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Chapter 695: Nine Refinement Blaze, Nirvana Holy Flame
Chapter 695: Nine Refinement Blaze, Nirvana Holy Flame
The abrupt voice, with its familiar tone, caused Luo Chen's elation to instantly fade.
He had initially thought that the voice from the three gates of the Pill World was left by the formation's creator. But now, someone had spoken in the same manner, undoubtedly indicating that it was indeed a real person!
He warily scanned his surroundings and blurted out, "Who's there?"
The hall was silent and still.
Finally, Luo Chen's attention settled on the black cauldron.
"Is it you?"
"It's me."
The faint voice from within the black cauldron spoke again, as if mustering its remaining strength, and it said with difficulty, "Successor, tell me your name."
Luo Chen hesitated for a moment before sincerely stating his real name.
"Luo Chen!"
As he spoke, he realized the identity of the speaker.
It was clear that this was the so-called Spirit Treasure's spirit!
According to legend, only a Spirit Treasure could give birth to a true spirit.
Such an existence possessed the power to overturn the heavens and the earth, incomparable to the pseudo-spirits of ordinary spirit-infused treasures.
It was this realization that confirmed to Luo Chen that the black cauldron before him was indeed a genuine Spirit Treasure!
After learning Luo Chen's name, the spirit of the black cauldron fell silent for a moment before slowly asking, "Are you ready to truly accept the master's inheritance?"
Luo Chen was taken aback. Hadn't he already accepted the inheritance after passing the evaluation?
Seventy-two volumes of pill formulas and thirty-six pill recipes.
There were also pill formulas for the three great direct paths to enlightenment: stabilizing the spirit, refining the void, and merging with the Dao.
Could it be...
Luo Chen tentatively asked, "Is there another inheritance?"
His gaze wandered over the black cauldron.
As expected.
The spirit of the black cauldron slowly replied, "The true inheritance treasure is this Heavenforge Cauldron and the items within it. If you are ready, I will use my remaining strength to help you accept the true inheritance."
Heavenforge Cauldron?
What's inside the cauldron?
In an instant, Luo Chen's heart burned with anticipation.
Without hesitation, he asked, "How can I be considered ready?"
"Agree to two conditions."
"What conditions?"
"When your cultivation reaches a certain level in the future, take care of the master's clan, and fulfill a promise made by the master during his lifetime by personally refining pills for a certain existence."
Take care of the clan?
Refine pills?
Luo Chen's eyebrows furrowed tightly.
Taking care of the Heavenforge Demon Lord's clan was not surprising; after his demise, there would naturally be those he cared about.
But refining pills for someone else was unexpected.
With the Heavenforge Demon Lord's alchemy skills, if he wanted to refine pills for someone, he could do it himself. Why would he need the successor to do it in his stead?
More importantly...
"What does it mean to have achieved a certain level of cultivation?"
"Follow your heart."
Luo Chen was speechless at this answer.
Should he do it even if it seemed impossible, or only within his capabilities, or even if he had the spare capacity? These situations corresponded to vastly different levels of strength.
But the spirit of the black cauldron had simply thrown the dilemma at Luo Chen with just four words.
Follow his heart?
He took a deep breath and asked earnestly, "Where are the master's clan members now? What is their situation? Are there any internal or external troubles?"
To this series of questions, the spirit of the black cauldron weakly replied, "I don't know."
Luo Chen furrowed his brows and asked again, "Is that promise mandatory? And who am I refining pills for? How can I contact them, or how will they believe that I am the successor of the master's pill path?"
This time, the spirit of the black cauldron provided an answer.
"That promise was made by the master during his lifetime, intending to fulfill it after ascending to the Combined Realm. But it's too late now. The one he promised is the Jade Pool Courtesan. When you meet her, she will understand."
Jade Pool Courtesan... Luo Chen noted the name.
Then, Luo Chen asked another question.
"If I don't agree to these two conditions, can I still accept the true inheritance of the Spirit Treasure?"
Spirit of the Black Cauldron: "No."
Luo Chen's eyebrows knitted slightly, "Then what about the pill formulas and pills I've obtained so far, including those refined within the Pill World? What will happen to them?"
Spirit of the Black Cauldron: "You can take them with you. Those are the blessings that belong to those who pass the evaluation, as is the custom."
