Chương 217: Chapter 106: The Artifact Spirit Rejoins Its Primary Body, Summoned by the Manifest Saint

Reyn stepped across the threshold into the Azure Jade Palace. Far from dissipating, the grim expression darkening his face only grew more severe. The blatant obstruction from those Mu Family cultivators reeked of sinister intent. Since the Ancestor himself had already issued a decree taking Reyn as his disciple and granting him the prestigious status of a core disciple of the Mu Family, basic common sense dictated that ordinary members would tread with extreme caution and seek to curry favor.

They should never have dared to act so insolently. Unless... someone behind the scenes was pulling the strings, instructing them to keep a sharp eye on him or even restrict his movements. The moment this realization struck, an ominous foreboding flared wildly in Reyn's chest. Yet, within a few deliberate breaths, he forcibly suppressed his surging anxiety, reclaiming his cold composure. With a sharp slap against the storage bag at his waist, he released Little Divine Hall into the air.

The most urgent priority right now was to restore Little Divine Hall to its full strength. Only by doing so could he secure an additional deadly trump card, ensuring he possessed sufficient power to protect himself against whatever hidden threats lurked ahead! The moment Little Divine Hall materialized, it let out a wild scream of ecstasy. Transforming into a streak of azure light, it swooped frantically back and forth through the spacious interior of the Azure Jade Palace, howling like an unleashed wolf.

"This Divine Lord is back! Dammit, this Divine Lord has finally returned home today! Just wait until I fully restore my true power—let me see who dares bully me again or force me to give them a shoulder rub! Dammit, this Divine Lord can instantly expand to weigh nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand jin..." At this point, Little Divine Hall suddenly caught itself, realizing it was getting dangerously carried away.

If it irritated Reyn now and he refused to help integrate its consciousness into the main body of the palace, wouldn't it be left weeping in despair? To its immense relief, though Reyn's face remained cast in shadow, he showed no signs of actual wrath. Yet right in that moment, Reyn cast a cool glance toward it. His gaze was razor-sharp, piercing straight through its spectral core like cold steel.

"Today, I can restore you to your peak power," Reyn said in a flat tone.

"However, if you ever harbor treacherous thoughts in the future, I can just as easily beat you back to square one!" His voice possessed no dramatic fury, nor did it carry any forced overbearing aura. Yet a marrow-chilling dread erupted from the deepest depths of consciousness, spreading rapidly and causing Little Divine Hall to shudder uncontrollably. Forcing a nervous, sycophantic grin, it stammered, "H-how could that ever happen? You are my most exalted, majestic master!

Little Divine Hall will forever be your most devoted and loyal servant. I would never dare entertain a single disloyal thought!" Reyn remained expressionless as he responded coolly, "Even if you did, I wouldn't care in the slightest. At worst, I will simply release the Golden Seal to devour you completely, using your essence to bolster its own power." Little Divine Hall froze instantly, its shimmering form stiffening in horror. Wailing mournfully, it whimpered, "Master! My divine, invincible Master!

This humble one will never spout nonsense again! Whatever you do, please, please do not unleash that freakish monster... no, no, no, I mean Big Brother Golden Seal! If you bring it out, it will genuinely eat me alive!" Little Divine Hall was utterly terrified! How could it not be?

An artifact capable of effortlessly severing a Dao Artifact's Primordial Soul spirit and forcibly binding it into master-servant submission without allowing a shred of resistance—such terrifying power far surpassed the upper limits of Little Divine Hall's comprehension! At times, it even secretly speculated whether the Golden Seal's true identity was that legendary ultimate overlord, the absolute pinnacle among magical artifacts—a Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure!

The mere thought of such a possibility sent tremors of absolute dread rippling through its very essence. A secret smile brushed through Reyn's heart. Though he could not actively control or command the Golden Seal at will, borrowing its formidable reputation to intimidate others produced extraordinarily good results.

"Enough. Time is pressing," Reyn said briskly.

"To prevent any unexpected complications, tell me immediately how to integrate you back into your primary body." Upon hearing those words, Little Divine Hall's previous terror instantly gave way to renewed vigor. Pouncing forward toward Reyn's forehead, it transmitted a complex secret art directly into his consciousness.

"Back then, the bastard who sealed this Divine Lord was terrifyingly powerful, employing extremely ruthless methods. But even his seal couldn't withstand my deduction over countless endless eras! I've finally cracked the solution!" Little Divine Hall cackled boastfully, transforming its phantom shape into a comical figure standing with hands on hips, laughing up at the heavens.

"Master, as long as you execute the secret technique according to these instructions, this Divine Lord will definitely regain all of its ancient glory and power!" Reyn paid no attention to its arrogant bluster. Immersing his Primordial Soul into the incoming stream of memory, he meticulously analyzed and cross-examined every single detail of the secret method, ensuring there were no hidden traps or flaws.

