Chapter 62

Bai Shi's expression was solemn, more so than before.

Before this, he could not be entirely sure that the only exit from the Devouring Abyss was within the flame that resembled a brazier. Now, feeling that gentle breeze, he no longer had any doubts.

Firstly, even with the intangible force enveloping his physical body, if Bai Shi were to try to break through the flames directly, the result would be his complete annihilation. Secondly, at this moment, Bai Shi did not know whether he would be able to master the final move, the Dragon Transformation. If he could not, he would not be able to break the seal here, and he would be left to perish within this fiery cave.

Even though the spiritual energy within this fiery cave was extremely dense, enough to sustain Bai Shi for several months, if it were to last year after year, the spiritual energy within the cave would eventually be completely absorbed by Bai Shi. At that time, his fate would be the same as those skeletal remains he had seen before—nothing but white bones!

Bai Shi was very clear about this.

Drawing a deep breath, Bai Shi shifted his gaze to the ancient cauldron. Having experienced life and death on several occasions, this time he was not as panicked as before. Instead, he gazed at the ancient cauldron, feeling the medicinal fragrance emanating from within it, and clearly knew that in the time to come, he needed to add water to the cauldron.

Refining the 'Bone Tempering Pill' would take several months.

This might have some basis, as after consuming the 'Bone Tempering Pill,' one would experience a pain akin to being reborn, as if undergoing a baptism. The fundamental reason for enduring such intense pain is that the body must have sufficient capacity, and this capacity comes from absorbing a large amount of spiritual energy...

Therefore, in Bai Shi's view, the reason the 'Bone Tempering Pill' requires several months of refinement is likely related to the cultivator's own body.

Fortunately, Bai Shi had enough water in his storage bag to last him for several months. Moreover, when he fell into the Devouring Abyss, the powerful wind blades had already caused him a pain akin to rebirth, a baptism from within his body. This completed baptism meant that Bai Shi did not need to worry about experiencing intense pain after consuming the 'Bone Tempering Pill.' At that time, he would only need to quietly enjoy the nourishment the 'Bone Tempering Pill' would provide.

During these several months, Bai Shi needed to find something to do. In this fiery cave, the only thing he could do was to close his eyes and absorb the power of heaven and earth, and to continuously improve the 'Dragon Transformation Sword,' striving to master the final move, the Dragon Transformation, to break the seal here and leave the fiery cave.

This was a choice, but in Bai Shi's heart, the answer quickly became clear. He took two steps back, not too far from the flames, and began to sit cross-legged...

In recent days, he had been able to use each move of the 'Dragon Transformation Sword' to some effect, except for the final move, which he found particularly challenging and could not master. Because of this, while pondering, Bai Shi could not discern the subtleties of the final move, but he was certain that there was something he had misunderstood about it.

In silence, Bai Shi directed his gaze to the stone wall where the 'Dragon Transformation' was inscribed, and a realization dawned on him.

This realization made him quickly shift his gaze back from the 'Dragon Transformation' and then spread his palms on his knees. An intangible force seeped out from his palms, and under his mental control, this force seemed to envelop his body, gathering the spiritual energy from the void and slowly entering his body.

In his mind, rather than the vast emptiness of before, the shadow of the 'Dragon Transformation' sword was swirling, as if he were trying to observe the 'Dragon Transformation' within his consciousness, striving to find the subtle nuances that puzzled him.

However, most of his attention was focused on absorbing the spiritual energy from the void.

Under Bai Shi's mental control, the spiritual energy in the void transformed into almost transparent forces, as if weaving through Bai Shi's body, emitting a faint sound. But these sounds did not disturb Bai Shi in the slightest; his tightly closed eyes remained shut, and a white halo, resembling a pill, had formed in his palms. The white light of this halo gradually became more intense due to the continuous influx of spiritual energy, until it became almost blinding.

When the white halo's light became almost blinding, Bai Shi, with his eyes still closed, suddenly opened them and looked at the ancient cauldron. The cauldron, as when it was first taken out, showed no abnormalities, but the area around it was filled with intense heat.

With a flick of his finger, Bai Shi, under his mental control, opened the cauldron's lid and then took some water from his storage bag, filling the cauldron. He then let out a long breath and mused, "This water... in the heat-insulating state of the ancient cauldron, it can last for half a month."

It was now the third day...

After everything was done, Bai Shi closed his eyes again. In the fiery cave, he had lost track of day and night. He did not know how many days he had been in the cave, and could only roughly judge the passage of time by his daily routines, such as the need to add water to the cauldron while refining the 'Bone Tempering Pill'...

The white fox lay beside Bai Shi, looking very lazy, its eyes half-open and half-closed. Though it seemed tired, it was not completely asleep. The spiritual energy in the void continued to flow into its body. For these strange beasts, absorbing spiritual energy did not require any conscious effort; it would naturally flow into their bodies as they grew.

Bai Shi sat still like a rock. The white halo in his palms, as its light gradually brightened, began to pulse, as if it were a spark from within the fiery cave, but it never left his palms.

Meanwhile, on the twelfth day, in the Chen Mountains, at the location of the Xingcheng City, Su Xuan pushed open the window. Even though it was daytime, he looked at the clear blue sky, as if searching for a particular star. This star seemed like the shadow of a person, making him distracted.

It was not until someone called his name from downstairs that he finally stepped out of the room.

Looking in the direction of the voice, he saw a woman. She was wearing a blue robe, with a seductive smile on her face. When she looked up at Su Xuan, her eyes seemed to have an almost irresistible allure. Beside her was a counter, and a man was lying on it, seemingly casually checking the inn's accounts. The innkeeper, instead of resisting, appeared to be quite fearful.

"Was it you who called me just now?" Su Xuan stood on the stairs, his gaze lingering on the woman for a moment before he spoke softly.

The woman's gaze lingered on Su Xuan, and after sizing him up with a glance, she smiled faintly and said, "Are you Su Xuan?"

From the woman's almost imperceptible change in expression, it was clear that the person upstairs was not exactly who she was looking for.

Nodding, Su Xuan's eyes did not show any unusual light at the sight of the woman; instead, they seemed somewhat dim. He nodded weakly and said, "Yes, I am Su Xuan... What do you want?"

The woman took a step forward and said, "If you don't mind, could you come down and talk to me? I have something... that requires your help."

Su Xuan was still listless but finally agreed, saying, "Let's talk upstairs."

With that, Su Xuan turned and went back into the room.

At that moment, the middle-aged man who had been looking at the accounts suddenly frowned, as if he had discovered something. He turned to the woman and said, "Bilu... take a look, have you seen the name Bai Shi before?"