Chapter 573: Merging Earth Vein Fire, the Immortal Seed Sprouts, and the Transformation of Immortal Martial Arts in the Myriad Transformations Dragon Elephant Furnace

Chapter 573: Merging Earth Vein Fire, the Immortal Seed Sprouts, and the Transformation of Immortal Martial Arts in the Myriad Transformations Dragon Elephant Furnace

The Nine Heavens and Nine Earths Blade had reached a bottleneck for Li Che. After successfully forming the fourth ancient rune, he had no idea how to proceed with the next ones, and even his memories of them seemed to have been erased by the invisible Cosmic Will.

Therefore, Li Che was quite looking forward to the Divine Sculptor Conference. Besides wanting to save Qi Tian, this was also a good opportunity to gain insights into the ancient runes.

Ji Shaohao led Li Che out of the inn, where an extravagantly decorated dragon carriage waited outside. The dragon horse, covered in scales, possessed genuine Ancestral Dragon blood.

At this moment, Ji Shaohao was exceptionally respectful, showing great anticipation for Li Che, the Divine Sculptor. He personally helped Li Che into the carriage, making all the other Divine Sculptors envious.

But what could they do?

Talents naturally receive special treatment. If they could also achieve what Li Che did, shining brightly at the Jinhe King's banquet and winning the top spot, they too would receive such honors.

Cang Yuan, the Immortal Hand, earned such treatment through his own efforts. They were envious, but not jealous.

After all, as Divine Sculptors of the Dark Heavenly Court, they were well aware of their own abilities. Compared to those from Black Mount Sumeru, the Cunning Demon Cave, and the two ancient villages, their competitiveness was much weaker.

The carriages started moving, their wheels turning, glowing with a dazzling light as they sped through the air, lightning flashing around them. They looked like a grand procession of the Heavenly Court, extremely spectacular and colorful.

This was the grandeur of the Dark Heavenly Court. In their own territory, Ji Shaohao had no concept of being low-key. As the Young Emperor, he had the capital to be anything but.

The Taasu Heaven was under the jurisdiction of the Dark Heavenly Court, so Ji Shaohao planned to make an impressive first impression!

Although the quality of the Divine Sculptors in the Dark Heavenly Court was far inferior to those of other divine camps and the two ancient villages, that was not a problem. They had to win in terms of morale!

Zhao Yuanda was also invited into the carriage, giving Li Che a final briefing on the competition and sharing his experiences as a Divine Sculptor.

"Immortal Hand Cang Yuan, don't underestimate the Divine Sculptors from other camps and the two ancient villages."

"At the Jinhe King's banquet, if it were a sudden test, they might have been caught off guard. But this Divine Sculptor Conference is something they have been preparing for a long time. They are all eager to win and will show their best."

"The small gap between you and them might be completely closed!"

"If you want to secure a better position among the Array Arrangers, you must aim for a higher ranking. Even if you can't match Ba She, Jin Miro, Xuanyuan Hao, and Dongyang Xianshou, you must be fully focused and strive to outperform the other, slightly weaker Divine Sculptors."

Ji Shaohao said.

Li Che nodded, listening to Zhao Yuanda's last-minute "cramming" and Ji Shaohao's guidance.

The carriage continued on, soon entering the inner city of the Doutian Palace City.

As soon as they entered the inner city, the divine aura between heaven and earth became more intense and overwhelming. Additionally, Li Che felt a terrifying heat that made his soul burn!

"This is... the Heaven Vein Fire!"

"It is the Heaven Vein Fire of the Taasu Heaven, gathered beneath the Doutian Palace City!"

Zhao Yuanda's eyes narrowed as he said.

"Such Heaven Vein Fire... is extremely powerful, a manifestation of the true Cosmic Will, capable of burning through the Nine Nether Path of Life and Death and causing the Nirvana Spirit to fall!"

Zhao Yuanda said solemnly.

Although he was a Divine Sculptor, his cultivation was only at the Nirvana realm.

Even a Nirvana Heavenly King was still at the Nirvana realm!

"That's right. This is the Heaven Vein Fire. Only beings like the Immortal Laojun can capture and gather it beneath the Doutian City."

Ji Shaohao smiled.

Then, a mysterious look appeared on his face, and he whispered, "But that's not all..."

