178: Possession of the magical artifact

Su Ling felt a slight confusion in his heart, but he also knew that now was not the time to ask.

Soon, it was his turn to choose.

"Han Yu, it is your turn."

Immortal Emperor Lingtian's voice came.

After bowing, Su Ling's gaze swept directly across the ten Spiritual Artifacts, finally landing on a bell-shaped Spiritual Artifact that was purple-gold in color.

The purple-gold spirit bell was about three inches high and appeared very small.

The surface of the bell was covered with profound defensive runes, and a round precious bead was embedded at the top.

As a breeze brushed by, the bell chimed clearly, as if it could cleanse the spirit and mind.

Almost at the same time, the Immortal Eye of Treasure Appraisal activated again, and information appeared: 【golden steel demon-clearing bell, Low Grade defensive Spiritual Artifact. The body is made of purple-gold demon-clearing iron, with defensive runes engraved on the surface. The top is a Pure Yang Golden Steel Bead. It will automatically ring to warn when demons approach, and it can release a Golden Steel Shield and the Divine Sound of Demon-Clearing.】

For Su Ling, this Spiritual Artifact could perfectly make up for his shortcomings in defense.

If he were to encounter an opponent like Qiu Xuetong who could control a large number of remnant souls again, once the Divine Sound of Demon-Clearing from this bell was released, the opponent's army of remnant souls would melt away like snow under the scorching sun, collapsing without a fight.

"Good eye."

Immortal Emperor Lingtian nodded slightly when he saw his choice.

Next, Luo Qianjie, Qi Yunling, and the others also stepped forward one by one to select their Spiritual Artifacts according to their own needs.

After the ten Spiritual Artifacts were distributed, Immortal Emperor Lingtian slowly stood up. His immortal might spread slightly, and everyone in the hall felt an invisible pressure, quickly holding their breath and focusing their minds.

"This Canglang Plane National War trial has now completely come to an end."

Immortal Emperor Lingtian's voice, though calm, carried a power that pierced through hearts. "All of you Disciples are the future hope of the Seven Sects. You must Cultivate diligently, knock open the immortal gate early, and contribute to the eternal prosperity of our Seven Sects' Dao tradition!"

"Disciples obey!"

Lu Tao, Su Ling, and the others, together with the various Body Integration Stage Cultivators present, bowed in unison, their voices echoing through the hall.

"Dismissed."

Immortal Emperor Lingtian waved his large sleeve, and together with the six Immortal Venerables, including Clear Ripple and Qimeng, they transformed into seven rays of immortal light and vanished rapidly.

The Disciples in the hall exchanged congratulations for a moment before following their respective Sect elders to disperse.

Some could not wait to go back to refine their newly acquired Spiritual Artifacts, while others planned to go into seclusion to Cultivate and consolidate the gains from this trial.

Su Ling looked at the golden steel demon-clearing bell in his hand, his fingertips gently stroking the bell's body. Feeling the Pure Yang power contained within, his heart burned with excitement.

Through this National War trial, he had not only become a Disciple under a Golden Immortal but also obtained this Spirit Treasure and Spiritual Artifact. The path of his future cultivation had undoubtedly widened significantly.

As the National War trial concluded, amidst the wave of Sects selecting Disciples, the Bitao Sect unexpectedly became the biggest winner.

Among the top one hundred Cultivators on the Sect point leaderboard, a full ten chose to join their ranks.

Even Wen Qingzhu, who specialized in fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques and came from the Fentian Sect on Danxia Island, gave up on the Haoyang Sect, which was famous for its fire techniques, and turned to join the Bitao Sect.

Including the Disciples who already belonged to the Bitao Sect, a total of twenty Cultivators joined the Bitao Sect. They could be said to have taken full advantage of the situation.

When everyone followed the Bitao Sect's Body Integration Stage Cultivators back to their dedicated immortal ship, Wen Qingzhu specifically went around to Su Ling's side and bowed with a smile, "Junior Brother Han, we are fellow Disciples from now on, I look forward to your guidance."

"Likewise."

Su Ling understood clearly as he returned the salute. Danxia Island was originally under the jurisdiction of the Bitao Sect. By joining the Bitao Sect, Wen Qingzhu could not only continue to practice the Fentian Sect's core fire techniques but also gain access to the high-level fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques treasured by the Bitao Sect.

With such resources, cultivating to the True Immortal realm would be a natural progression.

As for after reaching the True Immortal realm, the core of a Cultivator's practice shifts to the comprehension of Law, and Cultivation Techniques become merely auxiliary.

If he ascends to the True Immortal realm, it would also be a good thing for the Fentian Sect. This choice was clearly the result of careful consideration.

In the crowd, Liu Muyao remained in her cold and detached manner, her jade face tense, and she did not speak to anyone.

Only when looking at Su Ling did her eyes hold a hint of complexity, though in the end, she said nothing.

