Boiling a frog slowly is actually a profound technique.

  Just like premium ingredients often shine brightest with the simplest cooking methods, bringing out their innate flavors fully.

  Lu treated the Fire Elemental God the same way.

  By the time the god realized what was happening, he found that most of his Fire Origin power—attached to his primordial spirit—had been absorbed by the array patterns on the Eight Trigrams cauldron. It was too late to react.

  "Damn it!"

  Fire Origin power amplified his spirit's attacks, making them far more devastating.

  Yet it had been stripped away unknowingly.

  Only now did the Fire Elemental God understand why Lu remained so calm—he'd been waiting for the absorption to complete.

  If not for losing so much, the god might never have noticed.

  But now, it was futile.

  The absorbed Fire Origin power erupted fully. A fiery storm raged, clashing against the god's own primordial spirit force.

  It began eroding his spirit relentlessly.

  The Fire Elemental God felt so frustrated he nearly spat blood. It was like someone stealing your knife and using it to stab you.

  He didn't dare unleash his spirit power to resist—below him, the Eight Trigrams platform waited hungrily. Any eruption would trigger frantic absorption.

  This sensation drove him mad with rage.

  He truly hated it.

  In the outside world, with his peak heavenly god-tier strength, he'd easily erase Lu.

  Yet here in the primordial spirit battlefield, a mere human Emperor had schemed against him so thoroughly.

  One link chaining the next.

  It left him feeling powerless, as if his strength had been eroded unnoticed, stripping his ability to fight back.

  Lu smiled.

  The timing was ripe.

  "After all, you're an Elemental God. Erasing your spirit entirely is still tricky."

  "But I'm not bloodthirsty. An Elemental God is a massive strategic asset—a top-tier tool divine-demon, far more useful than some giant beast like Kuisi."

  Lu muttered.

  Then he rose from the Thousand-Bladed Chair, instantly appearing beneath the Eight Trigrams platform.

  Pushing a palm forward against it.

  Metal Origin, Fire Origin, Wood Origin...

  All three powers burst forth simultaneously.

  Forcing the platform down toward the Fire Elemental God.

  The god felt chills down his spine.

  He hadn't expected Lu to wield these three powers...

  The forces of three Beast Ancestor statues.

  Though weaker than his own, it still shocked him.

  Who among humans could command three?

  Suddenly, realization dawned...

  "It's you!!!"

  Brilliant light exploded from his eyes like flaming tongues, scorching and twisting the void.

  Lu was slightly surprised.

  He'd been recognized.

  "You're the one who stole two Beast Ancestor statues!"

  Fury burned in the god's eyes, flames practically shooting out.

  This guy dared show himself!

  And plotted to kill him?!

  So insidious!

  This time, Lu wore no black cloak, but in the god's eyes, their figures overlapped perfectly.

  Lu smiled. Recognized? Fine.

  He hadn't planned to spare the Fire Elemental God anyway.

  Though dealing with an Elemental God's spirit was tough, Lu would try.

  Boom!

  The three powers erupted.

  Greatly empowering the Eight Trigrams platform.

  Inside the cauldron, the god felt like he was about to burst.

  He endured—no releasing power. He knew erupting would play right into Lu's hands.

  The platform would devour his spirit force madly.

  But under Lu's boost, the pressure intensified.

  "What treasure is this?"

  The god gritted teeth, eyes full of shock. A treasure that absorbed spirit power—humans had such a thing, and divine-demons knew nothing?

  Humans truly hid unknown trump cards!

  Feeling the oppression.

  The Fire Elemental God faced a choice.

  He never imagined suffering such humiliation!

  Yes, humiliation!

  With only spirit power, he was completely countered by the platform. Against a human Emperor, he was powerless.

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  For a moment, sorrow welled up.

  Was the Fire Elemental God... going to fall here?

  Finally, as pressure closed in, he couldn't hold.

  Spirit power surged wildly.

  Then the Eight Trigrams platform pounced like a cat smelling fish!

  Boom boom boom!

  Unnoticed, Lu had reseated in the Thousand-Bladed Chair.

  In the cauldron, the god's aura weakened steadily. His spirit power fully absorbed by the platform, growing feeble.

  Whoosh...

  Agonized howls echoed.

  The pain of spirit power being stripped—like soul tearing.

  Buzz...

  Lu's eyes gleamed.

  Raising a hand, energy ripples spread from the platform.

  He refined the god like a pill. But as a quasi-saint pinnacle equivalent, it was challenging with his current strength.

  Given enough time, though, success was certain.

  On the platform, a handful of fist-sized crimson "pills" floated out—high yield.

  Formed from absorbed spirit power, condensed pure essence.

  The Fire Elemental God stared unwillingly at Lu from the cauldron.

  Lu remained calm.

  Grasping one pill.