"This time, beneath the Doutian Palace City, not only the Heaven Vein Fire has been gathered, but also the Earth Vein Fire, forming the Heaven and Earth Vein Fire!"

"This was achieved at great cost by the Immortal Laojun, specifically to target the Monkey King Qi Tian."

"This is why I, the Young Emperor, am taking this Divine Sculptor Conference very seriously. With such preparation, the Monkey King Qi Tian is sure to fall. The Heaven and Earth Vein Fire will burn him, and he will inevitably transform into the Qi Tian Divine Pill!"

Ji Shaohao's eyes gleamed with a greedy intent.

At the height of his power, the Monkey King Qi Tian could rival an Immortal Being. Although he is now weakened, the Qi Tian Divine Pill he can produce will undoubtedly be one of the best in the world!

Although Li Che had known this secret for a long time, he still showed a look of shock on his face.

His heart sank.

The Heaven and Earth Vein Fire...

It seemed even more terrifying than he had imagined.

The pressure was so intense that he felt it was hard to breathe, and even the blood flow in his Immortal Body became difficult.

The pressure was overwhelming!

Li Che slowly exhaled, trying to calm himself down.

Finally, the carriage came to a stop, arriving in the inner city of the Doutian Palace City.

Around them, other luxurious carriages had parked, but none were as dazzling as Ji Shaohao's dragon carriage.

The Young Emperor's carriage made a grand entrance, overshadowing all others.

Even the carriages of Shi Shaokai and Fu Shaoxi couldn't compare, as the Doutian Palace City was the Dark Heavenly Court's home turf!

Li Che, his black robes fluttering, stepped out of the carriage, with Xi Xi by his side. Cang Yuan trembled, struggling to breathe under the pressure of the Heaven and Earth Vein Fire.

Xi Xi, however, was fine. As the daughter of Yulian, the power of Yulian Fire was not much weaker than that of the Heaven and Earth Vein Fire.

So, Xi Xi not only wasn't suffering, but she even felt somewhat comfortable.

Xi Xi was wise. She knew she couldn’t appear too comfortable and had to learn to act uncomfortable, or the various powerful figures would realize something was amiss.

Grandmaster Zhao Yuanda glanced at the two, and the Nirvana Will expanded, shielding Cang Yuan and Xi Xi from the oppressive aura.

Perhaps because of his admiration for Li Che, this Divine Sculptor Great Immortal extended his protection to Xi Xi and Cang Yuan as well.

Not just anyone could enter the inner city of Doutian Palace.

The inner city was vast, like stepping into the interior of a pill furnace. The walls were extremely high, seemingly made of bronze, emitting a bronze hue. Various patterns, like ancient totems, were carved all over them.

Li Che stepped down from the carriage, and numerous gazes immediately fell upon him.

Ba She, the Divine Sculptor from the Cunning Demon Cave, Jin Miro from Black Mount Sumeru, and Shaoji Shaoji were among them.

Shaoji Shaoji was also participating in the Divine Sculptor Conference. In fact, Ji Shaohao himself wished to join, but unfortunately, his understanding of the Way of Divine Sculpture was limited, and his talent was not enough.

Fu Shaoxi also represented the Divine Sculptors.

For the Divine Sculptor Conference, he had specifically visited the Nuwa Empress at the Nuwa Palace to learn the Divine Sculpture Art. Now, he had reached the level of a Divine Sculptor!

When Fu Shaoxi expressed his intention to participate in the conference, Ji Shaohao’s face darkened immediately.

Damn!

None of them were following the rules!

Shaoji Shaoji’s participation was understandable, as he was already an extremely skilled Divine Sculptor.

But what about Fu Shaoxi?!

Ji Shaohao remembered that Fu Shaoxi’s Divine Sculpture skills were on par with his own!

“Damn it!”

Ji Shaohao’s expression turned grim. He could guess that Fu Shaoxi must have learned some techniques from the Nuwa Empress, perhaps even borrowed some power.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so confident about participating in this Divine Sculptor Conference, which would span the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!

He couldn’t help but look at Li Che.

“Immortal Sculptor Cang Che... you must achieve a better ranking in this Divine Sculptor Conference!”

