However, Ning Fa was not satisfied, as his goal was to refine a Soul-Bending Pill with Dao Marks.
So, over the next period, Ning Fa continuously used the Heavenly Book for tracing origins. Even though each tracing of origins required about ten Third-Tier Origin Points, Ning Fa didn't care.
Another month passed.
The alchemy chamber had been sealed for a long time. Ning Fa looked somewhat disheveled, with even bloodshot eyes.
He gazed at the alchemy furnace swirling with multicolored light before him, a flicker of excitement appearing in his eyes. He had a premonition that this attempt had a high chance of success.
As Ning Fa cast his final Hand Seal, the alchemy furnace opened, and a beam of multicolored light shot out, about to escape to the side.
But with a flash of silver light, a large hand caught it. The ball of light trembled incessantly, appearing extremely spiritual.
Ning Fa shook his large hand, and the ball of light slowly dissipated, revealing a perfectly round, deep green pill emitting a special aura.
Just taking a whiff of it made one's Divine Soul feel as comfortable as soaking in a hot spring.
And on the surface of this pill, there was a mysterious Dao Mark that seemed naturally formed.
Ning Fa picked up the pill and examined it carefully, especially the mysterious Dao Mark.
He couldn't help but laugh heartily. It wasn't a waste of the three to four hundred Origin Points he had spent on tracing the origin; he had finally refined a Soul-Bending Pill with Dao Marks.
Ning Fa carefully put the pill away and, without wasting any time, vanished from the Cave Mansion with a flash of silver light.
Several days later, Ning Fa returned to the ice mountain deep within the Divine Heart Sect's mountain gate, accompanied only by Kong Li.
At this moment, Kong Li's face was also full of joy, and his gaze towards Ning Fa was filled with unconcealed astonishment.
He had initially thought it would be good enough if Ning Fa could refine a Soul-Bending Pill, but he never expected Ning Fa to refine one with Dao Marks. This surprised him and filled him with relief.
Soon, the two arrived at the ice cave deep within the ice mountain. Zhu Lingyun, still frozen within the ice wall, appeared to be in a deep slumber, showing no change from when Ning Fa had last visited.
However, Ning Fa keenly sensed that Zhu Lingyun's Divine Soul power had weakened further.
Ning Fa no longer hesitated. He took out the Dao Mark Soul-Bending Pill. Wrapped in a ball of multicolored light, the pill gradually sank into the ice wall. Then, Zhu Lingyun unconsciously parted her lips and swallowed the pill.
Ning Fa and Kong Li immediately observed from the side with bated breath.
Before long, they clearly felt Zhu Lingyun's somewhat depleted Divine Soul aura slowly strengthening, and her entire body was enveloped in a faint layer of radiance.
Ning Fa and Kong Li's faces lit up with excitement. Clearly, the Soul-Bending Pill had taken effect, and its effects were remarkable.
With this, Zhu Lingyun had a high chance of successfully cultivating the Nirvana Soul Essence Technique.
However, after his joy, a trace of worry appeared in Ning Fa's eyes.
After all, he now knew that the Primordial Soul Splitting Art was connected to that terrifying Ancient Immortal, which was a significant hidden danger.
Therefore, if the Abyssal Heavenly Pool were to truly open next, he would have to venture deep into it, for both himself and Zhu Lingyun, to try and obtain the Soul Nurturing Divine Spring.
At this moment, True Lord Kongli turned to look at Ning Fa. He saw Ning Fa's somewhat complicated expression and said slowly, "You've worked hard this time. Thank you."
Ning Fa smiled, "Lingyun is my Dao Companion. It's only natural that I do this."
Upon hearing this, Kong Li's brow furrowed, and he looked at Ning Fa with displeasure. Ning Fa met his gaze without backing down.
After a long while, Kong Li finally sighed and turned to walk towards the cave entrance.
He had clearly tacitly accepted Ning Fa's declaration of his relationship with Zhu Lingyun.
This was not only because of Ning Fa's current strength and status but also because Kong Li confirmed that Zhu Lingyun indeed held significant importance in Ning Fa's heart.
Ning Fa quietly gazed at Zhu Lingyun, who was like a sleeping beauty within the ice wall, a complex expression appearing in his eyes.
Just then, a tender, childish voice entered his Spiritual Sense.
"Father, Le'er finally sees you again. The pill you gave Mother is so magical! Le'er feels her own strength has also grown. This way, Le'er will have the confidence to drive away those hateful bugs. I hope Mother and Le'er can quickly defeat the bugs and truly see Father..."
Ning Fa was overjoyed and quickly asked, "Le'er, what exactly are these bugs you're talking about?"
However, Ning Fa asked several times without receiving a response, and the childish voice slowly faded away.
Ning Fa sighed and then stood quietly, looking at Zhu Lingyun within the ice wall.
Several hours later, Ning Fa took one last look at Zhu Lingyun before getting up to leave.
For a long time to come, he probably wouldn't be coming here again.
After all, his immediate priority was to break through to the Mid Nascent Soul realm and he couldn't be too distracted.
But before that, he needed to go and check out the Profound Fire Sect ruins that Wen Xiuxin had mentioned.
More than ten days later.
In the central region of Cangyuan, about twenty thousand li northwest of Xuguo, there was a place called the Firefall Mountain Range.
