Refining the Primordial Golden Bucket, Slaying the Self Corpse

The Witch Clan's ancestral grounds on Buzhou Mountain, a side hall of Pangu Hall.

Lu Chen sat cross-legged on a rough stone platform, Chaos Qi Flow swirling around him. A deep wound pierced his chest, exposing bone—it was left by the shockwaves of Taiyi's Chaos Bell. Solar True Fire and the Law of Time and Space lingered in the wound, steadily eating away at him. An ordinary Quasi-Saint would have perished long ago.

Yet his expression remained calm. A drop of Chaos Source Liquid floated above his head, casting a hazy, pure light. Wherever it passed, the Solar True Fire was extinguished and the Law of Time and Space dissolved. The wound healed at a visible rate.

"As expected of something formed from Pangu's heart's blood. It's even more effective at healing than Three Lights Divine Water." Lu Chen opened his eyes. Feeling that his injuries had recovered by seventy percent, he let out a long breath.

Three days ago, he had fled to the Witch Clan, where Ancestral Witch Houtu had personally welcomed him. Although the Twelve Ancestral Witches had some doubts about Lu Chen, a human cultivator, they had granted him a quiet place to heal, out of respect for the Law of Strength—which Lu Chen had displayed through the aura of the Strength Demon God Inheritance—and for Houtu.

"My injuries are no longer a problem. Now it's time to get down to business."

Lu Chen took out three things.

The Morning Bell, the God-Slaying Remnant Spear, and the Primordial Golden Bucket.

The Primordial Golden Bucket was one of his prizes from the third level of Treasure Distribution Cliff. Though it was an imitation, it was still a top-tier Innate Spiritual Treasure, containing the three Laws of Primordial Unity, Containment, and Purification. Its uses were endless. More importantly, its properties were similar to those of his Qiankun Diagram, so the two treasures could complement each other.

"The Dao Ancestor told me to go to the Demon Abyss and destroy the Myriad Demon Banner within three years. Only three months remain. I have to slay my second corpse and increase my strength before then."

Slaying the Three Corpses was the core of Quasi-Saint cultivation.

He had already slain his Good Corpse, Huang Chen, using the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner—an imitation—and half a strand of Primordial Violet Qi. It focused on Merit and defense.

The second corpse he needed to slay was the Self Corpse.

The Self Corpse was the hardest to slay. It required facing one's true nature and understanding the truth of "what makes me myself." The treasure used as its anchor also had to suit one's nature.

Lu Chen examined himself: a transmigrator, a shameless schemer in the Primordial World, fond of sucker-punching people and snatching treasures, afraid of death yet willing to risk his life... The Primordial Golden Bucket somehow seemed to fit all these traits!

Primordial Unity—the "anomaly" that was his transmigrator identity.

Containment—the "I want everything" mindset of a schemer.

Purification—the need to "dispose of the evidence" after sucker-punching someone.

"This is the one!"

Without further hesitation, Lu Chen separated a wisp from the fully purified Primordial Violet Qi and injected it into the Primordial Golden Bucket.

"Bzz—"

The golden bucket trembled, and a Chaos vortex appeared at its mouth, as if it could devour all creation. Lu Chen's Primordial Spirit shook as his sense of self was forcibly stripped away. His emotions, desires, memories, and obsessions surged out like a tide, gathering inside the bucket into a blurry figure.

Slaying this corpse was ten times more perilous than slaying the Good Corpse!

The Self Corpse touched one's very core. The slightest misstep could make one lose oneself or even suffer a split personality. Illusions flooded Lu Chen's vision: he saw himself staying up late and dying suddenly back on Earth; he saw the madness he'd felt when sucker-punching Pangu's Sky-Opening Axe; he saw how nervous he'd been while stealing the Qilin Treasury; he saw the smugness he'd felt after framing the four Quasi-Saints...

Every scene was the truest reflection of who he was.

"I am who I am. Why hide it?" Lu Chen suddenly laughed. "So what if I'm afraid of death? So what if I like getting a good deal? As long as I can survive, grow stronger, and live freely, that's my Dao!"

"Self Corpse, be slain!"

"Boom—!"

A roar sounded deep within his Primordial Spirit. The blurry figure became fully solid and stepped out of the Primordial Golden Bucket.

He was a Daoist in a green robe, with a face nine-tenths identical to Lu Chen's. But his eyes were more cunning, and a faintly amused smile played on his lips. He held the Primordial Golden Bucket in his hands, his aura profound and unfathomable—Early-Stage Quasi-Saint!

"This poor Daoist is Hun Yuanzi. Greetings, Original Self." The Self Corpse smiled and bowed.

Lu Chen's original self let out a breath of relief, feeling his spirit grow clear. Many thoughts that had troubled him before suddenly made sense. His cultivation also naturally broke through to Mid-Stage Quasi-Saint!

