Chapter 141: Immortal Treasure

Brilliant, crystalline rainbow light flickered endlessly, sparks of radiant brilliance scattering, bright clouds surging and overflowing—

At this moment, he was actually suspended within the Nether Cosmos.

Empty and vast, there was not a single point to exert force upon.

Xu Zhi looked up in astonishment; in all directions, he saw only the sun and moon wandering, along with the stars and constellations of the heavens.

Amidst this dome of heaven and sea of stars, an ancient mirror the size of a palm had somehow appeared; its surface flashed, and from within emerged a strange Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi with eyebrows soaring high toward his temples, dressed in blood-dripping crimson robes.

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi glanced at Xu Zhi impatiently, pointed a finger, drew a drop of Xu Zhi's essential blood through the void from afar, then expended dozens of breaths of Immortal Spiritual Qi to blow upon it, his eyes suddenly turning a vivid crimson.

A mass of crimson force-clouds also drifted leisurely out from the crown of his head.

Within it, the dim and obscure depths seemed to encompass infinite celestial transformations and the natural principles of the Dao...

A long time passed.

Suddenly, an expression of deep contemplation floated onto the Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi's face; his cheek twitched violently, and he could not help but burst into a torrent of curses:

"Damn that Xudu Heaven! What a fine job they've done! These Eight Sects and Six Clans are nothing but a bunch of Wang Ba filled with bad water! Was this intentional? Clearly, Immortal Lord Yuan Dai had already settled your Xu family properly in Zhong Langzhou, yet I slept but one awakening, and Zhong Langzhou was gone? The Xu family perished? Only you, a single sapling, remain?!

We agreed back then to preserve one descendant of the Xu family, and truly, it is exactly one, not even half a person more? Heart-blackened maggots!

If I had known earlier, I would never have come to Xudu Heaven; with guts like yours, trampled by dogs, you deserve to have spawned Lu Lu Yusheng, that Dao Rebel!"

"And you, fellow—"

The strange Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi, who had been pointing at the sky and cursing the earth, suddenly turned around, glaring at Xu Zhi with a face full of killing intent, and stamped his feet, shouting:

"How can the Crimson Dragon Xu family flourish or the Wusheng Sword Sect be rebuilt with an insect like you alongside me?!

I think it would be more reliable to erase your primordial spirit, let me occupy this Xu family body myself!"

"Senior—"

Suddenly finding himself in this strange void, surrounded entirely by bizarre sights from beyond the heavens.

And now a strange Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi was clamoring to seize his body...

Terrified to his core, Xu Zhi barely managed to clasp his hands and said:

"I do not know, Senior—"

"I am the Wusheng Precious Mirror, precisely the ancestral weapon left behind by your ancestor, the Crimson Dragon Daoist Xu Xu Yuanhua; you may call me Wusheng Fuchan Laozu."

He then fixed his gaze and examined Xu Zhi carefully once more.

Just as Xu Zhi felt his entire body and soul had been seen through, with no thought able to hide.

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi suddenly shook his head with a bitter smile, sat cross-legged amidst the sea of shattered stars, slightly restrained the ferocious light on his face, and let out a long sigh:

"You kid... your background is pitiful, you have no one to teach you, and the master you bowed to is nothing but trash! No wonder you developed such a timid and cowardly nature; it makes me want to kill you!"

"Wusheng Fuchan Laozu?" Xu Zhi asked in shock.

"Taking your body was merely a rash statement... The Crimson Dragon Daoist bestowed upon me the grace of rebirth; I cannot bring myself to do such a thing."

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi slapped his thigh and spoke in a cold, indifferent tone:

"However, with your nature, your heart-obstacle remains uncleared and your Heavenly Eye unopened! How can you bear any great responsibility?!"

With that said.

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi suddenly pointed a finger.

Xu Zhi, full of doubts and before he could ask a single question, suddenly felt a sharp pain at the back of his head, as if someone had struck him violently with a heavy club!

For a moment, golden stars danced chaotically before his eyes.

The scenery he saw began to tremble, layer upon layer of overlapping images appearing.

