Ye Fang continued to stare intently at the Flame Emperor, Yang Hao. The heavy warning previously delivered by the System echoed continuously within his mind, causing his throat to go completely dry. Swallowing hard with visible hesitation, he called out internally:
'Wait... just a damn minute...'
"Yes, Host?" the Little System materialized instantly before his vision.
'Is the Flame Emperor truly so terrifyingly powerful that even an omnipotent entity like you cannot gauge his ultimate strength?'
The System cast a deep, flat look at him. "No."
Ye Fang was momentarily startled. 'No?'
"I can perfectly perceive his absolute power level," the System clarified smoothly.
'Then why in the world aren't you telling me?!'
The System placed both of her hands squarely on her waist, adopting a thoroughly theatrical and dramatic posture. "Because the Host's current cultivation base is so laughably low that revealing it to you would be of absolutely no use."
Ye Fang's face fell instantly, deflating like a punctured balloon. 'Low?'
"Indeed, Host."
'Hey! My power isn't that pathetic! Didn't you yourself say that my foundation cannot be compared to ordinary cultivators? My raw combat strength at the peak of Qi Refining is enough to suppress a Peak Golden Core Master! Yet here you are, casually labeling my cultivation as just mere Qi Refining!'
The System remained uncharacteristically silent for a brief moment, seemingly evaluating his outrage. Then, she retorted sharply: "Host! Your raw combat prowess may indeed transcend ordinary cultivators of the same realm, but in the grand hierarchy of the System, you are still nothing but a minor Qi Refining cultivator."
'What utter rubbish! That makes absolutely no sense!'
"Rules are rules, Host... even I cannot alter the foundational laws of the universe."
Hearing the System's rigid logic, Ye Fang felt a sudden urge to hurl a barrage of curses at her. However, his attention was abruptly captured by the colossal table of solid flames. Countless exotic fruits were arrayed across its surface—vibrant crimson, shimmering gold, deep azure, and royal purple. Some of them radiated so intensely it looked as though tiny, miniature elementals of fire were dancing within their translucent skin.
Ye Fang's eyes sparkled with immediate avarice. 'System!'
"Yes, Host?"
'Scan them all.'
"Command accepted. Commencing tactical analysis."
[Scanning...]
[Scanning...]
[Scanning Complete.]
A crystalline, glowing blue interface materialized right before his retinas:
[Ding!]
[Crimson Flame Fruit]
[Grade: Heaven Rank]
[Effects: Significantly enhances the Flame Affinity of Fire-Attribute cultivators. Tempers and fortifies internal Spiritual Fire. Grants a foundational comprehension of the supreme Fire Laws.]
[Golden Sun Fruit]
[Grade: Heaven Rank]
[Effects: Purifies and refines internal Spiritual Qi. Exponentially increases the probability of a cultivation breakthrough. Permanently stabilizes and solidifies the Dao Foundation.]
[Blue Fire Spirit Fruit]
[Grade: Ancient Rank]
[Effects: A peerless, extremely rare treasure ideal for dual-attribute practitioners of Fire, Ice, or Water. Heavily accelerates the process of Soul Tempering.]
Ye Fang's pupils dilated to the size of saucers. 'So many Heaven and Ancient rank treasures?!'
"Yes, Host."
'And all of these peerless resources are considered nothing more than mere snacks to him?!'
"Indeed, Host."
'As expected of an ancient supreme powerhouse, keeping such extraordinary treasures casually lying around!'
Just then, another sub-window flared on the System's blue interface:
[Ding!]
[Supplementary Scan: In response to Host's inquiry—The Flame Emperor's domain contains an entire orchard of divine, ancient primeval trees.]
'What?!'
"Yes, Host. My environmental scanning protocols are absolute and flawless."
Ye Fang subtly scanned the surroundings with a shifty gaze. No one was paying the slightest bit of attention to him. Wang Ling was already stuffing her face with a third spiritual fruit, while Wang Mei was frantically trying to restrain her gluttonous sister. Shi Mao was evaluating a fruit with academic intensity, and Murong Yun was deeply engrossed in identifying the lineage of a specific ancient flora. Off to the side, Commander Zheng and Captain Luo stood like unyielding statues, remaining fully alert.