"From now on, Daoist, you'll travel as an independent cultivator and take care of... Ahem, take care of the things I can't handle personally," Lu Chen said with a smile.

"Understood." Hun Yuanzi nodded. "Taking the blame, framing others, and fishing in troubled waters are my specialties."

The two exchanged a knowing smile.

Lu Chen had now slain two of his three corpses. Only the Evil Corpse remained. Once all three were complete, he could attempt the Three Corpses Unity and strive for Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal!

"I'm heading to the Demon Abyss. I'll leave things here in the Primordial World to you, Daoist." Lu Chen's original self grew serious. "There are a few things I need you to handle in secret."

"Go ahead."

"First, keep an eye on the Witch-Demon War. I've stirred up trouble between the Demon Clan and the Sea of Blood, and between the Devil Dao and the Western Teachings. They'll clash sooner or later. Secretly fan the flames and make the war as devastating as possible, weakening all four sides."

"Second, find out where the final fragment of the God-Slaying Spear is. Luohu may have one. If you get the chance, steal it."

"Third, protect Wuzhuang Temple and Senior Hong Yun. The reincarnations of Jieyin and Zhunti won't let this go. I'm worried they'll seek revenge."

Hun Yuanzi committed each instruction to memory. "Don't worry. Oh, and that newly born little Golden Crow, formed from Yuanfeng's sacrifice—I've arranged for him to sleep and cultivate deep within the Solar Star. He won't emerge for a hundred years."

Lu Chen nodded. The little Golden Crow was an important piece in his future plans against the Demon Clan. He couldn't let him be exposed.

After finishing his instructions, Hun Yuanzi put away the Primordial Golden Bucket and vanished in a wisp of green smoke. The Self Corpse was exceptionally skilled at concealment. Even a Saint would have trouble detecting him without a careful search.

Only Lu Chen's original self remained in the hall.

He took out the Morning Bell and the God-Slaying Remnant Spear and began the final stage of refining them.

Refining the Morning Bell went smoothly. The treasure was fated to be his, and he completely mastered it in three days. Once refined, it resonated even more strongly with the Chaos Brick, increasing the power of the Bell-Brick Combined Strike by another thirty percent.

The troublesome one was the God-Slaying Remnant Spear.

The spear was overflowing with baleful energy. Although Lu Chen could suppress it with the Law of Strength, he still needed a blood sacrifice to wield it as easily as his own arm.

"A blood sacrifice..." His gaze flickered. "Perfect. I'll start with the ones hunting me."

He left the side hall and found Ancestral Witch Houtu.

"Have your injuries healed, young friend Lu Chen?" Houtu asked gently.

"Thank you for sheltering me, Ancestral Witch. I'm more or less recovered." Lu Chen cupped his hands. "I have a favor to ask."

"Go ahead."

"I'd like to borrow a Witch Clan battlefield to blood-sacrifice a vicious weapon."

Houtu's expression shifted slightly. She looked at the broken black spear in Lu Chen's hand, sensing its baleful aura, which could slay Saints and destroy Buddhas. She couldn't help but feel startled. "This spear... could it be the legendary God-Slaying Spear?"

"It's an imitation pieced together from fragments." Lu Chen's answer was half truth, half lie.

Houtu pondered for a moment. "That's fine. But skirmishes along the Witch Clan and Demon Clan border are frequent. Your blood sacrifice could draw powerful members of the Demon Clan."

"Just what I want." Lu Chen smiled. "I need the blood of powerful foes to sharpen this vicious weapon."

Three days later, at the northern foothills of Buzhou Mountain, on the Witch-Demon border.

The area had just seen a small-scale clash, and corpses littered the ground. Witch Clan warriors were clearing the battlefield. When they saw Lu Chen arrive, they all bowed to him—Houtu had already informed them.

Lu Chen chose a rise in the terrain, planted the God-Slaying Remnant Spear in the ground, and set up a blood-sacrifice formation.

The moment the formation was complete, baleful energy shot into the sky. The remaining blood in every corpse within a hundred li was forcibly drawn out, turning into a river of blood that surged into the spear. Cracks in the spear's shaft healed at a visible rate, while its missing tip slowly began to grow back.

"Not enough... I still need fresh blood. The blood of the powerful!" A ruthless glint flashed in Lu Chen's eyes.

He deliberately released the aura of the Morning Bell. Since it shared the same origin as the Chaos Bell, Eastern Emperor Taiyi was sure to sense it.

Sure enough, half an hour later, an angry shout came from the horizon:

"Lu Chen! You dare show your face—!"

Eastern Emperor Taiyi arrived through the air with the Chaos Bell, followed by three of the Ten Demon Saints: Ji Meng, Ying Zhao, and Fei Lian. All of them were murderously furious.

"Taiyi, it's been a while," Lu Chen said with a wide grin, drawing the God-Slaying Remnant Spear. "I was just short a few drops of Quasi-Saint blood to offer my spear. You've delivered yourselves right to my door."

