Chapter 40: The Burden of the Heaven-Refining Furnace

It was late into the night when Quan Haoqing finally returned the Xuan Yin Book Spirit. Ye Qingfeng, observing him, found nothing unusual in his expression, leaving her uncertain whether the Xuan Yin Book Spirit had delivered good tidings or ill.

Just as Quan Haoqing prepared to depart, Ye Qingfeng called out to him, her crescent-like eyebrows furrowing and then relaxing repeatedly. After a moment of visible hesitation, she offered, “If there’s anything I can do to help you, please don’t try to bear the burden all by yourself.”

Quan Haoqing paused, a slight smile playing on his lips as he remarked, “You haven’t even asked what the matter is yet.”

Ye Qingfeng’s lips formed a defiant pout, and she declared with an air of proud indignation, “Must I know the exact details before offering help? How shallow do you take me for?”

Quan Haoqing: “…”

A thoughtful glint appeared in his eyes as he posed, “What if this favor required you to offer yourself in marriage…?”

In that very moment, Ye Qingfeng’s gaze became utterly vacant, and her voice was imbued with a chilling, netherworld coldness.

“However! I’m sure you would never ask me for a favor that would put me in such an awkward predicament, would you?”

Quan Haoqing swallowed audibly, nodding his head emphatically as he quickly explained, “Of course, I always consider my friends’ circumstances and capabilities before asking for their help. I would never even open my mouth if there was the slightest chance of inconveniencing them. That was merely a small jest, haha, just a joke!”

Ye Qingfeng’s eyes remained utterly devoid of light, and the faint smile that curved her pink lips sent shivers down one’s spine, as if they stood exposed on a frigid, snow-capped peak.

“I see, just a joke then. It must certainly be a joke, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Hiss, oh dear, my cultivation technique seems to have developed a slight issue; I must go adjust it immediately. Let’s continue our discussion tomorrow if anything else arises. Bye-bye!”

Having uttered his hasty farewell, Quan Haoqing fled in utter disarray.

Ye Qingfeng, meanwhile, watched him disappear into the distance, much like a wife left behind, bidding farewell to her husband departing for work. Only after Quan Haoqing’s figure had completely vanished from sight did she finally close the door.

“You sly one, hmph!”

****

Returning to her room, she meticulously sealed the doors and windows, affixing both a Silence Talisman and a Warning Talisman. Tossing the Xuan Yin Book Spirit onto her table, Ye Qingfeng immediately leaned closer, her large, glistening eyes so intensely focused that their sparkling light seemed poised to bore straight through the spirit.

“What did he talk to you about?”

“How to subtly persuade you, my Master, to willingly become his cultivation partner… Ah, hot, hot, hot!”

Before the Xuan Yin Book Spirit could even complete its thought, Ye Qingfeng unceremoniously hurled it directly into the brazier.

“He summoned you in the dead of night to discuss *that*? Do you truly take me for a fool?!”

Ye Qingfeng’s silhouette obscured the lamplight, and the encroaching darkness draped a heavy shadow over her exquisite beauty, famed for eclipsing the moon and shaming flowers. In her hand, she menacingly clutched a Blazing Fire Talisman.

“It seems to me the weather has grown too cold, and you’ve been thoroughly frozen, haven’t you? Perhaps I should warm you up once more?”

The Xuan Yin Book Spirit trembled uncontrollably. They had indeed discussed that particular topic, albeit only after the main business was concluded. It had, in its boredom and desire to alleviate the tense atmosphere, deliberately steered the conversation in that direction.

This particular segment constituted less than ten percent of their entire discussion, yet it was undeniably filled with content significant enough to provoke Ye Qingfeng into immediately seizing a blade and performing an unspeakable operation on Quan Haoqing.

Alas, Ye Qingfeng was not in the mood to hear it.

The Xuan Yin Book Spirit, ever the understanding entity, noted Ye Qingfeng’s distinct lack of interest and, with good grace, ceased to mention that particular segment of the discussion.

“Didn’t you, Master, say you had no desire to hear it? If you truly wished to know, you should have simply allowed him to speak here from the very start.”

Ye Qingfeng lightly pounded her palm with her small fists, stating matter-of-factly, “That’s precisely why I immediately regretted it after you two departed. You cannot imagine how agonizing that period was for me, consumed by an overwhelming curiosity about what you were discussing. Had my self-control not been so exceptional, I would have already snuck over halfway through your conversation.”

‘Your “exceptional self-control” is more akin to that of a three-year-old child, wouldn’t you say?’

After a silent, inner retort, the Xuan Yin Book Spirit solemnly inquired, “Well then, Master, knowing about that particular item will undoubtedly bring you a certain degree of trouble. Are you truly prepared to accept the consequences?”

Ye Qingfeng sat cross-legged on her bed, her gaze haughty and indifferent as she declared, “As long as I keep my knowledge to myself, no one will ever know. Less chatter. Besides, do you truly believe this lord was raised to be easily intimidated?”

“You’re not a ‘lord’ anymore… That item is, in fact, suspected to be a fragment of a furnace left behind by the Second Heavenly Demon.”

