On the Path to the Great Dao

Zhong Wuwang witnessed this scene, his heart pounding violently: "Only one day remains, don't cause any trouble."

The Celestial Way Immortals and Celestial Way Walkers stationed around the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace discovered the abnormalities within the furnace, each one filled with shock and uncertainty. Immediately, an immortal summoned his Primordial Spirit to investigate.

"What is that black flame?"

Inside the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace, the black flame spread like a drop of ink, turning the other flames black as it rapidly expanded.

Soon, the entire Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace was pitch black!

Those Celestial Way Immortals and Celestial Way Walkers each channeled their mana, attempting to suppress the black flames. However, the flames within the furnace devoured their mana, and the fire only grew stronger, surging toward the heaven and earth within the furnace!

Black flames filled the sky, obscuring everything!

The little fairy maiden's heart rejoiced: "It's working!"

Her Phoenix Profound Flame possessed extraordinary power, one of the strongest immortal flames of the Great Shang Era. Having invaded the furnace, it would surely incinerate and destroy those heavenly soldiers still in the process of formation!

"My Dark Bird Profound Flame exists outside the five elements of yin and yang. No one on Despair Slope can extinguish my Profound Flame," she thought to herself.

A Celestial Way Immortal bellowed: "I'll dive into the furnace to investigate. All of you, protect me!"

His Primordial Spirit summoned a great bell, and the bell's body instantly swelled to an immense size. Various imprints appeared on its surface, floating beyond the bell's walls, forming a waterfall-like screen of light.

Within the light screen, countless imprints flowed like written characters, cycling endlessly.

That Celestial Way Immortal used this immortal artifact to shield himself. The other two immortals combined their strength to pry open a crack in the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace, and he immediately flew into the furnace.

Everyone outside watched him nervously. They saw the immortal's Primordial Spirit charge into the black flames, gazing at the heaven and earth within the furnace. But in merely a moment, he immediately fled outward, crying out: "Such formidable black flames! Fellow senior brothers, help me suppress the black flames!"

He burst out of the sea of fire, retreating to a place without black flames. The immortals together activated the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace, and suddenly, a gentle breeze and fine rain appeared from nowhere, extinguishing the black flames.

That immortal's Primordial Spirit flew out of the furnace, and those beside it hurriedly opened the furnace lid.

This person flew out, exclaiming: "Perilous, exceedingly perilous!"

In that brief moment, the bronze bell had been burned through with a massive hole. Had it not been for this treasure's protection, he would likely have perished in the sea of fire.

"Immortal Palace, a change has occurred within the furnace!"

That Celestial Way Immortal, disregarding whether he himself was damaged, immediately spoke to the little fairy maiden: "After this black flame appeared, the heavenly soldiers are forming even faster! At the current rate, I fear they may be completed three days ahead of schedule!"

The little fairy maiden's heart jolted, and she said: "Open the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace. I'll go in and take a look!"

That Celestial Way Immortal advised: "The black flame within the furnace is extremely dangerous. Immortal Palace, you preside over the ritual refining. If anything should happen to you..."

"It's fine."

The little fairy maiden's expression was calm: "This kind of immortal flame is formed when the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace is pushed to its limits. I've made considerable progress in the art of creation, which is why I can activate the immortal furnace and manifest such immortal flames."

Upon hearing this, the immortals each sighed in admiration, saying in succession: "In the art of creation, we are far inferior to you, Immortal."

Two immortals lifted the enormous furnace lid. The lid was several thousand mu in size, its surface covered with exceedingly intricate patterns, carved with all sorts of strange talisman scripts and mythical beast designs. It required the Primordial Spirits of two immortals just to raise the lid a crack.

The little fairy maiden flew up and drifted into the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace.

At that very moment, another figure followed swiftly behind the little fairy maiden, sneaking into the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace.

"Zhuang Wujiu! Your cultivation is too shallow, you can't go in!"

The immortals cried out in alarm, reaching out to grab him, but they grasped only empty air.

The little fairy maiden's voice came from within the furnace: "Fellow Daoists, no need to worry. With me here, Wujiu won't be harmed."

The immortals were somewhat relieved and looked into the furnace. They saw the little fairy maiden leading "Zhuang Wujiu" to the sea of fire. The black sea of flames seemed intimately familiar with her, the fire waves rubbing against her skirt like docile kittens, yet not burning either of them in the slightest.

"Immortal Palace truly possesses immeasurable divine abilities!" The immortals praised in unison.

The little fairy maiden led Zhuang Wujiu into the sea of fire, and their figures were swallowed by the black inferno.

The others couldn't see through the sea of fire, nor did they know what was happening within.

"Hopefully nothing goes wrong!" They thought to themselves.

The little fairy maiden led Zhuang Wujiu deep into the sea of fire, saying: "Fifth Uncle, they can't see through the sea of fire. You need not worry here."

