“Embezzlement!”
Hearing the Great Dao Pen’s words, Ye Xuan froze.
“Embezzlement?” he asked gravely.
The Great Dao Pen confirmed, “Yes.”
Ye Xuan gave a thumbs-up, “You’re something else.”
The Great Dao Pen was silent.
At that moment, Mu Sheng interrupted, “Enough wasting time.”
She pulled Ye Xuan near the Molten Spirit and said, “Molten Spirit, he can free you, but in return, you must forge his body and follow him. What do you say?”
The Molten Spirit looked at Ye Xuan, hesitating, “Him… can he do it?”
Mu Sheng nodded, “He can.”
After a pause, the Molten Spirit said, “Fine. As long as I get out, I’ll do anything.”
It turned to Ye Xuan, “If you free me, I’ll serve you.”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then nodded, “Alright.”
He opened his palm, revealing the Qingxuan Sword. Suddenly, the talisman above the Molten Spirit vanished.
Everyone in the room was stunned.
Gone?
Ye Xuan’s expression turned strange.
The Great Dao Pen’s Master was really giving him face!
The Molten Spirit trembled, “That’s it?”
Mu Sheng and Han Zhu exchanged odd looks.
The Molten Spirit quivered, then unleashed a terrifying wave of scorching power.
Mu Sheng waved her sleeve, blocking it.
“Haha!” the Molten Spirit laughed wildly.
Ye Xuan watched silently.
Mu Sheng said, “Molten Spirit, time to keep your promise.”
The Molten Spirit’s laughter faded. It looked at Ye Xuan, silent.
Mu Sheng frowned, “What? Forgotten the pain already? Looking to cause trouble?”
The Molten Spirit hesitated, “No.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “If it doesn’t want to follow me, that’s fine.”
The Molten Spirit quickly asked, “Really?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Yes.”
Before it could speak, the Great Dao Pen snapped, “Molten Spirit, you idiot! Think with that pig brain of yours. Ye Xuan freed you with a word. You think he can’t destroy you just as easily? Damn it!”
It knew Ye Xuan’s temper. He seemed like a gentle scholar but was ruthlessly vengeful. If the Molten Spirit reneged, it’d be doomed, and the Great Dao Pen might get dragged down too, since it had tricked Ye Xuan into coming here.
Hearing this, the Molten Spirit gave a bitter smile, “I wasn’t going to back out. How could I dare…”
It looked at Ye Xuan, “I’ll fully cooperate with you.”
Now clearer-headed, it knew reneging meant certain doom.
Mu Sheng turned to Ye Xuan, “Here?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Fine.”
Mu Sheng pointed to the lava pool, “Get in.”
Without hesitation, Ye Xuan jumped in. A burning force engulfed his soul, making him gasp in pain.
He endured.
Mu Sheng looked at the Molten Spirit, “Merge with him.”
Merge!
The Molten Spirit sighed silently. Merging meant becoming one with Ye Xuan.
Mu Sheng shook her head, “With your brain, I see why you were locked up. You’re dumber than my sheep.”
The Molten Spirit roared, “Mu Sheng, what’s that supposed to mean?”
Mu Sheng grabbed it, making it flicker. “What are you doing?” it cried, alarmed.
Mu Sheng glared, “If I hadn’t promised to help him forge his body, I’d crush you now. You’re such an idiot. I can’t stand fools.”
She slammed the Molten Spirit to the ground.
Boom!
A powerful force struck it, and it wailed.
Han Zhu sighed, “Molten Spirit, are you brain-dead? Ye Xuan’s word made even the Master give face. You think following him is beneath you? What are you thinking?”
The Molten Spirit, aggrieved, said, “I didn’t do anything… just reflecting.”
Han Zhu said, “Merge already.”
The Molten Spirit nodded, “Alright.”
It turned into a streak of fire, entering Ye Xuan’s chest.
Boom!
Ye Xuan’s soul turned red. His eyes widened in agony, feeling his soul about to shatter from the searing power.
Mu Sheng turned to Han Zhu, who opened her palm, revealing an ice lotus. “Go,” she said.
