Cultivation Starts from Killing Pigs-Chapter 257 - 255: Artifact Refining Enlightenment, Selection of the Sect Site

Dark clouds rolled like waves, surging like tides, finally accumulating into layers resembling fish scales. Thunder brewed, as if the heavens were drumming up a majestic divine might poised to descend.

On Ten Thousand Demons Island, bears ran and tigers fled, demonic pythons and spirit foxes hurriedly escaped, not daring even to ride the demonic wind, instead rushing to the shore and diving into the water without a word.

"Thunder Tribulation?!"

Bao Wuxin was dumbfounded, merely crafting a magical artifact, how could it attract a thunder tribulation, and such a grand one at that.

A shadow flashed by, and the third princess of Chai Kingdom, Chi Liyan, ran over with a frightened expression. "Fellow Daoist, could it be that True Man Zhang is crossing the tribulation?"

"No, he is refining an artifact!"

Bao Wuxin's expression turned grave, "It seems True Man Zhang has created something extraordinary..."

Zhang Kui himself found it somewhat strange.

However, the thunder tribulation, if controlled by the Immortal Court as it was in his previous life, could establish authority and suppress the world.

But in this world, it is a phenomenon caused by a cultivator breaking through innate limitations and sparking a change.

Perhaps, it was not always so...

Zhang Kui inexplicably recalled the Thunder Twenty-Seven engraved on Zhu Sheng's Thunder Sword.

In any case, there was a change during the crafting of the Soul Suppressing Tower. Whether good or bad, "change" means infinite possibilities, truly something to look forward to.

As for the tribulation thunder in the sky?

Zhang Kui cast a glance, seeing Fatty Tiger already excitedly leaping into the sky, he smiled faintly, ignoring it further, and focused on quenching with the Sun Divine Fire.

As the saying goes, the cloud follows the dragon, the tiger follows the wind, a sage acts, and all things behold. The tiger runs swiftly on the ground like the wind, the dragon soars in the sky on clouds and mist.

But following Zhang Kui, the anomaly of heaven and earth, even Fatty Tiger became an anomaly.

This foolish creature's aptitude was mediocre, but first, it consumed a large amount of Treasure Medicine Stone Ganoderma, and then it absorbed a trace of Thunder Charm when Zhang Kui crossed the tribulation, suddenly gaining boundless potential, as if it had eaten its way onto a great celestial path.

In the sky full of tribulation clouds, the fierce tiger surged with the winds and clouds, chasing the electric dragon to devour it, leaving the demons hiding in the sea below feeling uneasy.

It was said that this rascal was captured by True Man Zhang as a mount, shamelessly clinging to a powerful ally to the extreme.

Why didn't I have such luck...

Compared to those little demons envying Fatty Tiger, Bao Wuxin and Chi Liyan were more focused on the Soul Suppressing Tower within the Sun True Fire.

They saw that the artifact's size had already shrunk by half, now only over fifty meters tall, and whether it was irradiated by divine fire's golden light or had undergone some metamorphosis, its whole body turned a pale golden color, with the illusionary shadow of runes and arrays revolving and dancing around it.

Bao Wuxin's breathing stalled, eyes unblinking, this... is a treasure far more powerful than an Ancient Artifact!

On the other side, the Sun Divine Fire grew even more intense, the peculiar crystal stone severed from the Demon Banner, along with the array, completely fused into the tower's body.

Excitement flashed through Zhang Kui's eyes, he unhesitatingly pricked his middle finger to draw blood, drawing blood-red runes into the tower's body through the air.

He knew he was on the right track.

After the Ancient Artifact's metamorphosis, it carried its own law, and although many were average in power, in a sense, they could already be considered Innate Spiritual Objects, naturally capable of being refined into a Magical Treasure.

The Soul Suppressing Tower spewed out a large amount of residue once more, and as its size continually diminished, a faint white light quickly spread outward.

Zhang Kui's eyes flickered subtly. This thing seemed familiar, resembling the domain formed by the Demon Banner, yet its nature transformed, commanding both solemnity and majesty, as well as the grand fierceness of Sun Divine Fire.

The faint white light expanded to a kilometer, Bao Wuxin's expression changed, feeling her Divine Soul being suppressed, drowsiness setting in. Seeing Chi Liyan beside her already in a daze, she quickly pulled her, retreating to the edge of the island.

Plunk!

The third princess of Chai Kingdom fell to the ground.

