Outside the Crimson Flame Mountain Range, on a broken cliff.
Ling Tian stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering. Below him were rolling crimson mountains, like a giant Dragon in slumber.
The surface of the mountains was covered in cracked patterns, and from the fissures, hot tongues of Flame occasionally shot out, dyeing the sky and earth a blood-red.
This was one of the most famous vicious places near Crimson Flame City.
Legend has it that deep within the mountain range, there was a rare treasure of heaven and earth, the “Earth Fire Spirit Marrow,” which contained the purest fire-elemental true essence, capable of helping Cultivators Breakthrough their Bottleneck and even undergoing a complete transformation!
“The Flame Dragon Power resonates faintly with the aura of this place…”
Ling Tian murmured, feeling the restless Flame Dragon Breath within his body.
He gripped the jade dragon sword in his hand tightly; Dragon patterns shimmered on the sword's body, trembling slightly.
Suddenly, Ling Tian leaped, like a giant crimson Roc, plummeting down towards the cliff!
His toes lightly tapped the steep rock face, his figure flickering; in a few ups and downs, he had already swept past the boiling lava lake.
After passing through three naturally formed fire screens, Ling Tian entered a hidden valley.
Hot waves surged in the valley, distorting the view.
The ground was covered with translucent crimson crystals, and in the center of each crystal, a bean-sized Flame flickered.
These were the companion products of the Earth Fire Spirit Marrow—Crimson Flame Crystals!
Suddenly, Ling Tian’s pupils contracted sharply.
A hundred meters ahead, a charred corpse hung on the rock wall. In the corpse’s hand, a broken half of an iron sword was tightly clutched, its death gruesome.
Ling Tian noticed a bowl-sized hole in the corpse’s chest, with purplish-black corrosive marks remaining around the edges.
“This is… an injury from a Poison Fire Scorpion’s tail hook!”
Ling Tian took out the intelligence guide he had bought from an information peddler and carefully compared it.
Just as he approached the corpse, preparing to investigate further, a sudden change occurred!
“Boom!!”
The corpse suddenly exploded, and purplish-black poisonous mist spread out, instantly covering an area of several hundred meters.
Ling Tian reacted extremely quickly, retreating rapidly while slashing out a fierce Sword Qi.
Attached to the Sword Qi was the scorching Flame Dragon Fire; however, the poisonous mist strangely devoured the Flame!
“Sizzle, sizzle…”
Piercing sounds came from all directions.
Dozens of half-meter-sized Poison Fire Scorpions swarmed out from the rock crevices.
Their carapaces were blood-red, and their tail hooks glowed with a faint purple light. Wherever they passed, the Crimson Flame Crystals exploded, and the splashing lava mixed with the poisonous mist, forming a deadly Killing Formation!
Poison Fire Scorpions were mostly at the Crystal Formation Stage, but they were social creatures, highly resistant to fire, and their tail stings could emit poisonous mist, making them extremely troublesome.
“Flame Dragon! Burning Body!”
Ling Tian let out a low roar, and the Flame Dragon Power erupted from his body, forming a fiery armor that covered him, isolating the poisonous mist.
“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!”
The Poison Fire Scorpions’ tail hooks shot towards Ling Tian like arrows!
Ling Tian spun and swung his sword, the jade dragon sword drawing a perfect arc, its edge precisely deflecting every tail hook.
“Swish! Swish! Swish!…”
Sword shadows flickered, and Sword Qi crisscrossed.
Ling Tian was like a Death God descending, and one Poison Fire Scorpion after another fell before him.
A moment later, Ling Tian plunged his sword into the ground, completely eliminating the last Poison Fire Scorpion hidden beneath the earth.
“Phew…”
Ling Tian let out a long breath, calming the turbulent Qi and blood within his body.
Then, his gaze shifted to a huge Crimson Flame Crystal pillar: “You’ve been watching for so long, aren’t you going to show yourself?”
Silence.
A deathly silence.
A moment later, a woman in a red dress slowly walked out from behind the crystal pillar.
She walked barefoot on fire, each step seeming to tread on one’s heart. The golden bells on her wrist jingled lightly, clear and pleasant to the ear, and a vermilion cinnabar mole on her brow, as vivid as blood, added a touch of allure.
