Refining the Bronze Immortal Hall

Li Ming instantly understood. He had fallen into that old ghost's trap again and had actually walked straight into the Bronze Immortal Hall's snare.

The Great Dao Cocoon vanished in an instant. A hazy mass of divine light appeared in its place, and within it, that blurred figure flickered in and out of sight—it was the old ghost.

He had now become the weapon spirit of the Bronze Immortal Hall. Since he could control some of the Immortal Dao Runes within it, he had instead grown even more powerful.

Immortal Dao Laws spread everywhere, and that supreme Immortal Dao aura instantly reduced many of Li Ming's preparations to ashes.

Li Ming reacted at once. He knew that as long as he killed the old ghost, it would be enough.

With a kick of his Carefree Boots, he charged at the old ghost.

But the Bronze Immortal Hall had, after all, already fused with the old ghost. He was still one step too late.

The old ghost instantly transformed into streams of Immortal Dao Runes that shot in every direction and fused into the walls of the Bronze Immortal Hall.

The entire Bronze Immortal Hall came alive in an instant. Countless killing formations appeared, evolving into peerless killing intent.

One mysterious palace after another vanished, replaced by enormous, astonishing worlds.

Like three thousand worlds, they descended together to suppress and grind Li Ming into nothing.

Or devour him.

Or extract his origin after his death.

The Bronze Immortal Hall rumbled as mysterious Grand Dao Heavenly Sound rang out. Even the surrounding Chaos Sea was shaken into surging waves.

The terrifying three thousand worlds descended with unstoppable force.

Li Ming dealt with them calmly, punching through world after world and reducing them to ashes.

Yet the worlds here seemed endless. One world perished, another was born. They continued without end, as though Li Ming had been trapped within infinite time and space, unable to reach the Other Shore.

The Heavenly Demonic Saber shone with mysterious Immortal Ascension Light, destroying countless worlds, yet it could never cut open the Bronze Immortal Hall itself or break through its walls.

The power of an Immortal Weapon truly was unfathomable.

Its offensive power might have had flaws, but if used differently—as a prison—it could unleash Immortal Dao might. It was truly awe-inspiring.

With the old ghost personally controlling it, ordinary Extreme Dao Weapons simply could not compare to an Immortal Weapon.

Rumble.

Li Ming's immense strength and resistance seemed to have provoked the old ghost's fury.

The Bronze Immortal Hall emitted dazzling Immortal Dao radiance and ignited with raging Immortal Dao fire, intending to refine Li Ming completely.

As an Immortal Weapon, the Bronze Immortal Hall's offensive power was indeed somewhat lacking.

But within the worlds inside the Bronze Immortal Hall, it displayed the true might of an Immortal Weapon.

Li Ming transformed into chaos, moving freely through the worlds as he resisted the incomparably terrifying flames and killing intent. For the time being, his life was not in danger.

He did not use his trump cards. Instead, he quietly observed.

He wanted to see just how many trump cards this old ghost still had.

The place was bizarre and ever-changing, even gradually depriving Li Ming of his five senses.

It seemed to transform into a real world, where endless killing aura boiled and violently shattered the chaos.

The heavens and earth turned blood-red, as though a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood had descended here.

It was as though a slumbering True Immortal had awakened.

Killing aura surged into the sky, while blood-colored killing intent blotted out the heavens and earth.

Countless Immortal Dao Runes condensed into killing swords that floated within the Bronze Immortal Hall. Their bodies were dark red like blood, covered in countless mysterious Immortal Dao marks.

The entire Bronze Immortal Hall became profoundly mysterious. Its rotating walls flowed with an undying Immortal Dao aura.

Even Li Ming felt his heart pound upon sensing that terrifying Immortal Dao aura.

Yes, Li Ming had not yet reached the level of the Immortal Dao, so he could indeed feel the terrifying killing intent and threat.

He had not expected that once activated, the Bronze Immortal Hall would become such a supreme weapon of slaughter.

Sure enough, every Immortal Weapon that had survived and gained a great reputation was not famous without reason.

No wonder that in Ye Fan's era, when Empress Numinous Treasure wielded the Bronze Immortal Hall, those Dark Supremes who had been eager to attack Ye Fan had hesitated under her suppression.

Fortunately, the old ghost was not the Bronze Immortal Hall's true weapon spirit. He could not completely control the hall's killing Dao runes or display the Bronze Immortal Sword's ultimate peak power.

Even so, he was still powerful enough.

