Lin Fang quietly observed the Immortal Transformation Pond, for the stones from other hills may serve to polish the jade.

He himself had hit a bottleneck in the Path of Artifact Refining, and now that the Elderly Lord had transcended, he had no one to turn to for guidance. The Immortal Transformation Pond, being a great accomplishment of the Heavenly Court, could help Lin Fang break through his bottleneck.

It had to be said that many components of the Immortal Transformation Pond were indeed very enlightening for Lin Fang. It’s no wonder that the Three Realms’ foremost power was teeming with talented individuals.

They were capable of bringing forth new ideas on top of the old; Lin Fang could decipher from these runes that their Way of Runes must have been learned from the Elderly Lord. However, after incorporating their own understandings, the runes had significant differences from the Elderly Lord’s Artifact Refining Technique.

This was very inspiring for the current Lin Fang.

Therefore, Lin Fang hid within the Immortal Transformation Pond and studied the Way of Runes in earnest, perfecting his own path.

Time flies when you immerse yourself in serious study. In just a few days, Lin Fang had observed all Four Great Celestial Masters guarding the place.

He also learned some insider information from their conversations.

The drawbacks of the Immortal Transformation Pond were already an open secret within the Heavenly Court. Many immortals with slightly longer lives were more or less aware of them.

Of course, there were immortals who considered this method improper, but for the Heavenly Court, the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals produced by the Immortal Transformation Pond were indestructible, and their strength was formidable, capable of tackling many tasks.

Should it be abolished, without this undying army, those trivial matters would fall upon the shoulders of these immortals. Therefore, even though they knew the Immortal Transformation Pond was not a good thing, no one spoke out to put an end to it.

But for the family and friends of the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals who fell into the Immortal Transformation Pond, it was a tremendous torment.

Their souls were eroded incessantly until they lost even the chance to enter the cycle of reincarnation, but many people buried this pain deep in their hearts because of the Heavenly Court’s mighty influence.

One day, Lin Fang had completely figured out the restrictions within the Immortal Transformation Pond and was preparing to shift his location.

At that moment, however, he sensed something unusual and went back into hiding.

The duty officer of the day was Master Xu Tian, who was currently meditating with his eyes closed. Lin Fang felt a disturbance, and Master Xu Tian sensed it too, so he slowly opened his eyes.

He saw an aged Daoist appearing slowly by the Immortal Transformation Pond.

His face bore the signs of old age, with white whiskers hanging down to his chest. His Daoist robe was slightly tattered, and the deep wrinkles on his face seemed to narrate the relentless passage of time, his whole being exuding an aura of decay.

"Master!" the Old Daoist Priest choked out as he looked at Master Xu Tian, with large tears streaming from his slightly cloudy eyes.

This aged Daoist turned out to be a disciple of Master Xu Tian, who still maintained the appearance of a middle-aged Daoist, brimming with vitality. If no one had informed them otherwise, probably no one would guess their true identities correctly.

Master Xu Tian looked at his aged disciple with a flash of pity in his eyes and sighed, "Wuyouzi, after so many years, have you still not let go?"

"Master, your disciple cannot let go, nor does he want to," Wuyouzi said softly, his aged face revealing a resolute expression.

Gazing at the mist-veiled Immortal Transformation Pond, Wuyouzi’s face revealed complex emotions, a mix of hatred and nostalgia.

"They were my disciples. Had it not been for me, perhaps they wouldn’t have naively entered the Immortal Transformation Pond. This is my sin," murmured Wuyouzi.

Master Xu Tian’s expression darkened as well, for he knew that the origin of all this was himself, as it was his entry into the Heavenly Court that had always made Wuyouzi view the Heavenly Court favorably.

When the Immortal Transformation Pond was first completed, the Heavenly Court had summoned a group of cultivators to enter, and Wuyouzi’s disciples rushed in out of trust for the Heavenly Court, only to find themselves forever trapped within.

By the time Master Xu Tian and Wuyouzi arrived, it was too late.

After that incident, Wuyouzi fell into despondency, his Daoist heart became clouded, and his cultivation level plummeted, aging him greatly overnight.

Master Xu Tian had always tried to persuade him to let go of his obsession, but it was to no avail. For them, cultivators, it was very difficult to develop obsessions. Yet once formed, they were far more severe than those of ordinary people.

"Alas, foolish child," sighed Master Xu Tian.

"What brings you here today?" asked Master Xu Tian in a grave tone.

The old Daoist priest lifted his head, looking at his mentor and said resolutely, "Master, we must destroy the Immortal Transformation Pond, release the imprisoned souls, and give justice back to Heaven and Earth."

Master Xu Tian let out a slight sigh. He had guessed the purpose of Wuyouzi’s visit; engulfed by obsession, the only matter he could’ve come for was this.

Additionally, he was aware that now was indeed the best opportunity, with the intensifying war between the Heavenly Court and the Demon Clan, the Jade Emperor had been forced to commit most of his forces to the war in Luzhou in the North.

Following the turmoil on Mount Ling, the Buddhist Sect had also started to cause trouble for the Heavenly Court, stretching its resources thin, resulting in lax defenses and vulnerability at the Heavenly Court—a perfect time to act.

"Have you considered the consequences? The Immortal Transformation Pond is a treasure of the Heavenly Court. Especially now, when the Three Realms are fraught with unrest, the pond is even more significant. Have you thought about the Jade Emperor’s reaction?" asked Master Xu Tian, his face serious.

Master Xu Tian was all too aware of the one who sat on the Lingxiao Treasured Palace, the Supreme of the Three Realms; he was not one for mercy. The Immortal Transformation Pond was one of his underpinnings, and whoever dared to interfere with it would certainly face his thunderous retribution.

"Master, when have we ever feared death?" Wuyouzi replied with a wry smile.

"Death might well be a release for us. If we do not strive with all our might, our obsessions will turn into Heart Demons. The Poxun Demon King has established the Demon Realm, turning himself into a trial for cultivators. Once he regains his strength, we are likely to face certain death. So, it is better to fight with all our might. Even if we die, if we can save them, it would be worth it."

As Wuyouzi spoke, an air of noble sacrifice exuded from him, making the seemingly hunched old Daoist priest appear taller.

Seeing this, Master Xu Tian couldn’t help but sigh again. He could feel Wuyouzi’s resolve in his words; he had put life and death aside.

Daoist practitioners sought longevity in their practice, but now these people no longer feared death. It was as if a more terrifying power had emerged within them, a power that even made Master Xu Tian feel a searing sensation in his eyes.

"Tell me, how do you want me to help?" In the end, Master Xu Tian relented.