The Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor had been wounded by the Invisible Sword in his Primordial Spirit after the second swordfight at Yellow Mountain, so he returned to Wutai Mountain to calmly calculate the causes and effects. He discovered that his fate was meant to end with this event!

As a person fated to face this calamity, calculating his own fate beforehand would surely bring about various chaotic signs, making accurate predictions impossible. He hoped he could control his own destiny and find an opportunity to overturn the fixed outcome within the variables.

Before the swordfight, he had calculated that his calamity was imminent, but believed himself unbeatable armed with the Five Poison Immortal Sword and the Taiyin Five Smoke Net, denying any reason for him to meet this fate.

After the swordfight, although injured, he thought he had safely survived the disaster through his own abilities.

However, Xu Feiniang, revising the event afterwards, calculated some clues. She had long noticed Zhu Hong's rebellious nature, and had warned the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor beforehand, stating that Zhu Hong had a rebellious bone and would inevitably rebel.

Xu Feiniang was originally the disciple of the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor, and the two had later fallen in love. Disliking the title of "Concubine," the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor initiated her as his junior sister, making her a co-disciple. This transition was hard for the other disciples to accept, especially for those like Master Tuotuo who had entered the sect much earlier. Turning a junior sister into a master's wife was unacceptable to them, so they sympathized with Zhu Hong and jointly opposed Xu Feiniang.

As people facing calamity, their predictions were all chaotic. Also, within the Wutai Sect, only two or three individuals were skilled at divination. The rest followed their feelings, enjoying the moment.

Xu Feiniang presented her divinatory symbols, but everyone said Qi Shuming and others had disorderly employed Daoist Techniques, deliberately leading them to such predictions to stir up internal strife.

Later, Zhu Hong even told the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor that Xu Feiniang, failing to seduce him, had become spiteful and sought to harm his life.

The Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor, indecisive and easily swayed, neither punished Zhu Hong nor distanced himself from Xu Feiniang, and the matter was left unresolved.

Later, when Zhu Hong was slain at Zhongnan Mountain, the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor was furious, vowing to find and behead the killer to avenge his beloved disciple.

Yet, Xu Feiniang said it was well done, showing the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor the divinatory symbols again and stating that if Zhu Hong lived, he would inevitably become a huge problem for the Wutai Sect, even threatening his own main star and the sect's Underground Palace.

The Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor denied it, asking her, "How could Hong'er possibly harm me or the Wutai?"

Xu Feiniang pointed at the symbols and said, "He carries the Tianpeng Star and Te Tse Spirit, presides over the resting gate, mainly involving betrayal and theft. Chances are he will steal our most crucial reliance during the swordfight. Although his Daoist powers are weak, he's most capable of harming us at critical moments."

Moved by her words, the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor recalled Zhu Hong proposing a strategy where he would borrow the Taiyin Five Smoke Net to handle it, catching the enemy unawares and decapitating their leaders. Initially, the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor thought it dishonorable, planning to win with real strength.

Zhu Hong argued that the opponent might not play fair and suggested preparing in advance. The Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor then felt somewhat tempted.

In the original event, Zhu Hong stole the Taiyin Five Smoke Net and a Daoist book on the eve of the duel and fled. The Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor, merely managing to fight, was killed by a mob of three immortals and two elders.

But that had never happened. Upon reminiscing about Zhu Hong's life, the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor's heart softened, forbidding anyone from mentioning it again.

This time, he calculated that Shi Feiyang was the one who had slain Zhu Hong at Zhongnan Mountain, not just Zhu Hong, but also Furong Venerable Sun Fu, and Fire Wing Vajra Hu Shi, who had ventured with Yue Qinyin to Immortal Mountain to secretly refine the Divine Infant Sword behind his back, only to die at the hands of a Demon Dragon. Now, their fate rested upon Shi Feiyang.

Had it been earlier, the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor would have immediately set aside his current affairs and pursued to take his life in revenge for his disciples.

However, his temperament had changed considerably after the second ordeal of the swordfight.

His Five Poison Immortal Sword had been forcefully taken by the Ascetic Monk, and his body wounded by Master Xuanzhen's Invisible Sword, not only injuring his body but also damaging his Primordial Spirit. He had spent a long time recuperating his injuries back on Wutai Mountain.

Reflecting afterward, all trails of causality pointed back to the original cause: disciples of the Wutai Sect violated his teachings by forcibly taking wives and murdering innocents, frequently inciting conflicts.

The God Infant Sword and the Nine Child Mother Yin Soul Sword, along with items like the Six Six True Yuan Gourd, he had explicitly forbidden refining.

People of his cultivation level knew what meddling with fate meant; it indicated that these items were destined not to be successfully refined. It required total effort and a belief in overcoming fate to have even a slight chance of success, and even if they managed it, the process was bound to be fraught with disasters and likely to attract divine punishment.

Eventually, Yue Qinyin, along with Hu Shi and Sun Fu, secretly refined swords in Zhejiang but failed. Two died and one was injured, and they came back begging him to kill the dragon for revenge.

But, at that time, he was fully preparing for a sword duel with the Emei Sect, and all other matters had to be temporarily set aside. Later, when disciples were sent to Dinghu Peak to find the dragon, it was already too late—the dragon had fled to the sea.

If he hadn't participated in studying the He Sha Book in Evil Spirit Gorge and crossed paths with the killer of his disciples, the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor would have unsheathed his sword without hesitation and slain Shi Feiyang for revenge on his disciples.

But with the prior calculations about destiny and the days spent together in Evil Spirit Gorge, he saw Shi Feiyang as an impressive Sword Immortal with high Daoist powers and broad knowledge, making his company refreshing and often profound. Even Ni Fangxian held Shi Feiyang in high regard.

