A great lake, gorgeous yet perilous, sat quietly within the vast expanse of Vermilion Bird Mountain.
Seen from above, it looked like flowing fire.
In the depths of this brilliantly dazzling lake of magma, one could not help but wonder whether some hidden demon lurked within, or if this expanse of molten rock was a passage connecting to another world.
There were no demons.
Yet a sacred bird did reside here!
Deep within the earth veins, inside an iridescent halo of light, a palm-sized fire sparrow slept peacefully with eyes tightly closed and wings wrapped around its body.
It was as though nothing in the world outside, no matter how cataclysmic, could ever wake it.
Wisps of red flames slowly spread outward, centered around its tiny body.
Wherever they passed, mountain rock and solid stone melted away, turning into scalding liquid that surged upward to become part of the great magma lake.
Yet these flames remained strictly contained within a bounds of merely a thousand zhang.
Beyond those thousand zhang, another terrifyingly high temperature took its place.
Within it, it felt as though even one's thoughts would melt away.
This was also an absolute forbidden zone.
Without the proper opportunity or destiny, one could hardly step foot here.
Drip!
Drip!
Wisps of black liquid continuously dripped from a figure.
It was an ordinary-looking man, but upon closer inspection, his demeanor bore a resemblance to Master Han Zhan, the Grand Elder of the Luoyun Sect.
He seemed utterly indifferent to his melting body, his eyes fixed intently on a small lotus platform within that zone of extreme heat.
Bathed in the blistering heat, the lotus platform seemed exceedingly restless.
It seemed that even it could not endure such horrific temperatures.
Yet it dared not leave this place; subconsciously, it knew covetous eyes waited for it outside.
Step further in?
That elicited an even deeper instinctual dread!
Even after cultivating quietly in Vermilion Bird Mountain for all these years and absorbing the aura of the Vermilion Bird Holy Fire, it had only taken in a tiny fraction—just barely enough to avoid being repelled by this place.
The man quietly watched this scene.
Suddenly, he turned his head.
Beyond the high-temperature zone, a figure dashed forward like wind and lightning.
The man moved, arriving before Luo Chen in just a few steps.
"It's right there!"
After uttering those words, he could seemingly hold on no longer, and his entire body melted down into a puddle of liquid without warning.
Then, a dim light flew out from it, circled once, and merged into the Soul Nourishing Wood tablet hanging before Luo Chen's chest.
Watching this, Luo Chen's pupils contracted slightly.
Was this the depth of Han Zhan's divine soul cultivation?
Splitting his divine soul at will to possess puppets or refined corpses as avatars.
Recalling how Han Zhan had possessed that Nascent Soul-stage puppet with his entire soul back then, Luo Chen's expression turned even more solemn.
"Senior's divine ability is extraordinary. I imagine your *Soul Splitting Art* has already reached the pinnacle!"
Han Zhan was surprised, not expecting Luo Chen to bring this up out of the blue.
He replied casually, "Hardly the pinnacle—merely minor accomplishment."
Luo Chen found it somewhat hard to believe. "To split your divine soul so freely is still only minor accomplishment?"
Han Zhan gave a faint smile. "According to the descriptions in the *Soul Splitting Art*, splitting into two is merely the entry level. Back then, I managed it by a stroke of luck using the Ice Fort's Ice Prison. After that, I spent two hundred years of arduous cultivation to reach nine souls, which finally qualified as stepping into the hall. As for the so-called pinnacle and great accomplishment, tsk, tsk... I'm afraid I won't be able to achieve that in this lifetime."
"Is it really that difficult?" In his eyes, Han Zhan's soul attainments were top-tier even among all the Nascent Soul Masters he had encountered. He probed, "A limitation of natural talent? Or is the cultivation method incomplete?"
"Neither," Han Zhan sighed. "It's simply that I lack a treasure recorded in the technique to aid in cultivating the divine soul."
As he spoke, Han Zhan suddenly caught on.
Why would Luo Chen flatter him out of nowhere and probe about divine soul cultivation?
It was the "aftereffects" of that earlier battle!
Luo Chen had believed his strength had improved drastically and that he had nothing to fear from Nascent Soul experts, yet in their very first clash, he had fallen under Merfolk Sovereign Liu Jun's enchanting voice.
