After learning about the Eastern Region from Moyin, Zhang Ruochen brought her into the Qiankun Realm.
From the battles at Sword Tomb and Immortal Machine Mountain, he had collected hundreds of thousands of Hell Realm cultivators’ remains, mostly from Saints and Saint Kings. If Moyin could absorb them all, her cultivation and strength would surely surge.
Unlike ordinary cultivators, the Saint Devouring Flower faced no bottlenecks; with enough nutrients, her cultivation could rise indefinitely.
Zhang Ruochen was eager to see how strong Moyin would become after refining those remains.
As his origin plant, Moyin was part of his own strength, so he naturally wanted her to be as powerful as possible.
With Moyin leaving the Xuangu mineral vein, Xie Chengzi took over, continuing to mine various ores, possibly unearthing more divine stones.
After arranging everything, Zhang Ruochen followed Ling Feiyu back into the hidden cave.
“Activating the Life-Death Bronze Furnace comes at a high cost, so you have only ten days. Make good use of it.”
Before entering, Ling Feiyu instructed earnestly.
Zhang Ruochen nodded lightly, flew into the furnace, and felt no concern that Ling Feiyu might harm him.
The Life-Death Bronze Furnace was massive, its interior spacious enough for dozens to cultivate simultaneously without issue.
However, that would diminish the cultivation effects.
Zhang Ruochen landed at the furnace’s base and sat cross-legged.
There, he finally saw the Moon Soul Pearl, the Moon Worship Sect’s guardian treasure: a fist-sized, wondrous divine pearl emitting a soft glow, like a small moon.
“A treasure left by the Moon God, truly extraordinary. No wonder Cang Long wants to seize it,” Zhang Ruochen couldn’t help but marvel.
Few in the Kunlun Realm knew the Moon Worship Sect possessed the Moon Soul Pearl, and he wondered how Cang Long had learned of it.
Outside, Ling Feiyu formed a peculiar hand seal, and the furnace began to operate.
Supreme inscriptions emerged, enveloping the furnace in azure light. For ten days, no one could forcibly open it.
After watching the furnace briefly, Ling Feiyu left the cave.
Though Cang Long had been repelled, the sect wasn’t yet secure. This was a critical time, and she needed to oversee it personally to prevent further issues.
From start to finish, she never considered relying solely on the Divine Demon Rat’s father.
Undeniably, he was powerful, but if she could handle matters herself, why disturb him and expose the sect’s trump card early?
Inside the furnace, flames appeared, coiling toward Zhang Ruochen.
“Let’s see what’s special about the flames this furnace releases.”
Muttering, Zhang Ruochen began circulating the Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture, actively drawing the flames into his body.
As Ling Feiyu explained, cultivating in the furnace involved first absorbing the flames to temper body and soul, then drawing the Moon Soul Pearl’s cool energy to nourish them. This balance of firmness and gentleness yielded the best results.
Absorbing only flames would reduce effects and risk incineration if the body couldn’t endure.
Initially, the flames felt mild, warming his body comfortably.
But over time, Zhang Ruochen felt a burning sensation, his body like a furnace, skin turning crimson.
Yet, he didn’t rush to absorb the pearl’s cool energy, instead drawing in more flames.
With his Chen Flame-level Pure Extinguishing Divine Fire and fused Flame God Leg, his fire resistance was exceptional.
For optimal cultivation, he pushed to his limits.
When his body blazed and seemed to melt, he stopped absorbing flames, maintaining that state for hours until reaching his absolute limit. Only then did he release the flames.
Next, Zhang Ruochen continued the scripture, absorbing the Moon Soul Pearl’s power.
Balancing firmness and gentleness forged the strongest physique.
“Phew.”
Exhaling turbid air, a glint flashed in his eyes.
“The furnace and pearl are remarkable. My physique, already at the peak below Great Saint, can still improve, and my soul and mental strength are growing. I must cherish this opportunity,” he thought.
He manifested all six saint souls, aiming to maximize the furnace and pearl’s benefits.
He took out the Secret Tome of Time and Space and the beast hide from Ling Feiyu, his primary focus for study.
The tome, having absorbed Saint Monk Xumi’s divine power in Immortal Machine Mountain’s void, contained vast time and space laws. Mastering it would greatly advance his time and space paths.
The beast hide, detailing the first four levels of Sword Ten insights, was equally significant.
