Shi Hao sat cross-legged, his body trembling violently as he endured immense agony. Clusters of fiery glyphs erupted from his flesh, scorching his body until it was a bloody mess.
As the outside world had speculated, large holes had appeared in some parts of his body.
Like his tattered armor, his flesh now looked wretched, riddled with gaping wounds.
But this was his physical body—such damage was dire and dangerous. Normally, igniting the divine flame would bring about a perfect transformation, making one stronger!
Yet in his current state, he was clearly inflicting severe harm upon himself. His life essence was being consumed, and if this continued, his body would wither away.
*Hiss!*
The flames grew fiercer. In some places, Shi Hao’s flesh had shriveled, revealing gleaming white bones beneath the charred remains.
“It hurts!”
Shi Hao trembled slightly, gritting his teeth as he endured the torment.
Now he understood why those in ancient times who sought to walk an unorthodox path to divinity had all perished—none had met a good end. This was truly not something an ordinary person could withstand.
And this was only the beginning. His body was already on the verge of collapse, sustaining grievous injuries.
He began to doubt whether he could persevere, for the path he had chosen was far more ruthless and absolute than those of ancient times—leaving no room for retreat.
He had invoked the Great Dao of the external world, not just a single “ancient flame.”
Now, one law after another burned his flesh and scorched his spirit, like immortal swords slashing at him, carving his flesh and splitting his soul—an unbearable agony.
Using the heavens and earth as a crucible and the myriad Daos as fire to temper himself—this was not something an ordinary person could endure. From the very beginning, Shi Hao knew this might be a path of no return.
One after another, the bluestone paths rippled like clusters of flames, converging toward Shi Hao and coiling around him.
And this was only with a dozen or so Dao laws. If it was already this severe, one could only imagine how much more grueling it would become. A single misstep, and he would be annihilated—body and soul!
Over the past few months, Shi Hao had communed with the Dao contained within these bluestone paths. Now, he guided them, allowing over a dozen Dao laws to converge upon him.
“I didn’t do this well enough. There’s a deviation. This isn’t tempering—it’s self-destruction.” Shi Hao reflected silently, analyzing his mistakes.
He realized that while he had indeed invoked over a dozen Dao laws, he had failed to properly utilize the heavenly crucible. Instead, he was directly burning himself—a grave error.
The ripples on the bluestone paths grew brighter, like luminous serpents slithering toward him, coiling around his body and threatening to crush his bones. The danger intensified.
Shi Hao’s injuries worsened. Some parts of his body were on the verge of breaking apart as the dozen Dao laws unleashed their power, burning and slashing at him.
“No, this isn’t right!”
Shi Hao suddenly opened his eyes. He knew he had to change his approach, or he would perish before reaching the end of this path.
“Heaven and Earth as the Crucible!”
In an instant, he broke free, rising into the air while still seated cross-legged, suspended in space.
Around him, the void twisted and blurred, becoming hazy.
*Boom!*
A deafening roar echoed as the heavens seemed to press down.
Another violent tremor shook the bluestone paths, lifting them toward him.
The space around him underwent a bizarre transformation. Upon closer inspection, it was the void itself that was warping, pushing away the dozen Dao flames that had been burning his body.
An invisible crucible seemed to form around him, forged from the void itself, encasing him within.
Especially when his body began to glow, divine radiance piercing outward, it became clear—the sacred light was confined within a cauldron.
Outside, the onlookers shuddered.
At this moment, a cauldron had manifested around Shi Hao, visible only when filled with light—otherwise, it would have been imperceptible.
He had twisted the void, harnessed heaven and earth, and forged it into a tangible crucible!
If not for the divine radiance within, outsiders would have struggled to perceive it, sensing only a vague presence.
This was a miraculous sight!
Now, the dozen beams of light that had been wrapped around him transformed into flames, boiling as they tempered the cauldron—no longer burning his body directly.
This was beyond belief, leaving many in the outside world exchanging bewildered glances.
“His ambition is immense. He has embarked on a path even more extreme than those ancient geniuses who ultimately perished or were crippled!” murmured a sect master, his expression grave.
The others were startled. To receive such high praise—was Shi Hao, the so-called “Sin” and “Desolate,” truly defying the heavens?
Shi Hao’s expression grew calmer. Seated within the cauldron, bathed in the flames of over a dozen Dao laws, he meditated in silence, his mind at peace.
“This is how it should be.”
Heaven and Earth as the crucible, the myriad Daos as the fire—now, the framework was taking shape. Shi Hao had forged a furnace within the void, his true self seated within, tempered by over a dozen Dao flames.
