Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 589: Burning the Elixir to Reveal the True Meaning, Burning the Body with Yang Fire to Refine Profound Skills (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

The Forget-Worry Hermit slowly opened his palm. After the pill bottle was tilted, there was no dazzling light on his palm, only four pills the size of longan, perfectly round, and pure gold rolling back and forth.

These pills were extremely simple, even exuding a sense of "ordinariness" born from a return to simplicity. However, the instant they appeared:
Boom!

The vast, ocean-like magical power within Lu Cheng's body accelerated its circulation the moment it smelled the fragrance of the pill, emitting a thunderous roar!

His physical body, which had long been tempered to its limit and was progressing slowly, was now emitting a yearning cheer from every particle. Deep within his soul, an extreme desire for "devouring" and "evolution," originating from the source of life, was completely ignited.

Take this elixir and you will become an immortal!
This was the first thought that flashed through Lu Cheng's mind after he saw the pill.

"What kind of elixir is this?" For the first time, Lu Cheng's voice carried a hint of barely suppressed emotion.

"This is the Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pill. Taking it can enhance the magical power of Mahayana cultivators. However, its medicinal power is extremely domineering. Fellow Daoist, you must be very careful if you want to take it."

"Hehe, fellow Daoist, there's no need to rack your brains to recall. This pill has never appeared in the world before; it's a masterpiece of the Pill Alliance tens of thousands of years ago. If it weren't for my humble origins, I would never have had the chance to acquire it in this lifetime."

"In exchange for this bottle of pills, along with the previous Profound Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse-Suppressing Rope and the fragment of the Nine Nether Profound Virtue Crossing the World Scripture, what does the Sect Leader think?"

At that moment, Lu Cheng was indeed tempted.

Although the tenth-tier pseudo-immortal artifact, the Longevity Tribulation Wheel, is precious and contains the laws of life and death, it leans more towards the laws of death, and the lineage it contains has a very low compatibility with the core cultivation techniques of the Taiqing Sect.

Therefore, Lu Cheng preferred to work with the Blood River Banner to refine the Longevity Tribulation Wheel, while the four Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pills in front of him were truly supreme treasures that could enhance his own magical power!
With the help of this pill, Lu Cheng is confident that he can truly reach the Mahayana realm within a thousand years. At that time, with the Xuan Tian Divine Art combined with the power of the Blood River Flag, he will be able to deal with any external tribulation with ease!
"Hoo, fellow Daoist, what sect or school do you come from that you can even offer such a precious pill for trade?" Lu Cheng closed his eyes and exhaled slightly before asking this question.

Elixirs, especially those that increase magical power, are scarce and extremely precious in any faction.

"The Spirit Lord's Gathering!"

Unexpectedly, the carefree hermit in front of him did not try to evade or hide anything, but spoke frankly.

“The Spirit Lord Society…” Lu Cheng murmured this mysterious name to himself.

The organization that can produce such a Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pill must have a foundation that is far deeper and a scheme that is far greater than we can imagine!
To do business with them is tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin!

Lu Cheng remained silent, and the Azure Jade Cloud Platform fell into an eerie stillness.

The Hermit of Forgetfulness did not urge him, but simply sipped his spiritual tea quietly, as if he was not worried that the Taoist in front of him would suddenly activate a protective formation to kill him here.

After a long while, the intense light in Lu Cheng Dao Ren's eyes gradually subsided.

He slowly raised his head, his voice regaining its usual calm: "Since the exchanged items are all before you, then the Wheel of Life and Tribulation shall belong to you, fellow Daoist."

One word sealed the deal, and the dust settled.

With a flick of his sleeve, Lu Cheng released a wheel-shaped phantom, sealed by layers of Qingguang Dao talismans, that slowly flew out from the cuff of his left sleeve.

The moment the Dharma Wheel appeared, it exuded a terrifying aura of the cycle of life and death, and the ability to cut off lifespans and end lives, causing the temperature of the entire Azure Jade Cloud Platform to plummet, as if it had instantly fallen to the edge of reincarnation. It was a tenth-order pseudo-immortal artifact that was enough to cause turbulent undercurrents in the Earthly Immortal Realm: the Wheel of Life Tribulation!

A glint flashed in the eyes of the Forget-Worry Hermit, who dared not be negligent.

He made hand seals and chanted incantations, and countless fine and profound runes appeared around his body, forming a mysterious magic array.

The Profound Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse-Suppressing Rope, the bone fragments of the "Nine Netherworld Profound Virtue Crossing the World Scripture," and the four luminous Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pills were enveloped by a gentle yet powerful force and slowly flew towards Lu City.

At the same time, the sealed Longevity Wheel seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, flying towards the Forget-Worry Hermit.

Two forces carrying earth-shattering power silently converged in the air, the space seemed to freeze for a moment, and the subtle ripples they stirred up swept by silently, smoothing out the surging sea of ​​clouds below the cloud platform for a fleeting instant.

Lu Cheng raised his hand and steadily caught the three flying items. The moment he touched them, three completely different yet extremely high levels of power surged through him at the same time: the chilling stillness of the Xuan Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse-Suppressing Rope, the profound charm of the bone fragment of the "Crossing the World Scripture," and the boundless vitality of the Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pill that stirred his very essence.

