162: A hundred years of refining, half a step into the Dao

Shu Mountain.

Void Metal Sword Vein Immortal Cave.

Gu Changsheng sat cross-legged.

Beneath him, the stone bed carved from the Sword Vein Stone exuded an ancient, vast aura.

Strands of Sword Origin Qi flowed into his Meridians, black Qi surged, and the nine-pattern Spirit Pill he had swallowed was violently digested, transforming into a massive surge of black Qi that poured into his Dantian.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, he slowly opened his eyes, a smile gracing his lips.

“Has it returned…?”

A streak of light flashed into the Immortal Cave, materializing into a figure.

“Main body, I have not failed my mission.”

A wisp of soul from the Kunpeng Avatar's Soul Sea merged into Gu Changsheng’s body.

Memories of the Kunpeng Avatar instantly surfaced in Gu Changsheng’s mind.

“Hmm? As expected, I encountered Xuan Xin… This person has a special destiny, with intricate ties to the Yellow Springs Great Emperor, and will intersect with me in the future.

Letting her go in exchange for two Spirit Treasures is quite a good deal.”

Whoosh—

A green scroll painting streaked across the Void Realm.

It was precisely the painting that sealed the Spirit of Wangchuan River.

Gu Changsheng reached out and took the scroll, slowly opening it. A ghostly inn appeared before his eyes.

The large red lanterns hanging at the entrance were as crimson as eyes, and the door was like the gaping maw of an abyss.

He frowned slightly: “The true form of the Spirit of Wangchuan River is actually like this… Moreover, it has been tainted by dao karma, causing a slight mutation.”

“This is the Wangchuan River itself…”

The Kunpeng Avatar presented the Purple Gold Winding Wave Bowl and Yellow Springs Mountain.

The surface of the Purple Gold Bowl shimmered with water, exuding a faint Nether Qi, which seemed to form a mysterious connection with Yellow Springs Mountain.

“Very good… This journey was arduous.”

“Why be polite? We are one.”

With that, the Kunpeng Avatar disappeared into the darkness.

Gu Changsheng looked at the Purple Gold Bowl and the scroll in his hands, his gaze sweeping over Yellow Springs Mountain, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes: “Two of the yellow springs three treasures have been obtained.

Only the last Soulfall Valley remains…”

The yellow springs three treasures, though called three treasures, are in fact three components of a single Dao Weapon.

If they could all be gathered, incredible changes would surely occur.

“The most pressing matter is to refine the Wangchuan River, but first, I must eliminate the dao karma…”

...Time flew by, a hundred years passed in a blink.

Deep within the Immortal Cave.

Boom—

A profound yellow mountain shadow, encircled by a clear yellow water belt, descended. Immediately, the earth 脈 surged, the Void Realm churned, and its immense power nearly broke through the defenses of the four-tier Formation.

This was still Gu Changsheng acting casually, exerting less than one-tenth of his full power.

Gu Changsheng’s Face lit up with joy: “Very good. After a hundred years, I have finally cleared the dao karma and successfully fused the two great Spirit Treasures, making them comparable to a half-step Dao Weapon.

With this treasure in hand, even a Great Cultivator of the Late Stage Dongxuan Realm, I am confident I can slay him.”

To defeat a Great Cultivator of the Late Stage Dongxuan Realm with an Early Stage Dongxuan Realm cultivation was simply unheard of.

At this moment.

Shu Mountain Sword Hall.

Clang—

A murderous Sword Qi bloomed in the Void Realm, transforming into a destructive sword flower that instantly swept the Shu Mountain Disciple on the stage off, causing him to vomit blood, his life unknown.

On the stage, Le Xiaoyao stood proudly with his sword, his gaze disdainful.

Beside him, the Sword Hall Elder announced: “In this True Disciple promotion battle, Le Xiaoyao defeated True Disciple Yunhe, ranked twenty-eight, and successfully challenged him!”

As soon as these words were spoken, many Shu Mountain Disciples watching the battle expressed emotion.

“What powerful destructive Sword Qi.

Senior Brother Le’s Innate Destruction Sword Qi has at least reached Major Achievement.

Otherwise, he would not have defeated him so easily.”

“Tsk tsk, so this is a Disciple of the Void Metal Sword Vein… So strong.”

“I heard that Senior Brother Le is also the second Senior Brother of the Void Metal Sword Vein, and there’s an even older Senior Sister above him.

It’s a pity she has never shown her Face, I wonder who she is?”

Beside him, Le Xiaoyao pouted.

To outsiders, the battle just now seemed like a fierce struggle, but he found it incredibly boring.