At its core, this was clearly caused by insufficient foundation in his divine soul.
While this had not shattered Luo Chen's self-confidence, it had given him a clear awareness of the gap between himself and a Nascent Soul Master.
That was why he seized this moment to inquire, attempting to make up for this deficiency.
Having realized this, Han Zhan chuckled softly. "Don't bother thinking about it. In the short term, you cannot elevate your soul's foundation to the Nascent Soul level, even if I were to pass down the *Soul Splitting Art* to you."
Having his thoughts seen through, Luo Chen blushed slightly.
Of course, under the glow of the Vermilion Bird Holy Fire, one could not tell whether he was embarrassed.
He asked in his usual tone, "Why? Is it a matter of time?"
"It isn't a matter of time," Han Zhan denied, then explained: "When we Masters advance to the Nascent Soul realm, we confront heavenly might and undergo a tribulation in the flesh. Those who survive not only see a massive leap in realm, but the very essence of their divine soul begins to transform, for heaven and earth bestow a baptism upon us. You lack this step—how could you compare?"
Luo Chen fell silent.
Tribulation!
Clearly, this so-called catastrophe also carried immense fortune.
Even if he wished to compensate with internal arts or external objects, nothing could match a baptism of heaven and earth.
Seeing Luo Chen look somber and fearing he might be disheartened, Han Zhan consoled him, "Actually, you are already extraordinary. To possess such a deep soul foundation at your age and cultivation level, why demand even more of yourself? Once your cultivation advances to the seventh or eighth layer of Golden Core, or even Great Perfection, your soul foundation might come infinitely close to that of a Nascent Soul Master.
"And if you fear being suppressed in future battles by Masters skilled in the dao of the soul, aren't I still here?
"When it comes to battle prowess, this old man may fall short, but regarding the dao of the soul, even against those in the mid Nascent Soul stage, I have some confidence in holding my ground. Protecting your soul will be no trouble at all!"
Luo Chen gave a faint smile, his spirits indeed lifting somewhat.
The path of the divine soul was mysterious and unpredictable.
Not all Nascent Soul Masters in this world were adept at it.
Even Merfolk Sovereign Liu Jun had merely used a sonic attack laced with some divine soul arts earlier.
Such methods were hardly any different from his illusion art, Mirror Flower, Water Moon.
In fact, in his eyes, Merfolk Sovereign Liu Jun's enchanting song was rather crude—not even matching his own mastery of Mirror Flower, Water Moon.
Techniques like Han Zhan's, capable of directly attacking an enemy's divine soul, were likely exceedingly rare in the world.
Reining in his thoughts, Luo Chen's spirit eyes pierced through the bubbling magma and settled upon that small lotus platform.
That earlier conversation had not been merely to pass the time.
Throughout it, he had been constantly observing the Five Elements Lotus Platform.
The lotus was indeed exceptionally spiritual; knowing this place was dangerous, it had deliberately shrunk its true form to avoid being scorched over a large area by the intense heat.
At the same time, shrinking made it easier to conceal itself.
If Han Zhan's refined corpse avatar had not followed it all the way, Luo Chen might not have found the Five Elements Lotus Platform's hiding spot even if he arrived here.
Next, it was time to collect this spiritual item!
As for how to collect it?
Luo Chen had long prepared a plan!
As an experienced Tier 4 alchemist, he was thoroughly versed in harvesting all kinds of spiritual medicines.
Especially before setting foot in the Land of the Fallen Demon, he had already researched several methods for harvesting the Five Elements Lotus Platform.
The simplest and most direct was nothing more than using overwhelming might to cut off heaven and earth spiritual energy and directly seize it.
The second was to harvest it using implements that did not belong to the five elements.
As for why non-five-element tools were required?
The reason was simple: the Five Elements Lotus Platform possessed the spiritual powers of all five elements simultaneously, and mutual generation and restraint were practically instinctual to it.
Whether it was an earthen or wooden jade box, or a metallic or fiery blade, it could instinctively evade them, and even if caught, it could slip away.
Therefore, things outside the five elements would not be affected by this.
