Gate of Immortality

Subtle cracking noise spread as cracks appeared on the cauldron. Like metal plates disjointing themselves, thick layers of North Bronze Essence came out from the cauldron.

The sudden scene caught Yang Shi by surprise. He only wanted to peel a layer of North Bronze Essence, but he never thought that the cauldron would crumble.

" Heck! My flame isn't that powerful to break this entire cauldron, right?"

Yang Shi sweated as he thought. But he quickly dispelled his thought as he moved the chunks of North Bronze Essence. 

" Yii! What is this?"

Yang Shi saw a small pot appear from the debris. Its size was the same as one's palm. Yang Shi picked it with curiosity as he channeled his spiritual qi.

The pot started to gleam as it devoured Yang Shi's spiritual qi like a gluttonous beast. Yang Shi frowned a little as he saw the situation. After using Great Yang Solar Flame Art for so long, less than a third of his spiritual qi remained in his dantian.

Soon enough, even the remaining Spiritual qi was absorbed by the little pot. Yang Shi sighed as he used the ability of Crimson Lily.

A red colored ring appeared behind him as Spiritual qi surrounding him got sucked by the red ring. He could feel a vast amount of spiritual qi poured into his dantian. 

The little pot continued to such spiritual qi, but after some time, it stopped absorbing spiritual qi.

" Eh? What's now?" 

Yang Shi played the pot on his hands as he became confused. Most treasures should respond to the spiritual qi.

" Wait!" Yang Shi thought something as his gaze became deep. A formless energy entered the little pot.

Yang Shi used his divine sense to scan the little pot as he fused a little of his Soul qi in it.

Suddenly, the little pot hummed as Yang Shi's vision turned dizzy.

" This little fucker!" 

Yang Shi cursed loudly as he controlled his Soul qi. 

He realized in this short period of time, a large amount of his Soul qi was devoured by the pot.

The little pot's humming became deep as light swirled around. The color of the pot changed as it became bright as gold, with purple patterns around it.

" Holy Shit! An Earth tier pill cauldron?!" Yang Shi almost jumped from shock. His hands trembled as he injected a bit of his spiritual qi.

The pot hummed as it expanded. It transformed into a cauldron. The patterns around it became even more clear and more distinct.

On the cauldron, there were carvings of dragons and phoenixes. The handles were fitted with exquisite jades. Moreover, on the top of the lid, a pink colored pearl was carved into a lotus.

"  Volcanic Core Gold as the body, Profound Jade as handles, and Nascent Pearl carved into lotus. The person who crafted, and the person who used this cauldron, both are like treating wealth like dust." Yang Shi sighed in admiration.

Yang Shi used his Soul qi again as he opened the lid. A thick medicinal scent entered his nostrils.

*Sniff Sniff*

" Eh? Azure Longevity Fruit, Nine Headed Serpent Grass, Purple Bead Flower, Flowing Light Grass…" Yang Shi said as he sniffed the aroma. 

To double check,  he even used his index finger to wipe the inner surface of the cauldron and tasted it.

" Heavens! This cauldron refined pills till rank eight!" 

Yang Shi was shocked in his heart. " As expected from an Earth grade cauldron." Yang Shi smacked his lips.

He flipped some of the North Bronze Essence chunks to ee their inner sides. All he saw were numerous scattered lines on it. 

At first, Yang  Shi felt that it was created during forging.

But later, he felt something was amiss as he started to put all the chunks together. Although the outer side looked nothing special, when he saw the inner side again there was a huge pattern over it.

" Spirit Fire Explosion Rune Diagram!" Yang Shi sucked a breath of cold air.

After calculating all these, he finally understood everything.

The North Bronze Essence was used to conceal the golden cauldron. The Spirit Fire Explosion Rune Diagram was the secondary measure of protection.

First of all, the North Bronze Essence was at least a a dozen centimeters thick. Unless used special means, An Origin Core Stage cultivator may unable to see the peculiarity of the cauldron in one glance.

The North Bronze Essence was created by the accumulation of North Bronze Metal. This amount of North Bronze Essence can easily block the divine sense of cultivators.

