There were still more than two hours to go. Ye Chen sat down and focused his Astral Body energy. Carefully, he explored his surroundings. The attendees who came to Scarlet Flame Sect were masters who had attained at least Earthly Venerable Rank or Heavenly Venerable Rank. There were also quite a number of Mystique Venerable Rank masters. His Astral Body swept across and found three top Mystique Venerable Rank masters walking up the mountain together, followed by many servants.

According to the whispered discussion among the onlookers, these three Mystique Venerable Ones were elders from the House of Storms.

“I heard that our lord’s oldest disciple discovered a Cosmic Stone when he was attempting the Soul Pagoda. As a result, his cultivation managed to break through to Mystique Venerable Rank. He then presented the stone to our lord.”

“Shh, be quiet. There may be Mystique Adept Rank mystical beasts around here.”

“Don’t worry. Based on our combined abilities, if any mystical beast were to eavesdrop using their Psyche, we’d discover them at once.”

However, they were completely oblivious to Ye Chen who was deliberately hiding.

“Not just the House of Storms but disciples from Ashen Cloud Valley and the Stygian Sect have also found Cosmic Stones in the Soul Pagoda. Cosmic Stones used to be very rare but suddenly, a large number of them are appearing. I sense that something is off. Previously, one could find spiritual artifacts at most in the Soul Pagoda but not a Cosmic Stone.”

“Following the appearance of the Cosmic Stones, some of the hidden families have also resurfaced. According to rumors, there are also a few ancient families.”

“The Soul Pagoda isn’t the only place. I heard that Cosmic Stones have also been found in Sky Passage Pagoda and True Sun Pagoda. Every time a Cosmic Stone appears, it’ll inevitably cause a massacre.”

The other two Mystique Venerable masters were slightly shocked.

“Not just in the Soul Pagoda?”

“Yes. Cosmic Stones have also appeared in other locations. The appearance of these Cosmic Stones will surely lead to a shift in power. This Scarlet Flame Sect might look prosperous right now but who knows what will happen in the future? Unless, the Scarlet Flame Sect leader agrees to marry his daughter to the House of Storms and pledge his allegiance to the House of Storms.”

The three Mystique Venerable Ones walked further away as they talked.

Cosmic Stones? Ye Chen was in a daze. He wondered if Master Lion knew anything about these Cosmic Stones. Just as his Astral Body was about to enter the Heavenly Astra Seal, Master Lion’s voice boomed.

“Youngling, did you want to ask me about the Cosmic Stones?”

“Master Lion is wise and omniscient.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere. I’m surprised that people have found Cosmic Stones in places like the Soul Pagoda and the True Sun Pagoda. Gee, besides those people from Tianyuan Ancient City, who else could have done it? In ancient times, Cosmic Stones were also very rare. It’s said that after a certain time, cosmic stars would fall on this land. These rocks are called meteorites. Every few years, some of the meteorites would be found. Among hundreds of thousands of meteorites, only one or two are called Cosmic Stones!”

“What’s the use of a Cosmic Stone?” Ye Chen asked. This was not the first time Master Lion had mentioned Tianyuan Ancient City. He wondered what kind of place Tianyuan Ancient City was.

“Supposedly, a Cosmic Stone contained a mystical power, called Cosmic Power, that could change some characteristics of the human body. Think of humans as a container and Celestial Chi as water inside the container. The bigger the container, the more water it could hold. The biggest benefit of a Cosmic Stone is to change the width of this container.”

“That means, these Cosmic Stones can enhance a person’s cultivation? How strong are their effects?” Ye Chen’s eyes lit up. If their effects were sufficiently powerful, he also wanted to go to the Soul Pagoda and find himself a Cosmic Stone or two. Using his Astral Body, searching for the Cosmic Stone would not be unfruitful!

“A Cosmic Stone the size of a fist could give birth to a Mystique Venerable Rank master. Collect twenty of those and you’ll get a Godly Venerable Rank master. Collect two hundred, and…” Master Lion lamented. “This item is a limit-defying existence. I don’t think there will be a lot of them. At most, you’ll be able to find one or two!”

