I'm Quite Looking Forward to Your Hunyuan Cauldron

The deep-red, agate-like Fire Spirit Diamond lay quietly in Luo Chen's palm. Inside, a drop of blood-like liquid flowed slowly through the crystal. At first glance, it seemed almost alive. All in all, rather than a mineral crystal, it resembled amber. Such material was not truly suitable for refining magic treasures, as it contained impurities. Yet by some bizarre impulse, Luo Chen slipped this Fire Spirit Diamond into his pouch. It was a feeling born almost purely of intuition. *This is good stuff!* Luo Chen shut the chest and glanced around Mount Cangwu's treasury once more. Messy, disordered, haphazardly arranged. Even with his extensive reading and vast store of knowledge, he could not recognize the exact origins of some of the treasures here. Still, he did not dare take anything excessively precious. Youquan was remarkably tolerant toward him! However, that tolerance existed only so long as he did not touch her bottom line. If he truly took something he shouldn't, and she chose to pursue the matter, it would make things ugly for both of them. Walking out of the treasury, Luo Chen took stock of the materials in his storage ring. *Gengjin, Black Sinkwood... all those materials have been gathered for years, and now even the Fire Spirit Diamond is complete.* *Refining my natal magic treasure can finally be placed on the agenda.* *However!* *With my smithing skills, if I truly follow the method provided by Azure Pill Valley, it would take at least a decade or more just to forge the embryonic form of a magic treasure.* *That is far too long; I cannot wait.* *Fortunately, there is a shortcut right in front of me.* With a faint curl of his lips, Luo Chen left the treasury, turned a corner, and headed toward the depths beneath Duzhen Hall. He descended all the way down. As he passed the third subterranean level, his footsteps paused. Luo Chen glanced toward the entrance, let out a sigh, and ultimately did not step inside. This level was where Haoranzi and the others were held captive. Given his current situation, going to see them would be thoroughly awkward. Hence, it was better not to meet. He continued downward. At last, he arrived at the fourth subterranean level. The moment he stepped into this place, a gaze like thunder pierced straight toward him. The master of that gaze was a giant who stood three meters tall even while sitting cross-legged. Silver-white electrical arcs crackled across his body from time to time. The Thunder Prison Divine Roc! A formidable existence at mid Nascent Soul! Rumor had it that he possessed an exceptionally pure bloodline of the ancient Thunder Roc. He was in secluded cultivation here, while also conveniently suppressing the prison of Mount Cangwu. Luo Chen's heart jolted, and he bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Lord Thunder Prison!" "Here again? Did you bring the token?" "I brought it." Luo Chen produced an azure feather. Seeing this azure feather, the Thunder Prison Divine Roc's stern expression softened. "Go on in. Don't linger too long." Luo Chen nodded, moved past him, and walked slowly toward the dim dungeon cells on the fourth subterranean level. As he passed by, a tremor of dread thrummed incessantly in Luo Chen's chest. The sense of danger this Thunder Prison Divine Roc gave him far exceeded that of Youquan or Heqingzi; even Han Zhan and Ao Xiao, whom he had met before, fell far short. Over the past two years, through constant interaction with the feathered clan here, Luo Chen had gained a deeper understanding of Mount Cangwu. As one of the Eastern Desolation's rare fifth-tier spirit veins, Mount Cangwu reportedly did not originally belong to Primordial Monarch Qixia. A thousand years ago, after rising to prominence, Primordial Monarch Qixia had forcibly seized it from a Soul Formation ancient demon. After taking it, Mount Cangwu became the holy land of the feathered clan amidst the Million Mountains of the Eastern Desolation! However! Mount Cangwu did not accept just any great avian demon. That Primordial Monarch Qixia had an eccentric temperament and exceedingly high standards. When she accepted disciples or subordinates, she never looked at cultivation realm, but only at the concentration of their bloodline. Only birds of rarer species and mightier bloodlines were admitted beneath her banner. Consequently, though Mount Cangwu was an existence comparable to a human sacred land, the disciples and followers under its banner were exceedingly few in number. Few in number they were, yet their quality was exceptional. Luo Chen had not seen the other Nascent Soul demon cultivators, but among those he had encountered—Qingshuang, Youquan, and Thunder Prison—every single one possessed explosive combat power. *Speaking of which, if I had obtained a drop of essence blood from the Thunder Prison Divine Roc in my earlier years to cultivate the Heavenly Roc Transformation, would my combat prowess have been even greater?