It wasn’t just Pang Bo whose hair stood on end — even Ye Fan was stunned. Four immortal swords suppressed within an ancient Heavenly Venerate’s life spring — this was truly bizarre and terrifying!

“Could the figures from the Investiture of the Gods really exist in this world? Impossible!” Pang Bo shook his head vigorously.

The aura of the four killing swords was ferocious and violent, as though the gates of hell had opened wide, like a primordial ferocious beast charging forward, rolling waves of sword qi rising straight up, splitting heaven and earth, striking down many great stars from above.

The Bitter Sea’s black waves surged skyward, waves reaching over a hundred thousand li high, while stars fell like flying sand and stone — the scene was boundlessly terrifying.

Such an aura, such overwhelming dominance, such killing intent — it truly shook every domain, rarely seen since ancient times. At the very least, none of the Great Sages or young Supremes present had ever witnessed anything like it.

Was this truly the terrifying sight of an Emperor-tier weapon fully, completely reviving? Even a Great Sage approaching would be crushed to dust like an ant by the sword qi alone.

Elsewhere, the Refining Divinity Pot had been sent flying tens of thousands of li away, azure-gold light scattering hazily — it had nearly fully revived, only to be struck and sent flying, its luster considerably dimmed.

Within the sea, an old man appeared, having pursued it all the way here. He possessed four faces, coughing up blood repeatedly, his body once wrapped in light now trembling violently, his halo receding.

This was Mi Zhen, a Great Sage of the Radiance Clan, who had cultivated for six thousand five hundred years, yet was now in such a disheveled state, nearly perishing in the sea.

Having unleashed the Refining Divinity Pot, he had kept himself far enough away to avoid this calamity — had he been near the pot itself, he would surely have died, reduced to ash from the disaster.

“How could this happen?” Mi Zhen said, his hair disheveled, covered in blood, his expression utterly disbelieving.

As a mighty Great Sage, he had unleashed the Refining Divinity Pot, a legendary ancient Sovereign-tier weapon renowned throughout eternity, yet it had failed to achieve the expected effect, nearly getting him killed instead.

The four swords were all Emperor-tier weapons, their power unmatched — the killing intent still made him tremble with fear even now. No one had even wielded the four swords, yet how could they prove more terrifying than a Great Sage unleashing an immortal pot?

Mi Zhen stood beside the azure-gold pot, silently regulating his breath, glimmering brilliant treasure-light flickering, his body’s bloody wounds gradually vanishing as his body slowly recovered.

Half a quarter-hour later, Mi Zhen returned to this stretch of sea, where everyone now regarded him with extreme wariness — anyone who possessed an Emperor-tier weapon was someone to be feared.

The black Bitter Sea gradually calmed, no more stars falling, but the killing intent had not entirely dissipated, remaining latent within the crystalline, radiant life spring.

This was an undeniable fact — supreme Emperor-level might, and four Emperor swords at that, leaving people both burning with excitement and gripped by deep dread.

“Everyone has seen it — there’s an Emperor-tier weapon within the sea, and it cannot be seized by any single person’s strength alone. Why don’t we join forces?” Mi Zhen, the Great Sage of the Radiance Clan, spoke, sending his voice to everyone present.

Everyone was startled, many eyes flashing with sharp light — cooperating with someone who already possessed an Emperor-tier weapon was far too dangerous.

Mi Zhen continued, “None of you need doubt me — I harbor no ill intent. Everyone present is among the most talented of their generation — could my Radiance Clan possibly afford to offend all of you at once?”

He wanted to unite all the Great Sages to jointly channel the Refining Divinity Pot, allowing it to fully revive, so it could suppress and separate the four immortal swords one by one — the final division of spoils could be discussed afterward.

Some were tempted — even as powerful as the Radiance Clan was, it wouldn’t dare antagonize every powerful clan at once. It was worth the gamble.

Since the life spring’s eye contained an Emperor-tier weapon, perhaps there were also ancient scriptures below, other magical treasures, immortal medicines — anything nurtured by an ancient Heavenly Venerate’s life spring was bound to be extraordinary.

The Great Sages deliberated together, while the young Supremes retreated as far as possible — should any of the old fellows lose their heads and strike them with an Emperor-tier weapon, even possessing rare treasures wouldn’t save them.

Even figures as powerful and proud as the four young lords of the Golden Serpent Clan, the Heaven-Swallowing Beast, and Sang Gu kept a low profile, standing far off in the sky, silently watching, quietly awaiting the outcome.