“Are you saying that with these Cosmic Stones, there would be no upper limit to my cultivation?” Ye Chen asked incredulously.

“There will still be a limit. Once your cultivation reaches a certain level, even the Cosmic Stones will not help you. However, that shouldn’t be part of your consideration. Even for me, if I were to have a Cosmic Stone, I can improve further!” the Purple-fire Astra Lion said.

Even at Master Lion’s attainment level, the Cosmic Stone could help him improve further?

Ye Chen immediately made up his mind. After this was over, he would go to the Soul Pagoda!

There were less than two hours left now. Ye Chen lowered his head to look at the jade pendant hanging on his chest given to him by Little Rou. His heart was saddened. Little Rou must have not been happy recently. He would first snatch Little Rou back and then return the jade pendant to her.

Ye Chen also thought of Little Tanuki and felt a sense of melancholy.

Since it looked like he had lost the motivation to continue cultivating, Ye Chen retrieved the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron from his armguard space and studied it carefully.

“Master Lion, what’s the use of this Heaven Rumbling Cauldron?” Ye Chen asked.

“Heaven Rumbling Cauldron? I seem to have heard about it before but the Heaven Rumbling Cauldon in your hand doesn’t look like it. The Heaven Rumbling Cauldron that I heard about was a monstrosity that is hundreds of meters tall and weighs tens of thousands of kilograms. In the past, it was used to worship the heavens and the earth. I don’t know much about this Heaven Rumbling Cauldron,” replied Master Lion.

“Hundreds of meters tall, weighs tens of thousands of kilograms?” Ye Chen took another look at the little cauldron in his hand. He could hold it in one hand. At most, it weighed a few kilograms. The difference was too stark.

“Drip some blood on the demon pattern around the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron, then try to extend your Psyche into the cauldron. I think the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron was forged using Psyche,” Master Lion said. It seemed that he still knew some information.

“Okay, I’ll give it a try.” Ye Chen cut his finger according to Master Lion’s instructions, then smeared the blood on the demon pattern around the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron. He saw that his blood was quickly absorbed into the Heaven Rumbling Cauldon and beams of light shot out from it. Projection of demons began to float in the air. It was extremely mystical.

Ye Chen extended his Astral Body and entered the furnace of the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron. It was like a massive black hole with infinite suction. His Astral Body was instantly pulled straight into the furnace.

What was happening? Ye Chen was shocked. Just as he was about to pull back his Astral Body, a blazing flame shot out of the furnace and landed on Ye Chen’s Astral Body.

A huge, soul-searing pain ensued. Ye Chen’s face paled and thick beads of sweat rolled down.

“Master Lion, you’ve ruined me!” Ye Chen thought in his head. He no longer had the energy to speak. The blazing flames continue to burn Ye Chen’s Astral Body as if they were trying to reduce his Astral Body to ashes.

‘No, if this continues, I’m going to die.’ Ye Chen quickly activated the Flying Dagger in his mind. Gusts of Psyche energy rose into the air, strengthening Ye Chen’s Astral Body.

The flames skyrocketed!

It felt like the inside of a huge furnace. The only difference was that this furnace burned a person’s soul.

It was only a little over a minute but to Ye Chen, it felt like an eternity.

Ye Chen continued to endure the torment of the blazing flames. Every second felt like purgatory. Ye Chen felt as though his soul was being crushed yet he clenched his teeth and held on. His Astral Body appeared to have been refined by the flames and was now covered with a golden radiance.

Ye Chen continued to urge his Astral Body to fight against the huge suction. At this moment, Ye Chen thought he had caught a glimpse of a distant starry sky amid the black hole of the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron.

The scene was fleeting and could no longer be seen again.

“Get out!” Ye Chen roared like a madman.

