Chapter 521: The Great Power Arrives in the Spring Rain
Chapter 521: The Great Power Arrives in the Spring Rain
The weather was getting colder and colder, beyond everyone's imagination.
According to some of the demonic beasts on Cangwu Mountain, this continuous snowfall that had lasted for four months could be considered the heaviest in a thousand years on Cangwu Mountain!
The snow had piled up to a depth of three feet.
Without using spiritual power to walk on it, one could easily sink into the thick layers of snow.
This heavy snowfall seriously hindered the free movement of the demonic beasts on Cangwu Mountain.
It was said that the deputy hall master of the Cross-Reality Hall, Dark Spring, had recently been preparing to activate an array to alter the natural phenomena and force the arrival of spring.
Regarding the situation on Cangwu Mountain, Luo Chen didn't inquire too much.
His recent attention had shifted from his lifebound treasure to the refinement of the Shape Transformation Pill.
In the cave abode.
Luo Chen looked at the round, gray cauldron standing on the ground and skillfully added the medicinal ingredients one by one.
"The journey to the west for the Buddhist scriptures was also a journey of ninety-nine and eighty-one tribulations."
"I've failed eighty times so far, and this eighty-first attempt is bound to succeed!"
Luo Chen's face showed a hint of a smile, and he had a premonition that this time, he would definitely succeed!
Unlike previous times when many people would gather to watch the refinement of the Shape Transformation Pill, this time there was no one around.
After so many failures, people's interest had naturally diminished.
Especially during this snowy season.
With no one paying attention, Luo Chen's focus intensified.
After adding the essence blood containing the Nascent Soul power of the Heaven Refiner, Luo Chen thought of the old man.
Ever since refining the lifebound treasure for him, the old man's condition had been deteriorating day by day.
Even with the spiritual herbs bestowed by Dark Spring, after extracting his lifeblood essence eighty times, not to mention a human cultivator, even the demonic beasts of the Barbaric Mountain Range with their renowned robust Qi and blood couldn't withstand such a toll.
"I'm afraid the Heaven Refiner won't last much longer."
"Although this fourth-rank pill didn't cost me any achievement points, it has directly consumed eight hundred years of cultivation from a Nascent Soul cultivator."
"The price is indeed not small!"
Luo Chen sighed.
He planned to bring some delicious food and drinks for the old man the next time he saw him.
Recently, a third-rank golden-feathered snowy owl had brought him a large jar of monkey wine, which had a unique taste, though not particularly rich in spiritual energy. Perhaps the Heaven Refiner would like it.
As his thoughts wandered, Luo Chen's pill refinement technique didn't relax in the slightest.
Gradually, time passed slowly.
Ten days later.
Luo Chen's eyes narrowed, and with a flick of his wrist, he raised his empty hand.
A ball of light slowly rose from the round, gray cauldron.
With a sweep of his wide sleeve, the light dissipated, leaving only five pill pellets the size of golden pearls floating in the air.
Each pill was dazzling and eye-catching.
Even when staring intently, it seemed as if one could faintly hear the cries of a baby.
Luo Chen shook his head vigorously and calmed himself.
He reached out and grabbed the five pills.
"It's done."
He had successfully refined a fourth-rank pill by transcending ranks, but he didn't feel as excited as he had imagined.
Some things, when they happen as expected, lose much of their thrill.
Moreover, since this pill contained the hard work of a human predecessor, he couldn't feel excited about it.
Finally, thinking that this pill was meant for demonic beasts to consume, allowing them to transform into human form in advance for cultivation, he felt even less enthusiastic.
Luo Chen sighed, put away the Primordial Cauldron, and turned to leave the cave abode.
...
After leaving the cave abode, Luo Chen paused in his steps.
He looked up at the sky, and the snowflakes, like goose feathers, continued to fall as they always did.
"According to the seasons, it should be spring by now. Why hasn't the snow stopped?"
Luo Chen muttered and rode the red cloud, formed by condensed spiritual power, towards the Cross-Reality Hall.
Upon reaching the hall, he informed the guarding demonic beast, and then quietly waited.
Soon, he was told to enter.
"What's the matter?"
Luo Chen frowned slightly, sensing a hint of impatience in Dark Spring's tone. Without hesitation, he took out five golden pill pellets from his storage ring.
"This..."
Looking at the five pills, Dark Spring was taken aback, then seemed to realize something and spoke uncertainly, "Shape Transformation Pills?"
