Chapter 73: Cauldron

As Lei Bai departed with his men, Kane continued his search for the Temple of Blacksmith. His eyes scanned the horizon, and he spotted a structure in the distance. However, upon closer inspection, he realized it was an abandoned temple, with crumbling brick stones and an eerie atmosphere.

Kane cautiously ventured inside, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. Suddenly, the System announced, "The barrier is being removed." The walls of the temple began to radiate a soft, ethereal light, illuminating the interior.

Kane's curiosity got the better of him as he explored the temple. He stumbled upon a disturbing scene: a skeleton leaping towards the wall, pierced by ancient swords. The swords, thousands of years old, seemed to be lodged in the skeleton's bones. Kane's gaze wandered to the numerous corpses surrounding the skeleton, adorned in ancient armor bearing the symbol of a sun and a sword.

Kane's thoughts raced with questions. "What do these symbols represent? A sun and a sword...is it a clan emblem or a warning?" He approached the armor, marveling at its durability. "How can armor remain intact for so long? What secrets lie within its craftsmanship?"

As he examined the armor, Kane noticed a large cauldron in the center of the room. Its sheer size and intricate designs drew him in. Without hesitation, he touched the cauldron, and the System sprang to life.

"Host, the cauldron is reacting to your presence," the System announced.

Suddenly, runes appeared on the cauldron's surface, glowing with an otherworldly energy. Kane felt a strange feeling towards it

and suddenly some crimson like liquid started to emerge from the cauldron.

As the cauldron filled with the crimson liquid, Kane's heart raced with anticipation. The System's voice echoed in his mind, "Host, immerse yourself in the pool."

Kane stepped into the crimson pool, his skin freezing like ice. His teeth shattered, his gums torn apart. He screamed, his voice echoing off the walls.

His skin cracked, his bones shattering like twigs. His muscles atrophied, his eyes bulging in agony. His skin flayed off, revealing frozen muscle beneath.

The System's voice was calm, detached. "Host, your body is transforming."

Kane's mind reeled in pain and madness. His body shattered, his bones disintegrating like dust. His organs failed, his heart shattering like ice.

But Kane's spirit refused to die. His rage and determination fueled the transformation, his body slowly reassembling from the frozen remains.

The cauldron's icy grip on Kane's body suddenly reversed, its temperature soaring. The frozen flesh began to thaw, but instead of relief, Kane's body began to boil.

His skin burst open, revealing a mess of pulsing organs. His muscles tore apart, his bones cracking like splintered wood. The cauldron's liquid turned a deep crimson, bubbling with an otherworldly energy.

Kane's screams were drowned out by the sound of his own body tearing apart. His mind reeled in agony, his consciousness shattered like broken glass.

The System's voice remained calm, "Host, your body is being remade."

Kane's body continued to mutate, his flesh melting like wax in a furnace. His organs rearranged themselves, his bones reforming

into twisted, nightmarish shapes.