After seven or eight waves of golden light poured into the colossal cauldron, the once thunderous silver vessel suddenly emitted a piercing, shrill screech.
Yuelong’s expression changed drastically at the sight.
“Fellow Daoist Han, block the incoming golden forces of heaven and earth. Let me refine what’s already inside before allowing more in.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Yuelong let out a loud shout and spat out several more globules of vital blood essence. The spiritual flames beneath the cauldron, absorbing so much essence, flared up violently, nearly engulfing the entire cauldron in a blaze that turned a radiant golden-red. The heat was so intense that the surrounding space distorted, and all the materials inside the cauldron melted into a boiling liquid, with countless golden specks flickering within.
Han Li frowned slightly and pointed a finger toward the void. The stone formation erupted with a swirl of five-colored light, and the densely packed boulders began rotating at a terrifying speed. The golden lights that had penetrated the formation paused briefly before emerging even dimmer.
At the same time, Han Li raised his other hand, releasing a streak of black light that transformed into a vast black cloud, several acres in size, enveloping the emerging golden radiance. Within the cloud, fine threads of light flickered—it was none other than the black silk net Yuelong had given Han Li earlier. The net, seemingly thin and fragile, trapped the golden lights, which struggled like living creatures but could not escape.
Han Li, standing at a distance, formed a single-handed seal and coldly observed the black cloud, clearly channeling immense spiritual power to control the treasure. Below, Yuelong, seeing the golden lights ensnared, felt a surge of relief and redoubled his efforts to refine the materials in the cauldron. Inside the vessel, faint golden bricks were slowly forming, each the size of a palm.
“Good! Fellow Daoist Han, release the golden forces now!” After an indeterminate time, when nearly a hundred golden lights had accumulated in the black cloud, Yuelong shouted to Han Li again.
Han Li nodded slightly and flicked a finger toward the distant cloud. With a soft *puff*, a foot-long gap split open in the black cloud, and golden lights cascaded down, one after another, into the cauldron.
Thus, whenever Yuelong called out, Han Li would intercept most of the golden lights with the black cloud, releasing them only when needed. This meticulous control allowed Yuelong to refine the materials at ease, adjusting the influx of heavenly forces as required.
However, as time passed, the number of golden lights trapped in the black cloud grew exponentially. Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, there were already seven or eight hundred of them. Even someone as formidable as Han Li, who had to intercept such a massive amount of golden forces, showed a trace of solemnity for the first time.
With a cold snort, Han Li flicked his sleeve, and a silver orb the size of a teacup shot out. It expanded to the size of a house mid-flight before vanishing into the black cloud in a blur—one of the three silver pearls Yuelong had given him.
A bizarre scene unfolded. A muffled explosion erupted within the black cloud, followed by a silver halo that expanded to envelop the entire cloud. When the halo dissipated, the golden lights had vanished without a trace, leaving only the black cloud hovering above the cauldron. The silver pearls were evidently treasures specifically designed to counter the golden forces of heaven and earth.
With this, Han Li’s burden was lifted, and he resumed intercepting the descending golden lights with the black cloud. Yuelong, witnessing this, showed no regret at the use of the silver pearl but instead a flicker of delight. That Han Li had held out until now before using it far exceeded his expectations, and the depth of Han Li’s spiritual power left him inwardly awed. It seemed he had indeed found the right person—this attempt to forge the Extreme Origin Crystals stood a real chance of success.
Meanwhile, Han Li cast a fleeting glance at the golden bricks forming in the cauldron, silently calculating how many true metal-attribute Extreme Origin Crystals would ultimately emerge.
—
Two months later, in a secluded valley deep within the Abyssal Realm, two women in white robes stood side by side beneath the lush canopy of a towering black tree. One was petite and exuded an air of charm, while the other was slender and ethereally beautiful, their expressions grave as they conversed.
At the valley’s center rose a massive, seven-tiered platform, verdant as if constructed from colossal green timbers. Each tier was lined with over a dozen mystical artifacts of varying designs. At the highest level, hundreds of banners of different sizes fluttered, arranged in an intricate formation. These banners, some radiant, others wreathed in dark mist, each exuded an astonishing aura—clearly extraordinary treasures.
At the heart of the banners lay a silver meditation cushion about a foot in diameter. Within a radius of a mile around the platform stood thousands of lifelike statues—some humanoid, others beastly—all kneeling in reverence toward the platform. The entire valley floor was paved with multicolored jade bricks, casting a faint, shimmering glow over the surroundings.
“Sister, Father has prepared for this tribulation for so long. Surely he has a good chance of success. Why has he seemed so troubled these past few days?” the ethereal woman asked, her delicate brows furrowed as she gazed at the distant platform.
“Master’s thoughts are as deep as the ocean—how could we presume to fathom them? But if I were to guess, it’s likely due to the tribulation itself. If he fails, all his centuries of cultivation will be for naught,” the petite woman replied, her eyes glinting.
“True. Each Great Heavenly Tribulation grows more ferocious. Until one truly ascends, it’s like an unshakable curse. Father has weathered so many already—this one must be unimaginably severe. All we can do is pray for his fortune and do our utmost to aid him. No matter what, I will spare no effort,” the ethereal woman declared resolutely.
“Yao’er, you’ve trained so hard all these years, advancing to the Body Integration stage, precisely to repay Father’s kindness today. It’s a pity I lack the Yin Body and can’t contribute at all,” the petite woman sighed.
These two women were Yuan Yao and Yan Li, disciples of Master Qing Yuanzi. Yuan Yao had even become his adopted daughter and had reached the early Body Integration stage, while Yan Li, though formidable, remained at the late Void Refinement stage.
Today was the day Qing Yuanzi had prepared to face his tribulation. To survive, he had employed countless techniques to delay the tribulation and expended immense effort to elevate Yuan Yao’s cultivation—all so she could unleash a rare divine ability to aid him. Though aware of this, Yuan Yao, grateful for Qing Yuanzi’s restoration of her and Yan Li’s half-ghost forms to human bodies and her rapid advancement, was determined to assist at any cost.
The valley was Qing Yuanzi’s chosen site, fortified with countless defenses and arrays spanning thousands of miles to thwart any interference. At that moment, Qing Yuanzi was in a temporary cave nearby, purifying himself and praying to face the tribulation in peak condition.
After a brief exchange, Yuan Yao and Yan Li fell silent, waiting anxiously. Hours later, as the gray clouds above began churning and an eerie aura permeated the valley, a streak of azure light shot across the horizon, materializing above them in a flash.
“Greetings, Father!”
“Greetings, Master!”
The two women bowed solemnly.
“Only Yao’er can assist me in this tribulation. Come with me. Yan Li, remain here and stay vigilant,” a gray-robed elder with a long beard said calmly as the azure light faded.
“Yes!”
“As you command!”
Without hesitation, Qing Yuanzi waved his sleeve, enveloping Yuan Yao in azure light before vanishing. In the next instant, they reappeared silently atop the highest tier of the platform.
“Yao’er, stay close. Only act when I command—neither rashly nor hesitantly,” Qing Yuanzi instructed gently.
“Rest assured, Father. I know what to do,” Yuan Yao replied solemnly, taking a deep breath.
“Good. But this tribulation is no ordinary trial. Stay alert—one misstep could drag you into its fury,” he added with a faint smile.
Yao’er nodded earnestly.
—
Far from the valley, above a desolate stretch of rubble, a fierce gale howled as two enormous black claws, each dozens of feet long, tore through the wind and wrenched apart the void.
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