"Yes, I have successfully refined them as instructed."
Luo Chen smiled slightly and handed over four of the Shape Transformation Pills to her.
Dark Spring looked at the remaining pill.
Luo Chen naturally held it in his hand, "I refined five pills in one attempt, and I'd like to keep one for research. I hope the Hall Master will grant me this request."
Dark Spring blinked, her gaze finally resting on the four Shape Transformation Pills in her hand, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
She paused briefly, then nodded slightly.
"I grant your request."
After delivering the pills, there wasn't much else to do.
Luo Chen intended to take his leave.
But Dark Spring stopped him.
In Luo Chen's confusion, she said naturally, "The Cross-Reality Hall is about to activate a grand array to disperse the continuous snowfall on Cangwu Mountain. During the array's activation, please refrain from moving around."
Luo Chen was taken aback, then nodded in agreement.
Perfect timing!
He felt that his advancement to the third level of the Golden Core was imminent, and he hadn't planned to go out anyway.
Now that he had delivered the first batch of Shape Transformation Pills, the demonic cultivators on Cangwu Mountain wouldn't pressure him for a while.
Taking this opportunity, he could take some time to seclude himself and break through to the third level of the Golden Core, which would be quite good.
After Luo Chen left.
Dark Spring's gaze fell on the four Shape Transformation Pills, her emotions fluctuating.
"My Dark Yin Crow bloodline is too thin. It was created by the Phoenix Empyrean using a strand of Dark Crow energy extracted from the brink of life and death."
"Due to the thin bloodline, when I advanced to the fourth rank, although I succeeded in breaking through the realm, I didn't have the strength to transform into a human form."
"Five hundred years, and my cultivation speed is incredibly slow. Even Qing, who started later, has surpassed me in cultivation."
"With such progress, I'll surely be of no help to the Phoenix Empyrean's plans. Even if I manage Jade Cauldron Mountain well, I'll eventually fall behind the team."
"Now, with this Shape Transformation Pill, perhaps I have another chance at transformation?"
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Dark Spring felt a glimmer of hope for the future.
But for now, he had to first activate the Cross-Reality Hall's grand array to dispel this strange heavy snowfall.
...
The grand array in the Cross-Reality Hall had been activated on the very day Luo Chen received the Shape Transformation Pill.
The vigorous Earth Vein Spiritual Qi was drawn out, spreading in all directions with the Cross-Reality Hall at its center.
The dark clouds in the sky were dispersed, and the accumulated snow on the mountains began to melt.
Torrents of snowmelt flowed down the hills and ravines.
A gentle drizzle fell amidst the chilly spring weather.
The melting snow made the surroundings even colder than during the snowfall.
Luo Chen, however, was unaware of all this.
In the warmth of his cave abode, he lit a rough sandalwood incense he had made over the years and began a deep seclusion.
The Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture slowly started to circulate.
First, the fire-attributed Qi from the Qi Sea's Golden Core flowed out, nourishing his meridians and acupoints before being retracted. Luo Chen's body then became like a black hole, devouring the rich Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth around him.
In the attribute panel, the 'Cultivation' section glowed brightly, as if eager to be tested.
【Cultivation: Golden Core, Second Layer 99/100】
With Luo Chen's uninterrupted cultivation of his Lifebound Art, the surrounding Spiritual Qi continuously entered his body, where it was refined and purified. After further refinement through the Dust Essence Art, it was finally imbued with his Divine Soul, transforming into Qi.
The Golden Core spun, absorbing this Qi.
The crimson Golden Core became increasingly full and lustrous.
Time flowed slowly.
One day, two days, three days...
Unbeknownst to Luo Chen, half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, Luo Chen's body trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes.
There was no earth-shattering spectacle, and even the overflowing Qi fluctuations, though somewhat agitated and fiery, were within the normal range.
"Even a fake Celestial Spirit Root is still a Celestial Spirit Root!"
"Such a smooth and effortless breakthrough, like eating and drinking, is the most relaxed and enjoyable one in my life."
Luo Chen sighed, deeply appreciating the benefits of the Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture.
Even though he only had access to the Golden Core chapter, its profoundness far surpassed any third-stage cultivation method he had ever seen!
Cultivating with this method, not only was the speed incredibly fast, but the Qi's potency was no less than that of a Five Elements cultivator.
Moreover, the Qi refinement techniques embedded in this cultivation method were no weaker than his self-created Dust Essence Art!
