Chapter 77: Dragon-Pattern Purple-Gold Cauldron

Inner Peak of the Ziyang Sect.

"Boss, I actually heard about it."

"Pan Wenbo is a petty man who never lets a grudge go unavenged."

"Moreover, he's about to become a First-level Alchemist."

"Getting into a conflict with such a petty man is truly unnecessary."

"Especially within the Qian Kun Realm!"

"If a cultivator had to pick a type of person they most wish not to offend!"

"No need to say more!"

"Alchemists are definitely on that list!"

"Provoking an Alchemist is like publicly poking a wasp's nest."

"Then, who knows how many cultivators who once received an Alchemist's favor will keep coming, one after another, to trouble you."

Although Li Mu and Qian Wenyi have already left the Cangbaoge.

But recalling the scenes that just unfolded in the auction hall still makes Qian Wenyi feel lingering dread.

"Unnecessary?"

Li Mu halted his steps, half‑turning to look at Qian Wenyi.

"Then I ask you!"

"Even if I today compromise and avoid in every way."

"Do you think, based on Pan Wenbo's manner, that he will not cause me trouble later?"

"Well..."

Qian Wenyi's expression froze at the sudden question, then he thought carefully.

His elder brother, when on the Cangbaoge First Layer, had already given the two Inner Peak Disciple swindlers that Pan Wenbo used to extort money a severe reprimand.

And he didn't forget to also take the sect's Jade Slip worth fifty thousand contribution points.

Considering Pan Wenbo's vengeful nature.

It seems that regardless of whether Li Mu compromises or yields at the auction, the other side won't easily settle.

Thinking this, Qian Wenyi subconsciously shook his head.

"If he is destined to be my enemy, why don't I exercise my rights earlier?"

"For example..."

"Send him to meet King Yama?"

Saying that, Li Mu patted the still‑dazed Qian Wenyi and added.

"Alright!"

"You still have many things to learn; let's stop here for today."

"Go back and rest early!"

"Tomorrow at dawn, we still have to take the Inner Peak Disciple entrance assessment."

"Oh, right!"

"Give me my Dragon-Pattern Purple-Gold Cauldron!"

Watching Li Mu's back, bearing a massive bronze alchemy furnace on his shoulder, waving his hand as he strode away into the sunset.

Qian Wenyi froze in place, and after a long while managed to force a sentence from his mouth.

"Damn!"

"Boss truly lives up to the title!"

"What a stream of golden lines!"

"I must also write down this line..."

Saying that, Qian Wenyi quickly retrieved a copy of "Li Mu Quotations" from the spatial jade pendant hanging at his waist!

His hand moved like a flash, "Swish, swish, swish..." as he wrote on it.

"..."

After parting with Qian Wenyi, Li Mu alone shouldered the Dragon-Pattern Purple-Gold Cauldron, and using the information on his waist badge, quickly located his residence in the Inner Peak.

Though his Inner Peak dwelling couldn't compare to the solitary courtyard cave dwelling he once had on the Outer Peak, enjoying an entire mountain.

At least it was a single chamber.

In terms of privacy, it still offered some guarantee.

Moreover,

The Inner Peak also follows the Outer Peak's system for allocating disciples' caves and courtyards!

Named Disciple, Outer Disciple, Inner Disciple, Personal Disciple are divided by rank, and all benefits are tiered accordingly.

He pushed open the door.

Li Mu looked at the empty room, with only two chairs, a table and a bed, and rubbed his chin, silently making a decision.

"Once we pass tomorrow's Inner Peak entrance assessment and obtain Outer Disciple status,"

"We must quickly upgrade to Personal Disciple status."

"Otherwise..."

"This treatment compared to when I was on the Outer Peak is way too different!"

Thinking this, Li Mu habitually locked the door, then placed the Dragon-Pattern Purple-Gold Cauldron on a vacant spot.

Li Mu then took out rare materials one by one from his pack: Zhu Yun Zi Grass, Black Scale Demon Python Demon Crystal, inner pill, Gathering Spirit Pill, and the inner pill of the Thunder Tiger he just acquired at the auction.

"For now, I plan to refine these Heavenly Treasures into pills."