Luo Chen thought for a moment and then suddenly asked another question, "Do other inheritors who pass the evaluations in other places also have to meet these two conditions?"
Spirit of the Black Cauldron: "I don't know."
Luo Chen seemed to ponder this.
It was likely not the case, at least regarding refining pills for someone else, as other inheritors wouldn't meet this condition.
Then what about taking care of the Heavenforge Demon Lord's clan?
Why was this condition placed in the pill path inheritance? Was there something special about this particular inheritance?
As Luo Chen pondered, the spirit didn't rush him but quietly waited for his decision.
After a long time, Luo Chen lifted his head and asked another question.
"What's inside the Heavenforge Cauldron?"
This time, the spirit of the black cauldron gave a different answer from before.
"I will only tell you what's inside after you accept the inheritance."
It knew, but it didn't say.
Is that so? Luo Chen muttered and then his expression gradually became resolute.
Whatever the Heavenforge Demon Lord left inside must be invaluable.
Even without those items, the black cauldron itself, a Spirit Treasure that had given birth to a spirit, was enough to make Luo Chen take a risk.
Moreover!
After working hard to pass the five gates of the Pill World, these things should rightfully belong to him!
Luo Chen didn't hesitate anymore and immediately agreed to the two conditions before the spirit of the black cauldron.
At this moment, the scene within the hall changed abruptly.
A golden light screen slowly rose from the cauldron, and on it, tadpole-like characters swam about.
Luo Chen stared at these completely unrecognizable characters, his face filled with bewilderment.
At the same time, the voice of the Black Cauldron's spirit slowly echoed.
"In his lifetime, the master forged thirteen Spirit Treasures, each containing the power to shake the heavens and earth."
"Thirteen Spirit Treasures, one gifted to the Jade Pool Courtesan, one fell into the hands of the Heavenly Origin Venerable, and one remained within our clan. Of the remaining ten, five were destroyed by Qixia Supreme Monarch, leaving only five in the Bright Heaven."
"Among these five Spirit Treasures, only the Heavenforge Cauldron, the Black Demon Jar, and the True Sun Crown surpass the others, transcending the realm of Spirit Treasures to become Heaven-Piercing Treasures. These are the essence of the master's lifelong cultivation."
"For low-level cultivators like you, if you wish to use these treasures as you please, you must first cultivate the Divine Treasure Art."
"Normally, it would take several hundred years to fully master the Divine Treasure Art. But this time, with the help of my original spirit, the process can be greatly shortened, and at the very least, there will be no issue with recognizing the master."
"As for what comes next, I am powerless, and I can only leave it to your fate..."
As it spoke, the golden tadpoles on the light screen swam towards Luo Chen.
One by one, the tadpole-like characters entered Luo Chen's mind.
Even without understanding the words, he could grasp their meaning.
"Focus your mind and eliminate all distractions!"
As the Black Cauldron's spirit helped Luo Chen cultivate the Divine Treasure Art, it reminded him of this, clearly sensing the tremors in Luo Chen's mind.
It assumed that Luo Chen was shocked by the abilities of the Heavenforge Demon Lord and the high rank of the Spirit Treasures, hence the special reminder.
However, at this moment, Luo Chen's heart was stirred by a tremendous wave.
This was because, in that conversation, a name was mentioned.
Qixia Supreme Monarch!
If his memory served him right, in the sacred land of the East Wasteland's Feathered Tribe, Mount Cangwu, there stood three halls: the True Crossing Hall, the Day Sky Hall, and the Profound Mysteries Hall.
The True Crossing Hall had no master, and the Deputy Hall Master was temporarily held by Yu Quan.
The Day Sky Hall had a master, the Blue Frost Demon Emperor.
And the master of the Profound Mysteries Hall was the most mysterious existence.
Even when the Mingyuan Sect's Soul Transformation Grandmaster launched a fierce attack on Mount Cangwu, this figure did not make a move.
Luo Chen did not know this person's name, but he knew their Daoist name: Qixia Supreme Monarch!
Was it the same person, a coincidence, or were they one and the same? But the Qixia Supreme Monarch of the Mountain and Sea Realm was at most a Soul Transformation Grandmaster, how could they possibly fight the Heavenforge Demon Lord? It was known that the Heavenforge Demon Lord was hailed by the Great Year as the first person in the Essence Transcendence Realm since ancient times!
