Beyond the scorching heat, there was a distinct pulsation, subtly aligning with the rhythm of his own heart. Before, it had been a dead thing; no matter what methods Zong Shou employed, he could not fathom its core—it remained sealed off, internal and external isolated. Now, it seemed as if the entirety of it had come alive, radiating a faint, cool spiritual light throughout its form. Zong Shou’s will could finally penetrate it, to glimpse its profound mysteries. But immediately before his eyes materialized the illusory scene from moments ago: Lu Wushuang embracing Diao Chan, standing on the brink of annihilation. He could also faintly sense the anguish and sorrow emanating from this artifact’s spirit. And Lu Wushuang’s emotional fluctuations at that time were almost perfectly preserved. Despair, regret, sorrow, hatred, rage—all mingled together, assaulting Zong Shou’s mind.

Recalling just then how Su Xiaoxiao was forced to dismantle her own cultivation and kill herself, while he could only watch, utterly powerless. Zong Shou loathed himself, yet also felt an urge to tear this entire world to shreds! However, he was, after all, a top-tier sword cultivator. A single deep breath was enough to bring his turbulent emotions back under control. He knew that no amount of hatred or anger now would serve any purpose. Not only was it useless, but it would actually push him into a state of irrecoverable doom! Even if he sought revenge, desired murder, or massacre—he needed a clear head. Only then could he make the most accurate judgments about anything.

“This divine artifact is finally unsealed? Did the resonance of states of mind awaken the artifact spirit?” Zong Shou pondered briefly and understood precisely what had happened. When Su Xiaoxiao’s vitality vanished, his own state of mind must have closely mirrored that of Lu Wushuang just before his death thousands of years ago. This awakened the artifact spirit, causing it to unseal itself. The resonance between person and artifact allowed him to witness the scene from millennia past, when Lu Wushuang reached his dead end. A dead end? Zong Shou gave a self-mocking smile. Before Su Xiaoxiao chose self-destruction, he had indeed fallen into a state of despair. Having saved his own life now, he could not muster an ounce of happiness.

Then, Zong Shou’s expression grew solemn again. “Xiaoxiao said this object is named the Zengxuan Chifa Yi (Wings of Profound Augmentation and Law Preservation)! Back then, Lu Wushuang, only newly arrived at the Saint Realm, wielded it to dominate the world. His state mastery opened paths effortlessly; he was invincible in every aspect! Just as Jingyin said, this is something that can make one ascend to the heavens in a single step. Used for swordsmanship, it can allow one to commune with the divine; used for spiritual arts, it allows entry into the Supreme Realm. If I wished to be a Buddha, I could inherit the current Buddha position. If I wished to be a King, I could dominate all realms. If I only desired cultivation, it would point directly toward eternal life. Since this is the case—”

Zong Shou guided his thought, drawing the object into his Sea of Consciousness, merging it within his true form. Immediately, his entire Sea of Consciousness, his entire body—all his vital energy, all his spiritual awareness—began to change frantically. The residual True Qi and Soul Power within him instantly began to fuse, transforming into pure Immortal Power. And now Zong Shou could feel more clearly that his physical body was also undergoing a violent metamorphosis. The strength throughout his frame surged at an unbelievable rate.

“This is the Indestructible Dharma Body—” Cultivators of the Spirit Realm can communicate with the origin of heaven and earth through intent, achieving a flawless body. The Immortal Realm allows one to complete an Inner Heaven and Earth, henceforth no longer needing external aid, capable of regenerating from a drop of blood and achieving an immortal physique. And cultivators of the Divine Realm can transform all their strength within the Inner Heaven and Earth into Immortal Power—a fundamental change, a true Immortal Cultivator whose strength increases tenfold! When one reaches the Saint Realm, they can utilize the ‘Dao,’ truly touching the root source, integrating the power of the Great Dao into their martial arts, spiritual techniques, and even divine abilities! Furthermore, they possess the Indestructible Dharma Body; unless struck by a fatal injury that shatters the physical form, the body remains immortal and incorruptible, existing eternally! As for the Supreme Saint Venerable of the Ultimate Realm, they anchor their primordial spirit to the Great Dao, allowing the Inner Heaven and Earth to project or even assimilate the outside world, forming their unique ‘Dao Domain.’ Any spiritual art or martial way related to their fundamental Dao foundation receives a hundredfold enhancement! They themselves can be regarded as an embodiment of a certain ‘Dao’; as long as that supreme cosmic Dao exists, their primordial spirit remains undying, granting them eternal life!

