Chapter 326: Deal Sealed, The Transformation of the Lihuo Ding

"Giant Cauldron?" Wei Shanhai blinked in surprise, then narrowed his eyes. "How did Lu Xiao Langjun know about my family’s great cauldron? And that it has grown again?"

"So it's true," Lu Qing said calmly, not at all taken aback.

When he had first returned to Cang Zhou, he had already sensed it—the concentration of Qi here was far denser than when they had left. Though still far behind Zhong Zhou, the difference was significant. The Qi density had increased by more than tenfold.

It wouldn’t be long before it matched Zhong Zhou’s current level.

"Can you feel it too, Elder?" Lu Qing asked. "These past few days, the pace of Tian Di Bian Hua—the transformation of Heaven and Earth—has been accelerating."

Wei Shanhai nodded slowly. "Yes. Since you left, that strange energy has been growing stronger. Even the vast Ten-Thousand Da Shan beyond Jiuli Village has begun to show unusual changes."

"Ten-Thousand Da Shan changed... then Jiuli Village..." Lu Qing’s expression tightened with concern.

Old Doctor’s face mirrored the same worry.

"There’s no need to worry, little master," Wei Shanhai chuckled. "Jiuli Village is perfectly safe. After sensing the changes in the mountains, I’ve been cultivating in seclusion there, just in case anything unexpected happened."

Lu Qing exhaled in relief. "That’s truly a burden off my heart. I speak for everyone in the village—thank you, Elder, for your protection."

"Too kind, little master," Wei Shanhai waved it off. "The debt you and Chen Ye owe our Wei Family is already immense. This is nothing by comparison."

"Ah, about that Qi you mentioned earlier..." Wei Shanhai continued.

"Exactly," Lu Qing nodded. "What you call that strange energy—Qi—is the very essence of Tian Di Bian Hua. It didn’t exist before. It’s a phenomenon born after the great transformation of Heaven and Earth."

He then quickly summarized what he knew of Qi, and the lost world of ancient cultivation.

Wei Shanhai stared, utterly stunned.

"Qi… the revival of the Dao of Immortality? So it’s true… there really was an ancient cultivation path?"

After a long silence, Wei Shanhai murmured, dazed.

That explained why he’d been unable to harness the new energy—despite countless attempts. It wasn’t just energy. It was Qi—something only the ancient cultivators could wield.

"Yes," Lu Qing confirmed. "The mysterious small cauldron you possess… it was likely a relic from the last cultivation era. It was damaged in the past—hence its unremarkable appearance at first. But now, as Qi flows freely, it’s slowly regaining its power. That’s why it’s grown so much."

"Ah… now I understand," Wei Shanhai said, eyes wide. Only a true spirit artifact of legendary status could possess such a power.

"But Elder," Lu Qing added, "the recovery of this cauldron might not be a blessing for your family."

"Ah? What do you mean?" Wei Shanhai frowned.

"Treasure artifacts have spirit. This cauldron is no ordinary relic—it’s a rare spirit artifact capable of changing size at will. And spirits of such magnitude are notoriously independent. Even in the ancient era, few could gain their loyalty."

He paused, then continued. "The spirit within the cauldron hasn’t fully awakened yet. But when it does… it will not accept servitude. Once it regains full strength, it may seek to break free. And when it does… even a small release of its power could destroy your residence, or worse—your entire county."

Wei Shanhai paled. He knew Lu Qing wasn’t exaggerating. Ancient spirit artifacts were prideful beyond measure. Few had ever tamed them, even in the cultivation age. If the spirit within the Lihuo Ding truly awakened, it would not hesitate to flee.

And if it exploded in rage—there would be no stopping it.

That was exactly why Lu Qing had realized the danger when he encountered the Plague Gourd. The Lihuo Ding wasn’t evil—but after surviving countless ages, it likely held no regard for ordinary humans.

"Then… what should we do?" Wei Shanhai asked, alarmed.

"There are two ways. First, remove the cauldron from the underground chamber."

Wei Shanhai shook his head, grimacing. "Impossible. The Qi has grown so strong, the cauldron has expanded by several times. It’s now larger than the chamber’s passage. Its weight is beyond even my strength. Even if we all tried to lift it, we couldn’t move it."

"Then only one option remains," Lu Qing said, nodding. "Cultivate it. Once you bind it to your soul, it will no longer rebel."

"Bind it? But as a Shang Gu Bao Fa, it should be nearly impossible to subdue," Wei Shanhai said, frowning.

He’d tried countless methods over the years—nothing worked. And ever since the cauldron absorbed the fire-elemental energy from the chamber and changed, his Spirit Soul Power could no longer enter it. Now, even approaching the cauldron risked his soul being consumed.

"Just touching it could burn your Spirit Soul Power to ash, and leave your mind shattered."

Lu Qing nodded. "Yes. The cauldron has regained some of its power. To bind it, you need a powerful Spirit Soul, and the proper method. It’s not a quick task—it requires patience, precision, and time."

Wei Shanhai’s face went pale. Just days ago, he’d returned to the residence to find the cauldron had changed again. The moment his Spirit Soul Power brushed it, it was instantly incinerated. It took him days to recover.

Now, hearing Lu Qing speak of using Spirit Soul Power to slowly tame it—there was no doubt in his mind. He couldn’t do it. If he tried, his soul would be gone in less than a minute.

"I’m afraid I can’t do it, little master," he said firmly. "This task is beyond me."

