The Blade's Name is Soul Slayer; First, it will sever your divine souls!

As the spirit-gathering array operated, Zhou Ran felt as if he were immersed in warm, jade-like liquid.

The demonic energy within him, which was about to overflow, completed its final transformation.

The bottleneck has been broken.

Qi Condensation Level 7!

He did not get up, but instead focused his inner vision on his dantian, while his divine sense quietly touched the depths of his sea of ​​consciousness.

As he entered the late stage of Qi Condensation, Ye Futian's remnant soul visibly solidified.

That old thing recovered even faster than I did.

The reason he's in such a hurry to send me to the Demon-Suppressing Temple is probably because the "opportunity" there will be of immense benefit to me.

Zhou Ran's thoughts were as cold as ice.

Raising a tiger only to cause trouble?

It remains to be seen who the real tiger is.

At that moment, Qin San's suppressed excitement came from outside the bamboo forest.

"Master Zhou, the goods have arrived."

Zhou Ran got up and went outside. Several large boxes were placed on the ground and were guarded by Qin San.

As the lid of the box was lifted, a stench of scalding blood and stale dust wafted out.

A full bucket of still steaming black dog blood.

A pile of fine cinnabar, yellow paper, and strings of copper coins covered in dirt.

Zhou Ran's demonic eyes swept across the area, his gaze lingering for a moment on a string of five rusty copper coins.

The Five Emperors Coins!

This is not one of those counterfeit products on the market.

It truly carries the aura of the imperial dynasty more than two thousand years ago, and is a top-tier magical object for warding off evil spirits and dispelling malevolent influences.

Qin San, that old fox, is indeed meticulous in his work.

"Master Zhou, this is a gift from that old bastard Wu De. He says it's a treasured heirloom of the Wu family."

Qin San presented a long, narrow object wrapped in yellow brocade with both hands.

The brocade cloth was lifted, revealing a strange piece of metal about three feet long and completely black.

The surface is covered with craters left by meteors streaking across the sky.

Upon touching it, an extreme sense of coldness and heaviness penetrates to the bone.

"Extraterrestrial meteorite".

Zhou Ran's fingertips traced the surface of the meteorite. Wu De was truly willing to go to great lengths to survive.

"Well done."

Zhou Ran gave Qin San an order.

"Continue the investigation. Within Jiangcheng, I will collect all similar strange objects, whatever they may be, and however many there are."

"Yes, sir!"

Qin San bowed and accepted the order, but couldn't help asking out of curiosity.

"Master Zhou, you need these things... for preparation?"

"Weapon crafting".

Zhou Ran uttered two words, ignoring Qin San, and turned around to take all the materials back into the depths of the spirit-gathering array in the bamboo forest behind the mountain.

Seeing that Zhou Ran did not decline the guests, Qin San tactfully followed behind.

The materials were laid out one by one, and Zhou Ran sat down cross-legged, closing his eyes and concentrating.

For a cultivator of his level, refining weapons is an extremely mentally taxing task.

Half an hour later, he suddenly opened his eyes.

With a slight thought, the broken blade he had snatched from the ghost's hand flew out of his storage ring and hovered in front of him.

The material is good, but unfortunately, it's just an ordinary weapon.

"rise!"

Zhou Ran gave a low shout, and with his right palm facing upwards, a cluster of dark purple flames silently rose.

Purifying Demon Flame!

This is a demonic spell he obtained by exchanging that black spirit stone with Ye Futian.

This fire is extremely yin and evil, said to be able to burn everything in the world, making it perfect for refining weapons.

As soon as the fire was unleashed, the surrounding purple bamboo forest seemed to be dragged into a deep, cold hell, and a thin layer of white frost instantly condensed on the bamboo leaves.

Qin San was so shocked that he took three steps back, feeling as if his blood was about to freeze.

Zhou Ran flicked his finger.

The demonic fire, like a living thing, silently pounced on them, enveloping the broken blade and the extraterrestrial meteorite together.

Without the crackling sound of intense burning, the two incredibly hard metals quietly melted in the purple flames.

Zhou Ran focused intently, his hands creating countless afterimages in front of his chest as he unleashed a series of profound spells.

Under his divine control, the small droplet formed from the extraterrestrial meteorite began to be forcibly pressed into the droplet of the broken blade.

