Immortal artifacts are the fusion of spirit and object; the artifact spirit cannot exist apart from the immortal artifact, and vice versa.

The artifact spirit of the Divine Maiden's Cauldron is the Goddess, and only the Goddess can activate the power of the Divine Maiden's Cauldron.

Tonight, the Goddess activated the power of the Divine Maiden's Cauldron twice. The first time was not to assist the King of Eastern Mountain, and the second was not to save Wang Xiaoqiang either.

The purpose was self-preservation!

When the King of Eastern Mountain hurled the Divine Maiden's Cauldron at the multicolored barrier atop the Heavenly Eye Fruit, the Goddess feared for the cauldron's damage and had to activate its power in defense. Likewise, when Wang Xiaoqiang broke through the blue light web with the cauldron, the Goddess activated the cauldron's defense to keep it unharmed.

In reality, the power of the Divine Maiden's Cauldron is far greater than what was displayed tonight—just the tip of the iceberg. Fully unleashed, it could annihilate a tribe, akin to an atomic bomb.

Thus, whether toward the King of Eastern Mountain or Wang Xiaoqiang, the Goddess harbored no feelings whatsoever. At this moment, seeing Wang Xiaoqiang, who had opened the Heaven-Opening Eye, peek inside the cauldron's space, she felt both shame and fury, instantly harboring murderous intent.

"Ah... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Divine Sister, I should die... I beg for mercy..."

Wang Xiaoqiang immediately pleaded in panic, quickly shifting his Heaven-Opening Eye elsewhere to avoid further peeking. He knew of the cauldron's power and dared not offend the Goddess, having witnessed it tonight.

Especially since he had released the Five Elements Spirit Spring, dispersing his cultivation, making him easily vulnerable to the Goddess.

The two hundred-year-old King of Eastern Mountain calling the Goddess "Divine Sister" or "Divine Empress" only disgusted her, but with Wang Xiaoqiang it was different.

Wang Xiaoqiang, only in his twenties, a young and handsome man calling her "sister" made her heart skip a beat, yet she coldly rebuked, "Don't let this happen again. If you offend again, there will be no mercy!!"

Seeing the Goddess speak and spare him once more, Wang Xiaoqiang's heart lifted with excitement, though he dared not show it on his face, bowing toward the Divine Maiden's Cauldron, "Thank you, Divine Sister, for your forgiveness."

Earlier, before the contest for the Heavenly Eye Fruit, the King of Eastern Mountain had pleaded with the Divine Maiden's Cauldron, calling her both "sister" and "empress," only to be ignored. Yet with a casual remark from him, the Goddess responded. This gave Wang Xiaoqiang a sense of pride.

As an artifact spirit, the Goddess relies on this immortal artifact for existence, but this artifact, being an inanimate object, cannot move freely. Thus, the Goddess cannot control her fate, merely observing as she is passed from person to person like currency—a thought that sickens her.

All along, she has longed for a good destiny, to find a cultivator with strength, who wouldn't sell the artifact for profit or make her loathe them, preferably a female cultivator.

After all, she's not seeking a life partner, but someone to accompany her through time.

At this moment, her eyes through the artifact fix on Wang Xiaoqiang, taking a measure of him; his youthful good looks don't win her over much, but don't displease her either,

The courage and intelligence Wang Xiaoqiang displayed in vying for the Heavenly Eye Fruit made her admire him,

As did his endless array of spell techniques, surprisingly revealing him to be a Body Refining Master,

And the fact he reached the Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm without opening an immortal vein both astonished and convinced her he's a man of great fortune and potential.

"Alas, if only he were a female cultivator, we could be lifelong companions..." the Goddess lamented quietly.

After a while, seeing Wang Xiaoqiang with his head hung in shame, unlike the shameless and vulgar King of Eastern Mountain, she spoke again, her tone noticeably softened, though slightly raspy:

"To err is human, to rectify divine! Do not disturb me henceforth, and, if ever you intend to transfer the immortal artifact, inform me first..."

The enchanting tone of her gentle, rustling voice left Wang Xiaoqiang weak-kneed, a pleasure just to hear, let alone share her bed. In his enthrallment, he missed the meaning of her words, lifting his head dazedly, "Sister, what did you say?"

Hearing him drop the "Divine" prefix warmed her with familiarity, and seeing his feigned innocence, so different from his shrewd demeanor during the contest, she thought he was afraid, thus repeated her words.

Wang Xiaoqiang asked in confusion, "Sister, why would I transfer you?"

"Stop talking nonsense—not me, the Divine Maiden's Cauldron. If you wish to transfer it, you must notify me... I hope to have the right to choose..."

"Sister, I won't transfer you... uh no... I mean the Divine Maiden's Cauldron," Wang Xiaoqiang earnestly replied.

"Why?"

"Sister, such a powerful immortal artifact, transfer it to others? ... Am I brainless??"

The Goddess coldly stated, "You're mistaken, I won't assist you, as only I can activate the cauldron's power. I have no obligation to help you, and ever since the cauldron pacified the invaders for my tribe, never have I helped anyone... nor will I in the future..."

Wang Xiaoqiang suddenly stood, saying, "I, a proud man of seven feet, how could I rely on a woman? I, Wang Xiaoqiang, traverse the world, always relying on myself..."

The Goddess, used to the ones seeking the cauldron's power or her beauty with hidden lust, was taken aback by his words. But with millennia of wisdom, she wasn't deceived by sweet talk, coldly replying again, "I hope you won't plead to me like the King of Eastern Mountain!"

"You should find out, in my lifetime, I, Wang Xiaoqiang, have never pleaded." he said arrogantly, putting the Divine Maiden's Cauldron into the Storage Ring.

Expecting him to plead or flatter like the King of Eastern Mountain, the Goddess felt an unexpected hint of disappointment at his response.

After storing the cauldron, Wang Xiaoqiang stood and walked outside the cave. With the Heaven-Opening Eye activated, he scanned miles away, seeing the group of flying beast corpses passing over the mountain he was on, flying further, searching boundlessly, uttering frustrated and agitated roars.

Scanning backward, Wang Xiaoqiang spotted the contestants still chasing the patterned beasts, Ge Laoda and Little Yin, two fierce ghosts. The pet beast and the two fierce ghosts, having lost contact with him, were fleeing aimlessly and weakly.

Looking in another direction, Wang Xiaoqiang saw, thousands of miles away, the once-pursued criminals gathered and starting a bonfire, celebrating and feasting, finally enjoying a brief respite from the pursuit.

Assessing the situation, Wang Xiaoqiang had a plan, drawing the Five Elements Spirit Spring back into his body, recovering his cultivation, his body now exuding a spiritual energy wave,

Then he flew towards the criminals, summoning the patterned beast, Ge Laoda, and Little Yin to find him once more.

Having lost half their number in the contest for the Heavenly Eye Fruit, less than three thousand contestants remained, with half bearing injuries, even the formidable King of Eastern Mountain severely wounded.

Seeing Wang Xiaoqiang's pet beast and puppets change direction and speed away, the contestants immediately extended their divine senses. Discovering Wang Xiaoqiang, their spirits rose with excitement, pursuing eagerly.

But after several thousand miles, they abruptly realized the target was lost, Wang Xiaoqiang vanished from their divine senses. Suddenly, hundreds of spiritual energy waves appeared, emitted by the criminals.

...

Recently, I've been down due to some matters, slowing updates. There's nothing I can do; I want to write faster but am powerless. Alas, in the martial world, one is not free from constraints... (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian.com, your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)

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