https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-702-The-Ten-Thousand-Immortals-Assembly-Attracts-Worldwide-Attention/12942684/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-704-The-Master-of-Heaven-Splitting-Stream-Descendant-of-Sang-Jiu-Gong/12942686/
Chapter 703: Han Zhan's Treasure Refinement, the Demon Lord's Blood
Chapter 703: Han Zhan's Treasure Refinement, the Demon Lord's Blood
What does it mean when something is difficult to explain in a single sentence?
The situation is complex and intricate, and it's not something that can be easily summed up in a few words, making it a case of "a single sentence being insufficient to tell the whole story."
Han Zhan was puzzled.
In his opinion, the fluctuations of spiritual power displayed by the other party were no longer at the sixth level of the Golden Core, as they were when they first entered the Demon-Falling Land, but had reached the eighth level of the Golden Core!
Internally, Luo Chen's formidable physique, capable of withstanding attacks from True Artifact-level Sword Pellets, had undoubtedly made significant progress since their departure from Penghu.
When these two aspects were combined, it was evident that Luo Chen had encountered some wonderful adventures during their separation in Bright Heaven.
Moreover, this didn't even include the inheritance he had obtained from the Pill Hall.
No matter how you looked at it, it seemed like good news! In the silence, Luo Chen was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure of how to explain this to Han Zhan, or perhaps subconsciously reluctant to do so.
The reason was that it involved his immortal cultivation technique, the Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture.
At this moment, on his attribute panel, two entries were flashing brightly.
【Realm: Golden Core Eighth Level 99/100, Primordial Fourth Stage 35/100】
These two simple entries implied numerous details.
The sudden surge in the Qi Condensation Realm was undoubtedly due to the mysterious spring water. After soaking in it for more than a year, Luo Chen's realm quietly rose to the point where he was just one step away from the ninth level of the Golden Core.
This achievement had saved him at least several decades of arduous cultivation! For ordinary people, this was already an incredible opportunity.
But for Luo Chen, the changes in his physical cultivation were what concerned him the most.
From the initial Primordial Fourth Stage, without any refinement, he had directly advanced from 1 to 35. What did this mean? To put it another way, this was no less impressive than a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator instantly advancing from the first layer to the third layer... no, the fourth layer!
This progress bar of 35 had already exceeded one-third of the entire process, which was why Luo Chen had been able to decisively defeat Fei Yunzi, a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator, after seizing the opportunity.
Such a dramatic transformation was undoubtedly due to that "Nirvana"!
Amidst the calamity, the Nine Reforge Flame and the Nirvana Holy Flame contended, destroying his second Essence Pill and nearly dragging him into an abyss from which he might never return.
Seizing this opportunity, Luo Chen activated the Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture to forcibly initiate the Nirvana of the flesh.
Relying on his natal Golden Core, the terrifying vitality essence of the Year God Essence Body, and that trace of the original Nirvana Holy Flame, he narrowly survived the third of the nine tribulations and three nirvanas.
Blood Tribulation, Flesh Tribulation, Bone Tribulation—the Nirvana of the flesh!
This series of actions not only saved Luo Chen from danger and rebuilt his complete physique but also allowed his physique to instantly transcend the early stages of the Primordial Realm, reaching the middle stages.
Not only that, but his physique was also transformed into a Fire Spirit Body, making it even more suitable for cultivating fire-attributed techniques.
However!
Amidst the blessings, there lay hidden calamities!
In the face of these gains, Luo Chen's losses pained him even more.
The Five Spirit Dao Body, capable of cultivating various techniques simultaneously!
The foundation for the birth of a second Nascent Soul after advancing to the Nascent Soul Stage—the second Essence Pill!
Moreover, the Year God Essence Body, brimming with infinite vitality, was so crudely consumed that it was a significant loss even for Luo Chen, a fourth-stage pill refinement expert! If utilized well, he couldn't imagine how many divine pills and spirit herbs he could refine from just that one Year God Essence Body.
Even if used specifically for body refinement, Luo Chen, through his pill refinement techniques and with the aid of other materials, could have brought out its medicinal properties several, tens, or even hundreds of times more effectively, sufficient for his entire Primordial Fourth Stage cultivation.
Consuming it directly was akin to squandering heavenly treasures!
