Chapter 969: A Tear into the Netherworld Sea, the Nefarious Almighty Sword
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Lin Feng looked into the void and thought, "To forge metal, one must be strong himself. Everyone is fighting for time now. Other than the Divine Lands and the Barren Expanses, there is still the Hades tribe in some Middle World…"
He smiled slightly and said, "I doubt that the Origins Celestial Dragon will be happy to see them once more? Furthermore, if the Hades Tribe were to re-appear once more, someone would suffer first."
After he sorted out his train of thoughts, Lin Feng stood up and descended the Black Heavenly Treasure Tree and went to the Tripitaka Block.
He pointed with his finger and three balls of light appeared before him. They were the three Buddhist avatars of the Golden Cicada, the Acalanatha Monk, the Amoghasiddhi Monk and the Bao Sheng Monk. From them, Lin Feng was able to derive the Acalanatha Tathagata Mantra, the Amoghasiddhi Mantra and the Ratnasambhava Mantra.
After the Anti-Celestial Sect War, the Flowing Waves Holy Man replaced the injured Virtuous Zen Master in looking after the Celestial Wonder World. The Virtuous Zen Master rested on top of Mount Yujing. When he heard Lin Feng’s news, he went to the Tripitaka Block to take a look. There, he saw the Forever-Bright Tathagata Mantra together with the Acalanatha Tathagata Mantra, the Amoghasiddhi Mantra and the Ratnasambhava Mantra. His normally calm heart began to surge with emotions.
He closed his palms together and muttered a prayer in a low voice. He looked, slightly dazed, at the books and said, "I can’t believe that the Golden Cicada Grand Sage is able to obtain our entire set of teachings. Furthermore, he is able to cultivate them to such great effect."
Lin Feng’s expression was calm as he smiled and said nothing.
The Virtuous Zen Master bowed and placed his palms together before Lin Feng and said, "My lord, thank you so much for this feat."
Lin Feng shook his head and said, "There’s no need to be polite, Zen Master. In the days to come, rest on Mount Yujing and carefully study the ways of Buddhism. As for the Celestial Wonder World, the Flowing Waves Holy Man shall take care of it. After the Dual Polarity Peak has recovered, he will go too. There’s nothing for you to worry about."
The Virtuous Zen Master bowed once more and Lin Feng nodded his head. He walked to the side, where his gaze was fixed on a bunch of Daoist mantras.
He obtained the Cang Heaven Spell Blade’s and Shao Dongtian’s teachings of Heaven’s Gate, as well as Zhang Enrui and the part of the Samsara Sect’s mantras and the teachings of the Emperor of the Dead from Xuanda. Also, he obtained all of the swordplay techniques of the Mount Shu Sword Sect except the Guanchong Sword…
Other than that, he had the incomplete teachings of the Ancient Satanic Sect, the Blood River Sect and the Demonic Shadow Sect.
"For Heaven’s Gate, the Samsara Sect and the Emperor of the Dead’s teachings, I can fill in the gaps in a particular branch of their teaching. However, I cannot obtain the teaching of other branches with just a single branch," thought Lin Feng. "After all, for big sects like these, they are split into small units. Together, they will form a complete but multi-faceted set of teachings."
However, Lin Feng did not care so much about that. When he looked at these teachings now, he used similar mantras as reference as he tried to absorb their essence
While this was not useful in him deepening his understanding of the Heavenly Classic of the Way's Virtues, it was useful in helping him broaden his understanding.
"There are ten thousand different ways to the Dao in the world. This world is both barren and captivating…" The more one did not know, the more fearless he was. As one knew more and more, he would stand in a higher position and become more fearful and respectful of the things in the world. However, this sense of respect and fear was motivation for Lin Feng to improve himself.
As Lin Feng left the Tripitaka Block, he met his eldest disciple, Xiao Yan, who bowed and said to him, "Master, I have something to report to you."
"There are news from the Ancient Longevity World that the Great Void Sect had paid them a visit."
When Lin Feng heard that, he nodded. The Ancient Longevity World was a Middle World where the descendants of the Emperor of the Ancients resided and hid from everyone else. They normally kept to themselves and rarely interacted with the Greater World. However, they were not as secretive as the Hall of the Dead.
It was normal for most people to disregard their existence, but not the Great Void Sect. The Great Void Sect probably just paid a bit of attention to them normally and rarely interacted with them directly.
The more powerful a sect was, the more one should not underestimate its information-gathering capabilities. It did not matter whether the sect chose to be active or inactive.
While the attitude that ‘I need not know who you are but you must know who I am’ was intimidating, from a certain perspective, it was not a good idea to have that attitude without possessing enough power.
To reach that level, there must be a significant difference between one’s own capabilities and the capabilities of others.
The difference must be more akin to the distance between the Nine Heavens and the earth instead of the difference between two mountains of different height.
Furthermore, change was the only constant in the world. The so-called difference between clouds and mud might not be eternal.
Xiao Yan said, "While we are not sure what did they talk about exactly, it has something to do with the weird happenings in the Ancient Longevity World."
During the Anti-Celestial War, because of Xiao Yan, the Ancient Longevity World was not just a spectator. Instead, they were like the Great Qin Empire and the Purple Clouds Sect who rendered assistance to Lin Feng. Afterwards, Lin Feng was not selfish when he rewarded them. This bettered the ties between the two sides.
However, right now, there were weird occurrences in the Ancient Longevity World too. Hence, the assistance they rendered was limited compared to the vast strength they had. They only sent an Immortal Soul Second Level cultivator, Gu Peng and Xiao Zhen’er.
