Chapter 455

Tianyingzi could no longer sit still.

He bowed low, paid dearly, and finally got Long Long Yingchan to relent—his uncle had arrived too—yet this kid had already refined his marrow!

"Marrow refinement perfected!"

Master Da Ming Monk's expression changed, but he couldn't help glancing at Long Long Yingchan!

That old bald bastard is truly dirty!

The Long Stele clearly states this kid is second on the Dragon List—refined his organs to perfection…

"Changing blood won't hurt!"

Tiancan Fuxiu Daoren waved his hand, silencing Tianyingzi, unconcerned: "Old Taoist has endured decades; a year or two means nothing—but this kid is at the age of explosive progress; he cannot be delayed!"

"Hmm!"

The bald monk raised his hand and brought it down with a single character!

Even the Weida Sect's abbot didn't care; Tianyingzi could only grit his teeth and accept it!

From marrow refinement perfected to blood transformation, it's a major hurdle for ordinary martial artists—but for this kid, it's a smooth path!

Added to that, Longhu Temple produces abundant spirit pills; one or two years will surely suffice for blood transformation to reach perfection!

"This disciple previously neglected matters, but please rest assured, sirs—even if we drain Longhu Temple's entire resources, we will ensure Li Yuan achieves blood transformation perfection within two years!"

Long Long Yingchan bowed in apology and offered healing spirit pills, calming Tianyingzi and Master Da Ming Monk!

And he kept these two extremely senior elders at Longhu Temple!

Throughout, Li Yuan spoke little beyond paying respects to the elders present, until these two senior elders could no longer endure and returned to their rooms to rest!

"Long Yunfeng, take some healing spirit pills and deliver them to the two elders!"

Long Long Yingchan instructed.

"Yes!"

Though startled by his master's sudden generosity, Long Long Yunfeng asked no questions, bowed, and accepted.

Li Yuan felt a pang of regret; since drawing his blade last time, he hadn't faced the Martial Pacification King in ages—he'd actually been looking forward to it!

"These two elder sirs' injuries are too severe; ordinary healing spirit pills…"

"May not even work!"

Nie Xianshan was surprised—how could the old bastard be so generous?

Drawing the blade was good business, but keeping these two alive? Not good business at all!

Such severe injuries demand massive spirit pills—and if their condition worsens, we might have to pay out two Longhu Longhu Dadan!

"What kind of time is this, still scheming for petty gains?"

Long Long Yingchan shot Nie Xianshan an annoyed glance; the latter's face twitched, and he coughed violently, speechless.

"Speak plainly!"

Long Xi Xiang couldn't hold back—he didn't believe this old bastard would do a losing deal!

Respect is respect, business is business—he knew the difference; Long Long Yingchan could never be swayed!

"Storms are coming; we must prepare now!" Long Long Yingchan gestured for Li Yuan to sit. He paused briefly, then decided to speak—it was a matter of great importance!

Only Long Long Xinglie was in seclusion, otherwise he too would have been summoned.

"Storms are coming…"

Li Yuan sat down.

In truth, since listening to the Heavenly Tone last time, he'd felt uneasy—and after seeing Wei Wei Tianzuo killed, that unease grew heavier.

The Great Sacrifice isn't ordinary!

According to Canglongzi's Ben Ji Shen Pian, the Great Sacrifice must correspond to deities of You Jing like the Poisonous Dragon or the Mystic Toad!

Not to mention this involves the Eight Temples!

The twelve Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing likely originated from the Eight Temples—and this may be tied to the Xuanwhale Gate, the Nourishing Gate, and even the fall of Liehai Star!

Just thinking of it made his heart feel like a boulder pressed upon it.

"In ancient times, Pang Pang Wenlong consolidated the world and founded the Great Yun Dynasty…"

As soon as Long Long Yingchan spoke, the others frowned; even Li Yuan sighed—Master Long was good at everything except speaking directly, always circling around.

"Can you just speak plainly?"

Nie Xianshan was also irritated—why not start from ten thousand years ago?

