Jiang He had earned 19 billion Farm Points by planting 18,000 immortal crystals alone, and the grand total climbed up to 21.8 billion thanks to his savings before.

Still, Jiang He decided to make a check first.

With the Scripture of Chaos Thundersword being a rather high-level skill that refined both body and spirit, improving it up to Beginner level required 15 billion Farm Points, which was fifty percent more than what Jiang He had budgeted for.

'Well, it doesn't matter since it's just fifteen billion. Level up!' Jiang He thought then.

Ooom!

A unique presence spread out of Jiang He's body. Each of the 108 Heavenly Dao within Jiang He shone in dazzling immortal light at that, and the Yuan Qi that filled the farm surged toward Jiang He.

[Ding!]

[-15 billion Farm Points.]

[Congratulations, Host. You have cultivated the Scripture of Chaos Thundersword up to Beginner.]

A System notification jingled in Jiang He's mind, but he could not be bothered listening to it.

After all, the extreme agony from the Sword Qi body refinement, caused by the ascension of his cultivation as well as the automated circulation of his cultivation method, was striking Jiang He relentless.

Splat-splat-splat!

In many spots over Jiang He's body, his muscles were blowing up and blood was gus.h.i.+ng wildly. It was just like what he had experienced the last time he cultivated the Scripture of Chaos Thundersword, and the only difference was that… while the torment last time around was terrible, Jiang He only felt pain this time that was not as heartrending as the last.

And after two or three minutes of pain, he felt a curious sense of comfort.

As his blood, muscles and bones were torn apart incessantly through the Sword Qi's body refinement and the power of Thunder, Jiang He could clearly feel his physique strengthening rapidly.

Naturally, ascension from Heavenly Immortal up to True Immortal was not limited to physical strengthening. It was an enlightenment toward Dao and a metamorphosis of Immortal Dao, and Jiang He's aura rapidly climbed up from full-fledged Heavenly Immortal to True Immortal-intermediate.

“How powerful!”

“So this is True Immortal?”

“I can feel that I could direct even more Dao strength for a stronger power output, while my physique… could probably match superior-grade immortal item!”

Jiang He exclaimed in awe at the change in his body. “My ability would increase further if I reach full-fledged True Immortal, and when that happens, I could deflect superior-grade immortal items with my bare-hands!”

Yup.

That being said, ascension up to full-fledged True Immortal was an extensive process. It would perhaps take…

Another few minutes.

Hence, Jiang He stood up and headed to the spot where he had planted the Primordial Bell.

A brand-new ancient bronze bell stood upside down on the ground.

Jiang He reached out and picked up the bronze bell, and a System notification jingled beside his ear—

[Ding!]

[+1 hundred million Farm Points.]

“As expected of a soul treasure—it earned me a hundred million Farm Points at once!” Jiang He was beside himself with emotion. It was a shame that he lacked item-refinement materials despite being an item-refinist, and could hardly craft inferior-grade immortal items, let alone soul treasures.

What else would stop him from crafting over five hundred soul treasures to h.o.a.rd Farm Points?

Oom!

The ancient bronze bell took the air then and started whirling on the spot, before shrinking down to three inches and landing on Jiang He's palm, where a pile of data materialized after he focused his gaze on it.

[Primordial Bell]

[Grade: intermediate-grade acquired soul treasure.]

[Sacrifice a drop of blood for use.]

Simple data that left Jiang He's eyes twinkling.

“Intermediate-grade acquired soul treasure?”

“According to Unknown Fox, the Primordial Bell was acquired after a Grand Luo Green Hill Fox slayed an alien champion, and it was an inferior-grade acquired soul treasure. Now, it has improved to intermediate, meaning that my farm strengthens soul treasures as well.”

“Still, I wonder if I could strengthen premium-grade acquired soul treasures to innate soul treasures!”

“Uh…”

Jiang He also knew that he was being delusional there.

The reason innate soul treasures were called innate soul treasures was because they formed in this world by natural means. Even if someone could craft something that could match their power, it could not be named an innate soul treasure.

That which one crafted afterwards would naturally only be acquired soul treasures.

With that in mind, Jiang He flicked a finger and dripped a drop of blood on the Primordial Bell.

Ooom!

The Primordial Bell vibrated once and was invoked instantly.

It appears to be a powerful item and sentient to a certain extent. Wanting to fully invoke it would take a long time, but it was not so taxing after Jiang He planted it and invoked it afterwards.

And after the invoking, a wave of information streamed inside Jiang He's mind.

“Oh?”

“So this Primordial Bell has only one function even if it's an acquired soul treasure, and that is solely guarding against physical attacks… However, not even the full-fledged strike of a pinnacle Golden Immortal could stir the Primordial Bell since it is an intermediate-grade acquired soul treasure, unless my opponent is adept at spiritual attacks.”

Meanwhile, Jiang He's aura has risen up to advanced-True Immortal.

Despite this progress, his fearsome immortal might would not lose out to average Golden Immortals at all.

Even now, his cultivation was still growing, his body strengthening through endless tears and regeneration.

Hence, Jiang He seized the timing and turned toward the premium-grade immortal flying sword. It was a golden immortal sword where its hue had become duller after planting, presenting it in a n.o.ble dark-golden glimmer.

There were ancient scripts inscribed upon the body of the sword as well.

Jiang He reached out to grasp the golden flying sword.

[Ding!]

[+50 million Farm Points.]

Jiang He was delighted. “Fifty million Farm Points? Could this premium-grade immortal sword have improved and became an acquired soul treasure?”

He looked closely at the sword, and a pile of data materialized.

