Chapter 408 - 168: Era Calamity, Dharma Eye Divine Techniques, 8 Trigrams Furnace

The Celestial Secret Sect Master’s gaze was profound, as if he could see the giant man inside the Eight Trigrams Furnace clutching his eyes in agony:

"It must be some kind of Spiritual Eye Divine Technique..."

"Your vision is truly remarkable, Daoist."

As the two conversed, Su Bai’s voice drifted over from a great distance.

Not only had the two of them not hidden their tracks, but even if they had, they still wouldn’t have escaped the perception of his Divine Thoughts.

"Come up for a talk."

"An invitation from a fellow Daoist. I wouldn’t dare refuse!"

Having come this far, the two naturally had no intention of retreating. With a quiet sigh in their hearts, they both stepped onto the Cloud Ship.

Aboard the Cloud Ship, the waves of heat were even more intense.

If not for the impressive Cultivation of everyone present, they likely wouldn’t have been able to bear it.

The Celestial Secret Sect Master looked on, his expression complicated.

He saw Su Bai sitting cross-legged before the Pill Furnace, while Cui Yanliang, a look of resignation on his face, drew his Magic Fan and slowly fanned the flames.

From within the Eight Trigrams Furnace came Wang E’s thunderous roars:

"AH! My eyes!!"

"You old bastard, let me out of here!"

"Patience!"

Cui Yanliang raised an eyebrow. With a gentle sweep of his Magic Fan, he fanned Wang E’s furious curses right back into the furnace.

"Your bloodline awakening is connected to that old toad. If you don’t want to end up as that Elder Demon’s puppet and doppelganger, then quiet your mind and attune yourself to the stirring of the bloodline within you."

WHOOSH!

Inside the Eight Trigrams Furnace, wind and fire churned. Wang E’s skin was scorched crimson, and his vision went black.

The vertical Dharma Eye on his forehead began to gleam with a bloody light.

"Let me out!"

Wang E roared again and again, stomping around the Eight Trigrams Furnace in a frenzy.

Ever since he was a child, his Physique had been exceptionally tough.

Mountains of blades, seas of fire, poisonous fumes, and Evil Qi—none of it could harm him in the slightest.

But the flames within this Eight Trigrams Furnace were simply too ferocious.

They weren’t just burning his body; they were burning his very soul!

A terrifying, unbearable pain permeated every inch of his being.

It was so intense that even though he knew this process might benefit him, he could no longer endure it.

"You old bastard... both of you old bastards..."

Wang E’s body trembled. He sat cross-legged inside the Pill Furnace, his eyes squeezed shut.

But that wasn’t enough. He pressed his large hands desperately against the spot between his eyebrows.

Vaguely, he could feel a large hole opening up between his brows.

It was through this hole that the countless streams of fire from all around were pouring in, burning his body and soul.

But no matter how he tried to block or cover it, he couldn’t stop the flames and the gusts of Divine Wind that assaulted him relentlessly.

His body shook, wracked by unending tremors.

...

"It’s been a while."

Su Bai glanced calmly at the Celestial Secret Sect Master and sighed inwardly.

’It wasn’t that the longer a person lived, the less they feared death.’

’Sometimes, powerful Immortals with profound Realms feared death all the more.’

’A Seeker who had lived for over ten thousand years was ultimately no exception.’

"Indeed, it has been a while."

The Celestial Secret Sect Master let out a long sigh.

"To think that in just five years, you’ve already broken through to such a level... even I can no longer see through you."

Five years wasn’t a particularly long time for an ordinary mortal.

For a Cultivator, however, it was but a fleeting moment.

But in only five years, this Boxing Saint Daoist had cultivated to an unfathomable Realm.

His disciple had even reached the Feathered Realm.

It was to the point that seeing Su Bai again felt like seeing someone from another lifetime.

And it had only been a mere five years...

"You, however, still haven’t overcome it, Daoist."

Su Bai shook his head slightly and sighed.

"There is great terror between life and death. It is no mistake to wish to escape it."

"But to be unable to even hold true to your own principles... that is what’s disappointing."

The Celestial Secret Sect Master was not a practitioner of the Evil Dao. He had spent the first half of his life in diligent cultivation, only stepping into the mortal world for tempering after breaking through to the Feathered Realm deep within the mountains.

His footprints could be found everywhere, from the imperial court above to the Jianghu below.

He had done his share of slaying monsters and demons and upholding the Righteous Dao.

But in the end, in his search for the source of true immortality, he was willing to risk unleashing the Seven Heroes and Three Li upon the world just to enact his grand design, step by step.

This was no longer in keeping with the actions of the first half of his life.

This was the reason for his sigh.

The pursuit of immortality has always been a sinful Celestial Blade hanging over the heads of all Cultivators.

Once they failed to hold true to their principles, no matter how righteous they once were, they would eventually become slaves to the pursuit of longevity. They would grasp that Celestial Blade, slaughter the masses, and stain their hands with blood.

"Life and death, in themselves, are not so important. It’s just that in this world, there are far too many mysteries I have yet to comprehend."

"If I were to die, everything would return to Jie Mie..."

The Celestial Secret Sect Master rose to his full height, gazing down from the Cloud Sea at the enormous toad sprawled on the ground below.

"The Seven Heroes and Three Li, the world itself, the Netherworld Venerable Master..."

"In this life, there are too many things I wish to know, too many things I wish to pursue..."

"If I die, all of that will be gone."

At this, his gaze sharpened as he looked at Su Bai.

"But while I do not wish to die, it is not because I fear death!"

After listening, Su Bai slowly began to speak.

"To live forever, to be truly Immortal—this is the ultimate desire of a Cultivator, something far beyond the imagination of any mortal."

Then, with a casual flick of his finger, a wisp of fiery light rose from his fingertip and drifted into the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

It was followed by a bloodcurdling scream.

Only then did he continue, his voice unhurried.

"Whether you wish to live or do not fear death, at this moment..."

"Your life and death are mine to decide."