OBS Chapter 1403 Shura Holy Fire
Chapter 1403 Shura Holy Fire
Chapter 1403 Shura Holy Fire
Three days later, in a pavilion inside the Void Heaven Palace.
Inside the pavilion, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable. Wan Tianming, dressed in a brocade robe, had a somber expression, his body radiating magical power with faint sounds of dragon roars and tiger howls. Opposite him stood a man with a thick beard, over ten feet tall, muscular, and with a face full of scars. He was bare-chested, his bronze upper body bare, and his large, copper-bell-shaped eyes gleamed with a fierce light, his aura as savage as a beast ready to devour its prey.
The two faced each other ten feet apart, their invisible auras clashing, causing the air in the pavilion to emit subtle pops.
This was the third day of their fierce battle for the "Heaven-Mending Pill".
Both were mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, possessing profound magical power and vast supernatural abilities, and each also possessed several ancient treasures and secret techniques with astonishing power. Wan Tianming cultivated top-tier righteous cultivation techniques, possessing pure and vast magical power, and was proficient in both offense and defense; while Man Hu Zi followed the path of body cultivation, possessing an incomparably strong physical body, with the power to move mountains and fill seas with every move, supplemented by extremely powerful demonic arts.
After three days, both sides had exhausted all their means, but neither could gain the upper hand, resulting in a stalemate.
Outside the core area where they were fighting fiercely, several early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, including Tian Wuzi and Qingyi Jushi, circled around like sharks that had smelled blood.
Their gazes were fixed on the two figures facing off in the arena, or more precisely, on the "Heaven-Mending Pill" in Wan Tianming's hand. Exhaustion was etched on everyone's face; three consecutive days of intense observation and constant vigilance, always ready to seize the pill, were a tremendous drain even for Nascent Soul cultivators.
At this suffocating stalemate, Qin Hao, who had been standing on the edge, observing coldly, suddenly moved. The Sky-Splitting Armor-Piercing Blade in his hand, radiating a sharp golden light, dimmed and was neatly tucked into his sleeve.
"Hmph, you guys keep fighting, I won't keep you company."
These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake. Tian Wuzi and the others on the periphery were all stunned, and then their faces showed disbelief.
Tian Wuzi couldn't help but blurt out, "Fellow Daoist Zhang?! That's the Heaven-Mending Pill! You...you're just giving up like that?"
Qin Hao's lips curled into a slightly mocking smile. His gaze swept over Tian Wuzi and the other cultivators who also wore expressions of surprise and doubt, finally settling on Wan Tianming and Man Huzi, who remained tense and ready to fight. He said loudly, "So what if it's the Heaven-Mending Pill? Do you really expect to snatch it from two mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators? A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. This Void Heaven Palace only opens once every three hundred years, and the inner palace is teeming with opportunities. Rather than wasting time here, potentially gaining nothing or even losing your life in the process, it's better to take this opportunity to find some real treasures elsewhere!"
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads, giving Tian Wuzi and the others a jolt, and they subconsciously began to weigh the pros and cons.
Qin Hao ignored everyone's reactions. As soon as he finished speaking, a golden light flashed around him, and he transformed into an incredibly swift beam of light. Without any hesitation, he instantly disappeared at the entrance of the pavilion, leaving everyone looking at each other in disbelief.
Tian Wuzi, Qingyi Jushi, and the others stared in the direction where Qin Hao had disappeared, frozen in place, their expressions shifting.
Giving up? That's the Heaven-Mending Pill! In the end, the allure of the Heaven-Mending Pill prevailed. After a brief hesitation, greed once again overwhelmed reason.
The bearded man's savage, beast-like gaze swept over Tian Wuzi and his companions, filled with undisguised killing intent and contempt. He abruptly turned to Wan Tianming opposite him, his voice booming, "Wan Tianming! These annoying flies are driving me crazy! Why don't we join forces and crush these eyesores first, then have a good fight and settle things once and for all? What do you say?"