Especially those four immortal pills; just holding the pill bottles in his palm made his internal magical power leap with joy, like a parched land receiving sweet rain, and the bottleneck in his magical power even felt loosened!
Lu Cheng suppressed the urge to immediately refine the pill. His divine sense swept over the pill like a tide, repeatedly checking and confirming that there were no problems with the three items and that they had not been tampered with. Only then did he summon the true disciple, Daoist Youming, to quickly invite the sect's alchemy elder, weapon-refining elder, and skill-transfer elder to come and examine it again.

On the other side, the Forget-Worry Hermit seemed to be holding a supreme treasure, carefully using his own pure magic power to refine and break the ball of clear light that sealed the Wheel of Life and Calamity, a relieved and satisfied smile on his face.

Half an hour later, the three elders who specialized in this field completed their inspection again and confirmed that everything was correct before the transaction was considered complete. However, the atmosphere in the room was far from relaxed.

Wangyou Sanren bowed solemnly to Lu Cheng and said, "Sect Leader Lu is decisive and extraordinary, which I admire. This transaction is mutually beneficial, and neither of us owes the other anything. I wish your sect a prosperous future and that it will forever guard the Eastern Heaven."

Lu Cheng returned the greeting, his tone calm:
"Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. The elixir is precious, and the Corpse-Suppressing Rope and the Crossing-the-World Scripture are also extraordinary items. I am truly unworthy of such gifts. May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what sect or school is the Spirit Venerable Society? This transaction has impressed me with its profound foundation, which is truly astonishing. I am genuinely curious, and if it is not a secret, I would be grateful if you could tell me a little about it to clear up my doubts." He finally asked the question, both as a test and to confirm his guess about the "Spirit Venerable Society".

Upon hearing this, the carefree hermit's smile became somewhat inscrutable, carrying a detached indifference born of worldly wisdom and a hint of barely perceptible arrogance.
"Fellow Daoist, your talent is exceptional, and you hold great power. If you are willing, you may well become our fellow Daoists in the future. However, that is a matter for the future."

Having said that, the Taoist priest, dressed in a black crane cloak and with a gaunt face, said no more. A flash of eerie light appeared around him, and his figure faded and disappeared like a bubble, as if he had never appeared at all. Only the traces of slight ripples in the void remained, proving that everything just now was not an illusion.

Lu Cheng's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

“The Spirit Lord Society…” he repeated the name softly, his tone flat and emotionless.

"This matter is a top secret of our Taiqing Sect. I request that the three elders keep it strictly confidential." After a moment, Lu Cheng gave this order.

Previously, Lu Cheng and Wangyou Sanren's conversation was blocked by magic, so the three of them could not hear it.

"As the Sect Leader commands!"

The three elders—one for alchemy, one for weapon crafting, and one for skill transmission—all performed their duties with proper respect. Over the course of a thousand years, Lu Cheng had already seized real power and become the true leader of the Taiqing Sect.

Several hours later, tens of millions of miles away, the void twisted, and the figure of the Forget-Worry Hermit quietly appeared.

The place was deathly silent, with only the murky waters of the underground river flowing silently in the endless darkness.

A figure shrouded in dense, unyielding black mist was already waiting there. The aura of desolation and antiquity emanating from him was a hundred times deeper than that of the Forgetful Hermit.

The Forget-Worry Hermit bowed respectfully to the shadowy figure, presenting the heavily sealed ball of clear light with both hands: "Envoy, the Wheel of Life and Tribulation has been retrieved. I have fulfilled my mission."

A hand, seemingly composed of the purest darkness, emerged from the shadows. With a gentle wave, the layers of seals melted away like snow, revealing the ancient and weathered body of the Longevity Wheel, etched with the Dao patterns of life and death.

The roulette wheel emitted a low hum, then fell silent again.

"He accepted it?" The shadowy figure's voice was like two cold metal plates rubbing together, devoid of any emotion.

"Yes. The Corpse-Suppressing Rope, the incomplete Scripture of Crossing the World, and those four Immortal Pills," replied the Hermit of Forgetfulness.

The shadowy figure remained silent for a moment, seemingly sensing something. The all-encompassing black mist rippled slightly, as if calculating the secrets of heaven.

"What did he do with the Limitless Immortal Pill? Did he intend to use it alone or share it with his fellow disciples?"

The Hermit of Forgetfulness shook his head: "No. After accepting it, this person didn't mention the elixir at all."

"Very good!" The shadowy figure's voice finally carried an indescribable meaning, as if cold black flames were flickering.

"If he really takes out the elixir and shares it with those old guys from the Taiqing Sect, it means that this person is ultimately a 'dog guarding the status quo' under the shackles of the sect. He is devoted to the sect and goes against the path we seek. He will surely become an obstacle in the future. Even if he is exceptionally talented, he will be nothing more than a skeleton in a tomb. When the time comes, we can just get rid of him."

"But if he chooses to keep the elixir for himself... this proves that in the face of the Great Dao, the so-called righteousness of the sect and the camaraderie among fellow disciples are ultimately no match for the growth of his own ambition. Lu Cheng... this young man's Dao heart is not as pure and upright as it appears on the surface. He has 'greed,' which is the ultimate thirst for his own supernatural powers; he has 'selfishness,' which is the hidden ambition of being the only one who matters; and he also has 'doubt,' doubt about Mo Yanxing's death and doubt about unknown dangers, which makes him increasingly inclined to firmly grasp power in his own hands! Such a cultivator, such a mindset, is precisely the kind of seed that our Spirit Venerable Society needs to absorb!"