"This matter truly must begin from the beginning!"

Long Long Yingchan glared at him and spoke as concisely as possible: "When the Great Yun was founded, Pang Pang Wenlong granted titles to all sects, while also destroying mountains and temples, capturing or killing all manner of heretical cults and deities, suppressing them until they dared not raise their heads!"

He paused slightly, glancing at those present, and found only Li Yuan listening quietly—this brought him slight comfort.

Martial artists rarely read, let alone history!

"Pang Pang Wenlong regulated the deities, using their names to collect incense offerings—but the evil deities remained suppressed, neither dead nor alive!"

Li Yuan listened in silence.

"The change came a thousand years ago, when Pang Pang Wenlong died and the imperial capital plunged into chaos!"

Long Long Yingchan frowned slightly: "That Great Capital chaos left no records—but after it, the imperial court lifted its suppression of the Xieshen Sect, even covertly encouraging it to curb our Dao sects!"

What record? It is just that after that, the imperial court lifted its suppression of the Xieshen Sect, even secretly condoning them to restrain us of the Dengdao Sect!

Long Xi Xiang snorted coldly.

Letting loose the evil deities brought endless disasters; over a thousand years, the martial world repeatedly erupted in blood sacrifices, killing thousands or tens of thousands at a time!

"Perhaps the court didn't want to lift the suppression?"

Nie Xianshan frowned slightly: "Pang Pang Wenlong was one of the four greatest supreme masters of all time—he could suppress the evil deities, but after his death, his successors may not have had such power!"

Nie Xianshan frowned slightly: "Pang Pang Wenlong, one of the four supreme grandmasters of all time, could naturally suppress the Evil God, but after his fall, his descendants may not necessarily have that ability!"

"Perhaps!"

Long Long Yingchan thought for a moment, not bothering to refute: "What this old man wants to say is that the Xieshen Sect and the imperial court are not on good terms either, just as our Dengdao Sect is, nominally, a vassal of the imperial court!"

A tripod standing on three legs?

Li Yuan roughly understood what Dao Master Long wanted to say, and felt rather helpless at his roundabout way: "The imperial court uses the Xieshen Sect to check us, and naturally, it also uses us to check the Xieshen Sect. By the same logic, the three sides check and balance each other?"

"Correct!"

Long Long Yingchan was somewhat approving!

"You went around in such a big circle just to say this"

Nie Xianshan and Long Xi Xiang both frowned slightly!

"For the past thousand years, the situation under heaven has been like this, but now, the balance among the three sides is about to be broken!"

"Mm"

Nie Xianshan's heart stirred slightly: "Because of that great sacrifice"

"Correct, the great sacrifice!"

Recalling the secret agent, and the secret letter delivered that night by some unknown person who had warned him, Long Long Yingchan pinched his long brows, expression solemn: "The imperial court wishes to perform the great sacrifice, and so does the Xieshen Sect. The latter did not hesitate to take the risk of ambushing Wei Wei Tianzuo, and as for the former…"

He glanced at the three people present: "After Wei Wei Tianzuo was ambushed, Emperor Qian was furious, and even sent Wan Wan Zhuliu to call him to account, demanding

that the Thousand-Eyed old thief be summoned to the Divine Capital."

"Mm?"

"This…"

At these words, let alone Li Yuan, even Long Xi Xiang could not help but frown!

If what Long Long Yingchan said was true, since the imperial court used the Xieshen Sect to check the Wudadao Sect, the death of Wei Wei Tianzuo should have been something the imperial court was happy to see!

Normally, they should even have secretly fanned the flames, hoping both sides would be badly wounded…

"Where did you get this information"

Nie Xianshan was somewhat doubtful!

"It cannot be false!"

Long Long Yingchan was very certain, looking as though he had seen it with his own eyes.

"To make Emperor Qian send Wan Wan Zhuliu to summon the Thousand-Eyed old thief…"

Long Xi Xiang was also somewhat shaken. Anyone could be sent to deliver a summons, but sending Wan Wan Zhuliu meant that if that Thousand-Eyed one refused the decree, they would beat him into accepting it.

