"Hmph! Where do you think you're going!"
Li Huazhong had kept watch over the movements within He Xinxian's divine soul all along. Thus, the instant those three old foxes broke free, he had already summoned his divine sense and locked onto them.
"A thousand burns form the core, ten thousand refinements forge the Dao!"
He uttered a Daoist incantation, pinched a glimmer of spiritual light between his fingertips, then drew a stroke through the air. "I summon the Dao Furnace: melt the core, receive the spirit!"
As this art emerged, a blue-and-white Dan Furnace manifestation appeared within this realm, instantly confining the three Treading-Void Split Souls that had intended to flee in separate directions.
This was the Dao Furnace Li Huazhong had spoken of, and also the supreme alchemical art of their reclusive lineage.
"Fine Dao Furnace, fine Dao Furnace! Your master knew it, knew that Zhong'er would surely master it!"
Watching the technique that he himself had failed to fully master in those years achieve perfect manifestation in Li Huazhong's hands, his master was overcome with emotion.
As the elder who had personally brought Li Huazhong into the mountains and guided him onto the path of the Dao, seeing his disciple surpass him now brought him immense comfort. He no longer harbored the slightest regret.
"Grateful for Master's grace in transmitting the Dao, this disciple respectfully sees you off!"
"Good! Watch carefully—today, your master will use this remnant breath and Dao-life to slay the one from the heavens!"
Whoosh!
The phantom spiritual pellet formed from the old alchemist's lingering remnant floated out from He Xinxian's body. Then, with a leap, it too jumped into the Dao Furnace.
With the Dao Furnace and the pellet phantom, the remaining three soul fragments of the upper cultivators could only become refining materials.