Li Mu's expression turned serious, and the Thunder Wings on his back instantly unfolded, forming a semi-circle, creating a blue lightning cover that crackled and flashed with electricity, successfully resisting the impact of the sound waves.
“To receive without returning is against etiquette! Senior, take this!”
A hint of anger flashed across Li Mu's face as he reached out and took a Five-Rank Body Fixing Lightning Prison Talisman from his nine storage spiritual pearl.
With a crackling thunder, the Five-Rank Body Fixing Lightning Prison Talisman was successfully activated, instantly transforming into countless lightning dragons that flutter towards Ning Daoren, and the powerful lightning pressure instantly fixed him in place, unable to move.
A trace of fear flashed in Ning Daoren's eyes; he never expected to encounter such a counterattack.
The next moment, a fist rapidly enlarged before his eyes.
With a “bang!”, Ning Daoren was sent flying, followed by one punch, two punches… the sound of fists meeting flesh continuously echoed as the two figures rapidly moved.
“Wah!” Ning Daoren shrieked, finally breaking free from the binding restraint of the Body Fixing Lightning Prison Talisman.
Li Mu quickly stopped, flew to the dumbfounded Cultivators, and displayed a cold expression.
Shangong Hong, Li Changkong, and Wang Wuchen met Li Mu's gaze, all recovering from their shock.
Nangong Feiyu, a Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivator, still looked dumbfounded, taking a long time to react to the sudden turn of events.
Ning Daoren, with his Soul Transformation Cultivation, possessed unfathomable strength, yet he was subdued by a mere Nascent Soul Early Stage Cultivator and became a punching bag, suffering a beating.
If this situation were to be told, who would believe it!
“Five-Rank Spirit Talisman, brat, how shameless you are! To use such a method in a competition.” Shangong Hong looked at Li Mu meaningfully and exposed him.
“Hehe! My opponent's Cultivation is one major Realm higher than mine, so isn't it not excessive for me to use a Spirit Talisman?!” Li Mu chuckled and retorted.
Upon hearing this, Shangong Hong was immediately speechless; it was indeed somewhat unreasonable for a Soul Transformation Cultivator to bully a Nascent Soul cultivator.
“Junior, how dare you! You infuriate this old man!” Ning Daoren covered the injuries on his face, glaring furiously at Li Mu, wishing he could tear him apart.
“Senior, I have already shown mercy, otherwise…” Li Mu met Ning Daoren's gaze, hinting with deep meaning.
Upon hearing this, Ning Daoren suddenly understood, and the anger on his face subsided considerably; he had seen the sword skill the other party had just displayed, which was no less inferior to Li Changkong's swordsmanship. If it had been a sword just now, he might have become a ghost under the sword.
“Junior, do not show off your might! Let this old man contend with you!” Unable to bear Li Mu's arrogant demeanor, Wang Wuchen said with a hateful voice.
“Old scoundrel, still want a wheel battle? Master, let me fight him!” The Azure-Eyed White Ape spoke up for Li Mu, glaring at Wang Wuchen, eager to try.
“Exactly, old ghost, if you have the guts, fight me!” The Double-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon flew out, its lantern-like vertical eyes fixed on Wang Wuchen, and the aura of a Six-Tier Demon King poured out.
“Hmm! I'm also tired. If the two Seniors don't mind, how about fighting them?” Seeing this, Li Mu smiled slightly, looking at Shangong Hong and Wang Wuchen, indicating.
Shangong Hong and Wang Wuchen exchanged glances, sized up the Six-Tier Double-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon and the Six-Tier Azure-Eyed White Ape, and immediately ceased their activities.
“This old man has other matters to attend to; I don't have the time!” Shangong Hong said indifferently, and before his voice faded, his figure flew away from the spot.
“Elder Shangong, wait for me!” Li Changkong took advantage of the situation and followed Shangong Hong.
“Junior, good skill, we shall meet again if fated!” Ning Daoren glared hatefully at Li Mu, left a sentence, and then flew away.
“Spirit Control Sect - Ye Tianling! This old man remembers you.” Wang Wuchen looked at Li Mu seriously and said, then he left with his treasure.
The four Soul Transformation Cultivators left cleanly in a blink of an eye, leaving only the Nascent Soul cultivators standing on the Spirit Ship's deck.
“Fellow Daoist, do you have any more instructions?” Li Mu frowned, looking at Nangong Feiyu and asking.
