A powerful surge of primordial spirit energy spread out, as if calming the restless waves of the vast sea.

  Lu opened his eyes, emerging from the Preaching Platform.

  Leaning back in the Thousand-Bladed Chair, he rubbed his temples to ease his strained mind.

  Within the Platform, using the principles of Advanced Artifact Forging, he had thoroughly analyzed and dissected the Emperor weapon.

  Emperor weapons were incredibly powerful, woven with profound Dao and principles—even Lu found them quite challenging.

  At his current level, crafting one would still be somewhat difficult.

  He could only forge items comparable to Saint Ancestor Dao soldiers.

  A gentle breeze brushed by.

  Lu held a bronze wine cup, pouring the liquid into his mouth.

  With a thought, scenes from the Heavenly Dao Tree appeared in his eyes.

  The events unfolded before him like a film reel.

  "What a Li Sansi."

  "Merging with the Heavenly Dao Tree using the Vine Demon Body's traits..."

  Lu set down the cup, brows slightly furrowed.

  With Li Sansi's strength, merging wouldn't impact the tree.

  "Wanting to cultivate through the tree—but rooted in the origin, how could a mere Creation Venerable shake it... The Heavenly Dao Tree would only become your cage, Li Sansi—trapped forever."

  Lu shook his head.

  He could pull Li Sansi out, but... he chose not to.

  Since Li Sansi made this choice himself, Lu Ping'an wouldn't play the nice guy.

  Buzz...

  Silver light flashed.

  Lu vanished from the origin lake.

  Reappearing atop Buzhou Peak—silver-gray spatial energy tore through space; Lu emerged slowly.

  Zhu Long, playing a faintly melancholic tune, stopped abruptly.

  As expected—Dad appeared to scold her for failing her duty.

  Lu saw her braced-for-scolding expression and couldn't help smiling.

  He didn't scold her.

  This visit wasn't for that. As his most cherished child, his little comforter—how could Lu scold her?

  This time—to further her cultivation.

  Raising his hand, Lu wove Eight Trigrams array words into a peculiar pattern. Flicked—it tapped Zhu Long's forehead.

  "This grants entry to the origin space. For future cultivation—enter there; borrow the Heavenly Dao directly."

  "Closer contact—better results."

  Lu smiled.

  Zhu Long blinked—prepared for rebuke, yet not only unscolded but greatly rewarded.

  Truly the best Dad ever!

  Zhu Long felt touched inside.

  Patted her head.

  Lu didn't linger on Buzhou—silver flash, gone.

  Zhu Long stood atop Buzhou—closed eyes, long lashes trembling.

  She'd cultivate hard.

  Not disappoint Dad!

  Buzz...

  Forehead pattern gleamed. Next—she became Candle Dragon form, diving into origin space.

  Vast origin space—since Lu's control, hard for others to reach.

  Candle Dragon appeared human-headed serpent-bodied—sky-veiling. Gazing stellar vortex's massive Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao—coiling, black-white lights emerged; alternating millstone-like—innate yin-yang qi, eerie rumble.

  Millstone spun—Heavenly Dao essence drawn gradually into Candle Dragon body.

  ...

  Heavenly Gate, ascension ground.

  Lu tore space—appeared. Mastering spatial—easy three-realm traversal.

  Even without—he could shift freely as their hidden master.

  Ascension ground auras fierce—entrants mostly Transcending Tribulation or Immortal Abode.

  Now—Lower Three Heavens Immortal Abode and Five Phoenixes Heavenly Humans: thousands total.

  Lu's arrival silent.

  Only Lu Jiulian faintly sensed; others unaware.

  Seated Thousand-Bladed Chair, Lu scanned—Five Phoenixes Heavenly Humans increasing; many familiar faces.

  Tang Guo, Nie Shuang—special physiques younger generation—ascended.

  Lu greeted none—even hid form, directly to central Emperor weapon.

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  Weapon bore imperial might—though ownerless, casual release terrifying.

  Thus—isolation zone; none neared.

  Lu on chair—approached slowly.

  A mirror—huge, bronze-framed; surface opaque.

  Vast—lake-like in ascension ground.

  Lu eyed it—squinted.

  Deduced countless times in Platform—gained dismantling insights.

  Didn't start with underworld furnace.

  Underworld just spread "Six Paths Reincarnation"—needed dissemination, adaptation; no rush.

  "This weapon—Upper Realm Dao Clan's; 'Heavenly Derivation Mirror' imitated from it."

  Lu observed—patted.

  Soon—primordial spirit surged unrestrained.

  Dismantling Emperor weapon—Lu told no one.

  Solitary research—his habit.

  Ancient Great Emperors—mysterious.

