In the room, a gentle light illuminated Xiao Yan’s ever-changing face. Before him, a grayish-brown flame slowly rose, radiating an intense heat. The silence lingered for a while before Xiao Yan finally exhaled slowly. With a wave of his hand, the grayish-brown “Huatian Fire” fell into his grasp. Looking at the flame, he let out a wry smile and opened his mouth slightly, drawing it back into his body once more.
Xiao Yan always held the utmost wariness towards the so-called Central Region. A place that gathered the strongest fighters from across the continent, it was this world’s grandest stage where the strong were as numerous as clouds. To thrive there, one needed to have some genuine skills. Although Xiao Yan had advanced to the level of a five-star Battle Emperor, he still belonged among the strong. However, he was acutely aware that in the Central Region, his strength would amount to very little. Thus, he would need some trump cards for survival, and the “Destruction Lotus” formed by the fusion of four flames was undoubtedly the most powerful. This would be his ultimate ace in the future.
In choosing between immediately enhancing his strength and reserving a trump card, Xiao Yan chose the latter. He had promised Xing Lan to help her family regain their seat as elders in the Pill Tower, although he did not fully comprehend the difficulty. Still, he could guess that it wouldn’t be easy. Therefore, he needed something to safeguard his life—the Destruction Lotus being the best choice.
After thorough testing, Xiao Yan had some confidence in the lotus. Formed by fusing four flames, it was more than enough to threaten even those Battle Sects of the seventh or eighth rank. It might even kill weaker Battle Sects outright. The Earth Demon Old Ghost had tested this, and were it not for his rudimentary understanding of spatial forces, he would have been killed by the Destruction Lotus.
Thus, Xiao Yan had significant confidence in the fused flames. With them, he felt more secure venturing into the treacherous Central Region.
Numerous thoughts swirled in his mind, and he decided to keep the Huatian Fire within him for future use. The Huatian Fire contained the potent energy of the three elders from the Flame Magic Valley. If stored conventionally, it would dissipate over time. However, Xiao Yan could preserve it with his Unique Flame, preventing any leakage of energy.
Having carefully stored the Huatian Fire, Xiao Yan let out a sigh of relief. Then, he slipped into deep thought. After today’s battle, he realized his current strength was increasingly inadequate against stronger foes. Before heading to the Central Region, he needed to train vigorously. He aimed to enhance his strength without disrupting his internal balance. This would greatly benefit his future endeavors in the Central Region.
The requirements were simple but stringent—improving cultivation speed and maintaining stability. Both goals were difficult, especially if he wanted to find a suitable cultivation place. The best location for Xiao Yan would be one with highly concentrated and pure fire energy, preferably quiet and undisturbed.
While finding such a place was seemingly straightforward, it proved challenging. The Inner Academy was surrounded by dense forests, making secluded spots easy to find, but the energy was mixed, blending various attributes. Xiao Yan needed only fire energy, found in volcanic areas, but there were no volcanoes near the Inner Academy.
Pondering for a long while, Xiao Yan could not think of a suitable place nearby. He shook his head, disappointed, then summoned a scroll. There were two ways to improve: increasing personal strength or mastering powerful techniques. Since the former was difficult, he chose the latter. He remembered the “Six Directions Floating Ruler” he had acquired but never studied.
The Six Directions Floating Ruler was more advanced than the “Flame Splitting Wave Ruler,” and its power must be impressive. Otherwise, it would not have been worth the high price. The scroll, a bright red like a crystal, was unfurled. Xiao Yan closed his eyes, and his soul force flowed into the scroll.
As his soul touched the scroll, a red glow emerged, revealing a fiery world. The lake of lava was bubbling, and every burst released a hot mist. Xiao Yan knew this was the creator’s soul memory, used to record high-level techniques. The scroll contained the owner’s insights, which could be passed on to practitioners, making learning easier.
Xiao Yan’s soul entered the scroll, and a yellow figure appeared on the lava. The figure stepped on the lava, holding a half-yard-wide red iron ruler. The ruler, though narrower than Xiao Yan’s, was more agile. The figure was merely the creator’s soul imprint.
The yellow figure moved quickly, stomping the ground and causing a massive wave of lava. As the lava surged, the figure danced, creating intricate patterns with the ruler. The ruler’s movements were smooth, and the red shadows surrounded the figure. Not a drop of lava penetrated the ruler’s defense, protecting the figure from harm.
Xiao Yan was amazed. The figure used the ruler’s mastery to protect itself, not relying on Dou Qi. This technique was impressive, both in offense and defense. “The Six Directions Floating Ruler combines attack and defense. Cultivate near a lava lake, master movement, and eventually, you’ll be untouchable.”
The ancient voice of the founder explained the key points. Xiao Yan listened intently, memorizing the instructions. When the voice faded, Xiao Yan returned to reality, understanding the technique better. He watched the figure repeat the movements over a hundred times, feeling relieved. The instruction saved him much time.
His soul withdrew, and he carefully stored the scroll. “Before leaving, I should master the Six Directions Floating Ruler. But where can I find a lava lake?”
Frowning, he tapped the bed, then a thought struck him. A spark of joy filled his eyes. “The Burning Heavenly Qi Tower… isn’t there a lava world beneath it?” Remembering the dormant underground world, Xiao Yan’s eyes shone. The immense and pure fire energy there would boost his strength in no time. “How could I forget that place?”
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