“Uh! I wouldn't dare. I just saw that Fellow Daoist is exceptionally brave, not flinching even against four Soul Transformation Seniors. I was momentarily delighted by the hunt and hoped to befriend Fellow Daoist.” Nangong Feiyu waved his hand, looking at Li Mu and speaking sincerely.
Li Mu nodded understandingly, then turned to look at Xiao Bai, who was still Undergoing Tribulation. The scale of the lightning clouds for the Lightning Tribulation had gathered and shrunk, reaching the end of the Lightning Tribulation, and the power of the Lightning Tribulation had increased instead of decreased.
“Now is not the time to talk, Fellow Daoist, let's meet again if fated!” Li Mu turned back to Nangong Feiyu, speaking in a dismissive tone.
“Good, good! Fellow Daoist Ye, let's meet another day!” Nangong Feiyu quickly agreed. To avoid misunderstanding, he quickly piloted his Spirit Ship away, chasing after the four Soul Transformation Seniors.
Seeing them all leave, Li Mu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, focusing his attention on the Lightning Tribulation.
About an hour later, the last purplish-red tribulation lightning struck Xiao Bai, who was floating in the air. The lightning clouds then receded, and scattered green spiritual mist descended, rapidly gathering and merging into Xiao Bai's charred body.
Xiao Bai's wings stopped flapping, as if dead, completely still. Its charred body was mysteriously suspended in the air.
Li Mu hurriedly flew over, staring at Xiao Bai, floating in the air, its life unknown. Under his Heavenly Talent - Identifying Myriad Spirits, he obtained its detailed information.
【Phantom Gu Spirit Insect】
【Rank: Six-Tier Gu Insect】
【Characteristics: Soul-devouring, Acquired Gu Spirit, Spirit-absorbing Soul-snatching, Golden Blood Jade Skin, Myriad Incarnations, Phantom Spirit Feathers】
【Status: Successfully Underwent Tribulation, Divine Soul damaged, Tribulation Dew nourishing, rapidly recovering】
【A Five-Tier Gu Spirit Insect born from the Thousand Snatching Spirit, having absorbed a large amount of Blood God Gu's essence blood, its life form underwent a leap, absorbing a large amount of Divine Soul, breaking through its limits by transcending ranks in growth, and successfully Underwent Tribulation. The Phantom Gu Spirit Insect is impervious to swords and difficult to destroy. It is the bane of Yin Soul-type lives, skilled in phantom soul-type Cultivation Technique, and lives by consuming souls.】
After seeing Xiao Bai's status information, Li Mu immediately breathed a sigh of relief. It was great that Xiao Bai had not perished under the Lightning Tribulation!
Once the tribulation dew stopped descending, Li Mu quickly flew over and took Xiao Bai into the spirit control treasure bracelet, allowing it to recover well inside.
“Master, is Xiao Bai alright?!” Xiao Jin flew beside Li Mu, asking with concern.
“It's fine, Xiao Bai successfully Underwent Tribulation. However, its Divine Soul was injured by the Lightning Tribulation and needs some time to recover.” Li Mu turned to Xiao Jin and the other spirit beasts, explaining with a smile.
“That's great! A Six-Tier Gu Spirit successfully Underwent Tribulation. Congratulations, Master, for gaining a powerful assistant.” The Green-Eyed Gibbon congratulated Li Mu.
“Hmm! You all go back!” Li Mu smiled and nodded, saying he would put Xiao Jin, Xiao Wa, and the Azure Moon Flood Dragon into the Painting World Treasure Mansion, preparing to leave this troublesome place.
However, at this moment, Li Mu suddenly recalled that the Painting World Treasure Mansion had previously devoured the Dragon-shaped Spiritual Vein, which triggered the descent of lightning punishment, and then it was Xiao Bai's awakening that caused the Lightning Tribulation.
Li Mu changed his mind, put all four spirit beasts into the spirit control treasure bracelet, then quickly cleaned up the battlefield, released the Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship, and piloted the Spirit Ship back to Yin Yang Valley.
The Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship sped through the air, swift as the wind and quick as lightning.
Inside the ship's cabin, Li Mu summoned the Painting World Treasure Mansion to check what changes had occurred to it, as absorbing the Dragon-shaped Spiritual Vein had actually attracted lightning punishment.
