Wang Xiu was utterly exasperated.
Accumulate enough energy to make even an immortal-level powerhouse wary? How much Essence Blood would I have to feed this sword? That's just ridiculous!
Still, it seemed Jiang Yourong was truly out of money. Otherwise, a Great Power Remnant Soul of his stature wouldn't have been forced to use a Spiritual Artifact as collateral.
Wang Xiu had a rough idea of the Mingxue Executioner Sword's value. Treasures forged from the rare and extraordinary materials of heaven and earth possessed infinite potential. Their power was generally unrivaled among peers, and they consumed comparatively less energy.
Although this Mingxue Executioner Sword was only a Low-grade spiritual artifact, if taken to the black market, it would easily fetch the price of a Superior Grade Spirit Weapon. For a sect on the Demonic Path like the Ming Blood Sect, they wouldn't trade it for even ten Superior Spirit Instruments. After all, by sacrificing lives to nourish it, it had the potential to be elevated to the Holy Artifact Level.
Getting this sword for thirty Nourishing Soul Lotuses was an absolute steal for Wang Xiu.
And over at Mingyue Mountain, hundreds more Nourishing Soul Lotuses are about to mature, just waiting for me to harvest them! Furthermore, once I establish a Yellow Springs Pool on Spirit Turtle Peak and plant the Nourishing Soul Lotuses, they'll become a renewable resource for me—hardly precious at all. Jiang Yourong might think he's getting a great deal, but there's no way I'm taking a loss on this.
With these thoughts in mind, Wang Xiu smiled faintly. "Senior Jiang, it's a deal!"
He pulled the Mingxue Executioner Sword from the ground. The cool touch was incredibly pleasant. "A fine sword!" he exclaimed.
"You've made a killing, you little rascal!" Jiang Yourong said grudgingly, his face etched with pain. "In return, you can use that secret technique of yours to help Ling'er refine a Foundation Establishment Stage Soul Pet. That's not too much to ask, is it?"
Frankly, it wasn't easy to hear such a request from Jiang Yourong. After all, as one of the most renowned Spirit Controlling Class Immortal Sects, the Jiuli Immortal Sect possessed an unparalleled pride. Asking a member of another sect to help refine a Soul Pet for his own disciple was quite shameful.
But Jiang Yourong had to admit that the Soul Pet rabbit Wang Xiu had given Jiang Ling'er was far superior in quality to the Soul Pets of the same stage from the Jiuli Immortal Sect. Whether it was its docility, growth potential, combat power, or cultivation feedback, it could only be described as a truly top-tier Soul Pet.
And it had proven its worth. In just two short days, with the help of the little white rabbit Soul Pet, Jiang Ling'er had broken through her bottleneck and advanced to the Ninth Heaven of Qi Refinement. If she could get another Foundation Establishment Soul Pet, it would greatly benefit Jiang Ling'er's cultivation for some time to come.
For the last hope of his people, Jiang Yourong felt there was nothing wrong with lowering his head and yielding a little.
"No problem," Wang Xiu readily agreed. "Ling'er isn't just the heir to the Jiuli Immortal Sect; she's also a junior sister of Spirit Turtle Peak. Her growing stronger reflects well on me too."
His Cultivation Level had already reached the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, so refining a mere Foundation Establishment Stage Soul Pet posed no pressure on him whatsoever. Of course, he was only responsible for the refining and enhancement. Capturing the Soul Pet was a task for Jiang Ling'er and Jiang Yourong themselves. After all, the effects of the Soul Arresting Curse from the *Underworld King's Prison Suppression Sutra* were terrifyingly potent. Events like the Yin Qi Tide and the Ten Thousand Ghosts Night Walk were enough to intimidate even Wang Xiu; he had no desire to experience them a second time.
Sliding the Mingxue Executioner Sword onto his back, Wang Xiu returned to his courtyard.
Spirit Turtle Peak was vast and sparsely populated. Therefore, as the Chief True Disciple, Wang Xiu's personal courtyard was absurdly large.
CLANG!
Wang Xiu formed a sword seal. The Mingxue Executioner Sword on his back instantly shot out of its sheath and landed in his palm, ringing with eager anticipation.
