358: Chixiao

"Sect Head Senior Brother!" An Elder spoke with a face full of worry.

"This mission is exceptionally dangerous; the strength of a Shape-shifting Great Demon is comparable to the Soul Transformation Stage!"

"And... Martial Nephew Yao is repeatedly targeted by demonic cultivators. It is hard to guarantee that the demonic sect forces will not strike again! If Martial Nephew Yao is lost..."

"How could I not know?"

White Cloud Master interrupted him, his tone decisive.

"Delong has outstanding natural talent, excelling in both Alchemy and martial arts. His potential is already no less than Changge's!"

"He is the future pillar of our sect! It is precisely because of this that he needs the strongest tempering!"

"But safety must also not be ignored!"

His gaze turned to a corner of the main hall, toward a middle-aged man in green robes who had been resting with his eyes closed, holding a simple and ancient longsword.

His aura was as sharp as a divine blade being unsheathed.

"Junior Brother Li!"

The man in green robes—Peak Master of Heavenly Sword Peak, Li Cen, slowly opened his eyes.

In that instant, the entire hall seemed to be filled with invisible Sword Qi, and the air itself became sharp.

"I must trouble you to follow him in secret. First, as a Dao protector to ensure Delong's life is safe;"

"Second, as... an examiner! Observe his Heart-Nature, decisiveness, and strength throughout the journey. Once the mission is complete, it will be up to you to evaluate him!" White Cloud Master said solemnly.

Li Cen remained expressionless, only nodding slightly, his voice like the clashing of metal: "Fine."

After speaking, he closed his eyes again, appearing like a peerless, ominous sword hidden in its scabbard.

Leng Yuekui looked at Li Cen, her heart feeling slightly more at ease.

With this Peak Master of Heavenly Sword Peak, renowned for his decisive killing and combat power that topped all the peaks, protecting him in secret, Delong's safety should be no major concern.

"Send orders to Luoxia Peak. Command Yao Delong to set out within two days to reinforce Bhikkhu City!" White Cloud Master's voice echoed through the hall.

The order quickly reached the outside of the Luoxia Peak Alchemy quiet room.

At this moment, Yao Delong had just collected the last furnace of yimu azure spirit pills (nine-turn pill pattern) into a jade bottle.

Listening to the report from the deacon Disciple outside the door, there was no surprise on his face, only a cold Battle Intent rising up.

"Bhikkhu City... beast tide... Shape-shifting Great Demon?"

A cold arc curled at the corner of his mouth, his gaze seemingly piercing through the quiet room to see that battlefield where the flames of war filled the sky.

"Perfect! I will use you all to test my newly realized sword array! And that 'Chixiao'... it's also time to trade for it!"

He put away the mountain river sun moon cauldron and all the Medicinal Pills, then pushed the door open and stepped out.

The sunlight outside was dazzling, reflecting off his tall, straight figure and the light in his eyes that was like a sharp sword.

The familiar, ancient gates of the Treasure Pavilion were right before him. Just as Yao Delong stepped onto the stairs,

A figure met him like the wind; it was precisely the red-faced Elder Zhao.

"Junior Brother Yao! Haha, I knew it was you!"

Elder Zhao smiled so widely his teeth showed but his eyes didn't, warmly patting Yao Delong on the shoulder.

"Have you come to take that 'Chixiao'? Oh my, how long has it been?"

"This old brother thought I'd have to wait at least a few months!"

"Junior Brother's Alchemy speed is truly something this old brother cannot hope to match!"

Yao Delong smiled slightly and nodded, saying:

"Senior Brother Zhao overpraises me. I was lucky to refine a few furnaces and didn't dare delay Senior Brother's request."

"Let's go, let's go!"

Overjoyed, Elder Zhao pulled Yao Delong toward the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion, his steps becoming a bit lighter.

He led Yao Delong through the dazzling array of shelves, heading straight toward a heavily guarded area deep on the second floor.

This place was covered in layers upon layers of spiritual light Restrictions, emitting heart-palpitating energy fluctuations.

Elder Zhao's expression turned solemn. His hands formed seals, and he muttered incantations under his breath.

