Tongtian Jiaozhu was greatly alarmed.
The Immortal Slaying Sword Array had appeared in the hands of an outsider.
And.
Its grade was apparently not low.
Logically, the only way an outsider could obtain the Immortal Slaying Sword Array was from the ruins of Biyou Palace.
But there should only be the remnant souls of his few disciples there.
Even if this outsider completed the quest, they would only obtain an incomplete artifact.
How could the power subtly emanating from the Immortal Slaying Sword Array now make him feel a trace of fear?
By what means did this outsider enhance it?
He couldn't figure it out.
However.
After the shock, he actually rejoiced.
His eyes burned as he stared at Lin Feng.
"It seems you are my fated one!"
As his words fell, Lin Feng saw the mission update prompt.
"【Lost Guardian】Phase Eight Target Changed."
"In a contest of sword arrays with the target boss Tongtian Jiaozhu (Legendary Saint), persist for 30 seconds to gain his acknowledgment and a strengthened sword array.
"Persist for over 5 minutes to receive the inheritance of Saint Tongtian and integrate his complete soul (Mythical)."
Lin Feng's eyes widened.
A contest of sword arrays?
Before he could ponder further.
He saw Tongtian Jiaozhu's expression shift, and he let out a light shout.
"Sword Array Rise!"
Instantly.
Four divine swords appeared in the air, subtly forming an imposing aura.
A familiar presence emerged, and Lin Feng's gaze flickered.
The Immortal Slaying Sword Array!
And.
It was the genuine article.
*Zheng!*
Just as Tongtian Jiaozhu initiated it, his own Immortal Slaying Sword Array also let out a soft clang.
Seemingly in response.
Before Lin Feng, a long health bar appeared.
One side was red, the other blue.
Was this a comparison of the power of their respective sword arrays?
Lin Feng secretly guessed.
This format was rather familiar.
If a few desperate shouts and passionate background music were added, along with flickering special effects and light shows, it would be exactly like a gift-giving PK battle in a livestream.
As Lin Feng was lost in thought.
The red health bar on the left, representing him, slowly moved towards the right.
In other words.
His post-heavenly enhanced Immortal Slaying Sword Array was actually overpowering Tongtian Jiaozhu's authentic Immortal Slaying Sword Array.
What surprised him was.
Tongtian Jiaozhu not only did not get angry.
But instead, he looked very pleased.
Had he not used his full strength?
Lin Feng's heart stirred.
However.
Whether the other party was deliberately yielding or his sword array's power was indeed slightly superior.
As long as the mission objective was met.
For a time.
The two individuals who should have been adversaries both wore smiles.
Quietly awaiting the outcome of their contest.
As it was about to reach the 30-second mark.
Suddenly.
An unexpected change occurred!
…
Shangqing Heaven, Mi Luo Palace.
Yuanshi Tianzun gently raised his head, gazing towards the high heavens.
As if he could see what was happening elsewhere.
Just as Tongtian Jiaozhu's Immortal Slaying Sword Array was activated.
Yuanshi Tianzun's placid face showed a slight ripple of emotion.
"It has begun?"
Without any apparent movement, a ball of mist appeared in his hand.
A mixture of variously colored auras, along with anomalies.
Within this small ball of mist, one could vaguely discern solid earth, flowing rivers, burning flames, and biting cold winds.
It was clearly a miniature world.
And at the very center, a tiny figure could be faintly seen.
If one could zoom in, it would be discovered.
This tiny figure looked exactly like Tongtian Jiaozhu.
But its face was contorted in pain.
Far from the composed and indifferent demeanor Lin Feng had witnessed.
Just as Lin Feng and Tongtian Jiaozhu's sword array confrontation was about to reach 30 seconds.
Yuanshi Tianzun seemed to have an epiphany and muttered.
"Cannot resist?"
"In that case, let me lend you a hand!"
His eyes hardened.
He tightly clenched the mist in his hand.
