help but ask, "So that's why it's necessary to completely destroy the Hundred Immortals Alliance's Spirit Vein?"
Shi Nandang glanced at him and smiled, "It seems you understand. The sect's main objective is still to refine this Immortal-Trapping Sword."
Zheng Fa understood--
According to Shi Nandang, the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array was intended to refine the Immortal-Trapping Sword. As for cutting off the source of the problem and destroying the Hundred Immortals Alliance's Spirit Vein, that was actually a side effect, killing two birds with one stone.
This shows that they value the Immortal-Trapping Sword more than themselves and the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
He was somewhat puzzled:
What does Vast Sun Mountain mean?
Does he look down on his Fusang Wood?
"Master, what exactly are the powers of this Immortal-Trapping Sword?"
The sect Sect Leader of the Profound Mystery Sect also noticed this and asked curiously.
"My Vast Sun Mountain is most skilled in crafting magical artifacts. Do you know how Law Treasure are classified in the Xuanwei Realm?"
" Law Artifact, Law Treasure, Spirit Artifact, and Spirit Treasure." Profound Mystery Sect was also a major sect in artifact crafting, Profound Mystery Sect Leader spoke of these terms with great familiarity. "They roughly correspond to cultivators; magic artifacts are roughly equivalent to Foundation Establishment Law Artifact, while Law Treasure correspond to Golden Core cultivators."
" Spirit Artifact and Spirit Treasure are only possessed by Spirit Transformation cultivators; I am unaware of them."
Shi Nandang nodded slightly. "What you said is quite accurate. In fact, this classification comes from Venerable Tianhe."
" Law Treasure were originally only forged by Nascent Soul Cultivator, but Venerable Tianhe..." Shi Nandang talent, he created the Life-bound Dharma Treasure Method."
"This allows cultivators to begin refining their own Law Treasure at the Golden Core Stage, Nascent Soul Realm Life-bound Dharma Treasure is only truly complete at the Nascent Soul stage."
"More importantly, spiritual Artifact Spirit and treasures correspond to the Life-bound Dharma Treasure of the Yang Spirit and Corpse Liberation realms, respectively."
"The method of allowing Law Treasure and cultivators to grow together— the Venerable Tianhe's Life-bound Dharma Treasure Method —is truly of Merit."
As he said this, Shi Nandang's face betrayed his deep admiration.
From his understanding of the Immortal-Trapping Sword, Zheng Fa could guess that he had some knowledge of the past events of the Tianhe and should know that Vast Sun Mountain and the Venerable Tianhe were enemies.
Even now, when this matter is discussed, he still holds it in the highest esteem.
It is evident that the Life-bound Dharma Treasure Method has brought tremendous benefits to cultivators in the Xuanwei Realm.
"Then... what level of treasure is the Immortal-Trapping Sword?"
"Far beyond even Spirit Treasure." Shi Nandang looked towards the volcano's crater, his tone carrying a hint of the fervor of a weapon refiner. "You should have heard of the Dao Fruit?"
Several people nodded. After the Six-Sect Alliance Assembly, everyone understood the terror of Dao Fruit cultivators.
" The Immortal-Trapping Sword corresponds to the Dao Fruit."
Zheng Fa listened without any reaction; who doesn't have a few Dao Fruit treasures?
"And it's not an ordinary Dao Fruit."
Ordinary Dao Fruit?
Zheng Fa frowned as he looked at Shi Nandang, his mind now serious.
Does this mean that the Dao Fruit are divided into strong and weak?
The others also realized this and looked at Shi Nandang with curious eyes.
"I'm not entirely clear on this matter either." Shi Nandang glanced at Zheng Fa, as if explaining it to him specifically.
"But the Holy Ancestor once said: Dao Fruit is just a general term. Cultivators who have just entered the Dao Fruit realm are all called Loose Immortal Dao Fruit cultivators. They have no worries about lifespan, but they may face the Loose Immortal Tribulation."
"Passing the Loose Immortal Tribulation leads to the True Immortal Dao Fruit. Only at this level can one achieve true immortality and transcend the Five Elements."
"As for what lies beyond that, that is Non-Self knowledge."
