Remould the Glory of Sword Art

"Senior Sister... it's so cold."

Stepping through the Gate of Fire led them into a seemingly endless darkness.

Lu Yuan's junior sister, whom she carried on her back, murmured softly, her complexion pale as paper.

They had already figured out that this Bai Ze Secret Realm was not really a cave dwelling; after wandering around inside for so long and seeing nothing but the previously encountered grand hall without any "living spaces," and vast areas shrouded in gloom.

At this moment, the cold wind howled like a knife cutting across the face.

Even worse, everyone was wading through water. This long path, half-submerged, made every lift of the knee incredibly strenuous.

Yuan Yi, holding her sword, chattered her teeth from the cold but stubbornly kept silent.

She followed closely behind Xie Zhen, her sword named Reed, just as resolute as her character.

"Is it very cold?"

Xie Xuanyi glanced back and saw that the disciples from Baihua Valley were in bad shape.

With a whoosh.

He pulled out a talisman from his bosom, invoked golden primordial energy, swiftly added a few strokes, then set it ablaze and tossed it behind him.

Rustle rustle.

The talisman, light as a feather, hovered above everyone's heads.

Golden light spread out, and the wispy talisman transformed into a lantern.

This lantern emitted a soft glow, like the sun, casting wave upon wave of warmth!

"Mr. Xie, you know the art of talismans too?"

This time, even Lu Yuan was astounded, watching as Xie Zhen quickly crafted the talisman. Could this mysterious youth indeed be a direct disciple of a great figure from the Imperial City? Someone who knew a little bit of everything?

Xie Xuanyi smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

"It's normal for you to feel cold."

He walked at the forefront, slowly saying, "This place isn't a cave dwelling left by Bai Ze for later generations, it's a tomb he left for himself."

As soon as these words were said.

The disciples of Baihua Valley looked at each other in dismay.

A tomb?

No wonder it was so spacious, and everywhere was filled with a piercing chill.

"If I'm not mistaken, the outer region of the Bai Ze Secret Realm is composed of countless great arrays. The arrays shift and change paths, trapping cultivators who stray into this place until death. Only by finding the 'Array Eye' can one proceed to the interior."

Xie Xuanyi paused slightly at this point.

Obviously.

The half "dao" character carved on that square stele was one of the many Array Eyes.

But if one hadn't seen the words left by the Great Sage Bai Ze.

How would one piece together the Array Eye?

It seems that after entering the Bai Ze Secret Realm, to "clear" it also requires a bit of luck... With the outer arrays continuously changing, if one kept exploring, it should only be a matter of time before encountering the inscribed stone wall.

But if luck was continuously poor.

Then no matter how hard one racked their brains, they would not be able to solve the array pattern puzzle on the stele.

With this thought, the entire Secret Realm shook once again.

Immediately after, a wave of scorching wind suddenly came from afar!

Boom boom boom!

The talisman lantern hanging above everyone's heads was blown open, tiny sparks falling into the river. In just a few moments, the previously dark and damp chill was engulfed by the heatwave.

A few disciples from Baihua Valley had just been wrapping their clothes tightly to struggle on their way, but in the next moment, they began to half-untie their garments, wiping sweat with the backs of their hands.

"What's going on?"

Lu Yuan was somewhat baffled: "Has the Secret Realm's array patterns started to activate again?"

Xie Xuanyi remained silent, only quickening his pace.

The water-wading path soon ended.

After turning a corner, not only did a heatwave hit them in the face, but a myriad of bright lights shone upon them, revealing an ancient palace of magnificent splendor, towering majestically.

Above the palace floated a red-hot crucible!

The heatwave was emanating from within that crucible.

The talisman that Xie Xuanyi had previously drawn paled in comparison to this glowing red crucible, which erupted in myriad shafts of light.

This was the true sun!

What truly surprised everyone...