The Flame Emperor maintained a gentle, amused smile. It was the absolute, gold-plated opportunity.
Ye Fang extended his hand with a speed that rivaled localized lightning.
Swish! One fruit vanished. Swish! Another followed. A third, then a fourth disappeared into thin air.
[Inventory Updated.]
[Crimson Flame Fruit ×4]
[Golden Sun Fruit ×3]
[Blue Fire Spirit Fruit ×2]
A deeply satisfied, rogue-like grin spread across Ye Fang's face. 'An essential investment for my future cultivation path.'
The System let out a profound, mechanical sigh. "Host."
'What?'
"Did you come to this ancient domain to inherit a legacy, or did you come here to commit petty larceny?"
'Watch your words, System! This isn't stealing.'
"Then what pray tell is it?"
'This is strategic resource management! I've read countless cultivation novels, and let me tell you, capitalizing on free loot is a perfectly standard, mandatory protocol for any respectable protagonist.'
The System fell silent for a few beats before delivering a dry commentary: "Your level of shamelessness is truly evolving at an exponential rate."
Ye Fang completely ignored her critique, his mind already churning with a brilliant new concoction plan. 'I still have the God-Demon Spiritual Lotus resting securely in my inventory.'
"Yes."
'And now I've acquired these top-tier Heaven and Ancient Rank Fire Fruits.'
"Correct."
'If I combine and refine them together later using an advanced alchemy method...'
The System's robotic eyes flickered with sudden intrigue. "Oh?"
'I can potentially concoct a world-defying, ultra-powerful Divine Pill!'
"The mathematical probability of success is non-zero," the System acknowledged.
'Hahaha! Perfect!'
"But before you indulge in alchemy fantasies, Host, you must first ensure you survive the upcoming trials."
Ye Fang's bubbling excitement instantly withered. 'You seriously possess an innate talent for ruining a great mood, you know that?'
Observing the group, the Flame Emperor chuckled warmly, his voice carrying a soothing, benevolent resonance. "Do not worry, young travelers. These fruits were placed here explicitly for our esteemed guests. There is absolutely no need to feel constrained by etiquette, nor is there any reason to harbor secretive calculations to hide them."
Ye Fang coughed lightly, clearing his throat to hide his guilt before picking up a Crimson Flame Fruit from the remaining batch on the table.
A palpable wave of intense heat radiated from its skin. It truly felt as if a miniature sun was trapped within the core of the fruit. Taking a decisive bite, the flesh melted into pure liquid energy. The very next heartbeat—
BOOM!
A roaring wave of primordial fire surged violently through his meridians. His entire physical form began to emit a blinding, incandescent glow. His Supreme Spiritual Root instantly roared to life, its Fire Attribute flaring with unmitigated dominance.
It felt as though a traveler wandering a desolate, parched desert had suddenly been plunged into a boundless, infinite ocean of pure elemental essence. The colossal torrents of fiery energy rushed like mad rivers into his Fire Root, being devoured greedily.
[Fire Attribute Energy Absorbing...]
[Absorption Sequence: Complete.]
[Notification: Fire Attribute Potential Level Increased Significantly.]
Ye Fang snapped his eyes open, exhaling a breath of pure heat. "Incredible!"
He could vividly perceive that his conceptual understanding and affinity toward the fundamental laws of fire had multiplied exponentially. If he were to execute a fire-attribute technique now, its raw destructive power would vastly eclipse his previous limits. "Simply magnificent!"
As Ye Fang sat cross-legged to consolidate the gains, a tiny, pristine golden flame ignited at the very center of his Fire Root. He immediately began cultivating the refined Fire Qi harvested from the Crimson Flame Fruit. Inspired by his visible transformation, the rest of the group shed their hesitation and began consuming the divine fruits as well.