[Golden Radiance]

[Grade: inferior-grade acquired soul treasure]

[Sacrifice a drop of blood for use.]

Jiang He's gaze twitched then.

He could sense the dimensional quaking from the outside, and hence promptly flicked a drop of blood on the Golden Radiance. Then, he reached out to grab it, holding the sword as he flew out of his farm and darted out of the immortal palace.

Kaboom!

Jiang He's aura stirred and he finally became full-fledged True Immortal.

With a wave of his hand, mystic energy steamed and washed away the bloodstains over his body caused by his flesh tearing apart. He then looked up at the distant skies to find waves of ripples, as if a stone had been thrown upon a peaceful lake.

“They're coming!”

Jiang He's gaze was somber.

Hu Mei's beautiful gaze flashed, and she bowed. “Congratulations on reaching True Immortal, Master.”

Beside them, Unknown Fox's eyes bulged and he could not help crying out, “Full-fledged True Immortal?”

The Mahayana cultivators nearby appeared baffled.

Full-fledged True Immortal?

What full-fledged True Immortal?

Their cultivation tier was too weak, and all they could feel was that Jiang He's immortal might had become stronger than before. Still, they quickly realized what had happened at Unknown Fox's startled cry—in fact, those who had been looking forward to the immortals' return so that they did not have to fear Jiang He actually rejoiced, since they did not provoke Jiang He out of cowardice.

“Congratulations! Congratulations, Mister Jiang!”

Jin Sidao exclaimed loudly then. “It has been just slightly more than a month since you first reached Heavenly Immortal, and yet you have now cultivated up to full-fledged True Immortal. Such prodigious talent is without compare in the past or in the future, and not even reincarnated Grand Luo would be a match for you.”

The many Mahayana elites were stunned at that.

There was little wonder why the Ten Thousand Swords Sect had bonded so well with Jiang He despite provoking him initially—there was a reason why they were so gung ho.

The others hence all offered endless flattery as well, thought Jiang He simply waved his hand and smiled. “I've only gained some improvement in cultivation. It's really nothing much.”

“Still, it seems that the immortals are arriving. Brothers, remember to contact the immortals affiliated to your sect immediately.”

Ooom!

That was when the distant stars quaked and a spatial rift appeared.

A blue-clothed elder was the first to show up in the rift, who laughed out loud the moment he appeared, saying, “Haha! It's been two thousand years, but I, Zhou Li, have returned.”

Indeed, the blue-clothed elder was none other than the Golden Immortal of the Penglai Sect.

He then noticed the crowd nearby after laughing, and could not help turning toward them with a quick flash of immortal radiance in his eyes.

To think that there were two True Immortals, one Heavenly Immortal, and eight Mahayana elites here… could the Heavenly Immortal human that the Green Hill Foxes spoke of be here too?

Ooom!

Immortal light shone.

Many more figures stepped out into outer s.p.a.ce, one after another.

Some were laughing, while others were pale-white.

After all, not all immortals could withstand the turbulence of outer s.p.a.ce. While the Golden Immortals and True Immortals of other factions would protect other members of the sect, the Green Hill Foxes who were making a detour was absolutely worse off—one of their Heavenly Immortals even dropped out of s.p.a.ce, coughing mouthfuls of blood, his aura instantly withering and his signs of life rapidly fading.

And then…

He actually died!

Soon, almost two hundred figures stepped out of the spatial rift, which soon closed itself. At the same time, all those immortals returning from the celestial battlefield turned to look at Jiang He and the others.

“Lord Unknown Fox?”

One of the Heavenly Immortal Fox cried out in delight then.

Some of the returning immortals also recognize the Mahayana cultivators of their own speak, all of them exchanging greetings with looks filled with delight.

The Mahayana cultivators slid a peek at Jiang He before flying over to the immortals and greet them.

“Eh?”

Zhou Li of the Penglai Sect, as well as the Golden Immortals and True Immortals from various factions, such as the Unbounded Demon Sect and the Blood Demon Sect hostile to Jiang He, were all left frowning, with Zhou Li even asking, “Did you all come to wait here because all of you were aware of our return?”

“If that's so, why haven't the disciples of my Penglai Sect come to receive us?”

“Hmph!”

A cold snort could be heard then. It was a Golden Immortal from the Unbounded Demon Sect whose body swirled with Demonic Qi—he was feeling a little embarra.s.sed and inwardly upset, especially after seeing that the disciples of various factions such as the Taixu Sect, Ten Thousand Swords Sect, and the Jiuhua Sect had personally come to receive their immortals when they returned, while there was not even a glimpse of an Unbounded Demon Sect disciple.

“Haha!

A carefree laughter echoed then.

Flashes of thunderbolts flickered around Jiang He's body as he held the Golden Radiance while the Primordial Bell hovered over his head. Laughing, he said, “Dear predecessors, blame not the disciples of your sect—it was not because they did not want to receive you… they just couldn't come.”

“Who are you?”

The many Golden Immortals, True Immortals, and Heavenly Immortals turned toward him then. While the Mahayana cultivators from sects allied to Jiang He communicated telepathically about the situation, the lone True Immortal Fox pointed at Jiang He in panic and screamed in shock, “It's him—it's him, it's him!”

“He was the one who killed my clan elder, plundered our soul treasure, and slaughtered my clan…”

“Noisy!”

Jiang He snorted coldly and swung his sword from the distance, the Golden Radiance firing out a sword flash instantly and tearing the True Immortal Fox apart in a single strike.

“You bunch of trash have already fled once, but you have the guts to come back? Are you underestimating Jiang He?”