Chapter 391: The Ties to This World
The chains formed of True Qi seemed flimsy, but they concealed the "Erosion Essence" characteristic of the Devouring Demon Scripture. The moment Xu Tian tried to circulate his True Essence to resist, he felt as if ten thousand ants were gnawing at his Dantian.
Xu Yunfan had secretly tried a few times but had to temporarily give up. The quality of his True Qi was still too weak, making it difficult to force cultivation.
The two of them traveled through the air, and along their path, the scorched earth was gradually tinged with new green.
Xu Yunfan intentionally leaked a sliver of the Ginseng Child’s residual medicinal power. Wherever they passed, dead trees sprouted new branches and moss grew on cracked stones.
Xu Tian stole a glance at the vitality spreading behind them, his Adam’s apple bobbing uncontrollably.
’Only a true Foundation Establishment Daoist Master should possess such an ability. But Xu Yunfan clearly wasn’t one; he didn’t even have a shred of True Essence in his True Qi.’
’Is the Martial Dao left behind by the Divine Martial Daoist Master really this powerful?’
On the peak of Qingwei Mountain, at the Daoist Sect, the Gilded Copper Pillars suddenly chimed in unison.
Bi Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged on the Profound Jade Platform, abruptly opened his eyes. The Profound Celestial Mirror floating before him reflected the figure of Xu Yunfan arriving on the clouds.
Miles away, Xu Yunfan felt a slight sensation and naturally perceived the scrying of the Daoist Sect’s Profound Celestial Mirror. He made no move to conceal himself, simply increasing his speed and landing on the peak of Qingwei Mountain in an instant.
"Master."
Xu Yunfan landed without a sound and wasted no time. Three Jade Scrolls slipped from his sleeve. "This is the Divine Martial Realm’s Earth Vein Atlas, the Primordial Sect’s *Hundred Bone Profundity Technique*, and..."
His fingertip lightly tapped the third, blood-colored Jade Scroll. "...the *Hundred Peaks Demon Suppression Scripture* from the Primordial Sect in the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm."
’After much consideration, he had decided it was best to leave only the *Hundred Peaks Demon Suppression Scripture*.’
’He didn’t know why it was in the possession of the Primordial Sect, but compared to the methods of the Primordial Demon Sect, a technique that only consumed Earth Vein Power to strengthen oneself could be considered quite orthodox and honorable.’
’As long as one wasn’t too greedy and drained the source dry, the Earth Vein Power could always be restored with enough time and effort.’
Bi Yuan’s expression grew excited upon hearing Xu Yunfan’s explanation.
To seek the Dao and find immortality, to attain Longevity—who wouldn’t desire such a thing?
’For so long, their fate was tied to false scriptures, but now, a True Scripture was finally in hand.’
’Even if environmental constraints made it impossible to continue on the path, they could at least see what lay ahead.’
"Good! Good! Good!"
Bi Yuan repeated the word three times, his fingertips trembling as he caressed the smooth, warm Jade Scrolls. An extraordinary light gleamed in the depths of his cloudy eyes.
This Daoist Sect Leader, who had weathered the vicissitudes of 120 years, was at this moment like a child who had found a priceless treasure, his breathing growing ragged.
The spiritual patterns flowing across the surface of the Jade Scrolls reflected on his deeply lined face, illuminating it with a long-lost vitality.
’A true path to becoming an Immortal!’
Seeing his master’s reaction, Xu Yunfan added, "Master, the people of the Divine Martial Realm are born with blocked meridians—a limitation of this world. Even in the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm, the path of Cultivation is incredibly difficult without a miraculous item like the Meridian Opening Pill. Our realm doesn’t have this pill, so I’m afraid it will require the combined strength of the entire Daoist Sect to research a solution."
"You are absolutely right."
Bi Yuan nodded slightly, his wide sleeves fluttering without a breeze, a clear sign of his inner turmoil.
He raised his eyes toward Jade Capital City, his gaze seeming to pierce through the many layers of palace walls. "Now that Hao Miao controls the Jade Capital Dao, he will soon ascend the throne and once again wield the National Divine Artifact. When that time comes and he launches campaigns in the name of the Emperor, our Daoist Sect will naturally lend him our full support."
At this, the old Daoist master paused, his fingertip tapping a clear, crisp sound against the Jade Scroll.
He gave his beloved disciple a meaningful look. "This matter of the Meridian Opening Pill... perhaps we can leverage the power of the New Dynasty, concentrating all the resources under heaven to research and produce it..."
’A thought stirred in Xu Yunfan’s mind, but he ultimately dismissed the idea of staying. He understood the implication in Bi Yuan’s words, but advancing further would be nearly impossible in the Divine Martial Realm’s environment.’
’Ever since obtaining the True Scriptures from several of the Primordial Sect’s peaks, he could tell just how impure the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the Divine Martial Realm truly was.’
