37: Taking advantage of apprentices

In the back mountain of the All Heavens Star Palace, in a secluded stone chamber.

The moment the door closed and the restrictions were activated, Lin Xuan seemed like a different person. All his devil lord majesty and master's airs were thrown aside. He sat cross-legged on the ground, with two precious treasures floating before him—on the left, a dull gray Chaos Demonic Embryo Origin, within which billions of primal devils seemed to roar and shriek; on the right, a vibrant green Life Godhead Fragment, exuding a warm, sacred, life-giving glow.

“Damn, left devil and right god, this combination is punk enough!” Lin Xuan licked his lips, his eyes burning with fervor. He first gazed at the Chaos Demonic Embryo Origin. This item was of the same origin as the demonic energy he had previously fused with in the Ancient Devil World, but it was hundreds of times purer and more domineering! It was as if the entire Ancient Devil World's origin had been condensed and refined!

“Let's do it!” Lin Xuan hardened his resolve and inhaled sharply! The roaring gray mist "whooshed" into his mouth!

Boom—!

Lin Xuan felt as if he had swallowed an active volcano! The violent, chaotic, and primal destructive demonic energy instantly exploded within him! Every cell screamed in agony! Dense, dark purple demonic patterns, more ancient and sinister than those on Mo Sha's face, appeared on his skin! His eyes instantly turned pitch black, leaving only the purest destructive desire!

“Roar—! Master! Are you alright?” Lietian, who was guarding the door like a security guard, felt the earth-shattering demonic might from within, even through the restrictions, and his tiger fur bristled with fright.

“I'm fine!” Lin Xuan squeezed out two words through gritted teeth, his Chaos Nascent Soul operating frantically! Like a gigantic chaotic millstone, it fiercely suppressed, ground, and absorbed the violent primal demonic energy! The pain was truly excruciating; he felt as if his soul was being torn apart and reassembled! But the benefits were also immediate! His physical strength surged like an inflating balloon! His meridians widened like great rivers! A nascent domain of primal demonic might, originating from the primordial wilderness and transcending all devils, faintly materialized around him!

After enduring for three days and three nights, the demonic patterns on Lin Xuan's body slowly receded, his eyes regained clarity, and the violent aura was completely tamed, transforming into a deep, restrained, yet even more terrifying demonic power dormant deep within his Chaos Nascent Soul.

Ding! Fusion of Chaos Demonic Embryo Origin successful!

Physical strength increased to: early True Immortal stage!

Primal Demonic Might Domain activated (initial level)! Suppresses all demonic powers within the domain! Increases self demonic divine abilities by three times.

Chaos Nascent Soul gains the Primal Demonic Heart characteristic, demonic essence recovery speed increased by five times.

“Awesome!” Lin Xuan felt the surging power within him, feeling that now, with just his physical body, he could smash the previous Black Fiend Corpse King into dust! His demonic methods were even more absurdly powerful!

He didn't stop, his gaze turning to the vibrant green Life Godhead Fragment. This item was the complete opposite of the Demonic Embryo Origin, exuding an aura that made one's soul feel comfortable and warm.

“Ice and fire two heavens, huh,” Lin Xuan muttered, then inhaled sharply again!

Om—!

This time, the feeling was completely different! It was like a parched desert receiving a life-giving rain! Pure and vast life energy, like warm spring water, instantly nourished his body and soul, which had been ravaged by the Demonic Embryo! Every cell cheered with joy! Some subtle hidden injuries left by the forced fusion of the Demonic Embryo instantly healed! His soul felt as if it had been cleansed, clear and transparent!

Even more wondrously, his perception of life became incredibly clear! He seemed to hear the sound of plants growing, and feel the rhythm of life and death in all things! A gentle yet domineering authority of purification condensed within his consciousness!

Ding! Fusion of Life Godhead Fragment successful!

Life Origin strength greatly increased! Recovery ability reaches undying True Immortal level!

Gains initial Life Purification Authority! Can purify filth, heal injuries, and bestow vitality! Damage bonus against insectoids and Asura Clan increased by one time.

Chaos Nascent Soul gains the Fountain of Life characteristic, can slowly convert Chaos Power into life essence!

Left Devil, Right God! Perfect fusion!

Lin Xuan opened his eyes, feeling the contradictory yet unified power within him—both violently destructive and full of vitality. A grin stretched across his face. Late-stage Integration? No! He now felt like he could punch and explode ten peak Integration stage cultivators with one blow!

“Roar! Congratulations, Master, on your great achievement!” Lietian sensed the vast and endless aura from within the restrictions and excitedly nudged the door with his large head.

Lin Xuan removed the restrictions, walked out with high spirits, and patted Lietian's tiger head: “Let's go! Let's see how those rascals of ours have squandered, er, managed the family business!”

