Chapter 578: Qitian Refines a Sacred Body in the Doutian Furnace, I, Old Monkey, Only Fight in This Life and Seek No Afterlife [Request for Monthly Votes]

Chapter 578: Qitian Refines a Sacred Body in the Doutian Furnace, I, Old Monkey, Only Fight in This Life and Seek No Afterlife [Request for Monthly Votes]

Buzzing sounds echoed through the air.

The Heavenly Pulse Flame erupted instantly, a dazzling golden radiance spreading across the sky, as if it had stolen the luster from everyone’s eyes in an instant!

The brilliant and radiant light of the Heavenly Pulse Flame stole all the glory from everything else!

A hundred-foot-tall Heavenly Pulse Flame Ape roared and stood firm, its terrifying aura constantly expanding and radiating, causing the ground of the entire Doutian Palace to tremble as if it could not withstand the intense heat, cracking inch by inch!

This was the Heavenly Pulse Flame, the most fearsome flame of the Jiutian Shidi, a flame of the rules!

Even Immortals would suffer great erosion if they were to come into contact with it, finding it difficult to resist this power, their flesh withering and everything else melting away!

At this moment, almost everyone's gaze was drawn to this terrifying Heavenly Pulse Flame Ape!

The moment the Flame Ape collided with the Doutian Furnace, an invisible shockwave, like a roaring wave, spread in all directions, a pillar of flame shooting straight up into the sky, piercing through the clouds and radiating countless rays of light!

Shi Shaokai, Fu Shaohui, and other young emperors narrowed their eyes. Shi Shaokai clasped his hands together, his body floating in mid-air, using a thread of the Heavenly Pulse Flame's energy to supplement and strengthen his cicada pattern.

At this moment, he could not help but emerge from his meditative state, his sharp gaze focusing on the hundred-foot-tall Heavenly Pulse Flame Ape.

"This divine sculpture by the Pure and Clear Immortal... is truly superior to this young emperor's!"

Shi Shaokai took a deep breath, his heart trembling.

At this moment, the Heavenly Pulse Flame Ape, which embodied the divine essence of the sculpture, was the most vivid way to compare who had the superior divine sculpting skills.

Originally, Shi Shaokai was unconvinced, but at this moment, his heart gradually sank.

He knew that this Pure and Clear Immortal was indeed more skilled in divine sculpting than he was!

He couldn't surpass it, truly couldn't surpass it.

However, he didn't need to compete with the Pure and Clear Immortal. A mere Pure and Clear Immortal was not something he cared about.

Shi Shaokai was the young emperor of the Hei Xumi faction of gods, with the blood of the first-generation Immortal flowing through his veins!

His future was destined to be that of an Immortal!

Divine sculpting was just one of his hobbies. He didn't need to be the best at it; he only needed to reach the realm of Immortality in cultivation to surpass everything.

He refocused his mind on capturing the ancient golden cicada pattern.

However.

Shi Shaokai did not notice that within the massive hundred-foot-tall Heavenly Pulse Flame Ape, a figure appeared and instantly disappeared, flickering for just a moment under the cover of the Heavenly Pulse aura.

The moment the massive body of the Heavenly Pulse Flame Ape touched the Doutian Furnace.

After making his decision, Li Che moved and appeared inside the body of the Heavenly Pulse Flame Ape, using the moment it touched the Doutian Furnace to complete the connection.

This allowed Li Che to sense the situation inside the Doutian Furnace.

He then chose to use the Thunder Chess Piece to teleport in!

Li Che was still somewhat unwilling. If he didn't try, allowing Qitian to be refined by the Heavenly Pulse Flame, he might regret it for the rest of his life.

But if he tried, even if he failed, he wouldn't continue to regret it.

Because he had tried, he could be without regrets, his thoughts at peace!

The situation at this moment was very dangerous, performing a Thunder Chess Piece teleport under the watchful eyes of three Earth Immortals and one Heaven Immortal.

The risk was immense!

Li Che almost shrunk the Heaven and Earth Chessboard to its smallest size, hovering above his head, spinning in a small space, enveloping himself to conceal his aura, and maximizing the effect of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit's sleeping dragon and elephant ability!

