Reestablishing the World's Origin

Zhang Xuezhou rarely used the Upāsaka Precepts Sutra.

This type of scripture belongs to a rather special chanting technique, specifically used to suppress internal evils within the body.

If there are no internal evils in the body, the Upāsaka Precepts Sutra will have no effect whatsoever.

"Internal evil" is a term used in the Western Sect. The Great Han Dynasty more often referred to it as "inner demons." In modern terms, it could be described as mental illness, schizophrenia, or hallucinations.

The Upāsaka Precepts Sutra was originally used to prevent cultivators from Qi Deviation in their cultivation. Using it to suppress the black core on the forehead of the Buddha Son Shigong was an alternative application. Zhang Xuezhou originally used it to suppress the demonic thoughts of the mallard duck.

Any consciousness or spirit that does not belong to the body itself can be eliminated through the Upāsaka Precepts Sutra.

This scripture also counters techniques such as Rong Tianding's possession of spirits and spirit possession.

Although Zhang Xuezhou had been as careful as possible in preventing the Void Furnace from attacking, the abilities of the Fire Meteor Creatures were indeed difficult to defend against.

Zhang Xuezhou had not recited the Upāsaka Precepts Sutra for many years, but when he encountered the corruption of the furnace, he reacted extremely quickly.

As he continuously recited the Upāsaka Precepts Sutra, his spiritual power was transformed into blooming white lotuses.

Compared to the first time he used the Upāsaka Precepts Sutra and only heard its sound, Zhang Xuezhou can now solidify its form, and its power is many times stronger than before.

The flames of the virtual furnace do not burn the physical body, but rather the mind and consciousness.

Once the spirit and consciousness are completely burned away, the illusory furnace may be able to occupy the physical body or temporarily take over the body.

White lotuses appeared on the flames, as if parasitizing them, gradually diminishing the flames' power.

"So you really were dead!"

Amidst the murmuring chanting of scriptures, the flames enveloping the body gradually died out, and the withered gray liquid, wrinkled like dried paste, gently fell away with a gust of wind.

Cries of pain, barely audible, began to echo in my ears.

"Spare me, please spare me!"

Cleverness, wisdom, temptation, and scheming—none of these can compare to a clash of raw power when swords meet.

If he possessed a physical body, Xu Lu felt he wouldn't be much weaker, and his various abilities would subject his opponents to endless torment.

But there are no "what ifs," and his judgments were wrong time and time again.

The one who collides with geniuses is always another genius. He had seen old geniuses and then encountered a young genius.

The other party was practically a living Yama, as if he had been prepared and was just waiting for him to come to his door.

"If you need help with tiger breeding, I can be of use!"

"I can help you balance your Gene Sequence and prevent them from growing into out-of-control genetic beasts!"

"I still control the spark. If there is no hope of survival, I will lock it away, ensuring that no one can use it for a hundred years!"

"Please, we can't fight anymore. If we can't escape Ding Kui's influence range, we'll all be killed by Hu Yu's Ding Kui."

The conditions for buying life in the void furnace are very limited. He also knows that no one will be merciful when they are in a confrontation, and when they are at a disadvantage, they will only look at the remaining value.

If he meets the other party's needs, he has a chance of survival.

If the other party has no need, then he will be drained dry and completely destroyed by these lotus flowers.

Every minute and every second felt like an agonizing wait for judgment.

Like bacteria devouring each other, it's hard to escape this kind of mental erosion once you're caught in it.

Zhou Xin was very patient, enduring until the Void Furnace realized that even if the erosion succeeded, it would perish, making it a losing proposition. This forced the Void Furnace to eventually abandon the erosion.

Zhang Xuezhou, on the other hand, is the opposite, transforming himself from the hunted into the hunter.

Only if Zhang Xuezhou gives up the hunt can the Void Furnace possibly withdraw.

If Zhang Xuezhou doesn't give up, Xu Lu will face only death.

