In the crimson magma world, filled with an eerie silence, not a single sign of life could be seen. The endless sea of red molten rock lay still as if it were a stagnant pool, undisturbed by any waves or ripples. The quietness seemed to envelop every corner of this volcanic realm…
“Boom!” A sudden low, rumbling sound broke the stillness of the magma world. The previously calm magma, like a beast stirred from its slumber, suddenly boiled up, creating massive fiery waves that roared and then crashed down, sending plumes of lava into the air and generating a thunderous roar.
Beneath the roaring lava wave, a figure stood, stepping on the magma. The upper body of the figure was bare, covered in a thin layer of pale white mucus. In his hands, he wielded a massive heavy ruler, which he rapidly swung in a series of intricate arcs. As he moved, a continuous chain of ruler shadows spread out, enveloping him completely. When the crashing lava met the dense web of ruler shadows, it was instantly deflected. The ruler shadows danced so densely that they seemed like layers upon layers, forming a barrier impenetrable to the relentless lava flow. Such a tight defense was truly astonishing.
A huge wave of lava crashed down, splashing a torrent of molten rock, before gradually subsiding. The figure standing on the magma, panting heavily, slowly stopped the movement of the ruler. When the last shadow dissipated, a young face, a mix of excitement and fatigue, was revealed. It was none other than Xiao Yan, who had entered the magma world to train.
Halting the heavy ruler, Xiao Yan wiped the sweat from his forehead. The sheer force of the lava waves crashing down was terrifying, forcing one to concentrate all their will and energy. Any lapse in concentration would result in the scorching lava burning the body to a crisp.
After pausing his training, Xiao Yan felt a tingling numbness in his arms. Glancing down at the heavy ruler, he saw that it was covered in red lava, with the intense heat spreading along its length, making his hands feel as if they were on fire. Fortunately, for Xiao Yan, this level of heat was not a major issue. Turning his gaze to his body, he frowned. His body, which had been coated in a cold liquid, now had several red spots where the lava had splashed, but thanks to the protective layer, it hadn’t caused any serious damage. Still, it indicated that Xiao Yan’s “Six Combinations Wandering Ruler” technique had not yet reached perfection. According to the scroll, to fully master the technique, one should be able to enter the lava waves without being touched. After all, in a real battle, any gaps in defense could be exploited, leading to fatal attacks.
“The Six Combinations Wandering Ruler is indeed not as easy to master as I thought,” Xiao Yan muttered, shaking his head. He didn’t know that, within just fifteen days, he had made remarkable progress. This was partly due to his familiarity with the heavy ruler, his perfect training conditions, and the guidance of the soul mark on the scroll. Even with his innate talent, mastering this technique in such a short time was no easy feat. After all, it was a ground-level technique, and if it were too simple to master, it would lose its significance. Xiao Yan recalled the hardships he faced while mastering the lower ground-level “Flame Division Swallowing Wave Ruler.”
Placing the heavy ruler back into his storage ring, Xiao Yan tapped the magma with his foot. A pair of crystal clear bone wings extended, and with a gentle flap, he soared into the air, heading towards a cave in the cliff above. Xiao Yan had been in this magma world for half a month, rarely leaving except to check in with the elder guarding the cave, to ensure they knew he was still alive.
During this period of intense training, Xiao Yan felt the significant growth in his strength, even though it was a solitary and monotonous experience. His Dou Qi had become more robust, edging closer to the level of a Six-star Battle Emperor. He also noticed that his Dou Qi now seemed more intense, possibly due to the purity of the fire attributes in this place. While he was still honing his “Six Combinations Wandering Ruler,” he had improved significantly compared to when he first started.
Entering the cave, Xiao Yan gritted his teeth against the ache in his body, sat down, and quickly resumed his training. He found that after practicing the “Six Combinations Wandering Ruler,” his body’s absorption ability was exceptionally strong. He could even hear the cells, bones, meridians, muscles, and organs in his body crying out for more.
The gradual improvement in his strength motivated Xiao Yan to endure the solitude. He was preparing to enter the Central Plains, a place teeming with powerful individuals. Unlike the Black-Corner Region or the Jia Ma Empire, he could not rely solely on his current strength. Moreover, placing in the top ten in the Pill Tower’s “Pill Gathering” would not be easy, as it attracted the most talented alchemists from across the continent. To stand out among such a crowd, he needed real skills.
Even with his exceptional alchemical talent, Xiao Yan did not dare to underestimate the “Pill Gathering,” as even the old medicine master had participated. These thoughts fueled his resolve to continue, as only by obtaining the “Three Thousand Fallen Flame” could he neutralize the demonic poison in his body and save the old medicine master and his father.
With these thoughts in mind, Xiao Yan’s exhausted eyes glinted with determination. Closing his eyes, he continued his rigorous daily training.
In the silent magma world, time held no meaning, but Xiao Yan could feel his strength growing clearer with each passing day. The “Six Combinations Wandering Ruler” was also becoming more refined, and everything was proceeding smoothly. At this rate, he could reach the Six-star Battle Emperor level in another two months.
During this time, the mysterious calling had become more frequent, which puzzled him. He was almost certain that something deep within the magma was summoning the Fallen Heart Flame inside him. Though he was now sure, he did not act rashly, as he sensed a faint danger in the seemingly dead landscape.
“Boom!” Another massive wave of lava crashed down, sending a loud reverberation through the quiet space. Amidst the flaming wave, Xiao Yan, shirtless, was intensely swinging his heavy ruler. The intricate dance created a continuous stream of ruler shadows, forming a web-like barrier around him. The incoming lava, before it even touched the ruler shadows, was deflected by the clever force contained within. From afar, it looked like a vortex of ruler shadows, repelling the cascading lava, an impressive and nearly impenetrable defense.
In the midst of the flame wave, Xiao Yan’s eyes suddenly narrowed. A sharp cry erupted from his lips, and he abruptly stopped the ruler, causing the ruler shadows to dissipate. In that instant, the ruler vibrated rapidly, revealing faint afterimages!
“Splitting Flame!” The shout echoed through the magma world. Four massive fire rays, each ten feet long, crisscrossed from the ruler, forming a crude net and shooting forward. The sudden burst of power split the wave of lava apart!
“Boom!” The splashing lava crashed down, and a faint emerald flame spread from Xiao Yan, blocking the remaining lava. Staring at the boiling magma, a look of joy crept into Xiao Yan’s eyes. Being able to use the “Splitting Flame” meant he had achieved a small success, and this was all within less than a month. This speed was surprisingly fast, something he had not anticipated.
Taking a deep, hot breath, Xiao Yan smiled and was about to return to the cave when his expression suddenly changed. He glanced sharply down at the vast, bottomless sea of magma. Just moments ago, a stronger call had come from the depths, more powerful than any he had felt before.
“What lies below? Why is the Fallen Heart Flame reacting so strongly?” Xiao Yan’s eyes flickered, his face changing. For some time, he had been curious about this mysterious call, but he dared not probe too deeply. Today, however, he felt the urge to investigate. Perhaps there was something unexpected down there…
This time… he would take the risk!
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