Translator: AnubisTL
Refining for forty-nine consecutive days was no easy task.
It required not only maintaining intense mental focus but also continuously channeling spirit fire.
Whether it was the others fueling their pill fires or Li Qing manipulating the Netherworld Cold Fire, both consumed vast amounts of mana.
Throughout this period, the four artifact refiners worked with utmost diligence, daring not to slacken their efforts.
Their unwavering focus stemmed from Gui Li's presence as their guardian in the rear mountains of Sword Valley.
This so-called guardianship was, in reality, a form of supervision.
Any negligence leading to the failure of the Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Cauldron's refinement would carry dire consequences.
Offending a nascent soul realm cultivator—and one who was also a demonic path patriarch—was a prospect that sent shivers down anyone's spine.
Thus, including Li Qing, every member remained utterly focused, not even exchanging a single word throughout the process.
Boom!
The flames unleashed by the four refiners far surpassed the Earthfire flowing through the four underground earthfire veins. The temperature within the giant cauldron soared to unimaginable extremes.
But this was far from over. Only twenty-four days had passed—less than half the allotted time.
To maintain his mana reserves, Li Qing had already taken a few sips of diluted Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Milk.
The other three followed suit, consuming the spirit milk to keep their mana at peak levels.
No one dared to conserve resources here. Delaying the refinement materials could lead to disastrous consequences.
Time slipped by, and another seven days vanished in the blink of an eye.
A hint of fatigue now showed on Li Qing's face. This was the most intense artifact refinement he had ever undertaken.
Fortunately, his divine soul was exceptionally refined, allowing him to persevere.
The other three also showed signs of strain, their faces etched with weariness.
Meanwhile, the Ghost Sword Sect was far from tranquil.
At the critical juncture of the great war between the righteous and demonic paths, how could Gui Li, as the sect leader and the pillar of the demonic path, remain undisturbed?
Supreme elders frequently arrived to report on secret matters. Each time Gui Li heard these confidential updates, his expression darkened further.
But there was no choice. The rare treasure he sought was at a crucial stage of refinement.
Gui Li even hoped to use the Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Cauldron to turn the tide of the war!
Thus, the demonic path patriarch vanished entirely, declaring to the Yin Puppet Sect and Blood Spirit Sect that he was secluding himself within the mountain gate to cultivate daoist arts.
"Hmph, that old bastard Zhujiu Yin. He's not satisfied even after obtaining several powerful yin corpses from the Ancient Emperor's Mausoleum Complex?" Gui Li's expression was dangerously dark, as if it could drip water.
Just now, the supreme elder of the Ghost Sword Sect had returned with crucial news.
Under the combined efforts of the nascent soul realm ancestors from the Blood Spirit Sect and Yin Puppet Sect, they had breached the first layer of restrictions guarding the Ancient Emperor's Mausoleum Complex!
Within the first layer of mausoleums, they had unearthed more than one Yin Tomb, each containing the remains of former emperors from the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty!
Among these corpses, several had remained physically intact even after thousands of years, their flesh miraculously preserved.
This revealed the extraordinary level of cultivation they had attained in life. These very corpses had now fallen into the hands of the Yin Puppet Sect.
It didn't take much imagination to realize that these remains would become a formidable fighting force for the Yin Puppet Sect in the future.
But that wasn't all. The excavated Ancient Emperor's Mausoleum Complex also yielded numerous priceless treasures, burial goods interred with the mighty rulers of the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty.
Many of these treasures, originally belonging to the Ghost Sword Sect, had now fallen into the Yin Puppet Sect's possession!
"Sect Leader... the Yin Puppet Sect claims their ancestor expended considerable vital energy to break through the mausoleum's restrictions and demands a larger share of the spoils as compensation."
Beside him, True Lord Ji Sha spoke in a deep voice.
Gui Li merely snorted coldly, a glint of icy disdain flashing in his dark eyes.
"Hmph, depleted vital energy? What a shameless excuse!"
