Blazing gales roared in his ears as Xiao Yan’s figure continuously slid down the cave entrance. As he drew closer to the underground lava world, the surrounding air became increasingly scorching. A faint emerald flame seeped out from within Xiao Yan, shielding him from the intense heat. Staring at the pure crimson colors below, he took a deep breath, a hint of caution rising in his heart. This was no place for amusement; it was surely fraught with peril. It was always wise to be cautious. The faint summoning sensation that had briefly appeared earlier vanished without a trace, leaving Xiao Yan to wonder if it had been merely an illusion.
After sliding down for a considerable time, Xiao Yan’s vision suddenly broadened, revealing a vast lava world with no end in sight. Gigantic bubbles emerged from the lava, bursting and releasing a wave of intense heat mingled with wisps of white smoke. These fumes contained a type of fire poison, which would be quite troublesome if inhaled.
Xiao Yan’s mind stirred, and his bone wings, like those made of jade, slowly extended from his back, flapping gently to stabilize his body in the mid-air above this lava world. Suspended in the air, he cautiously scanned the surroundings. The lava world remained as still and lifeless as it had been when he last left, save for the occasional soft bursts of the lava bubbles. The lava was thick and sluggish, making it difficult for any significant waves to form. The entire environment exuded a profoundly oppressive silence. Prolonged stay here would likely warp one’s character, rendering them strange and reclusive. Fortunately, Xiao Yan had been in a false death state, oblivious to the external world, else those years would have been exceedingly arduous.
Feeling a bit relieved, Xiao Yan checked his surroundings and found nothing amiss. He then moved his bone wings to a cliffside, drawing out the Heavy Xuan Ruler. The emerald flame enveloped the ruler, and under the intense heat of the Lotus Core Flame, the hard cliff was pierced like tofu. Quickly moving his wrist, fragments of rock flew as he rapidly excavated a large cavern about two feet wide…
With the help of the Lotus Core Flame, Xiao Yan easily created a small cave for rest. However, he did not immediately jump into the cultivation of the “Six Directions Body-Traveling Ruler” on the lava. Instead, he sat cross-legged in the cave, gradually closing his eyes to enter his cultivation state.
As Xiao Yan entered his cultivation, the space around him began to fluctuate violently. A torrential flow of crimson energy surged forth, rushing into his body. The moment the crimson energy entered, Xiao Yan’s slightly closed eyes snapped open, reflecting a mixture of elation and gravity. The abundance of energy far exceeded his expectations, but so did the ferocity of the energy. Absorbing too much of this fierce energy could subtly alter one’s temperament, an effect Xiao Yan could not accept, even if it meant faster cultivation.
“Fortunately, I came prepared,” Xiao Yan mused, smiling. He waved his hand, and a cluster of emerald flames rose, enveloping his palm. Then, he snapped his fingers, and several items appeared before him, hovering in mid-air. These were medicinal herbs, emitting a chill, clearly infused with ice or water elemental energy.
Xiao Yan casually glanced at them, then waved his hand. The cooling medicinal herbs were quickly added to the mix. Now a true Level 6 Alchemist, he could easily refine ordinary medicinal pills, just as the old Pharmacist Elder had done, turning his palm into a furnace with ease.
Under the control of Xiao Yan’s soul power, the cooling herbs were swiftly refined, forming a viscous white, cold liquid. His aim was not to create a medicinal pill but an auxiliary item for cultivation, akin to the small, beneficial concoctions the Pharmacist Elder had made during his early travels. Thus, it didn’t take Xiao Yan long, just about ten minutes, to purify the liquid, removing all impurities.
The translucent, cold liquid orbited in the flames. Xiao Yan turned his palm, and a small jade bottle appeared. Tipping the bottle, some cold, dark red blood flowed out, merging with the cold liquid. As the two merged, the color changed slightly, and after being gradually roasted by the Lotus Core Flame, it condensed into a pale, white, viscous fluid, radiating a cold aura that resisted the surrounding heat.
Seeing the success of his preparation, Xiao Yan’s emerald flames gradually dissipated. A flick of his finger, and the pale, white, viscous fluid fell into a jade bottle. After securing it, Xiao Yan quickly removed his clothes and applied the cold liquid all over his body, covering every inch of skin.
As the cold liquid was applied, a chilling sensation enveloped Xiao Yan. His previously hot skin quickly cooled down. Despite the cold, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but shiver. Seizing the peak of the cold, he again sat cross-legged and entered his cultivation state.
Just as Xiao Yan entered his cultivation, the surrounding fiery energy rushed towards him once more, this time drawn by the cooling liquid. The clash of heat and cold neutralized the ferocity of the energy, allowing the purified, vast energy to be fully absorbed into his body.
Xiao Yan, pleased with the results, controlled the massive amount of fire energy, channeling it through the Burning Decree and transforming it into robust and pure Dou Qi, infusing it into his recently expanded body. The rich, fiery energy in the lava world provided ample surprise, and the reduction of its ferocity by the cold liquid allowed for unbridled absorption. With this rate, Xiao Yan was confident he could reach the Six-Star Battle Emperor level within three months!
Xiao Yan’s first cultivation session in the lava world lasted nearly an hour. Opening his eyes, a glimmer of firelight flashed in his dark pupils, and a burst of hot air escaped his throat, slowly dissipating. Clenching his fists, feeling the surge of energy, a satisfied smile appeared on Xiao Yan’s face. Here was indeed perfect for his practice. Even after less than an hour, he could sense the subtle increase in his Dou Qi. Over time, the progress would be immense, though the atmosphere was too oppressive, requiring a resolve to endure isolation.
Cultivation was inherently arduous, and to gain extraordinary power, extraordinary effort was required. Knowing this, Xiao Yan chose to endure, despite the difficulty. After familiarizing himself with the lava world, he began to practice the “Six Directions Body-Traveling Ruler.” The environment here was perfect for cultivation.
Despite the initial challenges, Xiao Yan’s talent and the guidance of the soul imprint in the scroll helped him progress. After days of rigorous training and numerous lava dangers, he gradually grasped the technique, achieving a semblance of proficiency. Though perfection was still far, his progress in such a short time was impressive. With sufficient time, mastering the “Six Directions Body-Traveling Ruler” was not impossible.
In the timeless lava world, Xiao Yan sensed he had been here for nearly ten days. During this time, he had stabilized at the Five-Star Battle Emperor level, becoming more proficient in the “Six Directions Body-Traveling Ruler.” As he adapted, the lava world became more comfortable. And in this adaptation, he felt a clear, though faint, summoning sensation directed at the Celestial Fire Venerable within him—perhaps the Falling Heart Inflammation?
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