Long Hanji, Lei Yunbin, Li Shuo, and Zhao Lei: Four Great Spirit Transformation Cultivators

The Golden Flame Mountains lay in the southeastern part of the Azure Ripple World, stretching for tens of millions of miles. Volcanoes were plentiful here, fire spiritual qi abundant, and many fire-attributed spirit herbs grew throughout the region, along with vast numbers of fire-attributed demon beasts. After the Azure Ripple Sect unified the Azure Ripple World, it established a branch here and dispatched five Nascent Soul Cultivators to guard it. There was a spatial node here, and beyond that spatial node might lie another realm.

Buildings stood thick throughout the Golden Flame Mountains, where many rare birds and strange beasts seldom seen elsewhere could be found. Great numbers of cultivators moved about within the clusters of buildings.

The entire mountain range was dotted with thousands upon thousands of volcanic craters. From time to time, crimson pillars of molten lava shot into the sky. The air was thick with a pungent sulfurous stench, the temperature terrifyingly high, and even the sky was crimson.

Deep within the mountain range stood a Sky-Supporting Peak a hundred thousand feet tall. The entire peak was crimson, its mountainside steep and sheer. At first glance, it resembled an enormous sword that had split open heaven and been driven upside down into the earth. Jagged rocks covered the mountain, and atop it stood a crimson palace over a hundred feet tall, with upturned eaves, red tiles, and a ridge adorned with glazed beasts.

A golden plaque hung above the palace, bearing three large silver characters: "Golden Flame Palace."

Five Nascent Soul Cultivators—four men and one woman—were gathered inside the main hall. An old man with crane-white hair and the complexion of a child sat in the seat of honor. He wore a green Daoist robe, sported a goatee, and had a peaceful countenance. Judging by his aura,