Over the past two decades in the Demon Annihilation Land, Luo Chen had witnessed countless details of the Heavenforge Demon Lord's strength, a glimpse into the tip of the iceberg of his power, an unimaginable might.
And yet, Qixia Supreme Monarch had fought against such an existence?
Moreover, Qixia Supreme Monarch had even destroyed five of the Heavenforge Demon Lord's Spirit Treasures! Luo Chen did not want to believe this speculation.
It meant the powerful annihilation of the Heavenforge Demon Lord, and it also meant the expansion of Qixia Supreme Monarch's shadow in Luo Chen's heart.
Countless distracting thoughts flooded his mind.
If it weren't for the Black Cauldron's spirit repeatedly scolding him, Luo Chen would have almost wanted to investigate further.
However, with the pressing matter at hand, Luo Chen ultimately suppressed these emotions, forced himself to calm down, and silently memorized the so-called Divine Treasure Art.
Later, with the help of the Black Cauldron's spirit, he struck the Heavenforge Cauldron with a series of hand seals.
As the hand seals entered the cauldron, Luo Chen's mind seemed to be drawn into it.
In a daze, he saw what the Heavenforge Demon Lord had left behind.
It was a gray aura, floating deep within the cauldron, its power and ability unknown. Luo Chen's mind felt as if it were about to be devoured and refined by it.
Additionally, two objects were perched in the center of the Black Cauldron, standing opposite each other, as if paying mutual respect.
They were two flames.
One was nine-colored, and the other was golden!
Under these two flames, Luo Chen's once proud Prosperity Withering True Fire seemed like an ant, trembling in fear. It wasn't a gap in power, but a suppression of rank and status.
Especially the latter, which gave Luo Chen a sense of familiarity.
It was as if he had seen it somewhere before.
"Are these three the true inheritances left by the True Monarch?"
The world referred to the master of the spirit as the Heavenforge Demon Lord, a Daoist name.
But Luo Chen and the Great Year did not dare to address him by this "honorable title," often referring to him as the True Monarch instead.
Just as Golden Core cultivators were addressed as 'Venerable,' Nascent Soul cultivators as 'True Person,' and Essence Transcendence cultivators in ancient books were often referred to as 'True Monarchs.'
In response to his question, the spirit quickly provided an answer.
"Yes, these are the true inheritances obtained after passing the Pill Dao examination."
"The two flames are the original true fires left by the master, named the Nine Refinement Blaze, and the original true fire of Qixia Supreme Monarch, named the Nirvana Holy Flame."
"During that battle, the True Monarch extracted a strand of Qixia Supreme Monarch's original true fire and trapped it within my body, eroding it with the Nine Refinement Blaze."
"After many years, with the True Monarch's passing, the Nine Refinement Blaze has lost its will, and the Nirvana Holy Flame is also without a master, leaving only a faint trace of their innate abilities."
"First, refine the Heavenforge Cauldron, and once you have complete control, you can use it to try and subdue these two high-level flames, allowing you to progress further on the Pill Dao path."
Luo Chen pursed his lips, his expression unchanging.
When he heard the name "Nirvana Holy Flame," his heart stirred with a ripple of emotion, but he quickly suppressed it.
Perhaps he had been shocked too many times before, and now nothing seemed surprising.
Or perhaps, he had finally realized that the connection between the Lord of Heavenforge Cauldron and the Qixia Supreme Monarch of Cangwu Mountain was indeed profound.
Because he had indeed seen the Nirvana Holy Flame on Cangwu Mountain! Although the power of the Nirvana Holy Flame he witnessed there was stronger than this one, in terms of quality, they were as different as heaven and earth.
The one here was even more pure and profound!
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Luo Chen spoke up, "What about you? You keep talking about the future, but will you not help me then?"
Once the Heavenforge Cauldron recognizes its master, the spirit of the artifact should also be under Luo Chen's control.
Recalling the spirit's incredibly weak voice from before, a sense of foreboding arose in Luo Chen's mind.
As expected, bad news arrived.
The spirit replied with a hint of sadness, "As your divine sense roams within the Heavenforge Cauldron, can't you see those wounds?"
Luo Chen opened his mouth slightly, having seen them but choosing to ignore them.