Li Ming watched the blood-colored killing swords condense, then looked at the old ghost's figure perched upon the Bronze Immortal Hall's wall, his expression solemn.

At that moment, the old ghost's figure was as immense as a vast galaxy within this world.

He emitted an earth-shaking aura. Though he had not reached the level of a True Immortal, he had undoubtedly surpassed ordinary Supremes by far.

"Hehehe, Demon Venerable, you killed my true body. You never expected that I was still alive, did you?"

"Now you have walked right into my net. How laughable, how laughable!"

"Your day of death has arrived!"

"After I devour you, I will become the true weapon spirit of an Immortal Weapon!"

"Then, after passing through countless ages, I will emerge through Nirvana and become a true True Immortal!"

That cold, hoarse voice came from the Bronze Immortal Hall's walls, filled with mockery and disdain.

Chaos energy and Flying Immortal Power swirled around Li Ming's body. He looked at the old monster calmly. "Old dog, after living for so many millennia, you still haven't improved at all!"

"All you can do is bark like a mad dog and indulge in foolish dreams!"

"You are the true homeless cur!"

"Soon, this doghouse will no longer be yours!"

Li Ming's words filled the old ghost with fury.

Endless blood-colored killing swords shot forth like blood-red galaxies, charging toward Li Ming.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

What answered the old ghost were Great Dao Flowers shining with Flying Immortal Power. Their collision nearly overturned the Bronze Immortal Hall.

Li Ming lowered his head and looked at his fist. Several tiny bloody marks had actually appeared on it.

His incomparably vigorous blood energy blazed like flames, instantly erasing the tiny wounds and restoring him to normal.

"Immortal Dao Runes, nothing special." Li Ming shook his head. "I thought the Immortal Dao Runes in this Bronze Immortal Hall were extraordinary. Turns out, under the control of trash like you, even Immortal Dao Runes become trash!"

"Arrogant!"

"Ignorant!"

The old ghost roared as he manifested his true form, intending to clash head-on with Li Ming.

Endless Immortal Dao Runes coiled around his body. His yin aura instantly vanished, and after merging with the Immortal Dao Runes, he appeared sacred and powerful.

Like a white galaxy, even his body radiated chaos.

Li Ming's eyes flashed as he watched the old ghost pounce toward him.

Unfortunately, the old ghost did not charge over as Li Ming had expected.

As though sensing danger, the old ghost abruptly stopped himself. With a flash, he merged back into the Bronze Immortal Hall's wall, his face filled with unwillingness.

"Coward!" Li Ming said, though he still felt somewhat regretful inside.

He had wanted to kill that bastard, but at the last moment, the old ghost had actually chickened out.

"You want to provoke me, make me lose my temper and my reason, and throw myself into disorder?"

"With such petty tricks, you dare show off before me?"

The old ghost seemed to regain his composure at once. Carrying the endless power of the Great Dao within the Bronze Immortal Hall, he suppressed Li Ming again.

Terrifying killing formations manifested from the Bronze Immortal Hall, tightly trapping Li Ming inside.

Li Ming's expression did not change. Soldiers came, generals blocked them; water came, earth dammed it.

No matter what methods the old ghost used, he could not do anything to Li Ming.

"You little thief really are strong. Let's see how much longer you can endure!"

"Do you know why I insist on killing you?"

"I need your origin blood essence. I need your Celestial Venerable Mark!"

"If you are willing to hand them over, I can consider sparing your life."

Unable to win after such a prolonged battle, the old ghost grew somewhat irritated.

He began trying to reconcile with Li Ming.

Looking at the old ghost, who was starting to act cowardly, Li Ming could not help but feel contempt.

This old ghost truly was useless. After so many millennia, he had still failed to become a True Immortal-level weapon spirit of an Immortal Weapon.

Since he had already fused with the Bronze Immortal Hall, he should have been able to endure through countless ages just like a weapon spirit.

He should have had many more ways to become a True Immortal.

Yet this old ghost was so useless that all he wanted was to seize Li Ming's origin.

"Trash like you wants to seize this venerable one's origin blood essence?"

Li Ming's face was full of disdain.

"Boy, all you can do is wag your tongue."

"Since you are trapped in the Bronze Immortal Hall, don't even think of escaping."

"Time is on my side!"

"If we keep this up, sooner or later I will capture you. When that happens, I will make you beg for life but be unable to die."

With a thunderous boom.

A giant dragon appeared within the Bronze Immortal Hall, stretching across the galaxy.

