CH 172

Chapter 172 – The Lakebed of Green Lotus Domain

As Xu Disheng and He Junyu conversed, the two of them arrived in front of the hall where Celestial Tide Spirit Master was before they knew it.

“Come on in, you two,” Celestial Tide Spirit Master’s voice echoed out from the hall.

Xu Disheng and He Junyu exchanged a glance, then walked into the hall.

“Greetings, Spirit Master.” The two of them came forward and respectfully cupped their hands with a light bow.

Although He Junyu was his first son, He Junyu calling him Spirit Master was well within appropriate etiquette.

“At ease,” Celestial Tide Spirit Master said. His gaze grew more deeper as he looked towards Xu Disheng. “How did your comprehension of your profound law foundation go?”

“Disciple can break through into the Dao Foundation stage at any time,” Xu Disheng replied. He didn’t deliberately hide anything, since he wouldn’t be able to hide his cultivation from a half-step Primordial Spirit stage powerhouse.

“Break through after the Eight Mountains Grand Tournament finishes,” Celestial Tide Spirit Master instructed, taking out a jade slip. “You are the only one who hasn’t received the special reward given out to by Killing Heart Spirit Master to the top 10 ranks in the Internal Disciple Tournament. Have a look.”

Xu Disheng nodded and came forward, receiving the jade slip.

The top 10 ranking disciples in the Internal Disciple Tournament could use the dark green jade slip given to them by Killing Heart Spirit Master Yu Yangyao to inform him of any needs they might have, which the Mountain would then do their best to fulfill.

In all this time, Xu Disheng had never used the jade slip. As the Eight Mountains Grand Tournament was now right around the corner, the other nine had already used the jade slip to get their hands on the cultivation resources they needed. Only Xu Disheng hadn’t yet made use of the reward.

The jade slip that Celestial Tide Spirit Master gave him showed a detailed explanation of the cultivation resources he could receive. He could choose a Magic Treasure, 7,000 spirit stones or a medicinal pill of equivalent value, or a spiritual beast, etc. As long as he wanted something, the Mountain would do their best to grant it to him.

“Spirit Master, disciple would like a Spirit Infusing Bead. Is this possible?” Xu Disheng asked after a while of contemplation, putting the jade slip down.

“Hm?” Celestial Tide Spirit Master’s expression didn’t change. “Did you want to upgrade the Demon Punishing Array Diagram to a full Psychic Magic Treasure?”

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“Yes,” Xu Disheng replied. There was actually another use for this item, but it wasn’t convenient for Xu Disheng to tell him now.

The Demon Punishing Array Diagram was extremely powerful in terms of attack power, but it was just a hair’s breadth away from the rank of a Psychic Magic Treasure.

It lacked a hint of spirituality, so no matter how strong it was, it couldn’t be called a Psychic Magic Treasure.

Celestial Tide Spirit Master explained, “That Array Diagram was refined as an imitation of a scenery depicted in a legendary painting scroll. I had the good fortune to see that painting before. The materials and ingredients that went into the creation of the Demon Punishing Array Diagram were all highly valuable. If a spirit is born inside of it, it might be able to reach among the top in the Psychic Magic Treasure rank, but…”

Celestial Tide Spirit Master’s sleeve swept, and an image of a painting scroll appeared in the air.

The scenery depicted was a youth with a cold expression, standing above the clouds with an array diagram scroll in his hands.

The array diagram enshrouded an immeasurably vast area. Countless living beings were howling in anguish within, their faces wrought with despair as their attempts to struggle free were in vain.

Four different colored sword lights swept horizontally across the entire area encompassed by the array diagram. The youth had only given the scroll a gentle shake, and the countless monsters trapped within the array diagram were completely annihilated, cut into a fine powder.

The cold-faced youth put away the fierce array diagram. His figure slowly faded away, leaving behind only a deathly stillness.

“Awaken!”

A deafening sound like the gong of a massive bell resounded in Xu Disheng’s ears. He looked dazed as the scene before his eyes gradually became clearer. He was back in the hall, but he couldn’t help being still being somewhat shell-shocked by the scene from earlier.

It was only the image of the painting scroll, but just a single glance was enough to cause people to become entranced by it.

Celestial Tide Spirit Master waved his hand and the image of the scroll disappeared. “The name of the scroll that the youth was holding is unknown. But one of the supreme powerhouses of the sect was able to refine the Demon Punishing Array Diagram from what scarce information regarding this scroll existed, extracting the destruction, suppression, slaughter, and corrosion sword intents from it.”

