"So, the Ghost Ancestor was also someone who loved to talk nonsense," Cao Ya laughed.
What he did might have angered Qi Huang, but it wouldn't necessarily lead to his death.
At most, Xi Huang would put him on the Yang God Ranking and strictly restrict his personal freedom.
He wasn't a lone wanderer; he came from the Tianhe Sword Sect and was a direct disciple of Grandmaster Guo Xiaoshan. He could also be considered a grand-disciple of Grandmaster Doufasheng.
Guo Xiaoshan, the patriarch, was only at the level of Dao Integration, while the seven-headed phoenix was at least a Pure Yang Primordial Spirit, so he wouldn't take it seriously.
She could defeat the Ancestor in a battle of magic, reaching the peak of the Immortal Primordial Spirit realm. Among the Seven Phoenixes, she was second only to Tianhuang'er.
Such a person deserves some respect from Qi Huang.
Therefore, Cao Ya did this only because he was worried about being strictly bound by the Xi Huang Yang Shen Ranking.
In that case, he would not be able to take the opportunity to break free from Xi Huang's Yang God Ranking, which was forged from her original body—a Primordial Limitless Stele.
He could only wait for the other Cao Ya to advance to the five-star level, equivalent to the pure Yang primordial spirit of the [Immortal Gourd] universe, before he could regain his power in one fell swoop, emulate the Ancestor of Fighting Magic, gamble against the Seven Phoenixes, and then forcibly step out of the Seven Phoenix Realm.
As for this precious little life...
With the backing of the patriarch of fighting magic, Cao Ya had never been worried.
"It's good to have a powerful backer," sighed Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan.
“If Ghost Ancestor is willing, I believe that Ancestor Doufasheng would be happy to accept Ghost Ancestor as a disciple,” Cao Ya said with a smile.
"Stop talking nonsense!" Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan's face darkened as he shouted, "Your Master Xu is one of the Ten Ancestors of Taoism. Even if you are not as good as him in magic, you should still take him as your master."
"Does the Ghost Ancestor have any other important business? If not, I shall excuse myself," Cao Ya said, indicating his intention to leave.
"Important matter? There really is one." Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan stroked his chin and suddenly smiled.
“Oh, Ghost Ancestor, please speak. This humble Taoist is all ears,” Cao Ya said, raising an eyebrow.
"Your Tianhe Sword Sect's third-generation Nascent Soul disciple, Jiao Fei, is known as the 'Treasure Boy.' He possesses numerous magical treasures, including a Pure Yang Supreme Treasure. However, the Ancestor doesn't covet the Mountain and River Cauldron. It's just that Jiao Fei's invisible sword... Heh, such a sharp flying sword magical treasure is perfect for breaking through the limitations of True Form level magical treasures... Otherwise, how could the Ancestor's Weiyang Palace become a Phantom God level cave heaven magical treasure?"
Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan stroked his beard and smiled, saying:
"Although the ancestor is powerful, he is not particularly skilled in the art of killing."
"I'm afraid Ghost Ancestor is overthinking this matter," Cao Ya shook his head.
"Oh, how so?" Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan asked with a smile.
“Ghost Ancestor, if you want to escape the Seven Phoenix Realm, you need a celestial treasure of the Illusion God level, but my Heavenly River Sword Sect…” Cao Ya smiled knowingly and said, “As everyone knows, in this great calamity, my Heavenly River Sword Sect is the one to face it. In order to avoid heavy casualties among our disciples, we naturally need to refine a celestial treasure of the Illusion God level to contain our many disciples and isolate them from Lord Nether Phoenix’s Book of Life and Death.”
"We also have great use for that invisible sword, so how can we give it to the Ghost Ancestor?"
"So, Ghost Ancestor, you should find someone else."
"Many sects in the Seven Phoenix Realm possess numerous True Form level flying swords. Why focus solely on our Heavenly River Sword Sect's third-generation Nascent Soul disciples?"
Cao Ya refused sternly, secretly making hand seals, his eyes darting around, searching for a weakness in Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan's defenses.
