Celestial Refining Divine Scripture

"Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation!"

Facing the curious Second Senior Brother, Xu Yang did not hide anything.

As soon as his words fell, the hall was instantly plunged into a deathly silence.

Yi Que’s mouth hung wide open, his eyes rounded in shock, arms raised yet trembling uncontrollably—for nearly ten breaths before he finally regained his senses, unable to help but suck in a cold breath.

"Is it really Ninth Grade?"

He could hardly believe his own ears.

Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation, after all.

Seeing Xu Yang nod heavily, Yi Que’s complexion flushed scarlet in an instant.

It was as if he shared in the glory!

"Hahahahahaha, Ninth Grade, Ninth..."

His exultant laughter cut off abruptly.

Yi Que suddenly clamped a hand over his mouth, shooting a wary glance outside.

The sight left Xu Yang both amused and speechless.

Yi Que wasn’t embarrassed either, suppressing his excitement, he grinned, "Junior Brother, don’t laugh at me—this is Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation. There isn’t a single one in the entire Black and White Star Heavens."

"Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation, barring unexpected events, will certainly become a powerhouse of Daluo Immortal level or even greater. Entering the Nine-Month Heaven Ring, there’s hope to ascend Golden Light Taihao, maybe even the supreme Taihao Ancient Continent."

"Just imagine, when this is made public, my junior brother is Ninth Grade, hiss!"

The mere thought of the scene made Yi Que’s head swim.

He finally understood why their master couldn’t suppress a smile every time he met him lately.

If it were me, I’d at least host a grand feast for a month, inviting mighty Immortal Sect figures from all corners.

"Senior Brother, best not to reveal this for now, lest it makes trouble."

"Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation is powerful, but it inevitably invites envy!"

Xu Yang couldn’t help but remind him, seeing Yi Que’s reaction—truly fearing news would spread next.

Glory unmatched, yet trouble abundant.

Not to mention anything else—if word got out he was Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation, Four Spirits Town would be overflowing in just a few days, countless challengers lining up.

"Don’t worry, don’t worry, I’m not stupid." Yi Que shook his head rapidly, then tilted his head closer to Xu Yang, rubbing his hands and said, "Junior Brother, I’ve never seen a Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation, can you show me?"

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe.

He simply wanted to see how dazzling Ninth Grade truly was.

"You sure, Senior Brother?"

Xu Yang’s expression turned odd.

"Of course I’m sure! Why that look?" Yi Que frowned, puzzled.

"Alright."

Xu Yang grinned, concealing the Twelfth Grade, revealing only the Ninth Grade. The radiant Immortal Lotus instantly manifested.

Wow!

The entire grand hall shone bright and resplendent.

The Immortal Lotus was sacred and flawless, like a supreme lotus seat—each petal gleaming like crystal, displaying countless wondrous visions, magnificent and unparalleled, incomparably beautiful.

Yi Que was utterly stunned, eyes filled with intoxication.

"So beautiful."

"This is the Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation?"

He felt his very soul trembling, almost ready to bow down before this divine lotus seat.

Soon, Xu Yang withdrew the Immortal Foundation’s radiance.

Yi Que was still in a state of lingering amazement.

But it wasn’t long before he let out a sigh.

"Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation is truly wonderful."

"Compared to this, anything below Ninth Grade... sigh."

Words failed him!

He finally understood Xu Yang’s earlier expression.

After witnessing the grandeur of Ninth Grade, anything less was trash by comparison—the gap was simply too vast.

"Time for alchemy."

But Yi Que had his methods. With a wave, he decisively went to the rear hall for alchemy.

Alchemy keeps one focused.

Xu Yang shook his head and laughed—watching his Senior Brother go to alchemy, he didn’t idle either, sitting cross-legged nearby to refine Nine-Turn True Immortal Elixir.

Time slipped by unnoticed.

No one knew he had arrived at Four Spirits Town.

As for the world outside, Xu Yang wasn’t worried.

With five Late-Stage Celestial Immortals, any trouble could be handled.

Even if the strongest from Ice Blade appeared, they couldn’t stop five Late-Stage Celestial Immortals.

On the third day.

A mighty one from the Ye Family returned to the grand hall, tossing in a corpse.

"Mr. Xu, one is handled. Here’s the process—this guy even tried to attack my family’s Treasure Pavilion."

Xu Yang opened his eyes—the corpse, in life, was Middle Stage Celestial Immortal.

A strong cultivation.

But up against a Late-Stage Celestial Immortal.

Xu Yang accepted a Recording Pearl from the Ye Family expert, and after close inspection, it was clear the target was a true assassin.

"However, the assassin appears to have been controlled. I tried to force some answers, yet his Primordial Spirit simply dissipated." The Ye Family expert sighed.

Being controlled?

Primordial Spirit dissipated?

Xu Yang sucked in a cold breath: "To control a Middle Stage Celestial Immortal is no common feat."

"Exactly, and he’s not even one of the Ice Blade."

"There seem to be movements elsewhere too."

"Mr. Xu, I’m heading out again."

The Ye Family expert chuckled, not rushing to demand the Celestial Fire Golden Leaf Elixir—after all, this was just the first one.

With a respectful nod, he quickly departed.

On the fourth day, two more corpses appeared in the hall: one Early Stage Celestial Immortal, one Middle Stage.

All had snuck in under cover, attempting to unleash massacre within Four Spirits Town and stir chaos.

Their aim was obvious—they meant to force Xu Yang to show himself.

Yet, little did they know Xu Yang was already here in town.

On the sixth day.

Four more corpses joined the tally.

All were Celestial Immortal Realm: three Early Stage, one Late Stage.

That Late Stage was discovered near Four Spirits Immortal Mountain by a powerful Lingxi Sect cultivator.

By the tenth day.

Of the five great experts, three returned, bringing a total of six bodies.

"Mr. Xu, Ye Long and Yue Stone are still on guard inside the town, but there hasn’t been so much as a stir for three days now. We’ve searched everywhere, including near Four Spirits Immortal Mountain, but found nothing new or suspicious."

"The only pity is none of these assassins can be interrogated—they were all secretly controlled, and once captured, their Primordial Spirits immediately collapsed."

"Also, this one is the second among Ice Blade, Late Stage Celestial Immortal; but as for the code-named Ice Blade—the strongest—he hasn’t shown up yet."

"This one was controlled too."

...

Inside the hall, Xu Yang and Yi Que looked gravely at the corpses covering the floor.

Each time the five masters found a killer, they secretly recorded the whole scene on Recording Pearl.

All assassins.

The corpses on the floor, over a dozen Celestial Immortal Realm bodies.

It was utterly shocking.

Even the most notorious assassin guilds of North Province couldn’t field so many Celestial Immortals at once.

Apart from Ice Blade, there were several other famed killers here.

All had been controlled by another.

What kind of operation is this?

"The assassin codenamed Ice Blade should be strongest, likely at Peak Celestial Immortal; yet he’s never appeared. If he’s the mastermind controlling these Human Primordial Spirits, there must be someone else behind the scenes."

"But, if even Ice Blade was controlled, it’s truly terrifying."

Yi Que muttered, his face grave.

To pull off such a feat—there must be a Golden Immortal involved.

Xu Yang frowned deeply; although all the killers were caught, not a single useful clue had been gained.

Just as Yi Que guessed, someone even stronger must be lurking in the shadows.

Xu Yang pondered aloud: "Let’s wait a few more days. If nothing else happens... isn’t the trade fair about to begin? It’s about time I stepped into the light."