Of course, Zhang Kui had no time to attend to these matters, as the refined artifact was about to manifest.

"Fool, get out of the way!"

Zhang Kui shouted, retracting the Sun Divine Fire, while Fatty Tiger in the sky quickly leaped out of the tribulation clouds. After landing, he opened his mouth, lightning flickering inside, hurriedly covering it with his paw.

Boom!

Magnificent thunder tore through the sky, striking the golden tower, now only ten meters high, in an instant. Then, with continuous cracks and rumbles, seemingly endless, the island's center was awash with brilliant white light, and the surrounding air crackled with electricity.

Buzz buzz buzz!

A strange booming suddenly echoed through the heavens and earth, the tribulation clouds above gradually dissipated, and the ten-meter tower levitated, humming in the air.

Zhang Kui laughed heartily, with a wave of his hand, the now pale golden Soul Suppressing Tower shrank, slowly landing in his palm.

The Soul Suppressing Tower inherently possessed a strong suppressive effect on the Divine Soul, with a Mahayana's roaming Primordial Spirit like the Hundred-Eyed Demon Monarch and Military Advisor being particularly wary.

After being reforged, its suppressive effect not only increased exponentially, but its range could also be adjusted flexibly. Especially after using that strange crystal stone, it formed a powerful domain force, where evil spirits and demons, if trapped within, would be reduced to ashes by the Sun True Fire while in a slumber.

This is the true power of a Magical Treasure.

In this world, people have always believed that Ancient Artifacts could only evolve by nurturing a divine spirit into a Divine Artifact. But in Zhang Kui's hands, whether the "Longevity", Divine Court Bell, or this Soul Suppressing Tower, they have all embarked on an alternate path.

The way of heaven and earth is never constant, and Zhang Kui had a sudden realization, as past events surfaced in his mind.

Seeing the vastness of heaven and earth, observing the surging ocean tide, Zhang Kui suddenly laughed like a child, waving his hands and stomping his feet in joy.

"My path is 'change', the mortal world, societal paths, human hearts, skills, heaven and earth, fate, the world, all can change."

"If the human world lacks a path, I shall change heaven and earth; if the immortal path is hard to find, I shall create something out of nothing. Under the Great Path, only I am free!"

With a dust-free mind, looking at the world seemed entirely different, he soared into the clouds, shaking his head repeatedly at the dilapidated and desolate Ten Thousand Demons Island below, feeling the itch to act.

"What a location, unfortunately the spirit veins are about to disperse, in a hundred years it will surely collapse, watch me perform a transformation, a miraculous revival!"

...

Lai State, Kaiyuan Sect headquarters.

The crowd is dense, bustling back and forth, everyone seems anxious to the point of bubbling at the mouth, yet they do not know why they hurry, they just feel they must do more to find peace of mind.

After all, the establishment of the Divine Dynasty is an unprecedented event for the human race of Central State, especially with a previously unheard-of system.

The populace always speculates about who the Emperor might be, but they all know that the most likely candidate, True Man Zhang, has long stated that humanity does not need an Emperor, especially not an Immortal Emperor.

The current structure of the Divine Dynasty, for those with insight, is essentially a cultivation sect masquerading as a nation.

Though Zhang Kui is nominally the leader, he has consciously relinquished power and refrained from managing affairs, allowing every person the potential to ascend to the decision-making level; the merit system for humanity serves as the ladder to climb.

The fate of humanity is ultimately in their own hands to control; if they do not strive for strength, how can they stand between heaven and earth and compete with the ten thousand races!

At present, things seem well, Zhang Kui has merely blocked the external storm, while the development of humanity resembles oil boiling with fierce fire, forming a conflagration.

Of course, although the upper echelon of Kaiyuan Sect are united, certain matters inevitably incite debate.

"The capitals of the two previous dynasties were in Anqing State, which naturally has geographical advantages. My suggestion is to re-establish the capital on the old site of Haojing City..."

In the headquarters' main hall, Elder Huayan spoke solemnly, presenting his proposal.

"Inappropriate..."

Helian Boxiong slightly shook his head, "Both Great Zhou and Qian have lost Haojing City twice, which is clearly ominous. Moreover, a new dynasty should have a fresh atmosphere; staying in the former capital just doesn't seem right."

Gu Ziqing furrowed his brow, "Rebuilding a city in such a short time would surely exhaust the people and resources; it's better to find an existing city."

