Chapter 736: Forging The Sword Body With Soul And Flesh

"No wonder they say all merchants are swindlers. That old bastard Ji Wangxian never had good intentions."

Huo Yuzhu cursed under his breath after hearing Li Fan's account.

Then his expression softened as he studied Li Fan. "I misjudged you after all."

Li Fan was unconcerned. "Sect Leader, do you have any insight into the matter of my inexplicable loss of control?"

The Heavenly Sword Sect was the foremost of the Ten Immortal Dao Sects, even if only in name. Its knowledge ran deep.

Huo Yuzhu pondered for a moment before replying. "I have heard that the entire Ji family, indeed the entire World Commerce Guild, was built by Ji Wangxian for the sake of his cultivation.

"He never broke through to the Eternal Life realm, yet practically every cultivator of his generation has already died. Even the few who still live are withered and aged. Who else can maintain eternal youth like him?

"This must tie to the technique he practices. No one but him knows exactly what it is, but it's almost certainly bound to bloodline and desire.

"I fear it isn't just you. Perhaps every cultivator of the Ji family lives under Ji Wangxian's control." Huo Yuzhu's voice turned grim.

"Then do you know a way to undo it, Sect Leader?" Li Fan asked, frowning.

Huo Yuzhu didn't answer right away. He paced back and forth instead, lost in thought.

Li Fan waited without pressing him.

After a long while, Huo Yuzhu stopped. He waved his hand, casting several wards to seal the secret chamber.

Only then did he speak, his voice low. "Our Heavenly Sword Sect possesses a secret art. It imitates the forging of a sword, using a cultivator's soul and flesh as raw materials to forge a Supreme Sword Body. If it succeeds, the sword becomes the body and the body becomes the sword. One reaches the supreme state where man and sword become one.

"The Supreme Sword Body rejects all foreign energies. Ji Wangxian’s method of control will surely fail.

"However..." Huo Yuzhu paused. "This art is far too dangerous. In the entire history of our sect, fewer cultivators than the fingers on one hand have succeeded. Even someone as brilliantly talented as Big Senior Brother failed, and he was left with lingering side effects..."

Li Fan showed no hesitation. "I'm willing to try."

Huo Yuzhu nodded slightly, approval in his eyes. "If you truly can forge the Supreme Sword Body, I’d be more than happy to hand you the position of Sect Leader."

"In the cultivation world, strength reigns supreme. If I could be like Senior Brother Si Tu, I'd just as soon skip being Sect Leader," Li Fan said flatly.

Huo Yuzhu was momentarily struck speechless.

After another detailed discussion in the secret chamber, the two reached an agreement.

From then on, Li Fan would keep making a grand public show, drawing the attention of the whole sect.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuzhu would journey to the Five Elements Sect, unnoticed by anyone.

As Sect Leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Huo Yuzhu had his own supporters. Just as history recorded, convincing the Sect Leader of the Five Elements Sect to sell their Taiyuan Essence Gold shouldn't prove difficult.

Knowing that the World Commerce Guild might have spies planted within the Five Elements Sect, Huo Yuzhu moved with even great caution, making sure nothing leaked.

Seven days later, as expected, Huo Yuzhu returned safely.

He shared no words with Li Fan, only a look. That was enough.

Time passed. With a plentiful supply of Taiyuan Essence Gold, the forging of the World-Breaching Divine Armament moved several times faster than anyone expected.

Li Fan no longer needed to extract sword path insights from the wooden sword Mister Bai had left behind and infuse them into Sword Embryos. Now he spent his days beside Sword, drinking in its profound truths. No one said a word about it.

Just as Li Fan felt his time in the Fallen Immortal Realm drawing to a close, the World-Breaching Divine Armament, forged with the full strength of the sect, was finally complete.

The Ji family, somehow aware of this, sent a group of cultivators led by Ji Shiwen, ostensibly to offer congratulations.

In truth, they had come to pluck the ripened fruit.

The colossal World-Breaching Divine Armament looked unremarkable, its exterior like common grey stone.

But Li Fan, who had spent his days in contemplation beside Sword, could faintly sense the terrifying power it held.

Situ Yao summoned the entire Heavenly Sword Sect to gather at the rear mountain.