It was perfect in every way! No wonder it's known as the Origin of Fire Cultivation!
"If I could get my hands on the Nascent Soul Stage chapter..."
Luo Chen moistened his dry lips, his heart stirring with anticipation.
Just then, he frowned.
With a thought, the Primordial Cauldron appeared before him.
It was quiet and peaceful, its gray exterior concealing any divine anomalies.
But when he infused it with a new strand of Qi, he finally noticed something amiss.
Wind! There was wind! Within the core of this Lifebound Treasure's array, a faint howling wind could be heard.
Luo Chen's expression shifted slightly. Why would his Lifebound Treasure, which he had thoroughly refined, exhibit such a strange phenomenon? If not for his recent breakthrough and active thoughts, and his comprehensive scan of his body with his Divine Sense, he might not have noticed this subtle anomaly.
Suddenly!
Luo Chen stood up abruptly, holding the miniaturized small cauldron in his hand and covering it with his sleeve. He closed the cave door and rushed towards the Cross-Reality Hall.
Upon reaching the Cross-Reality Hall, a demonic beast blocked his path.
"Elder Dark Spring is currently in seclusion and doesn't want to see anyone."
Luo Chen's expression remained calm. "I'm going to the dungeon and the treasure repository to collect a batch of materials for refining the Shape Transformation Pill."
The demonic beast let out a sound of acknowledgment and stepped aside.
Luo Chen flicked his sleeve and strode inside.
Behind him, the spring rain fell amidst the chilly air.
In the mist, a green-robed woman emerged from the empty hall, standing alone in the spring rain, her face filled with confusion.
...
As Luo Chen entered the dungeon again, he didn't go to the treasure repository of Jade Cauldron Mountain as he usually did.
Instead, he headed straight for the dungeon.
When he reached the fourth underground level, the massive Thunder Prison Phoenix once again blocked his path.
Seeing Luo Chen, the stern-faced Thunder Prison Phoenix softened, chatted with him for a while, and then allowed Luo Chen to pass.
Luo Chen knew exactly what was on the Thunder Prison Phoenix's mind—the thousand-year-old Thunder Blossom he possessed.
Such a rare material would be immensely beneficial to any cultivator, especially those cultivating Thunder Dao cultivation methods.
If the Thunder Prison obtained this item, it would be like adding wings to a tiger.
However, out of respect for Dark Spring, who valued Luo Chen highly, they dared not forcefully take it.
But Luo Chen couldn't bear to part with such a precious item as the thousand-year-old Thunder Blossom.
He planned to add a few more to the Broken Moon Wings when he had the time.
There was also the Primordial Cauldron! Once it had completely digested the impurities, it could also be infused with more thousand-year-old Thunder Blossoms.
The more of this item he had, the better, as it would be immensely beneficial for his future breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage!
Thinking about all this, Luo Chen continued on his way. Under Han Zhan's watchful gaze, he arrived at the entrance of the Heaven Refiner's cave.
After eighty-one blood extractions, the Heaven Refiner had become extremely weak.
Even though he remained seated in a cross-legged position, his entire demeanor seemed like that of an aged candle in the wind, no longer exuding the aura of a Nascent Soul Master.
Upon sensing Luo Chen's gaze, Tian Yezhi slowly opened his eyes.
"It's probably been half a month since the last blood extraction, right?"
A wry smile appeared on Luo Chen's lips, "I need an explanation!"
Tian Yezhi's expression stiffened.
With difficulty, he lifted his head and met Luo Chen's gaze, a bitter smile on his lips.
"I didn't expect you to discover it so quickly."
Luo Chen's eyebrows furrowed, "That Green Lotus Ethereal Wind?"
"Yes."
"I knew you wouldn't be so kind-hearted. You said you wanted to leave behind a perfect masterpiece before you died, but you took out your treasured Green Lotus Ethereal Wind and gave it to me. Yet, the treasure you crafted ended up being a lifebound treasure that its owner couldn't easily activate it. Speak, what's your purpose? How do you plan to resolve the restrictions of the Green Lotus Ethereal Wind and allow me to freely activate the Primordial Cauldron?"
Tian Yezhi seemed to struggle with these questions.
For a moment, he remained silent, and the atmosphere in the dungeon became rather somber.
After a while, he finally spoke with difficulty, "The difficulty in controlling the Primordial Cauldron isn't entirely due to my hidden trick. It's just as I told you before; it has too many impurities..."
"Hmph! Why beat around the bush? I'm asking you, what's your purpose!"
