System Possession, One Sword Shocks the Gods

88: Earthly evil spirits formed, the furnace shook.The fourth level of the myriad laws furnace: pressure like an abyss, Laws like steel.

Ye Chen sat cross-legged on that dark-gold Law Crystal, like a small boat in a raging sea, liable at any moment to be crushed by the surrounding ’Law Crystal Aura’—which was as solidified as amber yet violently conflicting. The twenty-to-one time flow made his thoughts feel as if they were sinking into a thick mire; every turn of thought required a massive expenditure of mental effort.

But his mind was clear and empty. Nirvana Sword Intent, like the most precise carving knife, meticulously sculpted himself in this extremely harsh environment, guiding that incredibly heavy Seven-colored Flowing Light Energy to seep into his body bit by bit.

This was no longer simple Spiritual Qi absorption, but the direct drawing and refining of the ’Law Fragments’ and ’Origin Protective Aura’ of this place!

Ordinary Cultivators breaking through to the Earth Fiend Realm need to find an Earth Fiend Vein and draw the heavy, solid Evil Qi—which contains the Earth Power from deep within the earth’s veins—into their bodies to merge with their own spiritual power, transforming spiritual power into Protective Aura and building the Foundation of the Earth Fiend Realm. Although the process is also dangerous, the energy attributes are at least relatively singular and pure.

But what Ye Chen was doing now could be called insane! What he was channeling was the ’Chaos Crystal Aura’ within the fourth level of the myriad laws furnace, which was forcibly smelted from Star Power, Earth Core Fire, and countless shattered Laws! Its complexity of attributes and violence of energy exceeded ordinary Earth Fiend Veins by hundreds or thousands of times!

If not for his Guixu Sword Intent, which could devour, decompose, and smelt myriad Laws, and the protection of the Sword Venerable True Spirit over his mind, he probably would have suffered Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering the moment he channeled this Chaos Crystal Aura into his body!

”Sizzle—”

The seven-colored Chaos Crystal Aura, like unruly Dragons, surged into Ye Chen’s Meridians. Everywhere they passed, his Meridians let out groans of being overburdened, and even tiny cracks appeared! The various conflicting Laws contained within were like countless red-hot steel needles, stabbing fiercely into his Sea of Consciousness!

Pain! A pain much deeper and more fundamental than before!

Ye Chen’s face was as pale as paper and sweat fell like rain as his body trembled slightly, but he held fast to his sword heart, using Nirvana intent as a guide and Guixu Sword Intent as a furnace to forcibly constrain and refine these violent energies.

The guixu sword floated above his head, light flowing over its blade as it formed a miniature Chaos Vortex. It not only helped him share the external pressure but also resonated with the refining process inside his body, constantly feeding the pure Protective Aura—which had been decomposed and purified—back into his Dantian.

Inside his Dantian, the spiritual power cyclone that originally rotated like a nebula began to undergo an earth-shaking change under the injection of this pure Protective Aura. At the center of the cyclone, a highly condensed ’gang core’—which radiated a heavy, ancient, and destructive aura—was slowly condensing and taking shape!

This was the hallmark of the Earth Fiend Realm—the earth fiend gang core!

As the gang core condensed, the aura around Ye Chen’s body also began to undergo a qualitative change. The originally nimble and elegant spiritual power gradually took on the weight of the earth and the vastness of the stars, further containing a trace of the Nirvana true intent of Guixu. Under the washing of this power, the Impurities in his Physical Body were further removed, and his bones and muscles became denser, shimmering with a jade-like luster and faintly resonating with the surrounding Law Crystal Aura.

Time passed rapidly in this distorted space. Perhaps only a few hours had passed outside, but here, it had already been several days.

