Chapter 796: Primordial Spirit Alchemy, Trading Fish for Life

"The Elixir of Immortality requires nine substances of immortality as its medicinal catalysts!"

Xu Fu manipulated the Golden Man to spread the blood-mud of the immortal demonic body, coldly laughing: "The immortal demonic body of the demonic path might serve as one..."

"You intend to use people to brew an elixir?" Dan Gu Chenzi coughed up blood, still struggling in terror: "This is the supreme taboo of alchemy—heretical witchcraft!"

"Our Cultivation of Creation Daoist alchemists have no reservations!"

Xu Fu said calmly: "Searching everywhere for beings imbued with the Dao-vein of immortality is too slow! Fortunately, since the path of cultivation began, countless cultivators have sought immortality by forging all manner of paths—those who reached the endpoints of these different paths are themselves various kinds of immortal elixirs!"

"The Fruit of the Daoist Primordial Spirit!"

"The Immortal Demonic Body of the Demonic Path!"

"The Golden Body Tianmo Tianmo Sheli of the Buddhist Path!"

"The Heavenly Office of the Divine Path!"

"The Unbreakable Body of the Demon Race!"

"Add to that the Tai Sui Flesh of the Evil Clan, the Soul of the Corpse-Released Ghost Immortal, the True Ancestor Blood of the Zombie, and the Indestructible Divine Blood of the Jiuli Tribe's Great Witch..."

"It's barely enough to gather the Nine Immortal Elixirs!"

All the Primordial Spirits present shuddered at these words—Primordial Spirit True Immortals were the ultimate goal of cultivation, beings called "Immortals." Even the most exalted Dao Lords and Emperor Sovereigns treated Primordial Spirit True Immortals as equals, for attaining this Dao Fruit granted eternal life, no longer mere mayflies doomed to perish by dawn in the eyes of Dao Lords!

Yet in Xu Fu's eyes, such beings were merely elixirs—and worse, he intended to use them to brew yet another immortal elixir.

"Even Dao Lords lack the power to seize nine distinct Primordial Spirit Dao Fruits to brew a pill! And where would you find so many Primordial Spirit True Immortals from different paths? Can you afford to offend so many lineages?"

Dan Gu Chenzi coughed: "Those who dare such a thing either perish under heavenly retribution from countless lineages, or..."

Xu Fu gazed gently at them all: "Perhaps elsewhere you cannot find them..."

He swept his gaze across them: "But aren't they all right here?"

"All of you, strike together!"

At this moment, the Primordial Spirit True Immortals of the Divine Thunder Sect bitterly regretted not joining Dan Gu Chenzi, the Hong Xuesheng, and Sun En earlier. They had resented the tyranny of the Doushou Palace and the Blood Sea Sect, so when Xu Fu came to seize the elixirs, they chose to stand idly by.

But now Xu Fu's implication was clear—he viewed them as ants, to be killed or spared at his whim.

All present Primordial Spirits were decisive types; despite Xu Fu's overwhelming might, various reasons had kept them from intervening earlier.

But now Xu Fu was too tyrannical—he intended to slowly select nine Primordial Spirits among them to brew into elixirs...

At this moment, they knew only by uniting and fighting desperately could they give the female immortal in Western Kunlun Xu the hope of defeating Xu Fu—and only then would she intervene.

Only the Capital Beneath Heaven, Western Kunlun Xu, could stand against the Immortal Qin Golden Men and the Zhou Tian Starships!

The Xianyu Jiuxiao Thunder Palace True Form Map rolled up, transporting the Divine Thunder Sect disciples away. Lin Lin Mingxiu swiftly landed with his junior disciples beside Dan Gu Chenzi, who, using his life to activate a spiritual treasure alchemy furnace, sealed all his disciples inside. The Cold Moon Palace, the Northern Pole Great Radiance Palace, and many other lineages also sent their disciples over.

The Primordial Spirit flew from its body and instantly merged with the Xianyu Jiuxiao Thunder Palace True Form Map.

A mighty, awe-inspiring Thunder Palace manifested from the Xianyu Jiuxiao, fusing thirty-six divine thunder types into one.

"Divine Thunder Stirs! All Xianyu Jiuxiao Shall Be Purged!"

The Xianyu Jiuxiao Divine Thunder shook the heavens, transforming destruction into terrifying might!

The Divine Thunder Sect's Primordial Spirit burned his soul, combining with the Xianyu Jiuxiao Thunder Palace True Form Map to unleash a single strike merging the same thirty-six divine thunders.

The Purple Thunder of the Heavenly Mansion, carrying the aura of annihilation, surged toward Xu Fu.

