Chapter 305: The Nine Cauldrons Reappear, Realm Breakthrough!

The ancient red dragon let out a long roar, and a gust of wind swept up the Fire Qilin, saying: "If you have no other business, come with me. Since you seek to condense fortune and momentum, and return to your homeland, you must go to Jiangnan."

Li Guanyi nodded, then suddenly remembered something and said: "Senior, wait a moment."

The ancient red dragon gave a slight nod, curious about what Li Guanyi intended to do.

He had thought Li Guanyi had something important to attend to.

But he saw the boy turn back, hurry to the spot where Chen Baixian of the Chen State had planted rare herbs, hesitate briefly, then begin to think deeply—Li Guanyi's gaze lowered, settling on the most abundant of the medicinal plants.

These were specifically for forging the body and strengthening blood and qi, and there was a great quantity.

These herbs were used by ordinary people to build a foundation for martial cultivation.

Li Guanyi himself had consumed many of them when he was in Yicheng—no, these were available outside too, but he couldn't carry much; the cost-to-benefit ratio was too low.

He paused, then turned his gaze to the herbs deep within.

Each was a rare flower or exotic fruit, ginseng or lingzhi, their potent medicinal energy converging into primordial qi, nearly forming visible auroras of radiance—these were top-tier medicinal treasures, useful even for Li Guanyi's current realm.

But unfortunately, one needed at least the Third Heaven realm to use the power of these herbs, relying on powerful internal organs to catalyze their essence; martial cultivators below this level lacked sufficient organ strength to process such medicine.

The potency of this level of medicine was so intense, for martial cultivators below the Third Heaven, it was nearly equivalent to poison.

Too high a concentration was no good—even good things could become deadly toxins.

So Li Guanyi's gaze shifted to the mid-tier herbs.

Cultivators who had entered the realm could consume them; when blended with ordinary herbs into pills, they could be issued to elite soldiers of the Fire Qilin Army for cultivation.

In truth, Li Guanyi lacked all three tiers of these herbs.

But right now, he simply could not take too much.

So after careful selection, he bent down and swiftly gathered herbs from the mid-tier medicinal fields—

This trip was rare—he had come here only once.

He didn't know when he'd return next.

This Mystical Realm was within the Chen State, far from Jiangnan; Li Guanyi, calculating every ounce, harvested many herbs and fruits, first filling his battle robe into a sack—but at that moment, the ancient red dragon watched in silence and spoke up:

"Just using your battle robe? How much can it hold?"

"The wine gourd at your waist contains a hidden realm, imbued with an extraordinary array—it can hold three dou and three sheng."

"Better to put them inside."

Li Guanyi was reminded, and tried—initially, nothing would fit; but after thinking, he applied the array knowledge he'd gleaned from the Whale Fisher, and somehow figured something out.

The mouth of the wine gourd shifted—and truly, it absorbed all the herbs.

Li Guanyi was overjoyed.

He immediately began diligently picking herbs.

The ancient red dragon sighed deeply.

He found this fellow strangely peculiar.

Sometimes grand and heroic, sometimes stubbornly inexplicable—like now, he looked exactly like an old farmer staring at a bountiful harvest, or a mouse fallen into a rice bin—his poverty radiated plainly.

Even more than that fellow from back then, the Red Emperor.

The red dragon thought.

Yet even back then, that fellow, though poor, could be extravagantly showy.

His pockets were cleaner than his face, yet his boasts were outrageous—he could easily fool people.

Li Guanyi was poor but thrifty, striving to save every coin; whereas the Red Emperor, though penniless, dared to feast lavishly, act the part, eat his fill, then when it came time to pay, spread his hands: "No money—I'll let you beat me up instead, and we'll call it even."

Thinking of the old friend, the ancient red dragon felt a complex tide of emotion.

All memories of that friend had become dreams and bubbles—no trace remained except within his own recollection.

Li Guanyi spent a full hour gathering herbs, filling the three-dou-three-sheng wine gourd, then stood up, wiped his forehead—though no sweat was there—and exhaled.

He shook the wine gourd.

"Old man… Senior, you truly have abilities!"

Li Guanyi felt delighted.

Previously, the Thousand-Day Drunk had brought back many strategists; now this gourd could carry so many herbs back—Li Guanyi picked additional herbs beneficial for body nourishment, planning to supplement Master Yan Daiqing's health.

He tied his battle robe into a bundle, then bowed to the red dragon and said: "Senior, I'm ready."

