But the Thirteen Seven-Turn Heavenly Slaves were not so easily dealt with.
They struggled within the illusion of stars, tearing at the chains winding around them with their gray-white claws.
The chains gave off a piercing creak beneath their claws. Fine cracks spread across their surfaces, but they did not break.
The Heaven Refining Furnace trembled slightly. More chains emerged from gaps in its lid and coiled around the Seven-Turn Heavenly Slaves' limbs, torsos, and heads.
One, two, ten, a hundred...
The chains multiplied and thickened, wrapping the Thirteen Seven-Turn Heavenly Slaves like rice dumplings.
They struggled and roared within their bindings, gray-white light flashing wildly as they tried to break free.
But the chains' Devouring Power kept draining their strength.
Every struggle consumed vast amounts of energy.
With every expenditure, their auras weakened a little more.
As one waned, the other waxed.
The chains tightened, and the Seven-Turn Heavenly Slaves' struggles grew weaker.
Clatter!
The chains suddenly drew taut, dragging the Thirteen Seven-Turn Heavenly Slaves out of the illusion of stars and toward the Heaven Refining Furnace's opening.
The Thirteen Seven-Turn Heavenly Slaves traced thirteen gray-white trails through the Void, like meteors dragged against their will, before crashing into the Heaven Refining Furnace.
Boom!
The Heaven Refining Furnace shuddered violently. Light blazed from its body, the Five Imperial Flames burned furiously, and the Five Elements cycle accelerated to its limit.
Muffled roars came from within. The Heavenly Slaves were struggling, resisting, being refined.
The roaring went on for a long time.
Now loud, now faint, now near, now far, it sounded like a beast hurling itself against the bars of a cage.
But the Heaven Refining Furnace did not budge.
The Five Imperial Flames sealed the space inside tight. The Five Elements cycle devoured and refined the energy of