Just before fainting, Xu Zhi vaguely heard the final words spoken by Wusheng Fuchan Laozu:

"Ultimately, Fuchan Laozu is kind-hearted and cannot bear to see a good-for-nothing waste, so I will give you one more sliver of a chance at life!

If you cannot break through your Dao-obstacle or open your Heavenly Eye within this mind-scenery, then go become a breeding boar and honestly bear children! Once you have finished bearing children, there is no need for your life to continue; living on in this world would only disgrace the reputation of the Crimson Dragon Xu family!"

"..."

Suddenly, the sound of tearing silk reached his ears.

Then, it was as if a moth had torn through its egg-cocoon and spread its wings.

Xu Zhi felt as though he were wrapped by those wings, sinking into a continuous, soft comfort; his torso became as heavy as true lead, his eyes went black, and he fell deeply unconscious.

In the vast sea of stars.

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi watched as crimson threads emerged from Xu Zhi's mouth and nose, quickly wrapping his entire body and forming a vibrant, large cocoon.

He waved his sleeve, and the vibrant large cocoon swayed with a clear breeze, shifted to the deepest depths of the celestial sun and stars, and hidden away.

"What kind of Bai Bai Xiaoxiao dares to wield a broadsword before Fuchan Laozu?"

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi let out another cold laugh, raised a hand, and lightly slapped down as if striking a mosquito or fly.

At this moment, within the Earth Abyss.

The physical bodies of Jiao Jiao Jizhong and the others seemed to be locked in place, unable to move even a fraction.

Before they could even react in terror to this sudden change, their bodily acupoints were suddenly pierced.

"Boom—" a surge of blood light erupted high, and the next moment, only a pile of unrecognizable rotten flesh remained, falling through the void and smashing into fragments!

"And damn those Eight Sects and Six Clans! The story of Zhong Langzhou was surely your doing as well; since I have awakened today, I shall play a game with you too!"

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi chuckled angrily and was just about to surge with his divine powers.

Yet from the shimmering starlight beneath him, a thunderous vibration suddenly exploded!

Then, a formless and substance-less sword qi sliced through, spanning the virtual and the real.

It forcibly interrupted the Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi's charging of power, causing his body to tremble violently!

"Formless Sword? How have you awakened as well?"

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi was first startled, then overjoyed, exclaiming: "Excellent! Excellent! Come quickly and lend me a hand!"

"My injuries were originally lighter than yours; six hundred years ago, I already awakened from this 'Xue Xuan Jin Guang Du Lu Realm,' but you, Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi—"

A indifferent voice came:

"After so many years, you still haven't learned your lesson. Do you not think you've caused enough trouble? You've only just awakened, yet you wish to make enemies of the Eight Sects and Six Clans within this Xudu Xudu Tianyu? Who do you think you are, to deem yourself worthy of being their rival?"

"You have already awakened?"

Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi frowned, then sneered: "What about the story of Zhong Langzhou and the Red Dragon Xu family? Don't tell me you are unaware of it?"

"Lu Lu Yusheng of Zhong Langzhou rebelled against Heaven and fled; this was not a deliberate setup. From the former Ten Provinces and Four Seas transforming into the current Nine Provinces and Four Seas, the immortal elders of the Eight Sects and Six Clans wanted to slay Lu Lu Yusheng more than anyone else. Do not overthink it," that voice spoke.

Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi said displeasedly:

"What about the Red Dragon Xu family? Dare you say that during that turmoil, the elders of the Eight Sects and Six Clans did not harbor the thought of letting the Xu family be implicated and destroyed? Just now, I expended my immortal truth, using Xu Zhi's refined blood as a guide, and indeed discerned some clues. Some of these maneuvers bear a strong resemblance to the working style of the 'Xuanming Xuanming Wuxian Daojun' of the Xiantianmo Sect."

"Because the Eight Sects and Six Clans offered no aid, and you suffered collateral damage, you wish to seek a quarrel with these immortal sects? If you seek your own death, so be it, but do not drag Yuan Dai Immortal Lord into it."

