Chapter 327: The Spirit of the Flame-Severing Cauldron, Oath of the Divine Soul, and the Threefold C

Chapter 327: The Spirit of the Flame-Severing Cauldron, Oath of the Divine Soul, and the Threefold Covenant

"How dare a rogue intruder trespass and offend this vessel!"

A dignified and authoritative voice boomed, and scorching flames surged forth from the depths of the cauldron, aiming to incinerate the illusory figure that Lu Qing had manifested with his divine soul power.

"The spirit of the Flame-Severing Cauldron has regained such a formidable state?" Lu Qing's heart skipped a beat in surprise.

However, he remained calm and, with a subtle shift of his thoughts, neutralized and dissipated the searing flames with his esoteric art.

"Hmm? Fire Manipulation Art? Who are you, young one, and how did you come to know the secret art of the Flame-Severing Sect?" The authoritative voice expressed surprise as Lu Qing effortlessly dissipated the fiery attack from within the cauldron.

It was even more astonished to recognize that Lu Qing was employing the secret Fire Manipulation Art passed down in the Flame-Severing Sect.

"I, Lu Qing, heir of the Flame-Severing Sect, pay my respects to Elder Yan." Lu Qing replied reverently, transmitting his voice through his divine soul.

"Heir of the Flame-Severing Sect? You claim to be the heir?" The voice trembled, and in the next moment, a figure emerged from the cauldron with a swoosh, appearing before Lu Qing.

This figure was composed entirely of flames and took the form of a middle-aged man with a pair of horns on his forehead, exuding a majestic aura.

"Boy, what proof do you have to support your claim of being the heir of the Flame-Severing Sect?" The middle-aged man's gaze fell on Lu Qing, causing his divine soul to feel a searing heat.

However, Lu Qing, with his agile thoughts, easily dissipated the heat.

This display further convinced the middle-aged figure, "Indeed, it's the Fire Manipulation Art. Boy, where did you steal this art from? Confess at once!"

As he spoke, endless flames rose from behind him, and a powerful force pressed down on Lu Qing.

Yet, Lu Qing remained unfazed, "Elder Yan, there's no need to intimidate me with illusions. My words are true."

"Nonsense! The Flame-Severing Sect was annihilated tens of thousands of years ago. There can be no heir. You must have stolen this Fire Manipulation Art from somewhere. Confess now, or I'll show you no mercy and incinerate both your divine soul and physical body!" The middle-aged man's expression turned sinister.

"While the Fire Manipulation Art can be stolen, what about this?" Lu Qing's thoughts stirred, and a wave of divine soul energy rippled through the space within the cauldron.

In the next moment, the endless flames behind the middle-aged man scattered, leaving not even a spark.

"The control art of the Flame-Severing Cauldron!" The middle-aged man's face finally changed.

"This is impossible! How do you know how to control the Flame-Severing Cauldron?!"

"If I say that I learned it from Elder Yan, would you believe me?" Lu Qing said enigmatically.

"Are you trying to intimidate me, boy?" The middle-aged man's eyes narrowed dangerously, "Don't think that just because you know a little about controlling the cauldron, you can put on a show before me. Don't forget, this is my world!"

As his words landed, endless flames reappeared, more violent than before.

However, with the ripple of Lu Qing's divine soul energy, the flames dissipated once more.

The middle-aged man also felt a powerful restraining force upon him, increasing his pressure twofold.

His expression turned solemn as he finally understood that Lu Qing's mastery extended beyond mere control arts. He possessed the complete method to wield the Flame-Severing Cauldron.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to harness the power of the cauldron to restrain its spirit.

But how was this possible?

The control art of the Flame-Severing Cauldron was one of the highest secrets of the Flame-Severing Sect.

Only the sect master and a few grand elders were qualified to cultivate it.

Tens of thousands of years ago, the Flame-Severing Sect was destroyed. Aside from a handful of disciples who managed to escape, nearly everyone else perished.

The grand elders and the sect master also fell in that battle.

Only the junior sect master escaped with the Flame-Severing Cauldron, finding refuge in a secret land.

But later, as the junior sect master also met his end in that secret land, the control art of the Flame-Severing Cauldron should have been lost forever.

The middle-aged man racked his brains but couldn't find an answer. Finally, he turned his gaze to Lu Qing.

"Boy, stop this at once. I believe you are indeed the heir of the Flame-Severing Sect. The power within this cauldron is limited—it's all that I've painstakingly accumulated over the years. It shouldn't be wasted like this."

Lu Qing's divine soul stirred, and the restraint on the middle-aged man was lifted.

"Please forgive me, Elder Yan. You were too agitated, and I had no choice but to activate the restriction, offending you in the process."

