Longevity Strange Immortal
Chapter 143 - 3: The Most Beautiful Artifact Embryo

Chapter 143: Chapter 3: The Most Beautiful Artifact Embryo

Dew doesn’t nourish grass without roots; the Dao does not ferry those without destiny.

Although today’s Sub-Device Sect has changed significantly from seven thousand years ago, it still retains some traditions of the Taoist teachings.

Amid endless incense smoke and haze, a narrow path can be seen.

This path is called "Path of Self-Reflection."

In ancient times, disciples entering the Sub-Device Sect would traverse the Path of Self-Reflection to determine which outer branch they would join, primarily testing their heart and character.

The Sub-Device Sect of later generations, however, became completely different.

On the exposed green stone path, plant-like roots and stems are visible, occasionally writhing as if alive.

If carefully observed, you’d find they are metallic veins.

The Path of Self-Reflection resembles a twisted, deformed tongue, exuding an indescribable aura, clearly a part of the Mother Furnace.

The Mother Furnace’s Path of Self-Reflection no longer tests heart and character. After all, Artifact Refiners rely on furnaces, which almost entirely eliminate the possibility of deviation.

Talent is the sole standard for evaluating the value of Artifact People.

It can be said that once Artifact People are nurtured by the Mother Furnace, they are instantly classified into varying ranks.

Beside the Path of Self-Reflection, the spectral silhouette of an old man suddenly appears. The most striking feature is the enormous singular eye on his forehead, layered densely with metallic pupils, oozing pus.

"How many Artifact Embryos today?"

Artifact Embryos refers to Artifact People, as the unique corrosiveness of Refiners’ spiritual energy inadvertently improves the surrounding environment during cultivation.

Thus, to the various Taoist inheritances, high-quality Artifact Embryos not only represent the strength of their faction but also directly impact the spiritual energy concentration of branches.

As the old man’s voice falls silent, another spectral silhouette appears.

The newcomer bears two heads, though the left has been reshaped into a volcano, spewing lava every few breaths.

"Thirty-four thousand five hundred sixty-two people."

"Artifact Embryos are getting fewer and fewer. When did the Sub-Device Sect become so impoverished?"

"Isn’t it because too many Refiners occupy the upper six layers? The Mother Furnace has been restricting the number of cultivating Artifact Embryos—it’s normal."

"This way, resources are focused; perhaps this will produce Artifact Embryos of exceptional quality."

As they discuss, the spectral figures in the haze increase to six.

They stand on either side of the Path of Self-Reflection, resembling rows of teeth, making the pathway of flesh and metal look even more like a tongue.

"Even if the talent is exceptional, does it have anything to do with you?"

"With the lower three-layered branches prevailing, Innate Taoist Bodies wouldn’t fall to either of us."

They come from the branches of the upper six-layered small world, with cultivation levels of at least late-stage Core Formation, radiating tangible spiritual strength.

Each layer of the small world consists of three branches, rotating to the Path of Self-Reflection, which occurs approximately once every three hundred years.

The scarcity of Artifact Embryos naturally causes dissatisfaction among the branches of the upper six layers.

"Heh heh..."

The sound of a silver-bell-like woman’s laughter rings out, silencing all spectral figures instantaneously.

They glance warily to one side, where a woman with gelatinous-looking skin suddenly emerges, smoke swirling around her.

She covers her mouth with her hand, her skin covered in patches of silver scales.

The scales constantly expand and contract, unleashing dense smog mixed with intensely toxic rotting flesh, sending shivers down the spine.

"Greetings, Master Fu Lian."

"Master Fu Lian actually graces the Path of Self-Reflection today?"

"Seeing in person surpasses hearing. Master Fu Lian’s cultivation truly runs deep."

......

They dare not speak further; Master Fu Lian is the Peak Master of Longevity Mountain in the seven-layered small world, her cultivation already reaching the Uncertainty Nascent Soul.

Master Fu Lian disregards the chatter, furrowing her willow-leaf eyebrows as she gazes ahead.

