"No wonder they say every merchant is crooked. That old bastard Ji Wangxian harbored ill intentions after all."
After listening to Li Fan's account, Huo Yuzhu cursed under his breath.
His expression softened slightly as he looked at Li Fan. "It seems I misjudged you."
Li Fan remained unbothered. "Does the Sect Master have any idea why I was inexplicably brought under his control?"
After all, Huo Yuzhu was the leader of one of the Ten Sects of the Immortal Dao—even if only in name, his breadth of knowledge remained extraordinary.
Huo Yuzhu pondered for a moment before replying, "I once heard that the entire Ji Clan—and indeed the entire World Chamber of Commerce—was created by Ji Wangxian solely for his own cultivation.
"Though Ji Wangxian never broke through to the Longevity realm, nearly all the cultivators of his generation have died off. Even among the few who remain alive, which of them isn't decrepit with age? Who else could maintain perpetual youth like him, looking just like a young lad?
"This must be tied to the cultivation technique he practices. Although no one aside from himself knows exactly what technique it is, we can be almost certain it involves bloodlines and desires.
"I fear it isn't just you; perhaps every cultivator of the Ji Clan is under Ji Wangxian's control," Huo Yuzhu said, his tone turning sinister.
"Then does the Sect Master know a way to break it?" Li Fan asked with a frown.
Huo Yuzhu did not answer immediately. Lost in thought, he paced back and forth.
Li Fan did not press him, waiting patiently.
After a long while, Huo Yuzhu halted. With a wave of his hand, he cast several restrictions, sealing off the secret chamber's space.
Only then did he speak in a low whisper: "Our Heavenly Sword Sect possesses a secret art. It mirrors the method of sword forging, using a cultivator's soul, flesh, and blood as raw materials to forge the Supreme Sword Physique. If successful, the sword becomes the body, and the body becomes the sword, attaining the supreme realm where man and sword are one.
"The Supreme Sword Physique repels all foreign energies, so Ji Wangxian's means of control will inevitably lose its effect.
"However..."
Huo Yuzhu paused. "This method is far too perilous. In the entire history of our Heavenly Sword Sect, fewer cultivators than the fingers on one hand have succeeded. Even someone as breathtakingly gifted as Eldest Senior Brother failed back then, and he was left with lingering hidden afflictions..."
Li Fan had no reservations whatsoever and stated straightforwardly, "I am willing to try."
Huo Yuzhu nodded slightly, approval showing in his eyes. "If you can truly cultivate the Supreme Sword Physique, what would be the harm in handing the position of Heavenly Sword Sect Master to you?"
"In the cultivation world, strength reigns supreme. If I can be like Senior Brother Situ, then this Sect Master position is something I can do without," Li Fan said flatly.
Huo Yuzhu fell silent at once.
Inside the secret chamber, after further detailed discussion, the two finally reached a consensus.
Next, Li Fan would continue making grand displays to draw the eyes of the entire sect.
Meanwhile, Huo Yuzhu would slip away unnoticed to make a personal trip to the Five Elements Sect.
As the Heavenly Sword Sect's master, Huo Yuzhu naturally had his own backers. Just as in actual history, convincing the Five Elements Sect Master to sell Taiyuan Fine Gold should not pose much of a problem.
Furthermore, having learned in advance that there might be World Chamber of Commerce spies within the Five Elements Sect, Huo Yuzhu would certainly exercise even greater caution this time, preventing any leak of information.
Just as expected, Huo Yuzhu returned safely seven days later.
He did not communicate with Li Fan in words; a meaningful glance said everything without a sound.
Time flowed on, and with an ample supply of Taiyuan Fine Gold, the forging of the Boundary-Splitting Divine Weapon progressed several times faster than anticipated. Li Fan no longer needed to extract sword dao insights from the wooden sword left behind by Mr. Bai to infuse into the sword embryo.
Now, he spent his entire days by the Sword, greedily absorbing its profound mysteries, and no one raised any objection.
Just as Li Fan sensed that the duration of this Fallen Immortal Realm scenario was drawing to a close, the Boundary-Splitting Divine Weapon, forged with the full might of the sect, was finally completed.
The Ji Clan seemed to have learned of this in advance through some means, sending a group of cultivators led by Ji Shiwen under the pretext of offering congratulations.
In truth, they had come to reap the bountiful harvest.
The gigantic Boundary-Splitting Divine Weapon stood erect, its exterior resembling ordinary gray stone, seemingly unremarkable.
Yet Li Fan, having spent his days meditating beside the Sword, could faintly perceive the terrifying power surging within it.
