Chapter 750: Divine Furnace

Xiangxiangzi and Xuan Yuezi, exhausting their minds and spirits, after several strokes of fortune, finally had the chance today to attempt reviving a celestial maiden—using incense power in this realm to awaken her primordial spirit imprint, then fashioning her a body from a crimson-gold stone figure born of heaven and earth, supplemented by the Water of Life, a substance brimming with vast life essence, to reverse life and death.

Accompanied by myriad wonders atop the Dao Mountain.

A new primordial spirit now entered the crimson-gold stone figure, and a torrent of life essence rained down, accelerating the fusion of body and spirit.

Perhaps the crimson-gold stone figure was too extraordinary, or perhaps Xiangxiangzi and Xuan Yuezi had prepared too thoroughly.

This revival proved exceptionally smooth.

Quickly.

The crimson-gold stone figure gradually transformed into a beautiful woman—graceful, dazzlingly radiant, yet dignified and mature, exuding noble aura, with a gentle, unyielding tenderness in her brows.

"Senior Sister Miaohuizi."

Xiangxiangzi and Xuan Yuezi were filled with excitement.

They had never dreamed that their former senior sister, who had given everything—even her life—for the Dao Heaven Sect—would truly be resurrected by their own hands.

The celestial maiden known as Miaohuizi had now fully regained her consciousness; she opened her eyes and awoke instantly.

Because her body was formed from crimson-gold stone, her eyes glowed pale red, like two brilliant rubies, alive and luminous.

"So it's Xiangxiangzi and Xuan Yuezi," Miaohuizi murmured, momentarily confused—her soul had only just formed, was still weak, and she had yet to adapt to her new body.

But soon.

The weight of Miaohuizi's past memories resurfaced in her mind.

"Where am I? I feel as though I've had a very long dream," she couldn't help but survey her surroundings.

The surrounding architecture felt familiar, like some corner of the Dao Court—but the spiritual energy here was not depleted; it was thick and rich. Had the spiritual energy of the End-Dharma Era revived?

But it didn't look like it.

With countless questions in her heart, Miaohuizi did not rush to ask; instead, she steadied her spirit, attempting to inhale and exhale the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, along with the scattered life essence, to regain some strength and better adapt to her new body.

"Senior Sister, this is no longer the End-Dharma cultivation world. We received a stroke of fortune, were saved by Great Yi, and have since left the Dao Court, crossing into another world," Xiangxiangzi seized the moment to briefly recount the events that followed.

Miaohuizi listened, heart pounding: "So much happened after I entered nirvana?"

Though Xiangxiangzi spoke simply, the information contained was immense, overwhelming to absorb.

"Senior Sister Miaohuizi has truly been revived!" Yunfeizi, who had witnessed this from afar, was utterly astonished; unable to contain her excitement, she immediately rode a cloud forward.

"The Divine Maiden," Miaohuizi too felt a touch of joy.

As long as the Divine Maiden lineage and the Seven Immortal Maidens lineage still endured, the Dao Heaven Sect's transmission would never perish.

"You've also crossed over, Yunfeizi?" Xiangxiangzi and Xuan Yuezi were surprised by her arrival.

Yunfeizi said: "I asked Great Yi to send me here, to see how the two immortal maidens were faring—after all, it's been a long time since we last met."

"I and Xiangxiangzi have trained alongside Great Yi, all is well. Here in this realm, we found an opportunity to revive the other three immortal maidens, so we crossed over to settle temporarily. Divine Maiden, do not worry—you've only just left the End-Dharma world; you should remain by Great Yi's side and strive to achieve the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, the Five Qi Converging at the Source."

Xuan Yuezi spoke in a cold, clear voice.

"We've not only achieved the Three Flowers Gathering, but our Life Flowers have reached perfect fullness; we believe we'll advance further soon. Yunfeizi, you were born with a Dao Body, yet you've only bloomed two flowers—this does not suit your title as Divine Maiden," Xiangxiangzi added.

