Chapter 112: Nine Refiner Perfected

Secret Technique: Three Autumn Leaves

“Meng Chuan, please follow me.” The old steward of the Dongtian Pavilion was notably more enthusiastic. While the Venerable One often personally guided many disciples, especially those with exceptional talent and potential, this old steward normally hadn't paid much attention to Meng Chuan. But now, almost everyone in Yuanchu Mountain knew that Meng Chuan was about to achieve the Nine Refinements Thunder Annihilation Fiendbody! How rare it was to see one emerge in hundreds of years? The last one was Marquis Guihai, over two hundred years ago. Unfortunately, humanity lost Marquis Guihai due to a special mission.

Super-grade fiendbody types don't have higher or lower ranks; they each have their unique strengths.

The Thunder Annihilation Fiendbody represents the pinnacle of speed and can play a crucial role for humanity in critical moments.

After Marquis Guihai... another Nine Refinements Thunder Annihilation Fiendbody was about to emerge.

“This way, please.” The old steward's voice was notably more upbeat, and his steps were livelier.

“Master.” Meng Chuan entered the garden and saw the Venerable One leisurely trimming branches. The garden ground was covered with pruned branches and fallen leaves.

The old steward bowed slightly and then withdrew.

The Venerable One continued his leisurely trimming, calmly asking, “What is it?”

“Disciple has completed the ninth refinement. All ninety bottles of Six Desires Fiend Pills have been consumed, but true Nine Refinements Unification has not been achieved! I feel my physical body's fiend refinement has reached its limit, but my Primordial Spirit's fiend qi refinement is still far from its peak,” Meng Chuan explained. “I fear a mere three to five bottles won't be enough. Should I directly request more Six Desires Fiend Pills from the Treasure Pavilion?”

Although, by rule, one could freely request a new bottle of Six Desires Fiend Pills as soon as the previous one was consumed, until their cultivation was complete.

However, the Treasure Pavilion was always crowded, making it impossible to keep such things secret.

“The amount of fiend qi that a soul can refine is naturally less than what a Primordial Spirit can refine,” the Venerable One said with a smile, turning to look at Meng Chuan. After observing him closely for a moment, he continued, “Your Primordial Spirit is still very far from its fiend qi refinement limit. Look, here are one hundred twenty-two bottles of Six Desires Fiend Pills.”

With a gentle wave of his hand,

the space subtly warped, and then a grey cloth appeared, laid flat on the ground. On the cloth were numerous red porcelain bottles, exactly one hundred twenty-two of them.

The appearance of so many treasures out of thin air left Meng Chuan secretly astounded. Although he knew his master was a 'Creation Realm' expert, superior to even Marquis and King Fiendgods, and that the Yuanchu Mountain Lord respectfully addressed him as 'Venerable One', his master's occasional displays of power still shocked him.

“Master surely wouldn't carry these Six Desires Fiend Pill bottles with him. Yet, he summoned them with a mere wave of his hand. What kind of power is this?” Meng Chuan marveled inwardly. However, his own knowledge was ultimately shallow. Disciples at Yuanchu Mountain, unless they reached the 'Great Sun Realm Fiendgod' stage, could not access subsequent Fiendgod legacies! Nor could they obtain methods for cultivating the Primordial Spirit. He knew little about Marquis Fiendgods and King Fiendgods, let alone the Creation Realm.

The very term 'Creation Realm' wasn't even mentioned in any books he had access to; he only learned of it when his master spoke it.

“Master, will I really need one hundred twenty-two more bottles of Six Desires Fiend Pills to achieve Nine Refinements Unification?” Meng Chuan looked at the red porcelain bottles, feeling the quantity seemed rather large.

“Your Primordial Spirit can refine far more fiend qi than you imagine,” the Venerable One chuckled. “If I'm not mistaken, once your Primordial Spirit finishes refining the fiend qi, you probably won't have many bottles left.”

Meng Chuan naturally trusted the Venerable One's judgment implicitly.

“Your physical body's foundation is three times that of ordinary people, which is quite impressive. As for your Primordial Spirit, it is incomparably stronger than a typical person's soul,” the Venerable One said with a smile. “The Six Desires Fiend Pills you've refined are far more than any Thunder Annihilation Fiendbody practitioner in history. I'm also eager to see what your Nine Refinements Thunder Annihilation Fiendbody will truly be like. All right, if there's nothing else, quickly take these bottles and go back.”

