Wayfarer

Chapter 483: Melting Yin Tianci

Within the spirit prison, Chang Bing and the other disciples glanced at the Yin-Yang Cauldron in awe.

"What a cauldron! Come, let's try out Taiqing forgecraft on it!" Chang Bing exclaimed.

The Earth division disciples infused their spiritual energy into the cauldron while murmuring mantras.

The cauldron shuddered. Its aura of yin and yang intertwined above its lid and spiraled into the air.

"It's working!"

The disciples continued to channel their energy in excitement, causing the cauldron to creak and shudder.

They finally stopped after some time.

"Division Leader, this is an incredible cauldron. The Taiqing Immortal Sect only boasted one of similar quality ten thousand years ago," Chang Bing reported.

"Are you able to attune to the cauldron using the methods of Taiqing forgecraft?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.

"Of course. Taiqing forgecraft dates back to the Taiqing Grandmaster from ten thousand years ago, and was heralded as the best suite of forgecraft techniques at the time. Although this cauldron is of particularly high quality, we'll be able to attune to it within two years. If we understood the natural laws it drew upon, things would be even more straightforward," Chang Bing replied.

"Might I have a look at the techniques?"

"Of course. Division Leader Xiao, part of your responsibilities as division leader includes passing on the methods of Taiqing forgecraft."

He immediately handed Xiao Nanfeng a jade tablet, who grew deeply engrossed, as though a brand-new field of cultivation had been opened up to him.

He had some understanding of forging pills and relics from the forty-eight thousand scrolls of scripture he had read in the past, and his understanding was more comprehensive than even most forgemasters. Even so, his understanding paled in comparison to the methods of Taiqing forgecraft.

Not only did forgecraft require an understanding of a large repertoire of mantras and exhaustive knowledge of countless medicinal herbs and materials, it also required exacting understanding of fire and intuition for combining natural treasures.

Learning the methods of Taiqing forgecraft was made far simpler with a special constitution and spiritual marker. Ordinary cultivators could gain some understanding of its techniques and slowly mold their constitution and soul into their ideal forms, but this required intense effort over a prolonged duration.

Xiao Nanfeng intended to borrow from the Taiqing repertoire, but didn't plan to mold his constitution and spirit at the moment.

"I have a tablet that contains information about the cauldron's fundamental principles. Have a look. How long do you think it would take to attune to the cauldron?" Xiao Nanfeng handed over his jade tablet.

The disciples crowded around it in surprise. After some time, Chang Bing reported with excitement, "It's incredibly detailed. We'll be able to attune to it in no time."

"How quickly?"

"If I were alone, it would take a month, but the thirty of us can split up the work and each attune to a part of it. Under our combined efforts, it would only take roughly two days."

"That quick?" Even Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.

"Although we've been stationed in Fengdu all these years, we never treated our responsibilities lightly, and we all have an excellent understanding of Taiqing forgecraft. It's a pity that we never had such an excellent cauldron until now, though."

"In that case, start attuning to it immediately. Go as quickly as you can," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.

"Understood!" everyone replied.

Three days later, before the Yin-Yang Cauldron, Xiao Nanfeng considered his Purpleflame Gourd. There were cracks all across its surface, as though it might shatter at any moment.

"Are you certain we'll be able to forge a True Immortal now?" Xiao Nanfeng stressed.

"Division Leader, I don't know how strong Yin Tianci's main body is, but if this Purpleflame Gourd can trap him for a few days, then the Yin-Yang Cauldron will surely be able to, too. We've already finished attuning to it, so I guarantee he won't be able to escape if you toss him in. The cauldron's mastery over yin and yang will surely be able to overpower him," Chang Bing replied.

"Let's get started, then."

Xiao Nanfeng tossed the Purpleflame Gourd into the Yin-Yang Cauldron.

"Yin and yang, circulate according to my command!" Chang Bing intoned.

Yin and yang energy revolved around the inside of the cauldron. Before Chang Bing sealed it with its lid, Xiao Nanfeng dispelled the restrictions in place over the surface of the gourd.

"Break!" Yin Tianci roared.

The Purpleflame Gourd burst open.

"Xiao Nanfeng, I've broken out! You're dead meat now!" Yin Tianci roared.

The cauldron clanked shut. Yin and yang energy surrounded Yin Tianci.

"Damn it, didn't I break free of the gourd? What's this? A furnace?" Yin Tianci bellowed.

"Forge!" Chang Bing and the other disciples intoned.

A huge gust of wind formed around the cauldron, absorbing spiritual aether from the environment and infusing it within. The yin and yang energies inside the cauldron were massively enhanced as they attacked Yin Tianci.

"What sort of furnace is this? Ah, it hurts!" Yin Tianci cried out.

Spiritual aether filled the environment, replenishing what had been lost within the spirit prison and then concentrating it around the cauldron to such an extent that it condensed into fog.