"You're right," Yunfeizi sighed. "I will certainly strive harder in my cultivation. But today, seeing both of you immortal maidens and Senior Sister Miaohuizi's resurrection—this journey alone has been worth it."

Yet even as they gathered.

Within the Wildlands' Crimson Gold Mountain.

That day, a mountain range atop Crimson Gold Mountain erupted in violent winds and frequent lightning; celestial wonders unfolded endlessly—sometimes a golden sun emerged from dark clouds, then vanished into ten-thousand-zhang golden radiance; sometimes the phantom of a divine tree blotted out heaven and earth, then condensed into streaks of lightning striking down.

Spiritual energy from all directions converged, as if heralding the birth of something momentous.

This massive spectacle immediately drew the attention of every cultivator within Crimson Gold Mountain; they flew from their caves and stood upon the sky, gazing toward the source of the wonders.

Even many merchants and warriors in Crimson Gold City looked up in alarm; though they did not understand what was happening, the wise remarked that this was an omen of a supreme treasure emerging.

"It's toward Master Gong's cave—could his Divine Wood Crimson Gold Furnace finally be completed? Otherwise, how could such immense wonders arise?"

"It must be. I sense an overwhelming, supremely fierce aura—vast, boundless, causing the heart to tremble."

"The Dao Artifact Sect has truly forged an extraordinary furnace. The resources of this world are too abundant—crimson gold and divine wood as materials; a true Dao Artifact is about to emerge."

These cultivators could not help but marvel as they gazed.

They envied Master Gong's fortune—being able to forge such a supreme treasure in his lifetime.

At this moment.

Li Yi also rose into the air, bursting from the governor's mansion; standing atop a blessed cloud, he too saw the wonders above Master Gong's cave.

"Has the Dao Furnace been completed?"

His heart stirred with unexpected excitement.

Once the Dao Furnace was complete, crimson-gold divine weapons would be produced endlessly; soon, every soldier would have several—where in the world could not be reached?

Why were Dao Artifacts so rare in the old cultivation world? One reason was their difficulty to forge, but the most critical factor was the scarcity of materials—Dao Artifacts demanded too much; many cultivators spent lifetimes failing to gather the materials for even one.

This was because the cultivation world had flourished too long—the very foundation of the realm had been exhausted, leaving no celestial treasures left to mine.

But the Wildlands were different—here, resources were abundant, sufficient to support Li Yi and his companions in their lavish use.

As everyone waited with bated breath.

Suddenly.

A peak on the mountain range was violently torn open by a mighty force; a divine furnace, radiating endless light and golden flames, leapt forth from the mountain's core.

It hovered in the sky, absorbing spiritual energy from all directions.

Golden patterns instantly appeared across its crimson-gold body, intertwining like intricate arrays, possessing divine and uncanny power.

As heavenly and earthly spiritual energy converged, the golden array activated, and a golden furnace fire spontaneously ignited.

The moment this golden flame emerged, Crimson Gold Mountain seemed engulfed by a blazing sun—temperature skyrocketed; around the Divine Wood Crimson Gold Furnace, it was terrifying—the mountain itself began to melt.

Anyone approaching this golden flame would be melted—even crimson gold.

Yet the crimson-gold Dao Furnace remained unharmed because Master Gong had added branches of the Divine Wood.

The Dao fire emitted by the Divine Wood's leaves could not destroy the Divine Wood's branches, for they shared the same root and origin—only thus could the Dao Furnace be successfully forged; had only crimson gold been used, the moment the Dao fire ignited, the furnace would have instantly shattered under the heat.

As heavenly and earthly spiritual energy continued to gather, the golden furnace fire within the Dao Furnace burned fiercer; even when golden flames leapt out of the furnace, they did not damage it.

Master Gong, witnessing this, was ecstatic.

"It's done! The Divine Wood Crimson Gold Furnace is complete!" Seeing the Dao fire ignite successfully and the furnace withstand the golden flames, he exhaled a long, relieved breath.

He immediately formed hand seals, controlling the arrays within the Divine Wood Crimson Gold Furnace to regulate its absorption of spiritual energy.

