047 A Leisurely Day Beneath Serene Skies

In the boundless darkness of the void, seven enormous fireballs burned fiercely, each illuminating its own corner of the emptiness. Pang Yue’s figure appeared silently within this vast space. Seven distinct flames cast their light upon him, seven currents of spiritual energy surged into his body, each evoking a different sensation.

Taiyin, Pure Yang, Qian Flame, Li Flame, Bing Spirit, Tai Ding, Samadhi!

The seven supreme True Flames of the world, all gathered by the sages of the Flame Demon Hall.

True Flame, a rare treasure of heaven and earth, is nearly impossible to obtain and considered priceless. Yet here they were, available for exchange with fifty thousand merit points. Such is the privilege of a great sect. Ordinary cultivation powers, even with the finest inheritances, might never find treasures perfectly suited to their techniques.

The Flame Demon Hall possessed such depth; the Thunder Demon, Wind Demon, Ice Demon, and Yuan Demon Halls were no different.

Pang Yue gazed at the immense True Flames, pondering carefully. At last, he chose one among them. With a thought, the fifty-three thousand merit points on his identity token vanished.

At the same moment, a fist-sized, pure flame appeared before him, suspended in midair. This flame did not radiate heat but instead evoked a sense of coldness, clarity, and tranquility.

Taiyin True Flame.

It could burn away a cultivator’s mana, divine sense, and soul. Even a trace of it, once touched, would never rest nor extinguish.

The flame before him was merely the seed, requiring Pang Yue to refine it according to the methods recorded in the Flame Demon True Manual—over years and months, slowly nurturing it until it grew strong.

Once incorporated into his seven great divine abilities, it would greatly amplify their power, giving them destructive force comparable to magical treasures.

Pang Yue lingered over the other six True Flames, then withdrew slowly from this space.

…

Ming Lake Island.

Green grass stretched along the shore. Wildflowers blossomed on the meadow, their colors reflected in the shimmering lake, pale as distant mountains—a scene as beautiful as a painting.

A seven-story, gray-white tower stood upon the lakeside grass, octagonal and ancient in design, its surface marked by traces of countless attacks, exuding a sense of age and endurance.

This tower, called the Grand Dao Desolation Tower, was a first-grade magical treasure. Though it possessed neither offensive nor defensive power, it was an unparalleled aid for cultivation.

Within it, Pang Yue’s speed in refining spiritual energy multiplied several times, saving countless hours of training.

---

On the seventh floor of the high tower, Pang Yue slowly withdrew his power.

After three months of arduous cultivation, he had finally refined the Taiyin True Flame completely! His own cultivation benefited greatly, nearing perfection in the fourth stage of Dao Foundation.

Many tasks remained.

The Grand Dao Rock and Ethereal Iron Essence he had exchanged from the Merit Hall needed to be refined into the Innate Infinity Stele and the Invisible Sword, elevating both treasures’ grades. This was the foundation of his standing and must take highest priority.

Next, the three Golden Core-level monster bones from Merit Hall must be refined into a White Bone Relic, adding another weapon for combat.

Besides the Flame Talisman Sword Scripture, the other six divine abilities needed to be advanced!

There was also the Heartless Divine Light…

And pill refinement…

Now, the Xu family had sent more than ten Qi-eating disciples to reside on Ming Lake Island, obeying Pang Yue’s commands. Aside from guiding their cultivation, he instructed them to regularly sell Heavenly Dust Pills at Qianyun Island and purchase monster beast inner cores in return.

Thus, a cycle was formed, ensuring Pang Yue never lacked the pills needed for training, allowing him to steadily advance his cultivation.

Finally… Dual cultivation.

Beyond the Harmony Sect’s Yin-Yang Return-to-Origin Technique, Pang Yue had gathered many dual cultivation secrets within the Heavenly Demon Illusion—each extraordinary.

Over these days, he and Qin Shuyi tried them all, gradually discerning their quality. Several were for entertainment, and Pang Yue, becoming increasingly adept, mastered each one.

Cultivating mana, refining divine abilities, forging treasures, pill refinement, dual cultivation… Pang Yue enjoyed a peaceful and fulfilling period.

In his previous life, playing the online game "Doushuai Heaven," he either fought monsters and leveled up or battled others in duels. When idle, he wandered the world with girls, discussing love, or participated in various celebrity events.

When had he ever truly lived as a cultivator, experiencing the life of one for even a few days?

Not long ago, Jin Yuege, the beautiful demoness, finally mastered the "Phoenix Reversal Vitality Technique."

The Third Princess invited Pang Yue, with reserved grace, to her underwater palace, gently indicating she could now fulfill her promise…

Thus, Pang Yue spent the night at the water palace.

With various factors aiding him, Pang Yue’s cultivation advanced rapidly.

Fate is unpredictable.

He broke through to the fifth stage of Dao Foundation right on the Third Princess’s fragrant couch…

Later, in Qin Shuyi’s boudoir, during a bath after their encounter, he refined the White Bone Relic, accidentally transforming it into an exquisite magical treasure…

In high spirits, Pang Yue promptly taught Qin Shuyi the Dao Foundation chapter of the "Supreme Purity Treasure Manual."

---

This technique refined one’s mana to be balanced and upright, brimming with immortal energy. Included was a secret body refinement art, allowing one to attain the Ice-Skin Jade-Bone divine ability, adding an ethereal, immortal aura.

After cultivating this method, Qin Shuyi progressed swiftly; her temperament became increasingly graceful and dynamic, tinged with noble transcendence.

At last, she took a small step toward escaping her fate as a cauldron.

If she could master the technique, she might even break into the latter stages of Dao Foundation…

Thus, Qin Shuyi became ever more obedient in serving Pang Yue.

As the saying goes, "Stolen leisure is half a day’s pleasure."

On this day,

Upon Ming Lake,

Jin Yuege and Pang Yue sparred with their arts, while Qin Shuyi played the zither on the shore for entertainment.

In truth, Jin Yuege had never reconciled herself to her defeat in the outer seas.

She, the proud Third Princess of the Crimson-Blooded Golden Flood Dragon, a perfected Dao Foundation monster, had been bested by a mere third-stage Dao Foundation cultivator.

She attributed it all to Pang Yue’s advantage with the Five Peaks Suppressing Prison Formation, the Yang Axe, and the mysterious Beast Refining Vessel, dismissing his own cultivation.

So when Pang Yue suggested a duel, the Third Princess gladly agreed.

The lake’s surface was mirror-smooth.

Jin Yuege wore close-fitting golden armor, her proud figure highlighted by the curves traced by the armor, exuding heroic elegance.

She wielded a dark-gold spear, her mana surging like a volcano on the verge of eruption, her presence overwhelming the entire island.

The God-Slaying Spear buzzed eagerly in her white hands, itching to sweep away her foe.

Opposite her, Pang Yue stood with hands behind his back, his aura merged with the world, his divine sense sweeping over emptiness—he seemed to vanish from existence.

“Be careful!” Jin Yuege warned, lowering her body, her long, athletic legs tensing.

In the next instant,

She shot forth like a golden bolt of lightning!

The lake exploded in thunder.

Where Jin Yuege had stood, a massive column of water soared skyward.