"Senior Brother, what else do we need to prepare?" Li Xuan asked He Xiuzhu as Xuan Canglin departed.
"Little Junior Brother, although you have refined the Sacred Seal, borrowing its power requires a degree of control. For the time being, focus on enhancing your rapport with the Sacred Seal."
"Furthermore, as you mentioned you haven't thoroughly examined the Sacred Seal's capabilities, you can take this opportunity to do so. After all, resolving the restrictions within their bodies and their soul contracts will require the Sacred Seal's power. As the wielder, you must be intimately familiar with it," He Xiuzhu said.
Li Xuan nodded. "I understand, Senior Brother."
"Good, let's go," He Xiuzhu said with a smile, patting Li Xuan's shoulder before rising and heading out of the hall. Li Xuan, holding Yue Fuyao's hand, followed with Wen Boya and the others.
...
"Brother Xuan, you should first focus on mastering the Sacred Seal as your Senior Brother mentioned. Being able to help the clan leaders remove the restrictions within them is a significant step for what lies ahead."
Led by the Xuan clan members, Li Xuan and his entourage of eight entered the guest rooms in the back mountain. As Li Xuan was about to inquire about Yue Fuyao's situation, she spoke first.
Li Xuan nodded. "Alright."
With that, Li Xuan walked directly to the bed, sat cross-legged, and with a thought, the Sacred Seal materialized before him.
Yue Fuyao watched the Sacred Seal with curiosity but remained silent, sitting to the side.
Li Xuan smiled at her and then closed his eyes, his consciousness entering the Sacred Seal.
"Sacred Spirit greets Master!" a voice echoed in Li Xuan's mind as his consciousness entered the Sacred Seal's space.
Li Xuan followed the sound and saw a woman in a white brocade robe appear before him. He looked at her with surprise, not expecting the Sacred Spirit of the Sacred Seal to be a woman.
"There's no need for such formalities. Since you are the spirit of this Sacred Seal, you must be intimately familiar with it," Li Xuan asked, waving his hand.
"What would Master like to inquire about?" the Sacred Spirit asked, rising.
Li Xuan pondered for a moment. "I wish to know the functions of the Sacred Seal and how to use it. Is there a simpler method?"
"Please wait, Master," the Sacred Spirit replied. With a flash of spiritual light, she transformed into a beam of light and merged into Li Xuan's consciousness.
*Hum.*
With a humming sound, Li Xuan's consciousness gradually closed. Information regarding the Sacred Seal's introductions, usage, functions, and power was all contained within. More than half an hour later, Li Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
"Master, if you have any questions, the Sacred Spirit can answer them for you," the Sacred Spirit said as Li Xuan's eyes opened, having waited by his side.
"Hmm, none for now. Sacred Spirit, thank you," Li Xuan replied, shaking his head. With a thought, he returned to his physical body.
"How was it?" Yue Fuyao asked curiously as Li Xuan opened his eyes after closing them for most of an hour.
"I have a general understanding of how to use it. But as Senior Brother said, I need to practice diligently in the coming days. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, it could be disastrous," Li Xuan replied.
Yue Fuyao smiled and nodded. "Naturally, you must practice well. Treasures are different from spiritual weapons. Once spiritual weapons are refined, we generally understand their power. But the power and effects of treasures are far beyond those of spiritual weapons."
"It is said that the spirit of a treasure possesses extremely high intelligence, and its power and effects are not singular. For you to obtain a treasure is a great fortune."
"How are you so knowledgeable about treasures?" Li Xuan asked, looking at Yue Fuyao with surprise.
However, he nodded slightly. As Yue Fuyao had said, the Sacred Seal's power could be used for offense and to suppress all things, in addition to being a defensive artifact.
Furthermore, the internal space of the Sacred Seal was a self-contained world, and the one who mastered it could be considered the ruler of this world.
This was why He Xiuzhu had said that Li Xuan could help Yue Zhengqi and the other three remove their soul contracts and the restrictions within their bodies. Even so, Li Xuan needed to be extremely familiar with the Sacred Seal to accomplish this.
Yue Fuyao smiled charmingly. "Don't forget, I am the Saintess of the Yue clan. Although I haven't seen treasures, I have seen records about them."
"I'd forgotten that. If I had known the Sacred Seal possessed such immense power from the beginning, I might not have been willing to accept it. This item would likely be more needed by Elder Dan than by me," Li Xuan said with a hint of helplessness as he realized.
In the beginning, Li Xuan had only thought the Sacred Seal was a more powerful spiritual weapon, merely a symbol of the Saint Yuan Sect's leader.
Only after his recent understanding did Li Xuan truly grasp the power of a treasure. It could be said that this single Sacred Seal was enough to suppress all spiritual masters below the Boundless Realm.
Of course, Li Xuan had to possess sufficient strength to activate the Sacred Seal. Even though he had refined it, the power he could currently exert was only one-fifth of its full potential.
"Elder Dan must have had his reasons for entrusting it to you. And your successful refinement of it further proves that Elder Dan's decision was correct."
"Alright, I won't disturb you further while you cultivate your rapport with it. I'll go chat with Fourth Senior Sister and come find you when you're done," Yue Fuyao said with a smile, standing up and leaving the room.
Watching Yue Fuyao depart, Li Xuan summoned the Sacred Seal again with a wave of his left hand. After a moment of contemplation, he closed his eyes once more.
...
Three days passed in a flash. As Li Xuan opened his eyes, the door to his room was pushed open.
"Little Junior Brother, how is it?" The newcomers were He Xiuzhu and Wen Boya, accompanied by Xuan Canglin, Yue Zhengqi, Li Shu, and Yuan Chuge.
Li Xuan stood up and cupped his fists in a salute to the four. He then looked at He Xiuzhu. "Senior Brother, everything went smoothly."
"Good. Then for the next step, it's up to you," He Xiuzhu said with relief, patting Li Xuan's shoulder with a smile.
"Senior Brother, my own strength alone may not be enough, even with the Sacred Seal's power. Therefore, I may still need Senior Brother and all my Senior Brothers and Sisters to lend me a hand," Li Xuan stated.
"Alright," He Xiuzhu readily agreed.
Li Xuan nodded, then turned his gaze to Xuan Canglin and the other three. "Four Clan Leaders, please open your minds and enter the Seal with me."
"We trouble you," Xuan Canglin and the others exchanged glances before bowing to Li Xuan.
Li Xuan smiled and waved his hand. He took a deep breath and, with a grand gesture, the Sacred Seal floated forward.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Li Xuan made a hand seal, and the Sacred Seal glowed brightly.
With a flash of golden light, Li Xuan, Xuan Canglin, and the others vanished.