As for Xu Yan, who had previously spoken rudely to Su Ling, he didn't even make it into the overall point leaderboard this time.

If he knew that Su Ling had already been taken as a Personal Disciple by Immortal Venerable Clear Ripple, one wonders how that arrogant face of his would twist.

When leaving Immortal Emperor Lingtian's immortal ship, Lu Tao was called away first by his Revered Master, True Lord Lu Feng.

Along the way, Su Ling did not see his figure.

Not until he returned to the Bitao dedicated immortal ship and had his room assigned, just as Su Ling was about to activate the Restriction Formation, did rapid footsteps sound outside the door.

Lu Tao pushed the door open and entered, his face still slightly breathless.

"Haha, Junior Brother Su!"

As soon as he entered, Lu Tao called out his real surname without any hesitation, his tone full of familiarity. During the National War, he had been calling him 'Han Yu' the whole time, and Lu Tao had been stifled for a long time.

"Senior Brother Lu."

Su Ling smiled and stepped aside to let him into the room.

Just as they sat down, Su Ling saw Lu Tao take an item out of his Storage Ring—it was the seven star soul settling pagoda he had selected in Immortal Emperor Lingtian's hall earlier.

"This Spiritual Artifact, for you."

Lu Tao handed the seven star soul settling pagoda to Su Ling, his tone straightforward.

"For me?"

Su Ling's pupils constricted slightly, and he subconsciously waved his hand, "This is not according to the rules... This is your reward, how can you give it to me?"

"Have you forgotten?"

Lu Tao smiled and shoved the pagoda into his hand. When his fingertips touched the pagoda's body, the starlight shimmered slightly. "Your bodhi soul nurturing plaque shattered when you were fighting Qiu Xuetong earlier. I already have the heart-clearing soul-calming jade for protection, so this seven star soul settling pagoda is just icing on the cake for me, but it is a timely help for you... It can nourish the Divine Soul, which is just right to fill the vacancy of your soul-settling Magic Treasure."

"But this is a heavy treasure at the Spiritual Artifact level after all..."

Su Ling still wanted to decline, but was interrupted by Lu Tao.

Lu Tao coughed lightly, deliberately lowering his voice, imitating the dignified tone of True Lord Lu Feng, "My Revered Master said, 'Since this treasure belongs to you, you can give it to whoever you like. On the path of cultivation, mutual support between companions is far more precious than rare objects.' Besides, if you hadn't helped me plan and strategize, could I have won first place? This pagoda is something you deserve!"

Since things had reached this point, it would seem distant for Su Ling to decline further.

Holding the seven star soul settling pagoda, Su Ling felt a warm, gentle starlight force flow through his fingertips into his Sea of Consciousness. The Divine Soul that had been damaged from that battle instantly stabilized a bit.

His heart warmed, and he immediately took out another item from his bosom. It was the golden steel demon-clearing bell that he had selected.

"Since you have gifted me such a heavy treasure, I have nothing to repay you with."

Su Ling handed the purple-gold bell over, "You specialize in Sword Cultivator, and while your Physical Body is strong, you lack a handy defensive Magic Treasure. This golden steel demon-clearing bell can fend off enemies and also ward off evil, so it is just right for your protection."

"No, no, no!"

Seeing this, Lu Tao waved his hands repeatedly, a bitter look appearing on his face, "You don't know my Revered Master's rules... In order to force me to Cultivate the Immortal Golden Body Art, he strictly forbade me from using any defensive Magic Treasure. If I dare to use this demon-clearing bell, he could directly throw me into the Hundred Refinements Spring and make me soak for another ten years!"

Mentioning the three words 'Hundred Refinements Spring', Lu Tao couldn't help but shiver, his tone even carrying a hint of lingering fear.

It was as if that terrifying tempering scene was right before his eyes, "You haven't tried that taste... Soaking in the Hundred Refinements Spring is like having magma drilling into your body through your pores, and there are countless iron hammers pounding your limbs and bones to death; it is simply tempering a person like raw iron over and over again. I soaked in there for a full ten years back then, and countless times I wanted to just faint, but I was forced awake by the spring's power every time..."

Su Ling gasped, and his gaze towards Lu Tao held a bit more admiration.

No wonder Lu Tao had only been cultivating the Immortal Golden Body Art for a little over thirty years, yet his Physical Body strength was comparable to a Body Cultivator who had immersed themselves in this path for a hundred years; it turned out it was all relying on such near-cruel tempering.

He subconsciously touched the seven star soul settling pagoda in his hand, feeling that this friendship was even more precious than the Spiritual Artifact itself.

"Then I will accept it without declining."

Su Ling put the golden steel demon-clearing bell away, keeping this favor firmly in his heart, "If you have any needs in the future, just speak up."

Lu Tao grinned and patted his shoulder, "That's right! Between you and me, why be so polite."