He was doing his utmost to avoid the attention of the Immortal gods and enter the Doutian Furnace to rescue Qitian.

This was Li Che's only chance!

Only at the moment the Heavenly Pulse Flame Ape touched the Doutian Furnace did he have this brief opportunity to use the Thunder Chess Piece to enter the Doutian Furnace and reunite with Qitian!

Above the Doutian Furnace.

Eighty-one fire monkeys of varying sizes burned with the Heavenly Pulse Flame, even the space around them being scorched and distorted.

As the eighty-one fire monkeys collided with the Doutian Furnace, the temperature inside reached its peak, the refining heat inside was extremely terrifying, capable of melting everything!

However, at this moment.

The white-haired and white-browed Laojun Immortal slowly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise in his gaze.

"There's a little bug... that slipped into the alchemy furnace?"

Behind him, a seven-colored light wheel continuously rotated, changing endlessly, like a dream.

Laojun Immortal's expression remained unchanged, his fingers forming seals, his hair and beard slightly fluttering, even in the intense field of the Heavenly Pulse Flame, he moved with ease and grace.

His gaze swept over the area where Li Che was, where Li Che's dominant avatar sat on the ground, drenched in sweat, also drawing a thread of the Heavenly Pulse Flame like Shi Shaokai.

Laojun Immortal observed for a while but saw no difference, his eyes filled with even more surprise.

As a Heaven Immortal, he was extremely confident in his perception. Just now, something definitely tried to shield his perception and slip into the Doutian Furnace.

And indeed, the other party had managed to do just that.

"The Doutian Furnace... easy to enter, but hard to leave."

Laojun Immortal gave Li Che a deep look.

Then, he formed a hand seal and said coldly,

As he changed the hand seal once more, the eighty-one Heavenly Pulse Flame Monkeys became even more agitated, constantly slamming against the Doutian Furnace. This caused the temperature inside to continue rising, incinerating everything in its path!

Laojun Immortal was using them as tools to refine Qitian.

The power of this Heavenly Pulse Alchemy Array was terrifying. Laojun Immortal had never expected that a mere insect would dare to enter it, defying death.

Since this insect was not afraid to die, Laojun Immortal no longer bothered to care.

In his view, unless a Heavenly Immortal entered and tried to intervene, the current situation was already a dead end for Qitian.

The Heavenly Pulse Flame was a force that Laojun Immortal had only managed to summon after three Divine Tides of calculation, driven by the belief that Qitian the Monkey must be refined!

Hum—

Laojun Immortal’s figure floated down, and he plopped himself on the lid of the alchemy furnace.

Thud. A dull sound echoed.

The three Earth Immortals’ eyes flickered, their powerful Immortal Will surging, stirring up even more terrifying Earth Pulse Flames to merge with the Heavenly Pulse Flames.

—

—

Hum—

The moment Li Che formed the hand seal, he completed the Thunder Flight.

However, just as he appeared inside the Doutian Furnace, he felt an endless, scorching heat surge toward him!

His vision was filled with a fiery red!

Everywhere was a sea of red, the intense heat making his body almost unable to bear it, as if it were about to melt instantly.

In an instant, Li Che transformed into his Martial Immortal form, his formidable physique emitting a clanging sound like metal clashing, with sparks of lightning constantly exploding on his body.

This was due to the extreme heat colliding with the powerful force within his body.

Roar—

Dragon roars and elephant cries!

The Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit was stimulated, and the primordial dragon-elephant flame was activated, countering the terrifying heat to prevent his body from collapsing under the extreme temperature!

"The Heavenly Pulse Flame... truly terrifying!"

Li Che drew a sharp breath.

The entrance was now nothing but scorching heat, the air almost non-existent.

"You brat... how did you get in here?"

"Don’t you value your life?!"

A golden light shot out, revealing Qitian, whose monkey fur was burning.

Qitian narrowed his eyes, his golden gaze filled with disbelief as he looked at Li Che.

"You brat... you’re really reckless!"

"I’ve seen people run for their lives, but never someone who seeks death!"

Qitian shook his head, though he knew why Li Che had appeared inside the Doutian Furnace.

But he still felt a bit frustrated. Hadn’t he already contacted Li Che and asked him to transfer all of Qitian's essence to the Ruyi Golden-Banded Staff?

