90: Weapon Forging Sect, Sword Pavilion, Rotten Buddha

Wu Dynasty, Yan Province.

In the center of a cluster of active volcanoes, glowing with fiery red light, stood a massive black stone city.

The entire Yan Province was a thousand-mile stretch of scorched earth, with an incredibly dry climate.

Volcanic eruptions occurred from time to time, and lava flowed into streams.

Although this place belonged to the Wu Dynasty's territory, it was sparsely populated.

Only the people of the Artifact Refining Sect lived in the only black stone volcano city in Yan Province.

In the sky, a streak of light suddenly flashed again, finally hovering above the volcano city.

The figure revealed within was precisely the formless puppet, whose consciousness had been erased and controlled by the Celestial Fox.

"Old Ancestor!"

In mid-air, the formless puppet glowed all over, its sun-like aura overwhelming the volcano city. The Sect Master of the Artifact Refining Sect and other high-ranking officials hurriedly put down their tasks and prostrated themselves in worship.

"Immediately halt all Artifact Refining tasks within the Sect. Gather the full strength of the entire Sect to forge this bronze blood halberd, the more the better."

The formless puppet threw out a detailed blueprint for a divine weapon, its emotionless voice echoing throughout the entire Artifact Refining Sect's volcano city.

Even some Elders who were in seclusion in the volcanoes refining divine weapons or cultivating were startled.

The Sect Master of the Artifact Refining Sect took the bronze blood halberd blueprint, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

This item was even more terrifying than the hundred thousand blood soul sabers forged some time ago.

If it were forged in large quantities, it was highly likely to affect the current continental pattern, and even draw the joint crusade and suppression of super- power.

"Old Ancestor, how many… specifically are needed?"

The Sect Master of the Artifact Refining Sect dared to ask.

"Do you not understand my words? Gather the full strength of the entire Sect to forge them. The more, the better. Come ask me again after you've used up all the spiritual Ore of the Wu Dynasty."

The formless puppet's voice remained unchanged, but its pressure intensified, making it difficult for some people to breathe.

"Twelve hours a day, one hour of rest is enough for the Disciples of this Sect. The remaining time can all be used to forge the bronze blood halberd."

"This matter is of great importance. Any slackers discovered will be executed without mercy, their blood used to refine divine weapons."

"This mandatory task must be carried out by everyone, from the Sect Disciples to the Sect Master and the Grand Elder."

"From now on, a general from the Wu Dynasty will come to inspect the goods at regular intervals. The survival of the Artifact Refining Sect depends on all of you."

When the Sect Master of the Artifact Refining Sect heard these harsh conditions, he still wanted to argue further.

But then he saw the Old Ancestor very seriously state that it concerned the survival of the Artifact Refining Sect, and he immediately extinguished any inappropriate thoughts.

"We obey the Old Ancestor's decree!"

The Sect Master of the Artifact Refining Sect's expression was solemn as he led the bowing, saying, "We are willing to devote our lives to the Sect!"

The other Disciples and Elders were infected by the Sect Master's impassioned emotions, and one by one, they no longer considered their own interests, putting the Sect first, and solemnly shouted in unison:

"We are willing to devote our lives to the Sect! Please Old Ancestor, oversee us!"

To become a Disciple of the Artifact Refining Sect, one not only needed talent in Artifact Refining but also the ability to endure solitude, as there were almost no entertainment options in Volcano City.

The Disciples of the Artifact Refining Sect spent their days with lava and iron, diligently studying the Dao of Artifact Refining, and were all first-rate Cultivators.

"The contributions you make will not be forgotten by the Sect. You are permitted to engrave your names on the bronze blood halberd, to be passed down forever!"

"Thank you for your great kindness, Old Ancestor!" The people of the Artifact Refining Sect were immensely grateful.

This was a great honor! The divine weapon blueprint given by the Old Ancestor would certainly not be inferior.

Imagine if, after a thousand years, a divine weapon renowned throughout the world was nurtured, and their names were carved upon it—what a proud thing that would be.

Seeing everyone's attitude, the formless puppet was satisfied and descended into the City Lord's mansion, taking charge of the Artifact Refining Sect to supervise… Sword Cliff.

It had always been divided into Saber Mountain and Sword Peak.

On this day, a white-robed female Sword Immortal descended upon Sword Peak.

The Grand Elder of Sword Peak, Jian Lingxin, emerged from seclusion. He looked at White Plain holding Sword Leader's personal sword, "Qingyun," his expression slightly changing: "Old Ancestor, he…"

"He's dead."

