Chapter 202: Chapter 191: Ancient Secret—The Origin of the Visualization Technique

After the death of the Divine Eagle King, Iron Madman, the survivors of the Wuk Family staged a comeback under the leadership of the Second Decline True Man, Wuk Fu’an.

In just a few short days, they not only reclaimed the Wuk Family’s ancestral home but also conquered the Demon Exorcism Hall, acquiring a vast amount of wealth and information.

The stack before them represented the core of the Demon Exorcism Hall’s research over thousands of years.

In the past, the Sword Sect was just an inconspicuous, declining power near Tianzui City, hardly qualified to touch such things.

But now, the Wuk Family was proactively sharing their spoils with the Sword Sect.

Xiaoo Meng flipped through the books, her expression shifting repeatedly. After a long while, she let out a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes.

"Using materials from Demons to replace Heavenly and Earthly Treasures?"

"They were certainly audacious to even think of it!"

"Indeed," Wuk Fu’an nodded.

"Heavenly and Earthly Treasures are rare because they are born from the convergence of heaven and earth’s fortune, taking countless years to form."

"The Ancient Sword Sect once tried to create Heavenly and Earthly Treasures artificially. It’s said they could refine pure iron from Mortal Iron and extract red essence from brass, but ultimately, they could never truly replace all Spiritual Materials."

"Their destruction was, therefore, inevitable."

Xiaoo Meng nodded slowly.

As a disciple of the Sword Sect, she was well aware of the many efforts the Ancient Sword Sect had made to preserve its legacy.

"Demon Bodies are different, however."

Wuk Fu’an’s expression turned grave.

"Since the fall of the Ancient Sword Sect, Treasure Artifact True Men have become increasingly rare, while Demon True Men have grown more and more numerous."

"Once their numbers reached a certain point, all sorts of rare Demon Materials began to appear for sale in the Marketplaces."

This was especially true in the last century; Demon True Men appeared one after another, causing the price of materials to plummet.

"Yes," Xiaoo Meng nodded.

"Aside from certain special Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, all other materials can be completely replaced with Demon Cores."

"The Sword Sect itself has many Magical Artifacts forged from things like Demon spines, teeth, and scales."

It wasn’t just the Sword Sect. As long as one hadn’t become a True Man, Magical Artifacts were indispensable.

As the world’s Spiritual Objects were depleted, Magical Artifacts forged from Spiritual Materials became rarer, while Demon Spiritual Artifacts grew more common.

This was the general trend. In fact, the power of Demon Spiritual Artifacts had already surpassed that of many Spiritual Material-based artifacts.

Even if one was unwilling to admit it, this was the reality.

"Compared to the ever-dwindling Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, Demon Bodies can’t exactly be considered an inexhaustible resource," Wuk Fu’an said in a low voice.

"But as long as there are people, and a steady stream of new Demon True Men being created, one can always gather the materials."

"Wait!" Xiaoo Meng suddenly frowned.

"Magical Artifacts are one thing, but the Visualization Technique is the foundation."

The basis of a Cultivator’s Cultivation is their Visualization Technique. Even top-tier Magical Artifacts require a compatible Visualization Technique to be forged.

With only materials, one still couldn’t forge a top-tier Magical Artifact.

"Exactly!"

Wuk Fu’an sighed softly.

"That is the crux of the matter."

"The Demon Exorcism Hall’s tireless research over the centuries was all to find a way to fuse a Visualization Technique with Demon Materials instead of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures."

"Iron Madman’s dual wings are the best solution found so far."

"The Sword Sect has a legacy technique called the *Wind and Thunder Blade Wings*. This item can be both a Spiritual Artifact and a Demon Body. It happened to be compatible with the Divine Eagle King’s Demon Body, which is likely why he became the Hall Master of the Demon Exorcism Hall."

Xiaoo Meng was lost in thought.

"So... you’re saying that after Iron Madman became a Demon True Man, he also practiced a Treasure Visualization Technique?"

"And planned to use Demon Materials to forge a High Grade Spiritual Artifact?"

"Correct," Wuk Fu’an nodded.

"Not only did he cultivate the *Wind and Thunder Blade Wings*, but he also gathered all the necessary materials. Had he succeeded, he would have become an expert on par with those from the Ancient Sword Sect."

"A pity!"

"Because of our intervention, his efforts fell short at the last moment. So it’s still uncertain whether the Demon Exorcism Hall’s idea is even viable."

"Even if he didn’t succeed, the power of those Iron-Winged Dual Sabers was extraordinary." Xiaoo Meng licked her somewhat dry lips.

"This path... it should be possible!"

’If Demon Materials could be used to replace Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, then Treasure Artifact True Men might be able to reclaim their former glory.’

