Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Startling Realization

Summon had barely finished speaking when a Flying Light suddenly shot out of the [Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace]. It landed before the two of them, revealing a human figure.

The man was handsome. Though young, his temples were already streaked with white.

His bearing had completely lost its former noble air, replaced by a certain maturity and steadiness. As soon as he appeared, he bowed respectfully to Summon:

”Senior Summon, and... a Perfected Person!?”

The newcomer’s gaze fell upon Lü Yang, who stood beside Summon, and he froze. A look of terror filled his eyes, and he subconsciously stumbled back a few steps.

Seeing this, Lü Yang let out a hearty laugh. ”So it’s Junior Brother Chongming!”

With that, he even stepped forward and patted Chongming on the shoulder.

However, this simple gesture nearly scared Chongming’s soul out of his body. He stared blankly at Lü Yang, his face a mask of unspeakable horror.

’Who the fuck are you?’

’Get out of Senior Brother Yuan Tu’s body!’

Meanwhile, Summon saw this and also smiled. ”Chongming was left in my care by the former [True Monarch Zeng Cai Qiluo] to facilitate contact when necessary.”

This simple sentence was enough to scare Chongming witless. He looked at Summon. ’You warned me over and over again not to say a word about the True Monarch! You even confined me here and forbade me from wandering off! And now you just blurt out the secret like it’s nothing!’

’Or... is it actually not a big deal?’

Chongming looked at Lü Yang, then back at Summon. The deep furrows in his brow seemed to be smoothed out by an invisible hand, and his expression gradually brightened.

’I must have been overthinking things!’

Lü Yang, for his part, also thought nothing of it.

A trivial matter concerning a [Perfected Lord] was something he’d forget the moment he turned his head. What was more important was to refine an Artifact as soon as possible, increase his strength, and then head to the Primordial Magnetic Divine Mountain.

”Senior, time is of the essence. We still need to go to the Primordial Magnetic Divine Mountain. Let’s start the furnace immediately.”

At Lü Yang’s urging, Summon nodded eagerly. ”Chongming, come and manage the furnace for me. I need to cast a spell to activate the earth fire.”

”...Yes.”

Although a conflicted expression appeared on Chongming’s face, his body was quite obedient. He felt he shouldn’t delay their important quest to find the Primordial Magnetic Divine Mountain.

Soon, the earth fire was ignited in the furnace.

The first thing Lü Yang took out was the Abi Sword. This Spirit Sword, taken from Blood Demon Zhenren, now possessed four Divine Effects, making it a truly rare find.

’Hm? What’s this...?’

Just then, Lü Yang paused in surprise. He noticed that for some reason, the Abi Sword before him was constantly glowing, pulsing with a deep, bloody light.

’...Seems to be one of the Abi Sword’s Divine Effects?’

Lü Yang thought back for a moment. He seemed to recall it was called [Li Wei]. He had always thought it was an excellent Divine Effect; it had even saved his life before...

’...What did it do again?’

Lü Yang couldn’t quite remember, but he didn’t care. ’If I can’t remember, it must not be important. The real priority is to quickly refine the Spiritual Treasure and find the Primordial Magnetic Divine Mountain.’

With this in mind, Lü Yang thought no more of it.

The Abi Sword fell into the furnace, followed by his other Spiritual Treasures. Lü Yang didn’t hesitate, taking out his entire collection except for the Myriad-Soul Banner.

Once the Artifact Furnace was stuffed to the brim with the light of the Spiritual Treasures, he turned to Summon. ”I’ll be troubling you, Senior.”

”Rest assured, Daoist!”

Summon laughed heartily. Then, he formed a Finger Technique and pointed. In an instant, the entire [Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace] rumbled violently as a thousand veins of fire were detonated at once!

Boundless, searing flames, infused with Yin Fiend, rolled out from the earth’s core, instantly igniting the entire Pill Furnace. Seeing this, Chongming hurriedly channeled all his Mana. With a great heave, he slammed the lid down on the Artifact Furnace, sealing it tight and preventing even a single wisp of the fiery qi from escaping.

The next second, the Artifact Furnace began to glow red.