“If you can secure one of the top three spots, I will, on top of the original reward, gift you three Lower Second Saint Divine Crystals and one Eight-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystal!”

Ji Shaohao was truly anxious!

With both Fu Shaoxi and Shaoji Shaoji, two Lesser Emperors, participating in the conference, Shaoji Shaoji was naturally a strong contender. Fu Shaoxi must have received true teachings from the Eternal Nuwa Empress of the Cunning Demon Cave and was likely aiming for the top three as well.

If both Lesser Emperors secured the top three spots and obtained the high-quality Qi Tian Divine Pills, Ji Shaohao would be left far behind.

“Alright! I will do my best!”

Li Che’s breath caught when he heard this.

These high-ranking figures of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were truly generous!

Three Lower Second Saint Divine Crystals, just like that!

For Li Che, not taking advantage of these opportunities would be a waste!

If he missed this chance, he would truly regret it.

The Lower Second Saint Divine Crystals would greatly help Xi Xi’s cultivation, allowing her to rapidly advance in her realm.

The Dao Essence Divine Crystal would also be beneficial for Old Huang, who was still in the nurturing stage, potentially raising his upper limit after he emerged!

Coincidentally, Li Che’s goal was to secure a top spot among the Array Arrangers, so earning the resources Ji Shaohao promised would be a perfect match with no conflict!

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Che walked toward the center of the venue.

Divine Sculptors from various factions stepped out, and all gazes immediately converged.

The number of participants in this Divine Sculptor Conference was enormous.

In Xuanxiao Heaven alone, Ji Shaohao’s faction had ten slots, and in reality, about twenty Divine Sculptors from Xuanxiao Heaven had qualified through selection. Adding the Divine Sculptor Saints who came for the spectacle, the total from one major domain was around fifty.

So, in total, there were roughly nine hundred Divine Sculptors and Saints participating in this conference.

Only eighty-one slots were available.

Eighty-one slots were actually not few, and most participants had a chance.

However, the real competition was for the top ten spots among the Array Arrangers.

There was a limited supply of Qi Tian Divine Pills.

Those who could secure a share of the Divine Pills were naturally the top ten.

The square was vast, enormous, like a cluster of dozens of football fields.

The nine hundred Divine Sculptors and Saints gathered there, appearing minuscule in the vast space.

Li Che could feel the gazes converging on him, heavy and filled with competitive intent.

His performance at the Jinhe King’s Banquet had naturally caught the attention of many Divine Sculptors.

Shaoji Shaoji also gazed at Li Che for a moment, not underestimating this Divine Sculptor from the Dark Heavenly Court.

Time ticked by.

The air grew increasingly scorching.

The intense heat made many cultivators drenched in sweat, and even standing steadily became difficult.

This was the power of the Heaven and Earth Vein Fire, continuously intensifying.

Buzz—

Suddenly, a beam of golden light tore through the sky.

Space split, and a figure in golden feathered robes emerged from the rift.

Countless sword qi streams poured from behind him like an inverted waterfall, never ceasing!

The powerful Nirvana Will of the Nirvana Heavenly King surged, like a breached river, continuously ravaging.

This was the Jinhe King.

Now, the Jinhe King seemed to have lost some weight due to the loss of the Ruyi Golden Staff. His eyes were filled with ferocity and coldness.

The loss of a Dao weapon was a massive blow to a Nirvana Heavenly King.

He might never achieve Nirvana in his lifetime, having lost his only chance.

His eyes showed no despair, only unwavering resolve.

“The Divine Sculptor Conference is an initiative proposed by Immortal Laojun.”

“Therefore, the requirements for each round are set by Immortal Laojun. You must meet these requirements to advance to the next round!”

“Additionally, although Immortal Laojun is seeking eighty-one Array Arranger slots, it may not be possible to fill all of them after the rounds of selection.”

“The vacant slots will be filled by Immortal Laojun based on your performance in the conference, and he will personally designate them.”

The Jinhe King’s voice was deep and resonant.

No one dared to question, as Immortal Laojun had provided a fair opportunity. If no one seized it, Immortal Laojun’s direct designation was justifiable.

Moreover, Immortal Laojun was an Eternal, and his actions were beyond question.

The venue fell silent.

King Jinhe surveyed the scene with satisfaction.