This place was very peculiar. Many of its peaks were volcanoes that erupted year-round. Within a radius of several thousand li, there was a thick layer of volcanic ash, and the sky was perpetually overcast.
Because of this, the area was filled with fire poison, making it difficult for ordinary cultivators to stay for long. Apart from some fire-attribute cultivators who came to search for special Spiritual Materials, few people ventured here.
At the very center of the Firefall Mountain Range stood a volcano nearly ten thousand zhang tall. It was entirely dark red, with a crater diameter of over ten li.
However, this mountain had long since cooled down for thousands of years and had not erupted again.
But on this day, the colossal mountain suddenly trembled, and a massive stream of lava erupted from the crater, scattering outwards like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, covering a range of nearly a hundred li. The scene was spectacular.
At this moment, deep within the mountain's core, a flame palace that had been sealed for ten thousand years was reopened.
Several figures appeared in the great hall.
Ning Fa held the Five Flames Lamp in his hand, appraising his surroundings with a smile.
Beside him, Blue Lightning and Little Ice also looked around with curiosity, while Wen Xiuxin observed the surroundings with a hint of complexity in her eyes.
She then smiled at Ning Fa and said, "Daoist Friend Ning, I wasn't lying, was I?"
Ning Fa nodded with a smile, then immediately turned his gaze forward.
In the center of the great hall was a circular array formation spanning over ten zhang. The intricate patterns on its surface made Ning Fa feel somewhat dazzled.
Ning Fa was not surprised but delighted. This array formation was very similar to the ultra-long-distance teleportation arrays he had seen twice before.
It was clearly the teleportation array leading to the Nine Dragons Sea, and Wen Xiuxin had indeed not lied.
However, it was obvious that a corner of the teleportation array was damaged and had not been completed.
He could even see many scattered spiritual materials around the teleportation array, still emitting a radiant glow. It seemed the people from the Profound Fire Sect had left in a great hurry.
Ning Fa rejoiced inwardly, as it appeared the teleportation array was about eighty percent complete.
Furthermore, the core part of the array formation was clearly finished, which was much better than he had anticipated.
Ning Fa then looked ahead, where an altar held two jade slips and a crimson triangular token.
Ning Fa reached out into the void, and these three items flew to him.
He first examined the token, then swept his spiritual sense across the two jade slips, and soon a flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes.
These two jade slips were left by an elder from the Profound Fire Sect who had been in charge of overseeing the construction here.
They recorded the complete array diagram for this ultra-long-distance teleportation array, along with some notes on the remaining construction work. They were clearly left for the descendants of the Profound Fire Sect, which pleased Ning Fa greatly.
However, what was recorded in the other jade slip moved him somewhat.
It contained the method for refining a special magic treasure called the—Heavenly Flame Candle.
This treasure was a genuine Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure. The Five Flames Lamp Ning Fa currently held was a replica of this Heavenly Flame Candle.
It was clear that the Profound Fire Sect had intended to use the Five Flames Lamp as a base to refine the complete Heavenly Flame Candle.
But as soon as Ning Fa glanced at the spiritual materials required for the Heavenly Flame Candle, his scalp tingled.
The list consisted entirely of fifth-tier spiritual materials, and even some of the most crucial materials were sixth-tier. In the current Human Realm, they were likely impossible to find.
But soon Ning Fa's expression shifted. What was impossible for others might not be for him.
After all, with the Heavenly Book upgraded, it now had the ability to trace low-tier spiritual materials directly to fifth or even sixth-tier materials, as long as he had enough Origin Points.
Thinking of this, Ning Fa couldn't help but feel excited again. The temptation of possessing a complete Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure was simply too great.
However, the priority of this matter could only be placed later. After all, gathering all the spiritual materials needed to forge the Heavenly Flame Candle would likely require a massive amount of high-tier Origin Points, and he couldn't waste them here now.
At this moment, the light of the Five Flames Lamp flickered, and a somewhat ethereal figure flew out from within. It was Liuying.
She stared intently at the jade slip in Ning Fa's hand. Usually composed and calm, she appeared somewhat agitated at this moment.
Ning Fa looked at her with some surprise. Liuying slowly spoke, "Daoist Friend Ning, aren't you tempted by the Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure, the Heavenly Flame Candle?"
Ning Fa smiled, "Of course I'm tempted, but this kind of treasure is not something I can forge at the moment."
Unexpectedly, Liuying chuckled, "It is indeed extremely difficult to forge the complete Heavenly Flame Candle. However, I have some methods to use the complete refining method of the Heavenly Flame Candle to improve and modify the current Five Flames Lamp, which could significantly enhance its power.
If we are optimistic, it might even be able to advance to a High-grade Spirit Treasure. Of course, this would also require a large amount of precious materials. Daoist Friend Ning, would you like to try?"
Hearing this, Ning Fa was immediately moved. If the Five Flames Lamp could be upgraded to a High-grade Spirit Treasure, it would naturally cause his strength to soar.
Liuying added, "Although I cannot yet determine exactly which materials are needed, at least fifth-tier spiritual materials will be indispensable, and the difficulty of collecting them is indeed not low.
However, if Daoist Friend Ning agrees to this, I can remain in the Five Flames Lamp for a long time, serving as the artifact spirit for this treasure."