"Don't worry, Division Leader. We had limited resources and no quintessential flame to assist us, but the yin and yang energies of the cauldron alone will be sufficient to deal with Yin Tianci. Even if he's a True Immortal, and even if he has True Immortal relics to safeguard him, he won't be able to last long," Chang Bing promised.

"Well done. Isn't the concentration of spiritual aether here a little overwhelming, though?"

"That's one of the benefits of such a high-grade cauldron. While it's in operation, it can draw in spiritual aether from the environment and make the region around the cauldron a cultivation paradise. If we're allowed to use this cauldron long-term, our cultivation will surely rise in leaps and bounds."

"Keep cultivating, then. I'll be expecting you to spend plenty of time around this cauldron in the future," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Understood!" the disciples cried out in excitement.

Xiao Nanfeng exhaled in relief. True Immortals were particularly difficult to deal with, and he wouldn't have known what to do with Yin Tianci after he broke free without the cauldron. He didn't have to worry anymore, though—Yin Tianci would soon die.

After another three days, in the Hall of Martial Aspects, Ao Canghai sat on a jeweled throne as he glanced at the cultivators before him.

Beside him was the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, who was fuming at the cultivators—the officials of the divine empire of Dayin. Leading the officials was another avatar of Yin Tianci.

"A delegation from the divine empire of Dayin? And you must be the crown prince of Dayin, Yin Tianci. How dare you lay an ambush for Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court!" Ao Canghai exclaimed.

Yin Tianci immediately bowed down. "Please calm down, Eastern Aspect, Martial Aspect of Silverfrost. I came here to explain the situation. The three-headed serpent king was the mastermind behind this scheme and tricked me as well. It knew that I had a grudge against Xiao Nanfeng and successfully lured me in.

"We split our responsibilities. I was only in charge of holding back the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost. The other masked cultivators were organized by the three-headed serpent king, and they were the ones who killed the officials of the Imperial Court and attempted to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng. I was tricked by the serpent, but when I came to my senses and informed my father of the affair, he had the three-headed serpent king slain. I bring its carcass to you to beg for forgiveness."

Yin Tianci retrieved a storage treasure.

Ao Canghai didn't claim it, but he knew that the three-headed serpent king's carcass had to lie within.

He knew that Yin Tianci was lying, that he was deliberately pushing all the responsibility for the assault on the three-headed serpent king before killing it so there could be no testimony to the contrary.

"And is that all you're doing here?" Ao Canghai demanded coolly.

"Not only that, Xiao Nanfeng captured my main body and trapped it within the Purpleflame Gourd. I shattered it, but he then transferred me into a cauldron and is attempting to melt it. Before long, my main body's going to die. I came to acknowledge my actions and to request that you save my main body."

"Ha!" Ao Canghai scoffed. "Don't you think you're speaking to the wrong person about this?"

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost beside him also eyed Yin Tianci coldly, as though he were speaking nonsense.

"My father, the Immortal Emperor of Dayin, had me come speak to the Eastern Aspect. He's busy and was unable to come himself, and would ordinarily have sent an esteemed official from court, but that would not have been enough to show our sincerity. As a result, I came personally in order to beg for forgiveness. My father is willing to compensate the Imperial Court for what I've done. I simply request that the Eastern Aspect save my main body," Yin Tianci begged.

"Compensate? How?" Ao Canghai demanded.

"My father said that, if you were to help me, Eastern Aspect, he would pay off his outstanding tithe of fortune—and double it."

"Oh?" Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes.

"Furthermore, he's willing to negotiate regarding additional conditions that don't disrupt the day-to-day operation of the empire," Yin Tianci continued.

"The Immortal Emperor of Dayin said all this?" Ao Canghai confirmed.

"He did. This is a letter from the Immortal Emperor confirming this, Eastern Aspect." Yin Tianci proffered a letter.

Ao Canghai confirmed that the letter was genuine. He was baffled. The Immortal Emperor of Dayin seemed to be deliberately allowing himself to be gouged. Was there some sort of ploy at play here?

"Eastern Aspect, my main body has been in a cauldron for three days and nights. It's being safeguarded by a large number of treasures, but I'm almost at my wit's end. Please save me, Eastern Aspect. Dayin will fulfill whatever conditions you may have!" Yin Tianci begged anxiously.

He could sense that his main body was about to perish. He was filled with inordinate fear.

"Wait outside the hall for now," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost commanded.

"Understood!" Yin Tianci and his subordinates left the hall immediately, leaving only Ao Canghai and the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost behind.

"Eastern Aspect, hasn't the Immortal Emperor of Dayin deferred time and again when pressed to tithe his fortune? But this time around, not only is he willing to pay it in full, he's even willing to double the amount and accede to whatever conditions we impose! Does he care that much about Yin Tianci?" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned.

Ao Canghai rapped on the armrest of his seat, smiling lightly. "Xiao Nanfeng has brought us a huge gift, hasn't he?"