At Li Mu's summons, the Painting World Treasure Mansion revealed its true form, a jade-green Ruyi-shaped Spiritual Artifact, emitting a vibrant green spiritual light.
【Painting World Treasure Mansion】
【Rank: Seven-Tier Immortal Cave Spirit Treasure】
【Characteristics: Size as desired, imprisoning enemies, gathering spirits (forming its own internal Small World), thousand acres of spiritual fields, devouring and refining spirits.】
【Status: Spirituality greatly increased, Artifact Spirit evolving.】
【Forged from Mysterious Mother Divine Stone, Myriad Flower Divine Marrow, Ethereal Realm Stone, and Eight-Tier Dao Soldier fragments refined by Eight-Layer Heavenly Fire. This Spirit Treasure forms its own Small World, consumes massive spiritual objects, produces a hundredfold Spiritual Qi, can lure enemies into a world, suppresses Cultivation, seals spirits and seizes essence, refines their spirits, devouring the Dragon-shaped Spiritual Vein, the Artifact Spirit broke through its limits, the artifact is evolving, requires a large amount of high-tier spiritual Materials, Dao Foundation items, to redefine the Immortal Cave's attributes. Failure to ascend will damage the Artifact Spirit.】
Under Heavenly Talent - Identifying Myriad Spirits, the detailed attributes of the Seven-Tier Immortal Cave Spirit Treasure - Painting World Treasure Mansion were presented.
After devouring the Dragon-shaped Spiritual Vein, it actually triggered the Opportunity for the Painting World Treasure Mansion to ascend in rank, which was truly rare! It was a pleasant surprise.
Li Mu was overjoyed and delighted after seeing the Painting World Treasure Mansion's status attributes.
However, it requires a large amount of high-tier spiritual Materials, and also Dao Foundation items. If the ascension fails, it will also damage the Artifact Spirit… A large amount of high-tier spiritual Materials is fine, but where can I get Dao Foundation items? This is troublesome now!
It's a bit difficult!
Li Mu's smile faded, and his brows furrowed as he thought about how to solve this problem.
The next moment, Li Mu extended his Divine Sense into the nine storage spiritual pearl to check for spiritual objects suitable for input into the Painting World Treasure Mansion, looking for any suitable Dao Foundation items.
Li Mu's Divine Sense swept over various high-tier spiritual objects: the Seven-Tier spiritual object - star beast remnant pearl, the Seven-Tier spirit ore - meteorite crystal nucleus, the Six-Tier spirit rhyme mysterious tortoise shell, the Six-Tier - Celestial Void Cauldron, the Six-Tier Soul Devouring Wall…
Li Mu's treasured high-tier spiritual objects and Spirit Treasures, in both quantity and quality, far surpassed those of a Soul Transformation Cultivator. Even the wealth of a large Sect would fall far short of his collection. However, he did not find a single spiritual object suitable for the Painting World Treasure Mansion to re-establish its Dao Foundation and continue its advancement.
The Seven-Tier Immortal Cave Spirit Treasure - Painting World Treasure Mansion, for Li Mu, was an extremely important spiritual object. With it, planting Spirit Plants became safe and simple. If it could ascend in rank and redefine its Immortal Cave attributes, that would be a rare Opportunity.
Li Mu's heart skipped a beat, and his Divine Sense landed on a six-tier spirit treasure, giving him an idea. A look of hesitation appeared on his face, but he quickly made a decision.
Li Mu reached out and took the Five Elements Spirit Mountain from his storage compartment.
A fist-sized, five-colored small mountain quietly floated before him, shimmering with vibrant Five Elements spiritual light, full of spirituality.
【Five Elements Spirit Mountain】
【Rank: six-tier spirit treasure】
【Characteristics: Size as desired, self-restoring peaks, Five Elements transformation, Five Elements Spirit Domain, Five Elements solidification, Five Elements Formation core.】
【Status: Artifact Spirit reborn, spirituality completed】
【Forged with a large amount of Five Elements spiritual objects as the foundation, and Extreme Yang Heavenly Fire to cast the Five Elements artifact foundation, self-evolving Five Elements, the remnant spirit reborn, the Five Elements Spirit Domain self-formed, weighing: seventy-five million pounds, size as desired, self-restoring from damage, forming its own Five Elements Spirit Domain covering ten miles. Continuing to supplement with a large amount of high-tier Five Elements spiritual objects, there is a high chance of advancing to a Seven-Rank Dao Artifact.】
Under Heavenly Talent - Identifying Myriad Spirits, all attributes of the Five Elements Spirit Mountain were presented before Li Mu's eyes.
