Chapter 337: Drawing Attention
“Congratulations.”
Yu Zhaohua offered her congratulations, her tone sincere.
Chen Beiwu nodded, yet his expression did not relax. Instead, his gaze grew solemn as he looked at Iron Egg.
For Iron Egg, breaking through to the Third-Realm Beast General was not difficult. What was difficult was how to complete the dual bloodline evolution that would follow.
For safety’s sake, the vast majority of Cultivators within the Immortal Alliance would choose a single stable evolutionary route, supplent it with the corresponding cultivation resources and inherited Cultivation thods, and steadily nurture the bloodline of their Companion Beast step by step.
In this way, so long as the Companion Beast possessed deep Cultivation Years and a solid foundation, the probability of successfully undergoing bloodline tamorphosis and evolution would naturally be extrely high.
However, although evolving step by step according to an established thod was stable, it would also cause one to miss out on the infinite possibilities hidden within the bloodline.
Thus, there had never been a lack of Companion Beasts in this world who dared to take risks and gamble for opportunities. Iron Egg was one of them.
One must know that among the Five Elents, fire itself possessed Yin and Yang distinctions.
[Pure Karma Blazing Dragon]: It controlled karmic fire, burned away sins to purify infernal prisons, pierced through illusion, discerned all things, and specialized in attacking karmic guilt. It was a Fourth-Tier Mystic Beast of the fire attribute, inclined toward extre Yin.
[Illuminating Sovereign]: It evolved golden flas, manifested the Great Sun, shattered evil to reveal righteousness, restrained sinister entities, demonic spirits, and corpse fiends. It was a Fourth-Tier Mystic Beast of the fire attribute, inclined toward extre Yang.
To put it plainly, one of these two evolution thods targeted netherworld karmic sins, while the other targeted worldly evil entities. Although both were fire-attribute Mystic Beast evolutionary paths, the fundantal cultivation trajectories they represented were as different as north and south. The ultimate endpoint their bloodline evolutions could achieve in the future would also be vastly different.
In Senior Brother Jiang Chuan’s eyes, Iron Egg’s desire to combine Yin and Yang and perfectly command both the [Pure Karma Blazing Dragon] and the [Illuminating Sovereign] evolution thods was truly sowhat exaggerated.
There was no other reason—doing so carried far too great a risk!
First, the Sin-Burning Karmic Fire and the Illuminating Golden Fla were opposite in nature.
If the two forces lost balance and Iron Egg failed to fuse them perfectly, the lighter consequence would be the complete destruction of its ridians and the shattering of its inner core; the heavier consequence would be imdiate death on the spot.
Second, the essence of Companion Beast bloodline evolution was in fact an ascent toward a higher level—or in other words, an evolution toward the ancestral blood hidden within the bloodline itself.
Even if Iron Egg could perfectly control the balance between Sin-Burning Karmic Fire and Illuminating Golden Fla, simultaneously introducing the evolutionary paths of [Pure Karma Blazing Dragon] and [Illuminating Sovereign] could still result in bloodline disorder or even mutation.
Problems of this sort were too nurous to count!
Without actual practice, Chen Beiwu did not dare to determine how many issues Iron Egg’s bloodline evolution might encounter.
After fully understanding the difficulty of Iron Egg’s dual evolution, he had even once entertained thoughts of retreating.
Compared to the tamorphosis and triple-ridian enhancent brought by bloodline evolution, Chen Beiwu cared far more about Iron Egg’s safety.
But Iron Egg’s will was far too firm—so firm that Chen Beiwu could not bear to reject it. Even now, he could not help but want to slap his own mouth.
It was all because of this damned mouth—why had he suggested taking everything? Now he had pushed Iron Egg into a pit.
‘Why not reconsider? We don’t actually need to take such a risk.’ Chen Beiwu transmitted with his divine sense.
Although he had already made thorough preparations, he still wanted to persuade Iron Egg to change its mind.
“Woof.”
Iron Egg shook its head. It knew Chen Beiwu cared for it and did not wish to defy any of its master’s intentions.
Only this ti, it wanted to be willful once.
Those battles it could not intervene in, could not participate in—it had already seen enough.
A weak evolutionary form simply could not keep pace with its master!
‘There’s really nothing I can do about you.’
