Chapter 1287: Chapter 485: Furnace Explosion? (Part 2)

Originally, the Human Desire Power could also take human form, but these powers worshiped Zhou Xuan too much. Tonight, they were determined to refine elixirs for Zhou Xuan, so they became the water inside the furnace, cooperating well.

However, those "Seven Emotions and Six Desires" did not cooperate as much. They were unwilling to blend into the elixir water and kept struggling to break free.

"What exactly feeble and weak things have I done to make you all think I lack a heart of stone?"

First, there was King Xishan’s admonition of "A gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen," and now Alchemist Bai Lu was advising Zhou Xuan to refrain from acting on compassion,

Zhou Xuan was quite speechless. He even wondered if he was too dignified, leading everyone to think of him as a saint of chaotic times.

"I have some benevolence, but even in my great compassion, I know what’s called timely restraint."

Zhou Xuan said emphatically.

Alchemist Bai Lu heard this and ceased his persuasion.

The alchemy continued, but soon, it seemed there were some problems with the alchemical process,

the problem being those who were crying for help. They were all floating and sinking in the emerald water, yet there was no sign of them being refined.

These people were transformed from the Seven Emotions and Six Desires. To create an elixir, these people had to be torn apart, merged, and then their essence extracted,

extracting the purest part to condense into an elixir.

"These people can’t be refined? The pill furnace is overestimating itself."

For the first time, Alchemist Bai Lu was experiencing "visual alchemy." Previously, in his alchemies, a furnace was just a furnace. To know the situation inside, he had to judge by the color, direction, and strength of the Fire Eye.

Hence, an Alchemy Master had to undergo many years of practice and accumulate rich experience to produce high-quality elixirs.

But for Zhou Xuan’s elixir, what need was there for a master craftsman’s experience? Just watch and see.

This way of alchemy was too simple for Old Bai Lu.

Zhou Xuan, having heard Alchemist Bai Lu’s words, asked, "What do you mean when you say this pill furnace is overestimating itself?"

"Since this pill furnace is a living being, it possesses human spirituality. With human spirituality come human weaknesses—people, especially masters, tend to overestimate themselves,

and if successful, it is courage stemming from skill, but if unsuccessful, it is being vainglorious,

and this mountain-like gigantic pill furnace likely belongs to the latter."

Alchemist Bai Lu, with a regretful expression, said, "It has taken in too much of the Seven Emotions and Six Desires, trying to refine them all at once, but it can’t be done."

Zhou Xuan didn’t have time to listen to Alchemist Bai Lu’s ramblings; he only cared about "What if it never gets refined, what will happen to the furnace?"

"It will explode."

Alchemist Bai Lu said, "That fire in the chamber keeps burning, but the Seven Emotions and Six Desires never get refined. Over time, the fire grows fiercer, to the point where it exceeds the furnace’s tolerance, and the furnace will shatter."

"An explosion?" Finally, a trace of concern appeared in Zhou Xuan’s eyes.

He also never expected that this furnace would have human vices, troubling itself.

He hadn’t finished complaining when Alchemist Bai Lu began to shout,

"Mr., there are signs of an explosion."

Alchemist Bai Lu was jumping in anxiety, slapping his thighs in frustration.

Zhou Xuan also looked toward the furnace, seeing that the two large fish, blue and red, were barely fish anymore,

the two fish had become two dragons, giant ones indeed, a blue and a red one, surging within the furnace.

The two dragons were even growing, their massive bodies making the mountain-like furnace struggle to contain them. If this continued, the blue and red dragons wouldn’t even need to cause mischief; their mere presence would burst the furnace apart.

"Old Bai Lu, is there a way to refine those Seven Emotions and Six Desires?"

"If it were any other small furnace, there might be some methods, nothing more than lifting the lid and removing the materials that have not yet been refined."

"Can the extracted materials still be used?" Zhou Xuan asked.

"No, they can’t be used anymore. Weighing the lesser of two evils, discarding some materials to preserve the furnace, is a common practice among Alchemy Masters."

Alchemist Bai Lu sighed and said, "But this tripod furnace is too large, taller than a mountain, containing blue and red Heavenly Fire. The power within, if unleashed, could collapse half of the Mingjiang Prefecture, and anyone entering the chamber would meet a dead end."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan considered quickly. After just a few thoughts, he suddenly shouted toward the furnace, "Star Sky Scroll, open the lid and let me enter the furnace."

"Mr., are you going in to extract the excess Seven Emotions and Six Desires? That should never be done."

Alchemist Bai Lu hurriedly advised.

His old friends standing by also advised Zhou Xuan to reconsider.

"Xuanzi, don’t act rashly. Let the furnace refine a bit more by itself; it might soon dissolve all those people."

Yun Ziliang also feared for Zhou Xuan’s safety.

Zhou Xuan, however, shook his head and said, "If I wait any longer, I fear I’ll miss the last chance."

He feared that if he waited a moment longer, the situation of the furnace would deteriorate quickly, and by then, the entire situation might truly become irreparable.

"The blue and red fish are raised in my Secret Realm, the Seven Emotions and Six Desires are subject to my Law of Destiny, and the surging Human Desire Power is essentially the trust the people of Mingjiang Prefecture have in me,

they all have many bonds with me. I surmise that none of them will harm me, which is the main reason I choose to enter the furnace."

Zhou Xuan was no reckless fool. Even though his thoughts turned extremely fast just now, it didn’t mean he hadn’t thought deeply.

"This tripod furnace, these materials, are not easily obtained. If they’re destroyed, collecting them again would require a lot of effort and they must not be ruined."