Legend of Swordsman

”Li Miao, this is a heaven-sent opportunity for you! My teacher is a figure who can dominate the Ancient Domain. Once you become his disciple, your path will be much smoother!” Zhen Xian Wuyan chimed in at this moment to help persuade.

However, deep down, Li Miao was utterly unwilling. Ever since his physique had been transformed, he was no weaker than Wuyan, and he might even surpass him.

By then, if he had to deal with someone like Li Miao frequently, it would undoubtedly irritate him.

If it were his ancestor, it would be different. After all, he only respected that Great Tang Ancestor.

Honest and upright!

With someone like that, you would never be at a disadvantage. It was a friendship where you could fully trust the other person to have your back. Who wouldn’t want a junior brother like that?

What he didn’t know was that his master’s real reason for extending the olive branch to Li Miao was because of Immortal Jiu Chen.

The Ancient Demon’s physical body and blood essence weren’t important in the eyes of True Lord of Karma.

Even the formation that could refine the physical body wasn’t important because it required too many treasures. After achieving transcendence, the materials needed to alter his physical body were far too numerous, and it would be impossible to afford the cost.

However, advancement in the level of the soul-now that was different.

The nourishment the formation required was merely the souls of mortals.

The Upper Realm had no shortage of mortals, and there was also an endless supply of cultivators’ souls, all of which could be used as nourishment.

That was what he valued.

Because the Secret Art of the Divine Eye and the Dao that followed immortality required elevation of the soul. The higher the soul level, the greater one’s comprehension.

That was what True Lord of Karma truly valued.

After all, his perspective was different. Most of the people he interacted with were at the Mahayana stage, and some were even Immortal beings.

He understood that the path after immortality was one’s personal Dao.

There were stronger and weaker Daos; some were supreme, while others were mere trifles. There was even the Ultimate Dao, and special Daos as well.

These were not determined by the level of the physical body but by comprehension.

Though many followed the path of divine power due to the Secret Art of the Divine Eye, that path was far more distant.

At the very least, one had to be at the level of a Great Emperor before coming into contact with divine power.

Moreover, the divine power path still required augmentation from the Dao.

In this interconnected path, the physical body could be improved with hard work later, so there was no rush. But comprehension was different. The sooner it was raised, the more benefits it would bring for the future.

Thus, True Lord of Karma was willing to lower his pride, pretending to be courteous in front of a mere mortal, just to obtain the formation that advanced the soul.

Of course, taking on a disciple with such an innocent physique wasn’t a loss either, as he would gain an ally who might one day become a transcendent powerhouse.

With such a tempting offer, Li Miao hesitated.

He thought he could hold out a little longer, but he hadn’t expected...

His Dao heart was so fragile.

Li Miao trembled as he lowered his head, speaking with respect, ”Senior, I am willing to accept you as my master!”

With this one sentence, the bond of master and disciple between him and Immortal Jiu Chen was shattered.

Though Jiu Chen felt deeply helpless in his heart, all he could do was sigh.

He remembered the past.

A young, introverted prince had been playing in the palace when he accidentally stumbled upon a storeroom filled with strange and rare items, where he discovered Jiu Chen’s existence. At first, Jiu Chen attached himself to the prince. Later, he helped the prince ascend to the throne, and the prince became the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, aiding this immortal master in reconstructing his physical body.

Scene after scene of memories flashed by, and Jiu Chen’s heart felt as though it was being cut by a knife.

Even though he was heartbroken, he couldn’t bear to see Li Miao perish alongside him.

Perhaps this was a good way for him to find peace.

However, he himself had lost that peace.

Amidst his sorrowful thoughts, Li Miao spoke again. This time, he directly knelt and prostrated himself on the ground, his tone even more respectful as he said:

”Please have mercy, True Lord of Heavenly Fire, spare Immortal Jiu Chen’s life. Your disciple

is willing to serve you like a beast of burden, without a word of complaint!”

At these words, the True Lord of Heavenly Fire’s brow furrowed.

Jiu Chen, however, felt a warmth bloom in his heart, and his eyes reddened with a feeling he couldn’t put into words.

It felt as if, after raising a child for so many years and believing the child belonged to someone else, a blood test revealed they were a perfect match.

”How dare you! It is an honor that my master is willing to take you as his disciple, an opportunity for you. And yet, you dare to make demands!” Zhen Xian, without hesitation, seized every opportunity to step on Li Miao.

Preferably, to crush him entirely.

He had no desire to become a fellow disciple with someone like this.

”Little one, do you know the consequences of making demands of me?” The True Lord of Heavenly Fire’s massive, illusory face began to revert to its true form, transforming into a

human shape.

His appearance mirrored that of the giant face-tall and imposing. Though his features had frozen in the image of a mortal in their sixties, his body remained incredibly strong.

In short, he appeared to be an elderly man with white hair but with a powerful and robust

physique.

In this fully restored form, his presence grew even more oppressive.

The pressure was so overwhelming that even Jiu Chen and Li Miao struggled to breathe.

”Li Miao!” Jiu Chen spoke with great difficulty, ”There’s no need to plead on my behalf. I can tell him the secret of the Soul Advancement Formation!”

This information was highly sensitive, and once revealed, the True Lord would surely pursue more of Jiu Chen’s secrets.

However, Jiu Chen had already made up his mind. For Li Miao’s sake, he would rather sink into damnation than face death together.

Li Miao, in his simplicity, genuinely believed that revealing the Soul Advancement Formation would be enough to spare Jiu Chen’s life.

The True Lord of Heavenly Fire waved his hand, and Jiu Chen was absorbed into his ring. The two communicated through thought power, leaving those outside unaware of what was said. ”Very well. I do not intend to take his life!” The True Lord of Heavenly Fire’s mood improved significantly, for he had just learned a shocking secret.

A secret regarding the first sequence of inheritance.

His journey to the lower realm to rescue his disciple had not been in vain.

The benefits he’d gained were greater than what he’d acquired from years of wandering the

outside world.

After collecting Jiu Chen, he turned his gaze toward the massive ancient demon’s body and casually stored it within his space ring.

In high spirits, the True Lord of Heavenly Fire smiled and said, ”Wu Yan, there is some lingering ancient demon essence in this place. It should not go to waste. Start refining it now,

and extract the demon blood from the Crimson Eye Realm. I shall head into the city for a look

around!”

”Yes, Master!” Zhen Xian Wu Yan was excited.

To refine the demon blood of the Crimson Eye Realm-that meant the blood would be his!

Although there wasn’t much, it was certainly better than nothing!

Even if only a tenth of the demon blood remained, it would be enough to elevate his life level.

But on second thought, Wu Yan realized it wouldn’t be that simple.

The Crimson Eye Realm still contained billions of mortals. Wouldn’t it be a waste to refine

them all?

And now that his master had obtained the Soul Advancement Formation...

At this realization, Zhen Xian Wu Yan understood.

His master intended to make him do all the heavy lifting!

Refining billions of mortals would be no problem for a transcendent powerhouse, but for

him, who hadn’t yet transcended, it would incur karma.

However, that karma was nothing compared to the benefits of ancient demon blood.

”Heh, seems like Master wants to leave a good impression on the junior disciple!” Zhen Xian

Wu Yan sneered inwardly, but dared not express any dissatisfaction.

He began to refine the entire Crimson Eye Realm.

Ever since the True Lord of Heavenly Fire had descended, Wei Jiuxian had been nothing more

than a background figure, standing at the edge of the clouds, completely ignored.

No one bothered with him.

It was as if he had been forgotten entirely.