Then one giant dragon after another appeared.

More than ten thousand giant dragons, entirely condensed from Immortal Dao Runes, emerged.

More than ten thousand giant dragons meant more than ten thousand Immortal Dao Laws. Ten thousand dragons soared into the heavens and slammed toward Li Ming.

Like lifelike Immortal Spirits, their killing intent surged and flooded the entire Bronze Immortal Hall.

"Heh, let's see how much longer you, little thief, can hold on!"

"Anyone who looks down on this old man must die!"

The old ghost had an especially strong sense of pride. Faced with Li Ming, who would not yield to either soft or hard tactics, he was truly enraged.

With a thunderous boom, Li Ming finally reached the Bronze Immortal Hall's wall and unleashed his strongest strike.

It was like the collapse of heaven and earth. Violent chaos erupted like roaring thunder, scattering countless giant dragons.

The Bronze Immortal Hall itself was not damaged, but a faint palm print was left upon it.

It truly deserved to be called an Immortal Weapon.

Li Ming's body had already evolved to an unimaginable level, tougher than even the Nine Immortal Metals.

Furthermore, Flying Immortal Power was contained within his body. After holding back for so long, he combined the enhancements of various secret arts and, while in the Divine Forbidden State, unleashed a forbidden secret art unique to himself.

Yet even then, he failed to break through the Bronze Immortal Hall's walls.

Endless killing intent poured down like a waterfall.

The palm print on the Bronze Immortal Hall disappeared in the blink of an eye, restoring it to its original state.

After thinking it over, Li Ming realized that with his current ability, he truly could not break the Bronze Immortal Hall.

Silently, the old ghost appeared behind Li Ming. Carrying endless Immortal Dao Runes, he smashed a fist toward Li Ming's head with incomparably violent force.

A strange domain appeared like a quagmire, making Li Ming seem as though he had sunk into a swamp, unable to move easily.

Li Ming seemed to have fallen into a desperate situation.

Yet as the old ghost stared in disbelief, Li Ming moved with astonishing speed and effortlessly broke free from that restraint.

He turned around and looked at the old ghost with calm composure.

Then he threw a punch, striking the old ghost's fist.

With a thunderous boom, a cloud of blood mist exploded.

Before the old ghost's shocked gaze, Li Ming shattered the Immortal Dao Runes and sent the old ghost flying.

"You..." Terror filled the old ghost's heart.

He had clearly trapped Li Ming, yet Li Ming's calm composure at that moment was frightening.

The light of the Bronze Mirror flowed from Li Ming's body, covering the Bronze Immortal Hall and imprisoning every Dao and technique within it.

The old ghost was firmly restrained.

Boom.

Amid the old ghost's pale face and despairing expression, Li Ming reached out with one hand and, with a puff, smashed the old ghost into ashes.

The endless killing intent and strange phenomena within the Bronze Immortal Hall instantly collapsed and vanished.

The battle ended so suddenly, so unbelievably.

Yes, Li Ming had counter-killed the old ghost in the blink of an eye.

A furious roar seemed to echo from the void, filled with unwillingness.

This was the old ghost's final lingering obsession.

But that was all it was.

Li Ming casually erased the old ghost's lingering obsession, displaying overwhelming dominance.

All the fighting had taken place within the Bronze Immortal Hall. No one knew what had happened here.

Just like that, the Bronze Immortal Hall became ownerless and belonged to Li Ming.

Li Ming continuously formed seals with both hands, imprinting countless marks of himself here.

He deeply branded Emperor Runes onto the Bronze Immortal Hall and attempted to refine it.

He did not immediately leave the Bronze Immortal Hall. Instead, he remained there to comprehend the endless Immortal Dao Runes.

He also intended to imprint the Immortal Dao Runes onto his body and onto the Heavenly Demonic Saber.

Time flew by, and the years passed swiftly.

Many years passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Ming's Wheel Sea Secret Realm underwent an astonishing transformation.

One mysterious gate after another opened once more.

It seemed that even more gates had opened within his body.

Mysterious chanting came from within his body, its sound like thunder, deafening to the ears.

Every inch of his flesh glowed, and his primordial spirit glowed as well.

He had forged a Great Dao path that belonged to him alone.

The scripture he had created was even more perfect.

If his body had not been inside the Bronze Immortal Hall, his powerful aura would likely have awakened people long ago.

Li Ming had not expected that the countless Immortal Dao Runes on the Bronze Immortal Hall would produce such mysterious effects after being imprinted upon his body.