  Upper Realms claimed Void Heaven linked to vanished ones, dust-covered weapons.

  Even Emperors buried there.

  Thus—Lu long curious.

  From "Hao" glimpse—to now weapons.

  Curiosity drove study.

  No reserve—full primordial spirit influx.

  Raised hand—nine Phoenix Feather segments soared flaming; phoenix cries impacted mirror.

  Ding! Ding! Ding!

  Primordial spirit probed paths; sword slashed.

  Instantly.

  Terrifying imperial might spread!

  As if challenged—autonomous burst!

  Boom!

  Ascension ground earth cracked; roars echoed.

  Many fusing immortal energy Immortal Abode panicked.

  "Imperial might... weapon's!"

  "Sudden Great Emperor pressure—someone provoking?"

  "Saint clan's weapon trapped—who triggered?"

  Cultivators terrified.

  Five Phoenixes frowned—distant view.

  Heavenly Court ruins.

  Overlord stood demonic-energied.

  Lu Jiulian watched calmly—thoughtful.

  Mirror burst brilliant light—dazzling.

  Many neared—suppressed by might; coughed blood retreating.

  Only distant observation.

  Weapon zone isolated.

  None knew center events.

  Lu's Platform simulations differed from real.

  As primordial spirit penetrated deeper.

  Hm?

  Lu's expression shifted slightly.

  Sensed vastness!

  Powerful Dao essence fluctuation surged from mirror interior—even Lu oppressed.

  "This...?"

  Lu wondered.

  Not in Platform simulations.

  Primordial spirit surged—coalesced form in dark space.

  Lu on chair—controlled advance.

  Weapon interior—dismantle from inside.

  Streaking vast fluctuations—Lu felt arriving huge lake.

  On chair—hovered over; slowly traversed.

  Surprising: every drop—Dao essence!

  Dao essence lake!

  Immense, dense.

  Even with ten thousand plundered—Lu felt bumpkin.

  Proud ten-thousandaire facing billions...

  Soul-impact.

  "Jackpot..."

  Lu murmured.

  Worried Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao lacking reserves.

  Pillow mid-nap.

  All refined into Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao—etched.

  High-martial level skyrockets... Level 3 easy; even 2 or 1 possible!

  "Worthy Ancient Great Emperor—terrifying scope!"

  "So much essence—Emperor refined Level 1 world's all into weapon?"

  Lu inhaled deeply.

  Sensed complexity.

  Platform deductions missed this.

  Thus—cautious.

  Real failure—permanent!

  Suddenly.

  Lake rippled.

  Gradually—formed burly figure.

  "You?!"

  "Lu Ping'an!"

  Terrifying rumble—Dao essence figure shocked; lake quaked.

  Lu curiously eyed.

  Living being inside weapon?

  "Hmm... you are..."

  Lu on chair—tapped armrest.

  Then realized.

  "You—Dao Clan Saint Ancestor. Left primordial spirit seed in weapon—reason you wielded..."

  Lu analyzed.

  "You're courting death! Daring enter interior!"

  "This our clan's 'Heavenly Derivation Mirror'—non-clan can't fuse... Great Emperor might erases you to nothing!"

  Dao Ancestor's seed-clone raged.

  Next—lake stormed like summer tempest.

  Boom!

  Terrifying strikes—each essence razor-sharp slaughter.

  Lu expressionless—watched colossal lunge.

  True Saint Ancestor—Lu cautious.

  Mere seed—no fear.

  Rose slowly—demonic energy surged.

  Countless essences suppressed.

  Indestructible Demonic Body strengthened further.

  Lu charged—upgraded chair stacked; seed ground nothing!

  Boom!

  Countless essences exploded—like rain pattering.

  Demonic Lord Lu on lake—silver blades stacked metallic wings behind.

  Didn't revert—gazed lake depths; vigilance rising.

  ...

  Vast Upper Realm continent.

  Dao Clan grounds.

  Meditating Saint Ancestor abruptly opened eyes—terrifying sharp light dimmed heavens!

  "My seed in weapon—erased!"

  "Lu Ping'an... dared touch weapon! Well done!"

  Body trembled.

  Weapon loss—huge clan impact. Tried suppressing news—spread anyway.

  Dao and Cloud clans—Upper Realm laughingstocks.

  "But Lu Ping'an doomed. Erasing seed—triggers residual Emperor will."

  "Mere Lu Ping'an vs Emperor will... certain death!"

  Dao Ancestor's surging aura calmed.

  Eyes cold.

  Weapon safety—no worry.

  Unless Emperor reborn—who destroys?

  ...

  Lu indeed found thorny.

  Splash...

  Essence lake parted sides.