In summary, Luo Chen summed up the changes in his current body with eight words— "Benefits now, losses in the future."
"Enough, now is not the time to dwell on these matters."
Luo Chen shook his head vigorously, as if casting away the myriad thoughts in his mind.
He had many things to do, but the most important was actually just one! Spiritual power surged at his fingertips, and a faint light emerged from his storage ring.
"Senior, can you refine this object for me?"
Han Zhan took a glance, and the item was the size of a palm, easily held in one hand.
With its soaring eaves, eight-cornered intricacy, and lifelike windows and doors, it was like a miniature wooden carving held in the palm.
It was none other than the Penglai Immortal Sect's True Artifact—the Immortal Paradise Octagonal Pavilion!
Initially, Luo Chen had forcefully taken this treasure from the Northern Crane Sect and Penglai Immortal Sect's experts in the Wooden Sky Plain.
It could absorb spirit herbs, allowing them to grow freely, earning it the reputation of a portable spirit herb garden.
Han Zhan looked at Luo Chen in surprise, "Are you in such a hurry? This treasure is complete in all five elements and possesses the unique attributes of wind, thunder, and ice. After you form your Nascent Soul, you can refine it yourself. Why bother having me do it for you?"
Luo Chen shook his head, "I can't wait that long. I need to be able to use this treasure within a year, no, within half a year! The sooner, the better!"
Han Zhan was perplexed.
But seeing Luo Chen's urgency, he had a sudden realization of the other's thoughts.
"You're worried about the Moon Scatterer."
Luo Chen nodded, his face filled with gravity.
"That woman has an extremely strong desire for control, not only over people but also over things. I don't know what that Ashen Glow is, but the fact that she was willing to abandon the Jade Cold Fairy to forcefully obtain it shows how determined she is to acquire it!"
"That Ashen Glow... in any case, the Moon Scatterer won't let me off the hook."
"So, I must stay far away from her and not give her any chance for revenge."
"Once she returns to the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, there's a high chance she'll mobilize countless loose cultivators from the assembly to search for me, or even use those who are close to me to find out the location of Purple Spirit Island!"
"The Purple Monkey Flowers cultivated by Sang Jiu Gong on Purple Spirit Island are crucial to my Nascent Soul formation. I can't afford to abandon them."
"Therefore, before I leave, I must take the Purple Monkey Flowers from there!"
Han Zhan suddenly understood.
But then, he had another question.
"If you want to take the Purple Monkey Flowers, then just take them. Why do you need the Immortal Paradise Octagonal Pavilion specifically?"
Han Zhan hadn't personally participated in that journey to the Demon Sea.
Moreover, after returning, Luo Chen hadn't said much, only briefly mentioning that the Hundred-Craft Mountain Lord had set a trap to kill him.
Luo Chen patiently explained, "Most of the Purple Monkey Flowers on Purple Spirit Island are not mature enough to meet the foundational standards for refining the Incarnation Pill. According to my estimation, it will take at least another decade or two for them to mature. If they are picked prematurely, all efforts will be in vain."
This time, Han Zhan finally understood.
The Immortal Paradise Octagonal Pavilion, a portable spiritual herb garden, had the ability to transplant various spiritual plants and herbs, roots and all, without damaging their spiritual nature.
Luo Chen intended to use the Immortal Paradise Octagonal Pavilion to take away all the Purple Monkey Flowers from Purple Spirit Island, in case the Moon Scatterer pursued them.
Recalling the strength displayed by the Moon Scatterer in Bright Heaven, Han Zhan's heart trembled.
Even with the assistance of a late-stage Nascent Soul White Tiger puppet, which he had obtained in the Puppet Realm, and his advance preparation for the attack, he had failed to injure the Moon Scatterer. This was a testament to the latter's formidable power.
Luo Chen had provoked such an enemy, and the aftermath was indeed endless!
"Alright then!"
With a wave of Han Zhan's hand, the miniature carved pavilion fell into his grasp.
He probed it with his spiritual sense, carefully observing and analyzing the possibilities of refining it.
"It's undoubtedly a True Artifact, capable of communicating with the spiritual energies of both the inner and outer worlds."