Moreover, this cauldron was already ready to use. Who could have thought that there was another cauldron hidden in it?

If someone tried to refine the North Bronze Essence and melt the cauldron nonstop, the Spirit Fire Explosion Rune Diagram will be activated and condense all the Flame qi to explode the golden cauldron in it.

Although the golden cauldron was an Earth grade artifact, during its shrink form, it becomes a little delicate. 

Moreover, the purple patterns around it also complement the Spirit Fire Explosion Rune Diagram. So in the end, the golden cauldron will ruin to a great degree.

" Thank goodness! If I melted it a bit more, the Explosion Rune Diagram would have been activated. Hahahaha! Earth grade medicinal cauldron!" Yang Shi laughed like a madman.

He was thinking of forge a cauldron to concoct his medicinal elixirs, but now, he got an Earth rank pill cauldron from nowhere.

" As expected from the luck of protagonist." Yang Shi rubbed his chin.

He saw that the amount of North Bronze Essence was more than seven hundred jin.

" If I just make True grade weapons, I can forge around at least five high tier True grade weapons." Yang Shi sighed.

" All right, Time for work." Getting the Earth grade Cauldron, Yang Shi felt like he was injected with chicken blood.

He sat cross legged as he popped some True Vital Pills in his mouth. Yang Shi's crimson ring devoured the Spiritual energy as Yang Shi's dantian became filled with qi again. 

Yang Shi's dantian was bigger than average cultivators of the same realm, so the time was taken to fill it also increased by many folds.

"It's pretty good to have some fresh Spiritual qi in dantian." Yang Shi chuckled. When he exited his forging room, he saw the sun was rising.

" Wait! WHAT?!" Yang Shi rubbed his eyes as he took a good look at the sky. It was already morning time.

" Does that mean I spent more than eighteen hours in the forging room?" Yang Shi became bewildered. He stretched his arms as he looked at Bai Ruxue.

" Hmph!" Bai Ruxue snorted lightly as she avoided Yang Shi.

" Eh? What's now?" Yang Shi became confused after seeing Bai Ruxue's cold behavior.

" Ruxue, Listen…" As he was calling Bai Ruxue,  she already walked out of the room.

Yang Shi was racking his mind, but suddenly, he saw a piece of cloth lying on the bed. It was precisely the special costume that Bai Ruxue wore in the auction of Hundred Gold Pavilion.

" Don't tell me…" Yang Shi's mind went blank. " She really wore it and waited for me all night?" Yang Shi pinched his forehead as he almost punched himself.

" Damn, It's…" Yang Shi took a deep breath as he washed his face with water.

He saw Bai Ruxue was practicing her sword arts in the courtyard.

" Ruxue?" Yang  Shi called her again.

Ruxue sighed as she looked at Yang Shi with a composed face, " Yes, young master?"

" Come with me. We are going for your training." Yang Shi turned as he asked her to follow. Bai Ruxue became startled but she nodded.

Among many interesting places in Azure Wind City, Heaven Protection Guild's headquarters is one of them. Unlike detested existence like Traceless Ghost Pavilion and Blood Moon Hall, Heaven Protection Guild is under the sunlight.

It is the largest mercenary guild across the kingdoms. All sorts of missions and rewards are posted here. Moreover, the battle arena here is one of the thrilling places in Azure Wind City. Here, people can register as fighters and can duel with others.

This is where most young cultivator comes to hone their skills and gain experience. Although 

death happens very rarely, injuries can be severe here as everyone battles with all of their might. But this was also what makes cultivators bring out all their potential.

" Young master, What are we doing here in Heaven Protection Guild?" Bai Ruxue asked curiously.

" Didn't I say that you need to gain some experience? The battle arena of Heaven Protection Guild is the perfect place for you." Yang Shi said with a calm tone. 

" Duel with other contestants here to hone your Jade Lake Sword Art."

" As young master wishes." 

Bai Ruxue nodded with a firm tone. She was also eager to test her strength.

You don't need to worry about anything. With me here, what  can happen to you?" 

Yang Shi hugged Bai Ruxue from behind as he spoke softly.