Great Red Immortal Sect

Chapter 467 Refining Clouds
Heavenly Punishment, in the clouds.

The autumn wind was chilling, and silver lightning streaked across the sky. Inside the main hall, Xu Xuan finished his breathing exercises. His cultivation of the [Illumination of Yin Refining Technique] had reached a bottleneck, and now the moonlight within his inner vision showed signs of forming a pool.

He rose and stepped out, pondered for a moment, then cleaved through the void, stepping on layers of lightning as he headed south. He passed through the Great Jing Plain and crossed the Jade Flow Mountain, and soon arrived at the Ancient Yang County, where he could see the flames of Xiangjian Mountain in the distance.

"We have many spiritual items in our sect, so we can ask Sword Master Xue to forge a spiritual weapon."

Xu Xuan emerged silently from the void. At this moment, he sensed with his spiritual awareness that all the cultivators in Xiangjian Mountain were alchemists, and there were very few of them, but no true disciples were to be found.

He then slightly activated his supernatural powers, causing silver lightning to surge and the light of calamity to change, indicating his arrival.

Suddenly, the sky above Xiangjian Mountain brightened, flames leaped, and a swordsman in black robes emerged from it, riding the wind. He had a thin face, sword-like eyebrows, and thin lips. The Bing Fire Divine Power was concentrated on his body, and the aura of a mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator was unmistakable.

"Fellow Daoist Zhujian".

This Sword Master Xue had already attained the [Immortal of Flames], but to this day, his supernatural powers were still incomplete, and he remained trapped in the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm. He had already guessed Xu Xuan's purpose in coming and simply invited him into the mountain for a chat.

The two rode the wind, stepping over the crimson flames, and arrived at an elegant black and gold pavilion. They entered together and took their seats.

"It's been a long time. Fellow Daoist, you have already perfected your second divine power, and you are cultivating the [Primordial Order], a divine power of thunder. The speed at which you broke through the realm is rarely seen in the world."

Zhu Jian sensed Xu Xuan's cultivation level with his spiritual sense and was somewhat surprised, but he did not show it on his face. He was a talkative person, and even though he knew that the other party was coming to refine weapons, he deliberately did not bring it up.

"I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to complete the cultivation."

Xu Xuan's words were vague, and his progress in cultivating the [Primordial Order] naturally aroused suspicion. Not to mention others, at least the cultivators of the Thunder Department must have been suspicious. After much suspicion, they could only assume that he either obtained luck or had a powerful figure pushing him forward.

Only in such chaotic times, by cultivating the Thunder God and displaying his divine abilities, can he be tolerated by people; otherwise, many high-ranking cultivators would want to see his true nature.

"I've heard that the Thunder Seed of the Thunder Department has yet to emerge from seclusion, but..."

Zhu Jian lowered his voice slightly, his meaning quite clear: Song Shiming's seclusion for so long had exceeded the norm. This person was cultivating the Thunder God Sect and was being groomed to become a high-ranking official in the Thunder Department in the future, but now he was experiencing some setbacks and was in danger of falling from grace.

"How could we possibly know about the Song family's affairs?"

Xu Xuan changed the subject at this moment, refraining from judgment, but he already had some guesses in his mind.

'Song Shiming, it seems unlikely he will succeed. Even with the support of the Thunder Department, the difficulty of achieving supernatural powers through the [Primordial Order] is still beyond his imagination.'

Zhu Jian smiled slightly, having already made up his mind.

"The path of 'She Lei' (社雷) cultivation is not about resources or techniques. Even though the Song family is an imperial clan, reaching the Purple Mansion level in this path is not something one can achieve at will. Currently, besides the First Immortal Path, the true cultivator of She Lei in the Great Li realm is none other than Fellow Daoist Bi Jie."

"Not only the Thunder Department, but also fellow Daoists, will be involved in the future battles between Li Liao and others. After all, the 'Ling Sa' path is the one among the three witches that fears 'She Lei' the most."

This was the first time Xu Xuan had heard of these two elements being mutually reinforcing and restraining. His eyes narrowed, and he simply said:

"Lingsa, have you been punished by Shelei before?"

"This path is dedicated to worshipping spirits, refining totems, and serving demons. It is mostly practiced by barbarian tribes, who naturally fear divine punishment; this is also true of the 'Earth-Containing' and 'Wood-Averse' paths. During the reign of Emperor Fengdai, the Northern Thunder Sect was tasked with guarding the border and once used the Heavenly Canopy Immortal Incantation to greatly defeat twelve barbarian demon spirits, nearly wiping out this path entirely."

Zhu Jian's tone was filled with emotion as he sighed, "..."
"After the fall of Feng, and the passage of time through chaos, these barbarians seized the opportunity to rise, the Liao Dynasty flourished, and Emperor Muling attained his throne, establishing the Nian Kingdom, which housed countless demons. If we examine the details closely, Shangli was the most capable of dealing with these barbarians, but its current decline has given the Northern Liao the opportunity to wreak havoc."

