Chapter 152: The Sixth Natal Soul Treasure, The Executioner of Immortals Great Sage

With the Heavenly Palace Halberd, Heavenly Rainbow Sword, and Universe Fan for offense, and the Reincarnation Bell and Six Harmonies Eight Desolations Seal for defense and sealing, Fang Wang felt he could consider other aspects.

Support-type treasure spirits!

Gradually, a vision took shape in Fang Wang's mind.

He decided to create a treasure spirit focused on endurance and defense, ideally one that could also accumulate defensive power.

He thought of robes or armor: with the Six Harmonies Eight Desolations Seal defending on the outside, and his own garments defending on the inside, dual-layer defense would ensure even greater survivability.

It would be even better if it could store spiritual energy.

A natal treasure spirit is different from a magical artifact; it inherently forms a part of the immortal cultivator. If it could store surplus spiritual energy, that energy could be channeled into Fang Wang's body more efficiently.

However, condensing a natal treasure spirit consumes spiritual energy, which is why few cultivators keep their natal treasure spirits manifested externally at all times. But since Fang Wang possessed the Heavenly Dao True Technique, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth without cessation, he could easily maintain the external manifestation of his natal treasure spirit permanently.

He began to ponder how to shape a treasure spirit capable of storing spiritual energy.

Previously, Fang Wang had attempted to store spiritual energy within the Golden-Scaled White-Feather Robe, but that stored power could only be used to activate the defensive restrictions of the garment itself.

Suddenly, an idea struck him: he could integrate the characteristics of the Heavenly Dao True Technique into this new treasure spirit, allowing it to maintain a continuous rhythm of absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. In this way, it could exist independently and even accumulate combat spiritual energy.

Wait!

It would be even better to shape a head crown!

Fang Wang's entire body was capable of absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. If he shaped it into a robe, the coverage area would be too large and might interfere with his cultivation; whereas if he shaped it into a crown, placed atop his head, it would only siphon off a fraction of the absorbed spiritual energy.

That way, he could still utilize the Golden-Scaled White-Feather Robe, forming a triple layer of defense!

Having solidified his idea, Fang Wang immediately took action.

He could already sense the opportunity for spirit-shaping!

He had to admit, the Heavenly Dao Spiritual Stones collected by Qu Xunhun were indeed top-tier, making the process feel much easier than when he shaped spirits in Daqi.

Gradually, flames began to ignite around Fang Wang, surging toward the top of his head—a sign that spirit-shaping had commenced.

Ever since he mastered the Heavenly Dao True Technique, his Profound Sun True Fire had turned white, a luminous white. As the Profound Sun True Fire gathered above his head, he became the most dazzling presence on Biyou Island, causing many demons who were in the middle of cultivation to turn their heads and look.

...

As evening approached.

Xiao Zi, Zhu Yan, and Zhao Zhen arrived before Fang Wang, their gazes fixed entirely upon his head crown.

This crown rested upon Fang Wang's forehead, his black hair cascading down along the crown's frame. Two dragon-whisker-like locks of hair framed his face, and two long sideburns brushed against his ears, while the bulk of his long hair fell down his back. The front of the crown was carved with a dragon's head, its two horns curving upward toward the crown of his head to a length of twenty centimeters. Exuding a metallic texture like a pair of curved sabers, the overall hue was a seamless blend of platinum and white.

The choice of a dragon's head was primarily to match the Heavenly Palace Halberd and the Golden-Scaled White-Feather Robe.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth poured into Fang Wang's crown, forming visible currents of air flowing along the two dragon horns, making him appear all the more divine and majestic.

Zhu Yan could not help but exclaim in admiration, "What a magnificent crown! Master, could this be the treasure spirit you have condensed? It is actually capable of absorbing spiritual energy automatically."

Xiao Zi nodded in agreement, while Zhao Zhen felt a deep sense of awe in his heart.

Even the supreme True Dragon Son of Heaven could not possibly possess such imposing grandeur, could he?

"Indeed. This crown is named the Heavenly Dao Dragon-Governing Crown."

Fang Wang said softly, following up by summoning the Golden-Scaled White-Feather Robe and materializing the Heavenly Palace Halberd in his hand. Tendrils of golden dragon qi coiled around his entire body.

