Chapter Seventeen: Reducing the Demonic Cauldron to Scrap Iron

“So, this cauldron is what Ash Crane used to kill and seize souls?”
“That’s right.”
Ling Yan calmly analyzed, “If I’m not mistaken, this must be the treasure Ash Crane obtained from the Demon Emperor Ni Qin on the eve of his escape from the Wilds of Cangwu. I just didn’t expect that, in his haste last night, he actually forgot to take his own personal artifact with him.”
“Should we destroy it, then? If Ash Crane returns and reclaims this cauldron, he’ll carry on slaughtering people for their souls to bolster his cultivation. That would be a disaster!” Bai Mu reminded her urgently.
“Of course.”
Ling Yan replied without hesitation, “In fact, I wanted to destroy this Primordial Eight-Sided Cauldron last night. But my Silk-Flame Firefly Fan is gone, and the Jade Cold Flute in my hand is too fragile. If I clashed head-on with this cauldron forged from overseas celestial iron, I might damage the flute’s spiritual power. So I didn’t act.”
“No worries!”
Bai Mu patted his chest, vowing confidently, “With my Azure Dragon Sword, smashing this little cauldron is the easiest thing in the world!”
“But the sword energy in your body…”
Ling Yan cast him a concerned glance.
“It should be fine.”
Bai Mu pondered a moment. “The sword energy within me hasn’t acted up these past few days. Only last night, when the moon was full, did it stir faintly. So Ash Crane didn’t deceive us—the energy shouldn’t flare up under normal circumstances. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“All right.”
Ling Yan nodded sensibly, then quickly stepped back three paces, reminding him with concern, “This cauldron is no ordinary object. Don’t overexert yourself. If it’s too much, don’t act recklessly. We can always store it away and deal with it later.”
“Don’t worry.”
Bai Mu replied nonchalantly, then gradually merged his spiritual consciousness with the sword energy within him, guiding the ancient Azure Dragon sword energy in his dantian to coalesce. He directed it through the Triple Burner meridian to the Laogong point in his palm, channeling it into the Azure Dragon Sword.
Raising his head, he let out a thunderous shout and swung his right hand forward. Instantly, the sword emitted a deep, resonant dragon’s cry, and the swirling sword energy surged forth with unstoppable force—so swift the eye could barely follow—as it struck the body of the Primordial Eight-Sided Cauldron, sending a cloud of white ash billowing into the air.
A metallic clang rang out—

At the very instant sword energy collided with the cauldron, an ear-splitting crash resounded, forcing Bai Mu and Ling Yan to leap back nearly ten yards, narrowly avoiding the storm of energy.
They looked again. The towering Primordial Eight-Sided Cauldron now lay split cleanly in two, cut straight down the middle. The sword’s edge was so sharp and swift that there wasn’t the slightest burr; the two halves were as smooth as if nature itself had crafted them.
“Amazing!”
Ling Yan stepped forward, raising her slender thumb in praise. “Bai Mu, after yesterday’s battle, your control over the Azure Dragon’s sword energy has grown stronger still. If you keep progressing at this rate, you’ll master it even before we reach Floating Jade Mountain!”
Bai Mu, flustered by the beautiful Ling Yan’s praise, scratched his head sheepishly. “I only know a little, really. I’m nowhere near proficient. But should I strike the cauldron a few more times, just to make sure Ash Crane returns to nothing but scrap metal?”
“Go ahead, give it a few more blows. When that old Ash Crane returns to his lair, he’ll probably be so angry his face turns green!”
With these gleeful words, Ling Yan didn’t linger in the cave and quickly stepped outside, leaving Bai Mu to finish the job.
Once everything that should be smashed was smashed, and everything that should be destroyed was destroyed, the two surveyed the battlefield with satisfaction, then set off side by side toward Dayong Market at the foot of Mount Mang.
It is often said that climbing a mountain is easy, but descending is hard—the ancients spoke true.
The two wandered for quite some time, weaving through the mountain paths, yet never caught even a glimpse of the foot of the mountain. With their skill, covering a few dozen miles should have been swift and effortless.
Yet, after meandering through the dense forest for what seemed like ages, they still couldn’t find the way to Dayong Market.
Just as they were about to collapse from exhaustion, Ling Yan had a sudden inspiration and whispered, “Bai Mu, don’t you have your master’s Baize Beast Map?”
“Why don’t you take out the Baize Beast Map and see if it shows the way to Dayong Market?”
“That won’t work,” Bai Mu replied calmly. “The Baize Beast Map is a divine artifact my master painted to combat the demon clans. It records the traits and weaknesses of ancient monsters—it’s not a living map. How could it possibly show the way to Dayong Market?”
“You really are dense!”
Ling Yan rapped him on the head in exasperation, deliberately mocking, “If you’d paid more attention to your master’s lessons, you wouldn’t be so lost now, would you?”

“Let me ask you, does the Baize Beast Map mention where monsters live?”
“Of course,” Bai Mu answered blankly, wondering what mischief this clever Ling Yan was up to.
“Well, then it’s simple! For famous mountains like Mang Mountain, where Dream-Eaters are known to appear, the Baize Map is bound to mention them. All you have to do is find where the Dream-Eater is marked, and just opposite it will be Dayong Market!”
“What’s more, you probably don’t know this—the Baize Beast Map is far more than just a living map. According to my father, it was once blessed by the great divine power of the ancient Father God. Not only can it absorb monsters, it can also purify demonic and monstrous energies!”
“I know all that!” Bai Mu replied indifferently. “My master told me about the map’s functions, so there’s no need to remind me. Since you say the map can point us to Dayong Market, I’ll give it a try.”
With that, Bai Mu took out the ancient, yellowed scroll from his pack and began searching methodically.
After a moment’s silence, Bai Mu’s brows suddenly lifted and a broad smile broke out. “Ling Yan, you’re incredible! The map does show Dayong Market—just under fifty miles north of us.”
Ling Yan chuckled slyly, but secretly she was overjoyed.
It wasn’t that she was so clever, but that her father had often mentioned the Baize Beast Map, and her own curiosity had driven her to ask many questions. Thus, she knew the scroll inside and out—though Bai Mu would never realize this.
With their direction set, the two tapped the ground lightly and soared gracefully over the lush forest, heading north toward Dayong Market.