Streaks of spiritual light were struck into the Restrictions. After a full half-cup of tea's time,

Accompanied by a low mechanical sound, a hidden compartment slowly slid open on the wall.

Inside the compartment lay a long sword case, dark red throughout, with a gentle luster flowing over its surface.

The sword case itself emitted dense Spiritual Qi, as it was remarkably crafted from the extremely precious 'Red Flame Spirit Sandalwood'.

Just this case alone was worth no less than several hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!

"Junior Brother, please!" Elder Zhao carefully brought out the sword case and presented it solemnly before Yao Delong.

Yao Delong took a deep breath and received it with both hands. The sword case felt slightly heavy in his hands,

Carrying a hint of warmth. He lightly pressed the mechanism on the lid.

"Click."

The lid sprang open!

Boom—!

An indescribable blazing aura, like a sleeping volcano suddenly awakening, instantly swept through the entire second floor of the Treasure Pavilion!

The air seemed to be ignited, the temperature rising sharply, and light itself slightly distorted under this heatwave!

A piercing crimson light gushed out from the case, reflecting everything around in a bright red!

"Hiss—!"

"What powerful fire element power!"

"This... this is the aura of a high-grade heavenly artifact?!"

"Heavens! It's that 'Chixiao'! Someone actually traded for it!"

The Disciples and Elders picking out items on the second floor were instantly startled by this sudden, terrifying heatwave and pressure.

They all looked over, their gazes fixed firmly on the sword case in Yao Delong's hands.

When they clearly saw the longsword lying quietly in the case, crimson like branding iron, its blade seemingly flowing with lava,

And emitting a world-destroying blazing aura, cries of surprise rose one after another!

The pupils of several Soul Transformation Stage Elders shrank violently, their faces filled with shock and disbelief!

A high-grade heavenly artifact! This was something comparable to a peak-guarding treasure!

Many Mid-stage Soul Transformation Elders might not even own one despite exhausting their entire fortunes!

Now, it was actually being held in the hands of a Mid Nascent Soul Stage Disciple!

"It's Yao Delong!"

"It really is him! Besides him, who else could bring out two seventh-grade nine-turn pill pattern pills so quickly?"

"Sigh... comparisons are odious! This old man has been in the Soul Transformation Stage for three hundred years and is still using a mid-grade heavenly artifact..."

Gazes of envy, jealousy, and wonder focused on Yao Delong like physical things.

Yao Delong, however, seemed oblivious; his mind was completely captivated by the divine weapon in the case.

He reached out his right hand and slowly gripped the hilt of Chixiao.

Buzz—!

The blade emitted a clear, stirring dragon roar!

A majestic, pure, and domineeringly peerless Blazing Sun Yuan Power instantly surged from Yao Delong's palm into the blade,

Like a river flowing into the sea, completely unobstructed!

The crimson light flowing on the blade suddenly flared up as if it had come to life,

And a terrifying Sword Intent that could burn the eight directions and slay all things faintly leaked out!

"Good sword!"

A startling brilliance erupted in Yao Delong's eyes, and he couldn't help but praise it aloud.

This Chixiao was practically tailor-made for his Nine Yang Heaven Burning Art and Blazing Sun Yuan Power!

That feeling of being blood-connected and as easy to use as an arm was far beyond what the previous burning silence could compare to!

However, this place was clearly not for testing a sword. Yao Delong suppressed the urge to immediately swing it,

Placed Chixiao back into the sword case, and closed the lid. Only then did that suffocating heatwave slowly subside.

"Senior Brother Zhao, the pills are here." Yao Delong took out his identity token and two jade bottles he had prepared long ago.

Elder Zhao hurriedly took the jade bottles and opened them carefully.

A pill fragrance so dense it wouldn't dissipate instantly filled the air.

Inside lay two pills the size of dragon eyes, round and flawless, with nine profound pill patterns flowing on their surfaces.

One was full of vitality, which was the seventh-grade sacred healing medicine, the yimu azure spirit pill;

The other emitted a violent yet restrained strange energy fluctuation.

"This... this is?" Elder Zhao was a bit unsure about the pill with the strange aura and hurriedly called out:

"Old Li! Come over and take a look!"