In the glow of the twilight, the divine radiance emanating from Fang Wang became even more pronounced, leaving Xiao Zi, Zhu Yan, and Zhao Zhen utterly dazzled.

Usually, Fang Wang in his white robes looked like an otherworldly master who had attained the Dao, but now he resembled a heavenly god of war, exuding an unrivaled aura that dominated the heavens and the earth!

For the first time, Zhu Yan genuinely experienced an invincible aura emanating from a person—not even his own father possessed such presence.

Fang Wang looked over his attire. It was exceptionally fine, and exceptionally handsome.

Being handsome was a lifelong pursuit!

The Heavenly Dao Dragon-Governing Crown was not merely capable of absorbing heaven and earth spiritual energy; it also contained extremely powerful defensive restrictions created through the profound principles of the Heavenly Gang Saint Body. The more spiritual energy it contained, the stronger its defense would be, though the limit of how much spiritual energy the crown could store remained unknown for now.

Because it was a natal treasure spirit, as Fang Wang's cultivation realm improved, it would continue to grow stronger alongside him.

Fang Wang withdrew his full array of gear, leaving only the Heavenly Dao Dragon-Governing Crown atop his head. He spoke, "Very well, all of you resume your cultivation. In a few years, I shall go to participate in the Longevity Pavilion's internal trial."

Hearing this, Zhu Yan's eyes lit up, and he eagerly said, "Master, take me along! I've heard that the Longevity Pavilion's internal trial is immensely spectacular. Every time they hold an internal trial, they invite many major sects to observe. My father was once invited, but unfortunately, he only took my eldest brother."

Fang Wang smiled and nodded. The Seventy-Two Military Commanders were not only permitted to participate in the internal trial, but they could also bring others to watch the battles. He had already intended to take Xiao Zi, Zhao Zhen, and Zhu Yan to broaden their horizons.

Xiao Zi curiously asked what the Longevity Pavilion's internal trial entailed. Fang Wang told Zhu Yan to explain it to the little beast, while he himself walked over to his usual cultivation spot and sat cross-legged.

Fang Wang took out the purple jade stone previously given to him by Fang Hanyu. He felt that his state of mind had grown somewhat arrogant, and he needed to enter the Heavenly Palace to calm himself down.

Fang Hanyu had praised the swordsmanship contained within the purple jade stone as miraculous beyond compare, and Fang Wang was determined to see just how formidable it truly was.

Fang Wang extended his divine sense into the purple jade stone, and immediately, he felt a powerful force block his divine sense, causing a tingling pain to shoot through his consciousness.

Oh?

It was no ordinary thing!

How powerful was Fang Wang's divine sense? Yet it had been unable to breach the force contained within this jade stone.

Suddenly recalling Fang Hanyu's mention of needing to use sword qi, he raised his left hand, using his finger as a sword, and poked it toward the purple jade stone.

A stream of sword qi shot into it!

Fang Wang's right hand trembled slightly. He once again projected his divine sense into the stone, and the mysterious barrier had now been breached. However, the moment his divine sense drilled into the purple jade stone, a wave of dizziness washed over him.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a pitch-black space. Ahead of him lay an isolated island, and instinctively rushing forward onto the island, he looked down and discovered that his own physical body was present within this space as well.

What was going on?

Fang Wang frowned. He could not sense his primordial spirit or his golden body, which proved he had not truly teleported into this space, but rather that his consciousness had fallen into some sort of illusion.

With his cultivation realm at the Golden Body Realm, he should not have been unable to break free from this space.

Yet Fang Wang remained calm. He lifted his foot and walked deeper into the island. The isolated island was not large, and its terrain was littered with jagged rocks of varying sizes, resembling some kind of array formation.

Circling past the cluster of rocks, he saw an old man standing on the sandy shore, clutching a wooden sword and standing completely motionless.

The old man was draped in a tattered black robe, his long hair fluttering in the wind. Just by observing his silhouette, one could feel his sword qi.

It was acutely sharp!

"May I ask what year this is?"

The black-robed old man asked, without turning to look at Fang Wang, his right hand gripping the wooden sword remaining utterly still.

As Fang Wang walked toward him, he replied, "The dynasties of the world are countless, and reigns are constantly overthrown; how is this junior to speak of years and months?"