The next moment.
The mist in his hand vanished.
But a smile appeared on his face.
"I have helped you recover your strength."
"But I wonder if others can bear it!"
…
As the mission was nearing 30 seconds, achieving the first stage objective.
Tongtian Jiaozhu, who had appeared indifferent, suddenly changed his expression.
His entire aura instantly surged countless times.
And the sword array before him seemed to have something added, as it was directly pulled and enlarged, instantly becoming different.
Lin Feng's health bar in his vision stopped moving to the right.
Then.
At an even faster pace than before, it began to reverse.
What's going on?
This sudden turn of events greatly shocked Lin Feng.
Why did the opponent's sword array suddenly become stronger?
He found the answer in the system prompt below.
"Mission target Tongtian Jiaozhu (Legendary Saint) has had his primordial soul return, upgrading to Mythical Saint."
"Mission requirements changed: Persist in the sword array contest for 5 minutes to obtain the complete soul of Saint Tongtian (Mythical)."
"Mission failure will result in your Immortal Slaying Sword Array dropping one grade."
Damn it!
Lin Feng was so enraged he almost cursed.
It could even break through temporarily?
Just as the mission was about to be easily completed, such a development occurred.
Was the system deliberately targeting him?
However.
He had no choice.
The difficulty had increased, and he had to find a way to resolve it.
Otherwise, if he waited, at the current pace, he wouldn't last 5 minutes.
Let alone the reward, his own life would be lost here.
He had never died since entering the game.
Setting aside the punishment for death, the mission failure alone was a huge loss.
Naturally, he would not sit idly by.
In just an instant.
He thought of a solution.
Since.
The Immortal Slaying Sword Array composed of five acquired supreme treasures with sixteenfold amplification could not overcome the opponent.
Then.
He would upgrade it!
"You have consumed 65,536,000 Chaos Immortal Power to upgrade the [Immortal Slaying Array Diagram] to the seventeenth layer."
…
"You have consumed 524,288,000 Chaos Immortal Power to upgrade the [Immortal Slaying Array Diagram] to the twentieth layer."
"Ding, the [Immortal Slaying Array Diagram] has been reinforced to twenty layers of amplification, and you have received five additional evolution choices."
"Option 1 (S): When the main hand weapon is one of the four Immortal Slaying Swords, the base attributes of each sword increase by 500%."
"Option 2 (A): When all four Immortal Slaying Swords are equipped as main hand weapons, the base attributes of each sword increase by 300%."
"Option 3 (A): The usage requirement for this treasure is reduced by 50%."
"Option 4 (A): All effects of [Immortal Demon Annihilation] are increased by 100%."
"Option 5 (S): Add the set characteristic [Divine Soul Remains]."
"Option 6 (SS): Add the characteristic [Can Be Materialized]."
"Option 7 (A): When the main hand weapon is one of the four Immortal Slaying Swords, the base attributes of each sword increase by 300%."
In the past.
Lin Feng would have directly chosen based on the grade,
from high to low.
However, this time it was different.
The Immortal Slaying Array Diagram was only truly invincible when paired with the four Immortal Slaying Swords, forming the Immortal Slaying Sword Array.
Materializing only one such treasure was of little use.
Unless it could be materialized together.
He reluctantly gave up Option 6.
Then.
He decisively chose options 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7.
As for the final twentieth layer of amplification, it was within his expectations that no option to forcibly increase its grade would appear.
Treasures of the innate supreme treasure level had already surpassed the system's original setting where players could only obtain innate spiritual treasures.
To further increase its grade.
He would have to rely on himself.
"Do you wish to consume 100 points of Great Dao Origin to perform Great Dao Enlightenment on the [Immortal Slaying Array Diagram]?"
Lin Feng, looking at his meager 127 points of Great Dao Origin, gritted his teeth and chose yes.
Instantly.
The Immortal Slaying Sword Array radiated brilliant light!