Chapter 1329: Joy and Sorrow

"This thing must be refined all at once, all its ingredients in a single batch; it cannot be done in stages. After the refinement finishes, the fusion must be performed swiftly, lest the energy liquid from the herbs solidify, affecting the difficulty of fusion. Compared with the Ninth‑grade Mysterious Pill, it's incalculably many times harder!"

As he closed the alchemy notebook in his hand, Lin Feng couldn't help but exhale heavily, his mouth twisted bitterly.

Although he had long known that the Ninth‑grade Golden Core was hard to refine, seeing that it required a one‑time refinement of tens of thousands of herbs made his scalp tingle.

After all, refining herbs simultaneously looks extremely difficult, but in practice it's a rarity that can make one suffocate.

Because refining herbs is not like Blue Star's pill‑cooking, where you only need to watch the heat and remember when the ingredients are added.

Some formulas even allow you to toss all the ingredients in at once and simply control the heat.

In the crafting of a Ninth‑grade Golden Core, each herb requires a different heat level and processing time during extraction.

The alchemist must, while ensuring that all the herb's efficacy is fully extracted, also guarantee that the herbs do not scorch, lest energy damage occurs and cause subsequent refinement to fail.

Moreover, beyond what was mentioned, the alchemist must ensure that all the energy within the herbs has been extracted.

Otherwise, extracting only part of the herbs and leaving the energy insufficiently burned would result in a lack of essence energy or excessive impurities.

Consequently, the subsequent refinement would fail or produce a substandard batch riddled with impurities.

Of course, for a soul at the Emperor Realm, maintaining tens of thousands of flames burning objects simultaneously is not difficult.

The difficulty lies in the fact that you must constantly adjust those flames to keep their temperature at the proper value, and also project the flames' power to a considerably high level.

After all, the herbs used to craft a Ninth‑grade Golden Core are not as harmless to humans and beasts as lower‑grade ingredients.

Some of the primary herbs, in their prime, were so powerful they could even slay a three‑star or lower Dou Saint.

Even a four‑ or five‑star Dou Saint, if careless when confronting them, could suffer loss or meet death.

Therefore, if your flame temperature drops, for these herbs it's merely a tickle.

Hence, when refining a Ninth‑grade Golden Core, the alchemist must not only sustain numerous flames but also ensure some flames are hot enough to be formidable.

Otherwise, you won't be able to extract the herbs, let alone speak of the subsequent refinement.

"Fine, why worry about it? Just refine it and deal with it later!"

After a while, Lin Feng immediately shook his head, discarding the stray thoughts from his mind.

Then, with a sweep of his palm, he activated the capturing ring, commanding whatever was inside to emerge.

Accompanying Lin Feng's action, in an instant, a massive array of multicolored grasses, fruits, even saplings or trunks burst forth.

A torrent of "whoosh" sounds erupted wildly from the capturing ring in his hand, forming a broad river of plants across the sky.

At the same time, the rich herbal fragrance in the sky actually coalesced into tangible colored mist, spreading outward together with the emergence of the "herb river."

"This fragrance truly lives up to top‑grade herbs."

Smelling the surrounding rich colored herbal scent, Lin Feng couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

He then immediately called in his mind, "Xiao Ling, get to work."

"No problem, watch me!"

As soon as those words left his mouth, Xiao Ling's cheerful voice rang out from within him.

Immediately, a golden streak of light flashed out from Lin Feng's body, and with a flick of a small hand, a massive wave of flames rolled out from behind her like a sea.

Simultaneously, on the other side, Lin Feng also mobilized his vast soul power, splitting the fire wave conjured by Xiao Ling into as many small flames as there were herbs in the sky.

With a shift of his intent, those divided flames roared out almost simultaneously, charging straight toward the herbs in the sky.

In an instant, those flames precisely enveloped all the tens of thousands of herbs.

Looking out, the sky at that moment was filled with countless golden flames of all sizes.

At first glance, it resembled a sky full of golden stars, beautiful and radiant.

Yet beneath that beauty lay endless scorching heat and ferocity.

"Hopefully this time, any failure will look decent."

Lin Feng couldn't help but sigh silently as he gazed at the tens of thousands of flames ahead.

At the same time, he gradually controlled those flames, beginning to emit varying temperatures to refine the herbs within.

As for Xiao Ling, the girl suddenly rolled her eyes, her body flashed, and in an instant she dove into Lin Feng's arms.

Seeing the girl slip into his embrace, he could only helplessly stroke her smooth golden hair and then continue focusing on extracting the herbs.

Since she was forced by him to eat something good, lately she's been frequently running to slip into his arms, often voluntarily devouring tasty treats.

But the end result is usually that the girl grimaces in bitterness.