"But I haven't gotten the pill formula yet; I can't just grind blindly, can I?"

"If the materials are all wasted, wouldn't I end up crying myself to death!"

"Maybe we should wait and see first."

Thinking it over, Li Mu again fixed his gaze on the rosewood box.

"At this stage, I can use Thunder Tiger's inner elixir to temper my body, thereby breaking through the Forbidden Realm: the Ninth Forbidden."

"Moreover, the Gathering Spirit Pill can be used to assault the Concentration Realm!"

"So, given my current situation, the demand for this pill isn't that urgent."

"However…"

With that thought, Li Mu first slipped the Gathering Spirit Pill and Thunder Tiger's inner elixir back into his pack.

At the same time, Li Mu turned his eyes to the dragon‑pattern purple‑gold cauldron, its surface mottled with rust and exuding a desolate ancient aura.

"Initially, after system identification, the dragon‑pattern purple‑gold cauldron was already classified as a high‑grade spiritual artifact."

"Crucially, it's the first spiritual artifact I've encountered since arriving in the Qian Kun Realm that possesses enhancement attributes without having been blessed by the Heavenly Dao."

"Now that's interesting!"

"How about we study it first?"

"Let's see if any new discoveries arise…"

Li Mu immediately made up his mind.

He was extremely interested in this dragon‑pattern purple‑gold cauldron he had scavenged from the first layer of Cangbaoge.

At once, Li Mu began to carefully examine the cauldron.

But after a thorough look, aside from its name containing "dragon pattern" and "purple‑gold",

no matter how Li Mu inspected it, he could not discern any special qualities in the object itself.

All that could be seen was that the entire surface of the purple‑gold dragon‑pattern cauldron was covered by a thick layer of blackish‑brown iron rust.

If it hadn't been identified by the system, Li Mu probably would have tossed this thing onto the street and no one would have given it a second glance.

During the careful study,

Li Mu also followed the common tropes he had seen in countless novels, TV dramas, and movies from his past life, trying them on the dragon‑pattern purple‑gold cauldron one after another!

But no matter how Li Mu tried, he even sliced his wrist to let blood flow onto the cauldron!

Result…

Damn it!

Li Mu's blood‑recognition ritual made his spirit hazy, and hallucinations nearly surged before his eyes!

The shabby thing acted like a dead machine, showing not even the slightest reaction.

"Ugh!"

"Having seen all the ways to bind a spirit weapon or treasure in my past life, I've practically tried them all."

"And yet this junk still shows no sign of activity!"

"Could it be that this damn system has set me up?"

Li Mu glanced at the wound on his wrist, now healed again.

He then looked at the lifeless dragon‑pattern purple‑gold cauldron before him, utterly indifferent to his tests, and cursed inwardly.

After the fruitless attempts, as Li Mu was about to toss this broken copper junk into the courtyard, out of sight and out of mind,

suddenly…

A flash of insight suddenly streaked across his mind!

"Wait a moment!"

"System identification?"

"Since the dragon‑pattern purple‑gold cauldron only revealed its subtle mysteries after system identification,"

"They say you must be the one who tied the bell to untie it!"

"Then does that indirectly imply that activating the cauldron also requires system identification?"

Although Li Mu thought this idea was rather far‑fetched, it wasn't entirely unfounded.

But after trying every method at hand, none produced any effect on the cauldron.

No choice!

Li Mu could only adopt a 'treat a dead horse as a living one' mindset and give it a try!

Resolute, Li Mu swiped his finger and brought up the system panel.

Seeing the 'Thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing' count marked as 1 on the panel, Li Mu couldn't help feeling a pang of regret!

This was the one Thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing opportunity the system granted him after he achieved Ten Grade Lian Qi Realm Great Perfection in the Yunshan Secret Realm.

However, Li Mu had never dared to use it, intending to save it for a later, perhaps better, occasion.

But now it seems…

It can't be hidden any longer; it must be used now!

"System!"

"I will use a Thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing, targeting the dragon‑pattern purple‑gold cauldron for identification!"

The moment Li Mu activated the Thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing, the dragon‑pattern purple‑gold cauldron before him suddenly underwent an earth‑shaking transformation!

Behold.