"Then this is exactly what I wanted to discuss with you," Lu Qing said, stepping forward. "Wei Lao Qian Bei, I propose a trade."

"About the cauldron?" Wei Shanhai’s eyes widened.

"Indeed. I wish to attempt to bind the cauldron. In return, I will offer compensation. If you agree…"

Lu Qing reached into his sleeve, then pulled out a jade bottle and a jade tablet.

"Both of these were obtained during my journey to Zhong Zhou. Inside the jade bottle is a World Origin Qi—a fragment of divine essence that fell from the heavens after the recent Tian Di Bian Hua. It was created when the Dao Yin Nine Sounds were sounded, and the Heaven and Earth Laws stabilized. This World Origin Qi has the power to reshape reality, to create life from nothing. Even a commoner, if they absorb it, can become a genius beyond imagination."

He paused. "As for the jade tablet—it contains a complete cultivation method. At its peak, it can lead one to the Golden Core stage, and beyond—into the realm of the spirit soul."

He looked straight at Wei Shanhai. "I offer these two treasures in exchange for the Lihuo Ding."

"World Origin Qi… a complete cultivation method…" Wei Shanhai’s breath caught.

Each one was a treasure beyond price. World Origin Qi—just the name alone suggested it was an immortal-level opportunity. And a cultivation method? That was the dream of every cultivator.

If he could gain such a method, he could walk the path of cultivation, live for hundreds more years, and perhaps even reach immortality.

The thought made his pulse quicken.

After a long silence, he managed to steady himself. A faint, wry smile touched his lips. "Lu Xiao Langjun… you’ve offered me an impossible temptation."

"Then you’ll accept?" Lu Qing smiled.

"Of course I will," Wei Shanhai said without hesitation. "This cauldron has been in our family for nearly a century. I’ve never understood its secrets. All it gave us were minor benefits—some enhancement from its strange essence. Nothing more. But to trade it for two such divine opportunities? That’s not just good—it’s a fortune."

More importantly, he already sensed the danger. After his Spirit Soul had been burned once, he knew the cauldron was no mere artifact. It had absorbed too much primal energy. If it ever exploded…

His residence, his family, even the entire county—would be destroyed.

If Lu Qing could solve this, it would be a blessing for the Wei Family.

"Then these belong to you," Lu Qing said, handing over the jade bottle and tablet.

Wei Shanhai took them without hesitation, slipped them into his robe, and said, "Then follow me. The power radiating from the cauldron… even I feel my heart tremble. The sooner this danger is resolved, the better."

"Shouldn’t you check the items first?" Lu Qing raised an eyebrow.

"Hah! Little master, you jest," Wei Shanhai chuckled. "My life, and my family’s, were saved by Chen Ye and you. Given what you’ve done for us, even giving the cauldron to you would be justified. Accepting these treasures? I’m already greedy."

He rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed.

"Such thoughts are unnecessary," Lu Qing said gently. "Treasures are rare. If I took them without offering anything in return, my conscience would never rest."

He knew the truth—Lihuo Ding wasn’t just a treasure. It was a relic of the ancient Lihuo Sect, holding within it the bulk of its legacy. Without it, he wouldn’t have survived the trials of the past. Half his strength came from the heritage he’d drawn from the cauldron.

So in fairness, he owed the Wei Family something.

Half a moment later, Lu Qing and Old Doctor followed Wei Shanhai down into the underground chamber beneath the Wei Family Residence.

The moment they stepped inside, both were struck by the change.

The temperature had risen tenfold. The fire-elemental energy in the chamber was now so thick it felt like breathing flame.

And the Lihuo Ding—now seven or eight times larger than before—nearly touched the ceiling.

"Lu Xiao Langjun, Chen Ye," Wei Shanhai said, voice tight. "You see how much it’s changed. If you hadn’t returned, this could have turned into a catastrophe."

The cauldron had grown again. Its aura was terrifying.

"Leave it to me," Lu Qing said, eyes locked on the cauldron.

He had suspected it would recover quickly in this fire-elemental chamber—but not this fast.

He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and focused.

From his brow’s Qi cavity, his Spirit Soul Power surged out—directly toward the Lihuo Ding.

Wei Shanhai gasped.

Lu Qing’s Spirit Soul Power was overwhelming. It dwarfed his own like a mountain to a puddle.

"No wonder he’s confident," Wei Shanhai thought. "His power… is this strong? Is he truly just at the Xian Tian Jing?"

He felt a surge of hope. If even this man couldn’t bind the cauldron, who could?

But he didn’t know that, in that very moment, Lu Qing was facing a challenge.

As his Spirit Soul Power burst forth, a searing heat surged through his mind.

The chamber’s fire energy seemed to try to burn his soul. And the Lihuo Ding’s heat—like a furnace—threatened to consume everything.

But Lu Qing had endured the Thunder Tribulation. His Spirit Soul had already undergone the transformation from Yin to Yang—now at the 【Yang Fu】 realm.

The heat meant nothing.

He channeled his power, activating the unique method for refining artifacts from the Li Hua Zong Chuan Cheng.

Instantly, the resistance vanished.

The Lihuo Ding, once defiant, now opened its core to him—his Spirit Soul flowed in effortlessly.

But before he could rejoice…

As his Spirit Soul entered the cauldron’s depths, a thunderous voice echoed through his mind.

"Who dares disturb my sanctum?!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end