* An abrupt thought surfaced. A moment later, it was severed by the sword in Luo Chen's mind. He smiled self-deprecatingly and walked alone down the dim corridor. Suddenly, a glimmer of light appeared. It was a faint azure radiance. Luo Chen focused his gaze and saw a three-inch-tall figure locked inside a cell, multiple chains of magic power piercing through his body, leaving him utterly unable to move. Opposite this three-inch figure sat a silent, motionless black figure. Such an eerie sight would have astonished Luo Chen in the past. Now, however, he had long grown accustomed to it. As Luo Chen watched, the three-inch figure struggled to open his eyes and looked over. "Ah, it's young friend Luo Chen!" A look of pity in his eyes, Luo Chen greeted him softly. "Senior Han, have you been faring well of late?" Han Zhan glanced at the restrictions binding him and gave a bitter smile. "I'm afraid things could hardly be worse!" Luo Chen sighed. The man's current predicament was indeed the most miserable among all the prisoners. His physical body had been blasted to pieces, his storage bag and Demon Lock Pagoda confiscated, leaving only a life-bound puppet incarnation by his side. As for why Youquan and the others had not killed his Nascent Soul, the reason was naturally simple. It was to be used as a consumable material for refining Transformation Pills. In other words, Han Zhan was now nothing more than a spare medicinal ingredient. A once awe-inspiring Nascent Soul True Person, revered by tens of thousands, was now reduced to spare alchemy stock—anyone would find that hard to swallow! Han Zhan looked at Luo Chen, then shifted his gaze further ahead. "Are you going to see Fellow Daoist Tianyezi?" "Yes. It's time to retrieve the medicine." Han Zhan fell silent for a moment. The reason he was only a spare was that Mount Cangwu's current primary ingredient was Tianyezi, whose body and spirit were both intact. Yet how long could Tianyezi hold out? Once Tianyezi was completely drained, it would probably be Han Zhan's turn! A faint sigh arose. "Young friend, do you know that what you are doing is utterly heinous and treacherous? If the mighty experts of the human race find out, your fate will be a thousand times, ten thousand times worse than mine." "This junior... has no choice!" Luo Chen let out a long sigh. Losing all desire to continue talking with Han Zhan, he proceeded along the corridor. Gazing at his lonely back, the little figure of Han Zhan's Nascent Soul rolled his eyes adroitly, a thoughtful expression flashing across his face. By the looks of it, he was not nearly in as much agony as he had displayed moments before. ... "Senior Tianyezi, pardon the intrusion!" "Hmph, take it!" In the quiet dungeon, Tianyezi, looking thoroughly sullen, opened his mouth and spat out a drop of essence blood imbued with unimaginable magic power, sending it flying toward Luo Chen. Luo Chen hurriedly produced a jade vial and caught the drop of essence blood inside. This was far more than mere essence blood. Within it lay a trace of Nascent Soul origin. It was precisely this substance that served as the primary ingredient in refining Transformation Pills! This was not the first time Luo Chen had come to collect the medicine. The first few times, Youquan had brought him in person, and it was Youquan who had personally used her arts to inflict excruciating agony upon Tianyezi before carving out that trace of Nascent Soul origin. After several repetitions, Tianyezi ceased struggling and simply severed the essence blood himself when the time arrived, waiting for Luo Chen to collect it. There was rarely any conversation between the two. Usually, as soon as the ingredient was collected, they parted ways immediately. This time, however, Luo Chen paused in his tracks. "Why haven't you scrammed yet?" Tianyezi glared at Luo Chen. "You vile wretch, are you trying to mock this old man?" Luo Chen shook his head and said calmly, "I understand Senior's pain. Does Senior truly not comprehend this junior's predicament?" Tianyezi snorted coldly. "There are things one must do and things one must never do. You merely followed your selfish