Upon hearing this, Wan Tianming's eyes flashed with a sharp light, a chilling glint in them. For the past three days, he had been relentlessly harassed by these early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, who were like leeches clinging to his bones. Although individually they were far weaker than him, their grouped nature, like a pack of hyenas ready to pounce and tear him apart, forced him to be on guard, preventing him from fully engaging in a battle with Barbarian Beard. Barbarian Beard's suggestion was exactly what he wanted.
“Good! Just what I wanted!” Wan Tianming replied coldly, his tone chilling.
"what?!"
"Sect Leader Wan! Wait a minute!"
"You barbarian, don't you dare provoke me!"
Tian Wuzi, Qingyi Jushi, and several other early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators were immediately shocked, their faces turning deathly pale! Two mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators joining forces to clear the area? This was absolutely a catastrophe for them!
Tian Wuzi reacted the fastest, immediately plastering a fawning smile on his face and repeatedly bowing to Wan Tianming: "Sect Leader Wan! Sect Leader Wan, please calm down! Please don't listen to this barbarian's nonsense! It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding! This humble Taoist has always followed Sect Leader Wan's lead without any disloyalty! Just now... just now I only wanted to do my bit for Sect Leader Wan, to restrain this demon a little..."
Wan Tianming's lips curled into a cold smile as he looked at Tian Wuzi with a half-smile: "Oh? So you follow my lead without question? Since you're so loyal, then I ask Fellow Daoist Tian Wuzi, and everyone else, to leave this place immediately! After I've dealt with this barbarian, we'll reunite, how about that?"
"This..." Tian Wuzi's smile froze instantly, his lips twitching. Leave? Wouldn't that mean they'd be completely out of luck with the Heaven-Mending Pill? Wan Tianming was clearly trying to get rid of them completely!
"Hmm? What?" Wan Tianming's eyes suddenly sharpened like knives, and his powerful mid-stage Nascent Soul aura pressed down on Tian Wuzi without any concealment: "Fellow Daoist Tian Wuzi, didn't you just say 'I will follow your lead'? Now you can't even meet this small request? Could it be... that what you said just now was all empty talk?"
The chilling pressure and words struck Tian Wuzi's heart like a heavy hammer, instantly causing cold sweat to bead on his forehead.
Wan Tianming stopped looking at him, waving his hand as if shooing away flies, and turned to the bearded man, saying, "Fellow Daoist Man, there are too many flies here, polluting the place. How about we find a quieter place to continue our sparring?"
"Hahaha! Good! That's exhilarating! I've been wanting to find a place to fight it out!" The bearded man laughed wildly, his voice shaking the rooftops, filled with bloodthirsty excitement. Before leaving, his fierce eyes swept over Tian Wuzi and the others one last time, and he sneered, "You lot, listen up! If you dare to sneak up on me again... Hmph! I'll twist your heads off one by one and use them as footballs!"
Before he finished speaking, his massive body transformed into a raging golden streak of light and burst out of the pavilion first.
Wan Tianming gave a cold snort, and with a flash of spiritual light around him, he also transformed into a hazy streak of light and followed closely behind.
Inside the pavilion, only a few early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, including Tian Wuzi and Qingyi Jushi, remained, looking at each other in bewilderment.
Watching helplessly as the "Heaven-Mending Pill," carrying the hopes of their path to enlightenment, completely vanished from their senses with the two streaks of light, their faces were filled with extreme resentment, anger, and a deep sense of defeat.
Tian Wuzi clenched his fists so tightly that his nails almost dug into his flesh, and his teeth ground together. Qingyi Jushi's face was also ashen, and his eyes flickered uncertainly.
However, what can be done even if one is unwilling to accept it?
Catch up?
What’s the difference between that and seeking death?
Barbarian Beard's threat was no exaggeration! He had simultaneously enraged two decisive Nascent Soul stage cultivators; even if they had nine lives, they wouldn't be able to catch him!
"Alas..." An old man with white hair and beard sighed dejectedly.
