Inside the Hall of Eternity.
The God Emperor shot to his feet, his golden Sacred Robe billowing like a sail. Even his voice trembled. "What was that? What was that sword shadow?"
The Nether Emperor's gray eyes flickered violently. His voice drifted as though from the depths of the Nine Netherworlds. "That sword shadow's aura bore some resemblance to the Floating Immortal Sword in Fang Chen's hand, but it wasn't quite the same. That sword shadow was slaughter, harvest, destruction!"
The Elf Emperor clutched her chest, her emerald eyes filled with horror. "A furnace projected a sword shadow that terrifying? Where did this furnace come from?"
The Heavenly Human Emperor said nothing. His golden Sacred Robe stirred without Wind Origin, and the arrogance on his face had given way to profound shock.
He had lived for so many years and seen countless Magic Treasures, but never a furnace so strange.
It could perform Alchemy and Artifact Crafting. It could devour Heavenly Punishment and Law Lifeforms, project a sword shadow, and fight on its own.
How was that a furnace? It was clearly a mobile combat fortress.
Kong Xian spoke slowly, his voice low and grave. "Did you notice? The way that sword shadow slaughtered its enemies was completely different from Fang Chen's Sword Dao!"
Everyone froze, then looked toward the Light Mirror together.
Sure enough, the Ten-Thousand Zhang sword shadow fought in a way utterly unlike Fang Chen.
"Perhaps this is the furnace's own Dao!"
The Human Emperor spoke slowly, a glint flashing through his clouded old eyes. "It has followed Fang Chen for years, devoured untold energy, and weathered countless battles. Deep within its core, it has nurtured its own will, its own Dao!"
He paused, a trace of emotion in his voice. "The furnace's Dao differs from Fang