Chapter 1937: The Origin of the Dharma Image and the Water of the Underworld Moon

Spirit Transformation cultivators can only mobilize spiritual energy within a specific area, whereas Void Refinement cultivators, by condensing a Dharma Idol, can fully harness the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for their own use. This is true mastery of elemental energy. Any divine ability unleashed by a Void Refinement cultivator, augmented by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, will see its power significantly boosted. The disparity between the two stages is immense.

"Condensing a Dharma Idol!"

Wang Changsheng's eyes narrowed. Generally, human cultivators aspiring to reach Void Refinement require the unification of the five elements or concurrent cultivation of techniques with other attributes, which increases their chances of breaking through. Other races, however, possess vastly different methods for advancing to Void Refinement.

In the lower realms, having a five-element spiritual root was synonymous with being useless; even Foundation Establishment was difficult. The Wang family had a clan member, Wang Yingjie, who was Wang Qingling's most outstanding descendant. He was devoted to the Dao, courageous and determined. Wang Qingling provided him with considerable resources, enabling Wang Yingjie to reach the Core Formation stage. Later, he followed Wang Changsheng to the Thousand Gourd Realm to eradicate demonic cultivators and acquired many cultivation resources by Wang Changsheng's side, eventually reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

In the Xuanyang Realm, however, a five-element spiritual root is not considered a disadvantage. While five-element spiritual root cultivators progress relatively slowly before Void Refinement, they find it easier to advance to the Void Refinement stage when attempting the breakthrough. This clearly illustrates the significant influence of environment on cultivators.

There are many types of materials for condensing Dharma Idols, with each type of Dharma Idol requiring different materials.

"Precisely," Li Qingyang said slowly. "One of the climactic auction items, the Essence of Yi Wood, is also an excellent material for condensing a Dharma Idol. It was consigned by a senior who wishes to exchange it for the Essence of Heavenly Flame, which is also a material for condensing a Dharma Idol." For cultivators above Void Refinement, materials for condensing Dharma Idols present an irresistible temptation, second only to Tribulation Transcending Treasures. To some extent, a Dharma Idol can indeed withstand a Great Heavenly Tribulation, but if the Dharma Idol is destroyed, the cultivator will suffer a substantial loss of vital energy.

Materials for condensing Dharma Idols are also graded. The Essence of Yi Wood and Essence of Heavenly Flame are suitable for Void Refinement cultivators to condense Dharma Idols. Different materials provide varying enhancements to the Dharma Idol, much like how different materials affect the power of magic treasures. Incorporating diverse materials leads to varying increases in a magic treasure's power.

Dharma Idols are divided into ethereal and solid forms. A materialized Dharma Idol increases its power severalfold. Materializing a Dharma Idol requires a large quantity of rare materials for its condensation. Generally, only Integration cultivators and above can materialize their Dharma Idols. The reason is simple: the cultivation resources controlled by Integration cultivators are incomparable to those of ordinary Void Refinement cultivators.

Materials for condensing Dharma Idols are mostly acquired through bartering and cannot be measured by spirit stones.

"Essence of Yi Wood! Essence of Heavenly Flame!"

Wang Changsheng nodded subtly. With a flip of his palm, a blue light flashed, and a dark blue porcelain bottle appeared in his hand.

"Shopkeeper Li, I hear that Master Lu at your esteemed establishment is proficient in artifact refining. I have an artifact refining material I'd like him to appraise for me. The fee is negotiable." Wang Changsheng said courteously. The blue porcelain bottle was crafted from Grand Yin Divine Crystal and various other materials, and it contained Underworld Moon Water.

"Artifact refining material?" Li Qingyang took the blue porcelain bottle without much thought.

Master Lu was a Void Refinement cultivator and naturally wouldn't appraise materials casually. However, Li Qingyang was well-traveled and knowledgeable, so he could also assist with the appraisal.

Li Qingyang pulled out the stopper, and a surge of extreme cold energy rushed out.