desires and yielded to the demons' tyrannical might." Luo Chen did not get angry, remaining composed. "Is Senior not doing the exact same thing?" "Hm?" "If not, why don't you guard your mind tightly every time to prevent the Nascent Soul power from leaking out?" "I am no fool. Why torment myself needlessly?" "Senior speaks the truth. Surely Luo is no fool either!" Tianyezi froze, then sneered. "What is the point of quibbling with me like this? Do you just want me to give you a pleasant face every time I see you?" Knowing how bitter the old man felt—after all, Han Zhan was merely a newly ascended Nascent Soul cultivator, unlike Tianyezi, who had enjoyed the status of a Nascent Soul expert for hundreds of years. The disparity in the old man's heart was truly immense—Luo Chen did not beat around the bush and stated his purpose directly. "This junior wishes to refine a cauldron-type natal magic treasure, but lacks the necessary capability. Therefore, I wish to ask for Senior's help. After all, you are a renowned grandmaster smith across the Thirty-Six Domains of the Eastern Desolation. Even someone as formidable as Huyan Zhuo is merely a disciple beneath your tutelage. With your assistance, my natal magic treasure will surely achieve consummate perfection." "You certainly know how to calculate! You want to forge a fine cauldron just so you can work your heart out for the demons!" "There is no need to make it sound so harsh; it is merely a struggle to survive." Changing the subject, Luo Chen continued, "If Senior agrees to help, I can request Vice Hall Master Youquan to bestow spirit medicines to repair the damage to your Nascent Soul, keeping your cultivation realm from falling." Tianyezi's heart stirred at first, but then his brows knitted tightly. "What sort of nonsense is this? Feeding me well and keeping me plump just to carve my flesh, drink my blood, and slice away my Nascent Soul? You're treating this old man like a slaughterhouse pig! Luo Chen, you brat, you go too far!" His words grew increasingly agitated! By the end, he was roaring hoarsely, a demonic din grating upon the ears. It was only because he could not mobilize magic power beyond the Golden Core realm; otherwise, this roar alone would have obliterated Luo Chen. Luo Chen's expression shifted slightly. He took a deep breath and said with cool composure, "Where there is life, there is hope. One year ago, three mighty human experts attacked Mount Cangwu—Elder should have sensed at least a trace of the commotion!" "Living, and living while maintaining your condition, is what matters most!" This time, Tianyezi fell silent. Luo Chen did not press him. However, the azure feather in his hand gleamed with faint light, indicating that his visitation time was coming to an end. "I hope Senior will give it careful consideration. Next time I come, I will bring the crafting diagrams for the Hunyuan Cauldron." Luo Chen gave a formal bow with clasped hands and retreated calmly from the dungeon. Tianyezi kept his head lowered, offering no reply, his thoughts hidden. ... When he emerged, Luo Chen offered a greeting to the Thunder Prison Divine Roc, who paid him little heed this time. Luo Chen paid it no mind and continued upward. Before long, he exited the side hall. Just as he prepared to bypass the main hall and return, a figure conveniently blocked his path back. "You want Tianyezi to craft a natal magic treasure for you?" It was Youquan. Luo Chen knew that none of his minor actions on Mount Cangwu could escape her notice. Nor had he intended to hide it. Speaking as if it were only natural, he said, "My Shangshu Cauldron is, in the end, merely someone else's former natal magic treasure; its affinity does not match mine. What's more, it is damaged. Using it to refine second-tier and third-tier pills might barely suffice, but if it is used to refine a fourth-tier Transformation Pill, the result will inevitably be failure." Straightening his expression, Luo Chen added, "Hall Master Youquan, you surely don't want the Transformation Pill to fail, do you?" Youquan stared at him intently and asked in return, "Would another intact magic treasure alchemy vessel not do? I have quite a few in my possession—even a semi-true artifact alchemy tool. Once you refine it, wouldn't the results be even better?" To this, Luo Chen slowly shook his head. "What is one's own is always the best!" Youquan refused to believe him entirely. With a flap of her wing, a green alchemy cauldron landed on the ground with a clang. "The Qingyuan Cauldron!" "Obtained from a rogue Nascent Soul alchemist in the Eastern Desolation. He, too, once refined pills for Mount Cangwu. Regrettably, he harbored too many petty schemes and was slain by Lord Qixia's own hand. The grade of this cauldron already exceeds that of a top-grade magic treasure, standing merely one step away from a true artifact." "Take it and try it out!" Luo Chen was taken aback. Upon hearing the name of the cauldron, he almost failed to register it. *The Qingyuan Cauldron!