Chapter 128: The Sea-Bred Nine-Palace Cauldron (Second Update)

Within the Fuhai Palace, at the Xiaer Hall, the Sea-Covering King, Yu Baili, sat in the seat of honor. He sipped a cup of fragrant tea to moisten his throat, his gaze fixed on the distance beyond the palace gates as if organizing his thoughts.

Lin Feng, dressed in white, sat on a carved glass-backed chair to the right. He remained composed and focused, waiting for the King to speak. A faint, refreshing aroma drifted from the teacup beside him—not too thick, but perfectly balanced.

"You must find my current appearance quite strange, do you not?" Yu Baili said slowly, turning a crystal cup over in his hands.

"It is indeed strange. At first, I thought—"

"Thought I was a ten-year-old child? Among the twelve Demon Kings of the world, I am not the oldest, but I certainly rank within the top three. This appearance is entirely due to the Blood Dragon Birth!" Yu Baili let out a cold snort, his sharp pupils narrowing as he straightened his back.

"Could it have something to do with the predecessor who came to Danhai to demand the Blood Dragon Birth some time ago?" Lin Feng asked, piercing the veil.

"Precisely! Those who dare to have designs on my Danhai will eventually pay the price. I, Yu Baili, have reigned for a thousand years; he was the only one who dared to challenge my dignity with force. That was the first time, and it was the last! I will never let such a thing happen again. You want the Blood Dragon Birth? That is asking me to carve out a piece of my own heart. How could I ever grant your wish?" Yu Baili stated coldly.

Lin Feng smiled faintly. He understood the subtext: brute force and coercion had offended the King’s pride. It seemed he would need to offer something in exchange. No wonder Hua Lingyun had insisted on assembling the twelve elite guards and choosing an auspicious date—it was all to satisfy the King’s vanity.

"What would you have me do, then, Senior Yu?" Lin Feng picked up his crystal cup and took a sip, the fragrance filling his mouth.

"If your benefactor can come in person, there are ways to obtain the Blood Dragon Birth without killing the Dragon-Whiskered Whale King. That is my bottom line. Furthermore, you must fulfill a promise for me: kill Xi Bing!" Yu Baili stared at Lin Feng.

"Kill the Shark King? Could it be that the task from the Xuanji Pavilion last time was issued by the King?" Lin Feng calculated in his mind but did not ask; some things were better left unsaid.

Without further hesitation, he smiled. "In that case, let us strike our palms to seal the oath."

"Agreed!" Yu Baili replied crisply. The two slapped palms three times and returned to their seats.

"Since you are a disciple of the righteous path in the Divine Province, you must be well-versed in the art of artifact refining, correct? My Fuhai Palace gathers the world’s rarest treasures, yet no one here is proficient in alchemy or artifact refinement. Since Tianjizi and you share the same righteous path, why not stay in my palace for a few days and exchange techniques with him?"

"I am not well-versed in alchemy or artifact refining; I fear I would disappoint you, King," Lin Feng replied.

"Do not be so modest. I have high hopes for you, just as Lingyun does. Very well, if there is nothing else, have a palace maid show you to your quarters. I must retire for the night." Yu Baili covered a yawn, appearing genuinely exhausted.

Lin Feng stood and bowed in farewell. A flurry of questions flooded his mind. Practitioners who reach the Foundation Establishment stage no longer require sleep; why did the King appear so weary? As a supreme powerhouse among the twelve Demon Kings, how had he come to look like a young man in his prime?

Who was the person who came for the Blood Dragon Birth two hundred and seventy years ago? Did he suffer from the same illness as Uncle Liang? Why had the King’s attitude changed so suddenly? He swallowed the questions on his tongue; Yu Baili was a man who cherished his face above all, and pressing him on the past would only invite displeasure. It was better to wait; the truth would come to light eventually.

***

"Friend Lin, what did the King say?" As he followed the palace maid through the corridors, Tianjizi’s enthusiastic voice reached him.

Lin Feng looked up to see Chen Yuxi also present. He smiled lightly, "Thank you for your concern, Senior. The King has agreed to the matter, though there are some details to resolve; there is no rush. The King also requested that I exchange techniques in alchemy and artifact refining with you, Daoist. I am afraid I know only the basics, so I hope you will not laugh at my ignorance."

"Boundless Daoist Venerable! I was just discussing these very questions with Friend Chen. This is exactly what I had hoped for! Come, come, please follow me to Panshi Island to discuss the Dao," Tianjizi said, his beard quivering with excitement as his eyes lit up.

The sea was calm, the night deep and bright with moonlight. The three of them rode the wind on their swords, skimming toward Panshi Island, where Tianjizi’s residence was located.

"My humble abode is quite crude; I fear it is not a proper place to host you," Tianjizi said apologetically, smoothing his robes.

Panshi Island featured only a few dozen stone houses. Aside from the cleared courtyards and smelting grounds, the island was scattered with massive boulders, a stark contrast to the underwater palace.

However, cultivators did not care for superficial grandeur, and the environment of Tianjizi’s residence actually felt more intimate. The three walked and talked, heading down a small path toward the smelting grounds.

"I have served King Yu for sixty years, setting up my cauldrons here on Panshi Island. Thirty percent of the magical artifacts used by the demons of Danhai were crafted right here. Look, this is the Nine-Palace Sea-Taming Cauldron." Tianjizi’s eyes burned with a fervor akin to a lecher beholding a beauty.

Lin Feng had already noticed that on the wide platform, nine massive cauldrons were arranged in a specific formation, varying in size and height. Surrounding these nine were many smaller cauldrons, like stars orbiting a moon. Through the vents in the furnaces, one could see flames surging—white and purple. Beside each cauldron, two or three young disciples in Daoist robes attended with meticulous care.

