Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

Chen Xuan's Adam's apple bobbed, and the ominous Holy Spirit Blood Crystal slid down his throat.

boom!

An extremely violent energy exploded within his body.

Without any buffer, it wasn't spiritual power, but pure resentment and malevolent energy, the death intent accumulated over millions of years in the ruins of the fallen god.

Chen Xuan's skin instantly cracked, and before the blood could flow out, it was evaporated into red mist by the high temperature.

His originally dark pupils were instantly swallowed by blood, the whites of his eyes disappeared, leaving only two bottomless pools of blood.

"ah--!"

The boy roared to the sky, his voice not like a human's, but more like that of a wounded wild beast.

The aura that was originally only at the Casting Cauldron Realm suddenly surged wildly.

In the later stages of casting the tripod, the transformation phase occurs, and the profound mystery is revealed...

They charged all the way to the threshold of the Great Sage Realm.

This is an exchange of life itself, a madness that trades the future for the present.

Black and red lightning crackled around him, and the broken sword in his hand let out a mournful cry, seemingly unable to withstand its master's current power.

"Let's go."

Chen Xuan turned around and scooped Su Chang'an up from the ground.

His hands were trembling, the flesh in his palms was a bloody mess, revealing the stark white bones, but he held on tightly, as if afraid that if he let go, the person would be gone.

Su Chang'an was almost suffocated by that murderous aura. Looking at Chen Xuan's face, which was no longer recognizable as human, she felt as if her heart was being squeezed tightly by a giant hand.

That idiot.

I actually ate it.

"Walk!"

Chen Xuan stomped his foot, and the ground collapsed with a roar. He transformed into a streak of blood-red light, about to break through the blockade of the two middle-aged men.

"Stubborn and obstinate."

Chen Daolin, who hadn't made a move yet, shook his head, his face showing no panic, only a condescending pity.

"The Holy Spirit Blood Crystal is an extremely ominous object. Swallowing it whole will only destroy your foundation. I am your third ancestor; how can I allow you to ruin your future?"

Chen Daolin waved his sleeve.

A small golden cauldron, about the size of a palm, flew out from his sleeve.

The cauldron swelled in the wind, growing to the size of a mountain in the blink of an eye. Its body was covered with ancient flowers, birds, fish, and insects, radiating a terrifying pressure that suppressed everything.

"go."

Chen Daolin pointed with his finger.

The golden cauldron fell upside down.

Just as Chen Xuan reached mid-air, he felt as if the sky above him had collapsed.

An unparalleled suction force emanated from the mouth of the cauldron. He desperately swung his broken sword, unleashing streaks of blood-red sword energy powerful enough to tear through space.

clang!clang!clang!

The sword energy struck the cauldron wall, sparks flew everywhere, but not even a white mark was left.

That was a sacred weapon.

The true legendary weapon, the Mountain and River Cauldron.

"Open it!"

Chen Xuan roared, his bones cracking as he burned with the power he had just gained, trying to hold back the falling cauldron.

But the gap in skill level cannot be bridged by simply working harder.

Moreover, Chen Daolin was at the peak of the Great Sage realm and was wielding a sacred weapon.

Boom!

The golden cauldron fell, trapping Chen Xuan and Su Chang'an inside.

The world fell silent instantly.

Only the enormous golden cauldron hovered in mid-air, slowly rotating.

"Third Ancestor, this..." The middle-aged man beside him hesitated, "That demoness is also inside."

"It's alright."

Chen Daolin sat down cross-legged, formed hand seals, and sent streams of golden spiritual fire into the cauldron.

"Xuan'er swallowed the blood crystal, and its malevolent energy entered his body. If it isn't refined in time, he will surely die. I did this to save him. As for that fox..."

He paused, his tone indifferent.

"That is Xuan'er's inner demon. Taking this opportunity, we will refine it as well, which is also for Xuan'er's good. Without this demon, he can be single-minded and become the emperor of my Chen family."

……

Inside the cauldron.

This is a golden world.

There was no sky, no earth, only golden flames stretching as far as the eye could see.

This fire is no ordinary fire; it is the "Cleansing Golden Fire," specially used to refine impurities and purify spiritual energy.

Chen Xuan held Su Chang'an, huddled in a corner of the cauldron.

The malevolent aura emanating from him sizzled under the burning golden flames, turning into black smoke and dissipating.

With each bit of his power dissipated, his strength diminished.

But he couldn't care less about any of that.

He held Su Chang'an tightly in his arms, using his own back to shield him from the ever-present flames.

"Chang'an, don't be afraid... don't be afraid..."

Chen Xuan's voice was extremely hoarse, and blood kept gushing from his mouth, dripping onto Su Chang'an's face.

Su Chang'an lay in his arms, her face as pale as paper.

She's just an ordinary person now.

This Cleansing Fire was a way for Chen Xuan to refine evil energy, but for her, it was a deadly poison.

Even though Chen Xuan blocked most of the flames, the intense heat and the wisps of fire seeping in still made her soul tremble.

Her body began to become transparent.

First the toes, then the calves.

Tiny specks of firefly light drifted from her body and merged into the golden flames.

"Chen Xuan..."

Su Chang'an reached out, wanting to wipe the blood from Chen Xuan's mouth, but his fingertips began to disappear as soon as he reached halfway.

Chen Xuan's pupils contracted violently.

He saw it.

He was trembling.

"No...no..."

He frantically mobilized the remaining malevolent energy within his body, trying to create a protective shield to envelop Su Chang'an.

But as soon as the evil energy left the body, it was burned away completely by the golden fire.

"You old bastard! Let me out!"

Chen Xuan suddenly looked up and roared at the mouth of the cauldron.

"If you want to train someone, train me! Let her go! Let her out!"