Maintaining a calm expression, Li Qingyang flipped his hand and took out a palm-sized golden mirror. He cast a spell into it, and after countless runes illuminated its surface, it emitted a golden glow that enveloped the blue porcelain bottle. Inside the bottle, some black liquid was clearly visible.

"Is this spiritual water? Or spiritual liquid?" Li Qingyang asked, puzzled.

"I don't know either. I obtained it from an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. This water can freeze everything; even a spirit treasure would be rendered useless if it touched just a bit." Wang Changsheng explained. The porcelain bottle contained over ten catties of Underworld Moon Water, and he possessed tens of thousands of catties of it himself.

"Even a spirit treasure rendered useless? That's quite unusual." Li Qingyang was somewhat surprised. After a brief contemplation, he flipped his hand and took out a palm-sized red circular bowl, shimmering with spiritual light. It was clearly a low-grade Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure, with the small words "Monster Refining Bowl" engraved on its surface.

He tilted the bottle upside down, allowing a drop of Underworld Moon Water to fall into the red circular bowl.

An astonishing scene unfolded: the red circular bowl began to freeze at a visible rate. The ice layer was black and spread rapidly.

Li Qingyang injected his magic power into the red circular bowl. Countless red runes lit up on its surface, and with a muffled "whoosh," a burst of crimson flame suddenly surged out. The surrounding temperature abruptly increased, as if one had plunged into a volcano.

The Monster Refining Bowl was primarily refined from Heavenly Flame Crystals and over a hundred fire-attributed materials. Even a fifth-rank high-grade ice-attributed demonic beast, if trapped by it, would struggle immensely.

Heavenly Flame Crystals are a material that can only appear in volcanic regions older than 50,000 years. If a small piece of Heavenly Flame Crystal is incorporated into an ordinary fire-attributed magic treasure, its power significantly increases. If enough Heavenly Flame Crystals are incorporated, it's normal for the magic treasure's grade to advance.

The flames flickered wildly and then extinguished, as a patch of black ice quickly spread, extending onto Li Qingyang's arm. Li Qingyang's arm rapidly froze, and the ice continued to spread.

Li Qingyang was startled and hurriedly emitted a stream of green flame onto his arm, but the ice showed no sign of melting.

A gust of hot wind swept through, and a short, stout old man in a red robe suddenly appeared beside Li Qingyang.

The red-robed old man had a bulging belly, a big head and ears, and his eyes were narrowed into thin slits. Judging by his spiritual energy fluctuations, he was clearly a Void Refinement cultivator.

"Senior Lu!" Li Qingyang exclaimed instinctively upon seeing the red-robed old man.

Wang Changsheng quickly stood up, his expression respectful.

A stream of crimson-golden flame surged from the red-robed old man's right hand and rested on Li Qingyang's left arm. The black ice layer stopped spreading only when it touched the crimson-golden flame, though it still showed no sign of melting.

He withdrew his hand, and the black ice layer continued to spread.

"You can't keep this hand, or your physical body will be destroyed," the red-robed old man said coldly. With that, he summoned a shimmering red small sword and severed Li Qingyang's left arm. As the left arm rapidly fell towards the ground, the red-robed old man flicked his sleeve, and a snow-white formation plate flew out, catching the severed arm.

As soon as the white formation plate appeared, the indoor temperature plummeted. Runes flickered on its surface, indicating it was clearly a mid-grade Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure.

Upon contact with the white formation plate, the black ice rapidly spread across the severed arm.

The red-robed old man cast several spells, and the white formation plate immediately brightened significantly, finally stopping the spread of the black ice.

Li Qingyang took out a green porcelain bottle, poured out a blood-colored medicinal pill, and swallowed it. His pale complexion quickly regained its rosiness, and his left arm stopped bleeding.

His eyes were filled with horror. He had cultivated for over a thousand years to reach his current stage and had seen countless natural treasures, yet today he had nearly succumbed to this special liquid.

"Master Lu, is this a seventh-tier artifact refining material?" Li Qingyang swallowed, speaking with a hint of disbelief.