Chapter 654
The Tianhe Sect had only reached the stage of integration before coming to a sudden halt.
In simple terms, it meant that the leading figure of the discipline was gone, and the research was forced to stop.
This led to the four ancestral masters, despite wielding the Four Swords of Extermination, being unable to transcend or cultivate further.
Their strength was formidable, yet their path ahead was utterly blocked.
However, the fact that these four were accepted as disciples by the Tianhe Zunzhang was no small feat.
They found another path—though slow, it proved to be highly effective: seeking hosts to refine the Xianjian (Sword of Immortal Trapping), ultimately absorbing their cultivation and insights…
After all, the Tianhe Sect was one of the five major sects, attracting talented cultivators from across the land.
Those who could successfully transform their spirit and wield the Four Swords were among the most gifted cultivators in the history of the Xuanwei Realm.
With their wisdom and cultivation, the four ancestral masters had nearly completed this bizarre path to transcendence over the course of hundreds of thousands of years.
Within the Xianjian, the consciousness of past masters was naturally sealed, causing the sword spirit to feel as if it were suffering from a split personality.
The old man spoke again, “Are you really willing to let us perish?”
“Don’t you find it hard to part with each other?”
“…”
The sword spirit fell silent for a moment, clearly at a loss for words.
As the original sword spirit, she certainly didn’t want to become a lunatic.
Even the later hosts who were refined into her were all extremely proud, mostly from sword cultivation backgrounds, with personalities that were often unyielding.
Now, trapped together, it was truly suffocating.
Zheng Fa’s words struck a chord deep within them.
After a long silence, the old man sighed softly, “Very well, if we can find a way to be liberated, it’s not a bad thing. We’ll go with what you say!”
With that, the Xianjian spirit flicked her small hand, and a stream of light containing secret methods fell into Zheng Fa’s sea of consciousness.
Then, as if they had come to an agreement, the various personalities of the Xianjian spirit seemed to accept their fate, each producing a secret method.
…
Zheng Fa closed his eyes, reading through the secret methods they provided, seemingly entranced.
“... Which one will you choose?”
“This ‘Tongming Sword Technique’…” Zheng Fa hesitated, his tone revealing a hint of excitement.
The old man urged, “What do you think? This is the most profound sword control technique in our Tianhe Sect!”
“Not powerful enough!”
“... What?”
“Although you’ve incorporated the idea of the Blood God Sword into it, intending to plant a blood curse in my physical body, anyone skilled in demonic techniques could easily break it. They could even use this method against you. It would be better if you added some soul control techniques.”
“…”
“Good idea, but it needs improvement!”
After saying this, Zheng Fa glanced at the sword spirit, his eyes filled with a hint of regret for her.
The Xianjian spirit’s expression shifted rapidly, as if she were switching personalities in quick succession, yet each personality was left speechless, staring blankly at Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa, however, seemed to have found his interest. He said to the sword spirit:
“Speaking of which, this treasure that devours its master has some decent secret methods.”
A woman’s voice emerged from the sword spirit, “Decent secret methods?”
“Exactly. Just like you, the ‘Tongyou Lianbao Jue’ you provided has a good concept, wanting to hide your consciousness in my sea of consciousness, waiting for a chance to take over.”
“But you missed one thing: your consciousness is too obvious, and it’s actually quite easy for me to detect. The Demonic Era has a technique called ‘Dao Heart Planting Demons’ that you should really consider…”
“If you modify it and incorporate this technique, many people will fall for it.”
“…”
“‘Dao Heart Planting Demons’? Isn’t that one of the highest secret techniques of the Demonic Sect? Our Tianhe Sect doesn’t even have such a legacy. How do you know about it?”
Zheng Fa smiled but remained silent.
Naturally, it was from the teachings of the Jiu You Mo Zu (Nine Nether Demon Ancestor).
But the expression of the Xianjian spirit as she looked at Zheng Fa grew increasingly horrified.
“Who… who exactly are you?”
Zheng Fa didn’t answer, continuing in a tone akin to grading an assignment:
“And you, yes, the original sword spirit, your ‘Zifu Yangjian Fa’ isn’t very good either. It’s too obvious; anyone who sees it will know you intend to pierce my Zifu with a sword.”
“Fail.”
“…”
The Xianjian spirit blinked, and tears welled up in her eyes, though it was unclear whether from grievance or fear.
Zheng Fa evaluated the secret methods they submitted, his tone filled with regret:
“No wonder you all ended up in such a predicament under the Xianjian Ancestor…”
“…”
“You still have much to learn!”
The Xianjian spirit was deeply disheartened, unable to help but sit down in Zheng Fa’s sea of consciousness and cry:
“I told you I couldn’t do it!”