Zhuang Wujiu's appearance gradually shifted, transforming into Creation Little Five's form. He asked: "Daughter-in-law, where is Little Ten?"

"He is comprehending the Celestial Venerable's cultivation technique. Fifth Uncle, why did you follow me in?" The little fairy maiden inquired.

Creation Little Five said frankly: "I want to see how the creations made by Gong Wanqing using the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace differ from me. I am also a creation, and the heavenly soldiers are creations too. Back then, when Father and I entered Despair Slope, we were captured alive by the Celestial Way Walkers. Father restored me to a puppet form and tied me to his person, even studying me together with Gong Wanqing. Heh!"

He placed his hands behind his head, saying carelessly: "I am a tool manufactured by Father. Father and Gong Wanqing studied me for so long. I want to see how the heavenly soldiers they developed differ from me."

The little fairy maiden tilted her head in thought, still unable to understand the mind of a creation. She said: "Little Ten and I saw the murals you painted on the Bronze Great Wall. At that time, Grandpa and Gong Wanqing still had a good relationship. He was laughing very happily."

Creation Little Five was slightly stunned, then shook his head: "I didn't paint those. At that time, I was tied to Father's waist, treated like a treasure for Gong Wanqing to study. How would I have had the chance to run out?"

The little fairy maiden was also stunned. When she and Chen Shi had discovered that painting, they'd guessed it was painted by Creation Little Five. Chen Shi had even thought that Creation Little Five's painting skills had regressed.

"Could it have been painted by that maidservant, A Tang?"

She thought to herself: "That's right. Gong Wanqing carries herself like a young lady from a great household, always bringing her maidservant wherever she goes. Only, she never realized that the man she loved didn't fancy her, but rather that transparent presence of a maidservant."

Creation Little Five stared at the black flames, reaching out to touch them. His finger immediately caught fire, the black flames climbing up his digit.

His finger suddenly detached on its own, like a gecko shedding its tail, and slowly grew a new finger, albeit a rather thin and small one.

The little fairy maiden gave him a deep look, knowing in her heart that this person was extremely dangerous.

Among the Chen family, Chen Yindu possessed boundless wisdom, Chen Tang was meticulous in thought, Chen Shi was gentle and kind. Only Chen Wu remained someone she couldn't see through.

She led Creation Little Five through layer after layer of the sea of fire, and before them emerged a vast world. Sun, moon, mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas all came into view.

"There's a world inside this furnace!"

Both their hearts shook violently.

The Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace truly lived up to the words "Heaven and Earth" in its name. It contained heaven and earth within, encompassing yin and yang and the five elements, forming a world of its own.

Within this furnace, heaven and earth served as the forge, creation as the craftsman, yin and yang as the charcoal, and the myriad things as copper. It required eight immortals and dozens of Celestial Way Walkers, channeling their own mana to activate the great Dao talisman scripts of heaven and earth, creation, and yin and yang within the furnace, thereby manifesting the power of creation and gradually forming the desired living beings.

Now, within this furnace's heaven and earth, countless humanoid creations were slaughtering each other, their figures moving like lightning, as if magic treasures were being tempered against one another.

This was how heavenly soldiers were refined.

Those humanoid creations were the heavenly soldiers.

The immortals activated the immortal furnace, opening up a world within, creating all living things. Billions of beings devoured each other within, killing one another in mutual destruction. The creations that survived would grow ever stronger.

Eventually, after surviving the heavenly tribulation within the furnace and absorbing its power, they would be considered fully refined heavenly soldiers.

These heavenly soldiers possessed power approaching that of Celestial Immortals, astonishing combat instincts, no fear of death, no sense of pain. They could also, like Creation Little Five, die and be reborn, becoming even stronger after each resurrection!

From time to time, a creation would fall in this competition, a ball of immortal fire flying from its body, devoured by other creations.

That immortal fire was composed of peculiar talisman scripts, complex in structure and profound in mystery. As the immortal fire flowed, the talismans changed along with the flames.

The little fairy maiden was astonished, looking around in every direction. She saw the form of heaven and earth was like a giant furnace, though surrounded by black flames. From time to time, rumbling tremors came from the horizon, followed by massive dark talismans flying out of the sea of fire, transforming into strange creation power that permeated heaven and earth.

She even felt this strange power seeping into her own body, attempting to coalesce into a small mass of immortal fire within her.

"This furnace's power of creation is unfathomably mysterious. It's not an artifact of Great Shang or the Ming Dynasty."

She couldn't help but be moved. What exactly had caused this magic treasure of unfathomable might to end up in Western Ox New Continent?

She had heard Chen Shi mention the origins of the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace, but the story of sea monsters carrying such a treasure ashore on their backs, wreaking havoc before dying at the hands of Ming Dynasty cultivators—it hadn't sounded absurd when she first heard it. But now, seeing this immortal artifact of the highest order with her own eyes, she realized just how utterly absurd that story truly was!