At this moment...

The Jade Purification Vase, the Ten Thousand Treasures Iron Tower, the Ice Well Platform, the Clan Chronicles, the Bronze Moon Palace—over twenty spiritual treasures erupted simultaneously.

Even Dao Lords would tremble at such a sight!

"You will never understand what it means to be a Great Alchemist of the Cultivation of Creation!"

Xu Fu threw back his head and laughed aloud; his overlapping pupils fused into one, as if returning to the moment he condensed his Dao Fruit, filled with disdain and pride toward heaven: "Wield! Transform! Creation!"

The towering Golden Man merged with his figure; the Great Alchemist, wielding the power to transform creation, seized the soul within the void deity forged inside the Golden Man. His Primordial Spirit fused with the void deity; the seed of a great world sprouted instantly, a prototype of a great world opened, separating clarity from turbidity, revealing the light of Xiao Xie Xuan and Huang.

This light merged into the cosmic membrane, enveloping the Purple Thunder of the Heavenly Mansion.

Then the Xiao Xie Xuan and Huang light fused—creation and destruction surged, the forces of wind, earth, water, and fire churned, and under the power of Wielded Creation, all transformed into black thunder.

The Nine Abysses Primordial Dark Thunder!

Xu Fu pointed a finger; the black thunder struck the combined might of the twenty-plus spiritual treasures. This grand technique of Wielded Creation, using the great world seed implanted within the Golden Man to temporarily open a world and then allow it to collapse, unleashed a terrifying power—just one strike shattered their united assault.

Yet those spiritual treasures, if given even a moment's respite, could unleash another such strike—but Xu Fu could not open a great world again in such a short time.

Yet behind them, another Golden Man tore through the void.

It plunged one hand into the Xianyu Jiuxiao Thunder Palace True Form Map and yanked out the Primordial Spirit True Immortal.

Behind Xu Fu, the Zhou Tian Starship pierced through the Void Sea; the Immortal Qin spiritual spirit, which had long resisted Xu Fu, finally fully cooperated under the explicit command of the First Emperor to secure the Elixir of Immortality.

"Three Realms Chaos Birth and Destruction Cannon!"

The spiritual spirit drew upon a fully militarized great world within the Zhou Tian Starship, draining countless spirit veins and qi-essence, then, through the alchemy furnace and under the power of Wielded Creation, the boundless qi underwent fission.

Simulating the ancient technique where divine demons used the Heavenly Realm, the Primordial Chaos, and the Nine Underworlds as weapons to unleash a cataclysmic killing art.

"Jing Feng Pearl!"

"Shanhai Screen!"

The Wind Listening Tower and the Northern Frontier Demon Tribes were forced to deploy their deepest reserves—but the twenty-plus spiritual treasures, just shattered by the Luo Tian Immortal Artifact and the Immortal Qin Golden Man, barely reactivated and were struck dead-center by the terrifying qi bubble. Countless spiritual treasures with inferior essence had their inscribed seals shattered into fragments.

Only the innate Dao principles within the spiritual treasures, sensing imminent peril, spontaneously revived.

Only then did they form a barrier, blocking the blow capable of piercing a great world and shattering the earth-veins of the Immortal Realm's continents.

But at this moment, the Golden Man that had dragged out the Divine Thunder Sect's Primordial Spirit plunged again into the cluster of spiritual treasures. Zhu Master Zhutanmo raised his golden bowl and unleashed his Nine Consciousnesses to shield Cao the Imperial Uncle and the Nine-Layer Golden Pagoda of the Vinaya Sect—but after his Nine Consciousnesses weakened, the Golden Man seized him in its grasp.

The Primordial Spirit of the Ten Thousand Gods Palace finally shattered, abandoning the collective defense against the residual shockwave of the qi cannon.

It raised the Jade Hook and fled toward the Void Sea.

The Pure Good Dragon Maiden of Mount Luojia Mountain hesitated slightly, then let go of the Jade Purification Vase.

Instantly, the united force of the spiritual treasures collapsed. Several spiritual treasures soared upward, attempting to flee—but Xu Fu merely opened his hand; the two Golden Men's divine prohibitions merged and instantly suppressed all escape light.

Upon the Zhou Tian Starship, the Qin King's Bone Mirror locked onto the spiritual essence of every Primordial Spirit.

The Golden Men embraced, unleashing the All-Heavens Final Dharma Prohibition, suppressing all changes in spiritual qi...

Thus, any Primordial Spirit who moved would have all qi changes locked—within three breaths, they would have no capacity to resist, and that time was more than enough for the Zhou Tian Starship to effortlessly kill them.

