novelraw Chapter 84 Invoking the Spirit-Severing Gourd
Chapter 84 Invoking the Spirit-Severing Gourd
Chapter 84: Invoking the Spirit-Severing Gourd
Chang Wudao wielded absolute authority within the Earthfire Sect; no one could defy him. Even if Li Tiancheng believed the decision was improper, he was powerless to change it. He could only hope things wouldn’t unfold as he imagined.
That very day, Li Tiancheng concealed his presence and quietly left the Liuyun Mountain Range. No one knew where he went…
...
In the blink of an eye, another month slipped away, and the refining of the Spirit-Severing Gourd finally entered its final stages.
“Open the cauldron.”
Song Changsheng slammed the bronze cauldron. The heavy lid was immediately lifted.
Instantly, a myriad of radiant lights burst forth!
Once the brilliant light dissipated, inside the cauldron lay a black-and-white gourd, vaguely resembling a Tai Chi diagram. Although it was refined from metal, it had no metallic texture; its surface was smooth and naturally formed.
Song Changsheng looked at the greatly transformed gourd, immediately muttering to himself, “How did it even change color?”
He picked up the gourd, and the moment it touched his hand, Song Changsheng immediately felt a slight tremor in his Dantian’s Dao foundation, as if drawn by some force.
The next moment, the gourd in his hand emitted a hazy glow, faintly exuding yin and yang qi, remotely resonating with the Yin-Yang Dao Foundation in his Dantian.
A clear understanding immediately arose in Song Changsheng's heart: the Primal Energy had transformed the Spirit-Severing Gourd, which was originally of water and fire attributes, into one of yin and yang attributes, making it perfectly compatible with the Dao foundation he had formed.
Once he broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage and comprehended the True Meaning of Yin-Yang, its power would become even greater when used in conjunction with it. In this regard, this wisp of Primal Energy was well worth using.
But the surprise extended far beyond that. Song Changsheng could clearly feel a wisp of spiritual light already being nurtured within the treasure gourd. This was the sign of a magical tool beginning its transformation into a spiritual artifact.
Although it was only a wisp, one must understand that everything is difficult at the beginning. At a normal speed, it would take at least several years for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to nurture such a wisp of spiritual light within their Dantian.
And this was only the beginning. To fully transform into a spiritual artifact still required a massive consumption of Five Elements Essence Qi. While Five Elements Essence Qi wasn't expensive, the sheer quantity needed was prohibitive for many, which is why many lacked the financial means.
This is why spiritual artifacts are so rare and precious. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators don't even have a spiritual artifact at their disposal, especially among loose cultivators. Out of the dozen or so known Foundation Establishment loose cultivators in Ling Province, fewer than five possess spiritual artifacts.
And among those few, none were nurtured by themselves; they were either inherited from ancestors or acquired through fortuitous encounters.
For example, the Lu Wu Bell in Song Changsheng’s hand was obtained by deciphering the grand array set up by He Yunxuan.
Compared to the struggling loose cultivators, cultivators backed by forces were much better off. For instance, the Song clan, having been rooted in Ling Province for several centuries, had produced two Purple Mansion cultivators and dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators, leaving behind a rich legacy for the family.
During its peak, the Song clan had over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators, almost one spiritual artifact per person. This was the result of years of accumulation and a testament to their deep heritage.
Throughout Ling Province, only the Earthfire Sect could barely compare with the Song clan in this regard; the other clans were far behind, lucky to have two or three spiritual artifacts.
“This wisp of Primal Energy truly did not disappoint me. It directly saved me several years of hard work.”
Song Changsheng was overjoyed. Looking at the black and white gourd in his hand, he thought for a moment and said, “From now on, you shall be called Yin-Yang Spirit-Severing Gourd.”
As these words left his mouth, the gourd subtly vibrated, conveying a hint of joy.
...
