Wenjin Shuttle

Hum!

Ignoring the spiritual objects filling the sky, Xu Yan and Qin Yiren immediately set off, heading toward the far end.

Beyond the main hall lay a spiraling wooden staircase.

This staircase was clearly crafted from spirit wood and was incredibly sturdy; otherwise, it would not have remained for such long ages without showing even a single trace of wear.

They stepped onto the second floor.

This level was a full circle smaller than the one below. There were no massive murals carved here, but pearls were still embedded in the dome, illuminating the space.

It felt more like a resting place for the Sky Boat, filled with meditation cushions, desks, and many Daoist texts.

Time was tight. Xu Yan could feel the flying boat beneath his feet constantly ascending into the sky.

The Daoist texts here might contain rare divine abilities or techniques, but there was no time to examine them closely.

The two continued to dash forward, heading toward the third floor.

They were not the only ones; many other cultivators harbored the same intentions as Xu Yan and Qin Yiren. They had no interest in the spiritual wealth and objects on the first floor, coming only for the Great Teleportation Token.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

"Half-Immortal Xu, have you discovered some spiritual treasure?"

Behind them, Murong Yan and several disciples followed closely. He squinted, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Why does Fellow Daoist Murong insist on following me?" Xu Yan's tone remained calm and unhurried as he looked back. "How about we each go our own way and leave each other alone?"

No one dared to rashly use divine abilities; heaven only knew what kind of commotion it might trigger.

This Sky Boat was incredibly eerie. Xu Yan's divine sense reached out, and he discovered that from somewhere on the upper floors, it felt as if someone were spying on them.

"The Great Dao is open to the sky; I shall walk where I please. What business is it of yours?"

Murong Yan spoke casually, showing no intention of retreating. He remained three zhang behind Xu Yan and his companion, following them persistently.

Qin Yiren's expression darkened slightly, and she raised a hand to press against her sword case.

Xu Yan shook his head, signaling her not to act rashly.

Then, he abruptly stopped in his tracks, turned around, and threw a punch!

Xu Yan did not use a shred of mana, relying purely on his physical strength. His blood and qi surged like a great river.

The Eight-Nine Profound Art cultivated both body and qi. After reaching the fourth stage of Pulse Opening, his muscles, bones, and flesh had long since been tempered to the hardness of iron and stone.

As he unleashed the punch, his blood and qi roared like a dragon's cry and a tiger's howl. The force of his fist stirred the air, exploding with a dull thud!

Murong Yan's pupils contracted violently.

He had not expected Xu Yan to strike with such thunderous speed, nor had he expected Xu Yan's physical strength to be so formidable.

In his haste, he crossed his arms to block.

Bang!

The fist landed solidly on his forearms.

Murong Yan felt a force like a collapsing mountain surge into him, numbing his arms. The impact sent him staggering back several zhang, nearly falling to the ground.

"You!"

His face turned livid, and killing intent surged in his eyes. Just as he prepared to summon his mana to unleash a divine ability, he forcibly suppressed the impulse.

The entire Sky Boat, much like Spirit-Sealing City, seemed to have restrictions that suppressed mana, though not as completely as the city itself.

Cultivators could still use minor techniques like the Qi Manipulation Technique, but attempting to unleash powerful divine abilities was dangerous—the cultivators on the first floor were a cautionary tale.

Those few had fought over a magical artifact, only to be swallowed by the mural's restrictions, leaving not even their bones behind.

Because of this, no cultivator dared to act recklessly.

As they climbed higher, Xu Yan and Qin Yiren noticed that the Sky Boat's restrictions were growing weaker.

At the same time, however, that eerie, sinister aura became increasingly distinct.

Beneath their feet, dark, mysterious mist still rippled, permeating every level of the nine-story structure like a shallow stream.

They had already reached the fifth floor!

This space was only fifty zhang wide and shaped like a Taiji Yin-Yang symbol, with an exquisitely refined interior.

