Chapter 389: Meeting the Heavenly Blade, Everything Is Ready!

Outside the Heavenly Craft Cave Abode.

Wang Ping's divine sense calmly stepped out. Heaven-Stealing Thief and Xianfu were still perfecting the secret realm, trying to channel the Great Gan State Fortune inside and conceal it.

The two of them were quite enthusiastic.

As for Wang Ping, he had another major task to handle: contacting the Heaven's Will Profound Blade to ensure the Spiritual Treasure would cooperate with them when the time came.

'I can't fly directly beyond the heavens.'

Normally, the Heaven's Will Profound Blade acted as the sun within the Eight Trigrams Furnace, patrolling the entire star all day. Its position was essentially beyond the heavens.

'If I approach under these circumstances, Daoist Master Xuanxiao Yingyuan will highly likely discover me. Even if he no longer dares cast his gaze into the Eight Trigrams Furnace, a single Qi Refining practitioner stationed nearby might notice something amiss. The chances are low, but I can't take the risk.'

As the saying goes, secrecy brings success.

Only by taking secrecy to the absolute limit and creating an information gap could the probability of failure be minimized. This was the essence of a battle of wits.

There were many smart people in the world.

Especially within the Immortal Gate. Cultivators who reached the Tribulation Transcending Third Layer might differ in talent and comprehension, but they were all similarly shrewd.

Higher-realm cultivators weren't inherently smarter than lower-realm ones. For instance, Daoist Master Hanguang Danyang might not surpass Heaven-Stealing Thief in scheming, and Daoist Master Xuanxiao Yingyuan was still blackmailed by Xianfu. The true gap between the two sides always lay in strength and information.

'A mere lower-realm cultivator has their vision obscured by a single leaf.'

'Even if they receive support from a benefactor, or if their own Dao comprehension is high enough to see through its secrets, they are merely standing on the same starting line as the higher-realm cultivators.'

'And even then, the higher-realm cultivators are stronger and run faster.'

The more Wang Ping thought about it, the more alarmed he felt.

'It is hard to imagine what the Immortal Gate would be like today if the concept of using the false to cultivate the true didn't exist, forcing True Persons to engage in worldly struggles.'

The Great Rebellion truly possessed boundless merit.

Then there was destiny. At first, Wang Ping had a very negative impression of it. However, the more he interacted with it, the more he understood the goodwill behind destiny.

It was precisely because the order left behind by destiny and the Great Rebellion—along with their great works—was still functioning today that the Immortal Gate's billions of lower-realm cultivators still had a path upward. Though the success rate of producing true talent was dismally low, and the rate of them becoming mere cultivation material was extremely high, figures like Kunyun, Heaven-Stealing Thief, and Xianfu could still emerge. The opportunity for progress remained.

Amid his thoughts, Wang Ping arrived at a scenic expanse of mountains and rivers.

Great Gan, Jiangnan Circuit.

This was the location of the Corpse Liberation Ground, one of the four great Martial Dao holy lands of the current era. Wang Ping's divine sense transformed into the wind, fluttering all the way until he soon arrived before the familiar pool at the mountain peak.

The Saber-Washing Pool.

Clang—!

The moment Wang Ping's divine sense arrived, a sharp blade cry rang out from the pool. A terrifying, invisible blade intent burst from the water, slashing straight toward him.

Almost simultaneously, Wang Ping roused his Divine Intent to its peak, similarly outlining a divine blade in the unseen void to clash perfectly against that invisible blade intent.

Heavenly Martial Conquering the Profound First Blade!

Boom!

In an instant, a deafening tremor and an explosive ring of clashing metal nearly shattered this strand of his divine sense. Wang Ping's divine sense avatar quietly retreated.

Compared to the "Rebellion" blade intent he had used to upend the chessboard when deeply trapped in the True Person's scheme, this strike was slightly duller. Yet, even going all out, Wang Ping barely withstood the slash of that wisp of blade qi from the pool. For a moment, the pool water churned wildly, as if the blade qi was flying into a furious rage.

