Born with immortal seed

Chapter 614 Qualitative Change in the Sword Formation
"If one can truly reach the Nascent Soul stage in a hundred years, wouldn't that mean there's still over a thousand years to cultivate to the peak of the Nascent Soul stage and then attempt ascension..."

The sword spirit seemed startled, its voice broken and intermittent.

"I need to ensure the location of my natal flying sword. Otherwise, if you treat it like a servant and don't cherish it, it might break before we even return to the Earthly Immortal Realm."

Bai Zichen paused slightly, not expecting that the sword spirit had some brains and knew to add a layer of protection for him.

The natal flying sword is inseparable from the mind and spirit. Once damaged, the sword master will also suffer a great loss of vitality, and it may even shake the foundation of the sword.

Moreover, as the refining time goes on, the origin of the flying sword becomes more and more profound. The sword master is reluctant to let go and will do everything possible to improve the rank of his natal flying sword.

“Yes, I swear by the Great Dao that I will refine you into my natal flying sword.”

Bai Zichen agreed without hesitation, advancing to the late Nascent Soul stage. His Dongxuan Slaughtering God Sword Scripture reached the fifth level, allowing him to refine one more natal flying sword.

If he could impress the sword spirit with just one spot and get a fifth-tier flying sword to recognize him as its master, he would be more than willing.

"Alright, as long as I can return to the Immortal Realm, what's wrong with acknowledging you as my master?"

The starlight, like quicksand, shrank into a single line, falling neatly like a string of fine sand, almost impatiently.

Aside from the desire to return to the upper realm, it was also because Bai Zichen was so outstanding that he didn't seem like a cultivator from the mortal world. For a Nascent Soul True Monarch to recognize him as a master would not diminish his prestige, but rather be an opportunity.

If we can accompany him as he grows, there will be opportunities to climb to even greater heights.

The Star Sand Sword was made by collecting 108 kinds of extraterrestrial meteorite iron and exposing it to cosmic rays for 360 years. It first became a single entity and then transformed into countless pieces of star sand.

When it comes to the unpredictable changes in sword light, no flying sword of the same level can compare.

It was originally made by a famous swordsmith in the Immortal Realm, who spent hundreds of years just collecting meteorite iron from outer space.

In the process of forging the sword pellet, countless spiritual materials were used to concentrate the essence into a single point.

After years of nurturing, it was born as a fifth-tier flying sword.

The Star Sand Sword was unlike any flying sword Bai Zichen had ever seen before; it was truly dispersed into thousands upon thousands of grains of star sand.

Because of their active cooperation, a slight connection was established after a simple ritual.

It looks easy to refine, but to truly make it into a natal flying sword, all the star sand must be refined, which will actually take quite a while.

These stardust particles are crystals left after different extraterrestrial meteorites have been refined to perfection; the refining techniques are so exquisite that they are beyond the reach of the human realm.

To refine a meteorite iron weighing over ten thousand jin into a single grain of sand, without losing any of its essence, is the ultimate test for a weapon refiner.

With the total amount reaching this level, and because it must be done by one person to ensure the integrity of the sand, multiple people cannot collaborate.

Even the strongest weapon refiner in the human realm would probably be too exhausted to complete this workload, even if he worked himself to the bone.

The Immortal Realm must possess superior weapon-refining techniques, and the weapon refiner's own cultivation level also determines the efficiency.

"However, there is one advantage: the Star Sand Sword is most compatible with the Star River Sword Formation and can be seamlessly integrated into the sword formation... In fact, if all the flying swords used in the formation could be replaced with star-shaped flying swords of similar attributes, the power of the sword formation could be increased by at least two times."

Bai Zichen only thought about it; it was completely unrealistic, even more exaggerated than forming a uniform fifth-order sword formation.

"On the contrary, the Star Sand Sword can act as a lubricant between celestial bodies and stars. No matter which flying sword comes out with it, it can achieve a result greater than the sum of its parts."