  Powerful spirit fluctuations radiated.

  "Call these 'Fire Essence Pills.' Mid-grade immortal pills, at least."

  Lu smiled, satisfied.

  "Perfect as rewards. In the Flame Mountain enlightenment grounds, reaching the 9,990th step earns one. Tempered by the Beast Ancestor statue's power, it counters the instability from swallowing them..."

  Lu was pleased.

  Glancing calmly at the god.

  Fully refining him would take ages.

  Unless Lu broke through further—otherwise, millennia at least.

  Though mere nothing to an Elemental God, far too long for Lu.

  Besides, no rush to complete it.

  Finishing now would cut off the Fire Essence Pill supply.

  One pill, if estimated right, could boost a Fire Origin-talented Emperor by a minor realm.

  From early to mid-Emperor, etc.

  Benefits of spirit elevation.

  Though Lu stripped most Fire Origin, remnants lingered—so only extreme Fire Origin talents could refine them.

  Hence mid-grade, not top-grade.

  If universal, perhaps top-grade.

  Lu raised a hand, forming seals.

  Refining the god: a long process.

  No hurry—take it slow.

  Boom!

  The god lost resistance. The platform continuously absorbed—no recovery possible. He'd only weaken.

  Ignoring the raging, howling spirit pounding the cauldron on the preaching platform.

  Lu retracted it.

  Closed the battlefield.

  Severing the god's spirit-body link.

  Explaining the weakening aura on his body outside.

  Done.

  Lu returned to the lake island, scenes from the grounds reflecting again.

  Though suppressing the Fire Elemental God, little joy.

  Ultimately, his strength fell short—forcing schemes.

  If overwhelming, he'd crush the spirit directly—no need for tricks.

  Lu sighed deeply. Still not strong enough.

  ...

  Wood Origin enlightenment grounds.

  Atmosphere icy cold.

  The Gold Elemental God's eyes narrowed. His once-relaxed face showed disbelief.

  He clearly sensed the Fire Elemental God's aura fading—until like a soul stripped, only a shell remained.

  In short: spirit-body link severed?!

  Spirit and body interdependent—severed meant one thing: spirit extinguished or fully sealed...

  Either shocked the Gold Elemental God.

  A peer like the Fire Elemental God—what happened?

  Killed?

  Lu Jiulian slew him?

  Tonggu Daoist understood the extinguished aura meant: at least until spirit return (if ever), no major threat to humans.

  Even Tonggu was stunned...

  Heavens!

  What did Brother Lu do to him?

  How?

  The Gold God didn't know, but Tonggu guessed some.

  Behind Lu Jiulian stood Lu.

  The god only faced Lu.

  "Perhaps... he met Brother Lu's mysterious saint master?"

  "Possible... Otherwise, with Brother Lu's Extreme Emperor—at best new Emperor strength—how silence or suppress the spirit?"

  Tonggu shook head.

  Unbelievable, but fact—so he nearly bloomed with joy.

  Not ordinary heavenly god-tier—an Elemental God!

  In the Elemental Realm, below emperors: Elemental Gods strongest.

  Each noble, vital—major human foes and threats.

  Yet...

  One such threat quietly resolved by Brother Lu.

  Of course...

  Life or death unclear.

  The Black-White Empress's eyes shone brightly.

  As expected...

  Though arduous, within predictions. Worthy of that man.

  The Fire Elemental God lost justly.

  Alive or dead? Unclear—link severed only.

  Likely alive.

  Buzz...

  She released pressure, no longer suppressing the body.

  But it remained kneeling—spiritless shell.

  Elsewhere.

  Lu Jiulian sat cross-legged.

  Sensing the severing.

  The Black-White Empress glanced at him, realization dawning.

  Smiling.

  Next instant, she flashed to Azure Dragon hugging the statue.

  He'd been watching the drama—suddenly chilled as she appeared.

  This lady again?

  Tears nearly fell.

  So long—why still targeting him?

  She took the Wood Origin statue from his arms.

  "Rollroll, bite."

  Handed it to the shoulder fluffy ball.

  The Black-White Beast's eyes lit up. Beneath fluff, razor teeth emerged—snapping rapidly.

  Clang!

  Bitten.

  Vast profound truth ripples burst from the statue.

  Buzz...

  All plunged into enlightenment.

  Lu recontrolled Lu Jiulian's body.

  This time, no sneaky assassinations.

  The spirit clash drained him greatly.

  "Thanks."

  Lu glanced complexly at the Black-White Empress.

  "Remember—you owe me a favor."

  She said.

  Lu didn't deny. Without her suppression, dragging the spirit in would've failed—Lu Jiulian likely dead.

  "Alright."

  He nodded.

  Then mind stirring, a crimson pill tore space, emerging.

  One of many Fire Essence Pills from refining—carrying the god's spirit aura.