The ancient red dragon gave a slight nod, used an extraordinary technique, and instantly carried Li Guanyi and the Fire Qilin aloft, ascending on auspicious clouds—Li Guanyi felt the scenery around him blur rapidly, gales howling past his ears.

In a single blink, the Chen State's Mystical Realm was left behind, shrinking into a speck; in another blink, it vanished into the dense forest, unseen—mountains rolled, clouds and auroras filled the sky.

This speed far surpassed that of any martial cultivator soaring through air or the Fire Qilin stepping on void—Li Li Zhaowen had the divine bird Jin Chida, which could fly from the Western Regions to Yicheng in a single day, yet the ancient red dragon's speed far exceeded even Jin Chida's.

Li Guanyi couldn't help but envy it.

The journey to the Western Regions was necessary.

To reach the Western Regions from Jiangnan required traveling a vast distance, and he couldn't pass through the Chen State—if he did, he'd have to cross the Chen border twice, and traverse the territories of the Regent and the Tangxiang Kingdom to reach Li Li Zhaowen.

Going through the Ying State would require a long detour.

Added to that, war had disrupted post stations and blocked mountain passes.

If he relied on merchant caravans, it would take at least three to five months.

The tide of the world's fate surged like waves—three to five months could turn the Western Regions into something unrecognizable; but with this red dragon, Li Guanyi and his party might reach the Western Regions in half a day.

And absolutely undetected, far beyond anyone's expectations.

They could become a surprise force.

Stirring the world's balance once more.

How envious he was.

As if sensing Li Guanyi's gaze was too obvious, the ancient red dragon's deep voice spoke: "Li Guanyi, staring at me like that—what scheme are you concocting?"

Li Guanyi replied: "Nothing much—just marveling at your speed, your lofty cultivation, your peerless divine arts, soaring on clouds and mist, crossing ten thousand li in the blink of an eye—truly admirable, astonishing."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong Dao:

"Your mouth is sweet indeed."

"What schemes are you brewing in that little belly of yours? Speak up and let me hear."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong seemed to be in good spirits.

Li Guanyi, with unshakable boldness, said: "As I said before, I hope the Taigu Chilong Elder will take us to the Western Regions."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong first blinked in surprise, then burst into loud laughter, his voice like rolling thunder, stirring the surrounding sea of clouds; below, the common folk thought rain was coming and began gathering their clothes, while Li Guanyi and the Fire Qilin atop the dragon's head were shaken so violently their heads throbbed.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong said: "Truly a child."

"Can any ordinary person climb upon the back of a divine dragon? Moreover, you've already chosen the path of reversing the Son of Heaven Divine Art—I've done you no disservice by aiding you, so why would I take you to the Western Regions?"

The Ancient Taigu Chilong laughed again:

"Unless… you can still shock me."

"For instance, if you can do something similar to your great-grandfather Elder Murong's sword, then perhaps I might consider it."

Li Guanyi's rising hope vanished instantly; he could only let out a bitter laugh: "To shock you—that demand is far too harsh."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong said calmly:

"If you're going to dream such a daytime fantasy, then it must be harsh indeed."

After these words, Li Guanyi and the Fire Qilin gazed at the scenery in the sky, saying nothing more; not long passed before they reached the Jiangnan region. The Ancient Taigu Chilong slowed his pace and said: "We've arrived, Li Guanyi. I shall impart to you a mantra and cultivation method."

"It is a technique to harness great momentum and destiny."

"Memorize it well."

Li Guanyi carefully memorized it, then suddenly felt the mantra seemed familiar—he thought hard, recalling how Master Siming had once helped him cultivate his physique using the Golden Tiger Seal of the Tuyuhun. The qi had been similar.

Li Guanyi suddenly understood.

Had the Tuyuhun forged the Three-Six Wang Yin by slaying the chieftains of the thirty-six tribes—wasn't that also a way of forging divine weapons, absorbing destiny, gathering it within oneself, and establishing a reign of dominion?

Only now, after the Ancient Taigu Chilong's insight, did he look back and clearly perceive the faint traces hidden within his past experiences.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong waited until Li Guanyi had fully mastered this technique, then said:

"This method allows mortal strength to guide great momentum, transforming it into a divine art. Aside from being essential preparation for practicing the Son of Heaven Divine Art, it is also a powerful technique—useful in certain moments. Did you memorize it clearly?"

Li Guanyi nodded in assent.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong then said: "I shall help you gather Jiangnan's destiny, but you'll need a divine weapon to carry this force. Then, leave that weapon in Jiangnan, reversing the path of the Son of Heaven Divine Art, and you can achieve what you desire."

