Chapter 328: Lu Qing's Threat, Successful Refinement, and Wei Xinghe's Breakthrough

Chapter 328: Lu Qing's Threat, Successful Refinement, and Wei Xinghe's Breakthrough

2024-09-01

In the underground chamber of the Wei family...

As Lu Qing entered a meditative state, his consciousness delved into the Flamefire Cauldron.

Wei Shanhai's heart was filled with apprehension.

The Flamefire Cauldron had become extremely unstable.

Its power fluctuated, ebbing and surging without end.

He genuinely feared that it might explode at any moment, lifting the entire Wei Manor into the sky.

Fortunately, Wei Shanhai's worries never materialized.

As Lu Qing's meditation progressed, the aura of the Flamefire Cauldron gradually stabilized.

Eventually, it became incredibly serene, devoid of any hint of volatility.

"Could it be that Young Master Lu is about to successfully refine it?" Wei Shanhai's eyes lit up with surprise.

The old doctor beside him also showed a hint of emotion.

Inside the Flamefire Cauldron, Lu Qing listened to the middle-aged man's latter two conditions and shook his head.

"Senior 'Flame', I'm afraid I cannot agree to your last two conditions."

The middle-aged man paused, looking at Lu Qing in disbelief, "You won't agree?"

"Senior, I cannot agree to your request to loosen the restrictions on the Flamefire Cauldron and limit my interventions to only three times a year, with the rest of the time dedicated to my secluded cultivation. Please forgive me, but I cannot comply." Lu Qing spoke calmly.

His eyes also carried a hint of coldness.

The Flamefire Cauldron's spirit was taking itself too seriously.

He could understand the first request, but the latter two conditions were simply treating him like a master.

The numerous seals on the Flamefire Cauldron were crafted by the Flamefire Sect in the past to control the spirit and prevent it from breaking free.

How could he possibly weaken this layer of protection?

As for the condition of only intervening three times a year and spending the rest of the time in secluded cultivation, that was even more absurd.

Lu Qing possessed the Flamefire Sect's inheritance, and the Flamefire Cauldron held great significance for him.

How could he possibly limit himself to only three interventions per year?

Who did this 'Flame' think he was, to propose such outrageous conditions?

"Youngster, think carefully. If you don't agree to these three conditions, I will never relinquish control of the Flamefire Cauldron, making your refinement an arduous task.

Even if you spend hundreds of years, you might not be able to refine the cauldron.

Why waste your time over such minor conditions? The heavens and earth have transformed, and Spirit Qi has just begun to revive. Everyone is striving for progress and diligently cultivating.

In the path of cultivation, every step ahead is a significant advantage.

The Flamefire Cauldron is a Spirit Artifact, an extremely precious treasure even in the previous cultivation era.

Only powerful sects or those with extraordinary abilities beyond the Primordial Spirit realm could possibly possess and control it.

For someone at the Qi Condensation Realm like you to have the opportunity to control a Spirit Artifact is an unimaginable stroke of luck.

If you can master it early on, it will greatly benefit your cultivation.

Why reject my conditions and block your path, missing out on this heaven-sent opportunity?"

The middle-aged man tried to persuade Lu Qing, appealing to his emotions and reasoning.

However, Lu Qing merely smiled faintly.

"Senior, please don't say more. Regardless, I can only agree to your first condition.

The other two are non-negotiable.

At most, I can promise that if the Flamefire Cauldron reaches the pinnacle of Spirit Artifacts, and when your spiritual consciousness is complete and you are qualified to break free from your confines, I will set you free.

I will help you find a satisfactory physical body and become a true living being.

Apart from that, all other conditions are off the table."

Seeing Lu Qing's unwavering attitude, the middle-aged man's eyes narrowed.

"So, there's no room for negotiation?"

"That's right."

The middle-aged man's aura calmed, and he stared intently at Lu Qing.

"Senior, don't keep threatening me with hindering my refinement of the Flamefire Cauldron."

Sensing the malicious intent emanating from the middle-aged man, Lu Qing remained unperturbed and spoke slowly, "Although the Flamefire Cauldron is precious, I don't necessarily need to obtain it right now.

There are other Spirit Artifacts in this world besides this one."

As he spoke, Lu Qing's thoughts stirred, and a strand of Qi Mechanism from the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Bag on his physical body outside entered the Flamefire Cauldron.

"This is...!" The middle-aged man's eyes widened in shock, "The Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Bag?!"