With that, the Venerable One resumed trimming branches.

“Understood, disciple bids farewell.”

Meng Chuan immediately wrapped the bottles in the black cloth, forming a bundle, which he slung over his back. He then respectfully bowed and departed.

Indeed, among all the practitioners of the Thunder Annihilation Fiendbody in recent generations, Meng Chuan was the only one who possessed a Primordial Spirit during his mortal phase, thus naturally refining more Six Desires Fiend Pills than anyone in history.

Meng Chuan took the Six Desires Fiend Pills back to his cave dwelling's secret chamber, then continued his blade training at the Thousand Blade Cave, maintaining his persistent practice.

With the accumulation from his Drawing Blade Style, he had comprehended blade intent within half a year of arriving at the mountain.

However, he had now practiced for another year. While his training was undeniably diligent, he was still far from 'mastering blade intent', likely needing another one or two years. Clearly, the Venerable One's insight was remarkably sharp, as he had long stated that Meng Chuan was an unparalleled prodigy in painting, but merely a talent in blade arts. It was only by using his 'ten-zhang domain' to clearly identify his strengths and weaknesses, leading to effective practice, that he stood out among other talents.

Without the ten-zhang domain, Meng Chuan's cultivation would have been considerably slower.

Without a Primordial Spirit, Meng Chuan would have been just an ordinary disciple at Yuanchu Mountain.

Of course, the Primordial Spirit was also part of Meng Chuan's strength, which was why the Venerable One valued him so highly. What Meng Chuan didn't know was that for those who inherited a Primordial Spirit at birth through their parents' lineage, its growth was very difficult because parents couldn't assist in Primordial Spirit cultivation. However, for an unparalleled prodigy like Meng Chuan, who could condense his soul into a Primordial Spirit through his painting mastery, the path of painting could continue to further enhance his Primordial Spirit in the future.

Inheritance from parents was a one-time event; thereafter, Primordial Spirit growth depended solely on oneself.

But relying on one's own skill... was continuous.

On the day Meng Chuan received the one hundred twenty-two bottles of Six Desires Fiend Pills, he continued his routine: practicing blade arts in the morning, painting in the afternoon, and happily sparring with Qiyue in the evening.

Only at night did he begin to refine the Six Desires Fiend Pills. He found that his physical body indeed couldn't absorb any more, but his Primordial Spirit's 'appetite' was astonishing. Allowing it to absorb freely, it consumed a full three bottles of Six Desires Fiend Pills in just half an hour before feeling somewhat sated.

By the second night, he refined another three bottles.

Thus...

At a rate of three Six Desires Fiend Pills per day, Meng Chuan's Primordial Spirit continuously refined them. Each night, he also had to endure the trial of desires, which further tempered his will.

At the Dao Discussion Peak, during the Dao Discussion Assembly:

Disciples who hadn't descended the mountain gathered to discuss their cultivation dilemmas, engage in sparring matches, and generally enjoy the lively atmosphere.

“Strange, didn't Senior Brother Meng complete his ninth refinement half a month ago? Why hasn't he attempted the Life-and-Death Gauntlet to become a Fiendgod yet?” The fellow disciples, normally burdened by arduous cultivation, were quite relaxed as they sat drinking together.

“The Treasure Pavilion confirmed it long ago; Senior Brother Meng indeed collected ninety bottles of Six Desires Fiend Pills, clearly indicating he completed the refinement. He achieved Nine Refinements perfection and even comprehended blade intent and mastered the Black Iron Heavenly Book absolute art last year. Logically, all the conditions for becoming a Fiendgod are met. His continued lack of breakthrough is indeed peculiar.”

“Perhaps there are other reasons,”

“If it were me, with everything ready, I'd certainly become a Fiendgod as soon as possible.”

“That's why he's Senior Brother Meng, and you're Junior Brother Yu.”

These fellow disciples chuckled.

At Yuanchu Mountain, all disciples below the Marquis Fiendgod realm were considered peers. Those weaker in strength would address stronger ones as 'Senior Brother' or 'Senior Sister'. If their strengths were comparable, etiquette was highly valued: one might address another as 'Senior Brother Wang' and be addressed in return as 'Senior Brother Liu', signifying camaraderie among fellow disciples.

