Chapter Sixty: The Life-bound Artifact

Chen Jiu calmed his turbulent emotions and once more turned his spiritual sense inward. Inside his pill chamber, the Evergreen Tree swayed without wind, each green leaf leaping with joy, radiating the breath of life. At the tip of a branch, the most prominent blue-glowing orb seemed to breathe, expanding and contracting as if alive.

The very moment the fruit began to form, Chen Jiu felt lighter than ever before, as if he had shed his old self and been reborn. Surging magical power coursed freely through his meridians, and with each cycle along the cultivation path, waves of pitch-black impurities were expelled from his skin. As his internal power multiplied, he sensed an overwhelming strength filling his body.

“So this is the First Stage of Immortal Ascension—the ‘Pill Embryo Realm’…” Chen Jiu sighed inwardly. The power he now possessed was more than tenfold what it had been before his breakthrough, and it was not merely an increase in quantity, but a transformation in quality.

With his newfound strength, the range of magical artifacts and talismans he could command had also increased. Supported by abundant power, he could wield his Lotus Platform far longer, whether for defense or travel, than ever before.

With a thought, Chen Jiu leapt down from the Lotus Platform, landing lightly as a swallow, his cheeks flushed with vitality. He then summoned the crimson Lotus Platform back into his body.

“Though it’s only the ‘Minor Pill Embryo Realm,’ it’s still the first step on the path of cultivation!” Chen Jiu was deeply satisfied with his hard-won breakthrough. However arduous the immortal path, to have taken the first step was a great success indeed.

But as joy blossomed in his heart, a strange change occurred within his pill chamber. The blue-glowing orb at the tip of the Evergreen Tree now revealed web-like fissures, as if it were about to crack open.

Chen Jiu’s heart tightened. Could it be—his life-bound artifact was about to be born?

In that instant, his heart raced. He did not dare hope for a peerless immortal sword or some world-shattering weapon. He only wished it would not turn out to be a useless object. That would suffice.

His breath quickened as the cracks multiplied, and his anxiety grew.

A faint “crack” echoed, and Chen Jiu’s gaze remained fixed on the blue orb. In a flash of blue light, the orb detached from the branch and shot out of his pill chamber, coming to rest outside his body. Where the orb had been, now appeared a fruit the size of a baby’s fist, shimmering with blue radiance.

With a thought, Chen Jiu extended his hand and caught the blue orb as it flew out.

“What is this…?”

As the blue glow faded, the true form of his life-bound artifact was revealed: a round, thumb-sized, emerald-green bead, lying quietly in his palm.

“This is my life-bound artifact?”

To be honest, Chen Jiu felt a touch of disappointment upon seeing it. How splendid it would have been to receive a majestic sword…

Every man dreams of roaming the world, sword in hand.

He smiled wryly and dispelled his dismay. Perhaps this little thing was extraordinary in its own right.

He closed his eyes and immersed his spiritual sense within.

“Evergreen Pearl?”

Chen Jiu learned the artifact’s name. Then, a stream of information flowed from the green bead.

“Evergreen Pearl: repels evil influences, neutralizes all poisons… Heals and restores energy, like spring wind and rain, reviving all things…” Chen Jiu murmured.

After a few breaths, he felt relieved. “Well, though this little bead is not a mighty weapon, its uses are many, and I am quite satisfied.”

He inhaled and drew the Evergreen Pearl back into his body, nourishing it with his vital essence. After all, this was his life-bound artifact, among his most precious possessions.

At this moment, the Blood Demon, who had been silent for some time, suddenly spoke with mocking tones: “Who would have thought you’d be so lucky and actually succeed? But…”

Chen Jiu sneered. “What now? Are you trying to disturb my mind again?”

The Blood Demon laughed derisively. “You think this counts as success?”

At these words, Chen Jiu’s face changed. Had the Blood Demon interfered somehow?

Suddenly, his heart grew heavy. He had struggled so hard to achieve this cultivation—if anything went wrong now, it would be a disaster.

“You little bastard, daring to absorb my demonic energy! You’re like an old man eating arsenic—courting death!”

As the Blood Demon’s words fell, Chen Jiu’s face flushed deep red.

“Pfft!”

A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he could not help but spit out a mouthful of dark blood.

Chen Jiu was horrified.

It was demonic energy…

He had thought that after breaking through, all traces of demonic energy would be gone, but unexpectedly, so much evil intent remained hidden within him!

The Blood Demon cackled. “Hehehe, once your soul is corrupted by demonic intent and you fall into the demonic path, not only will I be reborn, but I’ll gain an immortal cultivator’s body for free! Hahaha… delightful!”

If Chen Jiu were consumed by demonic intent, the control spell placed on the Blood Demon would weaken, and it could counterattack.

Chen Jiu covered his mouth, his face grim. Demonic energy now surged throughout his body, sprouting everywhere, trying to seize control.

At that moment, the Lotus Platform shot out uncontrollably from his body.

It whirled beside him, blood-red and seductive.

“Hahaha, you little wretch, thought you could absorb my demonic energy? Now you must return it all!” the Blood Demon taunted.

Chen Jiu burned with fury, but he had no energy to deal with the gloating demon. He sat cross-legged on the cold, blood-red floor and began to channel his cultivation method, determined to suppress the demonic energy.

Despite his efforts, the demonic energy and intent were rooted deep within his meridians, stubbornly refusing to be expelled.

Suddenly, Chen Jiu’s eyes snapped open, both irises blood-red.

He could no longer suppress it.

The hidden demonic intent was too strong, and his soul was about to lose control…

The Blood Demon was ecstatic. “Hehe, you might as well give up now and let—”

But before it could finish, it saw a streak of green light shoot from Chen Jiu’s mouth.

The Evergreen Pearl.

The emerald bead spun rapidly, glowing with vibrant green energy, and hovered above Chen Jiu’s head, showering him with countless rays of green light.

Chen Jiu was bathed in green.

The instant the green light appeared, the raging demonic energy in his body instantly quieted.

Chen Jiu’s expression changed dramatically, joy flooding his heart.

His life-bound artifact! It was perfectly suited to restrain evil influences!

How could he have forgotten?

The Blood Demon wailed in despair. As it sensed the demonic energy in Chen Jiu’s body subside, it was suddenly overcome with hopelessness.

How could this little bastard be so lucky… Not only did he manage to create an artifact, but it happened to restrain evil influences…

What followed was simple.

The Evergreen Pearl quickly absorbed all the demonic energy lurking in Chen Jiu’s body, purified it into spiritual energy, and returned it to his pill chamber.

Then, the Evergreen Pearl cleansed the Lotus Platform as well, restoring its verdant glow.

Chen Jiu cherished the Evergreen Pearl and Lotus Platform, swallowing them into his body, then exhaled deeply.

One moment he had been dangling over the abyss, and the next, he was safe and sound.

He couldn’t help but think he truly had the aura of a protagonist…

He brushed aside stray thoughts and glanced mischievously at the now-silent Blood Demon.

“Well then, Lord Blood Demon, shall we settle our accounts…?”