Chapter 576: Chapter 475: Eight Trigrams Furnace

Han Zhan heard Taishang Laojun’s words, and a look of surprise flashed across his face.

Eight Trigrams Furnace? Isn’t that the furnace Taishang Laojun uses for alchemy?

Taishang Laojun wants me to enter the furnace and refine me into a Human Pill?!

For a moment, Han Zhan’s view of Taishang Laojun completely changed.

Others might not know, but he certainly did—having grown up listening to legends, he knew a certain monkey was tricked into the alchemy furnace, which resulted in his Eyes of Golden Flame.

Though it turned into a blessing in disguise, Han Zhan didn’t believe he possessed the abilities of the Great Sage.

"Laojun, isn’t this... not quite appropriate?" Han Zhan hesitated for a moment, still wanting to tactfully refuse.

Being the messenger of the Queen Mother of the West, if he insisted, Taishang Laojun probably wouldn’t make things difficult for him.

Taishang Laojun discerned the refusal in Han Zhan’s words, shaking his head as he said, "Why not listen to me first, then decide."

"The Queen sent you with invitations, if I’m not mistaken, she also wishes for you to obtain some opportunity."

"Here, aside from elixirs, it’s about magical treasures. As for elixirs, even the supreme Nine Revolutions Golden Pill cannot compare to the Ancient God Body Tempering Technique you’ve cultivated so long, making it meaningless."

"As for magical treasures, I can offer you one or two, but the opportunities you receive would be quite limited."

Taishang Laojun’s words brought Han Zhan to silence.

"What if I agree to enter the Eight Trigrams Furnace?" he pondered for a moment and then asked rhetorically.

Seeing Han Zhan’s inquiry, Taishang Laojun’s smile broadened.

"If you agree to enter the Eight Trigrams Furnace, then the opportunities we can discuss are plentiful."

Taishang Laojun lightly waved his robe, speaking leisurely, "Firstly, it’s about refining the physique. Within my Eight Trigrams Furnace, a large number of rare herbs and sacred plants have been infused. These materials often come from the famous mountains and great rivers, absorbing the essence of the heavens and earth, and the sun and moon, possessing high spirituality and energy."

"Through them to assist you in refining and tempering the physique, complemented by Alchemy Treasure Skill, your physique can elevate to a higher tier. How much it can improve depends on how long you can endure within the Eight Trigrams Furnace."

Seeing Han Zhan silent, Taishang Laojun further explained, "Your current physique can support only up to seven Great Ruins, seven is the ultimate limit. Once it exceeds seven, your flesh body will collapse due to being unable to withstand."

Upon hearing this, Han Zhan abruptly lifted his head.

The significant reaction was because he knew Taishang Laojun was right!

He was merely mortal flesh, not some Ancient Demon God’s body. The Taixu Return Collection is an Ancient God Body Tempering Technique, forcibly used to temper a mortal flesh body, it is defying the natural order.

Like his teacher Li Shutong, despite such natural talents, condensing the Taixu Return Collection into a form suitable for ordinary humans to cultivate, with the Eight Urgent Fist, reached the Eighth Urgent Lock, ultimately could not withstand the power of the Realm of Transcendence, leading to his demise.

Taishang Laojun’s insight, directly pointing out the flaws in Taixu Return Collection, demonstrated that he wasn’t speaking carelessly but was indeed knowledgeable!

"In your opinion, if I undergo body tempering inside the Eight Trigrams Furnace, how many Great Ruins can be activated?" Han Zhan couldn’t resist asking.

Taishang Laojun gave a slight smile, "The way of heaven and earth, nine is the extreme, more leads to an untimely end."

Nine? Not the expected eight, but nine!

If it indeed happens, the opportunities from this trip to Douluo Palace are utterly tremendous for Han Zhan!

"However, you shouldn’t celebrate too early either." Taishang Laojun noticed Han Zhan’s elation, candidly clarifying, "I am inviting you into the Eight Trigrams Furnace because my refining of the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill has reached a bottleneck; seeking a breakthrough, I must find another way."

"To internalize the Ancient Body Tempering Technique and innovate a new method for the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill, that’s my pursuit in the Alchemy Dao."

"Hence, even I cannot guarantee the extent of body refining you’ll achieve within the Eight Trigrams Furnace."

Possibly the Supreme Physique endowed upon oneself, or perhaps the Six Ding Divine Fire engulfs your body and spirit.

Since Taishang Laojun is also in an exploratory phase, failure is a normal occurrence for him.

Consider this: even the Great Sage Equal to Heaven nearly perished in the Eight Trigrams Furnace, the magnitude of its risk is apparent.

"However, I’m also willing to offer you another promised compensation." Taishang Laojun continued, "If you agree to enter the Eight Trigrams Furnace, regardless of success or failure, I can help enhance the grade of one of your magical treasures."

Besides being a master of the Alchemy Dao, Taishang Laojun is highly skilled in artifact refining.

The magical treasures he forges are renowned.

For him to agree to enhance the grade of a magical treasure, it’s truly a priceless opportunity!

Upon hearing this, Han Zhan finally made up his mind, nodding in agreement, "Alright, it’s a deal, I’m willing to enter the Eight Trigrams Furnace to assist Laojun in exploring the Alchemy Dao!"

Han Zhan’s straightforwardness came from one thing.

After speaking, he looked down at his palm, where the bright number "2" floated visibly.

He had two lives, even if the body tempering failed, perished here, there was still a chance to start over, wasn’t there?

Seeing Han Zhan agree, Taishang Laojun was also very pleased, and the two of them approached the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

This was Han Zhan’s first time seeing the legendary Eight Trigrams Furnace.

It had a circular body, symbolizing a cosmology of round heavens and square earth.

On the furnace body, eight trigrams patterns were engraved, as well as cloud patterns, dragon and phoenix figures, and various immortal herbs and mythical beasts’ reliefs, full of immortal energy.

The furnace lid was typically domed, embedded with bright pearls to gather the essence of heaven and earth.

The furnace’s base was solid, inscribed with runes to stabilize the furnace, preventing shaking and energy leakage during alchemy.

Taishang Laojun approached the pill furnace, gently flicking his duster, and the lid of the Eight Trigrams Furnace opened; he gestured for Han Zhan to proceed.

Without hesitation or delay, upon seeing the opened lid, Han Zhan nodded at Taishang Laojun and leapt into the Eight Trigrams Furnace!

Inside the Eight Trigrams Furnace, various colored divine lights swirled; it should be the medicinal properties left by the heavenly materials and earthly treasures within,

The entire furnace’s temperature wasn’t high, even somewhat cool.

At this moment, Taishang Laojun’s voice resonated muffled through the furnace, "Seven Immortal Maidens, this old Daoist is about to begin."

"Laojun, proceed with your trial!" Inside, Han Zhan responded.

The next second, with a whoosh, a blaze of extreme heat erupted, it was the Celestial Fire within the Eight Trigrams Furnace—the Six Ding Divine Fire!

The Six Ding Divine Fire could incinerate skies and boil seas, refining all things, it was an immensely powerful flame,

At its instant of emergence, Han Zhan’s entire body was scorched black, even with six Great Ruins simultaneously surging with all their might, his flesh and blood at the Tier Eight Peak of a body cultivator couldn’t withstand the roasting of the Six Ding Divine Fire.

Soon, all of Han Zhan’s flesh burned away, leaving only jade-like bones, still struggling to endure.

Meanwhile, Taishang Laojun’s voice echoed once again outside the furnace.

"Hold on, now it’s the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill’s refining method, Mellow Fire, the First Revolution."