Morning the next day.

Weng Jiu arrived driving an ornate carriage, which carried Su Yi to Mount Heavenbristle.

The heart of the Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier Formation lay deep within the mountain, and there were always top experts of the imperial family standing guard over it.

When Su Yi arrived, he found the Xia Emperor waiting there for him.

“Fellow Daoist Su, I’ll have to trouble you.” The emperor nodded in greeting.

Su Yi subtly inclined his head, then looked into the distance.

There was a massive cave carved into the Mount Heavenbristle, leading into the heart of the mountain. Molten lava tumbled within it, and flames raged.

Seventy-two bronze pillars, each big enough for an adult to wrap their arms around, stood within the lava. Their entire surfaces were carved with strange and intricate talisman and cloud markings.

A nine-foot black ritual platform stood in their center. It enshrined a completely azure Eight Trigrams Furnace.

It was the furnace that immediately drew Su Yi’s attention.

It was only about a foot tall, and its surface had eight nine-inch, strange little doors representing the Eight Trigrams: Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui.

The lid was perfectly round and...