Zheng Fa was greatly shocked. Only now did he understand the true meaning of the Dao Fruit:
Judging from the words of this Dao Fruit cultivator from Vast Sun Mountain, Dao Fruit is equivalent to immortality!
Not only him, but also the six Nascent Spirit Transformation beside him, were breathing rapidly, their eyes filled with longing—like those who, after a long journey through the desert, had finally seen the snow-capped peak of the distant end.
"As for Dao Fruit Law Treasure, they actually correspond to different Dao Fruit Realm."
"And the Immortal-Trapping Sword is Dao Fruit Law Treasure of the True Immortal realm."
Zheng Fa's heart stirred, and he asked again, "May I ask what realm the Holy Ancestor and the others are at?"
" High Immortal Yang is the youngest, and he's still at the Loose Immortal level, while the other two Holy Ancestor are both True Immortal."
Zheng Fa had a toothache.
He now understood the power of Venerable Tianhe; weren't the Four Immortal-Slayer Swords equivalent to four True Immortal?
Little Vast Sun Mountain is no match for him.
How could this possibly go wrong?
No wonder Vast Sun Mountain values Immortal-Trapping Sword Immortal-Trapping Sword much; refining it is equivalent to having multiple True Immortal Ancestors.
To be fair, while the Fusang Wood is powerful, it struggled even against a Loose Immortal immortal like Yang High Immortal, and it's definitely no match for the Immortal-Trapping Sword.
"This... we can really refine the Immortal-Trapping Sword?"
The gaunt old man among the six Nascent Spirit Transformation looked somewhat self-doubting.
After all, seven Spirit Transformation may seem like a lot, but they are a generation below Dao Fruit cultivators, and none of them are enough to be cut down by the Immortal-Trapping Sword.
" The Immortal-Trapping Sword has been suppressed by the sect for hundreds of thousands of years and is incomplete, having lost some of its spiritual essence. More importantly, the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array was forged specifically for the Immortal-Trapping Sword. No matter how strong the sword is, it will be difficult to withstand this array."
"Our job is simply to oversee the formation."
Zheng Fa understood what he meant. They were just operators; the truly powerful one was the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array.
"I'm telling you all this so you understand that no matter how many more Spirit Transformation the Hundred Immortals Alliance has, as long as the Immortal-Trapping Sword exists, it won't matter to the big picture."
"We successfully refined the Immortal-Trapping Sword; our sect deserves immense credit for that."
"If I benefit, you will benefit as well."
Shi Nandang's words startled the Ninth Elder.
So you were worried we'd get discouraged, so you used the Immortal-Trapping Sword to encourage us?
She glanced furtively at Zheng Fa and saw Zheng Fa staring intently at the crater, his eyes filled with great interest.
... It seems that Alliance Leader Zheng is very encouraged and full of energy.
The energetic Zheng Fa immediately started working shifts.
Vast Sun Mountain sent many elixirs and spirit medicine, with the aim of replenishing the spiritual power Divine Soul of Shi Nandang and his six companions, as well as Zheng Fa and the others.
The main force in controlling the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array is the seven people, including Shi Nandang.
Zheng Fa and the others only entered the top of the formation for a short period of time when one of the seven Nascent Spirit Transformation had exhausted his spiritual power.
It's basically a situation where people stop for a moment but don't stop moving, taking a breath and then going back to work.
Having understood this, Zheng Fa looked at Shi Nandang with a hint of sympathy:
He worked on the assembly line for twenty years, without eating, drinking, or sleeping. When he was exhausted, he could only rely on drugs to stay awake.
Who wouldn't shed tears upon hearing this?
Thinking back to their previous plan to work for forty years, Zheng Fa felt that his idea of seizing the Legend of Immortal-Trapping Sword was filled with the brilliance of Humanity's Dao.
Because Zheng Fa and his team were needed to control the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array, Zheng Fa finally saw the complete layout of the array:
Shi Nandang and his team have been doing for the past twenty years has actually been just pre-processing:
With the Stellar Power in the sky, the Immortal-Trapping Sword was suppressed, and through the skill of grinding water, the Immortal-Trapping Sword was connected to the great formation.