Xu Xuan listened silently. The "Shangli" was prosperous in Zhou and was most likely cultivated by the Human Emperor as a way to educate the people. But now it seems to have suffered the same fate as "She Lei". He didn't know why.

"It is unknown when the Northern Liao will truly start an uprising; when that happens, the north will be the first to be thrown into turmoil."

His gaze shifted, and seeing that the Candle Sword Master still wanted to discuss this matter, he immediately spoke first:

"I have come here to ask you, fellow Daoist, to help me refine a spiritual weapon. I wonder if you have the time?"

"What kind of spiritual items do you possess, Fellow Daoist Refining and Tribulation-Slaying, and what kind of spiritual weapon do you require?"

Zhu Jian was, after all, a renowned alchemist, and his expression immediately became much more serious when the matter was discussed.

Xu Xuan then took out a colorful patterned black stone, about the size of a fetus. Radiant light continuously poured out from its cracks, dazzling and captivating.

"There are so many of these [Radiant Stones]!"

Zhu Jian's gaze sharpened slightly. This radiant spiritual object was suitable for crafting into a weapon and had many wonderful uses. Xu Xuan had taken out enough spirit stones to refine a spiritual weapon, and there were still quite a few left.

"I wish to forge a magical artifact that can deal with killing intent and add to my methods. I do not seek killing power, but only that it can be more versatile."

Xu Xuan currently possesses only two spiritual artifacts. One is the [Dan Ting] sword, a mid-grade Purple Mansion sword. Although its power is not the most outstanding, it is bound to his life, so he is naturally reluctant to exchange it.

The remaining item is the [Taiyue Wangchun Terrace]. This spiritual artifact is primarily for preserving life and calming the soul. When used in combat, it can add a [Wuchun Yanghui] to the physical body, but its effects are limited.

In a battle of magic, a powerful and suitable spiritual weapon can often create an advantage, while a powerful spiritual treasure can even be decisive in determining the outcome.

Xu Xuan secretly estimated that if he had a Thunder Treasure from the Thunder Palace at this moment, and activated it with a divine power, its power would probably be no weaker than a divine power. However, it would consume a lot of magic power, unlike sword intent which could be used at will and consumed little power.

"Since you have such a request, what other spiritual materials do you possess? I'm afraid this single Radiant Stone is insufficient to refine it."

After pondering for a while, Zhu Jian seemed to have made a decision. He took the Radiant Stone and examined it carefully. He felt that the color was excellent, but it was too monotonous and it would be difficult to create variations.

Xu Xuan didn't say much, but immediately listed three spiritual items: the [Avici Fire Pearl] of the Ding Fire element, the [Supreme Good Spiritual Water] of the Kan Water element, and the [Great Mountain Soil] of the Gen Earth element.

He was going all out right now. With the opening of the cave heaven imminent, improving his strength was the most important thing; he could plan for spiritual items later. "Supreme Goodness Spiritual Water."

Zhu Jian's gaze sharpened slightly. Among the three spiritual objects, this spiritual water was the most valuable. It belonged to the Kan water element, which was of the highest quality and could resolve impurities and transform negative energy.

"These three spiritual items do not clash with the radiant light. If refined into it, they can become a mid-grade spiritual artifact with many wonderful uses. As for the reward, if a pagoda is refined, eighty percent of these spiritual items will be used, and the remaining twenty percent will be the reward."

"it is good."

Xu Xuan immediately agreed, as Zhu Jian's words were quite fair, and he had no objections.

"How long will it take to refine?"

"It will only take three years."

Zhu Jian laughed heartily and immediately agreed. Crafting a mid-grade spiritual weapon wasn't difficult for him; however, to make it suit the other party's taste would require some effort.

"Three years."

Xu Xuan made a quick calculation and figured he should be able to complete the crafting before the cave descended. He immediately agreed, and the two made a vow. After talking for a while, Xu Xuan realized that this Sword Master Xue was indeed a good talker, so he had to find an excuse to take his leave.

Riding the thunder, I looked at Xiangjian Mountain again. Although this spiritual mountain governs a prefecture, it has not recruited many disciples. There are only a few dozen disciples scattered around, most of whom are Qi Refining cultivators, with only two Foundation Establishment cultivators, and they are quite old.

"This master doesn't seem to care much about passing on the tradition."

Xu Xuanxin felt a sense of unease. As a refiner, Zhu Jian should seek the position of Bing Huo [Master Refiner], which is the ultimate in refining. The Wang family ancestors in the sect had connections with this path, and there would probably be a time when they would be in contact again in the future.

He broke through the void and escaped. Now that everything is done, he only needs to wait for the Kunwei Heaven to descend before he can act.

