Chapter 374: The Seal of the Demon‑Refining Pot

"Go to the place a hundred thousand li to the east, where the seal of the Demon‑Refining Pot lies; break it, and you will gain my power!"

Yuan Lu Zhi let out a howl and withdrew back into the clouds.

Mu Yi noticed that the chains on his body seemed to tighten, indicating that Yuan Lu Zhi was not in a condition to act recklessly.

"A hundred thousand li—now that's truly a distant place!"

Mu Yi spread his wings and flew east; he wasn't certain he would rescue Yuan Lu Zhi, but the reward was tempting, so he decided to go and see the situation first.

Honestly, if it were merely a matter of breaking the seal, Mu Yi thought Yuan Lu Zhi wouldn't need his assistance.

Although it was sealed, the recent attack on him hadn't been simple.

Moreover, even without proof, Mu Yi could sense that it was Yuan Lu Zhi who had previously lured hordes of demons to besiege him.

A hundred thousand li is a long way, and countless demonic creatures still roamed the heavens.

This made Mu Yi's journey far from smooth; some powerful beings forced him to keep evading.

It's not that they can't be killed, but killing them wouldn't grant rebirth; the cost outweighs the benefit, so he chose to avoid them when possible.

After flying for a while, Mu Yi was surprised to find the land vanish; before his eyes was no longer the scarlet earth, but a vast, tumultuous, endless azure sea.

The stark contrast between the dark red and the azure struck him powerfully; not only the colors differed, but the emanating aura was also distinct.

The sea exuded a tranquil aura, seeming out of place in a world saturated with slaughter and death.

Mu Yi stared curiously at the azure sea; though peaceful, it gave him a subtle sense of threat, clearly the ocean was not as calm as it appeared.

That was understandable; if it were merely an ocean capable of stopping demonic soldiers, how could those demonic beasts vanish without a trace?

Mu Yi did not plunge down hastily; after observing for a while, nothing changed.

After thinking, Mu Yi turned back and on the land seized a gigantic demonic Giant Wolf.

Simply by pulling it toward the sea, the demonic Giant Wolf showed intense resistance, even though it possessed little Instinct.

But that instinct‑like reaction only piqued Mu Yi's curiosity further.

Mu Yi summoned several beast spirits from the Animal Realm, and, holding the demonic Giant Wolf, guided it toward the sea.

When the demonic Giant Wolf was cast into the sea, the azure water seemed to come alive and instantly engulfed it.

Its massive size meant the Giant Wolf could only struggle futilely a few times before becoming part of the blue sea.

"This thing not breaking must be the real seal of the Demon‑Refining Pot, right?"

Mu Yi skeptically glanced at the thick clouds above the heavens, suspecting that Yuan Lu Zhi might have staged everything from the start, using his vigilance to mislead him into unintentionally breaking the seal.

From the recent experiment, at least one fact was clear: this azure sea can devour demons.

Not only those that fall into the sea; even demons flying in the sky would likely be unable to escape its consumption.

"If this sea is the method and power the Demon‑Refining Pot uses to refine demons, and I am now inside the Demon‑Refining Pot, then what is this land?"

The more Mu Yi thought, the more something felt off.

He couldn't help but echo the description of this battle world: a massive Plane warped in time and space, lost within a chaotic void.

The summary on the net should be accurate.

So Yuan Lu Zhi is deceiving him, but the question is where exactly Yuan Lu Zhi is lying.

The mission posted online should also be without issue.

Yuan Lu Zhi is misleading him; perhaps the so‑called seal of the Demon‑Refining Pot is neither the chains in the sky nor the azure sea before him.

The seal of the Demon‑Refining Pot might be this very land?

Mu Yi's mind was chaotic; he had no evidence to guide his path.

After a moment of contemplation, Mu Yi shouted toward the heavens.

"Yuan Lu Zhi, what should I do next?"

Since he couldn't figure it out, he let Yuan Lu Zhi eliminate an incorrect option for him.

At least what Yuan Lu Zhi wants him to do is certainly not what Yuan Lu Zhi truly intends.

Yuan Lu Zhi gave no reply, causing Mu Yi to furrow his brow; perhaps Yuan Lu Zhi was far more cunning than imagined.

It seemed to understand the principle that speaking too much leads to mistakes.

Thus it said nothing, and consequently made no errors.

The paths before Mu Yi split into two.

