Chapter 103 - Seventh Refinement

One of the C-rank chambers in the Dark Baneful Aura cave at Myriad Wither Peak.

“Lord Meng Chuan, please,” said a steward respectfully as he pushed open the stone door.

Meng Chuan nodded and entered the Dark Baneful Aura Cave.

The Dark Baneful Aura Cave required fifty credits every two hours. This was because the Dark baneful aura was rare. It was useful for many Godfiends. If one cultivated in an A-rank chamber, they would need 5000 credits for two hours. However, the baneful aura density in an A-rank chamber was far beyond what a mortal could withstand.

Even in the C-rank chamber, many geniuses’ minds would turn into a mess when the baneful aura attacked their minds.

It’s really cold. Meng Chuan entered the chamber and closed the door. A faint black fog—the Dark baneful aura—filled the chamber. A cup of hot water would turn to ice before it could hit the ground.

As for Meng Chuan—after six body-refinements—he could withstand the cold aura.

The baneful aura surged into his body, rushing into his mind and sea of consciousness.

His Power of Essence Soul protected the sea of consciousness, preventing the baneful aura from succeeding. He remained completely lucid!

Time to begin. Meng Chuan used the corresponding body-tempering saber art once again. Every baneful aura had a corresponding body-tempering saber art. Under the guidance of Saber Intent, he activated his strength and allowed his body to absorb the Dark baneful aura.

However, when it came to the Seventh Refinement, the absorption speed was much slower. Thankfully, he was able to maintain clarity of mind! This was an advantage Meng Chuan had compared to other disciples.

He repeatedly executed the body-tempering saber art.

After ten minutes, Meng Chuan stopped.

I’ve mastered it? Meng Chuan smiled. His entire body was infused with the Dark baneful aura, and it had completely changed his body! Every refinement changed the body, and everything culminated during the Life-and-Death juncture so one could attain the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body.

Meng Chuan stretched out his finger. A grayish-white baneful aura appeared on his fingertip. This was the baneful aura that had been formed after the Seventh Refinement.

The Seventh Refinement took me 53 days. Meng Chuan nodded slightly. This speed is considered extremely fast according to the books.

After reaching the Seventh Refinement, I can direct heavenly lightning at myself and attempt the Life-and-Death juncture. However, the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body that I’ll obtain will only be a lesser one. Meng Chuan wasn’t satisfied. Although the lesser Lightning Devastator Fiend Body’s speed was still superior to other Godfiend bodies, all other aspects—including his Quintessential Essence purity, the lightning in his body, and the might of the baneful aura—would be much weaker than someone with a Ninth Refinement Lightning Devastator Fiend Body.

I need to complete the Ninth Refinement. According to my estimates, my efficiency at the Eighth Refinement will continue to decrease. I might not even be able to master it.

His cultivation efficiency was very high. He cultivated very quickly, and his body had undergone short periods of baneful aura corruption. Therefore, he wasn’t in any danger of his body collapsing.

However, the baneful auras required for the Eighth and Ninth Refinement were terrifying.

The Eighth Refinement—Golden Crow baneful aura. It’s ranked in the top three in the world when it comes to destruction. It’s domineering and violent, and it’s extremely damaging to the body. I need to be supported by external forces while tempering my body. The cultivation process is extremely painful. Meng Chuan frowned slightly. Golden Crow baneful aura was very precious. Archean Mountain sold it to inner sect disciples by the bottle. A small bottle of Golden Crow baneful aura—the size of a palm—required 100 credits! The Eighth Refinement required 120 bottles.

The Ninth Refinement requires Six Desires baneful aura. It is one of the most mysterious baneful auras. It’s bizarre and abnormal. It constantly fuses with the body and the soul. If the Power of Essence Soul blocks it, the soul wouldn’t be able to absorb it. Meng Chuan knew the difficulty of the Ninth Refinement. I can’t rely on the Power of Essence Soul. I need to train my will.

One needed a will capable of reaching the Darkness Altar summit if they wanted to become a Great Solar Godfiend. To absorb the Six Desires baneful aura successfully, one’s willpower needed to be several times higher! It was unimaginable.

Six Desires baneful aura was also very precious.

A tiny bottle of Six Desires baneful aura cost 3000 credits! It was far more precious than the Golden Crow baneful aura. A total of 90 bottles were needed to complete the Ninth Refinement. In total, that cost 270,000 credits!

Thankfully, they could be collected for free under special conditions.

For example, a mortal disciple who cultivated the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body to the Eighth Refinement could receive the Six Desires baneful aura for free. However, every time they collected a free bottle, a senior from Archean Mountain had to check if the previous bottle’s baneful aura had been completely refined.

