Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

A magical scene happened!

The Shennong Cauldron seemed to possess a life of its own, its body shimmering with light, and the mysterious runes lit up one after another.

No real fire is needed inside the cauldron; a chaotic current of energy naturally arises, enveloping all the materials.

The lid of the cauldron closed automatically, emitting a deep and melodious hum.

The entire refining process is fully automated and highly efficient. The cauldron vibrates slightly and emits a rich and refreshing medicinal aroma.

Less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn has passed!
"Ding!"

A clear, resonant sound rang out, and the lid of the cauldron opened automatically.

In an instant, countless rays of light and auspicious colors appeared! An intensely rich medicinal fragrance filled the air, even temporarily suppressing the surrounding demonic energy!

Inside the cauldron, there floated top-grade pills, each the size of a longan, round and plump, and of various colors!

There are various kinds of pills, all of the highest quality, including the "Soul-Returning Powder," which exudes a rich life force and can revive the dead; the "Divine Spirit Pill," which shines with golden light and contains abundant pure magic power, and can help even a Great Luo Golden Immortal quickly recover their magic power; and the "Soul-Stabilizing Pill," which is surrounded by an aura that stabilizes the soul. There are many kinds of pills, all of the highest quality!
"Wow! A fully automated production line, that's incredibly efficient!"

Lin Zhu beamed with delight, feeling extremely pleased with himself.

The alchemy capabilities of this Shennong Cauldron are simply phenomenal!
Having achieved her first success in mediating disputes, Lin Zhu was in high spirits.

He put away the pills and continued exploring the cave. The light of the Qingyun Golden Lamp was like a lighthouse, clearing a path in the darkness.

Soon, he discovered several more "scenes of conflict." Two [Mysterious Netherworld Crabs], resembling giant crabs and wielding enormous pincers, were fighting over a piece of ore containing pure demonic energy; three [Netherworld Demon Eels], with bony spurs on their backs and spewing venomous flames, were tearing at each other's territory; and even a group of fist-sized [Gold-Eating Demon Beetles], exuding the aura of Golden Immortals and possessing incredibly hard shells, were besieging a gigantic [Deep Sea Demon Lizard].
The scene was extremely chaotic, with demonic energy and monster energy intertwined, and roars shaking the heavens.

Lin Zhu cleared his throat, his face displaying a compassionate and righteous expression, making the light of the auspicious cloud lamp above his head seem even more sacred.

He spoke loudly (his voice was transmitted through magic, clearly resounding in the "ears" of every demon beast).

"Stop! All of you, stop! In broad daylight... well, although there's no sun here... how dare you fight and kill like this, disrupting the harmonious atmosphere of the underwater society?!"

The demonic beasts are fighting each other.

"???"

Startled by the sudden sound and powerful aura, they instinctively stopped what they were doing and stared blankly at the human who had suddenly appeared and was emitting a strange light.

With his hands behind his back, Lin Zhu, like an inspecting official, continued to "persuade" with a pained expression.

"Look at you! We are all born of the same cave, why are you fighting each other so fiercely! For a mere broken rock? For a piece of land the size of a palm? Or for your appetite? You fight to the death, is it worth it? How can you do this to the demonic cave that nurtured you? How can you do this to the countless creatures in the sea who yearn for peace?"

The monsters looked at each other, some of the more intelligent demon crabs and demon eels showing confusion and...as if they were looking at idiots.

Lin Zhu remained unmoved, and his tone became increasingly "passionate".

"I am the God of Law Enforcement and Prisons of the Three Realms! I am in charge of all injustices in the Three Realms! I have descended today to promote love and justice and to dispel your hostility! As the saying goes, it is better to resolve enmity than to let it fester, and a smile can erase all hatred! Come, listen to me, lay down your weapons... uh, lay down your pincers, teeth, and venomous stingers... let's shake hands... no, let's shake hands, touch fins, turn hostility into friendship, and work together to build a harmonious and beautiful underwater demon cave home. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

As he spoke, he subtly released the terrifying pressure of a late-stage Grand Luo Golden Immortal, as well as the faint yet deadly killing aura of the God-Slaying Spear in his hand that made the souls of all living beings tremble!
The monsters that were initially eager to fight back immediately wilted under this double pressure.

The Xuanming Demon Crabs instinctively nudged their massive pincers together; several Netherworld Demon Eels stopped discharging electricity and slapped their tails together; even the ferocious Gold-Eating Demon Beetles retracted their mouthparts, their carapaces rubbing together with a soft "rustling" sound, as if they were "shaking hands"...

"That's right!"

Lin Zhu wore a "gratified" smile, as if he had seen a lost lamb turn back to the right path.