For such a small matter, it would take seven Spirit Transformation cultivators and four Nascent Soul to work themselves to the bone for twenty years...
It's clear that the Immortal-Trapping Sword is difficult to deal with.
The key to refining this sword is actually the final step:
Using the Stellar Power in the sky, combined with the Spirit Vein of the Hundred Immortals Alliance, and the lives of the disciples of the Profound Mystery Sect, this treasure was reshaped in one fell swoop.
How are you all doing in your studies?
"I've remembered most of it."
Profound Mystery Sect Leader said respectfully.
Zheng Fa nodded as well.
"Let me see it."
Zheng Fa and the three Profound Mystery Sect Nascent Soul from Chongxuan Sect cast Method Formula.
Shi Nandang swept over the four men, finally settling on Zheng Fa with a bright look in his eyes.
Thanks to modern research, Zheng Fa's understanding of the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array far Shi Nandang.
Even some nodes in this formation are still under his control at this moment.
Therefore, he learned extremely quickly.
Among the four, he immediately stood out.
The three leaders of the Profound Mystery Sect Leader, who were demonstrating their techniques together, stopped after a while and turned to look at Zheng Fa with stunned expressions.
We all learned together, how come you look so skilled?
Do you understand the importance of respecting teachers?
Shi Nandang overjoyed, saying, "I knew you were a talent, Li Hao! If you weren't just Nascent Soul, we wouldn't have taken twenty years!"
"Come on, you try it!"
With that, he darted aside, clearing the way for him.
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa entered the formation and looked at Shi Nandang, who was standing on the ground with a smile on his face. He genuinely suspected that the reason this person was smiling so happily was probably because he could finally slack off.
He turned his head, nodded to the other six Nascent Spirit Transformation, and made a hand Method Formula, connecting with their energy. He felt a star in the sky suddenly light up, from which a strange power flowed, enveloping his entire body.
As he cast the Method Formula, the Stellar Power surged into the volcano's crater, cleansing the Immortal-Trapping Sword within the mountain's interior.
A few days ago, Shi Nandang was still a little worried and kept a close eye on Zheng Fa.
Seeing that Zheng Fa hadn't made a single mistake for several days, he finally felt relieved and sat down on the ground. He took out a elixir, swallowed it, and focused on recovering with his eyes closed.
Seeing his reaction, Zheng Fa had a sudden thought and connected his Divine Sense with the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array.
The mountaintop was shrouded in swirling mist, obscuring his aura.
His internal Method Formula changed, and his spiritual power began to circulate according to the < Immortal-Trapping Sword Canon >. His eyes looked expectantly at the Trapping Immortal-Trapping Sword.
He wasn't in such a hurry to seize the Immortal-Trapping Sword right now; he just wanted to see if the < Immortal-Trapping Sword Canon > would have any effect on this treasure.
To his bewilderment, the Immortal-Trapping Sword remained completely still...
Sect Master Yan gave him a pirated copy?
Just as he was wondering, he suddenly felt a chill on his forehead, and an uninvited guest appeared in his mind's eye:
This person was dressed in a black dress, had a slender figure, a youthful face, large eyes, and two small tufts of hair on her head.
Judging from her face and height, she is a girl around four years old.
The little girl blinked, her eyes slightly dazed, and looked up at Zheng Fa with a friendly expression.
" The Cultivation Method you use... they seem so familiar..."
"Who are you?"
A thought suddenly popped into Zheng Fa's mind.
He couldn't help but ask.
The little girl stretched out her small hand and pointed into the belly of the mountain. "I am it."
It really is the Immortal-Trapping Sword, no, the Immortal-Trapping Sword Spirit.
Zheng Fa was increasingly surprised.
Aside from the Nine Mountains Patriarch, he had never seen a true Artifact Spirit — Xie Qingxue probably doesn't count yet.
The question is, if the Immortal-Trapping Sword Spirit truly exists, shouldn't it be one of the four Founder of the Tianhe Sect?
Could it be that my and Senior Sister Zhang's deductions from the < Immortal-Trapping Sword Canon > were wrong?
"Did you come to save me?"
"Save you?"
"It hurts."
The Immortal-Trapping Sword Spirit stretched out its hands, clutched its head, and shook it from side to side, seemingly suffering from a headache.
