Chapter 1200: Dao Refines the Universe

Chapter 1200: The Dao-Forging Universe

"Sacrifice..."

Hearing the Mud Fox’s words, Xu Qing’s gaze fell toward the abyss, lost in thought.

After a long silence, he withdrew his eyes and spoke calmly.

"Since exploration proves difficult, we shall set it aside for now."

With that, Xu Qing’s form shimmered, ascending from the Ink Soil, flying outward.

The Mud Fox followed, its heart finally easing.

Recalling where they stood, it had felt profound unease about continuing the search. Even the scent of rust made its spirit tremble.

After all, none could know when the Primordial Stellar Nail, once removed, might return...

Should it coincidentally return during their exploration, the moment it pierced this land would also be the instant both their forms and souls were utterly annihilated.

Naturally, the Mud Fox knew such an event was unlikely.

What truly made its spirit quail was the unknown lurking beneath the Ink Soil—

a mystery and peril beyond even its omniscience.

Seeing Xu Qing abandon the quest, the Mud Fox sighed in relief yet swiftly followed.

Thus, side by side, they departed the Ink Soil. As they emerged, Xu Qing tossed the fishing rod to the Mud Fox.

Catching it, the Mud Fox already guessed his intent, its face twisting into a pout of feigned grievance.

"Stinky little brother, planning to run off and play alone? Leaving me here to fish for you?"

Xu Qing nodded.

That was precisely his plan.

"Ten months remain before departing for the Beckoning Universe. Time is scarce, so I must claim certain rewards awaiting me post-ascension."

"Quickly, it may take months; slowly, half a year. I shall return."

"Until then, I entrust this place to you, Divine One. Continue fishing for me. As for Source Essence, the more, the better."

Without waiting for agreement, Xu Qing’s form shimmered and vanished ahead.

The Mud Fox huffed, watching his retreating figure, lips curling in a smirk.

"Polite on the surface, yet his tone brooks no refusal. His actions too... this boy... he’s truly grown."

"Daring to speak to me like that!"

"But... I find him more appealing this way."

After the pout, the Mud Fox couldn’t resist licking its lips. With a wave of its jade hand beyond the Ink Soil, flowers bloomed miraculously around it. From the sea of blossoms emerged countless alluring women, each a vivid manifestation of its divine art.

Amidst the chorus of sweet voices, melodies drifted through the air.

It felt like a return to the Palace of a Hundred Flowers.

Naturally, a soft divan appeared as well, accompanied by celestial fruits and spirit wine.

The Mud Fox knew how to indulge. Now reclining like an imperial consort, it cast its fishing line into the Ink Soil. As it savored fruits and sipped wine to the sound of music, contentment washed over it.

"Life must never be lived sparingly."

...

Xu Qing sensed this scene of leisurely fishing beyond the Ink Soil before his departure.

Tastes and perceptions differ among souls.

The Mud Fox relished pleasure and bustle; Xu Qing cherished peace and quiet.

What one found tedious, the other might deem tranquility.

Thus, regardless of the path, it was merely a matter of choice. Ultimately, only the Source Essence mattered.

Carrying this thought, Xu Qing activated his immortal tablet, leaving the Moyang Universe for... the Dao-Forging Universe!

Whether for the Statute Baptism of artifacts or the rare chance to forge under a Celestial’s guidance, all occurred within the Dao-Forging Universe.

Naturally, this realm was extraordinary—rightly deemed a strategic resource universe.

For in the art of forging, it stood as the very heart of the Nine Shores Heaven.

Its landscape bore no star regions, no star systems, no celestial bodies.

Only one vast furnace dominated its expanse!

Occupying seventy percent of the universe, its sheer scale defied imagination.

The Dao-Forging Flame within drew its power from... countless stars!

Every star of the Dao-Forging Universe had been relocated here to fuel this inferno.

Yet the flame’s intensity relied not solely on its native stars.

To amplify the blaze, stars were plucked from other universes and brought here.

Others still were divine flames, gifted by celestial beings.

All converged to form this terrifying furnace, capable of accommodating billions of artificers simultaneously.

From afar, the furnace resembled a sun—though vastly grander, vaster, the sole celestial body in this cosmos.

Countless ethereal bands radiated from it, drifting in all directions.

Each band teemed with ceaseless streams of cultivators.

Throughout the Nine Shores Heaven, any qualified artisan seeking to forge came here, making the Dao-Forging Universe perpetually vibrant.

Xu Qing materialized upon one such ethereal band. The sights, sounds, and scorching waves of heat momentarily dazed him.

"Such a furnace..."

He murmured inwardly, yet pressed forward without pause.

Navigating the throng along the band, he neared its end.

Before the obsidian altar standing there, he joined the waiting queue.