The Star River Sword Formation was put away, and all the flying swords, along with the newly arrived Star Sand Swords, returned to the Supreme Pure Micro Sword Box.

The pure energy in the box had not yet fully recovered, so the Great Sun Furnace Sword had to be moved to make room for another sword.

"Wow, this pure spiritual energy is somewhat similar to the place where I was born. I can't believe there are such treasures in the mortal realm!"

The Star Sand Sword fell into the pure energy, causing a great commotion and shouts, scattering into countless starlight points that filled the entire corner.

"You're so ignorant! Does the Earthly Immortal Realm not have anything similar to the Blood Refining Sword Platform?!"

The Avici Heavenly Prison Demon Sword snorted disdainfully, expressing its dissatisfaction with the fifth-tier flying sword from the Earthly Immortal Realm.

The top-ranking flying sword in the box now comes from the Heavenly Demon Realm, while the Purple Star Thunderclap Sword comes from the Earthly Immortal Realm, but its status is transcendent, and neither dares to have any thoughts of comparison.

The Nanming Fire Sword is a native flying sword of the human world, but it is still a long way from being truly refined.

Only this newly arrived Star Sand Sword, which willingly surrendered, will soon become my natal flying sword.

It's another sword pellet from the Immortal Realm; a conflict is bound to arise in the future.

In addition, since the Supreme Pure Sword Box consumed its pure energy to help the Panlong Devouring Moon Sword successfully repair itself, the Abyssal Prison Demon Sword, which originally occupied a space with no one on its left or right, has had to squeeze together with other flying swords, and has long had a grudge.

"Xingsha, I have a question for you: Where were you born? Why do you feel a sense of familiarity?"

Bai Zichen moved the Abyssal Prison Demon Sword far away, not giving the jumping Star Sand Sword a chance to retaliate.

"I was born in the Heaven-Opening Sword Furnace, one of the three great artifacts of the Heavenly Crafting Hall... Legend has it that I was originally a Heaven-Opening Spiritual Treasure, but due to some special circumstances, the artifact spirit was injured and had no choice but to merge into the sword furnace. Since then, the sword furnace's sword-forging effect has been raised to another level. A small portion of the fifth-order flying swords in the Earthly Immortal Realm are made from the Heaven-Opening Sword Furnace."

Bai Zichen discovered another benefit of accepting the Star Sand Sword: after all, it came from the Earthly Immortal Realm and still retained a great deal of knowledge absorbed from Master Dongyang.

Even though it's separated by tens of thousands of years, it's still very valuable for reference considering the speed of power shifts in the Earthly Immortal Realm.

Logically speaking, the Ziwei Thunder Sword should possess more secrets, but Xiao Zi is too aloof and unwilling to communicate, and many of her memories are sealed away.

In Xing Shajian's limited memories, Kaigong Hall was a combined force of the Earth Immortal Realm, a sacred place for weapon forging throughout the world.

Compared to the human realm where the upper limit for forging is a top-grade magic weapon, the upper limit in the Earthly Immortal Realm is a top-grade spiritual treasure. The most top-tier weapon refiners' works are those that immediately face the Heavenly Tribulation upon being forged, and can become Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasures.

If the Heaven-Opening Sword Furnace was originally a Heaven-Opening Spiritual Treasure, then that makes sense.

The pure spiritual energy within the Supreme Pure and Subtle Sword Box was drawn from the very moment the world was first created; in simpler terms, it brought together thirty-six primordial spiritual objects.

It might even exceed that, because there are multiple spiritual objects created at the beginning of time, and each world only gives birth to a wisp of pure spiritual energy when heaven and earth are defined and the pure and turbid are separated.

Only with such an origin can a flying sword possess all sorts of mystical abilities, and even continuously grow stronger under the protection of pure energy, restoring its original essence and repairing damage to its body.

"Now that you've seen this treasure, you won't think I'm exaggerating, right? Just stay here and wait patiently, and one day I'll let you return to the Immortal Realm."

Bai Zichen reassured Xing Sha Sword with a few more words, and the arrival of this sword finally filled the last gap in his Star River Sword Formation.

