Ding! Ding! Ding!
Without pause, the Yellow Cauldron within his body rang out once more.
This time, it rang nine times in succession, forming a continuous peal.
Yellow Cauldron Nine Chimes!
He had reached the peak of the Fourth Body Refining Transformation.
If compared to the energy cultivation stages, this was equivalent to the Peak Manifestation Realm. Of course, there was an essential difference between the Body Refining and Energy Cultivation paths. In actual combat, body cultivators could slaughter Manifestation Realm cultivators like pigs and dogs. Ferocious beyond compare, brutal to the extreme. Cross-realm combat posed no challenge at all—and that was just for regular body cultivators, let alone someone like Yi Tianxing, whose body refining aptitude was extraordinary.
Once in close range, even Nascent Soul or Yang God cultivators could be slain with ease.
Within the Yellow Cauldron, the Daoist power of the Heavenly Gang Immortal Body continuously merged into his flesh. Boundless vital energy transformed into Heavenly Gang Force, weaving through his blood and muscles.
Torrents of primal essence flooded into the cauldron.
A surge of profound insights emerged and fused into his primordial spirit. His comprehension of the [Heavenly Gang Immortal Physique] skyrocketed. His body instinctively began to follow the cultivation method of the Heavenly Gang Immortal Physique, guiding the force to temper his body.
Within the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Pagoda, there existed a Heavenly Gang World created by the Heavenly Gang Bottle. Now, the Heavenly Gang Force surged like a tidal wave into the cauldron.
The Heavenly Gang Force transformed into streaks of pure white runes, intertwining rapidly. In an instant, they enveloped the entire Heavenly Gang Immortal Body, forming a celestial embryo and giving rise to countless mysterious symbols.
"The Yellow Cauldron has rung nine times. I've reached the limit of the fourth transformation. Now it's time to nurture the fourth physical divine ability."
Seeing the immortal body transforming into a celestial embryo, Yi Tianxing gained an instinctive understanding.
This signaled that the Third Transformation had completely reached completion. Once the celestial embryo finished maturing, the corresponding divine ability would naturally emerge. However, it still required a special energy source to gestate. Clearly, the required energy was the Heavenly Gang Force.
Right now, Yi Tianxing had no shortage of that.
As torrents of Heavenly Gang Force poured in, the gestation process of the celestial embryo accelerated wildly.
Within just a few breaths, the celestial embryo inside the Yellow Cauldron reached its peak. The snow-white embryo suddenly erupted with brilliant immortal light and shattered like an egg.
At the moment of its rupture, one could see countless mysterious runes converge in a profound pattern—transforming into a snow-white imperial seal. Upon this ancient seal, an eye opened—cold, emotionless, and supreme. Merely looking at it felt as though one were gazing into the entire firmament. Its majestic aura brought overwhelming pressure and awe.
"Ziheche!" (紫河车, Purple Placenta Chariot)
Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing infused a mysterious treasure—the Purple Placenta Chariot membrane—into the seal at the moment it formed. This rare artifact was the ideal vessel to house a physical divine ability, imbuing it with the unique traits of a magic treasure. Truly miraculous.
Once fused, the ancient seal became almost real, radiating an ancient and powerful aura. Runes of divine light danced upon it. Engraved at the base of the seal were two ancient characters:
翻天 – Overturning the Heavens!
"Fourth physical divine ability: Overturning Heaven Seal!"(翻天印 – Fan Tian Yin)
Before he could further inspect the Overturning Heaven Seal, Yi Tianxing felt his body tremble. A shackle was shattered, and a blue cauldron emerged from his flesh.
Ding!
A clear chime resounded.
He had stepped into the Fifth Transformation of Body Refining – The Blue Cauldron Realm.
Blue Cauldron, First Chime!
His physical strength reached 100 Dragon Force.
With this breakthrough, the feedback from the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Pagoda came to a halt.
"One hundred drops of Primordial True Blood. Half of my blood has transformed into gold. Once it's fully golden, I'll attain the Small Completion of the Heavenly Emperor Divine Body."