“Little brother, to be able to see through my ‘Fire Spirit Evasion’ shows some skill.”
The woman in the red dress smiled charmingly, her voice soft and bone-melting.
Ling Tian slightly raised the tip of his sword, pointing it at the woman, his voice cold: “Your Excellency, are you a friend or foe?”
The woman chuckled, and a green fire lotus ignited on her fingertip: “The Crimson Flame Mountain Range is not a place for children…”
Suddenly!
She waved her jade hand, and the fire lotus flew out!
“Take my three moves, and I’ll give you a great fortune!”
The fire lotus expanded against the wind, instantly transforming into a three-zhang-tall green fire screen, covering the sky and obscuring the sun.
Within the fire screen, nine lotus shadows could vaguely be seen rotating, each containing terrifying high temperatures, as if capable of Burning everything!
Ling Tian swung his sword, unleashing Flame Dragon Sword Qi. However, when the Sword Qi touched the green fire, it was like a clay ox entering the sea, instantly assimilated and absorbed!
“Flame Dragon! Burning Body!”
Ling Tian roared, and crimson-gold flames surged around him, like a War God reborn from fire!
He endured the burning of the green fire and pressed forward.
However, the lotus shadows in the fire screen suddenly exploded, transforming into countless sharp fire blades that swept over him like a tidal wave!
Ling Tian swung his sword to block, and the sword’s edge collided with the fire blades, erupting in dazzling sparks, with incessant clanging sounds.
“Boom!”
The last fire blade fiercely struck Ling Tian’s chest, forcing him back several steps.
He looked down; the clothes on his chest were scorched, and a charred mark was left on his skin.
“The first move, you barely managed to take it.”
The woman in the red dress chuckled, a hint of playfulness in her voice.
“The second move won’t be so simple.”
The golden bells on her wrist gently jingled, and the sound of the bells spread like ripples, entering Ling Tian’s ears.
Ling Tian felt his Divine Soul tremble, and the scene before him suddenly distorted, as if he were in a boundless sea of fire.
In the illusion, countless flames condensed into ferocious Yao Beasts, baring their fangs and claws, pouncing at him as if to devour him!
“Illusion technique?”
Ling Tian gritted his teeth, the Flame Dragon Power furiously circulating within him, trying to break through this strange illusion.
However, the sound of the bells seemed to be all-pervasive, even suppressing his Divine Sense tightly.
“Break for me!”
Ling Tian suddenly bit the tip of his tongue, and the intense pain cleared his mind by half.
However, this did not allow him to completely Breakthrough the illusion.
Just as Ling Tian’s consciousness was gradually blurring, his left eye, which he had just closed, suddenly opened!
At this moment, Ling Tian’s left pupil had turned crimson-gold, and a brilliant golden light shot out from it!
“Boom!!”
The illusion shattered, and Ling Tian returned to reality.
He was drenched in cold sweat, and the hand holding his sword trembled slightly.
Although he didn’t know what had happened, there was no time to think at this moment.
“It’s that eye!”
A trace of excitement flashed in the red-dressed woman’s eyes, but it vanished in an instant.
“For the last move, let me see what you’re capable of!”
She lightly tapped her brow with her fingertip, and the cinnabar mole suddenly lit up, transforming into a crimson light that shot towards Ling Tian!
The light seemed slow, but it seemed to lock onto Ling Tian’s Divine Soul, making it impossible for him to dodge!
“Flame Dragon Body Protection!”
Ling Tian roared, and Flame Dragon Fire instantly condensed into a crimson-gold armor on his body’s surface.
However, the moment the crimson light touched the armor, it directly penetrated it and entered his brow!
“Ah!!!”
Ling Tian felt his Divine Soul being scorched by raging fire!
This attack, directly affecting the Divine Soul, was ten thousand times more intense than physical pain!
In the nick of time, a dark red blood mist suddenly surged from Ling Tian’s chest.
Within the blood mist, a phantom of a nine-eyed giant Dragon could vaguely be seen coiling, emitting an ancient and powerful aura!
“This is…! It’s really true!”
The red-dressed woman’s expression changed slightly, and a complex look flashed in her eyes.
The crimson light was instantly swallowed by the blood mist.
Ling Tian suddenly opened his eyes, and the crimson-gold in his pupils slowly dissipated, returning to their original color.
