Yuan Qi and the bronze bell were jolted with shock. *The scar at the corner of Xu Fu's eye was left by Ah Ying? Just how far had the seal on Ah Ying been unraveled back then?*
Involuntarily, their minds drifted back to the battle at Mount Tongbai, where Xu Ying had slain the heavenly fiend nesting within the immortal corpse and severely wounded Beichenzi and his two companions.
At that time, Xu Ying was merely at the Pass-Breaching stage, yet a cohort of Ascension-stage powerhouses could barely withstand a few exchanges against him. Had they not ignited their incense in time to activate their paper talismans, they would likely have been wiped out in the very next instant!
Judging by the scar at the corner of Xu Fu's eye, it had unquestionably damaged the skull bone, an injury left behind by a blow that must have pierced straight through the brain. One could easily imagine that the strike Xu Ying unleashed back then was a lethal, merciless bid for Xu Fu's life!
A blood feud undoubtedly existed between the two.
*Yet why would Xu Fu still invite Ah Ying to restore the Qi Refiners?* Yuan Qi and the bronze bell wondered inwardly. *Is his goodwill genuine, or does he harbor sinister motives?*
Xu Ying turned around, his back to Xu Fu, and fixed his eyes upon Xiang Haikong and Chu Thirteenth Mistress.
The two retreated slowly. Xiang Haikong spoke with utmost caution: "Patriarch Xu, if you press us too hard when lives are at stake, I will not yield. My only fear is that I might harm the ageless immortal!"
Chu Thirteenth Mistress's eyes flickered, and she abruptly took to the air, laughing. "Young Master Xiang, you might not yield, but I certainly will! One cannot touch the ageless immortal, much less kill him. If you dare lay a finger on him, Patriarch Xu Fu will have your life! I shall take my leave first!"
Her speed was astonishing. Leaping repeatedly through the air, she cultivated both Nuo arts and qi to an exquisite degree; with every step she took, an azure lotus leaf materialized beneath her feet. Tapping the tips of her toes lightly upon the blossoms, she vanished over the horizon in a flash.
"I will return once the ageless immortal cools his temper!"
Xu Ying moved to give chase when, with a crisp snap, Young Master Xiang snapped open his folding fan and waved it forcefully. Howling winds surged forward, countless invisible sword qi colliding within the gale like clinking jade ornaments, sweeping straight toward Xu Ying!
Even before the wind arrived, the ground around Xu Ying rang with metallic shrieks as the invisible sword qi slashed crisscrossing fissures into the earth!
Countless streaks of sword qi swirled around Xu Ying, coalescing into a sword-qi tornado that trapped him within!
Back on the Nai River, Young Master Xiang had used his Wind-Settling Lantern to pin down Xu Ying's maple leaf skiff, leaving Xu Ying completely helpless. At that time, however, Xu Ying was merely an insignificant Qi Refiner at the Qi Harvesting stage, his vision and knowledge mediocre at best.
Now, having weathered so many trials, his insight and horizons far surpassed what they once were.
Young Master Xiang's divine power was driven by using yuan qi to activate the folding fan, fusing a portion of the fan's inner imprint with his own Dao image to produce the technique.
To an outsider, it appeared extraordinarily refined, supported by immense Dharmic power and terrifying might, seemingly impossible to unravel.
Yet under Xu Ying's Heavenly Eye, it was glaringly obvious that Young Master Xiang was incapable of unleashing true divine power on his own; he had to rely on a magical artifact to bring it forth!
Even so, his execution of the technique was merely a superficial imitation. It was no different from the sword-flying techniques practiced by Xu Fu's disciples—impressive on the surface, but riddled with flaws!
Young Master Xiang's intention was never to kill Xu Ying, but to use the divine power to buy time for an escape.
The moment he swung the fan, he whirled around to flee. Yet Xu Ying's figure moved like a coiling dragon and slithering serpent, flashing through the sword-qi tornado without brushing against a single thread of sword qi within the gale!