"Indeed, it's the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Bag." Lu Qing confirmed, "Senior 'Flame', although the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Bag is slightly inferior in rank to the Flamefire Cauldron, it is a Spirit Artifact completely under my control.

Yes, my current cultivation level does make it challenging to forcefully refine the Flamefire Cauldron."

But in three to five years, with the help of the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Bag, Senior, what realm do you think my cultivation will reach?

By then, how much of me can you block?"

The middle-aged man's expression suddenly turned uncertain.

He had originally thought that with Lu Qing's desire for the Flamefire Cauldron, he could manipulate him and negotiate terms.

But now that Lu Qing also possessed a Spirit Artifact, things were different.

More importantly, the words Lu Qing had just spoken left him unable to refute.

To be able to trigger tribulation clouds and transcend the heavenly tribulation during the initial transformation of the world, when Spirit Qi had just recovered.

Lu Qing's talent was unimaginable, and he was undoubtedly a peerless genius blessed by the heavenly fortune of the world.

For someone with such great fortune, their cultivation speed was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

In three to five years, he truly dared not speculate on what realm Lu Qing would reach.

"It seems Senior has figured it out."

Lu Qing smiled at the middle-aged man's expression.

"Junior doesn't mind telling Senior, if this time Senior is unwilling to cooperate.

Then, the next time Junior comes, there will be no room for negotiation.

Junior will definitely forcefully refine the Flamefire Cauldron and enslave Senior's Divine Soul.

Perhaps Senior can gamble on who recovers faster, and can control the cauldron to fly away first.

Or if Junior's cultivation is faster, and can reach the realm to forcefully refine you."

Facing Lu Qing's blatant threat, the middle-aged man's expression changed.

He stared fixedly at Lu Qing's calm demeanor, knowing that what he said was true.

As an Artifact Spirit, his cultivation was naturally incredibly slow.

The Flamefire Cauldron had been severely damaged in the previous cultivation era, and it was a thousand times more difficult to rely on its own power to fully recover.

It was definitely no match for Lu Qing, who was blessed by the heavenly fortune of the world.

So, if he didn't compromise this time, when Lu Qing returned the next time, it would probably be his end.

"Is there really no more room for negotiation?"

After a long silence, the middle-aged man spoke.

Lu Qing didn't say anything, but his expression said it all.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man sighed, "Indeed, times have changed. Fine, I can give up on the latter two conditions, but you must agree to the first one.

Otherwise, I'd rather self-destruct than be enslaved by you.

You should know the consequences of a Spirit Artifact losing its Artifact Spirit!"

"Of course, since Junior has promised Senior, I will not go back on my word."

Lu Qing smiled as he saw the middle-aged man finally relent.

"You don't need to sweet-talk me, I don't believe in any promises, only in Divine Soul Vows." The middle-aged man said indifferently.

"In that case, I'll establish a Divine Soul Vow with you right now."

Lu Qing immediately established a Divine Soul Vow with the middle-aged man.

As long as the middle-aged man assisted him in refining the Flamefire Cauldron, he guaranteed that he would never enslave him.

As the vow was made, Lu Qing suddenly felt a mysterious fluctuation emerge from his heart and soul.

He immediately understood that this was a sign of a successful Divine Soul Vow.

A Divine Soul Vow was a vow made by a cultivator's heart and soul, and once established, it would be sensed by the heavenly dao of this world.

If one dared to break their vow, the heavenly dao would impose unimaginable punishment.

Therefore, cultivators would not take such vows lightly, and once made, they would never dare to break them.

Sensing the successful establishment of the Divine Soul Vow, the middle-aged man's expression finally improved.

"I'll help you refine and recognize the Flamefire Cauldron as your master now."

...

In the underground chamber, Wei Shanhai saw the previously calm Flamefire Cauldron suddenly stir again, and his heart skipped a beat.

Fortunately, the cauldron soon quieted down again.

But he didn't dare to relax; instead, he closely watched the cauldron's movements.

After a while, he saw Lu Qing, who had been meditating before the cauldron, open his eyes and stand up.

"How is it, Young Master Lu?" Wei Shanhai asked anxiously.

"Fortunately, it wasn't a wasted effort."

Lu Qing's eyes showed a hint of fatigue.

With the help of the Artifact Spirit, even with his current cultivation realm, it was still extremely challenging to fully control the seals of a Spirit Artifact.

Thankfully, he had succeeded in the end.

Under Wei Shanhai's delighted gaze, Lu Qing formed intricate hand seals.

The next moment, the Flamefire Cauldron emitted a powerful suction force, absorbing all the fire essence that had accumulated in the underground chamber.

