Sypher looked at the spirit phantom suspended over the Cauldron and he bowed deeply before he said, "Greetings Venerable one. Please forgive this ignorant junior. May I ask who are you?"
The spirit phantom turned her icy gaze at Sypher and snorted as she asked, "Where is this place?"
Sypher replied, "Cauldron Valley Forging Council." Thɪs chapter is updated by novᴇlfire.net
He didn't dare to delay or hesitate, in reality, the speech of the lady was causing some impact on the mindset of the people and they would answer her in all honesty. After a few minutes, the lady sighed and said, "I am Hong Yue, also known as Alchemist Jade Hands, of the Seven Star Alchemy Gate."
Sypher didn't dare to lift his head. He had some hint of who this lady was, but now after the confirmation his mind was rattling. The lady said, "Don't worry, I will not kill anyone, after all it is all because of that Tang Sen playing a prank on me. Ugh, I told my master not to accept that kid."
Sypher smiled wryly as he lifted his head and said, "We had no idea that the cauldron belonged to you, Venerable Hong. Also, we didn't expect this young man to have the skills to gain your acknowledgement."
Hong Yue shook her head and replied, "It is his fate and his skill that triggered a response from me. It is good that he came here."
Under the cauldron, Hao Ren was comprehending the flame control techniques and incorporating it with his refining technique. At the same time, he was engraving it all in his second halo. It was thanks to cauldron that the people could not see anything or they would have shivered in self doubt.
The young man spent quite some time under the cauldron before he opened his eyes and was surprised to look around. He asked, 'System, what is going on here?'
*What else? You wanted to comprehend what this cauldron had to offer, right? Now you have one hour to completely learn the technique that was engraved inside the vessel. If you fail to do that, the spirit of this cauldron would swallow your soul.*
Hao Ren frowned and wanted to say something when he spotted a small clock hovering in the void before him. The young man knew that he had no other choice but to do it, so he took a deep breath and closed his eyes to begin comprehending the technique. It appeared to be simple, the technique allowed him to extract the max of the essence from the herbs and the seal sequences.
Using this technique would also refine his spiritual energy and make it purer. The more he comprehended the bigger his shock became. After forty-five minutes, Hao Ren opened his eyes and their was a spark of amber in his pupils. There have been times when his eyes reflected the flames he has tamed, however, this time the purity of the amber in his eyes was the highest it has ever been.
It looked like the he was about to shoot flame rays from his eyes. The young man clenched his fist as he realized the changes inside his body. Hao Ren suddenly narrowed his gaze and said, 'Fucking hell, you were trying to make a fool out of me. This was not a task.' Yo^u&r^ s&u-pp%o-rt@ at MV*^L*E^MP^^YR$ ke#ep.s+ the s!e^r%i-e^s* g+oin!g%.#
*Glad you realized, doofus.*
Hao Ren could sense the flames smoldering his lungs with every breath, the system was making fun of him and he didn't feeling. Looking around at the Cauldron he thought of something and said, "Hey, can I get out, please?"
The cauldron trembled and it hovered in the void before turning into the size of a pebble. Hao Ren was not surprised by this ability and he heard a calm voice questioning him, "Are you not surprised that the artifact can change its size?"
Hao Ren shook his head and replied, "The spirit of the artifact is alive and with the support of some arrays on the body, it can change the size. Not only that, but this cauldron is a treasure trove."
The voice was surprised and asked, "How so?"
Hao Ren turned around to look at the person and he saw a spirit phantom. Hong Yue was surprised, as she asked, "How can avoid my hypnotism skills?"
Hao Ren smiled and bowed his head as he said, "Greetings, Senior. If you are the owner of this Cauldron then you must be aware of the reason behind my statement."
He made a few hand seals and Hong Yue said, "Good. Let's find a silent place to chat."
The spirit phantom looked at Sypher and asked, "I am sure your room has a nice view."
Sypher took the hint and said, "Yes, Venerable one. Please allow me to lead you."
Hong Yue nodded and Hao Ren followed them. He dropped a message to Grandmaster Kar that he would come back and chat with him later on.
The people reached the top of the Cauldron and when they arrived outside the room, Sypher opened the door and gestured the people to go in. Hong Yue moved before Hao Ren and after the latter came inside, she looked at Sypher, who was in confusion if he should walk in or not.
Hong Yue said, "What we are about to talk is something that will shatter your path of dao. So, it is better that you stay outside."
Sypher was shocked and he nodded hurriedly as he took a step back and the door of the office was closed on his face. He was thinking what it could be that made Hong Yue say that his dao heart could collapse.
Inside the room. Hong Yue waved her hand and said, "Show me your halos."
Hao Ren nodded and then revealed his halos. Hong Yue stroked her chin and said, "You are good. To have a sword art as the first halo, means you can defend yourself. The refining as second makes your body stronger. What do you plan for the future?"
Hao Ren shook his head and replied, "I have to master one of the rules to reach the third level of saint realm. I have not yet found the rules."
Hong Yue nodded and said, "Good, after this you should travel to the Seven Star Alchemy Gate. I had a library there, you can find all the knowledge you need there because I can see that you are about to reach the limits of the refiner's halo."
Hao Ren smiled and said nothing.
Hao Ren talked with Hong Yue for a bit before she went inside the cauldron and the artifact turned into something that could be tied around the wrist of the master. However, even though Hao Ren had yet to acknowledge it as his artifact, the cauldron didn't mind it. Initially, Hao Ren was having some doubts but now it was all fine when Hong Yue assured him.
The young man opened the closed door of the office and walked out to find Sypher standing in the corridor. Hao Ren greeted the old man and said, "You must be Director Sypher. I am Hao Ren."
Sypher smiled faintly and said, "I have been long waiting to meet the young prodigy but to think it would be this soon and these circumstances. I am a little taken aback."
Hao Ren smiled and asked, "So, Director, you invited me over for the Grand Conference, is that all?"
Sypher nodded and said, "Walk with me?"
Hao Ren nodded and followed Sypher, he purposefully allowed the old man to walk a step ahead, as he loomed in the back. Sypher said, "The purpose of the Grand Conference had always been to determine that the best of the forgers could come together and inspire the others and also each other to do better."
He paused and continued, "Only one of the elder Grandmasters who have already reached the peak of their potential agrees with this idea. The rest of them just wish to hog on to power. If the Refining Council failed, than the old ghosts would step out and create some unnecessary ruckus."
The young man nodded, and said, "I can understand, they want the power and then establish an identity bigger than the Forging Council."
Sypher nodded and said, "They are all after one thing and that is the secrets hidden in the Fantasy Cauldron, so when they heard someone awakened the Samsara Hammer in the Iron Mountain City, they wanted to invite the person and handle the Cauldron."
Hao Ren frowned and asked, "So, they are aware that the Cauldron belonged to Elder Hong."
Sypher nodded and said, "I only figured that out just now. I know that I am guilty of calling you here , but I hope you understand that for me only the integrity of the council is important."
Hao Ren smiled and said, "You are a good man, owing your mistake and covering it with your belief. Not many are that sound minded. However, this also means that you don't wish to be on my bad side, because you have seen that Elder Hong is still capable of levelling the entire city into rubble."
Sypher nodded and said, "Yes, so, tell me what do you need, but please help us settle these old demons."
Hao Ren chuckled and said, "It would be a pleasure, can you tell me how many of them are there, and where can I find them?"
Sypher nodded, and then he gave Hao Ren all the important information, before the Young Man vanished from his place to handle the old demons.