"However, this treasure hasn't been refined by anyone for over a thousand years. There are numerous spiritual restrictions left on it, but they don't belong to a single person; they belong to many."
"According to the Master of the Cloudy Cave, this treasure is listed as a True Artifact in the Immortal Paradise Sect's heritage, and there are dedicated people maintaining it. But it doesn't recognize a single master. The Immortal Paradise Sect has passed down this treasure for countless years, and they often wander deep into the wild northern sea. They frequently encounter naturally grown spiritual herbs, so they regularly send disciples with the Octagonal Pavilion to transplant these herbs. That's why they haven't set up powerful restrictions, making it convenient for the disciples to use."
"But there's one thing I've discovered. At the core formation, there are several traces of spiritual power sealing the deepest core restriction. There, even if I wanted to refine it in a short time, it would be impossible. Even with my powerful divine soul, it would take decades to accomplish."
"Don't worry, if you just want to reach the level of those Golden Core stage Immortal Paradise disciples who collect Divine Irises, it's not a difficult task for me. I just need to refine a few key restrictions."
"Leave it to me!"
With Han Zhan's promise, Luo Chen couldn't help but feel relieved.
The Purple Monkey Flowers must not be lost! Although among the thirty-six pill formulas obtained in the Pill Hall, there was one for the human Incarnation Pill, the ingredients listed were diverse, and the refining techniques varied. In a short time, Luo Chen couldn't master that pill formula.
But the ancient Incarnation Pill formula obtained from Qingdan Valley and Han Zhan had been in his possession for decades!
His understanding was so deep that he could refine it at any time.
Especially since the required ingredients, the Five Elements Lotus Platform, were already in his possession.
Inside the Immortal Paradise Octagonal Pavilion, there was a large patch of high-quality Divine Irises (originating from the Wooden Sky Plain and transplanted by the Immortal Paradise disciples).
The various auxiliary materials had also been collected over the years, and everything was ready.
Once the Purple Monkey Flowers matured, he could refine the Incarnation Pill!
Watching Han Zhan's focused efforts in refining the Immortal Paradise Octagonal Pavilion, Luo Chen couldn't help but take a few more glances at his puppet body.
The other party had achieved remarkable results in the Bright Heaven Puppet Realm! Aside from not obtaining the most crucial puppet heritage, he had acquired nine powerful puppets! Seven Golden Core peak puppets, one Nascent Soul stage puppet suitable for Han Zhan's Nascent Soul to inhabit, and its entire body was made of spirit wood, allowing his spiritual power to flow smoothly.
Additionally, there was that breathtaking White Tiger puppet! If Luo Chen's observation was correct, it was undoubtedly a powerful existence comparable to the late-stage Nascent Soul!
It could be said that any cultivator who survived and emerged from the Fallen Demon Land would have gained considerable benefits.
This was true for Luo Chen, Han Zhan, and even more so for the others.
However, this made Luo Chen very puzzled.
The Demon King Sect had monopolized the Fallen Demon Land for a thousand years, and the treasures within must have been collected countless times.
Even if Divine Transformation experts couldn't personally enter due to the risk of falling, the countless outstanding juniors of a generation of sacred lands should have reaped abundant rewards.
After a thousand years, the Demon King Sect should have become even stronger.
Under such circumstances, how could they have been defeated in a single battle by the Northern Sea Demon Tribes' allied forces? Was it merely because the Blood Sea Old Ancestor had fallen within Bright Heaven?
Or was it that the countless Demon Tribes in the Northern Sea possessed such formidable power that even the Demon King Sect's experts couldn't match?
No!
That shouldn't be the case.
If such an existence truly existed, how could they have been sealed in the North Pole Night Mara Heaven by the Soul Refining Lineage?
It was incomprehensible!
Luo Chen shook his head. Since he couldn't understand it, he decided not to think about it for now, as it had nothing to do with him anyway.
His attention shifted from Han Zhan to the small gray cauldron in his Qi Sea, which was quiet and still.
Looking at the still cauldron, Luo Chen's heart sank as well.
Previously, in the cloud sea square of Bright Heaven, Flying Cloudzi had taken advantage of Luo Chen's distraction and self-destructed his Golden Bell True Artifact, forcibly breaking free from the Mixture Primordial Cauldron's restraints.