"Arrogant!" Taiyi laughed in fury as the Chaos Bell descended over Lu Chen.

"Clang—!!!"

Lu Chen didn't dodge. He summoned the Morning Bell, and the two bells collided!

The Chaos Bell was superior in being complete and having been refined over countless years. The Morning Bell, meanwhile, had the advantage of being newly born and pure. The collision ended in a draw, and the bell waves flattened the mountains and rivers within a hundred li!

"How is this possible?!" Taiyi was stunned. He was at Quasi-Saint peak, and with the Chaos Bell, he still couldn't take down someone at Mid-Stage Quasi-Saint?

"Now it's my turn." Lu Chen blurred and activated Brick Escape, appearing behind Ji Meng.

The God-Slaying Remnant Spear thrust forward!

There was no flourish to the move, only a pure, simple thrust. But wherever the spearhead passed, space tore like paper, and its baleful aura locked onto Ji Meng's soul!

Ji Meng was an ancient Demon Saint at Grand Unity Peak, but he couldn't even react before the spear pierced his chest!

"Gah—!" Ji Meng screamed as his blood essence was devoured by the spear. In the blink of an eye, he was reduced to a dried corpse.

The spearhead of the God-Slaying Remnant Spear grew another inch, its baleful might rising!

"Ji Meng!" Ying Zhao and Fei Lian were livid. They attacked together.

Lu Chen's spear shot forward like a dragon, each thrust aimed at a vital point. He had just obtained the Strength Demon God Inheritance, and the Law of Strength was infused into his spear techniques. Every strike carried the weight of a star, driving the two Demon Saints back step by step.

"Die!"

On the seventh thrust, he pierced Ying Zhao's throat.

On the ninth, he knocked Fei Lian's head from his shoulders.

The two Demon Saints' blood essence was devoured in turn. The God-Slaying Remnant Spear was now seventy percent repaired, its shaft gleaming black as its baleful aura condensed into tangible black flames.

"Your turn, Taiyi." Lu Chen pointed the spear at the Eastern Emperor.

Fear finally appeared in Taiyi's eyes. How long had it been? Lu Chen's strength had reached such a terrifying level!

"Chaos Bell—Time-Space Bind!" Taiyi burned his blood essence. The Chaos Bell unleashed its greatest power, freezing space and time across a thousand li!

Even Lu Chen's movements slowed a hundredfold!

"Die!" Taiyi revealed his Golden Crow True Form, his claws tearing toward Lu Chen's head.

But at the instant his claws were about to reach him—

A sly grin curled across Lu Chen's lips.

The Law of Strength within him erupted to its limit!

"Strength Pierces the Primordial Era—break!"

The frozen space and time were forcibly ripped open by sheer strength! The God-Slaying Remnant Spear shot through the gap like a poisonous dragon emerging from its lair and pierced Taiyi's chest!

"Pfft—!"

The spearhead emerged from his back.

Taiyi's eyes widened in disbelief. He felt the vicious spear greedily devouring his blood essence, cultivation, and even the mark he had left on the Chaos Bell!

"No—!!!"

He burned his source essence, wrenched himself free of the spear, and fled like a golden rainbow, not even bothering to retrieve the Chaos Bell.

Lu Chen didn't pursue him.

He looked at the God-Slaying Remnant Spear in his hand, now ninety percent repaired. Its shaft was whole, with only the final bit of the spearhead missing. Part of Eastern Emperor Taiyi's blood essence and the Chaos Bell's mark flowed within it. Its power was already no weaker than that of a true Innate Supreme Treasure!

"Just a little more... Luohu, I want your Myriad Demon Banner and the final fragment too."

He put away the spear and the Chaos Bell, which Taiyi had left behind when he fled, then turned to look toward the depths of the Witch-Demon battlefield.

Three months later, the Demon Abyss.

The Myriad Demon Banner was nearly complete, and the greatest calamity in the Primordial World was about to begin.

Lu Chen was already prepared to flip the table.

From afar, Houtu watched the scene from the Witch Clan's ancestral grounds, her expression complicated. "His ferocious reputation is established. It seems no one in the Primordial World can stop him..."

Beside her, Ancestral Witch Dijiang snorted. "As long as he doesn't make an enemy of the Witch Clan, let him do as he likes. The more chaos in the Demon Clan, the better for us."

Meanwhile, Taiyi returned to the Heavenly Court with a wound in his chest that wouldn't heal and his aura fading. Seeing his younger brother gravely wounded, the Chaos Bell lost, and three Demon Saints dead, Di Jun flew into a rage. At last, he issued the decree that would shape the fate of the Primordial World:

"Send the order! The Demon Clan's Heavenly Court hereby officially declares war on the Witch Clan!"

The First Witch-Demon War erupted ahead of schedule because Lu Chen had blood-sacrificed the God-Slaying Spear!