Unlike Lu Wuming's situation, if Lu Wuming faced pain that could be resolved in an instant, Liu Buli was enduring a torment he could not escape.
The feeling of his soul being torn apart made him feel numb. The agony continued every second, and at times, in his daze, he couldn't even discern what he was holding onto anymore.
Fortunately, as they had agreed from the beginning, the other soul within him would speak to him periodically. By now, perhaps the other party had also realized that their every conversation not only provided Liu Buli with the motivation to persevere but also gave himself a belief to hold on to.
Liu Buli was no longer sure if his soul had truly separated from his body. However, he was certain that he had long since moved beyond communicating with the other through words. Their exchange now occurred on the level of consciousness. Neither of them could control the body, though they both knew they were coveting the control of it.
"Kid, I really don't know what you're trying to achieve. Making both of us suffer like this, does that make you happy?"
The familiar voice echoed in his mind. Liu Buli no longer had the strength to even open his eyes. Maintaining his current state, he managed to respond, "When it's all over, you'll understand what I'm trying to achieve."
Hearing his voice, the Liu Buli in his mind chuckled. "I thought you were dead. I didn't expect you to be so resilient."
"I told you, I can last longer than you," Liu Buli replied. "You don't still think I was joking, do you?"
The voice in his mind vanished.
Clearly, the other party was displeased with his confidence.
However, their conversations were always like this: abrupt beginnings and abrupt endings. Liu Buli had grown accustomed to this state and didn't find it odd.
He recomposed himself and continued chanting the incantation in his heart, quietly enduring the passage of time.
Meanwhile, outside the furnace, Shen Muzhi sat not far from it, his expression heavy and complex.
When Liu Buli had entered the furnace, Shen Muzhi had kept telling himself that as long as he believed in Liu Buli and fulfilled his promise to watch over the furnace, nothing else would matter.
This task seemed simple enough and unlikely to go wrong. Even if something did go wrong, he believed his years of experience would allow him to handle it.
Therefore, at least mentally, he shouldn't have had any issues.
But after Liu Buli entered the alchemy furnace, and Shen Muzhi had guarded it for over ten days, he realized that he had underestimated the situation from the very beginning.
Those outside the furnace could see nothing of what was happening within. He could only follow Liu Buli's instructions, adding materials to the furnace at the designated times and ensuring the flames burned continuously. Only when the flames automatically extinguished on the appointed day could he open the furnace to observe the results.
Ultimately, no matter how much Shen Muzhi told himself to trust Liu Buli, he couldn't discern whether the person inside was alive or dead through the furnace.
At times, he couldn't help but wonder if he was simply burning an empty furnace. Perhaps the two souls within had already been incinerated by the Red Lotus Karma Fire, and not just their souls, but their bodies too, leaving nothing behind.
Whenever such thoughts arose, he would talk to You Siqi. Although You Siqi couldn't provide a definitive answer, according to him, regardless of whether anyone remained in the furnace, they had to fulfill Liu Buli's instructions.
If someone was still inside, their actions would be a great help to Liu Buli.
And if no one was inside, they would have at least stood their final post. Even if everyone died, they wouldn't be ashamed to face Liu Buli in the underworld.
Shen Muzhi found You Siqi's reasoning somewhat agreeable.
It was precisely this reasoning that allowed Shen Muzhi to calm himself and refocus his attention on the furnace whenever doubt crept in, continuing to maintain the burning flames.
According to Liu Buli, the flames beside the furnace must never be extinguished.
For their souls, after leaving their bodies, these flames were the only foundation that could ensure their continued existence.
Therefore, no matter what happened, unless the entire refinement process was complete, if Shen Muzhi were to extinguish the flames, the consequence would be the potential annihilation of both their souls within the furnace.
The most crucial task in asking Shen Muzhi to watch the furnace was to keep the flames going. Liu Buli had explained these principles clearly to Shen Muzhi from the start. Shen Muzhi had committed them to memory and had, without rest, guarded the furnace during this time, fearing any problem with the flames.
Liu Buli himself was unsure how long this refinement process would take, so Shen Muzhi naturally dared not relax his vigilance, focusing all his attention on the furnace.
However, he hadn't expected that even in such circumstances, an existence capable of disturbing him would appear.
Upon sensing the dense ghostly energy, Shen Muzhi's brow furrowed.
Fortunately, he didn't need to say anything. Yun Xiang, who was also guarding nearby, stood up. Patting Shen Muzhi's shoulder, she said, "Physician Shen, continue watching over my master. I recognize this aura. It's the person who injured Ao Lie. We have a prior grievance, so I will deal with them."