NOVPUB
Chapter 363: 360
When Gu Jinlai returned to Starlight City from Mu State, he began to faintly sense that the Lucky Qi, equivalent to that of Devils from the Three Thousand Marshes, was spreading toward Mu State.
At that time, the spread was very slow, so slow that it seemed it might not lead to a fierce conflict between the two sides for two or three months.
However, he had left Mu State just six days earlier and had been comprehending the Heavenly Master lineage left by Master Wushi and the Xuanji Sect for five days in Starlight City when the Qi from the Three Thousand Marshes suddenly pressed down, directly covering the entire Southern Mu State—this change...
"The Devils from the Three Thousand Marshes intend to fully invade Mu State,"
Gu Jinlai said gravely.
"Although the Demon Spirits from the Demon Realm no longer possess the various wonders they had as spirits after transforming into Devils, they still have various means to sense the dangers contained in the Qiantian World. When Master Wushi was still alive, they feared the power of this terrifying being. But with the fall of Master Wushi..."
Zhou Yi also looked toward the south.
Now, the various disadvantages of Master Wushi’s death began to gradually emerge.
The Devils gradually shifted their focus here.
Qiantian World has a population of nine hundred million.
If you include some individuals without registered households, reaching twelve or thirteen billion wouldn’t be strange.
What an enormous population!
At its peak, the Xuanji Sect had only three Earthly True Immortals and governed only six hundred million subjects.
Though population size is not a standard for measuring the strength of a sect, it can measure the likelihood of Devils attacking this region.
Ten to thirteen billion people, attracting a Demon Emperor is no strange matter.
"Whoosh!"
After Xin Tianqi transmitted his Divine Thought, he immediately landed in the courtyard where Gu Jinlai was.
"Immediately send a message to Lu Zhanxian, Gu Luochen, and others to withdraw from Southern Mu State and establish a defense line in Eastern Mu State. I will rush over immediately,"
Gu Jinlai told Xin Tianqi.
"Yes,"
Xin Tianqi nodded, his expression tinged with worry, "More than ten years ago, when Mu State Devils wreaked havoc, we lost contact with the Three Thousand Marshes. But even ten years ago it was known that there had been sightings of the Demon Emperor there. The current aggression of the Devils from the Three Thousand Marshes...
"Must be led by the Demon Emperor,"
Gu Jinlai knew the reason for Xin Tianqi’s worries, but...
"We can’t retreat! Not only can’t we retreat, we must also deliver a painful strike to these Devils! Make them realize the price they’ll have to pay to invade Mu State,"
Gu Jinlai spoke in a heavy voice, "The Three Thousand Marshes and the Holy Sanctuary in the far south seem to be in constant dispute. In other words, they can’t devote all their energy to the Mu State battlefield. As long as we can achieve a resounding victory, it will surely deter the Devils."
"Strike hard to prevent a hundred strikes."
Xin Tianqi understood Gu Jinlai’s intention, and he too solemnly nodded.
He approved of this statement.
"Be careful!"
"I have it in mind."
Gu Jinlai said, seeming to think of something, "Is the news from the Daqian Dynasty?"
"Yes."
Xin Tianqi replied, "Because of the deal with the Sword Heavy Cannon, I maintain contact with General Shang Zhenbei, and his news is directly from Emperor Qian."
"Emperor Qian..."
Gu Jinlai nodded.
This Emperor Qian was always very firm in his stance against Devils.
And in Central State Imperial City, he was often able to anticipate the movements of Devils before others, showing his high level of mastery in the Qiantian Purple Qi Technique.
Of course, this might also be related to his identity.
As the Emperor of Daqian, he was intimately connected to the fortune of the Daqian Dynasty. In such circumstances, he was more sensitive to changes in the surrounding Qi than Gu Jinlai, who had cultivated the Qiantian Purple Qi Technique to Perfection.
