Who knew that in that battle, Old Du was severely injured. Xuan Feng, who rushed over upon hearing the news, only managed to save him in his dying moments. She did not manage to retrieve the flawed Zhutian Array or its core.
Xuan Feng saved him and fled westward with him.
Old Du was unclear about what happened afterward. When he woke up again, he found himself in a soul state.
Furthermore, his soul had also been heavily injured and was on the verge of dissipation at any moment.
To heal his injuries, Old Du bound his soul to the Nine Spirit Ring, becoming its spirit.
Not to prolong his existence, but for the day he could see the light of day again and personally slay his enemies.
Who knew that this wait would last for a thousand years.
When Old Du awoke from the Nine Spirit Ring, he discovered that it had become the token of the patriarch of the Zi family in the ancient martial arts of the Yan Kingdom.
He had originally thought that someone would recognize him as their master and open the Nine Spirit Ring, see him, the spirit, and help him reconstruct his physical body.
Unfortunately, the Nine Spirit Ring had been passed down through generations in the ancient martial Zi family, yet no one had been able to recognize it as their master.
Old Du, in his anger, fell into a deep slumber once more.
Later, Zi Linling died in the Human Emperor's Cave, and her blood stained the Nine Spirit Ring, accidentally recognizing it as her master.
Moreover, Zi Linling's blood carried a peculiar fragrance, which tempted the sleeping Old Du to wake up.
Thus, what happened on Zi Linling's first day of transmigration occurred.
After Old Du awoke, his soul had been severely injured, and much of the information in his mind had become disorganized.
It was only when he saw the Zhutian Array that he suddenly remembered that this was where the Zhutian Array had been set up.
He took advantage of the days when Zi Linling was consolidating her spiritual power to sort things out from beginning to end.
He had originally thought that Xuan Feng had already taken the Xuan Ming Ruler, but when he saw the Tongtian Grass, his heart skipped a beat.
To verify his thoughts, he guided Zi Linling to the location of the Xuan Ming Ruler.
Now that the Xuan Ming Ruler was still here, Xuan Feng was likely... in grave danger.
Thinking of this, Old Du's eyes suddenly turned cold, and his soul trembled violently.
Zi Linling was about to answer Old Du's words when she felt a killing intent.
This killing intent emanated from Old Du's soul and was not directed at her.
She asked worriedly, "Old Du, what's wrong?"
Old Du suddenly snapped back to attention, suppressing the killing intent in his heart, and said carelessly, "What's wrong?"
Zi Linling was confused.
Old Du did not want to say more.
It would be useless to say. Zi Linling's current abilities were not sufficient to help him reconstruct his physical body.
Saying it would only add to Zi Linling's troubles and serve no other purpose.
"Since you have obtained the Xuan Ming Ruler, continue."
Zi Linling was taken aback and then understood Old Du's meaning.
Since Old Du was unwilling to elaborate, she did not press the matter.
However, she knew that this was because she was not strong enough yet. She believed that Old Du would tell her one day.
"Okay!"
Old Du breathed a sigh of relief.
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he had returned to his previous appearance.
"Seven steps to the right, three steps up-right, three steps up-left, five steps straight forward, five steps forward-right, five steps forward-left, seven steps straight forward!"
Zi Linling followed his instructions.
This time, she saw a mirror.
In the mirror, scenes seemed to be changing, but they were unclear.
"This is the Water Moon Mirror. Everything in the mirror is mere illusion."
Water Moon Mirror?
Zi Linling was stunned. Just as she was about to look at the illusory scenes in the mirror, she heard Old Du say, "Put away the Water Moon Mirror first, and absolutely do not be curious. Wait until your cultivation reaches the Emperor Realm, then go in and see the world within."
Old Du spoke very solemnly. Fearing that Zi Linling would not take it seriously, he emphasized again, "Remember, you must reach the true Emperor Realm and refine your three souls before you can enter!"
Seeing Old Du's serious expression, Zi Linling knew he was not joking.
She nodded, put away the Water Moon Mirror, and was about to place it into the Nine Spirit Ring.
However, when she moved her divine sense, the Water Moon Mirror reacted to nothing.
She tried again, but it still didn't work.
What was going on?
Old Du chuckled and said, "The Water Moon Mirror contains a phantom world, which the Nine Spirit Ring cannot contain."
Zi Linling asked, "Why?"
Old Du said irritably, "Which is larger, the world, or the space within the Nine Spirit Ring?"
"Naturally, the world is larger. But isn't that world illusory?"
"An illusory world is still a world!"
"Then what should I do? I can't possibly carry a mirror around to kill people, can I?"
"It seems you will have to carry it. Unless you have something of a higher rank than it that can contain it, you will have to carry it wherever you go."
"Isn't this a rip-off?"
Old Du: "..."
Zi Linling: "..."
Just then, the Water Moon Mirror in Zi Linling's hand actually bit her.
"Hiss~"
Zi Linling looked down and saw a drop of blood on the Water Moon Mirror.
After the Water Moon Mirror quickly absorbed that drop of blood, it drilled into her wrist.
Zi Linling was greatly alarmed and quickly sent her divine sense into her body to track the Water Moon Mirror's movements.
The Water Moon Mirror entered Zi Linling's wrist and drilled directly into her veins.
It followed the blood vessels upward and soon reached her heart.
Zi Linling's face turned green.
The heart, that was a vital spot.
Yet, these things were all targeting her heart.
Before she could react, the pea-sized object in her heart rushed out, instantly transforming into a nine-foot-nine spherical mass and swallowing the Water Moon Mirror.
Everything happened in an instant.
After swallowing the Water Moon Mirror, the spherical mass returned to being a pea-sized object and re-entered her heart, bathing in blood.
Zi Linling sighed and opened her eyes.
As for the Water Moon Mirror and that pea-sized object, she would let them be!
In any case, her body was already so strange that she could not control it.
Old Du saw Zi Linling open her eyes and asked with concern, "How is it?"
He had personally seen the Water Moon Mirror drill into Zi Linling's body!
That was a whole world!
Even if it was an illusory world, it was still a world.
How could a body withstand a world entering it?
Zi Linling shook her head and said strangely, "It was swallowed by something!"
Old Du was dumbfounded. "Swallowed? What do you mean?"
Zi Linling said helplessly, "Swallowed. It means it was eaten by something here!"
As she spoke, she pointed to her stomach.
Old Du was even more dumbfounded.
"How could it be swallowed? By what?"
Zi Linling shook her head and said, "It's hard to explain clearly for now, and I haven't figured out what that thing is."
Old Du: "..."
Zi Linling smiled and said, "Old Du, I should go out and settle accounts. How do I collect this array plate?"
The shock in Old Du's eyes had not yet subsided. He absentmindedly pointed to three holes in the distance and said, "They are there. Go and dig them out."