Lastly, there was another method!
That was to use a magic treasure that possessed all five elements to collect it.
Possessing all five elements meant having no fear of mutual generation and restraint, following the principle of shared origin.
The reason Merfolk Sovereign Liu Jun could not forcibly collect this item was likely because he lacked the corresponding treasure to do so.
And Luo Chen just happened to possess such a treasure!
With a thought, Luo Chen opened his mouth and spat lightly.
A small grey cauldron spun out and appeared above the great lake.
Empowered by dharmic power, the small grey cauldron expanded, growing several zhang large in the blink of an eye.
It was none other than his natal magic treasure—the Hunyuan Cauldron!
Luo Chen formed an incantation gesture, and the Hunyuan Cauldron began spinning rapidly. A powerful suppressive force immediately radiated outward, instantly enveloping the distant Five Elements Lotus Platform, which believed itself so well hidden!
Then, Luo Chen flicked his fingers repeatedly.
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
Chains of dharmic power rattled and shot forth. Their color was a dull grey, unlike the crimson red he usually used.
Clearly, to control the Hunyuan Cauldron, Luo Chen had converted to five-element dharmic power in advance; thus, the nine manifested chains were a hazy grey.
The nine chains of dharmic power darted forth like spirit serpents weaving their tails, quickly descending around the Five Elements Lotus Platform.
With danger upon it, the spiritual Five Elements Lotus Platform was naturally unwilling to sit and await its demise.
The lotus platform spun, its size suddenly swelling to roughly five zhang across, standing tall within the sea of fire like a flaming lotus!
The nine chains bound around its body, attempting to drag it back.
Yet under the contest of strength, the Five Elements Lotus Platform remained immovable as a mountain!
"This!"
A look of astonishment crossed Luo Chen's face.
Witnessing this, Han Zhan sighed with emotion. "Taisui was right. This lotus platform's cultivation is indeed profound; it is only a single step away from advancing to Tier 5."
Luo Chen frowned slightly, having understood the situation.
The reason Merfolk Sovereign Liu Jun had not directly taken this item away was likely due in large part to the resistance of the Five Elements Lotus Platform itself, aside from lacking the appropriate treasure to collect it.
That was why he could only settle for staying in Vermilion Bird Mountain to heal his injuries with the help of this treasure.
Even during the great battle, when the Five Elements Lotus Platform fled forcibly, Liu Jun had his hands full and could hardly suppress it.
If that were the case, even if he collected it now, it would probably be very difficult to store into a storage ring to take away.
This was indeed troublesome.
"I was underprepared. Blood Hermit went to tremendous efforts just to harvest the Tier 5 Withered Blood Vine. This Five Elements Lotus Platform is only one step away from Tier 5; the difficulty of harvesting it was bound to be immense.
"No matter how troublesome things get later, I must take it away from here first!"
He saw clearly that within Vermilion Bird Mountain, the Five Elements Lotus Platform enjoyed a home field advantage just like him, its energy endless and inexhaustible.
Therefore, he had to drag it away first!
Luo Chen pursed his lips and steeled his resolve, surging forth what little dharmic power remained in his second primal core.
The nine chains instantly pulled taut.
"Come out for me!"
A silent tug-of-war quietly unfolded between man and lotus.
In the end, Luo Chen even exhausted the dharmic power within his primal core and began drawing upon his natal golden core's power, yet he only barely managed to drag the Five Elements Lotus Platform a few hundred zhang outward.
Just then:
"If you don't mind, this old man can lend you a hand!"
"Hm?"
Luo Chen was surprised for a moment, then accepted Han Zhan's assistance.
He felt the Hunyuan Cauldron suddenly grow heavy, followed by a profound force blessing the nine dharmic power chains.
*Clatter...*
The chains swayed, and Luo Chen stepped backward.
The Five Elements Lotus Platform was also forced to move outward.
Throughout this process, Han Zhan remarked with awe, "In merely a few decades, you have nurtured the Hunyuan Cauldron to such quality. Truly remarkable!"
A refined corpse's body was already exceedingly durable, yet within the high-temperature zone generated by the Vermilion Bird Holy Fire, it had melted completely in a short time.
