Overseas, in the Azure Sun Cultivation Realm.
A streak of Flying Light tore through the thunderclouds enveloping the outer sea, then suddenly dissipated to reveal a tall, imposing figure. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his robes fluttering in the wind.
"So I’ve returned to this old place..."
Lü Yang looked around. The last ti he was Overseas, he had caused a massive stir. The great battle he’d instigated had left the Azure Sun Cultivation Realm existing in na only.
Ironically, however, without the suppression of the Immortal Alliance, the entire Spirit Root system had collapsed along with it. As a result, the realm had actually begun to flourish. Though no one had yet broken through to Foundation Establishnt, it was possible that in a century or so, it could recover the glory of its peak.
Lü Yang surveyed his surroundings and perford a divinatory Finger Technique.
Although he had ventured Overseas in his true body, he didn’t plan to imdiately go searching for the Primordial Magnetic Divine Mountain. He intended to first raise his strength as much as possible.
’I really should hurry over there as fast as I can.’
’The Primordial Magnetic Divine Mountain is crucial to my path of the Dao in this life. If I’m too late and the Four Seas Sect gets to it first, I’ll have no hope of ever getting it back...’
’...No, no, that’s not right.’
’No matter what, increasing my strength is never the wrong move. Coming Overseas in my true body is already a huge risk. If I’m not powerful enough, I won’t be able to seize an opportunity even if it’s right in front of !’
Countless thoughts flashed through Lü Yang’s mind. In the end, the urge to ’play it safe’ barely won out. He took out a Fei Xin, ignited it with Mana, and sent it on its way. Before long, a streak of Flying Light sped over from the distance and landed before him.
Imdiately after, a refined-looking young man erged from within.
"...Fellow Daoist Yuan Tu?"
His expression was incredibly grave, his eyes betraying his surprise. He appeared and imdiately stared straight at Lü Yang, not daring to get any closer.
"Greetings, Senior Suo Huan."
Lü Yang cupped his hands and smiled. "I wonder if our agreent from Beyond the Heavens still stands? I’ve co to ask you, Senior, to refine a Spiritual Treasure for ."
Lü Yang’s tone was very amicable, yet Suo Huan’s expression only grew more tense.
’Sothing’s wrong!’
He could tell that the Lü Yang standing before him was a true body, not the avatar from Beyond the Heavens. ’But why would he co to see in person?’
This wasn’t the Stain Sect way at all!
Suo Huan had witnessed Lü Yang’s thods in the Ten Thousand Martial Realm. The man’s Abilities and cunning were both Upper Grade, and he was clearly a Direct Disciple who had mastered the Stain Sect’s way of dealing with the world.
Why would a person like that casually trust an unfamiliar Great Trueman and show up in his true body? ’Does he really think he’s so peerless prodigy who can challenge his superiors?’ Suo Huan asked himself. If their positions were reversed, he would have definitely used an avatar. What would happen if he were lured into a trap and killed?
"Senior?"
Lü Yang asked, looking curiously at Suo Huan’s stiff expression. Under his gaze, the tension in Suo Huan’s face gradually eased.
"...Of course the agreent still stands."
Suo Huan laughed loudly, no longer dwelling on his earlier doubts. His vigilance scattered to the winds as he told himself he was just worrying about nothing.
The two of them hit it off imdiately, conversing as if they were old friends.
As their conversation grew more animated, Lü Yang rembered how perilous the search for the Primordial Magnetic Divine Mountain would be. It would be much better to have a Great Trueman along for backup.
So, he imdiately said:
"I am about to go searching for one of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. If you’re interested, Senior, perhaps you could accompany after you’ve finished Refining the Spiritual Treasure. I will offer a handso reward."
Upon hearing this, Suo Huan waved his hand breezily. "No problem!"