The first was to turn back home, leaving this world entirely; whatever Yuan Lu Zhi's schemes, they wouldn't affect him, as he was merely testing his growth under the guidance of various Military Strategists and war deities.

The second was to plunge into the sea, investigate to the end, and see what truly lay behind the so‑called seal of the Demon‑Refining Pot.

After long deliberation, Mu Yi retrieved a White Marsh Horn from his pack.

He chose a third path, employing a mechanical deity‑descending method to forcefully break the stalemate.

Yuan Lu Zhi tried to play mind games with him using an information gap; Mu Yi flattened the gap to see what remedy Yuan Lu Zhi was really selling in that gourd.

"Yi boy, you truly are a marvelous fellow, always stumbling onto things that even I find intriguing."

A faintly wistful voice emanated from the White Marsh Horn; it could no longer recall how many times it had found Mu Yi amusing.

"You are indeed within the interior of the Demon‑Refining Pot, but this Demon‑Refining Pot is not the artifact you imagine; it is merely a name for a seal."

The White Marsh Horn slowly explained the origin.

"Speaking of it, you may not know that there are two Demon‑Refining Pot artifacts: one forged from the projection of Goddess Nüwa in the lower realm of Jiuzhou, the other a treasure of the Jiuli Tribe, also called the Jiuli Pot, forged from Chi You's projection in the lower realm."

"These two Demon‑Refining Pots are quite famous in Jiuzhou; many have made replicas, and the version crafted by Yun Zhongzi of the Jade Void Palace is the closest."

"As for the originals, one was taken to the lower realm to serve as a seal among the Ten Great Artifacts, the other resides in the hands of Lord Fuxi."

"The world you now inhabit is a sealing formation modeled after the Demon‑Refining Pot."

"Legend says the interior of the Demon‑Refining Pot contains a bizarre space so vast it can contain Heaven, Earth, and Humanity; Lord Fuxi's projection, using the Pot as a blueprint, created a formation that seals with a three‑layer structure of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity."

"The dim sky, the dark‑red earth, and those twisted demons you see are actually the original three‑layer seal of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity that was used to imprison the Snake Demon."

"It turned out this way because the seal malfunctioned; Yuan Lu Zhi corrupted and twisted it with his power, causing the three‑layer structure to fail. Apparently members of the Buddhist Sect used relics to create a Sea of Suffering, patching the seal's breach, which is why you see it as it is now."

Bai Ze brought out the secret tray in one breath; Mu Yi digested it a moment and realized the snake demon Yuan Lü Zhi was indeed a cunning fellow.

He was on the second level, while Yuan Lü Zhi was on the fifth; no matter which one he ruined, it was a guaranteed profit for Yuan Lü Zhi.

It didn't even have to pay a cent, after all it was all just Mu Yi's own speculation.

But all the conspiracies were laid bare as Mu Yi erased the information disparity.

Mu Yi promptly patted his backside and got up to leave; whether it was this seal or the snake demon, he could not deal with either at the moment.

Better to run now than stay here and cause trouble.

But running away is running away; Mu Yi isn't the sort who suffers a grudge without striking back.

He summoned the Human Dao army from the Reincarnation Barrier, then launched a new round of conquest.

But this time, he adjusted the army formation's effect.

He changed the army formation into a siphoning type.

Each time the Human Dao army slew a demon, a fragment of power was stored in the formation.

Mu Yi indeed intended to leave, but before doing so he wanted to prepare a surprise gift for Yuan Lü Zhi.

Yuan Lü Zhi is very patient—snakes always are.

Even if Mu Yi didn't enter the bitter sea as he wished, nor shatter the earth, he instead dove back into carnage.

Yuan Lü Zhi waits, having endured endless ages, witnessing countless humans who came here—whether greedy or foolish—all of whom have aided it in breaking the seal.

Thus Yuan Lü Zhi is not in a hurry; its lifespan is infinite, so it can afford to wait.

It silently observes Mu Yi, as well as the other Zongwang Players on this continent, knowing that breaking this seal demands great effort.

Thus it watches every entity that enters this battle world, endeavoring to lure the mad, chaotic beings into lending it strength for its liberation.

Yet Yuan Lü Zhi never imagined there would be an oddball like Mu Yi—clearly more brutal than those chaotic fellows, yet truly a good soul on the side of order.

