Tempering the Dao with the Torch Flame, Heavenly Immortal Peak

Xuanwei's consciousness drifted amid endless darkness and the illusion of scattered campfires.

He seemed to have become one of those frail figures passing on the spark, feeling their despair, struggle, and the unquenchable will to survive and unite that erupted amid hopeless circumstances. That faint Mysterious Yellow Spark was no longer an external power. It began slowly yet resolutely merging with the source of his own immortal qi, the solidity of Earth Element, the vitality of Wood Element, and even that trace of Chaos's inclusiveness.

Within the Immortal Nourishing Pool, the San Xiao sisters were astonished to discover that Xuanwei's source, which had been on the verge of collapse, was not recovering slowly as expected under the nourishment of the pool water and the Primal Chaos Golden Dipper. Instead, it voraciously absorbed all energy at a speed beyond comprehension!

Even stranger, the Mysterious Yellow Spark at the core of his source acted like a miniature furnace. It refined the spiritual qi, medicinal power, and even the Immortal Essence supplied by the San Xiao sisters into something purer, imprinting it with the unique essence of "torch flame" before feeding it back into his shattered immortal qi body.

Those once-hideous cracks began healing and closing at a visible rate under the nourishment of that strange energy, which carried indomitable life and faith in civilization. The newly formed portions became tougher and more translucent, faintly gleaming with a gentle Mysterious Yellow radiance!

[Unknown energy "Humanity's Torch Flame" detected deeply merging with the host's source!]

[The host's source is being tempered and reconstructed by the power of "torch flame"! Quality increased! Resilience greatly enhanced!]

[Energy level rapidly recovering... 30%... 40%... 50%...]

[Chaos Heaven-Opening Art stimulated by the essence of "torch flame," automatically deducing and optimizing. Body-tempering efficiency increased by 300%!]

[Remnant Seed of Jianmu absorbs the power of "torch flame," accelerating its growth and feeding back more pure Wood Element Chaos vitality!]

The system notifications echoed through Xuanwei's hazy consciousness like a joyous melody.

He felt like a billet of iron cast into divine fire, enduring countless hammerings, every impurity removed and his foundation reforged! The pain remained, but within it lay the exhilaration of rebirth and the joy of growing stronger!

Who knew how much time had passed? Perhaps only three or five days. Xuanwei's tightly shut "eyes" suddenly flew open!

The light in his eyes was no longer the clear brilliance of immortal qi. Instead, deep within them burned gentle yet steadfast Mysterious Yellow Star Fire!

He abruptly rose from the Immortal Nourishing Pool, his immortal qi taking form, and his aura erupted! No longer did he possess the unstable power of an early-stage Heavenly Immortal. He had directly crossed the middle stage and stood firmly at the peak of the Heavenly Immortal realm! He was only a single step away from the True Immortal realm!

His immortal qi body was no longer simply lustrous white or blue-yellow Chaos Color. It had become a Chaos Color containing Mysterious Yellow starlight—heavy, vast, and brimming with endless vitality, while carrying an indescribable, resilient Dao Rhyme that seemed capable of bearing civilization and passing the torch onward!

"Heavenly Immortal peak?! H-how is that possible?!" Bixiao was the first to cry out, her beautiful eyes full of disbelief. It had only been a few days! He had gone from a source on the verge of collapse to the Heavenly Immortal peak? Even flying on a sword would not be this fast!

Qiongxiao covered her crimson lips, wonder flashing repeatedly in her eyes. "Junior Brother Xuanwei... how do you feel?"

Even Yunxiao, usually so cool and detached, was visibly moved. She could clearly sense that not only had Xuanwei's cultivation surged, but the qualitative transformation of his source was even more astonishing! It was a newly born source she had never seen before, one that fused the traits of several supreme powers!

Feeling the surging power within him, far surpassing what he had possessed before, as well as the "torch flame" power that had perfectly merged with him and obeyed his will like an extension of his limbs, Xuanwei's heart swelled with pride. He gave the San Xiao sisters another deep bow. "Thank you, Senior Sisters, for saving my life once more, and for helping me turn disaster into fortune and comprehend this power of rebirth!"