Including the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword, which is currently undergoing upgrades, three fifth-tier flying swords, and nine fourth-tier flying swords, this lineup has elevated the sword formation's strength to a new level.

He had room to imagine that even when facing a Nascent Soul cultivator, he could withstand one or two attacks.

Unlike in the past, when they were powerless to defend against even a single hair clone of the Red-Eared Ancestor, and their sword formation was broken.

Of course, it's best to avoid Nascent Soul cultivators if possible; there's no need to risk your life to prove your limits.

The gap between Nascent Soul and Deity Transformation is even greater than that between Core Formation and Nascent Soul.

In ancient times, the transition from Nascent Soul to Deity was the distinction between humans and gods, representing two different worlds.

Even in the Earthly Immortal Realm, ascended cultivators only account for a very small percentage; the majority are native cultivators.

Even in that upper realm where everyone is like a dragon and everyone can cultivate immortality, the spiritual energy level is several times that of the human realm, and even a Nascent Soul cultivator can be considered a powerful figure.

In those minor worlds that depend on the Earthly Immortal Realm, the Nascent Soul cultivators are already powerful enough to be called ancestors and become high and mighty gods.

Stories of Core Formation cultivators reversing their fate to slay Nascent Soul cultivators are rare, but one of them pops up every now and then.

However, even if we go back to the ancient times, no one, whether it was the oldest naturally born gods or the immortals who descended to the mortal realm with profound backgrounds, had ever managed to reverse the Nascent Soul stage to become a god.

At best, they can only survive against Nascent Soul cultivators and remain undefeated.

Most importantly, Bai Zichen's invincible Azure Emperor Longevity Sword is much less effective when dealing with Nascent Soul cultivators.

The Nascent Soul True Lord was helpless against the true meaning of time and could only risk his life to resist it.

A Nascent Soul cultivator is different; they can completely alter the laws of heaven and earth around them, reducing the effects of the True Meaning of Time to the extreme.

Originally, a single sword strike could cut off a hundred years of lifespan, but when it falls on a Nascent Soul cultivator, the actual effect might only be ten years.

He wasn't afraid of those human deities who only dared to hide in their caves; at worst, he could burn his lifespan to activate the complete Azure Emperor Longevity Sword.

Who knows, a single sword strike could take away an old human who has reached the Divine Transformation stage.

Unfortunately, their opponent is a demon race member who has reached the Nascent Soul stage. Even with a short lifespan, it is still measured in hundreds of years. Expecting the Azure Emperor's Longevity Sword to work its magic would only be possible if his Dao of Time advanced three or four more times in a row.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Bai, on subduing the fifth-order flying sword and fulfilling your wish."

Upon seeing this scene, Qiu He immediately understood what had happened and rushed forward to offer his congratulations.

"Happy together."

Bai Zichen looked relaxed. After confirming that the fifth-tier sword pellet was in the Dongyang Villa, he was somewhat prepared to subdue the fifth-tier flying sword.

Other Nascent Soul cultivators might escape with the fifth-tier flying swords due to their insufficient strength, but as long as he can summon the flying swords, capturing them under the Star River Sword Formation is a piece of cake.

A fifth-tier flying sword that is not controlled by anyone can only exert its full power up to the limit of a Nascent Soul cultivator at the peak of their cultivation level.

Only when they sense the danger of destruction will they disregard everything and unleash their primal power, possessing power close to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator's casual strike.

However, Xing Sha Sword was so easy to talk to, and readily agreed to acknowledge him as its master, which delighted him greatly.

In comparison, it looks much better than the Nanming Li Huo Sword.

"It's a pity that Junior Brother Xiao didn't live to see this day. Otherwise, with the Plum Blossom Heavenly Star Pill, he might have been able to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage..."

The three entered the Dongyang villa together, but now only two of them wanted to return. Qiu He's face was filled with sorrow.