The power of that True Artifact's self-destruction was terrifying beyond measure.
If not for the terrifying vitality of the Grand Age within Luo Chen's body, continuously repairing his injuries, he might have suffered severe damage.
He managed to survive.
However, his life-bound treasure, the Mixture Primordial Cauldron, had suffered severe damage within, and even Luo Chen, who was connected to it, had his divine soul injured.
For the Mixture Primordial Cauldron, which had excellent material and profound origins, this was undoubtedly the first time it had experienced such damage.
At that moment, Luo Chen feared it might fall apart.
After all, the Mixture Primordial Cauldron, which was infinitely close to being a True Artifact, was still not a True Artifact, and there was an absolute difference in their levels compared to the Golden Bell.
But at this moment!
Luo Chen looked at the Mixture Primordial Cauldron in his Qi Sea, and it was as good as new!
There wasn't a single crack, no sign of formation damage, and its size had only shrunk by about a third compared to its original.
It was as if it had automatically repaired itself.
Although both the Mixture Primordial Cauldron and the Profound Dust Armor had self-repair functions, these functions were relatively weak, requiring the owner to supplement the materials and use spiritual power and true fire to refine it day and night to restore it to its original state.
There was only one reason for such a terrifying transformation: that Ashen Glow!
When the teleportation to Bright Heaven was activated, the Ashen Glow actively pursued and merged into the Mixture Primordial Cauldron.
At the time, Luo Chen didn't have time to think and instinctively retrieved his life-bound treasure.
However, after a few months, he couldn't find any trace of the Ashen Glow within the Mixture Primordial Cauldron.
It was as if it had completely merged, without any rejection!
Luo Chen couldn't understand this at all.
Even after careful observation, Luo Chen still couldn't grasp the reason.
"How could the gray light, which even Moon Scatterer couldn't tame, willingly submit to me? Could it be that the saying about heavenly treasures seeking their destined owners is true?"
"How could the Mixture Primordial Cauldron and the gray light be so compatible? They merged seamlessly, without any rejection. Could it be that the gray light was previously suppressed within the Heaven Forging Cauldron, another cauldron-type True Artifact?"
"But that doesn't make sense either. The Heaven Forging Cauldron's artifact spirit shattered my cultivation of the Qixia Heavenly Lord's secret technique, choosing self-destruction rather than letting me obtain the cauldron and that gray light."
"So, what exactly is that gray light?"
"Could it be something left behind by the Heaven Forging Demon Lord, perhaps something he refined himself?"
"If that's the case, its willingness to merge with the Mixture Primordial Cauldron would imply that my innate artifact and the Heaven Forging Demon Lord should have some connection."
"No, this cauldron was created from nothing, from the design to the materials, and throughout the refining process, it has never had any connection to the Heaven Forging Demon Lord..."
Luo Chen recalled the process of refining his innate artifact, and memories of the past surfaced in his mind.
Suddenly, a vague clue emerged, connecting the dots in his mind.
If the battle between the Heaven Forging Demon Lord and the Qixia Heavenly Lord was real, then the Nirvana Holy Flame in Bright Heaven would be a given.
From another perspective, the Qixia Heavenly Lord should also possess something of the Heaven Forging Demon Lord.
Perhaps it's a damaged artifact, a remnant of his body... or even his essence blood!
In the past, when refining the Mixture Primordial Cauldron, an unexpected accident occurred.
This accident caused Luo Chen to consume all his materials, including the Green Willow Gentle Wind, a cherished item of Tian Yi Zi. It also contributed to the terrifying foundation of the Mixture Primordial Cauldron.
The day the cauldron was completed, it was already of superior quality!
And that accident stemmed from a Supreme True Flame Pill, a drop of unknown blood on a Fire Spirit Drill.
At that time, Luo Chen felt that the blood's aura was exceptionally terrifying.
Tian Yi Zi believed that the blood was suitable for artifact refining, so he allowed it to remain without purging it.
"Could it be that the blood belonged to the Heaven Forging Demon Lord, and now that the Mixture Primordial Cauldron has broken, revealing the blood's aura, the gray light has come to submit?"
"Additionally, I've had remarkable success in pill refining and artifact forging using the Mixture Primordial Cauldron, which I attributed to the cauldron. Now it seems that the credit should go to that blood. In the arts of pill and artifact, the Heaven Forging Demon Lord's single drop of blood is incredibly potent!"
