Chapter 1053: Natal shackles, Demon Phase body-refining

The banquet reopened, seemingly just like before.

However, the still turbulent water vapor, the replenished spiritual wine and delicacies, all showed the influence left by the previous battle.

Especially when the group of demon cultivators saw Luo Chen, who was an evil guest at the door just a moment ago, now sitting as a distinguished guest on the upper seat, side-by-side with the Sea Emperor, everyone was shocked, and also understood the result of the battle between the two Soul Transformation great powers this time.

A draw?

At least a draw!

A greater possibility was that Luo Chen had won over the Sea Emperor Whale, otherwise it couldn't explain why Luo Chen had such treatment.

The content of the banquet was nothing to talk about, nothing more than mutual flattery.

After determining that it was very difficult to kill the Sea Emperor Whale without paying a huge price, Luo Chen had already made a decision.

Stop and make peace!

He was naturally not afraid of the Sea Emperor Whale, but he also had a soft underbelly, which was the Luo Tian Sect.

If the other party went crazy and attacked the Luo Tian Sect, the casualties would be incalculable.

Not to mention that the Sea Emperor Whale had already surrendered after

Most of the various resources the other party had plundered from the Heaven Origin Dao Sect had fallen into the mouth of the Sea Emperor Whale, which was why it had made such great progress in its cultivation.

Yet, Luo Chen did not actually care much about those resources.

On the contrary, in Luo Chen's view, the remaining portion—the cultivation techniques, classic texts, and secret arts—was the true highlight.

If he could fully digest and absorb them, the future of the Luo Tian Sect would be promising.

……

He left the Sea Emperor Palace.

Gazing at the Giant Whale Sea Region after the great battle, Luo Chen sighed slightly.

Kong Chan, standing to the side, was quite puzzled, "Master, you have just achieved the Soul Transformation realm and already suppressed those of the same level; why do you still have such a dejected expression?"

Luo Chen shook his head and sighed softly: "It is just that I have always been accustomed to crushing those at the same level, killing them at the slightest provocation, but at the Soul Transformation level, doing so is extremely difficult. In this way, exchanges between great powers will increasingly rely on verbal negotiation, the exchange of interests, and even mutual compromise."

Kong Chan opened his mouth, finding himself speechless.

When those of the same level fight, it is inherently difficult to determine life and death.

Never mind the Soul Transformation realm; even in the Nascent Soul realm, it was the same.

It was only because Luo Chen had been too monstrous previously that he was able to run rampant through the Nascent Soul realm.

Now that he had returned to normal circumstances, this was the norm!

However, Luo Chen did not think so.

When he was in the Nascent Soul realm, he could easily kill existences of the same level, not only because of his own superior strength and numerous methods, but also because of a special point regarding his magic treasure.

The Hunyuan Cauldron!

His natal magic treasure, the Hunyuan Cauldron, had possessed an extremely strong binding and restrictive effect on Core Formation and Nascent Soul cultivators ever since it was successfully refined.

That was why Luo Chen had been able to personally slay those enemies who were defeated by him in countless battles.

Yet, this miraculous quality was weakened to the extreme after he broke through to the Soul Transformation realm.

The primordial spirit of a Soul Transformation cultivator is too powerful; they can easily stir the heaven and earth spiritual energy. Relying solely on the Hunyuan Cauldron itself, it was no longer possible to restrict the other party's free movement.

"In the end, my cultivation speed is too fast, causing my natal magic treasure to fail to keep up with my improvement; as of now, it is still at the level of a True Treasure."

"Furthermore, the potential of the Hunyuan Cauldron is about to be exhausted; it is very difficult to go any further!"

"If I want to nurture it to the level of a Spirit Treasure, it will take at least several hundred, or even a thousand years."

Luo Chen thought silently to himself.

Looking back at his previous Core Formation and Nascent Soul realms, the Hunyuan Cauldron could be considered an excellent magic treasure.

It combined offense and defense, had numerous miraculous uses, and could be called comprehensive!

But its foundation was, after all, just the refining method of a Core Formation sect; even if a massive amount of precious resources had been invested during its refining, its upper limit was still set there.

