Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit
Chapter 458: Invasion

*Heaven Forge Mountain IS NOW Heaven Forge Mountain*

Ao Wu-Shuang's most precious possessions were the Ice Wyrm Bead and the pair of spirit-emerging Frozehorn Blades, both of which were now in Lu Ling'er's hands.

Lu Ping thought momentarily and said, "Ling'er, I may have a use for the Ice Wyrm Bead in the future. Don't destroy the bloodline inheritance it contains.”

Lu Ling'er stuck her tongue out and said cheekily, "Thankfully, you reminded me early, Father. Otherwise, I would have absorbed the essence of the Ice Wyrm Bead, which would destroy it."

Baffled, Lu Ping asked, "Why would you do that? I, for one, think the Ice Wyrm Bead itself is quite extraordinary. After all, Ao Wu-Shuang used it to withstand my attack."

Lu Ling'er pouted. "That's because it was made with extremely high-quality materials. The direct elder of the bead’s owner carefully selects the materials and crafts it for their descendants. However, the wonders and secrets of the Ice Wyrm Bead can only be fully revealed by a member of the Ice Wyrm Clan. Father, are you implying that their descendants are still roaming somewhere in the North Ocean?”

Lu Ping did not answer Lu Ling'er's question. Instead, he reminded her again, "Remember not to destroy the Ice Wyrm Bead, especially the bloodline inheritance inside it."

With that said, Lu Ping forcibly broke the spiritual seal on Ao Wu-Shuang's interspatial artifact and dumped everything on the ground.

"Hey, there are actually some goodies inside!”

After the items fell out, a cold and gloomy sensation instantly filled the underground cave, and the sharp-eyed Lu Ping immediately noticed among the pile a jade box emitting white mist.

A layer of blue light burst from Lu Ping's palm, granting him immunity against the cold mist as he held the jade box. He tightened his hold around it and dissipated the mist, instantly dispelling the cold atmosphere.

Lu Ping opened the jade box, and his eyes lit up at the item lying motionless inside it. His lips curled upwards as he said, “Oh? A thousand-year-old Glacial Heart? An intermediate Earth-class wonder item that comes in double portions. Nice. It seems that Ao Wu-Shuang prepared these items for his future advancement.”

With the double portions of the intermediate Earth-class wonder item, Ao Wu-Shuang could infuse a basic Heaven-class wonder item at the first opportunity. With that, he could achieve a Seventh-Grade Golden Core, and considering the other half of the Core Forging Pellet recipe in Ao Yu’s possession, Ao Wu-Shuang could even attain a top-level Seventh-Grade Golden Core.

The spiritual herbs and spirit stones produced in the Abyssal Monster Realm were taken by Lu Ping, along with some jade scrolls containing inheritances of other aspects. At Lu Ping's current cultivation stage, he would require more than just simple cultivation. What he needed was extensive training and additional knowledge on the other aspects in order to progress further. This depended on a cultivator's foundation and accumulation.

For example, Ao Wu-Shuang made the Frozehorn Blades his Origin Mystic Tool, so he had to be proficient in swordsmanship. Although Lu Ping couldn't obtain the brief introduction of the Ice Wyrm Clan's inheritance, as a swordsman, Ao Wu-Shuang's interspatial artifact contained several swordsmanship jade scrolls. Some of them were even of a minor divine ability level and had considerable power. Most were swordsmanship scrolls of the ice elemental, but they still had a lot of reference value for Lu Ping.

In addition, Ao Wu-Shuang had an ice-elemental wonder item, which Lu Ping gave to Lu Ling’er to refine her aegis energy. Now, her aegis energy had already condensed three types of wonder items and had achieved the level of a minor divine ability. As for Lu Ping's Seven Elemental Lightning Gourd, it was stuck in a bottleneck from advancing into a spirit emerging class equipment. The lack of a fourth Mystical Inscription made it impossible for him to infuse a wonder item even if he had a spare in his possession.

