Chapter 365: Evil God Ritual, Thunder Dragon Enters the Organs (Part One)

【Shan Xuan Jing Battle Hammer (Seven-Tier)】

【……A thousand kinds of gold and iron are smelted into liquid, cultivated within a Soldier-Nurturing Ground, and the Standard heavy hammer that grows from it is tempered by Heavenly Gang Starfire, giving rise to spiritual strangeness】

【Wielding Requirement: Soldier-Nurturing Scripture Tier One, Shan Xuan Jing True Qi】

【Wielding Effect: Seven-Tier (Pale Gold): Indestructible Vajra】

【Indestructible Vajra: A thousand-catty heavy hammer, moving like a meteor; one who wields it with absolute mastery must possess divine strength, with sinews and bones strengthening themselves……】

【Clatter clatter—the iron chains snapped taut. With a casual toss from Li Yuan, the giant hammer, nearly two meters in diameter, had already streaked across the void like a meteor. When it smashed into the ground, dirt and stone flew in all directions.

"What a fine hammer!"

Li Yuan's eyes lit up. He was a grandmaster of hammer arts; even though he had never used a meteor hammer before, the moment he hefted it casually, he could sense the merits of this heavy hammer.

Even without acknowledging a master, there was a feeling as if it shared his very bloodline, an extension of his own arm.

Apart from being too heavy and too large, this hammer had no flaws.

Whoosh!

With a flick and a swing of his wrist, the giant hammer danced through the air, trailing bursts of thunder-like air blasts, kicking up gust after gust of wind that sent sand and dust rolling. The iron chain at the end of this Shan Xuan Jing Battle Hammer seemed no more than three meters long, but the moment he channeled his true qi, he whipped it out over fifty meters; another channeling, and it suddenly covered a full hundred meters around him!

And this still seemed far from its limit.

"With that giant man's physique and brute strength, wildly swinging it on the battlefield would simply be a meat grinder."

After a brief test, Li Yuan felt a jolt of alarm. If it were merely a single divine weapon, he wouldn't have been so surprised—but this Shan Xuan Jing Battle-Slaughter Hammer was a Standard heavy hammer. Any time something is Standard, it's mostly used by the military.

Moreover……

"Things grown from the Soldier-Nurturing Ground—the ground can actually grow hammers?"

Looking at the pale golden glow rising on the hammer's body, Li Yuan's brow furrowed slightly. This was beyond his comprehension.

This Shan Xuan Jing Sect……

Wooo—

As if a breeze had passed, Li Yuan, not having waited for a second opponent, turned and left. He looked back toward the martial arena shrouded in mist, and faintly seemed to glimpse a few figures flash by.

The first emergence of the Rift Sea Shan Xuan Jing Hammer was recorded in books over two thousand years ago; clearly, there couldn't be anyone inside this ruin.

"Only martial artists who have achieved the unity of body and spirit could possibly leave behind some lingering will……but this is far too many. Or could these be afterimages left behind long ago?"

Walking back along the passage, Li Yuan mulled it over in his mind. As the surrounding mist dispersed, he spread his five fingers and caught the incoming Shan Xuan Jing Hand Hammer. Outside the memorial archway, the characters formed by Shan Xuan Jing energy kept flickering, arranging themselves into a secret manual of over ten thousand words.

"Soldier-Nurturing Scripture, Hammer Section."

Li Yuan switched his wielding at will. With the boost of his photographic memory, he silently memorized this scripture of unknown tier. After cross-checking it without error, he picked up the beast-hide parchment again.

Learning an entirely different language from scratch would naturally be difficult, but Li Yuan's mind now worked extremely fast, and he had the Shan Xuan Jing Hammer as half a translator.

By comparing them, he had recorded those ten thousand-plus characters and gained a rough understanding of the Rift Sea Star Script. "If only I'd had this ability in my past life……"

Putting away the beast-hide, Li Yuan flicked a finger. His true qi, like a sword, carved down the Rift Sea divine script he had seen in the martial arena, and he stopped the Shan Xuan Jing Hammer from attempting to translate.