He had just reached the front hall and hadn't even had a sip of water when a 'ding-dong' sounded in his mind, the system prompt ringing like a death knell:

Warning! Warning!

Target Immortal Realm coordinates have undergone abnormal changes!

Spatial coordinates have been re-twisted and encrypted by unknown high-level power!

Forcibly cracking requires consuming Sect Luck: five million points!

Host's current luck: 689,352 points.

Suggestion: Pay up, or, wash up and go to sleep.

Five million?! Lin Xuan looked at his hard-earned 680,000 luck points, his vision went black, and he almost coughed up a mouthful of old blood!

“Damn it! These Asura Clan dogs! Are they rats? How can they hide so well?” Lin Xuan stomped in anger. His good mood from the breakthrough instantly went to the dogs. Five million luck points? Even if he sold himself, he couldn't gather that much!

“Roar? Master, are we still looking for the Immortal Realm?” Lietian asked cautiously.

“Looking for my ass!” Lin Xuan snapped, “We can't even find the door! Are we supposed to ram our heads against it?” He paced irritably in the hall. Forcing his way in was not an option, and he couldn't afford to pay. Was he really going to wait for his disciples to develop?

Wait a minute! Disciples?

Lin Xuan suddenly stopped, his eyes lighting up like two searchlights!

“That's right! I still have disciples!” He slapped his thigh, a very benevolent smile appearing on his face, “If forcing my way in won't work, and I don't have enough money, then I'll fleece my disciples!”

He remembered the system's core function, Ten Thousand Times Return! Disciple breaks through → Master wins by doing nothing! Before, it was free-range, but now it was time to ramp up the intensity!

“System!” Lin Xuan shouted in his mind, “Pull up the detailed status of all my disciples! Those stuck at bottlenecks! Those with solid foundations capable of breaking through! List them all! This Venerable One wants to provide targeted poverty alleviation!”

Ding! Scanning in progress... Direct Disciple Status Report:

Yun Qingyao: Half-step Void Refining, stable foundation, Moon Soul Saint Body potential not fully activated, requires massive moon essence power or life-and-death tempering to break through.

Leng Yuechan: Half-step Void Refining, Chaos Sword Bone hidden danger removed, Sword Qi refined, can attempt to break through to Void Refining, requires powerful Sword Intent guidance or extreme pressure.

Chu Xinghe: Late-stage Soul Transformation, Array Dao Enlightenment Body encountered bottleneck, requires comprehending higher-level spatial and star array formations or setting up super-large array disks.

Su Yuan: Late-stage Soul Transformation, Heavenly Dao Body over-deduced, mentally fatigued, requires replenishing soul origin or comprehending fragments of destiny.

Linglong: Late-stage Soul Transformation, Myriad Transformation Demonic Heart active, but demonic essence accumulation insufficient, requires devouring powerful demonic souls or immersing in a place of demonic energy origin.

Kong Ming: Late-stage Soul Transformation, Bodhi Buddha Heart is stifled, urgently needs an outlet to preach scriptures, save souls, or achieve enlightenment.

Feng Qiqi: Peak Soul Transformation, Nirvana True Flame restless, nearing breakthrough, requires extreme fire essence or life-and-death tempering.

Mu Ling Nannan: Late-stage Golden Core, Child of Nature's potential is huge, but too young and foundation shallow, requires time to settle or World Tree's nurturing.

Ye Chen: Early-stage Nascent Soul, Silent Extinction Sword Soul stable, but Myriad Tribulation Sword Body is incomplete and needs repair, excessive killing intent needs guidance.

Qing Xuan: Half-step Void Refining, life reshaping plus absolute purification, power is pure but lacks offensive means, requires fusing offensive purification techniques or actual combat.

Mo Sha: Early-stage Nascent Soul, Primal Demonic Heart plus Ancient Devil Battle Body, foundation is violent and unstable, requires massive demonic essence to solidify or battle to vent.

Lin Xuan looked at the report, stroked his chin, his eyes darting around.

“Those with unstable foundations will be nurtured first; cannot pull up seedlings to help them grow.”

“Those with unactivated potential need to find opportunities.”

“Those who need special resources, Xinghe, Su Yuan, Linglong, will cost money!”

“The most cost-effective are those stuck at a bottleneck, with solid foundations, just one step away from breakthrough!”

His gaze locked onto three people:

Leng Yuechan, half-step Void Refining, only lacks Sword Intent guidance or pressure!

Feng Qiqi, peak Soul Transformation, Nirvana True Flame restless, can break through at any time!

Kong Ming, late-stage Soul Transformation, Bodhi Buddha Heart about to burst! Urgently needs an outlet!

“It's you three!” Lin Xuan slammed his hand down, “I'll start with you—no, I mean, you'll receive focused training!”

“Lietian!”

“Roar! Here!”