…

Meng Chuan knew that the Eighth and Ninth refinement were extremely difficult. However, once he succeeded, his strength would be much greater in the future. To suffer now would better his chances of slaying demon monarchs in the future. It was a sacrifice he was willing to make.

Whoosh.

After leaving Myriad Wither Peak, Meng Chuan used his movement technique to head to his cave abode.

“Oh?” Marquis Heavenstar—who had just walked out of a bloodlust cave—saw Meng Chuan passing through a mountain path from afar.

The handsome Marquis Heavenstar had a fiery mark between his brows. He was one of the rare Marquis Godfiends who were skilled at archery. In terms of archery skills, he was ranked in the top five among all Godfiends in the world. As a sharpshooter, he also honed his eyesight! When he channeled energy into his eyes, he could see the baneful aura that had fused with Meng Chuan’s body.

He has fused with Dark baneful aura perfectly, and completed the Seventh Refinement? Marquis Heavenstar was extremely surprised. This Meng Chuan is childhood friends with my disciple, Liu Qiyue. He must have entered Archean Mountain last year. It’s only been half a year, and he has already reached the Seventh Refinement?

The Seventh Refinement was the threshold for one to attain the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body. Once one completed the Seventh Refinement, they could forge the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body. All experts with Lightning Devastator Fiend Bodies were extremely fast, and they played a huge role in battles.

He just left Myriad Wither Peak, so he should have ended his baneful aura refinement. Marquis Heavenstar came to a realization. As for the Eighth and Ninth Refinement, he requires the Golden Crow and Six Desires baneful auras. There’s no need for him to come to Myriad Wither Peak anymore. Therefore, he just succeeded in the Seventh Refinement today? Yes, I have to inform Mountain Lord immediately.

Swoosh.

Marquis Heavenstar disappeared in a flash.

…

Grotto-Heaven Pavilion.

A long-haired man leisurely drank his tea in a pavilion when the purple-robed Mountain Lord walked over.

“Supremacy,” Archean Mountain Lord greeted.

“Wenyou, why are you here?” The long-haired man smiled.

Archean Mountain Lord immediately said, “Supremacy, Marquis Heavenstar informed me that Meng Chuan has already completed the Seventh Refinement for the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body. He’s confirmed it with his eyes.

“Oh? I wasn’t aware,” said the long-haired man with a smile. “Since Marquis Heavenstar confirmed it, it should be true. By the way, I didn’t tell you something.”

Archean Mountain Lord looked at the long-haired man in puzzlement.

“Two months ago, Meng Chuan achieved Saber Intent and mastered a Heart Intent Saber move. I’ve been expecting him to reach the Seventh Refinement realm quickly. Indeed, he hasn’t disappointed me.”

“What? He has mastered a Black Metal Sutra move?” Archean Mountain Lord was even more excited. A transcendent-grade Godfiend body and a Black Metal Sutra move meant that Archean Mountain had another powerful Godfiend!

“The Black Metal Sutra legacies can’t be inherited via intent by those without strong Essence Souls. How did he master a move so quickly?” Archean Mountain Lord found it unbelievable.

“The Heart Intent Saber suits him very well.”

“Which move did he master?” asked Archean Mountain Lord.

“The first move—Heart Saber Stance.”

Archean Mountain Lord was even more delighted as he nodded repeatedly. “Good, good. The Heart Saber Stance is the core of Heart Intent Saber! It’s the fundamental move and also the strongest move. To condense Saber Intent with this move is excellent. Brilliant!”

“Alright, you are the mountain lord. Why must you be so excited over a disciple who only mastered a transcendent-grade Godfiend Body and a Black Metal Sutra move?”

“I’m naturally happy to see the addition of a powerful Godfiend.”

The long-haired man had mixed feelings. He said, “I’ve seen many powerful Godfiends with extraordinary talent. They rise to prominence for a short while, but they all fall one after another as time passes. In the past eight centuries, there have been far too many Godfiends that failed to live up to their potential.”

The Supremacy wasn’t too thrilled about Meng Chuan’s achievements. Meng Chuan had condensed an Essence Soul as a mortal, mastered a transcendent-grade Godfiend and a Black Metal Sutra move. Yet, the Supremacy only felt mixed emotions. He had seen many similar peerless geniuses rise in the past.

“As long as powerful Godfiends continuously appear, we will definitely be able to defeat the demons,” said Archean Mountain Lord.

“That day will come.” The long-haired man’s eyes had a glint of fierceness.