If he hadn't later refined some Millennium Thunder Essence and Breathing Soil into it to increase its power, he feared it would have been of no use at all in the previous battle against the Sea Emperor Whale.

Comparatively speaking, aside from daily elixir refining, this natal magic treasure, the Hunyuan Cauldron, could no longer be mentioned in the same breath as the Yuan Tu Sword, the Bone Burial Umbrella, or even the Great Five Elements Sword Array, which focused solely on slaughter.

Sometimes it is just like this: being comprehensive either means being perfect in every way, or it means being mediocre.

And anything that cannot keep up with Luo Chen's realm is mediocre; it is a chicken rib!

But Luo Chen could not discard this item.

A natal magic treasure is not something that can be easily abandoned.

It is a treasure that has been cultivated alongside his life and has experienced hundreds of years with him.

"Perhaps, I must consider how to upgrade my natal magic treasure."

Luo Chen pondered silently, various thoughts flashing through his mind.

With his level as a Fourth-Tier Artifact Refiner, his insight into artifact refining was already quite impressive. Even though the Hunyuan Cauldron's foundation only came from the Green Elixir Valley, he still had some ingenious ideas that could enhance the Hunyuan Cauldron's power.

The only thing to consider is: in what direction should he enhance it?

And in what aspect could it provide sufficient help to his Soul Transformation realm?

In reality, when such thoughts occurred to Luo Chen, he had already gained the resolve to abandon the comprehensiveness of his natal magic treasure.

This resolve was not difficult for him.

Because he already possessed quite a few treasures in his hands, the parts missing from his natal magic treasure could easily be compensated for by other means.

By his ear came Kong Chan's inquiry.

"Master, where are we going next? Are we going to Hanging Blade Peak?"

"Hanging Blade Peak?" Luo Chen recited the name, then slowly shook his head.

Another great demon power of the North Sea, the Great Sage Beili, lived on that Hanging Blade Peak, which was known as "Heaven's Will like a Blade, Hanging Alone for Eternity."

Its terrain was complex and extremely precipitous; even when the Primal Demon Sect was still in existence, no one dared to go and disturb it.

Even if Luo Chen could break through Hanging Blade Peak and face the Great Sage Beili directly, what of it?

Another story like the one with the Sea Emperor Whale?

"Forget it. Back then outside Heaven Island, the Great Sage Beili was still considered restrained; today, I will not go looking for trouble with him. Besides, there is someone else waiting for me."

Luo Chen smiled slightly and, taking Kong Chan with him, merged into the heaven and earth.

……

Not long after, on a nameless small island.

Luo Chen's figure appeared, and looking at the young man waiting quietly below, he smiled slightly.

"I have kept you waiting, little friend."

"I dare not. The grace of your assistance back then, Feng Ling has always kept in mind."

The person who had been waiting for a long time was none other than Layman Feng Ling.

Previously at the banquet, there were too many people and it was too chaotic, so the two sides had no opportunity to communicate; thus, they had specifically arranged to meet here.

As for the grace of assistance he spoke of?

To Luo Chen, it was nothing more than a mere lift of a finger.

Within the Arctic Yemo Heaven, Luo Chen had used the Nirvana Sacred Fire to destroy that skeletal giant, helping Layman Feng Ling cultivate his demonic arts and ultimately condense a Demonic Body.

Luo Chen laughed heartily, "When I led people to attack the Heaven Origin Dao Sect, didn't you also lend a hand? The favor between us is already cleared."

When he said this, Kong Chan behind him could not help but nod.

In that battle, it was precisely Kong Chan and Deng Deng Taiyue joining forces with Layman Feng Ling; the three of them combined their strength to intercept all the reinforcements of the Dao Sect from the Libei Continent, giving the Eastern Wasteland cultivators on the Dongyuan Continent time to retreat in an orderly fashion.

Therefore, although the three of them had not had much contact, the camaraderie of fighting side-by-side just once made them cherish each other.

Especially Layman Feng Ling's strength, which had gained the recognition of both Kong Chan and Deng Deng Taiyue.

It was a fighting style completely different from his handsome and eerie temperament—wild, tyrannical, and filled with demonic energy.

Layman Feng Ling suddenly bowed.

