The Refining Heaven Furnace, Nüwa's Gift

Bei Ming's heart trembled at these words, a newfound resolve settling in his eyes as he spoke solemnly:

"Good, I understand."

With that, Bei Ming wasted no time. He sat cross-legged in the center of the palace, hands forming seals as he channeled his magic power.

The Eternal Age Hourglass floated before him, rotating slowly, emitting faint ripples of time that intertwined with Bei Ming, drawing them together.

In this environment steeped in the Dao resonance of the Time Law, with the aid of Eternal Years Daoist, the refining process went unexpectedly smoothly.

Six thousand four hundred years passed in the blink of an eye, and Bei Ming completed the refinement of the Eternal Age Hourglass.

Though he had gained ownership, the Time Law contained within remained profound and unfathomable, still requiring countless years to comprehend.

Eternal Years Daoist reminded him, "Daoist friend, those who wield time well are sure to create miracles."

Bei Ming rose and replied steadily, "Your words, Daoist friend, I will hold firmly in my heart."

With that, he swept his sleeve and stored the Eternal Age Hourglass into the Guixu.

The next moment, the surrounding palace trembled violently. The light-blocking walls collapsed in an instant, shattering into countless specks of light that dissipated into the void.

Bei Ming's body returned to the summit of Mount Buzhou, exactly where he had stood before entering the formation.

"Bei Ming!" A familiar voice called out.

Following the sound, he saw Fuxi standing not far away, a relaxed smile on his face.

The corner of Bei Ming's mouth lifted slightly as he replied calmly, "Fuxi, it seems you went in as well."

"Indeed." Fuxi nodded, his gaze flickering faintly as a hint of joy appeared on his face:

"This Mount Buzhou truly holds opportunities."

With that, he flipped his right hand. A flash of spiritual light appeared in his palm, and an ancient longsword materialized.

The blade was dull and unadorned, yet a condensed sword intent surrounded it.

Fuxi stroked the blade and said, "This sword is called Changge.

Within the secret realm, I also obtained a set of sword techniques. The sword momentum is clear and melodious, quite exquisite. What did you gain, Daoist friend?"

Bei Ming raised his hand slightly. Spiritual light gathered in his palm, revealing a small, elegant hourglass.

Silver-gray radiance flowed within the hourglass, as if the river of time was slowly pouring through it.

"Another spiritual treasure, called the Eternal Age Hourglass. It contains the Time Law, profoundly mysterious."

Just as the two were sharing their gains, the void trembled lightly. Accompanied by faint rosy clouds, Nüwa's figure emerged from nothingness, once again standing atop Mount Buzhou Summit.

Floating beside her was a furnace of purple and azure hues, its walls shimmering with mysterious light, containing the creation of heaven and earth within.

"Older brother, Bei Ming!" Nüwa hurried over, her eyes sparkling with joy:

"You're already out."

She raised her hand to gently stroke the treasure furnace at her side, asking with a smile filled with delight:

"So, what happened to you two?"

Bei Ming and Fuxi exchanged a glance, then each briefly recounted their experiences.

When Bei Ming spoke of the Eternal Age Hourglass, he did not mention the existence of its spirit, Eternal Years Daoist.

After all, when he had summoned the hourglass earlier, Eternal Years Daoist had not appeared, so there was no need to disclose this matter for now.

Fuxi's experience was simpler. After entering the formation, he broke a sound-based formation with his qin music and obtained the Changge Sword.

Nüwa listened, smiled brightly, and then spoke:

"After I entered, this Refining Heaven Furnace appeared before me.

Beside the furnace was a pile of stone ore and a jade slip.

When I touched it, I obtained a refining technique called the Great Stone Transformation Technique, which can smelt rare stones."

As she spoke, she gestured with her hand. The Refining Heaven Furnace slowly rotated, emitting a wisp of five-colored radiance.

"After initially refining the Refining Heaven Furnace, I studied the Great Stone Transformation Technique and used some of the stone ore to refine a Five-Colored Stone. Then I was sent out."