Only after confirming its complete safety did he slowly open his eyes, his voice deep and decisive: "Since that is the case, let us begin!" Little Divine Hall shivered slightly upon hearing his command. Uncharacteristically, it stopped chatterboxes and flew obediently to hover right before Reyn.

"Rest assured. Nothing will go wrong," Reyn murmured, seemingly comforting Little Divine Hall as much as himself. With his keen discernment, he naturally recognized that this secret art harbored a degree of inherent risk. Should an unexpected mistake occur during the process, Little Divine Hall's spiritual essence would be obliterated on the spot, erased from existence forever.

"Don't worry," Little Divine Hall replied, its voice taking on a rare note of solemn gravity.

"I've endured this torment for far too long. Even if there were only a ten percent chance of success, I would still stake everything on it. Besides, this Divine Lord has always possessed extraordinary luck, and you are hardly a cursed man. I refuse to believe that anything could go wrong when the two of us work together. Do you understand now why I kept this incantation hidden from you before? I was afraid you would deem the odds too slim and refuse to act. But I truly cannot wait any longer."

A faint smile touched Reyn's lips.

"My luck has always been fairly good." As the words left his mouth, his hands blurred. In a split second, he struck over a dozen hand seals into the air, sending them crashing with resonance straight into Little Divine Hall's ethereal form.

"Agh!" A muffled grunt echoed out. Under the impact of the hand seals, Little Divine Hall's body instantly expanded by several inches. Crimson and azure light churned violently across its surface, radiating intense agony. Reyn's expression remained utterly stone-cold, unaffected by its pain. His hands transformed into a whirlwind of blinding motions, flying up and down in a furious tempest. In the span of a single breath, he dispatched dozens, even a hundred intricate spell seals.

The exhaustion of his internal spiritual energy hit an alarming speed, draining his reserves so rapidly that his face turned pale within mere seconds. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. As wave after wave of hand seals rained down, azure light surged and flickered wildly. Waves of excruciating agony crashed through Little Divine Hall's consciousness, yet it gritted its teeth and endured, showing not the slightest hint of hesitation or retreat.

Specks of brilliant cyan light began to seep out from its body, transforming into delicate wisps of shimmering azure halos that seamlessly melted into the surrounding structure of the Azure Jade Palace.

"I feel it! I feel the power of my main body! I've touched it!" Little Divine Hall roared in sheer exhilaration. Reyn's face drained of color, turning increasingly ghostly white, yet the hand seals he formed remained impeccably precise and fluid. His fingers fluttered like butterflies darting through a dense bed of blossoms; though every single movement was exceedingly complex, he executed each spell seal without a single flaw!

"Vital Essence Conversion, refine into Spiritual Mana!" When his internal mana reserves plummeted past the two-thirds mark, Reyn hesitated not for a second, forcefully converting his own life essence into surging spiritual energy to sustain the ritual! Had he not previously refined and absorbed the White Jade Dragon-Whiskers Rice—boosting his life force to a level comparable to a Golden Core stage cultivator—he would never have dared attempt such a reckless move.

Otherwise, long before the secret technique could reach completion, he would have withered into death from total vital exhaustion!

"Oh no! Someone is coming!" Little Divine Hall suddenly cried out, its tone choked with alarm, fury, and bitter reluctance. Reyn's countenance shifted instantly, yet the relentless barrage of hand seals leaving his palms did not stutter for even a fraction of a second.

"Who is it?" he asked in a low, sharp voice.

"How long until they enter?"

"A Late-stage Golden Core cultivator has just set foot on the plaza before the palace gates! He will be here in twenty breath-counts!" The voice of the Little Divine Hall carried a tinge of helpless despair, laughing self-deprecatingly.

"It seems even Heaven wants this divine spirit finished. To think someone would arrive at a time like this... Master, you had better stop immediately! If someone catches you doing this, you'll be in severe trouble." Reyn remained completely expressionless, yet his eyes flashed with razor-sharp intensity. Inside his mind, thoughts were racing at breakneck speed, analyzing every single possibility and outcome in an instant.

If he pulled back his hands now, leaving the spell seals incomplete, the Little Divine Hall would inevitably suffer the severe backlash from the main body of the Azure Jade Palace. In an instant, its spirit form would be shattered to pieces, erased from existence forever! Should that happen, all the blood, sweat, and painstaking effort Reyn had expended to acquire the nine Mu Jade Swords would instantly go down the drain.

Even worse, he would forever forfeit this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to refine and claim a legendary Dao Artifact! I cannot stop! Under no circumstances will I abort now! As the thought solidified in his mind, an unyielding determination flared within Reyn's eyes. Twenty breath-counts remaining... Then I will force these spell seals to completion before Mu Yunshen sets foot inside!

"Little Divine Hall, endure the agony! Do not utter a single sound!" Reyn roared within his Primordial Soul, his mental voice resounding like thunder.