"The last time this junior assisted, it was only what was right and proper. Meeting today, I must truly say a word of thanks. If it weren't for you, Senior, helping me at the critical moment, how could I have cultivated the True Demonic Body? This great kindness and virtue, Feng Ling will never forget."

"True Demonic Body?" Luo Chen became interested and suddenly asked: "I wonder if you can drive demonic energy? That kind of purest demonic energy?"

Layman Feng Ling asked: "What you speak of, Senior, is it the demonic energy of the Primal Demon Sect lineage?"

"Something like that!" Luo Chen nodded.

Layman Feng Ling revealed a smile, "To let you know, Senior, compared to the Primal Demonic Energy of the Primal Demon Sect, this True Demonic Power I obtained from the Refining Song Tianmo Lord is even three parts purer."

As he spoke, his fingertip flashed.

A wisp of demonic flame rose up.

The terrifying temperature within it made people look sideways.

Seeing this, Luo Chen could not help but feel joy in his heart.

"Since that is the case, then you can help me with a small favor!"

A statue with two horns on its head, pitch-black all over, with only the blood vessels clearly visible, appeared before the two of them.

Even though this statue had no aura, just one glance gave people a sense of power.

It was precisely a strange treasure that the Black King had dug out from the depths of the Primal Demon Sect ruins back then.

According to the Black King and Luo Chen's speculation, it was highly likely that a set of body-refining cultivation techniques was recorded on this statue.

But relying solely on magic power, source power, or even blood energy, it was very difficult to fully activate it.

At that time, Luo Chen speculated that perhaps demonic energy was needed to deduce the complete cultivation route.

Now that Layman Feng Ling was before him, Luo Chen could just happen to borrow his strength.

A benefactor had a request of him, so Layman Feng Ling naturally would not be stingy.

He saw him shake his whole body, and a stream of incomparably pure power flowed out from him, surging toward the demon statue.

Luo Chen's eyes flashed with brilliance, and a trace of surprise appeared on his face.

Is this the so-called True Demonic Power?

Compared to the remnants of the Primal Demon Sect he had seen back then, it was more than three parts purer.

Combining what Layman Feng Ling had said earlier about "obtaining it from the Refining Song Tianmo Lord," Luo Chen vaguely guessed where the other party's opportunity lay.

Six hundred years ago, Layman Feng Ling and Li Li Canghai and others explored the Land of Fallen Demons together. Compared to others who were able to enter Mingzhao Heaven, Layman Feng Ling was ambushed by the Great Strength Savage Demon Jiao and unfortunately fell into the Fallen Demon Abyss that stretched between the Five Elements Heaven and Mingzhao Heaven.

Luo Chen had also entered that Fallen Demon Abyss once, briefly.

It was to help Taishui escape.

But that time, the distance he went in was limited; he only stayed between the cliff caves and never reached the bottom of the abyss valley.

But just taking one glance from afar was enough to make people feel extremely terrified.

That Layman Feng Ling could walk out of it alive, although he had been insane for several hundred years and earned the title of "Mad Layman," after he completely sobered up, that misfortune became his good fortune.

However, Luo Chen did not ask.

Everyone has their own opportunities, especially those who can achieve the Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation realms; whose opportunity is small?

If one were to become jealous upon seeing others' opportunities, then Luo Chen's Red-Eyed Golden Pupils would turn into pinkeye.

On the small island, it was quite quiet.

There was only the subtle sound of Layman Feng Ling driving his demonic energy.

His movements were very light, as if he were afraid of destroying this statue, but the speed at which the demonic energy circulated was quite fast, far faster than when Luo Chen had used his source power to explore the statue back then.

Half an incense stick of time later.

Suddenly, a low shout was heard.

"Open!"

The next moment, the three of them seemed to hear the sound of some shackles being opened.

They saw blood-colored light flowing on the statue, black energy rolling, and the entire demon seemed to come alive.

An illusory demon suddenly expanded and enlarged, roaring silently toward the sky.

On the demon's body, a large number of strange characters vaguely lingered like living things; one glance made them look like talisman patterns.

Seeing this, Luo Chen's eyes lit up, knowing that this technique was extraordinary.

