Chapter 1287: Entering the Cauldron for Refinement

Clang!

Following Li Li Jingzhe's single command to enter the cauldron, the lid of the "Scorching Mountain Cauldron" was seen rising slowly, and crimson mist drifted out from within, causing the temperature throughout the entire great hall to rise along with it.

The crimson spiritual liquid inside the Scorching Mountain Cauldron resembled molten lava.

The Scorching Mountain Cauldron emitted a faint tremor; the volcanoes inscribed on its walls kept erupting, with lava flowing out like inscriptions wrapping around the cauldron walls, maintaining the temperature inside the cauldron at a terrifying level.

Judging by the sight, entering this cauldron was no different from submerging one's body directly into volcanic lava.

There would surely be tremendous suffering in between.

But Li Luo did not hesitate in the slightest. This was a rare opportunity for anyone; Li Li Jingzhe protecting his Dao was already a privilege that ordinary people could hardly imagine. If he still felt fear, then it could only be said he did not deserve to possess this Heavenly Dragon Physique.

So he took a single step forward, his figure flashing, and from the position of the cauldron's mouth, he dropped into the Scorching Mountain Cauldron.

Crimson flooded Li Luo's field of vision. The interior space of the Scorching Mountain Cauldron was far vaster than imagined—presumably because the cauldron was peculiar and contained its own space. Below, the crimson spiritual liquid churned and rolled, bubbles continuously swelling up, finally bursting at their limit and releasing terrifying high temperatures.

Li Luo descended carefully, his foot stepping onto the surging crimson spiritual liquid.

Immediately, an extremely scorching temperature transmitted from the soles of his feet, while the spiritual liquid, as if possessing spirituality, began to spread and crawl up along his body; wherever it passed, the searing agony arrived.

Moreover, it was not only the surface of his body that suffered the searing agony—within Li Luo's body, a scorching aura was also wantonly eroding.

The veins on Li Luo's face pulsed, and his handsome features became somewhat ferocious and contorted at this moment.

Fortunately, he had mentally prepared for this, so he promptly circulated his Physique Force to protect the core regions within his body, while simultaneously beginning to operate that "Pill-Boiling Blood-Refining Physique-Transformation Art."

Immediately, the blood within his body seemed to surge violently at this moment, and faintly, Li Luo seemed to hear a subtle dragon's roar echoing.

The extremely scorching crimson mist invaded within his body, finally making contact with Li Luo's blood.

In that instant, terrifying agony spread through his body like a tide.

Even with Li Luo's willpower, he nearly let out a scream, but fortunately he ultimately restrained himself. He knew this was the power of the spiritual liquid refining and fusing with the Heavenly Dragon essence blood within his body.

This was evolution—the pain and price required to bear it.

He did not know how long this agony lasted, when Li Luo suddenly sensed a wisp of faint purple-gold aura drifting out from within his own blood; this wisp of purple-gold aura emanated an extremely pure and ancient dragon's might.

As the purple-gold aura circulated, it seemed to transform into a faint dragon shadow. The dragon shadow was ethereal, yet extremely dignified; its purple-gold dragon scales were as if the most noble thing between heaven and earth.

A flash of enlightenment crossed Li Luo's mind—this was the true Heavenly Dragon essence blood.

The Heavenly Dragon essence blood refined out by this special spiritual liquid and the "Pill-Boiling Blood-Refining Physique-Transformation Art"!

His mind moved, and this wisp of purple-gold aura drilled into the "Dragon Lightning Physique" Physique Palace.

Here, thunderclouds hung densely; the dragon shadow transformed by the Dragon Physique darted through the thunderclouds, bathing in the thunder.

However, when this wisp of purple-gold aura appeared within the Physique Palace, the dragon shadow transformed by the Dragon Physique suddenly halted its swimming figure; between its dragon eyes, an extremely emotional longing and craving burst forth.

Then the dragon shadow opened its dragon mouth and sucked in fiercely.

That wisp of purple-gold aura was directly swallowed into the dragon mouth.

After swallowing this wisp of aura, the dragon shadow coiled up within the thunderclouds. After a long while, the fluctuations emanating from within this dragon shadow seemed to have become slightly more dignified.

If one observed carefully, one would discover that the dragon scales on the surface of the dragon shadow's body seemed to have gained a wisp of extremely faint purple-gold luster, and its dragon horns had also extended somewhat, becoming sharper and more... noble.

Every bit of this change was perceived clearly by Li Luo.

