Chapter 144: True Gang of Artifact Refining

Lu Jie kowtowed and said, "Thank you, fellow Daoist, for giving me this chance to speak. Before I enter reincarnation, I can finally voice my grievances; I would have died with such regret otherwise!"

Ge Qian nodded and replied, "It is of no consequence. Since you and I are bound by karma, why not let me know of this untold past? If what you say is true, perhaps I can help clear your name."

Ge Qian knew that having fully integrated into the structure of the Heavenly Star Sect, he had to know both himself and his enemy to remain victorious.

Lu Jie’s memory flickered, clearly surprised that this man would offer him such an opportunity, and so he recounted the bitter and bloody tale in its entirety.

The Lu family had once been the premier clan of the Heavenly Star Sect. With seven cultivators at the Infant Transformation stage, they directly dictated the rise and fall of the sect. The family head, Lu Bintong, was the previous Sect Master. The six other Infant Transformation cultivators were the current Sect Master, Xing Chenfeng; the High Priestess, Qin Chuchu; Lu Jie; the Sect Master’s daughter, Lu Xiaoxue; the vault guardian, Zhou Tian; and the traitor, Xie Jiu.

"We were all disciples of the Sect Master, closer than kin," Lu Jie explained. "Qin Chuchu and Lu Xiaoxue were both in love with the same man—the current Sect Master, Xing Chenfeng. Meanwhile, I loved Lu Xiaoxue, and Xie Jiu loved Qin Chuchu. It was a twisted web of affection."

"Everything changed when Xie Jiu obtained a broken Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure: the Demonic Dragon Blade. Xie Jiu convinced me that if we didn't eliminate Xing Chenfeng, I would never win Lu Xiaoxue, and he would never have Qin Chuchu. We plotted to ambush him. But the day we set the formation, Xie Jiu activated it to sacrifice me instead, summoning a claw of an ancient demonic dragon from the void."

"It was not Xing Chenfeng who was struck down, but our master, Lu Bintong. Lu Xiaoxue died trying to shield her father, but it was in vain. Lu Bintong perished instantly, and Lu Xiaoxue was left critically injured and comatose. Xie Jiu immediately cast my soul into the Soul-Refining Bowl and announced to the world that I had fallen into the demonic path, murdered my master, and had been executed by him."

"Only then did I realize I had been deceived and used by Xie Jiu to kill our master, all to obtain the 'True Essence of Artifact Refining' needed to repair the Demonic Dragon Blade. But Xie Jiu never got it. Lu Bintong had given it to Lu Xiaoxue, who possessed a talent for artifact refining. With her comatose and dying, Xie Jiu fled to the Nation of Benevolence and Righteousness with her in tow, and they have been missing ever since."

"The loss of four Infant Transformation cultivators was a catastrophic blow, leaving the Heavenly Star Sect teetering on the brink of collapse, no longer the undisputed leader of the Zhao Nation."

"Xing Chenfeng took up the burden, leading the High Priestess Qin Chuchu and senior brother Zhou Tian, wielding the Star Sword to quell internal strife and external threats, gradually stabilizing the sect."

Hearing this, Ge Qian’s eyes turned, and he asked, "What exactly is this 'True Essence of Artifact Refining'?"

Lu Jie answered candidly, "It was left behind by the founding ancestor of the Heavenly Star Sect. Its origin is lost to history. Rumor has it that if one fully comprehends it, one can forge an Immortal Artifact. That is the reason for Xie Jiu's apostasy. He wants to seize it not only to repair his blade but to transform it into an Immortal Artifact—provided he can attain immortality himself, of course."

Ge Qian nodded. "Such a heaven-defying existence would certainly invite the scrutiny of those with ulterior motives. However, I must investigate the truth of this matter before drawing any conclusions. I will not wade into these murky waters until I have reached the Infant Transformation stage."

