Chapter 276: Sudden Realization!

Before Suo Huan's words had even faded, a streak of escape light suddenly shot out from the 【Earth-Fire Sea-Core Furnace】, revealing a human figure only after landing before the two.

The man was handsome; though young, his temples were already streaked with white.

His demeanor had entirely lost the noble air of the past, instead gaining a touch of maturity and steadiness; upon appearing, he bowed respectfully to Suo Huan:

"Senior Suo Huan, and a True Person!?"

The newcomer's gaze shifted to Lu Yang beside Suo Huan, and he instantly froze; fear then flooded his eyes, and he instinctively stepped back several paces.

Seeing this, Lu Yang let out a loud laugh: "So it is junior brother Chongming!"

Having spoken, he stepped forward and patted Chongming on the shoulder.

Yet this simple action nearly scared Chongming's soul from his body, leaving him with an indescribably terrified expression as he stared straight at Lu Yang.

Who the hell are you?

Get off senior brother Duanmu Yuan Tu immediately!

On the other side, Suo Huan also smiled upon seeing this: "Chongming was left beside me by the former 【Zengcai Qiluo True Lord】 for convenient contact when necessary."

This simple sentence nearly scared Chongming senseless; looking at Suo Huan, he thought: "Clearly, you previously urged and instructed me a thousand times never to speak of the True Lord's affairs, and trapped me here to prevent me from wandering, yet now you casually reveal this secret!"

Or perhaps... this is actually no great matter?

Chongming looked at Lu Yang, then at Suo Huan; his originally furrowed brows seemed smoothed by an invisible palm, gradually brightening as well.

'I must have overthought it!'

On the other side, Lu Yang, hearing this, likewise took it lightly.

Mere 【affairs of the True Lord】; he would forget them the moment he turned his head. More importantly was to quickly refine a magic treasure, increase his strength, and then head to the Yuan Ci Shenshan.

"Senior, there is no time to lose; we must still proceed to the Yuan Ci Shenshan. Light the furnace immediately."

Urged by Lu Yang, Suo Huan nodded eagerly: "Chongming, come and manage the furnace for me; I shall cast spells to activate the earth-fire."

"... Yes."

Upon hearing this, Chongming's face showed signs of struggle, yet his body obeyed honestly; he felt in his heart that he should not delay the two from their great mission to seek the Yuan Ci Shenshan.

Soon, the earth-fire ignited the furnace.

The first thing Lu Yang took out was the Abyss Sword, a spiritual sword taken from the Blood Demon True Person, now possessing four divine wonders, truly a rare treasure.

'Hmm? This is...'

Just then, Lu Yang suddenly froze, for he noticed the Abyss Sword before him, for some reason, remained bright, constantly surfacing with deep blood-light.

'... Seems to be one of the Abyss Sword's divine wonders?'

Lu Yang recalled briefly, feeling it was called 【Treading Danger】; he had previously thought it a fine wonder, even saving his life once.

What effect did it have again?

Lu Yang could not quite remember, but did not care; if he could not remember, it must be unimportant. Quickly refining the spiritual treasure and seeking the Yuan Ci Shenshan was what mattered.

Thinking thus, Lu Yang ceased pondering further.

The Abyss Sword fell into the furnace; immediately after came other spiritual treasures. Lu Yang hesitated not at all; except for the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner, he emptied out all his assets.

Only when the vessel-furnace was stuffed full with the light of spiritual treasures did he turn to look at Suo Huan: "Trouble you, Senior."

"Daoist, rest assured!"

Suo Huan laughed loudly, then formed a hand seal and pointed; in an instant, the entire 【Earth-Fire Sea-Core Furnace】 shook violently, and a thousand fire veins were simultaneously detonated!

Infinite fierce flames rolled out from the earth's core, containing Yin Fiend; in a moment, they ignited the entire alchemy furnace. Seeing this, Chongming hurriedly gathered all his magic power, then pressed down forcefully upon the vessel-furnace, slamming the lid shut and sealing it tightly, allowing not a single wisp of the fierce fire qi to leak from within.

The next second, the vessel-furnace gradually turned red.

Seeing this, Suo Huan changed the hand seal; instantly, ten thousand acres of seawater outside the vessel-furnace poured down, cooling the furnace while simultaneously drawing water-element qi into it.

