Chapter Thirteen: The Ninefold World

  "Ah, I see. So you're actually an old acquaintance of Che Xuan's ancestor, the venerable master. I apologize for my earlier transgressions. Please, let bygones be bygones, and let us heroes put aside our differences with a smile." Chu Hao said with a shameless grin.

  "You little scoundrel, you really know how to trim your sails! The device spirit was quite satisfied with Chu Hao's current attitude and said lightly: "Considering that you're still clever enough, the disrespect you showed me earlier will be written off."

  "Indeed, a senior is a senior, with the demeanor of a grand master in handling matters. It's hard for me to learn from you even if I try my best!" Chu Hao hurriedly flattered and asked, "May I ask how I should address you, senior?"

  "It's natural to call him senior, what else do you want to call him?" The instrument spirit seemed to have thought of something and its tone was not very good.

  "It's not what I mean, my point is that since seniors are intelligent beings and great wisdom in nature, they must have a loud name." Chu Hao said.

  "My name is 'Chen Honghong', and it was personally given to me by Che Xuan-Yuan, that old scoundrel." The artifact spirit hesitated for half a day before speaking.

  Chu Hao was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing: "This name does have some poetic meaning."

  " Qi Ling, oh no, Chen Honghong knew that saying his own name would have this effect. Seeing Chu Hao laughing uncontrollably and losing his composure, he spoke in a calm tone: "What's so funny? If it weren't for that old scoundrel insisting on taking this name, I wouldn't have agreed to it either! Do you think I'd be willing to go along with him?"

  "Chen Honghong..." As soon as he said these three words, Chu Hao couldn't help but laugh. It was hard to imagine that a legendary spiritual treasure would have such a "refined and noble" name. That ancestor of the Che Xuan family, who had never been seen before, really did have a taste for evil humor and style!

  "You're speaking again? Don't blame me for turning against you!"

  Chen Honghong's tone was unpleasant, and Chu Hao took a few deep breaths before stopping his loud laughter. "You just said you slept for two thousand years, what's going on? And how did you wake up here with me?"

  "I don't know either." Chen Honghong said bluntly, "But since you came to this world, I woke up and saw that you, a foolish little boy, didn't understand anything. You were begging with a treasure in your pocket, it's really laughable."

  "What does it mean?" Chu Hao was stunned.

  "Hunyuan Ding is a spiritual treasure for refining equipment between heaven and earth, yet you still want to go find other cauldrons, what a joke." Chen Honghong sneered without any politeness: "And, I've been watching your every move these past few days. You're really stupid, only now realizing that you can directly use the Purple Dragon Fire!"

  Chu Hao was somewhat dissatisfied and said: "People have their own shortcomings, this is very normal!"

  "That's that." Chen Honghong burst out laughing: "You can get me, and it's your good fortune. More than 2,000 years ago, Chē Xū Yuán that old scoundrel should have gone to a higher nine-heaven world, abandoning the damaged me on top of the Zhù Qì Mén, saying wait for someone with fate to come and repair, didn't expect this person with fate would be you, and even came to this strange world!"

  "How did you get damaged? Was it repaired by someone with a predestined relationship? How was it repaired?" Chu Hao had only seen the image of Hunyuan Ding in his mind, and had not yet seen it with his own eyes.

  "I don't know about that." Chen Honghong chuckled and said, "The Hunyuan Ding merged with you when you crossed over to this world, stained with your blood. Recite the incantation I taught you earlier once again."

  Chu Hao opened his eyes and then recited the incantation again. Finally, he let out a low growl: "Appear!"

  Only to see from the top of his head, a thick fog slowly rose, and then, the Hunyuan Ding that appeared in his mind, was actually alive and well in front of him!

  The whole room was lit up and overshadowed the candlelight.

  "This is...” Chu Hao looked at the Hunyuan Cauldron, and it really could move as he wished. He was overjoyed in his heart, thinking silently that it was indeed effective. With this thing, wouldn't he be able to live a carefree life in this world, killing gods and Buddhas whenever he met them?!

  Chu Hao was overjoyed, then stared at the Hunyuan Ding in a daze for a moment, put it in his hand and looked left and right, suddenly scolding: "Chen Honghong, are you deceiving me? What kind of spiritual treasure is this? It's just a sixth-grade treasure!"

  Chu Hao was after all a Refining Master, and from the spiritual energy above, he immediately inferred the quality of the treasure!

  "Didn't I say so? The Hunyuan Ding is damaged!" Chen Honghong said carelessly, "If this thing were intact, you could directly dominate this world and there wouldn't be so many troubles! Among the Nine Heavens Worlds, this world should be considered one of the lowest levels."

  "What a load of nonsense! I don't understand what you're saying!"

  "Never mind, I'll make it clear to you." Chen Honghong hesitated for a moment before speaking, "The entire universe, from the top of the nine heavens, after the Ant Emperor's rule, was divided into nine heavens. The meaning of the nine heavens is that there are nine worlds! The world where you used to live in Zhuli Men was one of the nine-layered worlds, specifically the fifth heaven, Xuan Tian World. And this current world is also one of the nine-layered worlds! It's just that I'm still not clear which of the nine heavens this world belongs to."

