If Youquan Blood Demon's previous injuries from White's haotian mirror were mostly feigned and performed, meaning he wasn't seriously hurt, then this direct hit from an atomic bomb explosion truly left him on the brink of death.
If he hadn't relied on the Blood Cave's power to nullify most of the impact, he would have been annihilated long ago, body and soul.
"Once I emerge from seclusion, all of you will die!"
Using his last shred of strength, Nether Spring completely sealed off the Blood Cave, preventing White and others from entering. He then submerged himself into the blood lake, beginning to absorb the power within the plasma to recover from his injuries.
Originally, according to his plan, he might have been able to fully absorb the Blood Cave's power and emerge within a year, then destroy Mount Emei in one fell swoop and unify this World.
Now, he was severely wounded, and the Blood Cave's power had significantly weakened. To return to his previous state, it would take at least a decade.
All of this was caused by a mere Core Formation Realm cultivator whose name he didn't even know.
Even the unfathomable White was played for a fool by him, only to be tricked by a tiny Core Formation Realm cultivator in the end. Nether Spring's inner turmoil at this moment was unimaginable.
However, cultivators' joys and sorrows are not the same. At this moment, outside, White, sensing the weakening power of the Blood Cave, immediately turned to Li Chuan and said, "Li Qingfeng, your ancient secret treasure has weakened the Blood Cave's power to its extreme. Now is Nether Spring's weakest moment. Can you use Apparition to send me inside?"
With his strength, if he could enter the Blood Cave's interior now, the heavily wounded Nether Spring, even if he utilized the Blood Cave's power, would be no match for him.
Because in such a short time, he was certain that Nether Spring had only just begun to grasp the Blood Cave, and moreover, the Blood Cave's power had been greatly weakened.
"Zhenren (Immortal), no, the Blood Cave, once sealed, becomes a self-contained space with a confining force similar to a formation. My Apparition cannot enter."
Li Chuan shook his head after sensing it.
He wasn't lying to White; once the Blood Cave sealed, it indeed prevented him from using Apparition to enter, just like when he was in the Nine-Son Profound Yin Heavenly Demon Grand Formation.
However, even if he could enter, he didn't want White to go in and kill Nether Spring right now, because keeping Nether Spring alive was more valuable than killing him at this moment.
Upon hearing Li Chuan's reply, White's face showed a hint of regret, but he quickly brightened up.
"This strike will at least prevent Nether Spring from making any moves for ten years, buying us enough time. This is already a very good outcome."
If not for Li Chuan's immensely powerful ancient secret treasure, which severely wounded Nether Spring and greatly weakened the Blood Cave's power, allowing Nether Spring to fully integrate Chiyou's essence blood, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze towards Li Chuan, their eyes filled with respect and admiration.
Daring to enter the Blood Cave, rescuing Danchenzi and Xuantian Sect, severely wounding Nether Spring, and weakening the Blood Cave's power—though Li Chuan was only at the Core Formation Realm, in their eyes, he was no less impressive than Earth Immortal Realm Danchenzi and Xuantian Sect.
Many female disciples, in particular, looked at Li Chuan with a special affection.
While Danchenzi and Xuantian Sect were indeed powerful, they were seniors who had cultivated for four or five centuries, and in the eyes of many Shu Mountain disciples, they belonged to the esteemed elder generation.
Li Chuan, however, was different. In his early twenties, he was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage when he first arrived at Shu Mountain and often chatted and conversed with them, existing on the same level.
Now, having accomplished so many remarkable feats, he easily captivated these Shu Mountain female disciples who had never even experienced romance.
"Danchenzi, among the Shu Mountain disciples, your cultivation is the highest and your strength the strongest. Until I devise a solution for Nether Spring, I will need to trouble you to guard this place. If there's any unusual movement, act first and report later!"
After confirming that Nether Spring could not be dealt with for the time being, Zhenren (Immortal) White looked towards Danchenzi.
Danchenzi immediately responded respectfully, "Yes, Master, as the Mount Emei senior disciple, I will do my utmost to guard this place!"
White nodded, then looked at Li Chuan, "Li Qingfeng, I heard you are following Danchenzi to refine magic treasures and are also very interested in our Mount Emei Sword Control Art. Then stay here as well; it's a perfect opportunity for Danchenzi to teach you our Mount Emei's most authentic Sword Control Art!"
"Thank you, Zhenren (Immortal), for your generosity!"
Li Chuan immediately cupped his hands, his tone a mix of surprise and excitement.
He knew that White would not be stingy; as long as he made contributions, he would definitely reap rewards. However, White's willingness to let Danchenzi teach him the authentic Mount Emei Sword Control Art was something he had not expected.
Danchenzi's Flying Knife Wings were a magic treasure he created himself, and passing on its refinement method to Li Chuan was a private matter, not a big deal.
But the Mount Emei Sword Control Art was the foundation of Mount Emei's power. Normally, such a spell would absolutely not be taught to anyone outside of their own sect's disciples.
Even if orthodox cultivators were demon-slayers and protectors of justice, with fundamentally no bad people among them, sectarian biases were still a highly regarded issue, just like among ordinary people.
Especially larger sects, they valued this issue even more.
That's why Li Chuan was so surprised when he heard White's words.
"Very good, but Li Qingfeng, remember this: once you learn the Mount Emei Sword Control Art, you must not pass it on to others without the Mount Emei sect leader's permission, not even your Master Brother and Master Sister of Xiao Zhu Mountain."
Finally, White added a remark.
Teaching Li Chuan the Mount Emei Sword Control Art was naturally in recognition of Li Chuan's immense contributions, but it didn't mean Li Chuan could then pass the Mount Emei Sword Control Art on to others.
Moreover, Li Chuan knew the minor Apparition, so if there was any unusual movement in the Blood Cave, he could instantly Apparition to Mount Emei to report.
"Qingfeng will remember!"
Li Chuan nodded solemnly; this restriction was too insignificant for him.
"Xuantian Sect, Heavenly Thunder Twin Swords, Yun Zhong Seven, and other disciples, follow me back to Mount Emei to discuss the next steps."
After arranging for Danchenzi and Li Chuan, White led all the remaining people back to Mount Emei.
In the end, only Li Chuan and Danchenzi remained in Panluo Valley, along with the almost completely sealed Blood Cave entrance.
"Master Brother, it seems you'll be guiding me in both artifact refinement and sword control from now on!"
"Don't worry, Master Brother, I will certainly hold nothing back and ensure you learn the most authentic Mount Emei Sword Control Art.
This is good, too. I was worried before that you would master the Flying Sword Wings but wouldn't know our Mount Emei Sword Control Art, and thus wouldn't be able to unleash its full power."
Danchenzi said with a smile.
His Heavenly Dragon Slash Flying Knife Wings were powerful not just because the ten thousand flying knives were formidable, but more importantly, because they were combined with Mount Emei's powerful Sword Control Art to exhibit such immense power.
If the Mount Emei Sword Control Art control was lost, and only ordinary sword control methods were used, the power displayed by the Flying Knife Wings would be greatly diminished, and it might even be impossible to smoothly control so many flying knives to attack.
And so, Li Chuan stayed in Panluo Valley with Danchenzi, beginning to refine small flying swords one by one while also learning the authentic Mount Emei Sword Control Art.
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