Lu Hai also greatly benefited from Lu Ping since he practiced water-elemental techniques. He had successfully achieved a minor divine ability level aegis energy. However, Lu Ping’s Monster pet, Da Gui practiced water-elemental techniques as well, and often received plenty of gains from Lu Ping. Though Lu Hai was somewhat of a son to Lu Ping, Lu Ping treated both Lu Hai and Da Gui equally. In the cultivation world overseas, the majority of cultivators, including the Monsters, all practiced water and ice-elemental techniques. Therefore, peculiar and wonder items of the same elemental type were abundant overseas.

Lu Bi was the eldest of the snake trio, but her aegis energy only had two layers. This was because wind-elemental peculiar and wonder items were relatively rarer than water and ice-elemental ones. Lu Ping’s wind-elemental peculiar items were mostly used for smelting into the Seven Elemental Lightning Gourd, and he had only managed to acquire two more by trading his spirit pellets.

This time, if Lu Ping hadn’t obtained the Splendiferous Jade Dew from the Ice Wyrm Residence, Lu Ling’er would have received the greatest treasure from this trip.

Just as Lu Bi and Lu Hai started taking out the interspatial artifacts of the other three Core-Forging Realm Monster cultivators, Lu Ping waved dismissively and said, "You might all look young, but your achievements have been very extraordinary even in your clan. However, you’re all Core Forging Realm Monster cultivators now, and it’s about time to have your own source of resources. So anything inside is yours to choose from. Consider these items as your spoils of war. You may do whatever you want.”

His words sent happiness to the snake trio immediately. After giving it some thought, Lu Bi handed over an earth-elemental peculiar item, spiritual herbs, and some top-tiered spiritual stones to Lu Ping. Seeing that, Lu Hai and Lu Ling’er followed suit. They, too, returned the peculiar items, spiritual stones, and herbs that they did not need to Lu Ping.

This time, Lu Ping did not turn them down, but he did not accept everything they returned either. Instead, he took a peculiar item, a portion of the spirit herbs, and gave the snake trio back half of the spirit stones they returned to him. “Keep some for yourselves. You’ll need them for the Core Forging Realm. “

Lu Ping then tossed an earth-elemental peculiar item to Da Bao, who was stuffing the spirit stones one by one into the interspatial pouch dangling on his neck. “Da Bao, you have yet to infuse any peculiar item. Here’s an earth-elemental one that I have no use for at the moment. Fuse it into your aegis energy so that you have a way to defend yourself.”

After splitting the spoils of war, Lu Ping dismissed them all, but not before asking them to put more effort into their cultivation. He then sat down on the spot and started contemplating a way out.

There was a problem troubling him right now. Lu Ping pondered on how he, a human cultivator, could escape from the Abyssal Monster Realm, especially after causing a stir and killing Ao Wu-Shuang. From the conversation with the snake trio, Lu Ping deduced that the powerful Ice Wyrm Clan was supported by the royal Monster clan from the North Ocean, the Primordial Crocodilian Clan. The addition of the Splendiferous Jade Dew and the other half of the Core Forging Pellet recipe only made matters more difficult for Lu Ping.

Now, the Abyssal Monster Realm exits were most likely heavily guarded by Monster cultivators. Fortunately, despite the exposure of his Human identity, Lu Ping’s appearance remained a mystery to the Monsters, or else he would be in a much more dire situation.

Just as Lu Ping was deeply troubled by this predicament, Lu Da-Gui, Lu Ping’s Monster pet, came up to him. “Master, I think I’m on the brink of advancing into the Core Forging Realm. My energy has been surging recently, and I’m starting to lose control.”

In actuality, Lu Da-Gui merely approached Lu Ping to ask for a Mystic Turtle’s Golden Core. Happiness struck Lu Ping as soon as Lu Da-Gui explained his motive, and his expression brightened cheerfully.

He took out a few materials and items that could aid in Lu Da Gui’s cultivation while he said, “Do your best, you can leave the rest to me. Our fate depends on you now and whether we’ll be able to escape from this place.”