Ye Chen was completely immersed in this process of shedding his mortal coil. His consciousness seemed to transcend the constraints of his Physical Body, merging into the Law operations of the furnace’s fourth level. He ’saw’ the birth and death of stars, the flow of earth fire, and the collision and evolution of countless Laws... He gained a deeper understanding of ’Nirvana’ and ’Guixu’. Nirvana was not simple destruction, but also the ultimate return of energy and form; Guixu was not the end, but the hub for the Reincarnation of all things—the end of the old order, yet also nurturing the seeds of a new order.

The earth fiend gang core in his Dantian, after absorbing a massive amount of Chaos Crystal Aura, finally condensed completely! It was a crystal about the size of a pigeon egg, dark Chaos in color, with countless tiny Star Vortexes and Guixu Runes flowing over its surface! The crystal rotated slowly, emitting a terrifying aura as heavy as a mountain and as vast as a sea, yet carrying the sense of an ending!

The barrier from the Spiritual Gang Realm to the Earth Fiend Realm shattered with a bang at this moment!

A powerful force, ten times more majestic than before, surged out from the earth fiend gang core and instantly flowed through Ye Chen’s entire body! The Meridians that had been damaged by refining energy were instantly repaired and widened, the strength of his Physical Body soared once again, and his Soul seemed to receive a fundamental sublimation, becoming more solid, with his perception range and sensitivity greatly increased!

Earth Fiend Realm, First Level!

Furthermore, because he used Chaos Crystal Aura for his Foundation, the quality of his earth fiend Protective Aura far exceeded those of the same level; its power was incomparable!

Ye Chen suddenly opened his eyes, which seemed to contain starry seas rising and falling, and Guixu evolving! He stood up, feeling the surging earth fiend Protective Aura within his body that contained terrifying power, and couldn’t help but let out a clear, long roar!

The roar was like a Dragon’s cry, echoing in this solidified fourth-level space, actually causing those huge Law Crystals around him to tremble slightly!

However, at the very moment he succeeded in his Breakthrough and his mind was stirred—

Another change occurred!

The entire fourth-level space of the myriad laws furnace shook violently without warning! It was not because of the commotion from his Breakthrough, but rather a deeper-level tremor originating from the furnace itself!

”Rumble—!!!”

The starry dome above seemed about to collapse, the ocean of Law Crystal Aura beneath his feet churned wildly, and those floating giant Law Crystals collided and exploded randomly as if they had lost gravity! The spatial structure became extremely unstable, and tiny black cracks appeared and disappeared!

A violent energy turbulence, far exceeding any previous moment, erupted like an awakened primeval Vicious Beast from the very core of the furnace, sweeping in all directions!

”What’s going on?!” Ye Chen’s expression changed slightly as he immediately steadied himself, the guixu sword held in his hand, alertly perceiving his surroundings. This tremor was no small matter; it was definitely not a natural phenomenon!

Could it be that the Dark Hall had discovered this place and was attacking the furnace from the outside? Or... had something gone wrong with the furnace itself?

Before he could think further, that terrifying energy turbulence had already reached him! The destructive energy contained within was several times more violent than the Chaos Crystal Aura he had refined earlier! Everywhere it passed, even those solid Law Crystals were instantly vaporized!

Ye Chen did not dare to be careless. His earth fiend Protective Aura erupted, and his Guixu Sword Intent rose to its peak, laying down a thick dark Chaos Sword Aura barrier in front of him!

”Boom—!!!”

The energy turbulence slammed into the barrier, letting out a deafening roar! The barrier shook violently, its light flickering uncertainly. Ye Chen only felt an indescribable colossal force strike him, and he was pushed back dozens of feet before he could barely steady himself!

What terrifying power! This was definitely not something the Earth Fiend Realm could contend with! If he hadn’t just broken through and possessed extremely high-quality Protective Aura, along with the protection of Guixu Sword Intent, he probably would have been seriously injured by that single hit!

But this energy turbulence seemed endless, wave after wave, constantly battering his defenses! More troublesome was that the entire fourth-level space was on the brink of collapse and destruction!

He had to leave immediately!