* Was that not the name of a magic treasure cauldron recorded in the *Qingyuan Alchemy Exposition* he had acquired from Mi Shuhua? In that treatise, Qing Yuanzi had mentioned that if he successfully formed his core, he would choose the Qingyuan Cauldron as his natal magic treasure in the future. Now... *Could the owner of this cauldron truly be that Qing Yuanzi?* *A rogue cultivator reaching Nascent Soul... Good grief, just how fortunate was this man to attain such a realm, and just how unlucky was he to be slain personally by Primordial Monarch Qixia?* Amidst his tumbling thoughts, Luo Chen chose not to speculate further. He promptly swept the Qingyuan Cauldron away. Fine, then! Since you insist, I'll give it a try! In any case, it won't be my wealth that gets squandered. Luo Chen could not be bothered to argue. He proposed a date to fire up the furnace and took his leave. ... Half a month later, having processed all the materials, Luo Chen fired up the furnace in Duzhen Hall. This time, no low-tier avian demons were watching. Only Qingshuang, Youquan, and Heqingzi, who served as an odd-job helper, were present. The semi-true artifact Qingyuan Cauldron settled onto the ground. The Wither-Bloom Fire ignited in an instant. With a flick of his finger, the drop of essence blood from Tianyezi was the first to fall into the cauldron, followed by the addition of various auxiliary ingredients. Throughout this process, Luo Chen's wrists twisted continuously, his fingers flitting nimbly like an embroiderer's needle as he cast one alchemy hand-seal after another. Under his control, the medicinal herbs within the cauldron began to temper, purify, and fuse. Youquan watched the scene with a hint of nervousness. Primordial Monarch Qixia did not care about the development of the Mount Cangwu sacred land, and Qingshuang focused solely on her personal cultivation, but Youquan could not afford to do so! The powerhouses in Duzhen Hall were simply too few. It fell far short of the standards expected of a Soul Formation sacred land. If she could refine Transformation Pills, she could select promising seedlings from among the third-tier demon beasts to nurture. In time, they would surely foster a multitude of Nascent Soul-level demon cultivators. When Mount Cangwu grew mighty and prosperous, Primordial Monarch Qixia would surely be pleased. She herself possessed some knowledge of alchemy, but it was strictly limited to the introductory level. This path relied far too heavily on talent and practical execution. Youquan simply did not have the time to refine pill after pill to build proficiency. And human Nascent Soul alchemists were notoriously difficult to control. Luo Chen was the ideal candidate in her eyes. *I hope he doesn't pull any tricks!* As Youquan muttered to herself, time trickled by. In the blink of an eye, five days passed. Within Duzhen Hall, a scorched smell suddenly drifted into the air. Youquan's face darkened slightly. "A failure already?" She had watched with great precision; from start to finish, Luo Chen had played no tricks, conducting the refinement with absolute sincerity. With her modest knowledge of alchemy, she could clearly see that Luo Chen had executed every single technique to utter perfection. Even so, it had still failed? She found it hard to accept. Luo Chen felt a touch of regret, but his composure remained unruffled. "Failure is only natural; who could ever succeed on the first attempt?" He released a stream of magic power, and a blob of black liquid flew out from the Qingyuan Cauldron. Catching it in his palm, Luo Chen inspected and analyzed it carefully. After a long while, he gave the reasons for the failure. "The Nascent Soul power is simply too formidable!" "Even a single trace is difficult for me to master. In particular, ensuring that the original nature of this power is not lost makes it all the more challenging." "Furthermore, this Qingyuan Cauldron is of too high a grade and is a wood-attribute magic treasure, clashing with my affinity. In just half a month, I could not familiarize myself with it." "In addition, in terms of processing the medicinal