The voice was mournful and tearful, echoing within the empty cauldron.

A cold voice came from outside the cauldron.

"Xuan'er, concentrate and calm your mind. This blood crystal's malevolent energy is too strong and must be completely refined. Your current pain is because the malevolent energy is resisting. Endure it, and you will reach the Great Dao."

"Fuck your main road!"

Chen Xuan slammed his fist into the wall of the cauldron, his fist becoming a bloody mess.

"I don't care about the Great Way! I just want her to live! Do you hear me?! I just want her to live!"

"Stubborn and obstinate."

Chen Daolin's voice remained calm, "Demons mislead people, and today I will help you sever this emotional ties. When you reach the summit in the future, you will understand my good intentions."

As soon as the words were spoken, the flames inside the cauldron suddenly surged.

The temperature instantly doubled.

"ah--!"

Chen Xuan let out a scream as the skin on his back instantly turned black.

But he didn't move.

He hunched over, like a shrimp, protecting Su Chang'an on the inside.

But it couldn't be stopped.

That fire is directed at the soul.

Su Chang'an looked at Chen Xuan's distorted face and the bloody tears streaming from the corners of his eyes.

She could no longer feel the pain.

My body felt lighter and lighter, as if I were about to fly.

"Don't be afraid... Chang'an, don't be afraid..."

He was no longer in his right mind; he could only mutter this one sentence.

Su Chang'an nestled in his arms, looking at this silly boy.

She couldn't actually feel any pain.

This body was originally an avatar created to break free of the seal. Now that its energy is exhausted, it is simply returning to its original state.

But seeing Chen Xuan like this, her conscience, that thing in her heart, ached for once.

This rebellious son is truly risking his life.

"Chen Xuan." Su Chang'an reached out, his fingertips beginning to turn transparent, like fireflies about to fade away.

Chen Xuan shuddered and looked down at her. Her eyes, stained red with murderous aura, were filled with terror.

"Don't look." Su Chang'an wanted to laugh, but found that her facial muscles were already out of control. "Ugly."

"Not ugly! Not ugly!" Chen Xuan shook his head frantically, frantically trying to grab the scattered specks of light, his fingernails digging blood into his palms. "I can save you... I ate the blood crystal, I have power... I can save you!"

"Fool."

Su Chang'an sighed.

The body was dissipating faster and faster, and the legs had already turned into specks of light and merged into the sea of ​​fire.

"Chen Xuan".

She called out softly.

Chen Xuan froze and lowered his head.

Su Chang'an's lower body had completely disappeared, leaving only his upper body in his arms.

"Don't cry."

Su Chang'an smiled. Although his face was very pale, his smile was very beautiful, just like when he tricked him into giving him spirit stone flowers in the Broken Heart Residence.

"It's so ugly."

"I won't cry... I won't cry..."

Chen Xuan shook his head desperately, tears mixed with blood streaming down his face and landing on Su Chang'an's face.

He frantically tried to catch the scattered fireflies and stuff them back into Su Chang'an's body.

But it was impossible to catch.

The light slipped through my fingers, no matter how hard I tried to catch it.

"Why...why..."

Chen Xuan broke down.

He cultivated immortality for so many years and practiced swordsmanship for so many years.

In the end, they couldn't even protect one person.

Then what kind of immortal cultivation is he?!

"Chen Xuan, listen to me."

Su Chang'an's voice grew softer and softer, like a candle flame in the wind.

"In this life, you raised me. Although you always call me Dad, actually... you've always been the one taking care of me."

"I've lied to you many times, but one thing is true."

Su Chang'an laboriously raised his hand, which had begun to turn transparent, and gently placed it on Chen Xuan's face.

There is no temperature.

There was only a desolate chill.

I don't regret finding you.

Even knowing I'd be dragged down by you and die, I'd still pull you out of the river if it happened again.

Chen Xuan made a "hehe" sound in his throat, as if someone was choking him.

"Please stop...please stop..."

"I'm leaving."

Su Chang'an looked at the golden sea of ​​fire above his head.

"Chen Xuan, don't die."

"Live well."

"We...will meet again."

The last sentence fell.

The hand that was pressed against Chen Xuan's face shattered completely into countless specks of light.

Next came the arms, shoulders, neck...

Finally, there was that smiling face.

Splash!

My arms were empty.

Chen Xuan remained frozen in the embrace.

Everything in my arms is gone.

All that remained was an empty black cloak, the one he had draped over her before entering the cauldron.

Now, the person is gone.

The clothes are still there.

The flames inside the cauldron were still burning fiercely, crackling and popping.

Chen Xuan slowly lowered his head, looking at his empty hands.

Just now.

The one who would call him a rebellious son, steal his blanket, cheat him out of spirit stones, and tuck his cold feet into his arms to warm them up.

In his arms.

Gone.

It was completely destroyed by the fire.

"Aa ...

Chen Xuan suddenly clutched his head, curled up on the ground, and let out a heart-wrenching wail.

There was no anger or murderous intent in that voice.

Only despair.

Utter despair.

Upon hearing this sound, Chen Daolin, who was outside the cauldron, paused in his actions and then sighed.

"Love is a difficult thing to get over. It's good to cry it out; once you've cried, you'll forget about it."

He increased the output of his spiritual power.

The flames inside the cauldron intensified, beginning to fully refine the remaining blood crystal energy within Chen Xuan's body.

Chen Xuan stopped resisting.

He allowed the flames to penetrate his body, burn his veins, and rebuild his bones and blood.

He just clutched the black cloak tightly, pulling it into his arms as if trying to infuse the last bit of life into his bones.

This lifetime.

I'm giving up cultivating immortality.

I will not become an emperor.

I'll only fix you.

Su Chang'an.

You wait.

From the highest heavens to the deepest hells.

I'll bring you back!