Nine Slaughter Seals were forcibly severed, each rupture accompanied by pain that caused him to vomit blood and break into a cold sweat. However, the poison had not yet vanished. The remnants of the Triple-Layered Poison Spores still clung tightly to the muscle tissue beneath his skin, gnawing at his pure spiritual essence. Zhi Xuan knew he had only one last chance.

  He focused all his will on the final Slaughter Seal remaining in the corroded area of his back. That Seal, which was the most firmly consolidated, felt like an anchor embedded in his bone. Zhi Xuan let out a cold roar, combining the Devil Law and the Purification Law from the Heavenly Samsara Wheel in one brutal effort.

  HUK!

  With a sickening sound, the tenth Seal snapped, shattering into dark runes that were immediately reabsorbed by the Heavenly Samsara Wheel, leaving a burning void on his back. The poison, having lost its base to corrode, was immediately pulled out by the Heavenly Samsara Wheel, purified, and discarded into the Extreme Yin-Yang Land.

  Zhi Xuan gasped for air, his body trembling violently. He felt weak, not because of a loss of spiritual essence, but because of the loss of the ten Slaughter Seals that had become part of his physical foundation. Thirty Seals had now shrunk to twenty. This was a massive loss, a heavy blow that forced him back to a physical foundation he had long since surpassed.

  "Stubborn monkey," Ruo Xianxue hissed in the Sea of Consciousness, her tone sounding slightly worried, mixed with a bitter admiration. "The poison is gone. But you sacrificed your foundation. Now, your physical form is no longer as strong as before, perhaps only slightly more sturdy than an average cultivator."

  "Better to have a broken foundation that can be rebuilt than to be a corpse turned into a puddle of poison," Zhi Xuan replied spiritually in a weak tone. He forced himself to regain focus.

  He brought out an Earth Spirit Grass and swallowed it, using its soothing effects to stabilize the surging fluctuations of his essence. The burning pain in his back began to subside, replaced by numbness. Zhi Xuan wasted no time. He knew he was under a terrible time constraint. Every second, the legacy looters and other sect elites were moving toward the heritage.

  "I must recover quickly," Zhi Xuan murmured, his voice hoarse once again, but his cold decisiveness had returned.

  He allowed the Earth Spirit Grass to take effect. He sat cross-legged in the damp, cold passage where the Extreme Yin-Yang collided. He channeled essence into the remaining twenty Slaughter Seals. Although their number had decreased, the Seals now felt purer and denser after the forced purification of the poison.

  The recovery process was swift, driven by the Heavenly-Blood Body Law and the assistance of the Devil Tree of Life pumping vitality. After three hours of meditation, Zhi Xuan opened his sapphire eyes. His physical exhaustion had vanished, but the loss of the ten Seals still felt like a burdensome void.

  "Your physique has stabilized, Monkey. But you are still below the foundation you should have possessed when the Slaughter Seals were complete." Ruo Xianxue radiated cold dissatisfaction, even though she was the one who had suggested he release them.

  "I will find them again," Zhi Xuan replied coldly, his determination hardening. "Now, focus on the goal. The Seven Lotus Yin Fruit."

  He rose, his movements silent. He looked around. The steeply sloping passage where he had fallen now felt quieter, but the Extreme Yin-Yang pressure remained strong. Zhi Xuan realized that this passage was merely the outer shell. Before him, the giant cavern stretched out, shrouded in the contrast of black and white light. He walked through the passage, leaving the chaos behind him.

  He stepped into the giant cavern where the Extreme Yin and Yang collided. His twenty remaining Slaughter Seals pulsed, firming his defense against the oppressive pressure. Zhi Xuan moved along the border of the two colors—on one side, a freezing cold; on the other, a lethal heat.

  "Four-Directional Blood Sh—" Zhi Xuan's voice caught as he stumbled, his head throbbing uncontrollably. His spiritual essence was drained, and the clash of essences around him made him stagger. His hand rested on the hard ground beneath him as he coughed again.