His five secret realms were flawless, branded with countless Immortal Dao Runes and radiating undying immortal light.

Chaotic energy filled his body, bringing him ever closer to a flawless Chaotic Body.

This was both the process of creating his method and the process of his transformation.

After comprehending the Dao and cultivating within the Bronze Immortal Hall, the foundation of his Great Dao had become increasingly profound.

Over these many years, he had carefully comprehended the Dao, cultivated, and sorted through his cultivation methods and secret arts.

The scriptures of these Great Emperors and Ancient Emperors had all been built upon the Five Secret Realms Cultivation Method of Shrouding the Heavens. None had transcended it.

Every Great Emperor or Ancient Emperor scripture had a strongest secret realm, where nine Emperor Runes were nurtured.

In the Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art created by Li Ming, the Emperor Runes lay within the Wheel Sea Secret Realm.

The Wheel Sea was the first great secret realm of cultivation, the foundation of cultivation and the first step onto its path.

Bitter Sea, Life Spring, Divine Bridge, Other Shore—none of these minor realms could be skipped.

Everyone had to cultivate the Wheel Sea Secret Realm to its peak, to a state of completion, before they could continue onward.

Li Ming's Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art, however, allowed ordinary mortal bodies to establish a supreme Great Dao foundation from the very beginning.

One could cultivate it oneself and forge a supreme Great Dao foundation.

Or one could plunder the origins of others and build the strongest Great Dao foundation.

Both the righteous and demonic paths could be chosen, and both could lead to success.

Like a kitchen knife, it could be used to prepare food or to kill people. Everything depended on the individual's choice.

From this point alone, Li Ming's Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art was still different from Ruthless Empress's demonic art.

To this day, Li Ming had not taught his Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art to a second person. He alone cultivated it.

Because of the concealment of the Bronze Mirror, many people did not know that his Chaotic Body had been cultivated by fusing countless origins.

When he had attained the Dao and become a supreme figure, so many powerful figures had appeared that many believed he had taken the path of fusing the Dao of others, blending the myriad Daos of heaven and earth to pursue his own Dao of Chaos.

In truth, they were all wrong.

Li Ming would not correct their misunderstanding, nor would he reveal his secrets to anyone else.

He wanted to achieve Mortal-World Ascension in this world. It was an exceptionally difficult choice.

But he knew that since such a path existed, he would naturally walk it with unwavering resolve.

In the world of Shrouding the Heavens, each of the few Red Dust Immortals had their own Red Dust Immortal Path.

They all shared one trait: they had to live through nine lifetimes before their primordial spirits and bodies could become immortal and indestructible, continuously producing Longevity Substance so that the passage of time no longer touched them.

If possible, Li Ming also wanted to take some shortcuts.

Perhaps he would not necessarily need to live through nine lifetimes.

If his comprehension became sufficient, perhaps he could become a Red Dust Immortal in less time.

But upon careful consideration, Desolate Heavenly Emperor, Heavenly Emperor Ye, and Heavenly Emperor Chu had all undergone nine transformations, while Heavenly Emperor Chu had even undergone ten.

In other words, to become a Red Dust Immortal, nine transformations were likely indispensable.

Even on other cultivation paths, reaching higher realms would probably require something akin to the nine-lifetime Red Dust Immortal Path.

Li Ming was only in his first lifetime now, so he did not yet need to worry about his lifespan.

He still had several Flat Peaches in hand. Those Immortal Medicines were enough to let him live through a second lifetime with ample longevity.

Li Ming also had a rough plan for his later transformations.

He imagined that one day, he would truly become a Red Dust Immortal.

Of course, what he needed to do now was not to aim too high, but to live well.

By now, he had nearly finished refining the Bronze Immortal Hall.

With a single thought, the Bronze Immortal Hall could bloom with boundless immortal light.

Countless Immortal Dao Runes had already been imprinted upon the Heavenly Demonic Saber, making it even more mysterious and powerful.

He continuously nourished the Heavenly Demonic Saber with Immortal Dao Runes, causing it to burst forth with unprecedented, vigorous vitality.

The countless All-Heaven Myriad-Spirit Runes upon it were lifelike, flowing across the Heavenly Demonic Saber as though they lived within its world.

Mountains and rivers manifested upon it as well, forming a vibrant divine land.

Although it had not become an Immortal Weapon, the Heavenly Demonic Saber was indeed continuously evolving toward one.

Li Ming was extremely satisfied.