The cauldron was hard and cold, and Fang Zong felt a chill run through him as well.

However, his cold heart suddenly burned with heat, as if it had split off from a more powerful ghostly aura. Countless scorching copper ghostly energies mixed with spiritual energy rushed out and directly entered his body, causing the earth fire mini-world to expand continuously.

Three hundred meters in radius

A radius of 400 meters

Four hundred...eighty meters in diameter!

The Earth Fire Small World had become more than twice as powerful, and a terrifying power that Fang Zong could not comprehend circulated around his body, gradually fading away.

Fang Zong didn't know what this power was, or even how to use it, but what ignited his passion wasn't the power itself, but a voice as resonant as a morning bell or evening drum...

"The spiritual essence of Dao artifacts is indestructible, and they will one day endure forever."

"The spirit of the Dao artifact is indestructible, and it will exist forever in the future?" Fang Zong muttered to himself, his eyes suddenly lighting up. This meant that the spirit of the Dao artifact was the kind that could not die. Then... "Little Sister Di did not die at all, she just fell into a deep sleep?" He suddenly had a feeling that when the spirit of the Three Yuan Earth Cauldron was regenerated, it would still be Little Sister Di, and her memories would not be lost. This made him smile and feel very happy.

Ninth Sister said with a hint of sourness, "Compared to us, even Dao artifacts are trash."

"Okay, Dao artifacts are trash, but Little Sister Di isn't."

Fang Zong spoke with a smile, raising his hand as if to put away the Three Yuan Earth Cauldron later—the Three Yuan Earth Cauldron was something Elder Wang specifically requested. Although it was a treasure given to him, it was also one of the legendary Nine Cauldrons that protected the nation.

Old Master Wang entrusted him with the management of the Three Yuan Earth Cauldron, which meant he was in charge of one-ninth of the power to suppress the fate of the Eastern Kingdom. He treated him very well, and he was grateful for the favor.

As Fang Zong was thinking this, he was trying to activate his power and make a call to Elder Wang when the Three Elements Earth Cauldron suddenly became restless. His soul seemed to be drawn into a bottomless pit and plunged deep into the mouth of the Three Elements Earth Cauldron.

When I opened my eyes, I saw green mountains and clear waters, and I could tell it was just an illusion...

"Heaven, Earth, Man!"

Amidst the hazy green hills and waters stands a figure, clad in a long black robe, his face obscured. He proclaims loudly: "The Three Primal Cauldrons belong to Heaven, Earth, and Man. They love Heaven, which illuminates all with its light; they love Mother Earth, who nurtures all things; they love all mortal beings… The Three Primal Cauldrons embody the great love of Heaven, Earth, and Man, protecting all beings with love. Only the fervor of love can protect everything!"

He spoke with absolute certainty, looking at Fang Zong: "What do you think?"

"Are you out of your mind?" Fang Zong blurted out his true feelings without realizing it. "You think you can generate electricity with love? When the invaders were slaughtering your family and friends, why don't you go and try loving them?"

"Love can change everything!" the man in the black robe roared.

"Damn it!"

Fang Zong realized that he could only speak his true feelings here, and of course, he also liked to speak his true feelings: "If love could change everything, would Di Xiaomei need to destroy her own spirit body? I was just not strong enough, which is why I couldn't withstand the evil resentment generated by the Three Elements Earth Cauldron, causing Di Xiaomei to die... Okay, she didn't die, but damn it, she's in a deep sleep, and I'm not comfortable with that either!"

"Little Sister Di willingly destroyed her own artifact spirit body for you?"

The man in the black robe was visibly surprised, then turned cold: "Your answer below will determine whether you gain the approval of the Three Elements Earth Cauldron. Let me remind you, the Three Elements Earth Cauldron symbolizes the great love of heaven, earth, and humanity, meaning the power to protect everything with love."

Then the man asked, "Can love change everything? Can love protect everything?"

"Of course... um?" Fang Zong was surprised to find that he could suddenly lie.

The man in the black robe revealed his eyes, which held an encouraging glint: "Speak, you should understand what the Three Elements Cauldron represents. Can love move people..."

"I'd rather use my fists to persuade and protect people; it's safer that way!"

Fang Zong sneered and looked over disdainfully: "You can ask me a thousand times or ten thousand times, and I'll still say the same thing: I'll use my fists as insurance!"

Your answer... is wrong!

The man in the black robe glared at Fang Zong, stretched out his hand, and slowly raised his middle finger: "However, Little Sister Di herself is the real answer. Even if you answer wrong, I can't stop you from controlling the Three Yuan Earth Cauldron... Boy, what's here is just a fragment of my will left behind when I was alive. It's about to dissipate now, but once my soul awakens, I'll definitely beat you half to death!"

If my soul were to turn into a ghost, fine, I'd just beat you up.

Good things have turned into ghosts; you'd better pray for yourself!

His tone was full of threat, and the man laughed eerily.

Fang Zong laughed... in an even more bizarre way.

Ghosts? Spirits? Please, just become a ghost!

If such a terrifyingly powerful being who existed since ancient times and could control the Three Elements Earth Cauldron were to become a ghost, wouldn't his power be increased by a factor of 100,000? Right now, Fang Zong craves power, not women!

"See you another day, kid!"

The man uttered a more threatening tone, and Fang Zong felt his mind return to his body, and when he looked at the Three Elements Earth Cauldron, he felt a sense of connection to it.

Moreover, he discovered that—all he needed was a place with abundant energy to place the Three Elements Earth Cauldron, allowing it to suppress the nation's destiny in the Eastern Kingdom. No one but himself could then attack the Eastern Kingdom's fate. Once he possessed sufficient power, he could even manipulate the Three Elements Earth Cauldron to shatter a nation!

"Ah... Zong!"

Fang Zong snapped out of his reverie and immediately heard a sharp rebuke. Lin Qiaoyu was lying on the ground, glaring at him angrily.

"You look quite pretty when you glare at people."

"Untie me!"

Lin Qiaoyu really wanted to get angry.

She wasn't usually short-tempered, but when Fang Zong knocked her out and prevented her from going back in, a fire ignited within her. She was a spirit, not a gentle Guanyin.

Fang Zong nodded, released Lin Qiaoyu, and then looked around.

Because the Silver Waterfall Sea generated by the Three Elements Cauldron has disappeared, Ma Xiaoling and more than a hundred other artifact spirits float around with their original bodies. Below this cliff, there is a rainbow of light, with various colors reflecting each other, as if entering a treasure fairyland.

"More than a hundred magical artifacts, and they're all among the most powerful magical artifacts..."

Fang Zong's heart skipped a beat. Before he could speak, a whole set of powerful magical artifacts—a narrow sword, two gauntlets, two wrist guards, two arm guards, two shoulder guards, a breastplate, a helmet, a mask, as well as leg guards, knee guards, and boots—came flying at him, ready to fully arm him.

Ma Xiaoling's peach wood sword also swung towards Fang Zong's waist...

"Bang!"