"Thanks to everyone's contributions, the divine armament is complete.

"I, Situ Yao, am a man of my word. Whoever contributed the most Taiyuan Essence Gold shall be the next sect leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect."

Ji Shiwen's face lit with joy at this.

But what Situ Yao said next set his eyes burning with fury.

"According to the council of elders, Huo Yuzhu contributed a total of 86,912 catties of Taiyuan Essence Gold, more than anyone else!

"Therefore, he shall continue as the sect leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect!"

A sudden silence fell over the gathering.

"Impossible! How could anyone have contributed more than our Ji family?" Ji Shiwen's furious voice shattered the quiet.

"Oh? Are you questioning me?" Situ Yao's eyes narrowed as he regarded Ji Shiwen from across the gathering.

The words caught in Ji Shiwen's throat.

"Very well. I'll let you accept defeat willingly. Your Ji family contributed a total of 86,911 catties of Taiyuan Essence Gold. You fell short by just one catty." Situ Yao shook his head slightly, his expression full of regret.

Ji Shiwen's eyes bulged as if they might pop from their sockets. He pointed a trembling finger at Situ Yao, his whole body shaking with rage.

"This is an outrage! An utter outrage! Doesn't the Heavenly Sword Sect fear the mockery of the entire world?"

Situ Yao's expression turned cold. "Young Master Ji, I'm overlooking your earlier words, given the vast amount of Taiyuan Essence Gold your family contributed. But if you dare speak another reckless word..."

He let out a cold snort. Ji Shiwen shuddered and swallowed whatever he meant to say.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he whipped his head around to look at Li Fan.

But Li Fan wore an expression of utter disbelief too, stunned and lost. For a moment, Ji Shiwen's confusion deepened.

The selection of the next sect leader concluded in this deeply dramatic fashion.

After seeing their guests off, the Heavenly Sword Sect began its formal relocation into the World-Breaching Divine Armament.

They took everything that could be taken.

They even dug up the spiritual fields outside the sect and relocated them whole.

The World-Breaching Divine Armament contained a world unto itself, so space was never a concern.

Only the wooden sword Mister Bai had left behind, and the countless flying swords left by the sect's fallen predecessors in the sword tome, remained untouched. Situ Yao gave the command himself, and no one dared defy him.

He explained that the sword intent was too strong and would conflict with the World-Breaching Divine Armament.

The true reason, though, was something only he knew.

Soon, the day the sect would breach the world's boundary arrived.

The disciples transformed into streaks of sword light, moving in batches into the divine armament.

Situ Yao fixed his gaze on several presences that were approaching fast, a cold, sharp smile on his face.

"There's no need for you friends to see us off. You can deal with the mess left behind in the Xuanhuang World. We of the Heavenly Sword Sect simply lack the ability," he announced, his voice clear and ringing.

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you one thing. That brat Ji Wangxian isn't as straightforward as he seems. He's planted quite a few thorns within our Ten Immortal Dao Sects."

Situ Yao watched a figure closing the distance at incredible speed.

"Zhaoxuan!" Ji Wangxian's voice rang out from afar.

At the sound of the voice, Li Fan seemed to lose control, hurtling suddenly toward Situ Yao.

A bizarre, multicolored luster surged over his body at the same instant.

Just as Li Fan was about to reach Situ Yao, he halted abruptly.

He turned his head and flashed Ji Wangxian a mocking smile.

Ji Wangxian understood everything in an instant, and the fury on his face deepened.

But Situ Yao grabbed Li Fan and vanished into the World-Breaching Divine Armament.

"Little Ji, thank you for giving our Heavenly Sword Sect such a fine seedling!"

Ji Wangxian's face darkened like thunderclouds. He extended his left hand, and countless copper coins seemed to converge on it in an instant.

But in the next moment, a blinding light erupted from the World-Breaching Divine Armament.

The image of the copper coins dissipated at once.

All he could do was watch helplessly as a sword light tore through heaven and earth.

The destructive power, seemingly capable of severing spacetime itself, forced him to flee thousands of li away.

When the light faded, the Heavenly Sword Sect and the World-Breaching Divine Armament had vanished from sight.

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