The lotus turned into light, entering Ye Xuan’s body.
Boom!
A chilling aura burst from him.
Mu Sheng pointed, sending a white light into Ye Xuan’s brow, “This is the cultivation method. Follow it to absorb the Molten Spirit and ice lotus.”
Information flooded Ye Xuan’s mind: Invincible Divine Body.
Without delay, he followed the method, his body absorbing the powers.
Mu Sheng gestured, and the underground lava surged toward Ye Xuan like a tide.
Boom!
A terrifying force erupted from his body.
Mu Sheng said, “Molten Spirit, forge his body.”
“Understood,” it replied.
A fiery blaze burst from Ye Xuan, and his body began to coalesce.
Mu Sheng sat down, “Now we wait.”
Han Zhu glanced at Ye Xuan, “Isn’t he a sword cultivator?”
Mu Sheng smiled, “Who says sword cultivators can’t train their bodies?”
Han禁止
Han Zhu said no more.
Mu Sheng glanced at Han Zhu, “You didn’t even blink giving away that million-year-old ice lotus.”
Han Zhu replied lightly, “It’s just a thing.”
Mu Sheng laughed, knowing Han Zhu was building goodwill, which was normal.
An hour later, Ye Xuan’s body had reformed, initially made of lava but gradually returning to normal.
Another hour passed, and his body was fully restored, having absorbed all the lava.
Ye Xuan opened his eyes, twin pools of molten lava swirling within, striking and fearsome.
He clenched his fist, and it ignited.
Han Zhu said, “Congratulations.”
Ye Xuan, excited, asked, “It worked?”
Mu Sheng said, “For now.”
Ye Xuan paused, “For now?”
Mu Sheng replied, “You think that’s it?”
Ye Xuan, thrilled, asked, “There’s more?”
Mu Sheng shook her head, “No, we’re out of good materials.”
Ye Xuan felt a pang of regret.
Mu Sheng added, “Your body is already impressive. The Molten Spirit… do you know what it is?”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
The Molten Spirit was silent.
Mu Sheng laughed, “It’s a billion-year-old entity, the strongest fire element among the five. Now merged with you, your body…”
Ye Xuan interrupted, “If it’s gone, will my body remain?”
Mu Sheng said, “Yes. Even without it, your body persists. You’re the master. If you’re gone, it’s gone.”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Good.”
The Molten Spirit grumbled, “Can you consider my feelings? I’m still here.”
Ye Xuan was speechless.
Mu Sheng said, “Your body now, even Ancient Dao Realm experts can’t break it.”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Ancient Dao Realm?”
Mu Sheng blinked, “Above Heavenless Realm is Ancient Dao. You didn’t know?”
Ye Xuan was silent.
Mu Sheng said, “I’ve kept my promise. Farewell.”
She turned to leave.
Ye Xuan called out, “Can my body improve further?”
Mu Sheng replied, “Of course, but it’ll be much harder now.”
Ye Xuan asked, “How strong is your body?”
Mu Sheng laughed, “A hundred times stronger than yours.”
She vanished.
Ye Xuan was speechless.
Han Zhu glanced at him, “She wasn’t lying. Ancient Dao Realm experts can’t harm you, but her…”
She shook her head, “It’s absurd. In the entire Dao Sect, only two can hurt her body: the Master and Dao Ling.”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Dao Ling?”
Han Zhu nodded, “Yes, the Dao Sect’s enforcer, punishing rule-breakers. She caught the Great Dao Pen embezzling and beat it badly.”
The Great Dao Pen was silent.
Ye Xuan laughed, “Was the Great Dao Pen powerful before?”
Han Zhu nodded, “Very. But Dao Ling shattered its body…”
She shook her head, “It was brutal.”
The Great Dao Pen snapped, “Can we drop it?”
Han Zhu said, “Getting beaten by Dao Ling isn’t shameful.”
The Great Dao Pen was speechless.
Ye Xuan asked, “Han Zhu, do you know the Past Sect?”
“The Past Sect?” Han Zhu froze, frowning, “What faction?”
Ye Xuan’s face darkened.
She didn’t know?
