Li Fire Cauldron Artifact Spirit, Divine Soul Oath, Three Rules

"Who dares to offend me, you lowly scoundrel!"

With a majestic shout, even more intense heat surged from the depths of the cauldron, threatening to incinerate the figure formed from Lu Qing's Divine Soul Power.

"The Artifact Spirit of the Li Fire Cauldron has actually recovered to this state?"

Lu Qing was slightly startled.

However, he did not panic. With a slight thought, he used a profound Magic Art to dissolve and dissipate the scorching heat.

"Hmm? Fire Control Art? Boy, who are you, and why do you know the Fire Control Art of the Li Fire Sect?"

The authoritative voice was somewhat surprised to see Lu Qing so easily neutralize the fire attack from the cauldron.

In particular, he also recognized that the method Lu Qing used was the secret Fire Control Art of the Li Fire Sect.

That was even more shocking.

"Lu Qing, successor of the Li Fire Sect, pays respects to Senior 'Yan'."

Lu Qing respectfully replied via Divine Sense Transmission.

"A successor of the Li Fire Sect? You claim to be a successor of the Li Fire Sect?"

The voice resonated, and the next moment, with a whoosh, a figure appeared in front of Lu Qing.

The figure was formed from pure flames, tall and solemn, and depicted as a middle-aged man with a pair of horns on his forehead.

"Boy, you just said you are a successor of the Li Fire Sect, what proof do you have?"

The middle-aged man's gaze fell on Lu Qing, instantly causing a burning pain in his heart.

However, with a quick thought, Lu Qing easily neutralized the heat.

This scene further confirmed the middle-aged man's suspicions. "It is indeed the Fire Control Art. Kid, where did you learn the Fire Control Art from? Tell me the truth!"

After saying that, endless flames rose from behind him, their powerful energy crushing towards Lu Qing.

However, Lu Qing's expression remained unchanged. "'Senior Yan', there's no need to frighten this junior with illusions. Everything this junior has said is true."

"Nonsense! The Li Fire Sect was destroyed tens of thousands of years ago. How can there be any successor? Your Fire Control Art must have been stolen from somewhere."

"Speak quickly, or don't blame me for being impolite and incinerating your soul along with your physical body!"

The middle-aged man looked unwell.

"The Fire Control Art can be learned by stealing, but what about this?"

With a thought, Lu Qing felt a surge of spiritual energy emanating from the space within the cauldron.

The next moment, the endless flames behind the middle-aged man vanished without a trace, leaving not a single spark.

"The Magic Art for controlling the Li Fire Cauldron!"

At this, the middle-aged man's expression finally changed drastically.

"This is impossible! How do you know how to control the Li Fire Cauldron?!"

"If I were to say that I learned from Senior 'Yan', would you believe me?" Lu Qing asked with a mysterious expression.

"Boy, are you trying to scare me?" The middle-aged man's eyes flashed with Baleful Qi. "Don't think that just because you know a little about how to control the Li Fire Cauldron, you can put on airs in front of me."

Don't forget, this is my world!

As soon as he finished speaking, endless flames reappeared, even more violently than before.

The flames dissipated the moment Lu Qing's soul energy dissipated.

Furthermore, the middle-aged man felt a powerful binding force on his body, which greatly increased the pressure on him.

The middle-aged man's expression immediately turned serious.

Finally, I realized that what this kid had mastered was not just a little manipulation technique, but the most complete method of controlling the Li Fire Cauldron.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to mobilize the power of the Li Fire Cauldron to bind himself, who was the Artifact Spirit.

But how could that be?

The Magic Art for controlling the Li Fire Cauldron has always been one of the highest secrets of the Li Fire Sect.

Apart from the Sect Master and a few Grand Elder, no one else is qualified to cultivate.

In that battle tens of thousands of years ago, the Li Fire Sect was destroyed. Apart from a few disciples who managed to escape, almost all the rest were wiped out.

Those Grand Elder and the sect Sect Master of the Li Fire Sect also perished in that battle.

In the end, only the Young Sect Master escaped with the Li Fire Cauldron and hid in a secret place.

However, later, with the Young Sect Master also perishing in the secret realm, the Magic Art for controlling the Li Fire Cauldron should have been completely lost.

The middle-aged man was completely baffled, and finally, he turned his attention to Lu Qing.

"Boy, stop now. I believe you are a successor of the Li Fire Sect. The power in this cauldron is not much. It is what I have painstakingly accumulated over many years. It should not be wasted like this."

Lu Qing's mind stirred slightly, and he removed the restraints from the middle-aged man.

"Please forgive me, Senior Yan. You were too agitated. I had no choice but to activate the restriction and offend you."

The middle-aged man's eyes flickered, revealing a hint of resentment.

This is the frustration of being Artifact Spirit.

As a family heirloom, the Li Fire Sect added countless layers of restrictions when it was refining the Li Fire Cauldron.

The goal is to gain absolute control over the Li Fire Cauldron.

