Chapter 854
Refining
Xiao Ling stopped a few feet in front of the source of the demonic fire, raised his eyes and stared intently, his gaze becoming increasingly clear and detailed.
The original source of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame before my eyes had shed all its violence and rage. The lotus petals were layered upon each other, with delicate light pink flame patterns entwined between the milky white background. It was holy and translucent, like the purest flame crystallization at the beginning of heaven and earth. It was so exquisite that it was impeccable, so pure that it was untouched by any dust, and so beautiful that it made one's heart tremble.
Gazing at this rare and precious source of fire, Xiao Ling couldn't help but sigh softly.
"As expected of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame... Its form is truly magnificent and supremely holy."
He murmured to himself, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes: "I just don't know how much my cultivation will rise after I completely refine and absorb you. I hope it won't disappoint me."
After speaking, Xiao Ling said no more. He took a deep breath, and his aura gradually calmed down and returned to a stable state.
He closed his eyes and focused his mind, quickly adjusting his state, bringing his spirit, fighting spirit, and soul to their peak and most harmonious state, making final preparations for refining this supreme strange fire.
Once his breathing had completely stabilized and his mind was calm and undisturbed, Xiao Ling moved slightly and gracefully flew to the top of the source of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, looking down at the holy and beautiful fire lotus.
With a flick of his fingertips, several profound hand seals shot out in an instant, transforming into wisps of warm yet hypnotic and illusion-inducing waves that spread out slowly like ripples, gently yet irresistibly covering the fire lotus.
Under the pull and influence of this peculiar energy, the originally tightly closed and tightly bound petals of the fire lotus are slowly unfolding and blooming in a soothing and solemn manner.
In a short while, the entire lotus petal of the Demonic Flame Source unfolded, its white petals set against pale pink flame veins, and a holy aura permeated the entire magma sea.
Deep within the lotus heart, a cluster of pink flames, refined to their utmost perfection, lay quietly coiled and intertwined like a sleeping newborn infant. Terrifyingly high temperatures, enough to make even the souls of ordinary Battle Saints tremble, emanated continuously from the core of this flame, its immense pressure pointing directly to the supreme origin of the Different Flame Supreme.
Xiao Ling's gaze remained fixed on the cluster of pink flames in the lotus heart, and he had already realized that this was the true origin of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame!
This cluster of demonic fire may seem small and inconspicuous, but it should not be underestimated because of its size.
Even such an insignificant cluster of pink flames, if it were to infiltrate the body of a powerful six-star Dou Sheng, would most likely burn the person to ashes in an instant. Its terrifying ferocity and domineering power are beyond doubt.
At this moment, the many strange flames dormant within Xiao Ling's body involuntarily stirred with subtle agitation. He could even clearly sense the traces of fear emanating from the depths of those strange flames. Clearly, they had been completely overwhelmed by the supreme pressure emanating from the source of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame.
The top three on the Strange Flame Ranking are undoubtedly the kings of Strange Flames. Any ordinary Strange Flame that encounters them will unconsciously have its power greatly weakened.
Even though the strange fire that Xiao Ling controls is no less powerful than the fourth-ranked Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, and may even be stronger, it is still far from being able to contend with this supreme strange fire.
With a clenched fist, Xiao Ling firmly grasped the cluster of pink demonic flame essence in his hand.
But the moment they touched, the originally docile demonic fire suddenly erupted violently. The raging flames, like a ferocious beast awakened from the primordial era, surged and devoured Xiao Ling with the power to burn the heavens and boil the seas. Wherever the flames passed, even the void rippled and twisted, terrifying to the extreme.
Faced with such a fierce counterattack, Xiao Ling's expression remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic.
In an instant, the vast and unparalleled spiritual power within the Niwan Palace surged out like a tsunami, carrying absolute control as it crashed down, like an invisible giant hand, firmly imprisoning the raging and churning demonic fire source in its palm, rendering it unable to move even an inch.
Once he had completely and firmly grasped the essence of the demonic fire, Xiao Ling no longer hesitated. He opened his mouth and inhaled, swallowing the entire cluster of raging but immobile essence of the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire in his palm!
Once the source of the demonic fire entered his body, it rampaged wildly like a ferocious beast out of control, unleashing a scorching power capable of burning the heavens and destroying the earth, attempting to incinerate all the meridians and internal organs in his body.
However, Xiao Ling was prepared in advance. The extreme cold power he had condensed with his spiritual energy had already spread throughout his body, forming a cold and thick protective barrier.