Without spiritual energy to sustain it, the torrential golden flames that had spilled out began rapidly retracting and shrinking.

Only moments passed before a stable golden flame burned steadily within the Divine Wood Crimson Gold Furnace.

With the furnace now isolating the heat, surrounding temperatures rapidly dropped; cool air surged back, and everyone involuntarily smiled.

"This immortal artifact has succeeded," Li Yi immediately flew over, eager to see it.

He studied the divine furnace; seeing the golden flame within, his heart trembled—it was a divine flame capable of melting crimson gold; anyone here who touched it would be instantly incinerated.

Thus, this divine furnace could not only forge crimson-gold Dao Artifacts—it was itself a terrifying weapon.

Imagine: if during battle, this furnace unleashed its golden flames—could anyone withstand it?

Or if the furnace lid descended, trapping an enemy inside—could they possibly survive?

"Great Yi, I have not disgraced your trust—the Divine Wood Crimson Gold Furnace has been successfully forged," Master Gong, though dusty and soot-covered, could not hide his excitement.

"Thank you, Elder. With this divine artifact, our future is bright," Li Yi bowed deeply to him.

Master Gong laughed: "No, no—I merely offered my humble effort. Without such divine materials, I could never have forged a true Dao Artifact. Yet though the Divine Wood Crimson Gold Furnace is complete, its spirit still requires time to gestate. Once the spirit awakens, it will control the furnace and forge Dao Artifacts without my intervention."

He spoke with great pride.

For he had imprinted every great array known to the Dao Artifact Sect into the furnace; once the spirit awakened, the furnace would automatically imprint various arrays into whatever it forged, transforming them into Dao Artifacts.

Li Yi did not care for these details; he asked directly: "Can we now forge crimson-gold Dao Artifacts?"

"Naturally," Master Gong replied confidently. "Great Yi, would you like to try?"

Li Yi handed over his damaged Star-Shattered Spear: "My Dao Artifact is damaged. If I reforge it with crimson gold, can it surpass its former strength?"

Master Gong immediately took the Star-Shattered Spear, then waved his hand, retrieving several chunks of fist-sized crimson gold from his cave and tossing them into the Divine Wood Crimson Gold Furnace before him.

"Great Yi, watch closely—how swiftly this furnace forges Dao Artifacts," Master Gong said as he cast the materials into the furnace.

As the golden furnace fire danced, heavenly and earthly spiritual energy surged again.

As the Star-Shattered Spear and crimson gold melted and fused, golden arrays within the furnace glowed, etching strange patterns onto a spear-shaped Dao Artifact.

Master Gong formed hand seals, controlling the furnace as he forged the Dao Artifact.

Only about an hour passed.

A brilliant divine light shot out from the furnace, accompanied by a terrifying energy surge that made the heart tremble.

When the divine light faded.

A spear forged of crimson gold appeared before Li Yi.

"Crimson Gold Star-Shattered Spear—Great Yi, please take a look," Master Gong smiled.

Li Yi reached out with a gesture; the spear flew into his hand. He swung it casually—a divine light slashed forth, instantly shattering a mountain and tearing open the earth.

He had not even infused it with magic power.

Seeing this, his eyes narrowed sharply: "So powerful?"

Master Gong laughed heartily: "Of course! Your previous Star-Shattered Spear was a mid-grade Dao Artifact forged by my younger brother—its material was poor, and too many combat arrays were carved into it, making it half-baked. But my brother was a skilled cook without rice—he had to forcibly upgrade its rank to enhance its power. Now, it's different."

"With crimson gold as material, this spear's substance surpasses even inherited Dao Artifacts; its capacity for arrays is incalculably greater than before. With time and cultivation, once the spirit awakens, this spear will follow you and fight autonomously."

"So extraordinary?" Li Yi was astonished. "When I wielded the Xuanhuang Seal from the Seven Immortal Maidens' inheritance, it never had this ability."