He understood in his heart that this proved the "Pill-Boiling Blood-Refining Physique-Transformation Art" truly had effect. As his own Heavenly Dragon essence blood was refined out and then supplied to the Dragon Physique within his body, the Dragon Physique was indeed beginning to evolve toward the Heavenly Dragon Physique.

However, it appeared this evolution was rather slow.

But slowness did not matter—as long as it could succeed, Li Luo had enough patience.

The only trouble was that the process of refining the Heavenly Dragon essence blood was too painful, but in this world, power obtained for free was never reliable; only power tempered through trials was truly unshakeable as bedrock.

So Li Luo endured the pain, his mind gradually tending toward tranquility.

He cast aside all distracting thoughts, wholeheartedly operating the "Pill-Boiling Blood-Refining Physique-Transformation Art," tempering himself.

Outside the Scorching Mountain Cauldron, Li Li Jingzhe and Li Li Qingpeng gazed at Li Luo, who was gradually calming down within the cauldron, and both nodded slightly.

"Xiao Luo's temperament is extraordinary. Though usually mild, the resilience within his bones is no worse than anyone's. It seems this evolution should be without mishap," Li Li Qingpeng said with a smile.

Li Li Jingzhe nodded. Compared to Li Taixuan, Li Luo's edge was more restrained and more flexible—perhaps this was also related to the environments the two had experienced. Li Taixuan had grown up in the Dragon Fang Branch since childhood, so naturally his edge was extremely strong, and this was also the root of the great troubles he later invited. Li Luo, on the other hand, because of the Luo Lan Mansion, and because Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan had been missing for many years, had come to understand better the art of hiding one's light.

For Li Luo this time, evolving the Heavenly Dragon Physique should not be difficult; the key was to see what grade he could achieve.

"His evolution this time will require no short period. Have people seal off this great hall—no one may enter. As for Jiang Jiang Qinge's side, go and speak with her as well, tell her not to worry," Li Li Jingzhe instructed Li Li Qingpeng.

"Yes." Li Li Qingpeng hurriedly assented, then withdrew.

Li Li Jingzhe, meanwhile, casually sat cross-legged within the great hall, his eyes closing—clearly intending to personally guard this place.

And this guard—

Lasted a full two months.

During these two months, the Jiehe Domain grew increasingly lively, because as time passed, everyone felt a faint mist appearing in the world. This mist was rather strange, with eerie whispers faintly emanating from within it, possessing a power to bewitch the mind.

The people of the Jiehe Domain were not unfamiliar with this strange mist; this was "Ghost Mist." Once this kind of fog began to appear, it meant the so-called "Black Rain Ghost Calamity" was already brewing.

Some worried about this, while others rejoiced.

Because before the "Black Rain Ghost Calamity" descended, the greatest opportunity in the Jiehe Domain—the "Jiehe Treasure Domain"—would also open along with it.

That was a great opportunity greatly coveted by numerous powers and titled Marquis-level powerhouses.

Every time the "Jiehe Treasure Domain" opened, numerous Foundation Establishment spiritual treasures would emerge into the world, among them no shortage of high-grade or even top-grade items. Some ordinarily lofty upper-grade titled Marquises would cast aside their dignity for this, fighting with reddened eyes.

So after the "Ghost Mist" appeared, increasingly more powers and powerhouses instead flooded into the Jiehe Domain, among them no shortage of figures who possessed illustrious reputations in the Outer Shenzhou.

Thus, while the Jiehe Domain grew increasingly lively, it also became more chaotic.

Jiehe Domain, the garrison of the Qin Li Tianwang's lineage—Abyss City.

In the west of the city stood a massive guest-receiving platform cast from bluestone, which was only activated when the Qin Li Tianwang's lineage was receiving honored guests.

And today, led by Qin Jiujie, the high-ranking members of the Qin Li Tianwang's lineage garrisoned in Abyss City had all gathered here.

Qin Qin Lian was naturally also present.

Behind her also stood Qin Yi and Chu Qing.

At this moment, both of them raised their heads, gazing at the massive object cutting across the distant sky—a giant warship, except the warship's entire body seemed to be refined from some kind of beast bone, with the forms of ten thousand beasts inscribed upon it.

Qin Yi stared at the giant vessel. What it represented was a Li Tianwang-level faction from the Xuanling Outer Shenzhou, one that possessed illustrious fame.

The Spirit Hall of Beast Tamers.

Invited by the lineage of Qin Li Tianwang, this fierce dragon crossing the river had arrived as promised.