The refinement of a corpse was never something accomplished in a single step. Only by waiting for the most opportune moment could the body, soul, and Monster Core truly be fused into one.
After inserting the core, Liu Xi set Tian Shuangzi's corpse aside, dividing part of his Spiritual Power to continue tempering it. Then, he stretched out his hand and tapped lightly. A pile of previously collected ores appeared before him, all suspended midair under the control of his Dou Qi.
With a slight twist and flick of his finger, a strand of the cyan flame refining Tian Shuangzi's corpse split off and flew back. The flame expanded rapidly, engulfing the ores and burning away their impurities, refining the essence within.
Liu Xi closed his eyes. His vast Spiritual Power surged forth from his glabella like flowing water, each wisp brimming with sentience as he precisely controlled the flame's temperature. The sensation that came this time was vastly different—his control over the flame felt completely natural, and his perception of the world's energy was incomparably clear.
It was as if he were observing creation from a divine perspective—each subtle fluctuation of heaven and earth could be felt with microscopic precision. The surrounding elemental energy seemed close and familiar, responding to his will. With a mere thought, the power of heaven and earth poured toward him in torrents.
He was like a living black hole, drawing in this endless energy. It passed through the tempering of his Heart Flame and the refinement of his Qi Method, transforming into pure Dou Qi. His efficiency in utilizing energy had increased by at least fifty percent compared to before.
Thus, he split his focus—cultivating, refining ores, and tempering the corpse all at once.
Three days passed swiftly. The ores had melted into a mass of dark-golden liquid, suspended in the flame's warmth. On the other side, Tian Shuangzi's corpse, now shrunken and ashen gray, continued to be refined within the flames.
Suddenly, Liu Xi's eyes snapped open. His hands formed a series of intricate seals, and his mouth released a strange, resonant sound. In an instant, the blank remnant soul within Tian Shuangzi's head shattered into countless fragments of light, which dispersed throughout the entire body.
At the same time, the Heaven Demon Phoenix Monster Core within his chest began to tremble, releasing a torrent of power. Vast energy flooded his desiccated meridians, coursing through his entire form like a revitalizing tide.
A surge of immense and pure strength emanated from the corpse, far surpassing his previous Earth Demon Puppet in power.
Liu Xi's lips curved slightly. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned the molten dark-golden liquid and poured it over the corpse.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
The molten metal splashed onto the flesh, emitting hissing sounds and a thick, acrid smoke. Liu Xi furrowed his brow, holding his breath as his Spiritual Power spread out, evenly distributing the molten essence across the corpse's surface.
The cyan flames blazed fiercely, tempering the coating until the molten layer began to seep into the body. Gradually, the golden hue deepened into a dark, metallic sheen resembling blackened copper.
A powerful, overwhelming aura began to emanate from the corpse, the very Void trembling under its might. Soon after, a faint silver glow appeared beneath the surface, spreading until the entire body radiated with brilliant silver light.
At this point, Tian Shuangzi's refined body had already reached the standard of an Earth Demon Puppet—its quality was no less than that of the one made from Earth Demon Old Ghost's corpse.
Yet the transformation didn't stop there. Before long, streaks of golden light began to emerge from the silver surface, deepening in brilliance until the pressure it exuded broke past the Dou Zong limit entirely, stepping into a higher realm.
Finally, Tian Shuangzi stood upright before Liu Xi—his body gleaming with silver and gold, eyes hollow and devoid of emotion. Judging from his aura, Liu Xi estimated its strength between 1-Star and 3-Star Dou Zun. He nodded in satisfaction.
With a faint smile, Liu Xi bit his tongue and spat several drops of blood essence, each infused with his soul imprint. The blood shot into the puppet's forehead, merging within. Moments later, faint traces of awareness flickered within those lifeless eyes.
Tian Shuangzi lowered his head and knelt on one knee before Liu Xi, his reverence absolute.
Smiling, Liu Xi descended lightly and waved his sleeve, drawing the new Heaven Demon Puppet into his spatial ring.
"With this fearless Heaven Demon Puppet at my side, my sense of security just got a lot stronger."
Turning around, he retrieved the Green Lotus Platform and walked toward the spatial gate.
'Time to return. I wonder how long it's been—has Zi Yan finished her baptism yet?'
He stopped before the wall, forming a seal with his hands.
"Open!"
A silver-white portal blossomed before him. Stepping through, Liu Xi's body vanished into the light.
"The Ancient Void Dragon Tribe's secluded spaces are truly convenient," he murmured as his vision blurred briefly before clearing again.
All around him stretched endless darkness. The portal behind him sealed shut, and below his feet glimmered a vast silver-white ring—the East Dragon Island.
The oppressive tearing force of the Void pressed in from every direction. Even with his 7-Star Dou Zong cultivation, the pain of space trying to rip him apart was unbearable.
With a thought, Liu Xi released his Spiritual Power, forming a protective barrier around his body. Just as he prepared to fly toward the island, a vast aura surged from the void—not hostile, but surrounding him protectively.
Ripples appeared in the air, and Hei Qing's towering figure emerged. Seeing Liu Xi standing calmly, his rugged face showed a trace of surprise.
"Brother, it seems your retreat wasn't in vain. You've reached 7-Star Dou Zong—and that's… Spiritual Power protecting your body?"
Liu Xi smiled faintly and cupped his fists. "Thank you for your concern, Brother Hei Qing. My cultivation did progress a bit during this seclusion. By the way… it's been two years, hasn't it? Has Zi Yan's baptism ended? Have Elder Yao or Xiao Yixian emerged?"
Hei Qing scratched his head, thinking for a moment before replying honestly, "You're no outsider, so I'll tell you—Zi Yan's still undergoing the baptism. As expected of the Dragon Emperor's bloodline, she'll shock the entire clan when she awakens. As for Xiao Yixian and Elder Yao, they both came out once, but when they learned you were still cultivating, they went right back into seclusion."
Liu Xi nodded slightly, thoughtful. 'So, none of them have emerged yet…'
After a brief silence, he asked, "Brother Hei Qing, is there a place near East Dragon Island where lightning gathers naturally?"
"There is," Hei Qing replied with some puzzlement. "There's a Void Lightning Pool nearby—but it's extremely dangerous. Why would you ask about that?"
"Of course, I have my reasons," Liu Xi said lightly. "Next time, I'll trouble you to take me there."
Hei Qing laughed heartily. "That's easy enough. For now, let's return to the island!"
With that, the two figures flew downward toward the shimmering silver ring below.
(End of Chapter)
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