After their united assault collapsed, any further resistance meant the first half of them would be killed!

Only then could the rest seize the chance to break the All-Heavens Final Dharma Prohibition and restore their ability to manipulate heavenly qi.

But Xu Fu only needed nine Primordial Spirits—one from each path. Here, there were nearly thirty. Those who resisted and died might outnumber those chosen.

Dan Gu Chenzi and the Hong Xuesheng, who had already been defeated earlier, had at least one fallen and one fled—but now, their very lives hung entirely in Xu Fu's hands.

Of all present, only the Ten Thousand Gods Palace's Primordial Spirit escaped earliest, barely managing to flee; even the Dragon Maiden of Mount Luojia Mountain remained trapped by the Golden Man.

She turned back, gazing desperately at the celestial shadows hidden beneath layers of time and space: "Why won't you act? Why won't the female immortal of the Western Western Kunlun intervene? If only she could distract..."

The female immortal remained silent; the bronze mirror in her hand had reverted to a mere shimmer of light.

After her compromise with Xu Fu, the Western Kunlun Mirror had vanished entirely!

Now, she could not even summon the Capital Beneath Heaven again.

"The Western Kunlun Mirror has ultimately lost faith in me!"

"When the Immortal Qin first descended, I did not act—I thought it was merely an internal strife within the Queen Mother's realm. Now, when the Immortal Qin descends again, I still do not act... I am unworthy to be the Keeper of the Western Western Kunlun Mirror!"

The female immortal closed her eyes, too weary to watch further.

"Daoist Primordial Spirit!"

Xu Fu spoke slowly; the Divine Thunder Sect's Primordial Spirit, held in the Golden Man's palm, closed his eyes.

"Buddhist Golden Body!"

Zhu Master Zhutanmo, held in the other hand, murmured a Buddhist mantra.

"Unbreakable Body of the Demon Race!"

The Golden Man planted one foot upon the shattered mountain-whale of the Great Radiance Palace, making the colossal beast howl in agony; the Primordial Spirit of the Northern Pole Great Radiance Palace closed his eyes in despair, wishing he could take their place.

The Northern Frontier Demon Tribes all sighed in relief.

Fortunately, they had adapted quickly—no one among them now trained in the ancient demon ways of refining their bodies!

"Heavenly Office of the Divine Path!"

Xu Fu did not target Sun En to seize his Celestial Master Divine Seal; instead, he drew forth a divine entity from the great cauldron of the Pray-to-Heaven Sect. The deity was half-dead, and even as the Golden Man held it aloft, it merely lifted its eyes, utterly indifferent to life or death.

"Soul of the Corpse-Released Ghost Immortal!"

Xu Fu's hand swept through the demonic cultivators, suddenly snatching a true disciple of the Zhu Wuchang Sect and prying out a true soul imprint from within him.

Thus, the reincarnated body of a corpse-released immortal was stripped away.

All cultivators witnessing this tyrannical spectacle felt utter despair; many who had narrowly escaped turned away, unable to bear to watch further.

Xu Fu continued his slow, deliberate pointing, like a shepherd selecting sheep.

"Indestructible Divine Blood of the Jiuli Great Witch!"

In the final struggle, the Great Witch who had fought to the end, wielding his bronze drum in hand-to-hand combat, effortlessly subdued the Jiuli tribesman who sought to die fighting.

He removed the Great Witch's crown and entrusted it to a young Jiuli man, then stood upright and said: "The Jiuli people die standing, upright and unyielding—that is what a witch is!"

Xu Fu nodded slightly: "Among our Immortal Qin Great Alchemists, there is one who hails from the Jiuli. Had I not needed to gather these materials to brew immortality, I would not have touched you. After all, in ancient times, you chose the Immortal Qin..."

The Great Witch fell silent, closing his eyes: "Alas, we ultimately could not defy fate."

"The path of rebellion against heaven is long. Your Immortal Qin once had even greater chances than we did. Alas... perhaps I shall never see the Jiuli return to their homeland."

Xu Fu took from the Golden Man the sealed mountain-splitting axe, raised his hand, and in the stunned gaze of all, severed the Great Witch's head.

Golden divine blood gushed forth, forming a banner in the sky.

The Banner of Chiyou...

"True Ancestor Blood of the Zombie!"

Xu Fu withdrew a clump of black blood from his sleeve and sneered: "The Corpse-Driving Sect did well—they actually found a great tomb that nurtured a Zhihou. Too bad they couldn't defeat it—luckily, I got the prize."

