He was like a lighthouse in the darkness.
No matter when or where one went to Vermilion Bird Island, they could always see him there.
Hammering away tirelessly and persistently.
A profession that most would find dull and boring, yet he could find joy within it.
Watching Rock Solid’s every movement, Xu Zimo slowly walked forward.
“Junior Brother Xu,” Rock Solid was slightly surprised.
“Senior Brother, aren’t you going to rest?” Xu Zimo asked with a smile.
“No rush. Lately, Master has been very busy, so I’m staying here on Vermilion Bird Island in case there’s anything I can help with,” Rock Solid replied.
“I heard you went into the Land of Life and Death, didn’t expect you to come out so soon.”
Xu Zimo nodded. As for matters regarding the Codex of Life and Death, he wasn’t planning to tell anyone.
“Senior Brother Rock, where are you from?” Xu Zimo asked casually.
“I am from the Stone Race, somewhat different from you humans,” Rock Solid replied.
Hearing this, Xu Zimo was slightly taken aback.
How did that saying go? “Suddenly turning back, that person was right there in the dim light.”
Or, “Searching high and low, only to find it without any effort at all.”
Previously, the sword spirit of the Broken Sword had said that to reforge the True God Sword, he would need to use the Supreme God Hammer and the Nine-Curve God Fire.
The Nine-Curve God Fire was within the Heavenly Dao Academy, but Xu Zimo had no leads regarding the Supreme God Hammer, which belonged to the Stone Race.
Unexpectedly, someone from the Stone Race had been right in front of him all along.
“What’s wrong, Junior Brother Xu?” Rock Solid asked curiously.
“It’s nothing,” Xu Zimo shook his head slightly. “The Stone Race is quite rare.”
“We’re just a small race. Junior Brother Xu has probably never even heard of us,” Rock Solid said with a small laugh.
The two chatted for a while longer, but Xu Zimo did not rush to show any special interest.
He didn’t want others to think he had ulterior motives.
After bidding farewell to Rock Solid, Xu Zimo returned to his cave residence to rest.
The night passed without incident.
With the morning dew sparkling like crystals, the vitality of spring was reviving once more.
The students of the Heavenly Dao Academy were already awake early; some hadn’t even slept the whole night.
Some were devouring the purple essence of heaven and earth, flowing east for three thousand miles.
Some rode their swords through the air, clothes fluttering gracefully, an enviable sight like that of immortal couples.
However, starting from early morning, the Heavenly Dao Academy seemed to be filled with many new voices.
No one knew where these rumors began or who spread them, but they appeared in the various branches of the academy.
Some said that in a few days, enemies would attack the academy, advising everyone to leave early.
Some said they hoped the academy would give an explanation.
More absurdly, some claimed the academy planned to drag all students down with it in its demise.
…
In short, as more people said these things, more people began to believe them.
This voice grew louder and more intense within the academy, to the point where it was becoming hard to suppress.
After all, it concerned everyone’s safety, they could not afford to take it lightly.
Xu Zimo came out from his cave residence and saw the busy figure of Venerable Nu.
It seemed he was setting up a formation over the entirety of Vermilion Bird Island.
This formation was vast and covered a huge area.
Although Xu Zimo didn’t know exactly what kind of formation it was, he could feel the strong fire-attribute power within it.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that the true sun fire between heaven and earth was being slowly absorbed.
It was merging with the Southern Luminous Fire around Vermilion Bird Island.
Although the feeling was subtle, it could not escape Xu Zimo’s spirit sense.
He had told Venerable Nu before, by merging the sun’s true fire with the Southern Luminous Fire and supplementing it with the Leaf of Life…
On the full moon night three days later, at the time of extreme yin, it would be the best chance to resurrect the Vermilion Bird.
…
Seeing Xu Zimo emerge from the cave, Venerable Nu smiled at him.
“The formation should be completed by tomorrow night.”
“I know,” Xu Zimo said, glancing around and nodding slightly. “Leave it to me when the time comes.”
After parting with Venerable Nu, Xu Zimo once again passed by Rock Solid’s smithy.
“Good morning, Senior Brother Rock,” Xu Zimo greeted as he passed, since he would need his help later on.
“Junior Brother Xu, I suggest you don’t go out today,” Rock Solid quickly said. “Just stay on Vermilion Bird Island.”
“What’s the matter?” Xu Zimo asked in confusion.
“Do you know Ji Ruobing?” Rock Solid asked.
“Who?” Xu Zimo shook his head slightly.
“Seems like you really don’t bother yourself with outside affairs,” Rock Solid chuckled.
“Among your class of new students at the Heavenly Dao Academy, besides you and that Mo Tianming, who are the most prominent because you both passed the tenth floor of the Heavenly Dao Tower… The other rising star is Ji Ruobing.”
“What does that have to do with me?” Xu Zimo asked, still puzzled.
“Do you know her identity?” Rock Solid pressed.
Seeing Xu Zimo’s confused expression and shake of the head, Rock Solid continued, “In this generation, the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground has two candidates competing to bear the Heaven’s Will. One is a Holy Son, the other a Saintess. The Holy Son was kept within the sect for training, while the Saintess was sent here to our Heavenly Dao Academy.”
“You’re saying this Ji Ruobing is the Saintess of the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground?” Xu Zimo asked. “But what does that have to do with me?”
“Don’t rush, let me finish,” Rock Solid said.
“This Ji Ruobing is a martial fanatic. Though she is a woman, it’s said that ever since she began cultivating, she’s swept aside all opponents. Among the younger generation, she has never been defeated. She often likes to challenge the strongest of the younger generation. And when you joined the Heavenly Dao Academy, your fame from the Heavenly Dao Tower spread far and wide. Just two days ago, you became even more famous here by defeating Ao Nan.”
“You mean she wants to challenge me?” Xu Zimo asked in surprise.
“She’s waiting right outside Vermilion Bird Island,” Rock Solid said, tilting his head toward the north.
“She originally wanted to break into Vermilion Bird Island, but I stopped her. It’s up to you to decide.”
Xu Zimo gave a small laugh. “I’ll go out and take a look. No need to hide away just because of a woman.”
“Be careful,” Rock Solid warned.
“She’s no ordinary woman, she’s the Saintess of the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground.”
“It’s fine,” Xu Zimo waved his hand dismissively.
He walked straight toward the outskirts of Vermilion Bird Island.
Stepping into the air, passing through the layers of Southern Luminous Fire’s cover, Xu Zimo crossed a thousand miles in one step and left the island.
At this moment outside, a purple-clothed woman was sitting cross-legged in midair.
Sensing someone coming out, she suddenly opened her eyes.
Her eyelashes were long, and a flash of astonishing power passed through her gaze.
She wore a broad embroidered purple robe, the folds and ribbons blending perfectly together.
They swayed gently with the breeze.
Her hair was tied into many thin braids, somewhat resembling dreadlocks.
At her waist hung a broad sword.
Calling it a broad sword was no exaggeration, it was over three meters wide.
Most swords were less than a meter wide.
Moreover, the middle of the sword was hollow, as if hung with countless barbed spikes, making it striking to behold.
The woman’s gaze fixed on the man who had just emerged.