Since he couldn’t take the hide, he had to study it thoroughly before returning it to Ling Feiyu upon leaving.
Immersed in cultivation, time passed swiftly, unnoticed.
At some point, the furnace stopped, flames ceased, and all grew still.
Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes, retracting his six saint souls.
After a hundred days in seclusion, his cultivation hadn’t advanced much, but his gains in other areas were substantial.
“Bang.”
The furnace opened.
Without hesitation, Zhang Ruochen rose and flashed out.
Ling Feiyu greeted him immediately.
Smiling slightly, he handed her the beast hide with the first two Sword Ten levels’ insights, “Back to its owner.”
Ling Feiyu took it, “How did it go?”
“Sword Ten is profoundly mysterious. In such a short time, I couldn’t fully grasp it, but I’ve made some progress,” Zhang Ruochen said with a smile.
Ling Feiyu replied, “Your sword soul is strong enough; comprehending Sword Ten should be twice as effective.”
“Perhaps we could spar. Swordsmanship needs battle to be verified,” Zhang Ruochen said eagerly.
Having caught up to Ling Feiyu in swordsmanship, he was now qualified to spar and discuss the sword path with her.
They left the cave.
On Saint Water Peak, by a snow-covered lake.
Zhang Ruochen and Ling Feiyu stood side by side. On the lake, two figures danced with swords, using ordinary yet profoundly intricate moves, incomprehensible to most.
Mountain, water, and people merged perfectly, like a stunning landscape painting, ethereal and transcendent.
The figures, identical to Zhang Ruochen and Ling Feiyu, displayed their mastery of Sword One to Sword Nine flawlessly.
Swordsmanship, vast and profound, yielded varied insights even from the same texts.
These differences led to diverse achievements in the sword path.
Zhang Ruochen and Ling Feiyu were among the Kunlun Realm’s top sword practitioners. Witnessing their swordplay would benefit anyone greatly.
Eventually, the figures vanished, leaving only the Abyss Ancient Sword and Burial Heaven Sword hovering, radiating sword light.
Both extended a hand, recalling their swords.
“I didn’t expect your sword soul to have undergone a qualitative transformation, reaching the Earth Sword Soul level, a realm many Great Saint sword cultivators never achieve,” Ling Feiyu said, astonished.
Legend held that sword souls had three levels: Human, Earth, and Heaven.
Mastering Sword Nine to a certain degree allowed one to form a Human Sword Soul.
Through various methods, refining the soul to trigger a qualitative change could yield an Earth Sword Soul.
Achieving this was harder than mastering high-tier saint techniques or becoming an Earth Formation Master in the Saint King realm.
“It’s probably because I used seventy bottles of Merit Sword-Washing Marrow,” Zhang Ruochen said with a smile.
Ling Feiyu shook her head, “No, it’s not just that. If Merit Sword-Washing Marrow alone could transform a Human Sword Soul to Earth, many would have succeeded. There must be a deeper reason.”
Zhang Ruochen pondered.
If not the marrow, the most likely factor was Sword Tomb.
During his seclusion there, he vaguely absorbed some unique power, possibly causing subtle changes to his sword soul.
Regardless, this was good news.
An Earth Sword Soul greatly enhanced sword technique power.
Coupled with his improved time path, if he faced Cang Long again with time sword techniques, he could pose a greater threat.
As he thought, a communication talisman flew from the sky.
Zhang Ruochen caught it; it was from Cang Long.
“Cang Long’s eager. The half-month deadline hasn’t passed, yet he’s rushing to trade Five Elements divine materials for Ruan Ling,” Zhang Ruochen chuckled.
Since Cang Long wanted to trade early, he had no objections. The sooner he got the treasures, the better.
“Need me to come?” Ling Feiyu asked.
“No, wait for my good news at Wuding Mountain,” Zhang Ruochen said.
He used spatial shift, vanishing from the spot.
At Wuding Mountain’s base, space rippled, and Zhang Ruochen appeared.
Moments later, a dark figure emerged from the ground beside him, the Divine Demon Rat.
“Master Chen, what do you need me to do?” Shoushu asked slyly.
Zhang Ruochen whispered, “I’m heading to the Merit Exchange Station to trade with Cang Long. After the deal, do this…”
The Divine Demon Rat’s small eyes gleamed with excitement, “Got it! I’m good at this. Leave it to me, Master Chen!”
