Dragon's Hidden Mountain, Meditation Chamber.
Shan Hu sat cross-legged, enveloped by a faint golden aura. Suspended before him was a flawless block of raw jadeite, radiating a subtle inner light—a resource of immense value.
His hands rapidly formed seals, chanting ancient Immortal Realm incantations. Simultaneously, he condensed a sliver of his Immortal Emperor's primordial consciousness.
The massive spiritual energy from the surrounding Spirit Gathering Array was drawn inward like a colossal vortex. Shan Hu compressed and purified this energy, liquefying it and pouring it into the jadeite. The jade's natural veins, under the heat and spiritual force, were replaced by layers of profound golden runes, forming a complex and sturdy defensive formation—the Nine Heavens Barrier of Gang Wind.
Sweat beaded on Shan Hu's brow. Refining a primordial artifact was profoundly draining, even for him. He needed to compress the power to its absolute limit, ensuring the artifact could withstand the full assault of a Late Innate Master without his direct control.
The Same Moment, Longcheng Outskirts.
An unassuming black sedan was parked on the main road at the foot of Dragon's Hidden Mountain.
Ye Qingyun, the Innate Mid-stage Master sent by the Ye family, stood quietly beside the car in a gray robe. He opted not to force entry, instead gazing up at the mist-shrouded mountain range.
"Such dense spiritual energy… This is clearly not a natural phenomenon, but a Spirit Gathering Array established by a Great Master."
Ye Qingyun muttered to himself, extending a hand to probe the mist's boundary. The instant his finger touched the faint white vapor, a chilling, pungent wave assaulted him—a sensation like being targeted by thousands of venomous snakes.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, and he quickly withdrew his hand.
"The Poison Barrier Formation is laced with intense Yin-Qi and living toxins; the technique is ancient and malevolent… Shan Hu is far more than a typical Martial Grandmaster; he is a cultivator versed in the Dao of Formations."
Ye Qingyun's brow furrowed. This intelligence confirmed Old Master Ye's analysis: this man was to be courted, not provoked. He waited patiently at the mountain's base.
Meditation Chamber, Half an Hour Later.
The jadeite refinement reached its final stage. The spiritual light emanating from the stone was now solid, illuminating the entire chamber as if it were midday.
Shan Hu abruptly opened his eyes, two beams of golden light flashing from his pupils.
"Coalesce!"
He gave a low command, drawing out the thread of golden light containing the Immortal Emperor's ten-thousand-year pressure, and infused it into the Nine Heavens Barrier within the jadeite.
BOOM—!
The jade completed its final fusion. An instantaneous, silent, yet utterly suffocating Spiritual Energy Shockwave erupted from Dragon's Hidden Mountain, rapidly spreading outward!
The Foot of Dragon's Hidden Mountain.
Ye Qingyun, who had been resting with his eyes closed, was violently jolted.
"What is this?!?"
His body shook. He felt an unimaginable, overwhelming pressure descend upon him! The sheer scale of the power was far beyond his Innate Mid-stage comprehension. His Innate True Qi instantly solidified, his face turning pale as his knees nearly buckled. He instinctively realized that the source of this power was far, far beyond any level a martial artist "touching the Innate Realm" could produce.
"Higher than Innate, by more than one stage!" Ye Qingyun's voice held an undisguised tremor. He relinquished all pride and curiosity, feeling only profound reverence.
Meditation Chamber.
Shan Hu concluded his work, holding the now perfectly formed jadeite.
The stone was deep emerald green, faintly radiating golden light. It was no longer mundane but a Clan Safeguard Talisman imbued with Immortal Emperor authority.
"With this, none below the Grandmaster level can approach. Even an Innate Master from the Capital would pay with their life for a forced entry." Shan Hu nodded in satisfaction.
He placed the talisman in the core nexus of the courtyard array, ensuring its energy merged perfectly with the Spirit Gathering Formation. He then sent a divine message to Su Qingxue via his communication talisman.
"Go to the foot of the mountain. Tell the guest named Ye that I have finished my refinement. Invite him up. I will wait in the main hall."
Less than ten minutes later.
Su Qingxue appeared at the mountain's base. She addressed the gray-robed elder with respectful detachment: "Mr. Ye, my Master has been expecting you. Please follow me up the mountain."
Ye Qingyun looked up. His expression was calm, but the deep-seated awe in his eyes was unmistakable.
He gazed toward the mountain peak, adopting a posture of total humility, and bowed.
"Thank you, Miss Su, for leading the way. Mr. Shan's talent is immense, and I am deeply impressed."