"Daoist, my technique is no ordinary one."

Suo Huan explained with a smile: "This method is named the 【Water-Fire Simultaneous Refinement Art】; only with this 【Earth-Fire Sea-Core Furnace】 can its greatest efficacy be realized."

"Daoist possesses many spiritual treasures; ordinary means cannot refine them precisely."

"Only with this method, aided by water and fire, where Yin and Yang unite, can Daoist's many spiritual treasures be melted and unified without damaging their respective divine wonders."

Hearing this, Lu Yang's eyes brightened slightly: "Oh? Truly?"

"Naturally, truly!"

Speaking thus, pride suddenly flashed across Suo Huan's face: "This is the most exquisite artifact-refining technique passed down through generations in our 【Huan Xu Jie】."

As words were spoken, the sun rose and the moon set.

Suo Huan saw that under the combined aid of water and fire within the furnace, the magic treasures that had previously each possessed distinct forms had now all transformed into a single object of swirling five-colored light with no fixed shape.

"This is the moment!"

Suo Huan looked at Lu Yang and shouted loudly: "Daoist may now use your essence-soul to consecrate and refine; seize this opportunity to fix the magic treasure's form, thereby unifying all divine wonders!"

Hearing this, Lu Yang wasted no words; immediately he circulated his divine sense, then opened his mouth and spat out a wisp of brilliant, radiant fresh blood.

The so-called 【Essence-Soul】 refers to essence-blood and soul; it is not blood of the flesh, but blood of the soul, the most refined part of the soul.

If one advances further, it becomes 【Golden Nature】!

Thus, as Lu Yang spat out the 【Essence-Soul】, his originally full countenance instantly withered; darkness clouded his vision, and a sense of weakness surged in his heart.

However, as the 【Essence-Soul】 fell into the furnace, Lu Yang quickly felt a connection of mind and heart; watching his 【Essence-Soul】 merge with that swirling five-colored object, finally fixing its form and revealing its true shape, it was unmistakably a magic sword with dazzling dark light!

This sword bore the color of dark frost, its form solemn and dignified.

Its spine resembled the divisions of the Great Void; blade patterns faintly showed the Heluo star map; the mouth-guard was cast with a Chiwen devouring clouds; the sword guard was carved with golden seal-script true edicts; the hilt was wrapped in five colors entangled; three holes bore spirit-bestowing patterns.

"It is done!"

At Lu Yang's thought, the magic sword in the furnace transformed into a streak of flying lightning, shot out, and finally landed beside him, emitting a joyful sword-chime and thunderous sound.

"A superior spiritual sword... no, it already possesses a touch of 【True Intent】!"

Seeing this, Suo Huan also showed joy; yet the next second, this flicker of joy gradually stiffened and solidified under the glow of the sword-light.

'... What am I doing?'

At the same time, Lu Yang, who held the magic sword in his hand, also changed expression; his smile froze, his lips trembled, and the look on his face was beyond description.

The next second, whether Lu Yang or Suo Huan, the cold sweat that had previously been no larger than a bean drop rolling down one by one now poured down their backs in an instant; although the furnace had just been lit and the fire within it was pouring out, a temperature that should have been like the height of summer, the two felt only a bone-chilling cold deep within.

Lu Yang looked at the magic sword in his hand.

The sword light flowing along the blade at this moment, illuminating both of them from top to bottom and severing that strange influence, was none other than a profound mystery inherent in this very spiritual sword.

【Illuminating Clarity】

This profound mystery was achieved only by melting together the 【Treading Danger】 of the A-Bi Sword and the 【All-Enlightening】 of the Qiu Tian Yi, combining both and rising even higher.

Without this, it would be difficult to illuminate the fog of illusion.

"Haaah"

Lu Yang exhaled a long breath deeply; where was the heroic ambition he had possessed when first setting sail? Only profound shock and dread remained in his eyes.

He turned his head to look at Suo Huan.

He saw that this Great True Person from beyond the heavens was likewise drenched in sweat like rain, his neck stiff, slowly turning his head to look at him as well; their gazes met.

Neither of the two dared to speak first.

The reason was very simple.

'Who knows if that 【Soaring Sky】 is standing right beside me right now!!!'

(End of this chapter)