A figure resembling a dried corpse suddenly opened its eyes, startling Li Jingjing and Zhantai Ruomei.
"You've finally arrived!" a voice, so weak it seemed to emanate from thought alone, reached them. Fortunately, all three were no ordinary individuals and could still hear it.
"Are you Tongtian Old Ancestor? You knew we were coming?" Lu Fan asked, surprised.
"Of course, I've been waiting for a long time!" Tongtian Old Ancestor said calmly.
"So, you've been here for over three thousand years?" Ye Shisan stared at Tongtian Old Ancestor and asked.
"Three thousand years? I... I've forgotten time! Forgotten many things... It's you who made me remember them again!" Tongtian Old Ancestor's gaze suddenly dimmed, even tinged with sadness.
"So, these swords weren't actually placed in the mortal realm by you!" Lu Fan reached out and took out the eleven treasured swords. The swords, radiating golden and silver light, floated in the air, dazzling to behold.
"The Sword of Creation is mine, and I placed it in the mortal realm. My master said that if one day, someone could appear before me holding the Sword of Creation, that would be the day I could freely enter and exit the Biyou Palace. I could then return to being the Sect Master of Tongtian." Tongtian Sect Master said faintly.
Lu Fan's brow furrowed abruptly, a sense of foreboding filling his heart. Although Tongtian Sect Master spoke plainly and it seemed simple, there was something more...
"Your master, Hongjun Old Ancestor. If I'm not mistaken, your current ghastly appearance is also the work of your master, isn't it?" Lu Fan said calmly.
"You can see that?" A divine light flashed in Tongtian Sect Master's eyes as he stared at Lu Fan again, his gaze unreadable, a mix of surprise and greed.
"Hmph! Tongtian Sect Master, you once had a hundred thousand disciples, each with extraordinary divine abilities. Your disciples were everywhere in the Immortal Realm. Not to mention your fellow disciples, even your master must have felt a threat! During the Investiture of the Gods calamity, who else would they target if not you?" Lu Fan sneered, a slight upward curve to his lips.
"The Investiture of the Gods calamity!!!" A murderous intent suddenly erupted in Tongtian Old Ancestor's eyes. The Investiture of the Gods calamity was a great humiliation for him, causing him to fall from grace.
"How do you know these things?" Tongtian Sect Master suddenly asked.
"Guesswork! As they say, those involved are often blind. Posterity can see the truth with a single glance. Do you know what achievements your disciples have made now?" Lu Fan continued.
"What achievements?" Tongtian Old Ancestor's expression suddenly darkened as he asked.
"Except for Wudang Shengmu, who used her clone to become Lishan Laomu and is still guarding the Jie Sect for you, the others have reincarnated and changed their identities. They are now high-ranking existences in the Immortal Realm, even controlling the entire Immortal Realm. However... their identities are no longer those of Jie Sect disciples! The Jie Sect is also merely a name." Lu Fan spoke while observing Tongtian Old Ancestor's expression, as if searching for a clue.
"You actually know that was Wudang Shengmu's clone?" Tongtian Sect Master suddenly took a deep breath, his face contorting into a grimace.
"Of course, I guessed it!" Lu Fan replied nonchalantly.
"Then... can you guess what you are about to face?" Tongtian Old Ancestor's lips curved into a sinister grin, speaking with fierce determination.
"Being devoured by you! You've been secretly harmed by your so-called master, reduced to an empty husk. Therefore, you desire this robust and handsome body of mine, don't you?" Lu Fan said with a slight smile.
Beside Lu Fan, Zhantai Ruomei and Li Jingjing were startled and stepped forward almost simultaneously, shielding Lu Fan.
"A starving camel is still bigger than a horse. You two are no match for him. Hurry and leave!" Lu Fan pulled Zhantai Ruomei and Li Jingjing behind him.
"Master! We will not leave!" the two young beauties stated stubbornly.
"Ha... Hahahaha! Do you think I would covet the body of a mere trash who has just entered the Innate realm?" Suddenly, Tongtian Old Ancestor burst into laughter. Then, his emaciated, withered body began to move.
The withered body slowly began to fill out. What was once like a dried corpse soon transformed into a tall, burly, and somewhat handsome man.
"He... he actually..." Li Jingjing and Zhantai Ruomei were stunned.
"I am the Sect Master of Tongtian, with boundless divine power! Besides my master, no one can be my match, not even my two senior brothers. How could I have died so easily? Hmph!" Tongtian Sect Master stood up with a triumphant air, exuding an arrogant demeanor.
"Weren't you heavily injured during the Investiture of the Gods calamity? If you're so powerful, how were you trapped here for over three thousand years?" Lu Fan's eye twitched. Tongtian Sect Master's full power exerted an immense pressure, making one feel like bowing, yet Lu Fan held his ground. The two little ones cultivating within his body also suddenly opened their eyes.
"Hmph! My master instructed me to wait for your arrival. My master said that the one who brings my golden saber to find me possesses a powerful divine soul, an innate object from the primordial chaos. As soon as I devour your divine soul, I will, like my master, possess the Heavenly Dao! There will be no one else in the world who can rival me!" Tongtian Sect Master said, his gaze chillingly fixed on Lu Fan.
"Your master is truly good to you!" Lu Fan's lips twitched. He possessed an innate soul? Could it be his second and third primordial spirits?
"Hahaha! Of course! My master doted on me, always giving me the most of everything.
When my master distributed treasures at the Treasure Distribution Cliff, I received the most, which caused jealousy among my senior brothers. They also feared that my Jie Sect's power was too great for anyone to contend with. So, while my master was in seclusion, they used the Investiture of the Gods list to collude and destroy my Jie Sect!
When my master emerged from seclusion, the deed was done. My master then promised me something, allowing me to become the second person to attain the Heavenly Dao! That is why I have waited here for over three thousand years. Today, I have finally waited. Boy, hand over your innate soul!" Tongtian Sect Master looked at Lu Fan as if he were a delicious piece of meat, a smug smile already gracing his lips.
"Innate soul? I really don't know what that is. If you want it, you'll have to take it yourself! I have no strength to resist anyway!" Lu Fan smiled faintly, feigning utter despair, and then sat down on the ground.