“Cultivators… cultivators are terrifying!”
Zheng Fa shook his head slightly.
Although he didn’t know much about the Xianjian, he was different from the Jiu You Mo Zu and the Tianhe Sect Master.
One was a friend of the Tianhe Zunzhang, who had even witnessed the Xianjian being forged.
The other was the Tianhe Sect Master, who, after the fall of the Tianhe Zunzhang, knew the sect’s secret history better than anyone.
Zheng Fa had a comprehensive understanding of the Xianjian, from ancient times to the present, inside and out.
These few were merely the nutrients for the ancestral masters in the Tianhe Sect, and when they reached Haori Mountain, they were further suppressed.
How could their perspective compare to Zheng Fa’s?
Now, after Zheng Fa’s critique, they were naturally filled with despair.
“You… you…”
The old man’s voice trembled, yet he couldn’t find the words.
Zheng Fa was well-versed in these secret methods, even innovating and referencing various sources, which was indeed frightening.
What was even more terrifying was his earnest critique, complete with suggestions for improvement—suddenly, it made the little tricks of these individuals seem like child’s play, merely for amusement.
All that remained in their hearts was fear, leaving them unable to muster even a hint of their former confidence.
“I know you don’t want to die and disappear,” Zheng Fa suddenly said.
The sword spirit froze, looking at Zheng Fa in confusion.
“Cultivators seek longevity; this is understandable.” Zheng Fa’s tone was surprisingly sincere, “But as I said, being trapped in a sword, unable to find liberation, isn’t that worse than death?”
“... Which of us wants to live like this? But to die like this, how could we accept it?” the old man suddenly exclaimed, “This unwillingness, how could you understand?”
“In this Xianjian, the days are dark and endless!”
“On Haori Mountain, the years of being suppressed!”
“The feeling of being burned in flames day after day.”
“How could you possibly understand?”
Zheng Fa listened and nodded, then suddenly said, “So… do you want to take revenge on the ancestral master of the Xianjian lineage?”
“…”
The Xianjian spirit, sitting on the ground, suddenly looked up at Zheng Fa.
“Revenge?”
“If he wants to transcend, then let him be unable to.”
“Can you do that?”
“With the Xianjian, I can at least help.”
Zheng Fa’s words came from the heart. Although he and the Yán Zhangmen (Master Yan) both wanted the other to take the fall, they were inextricably linked—if he wielded the Xianjian and gained power, it would naturally benefit his plans against Yán Zhangmen.
The expression of the Xianjian spirit shifted, as if in deep conflict.
But then Zheng Fa added, “Believe it or not, I’ve given you a choice.”
The determination gradually appeared in the eyes of the Xianjian spirit.
Zheng Fa wasn’t surprised.
This group of sword spirits had no choice in their personalities; they couldn’t trap him anymore, as it was all a dead end.
Now, the possibility of striking back at the ancestral master of the Xianjian lineage was too tempting for them to resist:
Yán Zhangmen hadn’t even been refined into a sword spirit yet, and the desire for rebellion was already burning bright.
This group had truly suffered a great loss.
…
Zheng Fa held on for about ten days before being replaced.
He was merely at the Yuanying stage, and his cultivation was insufficient to control the grand formation for long periods, so he could only manage about thirteen or fourteen days before needing a break.
The Xianjian calmed down, and the Shinan Dang Seven regained some strength, allowing them to let Zheng Fa descend the mountain.
A few days later, Shinan Dang looked at the Xianjian in the mountain’s belly, his gaze filled with confusion:
“Why has the Xianjian been so well-behaved today?”
Beside him, the emaciated Huashen nodded gently, “A few days ago, it was just less unruly, but these days… it’s even showing some initiative. Perhaps it’s tired?”
Shinan Dang furrowed his brow, unable to come up with an answer.
But for a treasure like the Xianjian, even a Huashen couldn’t fully comprehend it. He simply watched the obedient sword in the flames, puzzled:
Just a few days ago, it was like a divine beast, Kunpeng, flapping its wings and desperately trying to escape.
Now, it looked more like a domesticated chick.
As if sensing his gaze, the Xianjian moved, burrowing down to the bottom of the mountain, quiet and still, sometimes even rolling over with the changes in the grand formation.
It had a kind of obedience that suggested it not only wanted to be cooked but was also actively putting on the lid.
…
What Shinan Dang didn’t know was that it wasn’t just the Xianjian that enjoyed being burned.
“Junior Brother! It’s my turn now!”
Senior Sister Yuan, filled with anticipation, strode into Zheng Fa’s courtyard, tossing him a storage bag.
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