While all attention was focused on the Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword, the seemingly plain frying pan was undergoing an even more wondrous transformation within the furnace. Unlike the Crimson Flame Sword's showy and brilliant transformation, the wok's change was more introverted yet contained more profound heaven-earth principles.
Ouyezi gazed at the Chaos airflow flowing within the wok, his voice carrying rare excitement: "This wok... it is extraordinary. In a thousand years of refining, this is the first time I have witnessed such a return-to-basics transformation."
Indeed, the wok's form had not changed much, still the same pan that had accompanied Xiaoqi all the way from Qingxu Temple's kitchen. However, looking closely, one would discover that the wok body presented a jade-like warm and smooth texture. On the wok walls, one could vaguely see flowing patterns of mountains, rivers, sun, moon, and stars slowly circulating. At the center of the wok's bottom, a taiji pattern slowly rotated, with the yin-yang fish eyes respectively glowing with Chaos and order light.
"Test its defense." Ouyezi gestured to Xiaoqi. "Use the sword you just obtained and strike with full force."
Xiaoqi was startled but still took out the Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword as instructed. Sword light burst forth, dragon roars and phoenix cries sounded again. He used seventy percent of his power, and a crimson-gold sword radiance shot through the air, slashing directly at the frying pan.
"Clang—"
A melodious bell chime rang out. Where sword radiance and wok body collided, brilliant sparks flew. To everyone's shock, the wok remained completely motionless, not even a single mark left on its surface. Instead, the sword radiance was bounced back by a gentle force, numbing Xiaoqi's arm.
"This..." Xiaoqi looked at the sword in his hand in disbelief, then at that seemingly ordinary frying pan. "This defensive power..."
"Not only that." Ouyezi stroking his beard smiled. "Try making it bigger and smaller."
Xiaoqi's heart moved slightly, and the wok rose accordingly. Following his will, the wok body sometimes expanded to a zhang in diameter, like a giant shield; sometimes shrinking to the size of a fist, like a seal. The transformation was natural as floating clouds and flowing water, without the slightest obstruction.
Most wondrous was that when the wok body became larger, its weight did not increase at all, still as light as nothing; when the wok body shrank, its defensive power did not diminish in the slightest, still unbreakable. This characteristic defying common sense made all the cultivators present stare in astonishment.
"This wok has merged with Creation Jade Marrow and has transcended the category of ordinary matter." Ouyezi explained. "It now resembles more a 'manifestation of Dao,' changing according to heart's desire, neither increasing nor decreasing, neither stained nor pure."
Feng Qingyin suddenly spoke: "The taiji pattern at the wok's bottom... seems to have another mysterious quality."
Everyone looked over and indeed discovered that the taiji pattern at the wok's bottom was operating on its own. The yin-yang fish slowly swam about, as if demonstrating the ultimate principles of heaven and earth's birth and destruction. More surprisingly, within the pattern could be vaguely seen the faint image of a small world—mountains rising and falling, rivers rushing, even traces of living beings' activities.
"A universe within..." Ao Qindrew a sharp breath, "This wok has actually self-evolved a small world!"
Xiaoqi tried to probe his divine sense into the wok and immediately felt as if he had entered a nascent heaven and earth. Although this world was still very small, only a hundred li in area, its Dao rhyme was complete, spiritual energy was abundant,just like an independent cave heaven paradise.
"This is the wonderful use of Creation Jade Marrow." Ouyezi sighed. "I only provided the opportunity. What truly caused this wok to change so remarkably was the karma between it and you, as well as the 'Wok Dao' true intent it contains."
Xiaoqi pondered thoughtfully. This frying pan had accompanied him through the most difficult years—from Qingxu Temple's kitchen to secret realm dangers, from cooking meals to battling strong enemies. It had witnessed too many stories and carried too many memories. Perhaps it was these experiences that caused it to undergo such wondrous changes.
He moved his heart again and threw a piece of ordinary iron ore into the wok. Something shocking happened—the iron ore quickly melted and purified within the wok, transforming in merely a moment into a clump of pure iron essence. More miraculously, this process consumed absolutely none of Xiaoqi's spiritual power, entirely the result of the wok body operating on its own.
"Melting all things, returning to the origin..." Xiaoqi murmured to himself. He finally understood this wok's true value. It was not only a defensive treasure but a divine artifact capable of independently refining all things. With it, alchemy and artifact refinement would achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Ouyezi spoke seriously: "This wok has transcended the category of ordinary quasi-immortal artifacts. I suggest you name it the Creation Universe Wok, taken from the meaning 'hold creation in palm, contain universe within.'"
Xiaoqi nodded in agreement. He could sense that this wok matched his Dao path incomparably. The small world within the wok could continuously improve as his cultivation increased, and ultimately might truly evolve into a real heaven and earth.
He tried to absorb the wok into his body, and indeed, like the Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword, the Creation Universe Wok also transformed into a stream of light and entered his dantian. The wok and sword circled each other within his dantian, forming a perfect cycle. The Crimson Flame Sword's sharpness was contained by the Creation Universe Wok's broadness; the Creation Universe Wok's steadiness was stimulated by the Crimson Flame Sword's nimbleness. The two complemented each other beautifully.
"Congratulations to Tang True Lord for obtaining these two great divine artifacts." The watching cultivators all came forward to congratulate. They had witnessed the birth of two quasi-immortal artifacts, which was a grand event not seen in a thousand years throughout the entire overseas cultivation world.
Xiaoqi returned the salutes to everyone, but in his heart he was contemplating the deeper significance of these two divine artifacts. The Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword represented his determination to protect, while the Creation Universe Wok symbolized his embracing heart. This attack and defense, this rigidity and softness,precisely corresponded to the two aspects of his Dao heart.
Night fell, and only Xiaoqi remained in the alchemy chamber. He quietly sensed the changes brought by the two divine artifacts, feeling the infinite wonderful uses contained within. With these two quasi-immortal artifacts' assistance, his strength had undergone aearth-shaking change. But at the same time, he also felt the heavier responsibility on his shoulders—with such divine artifacts in hand, he should be even more cautious in using their power and good at guarding their Dao.
Moonlight passed through the window lattices and fell on the Creation Universe Wok. The taiji pattern at the wok's bottom slowly rotated under the moonlight, as if narrating the oldest secrets between heaven and earth. Xiaoqi knew that the mysteries of this wok still required a long road for him to explore.