Situ Yao summoned the members of the Heavenly Sword Sect, gathering them at the rear mountain.
"Now that the divine weapon is complete, each of you has rendered great service.
"I, Situ Yao, keep my word. Whosoever contributed the most Taiyuan Fine Gold shall become the Heavenly Sword Sect Master."
Hearing this, Ji Shiwen's face lit up with joy.
Yet Situ Yao's next words made his eyes blaze with fury.
"According to the Elders Council's tally, Huo Yuzhu submitted a total of eighty-six thousand nine hundred and twelve jin of Taiyuan Fine Gold, the highest among all!
"Therefore, he shall continue to serve as the next Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect!"
The venue instantly fell dead silent.
"Impossible! How could anyone have more than our Ji Clan..." Ji Shiwen's enraged voice shattered the quiet.
"Hm? Are you questioning me?" Situ Yao narrowed his eyes, gazing coolly at Ji Shiwen from a distance.
The words instantly caught in Ji Shiwen's throat.
"Very well, I shall make sure you accept your defeat wholeheartedly. Your Ji Clan submitted a total of eighty-six thousand nine hundred and eleven jin of Taiyuan Fine Gold. You fell short by just one jin..." Situ Yao shook his head slightly, putting on a deeply regretful expression.
Ji Shiwen's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. Pointing a trembling finger at Situ Yao, he shook with rage.
"Outrageous! Simply outrageous! Does your Heavenly Sword Sect not fear the ridicule of the entire world for acting like this?"
Situ Yao's expression turned cold. "Boy surnamed Ji, seeing as you did submit so much Taiyuan Fine Gold, I won't hold your earlier words against you. But if you dare speak nonsense again..."
He let out a cold snort. Ji Shiwen shuddered, forced to swallow the bellyful of words back down.
Suddenly, as if realizing something, he snapped his gaze toward Li Fan.
Yet he saw Li Fan looking utterly stunned and despondent, which left Ji Shiwen bewildered for a moment.
The decision of the Sect Master's succession thus concluded in such dramatic fashion.
Following that, after seeing off their guests, the Heavenly Sword Sect officially began relocating into the Boundary-Splitting Divine Weapon.
Everything that could be taken was carried away.
Even the spiritual fields outside the sect were excavated three feet deep and transplanted in their entirety.
The Boundary-Splitting Divine Weapon contained an entire world within itself, so there was no need to worry about running out of space.
Only the wooden sword left behind by Mr. Bai and the countless flying swords left in the Sword Tomb by fallen predecessors of the Heavenly Sword Sect remained untouched by Situ Yao's decree; no one dared move them.
His reasoning was that their sword intent was too intense and could easily clash with the Boundary-Splitting Divine Weapon.
As for the true reason, only he himself knew.
Soon, the day to split the boundary and depart arrived.
The disciples turned into streaks of sword light, flying into the divine weapon in groups.
Situ Yao, however, watched several rapidly approaching auras, a stern, cold smile appearing on his face.
"No need to trouble you friends to see us off. The mess of the Xuanhuang Realm is best left for you to clean up. Our Heavenly Sword Sect truly lacks the ability," he called out loudly.
"By the way, I forgot to mention one thing to you all. That lad Ji Wangxian has hardly been honest. He planted quite a few spies among our Ten Sects of the Immortal Dao."
Situ Yao spoke toward a figure rapidly closing in from not far away.
"Zhaoxuan!" Ji Wangxian's voice carried from afar.
With his shout, Li Fan seemed to lose control of himself, hurtling violently toward Situ Yao.
At the same time, an eerie kaleidoscope of colors surfaced across his body.
Yet just as Li Fan was about to reach Situ Yao's side, he came to an abrupt halt.
Turning back, he cast a mocking smile toward Ji Wangxian.
Ji Wangxian understood everything in an instant, his expression twisting into deeper fury.
Situ Yao, however, seized Li Fan with one hand and vanished into the Boundary-Splitting Divine Weapon.
"Little Ji, many thanks for delivering such a fine seedling to our Heavenly Sword Sect!"
Ji Wangxian's face grew dark enough to drip water. He extended his left hand, and in a flash, countless copper coins seemed to gather upon his palm.
Yet in the next breath, a dazzlingly brilliant radiance erupted from the Boundary-Splitting Divine Weapon.
The phantom copper coins dispersed instantly.
He could only watch helplessly as a ray of sword light tore through heaven and earth.
The destructive power, seemingly capable of sundering time and space, forced even him to flee a thousand li away to temporarily evade its edge.
When the light finally faded, the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Boundary-Splitting Divine Weapon had already vanished without a trace before his eyes.
Chapter 735