“This is the Saint Realm! And at least mid-stage Saint Realm at that—” Zong Shou’s eyes widened in shock, feeling the vast Immortal Power surging and flowing within him. The Taishang Yingjie Tuluz (Supreme Tribulation Scripture) had isolated this thirty-zhang space as its own realm, severing internal and external connections. It had also temporarily cut off the pathway for the infusion of Buddhist Power. However, he felt that the magical power he could command, both in quantity and quality, was not inferior to that of the Boundless Beginning and End Dharmakaya. And deep within the core of his Dharmakaya True Form, the still-incomplete ‘Dao’ character divine secret was gradually being completed in an inscrutable manner. His own tier was now absolutely no less than that of true Saint-rank Venerables!

The Zengxuan Chifa Yi had fully unfurled, transforming into a pair of enormous white light wings attached to his back. Its brilliance was dazzling, scattering countless milky-white motes of light that illuminated his primordial spirit. The residual will of Li Biexue seemed to sense trouble, surging everywhere, struggling ceaselessly, attempting to suppress Zong Shou’s primordial spirit once more. But as Zong Shou’s Dharmakaya True Form ascended to the Saint Realm, it became increasingly incapable. It was slowly worn down, gradually rejected—

Zong Shou, for the moment, could barely spare it any attention. “So that’s how it is! That’s how it is! If he obtained this object, he could immediately achieve the Half-Step True Realm. Perhaps even merging with the Dao to attain True status would not be impossible. No wonder he didn't fear Xiuguan, no wonder he didn't fear the Lu Family. He was willing to pay any price, even if all the demonic sects in the Cloud Realm were annihilated, he wouldn't care. Truly, possessing a treasure invites disaster—” This ‘he,’ naturally, referred to the Supreme Primordial Demon, Li Biexue. Merging with the Dao to attain True status would likely be a natural progression once Li Biexue’s cultivation truly reached the Half-Step True Realm. This Zengxuan Chifa Yi could enhance any Half-Step Heaven-Opening divine artifact to the level of a Heaven-Opening Divine Treasure; there would be nothing else to seek. At that time, what could the Burning Sky Lu Family do? They would be destroyed with a wave of the hand! What power did Xiuguan possess! They would perish with a mere flick of the finger!

Zong Shou’s mind shifted again. So far, the augmentation had only been applied to his own Dao foundation. But what if it were applied to his spiritual techniques, or to his swordsmanship?

Zong Shou acted on the thought. The Zengxuan Chifa Yi shifted its focus. The overflowing Immortal Power within him immediately receded and dissipated. Then, he thrust out a sword, following an esoteric trajectory. Within this thirty-zhang confined space, not the slightest ripple was generated. Yet Zong Shou was stunned speechless.

“Used for swordsmanship, it can commune with the divine—” This single sword thrust had indeed reached the realm of the unity of myriad laws that he had dreamed of! It was the final move of his Primordial Unity Sword—the Primordial Unity Dao Integration Sword! To achieve the divine essence! To fully perceive the Great Dao, thereby gaining insight into the divine! The ultimate height of the sword path he had yearned for over these years, which he had attempted countless times without finding the door, he now executed effortlessly, without even knowing precisely how he achieved it. He was likely currently at the late stage of the Sword Dao Divine Realm; if he advanced just one step further, reaching the peak of the Sword Dao Divine Realm, then when Zong Shou thrust out a sword, it would be a ‘Dao Scar’—a Heavenly Scar of the Great Dao!