This is to prevent problems from arising during that transmission.

Therefore, even as a Artifact Spirit, it was difficult for Lu Qing, who possessed complete control Magic Art, to harm him.

This is also the real source of Lu Qing's confidence in refining the Li Fire Cauldron.

Even if the refining fails, he is absolutely confident that he can prevent the Li Fire Cauldron from erupting.

"Boy, tell me, what is your purpose in coming here?"

The middle-aged man's expression returned to calm as he stood in the void.

"Why ask such a question when you already know the answer, senior? I have come here today naturally to regain control of the Li Fire Cauldron and refine and master it," Lu Qing said frankly.

"You?" The middle-aged man revealed a hint of sarcasm. "It's not that I'm looking down on you, but boy, you're just a Foundation Establishment Realm. You think you can control a Spirit Artifact? Isn't that a bit too far-fetched?"

"There is one thing you have misunderstood, senior." Faced with the middle-aged man's mockery, Lu Qing was not angry at all. Instead, he said seriously, "I am not in the Foundation Establishment Realm, but in the Qi Refining Realm. Moreover, I just broke through not long ago and am now in the initial stage of Qi Refining."

"Early stage of Qi Refining? That's impossible!" the middle-aged man blurted out. "Your Divine Soul Power is so strong, how could you only be at the early stage of Qi Refining!"

"That's because the cultivation method I practice is somewhat special," Lu Qing said calmly. "Moreover, not long ago, I was fortunate enough to survive a Heavenly Tribulation, and my Divine Soul Power was refined by the Tribulation Lightning, transforming from yin to yang, which is why I am stronger than cultivators of the same level."

"To survive the Heavenly Tribulation and refine Divine Soul Power with the Tribulation Lightning?" The middle-aged man was shocked again. "Boy, are you kidding me? With your cultivation level, you can summon Tribulation Cloud and survive the Heavenly Tribulation?"

Lu Qing did not argue, but simply smiled slightly.

But his confident demeanor calmed the middle-aged man down.

Finally, he calmed down and began to observe Lu Qing.

Then, sensing this, his expression gradually became serious.

Because he discovered that Lu Qing's Divine Soul Power was indeed extraordinary.

Not only is it exceptionally powerful and resilient, but it is also full of yang energy, unlike ordinary yin Divine Soul Power.

Most importantly, he sensed a trace of Tribulation Qi within it.

The middle-aged are no strangers to the concept of "Tribulation Qi".

When he was first created by the Li Fire Sect, he underwent a Heavenly Tribulation tribulation before finally breaking free and being reborn.

So what Lu Qing said earlier wasn't a lie; he really did experience a Heavenly Tribulation and successfully overcome it? The middle-aged man was immediately filled with doubt and surprise.

"It seems you saw through me, senior," Lu Qing said with a faint smile. "I haven't been deceiving you, have I?"

"The rules of heaven and earth have only just begun to evolve and be established, yet you have already been able to trigger Tribulation Cloud and survive the Heavenly Tribulation."

"Young man, could you perhaps be the legendary chosen one, destined to suppress an entire era's extraordinary being?"

The middle-aged man stared at Lu Qing with astonishment.

"I don't know anything about people destined for greatness," Lu Qing said. "I just want to ask you a question: would you be willing to cooperate with me?"

He relinquished control of the Li Fire Cauldron.

As Artifact Spirit, you should know that it is almost impossible for Spirit Artifact to advance on its own.

Even if one survives until the end of this Cultivation Era, it will probably be difficult to achieve.

However, with the help of younger generations, it will not be difficult for the Li Fire Cauldron to be promoted to the ranks of High-Grade Spirit Artifact in the future.

Going even further, it's not impossible to free the older generation from their constraints and grant them their freedom.

"What will you do if I disagree?" the middle-aged man asked, looking at Lu Qing.

"Then this junior will have no choice but to offend you and forcibly refine you, senior," Lu Qing said without backing down.

"Do you really think you, with your mere Qi Refining Realm, can refine my true form?"

"Why don't you give it a try, senior?"

The middle-aged man fell silent.

If Lu Qing had dared to say such things from the beginning, he would have thought the other party was delusional and fanciful.

And he will not hesitate to burn and destroy it as the price for daring to offend him.

However, now that Lu Qing has mastered the complete control Magic Art of the Li Fire Sect, it is no longer possible for him to incinerate his Divine Soul Power.

Even expelling it from the Li Fire Cauldron is extremely difficult.

More importantly, Lu Qing's Divine Soul Power, having been tempered by the Heavenly Tribulation, is not only incredibly resilient but also brimming with yang energy, making it unafraid of fire.

If he really had to forcibly refine the Li Fire Cauldron, he really couldn't be careless.

Otherwise, once Lu Qing refines one or two layers of the restrictions within the cauldron, he will be completely at a disadvantage.

So strictly speaking, Lu Qing's words were not an exaggeration.

