Chapter 596: Ten Years of Quiet Cultivation, Transformation to Divine Stage Level Six

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Although referred to as a cauldron, it more closely resembled a unique alchemical furnace shaped like a white bone lotus. The crafting diagram showed the finished product: a lotus composed of white bone petals. When closed, it resembled both a cauldron and a furnace, while when open, it looked like a fully bloomed lotus seat. With just a glance, Wang Yu understood how to wield this treasure in combat and what its primary applications were.

"The Cosmic Devil Cauldron… The name isn't quite fitting."

Aside from the name, he was quite satisfied with everything else.

"Ten-Thousand-Year Bone Lotus, Heavenly Demon Blood Essence, Purple Gold Divine Iron, Ghost Spirit Drill, Yin-Yang Lotus Seeds, Primordial Qi Pearl, Five Elements Essence…"

Too many materials were required to forge this treasure. Most of them were extremely rare and valuable materials. Wang Yu's collection in the Sea Heart Ring could only provide 20% of what was needed, and his main body was still trapped in the Daoist Canon, making complete collection virtually impossible.

However, within the Demon Refinement Art, there was a sinister method that used flesh and blood as materials. This bloody ancient art of refining demons into artifacts was already inherently sinister; using flesh and blood as material made it even more wicked and demonic, allowing almost any substance to be considered a spiritual object for refinement. As the name implied, this method involved using Wang Yu's own flesh and blood as forging materials, inherently maximizing the compatibility between the wielder and the finished artifact. It would be the ultimate lifebound artifact, ensuring perfect synergy.

Since the two were essentially one, it would transform and advance more easily than a normal lifebound artifact, almost evolving in sync with the cultivator's realm. Unlike the Glazed Pagoda, which still required years or even decades of nurturing to advance despite Wang Yu having already broken through to the Spirit Transformation Stage. Often, it would happen in mere moments!

If this characteristic was utilized well, it would be ideal for turning the tide against enemies in desperate situations, as breakthroughs would be swift, stable, and virtually risk-free. The only concern was whether the refiner could withstand it. Wang Yu was an exceptional case. With his late-fifth-tier body cultivation, incredible regeneration from a single drop of blood, and the power of the Nine-Yang Undying Grass, he could even recover rapidly afterward. It was perfectly suited for him.

However, after using flesh and blood to replace the numerous raw materials, the best way to upgrade it in the future would be to feed it the bones of body cultivators imbued with the power of the Light of Immortality. Ordinary heavenly materials and earthly treasures, while helpful, could not fully replace them. While lifebound artifacts could indeed ascend with the cultivator's realm, the materials had their limits.

If the artifact was forged using this method, starting with Wang Yu's late-fifth-tier body, advancing to the sixth tier would be fine. But relying solely on realm progression to reach the seventh tier would make it somewhat fragile. What about the eighth or ninth tiers? It would likely crack and break immediately after advancing, unable to withstand its own power. This was a problem faced by all cultivators. That's why they continuously sought out precious materials of similar attributes throughout their growth to integrate into their lifebound artifacts, constantly enhancing the artifact's foundation. This was the so-called 'sunk cost'. Wang Yu had spent a fortune cultivating the Glazed Pagoda.

Using flesh and blood could solve the immediate need, but in the future, similar precious materials would be required to strengthen its foundation. If there were no powerful body cultivators to kill in the upper realms, he would have to sacrifice his own flesh, blood, and bones for each advancement to ensure the artifact's strength. This method of refining, over time, could lead to the artifact consuming its master. This concern was not unfounded; it was akin to a wild animal cub losing interest in raw meat if it consumed too much grain or flour. Conversely, a domesticated dog that consistently ate bloody raw meat would naturally become incredibly fierce, awakening its most savage predatory instincts deep within its bloodline. For demonic artifacts, the problem of consuming the master was a common one, though elder demons each had their own solutions and were unafraid. If it was fed too much of his own flesh and blood, it was only natural for the Cosmic Devil Cauldron to develop a master-devouring trait, much like someone who, having eaten fine food, no longer desires lesser fare. Perfect compatibility not only meant Wang Yu could unleash the artifact's full power beyond normal limits, but also that he himself would become its most delectable food.