“Three moves have passed.”
The red-dressed woman put away her smile and raised her hand, throwing out a Jade Slip.
“Follow this secret passage, and you can directly reach the Earth Fire Spirit Pool. There, you will find what you are looking for.”
Ling Tian caught the Jade Slip, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: “Why help me?”
“Because…”
The red-dressed woman lightly stroked the cinnabar mole between her brows, her voice carrying a trace of reminiscence.
“You remind me of an old friend…”
With that, her figure gradually blurred and disappeared into the valley.
“Remember, below the Spirit Pool, something is waiting for you.”
…The secret passage, the deepest part of the cave.
Lava converged, forming a Spirit Pool with a diameter of a hundred meters.
In the center of the pool, an amber crystal floated, within which was Sealed a thumb-sized drop of crimson liquid—it was the Earth Fire Spirit Marrow!
Profound runes circulated on the surface of the Spirit Marrow; each rune contained pure fire-elemental true essence.
The moment Ling Tian stepped into the Spirit Pool, the violent fire-elemental true essence, like a bursting dam, frantically surged into his Meridians.
He sat cross-legged, placing the jade dragon sword across his lap.
Dragon patterns flickered on the sword’s body, reflecting and resonating with the flames in the Spirit Pool.
“Flame Dragon Body, activate!”
Ling Tian roared, and crimson-gold flames surged around him.
The lava in the Spirit Pool seemed to be summoned, transforming into fiery snakes that coiled around his body, scorching his skin a fiery red.
“Boom!”
The Spirit Marrow crystal suddenly exploded!
The crimson liquid transformed into a streak of light and entered Ling Tian’s brow.
He felt an incredibly scorching energy explode within his body. His Meridians felt as if they were being burned by raging flames, and the Golden Core in his Purple Mansion trembled violently, as if it would shatter at any moment!
“Condense!”
Ling Tian formed hand Seals, and the Flame Dragon Power furiously circulated within his body, attempting to suppress this rampaging Spirit Marrow Power.
However, the Spirit Marrow Power was too violent, actually causing his Meridians to crack inch by inch!
“Ugh!”
Ling Tian let out a low roar, veins bulging on his forehead. Fine cracks appeared on the surface of his skin, and blood seeped out along the cracks, instantly vaporizing due to the high temperature.
“Condense for me!”
Ling Tian gritted his teeth, enduring the Soul-tearing pain, and formed hand Seals again.
Finally, the Flame Dragon Power and the Spirit Marrow Power gradually merged in his Dantian, transforming back into a crimson-gold Golden Core.
“Golden Core, Minor Achievement!”
Ling Tian opened his eyes, and in the depths of his pupils, a pair of blue and crimson fire lotuses slowly rotated.
He raised his hand and lightly clenched it. In his palm, the flames condensed into a tangible sword shape. Wherever the sword's edge passed, space itself seemed to be distorted!
"Flame Dragon Second Transformation! Burning Sea!"
Ling Tian let out a low roar, and the flames around his body suddenly dispersed, transforming into a boundless sea of fire.
Within the sea of fire, countless flames condensed into ferocious Dragon shadows, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws as they lunged in all directions.
Ling Tian felt the surging power within him, a smile playing on the corner of his lips.
He raised his hand and lightly waved it, and the sea of fire instantly extinguished, transforming into a crimson-gold fire lotus suspended in his palm.
"Is this the power of Burning Sea..."
Suddenly, Ling Tian remembered the red-dressed woman's words before she left: "There's something waiting for you at the bottom of the pond."
His gaze then fell upon the now-dry spiritual pond, and a glint flashed in Ling Tian's eyes.
"Dragon Spirit! Transform!"
Ling Tian let out a low roar, and the Dragon lines on his right arm shone brightly.
"Golden Dragon's Roar to the Heavens!"
He unleashed a powerful punch, and the golden fist energy transformed into a roaring Golden Dragon, fiercely striking the bottom of the pond!
"Rumble!"
The entire cave vibrated violently, and the bottom of the pond instantly cracked, finally collapsing with a crash, revealing a bronze coffin.
The coffin lay quietly in the deep pit, its surface covered with mysterious patterns.