Demand for forging was immense, yet the number of artificers within was staggering. Thus, though lines formed, the wait proved tolerable.

Most cultivators sat cross-legged, eyes closed, cultivating as they waited. When their turn came, they mounted the altar, shattered their jade tablets, and vanished within pillars of light, entering the furnace’s outer layer.

Days passed swiftly in this waiting.

During this time, Xu Qing observed the Dao-Forging Furnace with meticulous care.

It comprised nine tiers—upper, middle, and lower.

The lower the tier, the more abundant the forging entrances; only the highest tier offered few.

Most cultivators arriving via the ethereal bands entered the lowest three tiers.

Few ventured into the middle three.

As for the upper tiers, Xu Qing had never seen them.

Thus, within his heart, some judgment formed.

After several more hours passed, when the cultivator before him ascended the altar and vanished through transmission, Xu Qing finally stood first.

Once his turn arrived, Xu Qing drew a deep breath, stepped onto the altar, and withdrew the celestial edict awarded for his ascension.

Following the actions he had observed in others over recent days, Xu Qing crushed the edict in his palm.

A sharp crack echoed; the shattered edict dispersed, merging into the altar to form catalytic force. With a roar, it transformed into a beam of light, surging upward.

The pillar’s destination was unmistakably… the second tier within the Furnace of Dao Refinement’s upper tiers!

This sudden light pillar instantly drew the attention of cultivators along the surrounding void belts. Countless astonished gazes turned toward him.

Whispers rippled through the gathered cultivators.

"One entering the second tier has appeared!"

"The upper tiers of the Furnace refine artifacts for immortals!"

"Such privilege is granted only for extraordinary merit…"

"Must be this cycle’s newly ascended one. Top ten of the cohort earn this honor!"

Most voices carried envy.

Truly, such an opportunity—forged by the Summer Immortal’s own hand—was exceedingly rare.

Unaware of the outside world, Xu Qing was already conveyed by the light pillar. When he materialized, he stood within a forging aperture of the second tier.

Scorching heat enveloped him. Before him loomed a vast fire pit.

An elder in crimson robes sat cross-legged above the flames, radiating an aura of terrifying intensity. Xu Qing sensed it and steeled his expression.

He instantly recognized this figure as an immortal.

Bowing deeply, he greeted.

"What artifact wouldst thou forge?" the crimson-robed elder intoned, eyes still closed, his divine thought resonating through the space.

Without hesitation, Xu Qing swept his hand. The Constellation Compass appeared, followed by the speck of cosmic dust. After a moment’s thought, he placed his star-tower beside them.

Having done this, he spoke respectfully.

"Elder, this junior seeks to refine this compass. Its essence, blended with cosmic dust and my own Constellation, shall forge an artifact that harmonizes with my cosmic nature!"

"What form wouldst thou have it take?" the elder’s thought echoed.

"Shape it as a skewer!" Xu Qing waved his hand, conjuring the iron skewer he once wielded daily to define the artifact’s form.

Then he pointed to the compass.

"As for the Constellation within this compass, I beseech you, Elder, to extract it and infuse it into my star-tower."

This time, the elder’s eyes opened slightly. Terrifying pressure emanated from his gaze, settling upon Xu Qing.

"Thou hast but one forging chance."

Xu Qing lowered his head, speaking calmly.

"This junior retains one chance for cosmic artifact baptism."

"That task falls not to me," the elder replied coolly. He studied Xu Qing closely, then added, "Art thou Xu Qing?"

Xu Qing nodded.

The crimson-robed elder smiled.

"Being first of this cohort… very well. I shall aid thee once."

With that, the elder raised a finger. An earth-shattering might surged from his fingertip, striking the compass.

The compass trembled, melting swiftly. Impurities vanished, leaving only essence. Its Constellation was drawn out unharmed; with a flick of the elder’s finger, it flew toward the star-tower.

Instantly, flames erupted from the fire pit, engulfing the star-tower. The infused Constellation fused completely within it, while the flames simultaneously reforged the tower’s fractures.

Not only restored, its power now radiated stronger.

Having done this, the elder began forging Xu Qing’s artifact. The purified compass essence and cosmic dust fused rapidly. After a moment’s thought, he produced a palm-sized azure stone, casting it into the blend.

The fire pit’s flames roared higher, consuming all. Within the sea of fire, an iron skewer began to take shape.

As it neared completion, the elder spoke.

"Thy Constellation!"

Xu Qing, witnessing this effortless mastery, knew the elder before him was undoubtedly a grandmaster. Heart pounding, he released his Parallel Constellation without delay.

It merged into the flames, into the skewer.

The skewer shuddered violently, multiplying into countless phantom forms.

"It is done!" Xu Qing’s eyes blazed with sudden light.