Lu Jie's memories began to fade. "To have spoken my grievances before entering reincarnation is the greatest gift Heaven could grant me. I have wronged Xiaoxue and Xing Chenfeng. My fate is of my own making; I only regret that I cannot personally avenge my master or rescue Xiaoxue."

Ge Qian opened his mouth and inhaled, drawing Lu Jie’s memories into his consciousness to nourish them. "I will keep your memories for now. When I find Xie Jiu, you shall witness his end."

Ge Qian decided that for the future of the Heavenly Star Sect—and for the sake of forging his own destiny artifact—he had to obtain the True Essence of Artifact Refining. Once he reached the Infant Transformation stage, joining forces with Xing Chenfeng to kill Xie Jiu and rescue Lu Xiaoxue would be well within his reach.

With this in mind, Ge Qian did not hesitate. With a flick of his thought, the vengeful spirit Hongmei appeared before him, clutching the demonic gourd. She smiled faintly and said, "Congratulations, Brother Ge, on reaching the Core Condensation stage."

Ge Qian spoke solemnly, "You, too, have reached the peak of a second-tier vengeful spirit. You are only a step away from condensing a Grudge Core and reaching the third tier. I shall lend you a hand. Prepare yourself."

Hongmei was startled but nodded, centering her spirit and circulating her resentment.

Ge Qian employed the "Drawing Fire from Beneath the Cauldron" technique, siphoning the massive, accumulated resentment from the souls of countless traitors over the years and forcing it into Hongmei’s body. He grabbed the demonic gourd and punched it; the demonic embryo inside writhed in pain, spewing out demonic energy. Ge Qian seized the moment, channeling that energy into Hongmei.

Hongmei’s humanoid form of resentment churned and merged, and within it, a thumb-sized Grudge Core began to take shape. Ge Qian nodded and sucked Hongmei into the gourd, allowing her to refine the Grudge Core amidst the pure demonic energy.

After finishing this, Ge Qian finally breathed a sigh of relief. A thin fissure opened between his brows, and a black thread reached out, absorbing all the soul intent and energy from the Soul-Refining Bowl. He then simulated the Nine Heavens Thunder Tribulation to refine his primordial spirit.

Spring turned to summer, and a year passed in the blink of an eye. Ge Qian’s sea of consciousness resembled a demonic thunder pool. After the lightning subsided, a creature emerged: a Hun-Tun beast the size of a fist, with thick limbs, sharp scales, a robust body, a giant mouth with fangs, and an eye on its forehead that glowed with thunderous light, exuding a strange power of destiny.

Ge Qian slowly opened his eyes. "Finally, I have completed the second level of the Tribulation God Technique: the Eye of the Tribulation God, which perceives all and shatters everything."

By now, the King of the Six Paths had emerged from its cocoon. Its aura was formidable, countless thunder-whirlwinds swirled around its Dimensional Wings, its phantom form had solidified significantly, and its six Asura arms were even thicker and more powerful.

Ge Qian thought, and the King of the Six Paths shrank to the size of an ordinary man and merged into his body. Counting from the beginning of his seclusion, five years had passed. It was time to head out for some fresh air; the time had come to experience the mortal world and condense his human core.

Ge Qian walked out of the cave dwelling and found that it had been repaired and reinforced even more securely than before. A look of surprise crossed his face.

Just then, a snow-white three-tailed fox appeared before him. "Look, Ge Qian, I have repaired our cave, waiting for you to come out and inspect it."

Ge Qian stroked his chin with his right hand. "You have a heart, Xiaobai. Ever since I began my cultivation, you have followed me, tending the herb garden, and now excavating the cave. I find that I am becoming increasingly unable to do without you. Take me inside to see."

Ge Qian flickered into the cave, and Meidie followed. Ge Qian nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Simple, practical, and clean."

Meidie’s eyes turned red, and tears flowed down. "Ge Qian, I must tell you the truth. I am Meidie, the Princess of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain. Will you still be my friend?"