In the current age, souls and spirits no longer manifested openly. Techniques such as shamanic spirit statues and external dharma bodies had long since become little more than jokes. Even when Purple Mansion Realm cultivators painstakingly refined them, the result was usually no more than a Foundation Establishment Realm spirit puppet.

Li Quewan and Li Chenghuai both possessed such things, but they were practically worthless. As for Purple Mansion Realm spirit statues or shamanic ghosts, they had become nothing but empty legends ever since Duanmu Kui's era!

But after witnessing this scene, how could Miao Huanzun not be utterly horrified? He had expected the sixteen Profound Divine Wardens to be powerful, but not to such an extent! From that brief clash alone, he could already tell the statues' bodies rivaled those beneath the Sattva Seat. On top of that, they wielded all manner of spirit embryos and treasure artifacts, and were empowered by the grotto heaven's Profound Foundation!

These sixteen statues likely rivaled the Profound Divine Wardens beneath the Lotus Seat itself. They might even be capable of forming battle formations. Even Wei Xuanyin would probably turn around and flee upon seeing them!

Miao Huanzun had only just mounted his purple lightning when six streaks of [Suppressing Profound Spirit Officer Dharma Light] shot toward him and locked onto his body. Cursing inwardly, he watched as a pale spirit mirror descended from above and, with great difficulty, deflected the dharma light away.

Tuoba Ci's expression was grim as he shouted through divine ability, "Miao Huanzun! Hand over the green cauldron first. We'll take it away and divide it later!"

Miao Huanzun's face darkened. How could he possibly agree?

Who knows whether these statues are pursuing me because I removed the cauldron... or simply whoever holds it? If it's the former, wouldn't I just be handing all the benefits to you, Tuoba Ci?!

Miao Huanzun stubbornly refused to let go, leaving Tuoba Ci no choice but to change tactics. Using his black-yellow qi divine ability to hold back the spirit statues, he thrust his halberd forward and slammed it heavily against the cauldron!

The cauldron had already been maintaining a fragile balance, barely suppressing whatever lay sealed within. How could it withstand such a violent blow? The trembling green lid instantly flew open, and pure purple-white radiance erupted outward like a colossal pillar connecting heaven and earth, surging straight into the skies!

Boom!

The divine ability mana Miao Huanzun had been using to restrain the green cauldron vanished at once. The cauldron shot into the sky as dazzling purple-white brilliance flooded the surroundings, as though every color in heaven and earth had transformed into a singular hue. The sixteen Profound Divine Wardens all froze simultaneously and raised their heads together.

The very first thing to burst forth from the cauldron was a purple-gold Profound Thunder mace that released endless arcs of lightning, scattering radiance like falling stars. Close behind it flew three small thunder swords, blazing with brilliant light and instantly drawing everyone's gaze!

They were followed by eight streaks of thunder, each with different forms and auras. Their pressure was terrifying, and each possessed an astonishing spirituality as they fled in every direction. Miao Huanzun's eyes immediately reddened with greed.

Spirit artifacts! Purple Mansion Realm spirit thunder!

Spiritual sense was heavily restricted within Wanlin Heaven, yet such a heaven-shaking display of thunder had already drawn countless eyes from the surroundings. Streams of colorful light halted to observe, and an uproar instantly spread through the region. Spirit artifacts, normally impossible to encounter even once in years, were now openly displayed before everyone. Who could resist such temptation? Brilliant lights erupted from all directions as divine abilities intertwined across the sky.

The Sixteen Profound Divine Wardens fell briefly into disarray. Surprisingly spiritual in nature, they each rode streams of light and scattered in all directions to pursue the escaping treasures. Yet by doing so, they lost the chance to combine their strength, causing the threat they posed to diminish drastically.

Amidst the sea of purple radiance, Tuoba Ci's expression remained casual. The hook of his halberd shifted slightly as he reached toward the great cauldron, which had only just settled down and was still emitting a faint green glow.

I'll secure this treasure first, then deal with the others in the sky afterward!

Buzz!

The green cauldron instantly released waves of brilliant light. Tuoba Ci's expression shifted as his eyes slowly narrowed.

A man had unexpectedly appeared on the other side of the square cauldron, seizing the opportunity to rush in first and grasp the spirit artifact. One arm steadily supported the cauldron while a pair of golden eyes pierced through the air.

Tuoba Ci's face darkened, though he was not surprised. Whether it was he or Miao Huanzun, both had long known another person was hidden within the mountain. But he had not expected that person to let nearer treasures go just to snatch something from him.

Tuobi Ci stated flatly, "So it was you!"

His expression remained calm, but dense black-yellow mana had already surged along his arm into the halberd. Divine ability and mana erupted to their limits as he attempted to drag the spirit artifact back toward himself!