"It seems you are all wise and promising individuals! In order to consolidate our hard-won peace, deepen our mutual understanding, and promote the construction of a community of shared destiny for the sea monsters... Come, come, let me treat you all to a private room in my 'Harmony' ship. Let's close the door and have a good 'heart-to-heart talk' about life and have an in-depth exchange!"

Before he finished speaking, the Shennong Cauldron above his head suddenly unleashed a powerful suction force!

"Roar?!"

"hiss?!"

"Squeak squeak squeak?!"

Before the demon beasts could even grasp the "profound meaning" in Lin Zhu's words, they felt an irresistible force enveloping their entire bodies! The next moment, they, along with the unfortunate deep-sea demon lizard, were involuntarily sucked into the Shennong Cauldron, which radiated a "harmonious" light, like dumplings being dropped into a pot! The cauldron lid slammed shut with a "clang."

"Phew..." Lin Zhu clapped his hands, looked at the now quiet underwater canyon, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Persuading people with reason and subduing demons with virtue, this deity's enforcement of the law is a model for the Three Realms! It is absolutely the most righteous and people-friendly one yet!"

He felt that he had elevated the duties of the "Prison God" to a new level.

Soon, the Shennong Cauldron resumed its efficient and miraculous work. Runes flowed across its body, and chaotic energy permeated the air.

This time, the "exchange results" refined inside the cauldron seem to be even more abundant!
[Ding! Successfully refined! You have obtained 10 Nine-Turn Taiyi Golden Pills!]

[Ding! Critical hit triggered! The Nine-Turn Taiyi Golden Pill has undergone a quality upgrade! Evolved into: Nine-Turn Daluo Golden Pill x2!]

[Ding! Successfully refined! Obtained: 5x All-Poison Elixir!]

[Ding! Refining successful! Obtained: 3 bottles of Xuanming Heavy Water Essence!]

[Ding! Refining successful! Obtain: 1 piece of Devouring Gold Divine Iron!]

Lin Zhu's eyes widened as he watched the radiant, potent pills flying out of the cauldron, especially the two [Nine-Turn Great Luo Golden Pills] that exuded a powerful Great Luo aura and whose golden light almost pierced through the cauldron!

"A critical hit! There was actually a critical hit! The Taiyi Golden Pill was upgraded to the Daluo Golden Pill?!" He was so excited that he almost jumped up. He carefully put away the two priceless Daluo Golden Pills and looked at the Shennong Cauldron that had returned automatically, completely captivated by it.

"Treasure! This is truly an unparalleled treasure! The efficiency of alchemy, the quality of the finished pills, the critical hit rate... If Laozi knew about this, wouldn't he be running away with his Eight Trigrams Furnace overnight? It seems he might be the one to lose his job in the future! The day when I, this god, become rich through alchemy and dominate the Three Realms is just around the corner!"

He happily put away this bountiful batch of "fruits of peace," feeling the fullness brought by the newly added pills and materials in his arms. His satisfaction with the Shennong Cauldron had reached its peak.

With the auspicious cloud-shaped golden lamp above his head and the God-Slaying Spear in his hand, Lin Zhu, like a diligent "undersea cleaner," launched a vigorous "harmonious co-construction" campaign in the outer area of ​​the demonic cave.

Wherever he went, there was "peace".

Whenever Lin Zhu encountered a well-behaved monster that wasn't fighting, he would greet it with a beaming smile.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait! I observe that you possess extraordinary talent and a heart turned towards the light; you are precisely the backbone of building a harmonious underwater world! Come, come, follow me into the cauldron, listen to the profound teachings of the Great Dao, and discuss the grand plan for peace!"

Under the light (and intimidation) of the auspicious golden lamp, and under the sincere (unyielding) gaze of Lin Zhu, these demonic beasts often "voluntarily," with a yearning for "love and justice" (and a fear of that fierce spear), plunged headlong into the open mouth of the Shennong Cauldron.

Meanwhile, the monsters that were fighting and vying for resources received Lin Zhu's even more "enthusiastic" "mediation services".

"Stop! Put down that demon crab leg! Can't we talk things out? Why do we have to fight?"

Lin Zhuyi intervened with righteous indignation.

"I, the God of Law Enforcement of the Three Realms, cannot tolerate such acts that disrupt unity! Today, I will restore peace and order to this place! Listen to me, let's value harmony and shake hands to make peace! Then... to deepen understanding and eliminate misunderstandings, let's all go into the cauldron and have a good heart-to-heart talk!"

Accompanying this earnest persuasion was the subtle killing intent emanating from the God-Slaying Spear and the irresistible pull of the Shennong Cauldron. In the end, the demons, blinded by rage, all "let go of their obsessions" and turned hostility into friendship.

They "willingly" devoted themselves to the great cause of "harmonious construction" inside the Shennong Cauldron.

The Shennong Cauldron became the busiest object. Runes flowed endlessly across its surface, and chaotic energy billowed and rose, accompanied by the incessant clanging and tinkling sounds of "harmonious exchange" (actually the sounds of alchemy).