  "Great Saint!" Zhi Xuan hissed spiritually, with a tone of suppressed shock. He felt his spiritual essence being forcibly pulled away; his Sea of Consciousness was churning for no apparent reason. "Something is pulling my essence!"

  "The Emperor's Law," Ruo Xianxue replied quickly, her voice sharp and full of warning. "The Great Emperor's body does not just oppress; it harvests the essence of anyone who does not possess a pure bloodline. Every movement you make, every bit of essence you channel, will become fertilizer for this Tomb."

  Zhi Xuan immediately withdrew his hand. He allowed himself to stand tall, relying only on his brutal physical foundation. He closed his eyes for a moment, channeling the Heavenly Samsara Wheel to rotate and lock all the spiritual fluctuations of his Consciousness Transformation. He had to walk as a forged mortal, not as a cultivator.

  With his sapphire eyes open, Zhi Xuan continued his pace, now much slower. Each step felt heavy due to the constant pressure and the siphoning of essence. He had to navigate these passages without drawing the attention of the Tomb, which now felt like a hungry ancient predator.

  "If I use essence, I will become a sheep for the slaughter," Zhi Xuan murmured. He relied only on his eyes and instincts. Xiao Die, the Thousand Feather Moth, became his spiritual eyes. Her subtle hum filled his Sea of Consciousness, guiding Zhi Xuan away from the most violent nodes of Extreme Yin-Yang energy.

  Zhi Xuan traversed a passage formed from a blend of ice crystals and volcanic rock. The path was winding; the deeper he went, the denser the aura of the Great Emperor's Tomb became. The smell of metal, poison, and decaying will grew stronger. After about an hour of careful walking, Zhi Xuan found the trace he was looking for: footprints.

  The footprints did not belong to slaves or mine guards. They came from combat boots, infused with the faint remnants of Five Element essence fluctuations—belonging to the disciples of the Righteous Sect, the group of six sent by Zhu Yanghai. They had also taken the same route, though perhaps through a different passage. The footprints led toward the left side of the cavern, the Extreme Yin side, where ice crystals loomed high, radiating a bone-chilling Law.

  "They are looking for the Azure Dragon Bone Powder, and it is likely hidden in the cold area that represents dead water and earth," Zhi Xuan thought, his instincts working rapidly.

  Zhi Xuan decided to take the opposite direction, toward the Extreme Yang side, dominated by pitch-black volcanic rock. This place felt lethal, but Xiao Die had confirmed the Seven Lotus Yin Fruit grew in the center of the Extreme Yin-Yang collision, which meant its location was on the threshold of heat and cold, often hidden behind a strong Yang Law to protect its Yin energy.

  Zhi Xuan stepped toward the Extreme Yang side. The heat radiating from the volcanic rock felt like subtle waves of fire, testing his physical foundation. Every step was a struggle against the harvesting Law of the Tomb and the searing heat.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  He crossed an area filled with cracks in the ground, from which hot steam escaped with the smell of sulfur. This passage felt like a vein carrying the hot blood of the dead Great Emperor. Zhi Xuan moved slowly, utilizing every shadow and volcanic rock formation to conserve energy.

  After walking through the labyrinth of hot rocks for some time, the passage suddenly widened. Zhi Xuan was forced to crouch behind a block of pitch-black stone, masking his presence. The sight before him was a large chamber radiating a lethal Yang aura. The room was dominated by a pool of slowly churning lava, emitting a smell of minerals and intense heat.

  In the center of that lava pool stood a crystal stone pillar that appeared unaffected by the heat. Atop the pillar sat a blood-red jade jar, sealed with ancient runes. However, Zhi Xuan's attention was not on the jar. Beside the lava pool, he saw two familiar silver-robed figures—members of the six-person team from the Righteous Sect. They also appeared to be navigating this room with great difficulty, suppressed by the brutal Emperor's Law.

  "Senior Mu, that jar... it is the Heavenly Devouring Cup!" whispered one of the disciples, his voice filled with uncontrollable desire. "There must be a legacy inside it!"