The carefree hermit immediately bowed his head and said, "Your Excellency is wise."

The shadowy figure's voice carried a hint of satisfaction as he waved his hand, returning the pseudo-immortal artifact, the Dharma Wheel, to the Forgetful Hermit, and said:
"Return the Life-Extending Wheel to that good-for-nothing Huang Quan and tell him to guard his own gate. Let's temporarily forget about this loss of treasure and let him atone for his sins through meritorious service. As for Lu Cheng... a seed that has been planted needs suitable soil and opportunity to take root and sprout."

Whether he goes to the Burial Abyss or refines the four Limitless Immortal Pills alone, he is now within my grasp.

...

Meanwhile, at the Qingyu Cloud Terrace of Taiqing Mountain Gate.

The mysterious cultivator who called himself the Forget-Worry Hermit had vanished without a trace, leaving only a faint wisp of ghostly yin energy remaining on the cloud platform, and the heavy "opportunity" in the hand of Daoist Lu Cheng.

The ancient and profound fragments of the "Nine Netherworld Mysterious Virtue Crossing the World Scripture", the mysterious and unpredictable tenth-order pseudo-immortal artifact, the Mysterious Yin Demon-Controlling Corpse-Suppressing Rope, and the white jade elixir bottle that exudes an incomparably alluring and irresistibly powerful spiritual energy.

Lu Cheng stood still for a moment, his fingertips slowly caressing the cool white jade bottle. The bottle looked ordinary, but inside it seemed to contain several scorching suns. Just a wisp of aura emanating from it made the powerful magic within his body stir restlessly, like parched land receiving rain, instinctively yearning for the pure and yang-like medicinal power.

Heavenly Primordial Limitless Immortal Pill!

Such rare treasures, capable of greatly enhancing the magical power of Mahayana cultivators, are extremely rare even for the revered leader of the Taiqing Sect, and their value is immeasurable.

Of course, the same applies to tenth-order pseudo-immortal artifacts. Although pills that enhance the mana of Mahayana cultivators are rare, Mahayana cultivators can always obtain some throughout their lives of cultivation. Although they may not have the pills they possess, they are of exceptionally high quality.

As for tenth-tier pseudo-immortal artifacts, most Mahayana cultivators would never be able to obtain even one in their lifetime. Therefore, the main focus of the transaction was on immortal artifacts, with pills being a bonus.

"The Spirit Venerable Society... Could this force be related to the Spirit Clan, the strongest race in the Spirit Realm? Or perhaps, is it related to the destruction of the Eastern Pole Creation Palace?" Lu Cheng murmured, a barely perceptible glint flashing in his eyes.

This unfamiliar name, like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, created ripples in his heart.

After much deliberation and calming his emotions, Lu Cheng sent out a magical talisman to transmit a message.

In a short while, several powerful auras tore through the void and descended upon the spiritual vein.

Mingque Daojun's sword aura was as fierce as an ancient, cold abyss, while Xuanzhen Daojun's aura was harmonious and his sword intent was as restrained as an ancient, still well.

The water rippled around Minghe Daojun, Tongzhen Daojun was surrounded by elixir energy and full of vitality, and Xuanqing Daojun was as steady as a mountain.

The five pillars of the Taiqing Sect, riding the clouds, gathered here.

"The sect leader has summoned you urgently. Has something changed in the Eastern Pole?" Daoist Minghe spoke first. The sect is currently taking full control of the legacy of the Eastern Pole Creation Palace after its destruction, so this was the first thing he thought of.

Lu Cheng didn't say much. With a flick of his sleeve, the Xuan Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse Rope and the fragment of the "Nine Netherworld Profound Virtue Crossing the World Scripture" appeared on the stone table in front of everyone.

In an instant, a sinister, domineering aura, seemingly capable of freezing the soul and commanding eternal ferocity, spread out, causing the spiritual energy in the surrounding space to stagnate.

The Corpse-Suppressing Rope was entirely black, neither gold nor iron, and inscribed with incomprehensible underworld script. It seemed as if countless wronged souls were silently howling and struggling within its body, yet forcibly bound by some kind of law. The bone fragment containing the *Nine Netherworld Profound Virtue Crossing the World Scripture*, though incomplete, still exuded the profound Daoist aura of reincarnation, birth, death, and accumulating good deeds to overcome calamities, subtly resonating with the aura of the Corpse-Suppressing Rope.

"A tenth-tier pseudo-immortal artifact?!" The expressions of all the Mahayana Dao Lords present changed drastically, and Dao Lord Minghe's pupils suddenly dilated.

Sensing that the magical treasure in front of him was subtly in harmony with the power of the "Primordial Chaos Mysterious Water True Scripture" within his body, his breathing quickened slightly.

Tongzhen Daojun and Xuanqing Daojun both had burning eyes. This was a tenth-order pseudo-immortal artifact. With this spiritual treasure protecting them, it would be difficult for any external tribulation to harm them.

Of course, they had not forgotten the past of Wugu Tu of the Chi Demon Clan. However, the Chi Demon Clan was fond of fighting and killing, full of violence and blinded by calamity. Their situation was very different from that of ordinary cultivators. The cultivators of the Taiqing Sect were self-disciplined, adhered to the Dao and upheld righteousness. They encountered far fewer calamities than those of those warlike and bloodthirsty alien races. If they had such a spiritual treasure to protect them, they could break through the calamity with a wave of the spiritual treasure.

