Chapter 402 - Divine Stone of Life

Dark, evil qi seeped out from behind the door, tainting the surrounding air.

Chen Fan watched as the merit elder carefully picked up a stone roughly the size of an adult's fist, covered with densely packed talismans that sealed it shut.

These talismans held powerful, righteous qi. It was clear that a high-level Core Formation expert had used them to suppress the evil qi within.

The evil qi was truly terrifying. Although the talismans were suppressing it, some of it still seeped out. It was smokey and pitch-black, contaminating the air. A mere whiff could plunge one's mind into a nightmarish abyss, turning them into a slave to its influence.

The stone was the Divine Stone of Life!

Deep within it, Chen Fan noticed what seemed like writhing flesh and blood, as if it wasn’t a stone, but the flesh and blood of a fiendish devil from the depths of Avici Hell.

Aside from the intense evil qi, he could also sense the vigorous vitality aura in the stone.

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

This vitality aura was refreshing and could help elevate one's existence to a higher state.

However, this vitality was tainted by the evil energy and couldn't be harnessed safely. Absorbing it would corrupt the practitioner, making them a demonic being and a slave to the mass of flesh and blood within the divine stone.

“This is the Divine Stone of Life. How about it, I didn’t lie to you, did I? The vitality within it surpasses even that of the Fountain of Life. You've made a great deal today.” The merit elder revealed an incomparably sinister smile and said, “However, be cautious. While the stone's evil qi is sealed, the seal will become weaker over time. Mishandle it, and you could become a demon. If that happens, don’t blame us for killing you. Haha, hahaha...”

As his laughter faded, the elder tossed the Divine Stone of Life and the Five Thousand Kilometers Displacement Talisman at Chen Fan.

Without wasting any time, Chen Fan stored the items away. “Let’s go, Master.”

“

Hmph

, Merit Elder, I’ll remember this!” Wei Buyu retorted, his anger still evident.

“Thinking of causing trouble, Wei Buyu? I suggest you leave now. I've given you what you wanted. If you stir up trouble, not even the High Elder can save you," warned the Merit Elder coldly.

“Master, let’s go,” Chen Fan said again.

“Fine,” Wei Buyu responded, reigning in his anger at Chen Fan's composed demeanor.

Watching them leave, the Merit Elder smiled coldly. “All bark and no bite. They are simply delusional if they think they can go against Duan Jingtian. Once he reaches the Divine Nascent realm, the entire sect will be under his control. You wouldn’t dare to be arrogant then, Wei Buyu! You will die then!”

......

On their way back, Wei Buyu shook his head and said, “Chen Fan, you shouldn’t have spent all those contribution points on this stone. You can’t even refine it!

“The Divine Stone of Life is undoubtedly a rare, wondrous stone; due to the demonic fetus inside it, you simply can’t use it. The seal even needs frequent reinforcement from several Core Formation experts; otherwise, the evil force within would wreak irreparable havoc.

“That old coot, Merit Elder, has passed a ticking time bomb to you. He has truly struck two birds with one stone. He got rid of a potential threat and has likely won favor with Duan Jingtian. You were too impulsive.”

Chen Fan smiled and said, “You’re worrying too much, Master. I'm well aware of the Merit Elder's intentions. He wants to harm me with the contaminated Divine Stone of Life, but he has no idea that it is not a problem for me. I actually want to thank him for giving me such a treasure. With this, I can raise my cultivation quickly, and I’ll be much more confident with my holy disciple mission!”

Wei Buyu’s eyes flickered, and he said, “Oh? It seems you have a method to refine this?”

“Indeed, I do. I can't wait to see the Merit Elder's reaction when he finds out. He'll be in for quite a shock!"

Wei Buyu didn’t ask more questions, suspecting that Chen Fan's rapid rise might be tied to his ability to handle such challenges. “If you’re confident, then you've truly struck a great deal."

“That’s for sure. Merit Elder’s trickery is useless, but I surely remember him. Wait till I defeat Duan Jingtian. I’ll look for him to settle the score then,” Chen Fan said, his tone cold.

Had Chen Fan not mastered an unparalleled divine technique—cultivating the Heaven Seizing Furnace—possessing the Divine Stone of Life would have indeed been dangerous. The evil qi within would have very likely consumed him.

The merit elder was trying to harm him. Although his scheme had failed, he did have the heart to harm Chen Fan, making him an enemy. There was no way Chen Fan would let him go so easily.

“Be vigilant," Wei Buyu cautioned. "The demonic fetus within the Divine Stone of Life is unique, even possessing consciousness. I suspect that during the ancient war between gods and demons, the blood of a demonic god fell on the stone. As time passed, the blood contaminated the stone and formed a demonic fetus. It’s not to be underestimated.”

Chen Fan rolled his eyes about, pondering, and immediately came to a decision. “Rest assured, Master. I won’t drop my guard. I plan to find a place immediately to refine it and improve my cultivation. I’ll make sufficient preparations before heading to the Myriad Deaths Mountains.”

The demonic path cultivators had gathered at Myriad Deaths Mountains and were cooking up something huge, so the area was no different from a dragon’s lair. A single misstep could cost Chen Fan his life. He wasn't so reckless as to act without caution.

Therefore, he planned to raise his cultivation a little more first, aiming to at least form an illusory core, doubling his combat prowess. With that, even someone at the third-level wouldn’t be much of a threat to him.

Moreover, he now also had a Five Thousand Kilometers Displacement Talisman. He could escape if he encountered someone at the fourth or fifth level.

Although the Five Thousand Kilometers Displacement Talisman couldn’t let him slip into the void to escape like the Space Penetrating Divine Talisman, it was also extremely fast.

The talisman enveloped the user and transported them five thousand kilometers away in a flash. It was a very powerful lifesaving method.

"Oh? You're planning to refine it immediately?" Wei Buyu's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“That’s right. I’ll do it in this valley. I’ll have to request Master to set up some formations,” Chen Fan said with a vicious gaze.

Noticing that Chen Fan was brimming with confidence, Wei Buyu nodded and said, “Alright.”

Wei Buyu set up a formation per the landscape’s Feng Shui.