While Lin Feng was engrossed in extracting the herbs, within the Soul Realm, a majestic hall towering a hundred zhang housed the Soul Heaven Emperor, who sat at the throne's head, looking down from his lofty perch at a crawling silhouette below.

As for Wu Nie Tun Yan, along with one of the sole surviving Four Demon Saints of its clan and two Seven‑Star Dou Saints, the Hall Master of the Soul Hall, and others, they stood on the steps beneath the throne where the former sat.

Like the former, their gazes were also drawn to the crawling figure in the distance.

Of course, what captured their attention was not the person himself, but the news he brought.

After all, that information concerned the location of the Tuo She Gu Di Dongfu, the lair of the most recent Dou Emperor‑level strongman on the Dou Qi Continent!

After a long silence, one of the surviving Four Demon Saints lightly spoke, "It's been months; report your recent findings to the clan chief."

As they spoke, their eyes turned toward the silhouette, growing more expectant.

"Honored clan chief, Lord Wu Nie, after months of meticulous investigation, our clan members have scoured the eastern, western, southern and northern continents, exploring nearly every renowned underground magma realm. After filtering and cross‑checking, we identified five locations closely matching our intel, and upon on‑site inspection, one region showed the highest similarity to the description!"

Upon hearing that, the figure instantly raised its head and respectfully reported its group's findings and conjectures.

"Oh?"

Hearing that the former had made a substantial gain, a glint of light instantly sparked in the Soul Heaven Emperor's otherwise placid eyes.

He then casually rose, smiling as he looked at the figure below, mildly pleased.

"Hui chieftain, we believe the most likely region is the border area between the Northern Continent and the Western Continent, called Heijiaoyu. Although that place is no longer the desolate mountains and wilderness depicted in the reports, it has become a human settlement area, filled with numerous factions of all sizes. Yet through our survey and comparison we have found that its overall terrain is almost exactly the same as described in the information."

"Respected clan chief, we believe the most likely region is the border between the Northern and Western continents, called Heijiaoyu. Although it is no longer the desolate mountain wilderness depicted in the reports, having become a human settlement teeming with numerous factions, our surveys and comparisons show that its overall terrain matches the information almost perfectly."

At this point, the figure solemnly said, "In Heijiaoyu, its northern central area hosts a well‑known volcanic cluster; even fire‑type herbs needed for crafting Sixth‑grade pills have been found there, attracting many adventurers, including some renowned Dou Emperor cultivators."

"A Dou Patriarch expedition led by a Sixth‑to‑Dou Patriarch team entered the area and discovered, beneath it, a passage leading directly to an underground academy founded by the late Thunder Clan elder Meng Tianchi. Below that lies a bottomless magma realm, even a Dou Patriarch cannot fathom its depth."

【61】 "The expedition, after venturing deeper, found a bizarre species of lizard‑people never seen outside, some so strong they could instantly slay a Dou Patriarch. After losing several members, they hastily withdrew to report. Thus we surmise those lizards may be the guards of the Tuo She Gu Di Dongfu!" "Heijiaoyu, the academy founded by Elder Lei?"

After hearing the former's description, the Soul Emperor rubbed the armrest of the chair beneath him with his palm, and a certain understanding formed in his mind.

Immediately thereafter, he slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping the great hall until it settled on the Hall Master of the Soul Hall, Hun Mie Sheng, and he asked, "Who is the Saint of Battle nearest that place?"

"Reporting to the Clan Leader, Elder Hun You is currently in the Western Continent and, among the Saints of Battle, is the closest to that region."

Facing the Soul Emperor's question, Hun Mie Sheng dared not delay; after quickly reviewing in his mind the information on Saints of Battle from the Soul Hall on other continents, he promptly reported the name of a Saint Elder.

"Give my order and send him."

However, before the Soul Emperor could finish speaking, Wu Nie Tun Yan stepped forward at once and interrupted, "You are too impatient. Your injuries have not fully healed, and even if the location of the Tuo She Gu Di Dongfu were truly confirmed, it would not be wise to act now."

"Moreover, the Ancient Clan is certainly monitoring us closely again, so we should not expose ourselves too overtly; it would be best to choose the most likely location of the Tuo She Gu Di Dongfu as our target."

At these words, several other powerful members of the Soul Clan in the hall felt cold beads of sweat appear on their foreheads.

"Within this vast Soul Clan, the only one bold enough to openly reject the Clan Leader's command is surely Wu Nie, the Lord."

Simultaneously, the sentence instantly echoed in everyone's minds, reverberating continuously.

After all, they lacked the courage to interrupt the Clan Leader's words.

If they truly did so, the grass over their graves would already be over five meters tall.

