Chapter 127: Furnace and Cauldron

Novel:

Parents, siblings, relatives...

Deep in his heart, what Qin Sang cared about most were his closest relatives from his previous life. Who his enemies were didn't matter at all; he didn't care in the slightest now. His only regret was being forever separated from his loved ones, never to see them again. He hadn't yet fulfilled his filial duties to his parents, nor had he continued the family line... There were still so many things he hadn't had time to do.

Although Qin Sang knew everything was an illusion, he couldn't bear to leave. In the familiar home, watching his parents and elder brother discuss family matters, and listening to his younger sister Qin Zi's playful pouting, his heart was filled with sorrow until three days passed and he was kicked out by the Red Dust Gourd.

His body suddenly felt light, then he fell heavily to the ground. Qin Sang opened his eyes; his loved ones were gone. Seeing the great hall, a flicker of sadness passed through his eyes, but he quickly suppressed the emotion, regaining his resolve, and stood up from the ground.

"Disciple Qin Sang greets the Sect Master."

Qin Sang bowed to Sect Master Yu, his gaze sweeping around, and he noticed five other people beside the Sect Master.

One was a seemingly young man with a sword on his back. His aura was as sharp as a drawn blade, and an undisguised rebelliousness showed between his brows. He was only at the tenth level of the Qi Refining stage.

Another was a young man of about thirty, with a resolute face, standing there with his hands naturally at his sides, his gaze slightly lowered. His eyes were as calm as an ancient well, without the slightest ripple, and his entire presence was like an old tree.

Qin Sang knew both of these individuals. The young man was Chu Wenjian; not only was his talent exceptional, but his swordsmanship was also unparalleled among Qi Refining disciples. He was charismatic and a prominent figure in Shaohua Mountain. The older young man was much more low-key. His name was He Mu. Like Qin Sang, he kept to himself, dedicating himself to arduous cultivation, only appearing when a Senior Uncle preached at Daoist Peak. He had long reached the thirteenth level of the Qi Refining stage but had yet to achieve Foundation Establishment.

Then there were two middle-aged individuals and a white-haired elder, all Foundation Establishment cultivators. Qin Sang recognized the elder; he managed cultivation techniques and spells at Treasure Pagoda Peak, and his surname was Gong.

"To last three days in the Red Dust Gourd, your character is commendable," Sect Master Yu said, nodding approvingly to Qin Sang, and then instructed Qin Sang to wait aside.

Subsequently, others were successively ejected from the gourd's illusion. Only one Foundation Establishment elder passed the test. In the end, a total of seven people passed the gourd's illusion.

Three were at the Qi Refining stage, and four were at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Sect Master Yu stepped forward two paces, bowed to the Red Dust Gourd, and said, "Many thanks, Senior Master Che. Your disciple has selected the candidates. Please retract the magic treasure, Senior Master Che." The Red Dust Gourd immediately transformed into a streak of light, piercing through the air and vanishing into the horizon. However, the Golden Core Venerable, Grandmaster Che, never appeared.

Sect Master Yu respectfully watched the Red Dust Gourd depart, then waved his whisk to close the hall doors. Turning to face the crowd, his expression suddenly darkened, and his gaze turned sharp as a blade. He looked at each of the seven individuals one by one, then spoke slowly and deliberately, not without threat: "Every word spoken in this hall today must not be divulged. Otherwise, you will die, and your cultivation will vanish, bringing calamity upon your loved ones. This is an Ancestral Master's Edict; do not say you were not warned!"

Everyone's expression immediately turned solemn, and they exchanged glances, all somewhat horrified. It was actually a Nascent Soul Ancestral Master's Edict, where words become law, definitely not empty threats. They dared not harbor any shred of luck or delusion.

The seven dared not hesitate and immediately swore to the heavens that they would keep silent and not reveal a single bit of information!

Sect Master Yu watched them finish their oaths noncommittally, then took out several jade slips from his mustard seed bag, giving one to each person.

"The cultivation technique you are about to practice is this one in the jade slips."