Xu Fu arrived before the Immortal Tree, standing with his hands behind his back at the base of its withered side.

After a long while, he suddenly raised his Mountain-Splitting Axe and slashed the ground; a deep fissure instantly pierced the crust, and from a forbidden corner of the underground palace below, he lifted a pulsating mass of countless opening and closing eyes.

Xu Fu only severed a corner of that vast fleshy mass, carrying the writhing flesh back to the banks of Dan River.

"North of Kai Ming lies Shiren; eat it and you shall never die!"

All stared at the malevolent entity, its body bristling with countless eyes, radiating boundless chaos.

Dan Gu Chenzi murmured: "This is one of the most malevolent lives in all creation—known as Tai Sui. So this is why half the Immortal Tree withered—when the tree suffered its calamity, its dying vitality scattered and was absorbed by the Tai Sui to its north."

Xue Ji Daoist chuckled bitterly.

"This thing is the most chaotic, the most corrupt life—when the Blood Sea was once slashed by the Supreme One, sediment of this very thing formed at its bottom!"

"All Nine Immortal Elixirs are complete… we may now light the furnace!"

Xu Fu stood with his hands behind his back.

Within the Zhou Tian Starship, a furnace slowly opened, its Creation Heavenly Fire burning silently—forged from nine primordial true flames.

All the Primordial Spirits selected as ingredients for the Immortal Elixir now accepted their fate with calm.

The Shenshao Sect's Primordial Spirit lightly plucked his long sword and sang: "Pure qi returns to the void, thunderlight illuminates the nine heavens. I've never been fortunate, but I walk this path with you all."

Zhu Master Zhutanmo also clasped his hands together, gazing at Xue Ji Daoist.

Xue Ji Daoist met his gaze, lowered his head, sighed deeply, and transformed into a four-tusked demonic elephant, bearing him upon its back.

Xu Fu had already seized control and cared nothing for this—he let the demonic elephant carry the monk toward the Creation Furnace.

Zhu Master Zhutanmo let the Buddha-light behind his head descend, forming a relic, which he sent into Xue Ji Daoist's heart, saying: "This darkness is unseemly. If you can awaken the lotus, light will radiate in all directions, perfect, boundless, equal, serene, harmonious, beautiful—wondrous fragrances abound, radiating supreme majesty."

Xue Ji muttered: "Old fool, still boasting even as you die…"

"Wait!"

At the summit of the Immortal Tree, Yan Shu suddenly called out to Xu Fu.

Xu Fu turned, smiling with deep meaning: "What? Disciples of Shaoqing are always rigid and prone to breaking—do you too wish to draw your sword?"

Yan Shu drew a deep breath, fists clenched tightly. He truly had the urge to strike, even felt resentment toward Brother Qian Chen's schemes—he did not know whether Brother Qian Chen had foreseen the horrific cost of crafting this Immortal Demon Elixir, or whether he had deliberately manipulated Xu Fu's obsession to keep his own hands clean.

He only knew he could not accept this.

Perhaps that was precisely why his younger brother had schemed to make Xu Fu act…

"I have a Dream Fish—can it serve as an Immortal ingredient?"

Beside Yan Shu, the Ear God dejectedly unrolled a scroll, and a five-colored carp leapt out.

Xu Fu stared deeply at the five-colored carp, then saw through its true nature.

"A dream molt left by the True Person of Nan Hua? That is an unrefined Dao Seed—do you truly intend to give it up?"

Yan Shu closed his eyes. This Dao Seed had indeed been left to him by Brother Qian Chen—between himself, Ning Ning Qingchen, and Sister Si, Brother Qian's younger brother had shown them boundless care!

But they were ultimately different.

Just as Yan Shu would rather die than watch fellow cultivators slaughtered thus.

Once Brother Qian Chen's demonic nature awakens, he cares nothing for these lives.

Yan Shu had compromised—he had laughed and joked with demonic Primordial Spirits for Brother Qian Chen's sake.

He had risked entering Gui Xu, even implanted the perilous demonic wisdom into his own heart, clinging to this path solely to give Brother Qian Chen a chance at resurrection.

But some choices Yan Shu could never make.

Thus, the demonic wisdom within his heart sighed: "Give him the Dream Fish!"

Brother Qian Chen pressed his weary brow—he had abandoned certain schemes only for their sake!

Xu Fu saw Yan Shu's resolute gaze and suddenly smiled: "Your eyes disgust me—they remind me of my younger self. If I could…"

A surge of killing intent erupted in his eyes, yet Yan Shu showed no fear—even considered drawing his sword.