On the coffin lid, a lifelike giant Dragon was carved, coiling around a burning flame totem, as if guarding something important.
Ling Tian's heart stirred, and an inexplicable feeling surged within him, as if the coffin had some connection to him.
He carefully set up an isolation Formation, then leaped into the deep pit and approached the bronze coffin.
The moment his finger touched the coffin, the bronze coffin trembled slightly, as if responding to his arrival.
Ling Tian's heart tightened; there was indeed something strange about this coffin.
He took a deep breath, just as he was considering whether to open the coffin to investigate, a sudden change occurred!
"Boom!"
The barrier Ling Tian had set up was forcibly shattered from the outside!
The tremendous impact sent surrounding gravel flying in all directions.
Amidst the swirling dust, three figures slowly emerged.
The leader was clad in a black robe embroidered with blood-colored skulls, his face sinister, his eyes as cold as a viper's.
He held a blood-colored long saber, its blade entwined with dense Evil Qi, indicating that the newcomers meant no good.
The other two stood on either side behind the black-robed Cultivator, their auras equally strong, at least at the Golden Core Middle Stage.
The black-robed Cultivator's gaze swept over the dried spiritual pond, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes, before finally settling on Ling Tian.
"Kid, hand over the Earth Fire Spiritual Marrow, and this venerable one might consider leaving you a complete corpse!" The black-robed Cultivator's voice was hoarse and low.
Ling Tian's gaze turned cold, and he replied icily, "The Earth Fire Spiritual Marrow has already been refined by me. You're too late."
"Refined?"
The black-robed Cultivator was startled for a moment upon hearing this, then let out a sinister laugh.
"Hahahahaha, good, very good!"
"Since that's the case, then I'll just have to refine you into a human pill; I can still extract the essence of the Earth Fire Spiritual Marrow that way!"
Killing intent flared in the black-robed Cultivator's eyes. Before his words even finished, he violently swung the blood-colored long saber in his hand, unleashing a blood-colored saber light several zhang long!
The saber light tore through the air, carrying a piercing whistle, like a blood-colored lightning bolt, striking towards Ling Tian!
Ling Tian's eyes narrowed. This black-robed Cultivator's strength had actually reached the Golden Core Late Stage!
He dared not be negligent and immediately swung the jade dragon sword in his hand, unleashing a sharp Sword Qi.
"Boom!"
The Sword Qi and saber light collided fiercely, erupting in a deafening roar.
Violent true essence fluctuations swept in all directions, shattering the surrounding rock pillars.
Ling Tian felt a huge force, and his body involuntarily retreated several steps.
"Kid, you've got some skill!"
The black-robed Cultivator sneered, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"However, do you think with your meager strength, you can stop the three of us?"
He turned to look at his two companions behind him, motioning for them to attack together.
The two immediately understood. One conjured a black banner, upon which countless ferocious ghost faces were embroidered.
As he waved the banner, gusts of Cold Wind surged from it, and countless ghostly figures flickered in the Cold Wind, emitting mournful howls as they lunged towards Ling Tian.
The other person quickly formed hand Seals, muttering incantations.
The ground beneath Ling Tian's feet suddenly began to shake violently, and thick vines, like venomous snakes, drilled out from underground, coiling towards Ling Tian.
These vines were covered with sharp barbs, which glinted with a cold, eerie light, clearly not ordinary plants.
Facing the encirclement of the three, Ling Tian's expression was solemn, but he showed no signs of retreat.
"Flame Dragon First Transformation! Burning Body!"
"Flame Dragon Second Transformation! Burning Sea!"
Ling Tian roared, and the Flame Dragon Power within him circulated wildly, instantly erupting!
Around his body, crimson-gold flames first ignited, and then, the flames rapidly spread, transforming into a surging sea of fire!
Within the sea of fire, countless ferocious Dragon shadows condensed from the blazing flames, letting out roars as they charged towards the three.
The moment the vengeful spirits touched the Dragon shadows, they let out tragic screams and were instantly incinerated into nothingness.
The coiling vines were also swallowed by the Flame Dragon, turning into wisps of green smoke.
However, the blood-colored saber light unleashed by the black-robed Cultivator broke through the Flame Dragon's assault, heading straight for Ling Tian's face!
"Clang!"
In the nick of time, Ling Tian swung his jade dragon sword, blocking the fatal blow.