Xu Ying held his hands one in front of the other, striking forward from dozens of zhang away. The front hand was yang, the rear hand yin. As the stance unfolded, the surrounding scenery warped drastically, dragging Young Master Xiang—still hurtling through midair—straight into the manifestation!
This abruptly emerging scenery was none other than a Hidden Scenery.
The Hidden Scenery of Sun and Moon Abide from the Rhapsody of the Azure Heavens!
As Xu Ying's left fist struck outward, his yuan qi turned scorching hot. The friction between his fist-wind and the air instantly ignited blazing flames!
This punch was like unleashing a blazing, scorching sun. The flames compressed inward, detonating with terrifying force!
The fire in Xu Ying's palm was not the ordinary flame cultivated by Nuo Masters of the Guo clan, but Pure Yang True Fire. With his body filled with pure yang true qi, simply visualizing fire would manifest it as devastating Pure Yang True Fire!
Alarmed, Young Master Xiang spun around and lofted his folding fan into the air. The fan circled him in a blur, flooding the sky with invisible sword qi!
As Xu Ying's punch blasted through, countless streaks of invisible sword qi shattered to pieces. The fan was torn apart by the violent fist-wind, erupting into a fireball midair.
Young Master Xiang hurriedly raised his hand to meet the blow, employing a Qi Refiner seal technique he had learned—the Lesser Five Thunders Seal!
The moment their palms collided, the true power of Xu Ying's punch erupted in full. The sun formed of Pure Yang True Fire expanded with explosive fury!
Young Master Xiang's Five Thunders Seal detonated with staggering force. Each finger represented a type of heavenly thunder; with a single tremor of a finger, the might of heavenly thunder burst forth, crashing against Xu Ying's fist seal!
His five fingers vibrated in rapid succession as five thunders erupted, sending a numbing jolt through Xu Ying's arm.
A flicker of delight surfaced in Young Master Xiang's heart, only for his face to twist in horror an instant later. Each time he flicked a finger, a loud snap echoed out. Four of his five fingers snapped backward, leaving only his thumb stubbornly pointing straight!
Enduring the agonizing pain, he hoisted a large war banner into the air, preparing to activate the artifact. At that exact moment, Xu Ying's right hand—representing yin—struck forward, slapping onto the back of his own left hand.
With that strike, the scorching, searing yuan qi instantly shifted, turning cool and luminous as the moon, as if the radiance of a bright moon had exploded from his palm!
This was the complete form of the seventh stance of the Rhapsody of the Azure Heavens—Sun and Moon Abide!
Yin and yang reversed in a split second, doubling the power of Sun and Moon Abide. Before Young Master Xiang could even unleash the might of the banner, a loud rip tore through the air as the violent force shredded the fabric and snapped the pole in two!
Young Master Xiang groaned. His fingers twisted, his shoulders dislocated, and his entire body was sent spinning and contorting in the air!
Unable to steady himself, he looked up just as Xu Ying's shoulders shifted. A streak of sword qi descended from the heavens like a rainbow, slashing downward. The golden crown atop Young Master Xiang's head flew off, blazing with brilliant light that formed the faint phantom of a palace.
It was an immortal palace, harboring the image of the Great Dao—a marvel in its own right.
Yet it, too, was nothing more than a flawed imitation.
Xu Ying's sword qi sliced through, cleaving the immortal palace in two. The golden crown was split down the middle and clattered to the ground!
Shocked and infuriated, Young Master Xiang violently jerked his head. His hairpin flew out and split apart with sharp metallic clangs, turning into hundreds of silver needles that shot toward Xu Ying. He screamed, "Patriarch Xu Fu, I have shed blood and sweat for the restoration of the Qi Refiners! Will you not lend a hand? If you do not stop him, I will truly go for the kill!"
He possessed many magical artifacts, but none held exceptional might. He had mastered numerous divine powers, yet every single one was riddled with flaws.