  "Fool!" Senior Mu hissed, his eyes fixed on the jar with vigilance. "Do not act rashly! This place is filled with the Extreme Yang Law of the Tomb! That jar is merely bait, placed in the center of the lava pool by the Great Emperor to lure the greedy. We must focus on finding the passage leading to the core of the Tomb. Quick, cross this room. Do not touch anything!"

  Senior Mu and his companion moved along the edge of the lava pool, trying to find another passage. They moved quickly, but their movements were awkward under the pressure of the Tomb's Law, constantly channeling their essence and, unknowingly, feeding the Great Emperor's Tomb.

  Zhi Xuan smirked coldly behind the shadows. The Heavenly Devouring Cup was the perfect bait, attracting the desire for mortal treasures while the true legacy remained hidden. However, their presence indicated that the Seven Lotus Yin Fruit was not far. Yet Zhi Xuan was also curious about the contents of the Heavenly Devouring Cup.

  "The Heavenly Devouring Cup?" Zhi Xuan murmured. His instinct told him it was not just an empty jar left behind; there was bound to be a trap. Yet Zhi Xuan, who had just lost ten Slaughter Seals, felt as if hope had arrived to at least repay the debt. "Great Saint, can it be taken?"

  "Take it?" Ruo Xianxue hissed, her tone filled with sharp mockery. "That is a heavenly artifact. And that jar sits in the center of the Extreme Yang Harvesting Pool, which serves as the meridian of the decayed Great Emperor. The Extreme Yang essence down there will dissolve you before you can even touch the jar. It is a trap, Monkey. A Great Emperor's legacy is never placed easily."

  "A beautiful trap," Zhi Xuan replied spiritually, with a smirk that did not reach his eyes. "They call it bait, but bait always has meat. I just lost ten Seals. I need something that can accelerate my recovery and strength."

  Zhi Xuan observed the room. Senior Mu and his companion had disappeared into another passage at the end of the chamber. The lava pool radiated lethal heat and a terrifying Yang pressure. Taking that jar directly was a suicidal act that would immediately destroy his physical foundation, which was now supported by only twenty Seals.

  "There is nothing that cannot be taken in this Realm, Great Saint. It is only a matter of the price to be paid." Zhi Xuan channeled essence into his hand, calling back the Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron. This time, he did not use the Cauldron as a shield, but as a powerful harvesting tool.

  He knew the Azure Holy Flame, the Soul Fire he would channel inside the Cauldron, was a pure Law of fire that might be able to withstand the heat of the Extreme Yang Harvesting Pool. He let the Divine Cauldron hover before him, radiating a calm Summer resonance. Zhi Xuan had no intention of entering the pool. He only needed to cross the short distance between the edge and the crystal stone pillar. He channeled his physical essence, not spiritual essence, into his feet. Zhi Xuan jumped.

  BUG!

  The jump was powerful and sudden, driven by the remaining twenty Slaughter Seals. He shot across the open space above the churning lava pool. The heat radiating from the pool immediately scorched his robe, but he ignored it. He directed the Divine Cauldron forward, channeling the Azure Holy Flame.

  WHUSHH!

  The Cauldron emitted waves of pure dark purple fire that held back the Extreme Yang heat, creating a slightly cooler air path. Zhi Xuan landed atop the crystal stone pillar standing firm in the center of the pool. The landing produced a barely audible sound. There, before him, the blood-red jade Heavenly Devouring Cup stood tall, sealed by ancient runes. Under the pressure of the heat and the Extreme Yang Law, the jar felt like both a bonfire and a spiritual cauldron ready to explode.

  Zhi Xuan wasted no time. He reached out his hand. The moment his fingertips touched the jar, the sealing runes reacted immediately. An ancient roar filled the room, and the Extreme Yang essence from the lava pool below surged, seeking to destroy the intruder.

  GUROOOH!

  The crystal stone pillar vibrated violently. Zhi Xuan felt a pressure equivalent to ten Five Element cultivators attacking simultaneously. He clenched his jaw, enduring the pain, and pulled the jar. With the removal of the jar, the Extreme Yang Law in the pool exploded in fury. Waves of lava churned, and sparks of hot fire shot upward, targeting Zhi Xuan.

