The crimson flames resembled a boiling sea of magma, churning with scorching heat.
The Earthfire Abyss.
Li Qingshan sat cross-legged on the stone platform, the Sun True Fire flowing from his fingertips intertwining with the earth fire below to form a coiled dragon shape.
It tightly envelops the bell embryo that is suspended in mid-air.
Li Qingshan, engrossed in refining the weapon, was completely unaware of the passage of time.
As the golden rays of the setting sun pierce through the fissures of the Earthfire Abyss, they dye the cliff face a rosy hue.
The patterns on the surface of the bell finally ceased their previous agitation.
The Sun Mark surged like raging flames, Lightning-Attracting Mark slithered like silver snakes; the two Divine Markings were no longer independent.
Instead, they intertwine and entwine like ancient divine Divine Markings, naturally formed, outlining a simple and profound pattern on the surface of the bell.
The intense heat of the Sun True Fire, the overwhelming power of thunder, and the flowing Daoist energy even caused the surrounding fire waves to slightly submit.
It's almost done.
A hint of joy flashed in Li Qingshan's eyes, and the divine power flowing through his fingertips became even faster.
This "completion" is far more complex than simply shaping materials; it represents the crucial "unity of Divine Form " in weapon crafting.
By allowing the Divine Markings on the vessel blank to completely fuse with the bell body, the "spirit" of the object is born.
Even at the very beginning of the fire-forging process, he had already mastered the art of multitasking:
The external structure of the bell is formed by smelting meteorite iron and Dragon Blood Stone with the Sun True Fire and the fire of the earth.
Within, deep within the Bitter Sea, divine power continuously nurtures the small crimson-gold bell formed from the original Sun Divine Markings.
That is the "spirit" of the Dao Bell, the soul of the object.
At this moment, the bell has reached a perfect prototype, and the energy within it is as powerful as a dormant volcano.
Li Qingshan could clearly sense that every inch of Zhong's body was yearning to see the infusion of "divine power," and the time was ripe!
"The vessel embryo has entered the body; if not now, when?"
In the instant his mind sank into a sea of the Bitter Sea, he uttered a low shout.
Before the words were finished, the small crimson-gold bell floating above the Life Spring in the Bitter Sea suddenly shone brightly.
As if hearing a call from the soul, this Divine Markings embryo instantly transformed into a golden light composed purely of Dao principles and divine thoughts, leaping out of the Bitter Sea, breaking through the physical body, and reaching the Void of the Earthfire Abyss.
The moment the golden light appeared, the flames throughout the entire Earthfire Abyss flickered violently.
The surging subterranean fire reversed course as if encountering a king, forming a massive vortex of flames around the golden light.
The golden light ignored the intense heat and flames, shining directly onto the bell embryo suspended in the heart of the fire.
There was no earth-shattering collision, only a harmonious and seamless integration.
The Divine Markings vessel blank, like a wanderer returning home, or a soul settling into a meticulously crafted body, seamlessly merges into the bell's form.
The Sun Mark and Lightning-Attracting Mark patterns on the surface of the clock instantly surged, and golden and red rays intertwined to form a pillar of light.
It shot straight up to the top of the Earthfire Abyss, scorching a huge hole in the rock strata.
"Melt!"
Li Qingshan fully activated the " Sun True Scripture," and surging divine power flowed into the bell like a river.
It transforms into a bridge connecting "form" and "spirit".
The bell body provides an indestructible carrier and a continuous source of power for the Divine Markings artifact blank.
The Divine Markings artifact embryo infuses the bell body with the soul of the Great Dao and infinite growth potential.
Both originated from him, and now, under his guidance, they are achieving a perfect unity on a life level.
This is the culmination of his many days of spiritual communication and divine intervention!
The moment the Divine Markings and the bell body completely merged, Li Qingshan's divine sense surged into the bell embryo like a tidal wave.
In an instant, a faint yet clear fluctuation of consciousness entered his heart:
The feeling was like a dormant seed finally breaking through the soil, carrying the innocent confusion of a newborn.
It also harbors a curiosity about the world, pure and vibrant.
This wisp of consciousness is closely connected to his soul, as if it were an extension of his life, able to sense his joy and anger, and respond to his thoughts.
"The prototype of a god has finally been born!"
An indescribable joy welled up in Li Qingshan's heart. The divine power at his fingertips became increasingly refined, and he continued to inject it into the bell body for final nourishment. Xiaobai lay on his shoulder, gradually closed its eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.
As night deepened, the monthly energy tide of the Mount Kunlun Range arrived as scheduled, and countless strands of silvery-white starlight fell from the heavens, cascading down on the Kunlun land like a waterfall.
The openings in the Earthfire Abyss became the channels through which vital energy flowed in.
Li Qingshan, suddenly inspired, immediately channeled his divine power, drawing upon the vast essence of heaven and earth and the dazzling starlight to infuse the bell.
"Clang,"
A clear and melodious bell suddenly rang out, echoing through the silent Mount Kunlun!
The sound was unlike the clanging of ordinary metal; instead, it carried the natural charm of the Dao.
It penetrated the rock strata and spread over a hundred miles.
The demonic beasts that inhabited the mountains and forests all prostrated themselves on the ground, their eyes filled with awe;
The small, crimson-gold bell floated in the air, its radiance understated, its surface perfectly blending Sun Mark and Lightning-Attracting Mark.
Each line seems to contain the ultimate truth of the universe.
Inside the bell, the nascent divine consciousness, like a sleeping infant, was peaceful and pure, gently pulsating with the chimes.
Li Qingshan raised his hand and grasped the Dao Bell, a feeling of being connected to it as if it were his own arm and fingers welled up within him.