“Do you think this Master of Heavenly Communion person really existed?” Pang Bo asked.

The Investiture of the Gods was a mythological novel, not to be trusted — in true Daoism and authentic ancient Chinese mythology, there was no such figure as the Master of Heavenly Communion, which was why Pang Bo felt so conflicted.

“No,” Ye Fan shook his head, then paused thoughtfully. “But in a sense, yes.”

“What do you mean?” Pang Bo was startled.

“Let’s watch a bit longer and see exactly how powerful those four killing swords really are,” Ye Fan said, retreating further along with Pang Bo, Long Ma, and the others, unwilling to get drawn into this conflict.

“Very well, fellow Daoists, let us join forces. At the very least we can obtain some of the immortal liquid — and if we manage to open this spring’s eye, the rewards will be beyond measure,” Mi Zhen said.

After discussion, a total of four Great Sages agreed to join forces with him, while the rest continued to observe, unwilling to commit themselves just yet.

Because those four killing swords were simply too powerful — having just autonomously revived and sent the azure-gold divine pot flying, everyone felt deep apprehension, even a sense of dread.

A few Great Sages suspected there might be some living presence within the Life Sea, perhaps something extraordinary controlling the four swords — otherwise how could this be explained — and so proceeded with great caution.

Boom!

The Refining Divinity Pot revived, its entire body turning azure-gold, dazzling and brilliant, wave after wave of feather-like immortal patterns emerging, radiating supreme divine might, the sun, moon, and stars above all trembling.

It was forged from feathered azure-gold, an awakened divine spirit stirring within, imperial qi circulating, its might shaking the nine heavens, its spout exhaling light, chaotic qi appearing, streams of galaxies flowing within.

Everyone drew sharp breaths — this was an Emperor-tier weapon, capable of swallowing the universe, containing galaxies within, able to smelt anything in the world! Just its wave of pressure alone was enough to make Great Sages drop to their knees.

This time, Mi Zhen, the Great Sage of the Radiance Clan, did not act rashly. He advanced slowly, gradually bringing the Refining Divinity Pot to full revival, allowing its divine spirit to truly awaken. Moreover, he had no intention of swallowing all four killing swords at once — instead, he planned to separate them first, targeting just one.

However, things never go quite as expected. The heavens and earth suddenly convulsed with thunder and lightning, as though gods and demons were wailing.

With a thunderous crash, the Life Sea was directly split open, the four immortal swords below trembling, their killing aura growing intense, shaking the nine heavens and ten earths! Rolling sword qi billowed like smoke, or like tens of thousands of galaxies pouring down, boundless and vast, ravaging in all directions, actively attacking the Refining Divinity Pot.

Everyone’s scalps went numb — how could anyone withstand such overwhelming might? It truly seemed as though an ancient Emperor had been reborn, not to be defiled!

This confused everyone — no living being had been seen within that spring’s eye, so how could the four swords revive and attack on their own?

The four Great Sages who had joined the effort immediately had three of them flee, unable to withstand the force, choosing to abandon the attempt. Only one remained, still channeling the divine pot alongside Mi Zhen, though even he was being blown backward.

“Boom!”

This time, the Refining Divinity Pot was struck by the sword qi, its entire body blazing with light, absorbing most of the pressure, but it was still sent flying backward.

“Ahh…”

This time, Mi Zhen was not so fortunate — his entire body drenched in blood, flying backward like a straw figure, his primordial spirit nearly split in two, his whole body left in tatters.

The other Great Sage also spat up blood. Seeing this outcome, he said not a word and fled at once, refusing to cooperate any further.

Once again, the attempt had failed — Mi Zhen nearly perished, and if not for his more thorough preparations this time, keeping his distance from the divine pot and controlling it remotely, there truly would have been nothing left of him.

“How could this happen…” Mi Zhen murmured to himself — was even someone wielding the Refining Divinity Pot no match for the four ownerless killing swords?

Pfft!

Suddenly, his lower body exploded, and then his upper body crumbled apart bit by bit, turning into a mist of blood — the sight sent chills through everyone watching; even the Great Sages were shocked.

As the final soft sound faded away, his skull shattered, his Immortal Platform collapsed, his primordial spirit extinguished — destroyed by a wisp of terrifying, murderous sword qi!

This had overflowed from the Refining Divinity Pot — moments earlier, when the four swords struck, boundless sword qi had poured into the pot, and Mi Zhen, approaching at that moment, had naturally met with disaster.