"Yuan Lü Zhi, I know the Demon Refining Pot's seal has four layers! Come out and see me!"

Mu Yi's call reached Yuan Lü Zhi's ears; at first Yuan Lü Zhi didn't react, but as it pondered, it suddenly froze.

"Huh?"

Yuan Lü Zhi turned its gaze to Mu Yi; this was the first time anyone truly knew what seal was binding it.

"I can help you break free, but you must pay a higher price and give me more power!" Mu Yi struck a bargaining pose.

Sure enough, under Mu Yi's gaze, a ferocious head protruded from the cloud layer.

"Do you know how to break the Demon Refining Pot's seal?"

Yuan Lü Zhi was somewhat incredulous, but Mu Yi had indeed nailed the seal's situation, causing his lifeless heart to twitch despite itself.

It does possess endless time, yet it has been sealed for so long that even it has lost track of how much time has passed.

"Heaven, earth, humanity, sea—fourfold seal!" Mu Yi declared firmly.

He then fixed his gaze on the ferocious head Yuan Lü Zhi had extended, staring solemnly at it.

"If you pay a higher price, I'm willing to help you break the seal!" Mu Yi reiterated.

"What price!" Yuan Lü Zhi's heart stirred; when Mu Yi precisely named the seal's type, he was genuinely moved.

Freedom seemed to beckon, and the dawn of hope rose before him.

"Ten times the previous reward!" Mu Yi demanded a lion's share.

Yuan Lü Zhi actually began to trust Mu Yi a bit; a greedy fellow, perhaps then more worthy of trust.

After all, self-interest is the eternal, unchanging truth.

"Too much!" Yuan Lü Zhi didn't rush to agree, knowing that things easily gained aren't cherished.

Moreover, greed is endless; if he readily agrees, it will only spur Mu Yi to demand even more.

Greedy fellows may be reliable, but they will also devour you whole, skin and bone, until you are completely consumed.

"This is your only chance!"

"No, I have endless opportunities! Because I am immortal!"

Yuan Lü Zhi's head drew nearer to Mu Yi, its vast shadow and icy pupils exuding endless pressure.

"Then let's change the price!"

"What price!" Yuan Lü Zhi glared fixedly at Mu Yi.

"The price of blood!"

Mu Yi smiled, and his form faded from beneath Yuan Lü Zhi's eyelids.

Instantly, a sword radiant with brilliant light sprang from the spot where Mu Yi had vanished, shooting straight into the heavens.

The first to feel the impact was Yuan Lü Zhi's ferocious dragon head.

The sudden eruption caught Yuan Lü Zhi off guard, and the seal's interference slowed its reaction by half a beat.

The sword light splattered across Yuan Lü Zhi's dragon face.

"Roar!"

The mad, furious howl echoed hysterically between heaven and earth as Yuan Lü Zhi's skull slammed into the ground, blasting out one huge crater after another.

Yet no matter how reluctant, the chain seal still dragged Yuan Lü Zhi back.

Yuan Lü Zhi's head retreated back into the firmament, and what stood out was that one of its eyes was streaming blood.

The Godslayer title granted Mu Yi the power to wound deities truly; Yuan Lü Zhi's flesh is indeed monstrous, yet it still harbors a weakness that Mu Yi successfully exploited.

"You will come back—I won't let you go, absolutely not!"

Yuan Lü Zhi's sole remaining eye locked onto the spot where Mu Yi had vanished; he knew Mu Yi would return, and then he would make Mu Yi feel the snake demon's wrath.

Having dealt Yuan Lü Zhi a dark blow, Mu Yi was in high spirits, humming a tune as he returned to his manor.

Killing a deity is still far off for him; besides, Yuan Lü Zhi is no ordinary deity.

For now, leave it be; wait until he later seeks trouble—anyway, Yuan Lü Zhi won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

There will always be a time to go back and settle accounts with it.

Its mindset has also begun to shift toward immortals and gods; the previous urgency seems to have become more composed.

The accumulated study time has made him more steady.

Transcendent is absolutely not about stronger power, a harder body, and power is absolutely not something that can infinitely expand relying on bloodline.

Not understanding the essence of power, one will ultimately just be a puppet of power.

Mu Yi begins to understand Lily; perhaps that kind of investigative, probing approach of hers is indeed the correct path.

However, researching everything is Lily's interest; Mu Yi only needs to study his own power, that's enough.