Two different primal forces collided violently, causing bubbles to rise continuously on the surface of the droplet, as if it were about to burst at any moment.

Qin San held his breath. He couldn't understand it, but he could feel that a heart-pounding power was being nurtured within that purple flame.

"Freeze!"

When all the impurities were completely devoured by the demonic flames, Zhou Ran's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he suddenly clasped his hands together in front of his chest!

The turbulent liquid metal was instantly kneaded together by an invisible force and reshaped into the form of a long sword.

The blade is longer and narrower than before, with extremely smooth lines, and its entire body has a dark purple color that can devour light.

"Quenching!"

Before Qin San could even gasp in surprise, Zhou Ran's gaze sharpened, and he reached out with his left hand to grab the bucket of black dog blood!

The entire bucket of scalding hot dog blood transformed into a thick jet of blood, roaring as it shot into the sky!

Meanwhile, cinnabar, yellow paper, and the Five Emperors' Coins...

All the magical materials flew up and exploded in mid-air, turning into a golden powder containing righteous energy and dragon energy, which all merged into the blood arrow!

"laugh--!"

Like a dragon entering the sea, a deafening explosion rang out!

Blood, imbued with the most yang and masculine power, was poured onto the blade, which was extremely yin and malevolent.

Thick white mist, mixed with a strange fragrance, rose into the sky, almost obscuring the entire bamboo forest.

The blade hissed violently in the blood.

The dark purple patterns on the blade moved wildly as if they were alive, eventually coalescing into two ancient seal characters near the hilt.

Zanpakuto!

Zhou Ran reached out and grasped the knife handle.

A feeling of being connected by blood and sharing the same thoughts arose spontaneously.

This is already a genuine low-grade magic weapon, and it is also his natal magic weapon!

"A fine knife."

Zhou Ran couldn't help but admire it; the feeling coming from the blade was one of exhilarating ease, as if it were his own arm.

However, just as he was about to sheathe his sword...

hum...

The Zanpakuto suddenly emitted a low hum, conveying an extreme thirst for blood.

Zhou Ran smiled.

He didn't turn around, but simply stretched out his finger and casually flicked it lightly on the dark purple blade.

Ding--!

A clear and resonant metallic clang transformed into a visible sound wave that pierced through the bamboo forest and spread outwards from the back mountain.

"Since you're here, why hide?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the bamboo forest came to a stop.

The two shadowy figures, which had blended into the darkness, suddenly froze and were forced to reveal themselves.

They were two elderly men dressed in Taoist robes.

The man on the left was as thin as a rake, holding a peach wood sword, his eyes as cold as a venomous snake.

The man on the right was burly and carried a huge yellow cloth bag on his back. Fragments of electricity flickered around him.

"Such keen perception; no wonder he was able to kill Ghost Shadow."

The burly old Taoist priest sneered. Although his whereabouts had been exposed, he showed no fear on his face, only an arrogant air of superiority.

Zhang Tianlei, a former disciple of Longhu Mountain.

Although he was expelled from his sect, he had mastered the Five Thunder Orthodox Technique to a high level, making him a true grandmaster.

In his view, Zhou Ran was just a young lad who had encountered some extraordinary events. Although the commotion of the spirit-gathering array was significant, it was mostly due to the help of a rare treasure.

"Li Xuanyin, a guest elder of the Lingxu Sect."

The gaunt, aged voice, like that of a night owl, spoke in a chilling tone:

"Zhou Ran, my master has ordered that you hand over the bronze key and cripple your cultivation, in which case you may be spared a complete corpse."

Zhou Ran finally turned around, looked at them with the eyes of someone looking at a dead person, and laughed.

"That old bastard Lingxu doesn't dare come himself, so he sends you two pieces of trash to your deaths?"

His demonic eyes had already seen through these two so-called peak Grandmasters.

It's nothing but a castle in the air, with a weak foundation and mixed vital energy.

This kind of thing is even considered unworthy of being used to sharpen a newly made "Zanpakuto".

"You arrogant brat!"

Zhang Tianlei was furious.

"Senior brother, why waste words with him! The True Immortal is waiting for our reply. Let's kill him and seize the treasure!"

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Tianlei stomped his foot hard, and the ground cracked!

He transformed into a cannonball, accompanied by thunderous roar, and charged violently toward Zhou Ran.

"Five Thunder Palm!"