82: Chapter 82 Yuanshi Changes Sword-Forging Materials; Arms Race

Shouyang Mountain, Bajing Palace.

The Saint of Taiqing and Yuanshi Tianzun sat opposite each other.

After a moment of silence, Yuanshi Tianzun spoke first, his tone carrying a hint of a request: "Big Brother, I have come to see you today regarding the matter of the Human Emperor of the Human Race."

Taiqing slowly opened his eyes, his gaze as deep as an ancient well, and replied softly: "I know the purpose of your visit, Second Brother. You may state your request directly."

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded, not wasting any words. With a wave of his hand, three dim, crack-filled sword fragments appeared within Bajing Palace.

Even though damaged, the fragments still possessed a dense, murderous Evil Qi; these were the fragments of the Acquired Supreme Treasure, the witch-slaughtering sword.

"Big Brother, as Chiyou is the Reincarnation of an Ancestral Witch, his Physical Body is formidable and cannot be broken by ordinary Spirit Treasures. I wish to recast the witch-slaughtering sword to serve as Human Emperor Xuanyuan's Spirit Treasure and help him attain the position of Human Emperor!"

Hearing this, Taiqing gave a soft hum but did not speak.

Yuanshi Tianzun continued: "However... Big Brother, the witch-slaughtering sword is too malevolent. Even I cannot change its Origin while retaining its nature as a witch-slaughtering weapon.

Therefore, when recasting the witch-slaughtering sword, I wish to incorporate a wisp of the Human Race's Luck and the copper of Shouyang Mountain, then have Human Emperor Xuanyuan nourish it with the Human Race's Luck to refine it into a sword of the Human Race's Luck."

The copper of Shouyang Mountain was a spirit mineral born alongside the supreme treasure of humanity, the kongtong seal, and was imbued with a trace of the Dao of humanity. Using it, along with a wisp of the Human Race's Luck, to recast the sword body was the best choice for Human Emperor Xuanyuan's personal sword.

To be honest, Yuanshi regretted bidding for the position of Human Emperor.

It was truly too much of a loss; he had spent so many Spirit Treasure resources!

Yuanshi had considered using other spiritual items to recast it, but considering the Dao of humanity's Luck, he still came to seek Taiqing's help.

Taiqing's eyes remained indifferent, as if Yuanshi's words were within his expectations. His voice was calm and without ripples:

"The Human Race's Luck is the foundation of the Human Teachings and cannot be easily stripped away. The copper of Shouyang Mountain is also a top-tier Heaven And Earth Treasure.

What do you intend to exchange for it, Second Brother?"

Hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun took out an Innate Spiritual Root he had prepared in advance and handed it to Taiqing.

Although a wisp of Luck was small, giving it away without cause would also distribute Karma and Luck.

A transaction, clearing the Karma, was the best outcome.

Taiqing expressionlessly took the Spiritual Root. "This Spiritual Root is indeed worthy of a wisp of the Human Race's Luck."

Yuanshi continued: "If Big Brother finds it acceptable, then let us use this Spiritual Root to exchange for a portion of the Human Teachings' Luck."

"Acceptable."

Taiqing nodded slightly, then tossed a wisp of the Human Race's Luck and a piece of mysterious yellow copper to Yuanshi.

The copper's surface had natural patterns and was wreathed in a faint aura of the Dao of humanity. It was the mother copper of Shouyang Mountain, a spiritual material born from the same Origin as the kongtong seal.

The mysterious yellow Luck and the mother copper fell before Yuanshi, and he stored them in his personal space.

Afterward, Yuanshi bowed to Taiqing, his tone full of solemnity: "Many thanks, Big Brother, for your support."

He knew that Taiqing was always quiet and did not like to be disturbed, so he did not linger and dissipated into a wisp of clear Qi within Bajing Palace.

He returned to Yuxu Palace to go into seclusion for Artifact Refining.

...

The conflict between the Jiuli Tribe and the Youxiong Tribe fell into a strange arms race mode after the Battle of the Wilderness.

The Jiuli Tribe was already skilled in forging with metals and crafting weapons. After the Battle of the Wilderness, Chiyou ordered the entire tribe to mobilize, searching the wilderness and mountains for copper and tin ore veins to open furnaces and forge bronze weapons.

The skilled craftsmen within the tribe worked day and night, repeatedly hammering, quenching, and refining the newly smelted bronze. Abandoning the crude stone axes and wooden spears of the past, they forged orderly bronze ge, bronze spears, and bronze swords.