This was the drawback!

As Wang Yu pondered, he weighed the pros and cons. He definitely needed to refine a lifebound artifact; otherwise, he would always be a step away from his peak strength, and currently, there was no other solution.

"—I'll refine it!"

After much deliberation, Wang Yu decided to refine the treasure. He would use his own flesh and bones as the foundation. In the future, he would devour other suitable body cultivation materials, such as those from the Demon Race, which would be perfect targets for absorption, as would the Fiend Race. According to the Ice Phoenix's inherited memories, the war between humans and fiends had raged for ages without end. Acquiring fiend bodies as materials to enhance the lifebound artifact's foundation should be quite simple. Moreover, if he successfully snuck into the upper realms, there was a ninety percent chance he would join the Immortal Palace. As the absolute hegemon of the human race, ruling nine supreme upper realms and hundreds of thousands of minor worlds under its command, how could he possibly harbor animosity towards an organization of such magnitude?

Daoist Kongkong was merely a member of the Void Dharma Lineage. He wouldn't resent the entire Immortal Palace, nor would he harbor prejudice; at most, he would only bear a grudge against the Void Dharma Lineage. This was the principle: every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor. As for the True Immortal behind the machinations, frankly, it had little to do with him. There was no need to consider the thoughts of such an entity; the disparity in cultivation levels was too vast, rendering further thought useless.

The Cosmic Devil Cauldron was the lifebound artifact he chose. His body cultivation side also required a new bloodline true artifact to oversee it; he already had plans for this. Given the characteristics of his Innate Fiend-Devil Body bloodline, there was actually no such thing as a 'perfect fit.' Therefore, he needed a special true artifact with 'myriad transformation properties.' Only then could it adaptively transform whenever he changed into any kind of creature, perfectly matching his current power. This lifebound treasure, which Wang Yu called a 'Myriad Transformation True Artifact,' had no existing forging diagrams that met his requirements, so he could only learn demon arts. The lifebound demon treasures refined by the Demon Race were naturally generated. They mostly used discarded scales, sharp teeth, beast horns, bones, and similar materials, then refined a portion of their own origin to merge with them, thus forming their lifebound artifacts. This method was very primitive, but it perfectly suited Wang Yu's situation; his Fiend Body Origin was the most perfect primary material for myriad transformations.

Considering that forging the Cosmic Devil Cauldron would consume almost his entire body, and the Myriad Transformation True Artifact would also consume his origin, Wang Yu momentarily had the illusion of disassembling himself. He was truly harsh on himself…

However, with the Six Desires Heavenly Fiend Diagram, trapping more adult Heavenly Fiends and corrupting them with demonic energy to refine them into the purest Heavenly Fiend True Blood could greatly replenish his origin. It could even be used as auxiliary material for the Myriad Transformation True Artifact. Although this demonic diagram only offered effects like trapping enemies and creating advantageous environments in combat, its aid to his cultivation path was no less than that of secret techniques for Spirit Cultivation.

After finalizing his cultivation plan, Wang Yu began setting up a more favorable environment. He had deep expertise in Feng Shui and possessed two complementary ancestral tokens, Earth and Water, which were supreme treasures. The temporary Feng Shui formation he arranged was sufficient to enhance his daily cultivation, and he could even temporarily boost his comprehension. Combining it with the Feng Shui secret arts from the Mother Earth Scripture, in just ten days, he moved mountains and shifted lands, regulating the earth's qi. He redirected it according to his will. Wang Yu then used a Feng Shui compass as a base, utilizing the power of the ancestral tokens to create a stone tree, embedding a Bodhi seed within it as the formation's core. Hundreds of grotesque, demonic stone beast sculptures stood at various points. He successfully set up a formation that would be effective for over a decade:

The Bodhi Demon Transformation Feng Shui Formation!