Relying on the ten thousand-plus characters he had just learned, he groped word by word, sentence by sentence, and after a while, actually translated it out: 【Trial-taker: Outer-Gate Disciple Li Yuan】

【Inner-Gate Trial: One Victory】

【Reward: Shan Xuan Jing Battle-Slaughter Hammer】

?!

Li Yuan's wrist trembled—it was the Shan Xuan Jing Hammer shaking. The hammer spirit within seemed startled, but it still corrected some errors, mainly involving characters with multiple meanings.

For instance, Li Yuan had translated "one victory," but the Shan Xuan Jing Hammer's translation was "two victories, one"—the meaning was similar, yet vastly different.

"Learning by comparison like this, the advantage of photographic memory is huge, but to thoroughly master this Rift Sea divine script won't be easy. This Shan Xuan Jing Hammer isn't even as clever as Little Squeak; following along with it, I mustn't go astray……"

Li Yuan sat down leaning against the memorial archway. Around him, Shan Xuan Jing energy naturally swarmed over, and his blurred form

gradually grew clear.

His mind mulling over the Soldier-Nurturing Scripture, he glanced from time to time at the mist-shrouded memorial archway before him, his thoughts drifting: "Two victories, one—this Inner-Gate Trial should be repeatable? That would be wonderful……Apart from its enormous size, the Shan Xuan Jing Battle Hammer has no flaws at all; for him, even that flaw hardly counts as a flaw.

Divine weapon. Standard.

These two words together made even Daoist Li's heart pound just thinking about it. Forget one a day—even getting one a month, that's twelve in a year!

The similarity of Standards was a huge advantage for him.

"The True Transmission Trial at the Nurturing-Life Sect can be challenged once every three days. What about this Inner-Gate Trial?"

Li Yuan tried entering and exiting the memorial archway, only to find that neither the Inner- nor Outer-Gate trial passages reappeared.

He felt a twinge of regret, and couldn't help recalling those two disciples from years ago who had used the True Transmission rules of Longhu Temple to exchange for the Long Hu Longhu Dadan.

His thoughts drifted for quite a while before Li Yuan had initially sorted through that small half-section of the remnant scripture.

"Nurturing soldiers……

The Soldier-Nurturing Scripture, as the name suggests, is a method for tempering and nurturing divine weapons.

However, this nurturing differed from what he had learned before. This Soldier-Nurturing Scripture emphasized gathering the qi of heaven and earth, using one's own body as a furnace to nurture divine weapons, thereby allowing both self and weapon to grow together.

Having read only the opening introduction, Li Yuan felt his eyes opened to something fresh—this was a wondrous method he had never encountered before. But the very first step that followed made him frown deeply. "First, select all manner of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, rare iron ores, smelt them with divine fire into liquid, pour them into the Nurturing Ground, and nourish them day and night with heart's blood until a divine weapon connected to your own heart's blood and aura grows forth."

This first step mentioned the Nurturing Ground.

Li Yuan glanced at that meteor hammer, bigger than himself, and immediately felt a headache. For now, the only thing he had that fit was this hammer. "Afterward, using a secretly transmitted breathing method, embrace the divine weapon connected to your own qi and blood, breathing devoutly day by day, until the divine weapon is qi-fied and merges into your very self."

"……Can't learn it."

Before he had even read halfway, Li Yuan was already shaking his head repeatedly. Over ten thousand flowing words, with over two thousand terms he didn't understand.

He couldn't grasp the true meaning; no matter how high his talent, there was simply no way to begin.

"Nurturing the body with weapons, nurturing the body through weapons, breathing in and out, gathering the qi of heaven and earth, to reach the realm of transcending the mortal and entering the holy……

Although he couldn't learn it, after reading the whole thing, Li Yuan's heart was still quite stirred. The essence of this secret art lay in qi-fying the divine weapon and merging it into oneself.

"Challenge it a few more times—maybe there's a way?"

After resting for quite a while, Li Yuan stood up, ignored the Shan Xuan Jing Hammer spirit's wailing, and took it into his wielding. Then he entered the memorial archway a third time—this time, it was the True Transmission Trial.

In the sixth month, the rain fell without cease.

This heavy rain fell from day until late night; within Hengshan City, the air was thick with mist, and visibility was extremely low.

