With the Soul Losing Bell in hand, even if one were to become a True Immortal or an Earth Immortal and ascend to the Primordial Earth Immortal Realm, they would have already surpassed countless Immortal Gods.

    Just as in the Changqing Realm, the Soul Searching Ancestor from the Soul Searching Temple, who was a Soul Searching General of the Thunder Department in the Yang Realm, probably possessed but one Immortal Artifact. Afterwards, as he traveled the starry skies, the effort expended to refine the Nine Strategies Xuanhao Talisman—an Eighth Rank Magical Artifact—was colossal.

    The bestowed artifact was to vie for a glimmer of hope, to turn the Nine Strategies Xuanhao Talisman into an Immortal Artifact.

    Even a mighty Thunder Department God General spared no effort for the achievement of a single Immortal Artifact.

    This illustrates how rare Immortal Artifacts are.

    Not to mention a Second Rank Immortal Artifact.

    "This life, even if it is just for this Immortal Artifact, I must cultivate earnestly."

    Lu Qingfeng''s face was brimming with a joyful smile, in high spirits.

    Upon closer inspection.

    Yin Jiao had placed seals on the Soul Losing Bell, firstly to protect the Divine Soul of Luo Gu from being harmed by the Immortal Artifact. Secondly, it was to ease the passage through reincarnation and entry into the Barbarian God Realm.

    Yet this came with its pros and cons.

    After reincarnation, for Luo Gu to refine and unlock the myriad of seals was no easy task. It took a whole six hundred years to barely refine ten percent of the seals. To unleash all the might of the Immortal Artifact, one would need hundreds if not thousands of years of arduous cultivation.

    "However."

    "If all the seals were truly undone and used just once, I fear that the essence of my mana would be drained and even my Divine Soul would be sucked dry. Its power capable of destroying heavens and earth, but my own survival could not be guaranteed."

    Immortal Artifacts are ultimately different from ordinary magic artifacts.

    Born from Pure Yang.

    If they possess consciousness, they are already counted among the immortals.

    "Not until reaching Mahayana True Immortal, shall the seals be completely unleashed."

    Lu Qingfeng contemplated.

    The Five-Colored Divine Light swayed above his head, casting down towards the Soul Losing Bell in his hand. After several attempts, the seals on the Immortal Artifact were reduced by four-tenths, leaving only half remaining.

    As for the various restrictions Luo Gu had refined into the Immortal Artifact, they too were expelled by Lu Qingfeng.

    From then on, the Immortal Artifact was masterless, without future troubles. S~ea??h the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Luo Gu."

    Lu Qingfeng clenched the Immortal Artifact, his gaze turned northward, his eyes bright like stars, shimmering with intense spirit light, and he made a firm decision, "With Luo Gu possessing the Soul Losing Bell and mastering Divine Skills, it''s uncertain whether those Reincarnated True Immortals possess other Immortal Artifacts. Now that the Six Great Demon Gods have all perished, I must first solidify my power and refine the Immortal Artifact before moving forward."

    The workings of Heavenly Mechanism are chaotic.

    It is unknown how many disciples have been reincarnated into the Barbarian God Realm by those two from the heavens, nor what trump cards these Reincarnated True Immortals might possess. To go rashly and be overwhelmed by a multitude would ultimately be unwise for Lu Qingfeng at his current state.

    While contemplating.

    Ferdinand hurried back.

    "Greetings, Sect Leader."

    "Thank you, Sect Leader, for saving my life."

    Ferdinand landed on the Cloud Platform, bowing deeply. This time, it was the true body of the ''Skull King'' from the Dark Dead Land.

    "As a Dharma Protector Venerable of my Zhenyuan Mountain, how could I not save you?"

    Lu Qingfeng flicked his sleeve, and a breeze lifted Ferdinand to his feet.

    "Ferdinand had deceived the Sect Leader before, please administer your punishment," Ferdinand looked towards Lu Qingfeng.

    "Joining Zhenyuan Mountain, we do not ask about one''s former life."

    "What crime is there?"

    Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

    Ferdinand had only taken on a puppet body to join Zhenyuan Mountain out of caution. Over three hundred years, he diligently carried out his duties without once endangering Zhenyuan Mountain. Although there was deception, it was not a crime.

    Lu Qingfeng was clear on this principle.

    "Sect Leader''s magnanimity surpasses Ferdinand."

    Ferdinand, grateful, extended his hand and immediately conjured a scepter from the void.

