90: Burning Heaven Trial 1

Seven days after leaving the Black Mist Marsh, Ling Xiao's condition worsened.

Xiao Yan looked at his Junior Brother sitting by the campfire, his right eye glinting with a faint blue-silver light. In the Flame Lord's Fire's vision, two energies were intertwined within Ling Xiao's body—the pure silver-white power of the Spirit of the Plane, and a black line like a venomous snake. More concerning was that the black line was slowly growing, now extending close to Ling Xiao's heart.

"Another nightmare?" Xiao Bing handed over a bowl of hot soup, noticing the dark circles under Ling Xiao's eyes.

Ling Xiao forced a smile, his hand a little unsteady as he took the soup bowl: "Yes, still that dream... eyes in the void, watching me, calling me..." He subconsciously touched his brow, where there was an almost invisible black mark.

Xiao Yan sat beside him, his palm gently resting on Ling Xiao's back, a wisp of Flame Lord's Fire quietly flowing in to investigate the state of the black thread. Compared to three days ago, the black thread had grown another half an inch and was thicker. More troublesome was that it seemed to have formed some kind of symbiotic relationship with the Spirit of the Plane's power; forcibly removing it might damage Ling Xiao's Origin.

"It's still stable for now," Xiao Yan conveyed the information to Xiao Bing with his eyes, and the latter gave an almost imperceptible nod.

"We'll reach the Burning Sky Desert today," Xiao Bing unfolded the map provided by the ancient clan, "According to the star map, the third seed of the plane is there."

Ling Xiao suddenly looked up, a hint of black light flashing in his silver eyes: "Someone is following us... Southwest direction, three miles away... five... no, six pseudo-seed creatures."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Bing immediately became alert. They had long discovered that ever since Ling Xiao was invaded by the black thread, he had an abnormal ability to sense pseudo-seed creatures, and could even briefly control their thoughts. But each time he used this ability, it accelerated the spread of the black thread—a few strands of striking black had already appeared in Ling Xiao's originally pure silver hair tips.

"Avoid them or deal with them?" Xiao Bing asked in a low voice, a wisp of faint blue ice flame condensing on his fingertips.

Xiao Yan pondered for a moment, memories of the Flame Lord's Fire flashing in his right eye: "There's a small village on the edge of the Burning Sky Desert; we can't lead the pseudo-seed creatures there. Ling Xiao, can you interfere with them like last time?"

Ling Xiao took a deep breath, the black light in his silver eyes intensifying. He formed a strange hand Seal, and the black mark on his brow glowed faintly. A few painful roars immediately came from a distance, followed by the dull thud of heavy objects falling.

"Dealt with..." Ling Xiao said, panting, then coughed violently, a wisp of black blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.

Xiao Bing immediately supported him, and Xuanming Ice Flame flowed into Ling Xiao's body, temporarily suppressing the restless black thread. Xiao Yan quickly took out a crimson Medicinal Pill and put it into Ling Xiao's mouth: "Don't use that ability again; it's too dangerous."

Ling Xiao swallowed the Medicinal Pill and said with a bitter smile: "Sometimes... it's not me actively using it, but it... calling me." He looked at his palm, where black threads vaguely moved under his skin, "I can feel it, the seed of the black tower is trying to control me through this connection..."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Bing exchanged a worried glance. Time was running out; they had to find the third seed of the plane as soon as possible—not only to fight the Chaos Devourer but also to save Ling Xiao.

After packing up the camp, the three quickened their pace towards the Burning Sky Desert. As the distance shortened, the temperature in the air gradually rose, and distorted heatwaves began to appear on the distant horizon. At noon, they finally stood on the edge of the Burning Sky Desert.

The sight before them was shocking—an endless golden sea of sand burned under the sunlight, not metaphorically, but truly burning! Every grain of sand was enveloped in tiny flames, the entire desert like a giant brazier, heatwaves assailing them, making even breathing scorching.

"This... is the Burning Sky Desert that never extinguishes?" Xiao Bing wiped the sweat from his forehead, his Extreme Ice Power automatically circulating to resist the high temperature.

Ling Xiao's silver eyes reflected the blazing fire: "No... this isn't ordinary flame... the entire desert is a giant Seal!"

Xiao Yan's right eye felt a burning pain, and memories of the Flame Lord's Fire surfaced—he saw an ancient time when a burning star fell at the desert's location, and the Flame Lord and Ice Lord jointly sealed the star's embers here, forming the Burning Sky Desert. And that "star" was actually...

"The third seed of the plane," Xiao Yan murmured, "Specially sealed here because it's the most dangerous one."

Xiao Bing frowned: "What do you mean?"

"In the Flame Lord's memories, the twelve seeds of the plane have different natures," Xiao Yan explained, "This one is called the 'wrath seed,' containing the most violent Plane energy, and must be suppressed by eternal fire."

Ling Xiao suddenly pointed to the center of the desert: "There... something is calling me... no, it's calling the black thread within me!"

Xiao Yan looked in the direction he pointed, and amidst the distorted heatwaves, a blood-red stone platform was vaguely visible, with a blurry figure seemingly on it.

"Proceed carefully," Xiao Yan circulated the Flame Lord's Fire to envelop the three of them, "The flames here will devour ordinary Qi."

The moment they stepped into the desert, the sand beneath their feet crackled, and flames climbed up their pant legs, but immediately became docile upon touching the Flame Lord's Fire. Xiao Bing's Extreme Ice Power formed a thin layer of frost, leaving temporary ice marks on the burning sand with every step.

The deeper they went, the higher the temperature. An hour later, the trio's clothes had been soaked with sweat and dried countless times. Ling Xiao's condition was the worst; the black thread was unusually active in the high temperature, constantly trying to spread towards his heart. Xiao Bing had to divert a portion of his Extreme Ice Power to help him suppress it, causing himself to endure more heat.

Finally, they arrived before the central stone platform. It was a ten-zhang square crimson platform, its surface covered with ancient flame runes. In the center of the platform sat a withered old man, his entire skin an abnormal reddish color, his long hair like burning flames. Most strikingly, he held a crystal ball wrapped in chains in his hands, within which was sealed a constantly shifting mass of crimson-gold flames!

"Flame Slave has been waiting for a long time," the old man spoke, his voice like crackling dry wood, "The three co-masters of the Plane have finally gathered."

Xiao Yan stepped forward, vigilantly asking: "You knew we were coming?"

Flame Slave slowly raised his head, his eyes were actually two flickering flames: "Lord Flame Lord foresaw this day a thousand years ago. This old servant guards here only to fulfill his final mission."

"What mission?" Xiao Bing shielded the weak Ling Xiao behind him.

Flame Slave did not answer directly, but looked at Ling Xiao: "The Spirit of the Plane has been polluted... the black tower's methods are more cunning than imagined." He extended a finger like a withered branch, "Child, come let me see."

Ling Xiao hesitated, looking at his two older brothers. Xiao Yan nodded slightly, but remained vigilant, ready to act at any moment.