Chapter 315: Chapter 61: The White Bone Sect, Right?
The colossal Buddha Spirit Root writhed, desperately trying to absorb the Great Sun Spiritual Energy, but the secret realm produced a tornado, devouring the energy like a whale swallowing water.
Suddenly, an unknown voice lamented, echoing incessantly within the secret realm.
"The relic holds life, guarding the treasure trove. No path leads to the Dan Ladder atop Yao Platform."
The Bone Desolate Taoist said nothing, but the murderous intent in his gaze was resolute. A palpable aura radiated from his entire being.
He noticed the colossal Buddha Spirit Root showing signs of decay and rot because it could no longer absorb the replenishing Great Sun Spiritual Energy.
The sword refining regressed instead of advancing.
Clang, clang, clang.
The sword array in midair seemed to sense the stagnation of the colossal Buddha Spirit Root. Driven by the latent instincts left after Elder Liu Huo’s death, the swords descended in unison toward the colossal Buddha Spirit Root, slowly being absorbed by it.
At that very moment:
The tornado devouring the Great Sun Spiritual Energy intensified, claiming a full sixty percent of the energy flow.
Sword sounds surged one after another, even drawing Elder Liu Huo himself into the colossal Buddha Spirit Root, ensuring the sword refining would not fail.
Elder Liu Huo had long lost consciousness, remembering only the obsession with sword refining.
The Core Formation Phenomenon manifested soon after.
Hundreds of Buddha apparitions surrounded the tornado, faintly discernible. Their lifelike features exuded boundless compassion for all beings.
Yet, what appeared eerie was that these Buddha apparitions bore four heads and eight arms, their bodies riddled with grotesque and terrifying tumors, their heads radiating seven-colored phosphorescent light.
They chanted scriptures, and for a moment, the secret realm seemed to transform into the Western Pure Land.
Even though the colossal Buddha Spirit Root devoured tens of thousands of flying swords, it still could not surpass the Core Formation Phenomenon. The two forces gradually reached a stalemate, stirring the winds and clouds into turbulence.
The cultivators had yet to react when the phenomenon, having existed for only a few fleeting breaths, suddenly escalated.
A dense wave of believer apparitions emerged, exhibiting traits of Plant and Tree Cultivators: some resembled fleshy organs; others, beast-like creatures or inexplicable vegetation; all were indescribable in form...
It hardly resembled a Core Formation Phenomenon. To all appearances, it seemed like the descent of a Buddha into the world.
Not just the White Bone Sect—even the surviving Nascent Soul cultivators within the secret realm could not comprehend what they were witnessing. Their gazes brimmed with indescribable emotion.
"Core Formation? Why...?"
All that remained of Elder He Guo—the severed head—couldn’t help but tremble. If this was truly someone advancing to the Core Formation Stage, why did his own Nascent Soul sense imminent danger?
"Could it be a Flawless Golden Core? I’ve heard that only the Sub-Device Sect managed to produce one in contemporary times, though its authenticity remains unverified."
Bing You Taoist’s startled laughter grew unrestrained as he blurted out, "Even a Flawless Golden Core couldn’t invoke phenomena of this magnitude. Could it really be a Buddha descending upon the secret realm? Haha, am I losing my mind?"
He glanced around, noticing the astonished expressions on the cultivators maintaining the array—they were clearly doubting the phenomenon’s authenticity.
All cultivators present had witnessed Core Formation before, so as soon as they perceived the aura, they instinctively assumed it was caused by Core Formation.
The problem was...
In the perilous True Word Secret Realm, initiating Core Formation here felt implausible.
As time passed, the cultivators began doubting their judgment, but one thing was certain—they had to distance themselves from the phenomenon.
They cast sidelong glances at the few remaining spiritual shrines within the city, mutual temptation flickering in their eyes.
The Bone Desolate Taoist snapped his knuckle bones, utterly ignoring the Nascent Soul cultivators’ surreptitious gazes. His attention was fixated on the numerous Buddha apparitions chanting scriptures.
If nothing unexpected occurred, the phenomenon’s source must undoubtedly be related to the out-of-control meat pillar, which had caused the White Bone Sect to lose its millennium-old stash of elixirs.
"Find the rat. We cannot allow a petty thief to disrupt our sword refining."
"Time... is running out."