Hanging the Spirit-Severing Gourd at his waist, Song Changsheng stretched contentedly. He had finally concluded this period of seclusion.
As he pushed open the door, what greeted his eyes was the azure sky, with a few white clouds drifting leisurely, further improving his mood.
“Little Uncle, you’ve come out of seclusion?” Song Qingxi’s face lit up with surprise. She bounced and skipped to Song Changsheng, looking up at him and asking.
“That’s right. Has Xi’er been cultivating diligently during this time?” Song Changsheng smiled and ruffled the little girl’s head.
“Of course! I even drank tea leaves.”
“Good girl. Remember to drink the tea often, okay?”
Song Changsheng led the little girl to the front of the thatched hut and found Song Qingxing meticulously practicing sword arts, his body surrounded by sharp sword qi.
“To think you’ve already successfully cultivated the Clear Wind Sword Art so quickly. You truly are a born sword dao seed.”
Hearing Song Changsheng's slightly emotional words, Song Qingxing sheathed his sword and said calmly, “How do I compare to you?”
It was that question again. Song Changsheng stroked his chin and said with a smile, “Naturally, I’m not as good as you in the way of the sword. In other areas, I’m a little bit stronger than you, such as in the application of spells.”
Song Qingxing said coldly, “Spells are but a minor path. My one sword can break all spells.”
“Braggart, you couldn’t even beat that big crow,” Song Qingxi retorted without hesitation.
Song Qingxing’s expression stiffened, but he offered no rebuttal.
Song Changsheng raised an eyebrow, somewhat amused. “What big crow?”
“It’s a crow that appeared a while ago. It keeps trying to steal the new tender leaves of the Mistveil Tea. Coldwood has fought it a few times, but it always gets away.”
“Stealing tea leaves? Could it be a peak first-rank demonic beast?”
The tender leaves of the Mistveil Tea held a great attraction for demonic beasts nearing a breakthrough to second-rank, just like the Ironclaw Eagle back then.
Song Qingxi shook her head: “No, it’s first-rank superior-grade.”
Song Changsheng immediately looked at Song Qingxing with some surprise. He was only at Qi Refinement sixth layer, yet he could actually drive away a first-rank superior-grade demonic beast? That was comparable to how he was back then.
“Where is that crow?”
Keeping such a creature around was a misfortune; it would be better to eliminate it early. He could also take the opportunity to test the power of the Spirit-Severing Gourd.
“Once I advance further, slaying it will be as easy as turning over my hand,” Song Qingxing suddenly interjected, clearly wanting to resolve it himself.
“When will that be? That crow is too annoying!” Song Qingxi didn’t care about all that. She tugged on Song Changsheng’s hand and went to look for the crow, leaving Song Qingxing disheveled in the wind…
The crow hadn’t gone far at all. It had built a nest right by Mirrorlake, intending to seize an opportunity. Unfortunately, it no longer had a chance.
“So it’s a Three-Eyed Crow. It’s actually close to breaking through to peak first-rank. It seems I can’t let you live,” Song Changsheng said coldly, looking at the crow with three eyes.
He had originally thought that if the crow’s cultivation wasn’t high, it wouldn’t matter if he left it for Song Qingxing to practice against, but since it was about to break through, Song Changsheng immediately changed his mind.
Seeing someone approaching its territory, the Three-Eyed Crow immediately flew into a rage. With a flap of its wings, countless black quills shot out.
Song Changsheng drew a circle in front of him with one hand, and a spiritual energy shield appeared. The quills struck it without even causing a ripple.
The Three-Eyed Crow immediately understood it was no match. It stirred up a gust of demonic wind and tried to escape.
Song Changsheng conjured the Spirit-Severing Gourd from his waist and calmly said, “Gourd, slay its spirit!”
The gourd gently spun, and an invisible “Spirit-Severing Blade” cut through space. The Three-Eyed Crow in mid-air suddenly stiffened, its eyes immediately dimming, and it fell…
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