"What can we do if we're unwilling?" Qingyi Jushi shook his head bitterly. "The situation is beyond our control. We can only blame our insufficient cultivation and the fact that we are not destined for this opportunity."
Tian Wuzi's expression shifted between light and dark: "Let's go... Just as Fellow Daoist Zhang said, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. This Void Heaven Palace opens only once every three hundred years, and many of its inner halls, side halls, and secret pavilions have yet to be explored. Perhaps... we can find some other opportunities, which is better than returning empty-handed, or even... losing our lives."
The group exchanged another glance, each seeing the bitterness and resignation in the other's eyes. Several streaks of light, filled with deep resentment, each chose a direction and dispersed, flying towards other parts of the inner hall, hoping to gain something in these last moments and make up for their regret at not being able to obtain the Heaven-Mending Pill.
……
Meanwhile, in a corridor within the inner hall of the Void Heaven Palace.
A golden beam of light silently descended, revealing Qin Hao's figure. As soon as he stood still, another figure silently emerged from the shadows beside him—it was Han Li, who had been waiting there all along.
Han Li's face showed a mixture of tension and anticipation, and he visibly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Qin Hao was safe and sound.
"Senior brother! How is it? Wan Tianming and Man Huzi..." Han Li asked in a low voice, speaking rapidly.
Qin Hao remained calm, a smile of complete control playing on his lips: "Don't worry, those two old guys are locked in a fierce battle right now, holding each other back tightly. Those 'flies' on the periphery have also been scared off by their combined efforts, and for the time being, no one will pay attention to our side."
Upon hearing this, Han Li's eyes instantly blazed with an uncontrollable fervor, and his voice carried a hint of excitement: "That's wonderful! Then... Senior Brother, when shall we begin to retrieve the cauldron?"
Qin Hao gently shook his head, his gaze deep: "No rush, Junior Brother Han. There's still plenty of time; there are more than twenty days left until the thirty-day closing period. On that high platform, Wan Tianming and Man Huzi are no easy opponents. Who knows if they haven't left some backup plan? If we rashly seize the cauldron now, the commotion will be considerable. If we alert them, wouldn't we be doing all the work for them? Let's wait patiently until their vigilance is at its lowest before we make our move."
Han Li was slightly taken aback, then revealed a look of realization and admiration: "So that's how it is! Senior Brother, you've thought things through so thoroughly! I was too impatient."
"Yes, caution is never a bad thing." Qin Hao nodded. "Let's go. Let's not be idle during this time. The inner hall of the Void Heaven Palace is vast. Besides the core high platform area, there are many side halls, alchemy rooms, scripture pavilions and other places that we haven't explored yet. Although the core treasures may have been taken by our predecessors or are on the high platform, there are always some leftovers. Even a mosquito leg is meat. Let's not go into a treasure mountain and come back empty-handed."
"Senior brother is right!" Han Li agreed wholeheartedly. Knowing that such an opportunity was rare, he immediately composed himself and followed behind Qin Hao.
……
Time flies, and twenty-five days have passed since the Void Heaven Palace opened.
Every corner of the inner hall had been thoroughly searched by numerous cultivators. Tian Wuzi, Qingyi Jushi, and other early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators had long since given up the search. More than twenty days of intense exploration, fighting, and vigilance, coupled with the setback of failing to obtain the Heaven-Mending Pill, had left them physically and mentally exhausted.
Precious elixirs, materials, and magical artifacts are not readily available; most valuable areas have already been thoroughly looted. Further searching would no longer be worth the risk. They each found a relatively safe and secluded corner, some meditating to recover their magical power, others closing their eyes to rest, silently awaiting the day the Void Heaven Palace would close, preparing to be automatically teleported out at that time.
The entire inner hall appeared even more empty and desolate than before.
Meanwhile, on the other side, in the core area of the Void Heaven Palace—on that huge and empty high platform.
The atmosphere, however, was quite different from the silence of the rest of the inner hall; it was filled with the smell of gunpowder.