What kind of great sacrifice could make the imperial court give up the chance to sit on the sidelines and watch, even to the point of fighting a major battle with the Xieshen Sect?

The Demon-Slaying Dragon God Blade, Dun Tian Zhou, the Sea-Suppressing Black Tortoise Armor, plus Wan Wan Zhuliu — this lineup is far, far too heavy.

"What great sacrifice"

Nie Xianshan could no longer sit still!

"I don't know!"

Long Long Yingchan let out a long sigh!

He had laid many secret agents, but at most they had only infiltrated the imperial palace, not the side of Emperor Qian!

The only place he could actually investigate was, on the contrary, the Xieshen Sect!

"In the coming days, this old man must go down the mountain!"

Long Long Yingchan gathered his thoughts, glanced at the three frowning people, and paused slightly on Li Yuan: "I must bring the Dragon Tiger Longevity Furnace!"

"Mm"

"You're bringing the furnace down the mountain?"

Before Li Yuan could react, Nie Xianshan and Long Xi Xiang's expressions had already changed drastically!

"The imperial court is to perform the great sacrifice, the Xieshen Sect is also to perform the great sacrifice, yet we alone know nothing of it. If I don't get to the bottom of it, this old man's heart cannot rest easy!"

Long Long Yingchan paced with his hands behind his back, his two long brows fluttering up and down: "I have already informed Tian Tian Shezi, Fang Fang Sanyun, Monk Master Dading, and True Person Feng Yuanqing of this matter!"

Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat; he knew Dao Master Long was holding something back.

Because that night, relying on the concealment of the Dragon Tiger Longevity Furnace, he had shot an arrow toward the sect's great hall, and the secret letter had stated it plainly — it was the great sacrifice at the Eight Directions Temple.

Long Long Yingchan saying it like this meant it was not simply a matter of getting to the bottom of things…

"Dao Master Long also wants to perform the great sacrifice"

"The Xieshen Sect?"

While Li Yuan's thoughts were turning, Long Xi Xiang had already calmed down: "You left these two seniors here for this reason"

"Mm!"

Long Long Yingchan nodded: "This way, it's safer!"

He was going down the mountain to the Xieshen Sect, so naturally he could not bring Li Yuan, but he was also worried that someone had set their sights on the Liehai Xuanzhan Hammer!

To be safe, naturally he had to find people to protect Li Yuan!

And compared to that rather unreliable master of the Star-Plucking Tower, naturally the Heavenly Silkworm Daoist and the Crazy-Headed Chan Master were more suitable!

Those with the potential to draw the blade — in today's world, there is only Li Yuan alone!

"Dao Master Long has thought this through too thoroughly…"

Li Yuan's heart settled slightly, and he felt quite moved. This was far too safe!

"I…"

The moment Long Xi Xiang opened his mouth, he was cut off!

"You must stay on the mountain!"

Long Long Yingchan was unyielding: "The mountain cannot be left without someone!"

"Mm!"

Long Xi Xiang frowned and agreed; he also understood that although he had broken through the Heavenly Gang, he was still a notch below Tian Tian Shezi and the others.

"With you holding down the fort, this old man can go down the mountain with peace of mind!"

Long Long Yingchan's tone softened slightly; he knew well how to deal with Long Xi Xiang — hard was no good, soft was!

As the two conversed, Nie Xianshan sat back down, stroking his beard, expressionless, though his heart was stifled beyond endurance!

"Gone!"

After sitting for a while, Nie Xianshan still couldn't hold back and leapt away — he had to go urge those four divine smiths!

If not for a little hiccup earlier, the Pure Yang Sword should have been completed long ago, but even so, it would only be a few more days!

"Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Furnace!"

Long Long Yingchan spoke, and Li Yuan didn't hesitate; with a flip of his palm, he had already taken out the Nourishing Furnace!