At this moment, the space around him blazed with brilliance. The once-invisible crucible was now filled with his life essence and mana, wrapped in Dao fire—its form revealed, simple yet profound.
Time passed swiftly. Half a month went by in the blink of an eye. The Dao flames never extinguished, growing ever fiercer, and the scene became increasingly mysterious.
Shi Hao sat within the cauldron like a rare elixir being refined, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth and the purity of the Dao flames to strengthen himself.
His wounds—those gaping holes—gradually healed. His body radiated light, no longer lacking vitality.
“Still not right. This isn’t what I intended.”
Inside the cauldron, Shi Hao pondered. His injuries had healed because the tempered flames, filtered through the crucible, had mended his body.
He had indeed gained benefits, but this was not the path he sought.
“I want to observe these Daos, these paths—not replicate them, not imitate them, not walk them all myself.” Shi Hao’s gaze was resolute. He sought transcendence, not to retread the ancient paths. He only needed to witness them.
“I am using these Daos as fire to burn my body and spirit, forging my true self—not to mimic ancient methods!” Shi Hao declared.
In the next moment, the cauldron remained, but the dozen flames changed—blazing hotter and fiercer, piercing into the crucible and searing his body, causing flames to erupt from his flesh.
Though the crucible mitigated the violence of the flames, they were still terrifying.
Shi Hao observed the Daos, but he did not imitate them. Instead, he used the flames to temper and refine himself. Soon, new wounds appeared on his body.
Outside, the onlookers were stunned, unable to comprehend his actions.
“His physical body is incredibly strong—at the absolute peak of what a Supreme Being can achieve. One could even say he has forged a new path. Otherwise, how could he endure this?” someone remarked.
Some sect masters stared with deep, unfathomable eyes, recalling certain truths. Only those who had endured heavenly tribulations could withstand such Dao flames.
An ordinary Supreme Being would have turned to ashes instantly. How could he resist?
To walk this path, one’s body must be indomitable, and one’s spirit unyielding. Otherwise, being wrapped in over a dozen Dao flames would inevitably reduce one to cinders.
“Could it be… he truly intends to comprehend the Dao carried by all three thousand bluestone paths and use them to ascend to divinity? That’s… unimaginable!” A Heavenly God’s heart stirred.
Though he knew it was impossible for anyone to succeed, he was still shocked by Shi Hao’s madness.
The others were equally stunned. This young man’s ambition was too vast—did he truly intend to master the Dao of all three thousand ancient bluestone paths to achieve divinity?
“Is he insane? This will lead nowhere,” someone muttered, certain of his inevitable failure.
Even a lifetime of comprehension wouldn’t be enough to grasp them all. And this was the Immortal Ancient, not some peaceful sanctuary. Who would give him time? A fierce battle would erupt soon.
Once discovered, he would be hunted down!
“Wrong. His goal is far grander than you imagine. He doesn’t truly intend to emulate all three thousand ancient Daos.”
At this moment, a voice emerged from a violet-gold chariot shrouded in chaotic mist, as if suspended in the epoch before creation—mysterious and unfathomable.
This was the war chariot of the current imperial clan. Some suspected that the most powerful figure in their history sat within, and he had discerned the young man’s true intentions.
“He is merely using the Dao laws of the three thousand bluestone paths as furnace flames—nothing more. He observes and watches, but does not imitate them wholesale,” the voice from the chariot declared.
“But… why?” Even some sect masters frowned, unable to grasp this.
Mastering all the laws of the bluestone paths was difficult—impossible, even. Yet with such a goal, one’s ambition would be vast, their future boundless. One could dedicate their life to it and perhaps achieve something.
But he… wasn’t even aiming for that?
“He has grand aspirations. He refuses to be confined by this world—he seeks to break free. To him, the three thousand Dao flames are merely ‘fire,’ nothing more. He seeks to transcend these Daos.”
The imperial clan’s expert within the chariot spoke these words, leaving everyone stunned and inwardly shaken. This young man dared to walk such a path?
Had Shi Hao heard this, he would have been startled—someone had glimpsed part of his plan, understanding the road he sought to tread.
But so what if they knew? Who would dare walk it?
In truth, many outside were cursing him as a madman, certain he was courting death. Using the myriad Daos as fire to burn himself? He would surely turn to ashes.
“Even if the entire world knew his path, who would dare follow it? And he himself is unlikely to succeed,” a sect master remarked.