materials..." As he laid out reason after reason, Youquan's expression turned progressively gloomier. Flying two circuits around the Qingyuan Cauldron, Youquan finally landed her talons on the edge of the massive vessel. "When all is said and done, you simply want to borrow the power of Mount Cangwu to forge your natal magic treasure, don't you?" Under her piercing gaze, Luo Chen nodded firmly. "To cross realms and refine a fourth-tier pill, I must have a natal cauldron of my own. I hope Hall Master will grant this!" Youquan glared fixedly at Luo Chen. "You speak of clashing affinities, but that Hunyuan Cauldron of yours is a five-elements magic treasure. Right now you cultivate fire as your primary path—how would that be compatible?" Luo Chen smiled nonchalantly. "Hall Master should know better than I do that my Golden Core fundamentally possesses a five-elements core foundation. My current cultivation merely uses a facade to cultivate truth, borrowing the guise of a Fire Heavenly Spiritual Root. The natal magic treasure that best suits me is still one encompassing all five elements." The *Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture* was just that perverse! Without altering the intrinsic nature of the Golden Core, it simulated a singular Fire Heavenly Spiritual Root, thereby increasing cultivation speed by many, even tenfold. As the one who had provided this cultivation technique, Youquan knew this better than anyone. Silence hung heavy in the air. Finally, a cool, indifferent woman's voice broke the awkward impasse. "It's merely a natal magic treasure after all. Youquan, just grant it to him." Youquan drew a deep breath and snorted, "Troublesome!" Seeing this, Luo Chen could not help but show delight. "Then, my thanks to Lady Qingshuang and Hall Master Youquan for your grace!" ... Troublesome it was, indeed. Asking Tianyezi to help craft the magic treasure meant restoring a portion of his strength. That introduced far too many variables. Yet the Transformation Pill was the cornerstone of Youquan's plans, and now that an opportunity had presented itself, she was loath to abandon it. Therefore, she had no choice but to call upon Qingshuang to help monitor Tianyezi. Inside the prison cell, beneath the watchful eyes of Luo Chen and Qingshuang, Tianyezi silently accepted the crafting diagram for the Hunyuan Cauldron. Glancing over it briefly, he said coldly, "No need to study it; this old man has crafted a Hunyuan Cauldron before. Just prepare enough materials." Having said that, he looked toward Luo Chen. "What about the item you promised?" With a wave of her sleeve, Qingshuang sent a medicine vial landing on the ground before Tianyezi. Tianyezi picked it up in silence. "Luo Chen, they certainly treat you well!" Luo Chen acted as though he hadn't heard the sneer in the old man's voice and began retrieving items from his storage ring. First came the basic first-tier and second-tier mineral materials, followed by the five great third-tier primary materials: Gengjin, Black Sinkwood, Cold Marrow, Fire Spirit Diamond, and Origin-Tracing Clay. The quantities were vast—nearly ten portions or more of each! Tianyezi inspected them briefly, a satisfied look dawning on his face. "You certainly came well-prepared!" Luo Chen smiled faintly. "Of course. When it concerns my natal magic treasure, how could I not be thorough? I also have some fine additions here; please examine them as well, Senior." A large chest of Tongxuan Heavenly Crystals! Tianyezi was somewhat astonished. "Such a vast quantity—it's comparable to the entire accumulated wealth of a Golden Core sect." An ice-jade vial. Tianyezi opened it and took a whiff, his brows lifting. "Fourth-tier Ice Soul Marrow? Did you get this from Ice Fort?" Luo Chen nodded. Then, under the gazes of both onlookers, he solemnly retrieved from his Thunder-Accumulating Treasure Ring a pure white flower that resembled a camellia. The instant it appeared, streaks of incomparably pure lightning power manifested throughout the dim dungeon. Lightning slithered like snakes, brandishing claws and fangs. Tianyezi's expression shifted slightly. Qingshuang's eyes also showed a flicker of interest. Not only that, but a powerful aura suddenly surged from the corridor. The Thunder Prison Divine Roc abruptly materialized beside Luo Chen, his eyes burning as he stared at the white flower. "Thousand-Year Thunder Essence!" Tianyezi cast a glance at the Thunder Prison Divine Roc, then looked back at Luo Chen and stroked his beard. "I'm quite looking forward to your Hunyuan Cauldron."