“These four swords are too terrifying.” Even the Great Sages were struck with horror.

Boom!

Suddenly, the Refining Divinity Pot glowed, its entire body dazzling, flying back on its own, charging toward the Life Sea.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then filled with delight — clearly the divine spirit within the pot had fully awakened, enraged, and was now actively attacking, determined to settle things once and for all with the four killing swords.

This place shattered instantly — whatever remained of the Bitter Sea, whatever remained of the life spring, none of it could withstand a single blow of such supreme Dao might, chaotic lightning dancing wildly, terror reaching its absolute peak.

With a thunderous crash, at that single blow, all realms trembled. Countless stars above shattered, some crumbling and falling, the Bitter Sea’s waves surging skyward, crashing into the depths of the universe.

“Hsss!”

A brilliant streak of azure-gold light flashed, bursting out of the Bitter Sea, tearing open the void, sinking into the ancient star region, vanishing into the deepest reaches of the universe.

Everyone was stunned — no one knew exactly what kind of clash had occurred between the Refining Divinity Pot and the ancient Heavenly Venerate’s weapon, but it was plain for all to see that it had ultimately retreated.

The star region collapsed, countless great stars falling, crashing into the black ocean, the entire star region trembling.

“Look — there’s an ancient diagram above the four killing swords!”

“That’s… a formation diagram. So that’s it — an ancient Emperor’s formation diagram paired with the four killing swords, naturally making them unmatched throughout heaven and earth!”

“There’s actually an ancient Emperor’s formation diagram left behind in this world — how utterly world-defying. Could it be that person? I think I might know who it is!”

The Great Sages were shaken, the young Supremes’ hearts surging, all struck with astonishment.

“Unbelievable, truly… is it him?!” Pang Bo’s eyes shot out an incredulous light.

“There is no Master of Heavenly Communion, but you could say it is him,” Ye Fan shook his head, an unusual expression crossing his face. “The prototype for the Investiture of the Gods’ Master of Heavenly Communion is the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerate of Daoism. Everything here is likely connected to him.”

Daoism had a Numinous Treasure sect, which revered the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerate as one of the Three Purities, an ancient Heavenly Venerate from the Mythic Era. Ancient China held many legends about him, later embellished and recorded by subsequent generations in written works.

“So it really is the Master of Heavenly Communion — could this be the Immortal-Slaying Formation Diagram and the four Immortal-Slaying Swords?!” Pang Bo’s eyes went wide, his blood boiling after witnessing the supreme divine might of the four swords just now.

“Wrong. You should call him the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerate. To be precise, there is no such person as the Master of Heavenly Communion,” Ye Fan said.

In the distance, the Great Sages were also discussing among themselves, each visibly excited, thoroughly shaken. Though they didn’t recognize the four swords, they identified the formation diagram based on ancient texts.

“It’s the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerate — who would have thought this was his Bitter Sea, with the Killing Formation Diagram nurtured within the life spring!”

According to ancient records, the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerate possessed heaven-bestowed talent, his divine might overwhelming the world. He once forged a divine diagram, using it to achieve the Dao, sweeping across the nine heavens and ten earths, unrivaled above and below.

It was said he had also once attempted to forge weapons, intending to create killing swords to pair with the formation diagram, hoping to use them to ascend and become an immortal, breaking through into the Immortal Domain!

In the latter half of his life, all his energy had gone into this pursuit.

“Legend has it that once he forged a Heavenly Venerate ancient weapon matching the formation diagram, he would attain the Dao and become an immortal. Now that the four killing swords have emerged, matching the diagram — could it be that he’s ascended?”

Everyone was stunned, their scalps tingling at the thought.

“Impossible. The Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerate’s Reincarnation Sea is right here — proof that he sat in transformation. His boundless body lies spread across the universe. How could he have ascended?”

“That’s not necessarily true either — this could be the Emperor body he shed upon ascension. Ancient records state that the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerate once said that once the formation diagram and the Heavenly Venerate ancient weapon emerged together, he would ascend and become an immortal.”

None of the Great Sages could remain calm — these four killing swords, combined with the formation diagram, represented a terrifyingly extreme power, one the ancient Heavenly Venerate had once pinned his hopes of ascension upon!

“Ye Zi, we need to find a way to seize the Immortal-Slaying Formation Diagram and the four killing swords!” Pang Bo said, his eyes burning with fervor, rubbing his hands together eagerly.