Translator: CinderTL
Governance Peak.
Upon receiving Jiang Yuqiu's message, Huan Ming immediately summoned all the peak lords of the Governance Peak and several core disciples.
Over a dozen people gathered in one place.
Each of them was deeply dissatisfied with the actions of the Chiyang Sword Sect.
"Peak Lord Lei, Peak Lord Jiang has suggested purging all suspicious Core Formation cultivators within our territory. I authorize you to use the Grand Cosmos Mirror for this investigation!" Huan Ming's expression was grim. "To send Core Formation cultivators into our territory to ambush our future Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy—this is a blatant disregard for our Taixu Sword Sect!"
"Understood," Lei Yuan responded. "Sect Master, are you planning to use this opportunity to root out all the hidden pawns from other sects within our territory?"
"Exactly!" Huan Ming nodded. "Recently, the actions of other sects—especially the five neighboring sects—have shown a clear increase in their infiltration efforts against our Taixu Sword Sect. They are trying to force us to cede territory, even bringing up the agreement from thirty years ago about the division of Blue Star!"
The sect master snorted coldly. "Impossible! The territory we've claimed is rightfully ours! Such unreasonable demands show they have no regard for their own sect's dignity!"
"Sect Master, are we planning a major move?" You Long quickly guessed the intention.
"Kill the chicken to scare the monkey!" Huan Ming declared. "Currently, the Sword Prodigy Chunjun has not yet refined his sword into a core. The other eight sects are already restless. It's easy to imagine that once he truly steps into the Core Formation Realm, they will not sit idly by. They will try to suppress and eliminate him before he reaches his peak—before he refines an Indestructible Golden Core. Therefore, we must crush their courage beforehand!"
"Sect Master, are you really considering taking Great Shang? Great Shang constitutes one-third of the Chiyang Sword Sect's territory. If we take it, they will lose most of their influence on Blue Star. We must be cautious of them resorting to extreme measures," You Long warned.
"Then we kill! Our Taixu Sword Sect fears no one, especially not the Chiyang Sword Sect! Whoever dares to step forward, we'll cut them down!" Peak Lord Bai Lian's attitude was aggressive.
"Ahem... Peak Lord Bai Lian, calm down. We are the Taixu Sword Sect, not the Taixu Demon Sect. Since we've joined the Immortal Alliance, we must act according to the rules," Huan Ming quickly tempered the discussion.
But then he shifted his tone. "Of course, if the Chiyang Sword Sect breaks the rules first, then we won't need to be polite with them. If they insist on being unreasonable, we'll annihilate the Chiyang Sword Sect."
Even Peak Lord Lei Yuan of the Conquest Peak found this a bit extreme.
"Isn't this a bit too harsh?"
"Is it? Our Taixu Sword Sect has always believed in proportional retaliation."
"What I mean is, if we eliminate their Core Formation cultivators, they will naturally lose their ability to effectively control Great Shang, Great Chu, and Great Li. Then we can send our people to take over these territories. Over time, these lands will naturally become part of our Taixu Sword Sect."
"Sneaking around is not the way of a noble sect."
"I agree with the Sect Master. Since we've joined the Immortal Alliance, we should act openly and directly. There's no need to resort to underhanded tactics."
"I also think it makes sense. A noble sect should take what it wants through proper means. Once we defeat the Chiyang Sword Sect, they will naturally cede Great Shang to us."
One by one, the peak lords joined the discussion, and the atmosphere in the room grew slightly chaotic.
Seeing this, Huan Ming couldn't stand it anymore: "Alright, let's prepare for the response first."
He turned his gaze to Zuo Tian, the true disciple stationed in the East Province: "With Zhou Wu Gou overseeing the Great Shang, if we really want to take it, this battle between true disciples seems unavoidable. Zuo, are you confident?"
"Leave it to me," Zuo Tian said firmly.
"Our Northeast Province also borders the Great Shang. I'll take it on," Wang Shuo, the true disciple stationed in the Northeast Province, spoke up.
"If that's the case, our Southeast Province indirectly borders the Great Shang as well. Why don't I handle it and merge the Great Shang into our Southeast Province?" the true disciple stationed in the Southeast Province chimed in.
"You're connected by water. Does that count as bordering?" Zuo Tian and Wang Shuo retorted.
Huan Ming looked at the true disciples and then glanced at Jiang Yuqiu.
After a moment of contemplation, he turned to the peak masters: "The territory of the Great Shang is not small; it's enough to establish another province. Should we consider appointing a tenth true disciple?"
"A tenth true disciple?" The peak masters were intrigued.
Some of the quicker ones already knew who this tenth peak master would be for.
However...
"Isn't it a bit too early?"
"Let's include it in the proposal for now and decide later," Huan Ming said, then turned to a Core Formation cultivator: "Summon the envoy from the Chiyang Sword Sect stationed at our Taixu Sword Sect. Inform them of this matter. The Chiyang Sword Sect has attempted to assassinate our future Sword Prodigy. Demand that the Chiyang Sword Sect cede the territory of the Great Shang as compensation. Otherwise, the Taixu Sword Sect will take it by force!"
"Yes," the Core Formation cultivator responded respectfully.
"Alright, the Chiyang Sword Sect won't easily let go of the Great Shang Kingdom. Next, we need to clear our internal environment and prepare for the upcoming nine-sect war!" Huan Ming commanded.
Immediately, everyone mobilized.
...
The next day.
Qin Zhou arrived at Li Chunjun's courtyard again.