Li Guanyi nodded solemnly.

The dragon circled high above the nine heavens, emitting a low dragon chant.

A radiant glow surged from Li Guanyi's body, shimmering with brilliant light.

The divine aura of countless weapons soared skyward, illuminating the young man's radiant form.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong shook his head: "You've got no shortage of divine weapons and armor—your body's blinding the eyes."

"Yet somehow, you're still short on gold, silver, and jewels."

"What a strange anomaly this mortal is."

"Even I cannot tell whether you're poor or rich."

One by one, the divine weapons glowed: Longtu's Wooden Sword, the divine weapon Chi Xiao, the Tiger Roars to Heaven Battle Spear, the Xue Family's Cloud-Shattering Heaven-Bow—all dazzling and magnificent—yet Longtu's Wooden Sword dimmed immediately, its light fading.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong commented: "Longtu's Wooden Sword—a divine weapon forged from the swordmaster's lifelong sword intent. It was perfectly suited to your path, but its intent is too pure, its killing will too fierce—it clashes with your own path."

"Elder Murong was never one who walked the path of the Son of Heaven."

"You wish to return destiny to the world; he slashed it apart with a single sword. No, no."

Then the Tiger Roars to Heaven Battle Spear and the Cloud-Shattering Heaven-Bow both glowed faintly.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong fixed his gaze upon these two divine weapons, recalling the deeds of an old friend from eight hundred years past—a mighty, unrivaled man. He seemed to sense something, lifting his gaze slightly; the Fire Qilin also felt it, lifting its head.

At this moment, the dragon bore Li Guanyi and the Fire Qilin as they drifted through clouds and rosy light.

Amidst the clouds, his body glowed golden-red; below, mountains and rivers rose from the earth, and when they looked upward, they saw stars shifting, subtly transforming into the radiance of the White Tiger's Seven Mansions.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong murmured: "The fate of the stars—the Bai Hu Da Zong—the destiny of the Bai Hu Da Zong that stirs chaos…"

The Ancient Taigu Chilong's gaze seemed to pierce through the connection between the present and the illusory fate.

"Yet your fate… appears as a vast, empty void—nothing like the White Tiger. You merely draw in its starlight… hmm?" The dragon was slightly startled, as if he had "seen" Li Guanyi's fate.

Not only did he draw in the starlight of the Bai Hu Da Zong—the Four Celestial Symbols' fate: Taigu Chilong, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, Phoenix—all had faint threads of starlight converging into this youth's fate. Such a destiny pattern, He had never seen in eight thousand years.

"…Because of these fate-taints, you encountered the Yao Guang and Po Jun of the Bai Hu Da Zong lineage, met Master Siming, who bears the He Tu Luo Shu fate, encountered Chi Xiao—the sword left behind by Chi Di, and… the Phoenix?"

The Ancient Taigu Chilong turned his gaze westward.

Faintly, he saw the noble, unapproachable Phoenix fate descending.

Faintly, he saw a girl, seventeen or eighteen, her brows arched like flying phoenixes, a golden-red vertical mark on her forehead, bearing the bearing of dragon and phoenix—bound by fate, thus destined to meet.

But fate is only so much.

It determines whom you meet, but the final outcome depends on personal choice. The divine dragon, once called the "Lord of Crimson Flame That Wraps the Heavens, the Celestial Lord Who Swallows the Sun" in ancient times, gazed upon Li Guanyi's fate.

His fate is thin, riddled with calamities.

White Tiger, Taigu Chilong, Black Tortoise, Phoenix—all met him because they drew in a thread of starlight; their meeting endured only because of his own choices.

Yet this youth's fate carries a cold plum tree.

The cold plum is serene.

Not ordained by heaven.

It is sought by man.

The world says: what cannot be forced, cannot be forced.

But this cold plum refuses to believe it—it insists on forcing the unforceable.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong could not help lowering his gaze in admiration: "What a stubborn, relentless human striving."

Li Guanyi said: "Elder?"

The Crimson Dragon did not wish to elaborate; fate numbers only reveal the past from this moment onward, and hold little meaning for the future. Throughout history, how many whose fate numbers promised nobility met grim ends; how many with ordinary fate numbers rose to the top.

"The Bai Hu Da Zong ignites the fire of chaotic times, and is the master of war and slaughter."

"It is unsuited to bear the qi and fortune of the people and the mountains and rivers."