Just as the Blazing Fire Talisman was poised to drop into the brazier, the Xuan Yin Book Spirit finally began to address the serious matter at hand.

Ye Qingfeng, a bewildered expression on her face, murmured, “The Second Heavenly Demon? That’s certainly an intimidating title.”

The Xuan Yin Book Spirit clarified, “It’s not merely the title that is intimidating. However, given its incredibly ancient origins, it is entirely normal for you, Master, to be unfamiliar with it. Furthermore, that individual always maintained a remarkably low profile after ascending to the title of Second Heavenly Demon.”

Ye Qingfeng, eager for the crucial details, pressed on, “So, essentially, a historical figure, right? Understood. All right, let’s not concern ourselves with that long-departed mighty one. Tell me about this furnace fragment instead. It can’t be that the Second Heavenly Demon simply enjoyed hotpot and left behind a fragment of a cooking pot, could it? This sounds like an incredible task, so whatever was left behind must also be extraordinary. What exactly is the function of this furnace fragment?”

The Xuan Yin Book Spirit, having no concept of what “hotpot” entailed, continued to explain to Ye Qingfeng, “Its functions are devouring and digestion. The fragment possesses the ability to consume all matter in the world, along with a cultivator’s magical power, transforming them into the purest energy. This energy, in turn, is used to enhance its own quality and the cultivation of its owner. Naturally, the time required for digestion varies significantly, depending on the quality of the devoured substances and the potency of the magical power.”

Ye Qingfeng’s eyes immediately flared with a brilliant, intense light. She gasped, “Hiss~, what a heaven-defying treasure! It’s simply utter laziness for Quan Haoqing’s cultivation not to advance by leaps and bounds. He could simply lie there, devouring spirit pills, miraculous medicines, and heavenly treasures every day, and still grow stronger, couldn’t he?”

The Xuan Yin Book Spirit, a note of regret in its voice, clarified, “Everything I’ve just described relates only to the positive effects of the Heaven-Refining Furnace. A Heavenly Demon is a designation for the paramount practitioners of the demonic path, equivalent to a quasi-immortal—a being capable of ascension, yet choosing to linger in this world. Just as an immortal’s magic treasure demands stringent conditions for its mastery, a Heavenly Demon’s demonic artifact carries even more profound and significant hidden dangers.”

“While these aspects might be negligible for immortals and Heavenly Demons, perhaps even inherent to their very methods, they are far from simple for cultivators beneath their level. The Heaven-Refining Furnace, with its ability to refine all things in heaven and earth for its own purpose, undoubtedly possesses a captivating and enviable efficacy.”

“Yet, this artifact’s devouring nature makes no distinction between friend and foe. It will, in essence, silently consume the life force of its wielder, though at a much slower pace. When using it, one even needs to expend more magical power to resist its constant devouring force, even if it’s just a mere fragment.”

The Xuan Yin Book Spirit’s voice grew progressively deeper.

“The lower one’s cultivation realm, the harder it is for the wielder to resist its devouring power, often leading to a net loss of energy. Master, have you not been curious? That young man appears to be quite wealthy, certainly not lacking spirit stones, and he was already at the peak of the Bone Cleansing Realm a year ago.”

“However, despite possessing Pure Yang Energy and cultivating the Blazing Starfall Tome Art, his strength has remained stagnant at the Bone Cleansing Realm for an entire year. This is the burden imposed by the Heaven-Refining Furnace fragment. One could say that, until the Nirvana Realm, the Heaven-Refining Furnace fragment is detrimental to a cultivator. Its only potential benefit might be its ability to forcibly refine away any impurities. Now, for him to achieve a breakthrough in his realm, the difficulty is likely more than five times what it would be for you, Master.”

Ye Qingfeng’s expression grew solemn, her once unperturbed eyes instantly becoming like turbulent fountains as she inquired, “Does Quan Haoqing not know about this? Did you tell him any of this?”

“I didn’t realize you cared so much… Wow!”

The Blazing Fire Talisman was unceremoniously tossed into the brazier, incinerating all of the Xuan Yin Book Spirit’s subsequent chatter.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle~

Ye Qingfeng poured scalding tea directly into the blazing brazier, sending up clouds of white smoke. Her expression remained calm, yet chillingly cold.

“Speak.”

Without needing further prompting from Ye Qingfeng, the Xuan Yin Book Spirit immediately understood her intent.

“He knows. He’s only unaware of the specifics regarding the Second Heavenly Demon and the Heaven-Refining Furnace itself, but he knows what the fragment does. However, he can’t get rid of it.”

Ye Qingfeng frowned, inquiring, “Why not?”

After a moment of bewilderment, the Xuan Yin Book Spirit replied, “Once the Heaven-Refining Furnace is used, it binds itself to the user until their death and dissipation. The fragment is no different.”

Ye Qingfeng pressed further, “Can’t it be removed from him?”

The Xuan Yin Book Spirit, utterly baffled, stated, “I cannot do it. That item is too strange. Its former masters would certainly be able to.”

Ye Qingfeng’s cheeks puffed out once more, as if two steamed buns had just been cooked, her displeasure clearly evident.

“Nonsense! They are quasi-immortals. Tell me a method that I can accomplish right now.”