It was not because the Ancient Longevity World did not care but instead, it was because their internal crisis was big indeed. Lin Feng and Xiao Yan did not ask too much. However, Xiao Zhener and Gu Peng mentioned it at times.
"Master, I thought the locations of the Netherworld Sea, Black Sea and the Ying Sea were fixed? Unlike the Spirit Sea, the Void Sea or the Death Sea," said Xiao Yan slightly suspiciously. He took out his Nefarious Almighty Sword and tapped the handle of his sword.
"Unless, the Netherworld Sea did not open by itself. Instead, someone forced it open? Could the person be like me, who borrowed upon the power of the Nefarious Almighty Sword or some other weapon to carve a split there and call upon the power of the Netherworld Sea?"
Lin Feng nodded his head and said, "That’s right. It was like how the Earth Dragon King managed to use the power of the Black Sea to escape."
Xiao Yan twitched his mouth and said, "However, if it was able to render Zhener and her family helpless, then the split was probably bigger than the one I had made with my Nefarious Almighty Sword."
Xiao Yan did learn a bit about the Ancient Longevity World and the disciples of the Emperor of the Ancients from Xiao Zhener. Today, the leader of their tribe, otherwise known as the ‘new’ Emperor of the Ancients, was Xiao Zhener’s father. While he had only passed his Cardinal Tribulations Beginner Stage and he had not yet completed the Cardinal Tribulations, he was not too far off. His powers were exceptional indeed and it was clear he was descended from the Emperor of the Ancients.
While the Emperor of the Ancients met a sorry end, his descendants were able to obtain his Ancient Immortality Scripture. After all these years, they were able to perfect and refine it.
Hence, after many years of biding their time in the Ancient Longevity World, the descendants of the Emperor of the Ancients were able to regain their former strength.
The only regretful thing was the fact that an elder amongst them in the Vipralopa stage was unable to pass the Second Tribulation. Hence, he fell in battle. If not, the Ancient Longevity World would have been even more powerful.
Of course, if he had successfully completed his Second Tribulation, then their situation right now would have been completely different.
Lin Feng took Xiao Yan’s Nefarious Almighty Sword as he lightly traced his finger over the hue sword as the odd feeling in his heart grew stronger.
Ever since Xiao Yan formed his nascent soul and opened a split in the Netherworld Sea with his Nefarious Almighty Sword, Lin Feng had not had that feeling.
However, after Xiao Yan reached the Immortal Soul stage, the feeling only got stronger.
Lin Feng sighed and analyzed Xiao Yan with his supernatural awareness and entered his Immortal Soul. Xiao Yan did not resist as he opened his Immortal Soul to Lin Feng.
After a long while, Lin Feng retracted his supernatural awareness and asked, "Xiao Yan, do you remember the scenario when you first got the Nefarious Almighty Sword?"
Hearing that, Xiao Yan was shocked. However, with his current mastery, his memory was crystal clear. For information that he did not require usually, he would take a well to recall. When needed, however, he could recall them very clearly.
"I remember. It was when I first joined master. Once, when I was with Second Junior and Little Junior, we were exploring a market in a city. Hehe, it sounds ridiculous now. At that time, we were just looking around randomly. We could not afford the items we wanted, and we did not want the items we could afford."
Then, a look of nostalgia crossed Xiao Yan’s face. "Then, I saw the sword in a shop. Then, I felt that I have some sort of connection with the item and hence, without finding out its origins, I bought it."
Then, he burst out laughing, "I had to borrow money from Second Junior and Little Junior at that time. We were only able to buy it with all of our money."
Lin Feng smiled slightly and said, "At that time, it was not easy for you."
After laughing for a while, Xiao Yan stopped and looked seriously at Lin Feng and asked, "Did you discover something, master?"
Lin Feng nodded his head and said, "Before you ascended into the Immortal Soul stage, it was hard to detect. Now, when you are in the Immortal Soul stage, I could faintly sense it."
With that, he gently tapped Xiao Yan’s forehead. Xiao Yan’s entire body trembled as his pupils shone with light.
After a while, Xiao Yan’s gaze went back to normal. He looked at Lin Feng, who was smiling at him, and took his Nefarious Almighty Sword back from Lin Feng and tapped the sword and said, "Master, who do you think is the one who opened a small split into the Netherworld Sea in the Ancient Longevity World?"
Lin Feng said, "I can’t be sure now. However, the Great Void Sect obtained some information with regards to this. They have sent people to the Ancient Longevity to establish contact with Zhener and her family. Also, they wanted to offer information to the Ancient Longevity World."
"After all, the Great Void Sect possesses one such character who could open the tear into the Netherworld Sea. A while ago, in the face of pressure from the demons, the person was forced to use the power of the Netherworld Sea to overwhelm Mount Taihua, their base in the Barren Expanses."
Xiao Yan stroked his chin and said, "However, Zhener is doing closed-door training right now. If not, I can obtain more news."
"Oh?" Lin Feng asked. "Is this a normal closed-door training, or is she trying for the Immortal Soul stage?"
Xiao Yan’s expression became serious as he said, "She wants to try for the Immortal Soul stage."
Normally, ascending into the Immortal Soul was not a dangerous affair if one had done the necessary preparations. However, it was extremely difficult. Even for someone like Xiao Zhener, who was innately talented, it was not easy.
Lin Feng looked slightly surprised as he said, "That’s earlier than I thought."