Celestial Tide Spirit Master continued, “But in the end, it wasn’t able to become a Psychic Magic Treasure. It could only be a peak-grade Magic Treasure, because it was lacking the most important part—the spirituality. Do you know why?”

Xu Disheng pondered for a bit before replying, “Because the scene depicted in the array diagram is an imitation of the real array diagram, which still exists somewhere in the three heavens and nine realms.”

Celestial Tide Spirit Master nodded. “Correct. You probably aren’t proficient in any refining Daos, otherwise you would have known that every Psychic Magic Treasure is a unique existence. If a Magic Treasure is an imitation of another Magic Treasure, it can only be a peak-grade Magic Treasure at the highest. The powerhouse who refined the Demon Punishing Array Diagram only managed to do so with a bit of luck.”

“Thank you for the explanation, Spirit Master.”

“Even if I gave you a Spirit Infusing Bead, the Demon Punishing Array Diagram cannot be raised to the rank of a Psychic Magic Treasure. Do you still want it?” Celestial Tide Spirit Master asked.

From the side, He Junyu interjected. “Junior Martial Brother Xu, the price of a Spirit Infusing Bead may only be around 8,000 spirit stones, but they have always been so rare that there simply aren’t enough to form a market for them. Even if we searched, we wouldn’t be able to find one. Don’t you still have the White Lotus Array Flag? This Magic Treasure is pretty good, even if you aren’t able to use the Demon Punishing Array Diagram.”

In fact, the Spirit Infusing Bead was something that He Junyu had gone out of his way to tell Xu Disheng about, and told him to request it from Celestial Tide Spirit Master.

He Junyu looked at Xu Disheng, flashing him a hint with his eyes.

Xu Disheng met his gaze, then cupped his hands. “Spirit Master, I’ll still take this Spirit Infusing Bead.”

Celestial Tide Spirit Master seemed to turn a blind eye to their little act and simply nodded. He flicked his sleeves and an orb emitting a deep azure light appeared in front of Xu Disheng.

“You can leave now. When the Eight Mountains Grand Tournament comes around, just try your best,” Celestial Tide Spirit Master said. He clearly didn’t have high hopes for the two of them in the tournament.

After all, with the geniuses from all eight Mountains gathering in one place, along with the peerless geniuses from the top ranking Mountain Ranges, the only person from the Mingxin Mountain Range who would actually be in the spotlight was Yu Yangyao.

Xu Disheng cupped his hands and bowed before withdrawing. As he left the hall with He Junyu, he turned to look at him and said, “Senior Martial Brother He, what you were talking about before…”

A hint of amusement appeared in He Junyu’s eyes. “Actually, you can just keep it. You could just take the four top-grade magic swords out of the Demon Punishing Array Diagram and just upgrade the array diagram, couldn’t you?”

“You must be joking, Senior Martial Brother,” Xu Disheng said, somewhat speechless.

“Are you satisfied with this?” He Junyu said, no longer playing around. He took a small flag out of his sleeves. The flag had a number of seals on it, and was emitting a watery blue glow. It was a restrictive-type top-grade Magic Treasure.

Xu Disheng didn’t take the watery blue array flag. Instead, he took the Spirit Infusing Bead and handed it to He Junyu. “You’ve really helped me out a lot, so you should just take this Spirit Infusing Bead. Let’s forget the trade, Senior Martial Brother.”

He Junyu took the Spirit Infusing Bead and put it away, but he still handed the watery blue array flag to Xu Disheng. He smiled and said, “A Spirit Infusing Bead isn’t anything that valuable, although it is rare. Only a scant few powerhouses in the Shangqing Mountain Range can refine them, and Spirit Master only had one left. If I asked him for it, he definitely wouldn’t have given it to me, so I had no choice but to trouble you about this, Junior Martial Brother Xu.”

Xu Disheng didn’t try to refuse. He put away the watery blue array flag and said, “You’re exaggerating, Senior Martial Brother He. It was hardly any effort on my part. But what did you want this Spirit Infusing Bead for?”

As the eldest son of Celestial Tide Spirit Master, he had the Thunderflame Pagoda, a Psychic Magic Treasure, and several top-grade Magic Treasures. The watery blue array flag that he just gave to Xu Disheng was just one of them.

The Spirit Infusing Bead could open the spirituality of a top-grade Magic Treasure, but it had a huge chance of failure. With how elevated He Junyu’s status was, there shouldn’t be any need for him to use an item like this.