“Issue a Sect Master's order! Tell Leng Yuechan, Feng Qiqi, and Kong Ming to drop everything they're doing! Immediately! Right now! Get back to the sect for secluded cultivation! This Venerable One will personally 'guide' them to break through!”

“Roar? And Kong Ming... still muted?”

“Muted my ass! Remove his mute barrier! Let him speak freely! This Venerable One wants to see if that chatterbox, after being stifled for so long, can talk his way through his bottleneck!” Lin Xuan waved his hand grandly, full of heroic spirit, “Furthermore! Notify Chu Xinghe! Activate the All Heavens Transit Station to maximum power! Lock onto the Sword Abyss in Xuanhuang World, the Nirvana Volcano in Divine Phoenix Realm, and the Great Thunderclap Temple ruins in the Buddhist Realm! Connect the spatial coordinates of these three places! And be quick!”

“Roar! Understood!” Although Lietian didn't know what his master was up to, he had a feeling someone was about to have a bad time.

The Sect Master's order, like a thunderclap, instantly spread throughout all the worlds controlled by the All Heavens Star Palace!

Ye Chen, who was leading the Nirvana Sword Hall disciples to chop rocks on a certain mining planet, frowned upon receiving the message and continued chopping rocks.

Xue Li, who was leading her flower demon maid group to gather herbs in the Hundred Flowers Realm, obediently said, “Oh.”

Linglong, who was holding a demonic music concert in the Fenghou World, pouted: “Master is biased! Didn't call me!”

Only the three who were named:

In Xuanhuang World, Leng Yuechan, who had just frozen a zerg nest with a single sword strike, expressionlessly sheathed her sword and stepped into a spatial passage.

In Divine Phoenix Realm, Feng Qiqi, who had just incinerated a swarm of zergs into glazed fragments, cheered, “That's great! I can finally break through!” and vanished in a flash of fire.

In the Buddhist Realm, Kong Ming, who was silently muttering to several broken Buddha statues in an abandoned Buddhist temple, had his mute barrier shatter with a pop!

“Amitabha! My Buddha is merciful! Master, you finally opened your eyes, ah no! You granted mercy!”

Kong Ming's accumulated Buddhist chatter, like a surging river, instantly burst forth like a floodgate! The booming Buddhist chants echoed throughout the ruins! Frightening several passing mice into instant sitting meditation and ascension! He tearfully thanked Buddha and his Master while scrambling towards the nearest teleportation point!

All Heavens Star Palace, Main Peak Plaza.

Chu Xinghe had already modified his power-saving Zhou Tian Star Disk into an overclocked version, its surface dazzling with starlight that could blind people! Three thick spatial light pillars shot out from the array disk, tearing through the void, firmly connecting to three distant world nodes!

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Three figures appeared on the plaza almost simultaneously.

Leng Yuechan held her sword sheath, Sword Qi contained but ready to erupt, her eyes icy.

Feng Qiqi had white flames dancing around her, her small face excited.

Kong Ming was still babbling on: “...Thank you, Master! This disciple will surely not disappoint! This breakthrough will definitely...”

Lin Xuan dug at his ears, which were numb from Kong Ming's noise, and interrupted directly: “All of you, shut up! Listen carefully!”

He pointed at the three spatial light pillars:

“Yue Chan! Enter the Sword Burying Abyss! The lingering ancient Sword Intent there is enough for you to handle! Come out alive! Break through to Void Refining!”

“Qi Qi! Jump into the Nirvana Volcano! Make your little flame burn brighter for me! Don't come out until you break through!”

“Kong Ming!” Lin Xuan looked at the chatterbox monk who was still brewing his next round of rambling, a devilish smile on his lips, “Your mission is the simplest! Go to the Great Thunderclap Temple ruins! Face that broken place! Chant scriptures for me! Chant until you break through! Remember! Use your loudest voice! Chant those unpurified lingering souls back to life, then chant them back to death!”

Leng Yuechan said nothing, stepping into the light pillar leading to the Sword Burying Abyss. Before her figure disappeared, her Sword Qi was already faintly boiling!

Feng Qiqi cheered, transforming into a flash of fire and rushing into the Nirvana Volcano passage!

Kong Ming was stunned for a moment, then ecstatic: “As Master commands! This disciple will surely—!” Before he could finish, Lin Xuan kicked him into the Great Thunderclap Temple passage. The world was quiet...

“Xinghe! Keep a close eye! Report the situation at all times!” Lin Xuan instructed.

“Master, just watch!” Chu Xinghe hugged the array disk, his eyes shining. This was witnessing and controlling the grand occasion of three senior siblings breaking through to Void Refining!

Waiting was agonizing.