The Bone Desolate Taoist communicated with his peers via mental transmission, then closed his eyes, intensifying the colossal Buddha Spirit Root’s efficiency in absorbing spiritual energy.
He wasn’t afraid of the Five Hidden Sword faction.
In truth, since choosing to interfere with the sword refining process, the White Bone Sect had already set its plans in motion across all fronts. Demon Cultivators had long infiltrated the Five Hidden Sword faction’s ranks.
After Elder Liu Huo contacted the Mountain Gate, the White Bone Sect annihilated the Five Hidden Sword faction completely.
The majority of their Nascent Soul cultivators had focused on the True Word Secret Realm, leaving their Mountain Gate defenseless due to their fractured Body and Soul.
The Bone Desolate Taoist’s gaze flickered.
He guessed that the Heavenly Sword Sect had likely received news of the Five Hidden Sword faction’s extermination. Given Sword Cultivators’ nature, it was inevitable that Inner Sect Disciples would come to the secret realm seeking revenge.
They had to finish the sword refining before the Heavenly Sword Sect arrived; otherwise...
At this thought, the Bone Desolate Taoist’s expression turned exceedingly grim. From scheming within the True Word Secret Realm to the present moment, he had never felt so choked with frustration.
"Whoever you are, you must die."
Deep in his heart, he pondered who could have possibly snatched the opportunity right under the White Bone Sect’s nose.
"Si Hai Commerce’s Qing Mountain?"
"Impossible. That individual’s strength may far surpass others in the same realm, but before entering the secret realm, he did not possess True Word Sect Cultivation Techniques."
"Advancing from novice to Core Formation in just a few years seems far-fetched, let alone forging such a robust foundation to create a Flawless Golden Core."
Using his Bone Recognition Spell, the Bone Desolate Taoist could discern the phenomena’s aura clearly as one of Core Formation.
He couldn’t believe it. With the Praise of the Seven Treasures Scripture being such a grueling cultivation technique, how could anyone rely on mere talent to form a Flawless Golden Core?
Moreover, the cultivation technique used by the individual behind these events didn’t even appear to resemble the Praise of the Seven Treasures Scripture.
But further details eluded the Bone Desolate Taoist. His Bone Recognition Spell had its limits, and there were presences that even he couldn’t see through.
For instance... Taishang Qingtian encountered during the Enlightenment Conference.
"Senior Brother, we found the rat."
The Bone Desolate Taoist received a transmission. A White Bone Demon Cultivator, relying on a magic artifact, had pinpointed the phenomenon’s source deep underground.
"Shall we strike directly? It might cause a commotion, but..."
"Wait."
The Bone Desolate Taoist shook his head slightly and said, "When something out of the ordinary occurs, there must be a demon involved."
"He’s using the Core Formation Phenomenon to create chaos, but nobody knows what’s going on. To disrupt it recklessly could invite disaster."
The Bone Desolate Taoist’s caution wasn’t unfounded; the Core Formation Phenomenon reeked of anomalies.
"Seal off the Great Sun Spiritual Energy... Hm, and confine the Thirteen Immortals’ avatars. This item must be the intruder’s reliance—draw him out."
"Understood."
The White Bone Demon Cultivators sprang into action. Despite previously suffering a severe blow from the Heavenly Sword Sect, there were still fifteen White Bone Demon Cultivators present here.
This demonstrated how they had leveraged the True Word Secret Realm’s resources for centuries, expanding their strength far beyond their past glory. Even a skeletal camel was still larger than a horse.
The White Bone Demon Cultivators hurled skulls, setting up a spiritual energy-sealing array.
Simultaneously, they used vertebrae to bind the meat pillar.
As the White Bone Sect controlled both ends of the sword refining process, the colossal Buddha Spirit Root finally stabilized. Its decayed brain tissue began to heal, nurturing Sword Qi.
The secret realm turned dead silent, steeped in an overwhelming sense of oppression.
A moment later, the Core Formation Phenomenon dissipated entirely.
The White Bone Demon Cultivators exchanged uncertain looks, hesitating briefly before activating their magic artifacts. Long spears shaped like ribs shot toward the underground source.
Bang, bang.
After a series of dull thuds, their expected outcome did not materialize.
The phenomenon’s source was startlingly empty. The cultivator lurking in the shadows had vanished as though they had never existed.
"Search."