The bearded man stood with his arms crossed, towering like an iron tower at the edge of the platform. His bronze muscles gleamed metallically in the dim light. His face was full of impatience, his large, bell-like eyes glaring at Wan Tianming, who also wore a hostile expression. His voice boomed like thunder: "Wan Tianming! How many days has it been?! Didn't you swear that someone would take advantage of our fighting to steal the Void Heaven Cauldron? Where is he?! Not a single shadow has been seen! Are you playing me for a fool?"
Wan Tianming frowned, his sharp eyes scanning the still-burning azure ice flames and the empty cauldron below the platform. He had deliberately left the mutated "fossil beast" hidden somewhere on the platform as a precaution. But so many days had passed, and the fossil beast had shown no reaction, nor had the Void Cauldron moved an inch. Could it be... that he had really misjudged the situation?
Faced with the barbarian's questioning, Wan Tianming suppressed his irritation and said coldly, "Fellow Daoist Man, please calm down! I am merely speculating based on common sense. Besides, there are still five days before the Void Heaven Palace closes, aren't there? As long as the cauldron remains, there is still room for change!"
"Hmph!" The bearded man snorted heavily, two puffs of white breath coming out of his nostrils, clearly extremely dissatisfied with Wan Tianming's words. "You make it sound so nice! Don't think I can't see through your little scheme. You're just trying to buy time! Once thirty days are over, we'll all be teleported out of this dilapidated hall, and you old codger can keep that Heaven-Mending Pill all to yourself! You've got a good plan!"
He grew angrier with each word, taking a step forward and unleashing a violent aura upon Wan Tianming: "Unless! You hand over the Heaven-Mending Pill to me for safekeeping right now! Otherwise..."
Wan Tianming's face instantly darkened, and a hazy spiritual light surged around him as he defiantly withstood the barbarian's imposing aura: "Otherwise what? Barbarian, do you really think I'm afraid of you? You want the Heaven-Mending Pill? Fine! Show me your skills!"
He was also seething with anger, having completely lost patience with the barbarian's relentless pressure and slander. At the same time, a thought struck him, and he secretly activated his spirit beast pouch, quietly taking in the mutated "fossil beast" that had been lurking near the high platform and possessed a peculiar talent for stealth. He only had one of these precious beasts.
"Hahaha! Then there's nothing more to say!" The bearded man laughed wildly, his eyes blazing with ferocity. "Wan Tianming! Prepare to die! Let me see just how much this leader of the righteous path really is!"
Before he finished speaking, he clenched his fists, and a surge of golden, violent spiritual energy erupted like a volcanic eruption, condensing behind him into a giant phantom that roared to the sky!
"You think you can take me on?" Wan Tianming shouted, flicking his sleeves. A golden sword aura shot into the sky, and a clear dragon's roar echoed across the high platform. The powerful sword intent instantly locked onto the barbarian: "Today, I'll show you, barbarian, what it means to be outmatched!"
In an instant, it was like Mars colliding with Earth!
"Boom--!"
The bearded man's fist, imbued with terrifying power, slammed towards Wan Tianming with a deafening roar that tore through the air. Wan Tianming activated his sword technique, his golden sword energy swirling and transforming into a dense net of swords to meet the attack.
The fist and sword energies collided, unleashing a deafening roar. The violent shockwave swept across the entire platform like a tsunami, even causing the burning azure ice flames below to sway violently.
Compared to the previous three days of probing and restraining struggles, the two have now completely torn off all pretenses and are holding nothing back! All sorts of hidden treasures and secret techniques are being poured out as if they were free.
Barbarian Beard brandished a massive, jet-black axe the size of a door panel, its swing seemingly capable of cleaving space itself.
Wan Tianming then unleashed a radiant mirror; he also threw out a string of shimmering blue jade beads, which transformed into nine blue dragons, roaring as they savagely attacked the barbarian bearded man.