"The spirit of an inherited Dao Artifact controlling the weapon is not unusual," Master Gong explained. "The Xuanhuang Seal of the Seven Immortal Maidens endured the End-Dharma Era—its spirit vanished, its arrays eroded, so it lost its peak power. Not just the Xuanhuang Seal—Tianyi Sect's Tianyi Sword also suffered damage. Once an inherited Dao Artifact is damaged, it's at best an upper-grade Dao Artifact."

"No wonder," Li Yi now understood—he had been wielding inferior relics all along. They were called "inherited Dao Artifacts," but long ago lost their peak power.

Yet, the Seven Immortal Maidens themselves had told him this.

He then said: "Since the spear can be reforged, I entrust you with this Crimson Feather Purple Gold Armor as well."

Since we're replacing it, let's replace all the armor and weapons from head to toe.

"That's easy. Let Old Dao handle it—I'll reforging a full set of Dao artifacts for Taiyi." At this moment, Tian Gong Daoist also longed to test the divine furnace, so he immediately agreed and re-smelted Li Yi's damaged Chi Yu Zi Jin Armor with refined Chi Jin.

This time it took longer.

It took a full two hours.

But this speed was already astonishing—knowing that in the Daoist world, forging a single Dao artifact typically required months, even years.

The reason for such efficiency was entirely due to this divine furnace.

Quickly.

Another burst of treasure-light shot out of the furnace, forming a suit of battle armor.

"This armor is called the Chi Jin Zi Yu Armor. Please accept it, Taiyi," Tian Gong Daoist said with a smile, then waved his hand—the precious armor flew toward Li Yi.

Li Yi caught it, imprinted a Primordial Spirit seal upon it, claimed it as his own, and immediately the Dao artifact armor fitted itself onto his body.

The armor, fused with Chi Jin, was unbreakable, like a crimson gem—exquisite and extraordinary.

"Excellent," Li Yi's face lit up with even greater joy, and he asked Tian Gong Daoist again to reforge his storage artifact, the Five Elements Bracelet.

During their last battle, the Five Elements Bracelet had developed cracks; he feared that one day it might shatter completely, causing all the treasures stored within to vanish—so reforging it was inevitable.

Tian Gong Daoist naturally agreed, then added Chi Jin to the Five Elements Bracelet and reforged it anew.

Storage-grade Dao artifacts were more complex; this time it took a full four hours to complete.

Another burst of five-colored treasure-light erupted from the furnace.

A brand-new Chi Jin Five Elements Bracelet appeared before Li Yi.

After taking it, Li Yi likewise imprinted a Primordial Spirit seal and claimed it—then discovered that the five inner spaces of the Chi Jin Five Elements Bracelet had expanded more than tenfold, and within them seemed to stretch rivers and mountains under moonlight, as if forming a miniature world of its own.

Even living creatures could survive within it.

"Taiyi, do you have any other Dao artifacts needing reforging?" Tian Gong Daoist was somewhat weary but still exhilarated, for he had never felt forging Dao artifacts to be so effortless and joyful.

Li Yi now possessed the Chi Jin Zi Yu Armor, the Chi Jin Sui Xing Spear, and the Chi Jin Five Elements Bracelet—three top-tier Dao artifacts—his combat power had vastly surpassed his former state.

Though he still wished to forge more, he could not neglect other priorities.

Li Yi said: "The success of this Divine Wood Chi Jin Furnace is due entirely to the efforts of all you elders. For the next few days, please each forge one Chi Jin Dao artifact for the other elders."

He intended to reward them all.

The other dozen or so Daoists had long been impatient, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Who wouldn't desire a top-tier Dao artifact forged from Chi Jin? With even one such artifact, one's strength could surge forward dramatically.

But Li Yi did not want Chi Jin Dao artifacts to become commonplace; he would first grant each of them one, then keep future forged artifacts under his own control, distributing them gradually.

If he fed them all at once, he'd have nothing left to offer them later.

Thus, he must firmly retain control over Tian Gong Daoist, the Divine Wood Chi Jin Furnace—and of course, the Chi Jin ore.

(End of Chapter)