Hoo—

A figure moved through the curtain of rain, quickly reaching the eastern district. He glanced around, circled the Wutang, then made a tour of the Dao government office.

Afterward, he lingered for a moment at Yan Yan Tianxiong's former residence, then turned and departed swiftly.

Amidst the night rain, he all but merged with the shadows. Though numerous government office Runners and Dragon-Tiger Army soldiers patrolled in the rain, not a single one detected his presence even as they brushed past him.

Moments later, he arrived within a secluded courtyard.

In this three-courtyard residence, only one room was lit; through the window paper, a withered, emaciated figure could be seen.

"Fayin Fayin Tongzi, your courage is still so small."

The wooden door swung wide. Fayin Fayin Tongzi, with a soft and sinister complexion, stepped slowly inside. On the bed sat a desiccated old man cross-legged, his face like tree bark and covered in wrinkles, looking exactly like a dried corpse. "Better safe than sorry. Hengshan City is no longer a safe place. There are at least a dozen martial artists who have entered the Dao, and even a Grand Master may not be absent."

Fayin Fayin Tongzi closed the door. After Yan Yan Tianxiong was detained, he immediately sensed the danger and had not shown himself for over ten days; only now, taking advantage of this heavy rain, did he dare to venture out. "Long Long Yingchan is no ordinary person."

The old man, resembling a dried corpse, lifted his eyelids, his voice raspy: "How"

"is the investigation progressing?"

"Long Long Yingchan has acted with lightning speed. Several key figures in the Wutang and the Dao government office have been arrested, leaving only small fry to handle daily affairs."

A flicker of mockery crossed Fayin Fayin Tongzi's face. "That little beast Yan Yan Tianxiong, arrogant as the Wutang King and disrespectful to the Dharma Master, deserved this calamity. His detention truly brings this Fayin Tongzi great joy."

"He cannot die."

The old man, resembling a dried corpse, remained expressionless. "For a thousand years, the Dharma Masters have exhausted every means and succeeded with only him. This concerns matters of great importance; no matter what, he must not be lost!"

Fayin Fayin Tongzi's face darkened; he wished he could personally slaughter that little bastard.

"The Dragon-Tiger Temple dares not kill him."

The old man resembling a dried corpse merely mentioned it in passing before returning to the main topic: "Did the Thousand Spirit Guide People Stele leave not a single trace?"

"I have searched inside and outside Hengshan City. There is no trace at all. The last trace ends within the Dragon-Tiger Temple, but it cannot be investigated."

Fayin Fayin Tongzi sighed just then, his anger rising. "Mo Tian, that useless thing, has no use whatsoever except for his boldness. He alerted Long Long Yingchan yet failed to leave a single clue."

"That Thousand Spirit Guide People Stele must be within the Dragon-Tiger Temple."

The emaciated old man spoke in a raspy voice.

"The Dragon-Tiger Temple has worshipped the Life-Nourishing Furnace for over two thousand years, and Long Long Yingchan is a Grand Master of many years. Unless Wan Wan Zhuliu arrives wielding the Subduing Demon Dragon God Blade, even if we manifest our true forms, we are by no means his match."

Fayin Fayin Tongzi shook his head in refusal. He was not like that thing from Mount Mo Tian; the place where a Grand Master guards with a Heavenly Fate Divine Weapon is a location where even the Dharma Masters must fear three parts. "We only seek to retrieve the Thousand Spirit Guide People Stele and, incidentally, search for the Sea-Splitting Black Whale Hammer. We do not intend to destroy the Dragon-Tiger Temple."

The emaciated old man remained calm. "Long Long Yingchan is not Wan Wan Zhuliu. Even if he were, there are plenty of ways to bypass him!"

"Hmm?"

Fayin Fayin Tongzi frowned, then suddenly startled. "Could it be that one of the Dharma Masters is coming?"

"With the Martial Arts Tournament of the Various Dao approaching soon, how could the Dharma Masters come?"

The emaciated old man shook his head. "But to draw Long Long Yingchan away for a short while is naturally no problem." "Draw Long Long Yingchan away?"

Fayin Fayin Tongzi's heart stirred. Although the Heavenly Fate Divine Weapon is overwhelmingly powerful, without a Grand Master to guard and command it, the danger naturally decreases significantly.