"Sword Prodigy, we've found the person you asked us to look for."
"Found them!?" Li Chunjun looked at him: "What's the situation?"
"They're unharmed," Qin Zhou quickly replied.
"Unharmed? Then why haven't they come to the Taixu Sword Sect?" Li Chunjun asked.
"This..." Qin Zhou shook his head: "We haven't figured that out yet."
"Where are they?"
"In the capital of the East Province," Qin Zhou answered swiftly.
Li Chunjun paused, then said: "I'll go take a look." Qin Zhou was momentarily stunned, then said: "Should we wait a few days? There's been a lot of activity within the sect recently."
Li Chunjun assessed his own condition.
If he didn't mind the Pill Toxin, the successful refinement of his Lifebound Flying Sword was imminent. If he could complete it...
"Then let's wait a few more days," Li Chunjun said: "Prepare three bottles of Heartburn Pills for me."
"Alright," Qin Zhou immediately agreed.
The Heartburn Pill was a top-tier cultivation pill for the Qi Refining stage, also effective for Core Formation cultivators. A single bottle was as valuable as a Spirit Artifact.
But for Li Chunjun, who enjoyed the treatment of the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy, such high-level pills were virtually unlimited upon request.
Of course, he still added: "The potency of this pill is quite strong. Be careful when taking it, Sword Prodigy."
"I'm aware," Li Chunjun nodded slightly.
Qin Zhou didn't press further.
He trusted that his Sword Prodigy understood the risks.
Soon after, Jiang Yuliu delivered the three bottles of Heartburn Pills.
Taking the pill, Li Chunjun wasted no time.
With 150 experience points, the pill accelerated his progress significantly.
In just one day, his life level transformation had reached a critical point.
"It's ready."
Li Chunjun drew out the Scarlet Sky Sword.
Immediately, he condensed his vital energy into essence blood, pouring it all into his Lifebound Flying Sword.
The Flaming Phoenix Power contained within the essence blood burned fiercely, guided by his divine sense and sword intent, transforming into a furnace that swiftly melted the prepared Black Flame Diamond, refining it into the sword, forging it into the strongest Lifebound Flying Sword he envisioned.
Compared to previous attempts, this time he refined the sword with essence blood at an unprecedented speed.
Especially under the guidance of his powerful sword intent, the energy within the Black Flame Diamond was precisely controlled, with no waste or overflow.
Gradually, the Scarlet Sky Sword, which had been emitting a golden light, dimmed, transforming from scarlet gold to dark gold.
As the color of the Lifebound Flying Sword changed, its quality also continuously ascended.
Soon, it broke through the barrier from a Spirit Artifact to a Mystic Treasure.
As the Lifebound Flying Sword was refined into a Mystic Treasure, its nature also changed, no longer maintaining a solid form but transforming into a fluid that could continuously change.
This fluid, like a living entity or dark golden blood, undulated before Li Chunjun.
In the next moment, he opened his mouth wide, and the dark golden liquid that was the Scarlet Sky Sword was completely swallowed into his body.
Since a cultivator's Lifebound Flying Sword is nurtured by their vital energy, the sword entering his body caused almost no significant burden.
Changing myriad forms, controlled as if it were his own arm, it was nothing less than that.
"The Mystic Treasure-level Lifebound Flying Sword is complete."
Li Chunjun smiled as he spoke.
The next step...
was one of the greatest challenges on the path of a Sword Cultivator—Refining Sword into Core.
To refine the sword into a core, one must first make the Lifebound Flying Sword and one's own vital energy, including blood, meridians, and skin, extremely compatible.
Until one day, under the guidance of divine sense, the flying sword becomes a part of the body, resonating with every meridian and every drop of blood, forming a whole.
At that point, the relationship between the flying sword and the cultivator would be akin to that of a sword and its sheath.
The flying sword could flow freely along the blood and vital energy within the body, and be emitted from any acupoint or pore, transforming into various forms of attack, defense, or assistance.
Transforming the entire body's vital energy into the edge of the flying sword.
Once the sword is drawn, there is no turning back, unmatched in slaughter.
...
Over the next few days, Li Chunjun familiarized himself with the Scarlet Sky Sword, now a Mystic Treasure.
At the same time, he also reviewed the killing moves from the Profound Phoenix Devouring Sun Sword Qi—Flame Phoenix Sun Refining and Flaming Phoenix Profound Light.
He also delved into the Void Sword Flash from the Taixu Sword Scripture.
Unfortunately...
without the "epiphany" state, the progress in these killing moves was very slow.
He estimated that mastering Flaming Phoenix Profound Light and Void Sword Flash would take years.
And not just one year! This speed...
was too slow!
He didn't want to wait, nor could he afford to.
"Prepare to refine the sword into a core."
Li Chunjun declared.
...
[Life Level: 22 (4/20000)]
...
The "experience" required to increase his life level had significantly risen.
But if he could, like last time, use the hand of Jiang Yuqiu, a Nascent Soul True Lord, to severely weaken a True Core or Golden Core cultivator, he could quickly advance to level 23, meeting his predetermined standard for refining the sword into a core.
But...
This thought lingered in his mind for only a moment before he ruthlessly extinguished it.
Distrust! And...
Trust no one! He had no intention of letting anyone know anything that might expose the "Human Emperor Banner."
Because...
He was well aware of his talent.
The Human Emperor Banner was tied to the most crucial aspect of his life.
Becoming an immortal.
No matter the cost.
(End of the Chapter)
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