261: Refining the Four Divine Beasts

The Three Great Divine Beasts clashed again, divine light soaring to the heavens, the world changing color!

In the end, all three were shattered, their Divine Souls collapsed, and they fell one by one, transforming into pure Divine Power light clusters, suspended in the air.

Lu Chen didn't hesitate in the slightest, immediately activating his refining technique!

He placed the nine lives reincarnation lamp above his head, to prevent accidental death during the refining process.

After all—

Refining the remnant souls of Heaven-Reaching Realm Divine Beasts, even if they were merely data-based existences, their violent Divine Power was enough to burst his Golden Core Cavern!

He sat cross-legged, forming hand seals, and the Cavern's gate opened wide!

A devouring vortex appeared, sucking in the remnant soul light clusters of the Four Great Divine Beasts one by one!

In an instant—

Inside the Cavern, the situation changed dramatically!

Four vast torrents of Divine Power surged through his Meridians and Divine Soul like a flood, almost tearing him apart!

His Golden Core trembled violently, nearly shattering!

The Cavern space cracked inch by inch, threatening to collapse at any moment!

Lu Chen gritted his teeth and persevered, relying on the protection of the Nine Lives Lamp, being pulled back from the brink of death time and time again!

Nine chances of resurrection became his confidence for taking risks!

After an unknown amount of time—

Boom!!!

Four divine figures slowly solidified at the four poles of the Cavern—

East: An Azure Dragon statue, scales and claws flying, lightning coiling around it;

South: A Vermilion Bird statue, surrounded by flames, wings spread wide;

West: A White Tiger statue, Evil Qi soaring to the sky, claws like blades;

North: A Black Tortoise statue, thick tortoise shell, water ripples shimmering.

Although the Four Great Divine Beasts were refined, because Lu Chen's Cavern's upper limit was only Golden Core, their power was compressed to the Golden Core level, transforming into four guardian divine statues, guarding the four directions of the Cavern!

This not only greatly enhanced the Cavern's stability but also granted Lu Chen the ability to control the power of the Four Symbols!

"Hoo... it's finally done."

Lu Chen opened his eyes, letting out a long sigh of relief. Although he was exhausted, his eyes were filled with ecstasy.

In this instance dungeon, he not only obtained the nine lives reincarnation lamp and eight heaven-reaching spirit treasuress but also refined the Four Great Divine Beasts to guard his Cavern!

His strength had surged, truly ensuring foolproof safety!

Just then—

A cold, mechanical voice echoed in the Void Realm:

The instance dungeon is about to close.

Forced teleportation in three breaths.

Lu Chen stood up, tidied his robes, and a satisfied smile played on his lips:

Comfortable.

Lu Chen strode out of the instance dungeon exit, his figure slowly disappearing into the pillar of light.

Behind him, the entire Heavenly Dao Treasure Vault main hall collapsed with a roar, turning into nothingness... At the end of the sky, a blue light tore through the clouds, descending like a heavenly sword, piercing through the vast earth!

The light was clear like a cold spring, yet it contained a heart-palpitating sharpness, and wherever it passed, the Void Realm subtly twisted, even space itself was cut by its Sword Intent.

A hundred miles away, the Xuanxiao Sword Sect's mountain-protecting array, the "Nine Heavens Cloud Lock Array," suddenly vibrated, and alarm bells rang out!

Inside the Sect gate, hundreds of Disciples looked up, seeing the anomaly in the sky, all shocked and losing color.

"Look quickly! Is that... a divine weapon descending from the sky?!"

"Could it be an ancient relic appearing?!"

The Sect Head of Xuanxiao Sword Sect—Li Xuanxiao, was a Peak Early Golden Core Stage expert. He had led the Sect for three hundred years, sweeping across the Southern Region with his "Flowing Cloud Sword," his renown widespread.

He stood on the Star-Gazing Platform, flicked his whisk, and his eyes burst with bright light: "This light contains Sword Intent and does not dissipate; it must be a peerless Spirit Treasure descending! Issue the order—the entire Sect is to mobilize and investigate!"

In an instant, the Xuanxiao Sword Sect poured out!

Li Xuanxiao personally led twelve Elders and three hundred elite Disciples, soaring on their Flying Swords, transforming into a torrent of sword light, rushing directly towards the source of the blue light!

When they arrived, they saw a long sword, entirely made of azure jade, quietly stuck in the ground in the center of the wilderness. Ancient runes flowed on the sword body, a partial "Qing" character was engraved on the hilt, and the sword tassel swayed gently in the wind, as if breathing.

