Li Ying was struck speechless when he saw the mild spite in everyone’s gazes towards him, and he had no choice but to continue on. “How else could it be stopped? The weapons’ power began to wane and the number of cultivators who knew how to craft Sword Embryos decreased over time—it’s only natural the ability to use them would decline. The spirit weapons back in those days all had an extremely high amount of spirituality, the kind of spirituality that would allow them to grow with their cultivator, but today’s spirit tools seek only power and strength. Even if a present-day spirit tool does have spirituality, most of the time it’s because of some kind of sealed demon or beast spirit and not the spirituality of the weapon itself. This kind of ‘spirituality’ can only be activated and used; it can’t grow alongside the cultivator!”

　　Fang Xing had truly started to feel moved by all of this. If what Li Ying said was true, the power of that kind of Sword Embryo really did have unlimited potential. Just at that moment, however, the blue-clothed bandit suddenly let out a laugh, “You really think that’s the only use for Sword Embryos?”

　　As soon as he spoke, Fang Xing, Li Ying, Han Jiazi, and the three fairies all set their gazes on him.

　　The blue-clothed bandit smiled. “What you said isn’t wrong. A Sword Embryo is indeed the source of power behind the ancient Flying Swords, but you’re still underestimating their use. In truth, Sword Embryos can be used not only as a powerful method of battle against other cultivators, it can also help its owner slice heaven’s thunder, destroy all karma, and sculpt the owner’s Dao in order to complete their tribulation. Put simply, those cultivators who studied the techniques of the Flying Sword during ancient times were able to use it to break heaven’s thunder and sculpt their consummate golden body in order to get past their tribulation and ascend into the upper realm after mastering the Budding Soul Stage….”

　　Upon hearing those words, everyone else felt their heart rate suddenly spike. Even Chu Ci—who was hiding inside the horse carriage without wanting to show her face—and the Peng King inside the Flag of Ten Thousand Spirits held their ears to listen in….

　　The spirits of the god’s soldiers—the techniques of the ancient Flying Swords—were actually linked to the methods people used to rise to the higher realm? This was extremely shocking, to say the least!

　　The present-day cultivators cultivated for various reasons. Some did so for longevity, others for the sake of family fortune and status. There were some who wanted to touch upon the meanings and theories of perpetual existence, and of course there were also freaks like Fang Xing who cultivated to grow stronger, rob people, grow stronger again with what they robbed, and then rob even more people with their improved power….

　　During the ancient days, however, cultivators would cultivate for another reason: to rise to the upper realm and become an immortal god. Legends told that when a cultivator reached the full mastery of the Budding Soul Stage, they would be able to rise through all nine heavens and form their consummate bodies during their tribulations. There were indeed records in the ancient scripts that detailed powerful masters rising into the higher realm and becoming immortals, but after those ancient days had passed, the stories of such a thing happening dwindled until they were no more. The root of it all was simple: no one was able to pass the nine tribulations of the heavens anymore.

　　There had been countless talents and geniuses within the past thirty thousand years, and quite a large number of those who made it to full mastery of the Budding Soul Stage attempted the tribulation. No matter how talented and capable they were, however, the only outcome was to be turned to ash and perish. News gradually began to spread that the rules of the heavens and earth had changed and that no one was permitted to pass the tribulations of the nine heavens. That fact had remained the same for all these thirty thousand years, and not a single person had managed to rise to the upper realm.

　　When the blue-clothed bandit revealed the Sword Embryos weren’t merely related to the ancient Flying Swords but the tribulation as well, everyone else was completely stunned. This was perhaps the most shocking secret ever revealed in the past thirty thousand years!

　　“What… what… is what you said true?” Even Li Ying began to stutter at this.

　　The blue-clothed bandit laughed. “This isn’t even considered a big secret. Why would I lie to you?”

　　“Sh*t, this isn’t a big secret? You frightened even me….” Li Ying looked at Fang Xing before stuttering on, “Who…. who is this companion of yours? Why does he know so much?”