If his Master hadn't constantly suppressed him, preventing him from challenging True Disciples.

With his current strength, he would be able to rank among the top five of all True Disciples.

Changing his thoughts, a charming, delicate girl’s figure appeared in his mind, and the slight arrogance that had risen in his heart instantly vanished.

Who could have imagined that a seemingly harmless, defenseless girl was actually someone who could tear apart Dragons and elephants?

His Le Xiaoyao’s swordsmanship, which he was confident could rank among the top five True Disciples of Shu Mountain, couldn’t even last three moves against her.

Suddenly, a figure appeared at the entrance of the Sword Hall.

His Face was handsome, his temperament extraordinary, and his azure cloud sword robe made him look like a banished Immortal from the heavens.

“Void Metal Sword Master… This one is not often seen.

He hasn’t shown his Face in at least several decades, has he?”

“I heard that a hundred years ago, this Sword Master Li was a ruthless character, defeating seven great True Disciples with a single sword, and becoming a god on the Sword Fighting Arena.

Even the Elders of the Law Enforcement Hall had to bow their heads.”

“That impressive?”

A Shu Mountain Disciple asked doubtfully.

“He seems very gentle though, not at all showing the sharpness of a Sword Cultivator…”

“A hundred years of time might have worn down his temperament, one can’t be sure.”

Seeing Gu Changsheng arrive, Le Xiaoyao’s Face lit up with joy, and he ran over like a stray dog, without any of the dignity of a True Disciple.

“Master, why have you come?”

Gu Changsheng glanced, looking towards Yan Xing in the distance, and said lightly: “If I didn’t come, I’m afraid someone would bully the younger ones.

After all, such things have happened before.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Yan Xing’s Face immediately changed, and a faint, imperceptible trace of resentment flashed in his deep eyes.

Back then, he was defeated by Gu Changsheng, his Comprehension Ability was damaged, and he was quickly defeated by other Disciples, losing his True Disciple position.

Unexpectedly, the Ancestor of the Yan Family came out of seclusion, entered an ancient relic, and obtained a top-grade Soul Nurturing Pill, healing Yan Xing’s soul injury.

Yan Xing also lived up to expectations, re-ascending to True Disciple, and decades later, he powerfully defeated other True Disciples, seizing the Lingfeng Sword Vein.

Ten years ago, he even advanced to the Dongxuan Realm.

Now, the Disciple defeated by Le Xiaoyao was from the Lingfeng Sword Vein.

As if thinking of something, Yan Xing smiled slightly and walked forward: “Li Daoyi, our grievances are long past.

A mere junior is not worth our effort.

My Disciple’s skills are inferior, and I, Yan Xing, accept it.

However, I would like to make a deal with you.

True Disciples can bring a follower into the Qian Wu Secret Realm for training, and my Yan Family happens to have a Family Disciple…”

‘Qian Wu Secret Realm…’ Gu Changsheng understood in his mind.

Thirty years ago, the Qian Wu Secret Realm was discovered within Shu Mountain’s sphere of influence. Inside, just like the Lost Realm in the past, indigenous Witch tribes resided.

However, this Secret Realm is a four-tier Secret Realm, and it is not without great Witches of the Dongxuan Realm.

Over these years, Shu Mountain has firmly occupied this Secret Realm, and various Elders have successively entered the Secret Realm to seek Opportunity, and quite a few Witch tribe cultivation methods have been circulated.

Due to the higher tier of the Secret Realm, it is currently only open to a small number of True Disciples.

“As long as you are willing to give up one spot, you can name your price…” Yan Xing said arrogantly.

“Let me name my price?” A hint of mockery appeared on Gu Changsheng’s Face: “Is your Yan Family’s Spirit Treasure, the Yan Yun Thirteen Prefectures, willing to give it to me? Or can I dig up the ancestral graves of your Yan Family’s ancestral land?”

“You…” Yan Xing’s Face turned red.

He clearly had no intention of making a sincere deal.

“Hmph, trash, you’d better get lost…”

With that, Gu Changsheng turned and left with Le Xiaoyao.

Anyway, he had already offended the Yan Family, and there was no possibility of reconciliation, so it didn't matter much.

Seeing this, the onlookers in the Sword Hall whispered amongst themselves.

“My goodness, this Void Metal Sword Master is too domineering.

He completely disregards the Lingfeng Sword Master’s Face… Behind him stands the Yan Family.

The Ancestor of the Yan Family is a powerful being in the Middle Stage Dongxuan Realm…”

“Shh, keep your voice down…”

In the distance, Yan Xing’s Face was as dark as unmixed ink, his fists already clenched, his teeth gritted.

“Li Daoyi…”