This grotto-heaven is of extraordinary significance, not only as an opportunity but also as a harbinger of the true war between Li and Liao. Each cultivator harbors their own thoughts, and the future situation of Dali can be glimpsed from it.
-

Thunder Department.

The incense and golden energy condensed into divine paths, leading to all directions. The Thunder Seal in the center hung high in the sky, with golden divine thunder surging endlessly. The Thunder God Generals and Heavenly Soldiers above it all stood solemnly awaiting orders.

On the high platform formed by condensed clouds, two figures stood side by side at the top of the Thunder Seal, looking down at the scene below.

A man dressed in Ming Dynasty gold armor, with an old face, skin like a withered tree, and white hair and beard, stood upright and exuded an imposing aura. He was none other than the Divine General Wei Hua, a member of the Song family and of extremely high seniority.

This old cultivator appears to be nearing the end of his life, but thanks to the divine power, he has barely managed to prolong his life, though his condition is not very good.

Beside him stood a man in sky-blue armor. This man had a cold and stern face, and his eyes were like knives, making people afraid to approach him. Thunderous divine powers constantly changed around him, and he was none other than the True Man Zhuo Xie.

"Song Shiming has not yet emerged from seclusion?"

Zhuoxie's voice was solemn as he looked at Weihua beside him, his expression questioning. The old cultivator beside him, however, remained expressionless, simply saying:

“I used my supernatural powers to see that he was in seclusion in that old place of the God of Calamity, and his soul light is still shining, he has not perished.”

"That means it didn't work out."

Zhuoxie's tone was quite impolite. He glanced at the Thunder Department, his gaze growing increasingly serious, and said solemnly:
"Lei Bu. This place is not a place to punish on behalf of Heaven. When has it ever presided over morality? It only takes action to deal with the demonic lands of Liao. It cannot support the intention of She Lei."

“I understand this principle.” Wei Hua’s expression remained unchanged as he looked into the distance. “The reason we decided to use divine thunder as the main element was because this thunder is indiscriminate in its effects of good and evil and can represent the emperor’s authority. That is why we planned this magical treasure of the Xuan Shu Immortal Path.”

"With the Emperor Taizu's methods, it wouldn't matter if he wanted to obtain a magic treasure called She Lei. But what if he actually obtained it? Would he cleanse himself of evil or ascend to the heavens to punish on behalf of Heaven?"

Wei Hua's voice grew increasingly aged, golden lightning surged around him, and a hint of regret gradually crept into his voice.

"Back then, we used every means possible, under the guise of slaying demons, to try to help Shi Ming break through, but now it seems that he can't get past the mental barrier."

Zhuo Xie seemed unwilling to discuss these matters at this moment, standing with his hands behind his back, his tone gradually becoming somber.

"Even with the support of the Thunder Department, your Song family disciples have still not succeeded. Can you find out which great master guided that True Immortal of the Crimson Cloud?"

Since the last Heavenly Demon Chaos, Zhuoxie has paid close attention to the True Man Chiyun. This man not only cultivated the Thunder Palace Sword Meridian, but also achieved She Lei using ancient methods, which is truly unbelievable.

There are no coincidences in this world, and there is no such thing as sudden enlightenment. To be able to cultivate the She Lei, this person must have something to rely on. And even the Purple Mansion cannot see through the reason, which must be driven by the Golden Core.

"This matter has been reported to the grotto-heaven, but they still haven't been able to figure out its origins. It's likely that some great figure from ancient times made the move, and is now hiding, secretly making his move. After all, the Blessed Land of White Paper chose this person, so it's normal that he's somewhat extraordinary."

Wei Hua sighed, saying that those chosen by the Blessed Land of White Paper throughout history were all people who would be remembered in history books. Even Emperor Gaozu of Zhao had paper figures following him.

With the help of the paper doll, Song Shiyi's status soared. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was already eligible to be appointed as a god. He is only at the early stage of Purple Mansion, but his power and position are already approaching those of the kings.

An Xianhui of Fuchen was born with a defect and was not highly regarded. However, since the paper figure came, he was promoted to Daozi and his status is even above that of the direct line of the cave heaven.

"If it weren't for the overwhelming power of that one in Bei Liao, even with the Lord's encouragement, the cultivators wouldn't have been able to see this She Lei Sword Immortal."

Zhuo Xie seemed somewhat moved. In his youth, he had the ambition to punish on behalf of Heaven, but now that he had embarked on the path of the Thunder God and was nearing the end of his lifespan, he had transferred to this unworthy Thunder Department. Only he knew the bitterness of it all.

"It is very useful. We need this sword to fight against the Liao people."

Wei Hua's figure gradually dissipated, turning into golden lightning and departing. In the void, the incense and golden energy grew stronger, connecting with the central Dou Shu Thunder Seal.

(End of this chapter)