This was an era where the Qi Refiners were in decline—a decline that applied not only to the mortal world, but to the Qi Refiners of this age as well.
Profound divine powers had not been passed down. Even if they had survived, no one could decipher or master them!
What each person understood of divine powers were half-baked imitations, hardly better than the techniques of Nuo Masters.
Xu Ying, however, cultivated authentic immortal techniques alongside Nuo arts. Before the silver needles could even reach him, the Eight Sounds of Primordial Nurturing resonated from within his body, their vibrations shattering the needles into dust!
Furious and panicked, Young Master Xiang let out a fierce roar. A Golden Core leaped from his dantian, illuminating the heavens with radiance so brilliant that every speck of dust in the air became visible!
This was the Golden Core of a Qi Refiner.
As the saying went: *A single Golden Core swallowed into the belly, my fate is governed by me, not by Heaven!*
By cultivating a Golden Core, one's lifespan increased dramatically, allowing one to resonate with heaven and humanity and perceive the wonders of creation.
Young Master Xiang loosed his Golden Core. It pressed down like a mountain atop Xu Ying, pinning him firmly in place!
Seeing that Xu Fu showed no intention of intervening, viciousness seized his heart. Using his Golden Core, he no longer cared about any ageless immortal or Patriarch Xu Ying—he would kill him first!
Young Master Xiang summoned a flying dagger, aiming straight for Xu Ying's neck. But behind Xu Ying, a thick stone axe swung upward and smashed down with a resonant clang, striking directly against the Golden Core!
Young Master Xiang, having just summoned the flying dagger, looked up only to see dense cracks spreading across his Golden Core.
Blood gushed violently from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. His body swayed. The moment his Golden Core shattered, he collapsed to the ground, dead!
All across the mountain, Qi Refiners watched the scene, their expressions a daze of disbelief.
Xu Fu's voice drifted out, calm and measured. "Gentlemen, did you see that? This is the true power of a Qi Refiner! The ageless immortal has demonstrated with his own hands the true might of the Pass-Breaching stage. Even if one forms a Golden Core, they remain utterly vulnerable before it!"
A chorus of cheers erupted from the Qi Refiners across the mountain.
Xu Fu raised both arms, his voice ringing loud and clear: "The ageless immortal shall pass this power to us, allowing us to cultivate without flaws, brave the Heavenly Tribulation, and ascend to become immortals!"
Another wave of cheers rose from the mountain, frantic and fanatical.
Xu Ying put away the stone axe and returned to his side. Xu Fu smiled. "Is your anger appeased? Master Xu, come stand beside me and bask in their adoration."
Xu Ying shook his head and remained standing at the base of Mount Fangzhang.
Xu Fu smiled faintly, not pressing the matter. Standing atop the immortal mountain, he soaked in the cheers of the Qi Refiners alone, saying, "Back then, you would always lose your temper at me over the deaths of those young boys and girls, landing punch after punch on my body. I never fought back; I let you beat me as you pleased. This time, I have also indulged your wishes, letting you slay Young Master Xiang so you could vent your wrath."
Xu Ying's eyes flickered. "Yet I know that the person who directed Young Master Xiang to perform blood sacrifices to heavenly gods was you. The one who spread plagues and caused the Nai River to alter its course was also you."
Xu Fu smiled softly. "You possess a woman's soft-heartedness. You feel pity for frail, insignificant lives, but I do not. I have been heartless since childhood."
He turned, and Mount Fangzhang carried him toward the main hall, with Xu Ying following at an unhurried pace.
Xu Fu said, "From a young age, I was incapable of feeling human emotion. I was born into the Xu family of the Eastern Sea and began learning the arts of qi refining in my youth. People praised my intelligence. My father hired teachers versed in poetry, literature, and propriety to teach me etiquette. In dealing with others, I never stepped outside the boundaries of propriety. When others were joyful, I smiled along with them. When others mourned, I wept along with them."