"Now that Emperor Qian has sent information... that’s good,"
Gu Jinlai spoke gravely, "I plan to go to the Demon Refining Hall and exchange for a Dao Artifact through the Heaven and Earth Qiankun Map. Please have Shang Zhenbei report this upward."
"Exchange for a Dao Artifact!?"
Xin Tianqi’s pupils contracted.
The Heaven and Earth Qiankun Map at the Demon Refining Hall was famed for exchanging anything, and Immortal Essence Gold, Dao Artifacts, and Creation Immortal Fruits were all within the scope of exchange.
But involving such top-tier resources, it would obviously alert Emperor Qian.
"With the number of Devils I have slain, I already have the qualification to exchange for a Dao Artifact,"
Gu Jinlai stated, "It’s just that I’m not sure if Emperor Qian would be willing to give out a second Dao Artifact with my current merits."
Dao Artifacts!
They were among the top-tier existences in any sect.
Before the relics of the Holy Sanctuary were unearthed, the entire Qian world may have had only about ten or so Dao Artifacts.
The previous Emperor Master Tai A, although he had obtained quite a number of Dao Artifacts from the Holy Sanctuary and made many gains when exterminating the Heavenly Immortal Palace, the Royal Family likely possessed only about a dozen of these artifacts.
Even though Gu Jinlai had slain nine Demon Kings and hundreds of Great Demons, accumulating great Merit, whether Emperor Qian would give out a second Dao Artifact was still uncertain.
"Go to the Demon Refining Hall,"
Gu Jinlai ordered.
He turned his gaze to Zhou Yi and Zhang Lihuo, "The two of you continue studying the Book of Nature and Balance Holy Scripture here in Starlight City."
"I shall accompany Master Gu,"
Zhou Yi considered, "I can now control a Mystic Bird Fighting Machine, which can add somewhat to our combat power."
Though a Mystic Bird Fighting Machine couldn’t confront a Demon King, it was more efficient than Devas at slaughtering Upper-level Demons.
After all, although Devas were powerful, when fiercely battling a Demon King...
or even the tenaciously surviving Upper-level Demons, they would become exhausted from excessive consumption.
But a War Spiritual Artifact like the Mystic Bird Fighting Machine had far superior endurance and continuous combat capabilities compared to Devas.
"Count me in,"
Zhang Lihuo spoke gravely, "The Three Thousand Marshes has not only a Demon Emperor and Demon Kings but even more Great Demons. Venerable Daoist, you will inevitably be unable to spare enough time and energy to control eight Mystic Bird Fighting Machines while operating the Cheng Ying Mecha. Rather than letting these Mystic Bird Fighting Machines, which kill faster than Devas, sit idle in the hangar, it would be better for the two of us to pilot them onto the battlefield, which will somewhat relieve you of some pressure."
Gu Jinlai looked at the two of them.
Considering he planned to have them pilot the Cheng Ying Mecha in the future, using the Mystic Bird Fighting Machines in combat now would serve as good practice with this kind of sci-fi-esque War Spiritual Artifact.
He nodded, "Very well, prepare yourselves. After I return from the Demon Refining Hall, we will set off together for Mu State."
...
Soon, Gu Jinlai and Xin Tianqi arrived at the Demon Refining Hall.
So as not to waste Gu Jinlai’s time, Xin Tianqi had already informed the Refining Demon Hall Master in advance.
By the time he arrived, the Heaven and Earth Qiankun Map had already been activated.
Gu Jinlai directly handed over his Qiankun Talisman, "Convert all merits into Dao Artifacts, no specific type required, preferably those carrying dual Infinite and Tenacity traits."
"Dao Artifacts!?"
The Hall Master was shocked and hastily took the Qiankun Talisman, "The exchange for Dao Artifacts usually requires some time..."
"I know, proceed with the application."
Gu Jinlai said.
"Yes."
The Refining Demon Hall Master complied respectfully and swiftly got to work.
Next...
was the waiting.
The wait was not long.