Qitian had already made peace with his fate, prepared to die with dignity.

But this brat had actually come inside the Doutian Furnace!

"Feeling the heat, huh?"

"You haven’t seen anything yet... The Doutian Furnace is a Heavenly Immortal Divine Armament of Laojun Immortal. It can gather the essence of the Heavenly Pulse Flame, which is even more powerful!"

"Also, have you noticed the walls of this alchemy furnace?"

"The curved angles are not random. They are engraved with statues, each of which can capture and condense the energy of the Heavenly Pulse Flame burning outside the furnace, amplifying it several times inside!"

"Even a Heavenly Immortal could be refined here!"

Qitian floated down, scratching his head and ears.

He began to worry about Li Che. Now that this brat had entered the Doutian Furnace...

How could he get him out?

Entering was easy, but leaving was far more difficult, several times harder.

"Try your special teleportation ability and see if you can teleport out."

"It’s probably impossible. The inner and outer walls of the alchemy furnace are completely different. They have a specific function to refine the spatial Dao, and Laojun Immortal has used countless ingredients in his alchemy, including those skilled in spatial power. He even once cut a large piece of void as an ingredient!"

Qitian, who had battled against the Heavenly Immortals of various factions for multiple Divine Tides, knew their methods well.

"You’ll realize that you can’t teleport out. The void has been severed."

Qitian sighed.

Li Che’s eyes flickered, and he clenched his hand.

Indeed, his connection to the Thunder Chess Piece in the dominion avatar outside the array had become extremely vague.

Trying to teleport met with an immense resistance.

But...

It wasn’t impossible to teleport out!

This brought a glimmer of hope to Li Che’s heart.

Although the sensation of teleportation was very weak, it still existed.

Just as he needed to touch the alchemical furnace to enter the Doutian Furnace, the spatial sealing power within the furnace had intensified to an extreme degree, making the task of teleportation through the Thunder Move much more difficult.

The time required for the teleportation was far too long!

So long that...

He might be refined by the power within the Doutian Furnace before he could even complete the teleportation!

Large beads of sweat continuously dripped from Li Che's body, each one rolling down and landing on the furnace's floor, instantly evaporating into nothingness!

The scorching heat made even breathing through his mouth and nose a torment!

If he waited any longer, he truly wouldn't be able to teleport out of the alchemical furnace!

His heart stirred slightly.

Radiant light intertwined before his eyes.

[Dao Fruit: Chess Sage (Lv. 8, 90%)]

The pressure from previously sketching the fifth ancient symbol through the Heaven and Earth Chessboard had continuously increased the maturity of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit!

Now, the Chess Sage Dao Fruit was just a small step away from its seventh transformation.

This had also significantly enhanced the teleportation power of the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

However, the only regret was that the Chess Sage Dao Fruit had not yet undergone its seventh transformation!

If the Chess Sage Dao Fruit had achieved its seventh transformation, Li Che believed the time required for the Thunder Move to teleport out of the alchemical furnace would have been drastically reduced!

Li Che's black shirt began to disintegrate into ashes under the intense heat, revealing his incredibly powerful Sacred Body.

The Mortal Saint Body glowed in a bronze hue, radiating light as if ancient symbols were flowing across its surface.

"Chess Sage Dao Fruit... If it could undergo a transformation, it would greatly shorten the time required for the teleportation."

"But in this urgent situation, I have no idea how to advance the Chess Sage Dao Fruit."

"So, to hold out until the teleportation is complete..."

Only Li Che could withstand the refining power of the Doutian Furnace!

Li Che panted heavily, his black hair, laced with blood and qi, shimmering with a radiant glow, continuously dancing wildly.

His gaze turned to the Qitian temple god.

"Senior Qitian, please don't blame me anymore. If I don't give it a try, I'll always feel a sense of regret."

"Of course, we are not entirely unable to escape this Doutian Furnace."

"If all else fails... we can break our way out from the inside."

Li Che said with a smile.

He certainly wasn't acting on a momentary impulse when he rushed into this Doutian Furnace, where the Immortal Divine Emperor was refining.

He had made preparations.

"Break out? Heh, I understand your thoughts, young man... quite ambitious, aren't you?"