Then, the cauldron rapidly shrank, eventually becoming the size of a thumb and falling into Lu Qing's hand.

The Artifact Spirit "Flame" within the Flamefire Cauldron sensed the surge of fire energy inside, feeling delighted but also lamenting.

This was the tragedy of their kind.

Restricted by the numerous Seals within the Spirit Artifact, he couldn't control the Flamefire Cauldron as he wished.

So, after accumulating fire energy for so long in this underground chamber, it was still less than what Lu Qing could absorb in an instant after taking control of the cauldron.

Fortunately, he and Lu Qing had made a Divine Soul Vow.

From now on, with Lu Qing's assistance, restoring to his peak state was merely a matter of time.

Thinking of this, his compromise this time seemed like the right choice.

"Congratulations, Young Master Lu, for obtaining such a precious treasure."

Wei Shanhai saw the Flamefire Cauldron shrink and fall into Lu Qing's hands, his eyes widening in surprise before he congratulated Lu Qing.

"Senior Wei, do you regret it now?" Lu Qing joked.

"Young Master, I know my own abilities. This grand cauldron is not something our Wei family can control."

"I have a premonition that if we keep it, it might bring disaster to our Wei family."

"Now that Young Master has taken it away, perhaps you've saved our Wei family once again."

Wei Shanhai spoke solemnly.

He had just sensed the change in the Flamefire Cauldron's aura, a terrifying power that almost suffocated him. He realized that this was not an extraordinary treasure he could touch.

If they kept it, who knows when it would erupt and bring a great calamity upon the entire Wei family.

"Senior, you're too kind. Now that I've taken this Flamefire Cauldron, I've discovered its profound and wondrous nature. It has various miraculous uses in alchemy and artificing."

"Good, I'll definitely be there to witness the immortal's alchemy techniques when you refine pills in the future."

Wei Shanhai was overjoyed upon hearing this.

If Lu Qing could casually display his cultivation techniques, then the pills he refined would surely be unimaginable immortal pills.

When the time comes, obtaining even one pill would be an incredible opportunity.

"The crisis here is over. Let's leave this place first."

After Lu Qing and the others exited the underground chamber, more than an hour had passed.

The Wei family had already prepared a grand feast.

It was just in time for them, and they could start the banquet.

After the meal, everyone began to chat casually.

Wei Zian started to vividly recount their journey to Zhongzhou.

He talked about how they encountered the Silver Moon Sect's evil deeds right after leaving Cangzhou, how they killed the Silver Moon Sect's Young Master, and then traveled a thousand miles to annihilate the Silver Moon Sect.

He continued with their journey to Azure Dragon City riding the Wind Riding Cart and so on.

The exciting experiences along the way left Wei Lady and the others in awe.

Even Wei Shanhai hadn't expected that Lu Qing and his group would experience so many events in just a few short months.

Especially when they heard about Wang Cangyi being casually killed by Lu Qing in the Holy City, they couldn't help but sigh.

Initially, Wei Shanhai had planned to personally seek revenge in the Northern Frontier after improving his cultivation.

But he never expected that his old friend, with whom he had nearly a hundred years of grudges, would die so easily at Lu Qing's hands.

"Thank you, Young Master Lu, for eliminating such a formidable enemy for our Wei family."

Upon hearing this, Wei Lady expressed her joy and gratitude to Lu Qing.

She despised Wang Cangyi to the core.

This villain had almost caused the extermination of their Wei family, and he managed to escape unscathed afterward.

Now that Lu Qing had killed him, he had removed a great threat to their Wei family, making her extremely happy.

"Madam, please don't be so polite. I also had a grudge with Wang Cangyi. Killing him that day was merely a coincidence."

Lu Qing smiled, "If he hadn't come to me on his own, I wouldn't have known where to find him."

"This proves that the Heavenly Net is vast and unyielding. Wang Cangyi must have exhausted his evil deeds to encounter Young Master." Wei Lady said.

Lu Qing smiled but didn't confirm or deny it.

Whether Wang Cangyi's encounter with him in the Holy City was due to the Heavenly Net was hard to say.

But there was indeed a Heavenly Dao in this world, and that was true.

"Mom, there's more, there's more..."

Wei Zian was about to continue describing what happened in the Holy City.

Suddenly, a powerful aura erupted from the direction of the manor's backyard, causing the Primordial Qi to stir restlessly.

"Primordial Qi is gathering! Has Xinghe broken through?"

Wei Shanhai stood up abruptly, his face filled with joy.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end