His face remained placid, as if the person he spoke of were someone else entirely.
"One day, my grandmother passed away. I stood before her coffin, the wailing of my kin ringing in my ears, yet I felt not a shred of grief. I could not cry, nor could I share their sorrow."
A smile lingered on Xu Fu's face. "On the day of my wedding, I felt no joy either. I was like a man sealed away from all emotion, knowing only to act according to established norms. When others laughed, I laughed; when others wept, I wept. It was only on the day I met Master Xu that I finally understood the purpose of my life."
His eyes burned with fervor, and he smiled. "I was born to help Master Xu accomplish an unmatched, peerless feat! Only then did I acquire emotions; only then did I come to understand joy, anger, sorrow, and delight!"
Xu Ying frowned.
"Master Xu was soft-hearted and kind, while I stopped at nothing. Master Xu knew nothing of the wickedness of the human heart, while I was shrewd and calculating. Master Xu was the light, and I was the shadow."
Xu Fu laughed softly. "When sacrifices were needed, you refused to slaughter those young boys and girls, so I killed them for you. When danger struck, you could not bear to let our companions die, so I forced them to their deaths while we fled! When all resources were exhausted, you wanted to keep everyone alive, yet I slaughtered them to feed on their flesh! When the immortal mountain was found, you could not bear to silence everyone, but I had no such qualms!"
Yuan Qi and the bronze bell listened with pounding hearts. From his narrative, they gradually pieced together the truth behind the ancient quest for the immortal mountain.
Xu Ying and Xu Fu, like the three thousand youths, had all been young boys bearing the mission to seek the immortal mountain across the seas. They had been companions as well as rivals, braving tempestuous waves and fiendish monsters throughout the treacherous journey.
It was a horrific tale. Many had perished to various perils, but far more had been orchestrated to their deaths by Xu Fu, all so that Xu Ying could find and claim the immortal mountain!
Countless people had been sacrificed, abandoned, and consumed. Anyone who harbored ill intentions toward Xu Ying was quietly eliminated in the dark by Xu Fu, who acted as his shadow!
He had cleared away every obstacle for Xu Ying.
They were close friends, yet also mortal enemies.
"I was like your shadow, dwelling in the dark, doing the things you could not do for yourself."
Xu Fu swept his sleeve. The hall doors groaned shut with a creak, leaving only the two of them inside.
Stepping down from Mount Fangzhang, he said, "Back then, I helped you slaughter those boys and girls. Now, I have helped you perform blood sacrifices to the Plague God, unleash pestilence, alter the course of the Nai River, and bring about the invasion of the Netherworld. I helped you open this folded world! And what did you give me in return?"
His feet stepped away from Mount Fangzhang as he approached Xu Ying, murmuring, "This scar."
The instant his feet touched the floor, the wound at the corner of his eye began to collapse, caving inward!
A massive hole tore open in his head, a gaping cavity visible from front to back, the brain matter within withering and twisting upon itself.
Xu Fu aged at a terrifying speed. In a mere breath, he was decrepit and senile, white hair sprouting wildly, his flesh withered, his breath hanging by a thread. Trembling, he chuckled hoarsely. "This is what you left me."
His breath quickly dwindled to a faint wisp. Staggering back onto the immortal mountain, his breathing gradually deepened and steadied. The gaping hole in his head slowly smoothed over, returning once more to a mere centipede-like scar.
He became young again, restoring his youthful form. "You left me on this immortal mountain. You did not kill me; you told me that you were imprisoning me here, that I would never be able to leave this square-zhang plot of land! But I knew that I would surely return!"
He rose to his feet, standing aloft and looking down at Xu Ying. "When I returned, I wanted to see you rolling in the mud just as before, bullied by others, living like a fool. This time, it would still be me pulling you from the mud. But this time, things shall be different. This time..."
A proud smile spread across his face. "Master Xu, you shall become my shadow, and help me achieve a great restoration!"
Chapter 119