In particular, the weapons used by Chiyou's personal guards were infused with a trace of Evil Qi overflowing from the tiger soul, which doubled their sharpness.

For armor, they also used animal hides combined with bronze plates to create beast-faced bronze armor, which provided defense far superior to the animal hide and bone armor of the Youxiong Tribe.

As for Chiyou himself, he went into seclusion to Cultivate, letting Ancestral Witch Gong Gong temper him in the bamboo forest every day, stimulating the essence blood of the Great Witch within his body, and his strength slowly increased.

On the other side, although the Youxiong Tribe started a bit later, they caught up quickly under the leadership of Human Emperor Xuanyuan and the guidance of Guangchengzi.

Human Emperor Xuanyuan imitated the Jiuli Tribe, searching for ore veins and refining bronze to forge bronze swords and bronze halberds, which were light and sharp, suitable for close combat.

In terms of armor, the Youxiong Tribe abandoned heavy animal hides and created full-piece bronze breastplates, supplemented by linen linings, offering comprehensive protection and ease of movement. Although not as fierce as the Jiuli beast armor, it was more suitable for the physiques of the Youxiong tribespeople.

After handing over the development of the tribe to his clansmen, Human Emperor Xuanyuan himself Cultivated the Immortal Rank techniques of the Chan Teachings every day, hoping to Breakthrough to the Taiyi Golden Immortal level soon and reach the same level as Chiyou.

This situation continued for a full thirty years.

Chiyou's injuries recovered with the blessing of the Human Race's Luck and the Great Witch's essence blood, and his cultivation also advanced further.

Human Emperor Xuanyuan, also under the blessing of the Human Race's Luck, finally achieved a Breakthrough to the Taiyi Golden Immortal level in the twenty-ninth year.

He spent one year consolidating his cultivation.

That year, the Jiuli Tribe began to expand.

With the blessing of bronze weapons and beast armor, the Jiuli Tribe was unstoppable, and their border lines kept moving outward.

Although the Youxiong Tribe had a large population, the Witch-Human Race could be said to be one against a hundred at the Mortal level.

The Youxiong Tribe was beaten back step by step.

In the end, the Youxiong Tribe could only set up a stronghold at Zhuolu while slowing down the Jiuli Tribe's invasion progress.

Exhausting every method, they barely managed to block the Jiuli Tribe, preventing them from continuing to expand into the Central Plains.

In the land of Zhuolu, yellow earth stretched endlessly, and sandstorms swept across the ground.

The second battle between Human Emperor Xuanyuan and Chiyou began.

In this battle, Chiyou brought his mounts, two exotic beasts at the level of Grand Unity Golden Immortal: the Iron-eating Beast, Bear Soldier, and Bear Cutie.

One man and two bears beat Human Emperor Xuanyuan and his master Guangchengzi back step by step, and the battle situation became one-sided.

"I'll let you bully my master!"

Bear Soldier glared at Guangchengzi before him, a pair of crimson eyes erupting with icy killing intent. His massive body leaped up suddenly, and his sharp beast claws tore fiercely toward Guangchengzi.

Guangchengzi's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly swung his sword to defend. The male and female swords bloomed with spiritual light, but were dimmed by Bear Soldier's claw.

Bear Soldier's Physical Body was incomparably formidable and did not fear the sharpness of Spirit Treasures at all. His claws were fierce, every move was fatal, and his full Grand Unity Golden Immortal cultivation exploded, suppressing Guangchengzi until he couldn't catch his breath.

Guangchengzi was both shocked and angry. His hand holding the male and female swords trembled slightly. He raised his eyes and stared fixedly at Chiyou, questioning sharply, his voice full of disbelief:

"Chiyou! You only have the cultivation of a Taiyi Golden Immortal; where did you get mounts at the level of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal?!"

Chiyou, who was suppressing Human Emperor Xuanyuan, laughed loudly when he heard this: "As fellow great sages of the Human Race, Human Emperor Xuanyuan has his opportunities, and I have mine!"

"I like Chiyou being my master, is that not allowed?"

Bear Cutie also gave a hee-hee laugh, baring his fangs at Guangchengzi.

Then, with a low roar, he pounced on Guangchengzi, coordinating perfectly with Bear Soldier, not giving Guangchengzi the slightest chance to catch his breath.

Guangchengzi's face turned livid, and he had to grit his teeth and swing his sword again to block the two bears' offensive.

Meanwhile, Human Emperor Xuanyuan, who was being suppressed by Chiyou, saw that his reliance, Guangchengzi, was being suppressed, and a desire to retreat arose in his heart.