"How is it? What exactly is the situation? Did the refining ritual fail?"
Zhuo Yue looked very agitated, eager to know the result, and urgently asked Mu Jinyu.
Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan, as well as Little Phoenix, all seriously paid attention, wanting to know the outcome.
Mu Jinyu stood up, shook his head slightly, and sighed, "Just a little short. If it had been the complete Demon God Tower, my refining could perhaps have allowed the Bi Fang Cauldron to give birth to an artifact spirit and ascend to the heaven-reaching spiritual treasure sequence."
"It's a pity, it still failed. Although the Bi Fang Cauldron has now given birth to an artifact spirit, it's not stable, uncontrollable, and lacks spiritual wisdom. It's more like a pseudo sky-reaching spirit treasure."
"Is that so?"
The three people and one beast felt very regretful upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words.
Wen Rou couldn't help but ask, "So the Bi Fang Cauldron is stabilized as a pseudo sky-reaching spirit treasure? Is there no chance for it to ascend to a heaven-reaching spiritual treasure again?"
Mu Jinyu shook his head and said, "No, if we can find fragments of heaven-reaching spiritual treasures containing artifact spirits, it should be possible for it to ascend. However, due to the different refined artifact spirits, the artifact spirit born from the Bi Fang Cauldron will have low spiritual wisdom and needs years of nurturing to compete with those heaven-reaching spiritual treasures!"
Although Wen Rou and the two others felt it was still a pity, at least it wasn't a dead end for the Bi Fang Cauldron, so they accepted it.
After a moment of reflection, Mu Jinyu collected the Bi Fang Cauldron into his dantian to nurture it with Life Source Energy, then picked up the Bone Pearl that had been expelled during the refining of the artifact spirit.
The Bone Pearl was pale, icy to the touch, as if holding a piece of ancient ice, emanating a sinister coldness, giving off an unsettling feeling.
The bones used to forge the Demon God Tower are certainly not ordinary bones; they're made from special remains. Therefore, even after refining the artifact spirit, Mu Jinyu would not just cast away this Bone Pearl.
Upon examining the power contained within the Bone Pearl, Mu Jinyu found that although it lost its artifact spirit and most of the restrictions and array patterns had been refined away, due to its extraordinary material, it contained mysterious power, equivalent to a one-time forbidden artifact.
If fully unleashed, it could explode with the full force of a Peak Ninth Layer Fanxu Realm expert!
But after one strike, the Bone Pearl would turn to dust, vanishing forever.
"Wen Rou, take this for protection."
After some thought, Mu Jinyu decided to give the Bone Pearl to Wen Rou.
He gave it to Wen Rou because, firstly, Jian Ruyan now had Little Phoenix with her, making her fearless of Fanxu Realm attacks, and Wen Rou, due to the Ice Phoenix Bloodline, was not favored by Little Phoenix's proximity, so this Bone Pearl would be beneficial for her protection.
Secondly, Wen Rou's Ice Phoenix Bloodline can suppress the cold power of the Bone Pearl, ensuring she won't be eroded by it. Additionally, she can let the Ice Phoenix Power nurture the Bone Pearl, potentially enhancing its power.
"Okay."
Though Wen Rou wasn't very fond of the eerie white Bone Pearl, given Mu Jinyu had offered it, she accepted it.
"It's so cold."
Upon catching the Bone Pearl, Wen Rou felt its intense chill, nearly unbearable, almost dropping it.
One must know, Wen Rou is using Jian Ruyan's body, infused with Ice Phoenix Bloodline power, alongside cultivating an Ice Attribute Technique, feeling almost nothing from ordinary cold objects.
Yet facing this Bone Pearl, she still found its chill unbearable, showing the immense power within.
Of course, this is also because Wen Rou's cultivation is at the Fifth Layer of the Divinity Transformation Realm. If she were at the Seventh Layer of the Fanxu Realm, she wouldn't feel this.
If Wen Rou had Seventh Layer Fanxu Realm power, Mu Jinyu wouldn't have given the Bone Pearl for protection as it wouldn't be necessary.
"You'll get used to it," said Mu Jinyu.
"Hmm." Wen Rou activated her Profound Skill, feeling much better, like a person holding an ice cube; it's intensely cold at first, but over time, seems less impactful.
Sticking out her tongue, Wen Rou put the Bone Pearl away.
"Alright, Ji Ran, this old thing has died, and his Demon God Tower is settled. We got the Soul Shatter Grass, so we can leave the Cursed Soul Forest."
Mu Jinyu calculated the time, saying, "Let's go, the old ruins outside should be opening soon, and we can't miss out on the Hedao Fruit."
"Yes, yes, tricked by that old thing, we wasted much time in the Cursed Soul Forest, and we don't even know how many people have gathered outside Chu Kingdom now," Zhuo Yue exclaimed upon Mu Jinyu's reminder.
Then, the four people and one beast hopped back into the Bi Fang Cauldron, swiftly heading out of the Cursed Soul Forest.
After more than half a day.
They finally left the Cursed Soul Forest safely.
Outside, the stillness and silence persisted, without any chirping birds or buzzing insects, or anyone guarding the entrance.
In such restricted areas, usually, no one stays outside.
After exiting the Cursed Soul Forest, Mu Jinyu had Little Phoenix spray fire on each of them, purging away the traces of sinister auras and curses from their bodies. Changing into clean clothes, they left for the secret realm entrance previously visited.
In half a day, they reached the nearby town of the secret realm.
Along the way, they didn't encounter scenes like when Zhuo Yue was pursued; with the upcoming secret realm, most keys had long changed hands and belonged to powerful factions.
Now everyone mostly waited for the secret realm's opening.
Upon entering the town, Mu Jinyu searched multiple inns, finding them all full.
Finally, he found a less crowded inn. They entered, ordered some food, and began gathering information, occasionally asking questions.
Soon, Mu Jinyu gathered a lot of information.
Post Hidden Dragon Conference, those Heaven's Pride monsters gained substantially and returned to their sects and families to retreat and cultivate.
They aimed for further progress.
They didn't come to compete for the Hedao Fruit as their forces would naturally help them to acquire it.
Mu Jinyu understood that with the emergence of the Hedao Fruit, chaos thrived in the Chu Kingdom, with major forces sending Unity Realm experts to obtain the fruit for their youthful sect and family members.
Many were the Heaven's Pride from the last Hidden Dragon Conference.
Now, they've passed the Heavenly Tribulation, becoming powerful Unity Realm experts.
Some weren't Unity Realm, but very strong, holding Peak Ninth Layer Fanxu Realm power.
These individuals were often locked at the Unity Realm for years, unable to progress, almost frenzied upon learning of the Hedao Fruit, rushing to Chu Kingdom.
Another group, not stuck for years, though young at sixty or seventy, were Ninth Layer Fanxu Realm, having missed the Hidden Dragon Conference due to age.
But this didn't mean their talent was inferior to Ji Changxin and others.
These came to seize the Hedao Fruit for Unity Realm ascent, also eager to compete against each other!
"It's truly unsettling."
Mu Jinyu shook his head, sighing upon hearing the news.