The secret techniques clashed, flashes of light filled the air, and the high platform resounded with continuous booms, sending debris flying. The power of the mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators fighting with all their might was more than ten times stronger than before! Each collision caused the incredibly sturdy ancient platform to tremble slightly.
Just as the two were locked in fierce combat, unleashing one deadly move after another, a sudden change occurred!
An invisible surge of energy suddenly spread out, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly touching the core of an ancient magic array deep within the platform that had been dormant for countless millennia!
Om-!
A spatial fluctuation far more magnificent and ancient than the activation of a teleportation array suddenly surged from the ground of the high platform! Countless profound runes lit up in the air, intertwining to form an enormous and complex array that instantly enveloped Wan Tianming and the Barbarian Beard, who were locked in fierce combat!
"what?!"
"not good!"
The two men's expressions changed drastically, and they cried out in alarm at the same time, trying to forcibly interrupt the spell and escape the array's range, but it was already too late!
A blinding white light instantly engulfed their figures. The next moment, the light faded, and the entire platform was deserted except for the remaining violent energy, traces of battle, and the still-burning ice flames below. Wan Tianming and Man Huzi had been forcibly teleported to a desolate secret realm by the suddenly triggered Void Heaven Palace's defensive teleportation mechanism!
……
Another three days passed in a blink of an eye.
With only two days remaining before the Void Heaven Palace closes in thirty days, the atmosphere among the cultivators waiting to be teleported within the inner palace grew increasingly anxious and uneasy.
At this crucial moment, two figures appeared silently, like ghosts, at the edge of the empty platform. It was Qin Hao and Han Li, who had patiently waited for over twenty days, finally seizing the perfect opportunity!
Looking down at the massive bronze cauldron—the Void Heaven Cauldron—shrouded in terrifying azure ice flames and exuding an ancient and desolate aura, Han Li could no longer conceal the fervor in his eyes, and his breathing quickened: "Senior Brother! The time has come!"
Qin Hao's gaze was like lightning as he quickly scanned the entire platform. His powerful divine sense, like mercury flowing across the ground, meticulously explored every inch of space, confirming that there were no hidden surveillance methods or traps remaining: "Let's move out, Junior Brother Han! Proceed according to plan!"
Upon hearing this, Han Li's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and without hesitation, he patted the spirit beast pouch at his waist. Two streaks of blood-red light shot out, instantly transforming upon landing into two enormous spiders, each the size of a millstone, their bodies as clear as blood jade, radiating a powerful demonic aura—these were the Blood Jade Spiders, which he had carefully nurtured for many years and which had both advanced to the fifth level of demonic beasts!
As soon as they appeared, they affectionately rubbed against Han Li's trouser leg, their compound eyes sparkling with spiritual light.
"Go!" Han Li issued a clear command with his divine sense, while simultaneously forming hand seals and continuously injecting his pure magical power into the two blood jade spiders, providing them with powerful support.
"Fizz!"
Upon receiving the command, the two Blood Jade Spiders let out excited hissing. They nimbly and swiftly crawled to the edge of the platform's center. Facing the terrifying azure ice flames below, powerful enough to freeze the soul of a Nascent Soul cultivator, they seemed to feel a primal apprehension, but more than anything, absolute obedience to their master's command. Their blood-jade-like abdomens suddenly contracted, and two thick, translucent spider silks, each as thick as a child's arm and shimmering with a faint silvery-white light, shot forth from their mouths like two precisely guided grappling hooks!
laugh!laugh!
The spider silk ignored the distance in space, and even more so the terrifying extreme cold flames, wrapping itself precisely around the two huge bronze handles of the Void Heaven Cauldron from the left and right! The viscous liquid on the spider silk instantly solidified, like the toughest ice chains, binding it firmly.
"Pull!" Upon seeing this, Han Li shouted without hesitation, pushing his divine sense to its limit!
"Hiss—!" The two Blood Jade Spiders simultaneously let out a sharp hiss, their eight strong spider legs embedding deeply into the hard ground of the platform, unleashing astonishing power.