Among the Mahayana cultivators, only Ming Que and Xuan Zhen, who had devoted their lives to the sword path, glanced at it only once. Although there was surprise in their eyes, there was no greed in them.

Lu Cheng briefly recounted the story of the Forget-Worry Hermit, omitting the details of the Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pill, only saying that he obtained these two items by exchanging a lifetime of tribulations.

"The Spirit Venerable Gathering? Never heard of it." Daoist Tongzhen frowned. "To be able to easily produce such pseudo-immortal artifacts and ancient scriptures, their foundation is extremely deep, and their ambitions are far from small!"

"The world is bound to be filled with calamities, and we are all caught in the midst of them, struggling to save ourselves." Lu Cheng's gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Daoist Minghe.

"Elder Minghe, your cultivation path is most compatible with the 'control' principle contained in this treasure. This treasure and the 'Scripture of Crossing the World' are entrusted to you. I hope you can comprehend their mysteries, make them your own, and enhance the prestige of our Taiqing Sect!"

Daoist Minghe took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with brilliance, and solemnly bowed, saying, "Thank you for your trust, Master! Minghe will do his utmost to live up to this treasure and the sect!"

He stepped forward, formed hand seals, and circulated the power of the "Primordial Chaos Mysterious Water True Scripture" within his body to its limit. A water-based power, extremely yin and gentle yet all-encompassing, surged out, carefully wrapping and collecting the Mysterious Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse Rope and the scripture.

The tenth-tier pseudo-immortal artifact felt icy cold to the touch, and a powerful, ferocious intent surged into his consciousness, as if trying to assimilate him into a cold corpse.

Minghe groaned, his face turning pale, his body shimmering with water, and a vast and boundless phantom of the Xuanming Sea Tide faintly appeared behind him. Only then could he barely suppress his ferocious will and forcibly take it into his dantian and refine it.

Daoist Minghe was grateful to the sect leader for bestowing such a spiritual treasure. He spared no effort to consume his vital energy and directly absorbed it into his dantian. This was to show everyone that even if his own magical power was affected by this, he would definitely refine the treasure as quickly as possible to contribute to the sect.

The sect leader is not someone who has been entrusted with the wrong task.

Seeing this, Tongzhen and Xuanqing Daojun said nothing more. Xuanqing Daojun had only recently entered the Mahayana realm and his magical power was still shallow, so he was powerless to refine such a fierce spiritual treasure.

Tongzhen Daojun cultivated fire-elemental magic, so forcibly refining this treasure would be twice as difficult and half as effective. In addition, the camaraderie among the disciples was quite deep, so he quickly put it down.

Having obtained this valuable treasure, the next question is: how to use it?

The core of this magical artifact lies in "suppressing demons and corpses." Without the cooperation of a powerful corpse puppet, its power will be greatly reduced, and the "virtue" consumed when it is activated also needs to be addressed.

“This treasure needs to be used in conjunction with corpse refining to unleash its true power.” Xuanzhen Daojun pondered and said, “In my opinion, there are three places where suitable corpses can be found.”

"Firstly, the ancestral land of the Bishi clan, the Burial Abyss of Gods." Xuanzhen Daojun pointed south and continued:
"This clan is an anomaly of the Corpse Path, born with the cultivation of immortality after death. The strongest members of their clan, especially the legendary 'Undying Bone' that exists deep in the Burial God Abyss, are the most top-tier materials for Corpse Immortals in the world. If one can subdue and control this treasure, its power will be unimaginable! However, the Pi Shi Clan lives deep in their ancestral land, and its core, the Burial God Abyss, is a forbidden area, fraught with danger. Forcibly entering it may bring great disaster."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned solemn. Although the Bishi Clan was not a top-tier powerful clan in the Spirit Realm, they were not to be trifled with, as they were hiding within the Ancestral Land of Ten Thousand Spirits.

"Secondly, the Shangqing Sect. As one of the Three Pure Ones Daoist sects, the Shangqing Sect is the only one among the three lineages of Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing that openly transmits the art of corpse refining. Their Tongming Corpse Cave has been operating for countless years, and it must contain powerful corpse puppets. If our sect were to offer generous gifts or exchange them for other rare resources, we might be able to redeem a few, or even obtain the related secret techniques of corpse refining and corpse raising. This would be the safest approach and would also maintain the friendship among the Three Pure Ones." This suggestion was met with nods of approval from everyone.

The Three Pure Ones Daoist sects are closely connected, exchanging benefits, and thus face relatively minimal risks.

"Thirdly, the Western Great Zen Temple." Xuanzhen's gaze turned westward, a hint of complexity in his eyes. "Buddhist lineages are divided into Mahayana and Hinayana. Hinayana Buddhism focuses on self-cultivation and is more common. Mahayana Buddhism aims to save all sentient beings, with lofty aspirations, but its practice is extremely difficult, with only one in ten thousand succeeding. Many monks in the temple are foolish, deceiving believers with false promises of a Buddhist kingdom and future blessings, causing them to devoutly worship and accumulate faith life after life, only to end up sinking into a sea of ​​suffering, unable to find liberation. Such accumulated resentment over lifetimes easily breeds extreme resentment, transforming into 'Buddha-evil corpse demons'! These corpse demons, tainted by Buddhist nature and accumulating boundless resentment, are extremely ferocious and cannot be subdued by Buddhist teachings. If our sect were to communicate with the Western Great Zen Temple, taking on this karmic burden and cleaning their ranks to subdue these corpse demons, not only would we not face any obstacles, but most of the monks in the temple would be extremely grateful and offer generous gifts and provisions." Upon hearing this, the cave fell silent for a moment.