He drifted down gracefully, his feathered robes fluttering in the breeze.

Facing the inner part of the square, he clasped his fists in a respectful salute.

"Master."

As the words fell from his lips, everyone felt an overwhelming pressure fill the space between heaven and earth.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed, his blood seeming to freeze as a terrifying will rolled over them. Though it wasn’t directed at anyone in particular, its mere presence brought an endless, chilling pressure!

Laojun Immortal!

A massive, ethereal figure appeared outside the Doutian Palace City.

Li Che raised his head, his black, rugged hair dancing wildly, and saw the colossal figure, as if it were observing a cauldron.

Enormous, towering as high as heaven and earth!

The figure’s face was obscured, but behind it, a wheel of rainbow light shone brightly.

The terrifying will of the Immortal Laojun covered the entire Doutian Palace City, as if in his eyes, this grand city of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths was nothing more than a cauldron.

"The Divine Sculptor Conference, to select the Array Arranger who will set up the divine array for this old immortal... the first round: the Sea of Fire to meet the Qingniu Heavenly King."

"The Earth Vein Fire will rise, and you must advance through the sea of fire. Those who can see the Qingniu Heavenly King under my command will pass and advance to the second round."

"This Earth Vein Fire burns willpower; only those with unyielding wills can see the Qingniu."

"Only those with unyielding wills can set up the array for this old immortal."

The booming voice echoed like a great bell, as if it came from beyond the clouds.

As the words ended, the rules were set.

Many faces changed, and the powerful spectators watching the conference grew solemn.

Before the conference began, no one knew what the rules would be, as they were determined by Laojun Immortal.

Inside the inner city of Doutian Palace, Ji Shaohao’s expression was heavy.

This rule was not good news.

The first round had nothing to do with sculpting; it was a test of willpower, which was naturally tied to one’s cultivation.

Those with insufficient cultivation had weaker wills, so those with strong cultivation would have a significant advantage in this round.

Was Li Che’s cultivation strong?

Quite the opposite. In the eyes of Ji Shaohao and others, Li Che’s cultivation was his weakness, while his Divine Sculpture Art was his strength.

"This will be difficult..."

Zhao Yuanda’s robe flapped in the wind as he stood on the city wall, sighing lightly.

Boom—!!!

Suddenly, as Laojun Immortal set the rules, a loud, thunderous sound echoed, and the square split open in the middle, a burst of blazing golden flames erupting.

The pillar of fire shot up to the sky, spreading out like a fountain, blooming like fireworks.

The falling flames spread like water, covering the entire square. However, these Earth Vein Fires were stopped at the edges of the square by an invisible barrier, as if a transparent glass wall had been erected.

The sea of fire crashed against it, splashing and igniting countless sparks.

The heat was like a wave, rushing toward them, as if it could burn away their very souls!

In the face of such a sea of fire, everyone fell silent.

However, after a moment, a faint laugh echoed through the air.

Shi Shaokai clasped his hands together, his bald head gleaming in the blazing golden light, like a light bulb.

He smiled warmly, like an ancient Buddha holding a flower.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this poor monk will go first."

As a Lesser Emperor, Shi Shaokai was proud, looking down on everyone participating in the Divine Sculptor Conference, including Li Che and Fu Shaoxi.

He took a step forward, his monk’s shoes landing on the ground with a dull thud, like the sound of a bell!

Rush—!!!

"Amitabha!"

A Buddhist chant echoed, and his robe flapped in the wind.

Shi Shaokai’s slender figure walked into the sea of Earth Vein Fire. The fire parted like it was cut by a blade, the walls on either side remaining flat. After a moment, the sea of fire closed again, swallowing Shi Shaokai’s figure and leaving no trace.

"Hmph! Stinking monk, always showing off."

Fu Shaoxi sneered, his body radiating demonic energy as he grew larger. Black demonic energy burst forth, and he took a step forward, like a black blade slicing into the sea of fire!

Ba She, Jin Miro, Xuanyuan Hao, and Dongyang Xianshou, among other Divine Sculptors, did not wait. They all rushed into the sea of Earth Vein Fire, vying to find the Qingniu as quickly as possible.

Li Che also moved, following the flow of the crowd. Over nine hundred Divine Sculptors and Saints all plunged into the sea of fire.