"How could those sea monsters possibly activate a creation-grade immortal artifact, with demonic beasts leaping endlessly from the furnace?"

The little fairy maiden blinked, involuntarily thinking of the Yin Yang Qi Bottle. She thought: "Could this treasure, like the Yin Yang Qi Bottle, have been deliberately sent to the mortal world, using others' power to compensate for the treasure's deficiencies? This treasure is too formidable—it can even devour my Great Shang royal family's Phoenix Profound Flame and convert it to its own use. The master of this treasure must be far more powerful than the master of the Yin Yang Qi Bottle!"

Just as she was about to continue observing, a creation suddenly spotted them and flew toward them. The little fairy maiden looked from a distance and her heart jolted: "Creation Little Five!"

The humanoid creation flying toward them looked exactly like Creation Little Five!

Creation Little Five saw this creation's face clearly and was momentarily stunned, then was overcome with joy. He laughed heartily, and like a great toad, crouched, leaped, and landed before that creation. Opening his mouth wide, he swallowed it whole!

The little fairy maiden hurried over, transmitting her voice: "Fifth Uncle, this place is extremely dangerous. There may be abnormally powerful creations here! We must leave quickly!"

Creation Little Five turned a deaf ear, leaping about like a golden toad crossing water, and with each bound, jumped into the continent below.

The little fairy maiden gave chase, but found Creation Little Fives everywhere. They covered the mountains and fields, each wielding Dao techniques and divine abilities, battling fiercely, killing until rivers of blood flowed!

Still other Creation Little Fives fought in close combat, their methods vicious and treacherous, every strike lethal!

"Fifth Uncle!"

The little fairy maiden called out loudly: "This place is extremely dangerous, not fit for a long stay! If we remain too long, the power of creation will affect us and turn us into creations of the furnace!"

Her voice immediately attracted the surrounding Creation Little Fives. Dozens of them charged at her!

"Little daughter-in-law, you go."

Creation Little Five's voice came from afar: "I am a creation by nature! This place suits me perfectly!"

The little fairy maiden dodged these Creation Little Fives and followed the sound.

She chased to where the voice had come from and saw before her a vast plain. Tens of thousands of Creation Little Fives were slaughtering each other on this plain, among them no shortage of extremely powerful existences, each strike reaping the lives of hundreds of Creation Little Fives!

"This is where I truly belong!"

Creation Little Five's laughter rang out. The little fairy maiden's eyes flickered, and she raised her hand, saying in a low voice: "Fifth Uncle, forgive me!"

Her palm descended. The boundless black sea of flames in the sky surged, countless great fires streaming downward, coalescing into a massive black flame hand that grabbed toward the countless Creation Little Fives on the plain!

Just as she was about to succeed, suddenly heaven and earth hummed and trembled. This tremor carried a terrifying power of creation. The little fairy maiden's face turned pale, and the black flame hand instantly dispersed.

Here, she couldn't even control her Phoenix Profound Flame!

The power of creation from heaven and earth surged forth, and the Phoenix Profound Flame transformed into talisman scripts, refined into the bodies of all creations. Even the little fairy maiden immediately sensed that around her own heart, a layer of talisman patterns composed of black Profound Flame had appeared, gradually becoming clearer.

"I must find Fifth Uncle as quickly as possible and take him away!"

No sooner had she thought this than a Creation Little Five charged at her at incredible speed. The little fairy maiden instinctively moved to strike him down. The moment their mana collided, she suddenly felt a torrent of mana surging toward her, and then heaven and earth around her flipped and inverted!

Her figure was rapidly being flung away from the furnace's heaven and earth. With a whoosh, she burst through the black sea of flames, flying back out of the furnace!

"Little daughter-in-law, I'm in my element here. Don't interfere with my cultivation!"

Creation Little Five's voice came: "If you don't leave now, I'll strike without mercy and make Little Ten find himself a new wife!"

The little fairy maiden steadied herself, standing atop the sea of flames, her skirts billowing in the wind.

She was not injured.

Creation Little Five's attack had looked ferocious, but in truth, it was only meant to send her away.

"Fifth Uncle sent me away because he was worried that if I stayed here, I'd be turned into a creation of the furnace. He might be wicked and strange, but he doesn't seem as bad as Father-in-law made him out to be."

Chen Tang had warned her many times to stay away from Chen Wu, that Chen Wu wasn't human and was very evil.

But after this incident, the little fairy maiden felt that Creation Little Five, when it came to family, was mostly just sharp-tongued.

"Fifth Uncle, you are not a creation."

She transmitted her voice into the furnace's heaven and earth: "You are Little Ten's uncle. If you encounter danger, you must return safely!"

"What a nuisance!" Creation Little Five snorted, paying her no further attention.

At this moment, above the sea of fire, the dome opened. The Celestial Way Immortals had noticed the little fairy maiden, opened the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace, and were guiding her out.

The little fairy maiden flew out of the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace, her expression gloomy: "Wujiu... has already met with misfortune."

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