White Plain spoke calmly.

"I am here to convey Your Majesty's decree. If Sword Peak is willing to be renamed Sword Pavilion and pledge allegiance to the Wu Dynasty, it can continue to exist. If not, then please, all you Elders, join the Old Ancestor on the road to the afterlife."

Sword Leader and the Wu Dynasty had no grievances; he died seeking battle on his own accord.

White Plain also did not forget the educational kindness of Sword Cliff.

She had never thought of wiping them out but rather followed Sword Peak's rules.

When challenging someone of the same realm, the opponent must accept.

It determined not only superiority but also life and death.

"Enough, enough. My Sword Peak has always been aloof from worldly affairs. Whether it's called Sword Peak or Sword Pavilion, it doesn't matter. As long as we have a stable area to Cultivate, that's good."

Jian Lingxin waved his hand, choosing to accept.

White Plain's expression softened slightly, her voice still cold: "Since that is the case, please, all of you from Sword Pavilion, take action to eradicate the rebels of Saber Mountain."

With that, the Qingyun Sword in her hand let out a clear sword cry.

In Sword Pavilion, all those who cultivated in seclusion within the Sword Mark Secret Realm had their personal swords tremble in response, and they all emerged from seclusion.

Their swords pointed towards Saber Mountain.

Overnight, Sword Cliff was removed from the records, and the Wu Dynasty's Sword Pavilion was established… Buddha Temple.

Temples stretched in vast complexes, with bronze tiles and golden roofs, opulent, magnificent, and grand, like a realm of immortals and Buddhas.

The moment the Immortal Buddha died, a giant golden Buddha statue in Buddha Temple collapsed.

Bells tolled long.

Thousands of Venerable Monks pushed open the great gate of Buddha Temple leading to the Forbidden Ground behind the mountain.

They arrived at a world of Buddhist indulgence.

In the depths, a dark gray main hall stood.

Within it, a decaying Buddha statue was enshrined.

"Please, Decaying Buddha Venerable, protect our Buddha Temple."

The monks chanted in unison, striking their wooden fish.

"Stop making noise. If you worship me, then abandon all precepts, throw yourselves into the Mortal World Hell, and comprehend the seven emotions and six desires."

The Decaying Buddha opened its eyes, emitting a hoarse voice.

"Lord has investigated quite accurately. There really is another alternative god-creator here."

At this moment, a man in iron armor and an iron mask suddenly appeared in the hall, holding a long sword, leaning against a pillar of the main hall, muttering to himself.

"Presumptuous! Intruding into a vital Buddhist area, die!"

The eighteen Vajra Warrior Monks charged out, forming a siege formation. Their combined Buddhist Great Hand Seals blocked all escape routes for the iron-masked man, directly blasting him.

"Illusion?"

Inside the hall, the Venerable Monks suddenly felt the figures around them dissipating, leaving only themselves in the darkness.

Outside the hall, more Disciples of Buddha Temple looked up at the sky.

A solar eclipse descended, making the sky dark and oppressive.

"Obscuring the sun, yin flourishing and day darkening."

The iron-masked man reappeared. This time, the long sword in his hand was already unsheathed.

The Sun Obscurer sword emitted a dazzling red light, piercing into everyone's eyes.

Whoosh… Hiss!

Outside the hall, saber light flashed. Many Disciples of Buddha Temple, unable to see, were struck down with a single sword to the throat before they could even detect where the danger came from.

"Yin flourishes and yang perishes, day darkens and the sun is obscured."

The one who struck was Sun Obscurer, a Heaven-rank First-class assassin of the Net of the World, known by the name of the Eight Swords of Yue Wang.

In the darkness, countless monks died at the same moment.

The "Six Sword Slaves," another Heaven-rank First-class assassin codename, made their move.

Zhen Gang, Duan Shui, Luan Shen, Wang Liang, Zhuan Po, Mie Hun—the killing formation formed by the Six Sword Slaves was perfectly coordinated, facing the Arhat Formation of the Vajra Warrior Monks without any fear, moving with ease.

Then, "Jing Ni," another Heaven-rank First-class, made a stunning appearance, her sword striking without drawing blood, a fatal reaper.

"A bunch of mice, quite bold, even daring to throw yourselves into the Net of the World."

The Decaying Buddha spoke in a deep voice, and the great hall trembled. Its fat, rotten body slowly stood up, an even more terrifying pressure than that of the Immortal Buddha sweeping through the Buddhist main hall.

Suppressing the solar eclipse phenomenon in the environment.