While the Pure Lotus Demon Flame's origin was indeed incredibly powerful, Xiao Ling's extremely cold power, constructed from pure spiritual energy, was even more domineering. Even when facing the violent impact of the Supreme Flame, it still maintained a firm upper hand, suppressing the world-burning fire energy layer by layer, preventing it from running rampant.
Xiao Ling dared not be distracted. With a slight thought, his vast spiritual power condensed into a huge energy cushion amidst the churning sea of fire, and he immediately sat cross-legged on it.
His mind sank completely into his body, and the Burning Technique was activated. His fighting spirit surged rapidly along the trajectory, gradually drawing in, devouring, and refining the vast and boundless primordial energy of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame.
As the refining process gradually got on track, the raging Pure Lotus Demon Flame within his body was steadily suppressed, and Xiao Ling's aura became calm and long, clearly indicating that he had completely stabilized the refining process.
Seeing this, Xiao Chen, who had been quietly observing from the side, couldn't help but let out a soft sigh:
"This kid's methods are truly peculiar... He actually managed to subdue the essence of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame so easily. Judging from the way he's absorbing and refining it now, he's handling it with ease. He's really not simple."
Xiao Xuan nodded slowly, his eyes showing a hint of approval, and said softly:
"His methods are indeed peculiar. He mentioned this kind of icy power before, which is a subtle application of mental power, controlling power with intention, which is quite mysterious and extraordinary."
Immediately, Xiao Xuan's gaze sharpened slightly as he looked out into the space, his voice deepening:
"Now that the situation is stable, let this kid focus on refining. Next, it's our turn to take action. Those who came after hearing the news have already entered the Demon Flame Space. We must stop and subdue them all as soon as possible, and we must not disturb Xiao Ling's cultivation or ruin our plans."
Xiao Chen had already sensed the unusual activity within the demonic fire space. He had been trapped here for many years, and even though he had been controlled by the demonic fire for most of the time, his perception of this space was far more acute than that of others. At this moment, he had clearly detected a large number of unfamiliar auras surging in.
He immediately nodded emphatically and echoed in a deep voice:
"The clan chief is right. It's time to stretch our muscles and bones!"
Immediately, subtle and refined spatial fluctuations emanated from the two of them. Their auras were concealed, and the next moment their figures completely disappeared into this space filled with demonic fire.
Above the vast sea of fire, only Xiao Ling remained, sitting cross-legged, his energy flowing endlessly around him, completely immersed in devouring and refining the essence of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame.
Once this cultivation is complete and he awakens again, his cultivation will undergo a complete transformation, allowing him to reach new heights.
……
At the entrance to the Demon Flame Space, the thick spatial barrier shattered with a deafening roar, and figures with unparalleled power surged in like streaks of light. Everyone moved with hurried steps, fearing that a moment's delay would allow others to seize the initiative. Leading the way were the core members of ancient races such as the Flame Clan, the Medicine Clan, and the Soul Clan. Each figure exuded the overwhelming pressure of a Battle Saint, enough to shake the heavens and earth. Their vast aura swept outwards, terrifying the powerful figures of the surrounding small and medium-sized forces into silence, keeping a safe distance and daring not to approach even slightly, for fear of being innocently affected by such terrifying pressure.
Once all these truly top figures had stepped into the depths of the space, the onlookers on the periphery suddenly came to their senses and erupted into a commotion.
"Hurry! Get inside! If we're any later, we might not even get any soup!"
"The Pure Lotus Demon Flame is the supreme of all flames. If we are fortunate enough to obtain and subdue it, we may well become a peak powerhouse like the Pure Lotus Demon Saint, standing at the pinnacle of heaven and earth!"
"When opportunity knocks, how can we back down! Charge!"
Amidst the clamor, countless figures, their eyes red and hearts pounding, could no longer suppress their greed and desire. Like a swarm of bees, they rushed one after another into the demonic fire space.
Like the crowds from all sides, Xiao Yan, representing the Pill Tower, led the Pill Tower and Spirit Talisman Hall members into the Demon Flame Space.
For some reason, a vague unease rose in his heart, as if something was not right, as if something bad was about to happen.
But with the Pure Lotus Demon Flame right in front of him, he didn't have time to think it over. He suppressed the strange premonition in his heart and led everyone straight into the space.
What Xiao Yan didn't know was that this step would lead to the most frustrating and extraordinary encounter of his life.
He never imagined that what he was about to face was not the test of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, nor the encirclement and killing by the Soul Clan, but a solid blow from his own ancestors.