The thick spider silk tightened instantly, emitting a teeth-grinding creak! The incredibly heavy Void Cauldron, under the strenuous pulling of the two level-five Blood Jade Spiders, finally... moved!
Buzz…!
The Void Cauldron emitted a muffled hum, its body trembling slightly. It began, extremely slowly and inching upwards from the destructive azure ice flames, pulled by the two resilient spider silk threads! The cauldron's handles were the first to detach from the ice flames, followed by its belly…
"Well done!" Seeing that the Void Heaven Cauldron was indeed shaken and began to rise, even with Han Li's composure, he couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, his eyes filled with uncontrollable excitement and exhilaration!
After years of preparation and countless hardships, they finally see the dawn of success! The legendary number one treasure of the Chaotic Star Sea is being pulled out of the abyss!
Qin Hao's gaze was also fixed intently on the slowly rising Void Cauldron, but he was more composed than Han Li. His powerful divine sense remained highly focused, closely sensing the changes in the cauldron and the fluctuations of the ice flames below.
"Junior Brother Han, be careful!" Just as the two handles of the Void Heaven Cauldron were about to be pulled to the same level as the ground of the high platform, Qin Hao shouted loudly, his voice like thunder exploding in Han Li's ears!
Han Li had absolute trust in Qin Hao, and it was almost an instinctive reaction. In the blink of an eye, he activated the "Fire-Repelling Armor" that he was already wearing!
hum!
The fire-repelling robe instantly glowed with a soft, crimson light, enveloping Han Li's entire body. The very next second the light rose!
boom--!
An unimaginable, extreme chill, like a glacier that had been accumulating for millions of years bursting its banks, suddenly erupted from the opening beneath the Void Cauldron! This chill was not just ordinary low temperature; it was an explosion containing the residual power of the Azure Ice Flame!
A terrifying cold wave, like white ripples of death, instantly swept across the entire platform, covering it in the blink of an eye with a thick layer of solid ice radiating a ghostly blue light! The temperature plummeted to a point where even divine sense seemed to be frozen!
Crack!
The fire-repelling armor on Han Li's body groaned under the strain, its crimson light rapidly dimming and flickering under the impact of the azure cold tide.
Han Li felt a chill that penetrated to his very bones and reached his very soul. Even though the Fire-Repelling Robe blocked most of it, the remaining cold still made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave. His blood almost froze, and his magical power became extremely sluggish! He groaned, his face instantly turned pale, and his body trembled involuntarily. He relied entirely on his strong willpower to maintain the supply and control of magical power to the Blood Jade Spider.
In contrast, Qin Hao appeared much more composed. No dazzling magical light emanated from his body; instead, a faint, almost transparent golden halo naturally flowed around him. The lingering chill of the Azure Ice Flame impacted this seemingly thin golden halo, like waves crashing against ancient reefs. Although it stirred up violent ripples, it could not penetrate the halo.
In that chaotic moment when the cold air erupted and the high platform was frozen solid!
call out!
A beam of light, each color distinct and brimming with spiritual energy, burst forth from the wide-open mouth of the Void Cauldron like a startled fish, moving with lightning speed!
Qin Hao, who was well-prepared, would not let them escape. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and his left hand had already formed a magic seal!
"Photography!"
With a low shout, a gigantic hand formed from pure and vast golden magic appeared out of thin air, its five fingers spread wide, carrying a powerful spatial binding force, and it grabbed at the crimson light with perfect precision!
That crimson light was extremely cunning. Sensing the lock of the golden hand, it suddenly stopped and changed direction in mid-air, plummeting down. The moment it landed, a flash of red light transformed it into a lifelike, ferocious fire wolf made of crimson flames!
The fire wolf reared up on all fours, about to transform into a streak of fire and escape!
"Hmph! Condensing Light and Fixing Soul!" Qin Hao snorted coldly.
The Mirror of Condensed Light! The mirror surface shimmered with light, and a condensed, almost tangible silver beam shot out instantly, arriving first and striking the fire wolf with perfect precision!