  Lu made Lu Jiulian grab and hold it—intentionally creating illusion of the god's fall, deterring divine-demons.

  Done, Lu exhaled, deeply eyeing her before withdrawing will—no longer controlling.

  Buzz...

  Wood Origin ripples receded like tide.

  The Black-White Empress watched his departing will, narrowing eyes.

  Next, long legs stepping—she vanished with shoulder beast, returning to the palace.

  Will gone, favor secured.

  No need to linger.

  As ripples faded.

  All awoke—humans and divine-demons.

  Lu Jiulian cleared, feeling warmth in hand.

  Looked: fist-sized pill.

  Radiating pure Fire Origin.

  Bewildered—where from?

  What did his small universe do again?

  Tonggu and Gold Elemental God awoke from ripples.

  Eyes locked on the Fire Essence Pill in Lu Jiulian's hand.

  The Gold God's eyes reddened instantly.

  "Fire Elemental God's spirit aura... this pill..."

  "Damn!"

  "Refined from his spirit?! The Fire Elemental God... fallen?!"

  Chills ran through him, body cold.

  He thought sealed—but now, likely doomed.

  Dead!

  "You did it?!"

  "Human ferocious god Lu Jiulian?!"

  Gaze shifted to pill-holding Lu Jiulian—prime suspect.

  So many immortal and Great Dao tiers dead before.

  Now... even an Elemental God poisoned!

  Tonggu stunned too.

  But quickest to react—kindred with Lu Ping'an, he guessed: Lu planted the pill on him.

  To make him take the fall!

  And deter divine-demons!

  Worthy of Brother Lu!

  Of course, shocked too—authentic aura.

  Meaning... Lu might've really taken him down?!

  Tonggu's heart itched.

  Ah, my outstanding Brother Lu!

  "Pill from an Elemental God's spirit?!"

  "Wow~!"

  "Jiulian! You slayed a god!"

  Tonggu roared, face incredulous, pointing trembling finger.

  Then, as if recalling: eyes misted.

  "Ah~ Old Fire! So tragically dead!"

  Words thundered across the grounds.

  Divine-demons trembled, staring fearfully at Lu Jiulian...

  Human ferocious god... god-slayer?!

  The Gold God's face twitched at Tonggu's words.

  This dog—disgusting again!

  Heart-stabbing!

  He eyed the body—Green Lotus hilt still in chest...

  Lips moved to retort—but words felt powerless.

  Humans side.

  All stunned.

  Overlord, Tang Yimo, Sima Qingshan and Five Phoenixes powerhouses gazed shocked at Lu Jiulian—like meeting him anew.

  "Lu Jiulian had such a trump?"

  Human ancestral geniuses gasped.

  Azure Dragon, amid daze, snatched the statue—thrown angrily by the beast after chipping a tooth.

  Hugging it felt safer.

  Tonggu's shout.

  Dumbfounded Lu Jiulian too—belated realization.

  "I, Lu Jiulian... slayed a god?"

  Warm pill indeed pure Fire Elemental God spirit-refined.

  Plus hilt in shell—undeniable.

  His small universe... that strong?

  Killing immortals: accepted.

  Great Dao tiers: barely.

  But god-slaying.

  Lips quivered—not dumb, felt deliberate framing!

  This blame... can't take!

  If surrounded by Elemental Gods later.

  A hundred Lu Jiulians wouldn't survive.

  Hurriedly pocketed pill, waving hands.

  "Not me! How could I..."

  But divine-demons ignored explanations.

  Explain?

  Pill in hand, hilt unextracted—ironclad evidence! Deny what?!

  Though Gold God sensed oddity—likely in Lu Jiulian.

  Killing even him—nothing normal!

  What happened during enlightenment?

  He grew wary.

  "It was you! Really you!"

  "Jiulian! No humility—you slayed a god!"

  Tonggu bellowed excitedly.

  Human geniuses, clueless, only thrilled.

  Before returning ancestral lands, couldn't contain—roaring together.

  "Human Lu Jiulian!"

  "Emperor realm, defying heavens to slay a god!"

  "Glory to humans! Congratulations to humans! To Brother Jiulian!!"

  Voices thundered.

  Few humans, but unified roar—soul-shaking deterrence.

  Divine-demons quaked.

  The body still knelt.

  Tonggu's eyes flashed—while Gold God dazed.

  Step out, space compressing.

  Appeared beside Lu Jiulian, grabbing him—flash to Azure Dragon.

  Black-White Empress gone—noted.

  Unclear why she helped humans.

  But such fortune—Tonggu welcomed.

  Most importantly: Wood Origin statue still human-held.

  This Boundary Ruins trip: perfect!

  Divine-demons massive loss—humans huge gain!

  Linger no more!

  Big profit...

  Time to run!