There was only one cultivation technique in the jade slips, named "Xuanpin Jade Cauldron True Scripture." After reading the introduction to the technique, Qin Sang couldn't help but frown secretly, finding it a bit strange. This "Xuanpin Jade Cauldron True Scripture" didn't seem to be the same as the legendary Yin-Yang dual cultivation methods. The technique had three layers, and from beginning to end, only male cultivators could practice it. There was no method for female cultivators, nor any discussion on how to achieve the harmonious balance of Yin and Yang or the convergence of heaven and earth. Without a dao companion, how could one comprehend the Great Dao by practicing such a dual cultivation technique?

Sect Master Yu then said, "When cultivating this dual cultivation technique, your internal vital energy will be somewhat consumed. However, there's no need to worry; the sect will bestow Nine Yang Pills to help you restore your vital energy..."

Before his voice faded, the cultivator surnamed Gong suddenly looked up, his face full of indignation. He glared furiously at Sect Master Yu and shouted, "Sect Master, why do you dare not tell the truth! What kind of rubbish dual cultivation technique is this? Isn't it just a demonic art of harvesting essence! Are we toiling away just to compete to become a cauldron? It's simply preposterous! Ridiculous!"

Elder Gong's words were truly shocking.

Sect Master Yu's expression subtly changed. The others felt as if they had been struck by a thunderbolt. Pondering what Sect Master Yu had just said, it did imply they were being treated as cauldrons; otherwise, how could a genuine dual cultivation technique from an orthodox sect harm one's vital energy? In truth, some astute individuals had already sensed that something was amiss, but they hadn't expected the cultivator surnamed Gong to dare to openly disrespect the Sect Master and directly expose the trickery.

Upon hearing this, Chu Wenjian's brows furrowed sharply, and he pressed with a series of questions, "Senior Uncle Gong, can the vital energy lost from being a cauldron be fully recovered using Nine Yang Pills? Besides that, what other harm is there?"

The cultivator surnamed Gong sneered, ignoring Sect Master Yu's grim expression, and declared loudly, "Nine Yang Pills are indeed rare spiritual medicines, but even if the other party is merciful, at most they can only restore ninety percent of your vital energy. Unless you're lucky enough to find those few rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures. As far as I know, Shaohua Mountain doesn't possess such spiritual medicine reserves. As for the fate of a cauldron, if it were merely vital energy damage, how could such a harvesting and replenishing technique become a demonic art despised by countless people! After the so-called 'dual cultivation,' the best outcome is for your divine sense to be implanted with suggestions, making you believe your affections are deeply rooted, unable to leave the other party. In severe cases, you become a complete slave, your divine sense withered, turning into an utter cripple! Dregs!"

Upon hearing these words, everyone paled in shock. They were horrified by the maliciousness of the "Xuanpin Jade Cauldron True Scripture," and even more appalled that True Human Ma Wu, a cultivator from the righteous grand sect Shaohua Mountain, would actually practice such a demonic essence-harvesting art!

Everyone gratefully glanced at the cultivator surnamed Gong, then stared intently at Sect Master Yu, waiting for his explanation.

"Junior Brother Gong, I know that ever since Junior Sister Liu was murdered by a devil in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, you've hated harvesting arts to the bone." Sect Master Yu suppressed his anger but allowed the cultivator surnamed Gong to finish before speaking: "But how could Senior Uncle Ma Wu collude with devils? His selection of disciples from within the sect is precisely because he doesn't wish to harm anyone. Even without your words, I would have explained the pros and cons to all of you. Whether to proceed or not is entirely voluntary; there will be no compulsion. While the vital energy consumed, even after being replenished by Nine Yang Pills, cannot truly be fully recovered, it only means your Qi Sea will be slightly smaller than cultivators of the same realm. You might suffer some disadvantages during combat, but it won't affect your fundamental cultivation realm, and it's not impossible to compensate for it in the future..."

The cultivator surnamed Gong looked disdainful. "What about the divine sense?"