Lu Da Gui, however, found the smile on Lu Ping’s face a little odd. After all, Lu Ping knew that he was on the verge of advancing into the Core Forging Realm, he just didn’t know when. But hearing his words, Lu Da Gui was excited, for he knew that Lu Ping had already come up with a foolproof plan. With that thought in mind, he took the jade bottles and slowly headed to the training chamber that Da Bao had set up, where he could isolate himself from the world and focus on his cultivation. At the same time, Lu Ping placed the miniature spiritual veins in the training chamber to aid Lu Da Gui's cultivation. He then set up a Gathering Spirit Formation with thirty-six top-tiered spirit stones. Lu Ping did not dare to set up a more effective formation, fearing that Lu Da Gui’s current level would not be able to handle the resulting accumulation of spiritual energy. If Lu DaGui were to force himself to refine that much energy, his heartspace would certainly be overwhelmed and explode.

Lu Ping had never interfered in the growth of his spiritual pets, nor would he resort to any sinister and unfair methods that allowed him to be in charge of their lives. This treatment had won him their respect, and with the addition of Lu Ping’s alchemy skill, his increasingly powerful strength, and selflessness, he had ultimately earned their loyalty.

The fact that he did not implant any seals into his spirit pets to control their lives had coincidentally become a life-saving factor at this crucial moment. As long as Lu Da Gui advanced into the Core Forging Realm and achievedhe would have the freedom to come and go from the Abyssal Monster Realm. The Monster cultivators guarding the various checkpoints would never expect that an unmarked Monster cultivator could be a Human cultivator's spirit pet.

While Lu Ping concealed his traces and hid in a cave within the Abyssal Monster Realm, waiting for Lu Da Gui to achieve his Golden Core, a conspiracy against the Zhen Ling Sect was about to occur.

Meanwhile, at the peak of Heaven Forge Mountain, Tian-Fan secretly walked out from the Evenite Palace and fixed his gaze on the dark and rumbling clouds in the skies before shifting his sight toward the already darkened ocean far away.

Just then, a faint bluish-gray line appeared where the sea met the sky. It would intermittently vanish and reappear in the distance before a white line trailed along the bluish-gray underwater, turning it entirely white, then gradually becoming clearer.

Tian-Fan focused on the increasingly clear white line and smirked to himself, "Has it finally arrived?"

As if to prove Tian-Fan’s speculation, the white line became more distinct as it drew closer to Heavenly Spirit Mountain.

Suddenly, the white line, which had looked like a rope dangling from the sky, split into two as if a sword had abruptly sliced it in half. The white ropes slowly thickened again, returning to their original size, yet still continued to encroach dangerously close to Heaven Forge Mountain. Only then did Tian-Fan discover that these two white ropes weren't ropes at all but two gigantic waterspouts that surged high into the skies.

The duty-bound cultivators of Heaven Forge Mountain quickly noticed the two eerie waterspouts charging toward them from afar. A distant bell rang out, and the entire Heaven Forge Mountain immediately turned lively. The cultivators on guard took their positions and after dozens of flashes of spiritual light in the sky, Heaven Forge Mountain completely fell silent once again. From afar, the domain now looked like a fierce beast lying patiently in wait, ready to pounce on its prey at any time.

Midway from its encroachment, the enormous waterspouts split into four and then turned towards Heaven Forge Mountain, closing in from four different directions.

Suddenly, Tian-Jiang and Tian-Lu, the two elderly cultivators, appeared beside Tian-Fan, their faces solemn as they looked at the approaching waterspouts. Tian-Jiang said grimly, "Dao Sheng has indeed made a move. I wonder which faction's Law Avatar Realm cultivator dares to blatantly confront us after Dao Shi’s serious injury."

Tian-Fan sneered. "Don't forget that there is another Law Avatar Realm cultivator still around, one who doesn't belong to the North Ocean."

Tian Lu's face scowled at Tian-Fan’s words. "Yuan Guang dares to interfere in the North Ocean’s affairs? How dare he!"

Realization struck him, and he added, "Has the Xuan Ling Sect already sided with the Crystal Palace? They’re only bringing trouble upon themselves! Are they not worried that the other sects will turn their backs on them?”

Tian-Fan laughed. "Whether it happens or not, we can only wait and see. Anyway, I must admit that Dao Sheng is becoming increasingly proficient in his tornado-yielding great divine ability. I suppose even Tian-Xue and I will find his attacks quite challenging.”

