Li Tian was covered in blood. The wounds on his back had exposed the edges of his spine, three of his breastbones were jutting outward, his abdomen was nearly cleaved open, and his intestines had almost spilled out — it was an extremely alarming sight.
“You’ve left me gravely wounded — well then, don’t you expect to feel good about it either. The so-called most beautiful woman under heaven — I don’t want her anymore. The pure, immaculate Yi Qingwu shall henceforth forever fall into the sea of carnal desire!”
Li Tian steeled himself with ferocity. By now they had already charged into the ancient palace hall above the Fusang tree, competing for the doctrinal inheritance of the Ancient Solar Emperor.
However, they had not discovered any ancient scriptures, yet the battle was growing more and more savage. The Guanghan Palace, the Golden Crow clan, and others attacked with sacred weapons, inflicting heavy wounds upon them.
The Crow-Winged Flowing-Gold Halberd swept across the sky, transforming into a golden crow in Lu Ya’s hands. Every beat of its wings sent tens of thousands of blade-lights flying outward.
The majority of Li Tian’s wounds had come from this. Had the Divine Maiden Furnace not dissolved the power of the ancient sacred weapon, the situation would not have been merely this — he would most likely have been reduced to ash in the calamity.
At this point, many people were attacking them. The Guanghan Palace led the assault, driving their sacred weapon without cease. Yi Qingwu had been collected inside the furnace — how could that sect not go mad with rage?
That palace of crystalline ice descended on them several times, causing Yan Yixi to cough up great mouthfuls of blood. His white robes were spotted all over with crimson. He was no better off than Li Tian.
It was not that the Divine Maiden Furnace was insufficient — it was that there were too many sacred weapons encircling them, four in total. The Divine Son of the Lunar Yin and Three-Deficiency Daoren struck intermittently, their assaults incisive and lethal.
This stretch of palace hall was suffused with immensely powerful Solar Sacred Energy. People believed it was the place where the human race’s ancient emperor had transcended, yet they had thus far come up empty-handed.
Down below, a green-robed one-armed elderly man stood before the six-zhang golden Fusang tree, deeply confused, muttering to himself. With him there, no one could approach. A stone coffin lay sideways before him. People had tried to blast it with heirloom sacred weapons, but every attempt had been rebuffed.
Hmmm!
The Divine Maiden Furnace trembled quietly, releasing five-colored divine light. Around it circled five energies, and a haze of luminous spiritual light billowed and steamed — brilliant and dreamlike. The form of a beautiful woman’s head materialized, her gaze hazy and distant, desire in every expression.
“Li Tian, what are you doing — stop all of this, and I will let you leave!” the middle-aged graceful woman of the Guanghan Palace cried out, her expression extremely unpleasant.
The Divine Maiden Furnace’s reputation was too terrible, and there were too many legends about it. This kind of change, without any doubt, was the awakening of desire-laws, which could plunge anyone inside into an endless sea of carnal desire forever.
“Too late. Do you think I, Li, am a peddler you can bargain with? What ‘most beautiful woman under heaven’ — from this day forward, rename yourself ‘Guanghan Desire-Woman.'”
Li Tian was completely unmoved. Together with Yan Yixi he activated the Divine Maiden Furnace, cutting through the ancient palace hall in their assault, searching for the doctrinal inheritance of the ancient human emperor.
“A jade slip — there’s a bookshelf over here…”
Someone in the ancient palace hall opened a hidden chamber. A group rushed over to fight over its contents, calling out to their own sects and orders.
Lu Ya, Three-Deficiency Daoren, the Divine Son of the Lunar Yin, and the others abandoned Yan Yixi and Li Tian and charged over as well. Only the people of the Guanghan Palace continued the battle with the two martial brothers.
Rustle, rustle!
Below the ancient hall, the six-zhang golden Fusang divine tree swayed. Solar Sacred Energy seethed and boiled. The green-robed elderly man stood alone, murmuring in confusion: “Who can bury me in my homeland…”
“A nest!”
Someone cried out in astonishment. On the Fusang divine tree, as the golden leaves trembled, a bird’s nest became visible among the lush branches — within it, Golden Crow divine feathers glimmered.
“Is that… the nest of a divine creature?!”
People were stunned. The Golden Crow clan on the Ziwei Star could not possibly be true Golden Crows — the difference was like that between a flood dragon and a true dragon.