Just as the three stood silently observing the heat-filled refinery, a roar echoed. A thick, bloody stench accompanied a massive, roaring wave of heat as something launched a sudden surprise attack.

"Beast, you dare!" Tianjizi cried out in shock, but it was too late to intervene.

"Oh? Purple fire! A fine welcome!"

Lin Feng, who had been curious about the purple flames in the furnace, felt his eyes brighten. He instantly channeled his Yan-Heart Power and struck out a punch. The Red Lotus Karma Fire erupted with his energy, deflecting the purple fireball with a single blow. The two masses of flame collided, sputtering as they fell to the ground.

"Wretched beast! If you won't guard the furnace, why are you out here biting people!" Tianjizi moved in a blur of motion, his horsetail whisk lashing out a beam of golden light. A "Yellow Dragon Tail-Whip" strike landed on the back of the rampaging beast.

"Awoo!" In the glow of the furnace, the two were surprised to see that the beast was shaped like a mastiff, its body as black as coal, its coarse fur as tough as steel needles. Its two purple pupils glared fiercely at Lin Feng, growling in defiance.

"My apologies, the Purple Flame Beast hasn't seen strangers in a while; I don't know what got into it today. Pan Jia! Where are you? Keep a tighter watch on it!" Tianjizi waved his whisk at the group of Daoists tending the fires, then turned to Lin Feng with a sheepish smile. "Friend Lin, was that the legendary Red Lotus Fire you just used?"

"Your eyes are sharp, Venerable. It is indeed the Red Lotus Karma Fire. Is this the fire that the beast spits out?" Lin Feng asked with a smile.

"A Purple Flame Beast! Truly rare. My martial uncle searched all of the Great Qian and Qiyun Mountains wanting to capture one to guard his furnace, but he never succeeded," Chen Yuxi remarked from the side, filled with wonder.

***

Tianjizi stroked his beard and laughed, saying proudly, "Indeed. I traded ten top-grade Spirit Essence Stones and three sets of mid-grade magical artifacts on Magnet Island to obtain this creature. There is only one pair in the entire world; the other, the female, is said to be with the Beichen clan. Heh, I suppose that puts me on par with them."

At that moment, a burly Daoist approached, took the beast from Tianjizi, and fed it a piece of purple jade, which calmed the creature down.

"Look, my friends. These nine cauldrons are arranged according to the Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Zhong, Xun, Li, Kun, and Dui positions—the Nine Palaces. They remain immovable, drawing earth qi to align heaven and earth. By painting the Sea-Taming Cloud Map beneath them, one can refine mid-grade and even high-grade artifacts. When the Nine Palaces unite with the Bagua, the Seven Stars, and the balance of Yin and Yang, it is possible to refine a top-grade artifact. Since I took charge of these cauldrons, I have produced one top-grade artifact, thirteen high-grade, seventy-nine mid-grade, and nearly ten thousand low-grade artifacts. My only regret is the Fire-Meteor Sword, the one top-grade artifact I ever crafted; it went missing in the Li Sea twelve years ago during the border wars along with General Pulao. Since then, I have never had the chance to refine another. The alignment of the Nine Palaces, Bagua, Seven Stars, and Yin-Yang is a once-in-a-century event; it is the frustration of my life."

Tianjizi held his whisk, his face shifting between pride and melancholy. Lin Feng and Chen Yuxi watched in awe as he guided them through the rows of roaring cauldrons. The scent of heat, saltpeter, and metal made their blood race, and their hearts surged with the flames.

Refining a magical artifact required not only precious materials but also the right time and place. It took days of work—melting, blending, forging, and quenching. A single mistake in any step would lead to total failure and heavy loss.

Tianjizi was truly a master who hid his light; his achievements in this field far surpassed most cultivation sects, including giants like the Hundred Flower Sect.

"Young Friend Lin, I have a request. I wonder if..." After the tour, the three stood on a platform, looking back at the unceasing cauldrons and the busy crowd.

"Please, speak your mind, Venerable," Lin Feng replied, slightly startled.

"Well, I once obtained a fragment of an ancient recipe. Using Star-Glitter Sand, Lapis-Jade Marrow, and raw essence stones, one can refine the top-grade Buddhist artifact 'Danxia Pagoda Seal.' However, it requires the Red Lotus Karma Fire to temper it and remove the impurities. I wonder if..." Tianjizi’s tone softened, his expression filled with hope.

"If you have need of it, I shall certainly assist. However, my Senior Sister..." Lin Feng looked at Chen Yuxi, feeling conflicted.

"Heh, go ahead and refine it. I will return to the sect tomorrow to report our safety to our master and the sect leader," Chen Yuxi smiled. She then sent a telepathic message to Lin Feng: "Take me to the Immortal Mansion in a moment. I won't be coming out for a while."

Tianjizi thanked them profusely. As the three walked along, each lost in their own thoughts and heading toward their quarters to rest, a group of figures suddenly flew toward them through the dark night sky. Seven-colored auras flashed, and thunderous fire light crisscrossed the air. Upon closer inspection, it was five or six people engaged in a fierce battle!

Sword light illuminated the night sky. In front were a man and a woman; the woman wore a white cloak and stepped on a strange hook-shaped blade, while the man was dressed in fine silk and wielded a white flying sword. Chasing them were four men in uniform black robes and high-tied hair, their artifacts also being flying swords. They fought as they fled, sword qi and lightning-colored light scattering everywhere.

"Where do these reckless fools come from! Daring to run wild at the feet of King Yu!" As they watched, Tianjizi’s cold voice rang out.