Chapter 518: Refining the Ancient Insect Emperor's Robe
Above the battlefield, ravaged by thunder and fire, golden flames slowly burned in the void. Any lingering black mist that came into contact with these flames was instantly incinerated into nothingness. The black demonic thunder, carrying an aura of destruction, dove into the cracks of the void and disappeared without a trace.
The strange energy of black and gold turned the area into a desolate zone, where any entity daring to enter would be met with wildly violent strikes of thunder and fire. Even the residual energy was potent enough to deter the mightiest Dou Zun from approaching.
Xiao Ze looked over this domain of thunder and fire, nodding slightly in satisfaction with the outcome of this ambush. Being a late-stage two-star Dou Sheng himself, dealing with the two Soul Clan Dou Shengs would have been merely a matter of time had it not been for their ability to escape into the earth. But with thorough preparation to prevent their escape and the help of Xun'er's Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, the entrapment and subsequent killing of the Soul Clan Dou Shengs were effectively executed.
Stepping into this turbulent field of thunder and fire, Xiao Ze felt no disturbance. The world's most violent energies seemed to turn into a gentle breeze and sunlight at his arrival. With a wave of his hand, he dispersed the surrounding black mist, revealing two energy cores shining brilliantly.
The brightness of the cores was a testament to their strength—while low-level cores glimmered softly, the description of nine-star cores was "brilliant." The cores in front of him, the size of fists, transcended brilliance; they were as blinding as the sun, containing energy far surpassing that of Dou Zun level cores, akin to the difference between the moon's glow and the light of fireflies.
Xiao Ze curiously held the two Dou Sheng level cores. In the original story, Xiao Yan entered the Heavenly Tomb at the level of a five-star Dou Zun. Despite various adventures that barely brought him to the peak of eight-star Dou Zun, he had no access to Dou Sheng level cores. When Xiao Yan revisited the Heavenly Tomb as a six-star Dou Sheng, he had little need for these cores as their potential boost was minimal for his level.
Xiao Ze tossed one of the cores to Xun'er, "The energy contained within is immense, nearly comparable to a nine-grade Dan pill. You've just broken through to one-star Dou Sheng; stabilizing your strength with this core might boost your powers."
"Alright," Xun'er agreed without hesitation, appreciating the fair division.
"After spending some time out, let's return to the ancestor's tomb. We can report back and refine these Dou Sheng energy cores there."
Together, they headed towards the deepest part of the Heavenly Tomb. The once chaotic field of thunder and fire gradually calmed under the tomb's influence until it fully recovered. Holding Xun'er's hand, Xiao Ze confidently navigated through ancient stone tablets to enter the ancestral tomb of Xiao Xuan.
"Heh, you two have indeed reaped quite a harvest," Xiao Xuan greeted them with a smile as he stood in front of the palace. "I hadn't expected the Soul Clan's energy bodies to remain here. I was ready to deal with them myself to prevent them from hiding again."
"You've done well."
"With the ancestor's unparalleled strength, if not for the suppression here, those two one-star Dou Sheng level Soul Clan energy bodies would not have escaped your sight. We just happened to be at the right place at the right time," Xiao Ze replied, prompting a hearty laugh and a pleased expression from Xiao Xuan. Words of praise from such a talented descendant were particularly gratifying, reaffirming that his years of waiting had not been in vain.
"Alright, I won't keep you any longer. This place has the richest energy in the Heavenly Tomb; feel free to cultivate here," Xiao Xuan said, gesturing them to proceed before returning to the palace. The space left Xiao Ze and Xun'er alone.
The two exchanged smiles and found their spots to start cultivating without further words. Soon, two massive energy whirlpools formed around them. In less than two hours, Xiao Ze opened his eyes, rubbing his fingers together to turn the now energy-depleted core into dust.
He glanced at Xun'er, still surrounded by a robust energy whirlpool, her core still vibrant with power.
"Let's use this time to refine the Ancient Insect Emperor's Robe," Xiao Ze decided, retrieving the Ancient Devouring Insect Queen, heavily sealed. Effortlessly breaking the seal with a flick of black demonic lightning, he placed the queen into a golden cauldron.
The cauldron trembled as if something terrifying struggled within—this queen was no easy creature. Though in a dormant state, if awakened, it could covertly enter a handler's body if their strength was insufficient and devour their Dou Qi.
The queen, realizing its fate as material for the Ancient Insect Emperor's Robe, stirred from its slumber, but it was too late. At its Half-Saint strength, it could hardly stir trouble under Xiao Ze's control.
His soul power surged into the golden cauldron, amplifying the power of the Origin Emperor Flame within. The cauldron stabilized, and Xiao Ze began refining, drawing on various ingredients for the process.
(End of Chapter 518)
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