And he had also predicted that Shi Feiyang would be a significant aid in his future confrontations against the Emei Sect, a fact Xu Feiniang had foreseen long ago, repeatedly warning him,

"If you encounter the one who will kill Zhu Hong in the future, you must try to forge a good relationship. He will be the key in the next three swordfights against Emei and can be drawn in as support. Even if you can't become friends, do not become enemies and make an adversary! Otherwise, the consequences are truly unimaginable!"

Xu Feiniang's advices were earnest and heartfelt.

Remembering Xu Feiniang, a slight smile appeared on the lips of the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor, as Xu Feiniang's Daoist power and mana had impressively increased over the years, surpassing her peers. Even the progress of refining her Hundred Spirits Immortal-Slaying Sword was faster than his Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword, potentially completing before his.

The Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor had yet to decide how to face Shi Feiyang and was taken aback by an unexpected reunion here, particularly because Shi Feiyang's presence was quite unfriendly!

His gaze fixed on Shi Feiyang, who ignored him and was ready to fight without fear!

Shi Feiyang instructed Yang Xu to apply Spiritual Medicine internally and externally to two junior brothers, who were much more severely injured than Yang Xu, especially Hu Yanxian, whose ankle and clavicle were burnt black, the tendons even destroyed!

Weakly, Hu Yanxian said to Yang Xu, "Big brother, I'm done for. Even if you barely save me, my core has been damaged. Please give me a quick end, grant me the Soldier Disintegration and send me to reincarnate."

Chen Taizhen also said, "That is the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor from the Wutai Sect, incredibly tough. Even our master wouldn't stand a chance against him. You should flee quickly..."

Yang Xu cut them off, "With your Uncle-Master here, he will make all the decisions!"

"Is Uncle-Master Zhu here?" Chen Taizhen and Hu Yanxian slightly perked up, remembering Zhu Mei's Daoist power and mana to be significantly stronger than their master, Jiang Shu. Though he alone might not defeat the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor, he wasn't without a chance. Besides, they had heard that Uncle-Master Zhu had also undergone tribulations, and upon his return with newfound powers, surpassing his previous limits and gaining considerable strength, defeating powerful enemies could be possible.

"Uncle-Master Zhu didn't come, it's Uncle-Master Shi," Yang Xu continued applying medicine while speaking, "It's the sworn brother recognized by our master. As for specifics, I don't know, but he just saved me and predicted that you two were in trouble, so he hastily brought me here to rescue you!"

Looking at Shi Feiyang, although they were unsure of the situation, they still tried to raise their voices, "Junior thanks Uncle-Master for saving our lives! Please forgive our injuries; we are unable to offer proper respects."

Shi Feiyang nodded slightly at them.

Chen Taizhen worriedly said, "Uncle-Master, that's the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor from the Wutai Sect, he..."

"I know who he is. You just focus on healing. With your Uncle-Master here, no one can hurt you."

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at the still-conflicted Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor, thinking to himself that he should hurry up and make a clear decision, either fight or reconcile. The indecision was likely why the Wutai Sect was underperforming!

As he looked over, meeting his gaze, the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor coughed awkwardly twice, then said, "Would you like to refine a superior sword, Shi Daoist friend?"

Huh? Shi Feiyang didn't know why he would suddenly ask such a question, "Refine what sword?"

The Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor said, "As I had previously informed during the Evil Spirit Gorge, I came to Wuyi Mountain to kill someone and refine a sword."

Shi Feiyang nodded, "I remember."

"The sword I want to refine is our sect's Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword. This sword's power is immense, once completed, all demons and spirits within a hundred miles will sense its presence, and wielding it, one could traverse the world invincibly. Although your three swords are of fine quality, they lack many mystical uses compared to the Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword. If you are interested, follow me to the Red Cloud Valley and aid in refining the sword, and I will teach you the Sword Refining Technique, how about that?"

Shi Feiyang was unclear about what he was implying. The Sword Refining Technique of the Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword should be an extremely valuable secret, not typically taught to outsiders. Why would he suddenly want to teach it to him?

Indeed, this Sword Refining Technique was a closely guarded secret; however, refining this sword was enormously challenging. Not only were the conditions for its creation exceptionally strict, involving specific materials and timing, but various complications could also arise during the process.

Because this sword was fated in the "Heavenly Number" to never be completed, meant to not exist in this world. Yet, even in fate, there are variables, and although the chances of success were slim, they weren't impossible.

Xu Feiniang persuaded him to disseminate the Sword Refining Technique, arguing that the more individuals attempting to refine it, the higher the possibility of success due to increased variables!

Initially, they considered Zen Master Xiao Yue as their prime candidate, a monk who had differences with the Emei Sect and particularly despised Qi Shuming, harboring hatred as vast as the seas. Especially since they heard that Master Changmei left behind a Jade Box containing the Family Punishment Soul Slaughter Flying Saber before his ascension, specifically to punish traitors!

After leaving Emei, Zen Master Xiao Yue had always sought a powerful weapon to counter the flying saber. Predicting correctly, Xu Feiniang thought that offering the Sword Refining Technique of the Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword would surely win him over. Even if she couldn't, if he indeed managed to refine the sword, it would certainly be used against Qi Shuming. And even if it failed, it would still stir more variables, increasing the odds of success!

This time the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor couldn't find Zen Master Xiao Yue and so considered Shi Feiyang a good alternative, although unsure if he held any grudge against the Emei Sect. Earlier calculations confirmed a significant enmity, indeed!

Regarding his good relations with the Qingcheng Sect, there was no need for concern. Neither the Emei nor Qingcheng Sect would maintain good relations with someone attempting to refine the sword. Even if he was previously on good terms with the Qingcheng Sect, engaging in the sword refining would inevitably lead to a fallout, naturally pulling him into his own faction.

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