Boom—!!!

Flames erupted, the blazing golden fire sweeping in from all directions.

It obscured their vision, and their senses were completely suppressed within their bodies, unable to extend even a fraction.

Even the slightest attempt to sense the surroundings would be immediately burned away!

"Ahh—!!!"

Suddenly, Li Che heard a scream of agony, as if a soul was being burned and twisted.

Turning his head, he followed the sound and saw a blurry figure rolling in the sea of fire, slowly being burned to ashes.

At the same time.

Outside the sea of fire.

At the edge of the square.

A streak of fire shot out, ejecting a figure that should have been burned to nothingness in the sea of fire.

It was a Divine Sculptor Saint, whose will was too weak to withstand the flames. He rolled on the ground, slowly coming to his senses, and then awkwardly got up, staring at the raging sea of fire with lingering fear.

It was like the true fire of a cauldron, consuming everything!

Entering the Earth Vein Fire was like being transformed into the ingredients of a potion, both body and soul melting away!

Screams of agony echoed one after another.

Like exploding candy, one Divine Sculptor after another was ejected from the fire, each with lingering fear in their eyes and a deep sense of frustration.

Ji Shaohao clenched his fists tightly, his nerves on edge.

As a Lesser Emperor, he should have been calm, but this matter was too important.

His Divine Spirit Thought swept out, constantly monitoring the participants being burned and ejected.

He quickly scanned each one as they emerged, and when he realized it wasn’t Li Che, he let out a deep sigh of relief.

"Most of the Divine Sculptor Saints have been cleared out."

Zhao Yuanda said.

"The first round is indeed harsh. It’s clear that cultivation is a requirement, and most Divine Sculptor Saints don’t meet that standard. It’s normal for them to be eliminated."

"However, these Divine Sculptor Saints are not without benefits. The experience of being burned by the fire is a precious insight, which will be crucial for their future Nirvana."

Ji Shaohao said.

The Earth Vein Fire burned fiercely, capable of incinerating even divine beings. However, for a Divine Sculptor Saint, being able to sense even a fraction of the Earth Vein Fire’s essence would be a lifelong benefit!

Ji Shaohao was not concerned about these matters. What he cared about now was...

How long would Cang Yuan, the Immortal Artisan, be able to endure in the Earth Vein Fire?

Would he make it to the second round?!

...

...

Li Che strolled through the Earth Vein Fire.

He did not revert to his Immortal Body, for the Will of Laojun Immortal hung high above, and switching back to his Immortal Body at this moment would be no different from courting death.

With each step, he could feel the divinity within his body rapidly evaporating under the scorching flames.

"The divinity and the Earth Vein Fire are neutralizing each other..."

"This trial primarily tests the endurance of one's divinity, with the willpower being the secondary factor."

"Because, once the divinity is depleted, only the willpower remains to bear the brunt."

Li Che took a deep breath.

The intense heat almost seared through his throat and into his mouth.

"The Earth Vein Fire... This flame contains an extremely potent essence of heaven and earth, infused within the fire. Though difficult to grasp and sense, it still exists!"

"Can I try to capture it?"

Li Che's heart quivered slightly.

Then, his mind stirred.

The Path Tribulation Power surged forth.

The Primordial Dragon Elephant Blaze instantly rose from his back, accompanied by the sounds of dragon roars and elephant bellows.

The Earth Vein Fire trembled, and Li Che closed his eyes, his mind focusing.

His spine roared like an enraged dragon.

Slowly, the Mysterious Gateway Immortal Seed erupted!

The Myriad Transformations Dragon Elephant Furnace!

This martial art, executed by Li Che with his divine body, transformed into a massive vortex, voraciously absorbing the essence within the Earth Vein Fire!

Li Che's understanding of this Immortal Seed martial art rapidly improved. With the fusion of the Earth Vein Fire and the absorption of the essence, his grasp of this self-created Immortal Seed martial art gradually reached a state of perfection!

It even continued to evolve beyond the state of perfection!

From an Immortal Seed martial art, it transformed into... a true Immortal Martial Art!

The Mysterious Gateway Immortal Seed sprouted, giving birth to an Immortal Martial Art!