  "Oh?" Chu Hao continued listening.

  "In the vast world, there is nothing strange that doesn't exist. Since ancient times, there has been a division of three realms: human, immortal, and demon. And among them, the human realm refers to the nine-layered heaven world!" Chen Honghong explained: "And each person's world has a common point, you have good luck, at the moment of death, you awakened the Hunyuan Cauldron, the Hunyuan Cauldron used its unparalleled spiritual power to preserve your divine consciousness, allowing you to be reborn in this world."

  Chu Hao Xi said: "So, I can still return to my previous world?"

  "As long as you have the power and understand the laws of nature, whether it's the Five Heavens or the Nine Heavens, you can shuttle through any of the nine heavenly worlds!"

  Chu Hao said: "How can I get back? After I go back, I will definitely teach Liu Mei a lesson, spank her butt and let her dare to point her sword at me again!"

  Chen Honghong said coldly, "Not to mention the distant past, just talking about now, this Jiu Tian world is likely to be the second layer of 'Xian Tian World'. You have been cultivating for over a hundred years and can almost enter the higher layers of the Jiu Tian world."

  This was like a splash of cold water on Chu Hao's whole body. He said dejectedly, "Over a hundred years, why does it have to take so long?"

  "Nonsense, do you think cultivating the Tao is that easy? Every mortal in the nine heavens, who doesn't want to ascend to a higher level of the nine heavens world? In the end, reach the immortal realm and achieve eternal life?" Chen Honghong's tone suddenly changed, and she sneered: "However, since you've met me, the vessel spirit of the Hunyuan Cauldron, the outcome will be different! As long as you can repair the Hunyuan Cauldron to a second-grade treasure or above, maybe there's also a chance for you to return to your original world!"

  "How to fix it?" Chu Hao's heart rose with a glimmer of hope.

  "It's simple, for now we only need one or two fist-sized pieces of refined essence, one or two drops of Yellow Spring Dew, three or four pieces of Tongxuan Leaf, and enough Purple Sun Heavenly Fire to last for one or two hours...". Linlin listed twenty-odd items before Chen Honghong said: "With these materials, we should be able to restore the Hunyuan Cauldron to a level above a second-grade magic treasure."

  Chu Hao was stunned for a long time, then scolded loudly: "Why don't you go and grab it?! I've only seen these things in the Foundry Gate, and they're no bigger than a thumb. As for other things, I've only heard of a few kinds, and the rest are unheard of! Why didn't you let me directly go to the Immortal Realm to get a large piece of immortal spirit stone for you? The repair would be so much faster!"

  "Do you have a Xianling Stone? That would be even better, it can directly restore the artifact to 7th grade!"

  Chu Hao: "......"

  After a moment of silence, Chu Hao finally said: "How come I've never heard of such a strange thing as the Nine Heavens before? You're not using my kindness to deceive me, are you?"

  "Are you trying to kill me with laughter?" Chen Honghong laughed loudly and said: "You didn't know before, it's because you're not even considered a person in the cultivation world. Even if you were, you haven't reached the Golden Elixir stage, so you wouldn't have access to this kind of knowledge anyway. Don't you think about it? Who am I? Would I deceive you? If there weren't Nine Heavens, what would be the point of ordinary people cultivating day and night for the sake of seeking the Way? They cultivate just for the sake of Nine Heavens and the Immortal Realm!"

  Chu Hao believed it a little in his heart, but he was still somewhat unwilling to give up, and said: "What if I can't find these things to repair? Can't the Hunyuan Ding be used?"

  "Of course, it can be used now. The current Hunyuan Ding, as long as your equipment level is sufficient, using it to refine seven-grade treasures will not be a problem!" Chen Honghong sneered: "However, you should understand that the Hunyuan Ding is a Tongling-level treasure. You also know the principle of 'a commoner is innocent, but possessing a precious jade is a crime'. Moreover, the Hunyuan Ding has already recognized its master. If someone else wants to seize it, they can only kill you and use your blood as an offering!"

  Chu Hao said with an air of discontent: "How did I feel like I've been deceived by you!"

  Chen Honghong said with a smile: "Where's that? Having an instrument spirit like me following you is your great fortune! As long as you repair the Hunyuan Cauldron, this nine-layered world will be where we two can roam freely! Even returning to the original nine-layered world is just around the corner. At that time, when the Hunyuan Cauldron appears, who can contend with us?"

  "You're so capable and powerful, how can you be hurt?" Chu Hao retorted.

  "Hmm... about that..." Chen Honghong hesitated, then continued: "To prove my abilities, how about this? Tomorrow, you go gather materials, and I'll teach you the method of using the Hunyuan Cauldron. Let you first refine a few magical artifacts, so you can't say I'm not being generous!"

  "Spare me, avoid getting cheated by you again, let me think it over." Chu Hao scolded.

  "Ah...... wait, there's something to say, something to say......" Before Chen Honghong could speak again, Chu Hao immediately cut off his connection with him, looked at the Hunyuan Ding in the dark room, and recited the incantation again before entering his own body.

  He stretched and yawned, Chu Hao's mind was filled with all sorts of thoughts, lying in bed for a long time before falling asleep.