After hesitating for a mont, Chen Beiwu gave up trying to persuade it further.
There was no such thing as absolute certainty in this world.
Though step-by-step evolution was safe, there were also many cases where Companion Beasts perished due to accidents during the process.
With the augntation of the Nine-Breath Chaos Divine Ability and the enlightennt of the Yuanshi Golden Core Profound Ability, the probability of Iron Egg successfully completing dual evolution was actually not low.
Taking ten thousand steps back, even if Iron Egg ultimately failed in its bloodline evolution, Chen Beiwu was confident he could preserve its life and rely on the Yuanshi Golden Core Profound Ability to minimize the adverse consequences of failure.
“Na.” (Don’t worry. I’m here.)
The Five Qi Vine patted its chest, its face full of confidence.
‘Don’t die.’
The Golden Egg cast Iron Egg a glance. Its tone sounded calm and indifferent, yet concealed a trace of concern.
“Woof.”
Iron Egg nodded. Then its gaze shifted slightly as it looked toward the vortex at the center of Molten Heart Lake.
“Rumble!”
Perhaps Iron Egg’s breakthrough had stirred the spiritual chanism of heaven and earth throughout Molten Heart Lake—the eruption of the Pure Marrow Spiritual Eye was advanced by an entire day.
Violent tremors shook beneath Chen Beiwu’s feet. A molten torrent of indescribable brilliance surged forth from within the vortex.
Its radiance was so intense that even Golden Core True Persons could not help but close their eyes.
At that mont, the fire-attribute spiritual chanism within the entire Molten Heart Lake soared to an inconceivable level, comparable to a Fifth-Tier spiritual vein.
“We can set out now.”
As soon as Yu Zhaohua finished speaking, her figure flashed. With the Flintrock Coiled Dragon on her shoulder, she plunged into the surging lava torrent, attempting to be the first to enter the depths of the Pure Marrow Spiritual Eye and collect the erupting Pure Marrow Essence.
Yu Mingyun and the others likewise activated their escape lights without hesitation and rushed into Molten Heart Lake.
“Woof!” (Let’s begin!)
Iron Egg looked toward Chen Beiwu.
‘No need to rush. Familiarize yourself with the mana within your body first,’ Chen Beiwu shook his head.
The Pure Marrow Spiritual Eye would erupt for forty-nine days. Entering evolution one or two days later would make no difference.
Upon hearing this, Iron Egg closed its eyes and began familiarizing itself with the power of its Profound Ability.
Ti passed in the blink of an eye.
One day later, Iron Egg opened its eyes and looked at Chen Beiwu.
Chen Beiwu did not hesitate. His hands ford seals, and the Yuanshi Golden Core within his body trembled.
Boundless Yuanshi True Qi and divine sense condensed together, forming a Three-Treasures Companion Seal with a base as crimson as blood.
‘Three Treasures converge, Companion shared in harmony—Contract!’
Chen Beiwu pointed forward, tapping Iron Egg’s forehead.
Sensing the familiar aura, Iron Egg offered no resistance, allowing the Three-Treasures Companion Seal to enter its sea of consciousness and establish the most intimate Companion Contract with Chen Beiwu.
“Buzz!”
The contract was ford. Their Great Dao beca one path.
Through the feedback of the Companion Contract, Chen Beiwu could clearly sense the changes in Iron Egg’s Cultivation Years.
And through this near bloodline-linked connection, Iron Egg could also comprehend a trace of the true intent of the Yuanshi Dongzhen Azure Splendor Immortal Art of Commanding Myriad Tribulations and Myriad Spirits.
“Na?”
The Five Qi Vine scratched the little flower atop its head and looked toward the Golden Egg.
It did not understand why Chen Beiwu had not ford the Companion Contract with Iron Egg from the very beginning.
With Chen Beiwu’s assistance, the inner core Iron Egg forged could likely have approached a First-Grade Golden Core.
‘Perhaps it has sothing to do with the Yuanshi Profound Ability.’
All three heads of the Golden Egg turned to look at Iron Egg.
“Na.”
The Five Qi Vine blinked, half understanding yet still confused.
‘Go. I will lend you a hand.’
Chen Beiwu rubbed Iron Egg’s head. A faint flash ca from the storage ring on his finger as one precious Fourth-Tier resource after another floated into the air.