Partially original and partially drawing from predecessors' experiences, this wondrous Feng Shui formation, once complete, allowed Wang Yu to cultivate within it, granting him twice the comprehension boost of a single Bodhi seed. Moreover, as time passed, the wondrous formation would generate a large amount of pure demonic qi, which could slightly increase his cultivation efficiency and make his physical body more vibrant. It was a comprehensive, man-made wondrous formation. If he possessed higher-grade enlightenment treasures and dedicated more time, he could design an even stronger wondrous formation. However, Wang Yu's attainments in Feng Shui were limited. A single Mother Earth Scripture couldn't make him omnipotent. He would receive a better inheritance only after collecting all four ancestral tokens. Legend had it that when the Ancestor of Earth Masters forged the ancestral tokens, he infused his entire skill set into them, dividing it into four parts. Once collected and nurtured for a period, awakening the spiritual essence within the ancestral tokens would grant one the opportunity to receive the complete inheritance of the Ancestor of Earth Masters. Currently, Wang Yu was simply unable to awaken the spiritual essence of the ancestral tokens.

Back then, he had learned Feng Shui secret arts merely to gain more convenience and advantages during exploration. He hadn't attached much importance to the effect of wondrous formations in aiding cultivation. Now, however, it was perfectly applicable. If he truly had time in the future, he could also dedicate some to studying array formations. Feng Shui and array formations were inherently inseparable, and learning both together should be of greater help in the future. For now, he simply lacked the time.

After completing the Bodhi Demon Transformation Formation, Wang Yu began refining the treasure. The technical challenges were minor, and he could endure the pain and torment through sheer willpower. Only the gruesome nature of the scene was truly unbearable to witness. Considering he would utilize the medicinal power of the Nine-Yang Undying Grass latent within his body, he wouldn't need to consume a second dose of the Great Sun's essence. The remaining latent medicinal power from the first dose was sufficient for his second rebirth. There would even be a small surplus. An immortal-grade rare treasure was truly terrifying! Even a ninth of it was difficult for him to fully utilize.

However, for this reshaping, he didn't refine himself directly. Instead, he first divided his body into five equal parts and incorporated them into the refining process one by one, over five separate occasions. While this would be more painful, it would allow the medicinal power of the Nine-Yang Undying Grass to be utilized more effectively. He would typically wait for his body to fully recover before cutting off the next portion. This approach allowed him to maintain a relatively strong state. He wouldn't suffer a significant loss of strength due to the refining process. After all, throwing his entire body into the process at once would mean only a single instance of pain, but the new physical body regenerated from a drop of blood would be incredibly weak, making him vulnerable to opportunistic attacks. Therefore, he preferred to endure more pain.

Thus, in less than half a year, he completed the preliminary refining of the Cosmic Devil Cauldron, continuously incorporating the nine black dragons condensed from the *Undying Nether Dragon Art* as one of the materials. This added numerous dragon patterns to the gradually forming bone lotus furnace and made it adaptable to qi and blood-based Golden Blood Divine Marrow, meaning that in the future, when wielding his lifebound artifact, his body cultivation would also be effective, even allowing him to integrate his peerless divine strength for explosive power.

Once the refining process entered its main phase, requiring slow and steady tempering over time, the forging of the bloodline true artifact officially began. The Heavenly Fiends enslaved within the Six Desires Heavenly Fiend Diagram were directly drained by Wang Yu and refined into the most essential Heavenly Fiend True Blood using the power of the peak fifth-tier Ice Dragon Pill Flame. He continuously absorbed it into his body, treating his own dragon spine as a forging furnace. He refined the Myriad Transformation Bloodline True Artifact within his body. During this process, he also drew upon the origin of his Innate Fiend-Devil Body, imbuing the true artifact with the same myriad transformation effects, so that the finished product would possess the ability to change infinitely. Approximately every six months, Wang Yu needed six adult Heavenly Fiends as material to replenish his own origin and integrate a portion into the true artifact's embryo. This was to avoid severe depletion of his vital energy. Losing too much origin would shorten his lifespan, and replenishing it was extremely difficult. Only his Innate Fiend-Devil Body possessed the unique talent to draw power from Heavenly Fiends to restore his own origin.

