Chapter 529

Chapter 529: Secrets Before Leaving

Outside Lin Sen Fairy City, a massive Star Ship made by the Elder Council was docked.

“Grand Elder, before I leave, I don’t have much to give you, but I’ll share an internal secret of the Elder Council,” the Source Flame Respected Elder said.

“What is it?”

Xu Fan was curious. Could it be a way to break the spatial seal?

“The spatial seal will be lifted in 2000 years. This is the information left behind by the Upper Zun before he departed, and only the higher-ranked elders within the Elder Council know about it.”

“I believe that in 2000 years, the Grand Elder should be able to set up a proper plan.”

Xu Fan heard the voice of the Source Flame Respected Elder in his mind.

“Thank you for saving my life, Grand Elder. If I have the time, I’ll come to visit you.”

After saying this, the Source Flame Respected Elder walked toward the Star Ship.

“Thank you for letting me know, Respected Elder,” Xu Fan replied via transmitted message.

The Source Flame Respected Elder simply waved his hand without looking back, leaving behind a graceful silhouette.

The Elder Council’s Star Ship took off and soon vanished from sight.

“2000 years; that’s manageable. I have enough time,” Xu Fan murmured as he gazed at the sky.

“Master, the respected elder left some items for you in the Source Realm,” Grapes’ voice chimed in.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Xu Fan frowned.

“The Source Flame Respected Elder used a hidden divine ability that only revealed itself after he left,” Grapes explained.

In the Source Realm, Xu Fan stared blankly at the pile of fire-elemental celestial tool-level spirit ore.

“Isn’t this putting me in a tough spot?”

“Not too much, just enough to craft two basic celestial tools.”

“If I become an artifact great master and don’t craft something for you, wouldn’t that be embarrassing?” Xu Fan said, but then he thought about how this connection could allow him to obtain a permanently renewed Avatar Jade Talisman in the future.

That didn’t seem like such a bad thing after all.

“Store all of this in the treasury. I’ll take it out once I become an artifact great master,” Xu Fan waved his hand.

Upon returning to the Hidden Spirit Sect, Xu Fan continued crafting the railgun.

A true slacker must act when danger arises and can only return to slacking once it’s safe.

Currently, Xu Fan was in this state, feeling as if he had returned to the early days of his venture—doing everything himself and even having to fight occasionally.

In the trial tower, Xiong Li shattered Xiang Yun’s sword formation with a single punch.

“The power of the Five Elements breaks! Rotate with me!” Xiang Yun used all his strength to break apart the sword formation.

Instantly, the shattered sword formation reformed into a Five Element Giant Sword, striking toward Xiong Li.

“Nothing new about the sword formations, huh?”

Although Xiong Li said this, his body was honest, dodging the attack while charging toward Xiang Yun’s main body.

In the end, Xiang Yun was crushed to death for the 101st time by Xiong Li’s enormous hammer. They walked out of the virtual arena after their duel.

“Senior Brother, can you stop using that broken hammer? Every time you use it, it feels like cheating,” Xiang Yun said helplessly.

“I already have it; why wouldn’t I use it?” Xiong Li replied with a smile.

As the leader among the first-generation disciples, his equipment was top-notch.

He wore the Daoist heavy armor gifted by Elder Weiyun and wielded the heavy hammer he won in a competition.

He also had core techniques tailored for him by the Grand Elder.

With all of this, along with his persistent cultivation and excellent body refinement talent, he was practically unbeatable among the sect’s disciples.

The only ones who could compete with him were the top few among the first-generation disciples.

“Want to join me on an expedition mission later?” Xiong Li asked with a smile.

Xiang Yun grimaced and waved his hand. “Senior Brother, that’s more like self-torture than a mission.”

Once, he followed Xiong Li on an expedition and saw Xiong Li charge straight at a group of Transformation Stage beast race members while wearing the Daoist heavy armor and wielding his giant hammer.

He never used up the last bit of spiritual energy and never called for help.

“Only through life-and-death trials can you truly understand the essence of battle. I feel like your sword formation has hit a bottleneck; want to break through it with me?” Xiong Li continued to persuade.

“Bottleneck? No! I’ve refined the sword formation to its peak, okay?” Xiang Yun argued.

Thanks to the excellent cultivation environment in the sect and the five elemental origins of spiritual energy in the Source Realm, all the first-generation disciples had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.

The best among them had even reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage.

“Reaching the peak is one thing, but have you ever experienced the sword formation the Grand Elder used when he was still in the Nascent Soul stage, or his swordsmanship techniques?” Xiong Li reminisced.

“No, have you seen it, Senior Brother?” Xiang Yun asked curiously.

“I have. Back then, the Grand Elder was teaching Peak Master Xiangchi.”

“I happened to pass by and saw the Grand Elder slowly extend a finger. In an instant, the heavens and earth changed color, and all I could see was that sword light.”

“Honestly, when I think back to that one sword, I feel like it could have killed me instantly.”

Xiong Li glanced at Xiang Yun, his eyes filled with disdain.

With your newly breached defense level, you dare to claim you’ve refined the sword formation to its peak?

“That’s just my own limitations. It’s not easy to break through,” Xiang Yun scratched his head and insisted, though his eyes showed longing.

The Grand Elder had also taught him the sword formation, and its power was indeed remarkable. Unfortunately, he felt slow-witted and couldn’t fully grasp it.

“Excuses are just excuses. As your Senior Brother, I have the right to push you to improve.”

Xiong Li said this while grabbing Xiang Yun by the waist, treating him like a chick, as they flew outside the Hidden Spirit Sect on the spiritual boat to accept their mission.

Behind the spiritual boat followed a small squad of Core Formation Stage Puppets.

“Senior Brother, it seems like you’ve been a bit too eager in your cultivation lately,” Xiang Yun remarked, looking at Xiong Li.

Hearing this, Xiong Li let out a slight sigh.

“Don’t you feel like our role in the sect is shrinking?” Xiong Li said.

“Are you talking about those who’ve advanced to the seventh-level Tian Puppet Master?” Xiang Yun asked.

Xiong Li nodded slightly.

“A seventh-level Tian Puppet Master can match Core Formation stage fighting strength, and the more talented ones can even take down groups of Core Formation stage beast race members alone. Look at us.”

Xiong Li sighed again; the Tian Puppet Masters had only been around for less than a hundred years, and now they could dominate Core Formation stage foes, which left him feeling uneasy.

“Senior Brother, didn’t the Grand Elder say this?”

“Cultivating techniques and methods is the main path. Sure, a Tian Puppet Master can control a seventh-level puppet and dominate the Core Formation stage, but how many can reach the ninth level?”

“Besides, the cost of crafting a seventh-level Core Formation puppet is comparable to a Daoist tool. I bet a Great Ascension stage puppet would be as valuable as a celestial tool.”

“Even though our sect is wealthy, we can’t afford that many celestial tools.”

“But if we keep working hard, we Hidden Spirit Sect Disciples can all reach the Great Ascension stage.”

“Senior Brother, you might even become the first invincible respected elder among the sect’s disciples.”