"That old fool used that very excuse to avoid ambushing Chi Yuan back then. If he'd been there, none of this would have happened."
"Fine, I'll endure it for now. But I'll settle the score sooner or later."
With that, Gui Li's gaze fell upon the giant cauldron suspended within the mountain's embrace.
This was not only a critical moment in the great war between the righteous and demonic paths, but also the pivotal moment for refining this rare treasure!
There was no need to waste energy on the burial treasures of the Ancient Emperor's Mausoleum Complex. They were utterly insignificant.
Compared to this cauldron, nothing else mattered.
Once the cauldron was fully refined and the war between the righteous and demonic paths concluded, he was confident that this powerful rare treasure would secure his position as the supreme leader of the demonic path.
At that point, the Yin Puppet Sect and the Blood Spirit Sect would be nothing more than ants beneath his notice.
Time flowed relentlessly, and the forty-fifth day finally arrived!
During these final days, they not only had to intensify the spirit fire's output but also begin incorporating the spirit beast materials they had been refining for so long into the Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Cauldron!
The consumption of mana suddenly surged severalfold. Li Qing and his companions continuously drank diluted Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Milk to maintain their mana reserves.
No one wanted to make a mistake or falter at this critical moment.
Day 46!
In the forbidden land behind Sword Valley, four pillars of light, each a different color, shot skyward!
Boom!
The spectacle immediately drew the attention of countless Ghost Sword Sect disciples.
But the pillars of light quickly vanished, lasting only a brief moment.
"What was that just now?"
"It seemed to come from the forbidden land behind the mountain. Could a supreme elder be cultivating?"
"I have a feeling it's more like a treasure being born..."
"..."
The demonic sect's rules were strict. Since the rear of Sword Valley had been designated a forbidden land, no foolhardy disciple dared trespass.
So, despite their burning curiosity, no one dared to even glance in that direction.
Meanwhile, within the forbidden land, Gui Li soared into the air, pressing his hands against the void. He conjured a barrier to conceal the four pillars of light erupting from the giant cauldron.
Four radiant pillars of light—azure, crimson, sable, and alabaster—erupted from the four corners of the giant cauldron, piercing the heavens.
Beneath these pillars stood four artifact refiners, their foreheads slick with cold sweat. They strained with every ounce of their life's energy, desperately forcing rare spirit beast materials into the Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Cauldron.
Without these precious ingredients, the cauldron could not truly embody the four symbols, and its heaven-suppressing power would remain dormant.
The pillars of light persisted for nearly a full day and night before gradually fading away.
Li Qing gazed at the Vermilion Bird, its tail feathers now complete, etched onto the cauldron's surface. A wave of emotion washed over him.
It's too lifelike!
The crimson Vermilion Bird seemed poised to break free from the cauldron's wall, as if about to take flight.
Even the most skilled painter could never achieve such a masterpiece!
The other three artifact refiners wore similar expressions of awe.
But before they could fully savor their creation, Gui Li, hovering in the air, warned in a deep voice:
"Fellow Daoists, now is not the time for admiration! We still have one final step to complete!"
True Bone Immortal chuckled softly and nodded. "Rest assured, Sect Leader Gui Li. Now that the spirit beast materials have been refined into the cauldron, there shouldn't be any major issues."
"Fellow Daoists, let's put in one last push! Participating in the refinement of such a supreme treasure is an incredibly rare opportunity!"
Li Qing and the others nodded without further comment, immediately resuming the nourishment of the newly refined materials within the giant cauldron with their true essence.
This final step aimed to harmonize the four symbols into perfect alignment.
A cauldron capable of containing the symbolic representations of four True Spirits naturally required extraordinary effort!
Soon, under the combined infusion of their true essence, the four True Spirit imprints on the surface of the Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Cauldron seemed to come alive, beginning to stir!
"Caw!"
Li Qing heard a piercing cry, like the clear call of a Vermilion Bird.
Immediately afterward, the roars of dragons and the howls of tigers echoed from the other directions!
(End of the Chapter)
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