The refining process of the six-tier spirit treasure - Five Elements Spirit Mountain was full of coincidences and Opportunities. Li Mu did not intervene much in it; it could be said to have been naturally refined by heaven and earth. Therefore, it possessed an abundant and very stable Five Elements Dao Foundation, with great potential to become a Dao Artifact.
The Five Elements Spirit Mountain, this six-tier spirit treasure, as long as it was cultivated well, could advance to a Seven-Rank Dao Artifact within a hundred years, making it extremely precious.
If the Five Elements Spirit Mountain were refined into the Painting World Treasure Mansion, supplemented by a large amount of Five Elements spiritual objects for it to devour, the chance of the Seven-Tier Immortal Cave Spirit Treasure - successfully advancing would greatly increase. If the Five Elements Spirit Mountain was still not enough, then another Sword Mountain could be erected within the Painting World Treasure Mansion, and all of the more than one thousand Spirit Swords could be placed into the Painting World Treasure Mansion to assist in its advancement.
Li Mu looked at the incredibly vibrant Five Elements Spirit Mountain, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes.
This Five Elements Spirit Mountain was too suitable for his attributes. With its cooperation in casting the Five Elements Spirit Domain, his combat power could be boosted several times. If it were refined into the Painting World Treasure Mansion, it would be a pity if this attribute were lost.
However, compared to an Eight-Tier Immortal Cave Spirit Treasure, even the value of a Seven-Rank Dao Artifact - Five Elements Spirit Mountain was still insufficient.
Refining the Five Elements Spirit Mountain into the Painting World Treasure Mansion could enhance the purity of the Five Elements Spiritual Power within the Immortal Cave world. If the Painting World Treasure Mansion successfully advanced, the efficiency and quantity of planting Five Elements Spirit Plants in the future would be greatly improved.
Being able to plant more Five Elements Spirit Plants and accelerate their growth, this function is far more important than providing combat power!
There are gains and losses, and Li Mu knew very well how to make the choice.
After a slight deliberation, Li Mu immediately made up his mind, then injected Spiritual Power into the Painting World Treasure Mansion, and with a “whoosh,” he took the Five Elements Spirit Mountain into the Treasure Mansion world.
Li Mu released his refinement of the Five Elements Spirit Mountain, urging the Painting World Treasure Mansion to refine and absorb it.
The Artifact Spirit of the Five Elements Spirit Mountain sensed the crisis, rapidly enlarged its form, and shot into the sky, attempting to break through the world of the Painting World Treasure Mansion.
However, Li Mu stepped in to suppress it, waving his hand to control the artifact formation targeting the Five Elements Spirit Mountain, causing it to lose control of its artifact formation.
With a loud “boom!”, the Five Elements Spirit Mountain heavily crashed onto the ground. Under Li Mu's suppression, it lost control of itself.
The Artifact Spirit of the Painting World Treasure Mansion quickly began to act. Five Elements Spiritual Artifacts gathered, and soil and vegetation swiftly enveloped the Five Elements Spirit Mountain, intending to refine it into a part of the Treasure Mansion world.
The Five Elements Spirit Mountain vibrated violently, and pieces of broken stone fell, as if sensing its unfortunate fate, crying in pain and heartbroken at being ‘abandoned’ by its master.
Seeing this scene, Li Mu couldn't help but sigh, his expression a bit gloomy. The Artifact Spirit of a six-tier spirit treasure was like a living being, and feeding it to the Painting World Treasure Mansion was indeed a bit cruel. However, if the Painting World Treasure Mansion could successfully advance, all of this would be worth it.
Time passed bit by bit. Under the invasion of the Painting World Treasure Mansion, the Artifact Spirit of the Five Elements Spirit Mountain lost its spirituality. The massive spiritual mountain became a part of the Painting World Treasure Mansion, and brilliant, rich Five Elements spiritual light emanated, causing the concentration and quality of the Five Elements Spiritual Power emitted by the entire Immortal Cave world to increase severalfold.
Li Mu closed his eyes slightly, his Divine Sense connecting with the Artifact Spirit of the Painting World Treasure Mansion, sensing the improvements after refining the Five Elements Spirit Mountain and the abilities it had gained through it.