"However, with your current strength, subduing a Half-Emperor-grade magical weapon would be quite dangerous. Do you want to take the gamble?" Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
"Of course I'll take the gamble. The Heavenly Dao Tower carries the aura of the Guhuang Great Emperor. It can be used to suppress this longsword, greatly reducing the risk," Ye Yunfei replied.
"Right. It's precisely because of the Heavenly Dao Tower that I'm letting you try. Otherwise, it wouldn't even be worth attempting," Hun Lao said.
"Young Master Ye, what rank of magical weapon is that longsword? It's too terrifying. Even from this distance, I can feel dreadful sword energy assailing my body, and even my Soul Body aches in waves. Young Master Ye, we should leave quickly," the Supreme Elder of the Longevity Palace said.
"That is a Half-Emperor-grade magical weapon. With your current strength, you cannot approach it. Here's what we'll do: you all enter my spatial artifact," Ye Yunfei said to the four Star-Gazing Realm experts.
Hiss!
A Half-Emperor-grade magical weapon!
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the four Star-Gazing Realm experts couldn't help but suck in cold breaths.
"Young Master Ye, could it be… you intend to claim that longsword?" the Longevity Palace Master, who had been listening, immediately guessed Ye Yunfei's intention and asked in surprise.
"Yes. I plan to give it a try," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Young Master Ye, that is far too dangerous. That sword's might is too terrifying," the Supreme Elder advised.
"It's fine. I know what I'm doing. Don't worry, I'll be alright," Ye Yunfei replied.
Next, Ye Yunfei teleported the Longevity Palace Master and the other three into the Phantom Tower.
"Let's go together." Hun Lao appeared, summoned the Heavenly Dao Tower, and positioned it in front of Ye Yunfei.
Hun Lao and Ye Yunfei began inching step by step toward the longsword in front of them.
Clang!
Just a few steps after Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao started moving, the longsword seemed to sense something. It unleashed a thick beam of sword light that instantly cleaved through the heavens, surging mightily toward Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao.
Along the path of that sword beam, one could clearly see space being instantly split in two, leaving a black, several-kilometer-wide spatial rift.
Hun Lao pointed a finger.
Boom…
The Heavenly Dao Tower was activated, layer upon layer of ancient and profound energy and pressure manifesting, radiating forward.
Boom…
The sword beam struck the energy pressure released by the Heavenly Dao Tower, instantly halted, trembled for a moment, and then slowly dissipated.
"It really works!" Hun Lao was overjoyed.
"Of course. The Heavenly Dao Tower is a full Emperor-grade artifact. Using it to counter the attack of a Half-Emperor-grade artifact is more than enough," Ye Yunfei chuckled.
Next, Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao used the Heavenly Dao Tower as a shield and continuously advanced toward the longsword.
As Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao got closer and closer, the longsword's reaction grew increasingly fierce, constantly unleashing terrifying sword beams in furious attacks.
However, the Heavenly Dao Tower intercepted every single attack from the longsword. Those dreadful sword beams simply couldn't harm Ye Yunfei or Hun Lao.
Finally, Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao arrived in the vicinity of the longsword.
Even with the protection of the Heavenly Dao Tower, Ye Yunfei could still feel waves of terrifying sword energy continuously slicing at the surface of his body, causing excruciating pain.
This was because, although the Heavenly Dao Tower was an Emperor-grade artifact, both Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao's strength was insufficient to truly activate its full power. Moreover, Hun Lao had not refined the Heavenly Dao Tower. It was simply that they had spent so much time together and were extremely familiar with each other, allowing Hun Lao to activate a portion of the tower's power.
"I never thought subduing a single Half-Emperor-grade artifact would be this difficult. My current strength is still far too weak," Ye Yunfei couldn't help but lament inwardly.
"Let's get a little closer," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and said to Hun Lao.
So the two used the Heavenly Dao Tower to protect themselves and continued approaching the longsword.
By now, the longsword's reaction was even more intense. It trembled constantly, one thick sword beam after another incessantly slashing out to attack Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao. This area of space was carved into chaotic fragments by the dreadful sword beams.
After a moment, Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao were only a few meters away from the longsword.
"Good. Now you can try to refine it," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
"Alright, right here will do," Ye Yunfei nodded.
So Ye Yunfei sat down cross-legged, while Hun Lao stood beside him, manipulating the Heavenly Dao Tower for protection.