Biting cold descends upon them, making the Artifact Refiners of the upper six layers even more apprehensive, puzzled by the length of such a grand occasion.

The Nine-layered small world’s Peak Master, "Bai Gu Qianzu," is also present.

Bai Gu Qianzu’s appearance is grotesque, with arms bristling atop his head, palms turned upwards, releasing endless haze.

Likewise appearing is the Peak Master of the Eight-layered small world’s Chaotic Burial Furnace, "Dome Mountain."

Dome Mountain no longer resembles a human, his form entirely a massive industrial waste heap inhabited by countless carrion insects.

The Core Formation Refiners dare not speak further. Though these two are also Nascent Soul, they are far less approachable than Master Fu Lian and rarely appear publicly.

Usually, there’s no need for Peak Masters to personally visit the Path of Self-Reflection.

Natal Nascent Soul cultivators typically remain away from the branches, and for them to gather at the Path of Self-Reflection clearly signifies the imminent birth of a remarkable Artifact Embryo.

The six middle-to-lower-grade branch Refiners, though unqualified to recruit Innate Taoist Bodies, are curious about why Nascent Souls have gathered.

What sort of talent could be extraordinary enough to draw Nascent Soul cultivators here—could it be an exceedingly rare Innate Taoist Body?

It wouldn’t be impossible...

The Peak Masters of the upper six-layered branches are at the Core Formation stage of cultivation, unqualified to approach the Mother Furnace.

Yet it’s different for Nascent Souls—they can visit the Mother Furnace within the first decade of Artifact Embryo formation to identify whether any children possess Innate Taoist Bodies.

The atmosphere falls silent.

One by one, Artifact People begin arriving at the Path of Self-Reflection’s starting point.

After an initial sense of bewilderment, they step onto the peculiar textured path and slowly walk toward the path’s end.

"The first batch of three hundred contains five Artifact Embryos with Acquired Taoist Bodies?"

The Double-headed Taoist lightly shakes his head.

Coming from the Middle Three-layered "Tar Land," he laments the lack of fresh blood to replenish talents.

Most Artifact People collapse into the haze beside the Path of Self-Reflection after walking ten meters.

These are absorbed into the lower three-layered small worlds closest to the ground within the Sub-Device Sect, so impoverished they’re unimaginable.

The sound of despairing cries echoes endlessly, as the lower three layers are synonymous with an impossible Immortal Path.

Yet, from the perspective of the Heart Beast Sect, even the lowest grade individuals leaving the Mother Furnace typically attain the Third Layer of Puberty.

In the Heart Beast Sect, each one of them is a Daoist with a promising Foundation Establishment future.

Acquired Taoist Bodies manage twenty meters.

With each step, phenomena arise behind them—manifestations of the Taoist Body influenced by the Mother Furnace, revealing its extraordinary nature.

One Artifact Person with an Acquired Chaos Dao Body sees countless crystals emerge and escape from his flesh, persistently aggregating and separating, releasing a pungent odor.

"It’s here."

Dome Mountain murmurs, instinctively hunching forward, emitting metallic clanging as turquoise industrial runoff begins seeping outward.

A heart-exposed Artifact Person appears, his skin riddled with fissures, and nearby spiritual energy rushes eagerly into his body.

Just born, the Da Yan Taoist Body already possesses Fourth Layer Puberty cultivation.

Master Fu Lian acknowledges, "This Artifact Embryo is an Innate Da Yan Taoist Body, enhancing spiritual energy absorption by thirty percent."

"Which of you gentlemen would like to make the first offer?"

Dome Mountain and Bai Gu Qianzu remain silent, aware the main event hasn’t yet arrived.

But the Da Yan Taoist Body is already showing signs of instability. Without acceptance from the lower three layers, the Artifact Person will be absorbed into the middle three-layered small worlds.

"Then I won’t hold back; the next two Artifact Embryos won’t be touched."