Her eyes couldn’t help but light up at the thought.

’As a Sword Sect disciple, how could she not be excited to learn this?’

"Difficult!"

But Wuk Fu’an shook his head.

"Fellow Daoist, do you know where Visualization Techniques come from?"

"Hm?" Xiaoo Meng was taken aback.

"Don’t they come from ancient legacies?"

"Yes and no." Wuk Fu’an rose, paced out of the grand hall, and pointed toward Tianzui City in the distance.

"Fellow Daoist, have you ever wondered why this place is called Tianzui City?"

Before Xiaoo Meng could answer, he continued, speaking as if to himself.

"In ancient times, gods and demons fought, spilling their blood across the heavens and earth. Divine objects fell upon the land, and thus it was named Tianzui City—Fallen from Heaven City."

"Have you heard this story, Fellow Daoist?"

Xiaoo Meng shook her head.

She was indeed completely unaware of it.

"Legend has it," Wuk Fu’an began.

"A long, long time ago, a host of gods, demons, and demon ghosts waged a great battle in the heavens, and an object fell to the earth."

"That thing transformed into countless phantoms of light that only dispersed after a hundred years. It was what allowed our ancestors to ’see’ the existence of gods and demons."

"Our predecessors observed these phantoms of gods and demons, gained all sorts of great powers, and from that came the Visualization Techniques that have been passed down to this day!"

"Is that really how it happened?" Xiaoo Meng was astonished.

"So, the things we visualize are actually the Demons, Divine Buddhas, and Treasures from the Ancient Era?"

"They are their phantoms," Wuk Fu’an corrected.

"The real beings possessed the power to destroy heaven and earth. We are merely borrowing a sliver of that might through their phantoms."

"..." Xiaoo Meng was dumbfounded. After a long pause, she asked:

"Where did those gods and demons go?"

"I do not know," Wuk Fu’an shook his head.

"No one knows."

"We only know that Visualization Techniques point directly to these gods, demons, and demon ghosts, and so they have never changed over countless years."

"Because we are, after all, only Mortals, while the Visualization Techniques are gifts from the true Divine Buddhas."

Xiaoo Meng was speechless.

Just then, Kan Feichen rushed over, his face alight with wild joy.

"The Sect Leader is back!"

"Oh!"

Xiaoo Meng’s eyes lit up.

Wuk Fu’an also stood up from his seat, looking excited. He straightened his clothes and cupped his hands toward the two of them.

"I was just about to thank Sect Leader Zhu."

"Let’s go together!"

"Let’s go together!"

*

*

*

Wind and Thunder Blade Wings!

After seeing off an emotional Wuk Fu’an, Zhu Ju looked at the Visualization Image before him. Listening to Xiaoo Meng’s explanation, he felt ripples in his heart as well.

’So the Visualization Techniques of this world actually came from observing the ancient war of gods and demons.’

’Visualization Technique?’

’The name certainly fits!’

’No wonder the Cultivation System in this world is so strange.’

’But on second thought, the Cultivation Techniques of the Main World also come from observing the heavens and earth. From that perspective, the two paths actually lead to the same destination.’

"The Visualization Technique cannot be changed. Even if the external form is altered, the internal Spirituality Nodes cannot be."

Xiaoo Meng sighed.

"This is a consensus among all Cultivators."

"The Demon Exorcism Hall chose the Wind and Thunder Wings because it can be both a Magical Artifact and Demon Blood Flesh."

"But there are far too few Visualization Techniques like this. In that case, the revival of the Sword Sect still seems like an extravagant hope."

In this world, Visualization Techniques could only decrease, never increase. At most, their external form could be changed, but the core would always remain the same.

This was common knowledge.

Zhu Ju was lost in thought.

"Not necessarily!"

After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly.

"The Visualization Technique can’t be changed, but the materials that fuse with it don’t necessarily have to be Heavenly and Earthly Treasures."

"If it were truly impossible, the Demon Exorcism Hall wouldn’t have spent countless resources and manpower on it."

Xiaoo Meng’s eyes lit up.

"However, it’s definitely not as simple as one might think. Otherwise, the Demon Exorcism Hall wouldn’t have researched it for so many years without real success." Zhu Ju stroked his chin and picked up the Visualization Image beside him again.

"Wind and Thunder Blade Wings!"

"So the Iron-Winged Dual Sabers were just a half-finished product. The materials used, however, are all top-notch."

"What a waste!"

’If Iron Madman had really managed to forge the *Wind and Thunder Blade Wings* into a ’Magical Treasure,’ his power would have soared.’

’The might of a Magical Treasure is terrifying.’

’Hmm...’