Qitian scratched his ears and rubbed his cheeks, his face gray and dirty from the intense heat of the furnace.

But he chuckled.

"You plan to use that mechanical beast, don't you?"

"I sensed that you embedded the Ruyi Golden-Banded Staff into that mechanical beast, infusing it with my own primordial power..."

Qitian squinted his bright golden eyes.

"Yes, if Senior Qitian operates it personally, the power of the Tongbi Qitian Armor should be unleashed to its maximum!"

Li Che took a deep breath and said.

"Break out from the inside of the furnace!"

Inside the Doutian Furnace, even activating the Mo Cheng Fengdu was extremely difficult for Li Che.

But difficult as it was, it wasn't impossible.

However, he only had one chance to activate it.

Once activated, the spatial sealing power within the Doutian Furnace would lock the entrance to the Mo Cheng Fengdu, preventing it from dispersing.

Then, the terrifying scorching heat within the furnace would surge into the Mo Cheng Fengdu, burning everything to ashes.

The Mo Cheng Fengdu would be destroyed completely.

If he released the Tongbi Qitian Armor too early, it would require additional power to resist the furnace's heat.

Additionally, although the Wugou Heart Dao Fruit was helping to refine it, the primordial power transmitted from the Ruyi Golden-Banded Staff to the Qitian Armor had not yet been fully integrated.

This was why Li Che had not immediately activated the Mo Cheng Fengdu.

After hearing this, Qitian simply shook his head. "Young man, you're underestimating the Immortal Divine Emperor."

"Even if I, Old Sun, were to recover my peak combat strength, I still couldn't break out."

"Look inside this Doutian Furnace. The interior is a self-contained world, a world refined by the Immortal Divine Emperor!"

"The origin realm of every Immortal Divine Emperor is an extremely terrifying place. Being within an Immortal Divine Emperor's origin realm is like falling into their domain. It's not something that can be easily broken through."

Qitian's words caused Li Che's expression to change slightly.

"Old Sun suspects that the Immortal Divine Emperor already knows you're here", the Qitian temple god said with a smile.

Li Che's expression immediately turned grim.

"Then there's only the first option..."

Li Che exhaled.

When he entered the Doutian Furnace, Li Che had naturally used the Heaven and Earth Chessboard and the Chess Sage Dao Fruit to make predictions.

To refine Qitian, the Immortal Divine Emperor needed to throw in many rare and precious medicinal herbs and divine medicines!

Before entering the alchemical furnace, Li Che had already made up his mind to use these rare medicinal treasures to refine their properties and forcibly absorb them, thereby enhancing the physical strength of his Mortal Saint Body!

The goal was to increase the maturity of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, pushing it to its limits to achieve the eighth transformation!

Though this was just a plan, it had a success rate of over ninety percent!

This was also the reason Li Che was willing to risk his life and enter the furnace.

Now, Li Che was certain that as long as his physical strength improved, the longer he could withstand the intense conditions inside the furnace, the more likely it was that the Flying Thunder Transposition would be successfully initiated!

Li Che shared his thoughts with the Qitian Temple Spirit.

"Really?"

"Hehehe, that's a great idea!"

"You’re planning to fatten yourself up so that Laojun Immortal can refine you into a potent and full-bodied elixir!"

The Qitian Temple Spirit's hands fluttered like butterflies as he laughed heartily.

Li Che rolled his eyes.

"But you know, the possibility is pretty high."

Qitian squinted his eyes.

"The Heavenly Pulse Flame will be activated, and it will take forty-nine days to refine the elixir..."

"During these forty-nine days, one rare medicinal treasure will be added each day until I am fully refined, merging my primordial essence and physical energy with the medicinal properties of the treasures, ultimately forming the elixir."

Qitian explained, as if clearly outlining his own fate to Li Che.

"Of course, this will also be your fate, boy."

Qitian grinned, his eyes twinkling as he looked at Li Che with a peculiar expression.

He truly hadn’t expected Li Che to choose to enter the Doutian Furnace.

But what he hadn’t anticipated even more was...

Li Che had brought additional items with him!

"Good boy, start refining these herbs... enduring the forty-nine days will be tough for you."