"Lord Heavenly Blade."

Only then did Wang Ping speak up tentatively, "You should recognize me. I am here to discuss a business deal with you. Please show yourself."

After speaking, Wang Ping held up two fingers.

"If you are willing to talk, and even agree to cooperate with our layout, I guarantee we can kill at least two of the Immortal Gate's Qi Refining practitioners this time!"

He had barely finished speaking.

The churning pool water suddenly fell completely still. High in the firmament, the sun seemed to flicker abruptly, quietly splitting off a ray of radiance.

Immediately after, the pool water parted perfectly down the middle. The blade qi reappeared, but it was no longer as fierce and violent. Instead, it was as calm as a deep pool without a single ripple. Finally, it coalesced into a somewhat short figure crossing her arms, her head tilted up as if she were scrutinizing him.

In the next second, a voice rang out by Wang Ping's ear.

"...Speak."

The voice was sonorous and powerful. Although it was a female voice, and even sounded a bit childish, it carried a texture like colliding metal. It was exceptionally sharp and full of oppressive pressure.

"On the account that you are a descendant of the Great Rebellion and have inherited its legacy, I will give you a three-sentence opportunity. Tell me what you want to do."

Wang Ping didn't hesitate upon hearing this, answering immediately, "Heaven-Stealing Thief, Xianfu, and I have jointly designed a secret realm, and we have absolute certainty that we can lure the Immortal Gate's Qi Refining practitioners into it.

"We plan to establish the secret realm within the Eight Trigrams Furnace. When the time comes, I ask for your cooperation. Once the Immortal Gate's Qi Refining practitioners enter the secret realm, do not attack them. We will use the Great Gan State Fortune to conceal them so you won't be breaking the rules. Then, when we detonate the secret realm, you can strike to settle the matter once and for all."

Toward the end, Wang Ping couldn't help but emphasize his tone.

"When that happens, all the Immortal Gate Qi Refining practitioners inside will definitely be injured. You can just aim true and hack away at will. We'll leave at least one dead, and if we're lucky, kill them all!"

His three sentences were finished.

The entire Saber-Washing Pool instantly plunged into a brief silence. After a long while, the voice sounded again. "A Tribulation Transcending Third Layer wants to trap and kill Qi Refining practitioners?

"You are courting death."

Wang Ping smiled and said, "Rest assured, Lord. By then, I will break through to become a Corpse Dissolution Immortal. Although it is not as strong as a Qi Refining practitioner, exchanging a few moves won't be a problem."

"Corpse Dissolution Immortal? Idiot!"

The blade's cry suddenly grew much louder.

"Severing your own path to the Dao just to kill a few Qi Refining practitioners? Have you lost your spirit, concluding that you cannot survive your life tribulation? If so, it would be better if I killed you right now!"

"Uh..."

Hearing this, Wang Ping blinked in surprise. He wondered if it was just his imagination: was the blade spirit in front of him actually worrying about him just now?

"You misunderstand, Lord," Wang Ping hurriedly explained. "I acquired a secret method called the Heaven-Mending Method, which can revert one's cultivation base from a Corpse Dissolution Immortal back to the Tribulation Transcending Third Layer. I've tested it before, and it indeed works. So, it's merely a temporary measure. Afterward, I will still attempt the breakthrough to Qi Refining."

Blade spirit: "..."

After a brief silence, the blade cry returned to its flat tone. "I don't understand you cultivators. All these flashy tricks, playing with truths and falsehoods—it's not straightforward at all."

Having said that, the blade spirit went silent for another moment.