"My friend, your statement is greatly mistaken!"

Huo Yu with Double Pupils gleamed with a fierce look in his eyes, "The borders still have forbidden lands occupied, and those dispossessed noble families also harbor other intentions, eyeing us covetously. The Divine Dynasty must have the aura to suppress everything; how can it be handled capriciously?"

Though all present are national guardians, they know their talents are limited; speaking of attaining immortality, even the Mahayana stage is a luxury.

The establishment of the unprecedented Kaiyuan Divine Dynasty may well be their greatest achievement in this life, so everyone is deeply invested.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall was tense.

"Honored ones..."

Taoist Puyang smiled to ease the tensions, "Since it is a Divine Dynasty, it naturally must possess the air of a Divine Dynasty. True Man Zhang will open the mountain gate, whether it be the Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow Four Pavilions or the Sun, Moon, and Star Official, all will operate based on this."

"Everyone thinks too much; in reality, it's simple: wherever True Man Zhang opens the mountain gate, the Divine Dynasty's capital will be located."

Everyone was taken aback, then shook their heads and laughed, "Our friend is right; this precedent hasn't been set by previous dynasties, and we need not imitate old customs."

"Thus it is simple, several spirit mountains in the heartland of Central State are marked; no one knows where True Man Zhang ultimately wants to choose."

"Then what are we waiting for, inquire now, so we can prepare in advance..."

After the crowd agreed on their plans, they promptly informed Zhang Kui through the Divine Path network.

At this moment, Zhang Kui was in high spirits.

On Ten Thousand Demons Island, a massive flying sword several hundred meters long slashed back and forth, severing mountaintops, then Zhang Kui manifested the illusionary dharma aspect that reached through the heavens and the earth, using the mountain-moving skill to rearrange them.

From a distance, it seemed like a giant was rampaging across the island, using mountains as building blocks, causing the earth to tremble and dust to rise, playing with great delight.

The demons were either soaking in seawater or driving black mist floating in the air, watching this with tears nearly in their eyes.

With the Spiritual Sect's destruction, they were wraith-like spirits seeking refuge with humanity, but they ultimately needed a place to settle.

Although Ten Thousand Demons Island's spirit veins were destroyed, it is still their homeland, and much effort was required to build the city. Yet here was True Man Zhang, evicting them with fire and dismantling their home; what exactly did he want?

Zhang Kui had no concern for these demons' thoughts at this time; having just comprehended the "transform" path, he wanted to rearrange everything he saw.

Though Ten Thousand Demons Island was in ruins, its underground spirit vein foundation had not completely collapsed, and particularly after the insight from Tongyou Skill, he found that it was formed by volcanic eruptions, containing earthfire within and connecting to the East Sea's vapor externally, making him itch to perform an array.

Two days later, a Kan-Li Gathering Spirit Grand Array was formed, linking water and fire with the spirit veins, immediately whipping up a fierce wind.

The demons were astonished to find that heaven and earth's spiritual qi was madly converging, followed by an extraordinary scene on the island.

Half of it was covered in snow with water vapor steaming, while the other half was fiery hot with bubbling hot springs, and beneath the central towering mountain, clouds surged like a Sea Immortal Mountain.

Zhang Kui retracted the heaven and earth dharma aspect, suspended in the air, nodded with satisfaction; this action deepened his understanding of the Seventy-Two Demons Technique, and in the dark depths of his mind, those stars became much brighter.

Zhang Kui suddenly had an epiphany; he had known, even at full mastery of the Seventy-Two Demons Technique, it was merely the beginning. This was the path ahead, possibly also related to the future Celestial Gang Skill.

"True Man Zhang..."

Bao Wuxin was exhilarated, leading the joyous demons to bow deeply, "Thank you for bestowing us with a blessed land, the lineage of Ten Thousand Demons Mountain will be devoted protectors of humanity for generations."

"Haha, it's a small matter."

Having comprehended his path ahead, Zhang Kui was also in high spirits.

At this time, the Divine Path network conveyed the information from Helian Boxiong's group, along with a Spirit Mountain Topography Map for Zhang Kui to select from.

Upon viewing it, Zhang Kui's brow furrowed deeply, immediately boarding the dragon ship.

"You fool, let's go!" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Taoist, where are you heading?"

"Back to Central State, those spirit mountains... they're just broken mounds of earth, terribly displeasing. Without an Immortal Blessed Land, how can humanity's fortune be suppressed!"