Chapter 83: The Terrifying Power of Ah Jiu

As the meridians gradually adapted to the impact of the energy, they widened considerably. Threads of absorbed energy began to flow into the golden orb within his dantian and sea of consciousness.

With the first wisp of energy successfully refined, Liu Junhuai increased his absorption speed. After a full hour, the first cluster of purple-red flames was completely absorbed. The refined energy was drawn by the Mixed Gold Chalice into its belly, where it was slowly condensed into a small energy mass, nourished and stored within.

While Liu Junhuai meditated in deep concentration, Ajiu’s own absorption and refinement proceeded with fervor. The violent energy of the fireball seeped into its flesh, merging with its inner flames. Its crimson hue grew deeper, and even as Ajiu blinked, traces of violent energy seeped out.

Ajiu’s entire aura blended with the searing heat of the molten cave, and the faint sound of a dragon’s cry echoed, a resonance arising from their union.

After seven days, Ajiu was the first to awaken from refining. As it rose to its feet, flickers of flame still danced amidst its purple-red coat, and waves of pure, fiery yang energy radiated from its body, a thousand rays of red light making it seem a descended deity.

Liu Junhuai soon awoke as well, discovering a vast energy mass, glowing with a purple hue, suspended within the endless golden light of the Mixed Gold Chalice in his core.

Seeing the sweeping transformation in Ajiu as it leapt toward him, Liu Junhuai stroked its neck in delight, pride swelling in his heart.

The molten cave was now in utter disarray. During the volcanic eruption, the earth-shattering roar had sent stones flying and rolling, while streams of searing magma, fierce as fire dragons, surged from underground, devouring everything in their path. Now, however, the once-blazing magma had solidified into cracked lava stone, filling most of the cave space and completely burying the passages through which Liu Junhuai had entered.

“Ajiu, our way out is blocked. Clear this passage, and let’s see how much your strength has grown. I’ve yet to witness your true power!” Liu Junhuai called.

Ajiu nodded eagerly. Once Liu Junhuai had retreated several dozen meters, Ajiu let out a sharp, piercing cry, its entire aura surging. All nine mouths spewed purple-red flames at once, turning the blocked lava stones red-hot in a single breath.

Ajiu arched its back and charged into the pile, its tail—thick as a whip of fire—swept across the stones. Violent energy cyclones raged amidst the crimson glow, and with one lash, countless stones were reduced to ash. Within a dozen strikes, the bulk of the solidified lava had turned to a thick layer of ash, revealing the faint outline of the passage.

Liu Junhuai was dumbfounded by Ajiu’s ferocity. It was simply too powerful—whether the incinerating purple-red flames or the raw force it unleashed, both were terrifying.

He estimated he could clear such a stone pile in an hour, yet Ajiu needed only a dozen breaths, its fiery tail sweeping the way clear.

He wondered, who could withstand the might of Ajiu’s tail? That purple-red flame—no barrier or shield could survive its fury.

Noticing Liu Junhuai’s astonished expression, Ajiu smugly slapped its paw into the still-churning magma pool. With a thunderous crash, the molten pool surged like monstrous waves to either side.

Good heavens! Liu Junhuai exclaimed silently. The force of that paw was truly wild—no different than overturning rivers and seas.

It seemed this divine beast could also advance in power, and not just by a small margin.

After finally recovering from Ajiu’s display, Liu Junhuai called it over and pointed to several massive boulders blocking the cave entrance. “Ajiu, the entrance is blocked. Let me try first—if you strike, I’m afraid you’ll collapse the whole cave.”

With that, Liu Junhuai approached the massive stones, activated his Transformation Art, and conjured the Heaven-Covering Seal. He struck the boulder with a palm, and with a thunderous boom, the purple-red giant hand landed, sending up dust and debris. The boulder was only broken at one corner, two meters across, while the rest, still several meters in diameter, remained unmoved.

After several more strikes, the massive boulder, over ten meters across, was finally shattered.

Liu Junhuai stepped back and motioned for Ajiu to go ahead, as if in friendly competition.

Ajiu cast him a complex look, uttered a few sharp cries as though mocking his overconfidence, then, without seeming to move, shot toward the boulders like lightning. Its claws landed on the rocks, and with a roaring crash, the entrance to the molten cave appeared before Liu Junhuai.

Ajiu flicked its long tail, turning to saunter out with an air of unrestrained arrogance, leaving Liu Junhuai gritting his teeth in frustration as he followed.