  "Come here, Cup, come to me!" Zhi Xuan growled. It felt like pulling a weight of thousands of catties just for the Heavenly Devouring Cup, as if it had been planted here for an entire era. "Rise, Cup! Come on! You will kill me if you do not come up!"

  Zhi Xuan roared sharply; his hands felt hot and his face flushed as if he were about to cry. He gripped the Cup; from his hands emerged ten blades of the Devil Blood Sword that he forced out, even though he had to sacrifice his spiritual blood as payment. He wrapped those Devil Blood Swords around the Cup and pulled again.

  "RISE! RISE! RISE!" Zhi Xuan shrieked. If anyone were to see him now from behind, he would look utterly ridiculous, crouching and pulling the Cup like a child trying to lift a heavy rock.

  KRAK!

  Under the terrifying pressure, the crystal stone pillar began to crack. The Heavenly Devouring Cup, enveloped by the ten Devil Blood Sword blades, finally moved, detaching from the base of the pillar with a deafening grinding sound. Zhi Xuan immediately pulled it to his chest, using his remaining strength to stabilize himself.

  The blood-red jade jar, now in Zhi Xuan's hands, radiated a lethal Yang aura, feeling like holding a shrinking sun. Zhi Xuan had no time to examine it. The lava pool below was now churning wildly, and the Extreme Yang aura in the room surged with pure killing intent.

  "Oh, this is not good." Zhi Xuan looked left and right, then at the Lava Pool which now loomed high before him. With a grin that showed his teeth, he slowly backed away step by step. "Great Emperor, you have already become a tomb. Why must you be so angry?"

  The lava pool, now churning like a wrathful sea, spat tongues of hot fire into the air. The heat was no longer just burning; it was melting. Zhi Xuan knew he had to leave that crystal pillar in a fraction of a second. He gripped the Heavenly Devouring Cup with one hand, letting the Divine Cauldron hover in front of him to withstand the incoming heat wave.

  BUG!

  Zhi Xuan jumped once more, this time with a panicked and irregular thrust. The twenty Slaughter Seals gave him speed, but the Extreme Yang pressure and the weight of the Heavenly Devouring Cup threw off his balance. He shot over the churning lava.

  WHUSHH!

  As he nearly reached the edge of the room, a wave of lava larger than the others surged upward. Zhi Xuan managed to twist his body, avoiding a direct hit, but lethal sparks of lava managed to touch his skin.

  DUG!

  "Ouch!" Zhi Xuan shrieked, his voice muffled, but the pain was very real. Several high-temperature lava sparks stung his buttocks and right thigh. It was a pain far worse than the stings of the Triple-Layered Poison Spores; it was fire forged with the Extreme Yang Law.

  Zhi Xuan landed at the edge of the room with a small, embarrassing cry. He began to hop on one leg, ignoring his composure and shaking his buttocks which felt as if they were on fire. His flushed and sweaty face was now filled with a ridiculous expression between pain and regret.

  "Hot! So hot! Curse you, Great Emperor! You left a trap with such a grudge!" Zhi Xuan growled. He did not dare touch the area stung by the lava due to the extraordinary heat. He trotted with a limp and hopped about to distance himself from the Lava Pool.

  He spun his Divine Wheel and channeled essence to the stung area, but the Extreme Yang lava refused to be cooled. Zhi Xuan, holding the Heavenly Devouring Cup in his left hand and the vibrating Divine Cauldron in his right, now looked like a wild monkey that had just been stung by a poisonous hornet.

  However, it did not stop there. The lava surged high again, and Zhi Xuan, who stood with his back to the Lava, was still hopping in pain. As he turned back to look at the lava pool, his eyes widened with burning fear. It was like a volcano preparing to swallow him whole.

  "Xiao Die, on the second breath count, we run," Zhi Xuan whispered frantically. He felt his knees trembling hard as he glanced toward the passage the six disciples had taken; that was the way to escape the wrath of this lava pool.