Seven-Orifice Exquisite, Invitation from an Ancestral Witch

Sect Master Tongtian's attainments in the sword dao were unmatched in the Primordial True Realm, and the [Void Clarity Sword Dao] was a method capable of tempering one's dao heart.

With a clear dao heart, one's sword dao could press forward without obstruction, even allowing one to perceive an enemy's advantage in advance through the unseen.

Yet Xuan Yin felt that this supreme sword dao method did not suit him.

There was no other reason!

He had been born with a Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart, possessed exceptional wisdom and a keen mind, and always planned before acting. He simply could not keep his mind free of hindrance when drawing his sword.

In his view, if a strike failed to hit after the sword was drawn, he should immediately flee millions upon millions of miles away rather than remain in place and fight the enemy to the death.

"Teacher, I fear I will disappoint you!"

Xuan Yin could not help shaking his head. When Sect Master Tongtian had preached the Dao, he had directly allowed Xuan Yin to gain an initial grasp of this method through the true meaning of the Great Dao. Yet given his temperament, it would be difficult for him to achieve much with it.

Ordinary beings had too many stray thoughts, which hindered cultivation. Yet because he had been born with a Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart, he could find a flash of inspiration amid countless distracting thoughts and thereby discover the method most suited to himself among many arts—just as he had drawn upon the wisdom of those before him to create divine abilities of his own.

Sect Master Tongtian had likely taught him this method to temper his dao heart and sever his distracting thoughts, but he had no intention of walking the path of a clear dao heart.

"Perhaps I can alter it somewhat!"

Xuan Yin had always believed that the method best suited to one's own nature was the finest method. At once, he began considering how to radically rework the [Void Clarity Sword Dao].

"If the mind is impure, sword intent cannot be firm. I have too many distracting thoughts and am not suited to the path of one sword breaking ten thousand arts. I should cultivate the art of dividing sword light instead!"

"Of course, as an Intercepting Sect Disciple, it is still important to possess a killing sword move. Ideally, one strike should be able to destroy the opponent's primordial spirit!"

"Beyond that, if one strike fails, one must flee immediately. A sword escape art is equally important!"

Before long, Xuan Yin had reworked the [Void Clarity Sword Dao] according to his own disposition and summarized three methods that suited him best.

[Myriad Star Sword Art]

This was an art of dividing sword light. It drew upon the limitless nature of a Heavenly Immortal's other selves: however many Other-Self Incarnations one possessed, one could divide that many streams of sword light.

In Xuan Yin's deductions, once this divine ability reached great mastery, it could transform into trillions upon trillions of starlights and sever every imprint the opponent possessed across All Heavens and Myriad Realms.

Of course, with Xuan Yin's current foundation, he could only divide one hundred and eight thousand streams of sword light.

[Mayfly Sword Art]

This method was a sword escape art that Xuan Yin had evolved from divine abilities such as Soaring Golden Light, Primordial Magnet Divine Light, Size as Desired, and Penetrating Walls Insight.

With magnetic fields turning and space shattered, his body became a long rainbow, like a divine arrow piercing the sun. When he leapt forth with his sword, he was as swift and fierce as a shooting star or lightning bolt. If he could not defeat his opponent, he could also transform into a mote of dust and flee in an instant, or fall into the endless River of Time and Space like a mayfly.

As for the third method, it was the [Primordial Magnet Divine Light Sword] that Xuan Yin had previously deduced, which could draw upon the power of the Earthly Origin Dao Fruit at critical moments.

However, in Xuan Yin's conception, it should also incorporate the Dao of karma. If he did not draw his sword, so be it—but once he did, the enemy would have nowhere to evade.

It could even trace karma backward and slay the opponent's past, present, and future selves.

Unfortunately, he had yet to grasp the Dao of karma. Though he could unleash a strike of ultimate destruction, he could not yet make it impossible to evade.

Since his Karma and Destiny had not yet arrived, he did not force the matter. Instead, he began studying artifact refinement and talisman crafting.

At present, he still had quite a few materials!

Before long, Xuan Yin used the nine dragon skeletons he had collected from the Weak Water, together with the Phoenix Blood Red Gold and that source of Phoenix True Fire he had acquired atop Flame Mountain, to refine a Dragon Subduing Cauldron through the art of artifact refinement.

This Dragon Subduing Cauldron used Phoenix Blood Red Gold as its primary material, while the Immortal Golden Nature contained within the nine dragon skeletons nourished the core Phoenix True Fire within the cauldron.