The pitch‑black, rust‑spotted bronze cauldron before him, at the instant it was identified by the Thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing!

An incomparably brilliant purple‑gold light burst forth from the bronze cauldron.

Extremely dazzling!

Under the dazzling flicker of purple‑gold light, this bronze cauldron resembled a sleeping dragon being awakened!

The unsightly, heavy rust patches clinging to the bronze cauldron's surface began to flake off piece by piece.

Gradually, before Li Mu, its true form was revealed!

But right then, Li Mu, excited and expectant as he was about to unveil the mysterious veil of the dragon‑patterned purple‑gold cauldron!

Yet a sudden turn of events appeared!

Buzz…

Suddenly, the body of the dragon‑patterned purple‑gold cauldron began to tremble continuously.

It seemed that an extremely powerful thing was about to have its seal broken and escape from the cauldron's mouth!

Even Li Mu, standing nearby, started rubbing his hands excitedly, eyes wide open, continuously awaiting the forthcoming miracle.

Roar!

A majestic dragon‑like roar suddenly emanated from within the dragon‑patterned purple‑gold cauldron.

Immediately after, a wisp of purple aura rose gracefully from the cauldron's mouth.

Finally it formed the vague image of a purple‑golden giant dragon!

It's done!

Finally, it's done!

This time, using the Thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing!

It's simply worth it!

At the sight of that purple‑golden giant dragon, Li Mu excitedly sprang to his feet!

Before he could raise his arms and shout, the dragon‑shaped silhouette formed from the purple aura began to spiral in mid‑air.

Finally, it even opened its dragon mouth, and mysterious suction surged out from within!

The suction seemed to turn into a giant hand, instantly snatching Li Mu's red‑cloud purple herb, Crimson Flame Giant Tiger Demon Crystal, black‑scaled demon python Demon Crystal, and inner core that were placed on the wooden table.

Including many spoils previously plundered from Lin Zehong, Wu Feiyang, Shao Wenqiang and others, all were seized at once and then swallowed whole by that dragon mouth.

This is…

The whole process happened extremely fast!

So that Li Mu hadn't yet recovered his senses from this sudden turn of events.

He only saw his long‑cherished treasures on the wooden table dwindling, while the dragon mouth devoured Heavenly Treasures faster and faster!

This made Li Mu's heart involuntarily go 'thud!', a foreboding feeling welling up.

As expected, it seemed to confirm Li Mu's ominous suspicion.

The red‑cloud purple herb, Crimson Flame Giant Tiger Demon Crystal, black‑scaled demon python Demon Crystal, inner core, as well as countless Heavenly Treasures and various first‑grade and second‑grade pills.

As the dragon mouth slowly closed, with a muffled 'Bang!' all of them explosively burst apart!

Finally they turned into streams of pure, overwhelming spiritual energy that surged into the dragon‑patterned purple‑gold cauldron.

In less than three breaths, that vast spiritual energy was completely absorbed by the dragon‑patterned purple‑gold cauldron.

Click, click, click…

As massive spiritual artifacts were poured in, the vibration frequency and amplitude of the dragon‑patterned purple‑gold cauldron grew larger, and shafts of purple‑golden light pierced the thick rust, blooming outward.

Finally, a magnificent, noble great cauldron slowly appeared before Li Mu!

At the same time, lines of Byte Entry entries flickered onto the System Virtual Screen before Li Mu's eyes.

Ding!

The system successfully identified the high‑grade spiritual artifact dragon‑patterned purple‑gold cauldron and triggered the Thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing!

Congratulations, host, you have obtained the dragon‑patterned purple‑gold cauldron!

Quality tier: low‑grade divine artifact (can be enhanced).

Special skill 1: Purple‑gold Dragon King's Alchemy Blessing: when the host uses this cauldron to refine pills, it greatly enhances one's mastery and technique over fire control and Heavenly Treasures, and grants roughly a twenty‑percent chance to upgrade pills, increasing their efficacy!

Special skill 2: Purple‑gold Dragon King's Wonderful Protection: using this cauldron to refine pills doubles alchemy cultivation speed.

Artifact spirit: not awakened.

Note: the host may use Heavenly Treasures and miraculous pills to accelerate artifact spirit awakening.