Building a Power Base

Within the endless sea of flames in the Burning Heaven Mountain Range on Volcano Continent, Yan Qingshan circulated his cultivation once more. He refined the last trace of the Burning Heaven Spirit Flame's origin, and hazy spiritual energy dispersed around him as an overwhelmingly powerful aura burst from his body.

A divine bird resembling a phoenix appeared above Yan Qingshan's head, its body wreathed in crystal-like flames. It was the manifestation of the Ancient Undying Bird, an unusual branch of the Phoenix Clan.

As the Ancient Undying Bird's manifestation emerged outside his body, miraculous spiritual radiance began to surge from Yan Qingshan, and one divine manifestation after another appeared.

The Torch Dragon, with a dragon's head and human face, holding divine fire in its mouth; the True Hou, horse-like and scaled; the Huo Dou, a pitch-black hound that fed on lightning and fire; the Bi Fang, a crane-like, one-legged darling of flames; the Golden Crow, a three-legged divine bird born from bathing in the sun; the Fire Kirin, king of beasts clad in crimson armor; the Vermilion Bird, one of the Four Spirits of Heaven and Earth; and the phoenix, sovereign of all birds.

The eight divine manifestations merged with the Ancient Undying Bird. With the blood essence of countless divine beasts within the divine sea of the Divine Mausoleum Garden, they completed a cycle of sublimation. Nine halos emerged around Yan Qingshan's body, then merged into one at his command. Nine Nirvana Revolutions, the path to sainthood—the Nine Revolutions to Saint Art had reached great accomplishment.

When Yan Qingshan absorbed the final trace of the Burning Heaven Spirit Flame's origin into his body, not a single spark remained in the vast space. Above this space lay an immense sea of magma that had accumulated beneath the Burning Heaven Mountain