However, considering Wu Nie's status and ability, everyone instinctively kept their eyes on the nose, the nose on the heart.

After all, in a conversation with the big boss, they dared not interject recklessly.

Thus, they could only pretend not to hear and quietly act clueless.

"Hmm, Wu Nie, you're not wrong; this time, it was I who was impatient."

Hearing Wu Nie Tun Yan's words, the Soul Emperor's brows twitched slightly, then relaxed as he gave a faint smile and nodded.

After all, as the former said, if he were to brazenly send people to clear and comprehensively survey that area.

On Gu Yuan's side, unless the opponent collectively turned into idiots, they would certainly notice something amiss.

A moment's thought would allow them to infer that the place is the location of the Tuo She Gu Di Dongfu.

Thus, the opponent could lie in wait there, or even pull the rug from under them and relocate the Tuo She Gu Di Dongfu.

For example, they could pack the Gu Di Dong Fu into the Tian Mu.

Then, it would be they who are left dumbfounded.

Upon this thought, the Soul Emperor instantly recovered from his earlier urgency.

Although moments ago he had been momentarily bewildered by the Gu Di Dong Fu that lay so close.

But as one who can calmly scheme for millennia, his mental control could not possibly be lacking.

Therefore, soon the Soul Emperor regained his composure, waved his hand and said, "You may withdraw for now. As for those locations, do not deliberately investigate them, lest the Ancient Clan pinpoint the Gu Di Dong Fu's site. Once I have fully recovered, I will inform you."

"Yes!"

Hearing this, everyone below, except Wu Nie Tun Yan, promptly bowed respectfully and slowly withdrew from the hall.

As the people ahead departed, the Soul Emperor couldn't help but lift his head, his smile gradually widening uncontrollably.

Finally, his hearty laugh echoed throughout the great hall.

"At last we have progressed further with you, the Gu Di Dong Fu and the Imperial‑grade embryonic pill!"

Amid his laughter, the Soul Emperor couldn't help but raise his voice in an excited shout to the heavens.

As for Wu Nie Tun Yan standing beside him, his mouth corners also rose uncontrollably in a wild grin as the former grew excited.

After all, within the Gu Di Dong Fu lies something he greatly desires.

And that thing is even more precious than the Imperial‑grade embryonic pill that the Soul Emperor constantly covets!

However, he would only take it secretly himself, never revealing a single detail to the Soul Emperor.

After all, having been a partner for millennia, how could he not know his collaborator's temperament?

The Soul Emperor is a madman who will do anything for power.

Even if it means slaughtering every Soul Clan member except himself, the Soul Emperor would show no mercy.

Therefore, he could never possibly trust that fellow.

Because Wu Nie Tun Yan can guarantee that if the Soul Emperor learns the specific details of the Tuo She Gu Di and the Ancient Emperor's inheritance…

The day the Gu Di Dong Fu emerges would be the day the Soul Emperor strikes against him.

The reason is simple: given the Soul Emperor's insight, once he knows certain specifics about the Tuo She Gu Di, he would inevitably deduce it.

Wu Nie Tun Yan and the Tuo She Gu Di are both anomalous flames, so his chance of receiving the Ancient Emperor's inheritance is far greater than that of the human Soul Emperor.

And the latter would never allow such a thing to happen.

Thus, once he learns the origins of the Tuo She Gu Di and the Ancient Emperor's inheritance, how could the Soul Emperor permit a top‑tier anomalous flame with a greater chance of inheritance than himself to enter?

"Clan Leader, the Soul Clan has dispatched countless teams recently; our strong members are far fewer overall, making it hard to monitor them all. Moreover, judging from their gradual withdrawal of scouting parties, they clearly know—or have roughly pinpointed—the location of the Gu Di Dong Fu. We are likely destined to be a step behind."

While the Soul Clan revels in laughter and chatter, in a hall somewhere on the ancient Sacred Mountain Range of the Ancient Realm, a cloud of sorrow hangs heavy.

After all, the Soul Clan now not only possesses eight Tuo She Gu Di jade pieces but also knows the address of the Gu Di Dong Fu.

Compared with the Soul Clan, which holds absolute initiative, the Ancient Clan can only stare blankly behind them, watching helplessly as the Soul Clan sets everything up before opening the Gu Di Dong Fu.

And this, could they not be cowardly?

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan, seated at the main seat of the hall, also wore an extremely solemn expression.

Given the current situation, the state of the Ancient Clan is indeed far from optimistic.

They have not only lost all the Tuo She Gu Di jade pieces, but their overall combat power has also been crushed by the opponent.

In truth, the Ancient Clan has been completely outmatched in the clash with the Soul Clan over the Gu Di Dong Fu.

(End of Chapter)