At the Crown Prince's Residence's refining workshop, everyone gathered around a furnace cauldron.
Above the furnace cauldron, Ji Kongling stood suspended in the air, dressed in flowing white robes, like an immortal descended into the world.
Opposite Ji Kongling, an alien race member wrapped in black gauze, black mist curling around his body and deathly aura clinging to him, was likewise seated in midair.
Judging by his aura, this alien race member was actually also a core disciple at the ninth level of the Void Realm.
From time to time, the two of them cast hand seals toward the furnace cauldron. With every seal they sent forth, a strangely grotesque serrated blade could be seen rising and sinking within the cauldron.
Below the furnace cauldron, twelve household retainers of the refining workshop also periodically formed hand seals in coordination with the two above, stabilizing the flames within the furnace. Wu Jing was among them.
"Be careful. The furnace fire must remain stable," Ji Kongling warned.
"Nasanio, it's time to offer your blood," Ji Kongling said, looking toward the alien opposite him.
Nasanio nodded beneath the brim of his hood. Raising his right hand, he drew his left index finger across his right palm. Blood rose into the air and flew toward the furnace cauldron.
The instant the blood entered the furnace cauldron, the entire vessel began to shake violently.
At the same time, a powerful ripple spread from the furnace cauldron, flipping back Nasanio's hood and revealing his blue-faced, fang-toothed visage.
The twelve retainers' faces also turned deathly pale from the ripple, and the furnace fire showed clear signs of slipping out of control.
"Hold it steady!" Ji Kongling's expression darkened as he shouted the warning.
Nasanio said, "This is bad. The artifact soul is trying to devour me."
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