"Wind Tiger Cloud Dragon, top in fleeing — even if this trip down the mountain yields no merit, the furnace won't be lost! But no need for it now; I'll come find you for it before going down the mountain!"

Long Long Yingchan waved his hand and didn't take it!

"Hearing you say that makes this disciple a little uneasy!"

Daoist Li was helpless!

He knew the priorities — the Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Furnace was indeed heavy, but Long the Dao Lord was even more important!

Without him sitting in the middle coordinating, he wouldn't be able to practice his Wu Gong in peace either!

"This old man never takes risks!"

Long Long Yingchan smiled; his going down was only to beat the grass and scare the snake, to seek out the locations of those divine shrines — not to fight a hard battle!

"This disciple understands!"

Li Yuan was still at ease about this!

"Practice diligently; there's no rush to exchange blood!"

Long Long Yingchan patted his shoulder: "That Yi Bai Xing Dan has already been deciphered. When you have time, go visit Elder Dingxin Chang — if nothing unexpected, the first furnace of Yi Bai Xing Dan has already been lit and is being refined!"

"The Yi Bai Xing Dan has begun to be refined."

Li Yuan's eyes lit up — this was a pleasant surprise!

"This old man perused the ancestors' daily records and found that before two ancestors achieved great success in exchanging blood, they had all practiced multiple Wu Gong to alter their bone structure…"

Long Long Yingchan pulled from his bosom a scroll made of unnamed beast-hide: "Take it back and read through it!"

"Thank you, Master!"

Li Yuan reached out and took it!

"The hurdle of exchanging blood poses no great obstacle to you, but you must still prepare well. If there's anything you don't understand, be sure to come ask me!"

Long Xi Xiang cleared his throat lightly and spoke, pulling a porcelain bottle from his bosom: "This is a 'Dragon Pill' — though it doesn't help much with exchanging blood, it has the effect of strengthening sinews. After you take it, practicing horizontal training will go more smoothly!"

"Thank you, Master!"

Li Yuan took it happily — this was the benefit of having many masters!

With each master sparing a little, the benefits piled up into a great heap!

"Go on!"

Long Xi Xiang waved his hand, and Li Yuan took his leave!

Long Long Yingchan was inwardly speechless, but didn't argue with him over it, and instead began giving instructions!

Long Xi Xiang agreed to each one; over the years he had guarded the mountain gate plenty, and although his memory was hazy, he was still familiar with the routine!

But he still had doubts in his heart: "Senior brother, what exactly do you intend by going down the mountain this time?"

"Taking revenge on the Xieshen Sect is one; that Grand Sacrifice is the second!"

Long Long Yingchan let out a long breath, giving his final instructions: "Within a dozen or so days, I'll go down the mountain. After that, you hold the mountain gate,

"You needn't worry about anything else. Just remember — before I return, try your utmost not to let that lad Li attempt to draw the saber!"

"Mm."

Long Xi Xiang reacted quickly: "You're afraid those two old seniors can't withstand the backlash of drawing the saber?"

"More or less!"

Long Long Yingchan thought a bit further ahead!

If he were Wan Wan Zhuliu, he wouldn't sit idly by while someone drew the saber again and again…

"Huff!"

After Long Xi Xiang left, Long Long Yingchan kneaded his temples, lamenting that he was truly a life of toil. With a turn of his feet, he had already arrived at Hundred Beasts Mountain!

In a moment, he spotted that black-and-white figure, like a cat, like a tiger. The latter stood atop a treetop and looked back, its eyes blazing with flowing golden fire?

"Many thanks to Tower Master Qin for the warning letter sent days ago. What you said was right — both the imperial court and the Xieshen Sect are going to perform the Grand Sacrifice at the Eight Directions Temple!"

Long Xi Xiang cupped his fists!

"? What warning did I give?"

Qin Li Shixian was a bit baffled, but hearing the second half, her heart jolted at once!

Grand Sacrifice at the Eight Directions Temple.

"Grand Sacrifice at the Eight Directions Temple!"

After leaving the Long residence, Li Yuan was still mulling it over!

