92: Ten thousand fires burning the sky, six-star Dou Zong

Deep within the inner sanctum of the Pill Tower, before a towering, crimson giant pagoda, Xiao Chen, Han Xue, Ye Chong, and over ten other core disciples stood solemnly. The pagoda's body was inscribed with countless flame totems, emitting a scorching, heart-palpitating pressure, as if eternal flames were imprisoned within it. This was the Pill Tower's highest secret realm—the Myriad Flames Burning Heaven Pagoda!

Before the pagoda gate, the three giants, Xuan Kongzi, Heavenly Thunder Master, and Mysterious Robe, stood shoulder to shoulder, their expressions grave.

“The Myriad Flames Burning Heaven Pagoda is the foundation of our Pill Tower,” Xuan Kongzi’s voice was deep and resonant, echoing in everyone’s hearts. “The pagoda forms its own space, gathering the myriad fire origins of heaven and earth, divided into nine layers. With each ascending layer, the fire origin becomes purer and more violent, and the tempering effect on the soul and body stronger, but the danger also doubles. You are all the elites of our Pill Tower. This time, your entry into the pagoda is limited to seven days. How many layers you can ascend and what opportunities you acquire depends entirely on your own fortune. Remember, act within your capabilities, do not be greedy for success and rush forward, otherwise, you will perish, and regret will be too late!”

“We will remember!” everyone responded in unison, their eyes filled with anticipation and solemnity.

“Open the pagoda!” Xuan Kongzi and the other two simultaneously formed seals, injecting three immense soul powers into the pagoda gate. The crimson giant gate slowly opened, and a wave of heat, as if capable of incinerating all things, rushed out!

“Enter!”

Xiao Chen took a deep breath, exchanged glances with Han Xue and the others, and was the first to step into the pagoda. The scene before him changed abruptly; it was not the tower structure he imagined, but an boundless world of flames! The sky was burning flowing fire, the earth was rolling magma, and the air was filled with countless flames of various colors and attributes, intertwined and colliding, emitting a deafening roar!

“Such terrifying flame energy!” Ye Chong’s expression changed slightly, and he quickly circulated his Dou Qi to protect himself. Han Xue’s body glowed with a moon-white light, isolating the heat wave. Other disciples also employed various methods to resist this dreadful environment.

Xiao Chen, however, felt completely at ease! He possessed the origin of the Soul Heart Flame and had obtained a fragment of the heaven burning furnace, giving him a natural affinity for flames. For him, the violent fire energy here was not a burden but a great tonic! He did not fully defend, but rather relaxed his body and mind, actively absorbing the pure fire-attribute energy in the air. The faint golden Dou Qi stars in his Qi Sea accelerated their rotation, and his cultivation showed subtle signs of improvement.

“Although the flames on the first layer are violent, their origins are mixed, and their tempering effect on me is ordinary,” Xiao Chen’s soul perception swept through, instantly assessing the situation. He cast his gaze towards the fiery vortex in the distance that led to the second layer, “Only higher floors hold true opportunities.”

Without hesitation, he moved, transforming into a streak of light, and directly charged towards the entrance of the second layer. Seeing this, Han Xue, Ye Chong, and the others gritted their teeth and followed.

On the second layer, the flames turned a light cyan, the temperature was higher, and the flames contained a trace of wind and lightning power, scorching the soul while also carrying a tearing sensation. Many disciples already found it difficult here, and their speed slowed down.

Xiao Chen remained at ease, even using the wind and lightning flames here to further temper his Heaven Opening Axe Intent, adding a touch of swiftness and explosiveness to the axe intent.

On the third layer, deep blue flames, a bizarre intertwining of cold and heat, specifically harmed the soul's origin. By this point, some disciples had pale faces and were forced to sit cross-legged, resisting with all their might, unable to advance further.

On the fourth layer, dark red flames, imbued with the heavy power of the earth, doubled the pressure. Han Xue, Ye Chong, and the others also had sweat on their foreheads, their steps heavy.

Xiao Chen's gaze was resolute, and his speed increased rather than decreased! He was like an elf in the flames; wherever he went, all fires yielded! His Spirit Realm Soul power formed an invisible shield, filtering and absorbing the purest fire origin power, while impurities were repelled. His physical body was continuously tempered in the sea of fire, becoming more resilient; his soul became more condensed in the scorching heat; and the Dou Qi in his Qi Sea was like boiling water, surging towards the Peak Dou Zong (Fighting Sect) Rank!

Fifth layer! Sixth layer! Seventh layer!

Upon reaching the seventh layer, only Han Xue and Ye Chong remained beside him, and both had reached their limits, their bodies drenched in sweat, their soul fluctuations intense, clearly struggling to hold on. The flames on this layer were already pale gold, emitting a faint pressure, as if containing fragments of some law!

“Brother Xiao… we can only stop here.” Ye Chong gasped for breath, forcing a bitter smile. Han Xue also nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes holding unwillingness, but more so, admiration for Xiao Chen.

“Take care, both of you.” Xiao Chen cupped his hands, then, without hesitation, stepped into the fiery passage leading to the eighth layer!

Eighth layer! The flames transformed into pure milky white, their temperature becoming more contained, but the energy contained within them was terrifying to the extreme. Every wisp of flame seemed to possess sentience, actively coiling around him, scorching the deepest parts of his soul! Even Xiao Chen felt an intense pain in his Sea of Consciousness, his soul feeling as if it were being purified and evaporated!