Many people say that Luo Chen is blessed with good fortune, and he often jokes about it himself.
But it's just a joke.
Luo Chen doesn't consider himself a chosen one; everything he has achieved is through his own efforts and calculations.
Therefore, he doesn't believe in the immortal tales of heavenly treasures seeking their owners, and he doesn't think such a thing would happen to him.
If there was a reason for the last opportunity in Bright Heaven, Luo Chen could only explain it with this assumption.
In any case, whether it's true or not, it's not a good thing for him at the moment.
Because he can't activate the Mixture Primordial Cauldron!
The small cauldron is rooted in his Qi Sea, quietly absorbing Luo Chen's already scarce spiritual power.
This is his innate artifact!
Not being able to activate it is unacceptable!
Especially now, as he still needs to refine the Incarnation Pill, and if he can't use his most handy Mixture Primordial Cauldron, the trouble will be immense.
After a long while, Luo Chen slowly regained his composure.
"Forget it, the fact that the Mixture Primordial Cauldron has been restored to its original state is already a great thing. As long as no problems arise, there will be a way to solve this issue later."
"For now, I should focus on recovering my spiritual power and restoring my strength to its peak; that's the most important thing."
Luo Chen took out a Supreme True Flame Pill and swallowed it, slowly refining it.
Without a Third Rank Spirit Vein, restoring spiritual power with pills is a slow process.
Especially now, as he is at the Golden Core Eighth Level, requiring twice as much spiritual power as before.
The supply of Supreme True Flame Pills in his storage ring is dwindling.
"Where did all my spiritual power go?"
During his meditation and cultivation, this question arose once again.
...
"Turn! Turn! Turn!"
"The battle has resumed ahead!"
"What's happening? Weren't we told that this route was already under the control of the Sea Dragon Abyss?"
"Who knows? The Sea Alliance has been launching fierce counterattacks against the Sea Dragon Abyss, and the Immortal Paradise Sect has inexplicably reduced its forces, leaving the Sea Dragon Abyss to fight alone. Anyway, let's just avoid this battlefield for now to prevent getting caught in the crossfire."
Three days later, this Golden Core family's merchant ship hastily changed course amid the raging waves.
Leading them was a Golden Core Early Stage cultivator named Sui Jie.
He gazed at the distant mid-air, where colorful treasures clashed, and at the tumultuous seas stirred by countless powerful cultivators. His expression was filled with panic.
A battle of this magnitude, even a slight ripple could be devastating for him.
Therefore, even if it meant delaying the delivery, they had to change course.
Just then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed a black-clothed man emerging from the passenger cabin and walking to the edge of the deck.
"Friend Gu Chen, it's best to retreat indoors to avoid the intense fighting ahead."
The black-clothed man glanced at him and then cupped his hands in a polite gesture.
"Thank you, Friend Sui, for your hospitality these past days. I have urgent matters to attend to and cannot afford any delay. Farewell."
Sui Jie's eyebrows furrowed; it was rather presumptuous for a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator to address him as a "friend."
But in the next moment, his eyes widened in shock.
The black-clothed man named Gu Chen suddenly released a powerful surge of spiritual energy, no less impressive than his own.
No! As the spiritual power rippled and surged, its purity and dominance forced him to take a step back involuntarily.
This man's cultivation was far beyond his own! Just a glance was enough for Sui Jie to realize that the black-clothed man's spiritual power was like a vast ocean, something only ancient cultivators of the Golden Core stage, those who had cultivated for three to five hundred years, could possess.
His tone turned bitter, "It seems I've failed to recognize a great cultivator. I wish you a smooth journey, Friend."
Luo Chen smiled and nodded, then soared into the air.
In mid-air, he formed a Spiritual Seal, and the wooden kite circled the merchant ship once before flying towards the center of the battlefield.
Sui Jie watched as the wooden kite carried the black-robed cultivator like a moth to the flame, straight into the dazzling chaos of the battle.
"What urgent matter could be so important that he disregards his safety, refuses to take a detour, and insists on forcing his way through this intense battle between righteous and demonic forces?"
(End of Chapter)
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