285: coming

Two months later.

On the fifth floor of the Zhou Family's Cultivation Manual Tower on Qingyang Peak.

Zhou Leren, sitting cross-legged, held a three-foot-three-inch long, entirely crimson sword that radiated waves of heat.

The sword had a sharp edge, its cold light glinting.

At the hilt, the characters 'zhu yan' were inscribed.

After a careful examination, a feeling of perfect fusion entered his heart from the sword body.

With a thought, Zhou Leren summoned the peiyu sword that was circling his Golden Core within his Dantian.

The peiyu sword had always been nurtured by the Golden Core's magical power within Zhou Leren's body.

After Zhou Leren re-stabilized at the Mid Golden Core Stage, the peiyu sword's grade also reached Medium Grade Three.

It was just like the newly refined Vermillion Flame sword.

As the peiyu sword emerged,

the Vermillion Flame sword in his left hand glowed brightly, as if competing with the peiyu sword.

The peiyu sword, not to be outdone, hummed and vibrated softly.

The fifth floor was instantly plunged into a struggle between water and fire.

Zhou Leren's heart tensed.

The Golden Core chapter of the Five Elements Primordial Canon circulated within his body.

The cultivation method for the Two Poles Sword Array flashed through his mind.

Zhou Leren did not hesitate; his magical power flowed into his hands, spreading out to cover both spirit swords.

This was also one of the difficulties in refining a second Natal Spirit Sword.

If he allowed the two swords of water and fire to continue their struggle, they would likely both be severely damaged.

At that point, Zhou Leren would be inconsolable.

With Zhou Leren's intervention,

the two swords of water and fire gradually calmed down.

Within the fifth floor, the clashing Auras ceased.

Half a month passed in a flash.

The two stalemated spirit swords disappeared simultaneously, entering Zhou Leren's Dantian.

They slowly revolved around the smooth, flawless Golden Core.

The magical power spreading from the Golden Core continued to nourish the two precious swords.

At this moment,

Zhou Leren finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The initial stage was now complete; all that remained was slow nurturing and tempering in the future.

Having refined this sword, although he had not yet tested his current strength, Zhou Leren felt that he had once again grown much stronger.

He withdrew Vermillion Flame and peiyu sword into his body for nurturing.

Zhou Leren did not get up.

He closed his eyes and continued his cultivation... "Clang, clang, clang~"

Urgent, short bell tolls echoed on Qingyang Peak.

Members of the Zhou Family were startled awake by the bell, either emerging from their Immortal Caves after breaking through a cultivation barrier or putting down their tasks, heading towards the Zhou Family Main Hall.

In the Cultivation Manual Tower,

Zhou Leren was startled by the bell.

With a thought, he rose and stepped out of the Cultivation Manual Tower.

Just as he was about to move forward,

Zhou Leyi had already sought him out.

"News has come from Changxing City; people from Xuanhua Prefecture are coming for us."

Zhou Leyi did not mince words.

He explained the reason for the bell's ringing.

Changxing City was one of the six cities under the Zhou Family's jurisdiction.

It was located in the northernmost part of the Zhou Family's six cities.

"How is Changxing City?"

Zhou Leren asked in a deep voice.

"It hasn't been attacked."

"Oh?"

"It seems they want to eliminate us in one fell swoop."

Zhou Leren was somewhat surprised.

He had originally thought that Xuanhua Prefecture would employ some tactics.

Feigning an attack on one city, setting up a trap to lure Zhou Leren to reinforce it, and then ambushing him.

Or, creating a diversion to draw away the Zhou Family's main force, then directly attacking Qingyang Peak.

Unexpectedly, none of their mutual predictions and precautions came to fruition.

"Tell the cities not to return for reinforcement; they should just hold their respective cities."

The two did not linger here.

They stepped out, disappearing from in front of the Cultivation Manual Tower.

Zhou Leren thought for a moment and decided not to recall the Cultivators stationed in various cities or the Foundation Establishment Stage families under their jurisdiction for aid.

"Good, I'll go arrange that now."

Zhou Leyi nodded in agreement.

The two arrived at the Zhou Family Main Hall.