Within the grand hall, faint flute music began to play, the hall's curtains swaying, and a silhouette could be vaguely seen leaning against the railing.

The disciples of Baihua Valley instantly became alert.

Having just clashed with Chu Man, they were extremely averse to the flute sound, instinctively reaching for their swords.

But Xie Xuanyi raised his palm.

Sword Sound resounded at the waist of each disciple.

"Do not draw your swords."

Xie Xuanyi calmly said, "Not an enemy."

His words carried an unaccountable persuasiveness.

The Sword Sounds subsided.

The disciples of Baihua Valley all followed behind Xie Xuanyi, thus halting their steps.

The clothes of the group, initially soaked from wading through water, quickly dried under the baking of the crucible and became somewhat hot.

Yuan Yi, clutching her sword, stood patiently at Xie Xuanyi's side.

Her gaze, however, was firmly stuck on the figure in the hall playing the flute.

The curtains danced.

The figure's clothes fluttered, exuding an ethereal grace.

And somewhat eerie.

Yuan Yi couldn't shake the feeling that the silhouette seemed like a wisp of smoke; with every sway of the curtains, the figure's outline appeared to sway with them, even dissipating in parts.

After a long hesitation, Yuan Yi carefully inquired, "Mr. Xie, is that fellow... human?"

"Good eyesight."

Xie Xuanyi glanced at Yuan Yi appreciatively and said softly with a smile, "Have you heard of 'Artifact Spirits'?"

Yuan Yi's eyes lit up.

Artifact Spirit! Of course, she had heard of it!

"After a treasure reaches the tenth grade, it becomes subjected to the 'constraints' of the heavenly and earthly rules,"

Xie Xuanyi explained gently: "A treasure beyond the tenth grade is referred to as a 'True Treasure,' also known as a 'True Spirit Object.' The reason for this moniker is that from the tenth grade onwards, a treasure can give birth to its own spirit wisdom."

All things in heaven and earth are capable of cultivation.

Every grass and tree, every bird and insect, under the laws of Heaven, are treated equally without distinction.

So, if a treasure were to indeed nurture spirit wisdom, then it could no longer be considered an inanimate object.

However... the cultivation of a treasure, how easy could that be?

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After reaching the tenth grade, a treasure capable of harboring a sliver of Spirit Wisdom was able to sense the will of its master and comprehend its master's commands.

Yet, the Artifact Spirit within this great hall could move autonomously and even play the flute.

It had surpassed a True Spirit Object by realms unknown.

It had even achieved "Cultivation to Transformation"!

"Is this really an Artifact Spirit?"

Lu Yuan felt a heartfelt amazement, "This is the first time I've encountered an Artifact Spirit of such a realm..."

In Baihua Valley, there were also treasures that had given birth to Spirit Wisdom.

However, none had reached this realm... at least, she had not seen any.

"The difficulty of an Artifact Spirit transforming into a form is almost comparable to advancing to Yang God," Lu Yuan said.

Xie Xuanyi raised her head and gazed at the small furnace.

How difficult it was to become a Yang God?

In the vast Dachu Dynasty, out of countless cultivators, how many could witness the pinnacle of this summit?

If she was not mistaken.

This Dao Furnace radiating endless divine halos was one of the many Spiritual Treasures left by the great Saint Bai Ze.

Who could have imagined, after a millennium,

when the great Saint Bai Ze's life and Dao dissipated, the spirit of the Dao Furnace had cultivated into a form!

The melody of the flute ceased.

The spirit of the Dao Furnace slowly stopped its music; it gently approached the front of the great hall, stopped beyond a curtain, and bowed, saying softly, "My apologies for the wait. That piece just now must have made you anxious?"

The curtain swayed.

His figure swayed too, like a wisp of smoke.

Xie Xuanyi was not proud; she promptly returned the bow, and the disciples of Baihua Valley followed suit.

Xie Xuanyi was not skilled in flattery, so instead of praising the Artifact Spirit's music, she candidly said, "We are not in a hurry. If you feel like it, another piece would not be a problem."