But a nest appearing atop the immortal divine tree with Golden Crow divine feathers gleaming was another matter entirely. It was very likely to be something left behind by a true divine creature.
“The immortal tree belongs to my Golden Crow clan!” Many powerful experts from that clan had not entered the ancient palace hall but were gathered here, including several Golden Crow princes.
“Nonsense — the Fusang divine tree accompanied our human race’s Ancient Solar Emperor as he attained the Dao. How could it belong to your Golden Crow clan?” A human cultivator gave a cold snort.
“Who in the world does not know that the Fusang and the Golden Crows are inseparable — it is the dwelling place of our clan’s founding ancestor!” A prince of the Golden Crow clan gave a cold snort.
“Then how do you explain the fact that our human race’s Ancient Solar Emperor kept a Fusang tree?” Someone shouted back.
…
A thunderous boom came from above the six-zhang golden ancient tree. A great palace had been blasted open, and an aura of the primordial ages rushed out, causing many people to cry out in astonishment.
“The human race’s ancient emperor’s alchemy chamber!”
“Good heavens, there’s a vial of Nine Revolutions Immortal Elixir — such a thing is undying through ten thousand calamities! Refined from the immortal elixir of deathlessness — is there still some left inside the vial?”
Within the ancient hall, first came cries of surprise, and then cries of anguish. A fierce battle broke out. Many people fell into a frenzy, fighting over the ancient emperor’s remaining treasures.
Inside the Divine Maiden Furnace, Ye Fan was profoundly affected. The Six Desires Divine Tribulation descended. The Carnal Desire Great Dao blotted out the sky and covered the earth. He too began to slow in his movements.
This was not a true attack. Rather, it was an influence upon the emotions through a strange force — causing people to sink and wallow, willingly falling, unwilling to awaken.
Yet throughout this process, he and Yi Qingwu continued their great battle without pause, displaying the full extent of their lifelong learning in a life-and-death struggle.
Within the Ziwei Ancient Star Domain, if only two people could attain the Dao in the future, Yi Qingwu would occupy one of those places — one could imagine her talent and potential.
“The Carnal Desire laws…”
Yet now, her starlit eyes grew hazy. She was beginning to lose control of herself. Her soul wavered, and her flawless jade body trembled slightly.
At this moment, her dark hair shone brilliantly like silk and satin, her slender waist fitting within a single embrace, her legs balanced and long, light shimmering across their surface, her body lustrous and crystal-white as it rose with wave upon wave of rosy radiance.
Yet she was, in the end, no ordinary person. Her natural gifts were extraordinary and her willpower surpassing. Two beams of brilliant light kindled in her eyes, and in an instant she was clear-headed again.
Ye Fan too was struck by the impact, but he likewise was no ordinary person. A divine lamp lit up in his heart, and he did not sink or wallow.
“Ye Fan — how about we cooperate? Otherwise, if we sink into this place, we will have no hope of attaining the Dao in this lifetime!” Yi Qingwu said, exhaling like an orchid as she proposed this to him.
“Is that necessary? What can this furnace do to me?” Ye Fan flat-out refused, and without restraint, examined the pristine jade-like form before him — looking left, looking right, looking up, looking down.
Although Yi Qingwu’s will far surpassed that of ordinary people, being stared at by a man like this — at her body of all things — was still something she was experiencing for the very first time, and she was somewhat unable to withstand it.
“Over time, neither of us will be able to hold off the power of the Divine Maiden Furnace’s Dao-marks. Do you think this is only a matter of sinking for a short while? It can affect a person’s attainment of the Dao!”
“I’m not afraid. Using this furnace to temper my heart is an excellent thing. No matter how enchanting and bewitching you may be, I will appreciate it with an ordinary Dao-heart,” Ye Fan said.
“I can also resist the tempering-of-the-heart trial — but can you resist the power of a Saint?” Yi Qingwu could not remain calm at this point, for the aura of the Divine Maiden Furnace was growing increasingly more terrifying for her. She had no desire to “fall” inside this place.
Crash!
The two continued their great battle, growing more and more intense, fighting their way from within the Guanghan Que out into the world inside the furnace, where they glimpsed the sacrificial altar — shining like a god, suspended there.
Upon it were clearly written the names of both Yi Qingwu and Ye Fan, connected together by mysterious Dao-marks, cycling with a terrifying aura.
“What?!”
