Chapter 161: Smelting

The Black Panther, meeting Yao Ye for the first time, hurried forward to take Tiger Fierce from Yao Ye's shoulders, laying Tiger Fierce and the other two gently on the ground.

"Lord Prefecture Master, what happened here?"

After laying out Ape Chen, Tiger Fierce, and Peng Xiang, Yao Ye stood up and said, "Commander Black, on our way back, we were ambushed by the Cloud Firmament Sect. The three Demon Kings are heavily injured. Now, take your men to secretly monitor the forest. The people of the Cloud Firmament Sect have already entered!"

The Black Panther nodded hastily and dashed out. Yao Ye released his divine sense to summon Fang Yan and Fang Yu to the grand hall, then used his own primordial energy to mend the bodies of the three injured men.

When Fang Yan and Fang Yu arrived at the hall and saw Yao Ye treating the three Demon Kings, they stood quietly to one side without making a sound. As time passed, the three men let out a series of coughs and regained consciousness one after another.

Ape Chen opened his eyes, saw Yao Ye standing before him, and frantically pushed him away, saying, "Little brother, run quickly! That Cloud Firmament Sect is coming straight for you."

Yao Ye lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "I am sorry, my three elder brothers. It is because of me that you have been dragged into this. I will make them leave right now, and I will go find Ling Yun myself."

"Bullshit!"

Tiger Fierce sat up, pointing angrily at Yao Ye. "The three of us were completely powerless before Ling Yun. If you go alone, you are merely walking to your death!"

"Indeed, Lord Prefecture Master, you must think this through carefully!"

Yao Ye stood up and commanded in a stern voice, "Fang Yu, Fang Yan, shut your mouths. Go and notify everyone immediately. We are preparing to evacuate!"

Helplessly, Fang Yu and Fang Yan walked out of the grand hall. With a deep frown and a heavy sigh, Yao Ye started to walk out as well. Knowing Yao Ye's temperament all too well, the three men quickly called him back.

"Little brother, we know your character very well. You would never just pack up and run away. Forget it, stay right here. We shall live and die together!"

At that moment, Commander Black Panther rushed in, shouting in a panic, "My lords, this is bad!"

"Black Forest, what is all this panic about?"

Black Forest took a deep breath and said slowly, "The Cloud Firmament Sect has sent thousands of people into the forest to search it. Every demon race member they encounter along the way is being slaughtered without mercy, and they are slowly closing in on this place!"

"Hmph, they truly leave us no path to survival! Black Forest, notify the brothers to assemble!"

"Yes!"

Black Forest hurried away once more. Clenching his fists in self-reproach, Yao Ye thought to himself, *If I were alone, I would have countless ways to escape. But how are we supposed to survive this calamity now? I had hoped my power would increase drastically, but there is still such a massive gap between me and Ling Yun!*

"Yao Ye, I have a method we can try, but..."

Hearing the voice of the Cauldron Elder, Yao Ye was overjoyed. "Elder Ding, what method do you have? No matter what, I must protect the lives of the three Demon Kings!"

"As your power grows, new functions of the Creation Cauldron are unlocked. However, given your current strength, it is far too far-reaching. One misstep, and you will be annihilated beyond redemption!"

"Just tell me what the method is, Elder Ding! We cannot simply sit here and wait for death!"

"The final function of the Creation Cauldron is... Refining! You must treat yourself as a vessel embryo. The Creation Cauldron can not only strengthen your physical body, but your primordial energy as well. However, the pain is not something your current self can easily endure. The moment your will breaks, you will be reduced to ashes!"

Seeing Yao Ye standing there in a daze, Ape Chen shouted a few more times, "Little brother! What are you still daydreaming about at a time like this?"

"What is it, Big Brother?"

"I am saying, your talent is great, so you should escape alone! Just remember to avenge us later!"

Hearing Ape Chen's words, Yao Ye was so moved he became incoherent. "Big Brother, say no more. I have a way to deal with Ling Yun, but I need time!"

