"In theory, it should be possible," Yunze said.
"The Spirit Pagoda became one of the continent's top powers precisely because of soul spirits and the Spirit Ascension Platform.
"In both of these aspects, they hold absolute monopolies—irreplaceable advantages. That's why they've grown stronger and stronger, to the point of faintly becoming the number one power on the continent.
"But once this monopoly is broken, it would deal them a heavy blow. Their very foundation would be shaken.
"As long as the timing and execution are right, even replacing the Spirit Pagoda that has lasted for ten thousand years wouldn't be impossible.
"Of course, that's on the condition that you can truly develop ten-thousand-year artificial soul spirits. If you can't, then it's all empty talk—meaningless." Yunze's tone shifted.
"I will succeed!" Gu Yuena clenched her fists, cheering herself on and firming her resolve.Then she broke into a bright smile, glancing at Yunze: "And even if I don't succeed, I still have you. You're so amazing—you'll definitely be able to do it."
"Don't flatter me. I'm really not that amazing." Yunze shook his head with a wry smile, not falling for her words.
Gu Yuena puffed her cheeks slightly, her large eyes blinking pitifully as she looked at Yunze with hopeful, pleading gazes.
Yunze glanced at her, shook his head lightly, and quickened his pace. "We'll talk about it when the time comes. If you really can't figure it out, I can give you some advice."
"You're so nice." Gu Yuena immediately beamed, her heart bursting with happiness. She trotted a few steps to keep up, walking beside Yunze with her hands behind her back, steps light and lively.
Under Leng Yaozhu's name, Gu Yuena had obtained information from a branch Pagoda master about the Lava Monarch's daily activity patterns.
They were following this route map now. There was no need to search the forest blindly—it saved time and effort.
Everything inside the Spirit Ascension Platform was under the Spirit Pagoda's surveillance: the types of soul beasts, their locations, their movement patterns—all clearly recorded.
Along the way, they encountered several soul beasts, all slain by Yunze, becoming nourishment for the Blazing Nine-Headed Bird.
After several rounds of absorption, Yunze's understanding of the ascension principle grew even deeper.
"We shouldn't be far from the Lava Monarch," Gu Yuena said, noticing the scorched, half-melted trees.
The charred smoke and burnt smell made it clear—this had just happened. The Lava Monarch had recently passed through.
The reason they could tell it was the Lava Monarch was simple: this entire region was its exclusive territory. Normal soul beasts dared not approach.
"There." Yunze surveyed their surroundings, then pointed ahead to the left. He and Gu Yuena quickly advanced.
Huge footprints along the way, along with trees set ablaze, proved they were on the right path.
Before long, they spotted the Lava Monarch in the distance. Its enormous body was impossible to miss.
At over four thousand years old, the Lava Monarch stood more than fifteen meters tall. Humanoid in form, it walked on two legs, its massive arms swinging as it hurled out viscous magma.
Its body was made of stone, primarily red, in blocky patterns. Thumb-sized cracks glowed with dark-red magma.
Flames burned fiercely on its surface, the heat distorting the air. With its colossal build, the pressure it radiated was overwhelming.
"This won't be easy," Gu Yuena muttered, her expression heavy as she stared at the Lava Monarch's back, feeling immense pressure.
Such a soul beast, born of heaven and earth, was immune to her draconic suppression. It wouldn't affect its combat power at all.
Unconsciously, her eyes drifted toward Yunze. Seeing his calm, untroubled demeanor, her own tension eased.
Yunze stepped forward, releasing his martial soul. With a piercing phoenix cry, the flaming bird spread its wings and shot toward the Lava Monarch.
The Lava Monarch sensed the disturbance behind it. It stopped, turned its massive body, and looked skyward.
Its face vaguely resembled a human's, but rough in contour. Its eyes were huge, flames blazing in its pupils. At the sight of the phoenix, those flames burned even brighter.
"Boom!" The Lava Monarch leapt with tremendous force, leaving deep footprints in the earth. The ground quaked violently.
It soared dozens of meters into the air, lunging at the phoenix, its massive hand stretching out, easily large enough to grasp the bird in one palm.
The phoenix, barely over a meter long, looked small in comparison. Yet as the Lava Monarch lunged, it swiftly ascended higher, agilely evading the huge hand.
"Boom!" The Lava Monarch landed, sending dirt flying and leaving two enormous craters.
On landing, it grabbed a tree as thick as a barrel, ripped it from the ground, and hurled it like a spear toward the phoenix. The tree flew straight as an arrow.
The phoenix dodged easily, slipping past the projectile, then hovered above, gazing down with regal, indifferent eyes.
That majestic gaze filled the Lava Monarch with fear. Unease surged in its heart, its surrounding flames flickering into disarray.
"Cry!" The phoenix cried again, opening its beak and making a swallowing motion.
There was no visible suction. The surrounding trees remained still. To the eye, it seemed like an ordinary action—completely harmless.
But to the Lava Monarch, it was terrifying. A powerful suction gripped its body. It felt its flames being devoured.
It struggled desperately to control its flames, but to no avail. The fire slipped from its body beyond its command.
Those flames streamed out, sucked straight into the phoenix's mouth, feeding its growing power.
"Roar!" The Lava Monarch bellowed, fear mixing with fury. Striding forward, it grabbed another giant tree and hurled it upward, desperate to interrupt the phoenix's absorption.
But the phoenix easily dodged each attack, continuing to devour flames leisurely, almost effortlessly.
The suction was swift. The flames poured out in rivers, streaming into the phoenix. As the flames diminished, the Lava Monarch's aura weakened rapidly.
The fire on its surface dimmed, nearly extinguished. Even the energy within its body was leaking out uncontrollably.
Agitated and panicked, the Lava Monarch grew frantic. It grabbed trees, ripped up chunks of earth, even leapt skyward again, all in vain attempts to seize the phoenix.
To the Lava Monarch, the phoenix was an overwhelming temptation. Its flames were of far higher quality. If it could swallow the phoenix, it could undergo a transformation.
But reality was cruel. Instead of it devouring the phoenix, the phoenix was draining it.
If its flames were completely taken, it would be finished—death was near.
"Roar!" The Lava Monarch roared again. After countless failed attempts, it gave up its assault and turned to flee.
Its massive frame shook the ground with every step. Trees snapped like twigs in its path. Birds and beasts fled in terror at the thunderous pursuit.