In an instant.

The celestial suns and stars within this "Xue Xuan Jin Guang Du Lu Realm" were slowly separated by an invisible force, opening a passage.

A Daoist in white robes and a tall crown gently swayed, his sleeves fluttering, and appeared.

He looked at the gloomy-faced Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi and said:

"Since Yuan Dai Immortal Lord was severely injured back then, he has not yet fully recovered. The turbid yin in this abyss is convenient for Him to cast immortal arts, sealing the Dao fruit of the Corpse-Release Immortal, which is of great benefit. If you clash with the Eight Sects and Six Clans, where does that leave Yuan Dai Immortal Lord?"

These words made Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi's eyebrows furrow slightly.

The Invisible Sword continued:

"In the past, when the Wusheng Sword Sect still existed, your reckless behavior was tolerable, as there was always protection. But now that even Xu Xu Yuanhua has perished and his body died, it is best to extinguish your Lei Ting fury for now, and plan for the long term."

In ancient times.

After the Wusheng Sword Sect was destroyed, and the last sect master Xu Xu Yuanhua also died.

It was Yuan Dai who, without sparing effort, personally carried the Wusheng Treasure Mirror and the Invisible Sword, these two immortal weapons, and carved a bloody path to Xudu Tian, seeking protection from the Eight Sects and Six Clans.

After a secret discussion between the two sides, an agreement was reached.

The mastermind behind the destruction of the Wusheng Sword Sect was blocked outside the protective energy layer, and it was agreed to cease hostilities.

The two immortal weapons recording the fundamental lineage of the Wusheng Sword Sect were also preserved.

And Yuan Dai, after using Yi Da Fa to capture the suns and stars from beyond the realm, smelted and refined them to open up the Mystic Realm named "Xue Xuan Jin Guang Du Lu Realm" to nurture the spirits of the two immortal weapons.

He then used Mi Fa to seal the damaged Dao fruit of the Corpse-Release Immortal, falling into a deep sleep in the abyss, never to appear in the world again.

This bloody battle not only damaged the Wusheng Treasure Mirror and the Yuan Spirit of the Invisible Sword.

Even Yuan Dai was nearly knocked down from the rank of Corpse-Release Immortal, a truly narrow escape from death.

And since it was both a grace for preserving the Dao lineage and an act of protection.

Even though the Red Dragon Xu family was swept up in the catastrophe of Zhong Langzhou, almost leading to the destruction of the entire clan, leaving only Xu Zhi as the sole sprout now...

Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi, thinking of this.

His heart's anger flared high and could not be extinguished, wishing to fight the Eight Sects and Six Clans who stood by back then to the death.

Yet, due to the Corpse-Release Immortal Yuan Dai, he could only forcibly suppress his full anger and barely calm down.

Seeing Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi with a gloomy face, saying nothing.

The Invisible Sword knew that he had actually abandoned the thought of fighting the Eight Sects and Six Clans to the death, shook his head, and said:

"It was agreed back then to leave the bloodline of the Red Dragon Xu family; the people of Xudu Tian did not exactly break their contract. Isn't this Xu Zhi still alive?"

"Ha? Just him?"

Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi's heart fire had just slightly subsided, but upon hearing these words, he instantly flew into a rage, shouting:

"If he cannot break through his mental barrier, then in this state, it would be better for him to be dead than alive!"

"The enemy is numerous, we are few, and they are united. With Xu Zhi's meager cultivation, if he only indulges in a momentary impulse of blood and courage, that would truly be suicide."

The Invisible Sword said indifferently: "Deliberately carving words on the wall to provoke contempt, waiting until the enemy is scattered, then drawing the sword to rise and strike to break them, is that not also a good strategy?"

"..."

Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi fell silent for a moment.

After a while, he said bitterly:

"This method you speak of sounds like Xu Xu Yuanhua's temperament, not Xu Zhi's. Does he truly have the courage?"

"Then how would I know? Wasn't he just taken by you, Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi, into the 'Xue Xuan Jin Guang Du Lu Realm' after walking only a few li?"

