The exchanges of spells, the expenditure of spiritual essence, and the damage to magical artifacts all cost a mountain of celestial coins, not to mention the depletion of one’s own and the sect’s foundational strength. This is why Qi Refiners on mountains so detest sword cultivators and pure martial artists. A single sword challenge, a single fist inquiry, often offer little in the way of profound insights into the Great Dao for those who are challenged.

Yun Miao once again stirred up a divine ability.

His hands formed a series of seals, his feet danced upon the Seven Stars, and the jade book beneath his feet transformed into a Daoist altar, radiant with treasure light. Finally, behind Yun Miao, a towering pavilion emerged, the golden plaque inscribed with the words “Rain Pavilion.”

Within stood a celestial being, his form ethereal and his face indistinct.

Surrounding the pavilion, the heavens and earth grew dim, and torrential rain poured down.

Yun Miao held a long sword in one hand and pinched a radiant talisman in the other, his expression solemn. He silently chanted an ancient incantation: “Evolve the white clouds, descend the mist and haze, first obscure the sun and moon, then transform the universe, mountains breathe life, waters surge, the Four Seas and Five Peaks, obey the decrees of the Three Mountains and Nine Marquis! On mountain peaks, consecrate gods; beneath the seas, slay dragons! A single sword decapitates, the head given to the White Child of the West, I command!”

The celestial being remained motionless, but before him appeared a flying sword.

Over at Mandarin Duck Isle, Qin Zao flicked her wrist, producing a verdant bamboo flute, and lightly tapped it against her palm, smiling. “Yun Miao seems to be truly staking it all.”

She had to be careful not to be caught in the crossfire.

This move of Yun Miao’s, she had never even heard of. Could it be a trump card that the Nine Truth Immortal Hall was saving for a dire situation?

Tian Ni said, “A dignified immortal is being treated like dirt during a mere spar. Anyone would be upset.”

Yan Ge gazed up at the enormous pavilion, especially at the ethereal “celestial being” within, feeling a sense of awe. “This is? What kind of sacred entity?”

Qin Zao chuckled, “Who knows? A Transcendent Realm Daoist is certainly wealthy.”

Although Qin Zao spoke with a smile, she was equally surprised. She intuitively felt that the “divine being,” whose face she could not see clearly, was merely resting in the Rain Pavilion and did not originate from the ancient lineage of the Water Gods.

As expected.

Another celestial pavilion arose beside Yun Miao, the plaque inscribed with the words “Fire Furnace.” Another celestial being sat within, his Great Dao aura similar to the previous one.

The celestials within the two structures each held a sword.

Chen Ping’an watched intently.

He felt that something was strange.

This feeling was similar to when he encountered that man outside the Falcon Fortress in Tongye Continent. He could not recognize the man’s face, but he felt strangely familiar.

Of course, he wasn’t suggesting that the two “divine beings” in the pavilions were that man. Rather, it vaguely reminded Chen Ping’an of an unnamed old man who had an excellent relationship with Old Yao but was not a kiln worker, and who was also on good terms with Liu Xianyang. When Chen Ping’an was a kiln apprentice, he never spoke a word to the old man. He only heard Liu Xianyang mention that while Old Yao was watching the kiln fire, the two old men often chatted together. After the old man passed away, Old Yao personally handled the funeral arrangements, which were very simple.

Just as Chen Ping’an was about to summon the Bird in a Cage.

He turned and saw an old man riding the wind towards Mandarin Duck Isle. He stopped in mid-air and coldly laughed, “A mere Jade Purity sword cultivator dares to act presumptuously in a sacred place of the Wen Temple?”

The old cultivator transmitted his thoughts to Yun Miao. “Yun Miao! Are you insane? Quickly withdraw this technique!”

It was none other than the Transcendent Realm Great cultivator, Nan Guangzhao.

This secret technique of the Nine Truth Immortal Hall, if brought to its peak, would manifest five divine beings wielding swords, and once unleashed by a cultivator, it would be equivalent to five Transcendent Realm sword cultivators lending their full strength to a single strike.

Unfortunately, in the hands of his old friend from the Nine Truth Immortal Hall, countless natural treasures and celestial coins had been spent, but only three edicts of Water, Fire, and Wood could be refined, greatly diminishing the power of the attack. After Yun Miao inherited the Daoist lineage, he could only add one more edict of Earth.

The key was that this great formation only had one chance to strike. If there were no outsiders present, Nan Guangzhao might have even cursed Yun Miao for wasting the technique on a Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator, rendering it useless.

As for whether Yun Miao was bluffing or was truly determined to slay that person with his sword, or whether he was using this as a means to express his intentions to Nan Guangzhao and seek his assistance, Nan Guangzhao was too lazy to think about it. After all, Yun Miao was the sole direct descendant of his old friend, and he could not ignore him.

Yun Miao hesitated for a moment, but ultimately heeded Nan Guangzhao’s advice and withdrew the technique that he had only partially activated.