Half an hour later... “Master! The Sword Qi over at the Sword Burying Abyss is in turmoil! Senior Sister Yue Chan has stirred up ancient Sword Intent! Wow! It's like poking a hornet's nest!” Chu Xinghe watched the light spot representing the Sword Burying Abyss on the array disk flash frantically.

Lin Xuan didn't even lift an eyelid: “Normal, she won't die.”

After another stick of incense... “Master! The Nirvana Volcano has erupted! Senior Sister Qi Qi's aura is... surging in the fire! Holy crap! A phantom fire phoenix has even appeared!” Chu Xinghe exclaimed.

Lin Xuan: “Small scene, remember to fish her out when she's cooked.”

After another moment... “Master! Over at the Great Thunderclap Temple, Buddha's Light shines universally! Sanskrit sounds shake the heavens! Senior Brother Kong Ming's mouth... no! His Buddhist chants! They're too powerful! Many skeletons crawled out of the ruins to listen to his chanting! Then... then they were purified back? This... this is possible?” Chu Xinghe stared dumbfounded at the scene of Buddha's Light soaring into the sky on the array disk.

Lin Xuan: “This chatterbox, he really does have something.”

Finally!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three even grander and more terrifying auras, almost simultaneously, surged back through the spatial passages into the All Heavens Star Palace! Stirring up winds and clouds throughout the entire Small Immortal Realm!

From the Sword Burying Abyss passage, a sharp and unparalleled Chaos Sword Qi, as if capable of severing heaven and earth, shot up into the sky! Leng Yuechan stepped out, her surrounding Sword Qi domain condensed into a tangible form! Early-stage Void Refining! Success!

Within the Nirvana Volcano passage, a clear phoenix cry echoed through the clouds! Feng Qiqi stepped out, treading on scorching white Nirvana True Flame, her aura blazing and domineering! Early-stage Void Refining! Breakthrough!

The Great Thunderclap Temple passage... Ten thousand rays of Buddha's Light! Sanskrit sounds surged out like tangible golden waves! Kong Ming, with a solemn and dignified appearance, slowly walked out, a faint Buddha's Light condensing behind his head! Early-stage Void Refining! Breakthrough! The most outrageous thing was that he was followed by a string of skeletons enveloped in Buddha's Light, their expressions serene. Had he, after purifying them, directly recruited them as his subordinates?

Ding! Detected direct disciple Leng Yuechan has broken through to early-stage Void Refining!

Triggered Ten Thousand Times Return Critical Hit!

Congratulations to Host for obtaining: One Immortal Slaying Sword Array Diagram. One thousand wisps of Chaos Sword Essence.

Immortal Slaying Sword Array: Unbreakable by less than four Saints! Unparalleled in killing power!

Chaos Sword Essence: Pure Sword Dao origin, can greatly enhance Sword Dao cultivation!

Ding! Detected direct disciple Feng Qiqi has broken through to early-stage Void Refining!

Triggered Ten Thousand Times Return Critical Hit!

Congratulations to Host for obtaining: One ball of Nanming Separating Fire Origin! Three Nirvana Divine Flame Talismans.

Nanming Separating Fire: Vermilion Bird's companion divine fire! Burns the heavens and boils the seas!

Nirvana Divine Flame Talisman: Contains Nirvana's true meaning, can substitute death and be reborn once (below True Immortal level).

Ding! Detected direct disciple Kong Ming has broken through to early-stage Void Refining!

Triggered Ten Thousand Times Return Critical Hit!

Congratulations to Host for obtaining: One Eight Treasures Merit Pool! One scroll of Great WeitianDragon Mantra.

Eight Treasures Merit Pool: Gathers merit, purifies karma, aids cultivation, suppresses inner demons!

Great WeitianDragon Mantra: Top-tier Buddhist offensive divine ability! Specifically counters evil demons and heretics! One roar shakes mountains and rivers!

The massive system prompts and treasures appearing out of thin air in his item bar almost made Lin Xuan faint! Immortal Slaying Sword Array! Nanming Separating Fire! Eight Treasures Merit Pool! And Chaos Sword Essence, Nirvana Divine Talismans, Great WeitianDragon!

“I'm rich! I'm rich! Hahahahaha!” Lin Xuan looked at the three divine artifacts radiating terrifying fluctuations, and then felt the pure energy flowing back into his body from his disciples' breakthroughs (though it was a drop in the bucket for his current realm, a mosquito's leg is still meat), grinning from ear to ear!

He looked at his three newly-broken-through disciples, whose auras had not yet fully stabilized, with incredibly benevolent eyes:

“Excellent work! Keep it up!”

“Next up, Qing Yao! Qi Qi! Get ready! Master will take you to a good place to get some moon essence power!”

Leng Yuechan and Feng Qiqi, who had just broken through and hadn't even had time to be happy: “...”

Yun Qingyao, who was watching the excitement from the side: “??? ”