“What formidable purifying fire!” Xiao Chen gritted his teeth, fully circulating the Myriad Souls Returning Flow Art and the Soul Emperor Canon. The golden light of his clan mark at his brow shone brightly, steadfastly maintaining the clarity of his spirit. At the same time, a sudden inspiration struck him, and he activated his Heaven Opening Axe Intent, no longer for cleaving, but transforming it into a defensive artistic conception of “opening up a pure land” and “stabilizing a fire domain.” This formed an invisible axe intent barrier around his soul, which actually blocked most of the erosive power of the milky white purifying fire!

“The flames here already contain a trace of law, which has a miraculous effect on soul tempering! But I cannot advance further; the ninth layer is probably beyond what I can currently bear.” Xiao Chen sat cross-legged, no longer pursuing the summit, but instead began to fully absorb the milky white purifying fire origin of this eighth layer!

Time flew by rapidly in cultivation. Seven days inside the pagoda might only be a fleeting moment outside.

Xiao Chen sat like an old monk in meditation, his entire body enveloped by milky white flames, forming a giant fire cocoon. Within the fire cocoon, his aura was undergoing earth-shattering changes!

Within his Qi Sea, the barrier of Five-Star Dou Zong shattered with a boom under the impact of the immense fire energy! The Dou Qi stars wildly expanded and solidified, and when they finally stabilized, their volume and brightness far surpassed what they were before! Six-Star Dou Zong, achieved!

Not only that, but the trace of flame law fragments contained within the milky white purifying fire was also captured and refined by his Spirit Realm Soul, integrating into his own understanding of flames. His control over the Soul Heart Flame became even more proficient, and he even subtly touched the threshold of condensing a Fire Spirit! More importantly, the continuous high-intensity flame tempering brought his physical body strength to a terrifying level, comparable to a seventh-tier intermediate magical beast! Although his soul power did not break through to the Heaven Realm, its essence became purer, and within the Spirit Realm, he was practically invincible!

As the seven-day limit approached, the fire cocoon slowly dissipated, and Xiao Chen opened his eyes, two milky white flames flickering and vanishing within them. He felt the surging power within his body, and a satisfied smile curved his lips.

“It’s time to go out.”

When his figure appeared outside the pagoda, Xuan Kongzi and the others who were waiting all burst forth with brilliant light in their eyes.

“Six-Star Dou Zong! The nascent form of a Fire Spirit! Good! Good! Good!” Xuan Kongzi exclaimed “good” three times in a row, his joy evident. He could feel that Xiao Chen had not only greatly advanced in cultivation, but his entire demeanor had also transformed, like a divine weapon forged through a thousand trials, its sharpness restrained, yet more dangerous.

Han Xue, Ye Chong, and the others had also exited the pagoda earlier, each with their own gains, but seeing Xiao Chen's transformation, they all felt an invisible pressure. The Xiao Chen at this moment gave them a feeling that he had far surpassed his peers, even subtly touching the level of an Elder.

“Congratulations, Brother Xiao (Xiao Chen)!” Everyone stepped forward to offer their congratulations.

Xiao Chen returned their greetings one by one, his attitude still humble. But he knew in his heart that this time's gains were far more than what appeared on the surface. That refined trace of flame law and the deeper understanding of the Heaven Opening Axe Intent were the true treasures.

Returning to his courtyard, Xiao Chen immediately began to cultivate in seclusion to consolidate his gains. His Six-Star Dou Zong cultivation needed to be stabilized, and his newly acquired power needed to be familiarized. Especially the nascent form of the “Fire Spirit Body,” if he could fully condense it, it would greatly enhance both his alchemy skills and combat power.

However, the tree desires tranquility, but the wind will not cease.

Just on the third day of Xiao Chen's secluded cultivation, an urgent communication jade slip was delivered into his hands. The jade slip came from Elder Mo of the Thousand Medicine Workshop, and its content was brief but alarming:

“Esteemed Supporter Xiao, urgent! The Workshop Master’s beloved daughter, Mo Linglin, carrying the seven-colored spirit nurturing lotus, was on her way to Tianbei City to attend an auction. On the way, in the Black Wind Mountain Range, she was ambushed by an unknown force. Her guards suffered heavy casualties, and Miss Linglin’s whereabouts are unknown! It is suspected to be related to the Soul Hall or the Styx Alliance! I earnestly request your assistance!”

Xiao Chen crushed the jade slip, a chilling glint appearing in his eyes.

“The Styx Alliance?” He recalled that his teacher, Xuan Kongzi, had once mentioned that this was a ruthless assassin organization that stopped at nothing to achieve its goals and had long-standing ties with the Soul Hall.

“Black Wind Mountain Range… Tianbei City…” Xiao Chen’s eyes flickered. He had just broken through and needed a real battle to hone his newly acquired power. Moreover, the Thousand Medicine Workshop had shown him kindness, and he had met Mo Linglin once; both on principle and sentiment, he could not stand by and do nothing.

“More importantly… this might be an opportunity,” Xiao Chen thought to himself. Staying in the Pill Tower, though safe, was like a flower in a greenhouse. True powerhouses needed to grow in blood and fire. The Soul Hall’s schemes would eventually need to be confronted.

He stood up, pushing open the door to his quiet room. Sunlight streamed in, illuminating his tall figure, and a sharp aura soared into the sky.

“It’s also time to go out and walk around.”

The winds and clouds of the Northern Region of the Central Plains would stir up even greater waves because of his renewed action!