The middle-aged man's eyes flickered, revealing a hint of reluctance.

Such was the frustration of being a vessel's spirit.

As the treasure of the sect, countless layers of restrictions had been placed on the Flame-Severing Cauldron during its creation by the Flame-Severing Sect.

The purpose was to ensure absolute control over the cauldron.

"To prevent any issues from arising during the inheritance process, additional precautions were taken."

Even as the spirit of the cauldron, facing Lu Qing, who possessed the complete control art, it was difficult to inflict harm on him.

And this was the true source of Lu Qing's boldness in attempting to refine the Flame-Severing Cauldron.

For even if he failed, he was absolutely confident in his ability to prevent the cauldron from erupting.

"Boy, what is your purpose here?"

The middle-aged man's face regained its calm, and he stood in the void.

"There's no need to ask when you already know, Elder Yan. I have come to reclaim the Flame-Severing Cauldron and refine it to bring it under my control," Lu Qing replied calmly.

"And you think you can do that?" The middle-aged man sneered. "I'm not underestimating you, boy. Do you really think it's possible for someone at the Foundation Establishment realm like you to control a spiritual treasure? Aren't you being a bit too delusional?"

"There's one thing you got wrong, Elder Yan," Lu Qing said, unperturbed by the mockery. "I'm not at the Foundation Establishment realm; I'm at the Qi Refinement realm and have only recently broken through to the initial stage.

"The Qi Refinement realm's initial stage? That's impossible!" The middle-aged man exclaimed, "How can your divine soul be so powerful if you're only at the initial stage of Qi Refinement?"

"That's because the cultivation technique I practice is somewhat unique." Lu Qing remained composed. "Also, not long ago, I was fortunate enough to undergo a tribulation and have my divine soul tempered by the tribulation lightning, transforming it from Yin to Yang, making it stronger than those at the same level."

"You underwent a tribulation and had your divine soul tempered by tribulation lightning?" The middle-aged man was shocked once more. "Boy, are you joking? With your cultivation level, how could you possibly trigger a tribulation cloud and survive?"

Lu Qing didn't bother to explain, merely offering a slight smile.

However, his confident demeanor caused the middle-aged man to calm down.

Finally, he settled his mind and began to observe Lu Qing closely.

As he did so, his expression gradually turned solemn.

He realized that Lu Qing's divine soul was indeed extraordinary.

It was not only exceptionally powerful and resilient but also imbued with Yang energy, setting it apart from typical Yin-based divine souls.

Most importantly, he sensed a hint of tribulation energy within it.

The middle-aged man was familiar with the concept of tribulation energy.

When he was first refined by the Flame-Severing Sect, he had undergone a tribulation and emerged victorious, earning his existence.

So Lu Qing's earlier claim wasn't a lie; he had indeed undergone a tribulation and successfully survived? The middle-aged man was filled with doubt and uncertainty.

"It seems you've seen through it, Elder Yan," Lu Qing said with a faint smile. "I haven't deceived you, have I?"

"You've already triggered a tribulation and survived at this early stage of the evolution of the heavenly dao's rules.

Boy, are you that legendary figure of destiny, the heavenly anomaly destined to dominate an entire era?"

The middle-aged man stared at Lu Qing, his eyes wide with astonishment.

"I know nothing of this destiny you speak of," Lu Qing said. "Elder Yan, I would like to ask you something. Are you willing to cooperate with me and hand over control of the Flame-Severing Cauldron?

As its spirit, you should be aware that for a spiritual treasure to advance, it's almost impossible to do so alone.

Even if we wait until the end of this cultivation era, it's unlikely to happen.

But with my help, it won't be difficult for the Flame-Severing Cauldron to advance to the upper-grade spiritual treasure rank in the future.

It's even possible to go further and set you free from your confines, granting you true freedom."

"What if I refuse?" The middle-aged man asked, his eyes fixed on Lu Qing.

"Then I have no choice but to force you, refining you in the process," Lu Qing said, unwavering.

"Do you think you, a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, can refine me?"

"Why don't you give it a try?"

The middle-aged man fell silent.

If Lu Qing had said such words at the beginning, he would have considered it sheer madness and delusion.

He would have mercilessly burned and destroyed him as punishment for daring to offend him.

But now that Lu Qing possessed the complete control art of the Flame-Severing Sect, it was impossible for him to incinerate Lu Qing's divine soul.

It would even be extremely difficult to expel him from the Flame-Severing Cauldron.

Moreover, Lu Qing's divine soul had been tempered by the tribulation, making it exceptionally resilient and imbued with Yang energy, rendering it unafraid of fire.

If Lu Qing were to attempt to forcibly refine the cauldron, he really couldn't afford to be careless.

