Chapter 696: Stellar Cauldron

“Could this be the Origin Holy Artifact you have all been talking about?” Shang Xia stared at the giant cauldron before him and asked the new clone.

With a giant smile on his face, the new clone explained, “That’s right. This cauldron is called the Starry Riverbank and it’s the Origin Holy Artifact used by this Elysium to connect to our World’s Will.”

Shang Xia was shocked and he examined the giant cauldron before him and noticed several large words carved crudely onto the center of its surface. After looking closely at it, he could make out the words ‘Starry Riverbank’. That Was probably where the name of the Origin Holy Artifact originated from.

Kou Chongxue’s new clone saw how Shang Xia was admiring the cauldron and he didn’t interrupt. He stood silently at the side as the smile continued to hang from his face.

After some time, Shang Xia finally snapped back to reality. He asked in shock, “Why isn’t your true body here? By the way, where are the other clones?” As he asked, he looked around. All he could see was a giant patch of gray void. Other than the cauldron, nothing could be seen.

As he spoke, he became a little more alert. A cautious look could be seen in his eyes when he stared at Kou Chongxue’s New Clone.

Not feeling annoyed by Shang Xia’s doubtful gaze, Kou Chongxue’s New Clone chuckled, “My true body is right in there!”

“What’s he doing in there?!” Shang Xia gasped.

“Damn brat, there’s no need to doubt him! I’m really in the Starry Riverbank!” Kou Chongxue’s voice came from inside the cauldron all of a sudden. His unique aura also seeped out in order to provide Shang Xia some reassurance as he continued, “Well… Technically, you can say that I’m trapped in this place and won’t be able to emerge anytime soon. However, even if I could, I wouldn’t!”

Shang Xia couldn’t help but ask, “Patriarch Kou, what’s going on?”

Kou Chongxue’s aura trembled slightly and a ray of jade-green light flew out from inside the cauldron. By the time it arrived before Shang Xia, it transformed back into the Eternal Spring Fate Dipper Clone.

Kou Chongxue’s Eternal Spring Fate Dipper Clone started to explain, “My true body was trapped in the cauldron because of a giant wave of world origin. It’s the best time to subdue the Origin Holy Artifact, and he isn’t willing to emerge from the cauldron until he does so…”

Soon after, a faint blue ray emerged from inside the cauldron once again and Kou Chongxue’s Origin Water Fate Dipper Clone appeared. He didn’t wait for Shang Xia to say anything and started talking immediately. “He can only do so from the inside of the cauldron. The moment he starts the refinement process, he won’t be able to come out if he wants to. That's why he’s technically trapped in there for now.”

Shang Xia looked at the 3 clones before him. If he added Kou Chongxue’s Primal Yang Copper Fate Dipper that was in his true body, there was no doubt about it. Kou Chongxue had entered the fourth element of the Martial Dipper Realm.

Shang Xia turned to look at the clone that was created from the yellowish-orange light and asked, “Senior, may I ask which fate dipper you were created from?”

“My true body managed to obtain a Mysterious Void Earth Fate Dipper after entering the cauldron and refined it into his fourth fate dipper…” The new clone chuckled.

Shang Xia really didn’t know what else to say about Kou Chongxue’s luck at that point. [1]

Pausing slightly, Shang Xia muttered, “Oh right, there has been a huge change in the situation in the Celestial Remains right now. I suspect there are a bunch of Martial Dipper Realm experts who made their way into the Celestial Remains. Also, why have you brought me all the way into the forbidden region?”

Kou Chongxue’s Mysterious Void Earth Fate Dipper Clone mumbled, “There’s no need to suspect any further. We can confirm that a bunch of people have indeed entered the Celestial Remains.”

“Obviously, we brought you in here to hide from them. After all, you’re only at the Martial Extermination Realm…” Kou Chongxue’s Eternal Spring Fate Dipper continued.

His Origin Water Fate Dipper sighed, “There’s also something more important. You can bring out all the treasures needed to make your advancement medicine right now. Hand it to our true body and he can craft the semi-finished product for you.”

“What?!” Shang Xia couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Patriarch Kou is planning to personally craft my advancement medicine? Why didn’t I know he had such abilities?”

Crafting a rank five advancement medicine was no easy task. Even with the complete recipe and step-by-step instructions, they would need a rank four Alchemist Grandmaster to preside and take charge of the crafting process. Moreover, they might also need 2 or more of them to work together during the process.

Kou Chongxue was no alchemist! From what Shang Xia knew, other than the fact that Kou Chongxue’s fighting prowess was incredible, his skills in talismans, alchemy, blacksmithing, and formations were pretty shit.

“Hehe… There’s no need to doubt me. You’re right! I don't have the ability to craft your advancement medicine, but this does!” Kou Chongxue’s voice came from inside the cauldron once again.

“Who?” Shang Xia asked reflexively. However, he quickly realized what Kou Chongxue was referring to. “Are you talking about the Origin Holy Artifact, the Stellar Cauldron?!”

“That’s right!” Kou Chongxue’s soft chuckle rang in his ears.

Even with his confirmation, Shang Xia still felt waves of doubt battering against his heart. He questioned, “Is this something all Origin Holy Artifacts can do or just the Stellar Cauldron?”

Shang Xia truly wished to know. He was really curious as to whether any Origin Holy Artifact would be able to craft advancement medicines or just the one before him.