Soon after, she spoke again. "If you have the chance, find a way to gather the qi signatures of all ten Great Rebellion Spiritual Treasures inside the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

"Right now, you only carry the imprints of the Ever-Suppressing Six Harmonies Cauldron and myself. That is far too little. The Heaven Defiance Palace is about to appear in the world. If you enter the Heaven Defiance Palace carrying the qi signatures of all ten great Spiritual Treasures, a special opportunity will be waiting for you. As a descendant and inheritor of the Great Rebellion, this is your mission."

"Ah?"

Looking at the blade spirit, Wang Ping tilted his head in bewilderment. "Lord, is there some sort of misunderstanding...? I don't have any Great Rebellion legacy on me at all."

"...You don't?"

The blade spirit's figure suddenly stiffened. "Are you kidding me? After so many years, you are the only one of the black-headed commoners to rise to prominence. How could you not have a legacy?"

Wang Ping looked completely innocent. "I really don't."

Why was it that everyone would rather believe he had some kind of Great Rebellion legacy on him than believe he had reached this point entirely through his own hard work and talent?

On the other side, looking at Wang Ping's sincere expression, the blade spirit started muttering to herself. "Did I make a mistake? No, no, that's impossible. With this speed of rising, how could there not be a Great Rebellion legacy? Furthermore, if you don't have the Great Rebellion legacy, how did you gain the approval of the Ever-Suppressing Six Harmonies Cauldron?"

"It was very simple."

Wang Ping spread his hands. "I fed Lord Treasure Cauldron some of the fate and destiny of the Immortal Gate's cultivators, and then he happily came over to help me."

That gluttonous idiot!

Bought off by just a little bit of fate and destiny?

How embarrassing!

This time, the blade spirit was genuinely a little panicked. Could she really have made a mistake? Oh no, she had even told the person in front of her the secret of the Heaven Defiance Palace...

Should she kill him to silence him?

No, this guy seemed to be able to resurrect. There was no point... Forget it. After all, he came from the black-headed commoners and was a descendant of the Great Rebellion, plus he had opposed the Immortal Gate many times.

It shouldn't be a big problem.

Anyway, since she had told him the secret, if he could really get the approval of the ten great Spiritual Treasures and take away that opportunity within the Heaven Defiance Palace...

Then he could still be considered a Great Rebellion inheritor.

Thinking of this, the blade spirit relaxed. She said indifferently, "In any case, just obediently do as I say. It will definitely benefit your cultivation."

Wang Ping heard this and asked in a low voice, "Then Lord, about the cooperation...?"

"I accept."

In a daze, Wang Ping seemed to see the short figure hidden in the blade light curl the corners of her lips, revealing two sharp canine teeth as she gave a sinister grin.

"Last time, it was the Immortal Decree that killed the arhat; I had nothing to do with it. It wasn't satisfying at all. It's been many years since I've tasted the blood of a Qi Refining practitioner."

"This is perfect."

"If you can really possess the cultivation base of a Corpse Dissolution Immortal when the time comes, come find me when you need me to strike. I will reluctantly let you wield me once."

With that said, the blade light returned to silence.

The blade spirit's consciousness belonging to the Heaven's Will Profound Blade returned to the heavens, while that wisp of blade qi in the Corpse Liberation Ground sank back deep into the pool water.

Only Wang Ping was left standing in place, his face unable to hide his excitement.

'It's done. Everything is ready!'

With the support of the Heaven's Will Profound Blade, the entire trap-and-kill plan was basically halfway to success. All that was left was for Heaven-Stealing Thief to completely perfect the secret realm.

'It's just about time to cast the bait, chum the waters, and wait for the big fish to bite.'

Wang Ping could sense that if this whole operation went smoothly, it would provide a significant boost to his Kan Trigram and even his water qi imagery.

'Moreover, these people already have malicious intentions toward me, and there's a huge possibility they will become my opponents during my life tribulation in the future. Eliminating a batch of them in advance now will make passing my life tribulation a little easier later... By turning terrifying opponents into reliable Yin spirit teammates, I suppose I'm turning swords into plowshares.'