Chapter 973: Can You People From the Dao-Seeking Sect Ask for Normal Immortal Artifacts?

At times like this, the Heaven Mandate Immortal would find himself longing for the reticent Everlasting Immortal Fairy of bygone days.

Back then, she would see through things but hold her tongue. Now, it was uncertain whether she would see through things, but if she did, she would certainly not hold her tongue.

This was not the first time the Heaven Mandate Immortal had his act dismantled. He quickly recovered, defusing the awkwardness with laughter. “Haha, Everlasting, you really know how to jest. All my life, I’ve been upright and aboveboard. When have I ever needed to be secretive or cover up anything?”

“Ah? Haven’t you? What about that time you covered up being captured by female cultivators to be harvested...”

Lu Yang lunged forward like an arrow to cover the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s mouth. If I let her continue speaking, she’ll be fine even if she exposes all his deepest secrets, but Zhu Tian and I, mere bystanders, will be in for disaster.

Besides, I’ve worked so hard to serve as the Heaven Mandate Immortal’s shill, hoping that he would spare my life when I encounter my heavenly tribulation. But now, it seems I won’t be able to survive.

Nearby, Zhu Tian was sweating profusely. Wait, how did this casual conversation suddenly plunge me into a life-and-death crisis?

I didn’t do anything at all.

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy was a soul entity, so Lu Yang couldn’t physically touch her. Still, when she saw him charging toward her with his hand raised, she cooperatively fell silent.

The sight of this made Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi cover their mouths, stifling their laughter.

Apart from the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s unintentional sabotage, the atmosphere within the ancient ring’s small world was harmonious and joyous.

It was rare for these ancient cultivators to gather. They reminisced about the ancient era, and even Lu Yang’s presence didn’t seem out of place. In fact, Lu Yang knew more about ancient matters than Zhu Tian did.

Of course, Lu Yang couldn’t pretend he knew everything. He “forgot” everything about the Four Ancient Immortals’ humiliating experiences. To do otherwise would invite calamity.

In a flash, two days and nights passed. For mortals, going without rest would be exhausting. However, everyone present was either a half-immortal or an immortal; even the token Divine Transfiguration cultivator felt no fatigue.

Nevertheless, their conversation couldn’t continue indefinitely; all things would come to an end.

“Alright, that’s enough. It’s hard to meet old friends. I simply came by to visit you. It’s good that you are well.” The Heaven Mandate Immortal took the initiative to conclude their conversation.

“Immortal Venerable, in that case, once I complete this set of furniture, I will deliver it to you.”

“You don’t have to be so courteous.”

“It’s only proper.”

After seeing off Lu Yang and the others, Zhu Tian grew even more convinced than ever that he must cling to Lu Yang’s thigh and stay in his good graces.

“During the conversation, the Immortal Venerable kept calling Big Brother Lu Yang ‘young friend.’ In ancient times, I never heard him address anyone like that. It appears that Big Brother Lu Yang has earned his favor; he is destined for great things.”

Although I was the one who triggered the Battle of the Great Era and am fated to be the protagonist of this world, I need to know when to go with the flow and choose sides when I should.

“Come to think of it, why can people come and go as they please in my imperial palace? Should I hire a few guards?”