Kou Chongxue clearly understood what Shang Xia meant and he laughed, “It’s probably just the Starry Riverbank Caudron. Of course, it’s not easy to do it. Doing it would probably weaken the spirituality of the Origin Holy Artifact. It will only be able to recover after a long time…”

Shang Xia somewhat knew what Kou Chongxue meant, but he wondered out loud the next moment, “Wouldn’t that harm the Stellar Cauldron?”

“Heh, dam brat, don’t give me that shit. This old man is planning to craft your rank five advancement medicine here! Moreover, if I don’t weaken the spirituality of the Origin Holy Artifact, wouldn’t I need more time to refine it?” Kou Chongxue snapped.

A wave of realization washed over Shang Xia. He realized it didn’t matter whether or not Kou Chongxue refined his rank five advancement medicine. Moreover, with an abundance of spirit energy, the Origin Holy Artifact was probably used for that purpose anyway.

Kou Chongxue might have realized that point and got his clone to quickly lead Shang Xia over. He wanted to make use of its function to weaken the spirituality of the Origin Holy Artifact and produce a rank five advancement medicine. With that, he would be able to hasten the refinement process.

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Shang Xia no longer hesitated to bring out every single spiritual treasure he obtained to craft his Five Elements Paradoxical Yin Yang Paste. “I’m only lacking a single Gui Water Element Fate Dipper!”

Several rays of light emerged from the cauldron after the words left his lips. “I found several fate dipper essences in this forbidden region. See if you can use any of them.”

He paused for a second before he continued, “Even if you can’t, don’t worry about it. We can finish a semi-complete rank five advancement medicine.”

Shang Xia looked at the 3 balls of light that emerged and gasped emotionally, “This… This… I can use this strand of Condensed Frost Spring Fate Dipper Essence. This is the Gui Water Fate Dipper Essence Fate Dipper Essence I have been looking for!”

“Hehe…” Kou Chongxue laughed, “Kid, looks like you’re pretty lucky!”

“I just tagged on to your luck…” Shang Xia responded with a smile.

With all the ingredients gathered, a strong suction force came from the cauldron and sucked everything over.

Throughout the process, Shang Xia had to tell Kou Chongxue the proper process of creating the Five Elements Paradoxical Yin Yang Paste in order to ensure the Stellar Cauldron worked as smoothly as possible.

Shang Xia planned to do so the moment he heard that it was possible for his advancement medicine to be created, and he really didn’t care too much about it. After all, he didn’t plan on keeping his cultivation path a secret anyway.

There was also the thing where no one would dare to try his method of advancement even if he gave them the rank five advancement formula for free.

As long as they weren’t 100 percent sure of the principles behind Shang Xia’s cultivation path, they would be courting death if they tried to advance the same way he did!

After his treasures entered the cauldron, Kou Chongxue’s Eternal Spring and Origin Water Fate Dipper Clones nodded at Shang Xia one after the other before turning back into a streak of light that returned to the Stellar Cauldron. Only the Mysterious Void Earth Fate Dipper Clone was left with Shang Xia and he started to absorb the world origin emitted by the cauldron as he continued to refine his fate dipper.

As Kou Chongxue’s Clone, they were unable to raise their cultivation through cultivation. They could only refine and purify the Origin Dipper within them.

Shang Xia didn’t know how long it would take for the Stellar Cauldron to produce his advancement medicine, and he started to cultivate. Borrowing the pure world origin that was coming off the cauldron, Shang Xia tried to strengthen his foundations the best he could before attempting the breakthrough.

Even though the Stellar Cauldron was spitting out a massive amount of world origin earlier, the amount quickly decreased. The area immediately around it still boasted dense world origin, but the same couldn’t be said for the other regions.

Because of Kou Chongxue’s attempt to refine his rank five advancement medicine, the world origin that came from the cauldron was reduced by a lot. Shang Xia didn’t dare to let the Crimson Soul Tablet absorb world origin as it pleased any longer.

…

No one knew how long had passed, but Shang Xia was awakened by a very obvious spatial fluctuation. Kou Chongxue’s Mysterious Void Earth Fate Dipper Clone had long since been staring into the chaotic depths outside the forbidden region.

Not only did Martial Extermination Realm experts discover the forbidden region, they were clearly trying to force their way in.

“The remnant formations in the region are starting to weaken!” Kou Chongxue’s Mysterious Void Earth Fate Dipper Clone’s voice entered Shang Xia’s mind.

With a slight intention, Shang Xia asked with a voice transmission of his own. “Can they reach us?! What are we going to do now?”

“It’s fine. It won’t be easy for them to find this spot. Even though the restrictions have weakened, it will still be able to hold them back.” Kou Chongxue’s Mysterious Void Earth Fate Dipper Clone explained.

Shang Xia wondered, “Senior, do you know why the restrictions are weakening>?”

At that moment, another question popped up in Shang Xia’s mind. How in the world did Kou Chongxue get all the way here and enter the Stellar Cauldron anyway?!

One had to know that he was alone back then. He separated both fate dippers from him and his abilities were definitely affected.

Kou Chongxue’s Mysterious Void Earth Fate Dipper Clone hesitated for a moment before replying, “I don’t know the exact reason, but it might have something to do with the fusion of the worlds.”

“Senior, since you were able to enter and leave this forbidden region as you please, you shouldn’t be affected by the restrictions and spatial cracks here, right? Is this related to how Patriarch Kou grasped the ability to use the Stellar Cauldron?”

With a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, Kou Chongxue’s Mysterious Void Earth Fate Dipper Clone stared at Shang Xia. “Um, something like that?”

1. Shang Xia: You motherf… Shouldn’t you be the main character instead of me?! ☜