The Refining Spirit Sword Spirit was formed from a separated soul shard of Xi Zi. In this world, if there was anything that could trace Xi Zi’s movements from ten thousand years ago, nothing could compare to this Refining Spirit Sword Spirit.
Indeed, as the blood smeared onto it, a burst of spiritual radiance shone forth. With a hum, the Refining Spirit Sword floated into the air, pointing toward the very center of the Minor Thousand World.
“Still Xianyang City?”
Along with the sound, an intense sense of longing and familiarity washed over him.
Zong Shou simply let the Refining Spirit Sword spin freely in the air, allowing the sword spirit to lead the way autonomously.
He entered this Qin Emperor’s Tomb with two objectives: one was to seize the Twelve Bronze Men, and the other was to see if Xi Zi had left anything behind at the Qin Emperor’s burial site.
The Supreme Primordial Demon breaking the covenant occurred after Zong Shou intended to enter the Qin Emperor’s Tomb. Could that object capable of enhancing techniques and sustaining the profound be related to this matter?
Xi Zi was the Master of Creation, commanding the Divine Art of Creation. Thinking it over carefully, there was indeed a slight possibility.
The Refining Spirit Sword Spirit, activated by Zong Shou’s essence blood, transformed into a purple light that instantly spanned a hundred li. Within this Minor Thousand World, amidst the Two Extremes Dragon Gathering Formation, it advanced windingly as if traversing familiar terrain, meeting no obstruction whatsoever.
After exchanging glances, the five of them hurriedly followed. Tracing the path the sword light had carved, they too bypassed every restriction within the Two Extremes Dragon Gathering Formation with incredible ease.
“There really is something strange about this!”
A strange look flashed in Zong Shou’s eyes. He knew the Refining Spirit Sword had absorbed a massive amount of Divine Venerable Votive Power and was steadily advancing toward the level of a Divine Artifact.
At this moment, the sword was gradually approaching the realm of a Half-Step Divine Weapon.
Yet, even a Divine Treasure’s artifact spirit could not possibly analyze this massive Two Extremes Dragon Gathering Formation so rapidly.
Not even specialized artifact tools designed for breaking formations could achieve this. And the Refining Spirit specialized only in the sword.
The only explanation was that the Refining Spirit Sword possessed an incredibly clear memory of this place.
In just one quarter of an hour, the group traversed a distance spanning several thousand li. Then, a colossal city of immense grandeur gradually appeared before Zong Shou’s eyes in the distance.
The city walls soared a hundred zhang high, built entirely of massive stones fused together by spirit formations. They stood majestically isolated, ice-cold and solid.
Upon the ramparts were countless colossal ballistae and every manner of siege weapon, all fully equipped.
The guard was tight, with sentries posted almost every three steps. From time to time, neatly arrayed armored soldiers patrolled the walls.
The city walls, stretching for hundreds of li, were manned by hundreds of thousands of Corpse Soldiers, leaving no apparent breach.
The five could also sense dozens of powerful auras residing within the city walls.
Although miasma permeated the air, the strength of these commanders was definitely no less than that of ordinary Divine Ranks. Four or five of them even surpassed the Saint-Rank experts they had previously encountered.
Zong Shou restrained the Refining Spirit Sword and chose a high vantage point nearby to observe, only to suck in a sharp breath.
“This time it’s truly troublesome—”
A rough estimation placed the number of Corpse Soldiers in the city at at least two million.
Furthermore, they were all Dao Soldiers at least at the level of Heavenly Dipper Sword Troops—
One could also see groups after groups of iron cavalry constantly sweeping through the streets.
The number of commanders whose strength rivaled the Saint Realm also far exceeded expectations.
With such immense military might guarding Xianyang City and security so tight as to be almost flawless, it stood to reason that if even he found it difficult, others would feel the same.
The question was the nature of the connection between Chong Xuan and those Qi Refiners and these ‘Great Qin Soldiers.’
Would their passage through Xianyang City be smooth?
“The spirit formation beneath us is completely intact!”
Shen Yuexuan pressed his hand to the ground, his expression focused. “Trying to sneak in from underground is nearly impossible.”
Zong Shou frowned, then looked toward the sky. He saw dozens of gigantic birds circling overhead, their gazes fierce, occasionally sweeping over the ground below.
These were truly fierce birds from the ancient era, nearly reaching the level of Divine Beasts. Almost every single one possessed the strength of the Divine Rank, and several were bona fide Saint-Rank exotic beasts.
Having already possessed strength comparable to mid-to-late stage Human Race Saint Realm cultivators, their transformation into Fiend Corpses only made them more ferocious.
In addition to this, the crossbows mounted on the city walls, aimed skyward, were equally intimidating.
Zong Shou had no confidence in evading the senses of these fierce birds and flying into the city.
However, he couldn't possibly be blocked by this mere city wall. It seemed he had no choice but to employ his illusion arts—
Zong Shou cast a spirit art seal, and the Illusory Heart Realm manifested behind him, a wave of clear light rippling out to envelop the five of them.
If anyone were watching from the outside now, they would only see a patch of empty air, assuming the area was vacant.
“Life-Death Transference!”
The second treasure Zong Shou deployed was the Nine Aperture Origin Stone. Vital energy was converted into death energy, enveloping the five of them.
Neither too dense nor too thin, this could mask their vital energy signatures from the Corpse Soldiers without attracting undue attention.
But this alone was far from sufficient. Zong Shou’s gaze turned toward Su Xiaoxiao.
To be truly foolproof, they would have to rely on this vixen’s Primordial Demon Seven Emotions Art.
Su Xiaoxiao let out a light, incomparably beautiful laugh, having seen through Zong Shou’s thoughts.