Hearing that there was still hope, the three Demon Kings stood up and stared at Yao Ye with excitement. "Little brother, what good method do you have? Let's hear it."

"I possess a secret technique that can rapidly elevate my cultivation in a short time. As long as I break through to the Void Realm, Ling Yun will no longer be my match. However, I only just advanced to the Penetrating Heaven Realm recently, so the failure rate is extremely high. I have no certainty of success!"

Ape Chen laughed heartily, extended a hand, and said, "Though the four of us are not bound by blood, we are closer than real brothers. Since heaven has granted us this chance, let's gamble our lives for a sliver of survival. We'll stake it all!"

Tiger Fierce and Peng Xiang spoke in unison, "Right, let's stake it all!" They stacked their hands atop Ape Chen's. The four of them looked at each other, brimming with fighting spirit, and shared a brief, firm embrace before parting.

"Yao Ye, go begin your incantation quickly. The three of us will handle the arrangements outside. Leave that to us!"

Yao Ye quickly retrieved the battle robes he had just purchased and handed them to Ape Chen. "Big Brother, take these and distribute them. You must all stay alive and wait for me to emerge from seclusion!"

Knowing this was no time for excessive sentimentality, Ape Chen took the battle robes and departed the grand hall alongside Tiger Fierce and Peng Xiang. Watching their receding backs, Yao Ye silently offered a prayer in his heart.

*My three elder brothers, you must stay alive and wait for me to emerge!*

Taking several deep breaths to steady his condition, Yao Ye closed his eyes and said, "Elder Ding, I am ready. Tell me what to do!"

"Yao Ye, listen to me. Later on, guard your spiritual consciousness firmly, and leave the rest to me!"

Hearing the solemn tone in the Elder's voice, Yao Ye nodded. The Cauldron Elder controlled the Creation Cauldron, flying it into the center of the grand hall. The cauldron spun rapidly, expanding until it transformed into a massive treasure vessel that occupied half the space of the entire hall.

"Yao Ye, enter the Creation Cauldron now and sit upon the formation array in the center!"

Yao Ye flew swiftly into the middle of the Creation Cauldron and sat down cross-legged. The Cauldron Elder's hands trembled, remaining motionless for a long while, until Yao Ye sensed the hesitation and spoke up.

"Elder Ding, let us begin. We have very little time left; we cannot afford to waste a single moment."

With a reluctant sigh, the Cauldron Elder said, "Yao Ye, if you run now, there is still time. Once I begin, even I cannot let you out before the process is complete. Should your willpower fail halfway, I will be completely powerless to help you!"

"Say no more, Elder Ding. Begin!"

"Yao Ye, let me remind you one last time: this smelting process of the Creation Cauldron uses the origin of the universe as its fire, and you as its material. It refines not only your physical body and your primordial energy, but your divine consciousness as well. Without reaching the Emperor Realm, nobody has absolute certainty of success. Do you understand?"

"Elder Ding, I know you are worried about me. Rest assured, I will persevere. Besides, you wouldn't want me to live with eternal regret, would you? Start!"

Knowing he could no longer persuade Yao Ye, the Cauldron Elder formed hand seals and drove the Creation Cauldron with all his might. As the cauldron spun endlessly, Yao Ye quietly closed his eyes.

Gazing at the closed eyes of Yao Ye with a serene expression, the Cauldron Elder smiled with a hint of gratification. Hesitating no longer, he formed the final hand seal.

With the falling of the Elder's final seal, an ineffable, unspeakable energy between heaven and earth surged endlessly into the Creation Cauldron, forming a massive energy lid over its mouth that completely enveloped the vessel.

The colossal Creation Cauldron flew into the air, hovering two meters off the ground as it spun incessantly. Beneath the cauldron, multi-colored divine flames erupted, and their terrifying, scorching heat swept through the entire Tiger Heaven Hall, causing the grand hall itself to melt away at a visible rate!