Except for the initial part of the journey deep into the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, he will spend the rest of the time completely unconscious during this trip.
……
As the group stepped into the Demon Flame Space, all they were met with was the scorching heat and molten lava from the sea of magma. Apart from that, the world was completely calm, without any of the dangerous phenomena they had imagined.
Logically speaking, the Pure Lotus Demon Flame Space has always been infamous, fraught with danger and deadly traps. However, at this moment, the entire space is eerily peaceful, without even a trace of the rampant demon flames.
Even the powerful members of ancient races like the Flame Clan, Soul Clan, and Medicine Clan, who were well-informed and knowledgeable, sensed something was amiss after stepping into this place for a short while. The scene before them was far too peaceful and tranquil, so peaceful that it completely contradicted all the intelligence and rumors, and was filled with an indescribable strangeness.
Just as everyone was secretly wondering, the young patriarch of the Yan Clan, Huo Xuan, suddenly hardened his expression and turned his gaze to the distance.
Upon seeing this, Huo Zhi and Elder Huo Yao, who were standing beside him, immediately turned to look at him, their expressions instantly becoming serious.
Elder Huoyao spoke first in a low voice: "Young Clan Leader, what happened? Have you noticed anything unusual?"
Huo Xuan didn't answer, but simply pointed to the dark area ahead and said in a low voice, "Look there."
Huo Zhi and Huo Yao looked in that direction and saw an ancient and massive door standing silently in the void, exuding a timeless and ancient aura. Clear marks remained on the door, indicating that someone had passed through it not long ago.
"This is... the gate to the Demon Flame Space?" Elder Huo Yao frowned, pondering.
“According to the ancient records of my Yan Clan, this gate is the gateway to the core of the Demon Flame Space. It should be guarded by fire slaves controlled by the Demon Flame, but at this moment there is not a single attack. There is definitely something wrong.”
Huo Zhiyu's expression darkened slightly, and she said softly, "It seems that someone has already gotten ahead of us and penetrated deep into the core area, even breaking through the barriers ahead of time... We are probably already behind."
Upon hearing Huo Zhi's reasoning, Huo Xuan and Huo Yao's expressions changed drastically, clearly agreeing with the most likely conclusion—the reason this space was eerily calm was because someone had already gotten there first and cleared all the obstacles.
"Then what are we waiting for!" Huo Xuan shouted immediately, his eyes filled with urgency. "Hurry up and go in! If we are even a step slower, not only will we lose the initiative, but the Pure Lotus Demon Flame may also be snatched away by someone else!"
Before he finished speaking, his figure transformed into a streak of fire, charging headlong toward the ancient door without regard for anything else.
Seeing this, Huo Zhi and Huo Yao dared not delay for a moment. They pushed their fighting spirit to the limit and followed closely behind.
The Yan Clan's sudden commotion was instantly noticed by the powerful figures from the Soul Clan, the Medicine Clan, and other factions.
Everyone present was a shrewd individual, and after a moment's thought, they understood the key point. Without the slightest hesitation, they all urged themselves on and rushed towards the ancient door at full speed, fearing that they would fall behind even half a step and miss the opportunity to compete for the strange and pure lotus demon fire.
With their target set, the group's speed suddenly increased, and they sped across the lava. In just a short while, several groups of people had arrived at the edge of the core area of the Demon Flame Space.
Before they could even explore further, or even fully establish their footing, an immense pressure, as vast as the sky and as domineering as an emperor, descended from the heavens without warning, crushing down on everyone.
The sheer power of that pressure far exceeded the comprehension of everyone present; it was simply a power on a completely different level.
With a series of "thump, thump" sounds, none of the powerful figures present, regardless of their status or strength, could withstand the attack. They were all forced to the ground and crashed heavily onto the sea of fire, splashing lava everywhere.
Even a top expert like Soul Hall Master Soul Extinction, a five-star Dou Sheng, was like an ant facing a mountain in the face of this pressure. He had no power to resist at all, his bones creaked and he couldn't even lift his head.
Xiao Yan, who was mixed in with the crowd, was no exception. Under that terrifying pressure, he was slammed into the sea of fire and ended up in a disheveled state.
Before he could figure out what was going on, a sharp pain suddenly shot through the back of his head, as if he had been gently patted by an invisible hand or slapped hard across the back of the head.
The force was not heavy, but it carried a special aura of fighting spirit, yet it was precisely enough to knock the person unconscious.
Xiao Yan's eyes widened, his consciousness instantly plunged into darkness, his body went limp, and he immediately fainted, completely losing consciousness. (End of Chapter)