Yi Qingwu’s expression changed entirely. She had initially assumed only her own name had been carved there. Seeing it now, her body gave a start. Both of them were inside the furnace world, both names carved there — a bad premonition rose in her heart.
“The Carnal Desire Dao!”
The ancient sacrificial altar thundered, sending out ripple after ripple pressing downward. In that moment, both people felt a strange sensation rise within them.
“Ye Fan, let us cooperate — otherwise, neither of us will have any hope of attaining the Dao in this lifetime.”
Boom!
The ancient sacrificial altar above vibrated, releasing the grand celestial sound of the Great Dao as it pressed downward — like the great bell and the temple bell resounding together, giving both of them the illusion that enlightenment was nearly upon them.
In truth, both of them felt they were about to sink. Their bodies burned all over. This was the Carnal Desire Great Dao — the fundamental law of the Divine Maiden Furnace.
For any person, there is emotion and desire. The sacrificial altar directly interfered with the souls of both, intent on plunging them into the sea of carnal desire.
“Cut through it!”
Ye Fan let out a cold snort. His soul was like iron, his will like steel. The golden small lake at the center of his brow transformed into a Dao-sword and slashed outward.
Boom!
Yet a divine maiden materialized in the air above — a thousand beauties in one, enchanting beyond measure. She sealed his Dao-sword back and descended lightly, without any killing intent, yet she left both Ye Fan and Yi Qingwu feeling even stranger than before.
“This is the power of a Saint — a divine being born and nurtured by the Divine Maiden Furnace. How can you and I resist?!” Yi Qingwu cried out in alarm. She was truly frightened now. She stopped contending with Ye Fan and flew away to a distant corner.
As the foremost celestial woman of the Ziwei Ancient Star Domain, she had been proud and pure since childhood. How could she possibly endure such a thing as sinking into the desire-sea? The very thought was more unbearable than death itself.
Clang!
In that moment, Ye Fan also made his move. He too was somewhat worried — truly afraid it might affect his future attainment of the Dao. With the Carnal Desire law upon him, no one could know what might happen.
Yet this time, rather than resisting the Divine Maiden Furnace, he charged toward Yi Qingwu — all kinds of secret arts deployed, an astounding clash of techniques.
“What — why is the effect on you so minimal?!” The number one beauty of the Ziwei Ancient Star Domain was astonished. By now she was weak and powerless, the Carnal Desire Great Dao weighing upon her, and even raising her hand to strike felt difficult.
Ye Fan instantly understood — it was all thanks to the two pieces of ancient copper. He had cursed the green copper no small number of times, for it could never take the initiative in attacking. Every time, it was only passive defense.
Now was no different — yet it allowed him to withstand the Divine Maiden Furnace’s Carnal Desire Great Dao, leaving him barely affected.
Fierce resistance!
Hmmm!
In the end, a dazzling light flew out. A spray of blood rose over ten meters high. Yi Qingwu’s head flew free — cut off inside the furnace world.
The most beautiful woman under heaven had fallen. Yet Ye Fan felt little emotional turbulence. This woman was beautiful to the point of fantasy, and incomparably powerful — had she not been affected by the divine furnace, it would have been extremely difficult to cut her down.
No matter how matchless your grace, no matter how far you overturn heaven and earth — in the end, even a beauty of unparalleled radiance is merely a skeleton of powder and rouge. No matter what, death comes for all.
Ye Fan had the green copper to protect him. Though the Carnal Desire Great Dao pressed down upon him, he was somewhat affected, yet suffered no great harm. He stood silently in place, waiting for Li Tian and the others to open the furnace.
Crack!
Suddenly, a sound rang out from a distance. The Eight Virtue Divine Wheel flickered with dazzling radiance, sending streams of life energy flying outward. Yi Qingwu was reborn there.
Ye Fan’s heart tightened. He immediately understood. This treasure was extraordinarily powerful and mysterious. Rumor had it that it had once been a sect’s sacred weapon, though it had been shattered and fallen into the hands of the Guanghan Palace’s people.
Even broken as it was, it still possessed powerful undying functions. The eight figures at the sect-master level it manifested could never be permanently destroyed — and to his surprise, it remained effective for the holder as well.
Spit!
Ye Fan soared forward and pointed down. A bloom of blood flowered at the center of Yi Qingwu’s brow, the dazzling beauty of the age cut down again just as she had remanifested.
Crack!