The Mysterious Gateway Immortal Martial Art!

Boom—!!

Li Che clenched his fingers into a fist and thrust it forward in the sea of flames.

The fire parted, and countless flames surged around him, forming coiling flame dragons and roaring flame elephants!

Cool breezes rushed in, and the scorching Earth Vein Fire no longer touched him!

Li Che's mind stirred slightly.

Before him, a stream of light appeared.

[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (Lv9, 25%)]

Hmm?

A hint of surprise flashed in Li Che's mind.

He never expected that transforming an Immortal Seed martial art into an Immortal Martial Art would unexpectedly boost the maturity of his Dao Fruit!

However, this was not an unusual situation!

Now, Li Che still had other Immortal Seed martial arts, such as the Qilin Suppressing Void Seal and the Lonely Mountain Lone Traveler Air-Slashing Blade, which had yet to transform into Immortal Martial Arts.

Li Che himself possessed two Immortal Martial Arts: one was the Nine Heavens and Nine Earths Blade, which he had comprehended from the Heavenly Will Guillotine, and the other was the Battle Saint Secret Technique, which had already reached the state of perfection!

The Battle Saint Secret Technique had not yet been integrated into the Mysterious Gateway.

Li Che's eyes glowed with intense heat!

It was as if he were being refined in a furnace, tempering his martial path!

"Unfortunately... my other Immortal Seed martial arts are infused with different Path Tribulation Powers."

"The Fire Tribulation can only be refined by the Myriad Transformations Dragon Elephant Furnace, so this time... I can only refine the Fire Tribulation Immortal Martial Art."

Li Che's dark, sturdy hair whipped and flew, his eyes glowing.

He slowly paced through the sea of flames.

The flame dragons and elephants accompanied him, slowly circling around him, helping him resist the effects of the fire.

Li Che expanded his willpower and began to sense, searching for the Blue Ox in the sea of flames.

With the capture of the essence within the Earth Vein Fire, Li Che's perception seemed to merge with the sea of flames, extending like countless tentacles, making his search increasingly easier.

Meanwhile.

In other directions within the sea of flames.

Many powerful figures were displaying their abilities.

Shi Shaokai clasped his hands together, and countless rays of Buddha light rose around him. A golden Buddha statue stood guard, shielding him from the Earth Vein Fire.

The entire golden Buddha statue glowed red from the intense heat.

On the other side, Fu Shaoxi was swallowed by a massive snake. The snake's scales opened, and a sticky, demonic fluid flowed out, blocking the flames.

The snake's body coiled and moved forward, clearing the path for Fu Shaoxi.

Fu Shaoxi crossed his arms, his eyes sharp.

Additionally, Ba She from the Cunning Demon Cave displayed similar abilities.

Jin Miro from Black Mount Sumeru floated eighteen human skull beads around him, which rotated to block the Earth Vein Fire.

Xuanyuan Hao from Dihong Ancient Village, with each step, unleashed sword qi around him, cutting through the sea of flames.

Dongyang Xianshou from Taiyi Ancient Village walked through the sea of flames, his body swelling and expanding, with countless ancient divine engravings intertwining, unafraid of the flames.

Everyone was displaying their abilities, searching for the Blue Ox in the sea of flames.

All were vying to be the first to find the Blue Ox Heavenly King.

Shi Shaokai suddenly stopped.

He clasped his hands together and closed his eyes slightly.

"The Earth Vein Fire... is too powerful. This is just pure Earth Vein Fire. If it were the Heaven and Earth Vein Fire, it would be unimaginable."

"Willpower is being burned, perception is blurred. Finding the Blue Ox... is indeed quite difficult."

Shi Shaokai closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.

When he opened his eyes again, they had changed.

They were now golden cicada patterns, as if burned by flames!

The moment the cicada patterns appeared, a golden cicada seemed to materialize behind the Buddha statue.

"I've found it."

The cicada patterns burned at the corners of his eyes.

He confirmed the location of the Blue Ox.

He smiled lightly.

He took a step toward the determined direction of the Blue Ox.

However...

Just as he took a step.

He heard a deafening moo from the Blue Ox!

His smile froze.

He had just locked onto the Blue Ox's position in the Earth Vein Fire...

How could someone have found the Blue Ox?!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end