Based on what he'd seen and heard during his Listening, this Grand Sacrifice at the Eight Directions Temple seemed to require people from beyond the heavens. If so, then Long the Dao Lord…

"People from beyond the heavens — the imperial court has one, the Xieshen Sect has one, and besides that, there's a spirit turtle. Mm, and I have half of one here…"

Li Yuan touched the Calamity Dragon Belt at his waist. After a night locked in the little dark room, the little female dragon was mentally stable and sleeping very peacefully!

Hum!

True Qi surged out; Li Yuan focused his spirit to sense. The little female dragon quickly woke with a start: "Wh-what do you want to do now?"

"Ask a question!"

Li Yuan was direct, asking about the temple she had mentioned while muttering to herself yesterday!

"That temple..."

The little female dragon seemed to recall something extremely terrifying; her spiritual fluctuations surged violently: "That temple is very terrifying, very terrifying, like, like a curtain, shrouding the sea of clouds, covering this heaven and earth, the stars..."

The little female dragon was quite fearful, her spiritual fluctuations stuttering: "What temple is that?"

She didn't know?

Recalling the woman holding an umbrella, Chi He Lian, while listening to her, Li Yuan frowned slightly: "Eight Directions Temple!"

"E-Eight Directions Temple?"

The little female dragon's emotions instantly soared to an extreme height; Li Yuan was even momentarily dizzy from her screaming: "You know?"

"A wonder, a cosmic wonder."

The little female dragon was shocked beyond measure: "The Eight Directions Temple is a cosmic wonder; it appeared in Tian Shi Yuan many years ago, once causing the Five Great Cavern Heavens to fight fiercely, even gods descended, a battle ensued, and a god once fell."

Her spirit was trembling; the whip Li Yuan gripped was also trembling: "What is a cosmic wonder? What benefits does it have?"

"You don't even know what a cosmic wonder is... oh, you don't know!"

The little female dragon's voice instantly dropped; she almost forgot this was a native. Feeling the forceful palm, she calmed down!

"A wonder is the foundation of the Dao, the beginning for us cultivators to touch the mysteries of heaven and earth, the laws of the universe, and also the foundation for condensing the spiritual form!"

The little female dragon was very cooperative; she was still somewhat excited in her heart: "A wonder can shape the spiritual form; the more powerful the wonder, the stronger the spiritual form it can forge."

"Is that so?"

Li Yuan was very calm; mainly, he had not yet entered the Dao, so his understanding of wonders was limited to books and other people's words!

Regarding cosmic wonders, it was somewhat vague!

"A universe-level spiritual form can forge a divine foundation."

The little female dragon could hardly contain the restlessness in her heart!

If they could seize this Eight Directions Temple, no—sell the news of the Eight Directions Temple being here, that would at least be worth over a hundred Yuan Fire.

"Divine foundation."

Li Yuan memorized the words and asked her if there was any way to find the Eight Directions Temple!

"No, no..."

The little female dragon's emotions instantly slid down, but quickly became active again: "You help me reshape my flesh and blood, and I might have a way..."

"What way?"

Li Yuan only asked, he did not promise!

Now, the little female dragon did not answer, looking as if she would absolutely not speak unless he helped reshape her flesh and blood!

"What do you need to reshape your flesh and blood?"

"A Star-level Azure Dragon..."

"Enough, don't say any more!"

Li Yuan sighed with relief and cut off the perception; where on earth would he find a Star-level Azure Dragon?

"This little female dragon probably doesn't know..."

Li Yuan pondered; compared to that, the Negative Hall Spirit Turtle was more reliable; he knew this turtle was previously in Hengliu City, but whether it was still there now...

"Hmm, whether it is there or not, might as well inform the Dragon Dao Master..."

Perceiving the Longhu Yangsheng Furnace, Li Yuan muttered in his heart; since obtaining the Yangsheng Furnace, the Dragon Dao Master within the Longhu Mountain Range had no way to...

... appear and disappear mysteriously!

Now, the one appearing and disappearing mysteriously was him!