Just as Tian-Fan finished speaking, Tian-Lin arrived at the mountaintop without anyone noticing. With a smile on his face, Tian-Lin said, "You’re being too modest, Junior Uncle. Dao Sheng may be powerful, but both you and Junior Aunty Tian-Xue are progressing greatly too. And from the rate of your improvements, you’re definitely stronger than Dao Sheng! From my point of view, I’m certain that you’ll perform better than you did fifty years ago!”

Though he was stationed on Huang Li Island, Tian-Lin was, in fact, much closer to Heaven Forge Mountain compared to Tian-Xue and Tian-Ling.

Tian-Fan smiled and asked, "How is it over at Huang Li Island? With the Xuan Ling Sect causing such a commotion, I'm afraid the Monsters will soon get wind of it. What if they take this opportunity to attack Huang Li Island?"

Tian-Lin replied confidently, "Now, there are more than ten cultivators on the island who have reached the Core Forging Realm. Although most are only in the early stage, they can still withstand an invasion with all the formations and seals that little rascal Lu Ping spent a fortune and effort setting up. They can manage until Junior Brother Qu arrives. Moreover, the disciples of Junior Brother Xuan-Yin and Xuan-Huai are already in the mid-Core Forging Realm. With their combined strength, the only one that could gain the upper hand over them is probably that rascal Lu Ping. Everything should be fine."

At the brief mention of Xuan-Yin, Tian-Fan fell silent. He remained quiet for a moment before he mumbled, “Why are the rascals all on Huang Li Island?”

Seemingly noticing something, Tian-Lin replied, “I heard Lu Ping invited them over.”

Tian-Fan nodded, but didn’t continue. Instead, Tian-Lu, who valued Lu Ping’s worth, asked, “I heard that brat is missing in action again?”

Tian-Lin nodded in agreement, while Tian-Lu cautiously inquired, “Could the Human cultivator intruding the Abyssal Monster Realm possibly be that little rascal?”

The question was left unanswered, for Tian-Lin and Tian-Fan were stunned. Unable to respond, the atmosphere turned heavy with silence.

At the same moment, a teleportal suddenly took form at the peak of the Heaven Forge Mountain, and Tian-Xue walked out of it a second later. As soon as she made her appearance, she fumed, “Dao Yan thinks I’m too stupid to realize what he’s after! Hmph! Who is he trying to fool with that petty plan of his? Yuan Guang from the Crystal Palace will most likely interfere with the North Ocean!”

To the others who already knew about it, they showed no sign of surprise, and Tian-Xue wasn’t bothered by it as well. She turned to look at the waterspouts that surrounded Heaven Forge Mountain in a very organized formation. There was simply no way out.

Tian-Xue sneered. "Ha! Dao Sheng and his old trick again. Their sect’s ultimate sword art is quite decent, but it has lost its essence after he modified it so many times. Though I have to admit that his skill is far greater than Tian-Ling’s waterspouts. Speaking of which, where is Tian-Ling? The entrance will be blocked as soon as Dao-Sheng seals off the airspace.”

As soon as her voice faded, a portal opened up at the peak of Heaven Forge Mountain. Tian-Ling walked out of it, her demeanor steady and calm.

After greeting the others, Tian-Ling walked composedly toward Tian-Lin, who stared back and grinned. “So Dao-Xuan and Junior Uncle Tian-Xiang won’t be coming because they’re keeping an eye on each other, but we can’t guarantee that Yuan Guang won’t interfere in our affairs. If he steps up, it’s up to you and me to stop him.”

Tian-Ling nodded in reply. A spiritual light flashed across her eyes as she cast a spell to observe the skill formed by Dao-Sheng, the cultivator crowned as the strongest in the North Ocean.

Tian-Fan and Tian-Xue merely watched her actions. They exchanged a glance and kept quiet.

At the same time, the waterspouts surrounding Heaven Forge Mountain had increased to a total of eighteen. Together, they formed a massive formation that entrapped the mountain, seemingly so powerful that it could destroy the entire area in a single strike.

*Heaven Forge Mountain IS NOW Heaven Forge Mountain*