Then he soon realized something. What level of guards could possibly stop Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi?

~~~

“Senior Brother Lu Yang, let us part here.” Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi said goodbye to Lu Yang, while the latter returned to the Dao-Seeking Sect with the Everlasting Immortal Fairy and the Heaven Mandate Immortal.

The Heaven Mandate Immortal looked at the list of immortal artifacts that Yun Zhi had written, bewilderment crossing his face.

Logically speaking, when seeking me to forge immortal artifacts, shouldn’t the requests be for weapon-type immortal artifacts, and the more powerful, the better?

What kind of absurd immortal artifacts are listed in this paper?

The Heaven Mandate Immortal stared at the list for a long while, searching for something normal within.

“A treasure bowl that can duplicate anything and an immortal lamp that grants any wish when rubbed. Aren’t these effects too heaven-defying?

“A coffin so comfortable you never want to get out—you should ask Zhu Tian for this! The only coffin I can craft is one you can’t escape!

“And an immortal artifact that teaches one about love. I’ve never been in love myself. Where would I begin to forge such a thing?

“An immortal mirror that ranks the most beautiful women...”

Can you people from the Dao-Seeking Sect ask for immortal artifacts with normal functions?

“Are you unable to forge them?” Yun Zhi asked.

The Heaven Mandate Immortal covered his face. Although he didn’t want to admit it, he genuinely couldn’t forge these things.

At least ask me to reforge the Heaven-Splitting Axe.

“If we require any more immortal artifacts, we will contact you again, Fellow Daoist.”

“My artifact refinement skills are average, not as formidable as you imagine, Fellow Daoist Yun Zhi. I’ll have to trouble you to limit future requests to weapon-type immortal artifacts.”

“I will try my best.”

“One more thing. The immortal palace directly performed a soul search on the Devil-Vanquishing Divine Lord. The intelligence gathered matches our speculation—the Midheaven Emperor-Lord possesses the Devouring Dao Fruit. It allows him to devour other Dao Fruits for his own use, though it places extremely high demands on one’s soul strength.”

Lu Yang had found it easy to teleport to the Demon Region, but returning proved difficult. Combined with the time spent conversing with Zhu Tian, the round trip had taken seven days.

Over these seven days, the immortal sects and the imperial court had paid extra attention to extracting intelligence from the Demon-Subduing Divine Lord and the Devil-Vanquishing Divine Lord.

“The method to undo the immortal palace’s Great Sect Defense Array was leaked by the former palace leader, Qu Ling. Outraged, the immortal palace has executed her.

“As for the method and principle to craft the four immortal-searching tokens, the Devil-Vanquishing Divine Lord is unaware. He has only recently advanced to the half-immortal status and is yet to be apprised of all the Great Qian Dynasty’s high-level intelligence. He only knows that the immortal-searching tokens are precious, that even the Midheaven Emperor-Lord possesses just a few, and that only especially powerful Great Qian Immortals, such as the Specter Lord and the Mountain-River Lord, were deemed worthy to hold them.

“Although the Mountain-River Lord possessed the Devouring Incipient Dao Fruit, it was not bestowed upon him by the Midheaven Emperor-Lord. In fact, it was the opposite—he was once the Midheaven Emperor-Lord’s rival in the contest for immortality.”

“The Mountain-River Lord was actually that powerful?” Lu Yang was astonished. In the East Sea, the Mountain-River Lord had first fought Ao Ling, then been instantly slain by Hui Doudou. From start to finish, he had never had a chance to show his true strength, leaving Lu Yang with the impression that he couldn’t even defeat Zhu Tian.

“According to the Devil-Vanquishing Divine Lord, Great Qian’s forces have two immortals—the ‘Midheaven Emperor-Lord,’ who everyone knows, and the ‘Fate Arbiter.’[1]

“The Great Qian Dynasty was built upon faith and incense offerings. This Fate Arbiter presided over sacrificial rites, ranking only below the Midheaven Emperor-Lord.”

“I see.” Lu Yang nodded.

“As for why the Midheaven Emperor-Lord allowed the Great Qian Dynasty to fall, it stemmed from the flaws of faith power. Faith power bound all cultivators who held divine positions, including the Midheaven Emperor-Lord himself. Many were assimilated by it.

“Therefore, the Midheaven Emperor-Lord decided to abandon the Great Qian Dynasty, eradicate its source of incense offerings, and let it march toward ruin.”

“That’s truly heartless.” Lu Yang sighed. The Great Qian Dynasty’s path to destruction hadn’t happened overnight. Generations upon generations of civilians had suffered under exploitative officials and the hardships of cultivator warfare. From praying to those in divine positions to cursing and abandoning them—this was exactly what the Midheaven Emperor-Lord and the others wished for.

“Speaking of which, Wu Yao also personally destroyed the dynasty he established.”

“The founders of two great dynasties brought about their dynasties’ destruction with their own hands. I wonder if it was a coincidence or fate,” Lu Yang said, sighing with emotion.

1. Siming is also the name of a Chinese deity who presides over lifespan and fate. ☜