Li Zhouwei let out a deep breath as countless golden profound patterns resembling scales burst from his palm and climbed up along his arm. Streams of golden light shimmered at the corners of his eyes, and the green cauldron immediately stabilized in his grasp without moving an inch.

Tuoba Ci's expression instantly turned ugly as he coldly said, "A Body Divine Ability? How fast..."

The circulating black-yellow qi behind him suddenly expanded outward. A great seal radiating colorful light rose from within, its size rapidly growing as it descended to suppress everything below. Two enormous words appeared upon it, [Shengle Tuoba]!

But how could Li Zhouwei possibly be unprepared? The heavenly light in the sky had already transformed into a colossal white heavenly gate that started to descend. Layers of Radiant Light poured downward as colored clouds filled the heavens. Precious banners fluttered in the wind while tens of thousands of golden-armored figures stood upon the clouds with weapons in hand, causing everyone in the surrounding region to look over in shock!

Boom!

In the next instant, a heaven-shaking roar erupted. The descending [Heaven-Venerating Gate] seemed to collide with an indestructible stone. It shuddered violently from the impact as a vast force attempted to overturn it from below, causing the entire heavenly gate to tremble precariously. Yet despite this, it still firmly suppressed the treasure seal beneath it.

Both Tuoba Ci and Li Zhouwei were inwardly shocked. One had never imagined his family's world-renowned spirit seal, famed for resisting suppression, could actually be held down, even temporarily. The other was astonished that the [Heaven-Venerating Gate] was struggling this heavily just to suppress a spirit seal.

Surprised as they were, the [Heaven-Venerating Gate], pushed to its utmost limits, still forcefully suppressed the treasure seal. Taking advantage of the moment, Li Zhouwei unleashed [Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light] from between his eyebrows. Yet Tuoba Ci had long prepared for this and immediately summoned a mirror in response.

Clang!

Two different streams of light intertwined in the sky. Tuoba Ci's expression gradually changed as all of his black-yellow divine ability surged toward the halberd. Yet the force erupting from the green cauldron only grew stronger and stronger. A halberd was not a flexible whip, and he was already beginning to lose control of the treasure!

The two remained locked in a stalemate for a brief instant as Tuoba Ci quickly weighed the gains and losses. His true objective had never been the cauldron to begin with, and with the man before him refusing to yield, any further delay would almost certainly cost him the spirit mace in the sky. He decisively spun his halberd around and soared upward toward the heavens, clearly heading to seize the spirit thunder instead.

Only, a cold voice rang out, "Just wait!"

Li Zhouwei's expression was equally grim. Tuoba Ci's strength was no joke, yet the man had still managed to stall him for that crucial moment! Three Profound Divine Wardens were already closing in from different directions, intent on snatching away the green cauldron in his hands.

Fortunately, the worst of the situation had already passed. No matter what happened now, it was still better than ending up empty-handed like Miao Huanzun, chasing treasures endlessly through the skies. Li Zhouwei abruptly turned around, swinging the halberd back before him. In an instant, it expanded massively in size, blocking the enormous spirit statues' heaven-covering sword and golden staff!

Clang!

The sword and staff crashed onto the shaft simultaneously, erupting into waves of golden heavenly light. Li Zhouwei subtly gauged the force behind the blow and inwardly sighed in admiration, What exquisite craftsmanship!

Another spirit statue, however, had already summoned a silver-white profound bell that rose high into the sky and scattered gentle radiance downward, attempting to bind him in place. While observing the battlefield and searching for an opportunity to seize the spirit thunder, Li Zhouwei fixed his gaze upon that silver-white bell overhead.

"So it's actually a spirit embryo... What an ingenious method. It seems they prepared matching spirit embryos beforehand, allowing the spirit statues to connect with the grotto heaven's Profound Foundation and nourish them!"

His golden eyes swept across the battlefield. With a ringing clang, he knocked aside two incoming spirit statues. The inverted halberd naturally shrank back to its original size, yet his gaze remained fixed upon the silver-white profound bell as he sensed the concentrated metal qi gathered within it, a thought gradually forming in his mind.

These spirit statues are divided into three categories. Two types can transform into mountain-sized forms and both appear to belong to unknown Ancient Merging Dao lineages. The remaining type seems to consist of spirit officials, six in total, each with different abilities... This one's aura is metal, yet not entirely metal, very similar to the [Stored Metal] granduncle once described!

None of these are of poor quality. Though they can't be preserved permanently, since I have to deal with this problem anyway, I may as well seize them. Before they lose effectiveness, I can hand them over to Senior Liu, who cultivates [Stored Metal]! As for the others, the same logic applies... If any are suitable, I can also take them out and trade them to others!

After all, these three spirit statues alone could no longer accomplish much together. A realization quietly surfaced in his heart, setting it ablaze with excitement.

Forget everything else. Among these sixteen Profound Divine Wardens... those six are the truly valuable ones!