The phoenix served as the main element, the dragons as support. Upon its completion, it gave birth to twenty-four restrictions, making it a rather respectable work even among mid-grade Houtian Spiritual Treasures.

Of course, although Xuan Yin's attainments in artifact refinement were sufficient, his cultivation was not. By himself, he could not have refined a mid-grade Houtian Spiritual Treasure.

He still had Yan Lin to thank for adding fuel to the fire at the crucial moment.

Afterward, Xuan Yin used the Dragon Subduing Cauldron, along with Taiyin Cold Water, Innate Dao Soil, and other materials, to refine several talismans containing Lunar Star power.

He had intended to continue his studies when Xuan Shuang, the water qilin, reminded him that a guest had arrived outside the Cave Abode and had already been waiting there for more than three thousand years!

"Who?"

Xuan Yin opened the Cave Abode, but saw no one. Only a gentle breeze swept across his face.

In the blink of an eye, that breeze transformed into a phantom with eight heads, eight legs, and eight tails. It was Tianwu, the Ancestor Witch of Wind who loved spreading rumors!

Naturally, the phantom before him was not Tianwu's true body, but an incarnation formed from a drop of essence blood.

A minor cultivator at the True Immortal Realm like him was not worthy of an Ancestral Witch coming in person.

"Young Friend, it has been a long time!"

Tianwu's incarnation said with a grin, "Your idea truly was interesting. When we get the chance, let's give Dijun a big one together!"

Idea?

Xuan Yin was startled. "You aren't actually going to spread the rumor that Dijun got his start selling hooks, are you?"

"Why not?"

Tianwu's incarnation sneered disdainfully. "I've long found that fellow Dijun unpleasant! Young Friend, your idea suits my tastes perfectly!"

Seeing Xuan Yin's nervous expression, he added, "Don't worry. I'm the one spreading the rumor. Dijun won't be able to trace it back to you!"

"The reason I came to find you this time is that my second brother wishes to meet you. He specifically asked me to invite you to our Wu Clan's Pangu Hall!"

Xuan Yin froze.

Tianwu's second brother—was that not Zhu Jiuyin, the Time Ancestral Witch ranked second among the Twelve Ancestral Witches?

Why would he want to meet a True Immortal like him?

"This..."

He very much wanted to refuse, but he could not resist the allure of Pangu Hall. After hesitating for a moment, he clasped his hands toward Shangqing Hall and said, "Teacher, Ancestral Witch Zhu Jiuyin wishes for this disciple to make a trip to Pangu Hall. This journey may take quite some time. I ask for Teacher's permission!"

In the Primordial World, there was no place more mysterious than the Wu Clan's Pangu Hall. It was said to possess an indescribable connection to Great God Pangu.

Naturally, he wanted to go.

"Go!"

A majestic Dao voice rang out from the void, and Xuan Yin could not help letting out a sigh of relief.

Since Sect Master Tongtian had spoken and openly declared his stance, his trip to the Wu Clan should not encounter any complications.

That was the benefit of having a Sage's endorsement.

Still, Xuan Yin remained somewhat nervous. The reason Zhu Jiuyin, the Time Ancestral Witch, wanted to see him was most likely related to the karma involving Wangshu last time.

"Then let's go!"

Tianwu's incarnation did not hesitate. He directly transformed into a breeze and tightly enveloped Xuan Yin. By the time Xuan Yin reacted, they were already billions of miles away, and he could even see Buzhou Mountain!

"As expected of the Ancestor Witch of Wind. What incredible speed! Below the Sages, I fear few cultivators can rival Ancestral Witch Tianwu's speed!"

Xuan Yin immediately flattered him.

Tianwu's incarnation laughed at once. "Want to learn it? I can teach you! But you have to help me come up with a few rumors suitable for Dijun!"

"Uh..."

Xuan Yin did not know how to respond. How had a dignified Ancestral Witch become so fond of eavesdropping and spreading rumors? This did not fit the Wu Clan's style at all.

Suddenly, the sound of a zither drifted over, like Heavenly Dao Sound echoing between heaven and earth, giving Xuan Yin many new insights into the Samadhi True Fire.

Yet the closer they came to Buzhou Mountain, the more impassioned the zither music became, and the hotter the surrounding space grew, as if someone were unleashing a divine ability.

Tianwu smiled. "That is my Sixth Brother, Zhurong, the Fire Ancestral Witch. What he enjoys most in his daily life is exchanging musical knowledge with other cultivators!"

"Huh?"

Xuan Yin could not help staring.

Exchanging music and cultivating one's sentiments—was this really the Fire Ancestral Witch from his impression?

Wasn't this a little out of character?