Celestial Refining Divine Scripture

As if sensing Xu Yang’s intent, the Four-Part Daluo Saber trembled slightly, letting out a low hum.

Xu Yang’s expression did not change; his palm brushed gently across.

Clang!

Spurt!

Xu Yang’s figure quivered; he spat a jet of blood. Following a shrill cry, the Daluo Saber fell from his hand.

Lu Chuan’s eyes flashed with excitement.

A third-tier immortal artifact!

He’d never even dared to imagine this in his life, yet here it was, delivered right to him.

"Senior."

Xu Yang fixed his gaze on Lu Chuan, slowly wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth as he said, "This saber is extraordinary. To refine and claim it as one’s own, one must first earn its recognition. I was only recognized due to my bloodline."

Back when he first bound the Four-Part Daluo Saber, the crucial factor was their shared allegiance to the demon-immortal faction and the inheritance he’d received.

Nonetheless, the bloodline explanation was reasonable enough.

For outsiders to win acceptance and become the master, either their strength must reach the heights of a Daluo Immortal, or their methods must be truly extraordinary.

But Xu Yang believed, this True Immortal before him did not possess such means.

The threat Lu Chuan presented was only marginally greater than that of a few others in the Spirit Realm who had touched the True Immortal level.

Lu Chuan’s brows furrowed, but he was not surprised.

During the days Xu Yang had been unconscious, he had studied it for quite some time.

He knew this principle well.

After all, it was a third-tier immortal treasure.

"You need not worry about that."

Lu Chuan offered a faint smile, curled his hand, and seized the Daluo Saber into his palm. After a moment’s probing, he immediately sensed something unusual.

He measured Xu Yang with his gaze, nodded in satisfaction.

"No tricks played—keeping you alive might not be impossible."

Xu Yang hastily thanked him, "Many thanks, Senior."

"You will remain here for the time being. Without my permission, you are not to leave this courtyard."

Lu Chuan’s eyes glinted sharply.

"I will comply with your instructions, Senior."

"Senior, may I ask—do the disputes between ancient immortals and demon immortals still persist?" Xu Yang probed cautiously.

This question was of life-and-death importance to him.

Even if it might raise suspicion, he was determined to ask.

"Ancient immortals? Demon immortals? Disputes?"

Lu Chuan looked perplexed. "Where did you hear that? I have never heard of such a thing."

"What?"

Xu Yang was dumbstruck, thoroughly bewildered.

Never heard of it?

Or could it be that this so-called Baimu Village was simply too remote?

But then...

All sorts of thoughts flashed by. Xu Yang quickly said, "My homeland lies at the edge of the Immortal Realm, a small fragment of ancient land rarely in contact with the outside world; I once saw records in ancient texts—long ago, there was strife between the ancient immortals and demon immortals!"

At this, Lu Chuan harbored little suspicion.

Xu Yang’s cultivation level and the manner of his arrival—even at the fringes of Black-White Star Heaven—were plausible.

Lu Chuan gently shook his head. "Long ago, that must have been ancient history; perhaps it existed once, but now, it no longer does."

"Of course, perhaps in the other heavens, the powerful know something."

Several heavens?

Xu Yang instantly seized on this key information, asking in surprise and doubt, "Senior, are there multiple heavens within the Immortal Realm?"

Lu Chuan frowned slightly, gave Xu Yang a look, seeming impatient. He waved his hand, "I’ll send a youngster here to answer your questions in a bit."

"Remember, do not step out of this courtyard. I have set restrictions here."

Having said this, Lu Chuan drifted away.

Xu Yang’s brows knitted tightly together.

Though he obtained no definitive answers, the hints in Lu Chuan’s words revealed that this Immortal Realm was utterly different from what he had expected.

Still, there was good news.

Without the ancient immortal and demon immortal feud, one tremendous source of trouble was indeed removed.

"That war-worn ancient land in the Spirit Realm—how long ago was that, truly?"

The ancient immortals and demon immortals had undoubtedly once existed.

Yet now, in the Immortal Realm, they seemed to be forgotten. Perhaps only the most powerful or those with ancient inheritances still knew—a fact staggering in itself. Only time, time beyond measure, can bring such erasure.

"This old man hasn’t killed me—so Alchemists must still hold some status here in the Immortal Realm. Keeping me alive, I still serve some purpose!"

"Nevertheless, if I can escape, I must do so as quickly as possible!"

Xu Yang’s expression shifted endlessly.

Being at someone’s mercy in a place like this, with his life forfeit at a whim—who could endure it?