Thus, the Tiger Roaring Heaven Halberd and the Cloud-Piercing Thunder Bow dispersed, dissolving into streams of light.

In the end, only the Chi Xiao Sword remained suspended in the air.

The Chi Xiao Sword seemed exceedingly proud, convinced it had surpassed the Tiger Roaring Heaven Halberd and the Wooden Sword Dragon Map—

Since Elder Murong forged the divine weapon Dragon Map Sword, Li Guanyi had gradually used the Chi Xiao Sword less; the Chi Xiao Sword naturally disliked this, and now that it found itself superior to its two former rivals, it clearly let out a long-suffering sigh of satisfaction.

Just as Li Guanyi, guided by the Crimson Dragon, channeled all the fortunes into it—

A clear, crisp sound echoed at his ear.

Like Jin Yu cracking open.

That was, the Ding's ring!

Instantly, the mountain-and-river, people's fortune that had been about to settle upon the Chi Xiao Sword was severed; the Chi Xiao Sword froze, no longer hovering or circling in the air, but hanging rigidly in place. Then, with a sudden sword cry, it dissolved into light and vanished.

And at Li Guanyi's ear, the sound of the bronze Ding grew louder and louder.

The Ancient Crimson Dragon was stunned: "Huh??"

"Not the Chi Xiao Sword?!"

"Li Guanyi, you have a fifth divine weapon on your person?!"

"And this fifth divine weapon is even more worthy than the Chi Xiao Sword to bear the mountain-and-river, people's fortune?"

Li Guanyi said: "Perhaps?"

The Ancient Crimson Dragon fell silent, then sighed, unable to help but praise:

"Hahaha, what a rich pauper!"

"You and your great-great-grandfather are both figures who won't reappear even in eight thousand years."

"Come, come!"

"Let me lend you a hand."

Amid the Crimson Dragon's roar, Li Guanyi felt a thunderous boom at his ear; all things in heaven and earth gradually blurred. The bronze Ding rang at a level far beyond its previous limits. In a daze, Li Guanyi's spirit condensed inward, once again stepping into the world within the bronze Ding.

But this time, it was no longer as before—entering the bronze Ding.

No longer stepping one by one up the Bai Yu staircases.

Before Li Guanyi's eyes, the bronze Ding seemed impossibly vast, as if connected to heaven and earth, its texture ancient, heavy. Li Guanyi felt the mountain-and-river, people's fortune swirling around him. A sudden insight struck him, and he slowly raised his hand.

He felt as if he had become a giant.

His hand touched the body of the bronze Ding.

Flashing before Li Guanyi's eyes were countless scenes: the common folk of Jiangnan, the men tilling fields, the women weaving cloth, the children reading books, every guardian of this land—countless, countless, converging like brilliant stars.

These stars twined around him; he could hear voices of conversation at his ear.

The part of the bronze Ding his fingers touched suddenly shimmered with flowing light; then golden light surged outward, etching the traces of mountains, rivers, lands, and cities onto one side of the massive bronze Ding.

Almost instantly, the entire two-thousand-li territory of Jiangnan—its every mountain and river—was inscribed upon the bronze Ding, transforming into a beautiful, ancient map pattern, slowly unfolding.

The bronze Ding emitted a prolonged, majestic resonance, unceasing.

Li Guanyi felt the ground tremble and mountains shake. He did not know how long had passed when a vast, distant voice reached his ear: "Li Guanyi, what is this object? Why does it absorb fortune so violently and overwhelmingly?!"

Li Guanyi snapped open his eyes and saw the Ancient Crimson Dragon soaring swiftly through the heavens.

Even the Ancient Crimson Dragon, who had lived eight thousand years, wore an expression of shock:

"You've finally awakened! Where is that divine weapon?!"

"Just now, waves of mountain-and-river, people's fortune poured in, nearly flooding into your body—yet I detected no divine weapon aura on you at all."

Li Guanyi hesitated, then said: "Inside me."

The Ancient Crimson Dragon, with his vast experience, immediately understood:

"Inside you?"

"Then either this divine weapon has lain dormant for so long that its primordial energy has greatly dissipated, its power greatly diminished—"

"Or you have obtained it, but your foundation and strength are still insufficient to awaken its full power, so it sleeps within you. Yet I have never seen one so swiftly bear the mountain-and-river fortune."

"I have watched humanity for eight thousand years, yet I never imagined there exists a divine weapon more suited to bear the mountain-and-river, people's fortune than the Chi Xiao Sword, which bore the eight-hundred-year reign of the Red Emperor. What is this object's name?"

