Chapter 482: The Yin-Yang Cauldron

The mountain cave that formed the spirit prison was particularly large in size. Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and her bodyguard entered to see that the mountain had been dug out almost completely, and there were countless runic formations in the vicinity to stabilize the bulk of the mountain. Around the interior of the mountain cave were huge cages, all of which had been thrown open.

"The attack we faced was no mere coincidence. The forces who departed must have done it," Zhang Lingjun said, frowning. "You have to be careful. Some of them obviously know how to enter this cave, so you can't let them do this again."

"I'll reset everything with the manor key to prevent unwanted access."

"Good!" Zhang Lingjun nodded.

They walked around the interior of the mountain. As expected, there wasn't even a single spirit to be seen. However, at the bottom of the prison, they found a huge pit with a gigantic copper cauldron within. Black and white smoke surrounded the cauldron, spinning in a synchronized, profound fashion.

"What an impressive cauldron. The black and white smoke surrounding it seems to be sketching out some precept of natural law..." Xiao Nanfeng remarked in surprise.

"This is the Yin-Yang Cauldron, the Martial Aspect of Sunblaze's strongest relic. It's a top-tier cauldron that can be used to forge Immortal relics."

"To forge Immortal relics?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

The Earth disciples of the Taiqing sect were skilled with pillmaking and forging, but none had ever managed to forge an Immortal relic to date. Immortal relics were exceptional in quality. Though less flexible than Immortals themselves, Immortal relics possessed an Immortal's strength.

"Quite so! Forging Immortal relics requires the sacrifice of Immortal spirits, so that's why there are so many trapped here. Each is meant as a live sacrifice," Zhang Lingjun explained.

"A live sacrifice? Are all Immortal relics' origins so bloody?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"There's no need for you to pity them. These spirits have terrorized their respective territories and killed countless people. Rather than kill them directly, why not turn them into Immortal relics instead?"

"You're right. It's a pity that these spirits have all died without our being able to forge Immortal relics from them, though. The fact that this cauldron is able to forge Immortal relics must mean that it's an incredible treasure."

Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the cauldron, which sent a burst of golden light toward him. He stumbled back.

"There's a formation protecting this cauldron?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"Of course. Otherwise, those departing forces of yours would likely have stolen it already." Zhang Lingjun smiled.

"Oh?"

"If I'm not mistaken, they must have seized the vast majority of treasures in this mansion that weren't bolted down."

"I'll investigate, but the fact that this cauldron is still here is already a huge boon."

He reached out for the Yin-Yang Cauldron again. A golden barrier formed, blocking his hand.

The formation was impressively strong, but it meant little against Xiao Nanfeng's candleflame powers. His spiritual power passed through the barrier and dissolved the crux of the formation, causing it to dissipate.

Although Zhang Lingjun had seen Xiao Nanfeng do so before, she was still amazed by his abilities. Her bodyguard widened his eyes, staring in shock.

Xiao Nanfeng reached out toward the Yin-Yang Cauldron, but his hand was repulsed. He probed it with his spiritual power, only for that to be ineffective as well.

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Despite the fact that he didn't seem to have any recourse, he was exhilarated. "What a treasure."

"The Yin-Yang Cauldron is among the highest class of cauldron-type relics. Trying to attune to it is no easy affair," Zhang Lingjun warned.

"That's alright. I'll do it slowly. It'll eventually warm up to me," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Let me give you a gift," Zhang Lingjun said.

"Hm?"

She retrieved a jade tablet. "The Yin-Yang Cauldron is protected by specialized natural law, and ordinary attunement tactics won't work. I have some strategies to do so recorded in this jade tablet, but even so, it takes an incredible amount of time to succeed. The Martial Aspect of Sunblaze tried for many years but was still unable to gain full mastery over it."

"Oh? Where did you get this?"

"It's one of the treasures that my mother left me. She was the one who gave this Yin-Yang Cauldron to the Martial Aspect of Sunblaze as well. Now that it's in your hands, allow me to pass this jade tablet to you." Zhang Lingjun smiled.

Xiao Nanfeng immediately understood that Zhang Lingjun was trying to secure his support. He smiled. "I'll accept it gratefully, then. Princess, if you ever need my help, please come talk to me."

"Very well," Zhang Lingjun said, satisfied.

Xiao Nanfeng kept the tablet and walked around the spirit prison once more before leaving with Zhang Lingjun.

They inspected the manor. Just as Zhang Lingjun had guessed, much of the treasure within the manor had been removed, leaving just a few items behind. Although there was plenty of treasure, they all paled in comparison to the Yin-Yang Cauldron.

Before nightfall, Zhang Lingjun departed as well.