Suppressing his thoughts, Li Yuan turned his foot and went straight to find Abbess Dingxin; the Bai Xing Dan, he had been longing for it for a long time!

The pill formulas he obtained from the True Disciple Trial of the Yangsheng Gate were all good, but the Bai Xing Dan had the highest value and was most useful to him!

Daoist Li received a closed door!

Abbess Dingxin was closed off from guests, quietly refining pills; Li Yuan was very eager to observe a bit, but still did not dare to enter and disturb!

The medicinal materials used for the Bai Xing Dan, the spiritual blood, were quite a lot; if the furnace exploded due to disturbance, that would be bad.

In the following days, Li Yuan was still the same as before: forging iron, practicing martial arts, reading books, only coming to find Abbess Dingxin once every day!

Thus, another seven or eight days passed; the Pure Yang Sword had reached its final step, only then did he knock on Abbess Dingxin's door; the old nun, her face full of smoke and fire, was exhausted, yet her eyes were very bright!

The Bai Xing Dan was refined!

"Bai Xing Dan."

Inside the room, Li Yuan put away the newly deciphered pill formula and poured out four Bai Xing Dan from the porcelain bottle!

This pill was dark red throughout, with no fragrance; instead, it carried a faint scent of blood; focusing the mind to observe closely, one seemed to perceive the aura of many spiritual beasts!

"This pill should have no problems, right?"

Li Yuan sniffed; the smell was somewhat pungent and foul; he glanced at the corner; a little mouse was dragging its subordinate general!

That was a giant rat three times larger than it!

As the only spiritual rat in the Longhu Mountain Range, the rat swarm under its command numbered in the tens or hundreds of thousands; this was just the most robust one, chosen by it to test the medicine!

"Squeak!"

Under the gaze of Li Yuan and the little mouse, that giant rat suddenly let out a scream; visible to the naked eye, its body began to swell!

It was as if a giant beast was about to burst out from its body, looking extremely terrifying!

The little mouse ran in a flash into Li Yuan's arms, while the latter reached out, his palm formed of true qi pressing that giant rat to the ground, sensing carefully!

"Such a tiny bit of powder, so effective?"

Li Yuan was quite startled inside!

He was an expert in altering innate constitution, and upon touch, he immediately sensed that this giant rat bore faint traits of multiple different spirit beasts!

Though very faint, in terms of innate constitution, it was slightly better than Yue Yue Yunjin's—a rat with superior innate constitution.

"Squeak, squeak!"

The little mouse also widened its tiny eyes!

"Here, try the remaining pills!"

Li Yuan flicked the little creature aside with his hand; its texture was solid, like striking an iron ball—heavy, hard, and unpleasant to the touch!

This was why he hadn't been petting mice lately—it felt like a lead ball covered in spines!

"Squeak squeak!"

The little mouse was easily satisfied; after licking clean the powdered medicine, it led away the giant rat, which was many times its own size!

"These four Yi Bai Xing Dan overlap in effect, their potency diminishing with each, but together, they must amount to at least one hundred Yi Bai Xing."

Li Yuan toyed with the four pills, feeling a quiet anticipation—Yi Bai Xing Dan weren't limited to a single batch; if he brewed several more, he might just accumulate a full thousand Yi Bai Xing.

Li Yuan rose, practiced several stances, stirring up his blood and true qi, then sat back down, tilted his head slightly, and swallowed all four Bai Xing Dan!

Yi Bai Xing Dan do not violently alter innate constitution; they are more like embers—once swallowed, they require nourishment from spirit pills and multiple transformations of innate constitution over a period of time.

The Longhu Longhu Dadan and the undigested power of the Long Hu Dan naturally satisfied this need!

"By the time this medicinal power is fully absorbed, Master Dingxin should be ready for her second batch, right?"

Feeling the medicinal energy circulating within him, Li Yuan was in high spirits; he multitasked, maintaining his visualization while continuing to organize the multiple middle- and low-grade Wu Gong he practiced.

Soon, night deepened.