"But as you strengthen your body by refining the herbs, with my help, you should be able to hold on."

"Let's try your method first. If it doesn’t work, we’ll have no choice but to break out of the furnace."

The Qitian Temple Spirit chuckled, seeming less anxious after Li Che's arrival, as if he had gained a newfound confidence.

Li Che rubbed his head, feeling that his presence had given Qitian a strong sense of assurance.

Heh, no wonder Qitian the Great Sage has such keen insight.

He, Li Che, was indeed formidable!

Li Che didn’t waste any more time.

Sitting cross-legged, he felt the temperature inside the Doutian Furnace rise, the seven-colored light halo above the furnace constantly shifting, and the void warping!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

Li Che felt his skin burn and peel, his expression growing serious.

Boom, boom, boom—

His blood and qi surged, rushing continuously.

He began to use the terrifying heat of the Doutian Furnace to temper his body!

The progress of his Mortal Saint Body, which had been stagnant, slowly began to rise.

...

...

Above the alchemical furnace.

Laojun Immortal swept his feather duster, and a faint smile appeared at the corners of his lips.

A little worm has entered the furnace...

How will it squirm?

Even if a Celestial Immortal were to enter the Doutian Furnace, it would be difficult to escape...

Otherwise, how could he have the confidence to refine Qitian in this lifetime?

"The alchemical array is complete. The Heavenly Pulse Flame will burn for forty-nine days. All alchemists, thank you for your hard work."

"After this alchemical process, in addition to the agreed-upon rewards, each alchemist will receive a pill from me."

Laojun Immortal smiled gently.

"Thank you, Laojun!"

The eighty-one alchemists opened their eyes, and even the Lesser Emperors like Shi Shaokai and Fu Shaohui, who were in the midst of refining, bowed in gratitude.

Although Li Che couldn’t move out of the Doutian Furnace, his sovereign avatar could share thoughts with his main body.

"Now, I will begin by adding the first medicinal treasure."

Laojun Immortal finished speaking.

The three Earth Immortals exchanged glances, the seven-colored divine light wheels behind them spinning faster, and they raised their hands, each emitting a powerful Immortal Will.

Thump—

A beam of light shot down from above the furnace.

Then, Laojun Immortal waved his sleeve and tossed a translucent green leaf.

Shi Shaokai clasped his hands together, the cicada patterns on his palms like flowing fire, his eyes wide with surprise.

"It's the Second Sage's rare medicinal treasure, the Bodhi Leaf!"

Shi Shaokai took a sharp breath.

To start with such a precious medicinal treasure?

No wonder Laojun Immortal said this Qitian Divine Pill had at least a ninety percent chance of helping cultivators break through the Immortal barrier and aiding Earth Immortals in grasping the profound truths of the Celestial Immortal realm!

Thump!

The lid of the furnace burst open with a loud boom.

The Bodhi Leaf was tossed into the furnace.

Then, the lid closed again, a terrifying boom forming a shockwave that spread out, and the heat inside the furnace surged like a fierce tide, scorching everything in its path!

Whirl, whirl, whirl—

A fierce wind howled, as if the heavens and earth were changing color!

Fu Shaohui, Shi Shaokai, and the other Lesser Emperors all grew solemn.

The heat was truly terrifying; even a small leak was enough to cause their bodies to ache, truly terrifying!

Only a being like Qitian the Monkey King, who rivals a Celestial Immortal, would need such terrifying power to maintain a forty-nine-day refinement, right?

They wouldn’t last a moment, turning to blood and water in an instant.

……

……

Thud—

The furnace lid opened and closed again.

Incredibly swift.

Just as Li Che lifted his head, drenched in sweat, he saw the lid close once more.

A leaf shimmering with a greenish glow floated down from the air.

"This is a Bodhi leaf, a fine treasure indeed."

"Good boy, refine it quickly and absorb its medicinal properties! Old Sun will guide you!"

Qitian, the temple spirit, said.

In the next instant, he took a step and floated into the air.

The Bodhi leaf entered the alchemy furnace, instantly enveloped by scorching heat. The leaf began to curl, its edges slowly burning.

In less than a moment, the precious medicinal Bodhi leaf had transformed into a pool of green medicinal liquid, the residue burned to ashes and scattered.

