Xu Taiping nodded, then sat up as he answered:
"Not only am I coming out of seclusion, I may have to go somewhere."
With that, Xu Taiping set down the jade slip in his hand and transmitted his voice to Blade Ghost in his mind:
"Elder, we may need to make a trip to the Withered Stone Sea first. A few friends of mine are trapped there."
Blade Ghost readily agreed:
"Go quickly and return quickly."
Blade Ghost added:
"Since you are an Ultimate Dao Law Cultivator, even if you use your Heaven Shocking Realm cultivation, the Heavenly Dao will not punish you so long as you do not go too far."
"But everything has its limits. Once you cross that limit, no one can guarantee whether the Heavenly Dao will punish you again."
"So This Old Man's advice is to avoid using your Heaven Shocking Realm cultivation unless you truly have no other choice. Fight using only your Great Sage Realm physique."
"After all, in This Old Man's view, no one in the entire Shangqing Lower Realm should be able to match that Great Sage Realm physique of yours."
Xu Taiping found Blade Ghost's advice very sound, so he cupped his fists in thanks:
"Thank you for your guidance, Elder. Once I resolve this matter, I will return to the Dragon-Trapping Tower immediately and accompany you to the Profound Elixir Palace to train."
Three days later.
Starfall Lake, the Withered Stone Sea, Peerless Nether Heaven.
Disguised, Dongfang Yuejian and Master Xuanzhi carried the enormous Dragon-Slaying Stele into a desert near Starfall Lake.
Not a soul was in sight.
After warily surveying their surroundings, Dongfang Yuejian picked up her jade slip and transmitted her voice to Xu Taiping:
"Daoist Taiping, I have placed the Dragon-Slaying Stele where Fairy Xiahou