Nine Star Hegemon Body Arts

Chapter 5530 Demon Moon Cauldron

After sending off Feng Fei, Long Chen found himself caught in a swirl of emotions. A faint sense of disappointment lingered within him.

Ever since their time in the mortal world, when their relationship had shifted from enemies to allies, Feng Fei had always admired him, almost to the point of worship. But now, her unwavering faith in him was gone. Worse, it had been replaced with pity—a sentiment that grated on Long Chen more than he cared to admit.

This time, Feng Fei had only shared information about the Jiuli Divine Stele and Long Zaiye. She hadn’t mentioned anything about the Jiang, Ye, or Zhao clans’ peak experts. To her, it was unnecessary. In her eyes, a single Long Zaiye was enough to seal Long Chen’s fate. Why trouble him with more?

Though Long Chen understood her intentions were good, this feeling gnawed at him. Yet, instead of sinking into frustration, it lit a fire in his heart.

“Hehe, it seems there’s finally going to be a real slaughter,” Evilmoon said, its voice brimming with dark excitement.

Since the Dragon Domain’s bloody battle, Evilmoon had absorbed an immense amount of blood soul energy, which amplified its sinister aura. Its runes shimmered with a newfound intensity, brimming with deadly power.

Just then, Yao Ling-er’s cheerful voice echoed in Long Chen’s mind.

“Big Brother Long Chen, Ling-er can help too! I’ve finally mastered this body!”

Now the master of the Demon Moon Cauldron, Yao Ling-er spoke with excitement. Though a counterfeit of the legendary Heaven Earth Cauldron, the cauldron had undergone a transformation. With guidance from the Earth Cauldron and Yao Ling-er’s persistent efforts, the Demon Moon Cauldron now exuded a menacing and powerful aura, vastly different from before.

The Earth Cauldron’s energy radiated a sacred and majestic presence, while the Demon Moon Cauldron was its opposite—a demonic force imbued with sharp killing intent.

“Big brother Long Chen, I’m in control of thirty-nine attack runes of the Demon Moon Cauldron. I can fight alongside you now!” declared Yao Ling-er.

Long Chen observed the cauldron’s flashing runes. Each one pulsed with sharp, murderous energy, causing his heart to tremble. When he had first obtained the Demon Moon Cauldron, he only wanted Yao Ling-er to have a place to rest. At most, he was thinking that she could refine some demonic pills for him in the future.

With the Earth Cauldron’s guidance, thirty-nine runes on the Demon Moon Cauldron had been fully activated. These runes radiated an intense, deadly aura distinct from those of the Earth Cauldron. Long Chen noted that many of these runes were unique and didn’t exist on the Earth Cauldron, exuding an immense divine might that left him deeply astonished.

It quickly became clear to him that the Earth Cauldron had poured a significant amount of its core energy into empowering the Demon Moon Cauldron. Without such an infusion, it would have been impossible for it to emit such a terrifying aura.

The Earth Cauldron often couldn’t help Long Chen in combat. Feeling guilty over this, it had stealthily carried out this plan. Perhaps constantly being looked down on by Evilmoon had caused it to raise the Demon Moon Cauldron so that it could fight for it.

Long Chen couldn't help being very moved by this. After all, the Earth Cauldron’s core energy was extremely precious.

“The Demon Moon Cauldron might be a counterfeit, but its runes are authentic, as was the creator’s power. However, many of the runes are incomplete—mere forms without their spirits. I could only awaken these thirty-nine slaughter runes,” explained the Earth Cauldron. “These slaughter runes belong to the Heaven Cauldron. Although they are few, the unique material of the Demon Moon Cauldron will enable them to grow stronger with every life taken.”

“Senior, it’s been hard on you,” said Long Chen sincerely, his tone filled with appreciation.

“I can’t personally aid you in battle, so this was the best I could do,” replied the Earth Cauldron. “Moreover, the Demon Moon Cauldron will allow you to switch us out when necessary without drawing suspicion.”

Long Chen nodded thoughtfully. The addition of the Demon Moon Cauldron provided him with a perfect disguise for the Earth Cauldron. After all, only the Silver Hair Void Crusher had ever identified the Earth Cauldron, and with him dead, the secret had perished as well. Now, Long Chen could freely alternate between the two cauldrons, sowing confusion among his enemies about what was real and what was counterfeit.

“Don’t look down on the Demon Moon Cauldron. Once its runes mature, its power will give you a shock,” said the Earth Cauldron.

Long Chen once more thanked the Earth Cauldron. Finally, after such a long period of hard cultivation, Yao Ling-er could fight alongside Long Chen again. She was extremely excited.

To let Long Chen wield the Demon Moon Cauldron more effectively, the Earth Cauldron taught him a specialized set of techniques. As Long Chen practiced, he quickly discovered the Demon Moon Cauldron’s terrifying potential.

Each rune could unleash a terrifying attack capable of easily slaying Human Emperors. More astonishingly, when multiple runes were linked together, their destructive power multiplied exponentially. Even better, the Demon Moon Cauldron didn’t drain his energy; it relied entirely on Yao Ling-er’s cooperation.

The most frightening feature of all, however, was its ability to replenish itself. The energy it consumed for its attacks could be restored through slaughter. As long as there were enemies to kill, the Demon Moon Cauldron could continue fighting indefinitely.

“Senior, these runes...?” asked Long Chen, turning to the Earth Cauldron.

Seemingly knowing what Long Chen was thinking, the Earth Cauldron said, “These runes come from the Heaven Cauldron. I can only activate them, not refine them. I could teach you how to use Earth energy because I am the Earth Cauldron. If you want to control Heaven energy, you’ll need to find the Heaven Cauldron first.”

Long Chen’s mind raced with possibilities. What if he could refine these runes and integrate them into his bloodline? Wouldn’t that grant him a new arsenal of devastating bloodline abilities?

Back when the Earth Cauldron taught Long Chen how to wield Earth energy, it fused seamlessly with his flesh, blood, bones, and even his soul. The benefits had been profound, leaving a lasting impact on his cultivation. It was precisely this transformative experience that made him eager to absorb these runes.

“My energy is Yin-based, rooted in the power of life,” explained the Earth Cauldron. “The Heaven Cauldron, on the other hand, is Yang-based, focused entirely on destruction. Our energies are fundamentally opposite, so I can only assist you to this extent. However, once you gain sufficient mastery over the Demon Moon Cauldron, I believe you will quickly sense the Heaven Cauldron.”

Long Chen hesitated before voicing a question that had been on his mind. “Senior, there’s something I’ve never understood. From what I know, the Heaven Earth Cauldron was originally one entity. How did you end up separated?”

The Earth Cauldron fell silent and looked at Evilmoon. After a long pause, Evilmoon’s voice cut through the tension. “What are you staring at me for?”

“Was I?”

The Earth Cauldron flashed with divine light and vanished from the primal chaos space, retreating into Long Chen’s spiritual space.

The sudden departure left Long Chen’s heart shaken, an inexplicable thought forming in his mind. But before he could dwell on it, Tang Wan-er entered the room.

“The head pavilion’s people have all come,” she announced.