Ye Chen’s gaze was sharp as he instantly locked onto the direction of the entrance he had come from. The originally stable energy barrier there was now covered in cracks, clearly affected as well.

He no longer hesitated and struck out fiercely with the guixu sword!

”Guixu — Void Rend!”

A condensed Chaos Sword Aura tore through the surging energy turbulence ahead, temporarily opening a narrow passage! Ye Chen’s figure was like lightning as he sped out along the passage!

Along the way, he saw many floating Law Crystals shatter and explode in the turbulence, releasing destructive energy. There were even some singular creatures born of pure Laws hidden deep within the crystals, wailing and being annihilated in despair. The entire fourth level was like the coming of doomsday!

His speed was extremely fast, and in a few flashes, he had rushed to the barrier between the third and fourth levels. By now, the barrier was full of holes, and he crossed through easily.

The situation in the third level was also not optimistic; the sea of Chaos energy was boiling and roaring, and energy storms raged, but compared to the complete collapse of the fourth level, there was at least a place to stand.

Ye Chen did not stop, continuing to rush toward the second and first levels. The further out he went, the weaker the tremors seemed, but the stability of the entire furnace space was declining.

When he finally rushed out of that vortex-like entrance and returned to the canyon, he saw Principal Yun Canghai standing at the entrance with a grave expression, his hands forming seals as majestic spiritual power was injected into the stone wall runes, struggling to stabilize the furnace’s entrance. However, a trace of blood had already seeped from the corner of his mouth; he was clearly supporting it with great difficulty.

”Principal!” Ye Chen immediately stepped forward.

Seeing Ye Chen appear safely and that his aura had already stepped into the Earth Fiend Realm, a flash of pleasant surprise crossed Yun Canghai’s eyes, but it was immediately replaced by even greater concern: ”It’s good that you’re alright! For some reason, the furnace core suddenly rioted and the energy went out of control. I must close the entrance immediately, or there’s a risk of collapse which could affect the academy!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the vortex entrance suddenly expanded, and an even more terrifying suction came from within, as if it wanted to swallow the entire canyon! The runes on the stone wall flickered wildly and uncertainly!

Yun Canghai groaned, his face turning several shades paler.

Ye Chen’s eyes narrowed, and without hesitation, he injected his newly condensed earth fiend Protective Aura without reservation into the guixu sword!

”Principal, let me help you!”

The guixu sword let out a mighty sword hum, and Chaos sword light soared into the sky. It did not attack but instead transformed into an incredibly solid ’Sword Intent Wedge’, which was driven fiercely into the center of the expanding vortex!

”Suppress!”

With Ye Chen’s low shout, that violent suction suddenly stalled, and the expanding vortex began to slowly shrink and stabilize.

Yun Canghai’s pressure was greatly reduced, and he took the opportunity to fully activate the Formation. The light of the runes on the stone wall flared brilliantly, finally solidifying and closing the vortex entrance, leaving only the original smooth stone wall as if nothing had ever happened.

Calm was restored to the canyon, with only the lingering scent of chaotic energy proving the danger that had just occurred.

Yun Canghai let out a long breath, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at Ye Chen, his gaze full of shock and lingering fear: ”The Earth Fiend Realm... and with such a robust Foundation! Good! Excellent! If you hadn’t acted in time, I’m afraid...”

He looked at the peaceful stone wall with lingering fear and said in a heavy voice, ”The upheaval of the furnace core was no accident. I’m afraid... it’s related to the Dark Hall, or to the Awakening of your Sword Venerable identity. This place is no longer safe; we must leave immediately!”

Ye Chen nodded; he had the same premonition.

The two transformed into sword lights and quickly left the canyon.

Not long after they left, deep within that smooth stone wall, in a dimension unnoticed by anyone, a tiny, imperceptible fluctuation of will—of the same Origin as the Shadow Demon Lord but even deeper and more ancient—quietly vanished.

It was as if an ancient existence sleeping at the very bottom of the furnace had been disturbed, turned over, and then fell back into silence once more.