It appeared to be a place for refining artifacts and alchemy. Shelves lined every side, holding many medicinal herbs and materials for artifact refining, though after endless ages, most of the spiritual materials had decayed.

In the very center of the room sat a sunken Taiji pool containing a massive iron furnace. The furnace stood three or four people tall, dark in color, and seemed almost fused with the floor.

Clang, clang, clang!

As soon as Xu Yan and Qin Yiren arrived, they heard a clanging sound coming from within the bronze furnace.

It sounded as if something were thrashing about inside, the noise echoing throughout the entire fifth floor.

Many other cultivators arrived as well, watching with astonished expressions.

Someone muttered, "This furnace is for refining artifacts. Could there be a magical artifact inside?"

"Forget this thing, hurry to the upper floors to get the Great Teleportation Token."

The crowd debated endlessly.

The lid of the iron furnace rattled and clattered as if it were about to burst open at any moment. A rolling golden energy, sharp and piercing, surged within, causing the surrounding space to vibrate.

"It's at least a Mystic Treasure!"

Some stopped to observe, while others bypassed the area to head upstairs.

Xu Yan and Qin Yiren also paced forward, preparing to head up.

As they passed the massive iron furnace, Xu Yan stopped and frowned.

The edict in his palm grew slightly hot, and his divine sense spontaneously flared, wandering around the iron furnace.

Xu Yan seemed lost in thought.

He stared intently at the furnace for several breaths before suddenly striking out, slapping his palm against it.

"What are you doing!"

The nearby Daoists were startled by Xu Yan's action and immediately retreated.

Boom!

Xu Yan did not use mana, but rather pure physical strength, landing a blow on the furnace mouth that produced a deafening roar.

With the massive sound, the sharp golden energy inside shrieked, instantly breaking through the furnace mouth and blasting the lid away. A majestic, domineering golden Mystic Qi roared out like an inverted waterfall.

A palm-sized flying shuttle shot out, cutting through the air with a buzzing sound, incredibly sharp.

On the small body of the shuttle, ant-sized edicts were engraved, looking extremely ancient and complex. Xu Yan's divine sense sensed a trace of spiritual intelligence.

Xu Yan did not hesitate. He immediately stepped into his Chaos Step, leaped into the air, and snatched the shuttle!

The other cultivators were naturally a step too slow, watching with frustration.

[Wenjin Shuttle: Embryonic artifact with nascent spirit, intelligence newly awakened. A flying shuttle artifact forged in the Near-Ancient Era, originating from the Hundred Artifacts Manual of the Nine Suns Academy. Crafted from Five-Elements Geng Metal, it is a rare and sharp weapon of slaughter.]

"An embryonic artifact with nascent spirit!"

Xu Yan was shocked, identifying it with the Miaoyuan Edict.

His divine sense clearly perceived that within this palm-sized Wenjin Shuttle, some form of intelligence was gestating. Moreover, the artifact's inherent power was so sharp that just by holding it, Xu Yan felt as though his palm were about to be sliced open!

An artifact with nascent spirit was the supreme tier among Foundation Establishment-level artifacts. To create one, the method, the process, and the opportunity were all indispensable.

All such artifacts were merely embryos when first formed. Afterward, a cultivator had to refine and nurture them with their own essence blood, followed by a period of tempering, before they could truly become artifacts with nascent spirit.

Wrapping the Wenjin Shuttle in rolling Primordial Chaos Mana, Xu Yan tucked the item away and landed steadily.

The gazes of the surrounding Daoists changed significantly as they looked at him.

Even among clan disciples, unless they were direct heirs, very few were gifted an embryonic artifact with nascent spirit during the Pulse Opening stage. This item was extremely precious.

"Let's go."

Xu Yan glanced at his surroundings, ignored the varied expressions of the cultivators, and walked with Qin Yiren toward the sixth floor.