He looked at the raging flames, and then at the lotus flowers growing from them, and simply couldn't understand why they had been so thoroughly suppressed.

Every mental fluctuation from the opponent triggered the immense power of their Mental Psychic Power body.

Compared to his clumsy attempt to burn with spiritual flames, Xu Lu never imagined that Mental Psychic Power could be transformed into a lotus flower.

This is far beyond a single level of capability; it's like comparing primitive humans and modern humans when using tools.

"Your spark is capable of releasing this burning power?"

After a long wait, the Void Furnace finally heard a booming sound.

"Yes!"

"That ruby-like thing is the spark?"

"Yes!"

Xu Lu responded immediately.

Even though the information exchanged in the mind is not based on external time, he wanted to end all the questioning as quickly as possible, strive for peace between them, and leave this place as soon as possible.

For those who possess the ability to conceal their physical bodies, this might be a difficult resistance, and they might even regain their five senses in the future. However, for him, Ding Kui's attack would inevitably plunge him into confusion and death.

If they don't leave the snake den, they'll be hunted by tigers; if they do leave, they'll have difficulty escaping far.

A sentient being descended from the sky near the snake cave, but instead of successfully stealthing and eroding his body, he was beaten half to death. The Void Furnace was now facing a dead end.

"That's a real shame!"

The spiritual communication of the trial resounded, and as the white lotus reappeared, the Void Furnace couldn't help but exude waves of despair. It was clear that the other party was not satisfied with his conditions, believing that the risks far outweighed the benefits, and was currently constantly eroding him.

"You won't live much longer either. Once Hu Hao and his group find the source of life in this world, this place will become the tiger clan's hunting ground. Sequence Holder like you will be the first to be eliminated. You will all die!"

Even the most composed demeanor could not conceal the fear brought on by the erosion of one's spirit; the void furnace emitted bursts of spiritual roars.

He struggled to control the flames, but as his strength waned, the flames he guided grew weaker and weaker. His resistance seemed futile and hopeless, leaving only angry and resentful curses.

"That's interesting. What is the origin of life?"

The lotus blossoms vanished, and the forces that had bound and attracted them dispersed like a heavy burden.

Just as Xu Lu was about to escape from this terrifying body, he abruptly stopped himself from fleeing.

Compared to being held captive and unable to move after escaping, and then interrogated like a prisoner, his current state might make their atmosphere a bit gentler.

"For you, the origin of your life may be water; for us, the origin of our life is fire; and for the White-browed Clan, to which Tiger Yu belongs, the origin of life is endless reproduction, hunting, and growth!"

"Oh?"

"Whoever controls the life essence of this world can establish their own earth, water, fire, and wind, and then change the world. The material foundation and natural order of the entire world will be overturned. Existing mountains, rivers, land, oceans, and skies will be reshaped or destroyed and recombined in chaos. Climate and ecosystems will be completely disordered and then reconstructed. The rules of time and space will be impacted and distorted. Time and spacetime will intersect, stagnate, or accelerate. Space will become unstable, and spatial rifts and interdimensional channels will appear..."

The content described by the Void Furnace is somewhat like the creation myth, where everything returned to chaos and then new life emerged.

Zhang Xuezhou had always believed that myths were just myths, and he had never thought that myths could evolve into reality. This made him serious, and he kept trying to determine the truthfulness of what Xu Lu had said.

"Your civilization will be directly destroyed, your cities will be ruined, a large number of humans will die, and survival resources will be severely scarce. Your evolution will cease, and everything will revert to a primitive state of survival. You will have to find your way to survive all over again!"

"Your cultural, knowledge, and technological heritage will be directly severed, and your society's moral and ethical systems will collapse!"

Everything you own will vanish!

"Like a destroyed ruin, you can only try to survive in the ruins!"

"No matter how hard you struggle, you can never defeat the possessor of the source of life. At worst, he can simply reset the elements of earth, water, fire, and wind, and destroy you again and again!"