This time, his gratitude came from the depths of his heart. Without the exceptional healing environment of Three Immortal Island and the San Xiao sisters' full support, he could never have recovered so quickly, much less coincidentally awakened and fused this thread of Humanity's Torch Flame.

Yunxiao waved her hand, her profound gaze fixed on him. "This is your own karma and fortune. This newborn power within you... is exceedingly mysterious. It seems connected to the collective wishes of all living beings, yet it is more fundamental than that. Fortune may conceal disaster. Though this power is strong, it can easily make you the target of all. Take care of yourself."

"I will remember Senior Sister's instruction." Xuanwei nodded solemnly. He understood Yunxiao's meaning. Humanity's Torch Flame represented the future, but it also represented change and challenge. It would inevitably affect those with vested interests—such as the Heavenly Court, and mighty figures who regarded all living beings as ants.

"By the way, Senior Sister, that Nine Nether Demon Domain fragment..." Xuanwei recalled the important matter.

Yunxiao's expression turned grave. "I have already sent word to Master. This matter involves an ancient Demon Venerable and is no trivial affair. Master will make the decision. Your injuries have now healed and your cultivation has greatly advanced, so you may return to Golden Ao Island to consolidate your realm first. The teachings at Biyou Palace will begin soon. Do not miss them."

Xuanwei knew Yunxiao was protecting him and did not want him drawn any deeper into the matter. He nodded in agreement. "Yes, I will return at once."

After bidding farewell to the San Xiao sisters, Xuanwei raised his escape light. This time, he moved far faster than when he had arrived. Mysterious Yellow Star Fire faintly flowed through the immortal radiance in his wake, carrying an unstoppable momentum.

After returning to the medicine garden in Golden Ao Island's rear mountain, Xuanwei immediately activated every restriction and entered seclusion to consolidate his cultivation.

He first familiarized himself with the power of the Heavenly Immortal peak and the use of "torch flame" power. He discovered that this power had endless wondrous uses. Not only could it accelerate his cultivation and purify negative energy, it could also greatly amplify his ability to cultivate Spiritual Plants!

He tried merging a trace of torch flame power into the growth of an ordinary Spirit-Nourishing Grass. The result was that the grass not only matured instantly, but its quality underwent a transformation. Faint, profound patterns naturally emerged on its leaves, and the spiritual qi it contained carried an effect that calmed the mind, steadied the spirit, and inspired wisdom! It had already surpassed the scope of ordinary spiritual herbs!

"This... is this turning grass into treasure?!" Xuanwei was both shocked and delighted. With such an ability, would he still need to worry about Contribution Points? Would he still need to worry about resources?

More importantly, he could sense that whenever he used torch flame power to cultivate Spiritual Plants and promote their growth and evolution, the weak "torch flame" itself seemed to receive a minuscule yet genuine feedback, growing stronger! It was as if his actions aligned with a Great Dao of "advancing civilization" and "benefiting all living beings," earning unseen recognition!

"Giving someone fish is not as good as teaching them how to fish... Could this torch flame be encouraging 'creation' and 'inheritance'?" Xuanwei pondered.

Next, he began testing the Chaos Bead's new changes.

As his cultivation rose and torch flame power merged into it, the Chaos Bead's restoration rate quietly increased to 5.5%! The Chaos Domain expanded to a diameter of fifteen zhang, with a longer duration and greater power! The Mustard Seed Space had also expanded to a diameter of six li, with its maximum time flow reaching 1:18!

With a thought, he entered the Chaos Bead's space.

The space remained a hazy gray, but in its central region, the Remnant Seed of Jianmu had absorbed Chaos Qi and torch flame power, growing from a sprout into a sapling over a foot tall! Its entire body was emerald green, its leaves naturally inscribed with Chaos Dao patterns, radiating dense Chaos Wood Element vitality. Around the sapling, a small patch of life-filled spiritual soil had even evolved on its own.