"I always run into the demon peach when I go out. It seems that swallowing a Nascent Soul cultivator has been of great benefit to it... Now that there is a first case, I don't believe it can resist attacking a second target. It might become a true evil spirit."

If it weren't for the mutation of the demon peach, the trip to the Dongyang Villa would have been quite successful.

Bai Zichen said solemnly, "Fellow Daoist Qiu, don't be stingy with any protective abilities you have. The moment we leave is when it is most likely to launch an attack."

Having escaped from his clutches once, Yao Tao, knowing how powerful he was, would surely seek out a weaker target. Among the Dongyang villas, only Qiu He fit the bill.

If it can truly increase its strength by devouring cultivators, it will be very difficult to deal with after it devours Qiu He.

It has no chance of threatening Bai Zichen, but its ability to traverse the void is enough to make it invincible.

"what!"

Just as Qiu He was about to speak, an uncontrollable, painful scream came from afar, a hoarse and desperate cry.

The two exchanged a glance and quickly approached each other.

"Are there other cultivators besides us at the Dongyang Villa?"

Bai Zichen asked in confusion, for the voice undoubtedly came from a human cultivator.

According to Qiu He, luck played a large role in deciphering the entry and exit methods of Dongyang Villa.

Even if you tell another person the whole process, it's hard to guarantee that the same result can be reproduced.

If other cultivators were to enter, what methods would they use, and would they have any impact on Bai Zichen and his companion?

If there is no one there, it is even more strange. Could it be that a hidden demon has come out and been poisoned?

Along the way, he had already released several flying swords, constantly observing all directions with keen insight.

After circling around several times, they finally arrived at the source of the screams. A gray-robed cultivator lay on the ground, his hands and feet still trembling slightly.

His features were plain, his face was pale, and his forehead and chest were covered in sweat, without a trace of color.

In just a few breaths, I watched helplessly as my cheekbone sunken in.

The most eye-catching part was the top of the gray-robed cultivator's head, where a hole had been opened in his skull, and the eerie peach was lying in the wound.

A brain covered in white blood, blood dripping from it, a strange peach with veins sticking out, its little mouth smacking, its skin a dark red.

"Old Man Baixi, how did he get here?"

Qiu He's expression changed drastically, clearly recognizing the person's identity, and he immediately explained to Bai Zichen.

"This person is the commander of the Tai Su Dao soldiers of Tianfa Peak, and can be considered the leader of all Dao soldiers, as well as the patriarch of that half-demon clan. Tai Su Dao soldiers only cultivate the physical body and do not seek the Great Dao. At most, they can only reach the peak of the third rank, and they don't need to even think about the Nascent Soul realm. Only Bai Xiweng is an exception. His lineage was the meritorious official who led the half-demons to submit to the sect back then, so he inherited the position of commander. In the battle formation, he always occupies the core and is protected by the power of the formation. He is the only fourth-rank body cultivator among the Dao soldiers."

"But he should be by the Ji River right now, leading the Tai Su Dao soldiers against the sea of ​​demonic beasts. How did he end up here?"

Qiu He was filled with doubt and confusion.

"A half-demon Taoist soldier?"

Bai Zichen coldly stared at Bai Xiweng, whose body had already turned cold. His Taoist robe was torn at the back by fleshy wings, which were covered with gray feathers.

"If I'm not mistaken, he secretly followed us and infiltrated the Dongyang Villa the moment you opened the void node... His bloodline should be related to concealment and space?"

The hand of Bai Xiweng, which fell limply to the ground, was tied with a silver chain, and its aura was somewhat similar to the pass token made by Qiu He.

"Bai Xiweng's ancestor was a Void Cloud Leopard, a top-tier hunter among demonic beasts. It was born with the ability to conceal its aura and even use light refraction to hide itself. After reaching adulthood, it automatically mastered the power of the void and could easily traverse void nodes. However, it was difficult to reproduce. The last Void Cloud Leopard was killed by Taibai Sword Lord. Even after it disappeared into layers of the void, it was still followed by sword intent and cut into several pieces hundreds of miles away."

(End of this chapter)