Chapter 2040: Wood King Cauldron

When Tao Ran received this news, his head buzzed. The fifteen hundred people heading to Luofeng Pond were personally led by the Emperor himself, and that place was Dragon God territory—what kind of sticky military situation could arise that would require calling for reinforcements from the main camp?

Could it be that the Nanrong family has rebelled?

So Tao Ran and Lu Yaofei quickly gathered three thousand men and rushed to reinforce Luofeng Pond.

The forces assembled by Doctor Li and the Weng brothers were even larger—fifteen thousand people—so they departed two quarter-hours later.

……

Fifteen li north of Luofeng Pond, in the midst of the barren mountains.

Including Qingyang, dozens of people here were moving swiftly.

With their pace, they had covered several more li in the blink of an eye.

Beside Qingyang walked a companion, shoulder to shoulder, holding a small cauldron.

Most cauldrons in the world are forged from metal and stone, so they can withstand true fire, but the Wood King Cauldron of the Wood Immortal True Person is an oddity among them, claiming to generate fire from wood and nurture wood with fire—and yet it actually refines things quite properly.

This Wood King Cauldron is just a bit larger than a coconut, its surface plain and unadorned, dusty and flaking, resembling the bulb of a narcissus flower.

But just now, everyone had emerged from inside it.

Inside, it contains a world of its own; when people enter, they correspondingly shrink in size.

And just as everyone watched, the cauldron suddenly shuddered violently, its surface rippling like water, sending out countless waves.

Its owner is a tall monk in yellow robes, whose features and limbs resemble a human from afar, but up close, his skin is waxy yellow with fine lines, his facial skin stiff, his expression less lively than that of a living person.

This is the Wood Immortal True Person.

"My cauldron doesn't like He Xiao's weapon."

He speaks very fluently, but his tone is utterly flat.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Wood King Cauldron shuddered violently again. Qingyang even saw a part of its body bulge outward.

Judging by the shape, it looked like a horn.

"That's Sutuo—a brute with strength but no brains!" The Wood Immortal True Person's voice rarely carried a hint of disgust, "The Thousand Illusions True Person died obscurely, and yet he went to serve as He Xiao's lackey."

The cultivator beside him couldn't help but ask: "Can this cauldron still hold up?"

Everyone also felt some concern.

"He surnamed He isn't even at immortal level—inside there's just a brute bull charging wildly; what could possibly withstand it?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the cauldron was struck repeatedly, making loud bangs.

Bang bang bang.

Pause, then bang bang bang.

Very rhythmic.

Obviously, that brute bull had lost its temper, and the more it charged, the fiercer it became.

Wood Immortal True Person: "..."

Doesn't this guy feel his head hurting?

Seeing the small cauldron about to be tossed up by the bull's charge, the Wood Immortal True Person had no choice but to reach out and press the precious cauldron to the ground, then jab a finger at its lid:

"Grow!"

This small cauldron, like a real plant's bulb, instantly sank into the earth by three tenths.

It sent down root hairs and sent up branches and trunks, while its waist rapidly expanded.

In just over twenty breaths, the Wood King Cauldron had transformed into a tree!

There are wine-bottle trees in the world—narrow at the top, wide at the bottom, like a wine bottle—but this tree is even more extraordinary; calling it a "wine vat tree" would be no problem, the upper part only as thick as a bowl, the waist suddenly bulging round like a large wine vat capable of holding three hundred catties, looking very sturdy at first glance.

After the transformation, the Wood King Cauldron became very solid. Everyone could still hear the thumping sounds from inside, but this time the cauldron's body was as firm as rock, with not the slightest movement.

"Let's see how long you can keep jumping." The Wood Immortal True Person said this, then formed hand seals and sat cross-legged on the ground.

The Wood King Cauldron began to emit red light.

People standing one zhang away from the cauldron could all feel the scorching heat waves.

Yes, after all, this is a cauldron—refining things is its proper function.

Now what it must do is refine living people on a large scale.

Qingyang had planned for a long time, abandoning all methods of direct confrontation with He Lingchuan, and specially designed today's entire sequence of linked techniques, precisely to avoid any further mishaps, seeking to kill him once and for all, efficiently, quickly, and safely.

She didn't even dare to speak much to He Xiao, simply throwing him into the immortal's alchemical furnace, pressing down the lid, and roasting him with fierce fire!

This time he can't fly away even if he grows wings? This time he can be utterly eradicated?

What Qingyang fears most is that there's still a demon immortal inside the furnace.

"No need to worry so much." The Wood Immortal True Person actually sensed her concern: "Demoniacs more formidable than this brute bull—I don't know how many my Wood King Cauldron has already refined!"

This wood immortal, whose eyes are set above the top, was hardly persuaded by Between Between Between Beijia to come out of the mountains this time. He usually wouldn't even glance at ordinary people, but toward Qingyang he was exceptionally courteous, even though she is no longer that radiant, all-powerful Grand State Preceptor.

He simply felt that Qingyang's concerns about He Xiao were somewhat excessive.

Excessive to the point of resembling "fear."

Just a junior who hasn't even reached immortal level yet!

Humans as a species are truly hopeless—when they grow old, they become timid and hesitant. He still remembers Qingyang's appearance over a hundred years ago, when she was full of vigor and ambition, her bosom holding brocade, standing out among the talented masses of Between Between Between Beijia.

Fortunately, his face is wooden and expressionless, so others can't tell what he's thinking. Qingyang said: "How can we contribute?"

"Just watch for now." The Wood Immortal True Person said lightly, "My Wood King Cauldron has already taken root and merged with the entire mountain forest. Unless they have the power to move mountains in addition to prying open the Wood King Cauldron, they won't be able to get out."

After saying this, he closed his eyes and fell silent.

Qingyang knew he was sinking his mind to control the Wood King Cauldron, so she didn't speak further, only taking out her staff and lightly touching the cauldron's body.

This staff of hers was made by twisting the tendrils of three great wood-system demons, and it includes the Wood Immortal True Person's main tendril.

With such a light touch, the cauldron wall instantly became transparent, allowing everyone to observe the interior without obstruction.

The Wood Immortal True Person didn't even flick his eyelid, obviously permitting this action.

……

Suduo slammed into the cauldron wall seven or eight times; at first the whole cauldron kept shaking, but by the fifth or sixth hit, the cauldron body showed no reaction at all, as if it had slammed into Dashan.

It shook its head: "Looks like Muxu has added some tricks, wanting to duel me with magic."

Just doing that, my head feels a bit dizzy; I need to change tactics.

Nanrong He from behind couldn't help but say: "Elder, since this is a cauldron, can't we smelt things in it?"

"Nonsense." Suduo glanced at him: "If it can't burn fire, what's it called a furnace for?"

"Then we..."

Before the words finished, white steam bubbled up from the ground, followed by eerie green flames!

In just two breaths, the vines on the wall likewise burst into green fire.

Considering the current surroundings, He Lingchuan always felt this place resembled a peasant's earthen stove, and our group were like little potatoes; if we didn't leave soon, we'd easily get stewed.

"Jinx." Suduo stamped his hooves displeasedly; as a result, just after he dug a small pit on the ground, a tiny flame leapt up, nearly singeing his tail.

Suduo had no choice but to restrain his movements, pacing back to everyone's side:

"If you can't stand firm on the ground, come up on my back."

The ground quickly became like a soldering iron; even the Black Armor Army's sturdy boots couldn't block this heat.

(End of Chapter)