Volume One: The Calamity of the Lich Chapter 181: The Divine Axe of Creation Appears; Kunlun Transforms into a Blessed Land

"Enough. There are two matters that have brought me to Kunlun today," Qingxuan said, waving his hand at the Three Pure Ones.

Without further ado, Qingxuan produced the newly reforged Immortal Execution Sword Formation and tossed it to Tongtian.

Tongtian caught the formation and immediately began to examine it fondly, unable to put it down.

Seeing this, Qingxuan remarked, "This set of treasures has now been reforged by me. Many of its functions have changed. If you use it well, it may present you with a significant opportunity. As for its powers, you will have to discover them for yourself."

He said no more.

"Thank you, Senior. This treasure suits me perfectly now. In fact, I find it even more fitting than before," Tongtian replied, cupping his hands in gratitude, excitement shining in his eyes as he caressed the four swords held close to his chest.

What Tongtian did not realize was that his greatest strengths now lay in the way of formations and swordsmanship. The previous version of the Immortal Execution Sword Formation had been burdened with excessive murderous energy. Now, after Qingxuan's reforging, it had become purer, perfectly attuned to Tongtian’s cultivation in the sword.

"As for the second matter, it is what we agreed upon before," Qingxuan continued.

At these words, the Three Pure Ones glanced at Zhenyuanzi, who stood beside Qingxuan, uncertain of what was to come.

"We have given our word to you, Senior, and will not go back on it," Taishang replied, stepping forward with poise.

"Very well. I see that you have already gathered all the necessary materials. But let me tell you this: since you have been granted this opportunity, it means that you can complete the final step according to your own path. For you, it may well be another great chance," Qingxuan said.

The three nodded, seemingly enlightened by his words.

Yuanshi then led Qingxuan and Zhenyuanzi up to Jade Purity Peak.

"Senior, one of the ten great spiritual roots, the Yellow Middle Plum, is here. You may take it as you please," Yuanshi offered.

But to his surprise, Qingxuan shook his head. "There is no need to take it all. For my purposes, a few main branches will suffice."

With that, Qingxuan summoned a great Hand of Creation, which reached for the Yellow Middle Plum on the peak. With a single grasp, several of its main branches were brought to Qingxuan, who then stored them away.

Having finished, Qingxuan produced a piece of Primordial Soil and used it to aid the Yellow Middle Plum’s growth.

With his help, the tree took root in chaos itself, and the Three Pure Ones noticed that the spiritual energy in Kunlun had thickened noticeably.

Only then did they realize Qingxuan's true intention.

At this time, they had not yet attained sainthood and could not perceive all the hidden truths—otherwise, their thoughts might have been quite different.

"Now, the main event begins," Qingxuan announced.

"What would you have us do, Senior? Please instruct us as you wish," they replied.

"Naturally, I will need your assistance. As masters of Kunlun, and with Kunlun housing the ancestral earth vein, your cooperation is essential."

The Three Pure Ones readily agreed, knowing they would require Qingxuan’s help again in the future.

Qingxuan then turned to Zhenyuanzi, who forthwith produced the Treasure Mirror of Heaven and Earth.

Just as Zhenyuanzi was about to link with the earth veins, Qingxuan stopped him. "Do not be hasty. Kunlun is the ancestral vein; it must not be moved lightly, not even with your companion spirit treasure."

He tapped the Earth Book with a finger.

Instantly, Zhenyuanzi felt that the Earth Book had changed dramatically, as if he could control the entire primordial earth vein with ease.

Yet Zhenyuanzi knew this was an illusion, granted by Qingxuan's power, and not something he could achieve on his own.

He wasted no time and began to connect with the earth vein. Even so, he found manipulating Kunlun’s earth vein extremely difficult—confirming his earlier sense had been but an illusion.

The Three Pure Ones sensed his struggle and simultaneously drew upon their primordial spirits, merging themselves with Kunlun, and aided Zhenyuanzi in guiding the mountain’s earth vein power.

Witnessing their coordination, Qingxuan realized they had a special connection with Kunlun, but gave it little more thought.

In an instant, Qingxuan summoned the Great Dao of Creation, the Dao of Space, and the Five Elements, merging them with the land, mountains, and space here.

He then wielded the authority of heaven and earth, and the concealing power of the Primordial Pearl, thoroughly disrupting the world in this place.

Qingxuan then addressed the Three Pure Ones, "Bring out the Three Treasures of Creation."

At his command, the Taiji Diagram, Pangu Banner, and Chaos Bell appeared before them.

Qingxuan pointed at the three treasures, and they began to merge.

At last, they transformed into a colossal axe.

"Is this the Heaven-Splitting Axe that opened the world?" the Three Pure Ones and Zhenyuanzi wondered aloud, feeling as though its power could rip them apart with ease.

"Don’t be mistaken! Ever since the Heaven-Splitting Axe was divided into three, it has never returned to its original might. As it stands now, it wields but a tenth of its former power—but that is enough," Qingxuan declared.

He gripped the axe and struck in each direction.

The great axe then split back into the three treasures. The Taiji Diagram transformed into a golden Taiji Bridge, spanning the area and fixing yin, yang, and the five elements in place. The Chaos Bell stabilized space and time.

Qingxuan then summoned the Immortal Execution Sword Formation from Tongtian, and the elements of earth, water, fire, and wind quelled the raging forces around them.

Sensing the moment, Zhenyuanzi quickly activated the Earth Book, gathering the space Qingxuan had just divided with the power of the earth vein, forming a massive realm.

The great Daos Qingxuan had released now manifested, swiftly enveloping the space, inscribing restrictions, and establishing Dao patterns.

Under Qingxuan’s guidance, the burdens upon Zhenyuanzi and the Three Pure Ones lessened greatly.

Zhenyuanzi rapidly transformed the domain into a blessed land.

The Yellow Middle Plum was planted to anchor it, and all of East Kunlun was enveloped in this new space.

The group continued to employ their various arts, until, after an unknown span of time, they returned to their senses to find the blessed land was nearly complete.

Where East Kunlun had once stood, there was now only a void.

Seeing this, Qingxuan quickly placed the nearly-finished blessed land into the void, merging it with the surrounding earth.

When the process was complete, the former site of East Kunlun became an illusory realm.

Sensing the moment, Zhenyuanzi linked the earth vein within the blessed land with that surrounding the original Kunlun.

Once fused, a tangible Kunlun Mountain took shape once more.

Had anyone been present in the chaos at that moment, they would have found that where the boundary of chaos and the primordial world met, even the chaotic currents had all but vanished.