"Hun Lao, the Heavenly Dao Tower contains the aura of the Guhuang Great Emperor. You should stimulate the Heavenly Dao Tower's power and the Guhuang Great Emperor's aura to suppress this longsword, assisting me in refining it," Ye Yunfei said to Hun Lao.
"Good," Hun Lao nodded.
Boom…
Hun Lao urged the Heavenly Dao Tower, causing it to erupt with billowing power. Moreover, a faintly discernible, majestic figure materialized within the tower—none other than the Guhuang Great Emperor.
As the Guhuang Great Emperor's figure appeared, vast and mighty energy and pressure pressed down toward the longsword ahead.
Boom!
Seizing the opportunity, Ye Yunfei released the Heavenly Emperor remnant soul deep within his soul sea, slowly extending it toward the longsword.
Boom boom…
The longsword seemed unwilling to submit and was frantically resisting. Terrifyingly dense sword beams continuously slashed out from the sword's body, raining down on Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao like a downpour.
But every incoming sword beam was intercepted by the Heavenly Dao Tower.
The Heavenly Dao Tower, the figure of the Guhuang Great Emperor, and Ye Yunfei's Heavenly Emperor remnant soul worked together to suppress the longsword.
At first, the longsword resisted violently.
But after a moment…
Hum…
Finally, the longsword's movements grew much calmer. It trembled continuously, emitting a buzzing sound, as if somewhat intimidated. After all, being suppressed by so much Emperor-grade aura was making it a little hard to bear!
Boom…
While urging his Heavenly Emperor remnant soul, Ye Yunfei also fully utilized the Artifact Control Art to begin attempting to refine this longsword.
The Artifact Control Art was profoundly mysterious. It could control weapons, snatch weapons from enemies, and could also be used to refine magical artifacts! However, refining a Half-Emperor-grade artifact was no simple matter.
Within the longsword's body resided a trace of Soul Power consciousness from its original owner, controlling the sword and resisting desperately.
Time slowly passed.
Unknowingly, more than half a month went by.
Finally, Ye Yunfei's Heavenly Emperor remnant soul succeeded in suppressing the remnant Soul Power consciousness within the longsword, and used the Soul Tree to devour it completely.
Next, Ye Yunfei began attempting to imprint his own Soul Power mark within the longsword.
Another half a month passed.
Clang…
Suddenly, the longsword that had originally been slanted into the ground pulled free with a clear, melodious ring.
"Finally refined!" Ye Yunfei broke into a smile.
Ye Yunfei reached out a hand, and the longsword fell into his palm, erupting with billowing sword energy.
"Even though you've refined it, activating a Half-Emperor-grade artifact consumes immense energy and Soul Power. With your current strength, you could only command it to attack once or twice at most. Don't use it carelessly except in critical moments," Hun Lao recalled the Heavenly Dao Tower and said.
"With this longsword, I can now easily handle the various dangers within this battlefield," Ye Yunfei chuckled.
Then, Ye Yunfei summoned the Longevity Palace Master and the other three out of the spatial artifact.
"Young Master Ye, did you succeed in refining that longsword?" the Longevity Palace Master asked in surprise upon noticing the longsword was no longer there.
"Yes, I've already refined it," Ye Yunfei nodded in reply.
"Young Master Ye, your methods are truly something one has to admire!" the Longevity Palace's Supreme Elder exclaimed in amazement.
The four Star-Gazing Realm experts admired Ye Yunfei immensely—that was a Half-Emperor-grade artifact! They couldn't even withstand the sword energy pressure released by that longsword from far away. They had no doubt that if they dared approach the sword, they would be instantly killed by those terrifying sword beams. Yet, Ye Yunfei had actually refined it!
"Let's go. We should hurry and search for the Demon Ancestor," Ye Yunfei said.
Refining the longsword had cost Ye Yunfei over a month of time here.
Then, Ye Yunfei brought the Longevity Palace Master and the others, continuing onward.
Before long, Ye Yunfei and the Demon Race expert once again sensed the aura left behind by the Demon Ancestor, and they began following the trail.
Whenever they encountered danger, Ye Yunfei would simply take out the longsword and handle it effortlessly.
Consequently, their speed of advance increased dramatically!
"Young Master Ye, I have a feeling we seem to be getting closer and closer to our ancestor!" the Demon Race expert suddenly exclaimed in pleasant surprise.