Seeing this, Summon changed his Magic Formulas. The vast ocean outside the Artifact Furnace immediately poured down to cool it, simultaneously drawing Water Element qi into the furnace.

”Daoist, this Dharma Gate of mine is no ordinary one.”

Summon explained with a smile, ”This technique is called the [Water and Fire Refining Technique]. Its full potential can only be unleashed with this [Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace].”

”Daoist, you have so many Spiritual Treasures that ordinary methods would struggle to refine them.”

”Only with this method, aided by water and fire in a union of Yin and Yang, can your many Spiritual Treasures be smelted into one without damaging their individual Divine Effects.”

Lü Yang’s eyes lit up. ”Oh? Is that true?”

”Of course it’s true!”

As he spoke, a look of pride appeared on Summon’s face. ”This is the most exquisite Artifact Refining technique passed down through the generations in my [World Ruins Realm]!”

By the time day had turned to night, Summon saw that within the furnace, under the harmony of water and fire, the once-distinct Artifacts had all melted into a swirling, shapeless mass of five-colored light.

”Now is the time!”

Summon looked at Lü Yang and shouted, ”Daoist, you can begin refining it with your Essence Soul! Seize this chance to set the Artifact’s form, so that all its Divine Effects can merge into one!”

Without a second word, Lü Yang immediately channeled his Divine Sense. Then, he opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood that shone with a Splendid Light.

The so-called [Essence Soul] combines the concepts of essence blood and the Soul. It is not the blood of the physical body, but the blood of the Soul—the most vital part of the Soul itself.

One step beyond this is the [Gold Attribute]!

Therefore, as Lü Yang spat out his [Essence Soul], his once-vigorous expression immediately faded. His vision swam with black spots, and a wave of weakness washed over him.

However, as the [Essence Soul] fell into the furnace, Lü Yang quickly felt a connection form with his Heart Spirit. He watched as his [Essence Soul] merged with the swirling, five-colored mass, which finally settled on a shape and revealed its true form: a Magical Sword, dazzling with Profound Light!

The sword’s color was that of dark frost, its form solemn and dignified.

Its spine resembled the celestial expanse, and the pattern on its blade concealed the He Luò Star Map. The handguard was cast in the shape of a chiwen devouring clouds, and the pommel was carved with true edicts in golden seal script. Five colors entwined its hilt, and spiritual patterns born of the Three Caverns adorned its steel.

”It’s done!”

With a single Heart Thought, the Magical Sword in the furnace transformed into a streak of lightning and shot out. It landed beside him, letting out a joyous, thunderous ring.

”A Superior Spirit Sword... No, it already has a sliver of [True Intent]!”

A look of delight appeared on Summon’s face as well. But the next second, as the Sword Light washed over him, that look of delight slowly froze solid.

’...What am I doing?’

Lü Yang, who was holding the Magical Sword, also paled. His smile was frozen, his lips trembled, and the look on his face was indescribable.

The next second, both Lü Yang and Summon, who moments before had only felt beads of cold sweat trickling down, were instantly drenched. The furnace had just been opened, and its fiery qi should have made the air feel like the height of summer, yet the two of them felt a chilling cold seep into their very bones.

Lü Yang looked down at the Magical Sword in his hand.

The Sword Light now flowing over the blade, illuminating them both and severing the strange influence, was a Profound Mysterious effect from this very Spirit Sword.

[Dongming]

This Divine Effect was created by melting down the [Li Wei] from the Abi Sword and the [All Clear] from the Prophetic Orrery, combining their powers and elevating them to a higher level.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible to see through the Illusion Barrier.

”Haaa...”

Lü Yang let out a long, deep breath. Gone from his eyes was the heroic spirit he’d had when first setting out to sea; only deep shock and dread remained.

He turned his head and looked at Summon.

He saw that the Celestial Great Zhenren was also drenched in sweat, his neck stiff as he, too, slowly turned his head to look back. Their eyes met.

Neither of them dared to be the first to speak.

The reason was simple.

’Heaven only knows... if that [Ang Xiao] is standing right next to me at this very moment!!!’