Li Xuanxiao's eyes erupted with fervent light, overjoyed:

"A divine weapon bestowed by Heaven! This sword is certainly no ordinary item! He who obtains it can secure my Xuanxiao's ten-thousand-year foundation!"

He didn't hesitate, strode forward, and reached out to grasp the hilt—

"Sect Head, wait!!!" Grand Elder Xuanming Immortal Master hastily shouted, "This sword's origin is unknown, there might be danger—"

Li Xuanxiao laughed heartily: "Junior Brother, relax! Just a mere sword, this old man can certainly subdue it!!"

Before his words finished—

"Chi!!!"

A flash of blue light!

A slender yet unstoppable Sword Qi shot out from the sword body, instantly piercing through Ling Xuzi's glabella!

The dignified Sect Head, an Early Golden Core Stage expert, didn't even manage to summon a defensive Magic Treasure before falling backward, his Divine Soul annihilated, all vitality gone!

"Sect Head!!!"

"No—!!!"

Three hundred Disciples cried out in sorrow, and the twelve Elders turned pale, their anger soaring to the sky!

"Form the sword array!!!" Xuanming Immortal Master roared, his "Cold Frost Sword" unsheathed, sword light like snow, pointing directly at the blue light sword!

The other Elders quickly activated their Magic Treasures, surrounding the strange long sword, Sword Qi crisscrossing, killing intent pervading the air!

But just at this critical moment—

The blue light sword trembled slightly, then actually flew up on its own, turning into a streak of light, shooting directly towards Ling Xuzi's corpse!

"Pfft!"

The sword tip plunged into his chest, and the entire sword slowly sank into his body!

"Boom!!!"

A chilling Sword Qi suddenly burst forth from the lifeless corpse!

Li Xuanxiao's eyes suddenly opened—

But those were no longer the authoritative eyes of the former Sect Head, but a pair of cold, indifferent pupils, as if from the depths of the Nine Nether Abyss!

He slowly sat up, his bones making "kaka" cracking sounds, a strange arc forming at the corner of his mouth, his voice hoarse and unfamiliar:

"This body... is barely usable."

Xuanming Immortal Master trembled all over: "Not good! It's Possession! This is the Possession technique of an ancient evil Cultivator!"

"Senior! Our Xuanxiao Sword Sect has no grievances or grudges with you, why do you harm our Sect Head?!"

"Ling Xuzi" slowly stood up, flexing his arms, feeling the Early Golden Core Stage cultivation, and sneered:

"No grievances or grudges? Mortals are mere ants, why ask for reasons? If I kill, I kill!!"

"You go too far!!!"

Xuanming Immortal Master's hair stood on end in anger, his eyes bloodshot, his voice like thunder, echoing across the wilderness:

"Form—the Nine Heavens Evil Punishing Sword Array!!!"

This was the Xuanxiao Sword Sect's guardian sword array, specifically created to encircle and kill evil demons!

Three hundred Disciples moved at the command, instantly forming ranks, sword light like a forest, chilling Qi soaring to the sky!

The twelve Elders each guarded a position, their spiritual power intertwining to form a massive sword net, completely trapping the strange Possessor!

Three hundred Flying Swords hovered in mid-air, their tips all pointing to the center, killing intent solidified, as if even the air was cut into pieces!

Streaks of Sword Qi intertwined in the Void Realm, transforming into nine sword Dragons, circling and roaring!

But just as the sword array was closing and killing intent was boiling—

Li Xuanxiao, possessed by the qing ming sword, slowly looked up, a mocking sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Noisy."

He uttered only two words, his voice as cold as ten-thousand-year-old profound ice.

Then, he gently raised his right hand—

Condensing Qi into a sword!

No Magic Treasure, no incantation, not even a detectable spiritual power fluctuation!

But in that instant, space was torn by an invisible blade!

A thin, almost invisible blue sword line shot out from his fingertip, so fast it surpassed Divine Sense reaction!

"Chi—!!!"

The first streak of sword light pierced through Grand Elder Xuanming Immortal Master's glabella!

The dignified Early Golden Core Stage expert, without even activating his protective spiritual light, had his head explode, his vitality extinguished!

The second streak of sword light swept across the twelve Elders!

The sword line was like wind, silent and traceless; twelve corpses fell simultaneously, unable to even let out a scream!

The third streak of sword light poured down like a storm!

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

Blood splattered everywhere; three hundred elite Disciples, without even time to react, were all pierced through the head or heart, falling to the ground with a thud!

The entire wilderness instantly became a land of death!

The sword array was extinguished before it even fully formed!

Three hundred Sword Cultivators, all executed!

The one who underwent Possession was none other than Qing Ming, a Peak Spirit Transformation Realm expert who had smuggled himself from the Spirit Realm!