“The Spirit Infusing Bead has another use that very few people know about. And I plan to use it for that purpose,” He Junyu said in a deliberately vague manner.

Xu Disheng’s tone and behavior had been well within propriety, and he didn’t press the matter. He changed the topic, asking about what he might need to know about the Eight Mountains Grand Tournament.

… …

Meanwhile, on the 29th ranked Peak of Mingxin Mountain Range, Spring Hill Peak…

Zhang Deyong walked out of his courtyard and just happened to see Lu Wen, his neighbor, landing on a sword light in front of his own courtyard.

He immediately approached him and asked, “Lu Wen, I just accepted a sect mission to go kill a half-transformed monster. Do you want to go with me?”

‘Lu Wen’ froze, his expression blank as he put away his flying sword Spirit Tool. He turned around, his face somewhat looking stiff. “Go on without me, Senior Martial Brother Zhang. I’m not really feeling well right now.”

Zhang Deyong didn’t think much of it and simply nodded. He got on his own flying sword and left Spring Hill Peak.

According to the memories in his head, ‘Lu Wen’ took out the key jade slip, opened the barrier around the courtyard, and walked in.

Every time ‘Lu Wen’ thought of everything that had happened at Miaohua Mountain, his expression would contort with resentment.

He had just been an ordinary youth who had gone with his father to Miaohua Mountain to pay the tax for their village.

The events that had occurred in the mountain had thoroughly twisted his personality. In his heart, there was now only an endless darkness, devoid of a single ray of light.

The Bodhisattva sculpture on the string tied around his neck was emitting a constant strange aura. The eyes of the Bodhisattva were open just a crack, but a little bit more than last time.

After searching through his memories, ‘Lu Wen’ muttered to himself, “Lu Wen, 85th place in the Sea of Qi division of the Internal Disciple Tournament… The Eight Mountains Grand Tournament, huh?”

… …

Meanwhile, at the Cloud Ascension Domain above the summit of Mingxin Peak…

“Feng Simiao of Mingxin Peak respectfully greets Primordial Lord Yangze,” Severing Meridian Spirit Master said, standing atop a spiritual crane in the middle of the air. He was waiting quietly outside the domain.

After a while. Ruan Xun came out and said, “Severing Meridian Spirit Master, please enter the hall.”

With that, Ruan Xun eagerly guided Severing Meridian Spirit Master into Cloud Ascension Domain.

“Greetings, Primordial Lord,” Severing Meridian Spirit Master said, his expression calm. His tone was respectful, but not servile.

“At ease. What business do you have today?” Primordial Lord Yangze asked, not looking up from the flower basket he was weaving from spiritual essence.

“Just now, I sensed an extremely strange, sinister aura entering the Mingxin Mountain Range. I wasn’t able to come to a decision on what to do, so I came to consult you on the matter,” Severing Meridian Spirit Master said.

Primordial Lord Yangze put down the flower basket and looked up slightly, his gaze a bit complex. “Your senses weren’t mistaken. That strange aura is none other than a ‘revenant’.”

“May I implore you to elaborate further, Primordial Lord?” Severing Meridian Spirit Master asked. Clearly, even with his experience and insight, he had never heard of this existence known as a ‘revenant’.

“In the Human Realm, a revenant looks much like a ghost, but it differs in many ways. It is a dreadful being formed from the bad side of a Bodhisattva. It is also extremely rare,” Primordial Lord Yangze explained, his gaze seeming to look past the walls of the great hall towards Spring Hill Peak a great distance away. “This revenant is only a newborn stage. For now, don’t touch it. There are some things I want it to verify.”

“As you wish, Primordial Lord,” Severing Meridian Spirit Master said. Having received his answer, he didn’t stay any longer. After cupping his hands and bowing, he left Cloud Ascension Domain.

The great hall was extremely silent, except for the nearly inaudible sounds of Primordial Lord Yangze using primordial energy to weave the flower basket he was working on earlier.

After a while, a divine light seemed to shine from Primordial Lord Yangze’s hands, enveloping the flower basket. “Ruan Xun, place this flower basket in the lakebed of Green Lotus Domain,” he instructed.

Ruan Xun lowered his head and complied. He took the flower basket and went to carry out his order, not daring to ask too many questions.

“Perhaps this revenant is formed from the bad side of that almighty being from the Great Buddha Sun World. But with how weak it is, perhaps this could be an opportunity for me to break through…” Primordial Lord Yangze muttered to himself, his voice echoing emptily in the great hall.