"Forget it. That ox beside you…"

Xu Fu shook his head.

He casually seized the Dream Fish and approached the nine Primordial Spirits, tapping the Shenshao Sect's Primordial True Immortal: "You wish me to spare him. But… alas, Daoist Primordial Spirits are the essential main ingredient in my formula!"

Xu Fu cast the Shenshao Sect's Primordial Spirit into the Creation Furnace. Before departing, the Primordial True Immortal nodded to Yan Shu, his eyes filled with quiet joy.

"Next, this Bodhisattva…"

Xu Fu released the restrictions on Zhu Master Zhutanmo and threw him out.

Zhu Master Zhutanmo sighed, then solemnly picked up the golden bowl from the ground.

He whispered: "To save one life surpasses building seven tiers of pagodas!"

"Yan Shi, this monk has finally realized it—one step too late!"

From within the golden bowl, a Pure Land rose, filled with countless bhikshus and bhikshunis chanting in meditation.

Zhu Master Zhutanmo raised the golden bowl: "Master Xu… no, Brother Xu, this old monk offers you the Ten Directions of Lapis Lazuli World—surely this may redeem one life!"

Xu Fu sifted through the nine Primordial Spirits. Seeing his hesitation—as if each main ingredient held value—Zhu Master Zhutanmo spoke up: "Even a beast would suffice…"

The Zhu Wuchang Sect's Ghost Immortal remained only as a true spirit.

The great shamans of the Jiuli Tribe had been slain by Xu Fu too swiftly.

The Shenshao Sect's Primordial Spirit refused to be spared.

The divine spirits themselves cared nothing for their positions; Tai Sui was a malevolence; the primordial essence of the Zombie Ancestor; the body of the demonic Immortal Demon—all were not living beings. In the end, only the Mountain-Shattering Dragon Whale was exchanged.

The Daguangming Palace's Primordial Spirit rejoiced wildly, gazing gratefully at Yan Shu and the old monk Zhu Master Zhutanmo.

The dazed giant whale was kicked out by the golden man, let out a confused bellow, then obediently shrank behind the others, hiding its massive form from Xu Fu.

"The Immortal Elixir seizes Heaven's Creation, invades the Dao's mysteries!"

Xu Fu stepped before the Creation Furnace and murmured: "Since ancient times, only the Supreme One truly attained the mystery of immortality—he used it to forge the Primordial Spirit, allowing you to lodge your spirit and live forever."

"The Primordial Spirit Dao is a path opened only after the New Heaven—thus, it too may be used to brew immortality."

"In ancient days, our Great Fangshi sought to prolong the First Emperor's life and deduced the method of crafting this Immortal Demon Elixir—but we abandoned it, unable to find the main ingredient of the demonic Immortal Elixir. I never imagined it lay here, in Western Kunlun Xu."

"Perhaps it was the Western Kunlun Mirror's removal of this place that triggered the collapse of the Immortal Qin…"

"Now let you see why we are—the Great Great Fangshi!"

"Seize Creation, Master the Mystery!"

"When the Fangxian Dao gathered us and founded the Creation Dao, it was no rash act—it was a true grasp of something beyond all else! We uncovered secrets even Dao Lords, Primordial Spirits, and Golden Cores could never reach…"

"That is…"

Creation!

All murmured the word within their hearts.

"Manipulate Creation!"

"The Gate of All Wonders…"

Yan Shu sighed softly.

Xu Fu drew the Dan River—the blood-red, demonic stream flowed into the Creation Furnace.

Strange energies invaded the lifespan of the nine Primordial True Immortals within the furnace; as the Dan River flowed, even their endless lifespans began to dwindle.

When lifespan ends, Dao emerges…

Under this strange corruption imbued with Immortal Elixir properties, their powers, wisdom, understanding of the Dao, and spiritual essence—all impurities—gradually separated.

Their souls, memories, personalities, and selves were likewise deemed impurities, stripped away by lifespan and death.

Only the essence—immortality, eternal life, enduring vision, indestructibility—was revealed.

Only then did Xu Fu confront the fundamental question, as deduced by the seven Great Great Fangshi.

What is the Primordial Spirit?

Why can the Primordial Spirit live forever?

What did one see beyond that door?

"The Dao lies before you!"

"The Primordial Spirit is forged!"

This was the question Brother Qian Chen had never understood, the question he had never dared face: why must the Primordial Spirit confirm the true self?

Why can only the true self—without a trace of illusion, delusion, pretense, false Dao—only the most authentic self—push open that door and emerge as a more authentic self?

What, truly—is the Primordial Spirit?