Master Fu Lian points a finger, and the Da Yan Taoist Body vanishes from the Path of Self-Reflection.

Dome Mountain sighs; the Da Yan Taoist Body was quite compatible with his "Ten Thousand Burial Dao Body," holding some potential to form a high-grade Golden Core.

Bai Gu Qianzu closes his eyes, the numerous palms atop his head cracking open as they chant "Bai Gu Qianzu" in unison.

After two thousand people walk through, the second Innate Taoist Body finally appears.

The Red Lotus Dharma Root Taoist Body transforms the Artifact Person, creating a several-meter-long tail, enabling the seamless use of Fire Attribute Magic. Dome Mountain claims him.

More Artifact People are sent to the Path of Self-Reflection.

Somewhere around three to four thousand individuals, another Innate Taoist Body emerges, though some proves underwhelming—like the Pure Water-affiliated "Nine Yin Three Marrow."

The subpar Innate Taoist Bodies often fall short of the better Acquired Taoist Bodies, relegating them to the middle three layers.

The Core Formation Refiners exchange glances, watching the Path of Self-Reflection nearing its end—no Artifact Person of exceptional talent has appeared.

Perhaps some succumbed to the Childhood Death Disease in the Mother Furnace?

Suddenly, as a specific Artifact Person steps forth, the Core Formation Refiners sense subtle yet distinct changes in the expressions of the three Nascent Souls.

This Artifact Embryo is born with a right arm—an Innate Taoist Body "Three Nourishments and One Purification," treating the arm as an external Spirit Root.

Its spine appears boneless, faintly resembling a python—a second Innate Taoist Body, "Snake Bone Passage," whose spine, stimulated by spiritual energy, can be extracted from the body.

A two-finger-wide fissure marks its head, revealing a blackened brain.

An Acquired Taoist Body, "Head Corner Emerges," enabling its brain to grow over time until it bursts through the skull, granting remarkable comprehension far above its peers.

Two Innate, one Acquired Taoist Body—such profound qualifications.

The Core Formation Refiners suddenly understand why the Nascent Souls are so invested; such talent appears only once in five centuries.

Sheng Ge squints his eyes, deliberately exuding the Sixth Layer of Puberty cultivation.

The remaining Artifact People dare not compete, retreating to let Sheng Ge alone stride confidently along the moist, tongue-like surface of the Mother Furnace.

Phenomena manifest—a ten-meter-long hand cradling a metallic snake-bone, its surface teeming with fragments of brain matter.

Sheng Ge’s lips curl into a smile.

He intends not only to join a top-grade branch but also seeks apprenticeship under a Nascent Soul expert, ensuring his ascension to Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages in the future.

Bai Gu Qianzu snaps open his eyes and hastily declares, "This Artifact Embryo is mine. I’ll provide fifty percent of the Heart Beast Secret Realm’s earnings."

Dome Mountain shakes his head, saying, "The Chaotic Burial Furnace needs a chief, grant me this favor."

Master Fu Lian remains unyielding, smiling, "The Three Taoist Bodies represent the finest quality Artifact Embryo in six centuries; recruiting it would guarantee rewards from the Mother Furnace..."

As their conversation unfolds, they subtly engage in indirect combat.

Within the surrounding mist, hundreds of Refiners can be faintly seen clashing—a battle between branch disciples.

Meanwhile, Sheng Ge strides a hundred meters ahead, unhindered.

The phenomena surrounding the Three Taoist Bodies intensify, causing the taste buds on the tongue-like path to squirm wildly with delight.

"Let me claim it!!!"

Bai Gu Qianzu reaches for Sheng Ge, attempting to seize him outright.

The other two Nascent Souls refuse to back down, unleashing their terrifying auras on the Path of Self-Reflection, causing it to collapse and leaving all observers fearful.

No one notices Li Mo yawning at the path’s starting point.

Due to his innate Taoist Body’s transformation, he is the last Artifact Person to arrive, still drowsy, caught between wakefulness and slumber.