Iron Egg took a deep breath, activated the Fire-Bathing Escape Form Profound Ability, and charged into the lava pillar erupting from the vortex at the center of Molten Heart Lake. Its figure vanished.
Chen Beiwu then closed his eyes to regulate his breath, quietly waiting for ti to pass.
Soon, another day passed.
“Myriad Transformations Return to One—Temper Blood and Give Birth!”
Sensing that the mont had arrived, Chen Beiwu gave a low shout. His hands ford seals as Yuanshi True Qi within his body stirred the hovering Pure Karma Crimson Blood and Great Sun Candle Guide.
In an instant, one crimson and one golden stream of light shot into the lava pillar.
The Pure Karma Crimson Blood was no ordinary substance—it was marrow blood from the Fourth-Realm Beast King [Pure Karma Blazing Dragon]. The Great Sun Candle Guide was the twin fangs of the Fourth-Realm Beast King [Illuminating Sovereign].
Using the Companion Contract as the core, Beast King origin essence as the furnace, and his own Yuanshi True Qi as fuel, Chen Beiwu refined blood with blood, allowing Iron Egg to inherit the bloodlines of the [Pure Karma Blazing Dragon] and [Illuminating Sovereign] clans. This was the Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure Cleansing thod.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Stimulated by the Pure Karma Crimson Blood and the Great Sun Candle Guide, Iron Egg’s bloodline origin erupted with overwhelming force.
As a price, the bloodline conflict within Iron Egg intensified. Two streams of Profound Fire burst forth—one Sin-Burning Karmic Fire, the other Illuminating Golden Fla.
Taking Iron Egg’s body as the battlefield, the two flas began a fierce struggle, each determined to suppress the other.
“Whine!”
In the blink of an eye, Iron Egg’s throat went numb. The inner core within its qi sea emitted extre heat, rcilessly burning its five viscera and six bowels. Its body resembled a boiled shrimp, glowing red.
‘Just a bit of fire—what can it do to !’
Iron Egg madly circulated the evolution thods, attempting to suppress the scorching and tearing pain while devouring the power of the Pure Karma Crimson Blood and Great Sun Candle Guide. Yet an unease faintly stirred within its mind.
“Receive Heaven and Nurture Mystery—Refine Truth Through Landscape!”
At the critical mont, Chen Beiwu activated the Bestowed Middle Scene: Five Qi Rides Three Phases, Ascending Profundity to the All-Encompassing Yuanshi Heaven-reaching Three Realms Landscape.
With a flick of his finger, the Sinking Water Sandalwood Heart ignited, transforming into a stream of azure air.
The Pure Yang Fire Mirror radiated brilliantly like a rising sun, embedding itself into Iron Egg’s forehead within the lava pillar and forming a unique pattern.
In the next instant, the Great Sun pattern on Iron Egg’s forehead unfolded like a vertical eye opening, releasing a stream of light that absorbed the azure air into its sea of consciousness, stabilizing its divine sense and soul.
‘Use marrow as cauldron, pupil as pill—refine the heart and preserve the spirit!’
Chen Beiwu’s gaze flashed like lightning. Combining the bloodline tamorphosis steps of both evolution thods, he clapped his hands together.
The Three-Life Fla Marrow and Void-Illuminating Eye Pupil shot into the lava pillar one after the other, entering the vertical eye on Iron Egg’s forehead and helping to harmonize the raging Sin-Burning Karmic Fire and Illuminating Golden Fla within its body.
At this mont, Iron Egg possessed the Yuanshi Heaven-reaching Three Realms Landscape to stabilize its bloodline, along with nurous Fourth-Tier mystic dicines refining its flesh. The two opposing Mystic Beast bloodlines within it no longer rejected one another, but began rging, initiating the most fundantal tamorphosis.
‘Not bad. Even smoother than expected.’
Chen Beiwu exhaled in relief, though he did not fully lower his guard.
This was only the beginning.
Beyond fusing the [Pure Karma Blazing Dragon] and [Illuminating Sovereign], he also intended to use the Golden Core Profound Ability to awaken the hidden power within Iron Egg’s bloodline.
“Bang!”
At that mont, Iron Egg’s body stiffened. The vertical eye on its forehead suddenly cracked, a few drops of blood flowing down. Its previously stabilizing aura plumted wildly.