The Invisible Sword's voice faintly carried a hint of sarcasm:

"Leaving aside the distant places, just look at the Master Daozi of the Eight Sects and Six Clans right above us; which one did not fight their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood?

If you truly rely on him to revive the Red Dragon Xu family, it is better to have less of a Bodhisattva heart. If he dies, he dies; fate is determined by Heaven! If the Red Dragon Xu family is truly destined to fall, how could a single immortal weapon of yours turn the tide?"

Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi slowly frowned, speaking nothing for a long time.

After a while.

He said complexly: "You have always been few in words, yet now you are willing to speak these things to me. Is it not that you intend to help me revive the Red Dragon Xu family?"

"This statement is a great error. The Red Dragon Xu family has a debt of rebirth to your Wusheng Treasure Mirror, which is why you wish to care for Xu Xu Yuanhua's bloodline. But I have never received any favor from him. What does the rise and fall of the Red Dragon Xu family have to do with me?

Whoever can rebuild the Wusheng Sword Sect, I will recognize as my master!

Appearing now is merely because I fear you, in a fit of heat, will seek a quarrel with the Eight Sects and Six Clans and implicate Yuan Dai Immortal Lord, so I made these words!"

The Invisible Sword smiled indifferently, coldly performed a bow, and turned his body.

He disappeared within this Yuan Yuan Yangyang star sea, his whereabouts gone.

Only his voice remained in the place, saying:

"You have only just awakened. This universe has already changed its appearance. Do not cling to past obsessions. If a thing truly cannot be done, abandon it early; that is the best choice."

After hearing this.

Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi remained silent for a while.

The slaughter of that battle back then was truly fierce; the two immortal weapons were nearly shattered, and Yuan Dai was even nearly knocked off his Dao fruit.

It was only by sensing Xu Zhi's bloodline that he broke free from his deep slumber.

All told, it had been merely a few months.

But the Formless Sword...

... had already fully awakened its spiritual consciousness six hundred years ago, rousing from within the "Realm of Whirling Light Records."

Six hundred years ago.

Even though the Dao-Rebel Lu Lu Yusheng had long since moved Zhong Langzhou beyond the heavens back then, causing the main line of the Xu family of the Red Dragon to suffer collateral disaster and perish entirely.

There should still have been some collateral branches surviving in the other Nine Provinces.

How could things have reached their current state, with only Xu Zhi remaining as the sole sprout?

"True enough, the Xu family of the Red Dragon is the Lifeless Sword Sect, yet the Lifeless Sword Sect is not merely the Xu family of the Red Dragon... That fellow Formless Sword awakened six hundred years ago, yet merely watched with cold eyes as the Xu family gradually declined."

Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi sighed dejectedly and said:

"He offered no aid six hundred years ago; now that I have awakened, he will likely be even too lazy to add any glory! Xu Xu Yuanhua, the rise and restoration of your lineage ultimately rests on the Old Master's shoulders!"

He smacked his lips, lost interest, shifted a Star Essence before him to serve as a seat, pointed a finger toward the sky, and casually cast several divinations.

After obtaining several insignificant results in a gloomy mood.

Just as he cast the divination again, Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi suddenly laughed:

"That fellow Xu Zhi has actually transmitted the 'Lesser Red Dragon Sword Scripture' to outsiders? Truly, a son selling his father's fields without a care! Let me take a look to see if this person can serve as an aid to the prosperity of our Xu family of the Red Dragon."

Following this thread, he calculated once more.

Only this time.

Before long, Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi's expression changed, and he slowly furrowed his brows.

Nine days later.

Chen Heng, sitting cross-legged within the Blood River, suddenly let out a clear shout and abruptly opened his eyes; within his pupils, originally black as ink, cold crimson light like blood now rose and fell in turns.

The gloomy, sinister intent within them surged and leaped.

It was as if an ancient evil demon dwelling in a blood cave were about to go ashore to devour humans!

"Success!"

He let out a long laugh, shook his spine, and slowly, eighty-one drops of Yin-Eroding Red Water emerged around his body, mournfully brilliant and dazzling!