After a moment, Tongzhen Daojun shook his head first: "The Buddha's evil corpse demon is filled with boundless resentment and is also tainted by the karma of Buddhism. It is not easy to subdue and will cause endless trouble. If we are not careful, we may get mixed in with it and cause karmic entanglement, which would be undesirable."

Minghe Daojun also looked troubled: "The 'Nine Netherworld Mysterious Virtue Crossing the World Scripture' emphasizes accumulating Yin virtue to control treasures and eliminate the resentment of evil corpses. If we were to subdue something like a Buddha evil corpse demon, which is the root of resentment, I'm afraid the amount of Yin virtue consumed would be unbearable, and it would be a loss."

After some discussion, the cultivators ultimately feared the karmic implications involved.

Lu Cheng's gaze swept over everyone before he finally spoke slowly: "The Shangqing Sect's Tongming Corpse Cave has an orderly lineage, controllable corpse refining, and is linked by the origins of the three sects, making it the first choice. Elder Xuanqing, I will trouble you to personally make a trip to the Shangqing Sect, bringing my handwritten letter and generous gifts, to ensure you obtain suitable corpse refining techniques and related methods. Elder Minghe may accompany you to personally experience the Shangqing lineage's path of corpse refining."

"We obey the decree of the sect leader!" Xuanqing and Minghe bowed and accepted the order.

With everything settled, Mingque, Xuanzhen, Tongzhen, and Xuanqing took their leave to prepare. Daoist Minghe, in particular, was eager to find a quiet room to study the newly acquired treasures and scriptures.

This realm has returned to silence.

Lu Cheng sat on the jade cloud platform, drinking tea, and returned to Xuan Yuan Cave after a while.

With a wave of his hand, he set up layers of restrictions, completely sealing off the core area of ​​the cave. Only then did his gaze truly fall back on the white jade elixir bottle in his hand.

Compared to the tenth-tier pseudo-immortal artifact, Lu Cheng cared more about these four Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pills. Even Nascent Soul cultivators could consume ninth-tier pills, and if they could withstand the increased magical power, the pill toxicity would be even greater.

"Taking this pill will help me break through to the Mahayana realm in a short time. With my body-refining skills, ordinary Mahayana cultivators are no match for me. At worst, I can forcibly refine it by sacrificing a few life force."

My cultivation and understanding of Daoist principles have already reached the Mahayana realm. The Taiqing Sect excels most in Daoist theory, and my self-tests have consistently shown this. I am over 90% certain of success in this matter. At worst, the loss would be only one Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pill!

Lu Cheng did not immediately open the bottle and swallow the pill. Instead, he returned to Taiqing Mountain to reunite with his wives, concubines, and disciples, relax, and feel the warmth of family and love. Afterward, he spent time fasting, burning incense, bathing, and meditating to adjust his body and mind to a relatively perfect state.

Even so, Lu Cheng did not choose to directly swallow the Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pill, but instead chose to take the pill using the Pill Qi Method.

The bottle stopper was gently opened, and one was selected and placed into the alchemy furnace in the quiet room.

Then, Lu Cheng activated his magic technique, slowly exhaling Samadhi True Fire and throwing it into the alchemy furnace.

In an instant, an indescribable surge of immense medicinal power erupted!

It was as if a miniature sun had exploded, radiating golden light and unparalleled heat! The entire Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven was instantly dyed crimson gold.

The pill, about the size of a longan, perfectly round, golden-red in color, and naturally imprinted with profound Daoist patterns, sat quietly in the center of the alchemy furnace.

As the Samadhi True Fire covered and fell, it seemed to have a life of its own, breathing out light and flames. With each surge of elixir energy, it caused the power of the "Mysterious Heaven Divine Art" within Lu Cheng's body, which had been cultivated to the forty-fourth transformation, to resonate and boil with it!
The mere burning and dissipating elixir energy brought Lu Cheng a moment of clarity to his Purple Mansion Sea of ​​Consciousness, and the bottleneck of his long-stagnant Integration Realm seemed to loosen slightly. However, hidden within this feeling was a deeper heat and... violence.

Taking pills using the method of consuming elixir energy is a secret method passed down by the Taiqing Sect. It can greatly neutralize the domineering power of the elixir energy, and the higher the grade of the true fire used, the better the effect.

The disadvantage is that the efficiency of taking the pill is greatly reduced, and if the control of the true fire is not skilled enough during the process, it may even affect the absorption of the pill's energy.

However, this was not a problem for Lu Cheng. He had mastered the Samadhi True Fire to the point of complete control, achieving perfect harmony between man and skill.

"The Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pill, its power is truly formidable..." Lu Cheng's eyes were deep, revealing neither joy nor sorrow.

laugh!
A condensed, almost tangible elixir of energy, radiating a dazzling golden-red light, was forcibly extracted. It was as thin as a hair, yet contained terrifying energy capable of burning mountains and boiling seas.