’At that point, I definitely wouldn’t have been his match.’

Shaking his head, Zhu Ju fell into deep thought. The Artifact Refining Truth from the Main World and the Treasure Visualization Technique from this world both flooded his mind.

Numerous thoughts rose and fell.

’If I re-forged the Iron-Winged Dual Sabers using the Artifact Refining Truth, could I have a chance at obtaining a Magical Treasure?’

’Probably not!’

’At most, I’d get a Magical Treasure Embryo.’

"Even if the Demon Exorcism Hall’s idea was correct, Iron Madman most likely wouldn’t have been able to forge the true Wind and Thunder Blade Wings."

"I’m going to the Fire Separation Hall!"

「Fire Separation Hall.」

「Earth Fire Forging Chamber.」

Zhu Ju formed the hand seal for the Fire Extinguishing Technique. Wrapped in the Dust Banner Spirit, he took out the Iron-Winged Dual Sabers and placed them in the depths of the Earth Evil True Flame.

Success or failure, this treasure definitely needed to be re-forged.

...

「Main World.」

Zhu Ju stretched his Tendon and Bone, feeling a sense of comfort spread through his entire body. A faint smile couldn’t help but appear on his face.

’The situation in Tianzui City has changed. The Wuk Family has become the leader of the Demon Catcher organization, and the Sword Sect’s status has risen with the tide.’

’As the Sword Sect’s Sect Leader, the next time I go over, I’ll be able to obtain large quantities of Demon Blood Flesh and Refining Materials.’

’Cultivation resources...’

’I’ll no longer have to worry!’

At least until he reached the Dao Foundation, the resources the Magic World could provide were more than enough.

His path forward was clear, and he was naturally in a good mood.

"Young Master Zhu," Wang Jin’s voice came from outside.

"We’re ready to leave."

As a major power in the city, the San Fen Hall branch had over a hundred official members alone, and with their families, they were a large crowd.

The group led donkey carts and carried packs on their backs, resembling a crowd of refugees as they headed for the city gate.

The journey to the Ancient Northern Pass was a long one.

For those who had never traveled far from home, it was natural to feel apprehensive, and their faces were filled with worry.

The cart wheels turned.

"Young Master Zhu."

Wang Jin rode his horse up to the side of the carriage and said in a low voice:

"There are a lot of people, so we’ll inevitably be a bit slow on the road. I hope you can bear with us."

"It’s fine." Zhu Ju lifted the carriage curtain. His gaze swept over the crowd, pausing on an inconspicuous man before he asked:

"Who is that man?"

"Him?" Wang Jin looked back and said:

"He’s the branch’s cook. He’s pretty good. His surname is Lin. I can’t recall his full name at the moment."

"He’s been with the branch for a long time."

He scratched his head, then his expression suddenly changed.

"Is there a problem with him?"

"It should be fine," Zhu Ju shook his head.

"An Innate Expert hiding his identity in a small place like this probably has some unspeakable secret."

"Innate?" Wang Jin’s wrist tensed.

"He’s an Innate Expert?"

’An inconspicuous cook at our own branch is actually an Innate Expert?’

If anyone else had said this, he would have laughed at their ignorance, but these words came from Zhu Ju.

So it had to be true.

"I remember now, his name is Lin Han."

Wang Jin’s expression was complicated.

"He was the branch’s cook even before I became the Squad Leader. All these years... he’s always been completely unremarkable."

An Innate Expert!

Even at the San Fen Hall headquarters, that was a status second only to one person and above ten thousand.

’Why would such a person be hiding in our branch?’

Zhu Ju, however, looked indifferent. No matter the man’s purpose, an Innate who hadn’t even broken through One Acupoint couldn’t cause much trouble.

"WHOA!"

The horses at the front whinnied in alarm, and a cacophony of human voices erupted.

"Everyone listen up! Come over here! We are Immortal Sect Disciples, here to bestow a celestial opportunity upon you all."

A man and a woman appeared near the city gate. The man was handsome, the woman was gorgeous, and their white robes added to their otherworldly air.

Another hundred or so armored individuals guarded the city gate, completely surrounding everyone who was trying to leave.

Inside the carriage.

Zhu Ju’s brow furrowed slightly.

’Joyful Sect!’

That man and woman were clearly disciples of the Joyful Sect. The woman had a Cultivation at the level of Breaking Six Acupoints.

’Hm?’

As if sensing something, Zhu Ju’s expression changed. He frantically suppressed his body’s Qi and his Divine Soul Power.

He activated his Profound Void Dao Body and the Hidden Element Technique at full power.

’Dao Foundation!’

’There’s a Dao Foundation Cultivator spying nearby!’