Luo Chen's confrontational tone made Tian Yezhi sigh heavily, "Why the hardship? It's just an afterthought I left for a glimmer of hope."
"A glimmer of hope?" Luo Chen's eyebrows furrowed.
Primordial Cauldron, Tian Yezhi's glimmer of hope? In an instant, his mind was filled with countless thoughts, like waves rising and falling.
Primordial Cauldron, Dan Ding, shaping transformation pills, materials infused with Tian Yezhi's Nascent Soul essence blood, dozens of failures, dozens of times infused with Nascent Soul power, and even the Green Lotus Ethereal Wind as a catalyst...
Gradually, all these pieces connected.
Luo Chen also recalled some strange tales about pill refinement that Duan Feng had shared with him in their past exchanges on pill refinement.
It was rumored that above artifacts, treasures, and true artifacts, there existed a class of treasures known as Spirit Treasures!
What are Spirit Treasures?
Treasures that give birth to artifact spirits are Spirit Treasures!
These artifact spirits aren't as simple as adding demonic beasts or cultivator souls.
They are naturally derived through repeated activation at the most opportune moments.
Treasures that give birth to artifact spirits must have an extremely high quality and a strong foundation, and they may even need to undergo the tempering of cosmic principles.
Ordinary pill refiners can't possibly refine Spirit Treasures.
Even in the Eastern Wilderness, in the renowned Celestial Sails City known for its pill refinement, not a single Spirit Treasure has ever been crafted.
But now, it was clear that Tian Yezhi's ambition was to use the Primordial Cauldron to be reborn after being consumed as a medicinal pig.
After realizing this, Luo Chen blurted out, "What a brilliant strategy of placing oneself in a desperate situation to survive! What a brilliant idea of merging with the artifact spirit!"
"Tian Yezhi! As a renowned pill refinement master, don't you know that I, a mere Golden Core cultivator, cannot control a treasure with an artifact spirit?"
"You're trying to turn the tables on me!"
Facing Luo Chen's ridicule, Tian Yezhi closed his eyes, seemingly accepting the situation.
But the next moment, he suddenly opened his eyes.
Boom!
A deafening roar reverberated from outside to inside, shaking the dungeon.
Luo Chen was utterly astonished.
"What's happening?"
Just then, Tian Yezhi let out a low cry, pointing a finger at Luo Chen and drawing a circle in the air.
Luo Chen's heart trembled, and the Primordial Cauldron, which he had kept outside his body for caution, suddenly lost its connection with his spiritual sense.
A gust of wind erupted from within the Primordial Cauldron.
The small three-inch cauldron began to grow with a rumble, its mouth tilting towards Tian Yezhi.
In that instant, Tian Yezhi's hair and beard fluttered, his eyes wide, and his expression was imposing without anger. He strode towards the dungeon's entrance.
As he took each step, his body erupted with puffs of blood mist.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In the blink of an eye, he became a blood-soaked man.
At this moment, he finally reached the dungeon's entrance.
He pinched a spiritual technique with both hands.
"Lock!"
The next moment, within the Primordial Cauldron, thick green chains suddenly appeared, passing through the dungeon and locking Tian Yezhi securely.
Then, with a pull outwards! In an instant, Tian Yezhi shifted his position, appearing outside the dungeon.
Holding the Primordial Cauldron in one hand, he glanced at Luo Chen, whose face was filled with shock, and then said loudly, "Fellow Daoist Han Zhan, the time has come. Why don't you break free from your predicament?"
A deep voice echoed from the front.
"I am weak, I hope you can lend me a hand."
Tian Yezhi, who had aged to the extreme, smiled lightly, "This is easy!"
His withered hand, resembling a chicken claw, slapped the Primordial Cauldron.
Clang!
A thick green chain shot out, instantly flying towards the dungeon where Han Zhan was located.
The next moment, it pulled out a three-inch Nascent Soul and flew out.
The surrounding restrictions seemed to have no effect at all.
Or perhaps, those restrictions had already been secretly understood by Tian Yezhi, the renowned pill refinement master of the human race.
At this moment, the two Nascent Soul Masters stood side by side, paying no heed to Luo Chen as they looked up at the sky.
Their gaze seemed to penetrate the layers of barriers, gazing beyond Cangwu Mountain.
In the boundless rain, a black-robed elder strolled forward.
"The Abyss Sect finally couldn't hold back and made their move!"
(End of Chapter)
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