Chapter 12: Breakthrough to the Life Spring!

This is naturally not the Demon Saint's true form, but rather a wisp of divine soul left behind in the Holy Weapon.

"Is it you who refined the taboo?"

When the Demon Saint saw that the person refining the dark qi was so young, actually a youth, his deep eyes flickered with a complex emotion.

It seemed dim, yet also like a sigh, mixed with a trace of desolation.

"Answering senior, it's me."

Yang Zhu replied, after learning the deeds of this Demon Saint before him, he felt deep admiration.

Sages all have their own sentiments; when their cultivation reaches a certain level, they begin to care for all beings.

Such is the case for sages, and even more so for the Great Emperor!

"Ah, the later generations nowadays truly make us feel awe."

The Demon Saint self-mocked, that even with his sage's realm he could not dispel that terrifying taboo, yet it was completely refined by a later-generation youth.

"It's just junior's good luck."

"According to the testament, whoever can refine the Liuli Mirror shall have it."

The Demon Saint waved his hand, and the Liuli Mirror obediently flew into his grasp; he gently stroked the mirror's body, his eyes unable to hide his reluctance.

The Liuli Mirror was personally forged by him, having accompanied him in battles across the lands, earning great fame; he had long regarded it as kin.

"This is your natal treasure; let it continue to stay by your side."

Yang Zhu clasped his hands in a salute; his refining of the taboo was merely to fulfill the Demon Saint's great wish.

As for whether he could obtain the Holy Weapon, he did not care.

Holy artifacts are objects countless people covet; even transcendent powers like the Holy Land desire them.

"This child bears the demeanor of a Great Emperor."

Yang Zhu's words again earned the Demon Saint's praise; imagining if it were himself, could he resist the temptation? The Demon Saint acted decisively, without further objection, putting away the Liuli Pure.

"Since you have come here, you must be for the supreme treasure; these are yours."

He flicked his sleeve, and suddenly several items appeared on the altar.

They were Divine Nether Soil, Heaven Disk Root, a broken stone tablet, and a golden page.

Divine Nether Soil is no different from ordinary soil, except its color is darker and it is somewhat damp.

It is said that Divine Nether Soil lies in the netherworld, formed from countless blood and vengeful qi condensed; it belongs to extreme yin and is excellent material for setting up formations.

To obtain it, one must undergo nine deaths and one life before being able to bring back a small handful from that place.

Heaven Disk Root is said to exist in the depths of the Nether Sea; it is the root of a special divine material, also belonging to extreme yin.

As for that broken stone tablet, Yang Zhu could not immediately make sense of it.

Soon, Yang Zhu was drawn to that golden sheet of paper.

Yang Zhu opened it and saw the most prominent large characters, which instantly startled him: "One Qi Transforms into Three Pure?!"

Looking at those large characters, Yang Zhu's emotions surged; according to his understanding, this is a great secret art of the Morality Heavenly Venerable, a Shen Gong.

This Shen Gong can separate into three avatars, equal in strength to the original body, and possessing independent consciousness, not mere puppets that only accept control.

With immense shock, Yang Zhu turned his gaze to the content above.

The paper is not large, yet it is densely covered with countless ancient characters; in a palm-sized area alone there are over a thousand characters! Yang Zhu stared, unconsciously entering a strange state.

One by one, the ancient characters detached from the golden page and were deeply imprinted into his mind.

Those ancient characters were like stars, containing profound and mysterious truths.

Yang Zhu immersed himself; his divine soul gathered at the brow, gradually condensing into a brilliant ball of light.

In the process of comprehension, the ball of light at his brow gradually took shape—first the whole, then the limbs and features—a golden little figure slowly forming.

Time flowed like sand between fingers, silently passing.

After a day of practice, Yang Zhu had merely grasped the basics of the One Qi Transforms into Three Pure.

Within his brow appeared a golden figure, identical in appearance to Yang Zhu, as if carved from a mold; Yang Zhu was not satisfied, for as an Imperial Son he inherently bore the Imperial Dao principles, allowing him to perceive the Dao and reason more clearly.

He focused completely, inscribing the Imperial Dao principles bit by bit onto the golden figure.

Thus another half day passed.

Upon completing the final inscription of the principles, Yang Zhu suddenly opened his eyes, two divine radiance shooting out from them.

At this moment the Bitter Sea boiled over, countless lightning intertwined, a huge tsunami's roar pierced the heavens, raging wildly.

After mastering One Qi Transforms into Three Pure, Yang Zhu's cultivation surged, breaking through in one go to the mid-stage of the Bitter Sea, directly reaching the Life Spring Secret Realm! At that moment a powerful aura burst forth, shaking the entire altar.

Yang Zhu's essence and qi surged, golden divine flame blazing fiercely around his body.

In his eyes shone brilliant divine light, like two bolts of lightning shooting forth, appearing especially radiant underground.

Yang Zhu rose to his feet; at this moment he gained a solemn aura, the emitted qi shaking the entire underground violently, causing huge cracks to appear.

Ripples spread at his brow; a golden figure shot out, facing the rising storm, and in just a few breaths became another "Yang Zhu".

The two were not only identical in appearance, but also bore the same demeanor.

The avatar's cultivation matched Yang Zhu's, even including the same techniques and Imperial Classics; they possessed equal combat power!

The Demon Saint still stood there, having personally witnessed Yang Zhu's comprehension over these days, and sighed once more.

Having obtained One Qi Transforms into Three Pure, he had already become a sage, yet it took him several years to form his first avatar.

Yang Zhu actually took only one day! "Your talent is the first I have ever seen in my life; it is no longer sufficient to describe with heavenly talent unmatched."

"Many thanks for your praise, senior." Yang Zhu replied politely.

"You are surely the Holy Son of the Holy Land, or perhaps an heir of the Great Teaching?"

"Neither; my father is Wu Shi."

Upon hearing those two words, the Demon Saint's body visibly trembled, his eyes widened and he was unable to utter a word for a long time.

At this moment he finally let go of his worries.

The two great emperors overwhelmed the ages; each emperor is an invincible being, inspiring later generations to admire and worship.

Moreover, this person is none other than Wu Shi, arguably the most magnificent emperor—who hasn't heard of his name?

Even the powerful ancient clans, whenever they hear this name, a feeling of dread rises deep in their souls, giving them an intense sense of suffocation.

"The humble Daoist has had the honor of seeing the imperial prince."

The demon saint actually bowed to Yang Zhu; the higher one's cultivation, the clearer it becomes how mighty the ancient emperors were—invincible both in heaven and on earth, leaving others far behind.

"That stone tablet is the key to the stone hall."

After saying that, the demon saint turned and walked toward the bronze coffin, with the glazed mirror accompanying him on both sides.

The bronze coffin that had been moved aside was restored, and iron chains once again bound it, suspending it in midair.

The demon saint's true form then lay down, finally able to rest in peace.

"May the senior rest in peace."

Yang Zhu bowed again, then proceeded toward the cave entrance.

Several days have passed, and I have no idea what's happening outside.

Is Jiang Yi Fei still standing guard? Has the black dog caused trouble? The stone tablet is the key to the stone hall, meaning there is another stone hall in this small world; once he goes out, he will definitely go see it.

(End of Chapter)