Rebirth As A Human Cauldron Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Feng Lie quickly caught the person’s limp body and infused true essence into the lower back until the person’s complexion improved, then slowly released his grip.

The cold sweat on the person’s forehead quickly dried under the night breeze. Qin Duan held his head, still shaken, before gradually recovering.

This was a warning from the heavens; if there were to be a next time, the consequences would likely be more severe.

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“Tlu, obu esd’v usw ypj obyv xu dyxl kp? Ps usw jdso obs R yx?”

“…”

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Hearing Qin Duan’s crude words, Feng Lie furrowed his brows. “I’ve already apologized.”

“Apologies are worthless…” Qin Duan spat, “You entered a demonic state and used me as a vessel to alleviate the demonic energy. Don’t think I don’t know… You’ve had this heart demon for hundreds of years, and with your cultivation and temperament, you shouldn’t be entirely incapable of controlling it. You’re just suppressing the urge to vent out the pent-up frustration, and unfortunately, I ended up in your hands, right?”

“…”

“You and I are complete strangers, and you never mention my name or background. Yet, you still agreed to my requests to some extent. It’s because, aside from that hint of guilt, you don’t see me as a person.” As he spoke, Feng Lie’s straight back seemed somewhat rigid. He remained silent for a long time before admitting, “I indeed don’t know you… Back then, when Fengyue Tower found you, they violated our agreement and wanted to keep you for themselves. On the way, they encountered vengeful enemies. I happened to pass by and saved you. That’s all.”

“When you were severely injured, I treated your wounds. However, you didn’t wake up for a long time. After the battle, my true essence was severely depleted, so I needed to go into seclusion, leaving you in the cave for the time being.”

Feng Lie’s explanation was vague, and only the mention of “Fengyue Tower” provided some useful information. But whenever Qin Duan tried to inquire further, Feng Lie remained as tight-lipped as a clam, leaving him no choice but to give up.

Three hundred years ago, he had never heard this name before, suggesting it must have become prominent in recent times. As for their purpose, it wasn’t hard to guess; Fengyue, well, when combined with his extraordinary cauldron physique, the answer was evident.

Since pure Yin physiques were already rare, especially coupled with the Heavenly Water Spirit Root aptitude, it was only natural for two factions to compete for ownership. Yet, Feng Lie, who had been cultivating the Heartless Path for over a millennium, wasn’t someone obsessed with desires. Even if he lost control due to the heart demon, he wouldn’t forcibly violate Qin Duan.

Unless… Qin Duan’s heart trembled, and he conjured a water mirror with a wave of his hand, instantly understanding the truth.

The face he now wore was astonishingly similar to his former self, with the only difference being a trace of bloodthirsty aura.

The world is vast, and it’s not necessarily impossible for people who are not related to look very similar. However, in this case, both the qualifications and appearance are extremely similar to him. Moreover, with what the Heavenly Dao said, it was hard not to suspect that someone deliberately planned this.

So, for now, the focus still lies in Fengyue Tower, but Feng Lie was unwilling to provide detailed explanations. Pressing him further proves futile, so Qin Duan had to find another way.

He has never been one to sit idly by, even if he is currently under someone else’s control and threatened by Tian Dao. He won’t simply accept this fate.

Emotions churn in Qin Duan’s eyes, making him look unpredictable. He looks down at the silver flying sword at his feet, secretly contemplating something…

One day later, they encounter the pursuers from Shenwu Sect again.

Perhaps having learned from the previous encounter, over ten people now pursue them. Leading the group is a Nascent Soul cultivator with an extraordinary bearing. Merely standing in the air exudes a tremendous spiritual pressure.

Feng Lie’s gaze turns icy, and his sword moves effortlessly, exuding a sharp aura that isolates the oppressive force, finally allowing the pale-faced Qin Duan to catch his breath.

Just as Qin Duan was about to say something, Feng Lie suddenly handed him an item and turned to face the enemies.

“Leave this place and go to Liangzhou to find the person who recognizes this token.” Chilling Frost Sword sounds resonated as Feng Lie’s aura surged, his robes billowing, stirring up a gust of wind and snow. “Go now!”

Qin Duan takes two steps back, furrowing his brows. “With your cultivation, these people shouldn’t be…”

Before he could finish, Feng Lie had already taken action, slicing a sword intent straight towards the leader’s face.

But that person showed no sign of panic, casually tossing out a talisman, causing the sound of golden war drums to ring out. Two seconds later, the talisman ignited, but the opponent remained unharmed.

Qin Duan was startled. Even with his lower cultivation, he should have noticed that Feng Lie wasn’t as formidable as before. At most, he’s at the middle Nascent Soul stage, three realms lower than three hundred years ago.