  Thick mist drifted—veiling Lu's view blurry.

  Small boat swayed near.

  Figure sat aboard.

  Lu stared—first true crisis sense.

  "Weapon interior—must hold Ancient Emperor will..."

  Lu squinted.

  Figure unclear—stood, beckoned Lu. Next—heavenly pressure crashed to crush!

  Intruding depths—Emperor will only kills.

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Lu flapped metallic wings—vanished. Former spot—vast vortex exploded.

  Lu calm.

  Platform deductions anticipated Emperor will.

  Handled methodically.

  Thump!

  Boat sank—ancient will charged.

  Streak toward Lu.

  Lu squinted—sensed aura; no dodge—charged back.

  Boom!

  Shadows clashed instantly.

  Not true Emperor—reason Lu fought.

  Battle erupted—lake near evaporating.

  Pressure oppressed Lu—each punch shook mountains rivers.

  Like sparring young Emperor.

  Explosions ceaseless—essence lake roiled.

  Lu's first exhilarating fight—faintly felt deeper Indestructible Demonic Body fusion.

  Battle—progress ladder.

  Young Emperor-formed will—best sparring partner.

  Boom!

  Finally—will sensed wrong.

  Terrifying aura boiled—triggered weapon might to suppress-kill Lu.

  Lu knew—no more delay.

  Dispelled demonic body—silver blades chair; seated.

  Overhead—Eight Trigrams Platform emerged.

  Preaching Platform surged—instantly pulling will in.

  Boom!

  Terrifying roar after.

  Lu's primordial spirit form dimmed slightly—opened eyes calmly.

  Weapon interior—all quiet.

  Terrifying imperial might quietly dispersed.

  Heavenly Derivation Mirror's Emperor will—Lu erased via Platform.

  Essence lake—will gone instant—boiled; ceaseless impacts.

  Lu's primordial spirit withdrew.

  Returned body.

  Controlled chair—rapid retreat.

  Nine Phoenix Feathers united—vast saintly might; slashed down.

  Crack...

  First fissure on weapon.

  Unstoppable.

  Essences shot out.

  First light—then second, third... myriad essences beamed.

  Fissures grew—Ancient Emperor's weapon crumbled; cracks spread.

  Bang!

  Final explosion.

  Lake-vast mirror shattered—fragments; only cracked bronze frame. Myriad essences soared.

  Ascension ground.

  Watching weapon's imperial might—cultivators startled.

  Start of shocks—soon incredulous wide eyes.

  Huge mirror fissured—expanded, spread...

  Finally—shattered!

  Countless essences rushed from mirror!

  "Holy shit... weapon... broken?!"

  "Heavens! What happened? Why self-destruct?!"

  "Ascension ground... truly unknowable great terror!"

  Cultivators terrified.

  Entire ground seemed shrouded in ultimate horror.

  Dong! Dong! Dong!

  Lu drew Spiritual Pressure Chessboard—rapid pieces; timely controlled forbidden zones.

  Mysterious sounds emitted.

  Buddhist chants, great bell tolls—frequent anomalies; as if Ancient Emperors revived, mourning weapon's shattering!

  ...

  Upper Realm.

  Dao Clan ancestral ground.

  Meditating ancestor abruptly opened eyes—fluctuating, pupils contracting; chill surged.

  Pfft!

  Heart-wrenching.

  Blood sprayed.

  Wiped mouth corner.

  Boom!

  Soared skyward—striding void; crossed myriad miles to golden glorious temple.

  Temple—Dao Clan's foundation; bore million years Dao essence fortune!

  Enshrined Heavenly Derivation Mirror.

  Now trapped Void Heaven—empty.

  But.

  Under trembling gaze—temple cracked; fissures expanded.

  Boom!

  Vast dust.

  Million-year temple—collapsed this moment!

  Linked weapon-bearing million years essence—plundered vanishing bit by bit!

  Dao Ancestor trembled.

  Soon realized.

  Eyes instantly bloodshot—even his composure shattered.

  "Weapon indestructible—temple endures... now collapsed; weapon..."

  Body staggered mid-air.

  Gazed Void Heaven—Five Phoenixes direction; grief, rage, horror erupted.

  "Weapon trapped not long... how destroyed?"

  Ancient Emperor's weapon—who could?

  What on earth did Lu Ping'an do to the Emperor weapon?!

  ...

  Five Phoenixes Continent.

  Boundless vast sea.

  Ancient tomb.

  Sealed palace depths.

  Sudden tremor.

  Coffin-lain Gu Mangran abruptly opened eyes—hand clutched chest.

  "Agreed low-key—steady development."

  "This heart-clenching bad feeling..."

  "Young Master Lu... what did you do?!"

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