After speaking with Bi Yuan for a while longer and answering his questions about the realms beyond the Land Immortal Realm, Xu Yunfan paused in thought before speaking.
"In three months, I will be leaving for the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm."
Upon hearing this, Bi Yuan sighed inwardly, though he had expected Xu Yunfan’s choice. He nodded. "That is only right. An opportunity like this comes once in a millennium. If you miss it, you may never get another chance in this lifetime."
"If I get the chance, I will definitely come back!"
Bi Yuan smiled. "Then I shall wait for that day."
Xu Yunfan listened to more of Bi Yuan’s heartfelt advice, agreeing to it all before finally bowing slightly.
"I will take my leave."
As he turned, the hem of his robe swept across the Profound Jade Platform, leaving behind three drops of pale golden Essence Blood. "Master, you can refine this blood. It might help your body regain some of its vitality."
"..."
-----------------
Zhan Yan caressed the mottled anvil beside the Melting Furnace, his voice as hoarse as grinding rust. "So, you’re really leaving?"
Xu Yunfan’s fingertip traced the engravings on the Shaking Mountain Sea-Suppressing Hammer, and the head of the weapon immediately pulsed with a ripple of dark light.
"The Boundary Gate will open in three months. I want to go to the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm and see the true Immortal Dao."
The old blacksmith suddenly snatched up a pair of quenching tongs and slammed them onto the anvil. Sparks flew, scattering in the space between master and disciple.
"When you first joined the Weapon Forging Hall in the Celestial Craft Cave, you couldn’t even swing a Thousand Jin Hammer steadily."
He stared at Xu Yunfan’s arms, which now looked like they were forged from Profound Steel. "And now look at you. You’re even leaving this pair of hammers behind for the Celestial Craft Cave."
It wasn’t that Xu Yunfan didn’t want to take them; it was that the Shaking Mountain Sea-Suppressing Hammers had actually begun to hinder his performance.
The power he could now unleash with his bare hands already surpassed the might of a Tier Eight Divine Weapon.
"Master..."
Xu Yunfan gently placed the Sky-Sundering Cloud-Piercing Bow on the Forging Platform. "This bow needs to be nurtured by Earth Core Fire. In all of the Celestial Craft Cave..."
"I know, I know!"
Zhan Yan cut him off gruffly. "Alright, enough. Go on, get out of here."
Seeing Zhan Yan turn his focus back to his smithing, Xu Yunfan remained silent for a long moment. Then, he dropped to his knees and performed three resounding kowtows, their THUDS echoing just as they had on the day he first became a disciple. With each one, Zhan Yan’s hammering slowed by a fraction.
Xu Yunfan rose to his feet and declared, "If I achieve immortality one day, Master, I will return to guide you. Even if you have fallen into the Sea of Suffering Reincarnation, I will pull you out with my own two hands."
With that, Xu Yunfan turned and left without a backward glance.
The Iron Hammer in Zhan Yan’s hand remained poised for a long time. Tears welled in his fierce eyes. After a long while, he finally muttered a single sentence.
"What a foolish boy."
「In the Melt Gold Hall of the Celestial Craft Cave.」
Yan Yuwei was hammering a red-hot Profound Iron Ingot into a thin sheet.
The moment her Heavy Hammer descended, its head suddenly froze in mid-air.
Somehow, Xu Yunfan was already standing before the anvil, his fingertip pressed lightly against the back of the hammer.
"Senior Sister."
He took the Sky-Sundering Cloud-Piercing Bow from his waist and placed it on the anvil. "This bow must be tempered daily in Earth Core Fire. Its spirit is wild and untamable; only your pure heart can master it, Senior Sister."
Before Yan Yuwei could react, a stream of light shot out from between Xu Yunfan’s eyebrows and flew into the Iron Hammer in her hand.
"This is..."
Dragon Scale Patterns suddenly appeared on the hammer’s handle. When she swung it, the motion created the sound of wind and thunder.
"The True Intent of the Eight Desolates Dragon Fall Mace."
Xu Yunfan’s figure began to fade. "I hope you can reach the Ninth Realm of Qi Cultivation soon, Senior Sister."
As he finished speaking, he dissolved into a golden mist, leaving only the Divine Weapon humming on the anvil.
「For the next eighty days.」
Xu Yunfan sat alone atop the highest peak in the Divine Martial Realm.
As the pores of his body inhaled and exhaled, the Spiritual Qi from miles around surged into him like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.
Although his blocked meridians prevented him from practicing the Cultivation Scriptures, the mysteries of his Ten Extremes Martial Arts, which had already broken its limits, began to manifest. To the east, a raincloud that had just begun to form was pulled apart into wisps of clear mist. To the west, a Demon Beast had barely begun to roar before all the Essence Blood in its body congealed into a single Blood Bead, hovering in Xu Yunfan’s palm.
(He’s off to the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm tomorrow!)