As the words fell, this Outer Heaven Cultivator, who had survived Overseas for over six hundred years by being cautious and ticulous, suddenly adopted a magnanimous and forthright deanor:
"There’s no ti to lose! I happen to have found a perfect spot for Artifact Refining here Overseas. It’s a sea trench with subterranean fire, and it’s also a burial site for Geng tal. If we perform the refining there, it will absorb the essence of tal while being tempered by both water and fire. I can definitely forge a Top-Grade Spiritual Treasure for you!"
After saying this, Suo Huan himself was stunned.
The Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace was his main base of operations, his most important stronghold Overseas. ’And I just blurted it out like that? Wasn’t that a bit too rash...’
But he quickly changed his mind.
’He is a Saint Sect Zhenren, after all. He probably looks down on a place like mine. The priority right now is to help him with the Refining Treasure, and then go with him to find the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches...’
Thinking of this, he felt relieved.
Suddenly, Suo Huan felt his forehead grow damp. He reached up to wipe it away, finding it rather amusing. ’With my Cultivation, my Dharma Body can still sweat?’
’Now that’s a strange one.’
He glanced at Lü Yang, who wore a similar look of anticipation. There was nothing unusual about his expression, yet a single, pea-sized bead of sweat was also slowly trickling down his brow.
The two locked eyes, and the exact sa thought occurred to both of them:
’Haha! Him too!’
In that case, it wasn’t strange at all.
In the next instant, they both cast aside their distracting thoughts and summoned their own Flying Lights. Soaring into the heavens, they soon arrived at a desolate, uninhabited stretch of sea.
Suo Huan pointed a finger. In an instant, the waves churned and parted, parting the great billows to reveal what lay beneath the surface: an underwater volcano. At its center was a dark crater where the waters converged, and surrounding it were a thousand veins of fire, radiating outward like stars around the moon.
"What an impressive Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace!"
Lü Yang’s gaze flickered. He could tell this terrain was not natural; soone had painstakingly crafted it day after day, year after year.
"Senior’s Abilities are truly extraordinary."
Lü Yang cupped his hands in respect toward Suo Huan, who stroked his beard and chuckled. His usual inscrutable deanor vanished, replaced by a look of sheer pride.
"A petty trick, hardly worth ntioning..."
Suo Huan perford a one-handed Finger Technique and unleashed a Palm Thunder. The Banners surrounding the volcano imdiately began to stir, and the entire Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace activated.
"Refining a Spiritual Treasure—especially a Lifebound Artifact that must resonate with the Cultivator themselves—is no simple matter. Not only must the materials be of the highest quality, but you also need an excellent Artifact Furnace. Finally, it requires consecration with an Essence Soul. Of these, I can only provide the Artifact Furnace."
"The other two conditions must be t by you, my fellow Daoist."
With that, Suo Huan looked at Lü Yang. Lü Yang let out a long breath. "You needn’t worry, Senior. I have co fully prepared."
Despite his words, Lü Yang’s movents ca to a rare halt.
He still wore a smile, but cold sweat dripped down his face. The corner of his eye twitched, and his clenched jaw began to tremble.
But he quickly regained his composure:
"...Please take a look, Senior!"
As his voice fell, Lü Yang flung his wide sleeve.
In the next instant, he took out a host of Spiritual Treasures. With the exception of his Myriad-Soul Banner, everything else was revealed, including the Abi Sword, the Formless Sword, the Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita, and more!
For a mont, the brilliant light radiating from the Spiritual Treasures nearly blinded Suo Huan. An incredibly intense greed welled up within him, but just as quickly, it was as if sothing had smothered the feeling. It vanished completely, leaving only awe and admiration in its place:
"What a magnificent collection of Spiritual Treasures!"
Suo Huan clapped his hands and laughed. "Daoist, surely you don’t intend to refine all of these Spiritual Treasures into a single Artifact? The risk is enormous. If you fail, you’ll lose them all."
At this, he shook his head repeatedly.
"But... Daoist, your fortune is truly profound."
"If we were at any other Artifact Furnace, I’d have no choice but to turn and walk away when faced with so many Spiritual Treasures. But here, in this Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace, I have a way!"
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