Each time the cauldron lid is opened, it is accompanied by auspicious light and a refreshing medicinal fragrance, releasing batches of top-quality and diverse premium pills.

Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, Foundation Strengthening Elixir, Breakthrough Elixir, Holy Medicine for Healing... Lin Zhu's harvest piled up like a mountain, his face beaming with the joy of a bountiful harvest, his purse bulging so much it was about to burst.

However, his unbridled "sweeping" behavior finally alerted the being guarding the core secrets deep within the Demon Cave.

Deep within the cave, amidst the viscous, almost tangible demonic energy, a pair of enormous eyes, more profound than darkness itself, with black and red flames flickering deep within their pupils, suddenly opened!

A massive and violent divine thought swept across the outer perimeter of the cave in an instant.

When the owner of those eyes "saw" Lin Zhu sweep away almost all the "material reserves" he had carefully cultivated and raised outside the cave for his master's awakening—those demonic beasts containing pure demonic essence and powerful blood—like a locust swarm, an uncontrollable fire of shock and anger instantly erupted!

"You bastard!"

A silent roar reverberated in the core of the demonic energy, causing the demonic energy throughout the cave to churn violently.

He had never seen such shameless and audacious people! How dare they venture into the lair of evil and brazenly rob the "rations" prepared for their master? This was the greatest insult and provocation they could ever hope to receive!
"Gu Yang! Where is Gu Yang?! Get back here right now! Tear this ignorant ant to pieces!"

The enraged divine thoughts roared wildly deep within the cave.

However, only deathly silence answered him. Gu Yang had already been tricked by Lin Zhu into going to the distant Southern Continent to "work" (catching golden cicadas). At this moment, he probably couldn't even touch the edge of the South China Sea, so how could he sense this call that crossed endless space?
"Useless! You let us down at the crucial moment!"

The powerful figure inside the cave (perhaps more accurately described as a demon general) was so enraged that his demonic flames surged, but he was powerless to do anything about it.

Unable to leave the core of the demonic energy, he could only watch helplessly as the human with a golden lamp on his head and a demonic spear leisurely cleaned up the battlefield outside, clearing away the last few "harmonious areas".

"Hmph! Go ahead and rob us! A few demonic beast materials are nothing but a drop in the ocean! As long as Master can successfully absorb this endless demonic energy and awaken, the entire Three Realms will grovel at Master's feet! At that time, you ant will surely have your soul extracted and your spirit refined, and suffer the torment of demonic fire for eternity!"

The demon general hardened his heart and forced himself to calm down.

He absolutely refused to believe that Lin Zhu could steal the endless demonic energy that was the source of this cave! That was a power that even a quasi-saint wouldn't dare to touch lightly!
Just as the demon general gritted his teeth, cursed and swore, and imagined how he would deal with Lin Zhu after his master awoke,
Lin Zhu, who had just finished cleaning up all the monster materials and was about to leave with satisfaction, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He seemed to remember something important, suddenly slapped his forehead, and gave a very "shy" and "apology" smile, muttering to himself.

"Oh dear! What a terrible memory I have! I was so focused on maintaining peace on the seabed and promoting love and justice that I almost forgot the important matter! My apologies!"

After saying that, he actually... turned around and came back! And he walked straight back towards the direction where the demonic energy was the densest and closest to the core entrance of the cave!
Deep within the cave, the demon general's ominous premonition surged to its peak!
He stared intently at Lin Zhu, his demonic thoughts scanning her frantically.

What is he trying to do?!
What else does he want to do?!

Lin Zhu walked to an area where demonic energy was churning like ink and almost solidifying, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Hmm, the demonic energy here is pure, plentiful, and the space is spacious enough, making it easy to escape. This is the place!"

The next moment, the ancient, god-slaying spear in his hand was slowly raised!
Buzz!

A strange rhythm, seemingly capable of invoking the worship of all demons, emanated from the tiny embryonic form of the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone at the end of the God-Slaying Spear!

Lin Zhu's eyes narrowed, and he poured his vast Great Luo power into the God-Slaying Spear without reservation!

"boom!!!"

It was as if a dormant ancient beast had been completely awakened! The God-Slaying Spear suddenly erupted with a dark and profound black light! The nascent Heavenly Origin Demon Stone at the spear's end was like an activated black hole, unleashing a terrifying and unparalleled devouring power!

Whoosh!

Centered on Lin Zhu, a massive vortex of demonic energy instantly formed! Thick, viscous demonic energy within a radius of several miles surged towards the God-Slaying Spear like rivers flowing into the sea! Its speed and scale far surpassed any previous instance! Visibly, the ink-like area of ​​demonic energy was fading in color at an alarming rate! (End of Chapter)