Wang Mei selected a Blue Fire Spirit Fruit. Upon consuming it, a sudden chaotic ripple erupted within her specialized Ice-Thunder Physique. A similar phenomenon occurred within Wang Ling, who shared a related primordial constitution. Wang Ling, who had been mindlessly gorging on various other fruits up until now, had only been absorbing standard Fire Qi and hadn't paid close attention. However, after feeling the distinct elemental shift within her body, she paused, looking up at the Flame Emperor with wide, unblinking eyes.
"Senior!" she called out loudly.
The moment that word left her mouth, Ye Fang snapped out of his meditation, and the rest of the group instantly halted their actions. They didn't freeze because they were eager to hear her profound insights; rather, a collective surge of pure anxiety gripped their hearts. 'Oh heavens, what nonsense is this loose cannon going to spout before an ancient Emperor now?!' crossed everyone's minds simultaneously.
Wang Ling marched right up to the supreme entity, offering a respectful, albeit slightly clumsy, salute. "Senior, the fruits you have so generously provided... they don't just contain pure fire energy! I can clearly feel the distinct properties of Ice and Water hidden within them. How is that even possible? You are the legendary Flame Emperor! Everything in this domain should be pure fire, so why do these fruits boost our Ice and Water attributes alongside our Fire Qi?"
The Flame Emperor, Yang Hao, let out a soft, elegant smile. "To ask such a question shows that you are observant, little girl. In truth, this is by no means a complex or guarded secret, but rather the most fundamental law of nature itself."
He slowly opened his right palm. Instantly, five distinct, crystalline spheres of light materialized, hovering elegantly above his skin—each a different hue: ochre yellow, deep azure, crimson red, pristine white, and a completely translucent, formless glow.
"This entire boundless universe, along with every single living entity that breathes within it, is constructed from the foundational blueprint of the Five Great Elements."
Every eye in the chamber locked onto the hovering spheres, completely mesmerized.
"Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space."
Yang Kai Long took a step forward, his voice filled with academic reverence. "Senior, does that mean our physical bodies are also fundamentally composed of these exact five forces?"
The Flame Emperor nodded slowly. "Without a shadow of a doubt."
He gently tapped the ochre yellow sphere. "The Earth element forms the very foundation of your bones, your muscles, your teeth, and every solid, unyielding structure within your anatomy. It is the absolute symbol of stability, weight, and physical strength."
He then gestured toward the deep azure sphere. "The Water element flows continuously through your lifeblood, your saliva, your cellular fluids, and every fluid energy route traversing your internal meridians. It represents the very essence of life, adaptability, and continuous flow."
The crimson red sphere began to flare with violent, dancing tongues of fire. "The Fire element governs your internal digestion, your bodily warmth, the conversion of raw energy, and the ultimate awakening of your vital life force."
Next, the pristine white sphere began to rotate with immense speed, generating miniature vortexes. "The Air element dictates your respiratory breaths, your physical agility, the continuous circulation of your internal Prana, and the dynamic activation of your consciousness."
Finally, he raised the completely transparent, formless sphere high into the air. "And the Space element..." His voice dropped into a deeply profound, echoing register. "...it serves as the absolute blueprint for the void spaces within your physical form, your internal nadis, the pathways of your consciousness, and those invisible, cosmic dimensions through which primordial energy flows seamlessly."
For several moments, the entirety of the roaring Flame Domain fell into a state of absolute, tranquil silence.
The Flame Emperor looked upon the stunned youths, his smile filled with ancient wisdom. "Therefore, if a divine fruit grown within my domain possesses the qualities of Ice or Water alongside Fire, it is by no means a paradox. The Five Great Elements are not natural-born enemies; they are merely five distinct reflections of the one absolute truth. A practitioner who looks upon this domain and sees only fire has grasped only half of the truth. But the seeker who can look into the deepest depths of fire and see water, and look into the heart of water and perceive fire... that individual has truly taken their first genuine step upon the grand path of the Primordial Elements."