As for the Four-Part Daluo Saber, he was unconcerned.

Forget True Immortals—even Celestial or Golden Immortals might not be able to claim it.

As long as Lu Chuan is slain, he can retrieve the Four-Part Daluo Saber and reclaim mastery over it!

Handing over the Daluo Saber to Lu Chuan for now could also serve to distract him.

After pondering for a while, Xu Yang crossed his legs and entered a meditative state.

Buzz!

Dense immortal qi surged between heaven and earth: pure, flawless.

For more than two years, he hadn’t absorbed immortal qi. The moment he touched it, it was as if parched land drank sweet dew; an incomparably refreshing sensation spread through him.

After absorbing immortal qi for some time, he funneled the energy into the Celestial Refining Divine Tripod.

Still, he didn’t push things too far.

As he cultivated, Xu Yang was also taking stock of his remaining hand.

The Heaven-Devouring Spirit-Eating Skill was almost useless in the Immortal Realm!

The Immortal Realm was no longer a place for spiritual-cultivation ways!

It was now sublimely supreme, far more difficult to influence than before.

Good thing he still had the Celestial Refining Divine Scripture and the Divine Tripod. If he unleashed them fully, his cultivation could still devour significant amounts of immortal qi from the world.

"Without the Daluo Saber, I cannot invoke the Windfall Immortal Wilds; yet even an ordinary immortal artifact, with just a shallow grasp of Windfall Immortal Wilds, can serve as a method of attack!"

"Then, there’s only the ancient evil qi within the Divine Tripod."

The evil qi within heaven and earth was drawn from the immortal battlefield, growing stronger as his own power rose.

Even True Immortals could be struck and corrupted by it.

However, to use this against Lu Chuan, he would first have to increase his own power further and seize the right moment to act.

"The Heaven Locking Will... I’m far too weak, it cannot confine a True Immortal at all!"

"To break through to True Immortal, I must first forge a twelve-petal immortal foundation; such a breakthrough requires terrifying resources."

At this, Xu Yang’s expression suddenly turned odd.

Ordinarily, one has to reach the True Immortal Realm to refine a first-tier Immortal Pill—will Lu Chuan really provide that many resources?

If he sees me failing to break through for too long, will he lose patience and kill me?

Xu Yang thought it was highly likely!

"The only choice is to hurry and grow stronger."

"To forge the twelve-petal immortal foundation—even if not yet at True Immortal, with a deep enough foundation, there may still be a chance!"

Bang!

The sound of knocking abruptly shattered Xu Yang’s train of thought.

Before he could speak, someone pushed the door open and entered.

A youth with a rather honest face came in, looking at Xu Yang with suspicion.

"Huh? Immortal Soldier?"

Xu Yang instantly sensed that this youth was not a True Immortal, but merely at the first rank of Immortal Soldier.

Actually weaker than Xu Yang himself!

"You’re the one Mr. Lu brought back?"

"That’s me."

"I am Xu Yang. May I ask your name, brother?"

Xu Yang rose and, masking his emotions, cupped his fists in a respectful salute.

The young man waved his hands hurriedly, grinning a little sheepishly. "Don’t—I’m still young, only sixteen."

Sixteen?

First-rank Immortal Soldier!

Hiss!

Xu Yang clicked his tongue inwardly in astonishment.

This really is the Immortal Realm.

But he could be sure: this youth was absolutely not some Immortal Realm prodigy.

After all, it seemed this was just a village at the far edge of the Immortal Realm.

"I’m Bai Zhou."

"Mr. Lu said if you have any questions, just ask me."

Bai Zhou plopped down beside Xu Yang as he spoke.

Xu Yang’s face lit up with joy; he took a deep breath, and all the questions in his heart surged forth.

About a quarter of an hour later—

Xu Yang had finally learned enough to get a general idea.

He was inwardly shocked.

The Immortal Realm now consisted of four heavens in total.

As for whether there were more, Bai Zhou did not know.

And Baimu Village sat in the first heaven of the Immortal Realm, the Black-White Star Heaven.

Xu Yang looked up at the sky: there were no sun or moon, only faintly flickering stars.

It was said that at night, the starlight would shine brilliant and clear!

Baimu Village lay at the northern edge of the Black-White Star Heaven, where immortal qi was meager and resources few. Most of those dwelling here bore the Bai surname—about three hundred households in all.

Among them were six True Immortals; the strongest was undoubtedly Lu Chuan.

According to Bai Zhou, Lu Chuan had come to Baimu Village about a century ago, settling here and serving a role much like that of a schoolmaster in the village.