The black-robed old man fell silent.

Suddenly thinking of something, Fang Wang added, "Does Senior recognize the Dragon-Subduing Great Sage? Ten thousand years have already passed since the fall of the Dragon-Subduing Great Sage."

Hearing this, the black-robed old man turned his head to look at him, revealing a weather-beaten face covered in age spots, etched deeply with the trials of frost and wind. His eyes were hollow and completely devoid of vitality.

"So much time has passed already... Before I sat in death, the Dragon-Subduing Great Sage had just attained the position of a Great Sage. Having achieved Great Sagehood, he should have been able to live for at least another ten thousand years," the black-robed old man said softly.

Fang Wang continued, "The Dragon-Subduing Great Sage challenged the heavens, fighting against all the immortals and gods of the firmament, and ultimately fell. That battle shook both ancient and modern times, and has since become a myth."

"Oh? Challenging immortals and gods? It seems he inherited the unfulfilled will of our generation after all," the black-robed old man said gloomily.

Fang Wang asked curiously, "May I ask for Senior's esteemed name?"

The black-robed old man turned to face him fully and said, "The people of the world call me the Immortal-Slaying Great Sage. Have you ever heard of it?"

Fang Wang hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

"Looking across millennia, it is difficult for even one Great Sage to emerge, but surveying through eternity, Great Sages are plentiful. It is only natural that you do not know my name,"

the Immortal-Slaying Great Sage said calmly. Then, shifting his tone, he continued, "Junior, the fact that you were able to walk all the way here proves that your sword qi has passed my assessment. Next, I shall impart my supreme sword dao arts to you. Before you, more than ten people have come to receive this inheritance, and without exception, every single one of them failed. Are you prepared?"

Fang Wang cupped his fists in a salute and said, "I am fully prepared. Please enlighten me, Senior."

The Immortal-Slaying Great Sage raised the wooden sword in his hand, pointing it horizontally at Fang Wang, and said, "This swordsmanship is named the Immortal-Slaying Ghost-God Sword. It harnesses the power of ghosts and gods from the netherworld to forge the power of slaying immortals. When practiced to the minor accomplishment stage, one can traverse the vast seas unhindered; when practiced to the major accomplishment stage, one is invincible throughout the mortal world."

Fang Wang asked, "If one's cultivation realm is insufficient, can one achieve invincibility in the mortal world simply by mastering the major accomplishment stage of the Immortal-Slaying Ghost-God Sword?"

The Immortal-Slaying Great Sage looked at him, a slight ripple appearing in his gaze, and said gloomily, "Junior, what do you take my lifelong painstaking efforts for? Even if your cultivation realm were to reach the Realm of Heaven and Earth, you might not necessarily be able to push my swordsmanship to the major accomplishment stage."

Fang Wang could only say, "It was this junior's presumption."

Unable to escape this space, he had no choice but to show deference to the Immortal-Slaying Great Sage.

The Realm of Heaven and Earth—what kind of realm was that?

This was the first time Fang Wang had ever heard of such a cultivation tier.

"Watch closely."

The Immortal-Slaying Great Sage began to swing his sword. His sword forms were not fast, as if he were deliberately letting Fang Wang memorize them.

Fang Wang watched intently.

As the sword forms multiplied, the speed at which the Immortal-Slaying Great Sage swung his sword began to increase.

After the time it took for a stick of incense to burn:

"Next is the second pass; you must also remember the incantation," the Immortal-Slaying Great Sage stated. Without waiting for Fang Wang's reply, he resumed swinging his sword.

"Peering into the yin to break the yang, heaven and earth converge at the spiritual pivot; the sword is the void, the heart is the reality, the heart follows the movement of the sword, the sword obeys the intent of the heart..."

Fang Wang listened closely. Having mastered the Heavenly Dao True Technique, he was akin to having his heart of combat perpetually activated, allowing him to enter a focused state of utter distractionlessness at any moment.

After one round, the third round commenced!

Clearly, the sword forms were identical in every repetition, yet each pass revealed a different profundity!

This set of swordsmanship possessed the marvelous properties of an energy-absorption technique, utilizing the sword to draw in the power of the netherworld and wandering souls!

It was not until the seventh pass that Fang Wang's field of vision spun, and the familiar sensation of displacement arrived.