The silver light touched its body, and the ferocious fire wolf's movements froze instantly! The flames on its body seemed to be frozen, maintaining its fleeing posture, but unable to move an inch, and even the spirituality contained within it was firmly fixed by this beam of light!
Qin Hao's golden hand followed closely, scooping the frozen fire wolf into his palm! With a surge of magical power and a flash of light, the fire wolf's form vanished, and what appeared in Qin Hao's hand was a warm, smooth jade ruyi carved with a lifelike wolf's head!
Immediately afterward, two more beams of light attempted to escape while Qin Hao was collecting the wolf-head jade ruyi. One was a jade pendant emitting a soft blue light, and the other was a magical artifact made of seven strange ancient bronze coins.
Qin Hao didn't stop moving. His golden hand shot out again like lightning, grabbing at the cyan jade pendant.
"Junior Brother Han, catch!" Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Hao flicked his wrist the moment he grabbed the azure jade pendant, tossing it to Han Li. He then manipulated his golden hand to steadily catch the string of ancient bronze coins that were trying to fly away.
Han Li instinctively caught the flying cyan jade pendant. It was cool to the touch, and a pure life force surged into his body, invigorating him. Before he could examine it closely, he saw Qin Hao put away the string of ancient bronze coins that had attracted him even more.
"Thank you so much for your generous gift, Senior Brother!"
Qin Hao put away the wolf-headed jade ruyi and the ancient bronze coins, waved his hand upon hearing this, and turned his gaze back to the Void Heaven Cauldron, which was still being pulled by the Blood Jade Spider. He said in a deep voice, "We're brothers, no need to be polite. Hurry up and do your best to take the cauldron! I'll need your help to collect this Azure Ice Flame later!"
"Yes, Senior Brother!" Han Li said no more, suppressing his excitement, and immediately focused his mind, pouring all his magical power into the two blood jade spiders. At the same time, he urged them with his divine sense: "Pull with all your might!"
"Hiss hiss hiss!" The two blood jade spiders also sensed their master's determination and let out an even louder hiss. Their eight spider legs burst out with amazing power, and the thick spider silk was stretched straight, making a heart-palpitating taut sound.
hum!hum!hum!
Under the full pull of the Blood Jade Spider, the Void Cauldron's ascent accelerated significantly. More and more of its body moved away from the azure ice flames, and finally, the heavy, ancient bronze cauldron was fully revealed on the high platform, its belly, legs, and all!
About fifteen minutes later, accompanied by a heavy thud and the relieved hiss of the two Blood Jade Spiders, the entire Void Heaven Cauldron was completely pulled away from the terrifying Ice Flame Abyss below and landed heavily on the ground in the center of the high platform!
The cauldron trembled slightly, emitting a long hum, as if announcing its return to the light of day. The ancient runes engraved on the cauldron seemed to regain their faint light after being freed from the icy flames.
Han Li let out a long sigh of relief, his face pale from the depletion of his magical power, but his eyes were filled with immense sense of accomplishment and joy. He immediately ordered the two Blood Jade Spiders, who were also quite exhausted, to retreat to the side to rest and stand guard.
Qin Hao stepped forward, gazing at the colossal bronze cauldron that exuded an aura of vastness and bore witness to countless legends of the Chaotic Star Sea. A ripple of emotion stirred within him. He extended his right hand, fingers spread wide, and made a grabbing motion towards the Void Heaven Cauldron!
hum!
A gentle yet powerful suction force enveloped the Void Heaven Cauldron. To Han Li's astonishment, the towering, incredibly heavy bronze cauldron, standing over ten feet tall, began to shrink at a visible rate! The runes on the cauldron's surface circulated faster, emitting a hazy glow.
In the blink of an eye, the giant cauldron that originally required looking up transformed into a miniature bronze cauldron that was only three inches tall, simple and exquisite, and quietly floated in Qin Hao's palm!