"If you make a noise and draw Mu Yunshen over, neither of us will escape this alive!" Reyn drew a deep, icy breath. The rich vital energy within his body surged like a furious tide, violently transforming into waves of boundless spiritual mana. In that exact instant, the movement of his hands accelerated, doubling in speed until his arms blurred into indistinct phantoms. Intricate hand seals roared through the air one after another, pounding precisely onto the Little Divine Hall.

Simultaneously, the specks of shimmering azure light burst forth with terrifying swiftness, howling as they melted directly into the core structure of the Azure Jade Palace. The Little Divine Hall gritted its teeth and endured the soul-rending agony. Observing how Reyn's face rapidly drained of color—yet seeing the raw, unwavering resolve burning deep within the young man's eyes—a surge of uncharacteristic warmth welled inside the ancient spirit's heart.

If this divine spirit survives this ordeal, it thought secretly, I will truly repay you with everything I have in the future.

"Damn it! Why is that bastard walking so fast?! Time is running out... Master, you have to hurry!" This single cry of "Master" sprang entirely from the spirit's heart, completely devoid of any previous flattery or calculated deceit. At the seventeenth breath-count, Mu Yunshen stepped in front of the Azure Jade Palace with a dark, brooding expression. His eyes swept over the guarding Mu Family cultivators with icy contempt.

Feeling the suffocating pressure, the guards turned pale as sheet and fell to their knees in terror. At the eighteenth breath-count, Mu Yunshen stood still. His face flickered unpredictably between shadow and light as hesitation gnawed at his thoughts. At the nineteenth breath-count, a sudden gleam of resolve hardened in his eyes. He surged forward in a flash of escape light, stepping directly through the threshold of the Azure Jade Palace!

At the twentieth breath-count, his figure materialized near the entrance of the grand hall. His sharp gaze immediately locked onto the tall, straight posture standing inside the vast chamber. As if sensing the intruder's presence, the youth in azure robes turned around at a relaxed pace. Though his face appeared slightly pale, a warm, perfectly calm smile rested upon his lips. Bowing respectfully with folded hands, he spoke:"Disciple Reyn pays respects to Venerable Mu."

Mu Yunshen's gaze swept across the entire interior of the palace like a fine comb, but he failed to detect even the slightest anomaly. Hearing Reyn's greeting, his brows knit together for a fraction of a second before softening into an approachable smile.

"I was actually looking for you," Mu Yunshen said casually.

"When my disciples reported that you were here, I made my way over." He took two deliberate steps forward, looking around at the magnificent, imposing structure of the Azure Jade Palace. He chuckled softly.

"Then again, instead of resting to recover from your injuries, why did you wander all the way out here?" Reyn's eyes flickered slightly before he let out an easy, genial laugh.

"I had previously heard that the main hall of the Mu Family, the Azure Jade Palace itself, is an ancient Dao Artifact. Naturally, I was filled with immense curiosity. Once my injuries stabilized today, I took the liberty of coming over to admire it. Earlier, as I calmed my mind, I truly felt a faint, immensely formidable aura radiating from this treasure." A look of genuine lament surfaced naturally on Reyn's face as he continued, "What a pity that such a supreme treasure cannot be wielded by us cultivators.

Senior, if the opportunity ever presents itself, you must gather all nine Mu Jade Swords and allow the full majesty of this Azure Jade Palace to shine upon the world once more." Hearing Reyn's candid praise, the faint trace of suspicion in the depths of Mu Yunshen's eyes dissolved completely. He beamed warmly.

"Indeed. The fact that our Mu Family possesses such a grand artifact yet remains unable to wield its full power is something every one of us deeply laments."

"Ah, I wonder what brings Senior here to find me today?" Reyn asked with a subtle smile, smoothly steering the conversation away from the palace itself.

"Our Ancestor completed his secluded cultivation today," Mu Yunshen replied cheerfully.

"He sent a voice transmission instructing me to bring you to the Hall of Ten Thousand Longevities for an audience." The Mu Family Ancestor has finished his seclusion! Reyn's heart thrummed with a sharp jolt. An instant wave of delight flashed across the depths of his eyes. Cupping his hands together in a hurried gesture of respect, he said, "In that case, so as not to keep my Master waiting, this junior will head over immediately!" Without another word, he picked up his pace and rushed out of the hall.

Mu Yunshen watched Reyn's retreating back, his cheerful expression vanishing into a dark, brooding glare. Unsettled calculation flickered through his narrowed eyes as he murmured under his breath, "Could this brat have caught wind of something? Have suspicions begun to sprout in his mind? It seems I must inform Ancestor immediately and bring this matter to a swift conclusion, lest unexpected complications arise."

With a flick of his thoughts, his powerful Divine Sense swept across every nook and cranny of the Azure Jade Palace, searching meticulously for any hidden trace or spiritual disruption. After a long moment of finding nothing out of the ordinary, a look of lingering confusion touched his face.

"Could it be... that I truly overthought things?"