Li Guanyi took a deep breath.

His expression solemn, he spoke in his past life's tongue:

"Jiu Ding."

"Jiu Ding?"

The Ancient Crimson Dragon repeated it. Li Guanyi spoke it again in this life's tongue, and only then did the Ancient Crimson Dragon understand. He spoke slowly: "Yet though you possess this object, you cannot wield it. It bears the qi of human destiny, yet you cannot take the next step."

"It has left both you and me suspended in midair."

"I am curious about this Jiu Ding. Let me see what manner of thing it truly is. Hahaha, boy, hold on tight!"

The Ancient Crimson Dragon roared, unleashing torrents of immense energy that surged toward Li Guanyi. Inside Li Guanyi, the enlarged bronze Ding erupted with powerful energy, beginning to absorb the Ancient Crimson Dragon's power.

The Ancient Crimson Dragon's foundation was immensely profound, unmatched in this age.

Yet the Jiu Ding seemed capable of endlessly absorbing primordial energy.

Li Guanyi knew the weight of the Jiu Ding's legend. He opened his eyes and urged: "Elder, this divine weapon is unique. I believe what we have now is already sufficient. You need not pour more primordial energy."

"If you continue, I fear you may injure yourself."

Li Guanyi meant well, but the Ancient Crimson Dragon did not comprehend the Jiu Ding's burden.

Li Guanyi had no way to explain it to the Ancient Crimson Dragon.

To awaken the full power of the nine sacred tripods by one's own strength—this was something everyone in Li Guanyi's past life would hear and immediately break into a cold sweat, then urge him to stop.

Fuck, how dare you?

The Ancient Taigu Chilong assumed Li Guanyi was challenging him.

The ancient divine dragon let out a roaring laugh, shaking the four directions, then said: "Ahahaha, so you've finally shown your true colors? No wonder you're the great-great-grandson of the Master Jiankuang Murong Longtu—your arrogance matches his perfectly."

"My foundation is vast—yet I cannot awaken your full glory?"

"Ridiculous!"

"I shall help you fully activate this 【Nine Tripods】!"

The Ancient Taigu Chilong let out a long roar that shook the surroundings, and waves of dragon essence surged toward Li Guanyi—he had expected to fill Li Guanyi's divine weapon in moments and fully awaken its power.

But after dozens of breaths, the rate of energy absorption showed no sign of weakening—the Ancient Taigu Chilong sensed something was wrong.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong instinctively tried to withdraw the essence.

But he could not pull it back.

The streams of essence were being swallowed uncontrollably into the tripod!

"!!!"

What is this thing?!

The Ancient Taigu Chilong was stunned—he felt his eight-thousand-year accumulated, terrifying essence flowing backward like a reversed river, pouring straight into the bronze tripod, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not stop it.

Great changes occurred upon the bronze tripod.

Having previously absorbed the essence of the legendary martial cultivator Gui Xu, and now with the qi of the mountains, rivers, and countless people returning, aided by the Ancient Taigu Chilong's essence, the divine weapon finally revealed its true form.

With a crisp cracking sound and a resonant hum.

One side of the bronze tripod's surface shattered; the original blue slowly cracked and turned to ash, while on that side, from its initial ancient bronze simplicity, it transformed into a faint golden hue.

This was the original true form of the Nine Tripods.

And the map of Jiangnan's territories and cities was now etched onto this side.

Yet even so, the bronze tripod refused to stop.

Seeing he could not reclaim his essence, the Ancient Taigu Chilong grew angry, laughing like thunder as wind and clouds surged.

"Great appetite!"

"Great appetite!"

"Old man shall see just how much you can swallow!"

Eight thousand years of essence poured in relentlessly.

Li Guanyi was caught between the Ancient Taigu Chilong and the Nine Tripods, feeling the terrifying pure dragon essence continuously pouring into the bronze tripod, with fine threads of vibration escaping, mixing with the tripod's power, and flowing into his body.

He could only exert all his strength to run his cultivation art.

The Ancient Taigu Chilong's true essence and the lingering resonance of the Nine Tripods converged into Li Guanyi's dantian, then like cold water poured into boiling oil, his qi and internal energy began to churn and boil.

His Fifth Heaven Initial Stage rapidly rose to perfection.

Fifth Heaven Initial Stage—broken through!

Fifth Heaven Middle Stage—perfected! Broken through!

Qi flames surged upward.

Broke through!

Broke through!!!

?? Please vote for monthly tickets, friends!