    With both hands presenting it to Lu Qingfeng, he said, "This is the Abyss Authority, representing the dominion over the Abyss First Layer. Once wielded, one becomes the Abyss Master of the first layer, capable of controlling the might of heaven and earth, and can enhance one''s own cultivation with Divine Speed."

    Ferdinand, once the Abyss Master, was now offering his position with open hands.

    "The Abyss Authority."

    Lu Qingfeng took the scepter in hand.

    He felt a surge of familiarity mixed with strangeness—

    "Divine Dao Seal?"

    In just a moment, Lu Qingfeng realized where this familiar feeling came from. This Abyss Authority, symbolizing the dominion over the Abyss, was similar to the Fufeng Mountain God Seal he had obtained in the Red Smoke Realm.

    Yet upon further investigation, there were differences.

    Compared to the Divine Dao Seal, this Abyss Authority was crude. Once refined, though said to be the Abyss Master, the forces that could be borrowed and the powers that could be exercised were extremely limited.

    With the expanse of the Heavenly Punishment Abyss First Layer, if a supreme Divine Position was condensed, it should at least be a second or first-grade Divine Spirit comparable to a Primordial Spirit or even a Mahayana. However, the Abyss Master was only a bit stronger than an ordinary Abyss Duke.

    Truly quite negligible.

    Yet to become the Abyss Master, one must already be among the mightiest in the Abyss; the difference between slightly stronger or weaker was insignificant.

    Truly somewhat of a superfluous benefit.

    It''s only a real advantage, when after achieving it, that the Abyss Will favors one and fortune aids in accelerating cultivation. But unless relinquishing the position of Abyss Master, one cannot leave this first layer of the Abyss.

    "Enhancement in cultivation is indeed good."

    Lu Qingfeng pocketed the Abyss Authority with his hand, in no hurry to refine it, raising his eyes to Ferdinand, "Your deed is not insignificant, I shall bestow upon you an opportunity; come forward."

    Ferdinand stood respectfully. Hearing this, he hesitated for a moment before quickly stepping forward.

    Lu Qingfeng''s expression was unchanged, pointing casually in the air, touching the head of Ferdinand, who was defensively alert and yet striving to lower his defenses.

    In an instant.

    A multitude of mysteries erupted, and the complete Xuan Jade Chapter Magic Gate, strengthened by Lu Qingfeng to Side Door Level, surged into Ferdinand''s mind. Meanwhile, his Divine Soul was continuously depleted, as numerous confusions he encountered during his cultivation and enlightenment were now unraveled.

    As if a tangled mess had been straightened out.

    The relief was beyond words.

    Submerged in this state, Ferdinand was oblivious to the passage of time and the drain on his Divine Soul.

    He was jolted back to reality by a stabbing pain and a sense of emptiness in his Divine Soul, falling out of that Mysterious Realm. Upon regaining awareness, he saw the Sect Leader sitting in a lotus position, holding a copper bell in one hand and a scepter in the other, deep in meditation.

    "Thank you, Sect Leader, for bestowing me with the teachings!"

    "Ferdinand takes his leave."

    With a stabbing pain in his Divine Soul and fighting off weakness, Ferdinand respectfully bowed to Lu Qingfeng, turned, and left, eager to explore the true mysteries of the Immortal Dao.

    Lu Qingfeng sensed Ferdinand''s departure.

    His expression unchanged.

    One hand holding the Soul Losing Bell, he contemplated its Pure Yang inside. In the other hand, he held the Abyss Authority. At the same time, he visualized the thoughts of All Heavens Demon Gods and refined the Six Great Demon Gods one by one.

    Time slipped by unnoticed.

    ...

    The Material Realm is divided into four Earth Realms.

    To the north lies Funeral Bell Plain, to the east, Moonlight Islands, to the west, Stormy Sea Domain, and to the south, the Heavenly Punishment Abyss.

    The Heavenly Punishment Abyss layered one upon the other, totaling thirty-six layers just within the Material Realm.

    And the Funeral Bell Plain was vast.

    Connected to the Stormy Sea Domain to the west, adjacent to the Moonlight Islands to the east, and to the north, it bordered the Dead Silent Sea.

    Nations in the Funeral Bell Plain were locked in conflict, with countless Divine Temples, Demon Halls, and Sects amidst the turmoil. Two to three hundred years ago, a power called ''Taoyuan Immortal Sect'' rapidly emerged.

    Within it were three strong forces, whose extraordinary prowess suppressed the Divine Temples, Demon Halls, and the various empires from breathing easily. Within a short time, they gathered countless powerhouses. With the ''Da Sheng Empire'' as their foundation, they dominated the Funeral Bell Plain.