Then, Lu Cheng Daoist, who was sitting upright on the altar, opened his mouth and slowly inhaled the wisp of elixir energy into his abdomen.

Boom! ! ! !
It was as if a drop of boiling oil had fallen into a calm pan of oil!
The moment that wisp of elixir energy entered his body, it instantly transformed into billions of incredibly violent golden fire dragons, roaring as they charged toward his limbs, bones, and meridians!
An unprecedented burning sensation instantly swept through his entire body! Lu Cheng felt his blood boiling, his bones crackling as if being forged, and his internal organs feeling as if they had been thrown into an ancient furnace!
"Uh..." Even with Lu Cheng's supreme Dao body and resilient mind, forged through countless tribulations, he couldn't help but let out a low groan.

Fine beads of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead, then instantly vaporized under the high temperature of his body, forming a misty white fog that swirled around him.

His skin, exposed outside his Taoist robe, now had an eerie reddish-gold hue, growing brighter and brighter, as if magma was flowing beneath his skin.

The dantian and purple palace were as if a star had been thrown into them!
The originally deep and orderly magical power system was completely disrupted and ignited by this sudden torrent of extreme yang energy. The golden elixir energy domineeringly invaded and assimilated his magical power, making it more violent and intense than ever before.

Every inch of my meridians is being subjected to terrible impact and burning, and the excruciating pain is like millions of red-hot steel needles stabbing wildly inside my body!
Even more deadly was the scorching "Yang Fire"! This pill contained too much fire elemental essence at the True Spirit level, and it erupted within his body at this moment, as if igniting all the hidden "seeds".

Burn your essence and blood!

The blood and qi throughout the body surged and surged, like an out-of-control torrent, rushing endlessly and impacting the limits of the meridians and blood vessels, bringing tearing pain.

Ignite your magic!
The powerful magical energy that had been painstakingly cultivated had become the best fuel, ignited by the Yang Fire, burning and consuming it wildly, bringing a feeling of emptiness and burning sensation as the power rapidly dissipated.

Burning the Sea of ​​Consciousness!
The Purple Mansion Sea of ​​Consciousness, the abode of the primordial spirit, was now being invaded by wisps of golden flames. The divine consciousness felt as if it were in a sea of ​​fire, and countless distracting thoughts and desires were ignited and amplified by this evil fire: the greed for power, the obsession with immortality, and the desire to control everything, like maggots clinging to the bone, gnawing at the Dao heart.

If Lu Cheng's Dao heart had not been tempered a thousand times and made as firm as gold, and if he had not had the Xuan Tian Divine Art to protect his physical body and primordial spirit, he would probably have been burned by this evil fire and his mind would have been clouded, leading to a qi deviation!
Lu Cheng's face contorted, his body trembling slightly as he forced himself to steady himself, his hands forming a subtle guiding technique from the "Mysterious Heaven Divine Art".

He attempted to guide the raging Yang energy within his body, bringing it back on track to temper his physical body and nourish his primordial spirit.

Points of burning light emanated from his many acupoints, like the reflection of the starry sky on his body, attempting to form a large net to restrain the surging golden flame dragon.

However, how domineering and pure was the energy of the Heavenly Primordial Limitless Immortal Pill?

These are extraordinary elixirs and pills, far surpassing those of ordinary immortals. They are heaven-defying treasures prepared by the ancient Pill Alliance for those who wish to ascend to immortality! They can almost be called celestial pills!
The Starlight Net, barely formed, was instantly shattered and torn to pieces by the raging golden flames!
The energy transformed from that wisp of elixir qi was not tamed; on the contrary, it seemed to have been provoked and burned even more fiercely!

The crimson-gold light on Lu Cheng's body surged, illuminating the entire core of the Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven as if it were cast in gold! The rumbling sound emanating from within his body became increasingly clear, as if a giant hammer was constantly striking a furnace.

"What a powerful pill!" Lu Cheng thought to himself with a chill.

The power of that first wisp of elixir energy far exceeded his expectations.

If he hadn't cultivated the "Mysterious Heaven Divine Art," and his physical body and primordial spirit had already reached an inconceivable level of cultivation, an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator would probably have been burned to ashes the moment he inhaled this wisp of elixir energy.

A resolute glint flashed in Lu Cheng's eyes. Instead of backing down, he steeled his resolve and increased the guiding force. More radiance burst forth from his acupoints, even drawing down the true celestial power from outside the cave, transforming it into silver waterfalls that poured into his body, engaging in a fierce tug-of-war with the golden flames.

As the head of the Taiqing Sect, Lu Cheng had no secrets about the seven true teachings of the Taiqing Sect. He could read and comprehend all the secret teachings. This was the Star Refining Yuan Technique recorded in the "Secret Technique of Zhou Tian Xing Chen Xing Qi". Lu Cheng found it to be exquisite and useful and included it in the Xuan Tian Divine Skill system.

Refining!

Only by completely refining this domineering elixir's power can it be used for one's own benefit, breaking through the bottleneck! This pain at this moment is the price that must be paid to condense a thousand years of hard work into an instant!
Time slowly passed amidst the extreme confrontation.

January, February…, one year, two years…

Lu Cheng seemed to be in a meditative state, his body surrounded by golden-red light and silver starlight intertwined and clashed violently.

Outside, the swirling white mist had long since transformed into a dense crimson glow, radiating astonishing heat. Inside the cave, the incredibly hard jade floor began to soften, leaving shallow traces of melting.