He gently shook it, Dao Bell rang out again. Wherever the sound waves passed, the surrounding heaven and earth essence was cleansed and impurities were dissipated, leaving only the purest primordial power.
"When the Dao Bell was first formed, its spiritual nature arose spontaneously."
"Follow me in the future, and together we will explore the Great Dao."
Li Qingshan whispered, and with a thought, the Dao Bell transformed into a golden light and entered his Bitter Sea.
The bell floated silently above the crimson Bitter Sea and the Life Spring, nourishing each other, and the fluctuations of the divine power within it grew even stronger.
As night deepened, the light from the subterranean fire illuminated his figure.
Li Qingshan closed his eyes and began to stabilize his realm. After achieving perfection in the Four Extremes, he needed to settle his origin and accumulate power to break through to the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm.
Xiaobai curled up in his palm, its jade horn gradually dimming as it fell into slumber once more. Only the occasional glimmer of light proved that it was still silently absorbing essence.
After an unknown amount of time, Li Qingshan suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.
The sky was already turning a pale white, and the first rays of dawn pierced through the hole, shining on his face.
"Let's go see the Forest of Broken Steles in the west today."
He woke Xiaobai, his voice tinged with anticipation, "There might be an opportunity there."
Xiaobai immediately perked up, its jade horn pointing westward as it swam to his shoulder.
A man and a snake, stepping through the morning dew, embark once again on a journey to explore Kunlun.
Three days later, ancient ruins could be seen everywhere along the way.
The broken stone tablet is engraved with the faint traces of stars, and the collapsed palace pillars bear the marks of Daoist patterns.
Fragments of alchemy furnaces covered in moss can still be found in abandoned alchemy rooms.
Every relic tells a story of the place's former glory, and also reveals the vicissitudes of time.
As the afternoon approached, the Forest of Broken Steles finally came into view.
Hundreds of huge stone tablets are scattered in the valley, most of them broken and overturned, their surfaces covered with ancient characters.
After thousands of years of wind and rain erosion, many characters have become blurred and indistinct. Only a few characters deeply engraved into the stone can still be discerned in their outline.
These stone tablets record ancient battles.
Li Qingshan walked to a relatively intact stone tablet and ran his fingertips across the cold stone surface.
The inscription on the monument, " The Sun Sacred Clan fought against the extraterrestrial demons here," is as powerful and vigorous as if it had been carved by a knife and axe.
Although countless millennia have passed, the murderous aura between the lines remains lingering, as if one can still see the fierce battles that once stained the mountains and rivers with blood.
Xiaobai swam to another broken stone tablet, and its jade horn gently touched the remaining Sun Mark on the tablet.
In an instant, the stone tablet suddenly emitted a faint golden light, reflecting a blurry yet magnificent scene:
Countless cultivators, riding magical treasures such as fire dragons and Golden Crow wheels, engaged in fierce battles in the heavens.
Above the clouds, a man clad in gilded armor held a battle flag, which fluttered in the wind!
"This is the war history of the Sun Sacred Clan."
Li Qingshan's heart stirred slightly; perhaps the alien enemy of the Sun Sacred Clan had found the Primordial Ancient Star.
These fragments of light and shadow are more vivid than any ancient text, displaying the tragedy and grandeur to the fullest extent.
He studied each stone tablet one by one, and even though most of the characters were blurred, he was still able to piece together key information from the scattered text:
Although the war ended in a Pyrrhic victory, it severely weakened the tribe, leaving only one in ten of its strongest members alive.
Eventually, it gradually declined and disappeared into the annals of history.
Deep within the Forest of Broken Steles, beneath a broken black stone tablet, Li Qingshan made a discovery.
Pressing down on the stone tablet reveals half a jade slip, the material of which is not ordinary jade.
It is a rare " Heavenly Markings Jade ". Even after tens of thousands of years, its surface is still covered with a layer of pale golden protective spiritual light, and it is completely intact.
He carefully moved the stone tablet, took out the jade slip, and probed it with his divine sense.
Instantly, a massive amount of cultivation insights flooded into his mind. This was actually the body-refining method passed down by the Sun Sacred Clan, the " Sun True Body "!
It contains a priceless treasure that records how to temper the physical body with the Solar True Force and awaken innate sacred blood.
"We did indeed find something."
Li Qingshan was overjoyed and put the jade slip into his pocket.
Xiaobai leaned closer and gently touched the jade slip, conveying her joy.
Upon returning to the Earthfire Abyss, Li Qingshan immediately sat down cross-legged and immersed himself in the enlightenment of the " Sun Sacred Body ".
The Dao Bell vibrated slightly in the Bitter Sea, and the consciousness fluctuations of the deities within became increasingly clear, as if they were studying this ancient inheritance together with him.
Xiaobai curled up to the side, munching on spirit fruit, occasionally glancing up at him before lowering her head again.
Daily life in Kunlun is peaceful yet fulfilling.
Every exploration brings opportunities, and every practice deepens understanding.
Li Qingshan knew that the secrets of Kunlun were far more than this.
But with his current cultivation level, the opportunities in the outer regions are more than enough to support his growth.
The ancient skeletons he saw when he first Kunlun served as a constant reminder to him.
This sacred place is also a perilous one; the opportunities within are inevitably accompanied by deadly dangers, so one must not be hasty in seeking success.
The crackling sound of the burning subterranean fire was exceptionally clear in the silent night. Li Qingshan closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the Bitter Sea.
The Dao Bell, the deity breathing in sync with it, and the Solar True Force surged through its meridians, steadily advancing towards the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm.