Looking at this " Daoist partner" who guided her while freely giving her spirit herbs, Zi Ling felt a warmth she had never known before.
She had lost her parents at a young age. Though she bore the title of Sect Master of the Myriad Sounds Sect, the sect had long since been controlled by the Star Palace.
In the eyes of outsiders, she was nothing more than a pawn—surviving only under the Star Palace's shadow.
From childhood to adulthood, everything she possessed had been earned through hardship and perseverance.
This was the first time someone had willingly given her spiritual herbs and fruits without asking for anything in return.
It was a feeling she had never experienced.
After half a day of travel, Zhu Chen finally brought Zi Ling to the edge of the mountain forest.
Before them lay a chaotic expanse of ancient ruins.
The Ice and Fire Path, the second trial of the Void Heaven Palace, was hidden deep within these ruins.
"I'll be heading into the Lava Path later to absorb fire energy for cultivation," Zhu Chen said as they walked forward. "You'd better stay with me."
"Okay."
Zi Ling nodded obediently, offering no objections.
Wu Chou had already chased into the Void Heaven Palace, and Ji Yin and the others might follow at any moment.
If she wandered alone and encountered them, death would be inevitable.
No one else knew that she had now become Zhu Chen's Daoist partner.
Soon, the two arrived at the deepest part of the ruins.
Two passages stood before them.
One led to the Frost Path.
The other led to the Lava Path.
Both routes ultimately led to the third level of the Void Heaven Palace.
Without hesitation, Zhu Chen chose the Lava Path.
The moment they entered, a vast sea of molten lava unfolded before them.
Magma surged endlessly, and even the air itself carried an unbearable scorching heat.
"Cough… cough…"
Zi Ling's cultivation had not yet reached the Core Formation stage. The instant she arrived, she felt overwhelmed.
Zhu Chen waved his hand, forming a fire-based protective barrier around her, easing the pressure significantly.
He then selected a spot where the fire-element spiritual energy was densest, sat down cross-legged, and manifested the six divine ring grotto-heavens behind him.
Using their power, he began to frantically absorb the surrounding fire spiritual energy.
The fiery aura here was saturated with lethal fire poison.
Even cultivators specializing in fire techniques dared not refine it directly.
But Zhu Chen was different.
The bloodline of the Ancient Vermilion Bird flowed within him.
The Vermilion Bird was born from fire—any flame could be absorbed and refined, including the violent fire energy of this place.
As all six divine ring grotto-heavens activated simultaneously, the surrounding fire aura surged toward Zhu Chen like a tidal wave.
By the third day, all the fire-element spiritual energy within the Lava Path had been drawn toward Zhu Chen alone.
"Seventh Heaven—open!"
Suddenly, Zhu Chen opened his eyes.
His hands moved swiftly, forming complex seals.
The massive fire-cloud vortex spun violently, transforming into a roaring fire tornado that surged straight into Zhu Chen's body.
A brilliant divine radiance erupted from him.
At the same time, a blood-red divine ring grotto-heaven slowly emerged from between his brows.
At first, this seventh divine ring was illusory and unstable.
But as the fire-cloud vortex fully merged into Zhu Chen's body, it rapidly solidified.
Zhu Chen had successfully opened his seventh divine ring grotto-heaven.
However—
The moment it stabilized, his expression suddenly changed.
A portion of fire poison remained unrefined within his body.
"Did I absorb too quickly… causing impurities to accumulate?"
After understanding the issue, Zhu Chen mobilized his Vermilion Bird Divine Fire to refine the remaining fire poison.
But the result was disastrous.
This fire poison mutated into a form of evil fire.
The two flames repelled each other violently within his body.
Zhu Chen's eyes slowly turned blood-red.
His body began to burn from within, as if a terrifying fire beast were struggling to burst free.
"Senior… what's wrong?!"
Zi Ling rushed over in alarm.
But the moment she reached him, Zhu Chen—eyes blazing red—suddenly grabbed her.
A strange sensation began spreading through Zhu Chen's body. His veins bulged beneath his skin, taking on a metallic black sheen. Yet Zi Ling seemed completely unaware of the transformation taking place.
Moments later, a faint wisp of pink gas emanated from Zhu Chen's body and drifted directly into Zi Ling through her nose.
'Ugh… what's happening to me? Why is my body suddenly so hot?' Zi Ling wondered inwardly.
Her fingers moved almost unconsciously to unbutton the top of her shirt as she pressed her thighs tightly together.
Unnoticed by her, a delicate pink heart-shaped symbol appeared in her eyes. The instant it formed, lust completely overtook her. Her gaze locked onto Zhu Chen with raw, unrestrained desire.
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