In an instant, the Qiankun Cauldron expanded from a small vessel to eighteen feet tall, its three legs robust, standing majestically in the air, as if capable of suppressing the eternal universe.
An aura of imperial dominance permeated the heavens and earth.
Moreover, the cauldron’s surface revealed mountains and rivers, sun, moon, and stars, along with flowing runes, mysterious and unfathomable.
At the same time, Ye Qiu sensed a strange connection forming between himself and the Qiankun Cauldron.
This connection felt like a blood bond, a meeting of minds.
*Buzz!*
The Qiankun Cauldron trembled lightly in the air, and instantly, the blade aura formed by the dragon qi, as if encountering something terrifying, rapidly retreated, reverting to dragon qi and reappearing behind Abe Seikuu.
“Hm?”
Abe Seikuu raised an eyebrow, studying the Qiankun Cauldron for a few seconds. A glint of greed flashed in his eyes as he giggled, “Little brother, this cauldron of yours looks impressive. May I have a closer look?”
On the other side, Miyamoto Takekawa stared at the Qiankun Cauldron, his eyes burning with desire, sensing it was no ordinary object.
“You want to take a look? Fine, have a good one.”
Ye Qiu grasped one of the cauldron’s legs and hurled it with force.
“Bring it on!”
Abe Seikuu shouted, not dodging but charging towards the Qiankun Cauldron with his nineteen streams of dragon qi.
“Foolish kid, this cauldron is clearly a treasure, and he’s throwing it to me? What a bargain, hehe~”
Smirking inwardly, Abe Seikuu swiftly formed hand seals, transforming the nineteen streams of dragon qi into a vast net to envelop the Qiankun Cauldron.
Just as the net was about to ensnare it, the nineteen streams scattered as if fleeing for their lives, completely unresponsive to his command.
“What’s happening?”
Slightly puzzled, Abe Seikuu darted forward, reaching for the cauldron with one hand.
The moment his palm touched the cauldron’s leg, he felt an overwhelming force, as if it weighed a hundred thousand pounds.
“Not good—”
Before he could retract his hand, his palm was shattered by the Qiankun Cauldron, and the immense force sent him flying.
*Puff!*
Abe Seikuu was thrown back a hundred metres, spitting blood, tumbling through the air before landing steadily.
He stared at the Qiankun Cauldron in disbelief.
“How is this possible?”
“A mere cauldron, how can it possess such power?”
“And why did the dragon qi suddenly lose control?”
Abe Seikuu glanced at his right hand, now a mangled mess of shattered bones and flesh.
“Didn’t you want to see my cauldron? Come, have another look.” Ye Qiu grabbed the Qiankun Cauldron and hurled it again.
The cauldron shot forward like a star, crashing towards Abe Seikuu, shattering the air in its path.
This time, Abe Seikuu was wiser, not daring to meet it head-on. His body turned into an afterimage, swiftly dodging.
*Boom!*
The Qiankun Cauldron smashed into the ground, creating a massive crater.
Abe Seikuu quickly pulled a black dog from his kimono sleeve.
The dog was only the size of an egg, smaller than a teacup dog, entirely black without a single stray hair.
“Even if this cauldron is extraordinary, you’re not even a cultivator. I refuse to believe you can defeat me.”
Abe Seikuu declared, placing a talisman on the black dog.
Then, he silently chanted an incantation.
Seeing this, Ye Qiu found it odd and sneered, “What, you plan to use a beast against me? I’m not boasting, but one punch could kill it.”
The black dog, as if understanding Ye Qiu’s words, bared its teeth, its eyes gleaming with ferocity.
Five seconds later.
*Boom!*
The black dog suddenly grew, in the blink of an eye becoming as large as an elephant.
Its eyes glowed scarlet.
Its jet-black teeth glinted with a chilling light.
*Roar!*
The black dog let out a roar towards Ye Qiu, its voice like a tiger’s howl.
Abe Seikuu pressed a palm on the dog’s head, and instantly, nineteen streams of dragon qi enveloped it, releasing a terrifying aura.
Ye Qiu felt an odd sensation, realizing the black dog seemed to have inherited all of Abe Seikuu’s power.
“Kid, forcing me to this point, you should be proud even in death.”
Abe Seikuu commanded, “Little Black, tear him apart.”
*Roar—*
The black dog roared, charging at Ye Qiu like a ghostly shadow, carrying a bone-chilling killing intent, as if a demon king had emerged from hell.
“I’m not even afraid of your master, why would I fear you?”
Ye Qiu grabbed the Qiankun Cauldron and swung it fiercely.
The cauldron blazed with light, each swing unleashing terrifying force, like tidal waves crashing in the sea.
*Bang!*
*Bang!*
*Bang!*
Man and beast clashed fiercely in the air.
The black dog was formidable, withstanding two blows from the Qiankun Cauldron.
But the cauldron’s power was too great. After resisting twice, the dog began to retreat.
Yet, it still lunged at Ye Qiu recklessly.
“Let’s see how long you, a mere beast, can hold out.”
Ye Qiu gripped the Qiankun Cauldron, swinging it wildly, like a descended deity, invincible in might.
Soon, the black dog spat blood.
Ye Qiu grew even fiercer, seizing an opportunity to smash the cauldron into the dog’s right leg, shattering it.
*Puff!*
Ye Qiu pressed his attack, wielding the Qiankun Cauldron while unleashing the Slaughter Technique, Taiji Thirteen Forms, and other moves.
Though the black dog was powerful, the Qiankun Cauldron’s overwhelming force countered the dragon qi, preventing it from reaching its full potential.
Combined with Ye Qiu’s other deadly techniques, the dog was thrown into disarray.
Soon, the Qiankun Cauldron smashed into the dog’s back.
*Crack!*
On the ground, Abe Seikuu spat blood violently.
This black dog was his pet, nurtured with his blood essence and specially trained, their souls linked through Onmyoji techniques.
If the dog was injured, Abe Seikuu would suffer too.
Conversely, if Abe Seikuu died, the black dog would vanish from the world.
“Ye Qiu, if it weren’t for that cauldron, I’d crush you like an insect,” Abe Seikuu spat venomously.
Ye Qiu laughed, “If I were a cultivator at your level, I’d kill you in one move.”
“You—” Abe Seikuu’s face turned ashen with rage, shouting, “Little Black, come back!”
*Whoosh—*
The black dog swiftly returned to Abe Seikuu’s side.
“Ye Qiu, I’ll let you off for today. When you become a peak Venerable realm master, I’ll fight you to the death.”
With that, Abe Seikuu turned to leave with the black dog.
“Trying to escape? Too late.”
Ye Qiu roared, “Suppress!”
*Boom—*
The Qiankun Cauldron suddenly grew even larger, like a small mountain, descending from the sky with the force of thunder.
“No—”
Before Abe Seikuu could finish, his body was crushed into a pulp.