He couldn’t help but recall the words that person had said before about being unable to hold off pursuers… At the time, he didn’t take it seriously, but now it seems to be the plain truth.

The pursuers numbered eleven, with one Nascent Soul cultivator and the rest at the Golden Core stage. Although Feng Lie is slightly ahead in cultivation, he can hardly fend off four hands with just two fists.

Gritting his teeth, Qin Duan looks at that figure with complicated eyes. He knows that with his current level, even if he stays, he’ll only be a burden.

Although Feng Lie doesn’t care about him, he still genuinely doesn’t want him to die.

With these thoughts in mind, he no longer hesitated and turned to flee.

Feng Lie brandished his sword again, cutting off a thunderbolt aimed at Qin Duan’s back and swatting away vine tendrils attempting a surprise attack. This display created a burst of energy, forcing the pursuers to step back for the time being.

The leader grinned and said, “Fen Daochang, your judgment is lacking. Your little lover abandoned you and escaped, yet you’re still struggling here. Why not surrender and maintain harmony? You won’t get hurt that way…”

Feng Lie closed his eyes, feeling the distant presence of the furnace cauldron’s (Qin Duan) aura. A weight was lifted off his heart. He took a deep breath and, as he opened his eyes, they gleamed with chilling determination. All the Golden Core cultivators present felt a shiver run down their spines and instinctively touched their necks to confirm they were unharmed before readying their spiritual treasures, preparing to strike.

The Nascent Soul cultivator, floating in mid-air, tried to shake Feng Lie’s resolve with words, but to his surprise, Feng Lie curled his lips ever so slightly, almost smiling.

“He’s gone, and that’s for the best.” Feng Lie lifted his sword, and the chilling sword sounds grew even sharper. The blade emitted a blue light, with icy waves surging and a sharp aura permeating the surroundings.

Seeing Feng Lie’s imposing stance, the Nascent Soul cultivator’s face changed. “You couldn’t possibly… Are you crazy, Feng Lie? Opening a miniature world with your current cultivation, aren’t you afraid of the true essence backlash, destroying your Dantian?!”

While speaking, he tried to hinder Feng Lie with several talismans, but the paper talismans were crushed into pieces by the sword intent before they could even touch Feng Lie. The sky above Feng Lie’s head began to distort as his aura surged. The group of Golden Core cultivators struggled to maintain their stance, their faces pale and blood trickling from their lips, evidently suffering internal injuries.

Time was running out—the Nascent Soul cultivator’s face flashed with ruthlessness. With a sweep of his sleeve, a golden talisman clipped between his fingers. He bit his tongue and spewed a mouthful of blood on it, chanting words under his breath.

The temperature around them began to rise, and the cultivator levitated with flames enveloping his body. He ignited the talisman, causing scorching flames to gather behind him, forming a colossal fire beast several meters tall. Its golden eyes were like forged iron, and its heat was palpable even from a distance.

In that instant, the flow of energy around Feng Lie suddenly stopped.

He raised his eyes, and his pupils turned an icy blue, while a small crack appeared in the sky above his head, just over a meter wide.

The Nascent Soul cultivator felt some relief, thinking Feng Lie was barely holding on…

However, it was clear that Feng Lie had other ideas.

Frosty sword light surged, and its sword intent rose over thirty meters, turning the surroundings into a frozen tundra.

Feng Lie squinted at the crack in the sky and swung his sword down. He forcefully cleaved open the partially formed miniature world!

When a cultivator reaches the Nascent Soul stage, they can condense a realm of their own within their sea of consciousness, and by breaking through the void, bring it into existence. This realm is known as a “miniature world.” The miniature world represents the cultivator’s lifetime achievements and is closely related to their temperament and cultivation path. 

For example, Qin Duan’s miniature world was called the “Demon Blood Abyss,” where red flowers blossomed everywhere, seemingly beautiful, yet beneath the flower-strewn path lay countless white bones. The interplay of red and white was intense and striking, mirroring the turbulent and tragic journey of his life.

On the other hand, Feng Lie’s miniature world contained only one element—swords.

In an endless expanse of pure white space, surging winds and snow concealed boundless sword intent. Anyone placed in this world without strong true essence protection would be swiftly shredded by the winds and snow. Moreover, the more enemies slain, the stronger the sword intent became.

After running back quite a distance, Qin Duan turned to look at the ever-changing scene in the distance, feeling somewhat uneasy. Even though Feng Lie was a genius among geniuses, reaching the Nascent Soul stage at such an early stage, his current cultivation state was damaged, and his foundation was not stable. Such actions seemed akin to seeking death…

Qin Duan lowered his head and looked at the object Feng Lie had given him—a small token made of mysterious iron, adorned with ancient patterns. The mysterious iron felt icy-cold, causing his palm to ache.