His aura fluctuated violently: sometimes like a volcanic eruption, fiery and violent, his magical power rising steadily, almost breaking through the boundary of the Integration Stage.
At times, he was backfired by the burning yang fire, his aura suddenly plummeted, and the golden-red light on his body dimmed, revealing scorched marks.

Just as Lu Cheng was struggling against the Yang Fire within his body, countless miles away from Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven, in an absolute dark void where even light was completely swallowed up.

A dark shadow silently materialized; it was none other than "Forget-Worry Hermit," who had just completed a transaction with Lu Cheng.

He handed the ancient wheel in his hand—a tenth-tier pseudo-immortal artifact called the Longevity Tribulation Wheel—which possessed a restrained aura yet exuded the meaning of endless cycles of life and death, to a more withered and decaying figure in the darkness ahead.

It was none other than the Old Man of the Yellow Springs, who had previously fled from Lu Cheng with a severed arm and was greatly injured!

The Old Man of the Underworld stretched out his right hand, his withered, claw-like fingers trembling as he accepted the Wheel of Life and Death. The wheel seemed to resonate faintly with his damaged magical power, bringing a sliver of life back to his lifeless eyes.

"Messenger, is the mission... complete?" The old man of the Yellow Springs' voice was hoarse, like sandpaper being rubbed, and carried a deep weariness.

"Hmm." The shadowy messenger's voice was cold and indifferent. "The items have been exchanged. Daoist Lu Cheng has also accepted the Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pill."

The old man of the Yellow Springs shifted his cloudy eyes, looking at the shadowy messenger: "Is that pill truly foolproof? Judging from Lu Cheng's body-refining cultivation techniques, they have reached an unbelievable level, perhaps even surpassing the Xuanmen alchemy methods. Giving him four… if he truly refines their medicinal power, wouldn't that…"

"Refine?" The shadowy messenger let out an extremely faint, yet utterly contemptuous and cold laugh, as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.

"Huang Quan, you've been defeated once, but you overestimated him and underestimated the 'Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pill'!"

The shadowy messenger's voice suddenly turned deep and chilling:

"This pill was refined by the ancient Pill Alliance with all its resources, resulting in fourteen pills, known as 'Boundless Genesis of Heaven.' It can help Mahayana cultivators break through barriers and even ascend to immortality! However, do you know why, throughout history, apart from the Pill Alliance leader who immediately consumed this pill after refining it and forcibly ascended to immortality, what has been the ultimate fate of all those who have consumed this pill, no matter how talented or powerful they may be?"

"Burning body with Yang Fire, exploding to death!" The shadowy messenger spoke each word slowly and deliberately, each syllable like an ice pick piercing the bone.

"Even if one can persist for some years, in the end, without exception, no one will escape! No matter if you are an ancient demon, a descendant of gods and demons, a human giant, or a great cultivator of the ghost path, in the end, your physical body will disintegrate and your primordial spirit will collapse! Even ancient true spirits at the Mahayana realm cannot withstand the domineering and boundless power of the yang fire after taking this pill, and will be burned to nothingness!"

The old man from the underworld gasped in shock and gripped the Wheel of Life and Death even tighter.

"That Daoist Lu Cheng is only at the Integration Realm. How could he possibly survive? Even if he manages to get away with it for a while, he will inevitably suffer the fate of being consumed by Yang Fire in the end?"

"I gave him four to instill in him a sense of complacency and wishful thinking. He must be enduring the torment of being burned by Yang Fire and having his Dao Heart scorched right now, and this pain will only intensify until it completely ignites him from the inside out!"

"Your Majesty's plans are twofold," the shadowy messenger continued.

"Firstly, if he covets the three legendary 'Undying Bones' in the Burial God Abyss, the ancestral land of the Pishi Clan, thinking he can easily seize them with the Xuan Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse Rope... Hmph, I have already laid a contingency plan deep within the Burial God Abyss. As long as he touches the Undying Bones with the Corpse-Suppressing Rope, triggering the core restriction, he can detonate the accumulated turbid energy of countless ages! At that time, the turbid corpses will surge to the heavens, polluting all living beings. Not only will the three Undying Bones transform into the most ferocious corpse demons, but the entire Burial God Abyss will become a desolate wasteland. All those who enter, including the Mahayana cultivators from the Taiqing Sect, will be corrupted by the ancient turbid corpses, turning into mindless and unfeeling living corpses, forever sinking into oblivion! If this plan succeeds, we can annihilate most of the Taiqing Sect's top combat power without shedding a drop of blood!"

"Secondly, there is the Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pill! If he covets the medicinal power of this pill and tries to forcibly refine it to improve his cultivation, then the Burning Yang Fire will be a calamity he cannot escape! When he is burned to the point of exhaustion, his physical body collapses, his primordial spirit is about to shatter, and his Dao foundation is about to be destroyed, that will be the moment when his will is weakest and he most desires to survive! At that time, I will appear again."

The figure of the shadowy messenger seemed to sway slightly in the darkness, as if it were quite pleased with itself.

"At that time, I will give him two choices: either he will be completely destroyed by the burning of the Supreme Yang Elixir Fire, his ten thousand years of cultivation turning to ashes; or... he will bow down and submit, join my 'Spirit Venerable Society,' and serve the master from now on! I have secret methods and elixirs to prolong his life."

