Great Villain: Starting by Humiliating the Son of the Heavenly Fate

Subsequently, Jiang Chen retrieved a massive dao treasure-level artifact refining cauldron from the Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring.

This cauldron, silver-white in hue, boasted a unique design with double ears and four feet. The surface was intricately engraved with patterns representing mountains, rivers, flames, thunder, and lightning.

He had obtained this dao treasure-level cauldron from the inheritance peak within the Immortal Martial Cave Heaven. As it was not a piece of combat equipment, it had been left behind.

'Burning World Raging Flames!' Jiang Chen extended his hand and gestured, causing the cauldron to rise and float in the air. It was then immediately engulfed by copious Burning World Raging Flames.

The Burning World Raging Flames held the potent power of the Fire Great Dao. These flames were not only incredibly forceful but also erratic in their nature, making them highly suitable for refining.

Once the cauldron was enveloped in Burning World Raging Flames, Jiang Chen began to extract a plethora of materials. He meticulously melted them down to their essential elements, ensuring that not a trace of impurity remained.

However, it must be noted that his understanding of artifact refining was rather rudimentary.

Even in the process of smelting the materials, he required the assistance of Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning.

'Void Tribulation Soul!' At a mere thought from Jiang Chen, his soul merged with those of Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning, providing him with an extensive understanding of artifact refining.

Then began the meticulous process of refining the various necessary materials.

Time continued to tick away.

Before long, all the essential materials had been refined at least once.

Jiang Chen lifted the Purple Heaven Immortal Martial Sword from his knees and placed it inside the cauldron, systematically employing artifact refining techniques.

Different forces were skillfully channeled by Jiang Chen into the cauldron through various methods, leading to immediate alterations in both the cauldron and the Purple Heaven Immortal Martial Sword.

Especially the latter, it swiftly exhibited signs of semi-melting.

At this crucial juncture, Jiang Chen selected one of the materials and flicked it with his finger, transmuting it into a mist that was drawn into the cauldron.

Upon entering the cauldron, the material behaved like iron filings drawn to a potent magnet, rapidly integrating with the Purple Heaven Immortal Martial Sword.

Subsequently, Jiang Chen proceeded with the meticulous task of repairing, utilizing the remaining materials.

The process varied for each material, with some individually melting into the Purple Heaven Immortal Martial Sword in various states, while others were synthesized from several different components.

Bang!

After all the materials had been utilized, the cauldron sealed itself with a thunderous noise, entrapping the Purple Heaven Immortal Martial Sword within.

Boom!

The Burning World Raging Flames suddenly intensified, transforming the entire cauldron almost into a miniature sun.

The blistering heat pervaded the surroundings, even liquefying the floor beneath Jiang Chen's feet into molten lava.

In what seemed like the blink of an eye, three days had passed.

...

Within the Prosperous Stone Immortal Star, the team that had been 'exiled' to the Immortal Martial Continent had at last assembled two thousand people.

They were further bolstered by one individual at the Transcendence realm, five at the Dao Palace realm, and several dozen at the Dao Comprehension realm.

During these three days, Mo Hao had remained silent, secluded in a corner of the underground palace.

The rest of the people hadn't hesitated to look down on him throughout this period.

Even the palace guards occasionally directed contemptuous glances his way.

'Damn it, scorn me now if you will,' Mo Hao sneered inwardly. 'Wait until we reach the Immortal Martial Continent, and then see how I'll deal with you.' With this resolve, he planned to continue keeping a low profile.

At that juncture, the muscular man clad in black armor suddenly materialized once again, bellowing, "Listen, all of you!"

"The number of people is now sufficient, and we will soon open the spatial channel to connect to the Immortal Martial Continent!"

"Follow me now!" With those words, he pivoted and strode towards the rear.

The surface that had appeared as a tall stone wall in front of them suddenly shifted, transforming into water ripples and vanishing.

In its stead emerged a colossal array altar, displaying a combination of both new and ancient features!

This array altar was specifically designed to maintain the spatial channel. Constructed a million years ago, it had been lying in disuse ever since.

Only recently, following directives from the higher-ups in the Profound Jade Immortal Domain, the Prosperous Stone Immortal Star had no option but to refurbish it.

At this moment, the immense array altar was encircled by rings of cultivators, all of whom were accomplished formation masters.

The formation masters exchanged discreet communications.

"I never thought this altar would be reopened one day."

"Yes, according to my wife's great-great-grandmaster, the last time it was activated was a million years ago. They said it was for purging the remnants of the demon race in the Immortal Martial Continent. The expedition went and returned within a day, and then the altar was sealed."

"Oh? Such a secret? Eliminating the demon race remnants in one day? That seems somewhat implausible."

"Just rumors; exaggerations are normal. What concerns me more is this time's opening of the spatial channel to the Immortal Martial Continent. I wonder how much cultivation resources it will deplete."

While the formation masters continued their conversation, the muscular man in black armor guided Mo Hao and the two thousand others behind the assembly of formation masters.

"We appreciate your efforts," the muscular man bowed to the crowd of formation masters.

"You're welcome," an elderly man with a white beard responded, nodding at the muscular man.

With those words, he commanded all the formation masters to activate the array altar!

Immediately, each formation master's Yuan Power began to circulate, their robes billowing and hair wildly dancing, as potent forces were directed into the array altar through a series of intricate formation techniques.

Meanwhile, other cultivators tirelessly inserted top-grade spirit stones into the altar, consuming them at a rate calculated in the tens of thousands.

With the ceaseless infusion of spirit stones and the unified efforts of the formation masters, the formation commenced operation smoothly.

"Begin!" The white-bearded elderly man nodded at the muscular man and then thrust a punch towards the space above the array altar.

The muscular man followed suit, erupting with the formidable might of the Nirvana Cleansing realm, imbued with a touch of spatial power.

Alongside the elderly man and the muscular man, several other experts acted simultaneously.

Everyone targeted the same point, leading to an immediate fracture in space.

Crack!

A black dot abruptly materialized in mid-air, emanating a bone-chilling crackling noise.

After the black dot appeared, the surrounding spatial forces immediately surged over to mend it.

But at that instant, the might of the formation coalesced into a beam of white light, fully enveloping the area.

The spatial forces trying to repair the black-dot-like crack were suddenly halted, and the black dot was violently forced open.

Following that, cracks radiated from the black dot, swiftly morphing into a vast network of spiderweb-like fractures.

The black dot also continued to expand, and its growth rate hastened.

In the eyes of ordinary cultivators, the enlargement of the black dot occurred almost instantaneously.

In what seemed like the blink of an eye, the black dot metamorphosed into an enormous black vortex, within which countless surging waves appeared to roar and tumble.

"Hold it steady!" The white-bearded elderly man bellowed, marshaling all his strength to sustain the operation of the formation.

The other formation masters did the same, each contributing their utmost effort.

Under the united endeavors of the formation masters, the black vortex finally began to stabilize, transforming from a chaotic 'ocean floor' into a tranquil 'sea surface'.

But the task was far from over.

"Next, open the spatial door to the Immortal Martial Continent and stabilize it!" The white-bearded elderly man scanned those present, then promptly issued the command. "Bring the Void Suppressing Heavy Water!"

A cultivator from the Transcendence realm stepped forward, drawing out numerous bottles one by one, and hurling them into the vortex.

With the addition of the bottles, the black vortex once again became agitated.