The Chaos Bead core fragment, which had remained silent and housed Yang Mei's lingering remnant thought, also seemed to become slightly more solid after being brushed by torch flame power. The thought it conveyed was no longer so fragmented. "Little friend... profound fortune... this flame... is marvelous... perhaps it can... accelerate... my... recovery..."

Xuanwei's heart stirred, and he tried guiding a thread of torch flame power toward that core fragment.

Buzz!

The fragment trembled gently, as though rain had fallen after a long drought. Its absorption efficiency was even higher than when it absorbed Chaos Qi! Yang Mei's lingering remnant thought also conveyed a feeling of comfort.

"It seems torch flame power is also remarkably effective at repairing remnant souls!" Xuanwei was overjoyed. This meant he had another method to speed up Yang Mei's recovery.

After handling the changes in himself, Xuanwei began planning his next steps.

There was still some time before the teachings at Biyou Palace. He had to use this period to raise his strength as much as possible. The Heavenly Immortal peak was not enough! At the very least, he needed True Immortal-level combat power to possess some ability to protect himself in the future turmoil.

He decided to proceed on two fronts:

First, he would use the Chaos Bead's Mustard Seed Space and time difference to cultivate madly! One day outside was eighteen days inside! This was his greatest advantage!

Second, he would accept a large number of high-Contribution Point missions, especially those involving cultivating high-age, high-quality spiritual medicines. On one hand, he could earn resources to exchange for what he needed; on the other, he could practice and strengthen his torch flame power.

He acted as soon as he decided!

His main body remained in the medicine garden, maintaining normal activities outside and accepting missions. Meanwhile, the vast majority of his consciousness sank into the Chaos Bead's Mustard Seed Space, where he used the difference in time flow to begin a frenzy of secluded cultivation!

Supreme Pure Immortal Method, Chaos Heaven-Opening Art, Azure Emperor Longevity Art (incomplete), comprehending the wondrous uses of torch flame power, practicing the coordination of Supreme Pure Divine Thunder and the Chaos Domain...

Under accelerated time, his cultivation consolidated and advanced at an astonishing pace! His understanding of every divine ability and cultivation method deepened rapidly!

At the same time, the "high-end Spiritual Plant custom cultivation" business he had launched soon became famous. The Spiritual Plants cultivated by his hand were of vastly superior quality to ordinary ones, even possessing special effects. Countless Interception Sect disciples flocked to him, and Contribution Points poured into his pocket like water.

Thus, he became a renowned "Spiritual Plant master" of the Interception Sect while using time manipulation to undergo cultivation far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

However, just as he was cultivating in seclusion and believed he could safely pass this period, a disturbance targeting him quietly began brewing within Golden Ao Island.

On this day, he had just cultivated "Supreme Pure Divine Thunder" to the minor mastery stage within the Chaos Bead. His consciousness returned to his main body, and he prepared to deliver a batch of ordered "Millennium Jade Marrow Grapes" when an anxious voice transmission from Senior Brother Ma Sui came from outside the medicine garden:

"Junior Brother Xuanwei! Come out quickly! This is bad! People from the Enforcement Hall have arrived. They say you secretly cultivate forbidden demonic arts and have harmed the vitality of Spiritual Plants cultivated by fellow disciples. They want to take you in for questioning!"

Xuanwei abruptly opened his eyes, a cold gleam flashing within them.

"Demonic arts? Harming the vitality of Spiritual Plants?" He immediately thought of the Light Cocoon gestating beneath his medicine garden, as well as the effects that defied all reason when he used torch flame power to cultivate Spiritual Plants.

Was someone jealous and framing him? Or had Lingxiao still not given up, secretly scheming against him?

He took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, straightened his robe formed from immortal qi, and calmly walked out of the medicine garden.

Outside the medicine garden, several cold-faced disciples dressed in Enforcement Hall robes surrounded a middle-aged Daoist with a stern face and sharp eyes. Beside that middle-aged Daoist stood none other than Lingxiao, wearing a cold smile, his eyes filled with malicious delight!