Otherwise, once Lu Qing refined even one or two layers of the restrictions within the cauldron, he would be at a significant disadvantage.

So, to be precise, Lu Qing's words weren't just empty threats.

He truly had the ability to gradually refine the Flame-Severing Cauldron.

However, the idea of being controlled by a Qi Refinement cultivator was something the middle-aged man struggled to accept.

Even spiritual treasures had their pride.

In the ancient cultivation world, since its creation, it had always been firmly controlled by the Flame-Severing Sect.

However, his status within the sect was also highly revered.

Aside from the sect master and a few grand elders, no one in the entire Flame-Severing Sect was qualified to speak to him.

Even those core disciples at the Golden Core realm had to treat him with the utmost respect and not dare to overstep their bounds.

Now, to be controlled by a young man at merely the Qi Refinement realm was something the middle-aged man was extremely reluctant to accept.

"It seems you are unwilling, Elder Yan. Then, I'm afraid I must resort to forceful means."

Lu Qing saw the hesitation on the middle-aged man's face and shook his head.

He had tried persuasion, but if the other party was still uncooperative, he would have no choice but to take a more aggressive approach.

Although he didn't want to forcefully refine the cauldron, doing so would require a thousand times more mental effort and energy due to the spirit's resistance.

But since the other party was unyielding to both soft and hard approaches, Lu Qing saw no point in further negotiations.

With a stir of his thoughts, Lu Qing's divine soul power permeated the surrounding space, soon reaching the first layer of restrictions, as he began to forcibly refine it.

The middle-aged man immediately sensed this change and his expression shifted before he finally sighed.

"Alright, stop for now. I agree to your demands."

Lu Qing's divine soul power paused momentarily as he observed the middle-aged man's expression, unsure if he was being serious.

He slowly retracted his divine soul power and waited.

"However, before I hand over control, I need to establish three covenants with you," the middle-aged man said solemnly. "If you disagree, I would rather perish and resist your refinement to the very end.

Believe me, with my interference, it will take you at least several decades or even centuries to gain control over the Flame-Severing Cauldron, given your current cultivation level."

"Please, go ahead, Elder Yan," Lu Qing said nonchalantly in response to the threat.

"First, you may refine the restrictions of the Flame-Severing Cauldron, but you must vow with your divine soul not to enslave me and turn me into a puppet.

This is the most important condition. If you disagree, then there's no point in continuing this discussion.

Even if it means my demise, I will never surrender control of the Flame-Severing Cauldron to you!"

The middle-aged man's final statement was resolute and unwavering.

It seemed that Lu Qing's disagreement would lead to a complete breakdown in their negotiations.

"That's reasonable, Junior doesn't intend to enslave you either, Elder Yan. After all, the full power of the Flame-Severing Cauldron can only be unleashed with your assistance," Lu Qing agreed without hesitation.

The enslavement mentioned by the middle-aged man was actually a common method of controlling spiritual treasures in the ancient cultivation world.

There were two different approaches used by the major sects and powerful cultivators.

One was to completely refine and enslave the spirit of the treasure, making it completely subservient to the controller's commands.

The other was to refrain from enslaving the spirit and instead cooperate with it to jointly control the treasure.

Both methods had their advantages and disadvantages, making it difficult to determine which was superior.

The first method, by completely enslaving the spirit, allowed for absolute control over the treasure, but it diminished the spirit's sentience.

Advancing the treasure's rank would become extremely difficult, if not impossible.

The second method preserved the spirit's sentience, allowing it to independently control the treasure during battles, providing an additional source of combat power.

However, the drawback was significant.

If the spirit betrayed its master at a critical moment, refused to cooperate, or even turned against its owner, it could lead to extreme danger and possibly the master's demise.

Therefore, in the ancient cultivation world, the vast majority of sects and powerful cultivators possessing spiritual treasures chose to completely enslave their spirits.

Even those who didn't enslave their spirits would usually impose numerous restrictions on the treasure to prevent betrayal.

Only in rare cases, where there was an extraordinary bond of trust and camaraderie between the owner and the spirit, would there be no restrictions imposed.

Of course, such examples were extremely rare.

Even in the ancient cultivation era spanning tens of thousands of years, there were only one or two known instances of this.

The Flame-Severing Sect had chosen the latter approach with the Flame-Severing Cauldron, controlling it through restrictions rather than enslaving its spirit.

Lu Qing was aware of this, so he didn't find the middle-aged man's request surprising, and he readily agreed.

Of course, the most important reason was, as the middle-aged man had pointed out, that if he resisted, it would be extremely difficult for Lu Qing to succeed in his current state.

Seeing Lu Qing's agreement to the first condition, a smile appeared on the middle-aged man's face.

"The second condition..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end