"Withdraw!"

Layman Feng Ling withdrew his fingertips, and the demonic energy dissipated, but a cluster still remained within the statue.

He breathed a sigh of relief and began to introduce it to Luo Chen.

"Senior, on this demon statue, a set of cultivation techniques is indeed recorded."

"Its name—Demon Phase Technique."

"What its specific level is, Feng Ling does not know, but this Demon Phase Technique is quite miraculous. Its foundation lies in tempering blood energy; when facing an enemy, it can cause blood energy to transform and condense a Demon Phase outside the body. This Demon Phase has immense power; as long as the cultivator's blood energy does not run dry, the Demon Phase will be undying and indestructible. It is truly miraculous."

After finishing, he smiled and bowed to Luo Chen.

"Congratulations, Senior, for obtaining a miraculous technique!"

Luo Chen laughed heartily, "This is thanks to you. Now that you have also cultivated the True Demonic Body, this 'Demon Phase Technique' should also be useful to you, so go ahead and copy a version!"

Layman Feng Ling hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, "Then Feng Ling will not decline. Thank you, Senior, for bestowing the technique."

Luo Chen took the statue; those blood vessels were still crystalline, but the blood-colored halo that had shrouded the statue had dissipated, and the demonic energy restriction on this object had already been broken by Layman Feng Ling.

Not only that, but a cluster of demonic energy still remained inside.

Luo Chen glanced at Layman Feng Ling, quite approvingly.

The other party had also proactively left a cluster of demonic energy, specifically to make it convenient for Luo Chen to read the techniques recorded on it before he had mastered this technique.

He put the statue away, leaving it for when he had time to cultivate it later.

With this matter concluded, Luo Chen looked at Layman Feng Ling, feeling increasingly satisfied.

This person knew how to repay kindness, knew how to advance and retreat, was not only powerful but also able to survive great disasters, indicating that he possessed quite a bit of good fortune.

If he could recruit this person into the Luo Tian Sect……

"Little friend, the Ten Thousand Immortals Society is no more. I wonder where you are headed now? Do you have any intention of finding a sect to settle down in?"

Layman Feng Ling hesitated for a while.

Luo Chen seemed to understand what he was worried about and waved his hand, saying: "If you are not willing, then forget it. I will not force you."

Layman Feng Ling bowed again, "Then thank you, Senior, for your kind intentions. I am accustomed to being alone, drifting across the four seas."

Luo Chen smiled slightly, "Since that is the case, we shall meet again."

Luo Chen was a person who cherished talent, but now, he no longer needed to use any coercive means to force others to join the Luo Tian Sect.

Times change.

Back then, when he recruited Ling Song Fengzi, it was just to huddle together for warmth in troubled times.

He did not want to repeat the old ways of Mi Mi Shuhua or the Black Ze Ancestor.

……

Above the nine heavens.

The Frost Eagle Flying Shuttle traveled rapidly; Kong Chan steered the shuttle, while Luo Chen studied the statue.

After a while, he put the statue away.

Although this "Demon Phase Technique" was a body-refining method of the Demon Race, it was equally grand and upright, seeking to strengthen blood energy just like human body-refining.

Even the blood energy required to form the Demon Phase outside the body had to be at least at the level of Gang Qi.

This was a bit troublesome for him.

His own blood energy had all been transformed into source power, which was the purest physical strength.

Gang Qi, that was a bit troublesome.

He could take it back for Wang Yuan to reference. Since advancing to the Fourth-Tier of body-refining, the body-refining methods Wang Yuan could reference were few and far between, and his progress was quite slow.

With this "Demon Phase Technique," perhaps it could allow Wang Yuan to go a step further.

After putting away the statue, another item appeared in Luo Chen's hand.

It was precisely the artifact-refining method Li Li Canghai had gifted him earlier, which recorded a technique called "Soul Extraction and Spirit Binding."

Combining it with Luo Chen's own artifact-refining techniques, plus some previous thoughts, an idea gradually took shape in Luo Chen's mind at this moment.

"Kong Chan!"

"What are your orders, Master?"

"Do not go to the Flying Swallow Sea Region first; turn toward the Arctic Yemo Heaven!"