Zhang Daoling was a name steeped in legend.
Whether in the annals of Huaxia's history or within its mythologies, he was a towering figure. According to legend, he was a descendant of Zhang Liang, one of the Three Heroes of the early Western Han dynasty.
He had later received teachings from Taishang Laozi and founded Zhengyi Dao. It could be said that historical records concerning him were exceedingly abundant.
Of course, no one knew how much of that was true and how much was mere rumor. But one thing was certain: he was an inescapable monumental figure in the Daoist lineage.
And what Daoists pursued was cultivating immortality, refining pills, and longevity. Thus, as the Ancestral Heavenly Master, Zhang Daoling naturally mastered the art of pill refinement. He had also forged several pill furnaces, and the one before Lu Yuan's eyes was precisely one of them. Drawing on the memories of his past life, Lu Yuan knew both the name and purpose of this furnace.
It was not meant for refining medicinal pills, but for refining human beings. Indeed—it was meant for throwing a person directly inside to be refined.
Naturally, this did not mean burning someone alive. In Daoism, there existed a method of practice known as cultivating the self. One treated one's own body as an elixir pill to be refined, attuning oneself to the cosmos to achieve a profound transformation. In other words, it bore some resemblance to internal alchemy, though Daoist cultivation was vast and profound, encompassing numerous branches.
This was merely one of them, and what Lu Yuan valued was that this object could refine his body and strengthen his physical constitution.
Of course, what mattered even more was knowing that it could be merged into his body. After all, he had already integrated the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda and the Great Sun Flame God Furnace gifted by Jiang Ningxian.
His physical constitution had already reached an immensely formidable realm. If he could absorb another divine object of the same kind, it would undoubtedly become even more terrifying.
Lu Yuan's goal was to ensure that, regardless of who his opponent was, his physical body would exert overwhelming suppression over anyone at the same cultivation realm.
Coupled with the formidable strength of his soul, he would have no weaknesses at all. The three-legged furnace before him was precisely the finest divine object he could have asked for.
As for its name, it was the Zhengyi Yin-Yang Furnace. Named after yin and yang, it differed from the Great Sun Flame God Furnace, which was purely rigid and yang.
Integrating it would allow the power of Lu Yuan's physical body to achieve a state where yin and yang achieved perfect harmony.
"In my previous life, once this object appeared, it was contested and snatched away by those extraterrestrial beings. Now, there is no one to fight me for it." Looking at the furnace before him, Lu Yuan's thoughts briefly drifted back to his past life.
However, he did not dwell on it. Walking up to the furnace, he gave a light wave of his hand, immediately sweeping away the dust resting upon it.
Originally, Lu Yuan had planned to take the furnace with him and refine it later. After all, this place could hardly be considered safe.
Yet Jiang Ningxian was waiting outside. He estimated that thoroughly refining the artifact and merging it into his body would not take very long.
In the end, Lu Yuan sat down cross-legged on the spot, then sliced his palm open with the Daluo sword core. Drops of fresh blood immediately fell onto the furnace.
*Buzz, buzz, buzz—*
In the next instant, the Zhengyi Yin-Yang Furnace began to vibrate continuously. Strands of radiance radiated from it, illuminating the small folded space. The powerful surges of aura exuded from the vessel even caused the surrounding space to ripple with instability.
Fortunately, with Lu Yuan keeping it in check, it did not cause any major disruption. As time passed, waves of aura welled up from the furnace.
These were two distinct forces—one yin and one yang—mutually repelling yet complementing each other.
"It's starting!" At that moment, Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly. Waving his hand once more, the golden qi and blood within him surged forth in powerful tremors.
*Rumble—*
Thunderous roars echoed through the cavern. The Great Sun Smelting Furnace manifested, its power directly intertwining with that of the Zhengyi Yin-Yang Furnace.
The next moment, the Zhengyi Yin-Yang Furnace vanished.
*Buzz—*
In that split second, a tremendous surge of power erupted from Lu Yuan's body.
Although the Great Sun Smelting Furnace also disappeared at this moment, Lu Yuan himself now seemed to have transformed into a blazing sun.
The radiant heat felt as though it could vaporize everything in existence. And this was merely the raw power exuded by his physical constitution.
"Just as I expected. Once the Zhengyi Yin-Yang Furnace is thoroughly integrated into my flesh, my physical body will become even more terrifying." A flash of delight appeared in Lu Yuan's eyes as he felt the surge of power firsthand.
Even though he had not yet completely fused with the furnace, the transformation had already begun. Without overthinking it further, he closed his eyes and concentrated entirely on the fusion.
Throughout the process, the sheer force radiating from him seemed powerful enough to shatter the pocket of space around him.
His golden qi and blood billowed outward, erupting ceaselessly like an active volcano. Meanwhile, Jiang Ningxian, lingering near Mount Longhu, naturally sensed this power immediately.
She looked toward Lu Yuan's location, her eyes widening in astonishment. "Did that fellow stumble upon another treasure?"
Jiang Ningxian truly found it curious; it always felt as though he could foresee the future, knowing what was to come well in advance.
To say nothing of other matters, take the establishment of the Heavenly Court. Whatever his original intention had been, it had now begun to serve as a formidable force resisting the extraterrestrial beings.
Especially as the people within the Heavenly Court continued to grow stronger, the Milky Way Star Sector would likely regain its former glory over time.
Jiang Ningxian had a premonition of this outcome, yet Lu Yuan had set it all in motion far in advance by founding the Heavenly Court. It was as though he had known long ago that catastrophe was on the horizon.
There was also his personal cultivation realm. Without relying on any special bloodline, he had reached his current height—who could possibly compare to him?
"Just how many secrets is he hiding?" Jiang Ningxian mused, before a radiant smile graced her face. In any case, he was the Lu Yuan she knew, and that was enough. There was no need to dwell on the rest.
Shortly after, she walked a short distance away and sat cross-legged. Without making any ostentatious gestures, an intensely powerful aura erupted from her person.
For a moment, the sky trembled faintly. Down in the mountains and valleys, the mutant beasts immediately fled in all directions upon sensing such a terrifying presence.
Indeed, as a precaution, Jiang Ningxian had released her aura to temporarily clear all living creatures from the surrounding area.
She did this simply to ensure that no unexpected incidents would occur.
Time ticked away, drop by drop.
On the other side, at Mount Tai.
Elder Ji and Elder Yun were playing chess in a courtyard. Although they temporarily oversaw the Heavenly Court, in many respects they had already stepped back to the second line of command.
Certain affairs were handed directly to Zhu Qingyu and the other younger generation to handle and manage. On ordinary days, the two elders simply played chess and focused on their cultivation, enjoying an easy, comfortable life.
"Elder Ji, Elder Yun."
Before long, Zhu Qingyu and Ice Fairy arrived. Both young women possessed striking beauty and exceptional poise. Stepping into the courtyard, Zhu Qingyu was the first to speak. "We have the latest news. Movements from various extraterrestrial clans have been detected around the perimeters of the five super cities. It seems they can no longer hold back."
Upon hearing this, rather than showing any signs of anxiety, the two elders rose to their feet and laughed aloud.
"Excellent! It has indeed unfolded just as King Lu predicted. Looks like it's time for us to make our move as well!"
Chapter 289