However, the Blood Refinement Technique still has significant limitations.
For example, a common magic artifact can be refined with just a drop of fingertip blood, allowing it to recognize its master.
As for magic treasures, numerous drops of essence blood are required for them to recognize their owner.
Regarding spiritual treasures, Mu Jinyu wasn't entirely sure, but he estimated that "essence blood" would be necessary.
Thinking back to how Di Shitian controlled the Bi Fang Cauldron earlier, it seemed like he indeed used essence blood to nourish the Bi Fang Cauldron!
Mu Jinyu immediately gave a bitter smile.
This was why he initially chose to use the True Essence Refinement Method instead of the simpler Blood Refinement Technique!
Who knows how much essence blood it would take?
But now, there was no choice; he couldn't stay in this extremely dangerous sea of fire forever.
Gritting his teeth, Mu Jinyu suddenly raised his palm and struck his heart, causing his heart to tremble like a drum and forcibly expelling a large mouthful of essence blood!
"Puff!!"
Mu Jinyu's face instantly turned pale. He opened his mouth and sprayed the essence blood, which turned into a blood mist and splashed towards the Bi Fang Cauldron ahead!
"Sizzle sizzle!"
Mu Jinyu's essence blood contained abundant life source energy, making it difficult to be erased by external forces, but it still couldn't withstand the Bi Fang's Fire, being largely burned and evaporated immediately!
Only a trace of the blood mist remained, which clung to the Bi Fang Cauldron and was absorbed.
"Sizzle!"
Mu Jinyu had expended a large amount of essence blood, causing severe damage to himself. With a pale face, he hesitantly tried to control the Bi Fang Cauldron.
He found he still couldn't command it.
The cauldron only lightly trembled a few times.
"So unlucky..."
Seeing this, Mu Jinyu gave a bitter smile, hit his heart again, and sprayed another large mouthful of essence blood onto the Bi Fang Cauldron.
In his heart, he kept chanting: "This time it will work, this time it will work..."
Although Mu Jinyu had life source energy and could heal from multiple injuries quickly, essence blood was different.
For an ordinary person, the loss of a single drop of essence blood would result in severe illness, needing at least several years of rest to recover.
Even after recovery, their lifespan would be shortened.
Mu Jinyu wouldn't face such dire consequences, but using so much essence blood still meant he needed a period of recuperation!
"Sizzle!"
Unfortunately, even after two large mouthfuls of essence blood, he still hadn't managed to preliminarily refine the Bi Fang Cauldron.
Mu Jinyu, helpless and frustrated, sprayed another mouthful of essence blood.
Finally, after expending three large mouthfuls of essence blood, Mu Jinyu could just barely gain initial control over the Bi Fang Cauldron.
"Withdraw!"
Pale as a ghost, Mu Jinyu shouted fiercely.
"Boom!"
Instantly, the raging Bi Fang's Fire began to surge fiercely back into the Bi Fang Cauldron.
Soon, the terrifying sea of fire that ravaged the area disappeared.
However, the shattered arena couldn't be restored just because the fire had vanished.
"Finally, it's over..."
The spectators, seeing the fire recede and revealing a now devastated square, began chattering loudly.
"Whew..."
Jian Ruyan, Yun Ge, and Xie Chenkun, who were concerned about Mu Jinyu, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing him unscathed.
Fang Xiuyuan, not seeing any sign of Di Shitian, felt his last shred of hope shatter, his face turning ashen.
He knew that the Liuyun Sect had lost their chance to rise to power, as Di Shitian's failure meant they couldn't secure first place anymore!
"Finally..."
Dao Wuming, seeing Mu Jinyu take control and subdue the fire, initially felt exhilaration surging within him.
But quickly, he realized that Mu Jinyu didn't look well; he must have been severely injured in his fight against Di Shitian.
Disappointed, Dao Wuming felt that the upcoming battle with Mu Jinyu wasn't going to be as satisfying as he'd hoped.
"Withdraw!"
Mu Jinyu took a few shallow breaths, then, seeing the Bi Fang Cauldron withdraw the fire, formed a spell to gradually shrink the cauldron from its towering size.
With a flick of his sleeve, he put the Bi Fang Cauldron into his storage bag.
If Mu Jinyu had refined the Bi Fang Cauldron using the True Essence Refinement Method, he wouldn't need to store it in a bag; he could keep it in his dantian, nourishing it with True Yuan.
But clearly, that wasn't possible now.
Fang Xiuyuan, watching Mu Jinyu refine and pocket the top-quality spiritual treasure, felt his heart ache intensely.
His lips moved as if to say that it was his disciple's weapon and that it should be returned to the Liuyun Sect even if Di Shitian died...
But given the current situation, and considering Mu Jinyu's near-fatal ordeal and the unknown costs he had paid, he dared not voice his thoughts.
After all, it was Di Shitian who had first attempted to kill Mu Jinyu with this powerful spiritual treasure, and now that Mu Jinyu had killed Di Shitian and taken the Bi Fang Cauldron, even causing trouble for the Liuyun Sect...
Fang Xiuyuan could only swallow his bitterness and anger in silence, knowing that his plans had gone awry, and he could do nothing about it.
The watching disciples, their eyes glued to Mu Jinyu taking the Bi Fang Cauldron, were filled with envy and jealousy...
Xie Chenkun, seeing this, couldn't help but laugh heartily, his worries disappearing, and his heart filled with joy.
Mu Jinyu taking the top-quality spiritual treasure meant that even if the Heavenly Sword Faction couldn't win first place in the Four Sects Martial Meeting, it was still worthwhile.
Zhou Taiping was also envious, wishing he could claim the Bi Fang Cauldron as his own.
Xie Chenkun, noticing Mu Jinyu's pallid face, was shocked and realized that Mu Jinyu must have paid a heavy price to kill Di Shitian.
He quickly flew to Mu Jinyu's side, supported him, and anxiously asked, "How are you? Rest for a bit, take this elixir..."
As he spoke, Xie Chenkun took out a life-saving pill he had previously demanded from the Liuyun Sect after Wei Ziping was gravely injured by Di Shitian, and he was about to feed it to Mu Jinyu.
Mu Jinyu shook his pale face and said, "I took an elixir already, don't waste it..."
Xie Chenkun saw Mu Jinyu's insistence and knew that Mu Jinyu had many life-saving pills with him, so he didn't force the pill on him.
"Then let's get you some rest."
Xie Chenkun kept away the life-saving pill and, supporting Mu Jinyu, prepared to return to the Heavenly Sword Faction's temporary quarters.
Seeing this, Zhou Taiping's eyes gleamed, and he suddenly stepped in front of Xie Chenkun, saying coldly, "Are you going to make him forfeit the competition?"
"No!"
Supporting Mu Jinyu, Xie Chenkun frowned and said, "Can't you see how weak he is now? How can he fight Dao Wuming? Of course, the final match will be postponed, delayed for a while!"
Zhou Taiping coldly refused, "The Four Sects Martial Meeting has always been held today, there's no concept of postponing or delaying it!"