The Eight Virtue Divine Wheel resounded again, soaring into the depths of the furnace world. Ye Fan gave chase, unleashing the Six Paths of Reincarnation Fist to kill!
Yet Yi Qingwu retreated inside the Eight Virtue Divine Wheel and would not come out again. Though crack after crack appeared upon its surface, it had once been part of a sacred weapon — it could not be truly destroyed.
Boom!
The Carnal Desire Great Dao descended!
The divine maiden in the sky above was full of enchanting grace. A single glance back from her dimmed every beauty in six palaces — her feathered robes flowing as she descended.
This was a force that would cause the soul to nearly leave the body — plunging one toward the abyss of endless sinking, an irresistible pull toward wallowing.
“No!”
Yi Qingwu cried out in alarm. She had not been this terrified even when Ye Fan had cut her down. Yet now she screamed out involuntarily, filled with fear — even being sheltered inside the Eight Virtue Divine Wheel was useless. The Carnal Desire Dao laws could seep through.
“Ye Fan, how about we cooperate — if you help me withstand this tribulation, I am willing to pay any price,” she said. As a woman born of heaven’s pride, one who looked down upon all living beings, saying such words was already an extraordinary humbling.
“All right. I have the green copper to block the Divine Maiden Furnace. You only need to surrender one thread of your primary soul, and I can ensure you never sink into the desire-sea,” Ye Fan said, turning her own earlier conditions back on her.
“You… this is too much!” Yi Qingwu’s starlit eyes grew hazy. Her lashes trembled. Her flawless face was written all over with unwillingness. Her entire body gleamed and shimmered, snow-white, as she stood within the Eight Virtue Divine Wheel, struggling with all her might against the Carnal Desire law.
“Then I have nothing more to say.” Ye Fan walked to one side and let the Carnal Desire Great Dao descend. The divine maiden practically enveloped the Eight Virtue Divine Wheel in her embrace.
“Ahh… push the Carnal Desire Dao away — I agree!” Yi Qingwu capitulated, crying out in terror. She feared forever sinking into the desire-sea. The ancient legends surrounding it had struck dread into the hearts of every woman in the world.
Ye Fan stepped forward. Using the Soldier-Word Secret Art to activate the two pieces of green copper, he drove the Carnal Desire Great Dao back, took the Eight Virtue Divine Wheel in hand, and had her manifest one thread of her primary soul.
Hmmm!
From within the Eight Virtue Divine Wheel flew a seven-colored celestial figure — the manifestation of her soul. It was supremely holy, like the Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens reincarnated, beautiful beyond the realm of reality, enough to make a stone man’s heart move and speak.
Swish!
From the center of Ye Fan’s brow shot a thread of his soul, manifesting as himself. It flew over, intending to suppress the seven-colored celestial figure and brand it with his own mark.
Suddenly, the seven-colored celestial figure let out a quiet shout and opened her mouth, spitting out a divine moon that came slashing forward. She wanted to use this to reversely control Ye Fan.
Crack!
Ye Fan’s soul held the Soul-Whipping Lash, utterly unperturbed. He swung it down — with a crack the divine moon was sent flying.
Clearly the divine moon was some kind of world-shaking secret treasure, or else any other soul weapon under the Soul-Whipping Lash would certainly have turned to flying ash.
“Knew you wouldn’t concede so easily — you had another trick up your sleeve,” Ye Fan’s soul advanced with the Soul-Whipping Lash, charging forward to attack.
Boom!
At that very instant, the Carnal Desire Great Dao descended from the sky, in one stroke submerging both souls together, entangling them as one.
“Ah…” Yi Qingwu’s soul cried out. Her entire form grew weak and powerless, her body as ivory-white as snow, wreathed in seven-colored haze.
The two souls and their physical counterparts were utterly identical. In the void they became entangled — for having drifted some distance from the two pieces of ancient copper, the Divine Maiden Furnace seized its opportunity.
“Ah…” Yi Qingwu’s physical body let out a soft cry.
And Ye Fan’s physical body too nearly cried out — everything the soul experienced was felt equally by the true body, with absolutely no distinction.
“How can this be happening…” Not far away, Yi Qingwu’s physical body trembled. For a person of such icy purity, this was something too bizarre and terrifying — utterly indistinguishable from experiencing it all herself in person.
The two of them stood facing each other, gazing simultaneously into the void, their expressions both strangely altered, watching their souls, entangled together in midair, while their own bodies trembled as well.