In less than half an hour, the Heaven and Earth Qiankun Map began to vibrate, with rays of light scattering in all directions.
Soon, a Dao Artifact manifested from the subsection of the Heaven and Earth Qiankun Map.
Gu Jinlai reached out and took the Dao Artifact into his hands.
"This is...! The Panwu Spear!?"
Xin Tianqi recognized it immediately upon seeing the object.
The Dao Artifacts from the Holy Sanctuary Relics, although unearthed for no more than two hundred years, had each forged their own renown over these two centuries.
This Panwu Spear, for instance, was the weapon used by a Palace Guardian Dharma King of the Heavenly Immortal Palace a century ago.
Of course, this Saint who had forged an Immortal Golden Body was killed by Tai A in a fierce battle that erupted a century ago when the True Immortals of the Four Continents besieged Emperor Tianji.
After that event, the Panwu Spear naturally became a trophy of the Royal Family.
However, after this Dao Artifact appeared, the scattered light of the Heaven and Earth Qiankun Map still hadn’t dimmed.
Soon, another burst of brilliant light flowed.
"Really a second Dao Artifact!?"
Xin Tianqi was somewhat surprised.
This time, it was a flying sword.
"The Divine Mountain Sword!"
Xin Tianqi said gravely.
Divine Mountain Sword!
This was also an offering of the Royal Family, similarly the sabre of the legendary Saint Wei Wufeng.
Wei Wufeng was also a legendary figure, displaying incredible talent from a young age, later favored by the previous Emperor Qian who bestowed a marriage with the princess and focused on cultivating him, eventually reaching the Saint Realm.
When Emperor Tianji invaded the Imperial Capital to massacre the Jiang family of the Imperial Family, he fought to the death.
"Double tenacity trait."
Gu Jinlai held the sword, quite satisfied.
Though it was small, as a Dao Artifact, even if potential energy were injected into its body at full power by the Eternal Furnace, it could withstand several breaths.
With this Dao Artifact containing energy, he could annihilate even a body of the Demon Emperor, more resilient than a Holy Body, with one strike.
"Two Dao Artifacts, that’s quite fair..."
Gu Jinlai remarked.
"The Heaven and Earth Qiankun Map has not yet closed, the material transmission hasn’t ceased."
At this moment, Xin Tianqi suddenly said.
"Hmm!?"
Gu Jinlai glanced at the Heaven and Earth Qiankun Map, just as a third burst of intense light gathered.
"A third Dao Artifact!?"
This outcome, unexpected not only to Xin Tianqi but even to Gu Jinlai himself.
Though he had slain nine Demon Kings and hundreds of Great Demons had fallen by his sword, these merits...
To exchange for two Dao Artifacts was no issue, but three...
was a bit...
The brilliant light scattered.
Soon, the third Dao Artifact appeared before Gu Jinlai.
When he saw this sword-shaped Dao Artifact, Xin Tianqi’s pupils shrank, and he couldn’t help but exclaim in shock, "The Emperor’s Sword!?"
"The Emperor’s Sword?"
Gu Jinlai accepted the sword.
He hadn’t recognized the Panwu Spear or the Divine Mountain Sword, but the fame of the Emperor’s Sword...
was thunderous.
The Emperor’s own sabre!
This was the sabre of the previous Emperor Qian!
Although the previous Emperor Qian never achieved possession of the Divine Weapon, he later forged a Holy Body and stepped into the Saint Domain.
The sabre he used was this Emperor’s Sword.
This sword...
In many cases, could be used to exercise Imperial authority!
"Emperor Qian... not only sent three Dao Artifacts, he even sent the Emperor’s Sword!?"
Gu Jinlai held the sword, somewhat puzzled and profoundly moved.
Moreover, as he carefully sensed it...
This sword not only had dual Infinite traits, it also had dual Tenacity traits.
Gu Jinlai’s earlier request for a Dao Artifact, this Emperor’s Sword perfectly met.