The ground beneath his feet trembled slightly, bringing him back to his senses. Clenching his teeth, he continued his escape.

He ran for a whole day and night. By the time the last trace of true essence was depleted from his body, Qin Duan leaned against a tree trunk on the roadside, panting heavily.

He had run from the depths of the mountains to the main road. A vast and flat road lay ahead, but the sky was already dark, and there were few carriages passing by, with only the gentle night breeze lingering.

Qin Duan exhaled a breath of turbid air and continued walking slowly along the road.

He took out the token again, flipping it back and forth in his palm, while contemplating the events that had just unfolded.

Feng Lie instructed him to head to Liangzhou with this token. Liangzhou was a neutral territory, not under the control of any major faction. However, due to its vastness, many martial arts sects had taken root here, including some renowned families of cultivators, with the Wen and Li families being the most prominent, making it a diverse and vibrant place.

As he thought about this, Qin Duan’s expression darkened, and his steps momentarily faltered.

Indeed, Liangzhou was the territory of the Wen family. If he went there, he might encounter… his former… acquaintance.

Qin Duan took a deep breath and forged ahead, taking another step.

However, up until now, Qin Duan had no idea about the true identity represented by this body. The only clue he had was the token and the words “Feng Yue Lou.” To uncover the truth, he had to make a choice between the two options.

Alternatively, he could throw away the token and find a secluded corner to settle down and live in seclusion…

A sudden pain shot through his brain, and Qin Duan’s vision blurred for a moment. He almost knelt on the ground, slamming his fist against the floor as he cursed the heavens.

His purpose in this reincarnation was to repay karma, overcome emotional tribulations, and ultimately ascend as a cultivator. Although he was still in the dark about many things, Feng Lie’s experiences reminded him of some things.

In his previous life, Qin Duan might have been stained with blood, but he had never killed innocent people recklessly. The “Supreme Forgetfulness Heart Sutra” he practiced advocated boundless love, where good and evil were indistinguishable. Those who practiced this path had to immerse themselves in the mortal world before transcending it. During the few hundred years when he was involved in mortal affairs, he had done some foolish things due to occasional whims… As for the outcome, he didn’t want to dwell on it.

If Feng Lie’s fate was considered karma, then it was an inescapable knot—because an extreme of emotion was essentially an absence of emotion. Those without feelings and desires, like untouched leaves amidst a cluster of flowers, were just like him.

Back then, his emotions were such, but looking at the present, there seemed to be a subtle change.

Feng Lie did things for him—oh, let’s assume it was for his sake since this face was a remnant of his past life. Feng Lie had risked his life for him, and it was impossible not to have any feelings at all. But when delving deeper into these emotions, Qin Duan was unwilling to think about it. He just believed that, with Feng Lie’s cultivation level, he wouldn’t truly die this time, although he would definitely be injured.

At this point, he abruptly cut off his thoughts and shifted his focus to future matters.

After spending a night on the main road, Qin Duan used illusion techniques to change his appearance and boarded a horse-drawn carriage as an ordinary person. It took him two more days to reach the nearest town.

He adopted the alias “Qin Xu” and claimed to be a wandering cultivator, traveling to visit relatives. The owner of the carriage was two well-dressed young masters, one named Wang and the other Zhao. Neither possessed spiritual roots, and while they behaved arrogantly and domineeringly, they weren’t necessarily bad at heart.

Within just two days, Qin Duan had become quite friendly with the two, almost like sworn brothers. After entering the city, they were invited to the finest restaurant, and the three of them booked a private room, indulging themselves in drinking.

Qin Duan’s current body had already built the foundation, and alcohol from the mortal realm was no different from plain water to him. He remained unaffected, while Wang and Zhao got carried away and drank excessively.

As spoiled young masters, they naturally had a penchant for romantic affairs, and in their drunken state, they enthusiastically talked about the allure of beautiful women. One moment they praised the charming allure of a lady at the Drunken Red Pavilion, and the next, they discussed the delicate jade-like hands of a lady at the Qinqi Lane. Qin Duan listened on with a faint smile, refilling his cup.

Qin Duan played his role to the fullest, finishing the wine in his cup with a flourish before asking casually, “Have you two gentlemen ever heard of Feng Yue Lou?”

His words silenced the entire room, and Wang and Zhao exchanged astonished glances.

Raising an eyebrow, Qin Duan pretended innocence and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Wang coughed twice and replied, “Brother Qin, Feng Yue Lou is not like those ordinary brothels. It’s a place where immortals enjoy themselves, not something we mortals can aspire to.”

Zhao chimed in, “Wang is right. I heard that Feng Yue Lou is planning to open a branch in Qingzhou recently. If you two are interested, you might as well go and take a look, indulging in some eye candy.”