　　Fang Xing rolled his eyes. “You ask me, but who the f*ck do I ask?”

　　Li Ying was left speechless; how could someone not know who their companion was?

　　Fang Xing didn’t dwell on that matter further; instead, he cracked his knuckles and smirked with gleaming eyes. “So there are Sword Embryos within this Mysterious Domain, huh?”

　　Li Ying paused before continuing, “Yes, but they are difficult to obtain. The area has been taken and outsiders are not allowed to get close!”

　　“Who is it? We’ll go fix him!” Fang Xing replied with annoyance.

　　Li Ying snickered. “Didn’t I come here precisely because of this matter? To tell you the truth, the Sword Mound is located in the depths of the Mysterious Domain, but it’s already being controlled by the three tribes of Fiery Cloud, Shaken Cloud, and Black Swamp. There is no way for us to enter without an official summons from the Huangfu clan, and anyone else that gets close is killed. That is the reason we came to find you!”

　　Fang Xing might’ve been greedy but he wasn’t stupid, and he began to calm down and analyze things when he heard it would be dangerous. “What are these three tribes? Which area do they come from?” Who were Ghost Prince Li Ying, Han Jiazi of the western deserts’ top four elites, or the three fairies of the northern mountains? They were all the top young elites of all Jambu, and if even they would rather sneakily try to form an alliance with him rather than confront this directly, just how dangerous would it be? Those three tribes holding control over the Sword Mound would not make things easy.

　　“They don’t all belong to the same land. They are the most loyal dogs of the Huangfu clan scattered amongst the four lands in order to watch over all of Jambu,” Li Ying replied. “There are eight tribes in total, and since they make up the most loyal and early followers of the Huangfu clan, they are known as the Eight Bewitched Followers of the hidden royalty. They do not typically show themselves, but their battle prowess is on par with any other clan in all Jambu.”

　　‘So it’s the Huangfu clan again…’ Fang Xing quietly thought to himself without directly answering.

　　Li Ying smirked. “You were so brave and mighty when you were trying to get the opportunities of the immortal’s garden, you haven’t become timid at the mere mention of the Huangfu clan, right? I don’t think I need to spell it out, but even if you are trying to hide from them, they still won’t let you slide. What kind of status does the young master of the Huangfu clan have? All he has to do is open his mouth and tens of thousands of people will follow. Since he’s placed a bounty on your capture, there is nothing you can do to escape it. He’s been busy with the little demon called Fang Xing and doesn’t have the time to focus on you just yet, but he’ll likely start chasing after you once that little demon is killed off. Considering this, are you still going to worry about offending the Huangfu clan?”

　　Once everything had been laid out, it was even more difficult for Fang Xing to not agree and he couldn’t help but to look at this Ghost Prince; although this guy looked like some mad fool, it seemed he was actually very shrewd and not someone to be underestimated.

　　Fang Xing became serious and showed a cold smile. “You think I’m worried about the Huangfu clan? Heh, I simply can’t trust you. You all covered your faces and snuck over to form an alliance with me, so who knows what kind of schemes you might have? Maybe you thought since I already have a grudge with the Huangfu clan, you could use me and then pin all the blame on me after offending Huangfu?”

　　The blue-clothed bandit lightly smiled. “I’ve heard Huangfu Shenji has issued official summons to a few of Jambu’s top elites, and it should be possible to enter the Sword Mound and summon a Sword Embryo if you have one. Considering the status you three have, did you not receive any?”

　　Fang Xing was immediately alarmed when he heard this and sent an even more unfriendly gaze towards the three groups in front of him.

　　The three fairies of the northern mountains spoke first. “There’s no need to suspect us. I imagine I don’t need to mention the status we have within the northern mountains, as I suspect you’ve all heard about it. Especially in the eyes of the Huangfu clan, we are even lower than those dark sects, and they’ve never looked at us properly. It’s only natural that official summons hasn’t been given to us. In fact, if it wasn’t for the northern mountains’ successor speaking on our behalf, we would have been driven out of the Mysterious Domain a long time ago!”