Xiao Nanfeng saw Zhang Lingjun and her bodyguard off, then immediately began to adjust the manor's formations to ensure that no one else could enter. Then, he took down the banner above the manor and replaced it with one on which 'Xiao' was written in large, bold letters, announcing to one and all that the manor and its demesne now belonged to him.

He had no intention of recruiting new forces; rather, he headed down into the spirit prison and began to attune to the Yin-Yang Cauldron.

Because of the tablet that Zhang Lingjun had given him, he found it much easier to attune to the cauldron than before. In just two days, the cauldron had grudgingly accepted his presence. Perhaps because of just how high-grade the relic was, however, going further would require significant effort.

His waist suddenly shook. His face turned dark as he stopped attuning to the cauldron.

He reached out for the Purpleflame Gourd hooked to his waist. Over the last few days, he learned that he had caught Yin Tianci within the gourd—and Yin Tianci's main body, at that.

"Xiao Nanfeng, you won't be able to trap me for long. Once I escape, I'll kill you!" Yin Tianci roared.

A particularly tiny crack appeared on the gourd's surface.

After all, the Purpleflame Gourd was only a True Immortal relic, and Yin Tianci was the crown prince of a divine empire. He was sure to have plenty of treasure, and Xiao Nanfeng didn't think that the gourd would trap him for long. Even so, he didn't want to release Yin Tianci so easily. He intended to wait.

"Let's talk once you escape," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

He sealed all sound from entering or leaving the gourd, then focused on attuning to the cauldron.

Days later, a series of knocks could be heard from the front of the manor.

Xiao Nanfeng stopped attuning to the cauldron and walked out of the spirit prison. With a wave of his hand, he dispelled his formation to see hundreds of Taiqing disciples standing outside, led by Zhang Feifan himself. Chang Bing and the others were by his side.

"Xiao Nanfeng, you really make a fuss wherever you go, don't you? I heard you had a big fight around here," Zhang Feifan said, laughing.

"Thank you for helping me guide the Earth division disciples here, Division Leader Zhang."

"There's no need for thanks. You intend on using them as part of your standing army, don't you? Don't worry. I'll help you contact the relevant officials to get them registered. Once you sign off, they'll have official identification tokens allowing them free access into and out of the Sieve of Heaven."

"Thank you, Division Leader Zhang. Would you like to come in?"

"There's no need. We'll have plenty of opportunities to catch up. It's been a while since I last returned, and I have plenty of administrative affairs I have to take care of. I'll come bother you again when I'm free."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

He saw Zhang Feifan off before turning back to Chang Bing and the others.

"We greet the division leader!" Chang Bing and the others chorused politely.

"Come in. I'll help you record your spiritual power in the formation so you can access this manor at will."

"Understood!" The disciples stepped across the formation.

They glanced around curiously. Although the buildings here weren't particularly ornate, they still felt the need to be careful. After all, this was the manor of a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court!

"There's no need to be so reserved. This is going to double as your base of operations. You'll all serve as my forces for the time being. Familiarize yourself with the place and the Sieve of Heaven as a whole."

"Understood!" everyone replied.

Suddenly, Chang Bing sniffed. "What an incredible furnace aura."

"Furnace aura?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"It's stronger than even that of the best pill furnace in the Taiqing sect! Division Leader, are you forging a relic in here right now?" Chang Bing exclaimed.

The other Earth division disciples were clearly shocked as well.

Xiao Nanfeng himself was taken aback. "How can you sense this furnace aura?"

"Division Leader, have you forgotten our sect's specialty?" Chang Bing joked.

"Hm?"

"The Taiqing sect's mastery of forgecraft is second only to the red moon of its spiritual cultivation. After the calamity from two centuries ago, the sect master and division leaders were worried that other forces would covet the techniques of Taiqing forgecraft and deliberately propagated rumors that a significant fraction of the inheritance had been lost. In truth, the Earth division remained responsible for carrying on those traditions and passing down those techniques, but this is a closely guarded secret," Chang Bing whispered.

"The methods of Taiqing forgecraft are known to the Earth division?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"Yes, but without a sufficiently high-quality forge and materials, all we can make are ordinary pills and relics. Even so, they're several grades better than those you can find in ordinary sects," Chang Bing replied proudly.

"Oh?"

"Taiqing forgecraft is a secret passed down from the Taiqing grandmaster himself, and only a sectstarter within the Earth division who possesses a specific constitution and spiritual marker is qualified to learn it in its entirety. Of the hundreds of Earth division disciples gathered here, only thirty bear the inheritance," Chang Bing explained.

"I need helpers to help me attune to the Yin-Yang Cauldron I've just obtained. Follow me. Show me your skills," Xiao Nanfeng said expectantly.