Hearing this, Wang’s eyes lit up, and he stopped drinking to make arrangements for their trip to Qingzhou. Afterward, he asked Qin Duan, “Would Brother Qin be willing to join us for some soul-soothing fun?”

Qin Duan smiled, “Since you both insist, how can I not obey your wishes as a younger brother?”

The three of them drank a few more cups, and when they got tired, they slumped on the table and fell asleep. The next day, servants helped them onto the carriage, and Qin Duan sat next to the two drunken companions, sitting cross-legged against the carriage wall.

Although his cultivation had fallen by two realms due to the reversal of Dao and Demon, the two encounters with Feng Lie had not been entirely fruitless. Additionally, coming from a demonic background, he had a faster path to advancement compared to Dao cultivators. When he first opened his eyes, he didn’t hesitate to destroy his dantian and turn to demonic cultivation. His goal was to rise earlier and regain his former power—besides, all his previous achievements were in the demonic path. He couldn’t fully utilize them with a Dao cultivation base.

After circulating his cultivation for a small cycle, Qin Duan felt the surge of demonic energy in his dantian, faintly condensing into form. He gritted his teeth and persevered, working diligently through the night. When he opened his eyes again, he felt refreshed and clear-headed.

The cultivation he had lost before was mostly recovered, and soon, he would be able to form a golden core.

This progress relieved him somewhat, as having a golden core would provide him with more potential. Moreover, as a wandering cultivator, he had a few life-preserving secret techniques up his sleeve, which he could use after reaching the golden core stage.

At least, he wouldn’t be as passive as he was now.

As Qin Duan pondered this, he leaned his head against the carriage armrest. Outside the window, the sun was high in the sky, and the scorching rays made people feel hot and restless.

Qingzhou was located on the border of Liangzhou and was famous for its romantic allure, so it made sense for Feng Yue Lou’s branch to be established there.

However, based on what the two men said earlier, Feng Yue Lou was specifically for cultivators. Whether demonic or Dao cultivators, it wasn’t easy to say. He needed to be extremely cautious and must not make any mistakes.

Qin Duan wasn’t too concerned about the possibility of encountering cultivators at the mortal establishment. His illusion technique was impenetrable even by cultivators at the Golden Core stage, and given the sparse spiritual energy in Qingzhou, cultivators, especially those at the Nascent Soul stage or above, were scarce.

Regardless, he planned to investigate Feng Yue Lou discreetly, avoiding drawing any unnecessary attention to himself.

As the carriage journeyed along the road, they finally arrived in Qingzhou after three days. Wang stuck his head out of the window and noticed the spacious road bustling with numerous caravans, even some escorted by high-ranking officials with private guards, presenting a magnificent sight.

In comparison, their humble carriage looked much shabby, and Zhao attempted to console Wang, urging him to broaden his horizons and take it as an opportunity to learn.

Upon entering the city, they were astonished by the grandeur of the scene. Every inn they inquired at was fully booked, and the two young men became irritable and vexed. They were finally calmed down and persuaded to return to the carriage, though their displeased expressions remained.

Worried about their high-profile actions drawing attention, Qin Duan exited with them at the next inn. As he stepped in, a strong stench of blood reached his nose, causing him to tighten his hidden hand slightly.

Following the two young men as they demanded service from the innkeeper, Qin Duan deliberately slowed his pace and casually glanced upwards. He locked his gaze on a few rooms, confirming that they were safe before releasing his clenched hand.

This inn harbored demonic cultivators, and more than one at that.

This was somewhat unusual, considering that Dao cultivators were now in the ascendant, and most demonic cultivators were hiding in remote mountains and forests, afraid to venture into the open. Those who dared to openly walk the streets would, at the very least, possess a Golden Core cultivation base.

However, these few cultivators were so unaware of their surroundings that Qin Duan easily sensed them, indicating that they were likely low-level, unremarkable, and relying solely on human sacrifices to bolster their cultivation. They were not worth mentioning.

The heavy stench of blood in the inn suggested that they might have harmed mortals. Qin Duan had no interest in seeking justice for them, but he didn’t want to invite trouble for himself either. He was about to warn Wang and Zhao when he saw the two young men generously slap some silver onto the counter.

The plump innkeeper smiled contentedly as he took the money and handed them three tokens, each labeled with a room number.

Wang immediately grabbed one of the tokens and stuffed it into Qin Duan’s hand, saying, “Brother Qin, please don’t be shy…”

Qin Duan: “…”

Fine, since they were paying, there was no need to refuse.

As for those demonic cultivators… If any of them were foolish enough to come looking for trouble, he wouldn’t show mercy just because they were fellow cultivators.

****