"It seems this matter can't be resolved." Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan smiled faintly, as if he had discovered that Cao Ya was looking for his weakness and was about to strike with his sword.
“You’ve been in the Great Sun Phoenix Palace for hundreds of years. Putting everything else aside, just your audacity alone is astounding, Cao Ya. You’ve really grown up. You actually dared to show malice towards your ancestor, Master Xu.”
"Very well, I will capture you and exchange your life for that brat Jiao Fei."
"Jiao Fei won't lose out by exchanging a primordial spirit avatar for a true form-level flying sword."
"Isn't your Master Xu quite benevolent?"
Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan chuckled and made his move as he spoke, releasing a large ball of emerald fire. The flames transformed into countless sword lights, forming an endless sword array that was aimed directly at Cao Ya's primordial spirit.
He said he wasn't good at killing, but that was just a humble statement.
Compared to Dao-integrating sword immortals like Zhong Shenxiu and Qiao Kui, who specialize in a single path, Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan is indeed somewhat inferior in terms of offensive techniques.
But it was only a tiny bit.
Moreover, in other aspects, Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan was ahead of Zhong Shenxiu, Qiao Kui and other Dao-Merging Sword Immortals.
As someone who ranks at the pinnacle of the Dao-Merging Primordial Spirit realm, how could Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan be weak?
Among the ten patriarchs of Taoism, the foremost ones, such as Lao Qiu, Doufasheng Ancestor, Guangcheng Daoist, and Taixuan Zhangren, were at the pinnacle of immortal primordial spirits!
The fact that Xu Wan could be ranked alongside them as one of the Ten Ancestors of Taoism without any objection demonstrates his formidable abilities.
This Ghost Ancestor truly stood at the pinnacle of the Seven Phoenix Realms, with only a handful of beings above him.
“To say that you are not proficient in killing is too modest, Ghost Ancestor,” Cao Ya laughed, showing no fear whatsoever. He raised his hand and the Sea-Slaying Sword appeared in his palm, and he slashed down with the sword.
On the surface, this sword strike is a sword technique of the Tianhe Sword Sect, but in reality, it carries the essence of the "Grass Character Sword Technique" from the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass in [Perfect World].
Although due to caution, Cao Ya of the [Immortal Gourd] did not possess the power of Cao Ya of the [Perfect World].
However, the realization that power can be stored truly filled Cao Ya's heart.
If it weren't for the fact that his only magical weapon was the Sea-Slaying Sword, Cao Ya could have unleashed its full power if it were a knife-shaped magical weapon, gauntlets, armor, or something else.
Rumble...
With a single sword strike, the wind and clouds changed color, and Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan's Azure Fire Sword Formation was shattered in an instant.
"Hmm, your swordsmanship is quite strange, kid," Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan said in surprise. He was considered quite knowledgeable, but there were still many unfamiliar aspects to Cao Ya's swordsmanship.
Even if Qiao Kui, one of the Four Heavenly Kings on the Yang God Ranking, were to appear before him, and with a single move of the Gourd Sword Technique, Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan believed he could still understand the gist of it.
Those who can reach the realm of Dao Integration already possess extraordinary insight and can recognize the spells of their opponents.
Of course, in a short time, during a battle of wits, it would be impossible to come up with a solution.
"No wonder you dared to be so calm in front of the Ancestor; you do have some tricks up your sleeve. However, while your magic weapon flying sword isn't as good as Jiao Fei's invisible sword, it's still at the True Form level and can roughly help me refine the Weiyang Palace. So, Cao Ya, the Ancestor wants the flying sword in your hand." Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan laughed, pointing with his hand.
"Take this!"
Large clusters of emerald fire shot out again, instantly filling the sky.
This time, not all of the Azure Flames transformed into swords and formed an array. Some transformed into other artifact shapes, while others remained a ball of emerald flames, scorching the void as if they could burn through the world.
Across the vast land of Miao territory, spanning hundreds of thousands of miles, almost at that very moment, everyone sensed the Dao fluctuations of Ghost Ancestor Xu Wan.
Countless Nascent Soul experts changed their expressions slightly, looking in astonishment at the direction of the Dao fluctuations.
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