One by one, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Zhou Family,

Elder Beihai, Jing Ya, Zhou Leshu, Zhou Xiukang, and others, as well as the beast tamers Huan Bi, Huan Yun, Qing Ling, and other spirit beasts raised by the Zhou Family, had gathered here from the Qingyang River that flowed between the peaks.

At this time,

in a secret chamber on Qingyang Peak.

Zhou Xiuyuan pushed open the door and entered.

Inside the secret chamber,

a long sword, no longer tattered but still somewhat shabby, floated happily above a pile of Medium Grade Two and Medium Grade Three Ores.

It swayed unsteadily,

as if it were drunk.

"Old Man Xue..."

Zhou Xiuyuan had not finished speaking

when he saw a phantom emerge from the shabby long sword.

It grumbled curses.

"Don't you understand how to respect the old and cherish the young, you brat?"

"Can't you see this old man is doing something important? Go, go, go, stop disturbing this old man here."

The phantom spoke, then immediately retracted into the long sword.

Zhou Xiuyuan's mouth twitched.

"Elder Xue (Snow Elder), there's an enemy attack. Please help, Elder Xue (Snow Elder)."

"You wouldn't want to lose me, the only successor of the Sword Sect, like this, would you?"

Zhou Xiuyuan spoke unhurriedly.

As his voice fell,

the phantom of the great snow mountain sword's sword spirit reappeared, looking at Zhou Xiuyuan with a resentful expression.

"Don't think this old man doesn't know the situation in your Family, brat. Where do I need to make a move?"

"Hmph! I think you brat just want to exploit this old man."

"Sigh, never mind. It's my bad luck to have met you, brat."

The sword spirit showed no trace of the dignity or awareness befitting the sword spirit of a Fifth Grade divine sword.

Zhou Xiuyuan's Face lit up, and he was about to bow in thanks.

"Don't rush. If you want this old man to act, I'll need a piece of Fourth Grade meteorite iron."

The great snow mountain sword flew in front of Zhou Xiuyuan, and the sword spirit solemnly held up a finger.

"Deal!"

Zhou Xiuyuan agreed without a second thought.

The sword spirit's illusory form paused.

It fell into contemplation.

"Did this old man quote too low a price?"

Zhou Xiuyuan thought of the ten or so Fourth Grade Ores his father had given him in his Storage Pouch, which happened to include meteorite iron Ore.

These were originally meant to be given to the sword spirit to devour.

Zhou Xiuyuan's mouth curved into a smile.

"Old Man Xue, are you trying to go back on your word?"

In just a moment, Zhou Xiuyuan's smile faded.

Looking at the sword spirit, who seemed to want to speak but hesitated,

Zhou Xiuyuan's expression became serious.

"Heh ~ How could this old man be that kind of spirit?"

The sword spirit, seeing Zhou Xiuyuan's expression, couldn't bring itself to lose Face, so it could only bite the bullet and continue speaking.

Then, it gave Zhou Xiuyuan another resentful look and merged back into the great snow mountain sword.

"Swish ~"

The great snow mountain sword entered its scabbard and hung at Zhou Xiuyuan's waist.

It once again occupied the position that originally belonged to the one heart sword.

Zhou Xiuyuan shook his head; the one heart sword showed no reaction, seemingly long accustomed to this.

Without further delay, Zhou Xiuyuan walked out of the secret chamber and soared into the air.

On Qingyang Peak, the Great Formation was fully activated.

Under the arrangements of Zhou Leren and Zhou Leyi,

the Disciples of each hall of the Zhou Family took their respective positions.

In the sky,

Zhou Leren was at the front, followed by the remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Zhou Family, excluding those maintaining the Medium Grade Three mountain protecting grand array.

Zhou Xiuyuan arrived behind Zhou Leren.

He nodded to everyone.

A moment later,

waves of Spiritual Qi fluctuations came from the distant sky.

"Buzz ~"

As waves of Spiritual Qi were stirred,

figures rode their escape light, breaking through the air.

Four individuals led the group.

Their appearances and clothing varied, and the Aura of the Golden Core Stage emanated from them.

Behind the four, one by one, were Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators.

"They've sent out all their elites."

Someone in the Zhou Family sighed with emotion.

"Fellow Daoists of Xuanhua Prefecture, and Fellow Daoist Yang of Chaofeng Mountain, why do you have time to visit today?"

Zhou Leren's hearty laughter spread from Qingyang Peak.