‘Not good!’
Chen Beiwu’s expression changed slightly. With a sweep of his sleeve, Karma-Gold Sand descended, transforming into countless streaks of light that covered Iron Egg’s entire body.
He then flashed forward, activating Vast-Abyss Treading the Void, rushing into the lava pillar and stuffing a Dragon-Eye-Sized Blood-Rescue Treasure Pill into Iron Egg’s mouth.
“Buzz!”
As the pill dissolved, the vertical eye on Iron Egg’s forehead closed, no longer cracking—but it showed no sign of recovery either.
Seeing this, Chen Beiwu did not hesitate.
According to the [Pure Karma Blazing Dragon] evolution thod, such a situation indicated a ninety percent probability of failure. Evolution must be imdiately abandoned—but fortunately, he had prepared a contingency.
‘Yuanshi Profound Ability—Myriad Phenona Return to the Origin.’
‘A single spark of spirit—trace the source and open the root!’
Chen Beiwu ford sword fingers. The Yuanshi Golden Core within his dantian qi sea radiated unprecedented brilliance as he pointed toward Iron Egg’s forehead.
Boom!
Chen Beiwu’s mind roared. His face turned pale.
Though the enlightennt lasted only a brief instant, it felt as though a thousand years had passed. Two-thirds of the origin of his Yuanshi Golden Core was directly consud.
There was no other reason—the enlightennt of the Yuanshi Profound Ability was not rely an enhancent of mana or the awakening of intelligence. It was a tracing and elevation of life level and bloodline origin itself. It could even rewrite bloodlines.
Iron Egg did not disappoint him.
Though its outward form remained unchanged, its aura suddenly beca ancient and profound.
Without exaggeration, any Golden Core True Person with keen perception present would clearly sense the sublimation of Iron Egg’s essence.
Soon, as ti passed, Iron Egg’s head underwent the first transformation.
Its cranial bones expanded slightly, becoming sharp-edged. Its snout lengthened, revealing ivory fangs entwined with black-gold flas, adding a fierce dominance.
Its body then rapidly expanded, reaching a shoulder height of one zhang. Its smooth musculature far surpassed that of ordinary Fourth-Tier Mystic Steeds.
Its entire body was covered in dark-obsidian fur resembling flowing black lava, gleaming as if clad in pitch-black fla armor.
The claws hidden beneath the fur of its limbs grew larger and thicker, toes as sturdy as dragons. Each step subtly distorted the spiritual chanism of heaven and earth, forming black fla clouds beneath its paws, as though it trod upon fire.
Its thick tail resembled a venomous serpent lurking in shadow, occasionally leaving afterimages.
But above all these changes, what most concerned Chen Beiwu was the vertical eye upon Iron Egg’s forehead.
Though called a vertical eye, its shape more closely resembled a purple Dao-mark pattern. It was not a fleshly eye, yet it evoked in Chen Beiwu an instinctive sense of danger, as if it could not be directly gazed upon.
One must know—Iron Egg was his Companion Beast. For even him to feel threatened, the power of this vertical eye could be imagined.
‘Why hasn’t it awakened yet!’
Chen Beiwu frowned slightly, noticing that the Sky-Wielding Cloak Iron Egg always carried was slowly dissolving into heaven and earth.
……
At the sa ti, in the deepest reaches of the Yuqing Mountain Range.
The Forbidden Peak.
An ancient existence lay in slumber. Its body was vast as a star, imnse beyond description.
With every breath it took, tides of heaven and earth spiritual chanism surged, causing the laws of heaven and earth to manifest.
Yet though the spiritual chanism and Dao’s Rhythm here were incomparably pure, not a single Fortune-Origin Beast dared reside here. Within ten thousand li, no living being dared linger.
Suddenly, the ancient existence awakened.
With a movent of divine sense, it passed through endless space and layers of restrictions, ‘seeing’ the black dog within Molten Heart Lake.
‘Interesting.’
‘Using the Sky-Wielding Cloak as a guide, rging the extres of Yin and Yang, glimpsing a trace of the true intent of Sun-Swallowing, and opening the Heavenly Eye.’
‘A promising seedling. It is qualified to inherit my…’
With that thought, the summit of the Forbidden Peak returned once more to its eternal silence.
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