“When you need this humble servant, you speak sweetly; when you don't, you wish you could cast Xiaoxiao far away and forget about me entirely. In this world, there is no one more cold-hearted than my Shou Lang—”
Zong Shou felt a slight awkwardness; thinking back, he had indeed been somewhat unfair.
But did he have to offer himself in marriage?
Come to think of it, if this woman didn't employ that Primordial Demon Seven Emotions Secret Art, wouldn't everything be fine?
“This servant can help beloved husband once more, but it requires compensation.”
Su Xiaoxiao tapped her lips with slender, delicate fingers. Perhaps accustomed to using charm magic, every movement she made was exquisitely elegant, yet intensely captivating, igniting lust and stealing souls.
“I have already gained much from this venture into the Qin Emperor’s Tomb; there is truly no need for me to risk entering Xianyang City again. Therefore, if Shou Lang wishes my help, there must be an extra reward.”
Zong Shou’s face turned ashen, extremely displeased. A single phrase flashed through his mind: Was she planning to discard him after crossing the river?
He scoffed inwardly; it would be difficult for Su Xiaoxiao to slip away like this.
Before the matter with the Supreme Primordial Demon was resolved, it was better for this woman to remain by his side.
“To speak of abandoning the bridge after crossing is not entirely wrong!”
Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes shimmered, and she giggled coquettishly. “If Shou Lang wishes to forcibly detain this servant, he certainly can. But at that time, Xiaoxiao might not be able to apply the Primordial Demon Seven Emotions Art with her whole heart. In any case, it is for Shou Lang to decide—”
Zong Shou frowned, suppressing the urge to seize the vixen and discipline her severely, and asked in a calm, even tone, “Then what compensation do you desire?”
Su Xiaoxiao’s gaze briefly, almost imperceptibly, flickered over the sleeve of Zong Shou’s right arm. Then, her expression gradually became serious. “When the business of this Qin Emperor’s Tomb is concluded, can you permit Xiaoxiao to leave?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Yuan Wushang was the first to mock her with a smile. “Aren’t you currently infatuated with Zong Shou? Once the thirty-day limit for the Primordial Demon Seven Emotions Secret Art expires, it will rebound violently. At this juncture, you should be staying by Zong Shou’s side, diligently seducing him. Yet, you are proactively asking to leave? How strange.”
Zong Shou also raised an eyebrow. He had indeed planned to forcibly take Su Xiaoxiao back after things were settled.
First, he didn't want this woman, with whom he shared a complicated entanglement of fate and affection, to continue wreaking havoc upon the world. Second, he wished to search Su Xiaoxiao’s memories for clues about the object capable of ‘enhancing techniques and sustaining the profound.’
“His heart is like iron; no amount of effort from this servant will be of any use. What other recourse is there?”
Su Xiaoxiao sighed, sounding genuinely dejected. “I have accepted my fate. At worst, I’ll wait thirty years until my foundation is ruined and start cultivating anew. Perhaps letting me leave now would be better for both of us.”
The last sentence held a rare seriousness in her tone.
Zong Shou fell into deep thought again. Did Su Xiaoxiao’s words imply she knew something? Did that Li Yuanmo truly have some arrangement placed upon Su Xiaoxiao?
But when Su Xiaoxiao was unconscious, he had done more than just plant a spirit sense restriction in her primordial spirit.
Every part of her being, inside and out, even her personal belongings, had been meticulously searched. Even the girl’s most secret areas were not overlooked.
There were many good things, but nothing that could pose a threat to him.
“We will discuss this later! We’ll see then—”
He neither agreed nor flatly refused. Zong Shou himself found it difficult to decide at this moment.
Su Xiaoxiao sighed but said no more. Nevertheless, a strange restlessness welled up in his heart.
That premonition of danger grew clearer and clearer.
Zong Shou, meanwhile, was already contemplating how to silently enter this colossal city, which was built to mimic Xianyang from ten thousand years ago.
He could ascend the walls, but they were densely laced with restriction patterns. That was the true essence of the Two Extremes Dragon Gathering Formation. He wondered if Shen Yuexuan could handle it, and how much time it would take?
Right, his Refining Spirit Sword should have memories!
Just as Zong Shou was about to release the restraint on the Refining Spirit Sword Spirit, his heart suddenly stirred.
From the distance, a massive roar shook the air, sending dust and smoke billowing. About half a quarter of an hour later, hundreds of thousands of black iron cavalry thundered toward them.
These were the two hundred thousand Great Qin Iron Cavalry who had been patrolling everywhere in the tomb passage earlier.
Under the command of dozens of mounted generals, they were charging toward Xianyang with perfect formation.
And the enormous black iron city gate began to creak, slowly opening under the guidance of its mechanisms.
Zong Shou chuckled wryly and re-restrained the Refining Spirit Sword Spirit. This time luck was on his side; whatever he thought of, came to pass.
With a slight gesture, the four beside him understood immediately. Together with Zong Shou, they transformed into streaks of light and shot forward, rushing into the gradually opening city gate ahead of the hundreds of thousands of cavalry.
Although this city was guarded by several thousand Corpse Soldiers and anchored by a Corpse General at the Saint Rank level,
under the cover of the illusion arts and death energy, almost no one noticed anything amiss.
Even a few high-powered individuals who sensed a slight anomaly,
had their attention diverted; in short, they developed a sense of inertia.
Even if they knew something was wrong, they were unwilling to exert the mental effort to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Zong Shou was astonished in his heart. Su Xiaoxiao’s Primordial Demon Seven Emotions Grand Technique seemed to have made significant progress.
Like the one on the city tower above, who had actually seen through part of the illusion but remained completely motionless.
Zong Shou estimated that even without his own illusionary divine abilities and Life-Death Transference, Su Xiaoxiao could likely move in and out of Xianyang City freely.