Black smoke billowed within the furnace, choking and oppressive.

"Good boy, catch it!"

"Hold on tight!"

Qitian, floating in mid-air, flicked his finger at the medicinal liquid.

The greenish liquid instantly transformed into a torrential downpour, shooting toward Li Che, who was seated in meditation!

In an instant, the droplets of medicinal liquid seeped into Li Che’s body.

His black hair danced wildly.

This…

He abruptly raised his head, taking a deep breath. A searing pain instantly spread throughout his body!

Every inch of his body was being refined and tempered by the medicinal liquid!

An unprecedented agony instantly engulfed Li Che's body.

Qitian floated in the air, arms crossed, his powerful divine aura expanding to fill the furnace, blocking Laojun Immortal’s detection.

"Hehe… You came into this furnace, boy, surely for Yulian’s Daughter, right?"

"Yulian’s Daughter’s father is indeed extraordinary in this God Tide."

"Having witnessed the might of the three major divine factions, this boy must feel immense pressure from Laojun Immortal, the Immortal Divine Emperor, the Sumeru Three Buddhas, and Immortal Nüwa… Each one of these heavenly immortals can exert tremendous pressure on him."

"So, this boy… even at the cost of his life, came to support Old Sun. Besides his inner conviction, he also wants to find someone who can stand up to the heavenly immortals for the Yulin Faction."

Qitian floated in the air, his monkey fur slightly fluttering.

He was clear in his mind.

What conviction could make Li Che risk everything, even his life, to save him?

Li Che’s actions were all for his daughter, Xi Xi, for Yulian’s Daughter.

If the Yulin Faction had no heavenly immortal,

they would be unable to contend with the heavenly immortals of the three major divine factions.

Yulian’s Daughter’s fate would remain unchanged.

Although this boy has great potential and might grow to the level of a heavenly immortal in the future…

time is needed.

The Eighth God Tide is nearing its climax, and after the climax, it will come to an end.

The three major divine factions won’t give him any more time.

"Refine your body well, take this opportunity to grow stronger!"

Qitian raised his head.

His golden eyes pierced through the black smoke in the furnace.

As if seeing through the Doutian Furnace, he gazed directly at Laojun Immortal sitting above.

"The Yulin Faction… indeed needs a heavenly immortal’s strength."

"Since that’s the case, in this Eighth God Tide, Old Sun will gamble with this boy!"

Qitian's golden eyes narrowed.

His gaze was hazy and flickering.

"This boy… comes from the same place as Old Sun."

"The origin of myths, huh?"

"Having pursued it for so long, I thought there was no hope, but now… a glimmer of light appears!"

"Since that’s the case…"

Qitian opened his mouth, his sharp teeth gleaming, and a piercing howl erupted from the furnace.

"This temple spirit, hehe, Old Sun won’t be one anymore!"

"Only to fight in this life, no longer looking to the next!"

As he spoke,

Qitian the temple spirit soared into the sky, each strand of his monkey fur glowing brilliantly.

Then, one by one, they detached from his body.

Floating in the air like Bodhi leaves, they were consumed by the terrifying heat inside the Doutian Furnace, transforming into medicinal liquid, which Qitian flicked at Li Che.

The medicinal liquid continuously rained down on Li Che’s body!

Li Che’s consciousness was in chaos.

He gritted his teeth, fully activating his Mortal Saint Body, enduring the pain and refinement!

Thud, thud, thud—

His heart pounded violently, his blood surging like a vast sea, racing through his veins!

Thud—

The furnace lid opened again.

The second medicinal ingredient was added, the Heavenly Pulse Flame’s intense heat gathered by the furnace walls, burning the medicinal ingredient and refining it into liquid!

Qitian’s eyes opened, he flicked the medicinal liquid, and it rained down on Li Che.

After the medicinal liquid soaked in, Qitian’s monkey fur detached again, refining into medicinal properties and enhancing Li Che.

Thud, thud, thud—

The furnace opened and closed repeatedly.

One medicinal ingredient after another was added.

Each addition meant another day had passed!

The temperature inside the furnace kept rising!

And within the Doutian Furnace,

Li Che’s entire body, from head to toe, was like charred coal.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end