    Three hundred years to this day, Da Sheng Empire has become the largest empire on the Funeral Bell Plain, and Taoyuan Immortal Sect the most top-tier power there. Apart from the initially famed ''Taoyuan Three Immortals'' Three Suns Daoist, Taoyuan Immortal Sect has also gained three strong presences – Luo Gu, Wei Wuding, and Feihua Daoist.

    Each with the power to crush Great Dukes and even emperors of nations, and patriarchs of Divine Temples.

    Their battle prowess was ferocious.

    On this day.

    Deep within the Da Sheng Empire, what was formerly known as ''Demon Casting Mountain Range'' had since become the gate of Taoyuan Immortal Sect and was now called ''Biya Mountain'', a vast range spanning thousands of miles.

    A Golden Light streaked across the sky and landed within the gate.

    "Luo?"

    "Luo senior brother?!"

    From the back mountain, three tunneling lights shot up into the sky, each filled with shock and anger.

    Inside the Shaoyang Hall.

    A Golden Core descended, transforming into Luo Gu''s figure, his face bearing a wry smile.

    Three Suns Daoist, Wei Wuding, and Feihua Daoist hurried over, their gazes falling on Luo Gu. Wei Wuding looked like a young gentleman from the chaotic world, and at this moment, his brows were deeply furrowed as he exclaimed angrily, "Who dares to commit such a brazen act?!"

    All being of the Jiedan Realm, they could see at a glance that Luo Gu''s physical body was destroyed, leaving only a Golden Core to protect his Divine Soul on his return.

    His path of the Dao, henceforth, was severed.

    This great hatred was no less than the destruction of one''s family or the theft of one''s spouse.

    "Ah!"

    Luo Gu sighed deeply upon hearing this, and said with bitterness, "In days past, I held myself in high regard, believing to have unraveled Divine Skills, looking down on others. Today, I''ve come to realize that within the strong there lies stronger still. It was my oversight."

    He had reflected a lot on his harried journey back.

    This time.

    Had he not recklessly acted on his assumptions but instead carefully investigated Zhenyuan Mountain and the Guangyuan Daoist, he would never have found himself in such dire straits.

    "Luo junior brother, what exactly happened?"

    Three Suns Daoist, who looked as young as a boy, asked Luo Gu with curiosity.

    "More than three hundred years ago, in Heavenly Punishment Abyss, an Immortal Daoist who called himself ''Guangyuan'' emerged on Zhenyuan Mountain-"

    Luo Gu shook his head, concealing his bitterness, and recounted the information he gathered from Heavenly Punishment Abyss, including his encounter with the Guangyuan Daoist of Zhenyuan Mountain and the cause and effect that transpired.

    Three Suns Daoist, Wei Wuding, and Feihua Daoist listened attentively.

    When they heard about Guangyuan deploying the Five-Colored Divine Light to whisk away Luo Gu''s Soul Losing Bell, the three were almost unable to restrain themselves from interjecting.

    They managed to hold back their words.

    Only when Luo Gu described how Guangyuan unleashed the Great Sun Annihilation Divine Light and the Great Five Elements Yin Yang Magnetic Annihilation Divine Light to obliterate his physical body did they stop him.

    Wei Wuding then spoke with astonishment and suspicion, "Both the Five-Colored Divine Light and the Great Five Elements Yin Yang Magnetic Annihilation Divine Light are secret Divine Skills of the Peacock Clan. Could it be that this Guangyuan Daoist has some connection to the Peacock Clan?"

    These two Divine Skills, due to the prestige of the Peacock Great Bright King, held considerable fame throughout the vast Primordial World.

    Aside from the Peacock Clan, it was rare for others to master them.

    Let alone mastering both simultaneously.

    If they claimed there was no relation, it would indeed be implausible.

    "Could it be that a Great Power from the Peacock Clan is also meddling in the Barbarian God Realm?!" Feihua Daoist, with eyes as twinkling as stars or like fluttering flowers, possessing both masculine and feminine beauty, voiced his speculation.

    "It''s not possible."

    Three Suns Daoist shook his head, "The Peacock Clan is extremely rare and reclusive on Golden Chicken Ridge, hardly interfering in the affairs of the Primordial World. Within the Barbarian God Realm, our teacher represents the lineage of Yuxu Palace, while the Six Eyes represent the lineage of Heavenly Daoist Sect. With their conflict, the Peacock Clan would dare not intervene."