The Hunyuan Cauldron, however, was utterly unaffected!
From this alone, one could see the supreme quality of this treasure.
In Han Zhan's view, the Hunyuan Cauldron merely lacked an opportunity for a baptism of heaven and earth.
When that time came, this treasure would surely ascend to the ranks of true artifacts, commanding the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for its own use.
Luo Chen said nothing, continuing to urge his dharmic power.
Time flowed slowly by.
...
A day later.
"He's out!"
Taisui looked excitedly at that tiny figure atop Vermilion Bird Mountain.
Beside him, the awakened Cave Master Moyun slowly opened his eyes. Gazing at Luo Chen's figure and the giant lotus platform bound and dragged out by nine chains, a complex look appeared in his eyes.
Just for this thing, he had nearly died here.
Was this journey truly worth it?
And after this, would he be able to leave the Land of the Fallen Demon alive and well?
If he ended up meeting the same fate as Dao Lan...
He pursed his lips and asked in a hoarse voice, "Does this spiritual medicine really have the effect of helping a cultivator form a Nascent Soul?"
"Probably not," Taisui shook his head, then added, "The Five Elements Lotus Platform grows by absorbing five-element spiritual energy. Born utterly translucent, it is exceptionally attuned to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Its greatest use to cultivators is actually serving as an aid in cultivation, filtering out impurities from worldly spiritual energy so it can be absorbed directly."
Absorbed directly?
Cave Master Moyun started, a hint of hesitation appearing on his face. "Without refining it?"
"No need to refine! By combining a cultivator's Nascent Soul with the Five Elements Lotus Platform, one can directly absorb the worldly spiritual energy best suited to oneself."
"Nascent Soul?"
"Yes, the Five Elements Lotus Platform is a treasure exclusive to Nascent Soul Masters. It's only normal that you Golden Core cultivators haven't seen one."
Cave Master Moyun grew even more confused. "Then what use is it for Demonic Lord Qingyang to spare no effort searching for this item?"
Without a Nascent Soul within, Golden Core cultivators could not withstand the infusion of violent worldly spiritual energy at all; they had to capture and absorb it bit by bit, circulating it through cultivation methods and filtering it through meridians, purifying and refining it gradually until it could be converted into dharmic power suited to them.
For Luo Chen to do this—to call it preparing for after his Nascent Soul breakthrough wouldn't even count as planning ahead; it was practically worrying about the sky falling.
Taisui shrugged. "I don't know. But he's a high-tier alchemist, so he probably has some method to put it to his own use!"
Cave Master Moyun fell silent.
All this time, he had treated Luo Chen as an artifact refiner like himself.
Yet he had forgotten that what this man excelled at most was actually alchemy!
If the other party possessed some technique to refine the Five Elements Lotus Platform into an auxiliary resource for forming a Nascent Soul, it would make sense.
"Forming a Nascent Soul..."
He murmured, a sliver of yearning in his eyes.
Seeming to sense the desire in his heart, Taisui smiled. "Cave Master, you needn't sell yourself short. Once you help my true body break free, I will guide you into that inheritance ground. If you can receive even a fraction of Demonic Lord Liantian's artifact-refining legacy, a mere Nascent Soul realm will be child's play."
Was it truly that simple?
Cave Master Moyun was half-convinced, half-skeptical.
Taisui said in a low voice, "Think of Fairy Feileng."
With just that one sentence, Cave Master Moyun's spirits surged, his confidence soaring!
*Boom!*
A loud crash echoed from the distance.
The five-colored lotus platform landed beside the surging river of magma.
In the sky, a large grey cauldron radiated hazy grey light, enveloping it so it could not struggle or escape.
With just a single glance, Cave Master Moyun's eyes glittered.
"What kind of magic treasure is that grey cauldron?"
Taisui's focus was elsewhere. He watched as Luo Chen leapt up and sat cross-legged atop the lotus platform. With each breath and rhythm of his aura, it actually appeared as though he was cultivating.
"Huh, he knows the Five Elements Lotus Platform can be used to aid cultivation too?"
"But without a Nascent Soul, how can he endure the violent spiritual energy drawn in?"
Chapter 673