Within the hermitage.
Zhong Shenxiu glanced at his attribute panel:
[Title: The Descender]
[Realm: Primordial Pill]
[Body Divine Skills: Void Poison, Nine Deaths Return to Life (9), Indestructible Stone Buddha]
[Alchemy: Grandmaster]
[Artifact Refining Technique: Grandmaster]
[Heavenly Show Points: 1005 (1%)]
[Ten Thousand Doors: Can be Opened]
"After showing off a bit before, plus using some accumulated resources, I finally elevated my Path of Artifact Refining to the grandmaster level," he mused as he gazed at the Poison Dragon Sword before him.
This flying sword’s edge had mysteriously sharpened, as if tearing through void itself, revealing dark and chaotic currents.
With grandmaster-level Artifact Refining Technique, incorporating the Great Destruction Demon Sword, a First-class Divine Power, into the Poison Dragon Sword was as easy as reaching out for it, without the slightest problem.
First-class Divine Powers, used in forging magic artifacts, could of course result in an exquisite item, even granting an ordinary Divine Power Practitioner the capacity to rival a True Inheritor.
But more likely, the result would be a complete failure, an effort in vain.
With grandmaster-level Artifact Refining Technique, Zhong Shenxiu felt more confident about refining that particular soul-capturing magic artifact he truly wanted to create.
’Hmm... some special materials, I could just use my previous merits to exchange for them from Sima Shu.’
’I have slain the Heart-picker; using his Divine Skills for Artifact Refining was only natural.’
’But what others don’t know is that the Heart-picker’s First-class Divine Power actually consists of six different abilities!’
While he was lost in thought, Zhong Shenxiu sensed changes in the outside world and couldn’t help but step out of the meditation chamber.
At the doorway, several talismans were dancing midair, their spiritual light flickering.
He casually summoned one, which turned out to be from Wei Chi Juan, reminding him that his patrol was about to start.
As for the others, they were even more interesting.
They came from a number of Inner Sect Disciples who boasted expertise in Artifact Refining, inquiring about his multiple Divine Skills and offering to help with artifact creation.
Of course, they were all full of hot air, essentially demanding a Divine Power Talisman as compensation for a single attempt.
"Heh heh... Each one has quite the attitude, yet no guarantee of success, they all want to cash in on my spoils of war..."
Zhong Shenxiu chuckled coldly several times, not bothering to deal with them, and directly left the hermitage.
Wei Chi Juan, Huang Xuanji, and ten Gang Sha Cultivators were all waiting for him.
Zhong Shenxiu gestured, and Wei Chi Juan quickly released a small boat.
It was the Wind-Commanding Divine Shuttle, a six-tier restricted Magic Artifact. Of course, it was incomparable to the Supreme Nine Heavens Golden Light Earth-Piercing Mysterious Shuttle, a wartime magic artifact Zhong Shenxiu had seen before - it was like the difference between a common wooden sailboat and a battleship.
Its only advantages were the material used and the ability to transport people while flying.
"Depart, to the Qingfeng Mountain Ridge!"
Zhong Shenxiu stood at the forefront of the Wind-Commanding Divine Shuttle, and with a slight use of mana, the shuttle suddenly expanded, accommodating the rest of the group. Winds howled on both sides as they rushed towards the Qingfeng Mountain Ridge with astonishing speed.
Wei Chi Juan and Huang Xuanji couldn’t help but express their admiration: "The team leader’s mana is unfathomable... Even if we were to join forces to control this Wind-Commanding Divine Shuttle, we wouldn’t achieve such speed."
Not long after the group departed, two beams of light descended from midair - it was Tong Bao and Luo Jiu Zhen.
Luo Jiu Zhen, looking at the empty hermitage, couldn’t help stomping his foot: "Damn... he’s already left; truly like offering a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"
"You can hide today, but not forever..."
Tong Bao seemed very composed, "Junior sister, there’s no need to worry. I’ve heard that within the Blessed Land, many disciples who have mastered the skill of Artifact Refining have some ideas about the ’Heart Plucking’ Divine Power... This Su junior brother will eventually give in."
"It’s not that I’m afraid of these issues; with the relationship between Senior Brother Tong and Zhong Wu, who would dare to compete with you?" Luo Jiu Zhen said, "What I’m afraid of is the perilous nature of outside missions. If this Su junior brother were to perish, then all our efforts would be in vain."