With that, Nüwa opened her fair hand. A small stone, swirling with five-colored light, floated quietly in her palm, filled with yinyun and radiant clouds, extraordinarily beautiful.

"I feel this Five-Colored Stone will have some wonderful use."

Nüwa gazed at the spirit stone in her palm, a thoughtful look in her eyes:

"But I can't yet say exactly what it can be used for."

Bei Ming looked at the Five-Colored Stone in Nüwa's hand and couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

'Nüwa's fortune is truly extraordinary.

Aside from the Three Pure Ones, the Orthodox Lineage of Pangu, she is likely the most prosperous in terms of luck among all cultivators in the Primordial Wilderness.'

Originally, the Six Saints of the Primordial Wilderness all attained sainthood through merit.

The Three Pure Ones, by establishing their religions and inheriting Pangu's Merit of Opening Heaven, became saints smoothly.

Zhunti and Jieyin also established religions, but their merit was insufficient. They could only make Great Vows, essentially "borrowing" merit from the Heavenly Dao—becoming saints first, then repaying the debt later.

But all of this was for the sake of Western Prosperity—these two could be said to be suffering yet joyful.

After Nüwa comprehended this, by creating humans and completing the task, she could directly obtain enough merit to become a saint.

As for Human Education, it was the key to the other saints achieving sainthood.

Nüwa had no ties from establishing a religion, so she didn't have to worry about subsequent sectarian conflicts;

she made no great vows, so she wouldn't be burdened with a Merit Loan.

In the future, during the War between the Wu and Yao clans, when Mount Buzhou snapped and the sky shattered, leaving a massive gap, it would also be she who mended the heavens with the Five-Colored Stone—this merit would by no means be small.

In terms of fortune, as the Human Holy Mother, Nüwa was already entitled to a share.

If she wished, she could, as a saint, find any excuse to further participate in the struggle for fortune in the Primordial Wilderness.

It was just that Nüwa disliked conflict; otherwise, she still held the Summoning Demon Banner, enough to mobilize the remnants of the Demon Race;

this force, in the situation of the Primordial Wilderness, was by no means to be underestimated.

Regarding Nüwa obtaining the opportunity related to mending the heavens, Bei Ming was not surprised; what slightly piqued his curiosity was the tools used for the mending.

The Qiankun Cauldron and the Heaven-Mending Furnace each had their own theories, but now the confusion was resolved.

The Refining Heaven Furnace, Nüwa, and the North Sea Black Tortoise—these three key elements for mending the heavens were all in place;

in the future great calamity of the Primordial Wilderness, this added an extra layer of preparedness without worry.

Bei Ming looked at Nüwa and said calmly:

"Though we don't know its use yet, since it's an opportunity gained at Mount Buzhou, it will surely have its moment to shine."

"That's true." Nüwa's eyes curved, a faint smile appearing as she lifted the five-colored spirit stone glowing in her palm and handed it to Bei Ming:

"Bei Ming, I'm giving this to you."

"Huh?" Bei Ming was slightly startled, hesitating a little as he asked:

"Why are you giving it to me?"

Nüwa's expression was gentle, and she said with a soft laugh: "Isn't this how we've always been, all along the way?

Whatever can be shared, we each take a little, as a keepsake.

This Five-Colored Stone is the first finished product I refined, so I'm giving it to you."

Bei Ming looked at the sincerity in her eyes, felt a warmth in his heart, and finally nodded:

"Alright, thank you. If you ever truly need it in the future, I'll return it to you."

"Relax." Nüwa waved her hand, her smile radiant:

"I got a lot of stone materials in the Secret Realm; I can probably refine another batch of Five-Colored Stones. When I need them, I'll just refine more."

"Oh, right!" Fuxi suddenly had a thought and spoke up:

"Bei Ming, I was actually the last one to enter the Secret Realm.

Before that, I encountered the leader of the Twelve Ancestor Wizards—Di Jiang."