Sealed for over eight hundred years! I have been lonely for far too long! I yearn to clash with other Spiritual Artifacts, to hear their groans and screams as I pierce them! I can no longer suppress the bloodlust in my heart! I crave the blood of the living—human or demon, I'll take anything!
However, Wang Xiu merely executed his Sword Control Technique, driving the Immortal Slaying Sword straight into the ground.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
With a few flashes of sword light, Wang Xiu carved out a perfectly square block of soil, its edges as neat as a cube of tofu.
??? I, a famed and terrible weapon of the Demonic Path, have slaughtered countless souls! In days past, I was wielded from Demon Sea Island all the way to Penglai East Road, drinking so much blood my blade never even dulled! And now you're using me to dig in the dirt? Is there no respect for a sword of my stature?
CLANG!
The Mingxue Executioner Sword immediately protested. Its blade began to tremble violently, emitting waves of a vicious red aura as it fought against Wang Xiu's control. Crimson sword energy lashed out, shattering the clod of earth and pointing directly at Wang Xiu. Even more so, a towering figure loomed above the sword, cloaked in black, with two bone wings slowly unfurling behind it like those of a bat.
A monstrous, baleful aura erupted! The killing intent was palpable!
As expected of an artifact that fell from the Holy Artifact Level. Its sentience is far greater than that of ordinary Spiritual Artifacts. It has even birthed a Sword Spirit. I imagine not even the Jiuli Immortal Sect could bear to destroy you. They must have been trying to tame you.
Wang Xiu couldn't help but feel a flicker of admiration, but his expression quickly turned grim. "However," he said coldly, "do you think I would feel any regret over destroying a disobedient Sword Spirit? A Sword Spirit nourished by the Blood Sacrifice of countless members of the Human Race is a scourge that must be eliminated!"
With that, Wang Xiu took a sharp step forward. The towering vision of the Underworld King suppressing the prison manifested behind him, its sheer pressure crushing the Mingxue Executioner Sword out of the air. He then raised his hand high.
WHAP!
A huge phantom hand materialized and slapped the towering, bat-like Sword Spirit, shattering its spiritual body into pieces.
Instantly, the light of the Mingxue Executioner Sword dimmed and its power weakened considerably. However, Wang Xiu's control over it became as natural as moving his own limbs, allowing him to wield its power more effectively.
As for the Sword Spirit? Just get rid of the disobedient one and find a compliant one later. No big deal!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
With the Sword Spirit gone, the Mingxue Executioner Sword proved much more compliant. In just a few moments, it had excavated a large pool ten meters long and ten meters wide in Wang Xiu's courtyard.
GLUG, GLUG...
Wang Xiu took out the Jade Bottle and poured the Yellow Springs water into the pool. He soon filled the meter-deep basin, though he made sure to leave a large amount remaining in the bottle. He had to be frugal.
SWISH!
Wang Xiu tossed the white lotus seeds one by one into the Yellow Springs Pool, scattering them evenly. They quickly sank beneath the surface and disappeared.
"O, Great Dao, please bless me!" Wang Xiu brought his hands together and prayed sincerely, his heart filled with anticipation for the future. "Let me see this pond full of lotuses by summer."
He then returned to his seclusion chamber, sat cross-legged on his cushion, and commanded, "System, integrate the *Taiyi Thunder Control True Canon* for me."
RUMBLE!
As Wang Xiu issued the command, a massive torrent of information rushed into his mind.
Thunder Techniques. The embodiment of the righteous qi of heaven and earth, they are used to exorcise ghosts, smite evil, destroy demons, and carry out the will of the heavens. They possess a power that is ultimate in its firmness, yang nature, and majesty.
Since ancient times, the various sects of Taoism have held a special fascination for Thunder Techniques, tirelessly researching all manner of thunder-based spells. Examples include the Longhu Immortal Sect's *Five Thunder Heart Mantra*, the Zhenwu Immortal Sect's *Purple Clouds Exorcising Demon Divine Fist*, and the Sanqing Immortal Sect's *Wind-Thunder Talisman Sword Art* and *Seven Steps Dragon Slaying Technique*.