Upon hearing this, the Artifact Spirit smiled knowingly and shook its head.

"I shall not delay you any longer."

He said softly, "My master believes in the Dao of 'Cause and Effect.' You and I meeting here signifies a predestined connection."

Upon hearing this, the disciples of Baihua Valley exchanged glances.

The voice of this Dao Furnace Artifact Spirit was very gentle, like a spring breeze, and with each utterance of "everyone" and "predestined connection,"

their tense spirits slightly relaxed.

The Artifact Spirit pointed a finger upward at the great hall's ceiling, speaking kindly, "From the conversation we had earlier, I've deduced... Indeed, I am the spirit of the 'Dao Furnace' enshrined here."

"Dao Furnace?"

Xie Xuanyi was speechless, "This Spiritual Treasure doesn't have a name and is simply called Dao Furnace?"

"Just Dao Furnace."

The Artifact Spirit smiled and said, "However, I have a name, and it is 'Dao Jiu'."

Dao Jiu.

This name was all too suggestive.

Such a Dao Furnace, not just one! Spirits like Dao Jiu, not just one either!

"Everyone who managed to break through the Secret Realm's great array to get here, must have gone through many hardships," Dao Jiu remarked amiably.

"My master has instructed that if someone can reach this place, they are to be given an opportunity."

Opportunity... What opportunity?

As this thought emerged in everyone's minds,

the suspended bronze furnace burst into blazing, fiery flames. With a roar, the curtain that had been hanging inside the hall was blown parallel to the ground, standing erect like suspended broadswords.

Dao Jiu, dressed in red robes, sat cross-legged in the air.

"Although your realms are not high, having reached this far means you must be favored by great fortune," he observed, looking at Xie Xuanyi.

Though he used the word "you all,"

from the start to the end, he had been talking to Xie Xuanyi.

Clearly, this Furnace Spirit, having cultivated into form, had realized from the outset that Xie Xuanyi was the leader of this group.

"Artifact Spirit Brother, speak plainly,"

Xie Xuanyi said calmly.

Dao Jiu raised his eyebrows, "You now have a chance to take the[Dao Furnace]away."

As soon as these words came out.

The disciples of Baihua Valley showed looks of surprise, joy, and shock.

The rank of this Spiritual Treasure was nearly on par with those carried by Yang Gods!

This was the great fortune and opportunity they had come to seek in the Bai Ze Secret Realm!

All were in shock.

But Lu Yuan remained calm, as she noticed that Dao Jiu had said "you."

The opportunity to take the[Dao Furnace]away belonged to Xie Zhen.

Yuan Yi also caught this detail.

But she did not care and shook Xie Xuanyi's sleeve joyfully, "Congratulations, Young Master Xie! Is this the good fortune that follows after escaping a great disaster?"

"..."

Xie Xuanyi remained unmoved, still calmly watching the Artifact Spirit before her.

She was too composed.

There is no such thing as a free lunch from the sky.

If Bai Ze truly wanted to bestow a treasure, why wait until now? The outermost areas of the Secret Realm didn't even have a grain of rice left behind!

With every opportunity comes calamity.

"Dao Jiu Brother——"

Xie Xuanyi cut to the chase, "What price must be paid to take the[Dao Furnace]away?"

Dao Jiu heard this and smiled slightly.

"It's simple."

This time, he did not speak before everyone.

Instead, he transmitted his message directly to Xie Xuanyi.

His voice, as gentle as a spring breeze, rippled across the surface of Xie Xuanyi's Heart Lake.

"You may take the[Dao Furnace], but you can take it alone."

"Do not misunderstand."

"By taking it alone, I mean that once you take the[Dao Furnace], only one person can remain."

The cross-legged Dao Jiu, smiling, explained, "You can interpret it as killing these people, then the[Dao Furnace]... will be yours."

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