Zheng Fa looked at her furrowed brows and pained expression, and knew that she was probably not faking it.
The Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array is essentially a method of weapon forging. Judging from the array's content, it's similar to what Zheng Fa did to the Nine Mountains Patriarch.
The Talisman Diagram on the Immortal-Trapping Sword were washed away, and then the Vast Sun Mountain Cultivation Method was used to reshape the Immortal-Trapping Sword.
The problem is that Zheng Fa washed away a part that did not belong to the Founder, which not only did not harm the Founder, but also helped him.
But Vast Sun Mountain probably wanted to erase part of the sword spirit's consciousness in order to gain control of this treasure.
"Did you come to save me?"
Zheng Fa has not yet answered.
The sword spirit asked again, and seeing that Zheng Fa remained silent, she continued, "You rescue me, and I'll help you kill people."
"..."
Something doesn't sound right.
"Help me."
How can I save you?
"If you break this formation, I can escape."
The little girl opened her head and pointed to the sky.
Zheng Fa pondered the girl's words.
Deep down, he was inclined to help the Immortal-Trapping Sword Spirit.
Whether out of respect for Venerable Tianhe or for his own safety, he would not allow the other's treasures to be refined by Vast Sun Mountain.
On the other hand, he could also see from the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array that what Vast Sun Mountain was pursuing was complete control over this sword.
That might damage the sword's power.
Even if they were unwilling, Venerable Tianhe could refine four True Immortal- level Law Treasure, while the strongest person on Vast Sun Mountain was only True Immortal...
Generally speaking, such modifications are reverse enhancements.
What troubled him was the relationship between this sword spirit and the four Founder of the Tianhe Sect.
If we were to rescue one of the Founder the Four Tianhe Branches, that would be a huge joke.
He was also worried about how the enemy would react if the great formation was unleashed, causing Vast Sun Mountain's scheme to fail.
"Help me!"
"Help me!"
"Help me!"
He had only been thinking for a few moments when suddenly a series of shrill screams echoed in his mind.
Zheng Fa looked down and saw that the girl's face was distorted, her eyes were bigger than her fists, her two big eyeballs bulged out, and her gaze was fixed on Zheng Fa's Divine Soul.
"Help me!"
Zheng Fa's Divine Soul suddenly felt a series of sharp pains.
"Let me out!"
"I kill you!"
I'll kill you!
" Vast Sun Mountain deserves to die."
" The Tianhe Sect deserves to die!"
"Everyone can be killed!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"Slaughter all living beings to prove my supreme path!"
In just a few words, the sword spirit's voice was no longer as immature as before; instead, each sentence had its own distinct tone.
An old man was screaming in agony.
Another woman cried out in anguish.
Finally, four or five voices shouted in unison in Zheng Fa's ear, each one startling and terrifying.
As they shouted, the Immortal-Trapping Sword inside the mountain suddenly leaped up, as if it had gone mad, and stabbed towards Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa was shocked, and the spiritual power of the < Immortal-Trapping Sword Canon > within his body quickly transformed into the < Scarlet Firmament Jade Register >.
As the Cultivation Method changed, the girl in his sea of consciousness also disappeared.
Zheng Fa still felt it wasn't enough, so he unleashed Method Formula with immense Stellar Power, pressing down fiercely on the Immortal-Trapping Sword.
Everyone at the mountaintop noticed something was wrong, but they didn't know why.
Shi Nandang also woke up from his meditation. He stared at the Immortal-Trapping Sword for a long time, and seeing that it was very well-behaved, he shook his head in confusion. "This sword is unpredictable and often behaves strangely. As long as the great formation is not broken, it will be fine."
He then smiled at Zheng Fa and said:
"What, scared now? Let someone else try?"
Zheng Fa shook his head. "This disciple's spiritual energy is still sufficient!"
Having said that, he unleashed a torrent of spiritual energy from his hands, appearing full of enthusiasm.
This thing is seriously ill!
He had just cured his transvestite habit, and now he's developed schizophrenia. Now he understands why Vast Sun Mountain forged the Immortal-Trapping Sword.
He's just a lunatic, he has experience as a surgeon!