What about spiritual techniques, then? “Used for spiritual arts, it can enter the Supreme—” The Heibai Zhongshi (Black and White Beginning and End) divine ability possessed too much kinetic and potential power. It could not be unleashed within this thirty-zhang space. Zong Shou simply manifested the nearly two hundred Star Dao Seeds within his Sea of Consciousness. Indeed, there were changes, but Zong Shou could not discern where those changes lay. He only knew that if he used this ‘Three Thousand Star Fall’ divine ability to strike someone now, its might would only be slightly inferior to when he unleashed the Styx Death Omen Sword. This wasn't because the level of the Sāiqiān Xīngluò Dàfǎ (Three Thousand Star Fall Great Method) itself was truly deficient, but rather because the number of stars was less than two hundred, less than a tenth of the full complement. The Three Enclosures were not yet formed, the Four Mansions not yet gathered—

Besides that, the instantaneous spatial translocation divine ability must be even more effortless now! Gathering all the Star Dao Seeds, Zong Shou then took out a flying dagger. It was one of the remaining few child-and-mother leaf-fall blades. A faint silvery, sharp cold light flickered on its edge. The blade light circled around his fingertip, and Zong Shou felt that this strike, in terms of might and ability, would only be slightly inferior to that previous Immortal-Slaying Flying Blade! The blade itself had no change; the change was in the Six Gods Blade Control Art. Enhanced by the Zengxuan Chifa Yi, this flying blade technique had also ascended several tiers in an inexplicable way. —Even a truly complete Six Gods Blade Control Art would likely be no better than this! If he possessed the true Immortal-Slaying Flying Blade, then it would be a truly supreme method! Even a Supreme Saint Venerable would have to regard it seriously, regardless of rank!

“In that case, for me, the Zengxuan Chifa Yi augmenting my body is less beneficial than augmenting my techniques—” If the Six Gods Blade Control Art was like this, what would happen if it augmented the Boundless Beginning and End divine ability? And what about the Styx Death Omen Sword? These two divine abilities were also infinitely close to the thirteenth-grade Supreme-level divine abilities!

Just at this moment, the entire thirty-zhang domain suddenly fluctuated faintly. A sharp glint flashed and vanished in Zong Shou’s eyes, and the blade light circling his fingertip instantly disappeared. This ripple should be Chi Hongyi and the others attempting to shatter the domain barrier. Several Saints joining forces still possessed considerable divine abilities and magical power, enough to shake the barrier and impact this thirty-zhang spatial domain. However, this absolute defense technique of the True Realm was not so easily breached—it was merely futile effort.

Zong Shou’s eyes, however, were filled with gloom, as he gently stroked Su Xiaoxiao’s forehead. Her icy temperature felt like ten thousand needles piercing his heart. If Xiaoxiao were to die just like this, he would never find peace in his entire life.

“Vermin!” Zong Shou felt strangely calm inside, indifferent to life and death—the same for himself as for others! “Xue’er, help me look after Xiaoxiao, guard her while she rests—” Chu Xue did not question him, softly humming an ‘Mm’ in assent.

Zong Shou then reapplied the Zengfa Chixuan Yi augmentation to his Dharmakaya True Form, and immediately sat in Zuo Wang (Sitting in Oblivion), instantly devoid of all thought. Estimating the time, the Yingjie Tuluz could sustain for another two hours. But by then, the true power within him would also be depleted. So, half an hour was the optimal window. Within that half hour, he needed to heal his injuries as much as possible, and more crucially, to completely purge the remnant soul-thoughts left by Li Biexue from his Sea of Consciousness. Did that fellow want this Zengxuan Chifa Zhi Yi in his hand? Then this time, unless blood flows in torrents, he would never stop! When he awoke, he would vent all this resentment and hatred!

A buzzing sound echoed in his soul-sense—it was the light wings vibrating. And following closely behind, even the Primordial Unity Refining Spirit Twin Swords began to ring out incessantly.