“Could it be… he has endured the most terrifying heavenly tribulations before? Look—he’s adding more flames, burning the crucible to temper himself!” someone exclaimed in shock.
Within the Immortal Ancient, above the bluestone paths—
Shi Hao summoned more Dao flames. One after another, they rippled, transforming into beams of light and then into fire, burning the heavenly crucible!
As this process unfolded, Shi Hao’s body suffered new injuries. These flames were too powerful—not just one kind, but dozens, all converging upon him.
All of this was unfolding according to his will, step by step, forging his own path.
“One hundred and eight Dao flames, and he hasn’t died after months of burning?!”
“Not only that—look! The flames have turned pure azure, refining him to an extreme!”
Outside, people were astounded.
When the void twisted and the heavenly crucible dissolved, the hundred and eight flames receded, and Shi Hao collapsed onto the bluestone steps.
“Reckless arrogance—he’s burned himself to ruin!” someone declared.
Even some sect masters frowned, sensing that he had indeed crippled himself.
At this moment, Shi Hao resembled a charred skeleton—his body withered, skin clinging to bone, devoid of vitality.
He lay motionless.
“Child, you must not perish. Wake up quickly,” someone from Mount Immortal murmured, voice thick with grief.
Three days passed with no movement. His body remained desiccated, his life force dwindling.
“Is he dead? His true body must have been incinerated,” the Netherworld’s representatives said, experts in the matters of life and death.
Only on the fifth day did Shi Hao stir, slowly rising to his feet. Frowning, he trudged away from the bluestone paths toward the myriad vibrant minor worlds.
“I must replenish my essence and divine power. Otherwise, this will end badly,” he murmured.
“In this state, entering those worlds? Any random Supreme Being could kill him. His injuries are too severe.”
Outside, many shook their heads as they watched through the stone monuments.
The factions of Fire Cloud Cave, Netherworld, and Heavenly Nation, among others, wore cold smiles. In his current condition, Shi Hao would likely meet a gruesome end in those ancient realms.
“Eh? He’s entered the minor world where our clan’s prodigy resides. Is he seeking death?” The Dragonblood Clan burst into laughter. To their surprise, Shi Hao had stumbled into their territory.
Others also showed strange expressions. After all, the Dragonblood Clan’s prodigy had ignited his divine flame three or four months ago, completing his transformation into a deity!
“Such dense spiritual energy.” Shi Hao took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping the horizon. In the distance, auspicious mists rose, the essence of heaven and earth even more concentrated.
He walked forward until he saw a cliff—clear as jade, radiant. At its base was a divine spring, its waters shimmering with sacred light, mist and brilliance rising endlessly.
“A divine spring!” Shi Hao’s eyes lit up.
“Who goes there? Scram! Our lord is in seclusion—no disturbances allowed!”
“Ugly wretch, get lost!”
Over a dozen figures emerged from the mountainside, all former Supreme Beings who had now ascended to the Divine Flame Realm, guarding the area.
Shi Hao ignored them, his gaze fixed on the spring. Within it, a flood dragon coiled, its body translucent as if carved from jade.
Outside, everyone witnessed this scene.
The Dragonblood Clan’s members exchanged glances. He had walked right into their prodigy’s secluded cultivation ground.
“Heh heh… ha ha ha!” They couldn’t help but laugh. This was practically suicide.
In his current state—charred, withered, devoid of energy—how could he possibly contend with their prodigy, who had already achieved divinity?
Their entire clan roared with laughter, exhilarated.
“This is karma! Our prodigy will personally execute this Sin-blooded descendant and avenge the humiliation we suffered in the Spirit World!” someone snarled.
Members of other great sects sighed inwardly. Shi Hao’s luck was abysmal. Barely surviving his self-immolation, he had stumbled into the territory of a monstrous foe the moment he entered this world.
“Eh? Is he… smiling? Is he drooling? Did the flames fry his brain?” someone exclaimed, noticing Shi Hao’s odd expression.
On the mountainside, Shi Hao cracked his parched lips, trying to swallow. But his mouth was too dry—there was nothing to swallow.
Otherwise, he would have been drooling uncontrollably.
His blazing gaze remained locked on the flood dragon in the divine spring.
Outside, the crowd was speechless.
That flood dragon was a renowned figure, famous across many provinces—and now a deity.
The Dragonblood Clan, however, was furious. Shi Hao looked like a starving ghost who had stumbled upon a feast.
How dare this half-dead wretch eye their prodigy as if he were a delicacy? The audacity! The insolence! The sheer disrespect!
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