Chapter 79

The means employed by the Foundation Establishment cultivator were indeed not something that the Xuanming Ghost Heads, these kinds of magical artifacts, could contend with.

It didn’t seem like the old ancestor called Xiaobai or the Crane Elder felt any strain. They merely waved their sleeves, and the techniques unleashed by those Xuanming Ghost Heads lost their original power.

Those Xuanming Ghost Claws formed from the combination of the Five Elements primordial energy and yin-cold ghostly qi seemed at a loss when facing the white crane’s illusory form. The ghostly qi condensed into sharp claws, but when they grabbed the white crane’s illusory form, they caused no damage. Instead, the spiritual energy contained within the white crane’s illusory form continuously melted these ghostly qi claws.

However, when the seemingly illusory long beak and sharp claws of the white crane tore at the Xuanming Ghost Claws, they seemed to have a substantial effect, causing significant damage to the Xuanming Ghost Claws.

As for those Xuanming Ghost Heads, they hadn’t even managed to emerge from the water curtain but were already being compressed back by the white water curtain. Soon, the water curtain split into five water spheres, completely enveloping the five Xuanming Ghost Heads.

No matter how the five Xuanming Ghost Heads opened their skeletal teeth and bit around, they couldn’t break through the outer walls of the water spheres. They could only fly around aimlessly in place.

Old Stone, holding the Xuanming Ghost Refining Flask, calmly watched this farce. Then, as if he understood something, he raised the Xuanming Ghost Refining Flask, released a spiritual light from his hand to stimulate the flask’s lid, and shouted at the Xuanming Ghost Heads from a distance.

"Retrieve!"

The five Xuanming Ghost Heads immediately lost their arrogant and fierce aura, obediently retracting the ghostly qi back into their skulls. The Xuanming Ghost Claws formed from the combination of the Five Elements primordial energy and yin-cold ghostly qi also transformed into five-colored light orbs, flying back toward the five skeletal ghost heads.

However, they were temporarily blocked by the water spheres and couldn’t return to the skulls of the Xuanming Ghost Heads. They could only circle around the water spheres, at a loss.

"Haha, truly just some minor tricks. It seems the assassin indeed cultivated this kind of ghostly evil technique. These ghostly magical artifacts all contain fierce ghostly spirits. If they aren’t thoroughly subdued, they might betray their master again. This is also a danger for you, little grandson!"

The old ancestor called Xiaobai pointed at the Xuanming Ghost Heads from a distance, and the water spheres that had enveloped the Xuanming Ghost Heads turned into water vapor and dissipated.

"Hmm, Old Stone, is there a way to resolve this?"

Crane Elder also waved his hand, and the white crane’s illusory forms vanished into thin air, leaving only the ashes of the yellow paper cranes to fall to the ground.

The five Xuanming Ghost Heads quickly broke free from the water spheres, reabsorbed their released Five Elements primordial energy, and then flew into the Xuanming Ghost Refining Flask one by one.

Old Stone immediately closed the lid of the Xuanming Ghost Refining Flask, frowned, and shook his head. After some thought, he said, "The method of refining these ghostly magical artifacts is unique and indeed has its extraordinary aspects. However, if the fierce ghostly spirits within these artifacts are expelled, the artifacts will be damaged. It’s a bit of a pity. Hmm, as long as the little grandson holds this flask, he shouldn’t fear the ghostly spirits’ retaliation for now. However, the technique for refining these artifacts is certainly not something ordinary ghostly cultivators can research on their own. Perhaps the assassin is from some ghostly sect!"

An expert sees the essence, and Old Stone indeed recognized that the technique contained within the Xuanming Ghost Refining Flask was not something ordinary ghostly cultivators could develop.

Old Stone couldn’t help but speculate that the Xuanming Ghost Refining Flask had a distinguished origin, perhaps crafted by some secluded sect that practiced ghostly techniques.

However, there were many secluded sects in the world, and besides the well-known major sects, there were many hidden sects that were unknown to the public.

Moreover, the Xuanming Sect was originally an evil sect that had been exterminated several decades ago. For local noble clans like Old Stone’s, it was impossible to determine its true origin.

"Yes, yes, so this magical artifact can’t harm me. Three great ancestors, please return it to me! They’re disobedient, and I need to discipline them!"

Zhu Lingwu hurriedly spoke in a childish manner. In reality, he just didn’t have the time to deal with the five Xuanming Ghost Heads for the moment. Although, according to the Xuanming Sect’s method, he needed to refine them through the Xuanming Ghost Refining Flask to completely subdue them.

However, for Zhu Lingwu, as long as he released them and turned the ghosts within them into his sub-souls, everything would be fine.

Although the five Xuanming Ghost Heads seemed harmless against the three Foundation Establishment cultivators, they should still be useful against ordinary Qi Cultivators.

In the future, these five Xuanming Ghost Heads would naturally become his greatest support. The key was that they had the potential to grow.

They could cultivate on their own, which was equivalent to having five ghostly cultivators. Once they reached the level of magical artifacts, they wouldn’t be so easily dealt with by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The three old men naturally didn’t know about Zhu Lingwu’s calculations. Hearing his words, they couldn’t help but exchange amused glances.

They were quite fond of this little grandson, but they sighed inwardly at his poor innate spiritual vein quality.

"Old Stone, seeing the little grandson so anxious, what do you think? How about giving him another magical artifact? This ghostly magical artifact is too dangerous for him to hold."

The old ancestor called Xiaobai clearly said this on purpose, seemingly determined to extort a magical artifact from Old Stone for Zhu Lingwu. It was unclear why he was helping Zhu Lingwu so much.

"No, no, Old Ancestor Stone just said that as long as I hold this flask, I can control them, so it’s not dangerous at all. Three great ancestors, please rest assured, I will be careful! But, Old Ancestor Stone, what magical artifact will you give me?"

Zhu Lingwu noticed that Old Stone seemed reluctant to part with a magical artifact. He thought, I can’t end up with nothing after all this.

But he still thickened his face, using his eight-year-old child’s advantage to beg Old Stone. This wasn’t the time to be reserved; perhaps his thick skin would get him something.

Hearing Zhu Lingwu’s words, the old ancestor called Xiaobai couldn’t help but laugh, satisfied with Zhu Lingwu’s performance.

Old Stone couldn’t help but glance at the extortionist Xiaobai. He was reluctant to be extorted so easily, so he stroked his beard and glared at Xiaobai before saying, "Xiaobai, you’re clever, using a child to pressure me. However, it’s not easy to get something from me. If I easily agree today, the other children might say I’m unfair. How about this, little grandson, I’m not saying I won’t give you anything. Let’s make a deal. If you can achieve some success in your Qi Cultivation within five years, I will reward you with a protective magical artifact. Otherwise, don’t mention it again!"

Zhu Lingwu couldn’t help but feel depressed. This old man’s words were worse than a direct refusal. With his low-grade bloodline, achieving any success in Qi Cultivation within five years was too difficult.

Crane Elder and Xiaobai, hearing this, couldn’t help but smile and look at Zhu Lingwu. They were curious to see if he had the resolve to accept Old Stone’s condition.