"Before that, we must first locate the exact position of the Thousand Spirit Guide People Stele. As for the Sea-Splitting Black Whale Hammer, if we truly cannot find it, then leave it for Yan Yan Tianxiong."

While speaking, the emaciated old man stood up and pushed the door open directly.

The night rain was heavy, with lightning and thunder unceasing.

"Brother Blood, are you performing a ritual?"

Fayin Fayin Tongzi felt a slight tightening in his heart. Although the heavy rain could conceal his vision, it might not deceive Long Long Yingchan.

"Such heavy rain is rare."

The emaciated old man walked into the courtyard.

Crack!

In the sky, lightning snakes slashed through. The torrential rain, like a pouring basin, flooded the courtyard, soaking the clothes on Blood Vajra's body.

Drip

Then, a drop of viscous, scarlet blood liquid dripped down from his bald, hairless forehead.

One drop, two drops...

Soon, viscous blood like a tide surged from the emaciated old man's body. Even as the heavy rain washed over it, it remained undisturbed.

"Source Heart Blood? Brother Blood is actually willing to spend it?"

Fayin Fayin Tongzi's expression changed. Even with the Blood Replacement technique perfected, where blood becomes like mercury paste, it could never reach such a level of viscosity.

This blood came from Blood Vajra's true form; every drop was precious, capable of refining the Weeping Blood Spirit Pill or tempering a divine weapon.

To use it as an Offering for a ritual was truly an excessive waste and luxury.

"Fayin!"

Amidst the tide-like blood water, the old man raised his head. The latter snapped back to his senses and stepped into the rain curtain as well. With a shake of his sleeve, stone tablets the size of fists fell into the blood water.

"With my blood, let the Thousand Spirit guide..."

Amidst the heavy rain, the two roared in low voices. The tide-like blood water seemed to ignite, bursting forth with a flash of dazzling blood light that vanished instantly in the night sky. Pfft!

In the span of only a few moments, the emaciated old man's body froze. He glared

with wide eyes: "Not enough!"

He opened his mouth and spat out a large mouthful of foul blood.

"Not enough!"

Fayin Fayin Tongzi's voice was low.

"Crack"

The emaciated old man casually tore off his left arm. A large gush of fresh blood gushed out, and countless gruesome wounds simultaneously split open on his body, like cracked porcelain.

Blood water far exceeding that of dozens of people nearly flooded the small courtyard.

"Whoosh!"

A streak of lightning flashed past, and at the same moment a red light shot straight up to the heavens, and the well vanished without a trace—plop.

In the small courtyard, the two of them collapsed into the mud. Fayin Fayin Tongzi's face was deathly pale as paper, and Blood Vajra's breath hung by a thread.

This was no ordinary ritual; to deceive the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, they had paid an enormous price.

Blood Vajra let out a long breath: "As long as the Thousand Spirits Salvation Tablet is within a thousand, it will surely be illuminated by the divine light…"

Hoo!

Fayin Fayin Tongzi leapt onto the roof and activated the Divine Eye Scripture. In the night, apart from the occasional flash of lightning, where was the faintest trace of red light?

"Did you find it?"

Blood Vajra looked up; Fayin Fayin Tongzi's expression was ugly.

"Nothing?!"

Blood Vajra's face turned green: "How could there be nothing?" "It's still not enough."

Li Yuan sighed inwardly. Hoisting that Shan Xuan Whale Battle Hammer, he withdrew from the Mi Jing. With a thought, the hammer had already landed at the far end of the Xing Xing Tongyou corridor.

"This true-inheritor trial has an element of luck to it too. That giant wielding the Fangtian Halberd was just too fast—if only I could swap one out…"

He muttered a few words to himself, but it didn't dampen Li Yuan's mood. With the Soldier-Nurturing Scripture plus a divine-soldier-grade heavy hammer, this run was a profit no matter what.

"I'll try again in a few days. If the inner-gate trial can be farmed repeatedly, I could even forge several eighth-grade divine hammers!"

Li Yuan set down the Meteor Hammer and looked at the dust-gray Thousand Spirits Salvation Tablet in the corner.