He truly has the ability to gradually refine the Li Fire Cauldron.

However, the middle-aged man found it hard to accept being controlled by a mere Qi Refining Realm youth.

Even Spirit Artifact have their own pride.

In the Ancient Cultivation Era, he was firmly controlled by the Li Fire Sect ever since he was created.

However, his status is highly respected within the Li Fire Sect.

Apart from the Sect Master and a few Grand Elder, no one in the entire Li Fire Sect was qualified to speak with him.

Even those Direct Disciple who Golden Core Realm had to be extremely respectful when facing him, and dared not show the slightest intention to overstep or offend him.

Now, however, he was about to be controlled by a mere Qi Refining Realm youth, which the middle-aged man was extremely unwilling to do.

"It seems you are unwilling, senior. Then please don't blame me for offending you."

Seeing the conflicted look on the middle-aged man's face, Lu Qing shook his head.

He'd tried everything, from kind words to harsh ones, but if the other party still didn't appreciate it, he'd have no choice but to resort to force.

Although he did not want to forcibly refine it, because if he did, the mental and physical energy he would have to expend would increase a thousandfold due to the resistance of the Artifact Spirit.

But since the other party wouldn't listen to either persuasion or threats, he didn't need to waste any more words.

With a surge of thought, Lu Qing's Divine Soul Power immediately permeated the surrounding space.

It quickly reached the first layer of restrictions, requiring forced refining.

The middle-aged man immediately sensed the change; his expression shifted, and he finally sighed.

He said, "Alright, let's stop for now. I agree."

Lu Qing's spiritual fluctuations froze for a moment.

He looked at the expression on the middle-aged man's face and sensed that he wasn't joking.

He slowly withdrew his Divine Soul Power and waited in place.

"However, before handing over control, I need to make three rules with you," the middle-aged man said solemnly. "If you do not agree, I would rather risk my life than give up your refinement."

Believe me, with my current cultivation level, it would take you decades or even centuries to gain control of the Li Fire Cauldron, especially with my interference.

"Please tell me, senior."

Lu Qing listened to the middle-aged man's threat and remained noncommittal.

"First of all, you can refine the restrictions on the Li Fire Cauldron, but you need to make Divine Soul Oath not to Divine Soul Enslavement and turn me into a puppet."

This is the most important point; if you disagree, then there's nothing more to discuss.

Even if I die, I will never relinquish control of the Li Fire Cauldron to you!

The middle-aged man spoke those last words with absolute certainty.

It seemed that if Lu Qing disagreed, he would completely break off relations.

"That's easy to say. I have no intention of enslaving you, senior. After all, the Li Fire Cauldron still needs your help to unleash its full power."

Lu Qing nodded in agreement without hesitation.

What the middle-aged man referred to as enslavement was actually the way the Cultivation World controlled Spirit Artifact.

In the ancient Cultivation World, the major sects had two different approaches to their Spirit Artifact.

One method is to completely refine and enslave the Artifact Spirit, making it completely obedient to the controller's commands.

Another approach involves not refining and enslaving the Artifact Spirit, but rather cooperating with the Artifact Spirit to jointly control the Spirit Artifact.

It's hard to say which of these two methods is better; each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The former method completely refines and enslaves the Artifact Spirit. Although it allows complete control over the Spirit Artifact, it greatly diminishes the Artifact Spirit's spirituality.

It becomes extremely difficult, almost impossible, to advance the grade of Spirit Artifact.

The latter method can completely preserve the spirit of the Artifact Spirit, allowing the Artifact Spirit to control the Spirit Artifact alone when fighting enemies, thus increasing its combat power.

However, the drawbacks are equally obvious.

That is, if the Artifact Spirit betrays you at a crucial moment, does not perform its duties, or even betrays you.

That would become extremely dangerous, potentially leading to the death of the owner.

Therefore, in the ancient Cultivation World, most sects and powerful individuals who possessed Spirit Artifact would choose to completely enslave and refine the Artifact Spirit, bringing them under their control.

Even if they don't enslave the Artifact Spirit, they will still add many restrictions to the Spirit Artifact to prevent the Artifact Spirit from turning against them.

Only those with special experiences, where there is absolute trust and affection between the master and the Artifact Spirit, will not impose any restrictions on the Artifact Spirit.

Of course, such examples are extremely rare.

Even in the Ancient Cultivation Era, over tens of thousands of years, there were only one or two such cases.

The Li Fire Sect chose not to enslave the Artifact Spirit of the Li Fire Cauldron, but instead used restrictions Artifact Spirit to control it.

Lu Qing knew this, so he wasn't surprised by the middle-aged man's request and nodded in agreement.

Of course, the most important thing, as the middle-aged man said, is if he fights to the death.

Given Lu Qing's current cultivation level, it would indeed be extremely difficult for him to enslave and refine it.

There is virtually no chance of success.

Seeing that Lu Qing had agreed to the first condition, the middle-aged man smiled.

"The second condition..."