A huge force came from the sword's body, numbing his tiger's mouth, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
"Kid, just obediently die!"
The black-robed Cultivator sneered, approaching Ling Tian step by step.
The blood-colored long saber in his hand continuously swung, unleashing sharp saber lights that sealed all of Ling Tian's escape routes.
A decisive look flashed in Ling Tian's eyes; he could not continue to be so passive.
He suddenly bit the tip of his tongue, spraying a mouthful of essence blood onto the jade dragon sword.
"Buzz!"
The jade dragon sword absorbed Ling Tian's essence blood, instantly erupting with dazzling white light.
The Dragon lines on the hilt traveled along the sword body, finally extending to Ling Tian's right arm.
Ling Tian recalled the battle of the sea race, where he temporarily stepped into the Nascent Soul stage due to using a forbidden technique, and now the second innate form of the jade dragon sword had been unlocked in his mind.
"Under the double blessing of the Flame Dragon body, I should be able to do it! jade dragon sword, lend me your strength!"
Ling Tian let out a low roar. The Jade Dragon disintegrated, transforming into a streak of lightning that instantly entered his Dantian.
The lightning transformed from the jade dragon sword perfectly fused with the Flame Dragon Power in his body, forming a dark-golden giant Dragon, coiling above his true essence vortex.
"Dragon Spirit! Transform!"
Ling Tian roared again, gripping the invisible sword hilt with both hands, and unleashed a powerful slash!
"Thunder Dragon Instant Prison Slash!"
As the incantation fell, a dark-golden sword light suddenly shone brightly!
Within the sword light, a phantom Thunder Dragon was vaguely visible, emitting a deafening roar.
The speed of the sword light was extreme. The black-robed Cultivator only felt a flash before his eyes, and a deathly aura rushed towards him.
Unable to react at all, he could only watch as the sword light passed through his body.
"This... how... is this possible?"
The black-robed Cultivator's pupils suddenly dilated, his eyes filled with an expression of disbelief.
His body, starting from his glabella, developed a tiny crack, which then rapidly spread downwards.
Finally, with a "swish," the black-robed Cultivator was directly cut in half by this single sword strike!
The other two Cultivators, seeing this scene, were scared Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering and turned to flee.
They never imagined that Ling Tian, who was only at the Golden Core Early Stage, could unleash such terrifying combat power!
But how could Ling Tian let them go? He swung his invisible sword, unleashing two streaks of lightning Sword Qi.
The Sword Qi streaked across the sky, instantly catching up to the two fleeing Cultivators and killing them on the spot!
The dust settled.
Ling Tian leaned against the bronze coffin, his body trembling slightly, gasping for breath.
He turned to look at the coffin, noticing that the runes on the coffin lid had become dim.
"This coffin... what is its origin?"
Ling Tian's heart was filled with doubts, but even more so with vigilance.
He knew that anything locked in such a place was definitely not an ordinary item.
Suddenly, a slight tremor came from within the bronze coffin.
Ling Tian's heart jumped, and he quickly flashed back, gripping his jade dragon sword tightly, vigilantly staring at the coffin.
He noticed that where he had just leaned against the coffin, a trace of his blood remained.
And this trace of blood was now slowly being absorbed by the coffin, and the flame totem, which had originally become dim, actually reignited!
"Crack... crack... crack..."
A grating sound rang out, and the coffin lid slowly opened!
Ling Tian held his breath, his nerves taut.
He was ready to strike at any moment, however, the Vicious Beast he imagined did not appear.
Instead, a soft white light slowly spilled out from the coffin, illuminating the entire deep pit.
Ling Tian looked closely, only to see a crystal-clear Jade Slip lying quietly within the coffin.
The Jade Slip was engraved with some ancient runes, emitting a faint golden glow.
"This is... a Legacy Jade Slip!"
Ling Tian's heart was overjoyed, and then he carefully reached out and took out the Jade Slip.
The Jade Slip felt warm and smooth in his hand, glowing with a soft jade-colored light. Although it was a faint white light, Ling Tian felt an ancient and majestic aura from it.
And in the center of the Jade Slip, several large characters, written with the flourish of a Dragon and Phoenix, were engraved: Nine Talisman Brilliant Heaven Art!