Ye Chen jerked his Astral Body back violently and gasped for breath. The Heaven Rumbling Cauldron spun around and fell into Ye Chen’s palm, like it was alive. Now, it looked shiny and golden instead of its former grayish exterior.

Ye Chen’s Astral Body returned to his body. Suddenly, his entire body felt hot and prickly like he was burning up. As a result of this extraordinary heat, Ye Chen’s body had undergone a massive tempering. He felt as if every inch of his skin and every muscle in his body was being reborn.

Feeling the changes in his body, Ye Chen stimulated the Nine Astra in his dantian. Streams of Celestial Chi poured in and merged with the Nine Astra. His cultivation increased rapidly.

Ye Chen’s eyes lit up and there was a flash of excitement. His cultivation base had finally reached top Heavenly Venerable One. At the same moment, his Astral Body’s cultivation base reached top Mystique Venerable One.

Ye Chen glanced at the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron in his hand. He did not expect that the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron had such amazing powers and could train one’s Astral Body. He could sense that a faint linkage was established between him and the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron, like it was integrated into his bloodline.

A flash of understanding illuminated Ye Chen’s mind. The Heaven Rumbling Cauldron could be controlled.

“Grow bigger, Heaven Rumbling Cauldron!” Ye Chen growled softly. Before his eyes, the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron rose into the air and began to spin, giving out a bright golden shimmer. It grew more than a meter high. If it continued to grow, the entire house might collapse!

Ye Chen stretched out his right hand. The Heaven Rumbling Cauldron rapidly shrank and resumed its original size that could fit in one hand.

Besides training one’s Astral Body, the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron could also expand and shrink as well as launch a flying attack! Moreover, Ye Chen was certain that its uses were not just limited to these. He would have to explore it bit by bit in the future!

Ye Chen stayed inside his room and studied the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron. Sure enough, the uses of a treasure would have to be discovered little by little.

Now that his Astral Body’s cultivation base had reached the rank of a top Mystique Venerable One, Ye Chen no longer feared any ordinary masters. Other than a Godly Venerable One or a Daemon King, no one could defeat Ye Chen.

Inside the enclosure that held the flying mystical beasts, many people were gathered. There were at least twenty over disciples from Scarlet Flame Sect.

“Senior Brother Wei is here.” Upon seeing Wei Ze, the disciples of Scarlet Flame Sect bowed.

Wei Ze’s cultivation base was only at beginner Earthly Venerable Rank. This was not especially outstanding, considering the large number of disciples. Nevertheless, his status was quite high, simply because he was the eldest grandson of the Grand Supreme Elder. Therefore, many of the disciples called him senior brother as a form of respect.

Wei Ze haughtily entered with a gigantic condor. This condor was at least five meters tall and was covered with blood-red feathers. It looked very majestic.

“Hmph, you dare to embarrass me? I’ll put Grandfather’s Red Fox Condor with your condor. Let’s see your condor die!” Wei Ze muttered. He was very unhappy with the indifferent look that Ye Chen gave him earlier. Over twenty condors in their sect had been pecked by Ye Chen’s condor, surely Wei Ze must exact revenge. Otherwise, the Scarlet Flame Sect would lose face.

How could the Scarlet Flame Sect’s condors lose to an insignificant Xiwu Ye Clan’s condor?

“Wow, it’s the Red Fox Condor!”

“Grand Supreme Master Wei Hou’s Red Fox Condor is the strongest in the Scarlet Flame Sect. Its cultivation has reached top Heavenly Adept!”

“This Red Fox Condor is too fierce. Other than Wei Ze and the Grand Supreme Master, nobody can go near it. Once you go near, it will attack!”

“That little golden condor is doomed!”

The group of Scarlet Flame Sect disciples discussed excitedly with an air of satisfaction. Wei Ze, too, smiled and shoved it into the cage.

At this moment, Ye Chen, who was keenly studying the Heaven Rumbling Cauldron in his room, perked up his eyes and revealed a mischievous smile.