"Join the Spirit Lord Society?" Old Man Huangquan was greatly shocked and vaguely understood something.

"Excellent! This person's temperament, foundation, and fortune are all top-notch, and he even has the potential for an immortal body in Taoism. He is in charge of the Taiqing lineage. If we can subdue him, his value will far exceed that of a tenth-order pseudo-immortal artifact! Therefore, when his Yang Fire burns his body, his Dao foundation shakes, and he is on the verge of death, that will be the time for us to close the net! You should stay here and heal your injuries, recover your energy, and wait for good news."

After the shadowy messenger finished speaking, his figure vanished like ink dripping into water, slowly dissipating into absolute darkness without leaving a trace.

Alone in the darkness, the Old Man of the Yellow Springs gripped the Wheel of Life and Tribulation tightly, his withered face displaying a complex expression. There was a terrifying fear of the "True Yang Pill Tribulation," a chilling sense of dread at the ruthless methods of the shadowy messenger, and also a hint of... schadenfreude and twisted anticipation for the impending doom faced by Daoist Lu Cheng.

He sat down cross-legged and began to carefully draw upon the power of the Life-Extending Wheel to repair his severe injuries to his very essence.

In the Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven, crimson clouds surged, and heat waves distorted the void.

On the jade cloud platform, Daoist Lu Cheng sat upright like an ancient rock, but the aura surrounding him was like a doomsday volcano about to erupt, extremely violent!

He used immense willpower to draw the second strand of the Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pill's energy into his body once more!

If the first wisp of elixir energy is like a spark igniting a frying pan, then the second wisp is like a bucket of raging oil thrown into it!
boom,!!!

An indescribable, terrifying energy exploded completely within Lu Cheng's body!

Billions of golden fire dragons expanded, intertwined, and roared wildly! His body seemed to transform into transparent glass, with golden light shining through, clearly illuminating his bones, meridians, and even the surging, burning crimson blood!
The charred marks on his skin spread rapidly, only to be painstakingly repaired by his powerful self-healing ability, before being burned again! This cycle repeated endlessly, like a torturous torture in hell!

The dantian and purple palace were completely transformed into a golden sea of ​​flames! The vortex of magical power had long been overwhelmed and assimilated by the violent torrent of energy.

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, golden flames, like heavenly tribulation fire, burned fiercely, constantly scorching and torturing his primordial spirit! Countless distracting thoughts and evil desires were magnified a thousandfold, impacting his diamond-hard Dao heart barrier.

Greed, violence, destruction, and a thirst for endless power... all sorts of demonic thoughts and illusions came rushing in, assaulting his mind.

The starlight condensed by the "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Lian Yuan Technique" was compressed to its limit, barely maintaining a few faint silver spots of light in the golden sea of ​​flames, like a candle flickering in a storm, which could be extinguished at any moment.

The yang fire burns his body, and his Dao heart is scorched! He is suffering from both torment and is on the verge of life and death!
Lu Cheng's eyes widened, no longer calm, but burning with two blazing golden flames!
His consciousness and mind, under the impact of excruciating pain and demonic thoughts, were like a small boat in a raging sea, on the verge of capsizing at any moment.

"The True Yang Pill Tribulation... is indeed incredibly powerful! Moreover, it is completely connected to my Qi. As long as I cannot neutralize this pill, it will continue to burn. In this way, ordinary immortality and methods of taking tribulation are almost meaningless."

This pill contains too much fire-elemental true spirit blood and essence, which is why it is so ferocious.

Amidst these thoughts, Lu Cheng's physical body was burned nine times in succession by the True Yang Pill Tribulation, turning into ashes, and then reshaped in the void, only to continue burning.

Finally, as time went by, Lu Cheng gradually discerned the meaning behind the law and came up with a way to break it.

"Nine Li Cauldron, collect this fire for me."

From Lu Cheng's Niwan Palace, a dark golden light shot into the sky, transforming into a small cauldron that absorbed the flames surrounding Lu Cheng.

During the refining process of this Heavenly Origin Limitless Immortal Pill, the blood, bones, and marrow of various fire-elemental true spirits were used, resulting in an excessively intense yang energy. When Lu Cheng consumed the pill's energy, although his magical power increased by leaps and bounds, he was also burned by the yang fire, suffering immense pain.

This True Yang Pill Tribulation Flame has even developed sentience. Rather than calling it a flame, it is more appropriate to call it a fire demon. It is a mixture of various fire-elemental true spirits and malevolent energy, giving birth to a monster.

Ordinary Mahayana cultivators, not understanding the underlying principles, rely solely on their own spiritual sense and magical power to resist and withstand the attack, inevitably resulting in certain death.

Lu Cheng's physical body was no weaker than that of a Mahayana cultivator, and he also had the ability to refine and purify himself with the Samadhi True Fire. He gradually discovered the truth. However, if he did not have the Nine Li Cauldron and relied solely on his forty-four transformations to endure it, his chances of surviving would be only fifty-fifty.

The ferocity of the fire demon born from the True Yang Pill Tribulation was beyond imagination. After sacrificing the life force of twenty-two people and weakening the fire demon to a certain extent, Lu Cheng finally summoned the Nine Li Cauldron, completely draining and dissipating the ferocious flames that entangled his body, leaving only himself to sit cross-legged and cultivate.

(End of this chapter)