'It's too difficult. I just want freedom and survival. Why is it so difficult?'
As the Diamond Sect's ancestor felt increasingly indignant, determination flashed in Xu Qing's eyes. He lifted his right hand and performed a series of hand seals. Immediately, flames rose and enveloped the iron stick.
He wanted to burn the iron stick and refine it.
The Diamond Sect's ancestor was shocked.
"Master, I…"
"I'll give you an opportunity. Bear with it," Xu Qing said in a low voice. He performed a series of hand seals with both hands and the twelve nascent souls opened their eyes at the same time and spat out their life fire.
The five life lanterns also manifested and enhanced the fire.
In an instant, under the wails of the Diamond Sect's ancestor, the iron stick that had fused with his two lightning tribulations began to melt, gradually turning into molten iron.
This molten iron was actually the main body of the Diamond Sect's ancestor.
The screams of the Diamond Sect's ancestor became even more miserable. The shadow kept twisting and trembling in fear, quickly currying favor with Ling'er, who was watching everything.
Just like that, time flowed by and the wails of the Diamond Sect's ancestor became weaker and weaker. When it was almost impossible to hear, the iron stick completely melted into red molten iron.
Xu Qing performed another series of hand seals with both hands and pointed. Immediately, the red molten iron transformed into threads that headed straight for the fish bone. They didn't fuse into it but flowed into the patterns on the fish bone.
At the same time, Xu Qing mobilized his divine essence in his body, augmenting it.
Finally, the moment the temperature of the molten iron decreased and solidified, it was completely embedded in the fish bone.
The fish bone's appearance changed drastically.
With a black base and red patterns, an even denser killing aura circulated from it.
As an artifact spirit, the Diamond Sect's ancestor also indirectly half fused with the fish bone through this method.
His existence was too different from the fish bone, so it was impossible for him to become the artifact spirit of the Spike of Misfortune. Only by embedding the coat could it indirectly control the Stinger of Misfortune.
Although the weapon might not be as agile, with assistance from Xu Qing, it could still kill enemies on its own, which was much better than before it had an artifact spirit.
Moreover, the Diamond Sect's ancestor would be tainted by the god fish bone at all times and his state would gradually change.
This way, one day, he might be able to qualitatively transform and become an artifact spirit of the divine weapon.
However, during this process, the degree of pain it felt would be much more intense than before. After all, this transformation was equivalent to slowly being reborn. That torture was hard to describe.
Moreover, he had to ensure that he didn't die in the future and wasn't devoured…
All of this caused the Diamond Sect's ancestor to be a little stunned. He could sense everything. There was not only confusion but also joy in his heart. Although the process was painful and it was hard to say if he would live or die in the future, at least he had survived today's calamity.
'Fortunately, I'm quick-witted. Otherwise, I would be dead today!'
The Diamond Sect's ancestor rejoiced and sighed with emotion. Just as he was about to speak, Xu Qing's eyes revealed encouragement as he spoke.
"You Lingzi, I originally planned to give you freedom, but since you want to follow me forever, I'll help you this time."
"Huh?"
The Diamond Sect's ancestor's eyes widened when he heard this. Immediately after, a huge commotion stirred in his heart and his body trembled intensely. However, at the next instant, he suddenly reacted.
'This is a test for me, a trap. That's right, that's it. This is a test of my loyalty. Too cunning.'
At the thought of this, the Diamond Sect's ancestor spoke loudly.
"Master, since I started following you, I've come to realize a truth: being at ease is more important than being free!"
"The joy I've felt all these years is unprecedented in my life. I can't bear to lose that sense of ease. If I can't follow you, I'll definitely be in extreme pain. In fact, just thinking about it now makes me feel inconsolable grief."
"Master, I don't want freedom. I just want to follow you because compared to freedom, I thirst for a sense of ease more."
The Diamond Sect's ancestor's words moved Ling'er. She looked at the Diamond Sect's ancestor and whispered to Xu Qing.
"Brother Xu Qing, this old man is a good person."
Xu Qing's gaze was deep but he didn't explain. After a few words of encouragement, he kept the fish bone. After that, he lowered his head and looked at the shadow under his feet.
The shadow was so frightened that it trembled and quickly transmitted its emotions.
"Breakthrough… soon… Master… Madam… soon… I will become powerful… useful!!"
The shadow was really afraid. Previously, it had seen how even the god's finger couldn't escape from the purple crystal. Hence, it had long fallen into despair and only hoped to survive.
Hence, in his nervousness, it said everything it could.
Xu Qing fell silent. He had an idea in his heart that might speed up the shadow's breakthrough. Previously, he couldn't do it but now, he was confident.
Xu Qing no longer looked at the shadow. He sat down cross-legged and began to meditate.
Among his 13 Heavenly Palaces, 12 of them had formed their nascent souls and had experienced a heavenly tribulation.
Only the Heavenly Palace formed by the Nether Spirit Blood Wing Lantern obtained at the end didn't have a nascent soul yet. However, with the help of the other nascent souls, it formed a siphoning effect, causing the nascent soul of the fifth lantern to rapidly take shape.
"Soon."
Xu Qing mumbled inwardly and closed his eyes to cultivate.
Time flowed by. Seven days later, the great wing crossed the sea and finally arrived at the Nanhuang Continent. From afar, Xu Qing saw the Seven Blood Eyes where he had lived for many years.
Compared to when he left, this place hadn't changed much. It was still prosperous and lively with people coming and going. He also saw many Seventh Peak disciples' boats entering and exiting the port.
Although the seven mountain peaks in the distance had been brought to the Yinghuang Province back then, they had long been rebuilt. Everything was normal except for the blood eyes on the mountain peak.