"Su junior brother has cultivated the ’Nine Cleansing Celestial Light Shield,’ as long as he doesn’t encounter a Primordial Pill Master, he should be safe. Otherwise, why would the sect have brought him over from such a distance?"
Tong Bao answered indifferently, "However... it wouldn’t hurt to follow him and if we see his team encountering enemies, we could lend a hand and create some good karma. That would make it more convenient to discuss matters afterwards."
"Senior brother speaks wisely."
Luo Jiu Zhen nodded, and the two merged their lights of escape and hurried after.
Qingfeng Mountain Ridge.
The mountain range rose and fell continuously like an Azure Dragon.
Above the ninth heaven, a chilling gale swept through. The Wind-riding Shuttle, controlled with ease, flew dozens of miles in an instant.
"Does the team leader know why we have this patrolling system?"
Wei Chi Juan stood beside Zhong Shenxiu, gazing down at the stretched mountains and spoke softly, "Although our Dragon Tiger Blessed Land is the core for suppressing the great demons, the Demon Path scoundrels also have those skilled in Arrays. They want to alter the terrain around the Blessed Land, breaking the original formation that channels and gathers the wind and water... Even though these are trifles, in the war between right and demon paths, even a slight difference can affect the big picture. That’s why, even though the sect knows we will suffer losses, we still have no choice but to do this."
"And the Demon Path sends a large number of disciples as a form of training."
Zhong Shenxiu nodded, "What puzzles me is how terrifying these demon heads are. Should they break free from their seals, the consequences would be unimaginable. Yet, why does the sect only have one Primordial Spirit stationed here?"
"I also do not know the exact reason, but since our ancestors could only seal it, it’s obviously very difficult to kill... As for why the sect doesn’t send more people, it’s probably because they are busy restraining the Hierarchs of the six paths of the Demon Sect..." Wei Chi Juan speculated, "I’ve heard that even Emperor City Changluo is not at peace, with the Teaching True Monarch personally going to the Imperial Palace, preaching to the old emperor every day."
"It seems that it’s not only about restraining the Demon Path, but also the old emperor’s reform that draws their attention... It’s a complete mess; I see trouble brewing here sooner or later." Zhong Shenxiu muttered to himself.
However, he was just here to breeze through; the success or failure of this place had nothing to do with him.
Even to put it bluntly, it was easier to fish in murky waters.
As they conversed, a clump of dark clouds suddenly emerged ahead.
In the dark clouds, something resembling serpentine creatures twisted and entangled, spreading Evil Qi and demonic light.
A distorted, dark dragon’s head burst out from the clouds, fierce and ferocious, with a man standing on top.
His complexion was pale, the corners of his mouth held a slightly mocking smile. Dressed in a pitch-black python robe, arms crossed, his presence was arrogant and unmatchable.
Wei Chi Juan’s face paled, "The ’Little Demon Dragon’ Xue Mang? The previous squad leader died by his hand; this man has cultivated the Yellow Spring Demon Sect’s Second Grade Divine Power, the ’Nine Nether Demon Dragon Transformation,’ ranked just below the Yellow Spring Prisoner."
"So it is. You all stay here; I’ll be right back."
Zhong Shenxiu casually pulled out a Yellow Gourd filled with Spiritual Wine, took a swig straight from the gourd, and tossed the gourd into the sky.
Immediately, he raised his hand and released a slash of Sword Qi.
The sword light was majestic, like a startling thunderbolt.
Zhong Shenxiu merged with his sword, and a flash of sword light burst forth, soaring like a dragon, graceful as a startled swan, plunging into the dark clouds.
Thunderous sounds rumbled as the sword light flashed, tearing apart the clouds.
The Divine Power transformed black dragon was immediately beheaded, turning into black mist that scattered, and the ’Little Demon Dragon’ Xue Mang tried to activate his protective demonic light, but it was too late.
The thunderous sword light suddenly split apart, shredding both his flesh and Divine Soul together, then flew back to the Wind-riding Shuttle, turned back into Zhong Shenxiu’s form, who then calmly caught the falling Yellow Gourd in his hand, took another drink, and praised, "Good wine!"
From finger-flicking the sword, slashing a person, to turning and drinking, all happened in the blink of an eye, the gourd had not even hit the ground, while the enemy was already beheaded.
This was the true elegance of a Sword Immortal!