At the mouth of the molten cave, Liu Junhuai turned back to clear away the rubble. The fifth level was restored to its previous state.

After a moment’s affection and a few words of instruction, Liu Junhuai sent Ajiu back into the chaotic space and turned toward the sixth level.

The resistance on the sixth stairway was much greater, and Liu Junhuai had to circulate his true essence to ascend.

This level was a vast desert, stretching endlessly in undulating waves, making any person seem insignificant within its expanse.

The desert, boundless as a yellow sea, sparkled with a myriad of points beneath the sun. Under the scorching heat, waves of hot air rose from the sand, making even breathing difficult.

The sands rolled flat toward the horizon, where jagged dunes rose at the edge of earth and sky. Here and there, remnants of walls—worn by wind and sand—stood desolate amidst the vast wilderness.

By midday, the sun blazed high, causing the sands to shimmer with heat.

The restriction in the air remained. Using his spiritual sense, Liu Junhuai detected the ruins of an ancient city ten miles away and set off in that direction.

After walking half a mile, the golden sands began to tremble. The burning ground heaved like waves, and the surrounding dunes slowly shifted.

“Quicksand!” Liu Junhuai exclaimed inwardly, instantly shifting a hundred meters away. Where he’d just stood, rippling whirlpool patterns appeared in the sand.

The surface sand became soft and loose, quickly sinking downward in layers. As the depth increased, a distinct spiral suction began to draw the dunes in.

Within half an hour, all the standing dunes had vanished, leaving only a massive pit, gaping like the maw of a beast waiting to devour anything overhead.

Liu Junhuai knew that where quicksand appeared, underground springs were often present. His curiosity was piqued, for near such springs, the rare Garan Sandthorn could be found.

Garan Sandthorn, one of the sacred fragrant woods known as Dao Sprout Holy Fruits in Buddhism, was also the Earth Spirit Wood, one of the Five Spirit Woods in the cultivation world. Refining Earth Spirit Pills from it could grant cultivators an earth spirit root—a top-grade heavenly pill.

Liu Junhuai also possessed a section of Spirit Eye Wood, one of the Three Divine Trees. Combined with Earth Spirit Wood, it could be used to refine Spirit Pupil Pills, supreme immortal medicines that enhanced spiritual perception, greatly aiding his Celestial Eye.

From what Liu Junhuai knew, the only way to suppress quicksand was to drain its water. Once the moisture was gone, the sands would quickly stabilize.

With the Heavenly Lotus Heart Fire in his possession, evaporating the moisture was not difficult.

He activated the Transformation Art, conjured the Heaven-Covering Seal, and blanketed the great pit. With a thunderous sound, the damp sand within was flung dozens of meters wide. Summoning Azhi to spray flames, in just a few breaths, the damp sand was baked into golden, dry grains.

Repeating these steps, the damp sand lessened and the pit grew wider, until the underground spring beneath was faintly visible.

Liu Junhuai began to use the Heaven-Covering Seal more cautiously, each strike covering a smaller area, until, seeing the gushing spring, he withdrew his power and approached carefully.

His spiritual sense had already pinpointed the Garan Sandthorn. Brushing away the surrounding sand, he uncovered a bush-like, verdant Garan Sandthorn, already bearing golden, round fruits—each one lustrous as golden jujubes, crystal clear and exceedingly exquisite.

Unable to resist, Liu Junhuai plucked one and tasted its sweet, juicy flesh.

Carefully storing the Garan Sandthorn, he summoned the Heaven-Covering Seal to conceal the giant pit and continued on toward the ancient ruins ten miles away.

Standing atop the crumbling city wall, he could still make out the vast scale and former glory of the ancient city, and wondered how many stories and legends lay buried beneath the ochre dunes.

Lack of water and relentless winds had finally erased the city, leaving only ruins and broken walls. The best-preserved structure was an ancient well, long dry for thousands of years—a bitter irony to Liu Junhuai.

The pavilion and surrounding walls by the well remained clear, and even the winch for drawing water bore grooves worn by rope. Among so many stone and wooden remnants turned to dust, these features remained so intact that Liu Junhuai found it rather eerie.

He searched the ruins, but found nothing of value and prepared to leave.

On his way back, passing the dry well again, his spiritual sense, which had already probed several times, found no trace of life. Yet now it seemed a voice sounded in his mind, urging him to enter the well.

After much thought, he decided to investigate. Even if he found nothing, he would treat it as training for his spiritual awareness.