"For thousands of years, the Nine Refinement Blaze and the Nirvana Holy Flame have been fighting incessantly within me. Their powers are constantly eroding each other, and my body is riddled with countless wounds. Especially since most of my power is used to seal that gray aura, I am even more powerless to stop all of this."
"After you complete the Divine Treasure Art, I will disperse my spiritual essence and use the insights I've gained from the cultivation laws to perfect the seal left by the master on that gray aura."
"In the future, you'll have to rely on yourself."
"Don't worry about the Heavenforge Cauldron. Its original rank remains, and although it's severely damaged, with a thousand years of nurturing, it will have the chance to give birth to a new spirit and become a top-tier divine artifact again."
As it spoke, its voice couldn't hide its sorrow.
After thousands of years, when the Heavenforge Cauldron gives birth to a new spirit, will it still be the same? It's likely that everything will have changed.
"What is that gray aura?" Luo Chen asked in a deep voice, having only dared a quick glance earlier.
"Don't ask, and don't think about it. Once you reach the Essence Transcendence Realm, you'll understand everything."
The spirit left Luo Chen with those words.
Its voice gradually weakened.
It seemed to be approaching its end.
The black cauldron standing silently in the hall trembled slightly, as if expressing a sentiment of reluctance and unwillingness.
Luo Chen pursed his lips, understanding that the spirit was already sacrificing itself and immersing itself in the gray aura.
He pinched his spiritual technique, continuously casting the Divine Treasure Art on the Heavenforge Cauldron.
With the spirit's guidance, he had already smoothly completed the first step of refining and recognizing the cauldron as his master.
If nothing unexpected happened, it wouldn't be long before he obtained this so-called divine artifact that transcended ordinary treasures!
Even in its damaged state, it would undoubtedly become the most precious treasure in the world!
Time passed slowly.
Unknowingly, more than a month had gone by.
Luo Chen had cast the Divine Treasure Art on the Heavenforge Cauldron hundreds of times, and he seemed to be on the verge of completely controlling it.
On this day, Luo Chen stopped his actions and began to sit down to recover his spell power.
Suddenly, his eyebrows twitched, and he instinctively looked towards the black cauldron.
A strand of golden light emerged from within the cauldron.
"Nirvana Holy Flame?"
Luo Chen was taken aback.
The next moment, his face changed drastically! The golden flame was rushing straight towards him! Luo Chen dared not let it touch him.
The terror he remembered was still fresh in his mind.
Instinctively, he raised a magical energy shield and prepared to take further action.
But the golden flame was incredibly fast, reaching him in the blink of an eye. It even ignored Luo Chen's magical energy shield and directly entered his body.
Luo Chen was stunned.
Why did he feel like a wanderer returning home? Instinctively, he thought of his previous actions.
To maintain his spell power, he had started circulating his Soul Core cultivation technique... The Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Sutra and the Nirvana Holy Flame?
Before this thought could fully form, a piercing scream erupted from within the hall.
With the scream, a cluster of nine-colored flames rose from the damaged Heavenforge Cauldron.
It had locked onto Luo Chen.
Or rather, it had locked onto the Nirvana Holy Flame within Luo Chen's body!
Then, the nine-colored flames burst out of the cauldron.
"It's coming!"
Luo Chen was shocked and terrified.
Even as he frantically retreated, he couldn't avoid it and could only watch helplessly as the nine-colored flames entered his body.
A thought surfaced in Luo Chen's mind.
"The battle between the Nine Refinement Blaze and the Nirvana Holy Flame isn't over yet?"
Just as he thought, the moment the Nine Refinement Blaze entered Luo Chen's body, the Nirvana Holy Flame sensed it and immediately mobilized Luo Chen's spell power to strengthen itself. Even the Prosperity Withering True Fire silently wailed as it merged with the Nirvana Holy Flame, making its power even more scorching.
The battle escalated from the very first contact, reaching a white-hot intensity.
The battlefield continued to expand.
Flesh, bones, organs, meridians, energy points, and even the Qi Sea!
In an instant, two raging forces exploded within Luo Chen's body with a thunderous roar.
Streams of fire burst out of his pores, transforming him into a fiery human figure.
An extreme aura of destruction emanated from Luo Chen.
Pain, distortion, anger... various emotions appeared on Luo Chen's face.
"They're using my body as their battlefield!"
(End of Chapter)
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