　　The blue-clothed bandit lightly nodded, as though in agreement with the woman. Fang Xing’s gaze darted towards Ghost Prince Li Ying and Han Jiazi.

　　Li Ying sighed as well. “Enough, since we’re going to form an alliance, I won’t hide it from you. The Huangfu clan did indeed send out some official summons, but I really don’t have it. As for this mute…” he said while pointing towards Han Jiazi, “… it goes without saying that even though he’s one of the top four elites of the western deserts, the Huangfu clan’s official summons definitely wouldn’t be given to him. His ancestors once had the chance to become one of the Eight Bewitched Followers but they rejected it, and the Han clan’s glory days have been as good as finished ever since!”

　　Han Jiazi didn’t respond to Li Ying’s words, but his icy cold eyes clearly agreed with it.

　　Fang Xing nodded and asked. “What about you, then?”

　　Li Ying smirked, but there was a trace of hatred in his eyes. “We Ghost Kingdom originally received a official summons to allow one of us to enter the Sword Mound and choose a Sword Embryo. However, my official summons was unfortunately taken by that stupid bi*ch….”

　　“Stupid bi*ch? Which stupid bi*ch?” Fang Xing’s eyes lit up at this rather refreshing thought. Just what kind of “stupid bi*ch” had the ability to take the official summons from the Ghost Kingdom’s prince?

　　Li Ying violently shook his head. “My older sister!”

　　“Your older sister took your official summons?” Fang Xing asked, dumbstruck.

　　“Yeah. That stupid bi*ch has been making my life difficult ever since we were inside our mother’s womb. Even during birth, she came out stepping over my head, and as we grew up, she would quarrel with me over everything. Our father explicitly said I would be the one to lead this time in the Mysterious Domain, but as soon as we entered, she took my Ancient tool and beat me up before leaving to find her own opportunities…. When the Huangfu clan sent out their official summons, she took it before I got to it, making me unable to enter the Sword Mound….”

　　Li Ying paused for a moment before sneering. “The Huangfu clan isn’t willing to hand out a second one, and that stupid bi*ch wants to become the first Ghost Queen. She’s already made it clear that if I dare draw close to the Sword Mound, she’ll take my life, and I have no other choice but to take the Sword Embryo with my own power. Besides, the Sword Embryos the Huangfu clan offer are all lower quality ones from inside and outside the Sword Mound, while the ones I want to take are the superior-quality ones sealed within….” His eyes gleamed and he snickered to himself, as though he was picturing himself holding the Sword Embryo already.

　　Fang Xing exchanged surprised glances with the blue-clothed bandit when they heard the Ghost Kingdom’s prince actually had a twin sister. Except, considering how ugly the younger brother had turned out, it was really difficult to think about what his older sister looked like….

　　“Then why did you want to form an alliance with me? Do you really not want to use me to pin all the blame?” Fang Xing asked with a sneer.

　　“You’re judging the heart of a gentleman through the lens of your cruel own. Me joining an alliance with you is simply because I’ve seen your two’s battle prowess as well as the Ancient weapon in your hands. As for having you carry all the blame, I truly never thought about it. Heh, when we enter the Sword Mound, the Huangfu clan will naturally investigate this, and there really is one person who can help us by carrying all the blame….”

　　Fang Xing just rolled his eyes. “And who’s that?”

　　Li Ying gave a proud laugh. “You don’t know about the person who’s currently battling the Huangfu clan so intensely right now? That guy is called Fang Xing, and the enmity between him and the Huangfu clan has reached the point it won’t end until one of them dies. Once we enter the Sword Mound and take the Sword Embryos, we’ll leave behind a note saying it was that little demon who did it. As long as we don’t leave behind any evidence, why would the Huangfu clan suspect us?

　　“Blame… Fang Xing?” Fang Xing was instantly dumbstruck upon hearing this, and a sense of annoyance rose up within him. He clenched his teeth, picked up his one-legged-man lance, and began to advance towards Li Ying to smack it against his head. “I’ll show you blame Fang Xing….”