The blazing cyan flame descended with unstoppable momentum, suppressing the once-rampant crimson magma beneath it. The mountain quaked, and the earth rumbled as Liu Xi, wielding the might of a Heavenly Flame, forcibly altered the magma's underground flow. The violent energies that should have erupted heavenward were redirected, transforming this active volcano into a dormant one.
"Hu… hu…"
Hovering above the crater, Liu Xi trembled slightly, his arms shaking as he drew deep breaths. His body felt hollow, his Dou Qi nearly depleted. The explosive power of the magma—amplified by the fury of the earth's core—was comparable to a full-force strike from a Dou Zun. The harder he suppressed it, the stronger its resistance grew. Only a Heavenly Flame—one born of fire's spirit—could completely pacify such destruction.
Minutes passed. Gradually, the tremors ceased, the smoke dispersed, and the chaotic flow of energy calmed. The crimson haze that had painted the heavens slowly faded, and the world above returned to clarity. The wrath of heaven and earth subsided at last.
Beside him, Xiao Yixian stepped forward and gently grasped his arm, worry clouding her soft features. "Young Master, are you alright?"
Liu Xi lowered his head, gazing into the caldera. The mountain had sunk several zhang lower, and dark steam now drifted from the crater like sighs of relief. "I'm fine," he said calmly. "Just overextended my Dou Qi. The volcano won't erupt again. Let's go."
"Alright."
Supporting him by the arm, Xiao Yixian surrounded them both in rippling spatial waves, and their figures vanished from the scorched sky.
---
Three days later, deep within the Northern Wilderness Mountains, inside a secluded cavern, Liu Xi sat cross-legged upon a stone bed. His breathing was calm, his hands forming a cultivation seal as his mind sank into his spiritual world.
Within that inner realm, a towering spiritual projection of Liu Xi stood like a deity between heaven and earth—his gaze cold and serene. At his command, the golden-brown dragon of the Mysterious Yellow Flame appeared before him, thrashing and roaring.
The lotus sigil at his brow glowed brilliantly. With a mere thought, the dragon's flaming form was drawn toward him, fusing into the space between his brows.
The refinement began.
The Mysterious Yellow Flame resisted violently, its heat scorching and oppressive, struggling to break free from his control. But against Liu Xi—whose spirit was fortified by four merged Heavenly Flames—it was utterly powerless.
Under his suppression, the flame's essence wailed in surrender as it was refined, transformed into nourishment for his growing soul. The spiritual world brightened, waves of luminous energy rippling outward. The lotus imprint pulsed vividly, petals alive with radiant vitality—like a real lotus blooming in the void.
Outside, Liu Xi's eyes snapped open. Deep within those dark pupils gleamed the endless depth of the starry night. A wave of invisible pressure surged outward, sweeping through the mountains.
The beasts nearby—wolves, tigers, even insects and birds—froze under the suffocating weight. Even Xiao Yixian, guarding the cavern, felt her soul tremble beneath that vast power.
Liu Xi smiled faintly, the corners of his lips lifting before he willed the force to retract. Within a few breaths, the overwhelming pressure dispersed completely.
'With my current Spiritual Power, I've reached the level of a mid-stage Spirit Realm soul,' he thought. 'Unfortunately, the Soul Control Technique isn't a complete Soul Technique—its progress is slow.'
He shook his head slightly.
"The Mysterious Yellow Flame ranks 23rd on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. It no longer helps much in improving my Dou Qi, but…"
Raising his palm, a deep azure flame flickered into existence—ever-shifting, ungraspable. It could manipulate magma, control oceans, ignite inner fire, temper the flesh, and most importantly—its destructive potential was nearly boundless.
Liu Xi hadn't yet witnessed the top five Heavenly Flames of the world, but this fusion of five distinct flames had already birthed an origin fire whose might was enough to obliterate heaven and earth.
Feeling the burning power coursing within, Liu Xi couldn't help but smirk. He almost wanted to find a Dou Zun and fight three hundred rounds just to vent the energy surging inside him.
'No,' he quickly dismissed the thought. 'Fighting a Dou Zun head-on isn't something to take lightly. I should focus on breaking through first.'
Dispelling the flame in his palm, he rose smoothly to his feet. His spine stretched, muscles tensed, strength coursing through his body like a surging tide.
"Heh… 26 years old, 9-Star Dou Zong, mid-stage Spirit Realm soul. Aside from the ancient imperial clans, not many could match this level."
Casting a glance around the modest cave, he saw nothing worth keeping. No resources, no techniques—nothing to tempt any future wanderer who might stumble upon this place.
He chuckled softly, clasped his hands behind his back, and stepped outside.
At the cave entrance, Xiao Yixian sat gracefully atop a boulder, her white dress fluttering gently in the breeze. The moment she saw him emerge, joy bloomed across her face. With a wave of her hand, ripples of spatial energy danced through the air, and in the blink of an eye, she appeared beside him.
"Young Master," she said with a bright smile, "your progress this time is astounding. The pressure from your soul earlier—I could feel it clearly."
Liu Xi laughed lightly. "I'm still far behind you. Ever since you condensed your Poison Pill, your growth's been terrifying."
'That's all thanks to you, Young Master,' Xiao Yixian thought warmly, her voice soft as she said, "So from now on, I'll be the one protecting you. Where do we go next?"
Liu Xi tilted his head back, gazing at the vast, cloudless sky. Though faint traces of Heavenly Flame auras lingered across the continent, most had long been claimed by others.
Killing their owners for the flames was possible—but unnecessary. He wasn't one to slaughter without reason. If an exchange could be made instead, that would be ideal.
"For now," Liu Xi said with a faint smile, "let's head north and see what opportunities await."
(End of Chapter)
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