Six White Bone Demon Cultivators remained to guard the colossal Buddha Spirit Root. Two watched over the meat pillar, while the rest dispersed to scour the secret realm for Li Mo.
The Bone Desolate Taoist grew increasingly agitated.
The unknown presence felt like a thorn stuck in his throat—unseen yet omnipresent.
"In recent years, our White Bone Sect shouldn’t have offended any major factions. On the contrary, we’ve used the Enlightenment Conference to distribute wealth, buying favor from numerous smaller forces."
The Bone Desolate Taoist couldn’t make sense of it as he repeatedly mulled over his actions over the past century.
"The No-Life Sect? Thirteen Immortals?"
Only taking the Thirteen Immortals’ avatars from True Void Hometown had been slightly abrupt, but he was convinced that Taishang Qingtian wouldn’t come to the True Word Secret Realm.
While lost in thought, his gaze accidentally swept over the meat pillar.
His pupils contracted as he noticed a figure standing beside the meat pillar—a white-haired elder with a faint smile on his face.
Great Sun Spiritual Power enveloped the elder, allowing him to move as though he were at home within the secret realm. The elder’s aura was suppressed to the extreme, rendering him almost imperceptible.
"This is bad..."
The Bone Desolate Taoist hurried to warn the White Bone Demon Cultivators within the city, but the elder turned to look at his spiritual shrine, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.
"So, you’re the White Bone Sect."
The elder’s body expanded rapidly, growing to over seventy meters tall.
"Qing Mountain!!!"
The Bone Desolate Elder murmured, and the surrounding cultivators immediately recognized the elder’s identity.
A bizarre and indescribable mutated beastification emanated tangible pressure. The elder’s savage smile struck terror into two White Bone Demon Cultivators, leaving them breathless.
Li Mo’s Ghost Tiger, deliberately summoned using Great Sun Spiritual Power, bore visible distinctions from the Tattooed Beast.
The Ghost Tiger was adorned with brilliant floral carvings, and its golden fangs and claws resembled the auspicious beasts resting at the feet of a Buddha.
Mutated beastification brought further changes: its jet-black skin was inscribed with golden Buddhist scriptures, and Great Sun Spiritual Power erupted from the vertical eye on its forehead.
Li Mo cast a downward gaze, towering over the White Bone Demon Cultivators guarding the meat pillar, their faces frozen in wide-eyed terror.
Due to the secret realm’s suppression, the Nascent Souls within the White Bone Demon Cultivators were hindered, and standing before Li Mo, they couldn’t help but give in to fear.
"You dare..."
Li Mo pressed his palms together.
Boom.
Waves of Great Sun Spiritual Power surged outward, transforming into golden waves that swept in every direction.
Li Mo raised an eyebrow. Despite being in the Core Formation Stage and condensing a Flawless Golden Core, even he had to admit that Great Sun Spiritual Power fell short in raw destructive force.
Still, its aura was undeniably overwhelming.
Li Mo bent forward and looked at the two cultivators, speaking in a low tone: "Amitabha Buddha, do you two Demon Cultivator benefactors know this item is destined for me?"
Realizing how far away their comrades were, the two White Bone Demon Cultivators let out a despairing wail. From their ribcage, skeletal spears shot toward Li Mo.
Li Mo slapped the ground and vanished on the spot.
The White Bone Demon Cultivators’ bodies jerked as something heavy pressed down on them.
To their disbelief, Li Mo was now suspended upside-down, his massive seventy-meter frame balanced by a single finger resting on one of their shoulders.
A Nascent Soul cultivator strained like he carried a mountain, desperately trying to move.
The finger pressed down.
Boom.
The White Bone Demon Cultivator’s spine shattered as broken bones, infused with cancerous energy, reformed into a cage to trap their Nascent Soul inside.
The other Demon Cultivator lost all courage and took an unexpected action.
The Demon Cultivator abandoned their body, complete with its Nascent Soul-filled skeleton, and rolled their head in the opposite direction while muttering: "It’s truly the descent of a Buddha into the world!"
Li Mo had no interest in pursuing.
Grabbing the more valuable intact body, he threw it into a fissure conjured from his deformed palm.
"White Bone Sect, how about we discuss dividing the profits from this secret realm?"
Even as Li Mo spoke, he was already standing before the colossal meat pillar, which now stood more than one hundred meters tall.