"Is this the Void Heaven Cauldron, the number one secret treasure of the Chaotic Star Sea?" Han Li stepped forward, examining the miniature cauldron in Qin Hao's palm with curiosity and a hint of disbelief. "It looks... like it doesn't have any special aura fluctuations. It is ancient and simple, but... could it be fake?"
Perhaps the process of retrieving the treasure was too smooth under Qin Hao's meticulous arrangements, so smooth that even he, a person who was always cautious and suspicious, felt a strong sense of unreality at this moment.
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao chuckled. He flicked the small cauldron with his finger, and the cauldron emitted a clear and melodious ringing sound: "Divine objects conceal themselves; returning to simplicity is the true nature of a supreme treasure. The mysteries of this cauldron will be revealed in the future."
After carefully putting away the Void Heaven Cauldron, Qin Hao's smile faded, and his expression became solemn. He turned his gaze to the Azure Ice Flame, which was still burning fiercely below the platform and radiating destructive cold: "Junior Brother Han, I'll have to trouble you from now on!"
Han Li's expression turned serious, and he immediately understood what Qin Hao meant: "Senior brother, rest assured, I will do my best!"
He took a deep breath, and his hands quickly formed a hand seal while he chanted incantations. A bright blue light shone from his body!
"scold!"
With a soft shout, Han Li opened his mouth and spat out a streak of azure sword light. It grew longer in the wind and instantly transformed into a three-foot-long azure blade! It was his natal magic weapon—the Azure Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword—forged using Golden Thunder Bamboo as his natal material!
Qin Hao looked at the golden lightning on Han Lijian's body, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. Without further hesitation, he sat cross-legged on the edge of the platform, facing the azure ice flames below, and began to form profound hand seals.
"Qianlan Ice Flame, extremely yin and cold, a strange fire of heaven and earth, its origin is difficult to tame... Xuanhun Yin Fire, which melts the soul and refines the spirit, is the cold of the netherworld and is also the extreme transformation of yin... Bixie Divine Thunder, extremely yang to break evil, yin and yang stimulate each other and merge into one. The predecessor who came up with this method to fuse with the Asura Sacred Fire was truly amazing."
As Qin Hao's deep chanting of the incantation began, his aura started to undergo a strange change. A profound, icy black flame, seemingly capable of freezing the soul, slowly rose from between his brows—the Xuanhun Yin Fire he had obtained from the Xuan Gu Master! This flame leaped and condensed before him, forming a slowly rotating vortex of black flame.
At the same time, Qin Hao made a gesture with his left hand, grabbing at the raging Azure Ice Flame below from a distance! A powerful suction force, mixed with his pure magic power, carefully enveloped a wisp of the purest Azure Ice Flame's primordial fire, which was leaping on the outermost edge, slowly peeling it away from the sea of fire, like guiding a dangerous little ice-blue snake.
The wisp of icy flame was drawn onto the high platform, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet once more! The air seemed to freeze into ice crystals. Sensing the aura of the Mysterious Soul Yin Fire, the icy flame appeared somewhat restless.
"Junior Brother Han, use divine lightning to guide me and help me reconcile!" Qin Hao shouted in a deep voice.
Han Li's eyes narrowed, and he activated his will!
"go with!"
The Azure Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword emitted a clear and melodious sword cry, its tip pointing directly at the wisp of Azure Ice Flame that Qin Hao had drawn up! The golden Evil-Repelling Divine Lightning wrapped around it suddenly erupted, transforming into a condensed golden lightning bolt. It did not directly attack the ice flame, but rather, like a guiding rope, a bridge connecting Yin and Yang, it pierced the area between the ice flame and the Profound Soul Yin Fire with unparalleled precision!
Crack! Sizzle!
The moment the golden divine lightning came into contact with the azure ice flames, a fierce energy conflict erupted! The supremely yang and powerful lightning force and the supremely yin and cold ice flames were like fire and water, incompatible, annihilating and repelling each other, emitting a piercing sound and releasing terrifying energy turbulence!
However, amidst this fierce conflict, a delicate balance is being forcibly created!