However, if one's strength wasn't sufficient, casually calling someone 'Junior Brother' could be quite offensive.

Clearly, among disciples who hadn't yet become Fiendgods, everyone addressed Meng Chuan as 'Senior Brother Meng'.

“Meng Chuan hasn't gone to the Treasure Pavilion to request to attempt the Life-and-Death Gauntlet?” The Yuanchu Mountain Lord and Elder Yi walked side-by-side. Attempting the Life-and-Death Gauntlet required activating a crucial sacred ground—the Fiendgod Blood Pool. Disciples had to actively request permission at the Treasure Pavilion, and only after the Pavilion confirmed they had absolute certainty of success would they be allowed to attempt the Gauntlet and become Fiendgods.

“No,”

Elder Yi shook his head. “I oversee the Treasure Pavilion myself; how could I not know? It's been almost a month since he completed the ninth refinement, and I don't know why he hasn't broken through. Perhaps he's been delayed by some special reason?”

“What special reason could there be? They have no worldly worries on the mountain, only the task of cultivating to become stronger,” the Yuanchu Mountain Lord said indifferently. “Once one's strength is sufficient, they should advance as soon as possible. Cultivation is all about seizing every moment to improve. How about this: wait another month. If he still hasn't requested to attempt the Life-and-Death Gauntlet by then, go personally to inquire about the reason. If anything is truly affecting him, we can also offer assistance.”

“Understood,” Elder Yi nodded.

The quantity of Fiendgods is important because many locations require their garrison, but their quality is even more crucial!

For example, with a Venerable One garrisoning Luotang Pass—the largest and most dangerous among the Great Zhou Dynasty's seven major passes—it has remained perfectly safe, without any incidents! It has even developed into an exceptionally prosperous city, on par with the Royal Capital and Yuanchu City.

A single King Fiendgod can garrison a large pass.

Even unattached King Fiendgods, wandering across the land, can strike fear into the infiltrating demon kings, forcing them into hiding and never daring to show themselves openly. Even with such caution, once discovered by a King Fiendgod, it invariably results in a massacre.

Medium-sized passes also require Marquis Fiendgods for garrison. However, Yuanchu Mountain has too few Marquis Fiendgods, so most medium-sized passes are defended by several powerful Great Sun Realm Fiendgods working together. This makes 'medium-sized passes' the most fiercely contested battlefronts for humanity. If every medium-sized pass were garrisoned by a Marquis Fiendgod, they would be absolutely safe.

Unfortunately, there aren't that many Marquis Fiendgods.

Yuanchu Mountain would be a little happier with each additional Marquis Fiendgod. With an additional King Fiendgod, the entire sect would celebrate! There's no helping it; the entire Yuanchu Mountain sect barely has over ten King Fiendgods, making their manpower extremely tight.

Hence, talents like Meng Chuan and Xue Feng are naturally highly valued.

On the evening of the sixteenth of August,

Meng Chuan's Primordial Spirit refined another three bottles of Six Desires Fiend Pills.

“Boom!”

Meng Chuan felt that the fiend qi throughout his body had finally reached a certain peak. The Six Desires Fiend Pills in both his Primordial Spirit and physical body merged seamlessly, naturally integrating with the fiend qi from his previous eight refinements. Everything fell into place effortlessly.

Quantitative change led to qualitative transformation.

Finally, the Nine Refinements unified, forming Nine Refinements Fiend Qi.

“It's finally done.” Meng Chuan felt the fiend qi throughout his body completely integrated. He extended a finger, and a stream of black fiend qi appeared at its tip—this was the fully unified Nine Refinements Fiend Qi.

“Only two bottles of Six Desires Fiend Pills left?” Meng Chuan looked at the two red porcelain bottles resting nearby. “Master's calculations were remarkably precise.”

The Venerable One had given him one hundred twenty-two bottles as a precaution, deeming it absolutely sufficient with some expected to remain. In the end, only two bottles were left.

“Nine Refinements perfected! I, Meng Chuan, should become a Fiendgod now!” At this moment, Meng Chuan's heart surged with excitement.