After swallowing the Azure Dragon, Liang slowly sat down in a cross-legged position and closed his eyes.
Almost immediately, faint mystical runes began to appear across his skin, glowing with an eerie light that pulsed in steady rhythm with his breathing.
He was now refining the Azure Dragon's spirit essence — a unique fusion created from the dragon blood essence and the dragon soul refined from Ling Tian's Nascent Divinity.
If an ordinary cultivator were to absorb such a treasure, their power would instantly rise to the peak of the Spirit Severing Realm.
Yet within Liang, the process was anything but peaceful.
While his outer body remained completely still, a violent struggle was unfolding deep inside.
Within his spiritual domain, two colossal entities faced one another.
One was a vast black serpent, its body endless like the void itself.
The other was an azure dragon radiating overwhelming draconic authority.
They clashed fiercely, their roars echoing like thunder within Liang's inner world.
Suddenly, the serpent's eyes shifted from pitch black to deep crimson. Its jaws opened wide, revealing an abyssal darkness within.
A terrifying suction force erupted, pulling the dragon toward the serpent's mouth.
The dragon struggled violently, but it could not resist the devouring power.
Within moments, it was dragged into the void-like maw and vanished completely.
Then something extraordinary happened.
A second head began to grow from the serpent's body.
Soon, the two heads pushed in opposite directions, tearing the original body apart until it split cleanly into two identical black serpents.
They faced each other silently.
After a brief moment, one of the serpents coiled tightly upon itself, spinning at unimaginable speed until it gradually faded into nothingness.
At that exact instant, Liang opened his eyes.
The surrounding space trembled violently.
A massive black serpent manifested from the distorted void behind him. Its gaze fell upon the sword embryo resting within the spirit formation, and an unmistakable excitement radiated from its presence.
Without hesitation, the serpent lunged forward.
The moment its body touched the sword embryo, it dissolved into streams of dark energy and merged completely into the blade.
Nothing remained of it.
Liang immediately began chanting again.
The spirit formation responded, glowing brighter than ever before. An immense pressure filled the chamber, causing the entire underground structure to tremble.
This was the final stage of the reforging process.
Liang lifted the sword embryo and continued chanting ancient incantations as it floated above the formation.
The light intensified until the entire chamber was flooded with blinding brilliance. The pressure grew so overwhelming that cracks began spreading across the stone walls.
Crimson flames erupted across the surface of the blade as its shape gradually transformed.
Then, suddenly, the light faded.
A newly forged sword emerged.
Its blade was a radiant silver that shimmered like starlight. The hilt and guard were forged from dark black metal, intricately engraved with a coiling serpent design. Crimson flames danced along the grip, flickering with a sinister beauty.
The weapon was both magnificent and unsettling, emanating a powerful aura of darkness and destruction that made even seasoned cultivators uneasy.
A satisfied smile appeared on Liang's face.
He walked forward slowly and grasped the sword.
The instant his hand touched it, he felt an immense surge of power coursing through his body.
With a casual swing, he released a wave of energy that swept across the chamber, shattering every object in its path.
Liang laughed lightly, clearly pleased.
Wu Yang, however, could only smile bitterly as he looked at the destroyed equipment — each piece had cost a fortune to obtain.
"You did not need to test it like that," he muttered.
Liang shrugged calmly.
"It was necessary to feel its true power."
Wu Yang's gaze lingered on the sword with unconcealed envy.
"What will you name it?" he asked.
Liang thought briefly before replying.
"For now, it shall be called the Crimson Serpent Sword. It is fitting for a blade forged from both dragon and serpent essence."
Wu Yang frowned slightly.
"For now?"
Liang nodded.
"The forging method I used is something I created myself — the Nine Heavenly Spirit Refining Manual. For this sword to reach its ultimate form, it must incorporate nine heavenly spirits. The dragon and the serpent were merely the first two."
Wu Yang's eyes widened in astonishment.
"You created an entirely new refining method? That is extraordinary."
Liang raised the sword again. It dissolved into dark crimson flames and vanished into his hand.
"It was not difficult," he said casually. "Over the centuries, I have acquired countless refining manuals — for weapons, bodies, and souls. Combining their principles was inevitable."
Wu Yang nodded thoughtfully.
"I understand. But the remaining spirits you require will not be easy to obtain."
Liang smiled faintly.
"They must be true spirit beings or divine beasts — a Phoenix, a Qilin, a Golden Crow, and others of similar caliber."
Wu Yang let out a low whistle.
"Only such beings deserve the title of heavenly spirits. Acquiring them would normally require ascension to a higher domain."
Liang's smile turned mysterious.
"That is not necessarily the case."
He then shifted the topic.
"Now, let us return to business. I have a mission for you."
Wu Yang straightened immediately. It had been a long time since he had heard those words from Liang.
With a flick of Liang's fingers, two figures formed from spiritual energy appeared before them.
"These two women were seeking dragon blood essence," Liang explained calmly. "I killed one before arriving here. The other escaped."
Wu Yang nodded and produced a jade disk, directing the images into it for later investigation.
"Should we locate and eliminate the survivor?" he asked.
Liang shook his head.
"That will not be possible. Someone powerful stands behind her. Focus only on uncovering her identity."
Wu Yang nodded and turned to leave.
But Liang spoke again.
"There is also a sect called the Azure Sword Sect, is there not?"
Wu Yang confirmed it was one of the strongest factions in the current era.
Liang chuckled coldly.
"I have already killed their sect master."
He paused briefly before giving the order in a calm, merciless tone.
"Go and exterminate the sect."
Wu Yang's eyes flashed with shock, but he quickly bowed in acknowledgment.
Without another word, he vanished from the underground chamber.