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath, gazing at the hundred drops of purple-golden divine blood clustered around his heart. He was filled with joy. The more primordial blood he possessed, the more his body would strengthen even without cultivating, as if his physique awakened and evolved on its own.
"Excellent—this saves countless years of bitter cultivation. The feedback truly was a great fortune. But now that I've reached the Fifth Transformation, I need to choose another Body Refining technique to advance. I must integrate it under the Nine Transformations Mystic Art, to continue tempering my flesh."
He pondered silently. Choosing the right technique would require careful thought.
Three months passed since the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Pagoda's advancement.
During this time, everything proceeded smoothly. The Yin-Yang Exchange Market was opened, and Fengdu City became incredibly lively. Despite being shrouded in yin energy, cultivators could withstand it for a day or two without issue.
In the marketplace, cultivators from the living world and the underworld mingled, trading goods.
The Great Yi Dynasty's treasures and exquisite materials flowed into the underworld in an endless stream. Conversely, rare underworld herbs and artifacts were in such high demand that they were instantly snatched up. The daily traffic reached into the millions, and the volume of daily trades was astounding.
It was a phenomenon.
Ever since the Exchange Market opened, it had been on fire—beyond anyone's expectations.
With the netherworld enforcers and Great Yi officials maintaining order, no one dared cause trouble. It created the perfect environment for commerce.
Meanwhile, the Iron-Blood Great Wall continued expanding outward—though at a slower pace.
They also celebrated the Spring Festival of Eternal Year 15, and Great Yi held a Feast of Immortal Delicacies.
Eternal Year 16, Second Month, Thirteenth Day. Night.
The night sky was heavy with clouds, casting a somber tone. Yet this didn't affect Great Yi's brightness, for each Immortal City was lit like daylight.
Citizens, after a long day's labor, often enjoyed strolling at night. The cities buzzed with life until midnight.
Suddenly, a gale swept across the sky, blowing away the clouds. The previously hidden moon revealed itself.
At that moment, countless people instinctively looked up.
"The moon's really round tonight. But it's not even the fifteenth…"
"The moonlight is so bright—brighter and more beautiful than usual. But why does it look so big?"
"The moonlight's denser too. And I can't see any stars—are they being drowned out?"
"Am I imagining things, or is the moon getting closer?"
Whispers spread across the crowd. Yet most took it as idle talk.
Meanwhile, within the Celestial Observatory, a figure looked to the sky with horror, then quickly made for the Imperial Palace.
In Dixin Palace, Yi Tianxing lay beside Consort Gongsun, preparing for sleep.
Outside the door came a voice:
"Your Majesty, Director Jiang of the Celestial Observatory requests an urgent audience."
"Jiang Ni? At this hour?"
Yi Tianxing frowned, glancing at the woman beside him.
"Go, husband. Director Jiang oversees omens and natural disasters. If he comes at night, it must be serious."
She spoke firmly, without hesitation.
"Very well. Rest—I'll return shortly."
Zhixing Hall
Yi Tianxing sat in the hall, gazing at Jiang Ni.
"Your Majesty, I have disturbed your rest. Please punish this minister."
"If you've come, it must be urgent. Speak, Jiang Aiqing—what have you found?"
"Please step outside the hall."
They exited. Jiang Ni pointed skyward.
"Observe the moon."
Yi Tianxing looked up. Though the clouds obscured it, his divine sight pierced through.
He immediately noticed the moon's anomaly.
"It's closer. Not yet the fifteenth, yet it's already full. And the moonlight is several times richer."
"Indeed," Jiang Ni replied gravely, "the moon is drawing nearer. This will result in the formation of Emperor's Dewdrop (帝流浆), and not just a small amount—but on a massive scale."
Yi Tianxing's expression turned solemn.
Emperor's Dewdrop—the essence of lunar power, capable of creating life, birthing monsters, and seeding countless miracles.
"But this is just the beginning. The moon is the Supreme Lunar Star. As it approaches, the Eternal World will undergo unimaginable change. The consequences… are beyond reckoning."
"A great calamity is coming."