As time passed, Wang Yu couldn't help but exclaim, "Heavenly Fiends... are truly a great treasure for cultivators!" They were indispensable for the Divine Transformation Tribulation when the spirit transforms, essential for refining lifebound artifacts, and now an excellent choice for restoring his origin. He absolutely loved Heavenly Fiends.

However, as he lured more and more Heavenly Fiends, capturing them became increasingly difficult, not due to his strength, but because fewer Heavenly Fiends could be enticed by the demonic diagram. He suspected he was 'draining the pond to catch the fish'. Left with no choice, he had to slow down the frequency of his luring efforts.

Three years later.

Wang Yu, practicing multi-tasking, was comprehending the Void Sky Stele. Lei Yao and Xing Yue arrived together. Lei Yao's gaze held a strange quality, but after examining the wondrous formation Wang Yu had set up, she didn't seem to mind.

She said, "Sister Xing Yue has told me about your conversation."

Wang Yu's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of anticipation stirred in his heart. He glanced at the demonic cauldron being tempered by the Ice Dragon Pill Flame and felt the liquid true artifact continuously churning within his dragon spine. He withdrew the sliver of consciousness comprehending the Void Sky Stele to focus on the upcoming conversation. 'One mind, three uses' was already an advanced technique in the application of spiritual sense. It was by no means something everyone could achieve. Of course, the 'three uses' here did not refer to simple divided attention, which was too rudimentary. 'One mind, three uses' meant splitting one's consciousness into three parts. This allowed him to simultaneously comprehend three different cultivation arts without being disturbed by differing insights. This was the latest technique Wang Yu had integrated and created, building upon the comprehensive spiritual sense techniques of the Ancient Heavenly Soul Sect. It was specifically designed to accelerate cultivation, effectively treating one person as three. Aside from increased fatigue and a slight sense of dissociation, there were no other side effects.

"So, what do you mean?"

"I agree," Fairy Xing Yue stepped forward and replied proactively. Since their last conversation, she had pondered for three full years. Finally, as her cultivation progress slowed increasingly, she understood: it was merely a harmonious blend of yin and yang, which would resolve her issues and bring benefits. Why not? It was simply that she was too unfamiliar with Wang Yu, so she sought out Lei Yao to learn more. Her extensive questioning eventually revealed the underlying issue to Lei Yao. Thus, they had come together today.

Lei Yao tugged at Xing Yue's sleeve and said, "Agreeing comes with conditions. Regardless of success, that eye technique must be passed on to Xing Yue. If it works… could it also be passed on to me, Lei Yao?"

Wang Yu paused at her words. He could generally guess her thoughts: she couldn't well ask Wang Yu to smuggle all of them when he crossed over. While she possessed a compassionate nature, she would never demand others to pay a price for her. She wanted the eye technique primarily to test it herself. If there were any issues, Wang Yu and Xing Yue wouldn't have to take the risk. Her wording was a bit problematic; someone who didn't understand her might think she intended to use Xing Yue to gain benefits for herself.

"Certainly."

Seven years passed since their last conversation. Wang Yu officially began dual cultivation with Xing Yue. They often jointly comprehended the *Six Desires Heavenly Fiend Sutra*, focusing only on refining its most exquisite dual cultivation techniques. In this aspect, the only benefit Wang Yu gained was partial insight into Xing Yue's Dao Body essence, while her cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds due to 'harvesting' from Wang Yu.

On this day, Wang Yu's aura suddenly surged, and he broke through to the sixth level of the Spirit Transformation Stage without any hindrance. Simultaneously, his two lifebound artifacts, nurtured for ten years, showed signs of emerging.

Double blessings arrived.