It was about one chi (thirty-three centimeters) in diameter, seemingly made of bronze. At first glance, it looked like a wok or a cauldron with three legs at the bottom. More importantly, it was a common item in commoners’ homes, excellent for brewing soups and cooking meat. However, its style appeared somewhat ancient, unlike what people used nowadays.

But how could something so carefully treasured by the King of Yan be an ordinary item?

The surface of this bronze vessel was covered with cracks. Or rather, it was pieced together from fragments, requiring who knows how much of the King of Yan’s time. It looked as though it would fall apart with the slightest push, and there was even a missing piece at the rim.

If there was anything extraordinary about it, perhaps it was that it appeared ancient—the bronze pieces had even turned slightly green, and the body was decorated with many strange patterns and designs.

At such a moment, why would the King of Yan bring this out?

No one noticed that Feng Miaojun, who had been standing motionless, suddenly blinked, her unfocused gaze gradually becoming clearer.

Nü Ba, rarely curious, asked what everyone was thinking: “What is this?”

“Where’s the last piece?” The King of Yan ignored her and instead questioned Yun Ya. “Hand it over!”

Since the demon’s invasion, even Yun Ya’s facial expression had become somewhat rigid, but his fingertips flicked a small bronze fragment toward him.

This object had been clutched in his palm at some point. As the fragment shot forward, Nü Ba, who was standing nearby, moved to intercept it.

The King of Yan drew his precious blade and with a “swish” chopped toward her arm—fierce, fast, and with no regard for their past relationship.

He had been poised and ready, and this attack was terrifying in its ferocity, like a fierce tiger pouncing on its prey. Even Nü Ba dared not take it lightly. Her figure wavered, her footsteps faltering slightly. In that brief hesitation, the King of Yan caught the fragment and without hesitation placed it in the missing gap of the bronze cauldron!

Everyone understood: what Yun Ya had provided was the final missing piece of this tripod cauldron. With it, this strange bronze vessel was finally complete.

In the next instant, a soft blue light emanated from its surface.

The light flowed like rippling water, dancing across the bronze surface, giving a sense of boundless vitality. Those surrounded by the light felt refreshed in body and spirit. Only Nü Ba stepped back several paces, her face showing disgust.

Being already dead, she disliked such vibrant life energy.

The blue light lasted less than two breaths. After it disappeared, all that remained before everyone’s eyes was a perfectly intact bronze cauldron, smooth all over—not only were there no cracks, but not even the slightest scratch remained.

This thing could self-repair?

The onlookers were greatly astonished. It was common knowledge that a broken mirror could never be whole again. Even if it were a divine artifact, being shattered into pieces or even just broken in half would render it useless.

This was common sense.

Yet this strange tripod cauldron before them had been completely restored after its fragments were assembled.

The green patina had fallen away from the cauldron’s body, revealing its original dark gold hue, emitting a faint glow even in the dim night. Such an ancient quality could only be possessed by antiques that had endured the washing of time and the polishing of frost and wind.

The King of Yan clutched the bronze cauldron tightly, ecstatic: “Indeed, indeed it can be restored!”

A cultivator who had accompanied him couldn’t help but ask: “Your Majesty, what is this?”

“The Realm Deity’s Altar!” The King of Yan’s face was wreathed in smiles, without a trace of his usual gloominess. “As long as it’s restored, we can summon the Realm Deity back to the mortal world!”

Those few words moved everyone present. All those standing here were top cultivators in the kingdom and naturally knew what the “Realm Deity’s Altar” meant for themselves, for all cultivators, and even for the entire world:

If the Realm Deity returned, the celestial ladder would open, spiritual energy would once again be abundant in this realm, and cultivators would again have a grand path to ascend to heaven!

This world had been dormant for a thousand years, hopeless.

The return of the Realm Deity would give this world a completely new opening!

Behind Feng Miaojun, several of the New Xia cultivators couldn’t help but gulp. If these words had come from anyone else, they would have laughed at such a dreamer.

But the same words coming from the King of Yan’s mouth carried an entirely different weight.

The King of Yan didn’t care what others thought; he only stared at Yun Ya, his eyes excited and fanatical. Almost as soon as he finished speaking, he stepped forward, the cold light of his weapon flashing again.

The long blade pointed directly at Yun Ya’s chest.

This strike from the King of Yan in his great joy was like the Milky Way pouring down, full of spirit and energy—as if it could split a mountain in front. Even Yun Ya at his peak would not have wanted to face it head-on.

Let alone now, as he stood motionless. Any discerning person knew he was concentrating all his mental energy on battling the demons in his consciousness sea, struggling to even move, much less dodge this attack.

Without thinking, Nü Ba drew her eight-faceted mace to counter the attack, shouting angrily: “What are you doing?!”

Her task was to protect Feng Miaojun, and now the King of Yan was suddenly attacking Yun Ya. Who knew what complications might arise? She naturally would not allow it.

With a loud “clang” of metal striking metal, Nü Ba forcefully withstood the King of Yan’s mountain-splitting strike, but she couldn’t handle such enormous force and was instantly sent flying five zhang away!

The feeling was like standing in front of a mad elephant—the most direct consequence being violently knocked away.

“Attack!” The Yan Kingdom cultivators recovered from the shock and rushed forward to protect their sovereign. The King of Yan roared and delivered another strike, still aimed directly at Yun Ya.

From the moment Yun Ya threw the fragment until the King of Yan’s sudden betrayal, less than seven breaths had passed. Others were still amazed at how these two archenemies had suddenly achieved such synchronization when the King of Yan drew his blade against Yun Ya.

His change of pace was faster than turning a page.

The King of Yan’s face was flushed red as he attacked with all his cultivation power, feeling his heart beating faster than it had in the past hundred years.

If this strike succeeded, he would fulfill his long-cherished wish!

Unfortunately, good things never come easily.

Suddenly, another person appeared in front of Yun Ya, right in the path of the King of Yan’s blade. A pair of short awls flipped up in her hands, striking the blade with a “ding.”

She pronounced two words: “How dare you!”

Her technique was remarkably clever. Though facing the attack head-on, she didn’t confront the King of Yan’s force directly like Nü Ba had. Instead, with a sideways strike, she deflected the King of Yan’s power, disrupting his path, and immediately lunged toward his chest!

She was small in stature, her movements light and agile. At first glance, she seemed like a young swallow flying into an embrace, but the pair of weapons in her hands flashed with cold light. If she made contact, the King of Yan’s chest would gain two large holes.

He said solemnly: “Step aside, I need to re-summon the Realm Deity!”

The figure didn’t listen, arriving in an instant.

The King of Yan gave a cold laugh, his bowl-sized fist swinging down, directly smashing toward the crown of her head.

The force was tremendous—even a thousand-year-old spirit turtle’s shell would be shattered.

The first struck her heavily, and then—

It passed through her weightlessly.

It was an illusion!

The King of Yan was slightly stunned, thinking, “This is bad.”