Soul Swallowing Flame, Defying Fate!

"Yes, the Bloodline Link."

"It is a method possessed only by clans with ancient divine beast bloodlines. Through a special technique, it connects your bloodline to mine."

"The benefit is that you will gain my abilities. After I evolved, I gained the power to control Undying Fire, and naturally, so can you."

Nine Netherbird's calm voice drifted over. "Of course, don't celebrate too soon. This isn't all benefits. There is a downside as well: from now on, we will be tightly linked. If you die, I will die with you. Likewise, if I die, you will die too."

Lu Chen froze. For a moment, he did not know whether to laugh or cry, and could only say helplessly, "Isn't that a bit too harsh?"

"You think I wanted this? In that situation, I had no other way to save you, okay?"

"You humans have such short lifespans. Even if you simply die of old age, I'll die along with you. I'm the one getting the raw deal here, okay?"

Nine Netherbird said indignantly.

"Besides, since the Nine Netherbird Clan was founded, there has never been a Bloodline Link. Our clan has never done something so disgraceful to our bloodline. If it weren't to save you this time, I never would have done it."

"If you die, I won't live either."

Nine Netherbird's face was full of grief and indignation. The more she spoke, the angrier she became, and she gave Lu Chen's head a fierce flurry of slaps.

Lu Chen forced a smile, his head throbbing with pain, yet he still said firmly, "Sister Nine Netherbird, don't worry. I'll definitely cultivate diligently from now on—not only for you, but for myself as well. At the very least, I'll become a Heavenly Supreme and make sure you live well."

"A Heavenly Supreme? You certainly have a big mouth. Do you know that the Nine Netherbird Clan has only one Spiritual Grade Heavenly Supreme—the Grand Elder?"

Seeing Lu Chen's sincere attitude, Nine Netherbird took a deep breath. The resentment in her heart unconsciously dissipated somewhat as she replied irritably.

Seeing that Nine Netherbird was no longer hitting him, Lu Chen raised his head again and straightened his back. A strange glimmer seemed to flash through his eyes as he said with a smile, "So what if it's a Spiritual Grade Heavenly Supreme? In the future, I will not only break through the Spiritual Grade, but also the Immortal Grade and Saint Grade. I will become the first person unmatched throughout eternity and open another realm for this world!"

Nine Netherbird rolled her eyes and ignored this fool who loved to boast.

As the Young Clan Leader of the Nine Netherbird Clan, she knew just how difficult it was to break through to the Heavenly Supreme realm. Her clan had not produced a new supreme divine beast for thousands of years. If not for the Grand Elder holding things together, they would have nearly fallen from the ranks of the supreme divine beast clans.

After all, the other supreme divine beast clans all had several Heavenly Supremes overseeing them.

Lu Chen smiled. He knew that his current strength was insufficient to convince Nine Netherbird, so he sat down cross-legged once more and said to her, "Sister Nine Netherbird, please guard me once again. I'm going to condense my Spiritual Meridian."

Nine Netherbird glanced at him, nodded, and said, "You really are fortunate to have found such a cultivation art capable of Defying Fate. Given the wonders of this art, it may truly be possible for you to create a Spiritual Meridian."

"It may even be of no low grade. Judging from the degree of evolution in your Flame Mantra just now, you are guaranteed at least one Divine Meridian."

"After all, according to our clan's records, the Ancient Undying Bird was a renowned existence among the supreme divine beasts in ancient times. Converted to your human realm system, it would have started at the Heavenly Supreme realm."

Hearing Nine Netherbird's explanation, Lu Chen revealed an understanding expression. It seemed that using Undying Fire to forge a Spiritual Meridian would produce one at no lower than Level Seven.

A moment later,

Lu Chen sat cross-legged on the ground, and with a thought,

A flash of light shone between his brows, and his Divine Soul immediately arrived above the Qi Sea.

Looking at the purple Qi Sea beneath his feet, a solemn expression appeared in the Divine Soul Little Person's eyes. His hands formed seals, and the Qi Sea instantly stirred up waves thousands of feet high as an enormous purple vortex shot into the sky.

At the center of the vortex, deep within the once-bottomless abyss, a speck of firefly-like light suddenly appeared. It gradually brightened, and a small ball of purple spiritual flame slowly rose up, causing the entire Qi Sea to boil.

That was Undying Fire!

Lu Chen's expression did not change. The Divine Soul Little Person opened his mouth and swallowed the ball of Undying Fire in one gulp. As he operated the secret art, mysterious purple patterns immediately appeared over the surface of his Divine Soul, flickering in and out of sight, seeming real yet illusory.

The Divine Soul closed its eyes and floated above the Qi Sea, continuously refining the ball of Undying Fire within its body. Although the Undying Fire offered no resistance due to Nine Netherbird's Bloodline Link, the power contained within it was still far too tyrannical.

Lu Chen could feel that not only was he refining the Undying Fire, but the Undying Fire was also gradually eroding his Divine Soul. His consciousness had already begun to blur bit by bit. If he could not successfully refine the Undying Fire before losing consciousness, not only would the refinement fail, but his soul would likely be scattered as well.

To use a Heavenly Flame in place of a Beast Soul, one naturally had to face dangers unimaginable to ordinary people.

As time slowly passed, the countless waves in the Qi Sea had already calmed, and the boundless purple ocean gradually returned to its original state.

Above the purple Qi Sea, Lu Chen's Divine Soul sat silently in meditation. Compared to before, it seemed to have dimmed considerably, yet its eyes remained tightly shut.

The obscure and mysterious purple patterns no longer flickered in and out of sight. They had now solidified by ninety percent, covering the Divine Soul like a suit of purple armor and making the entire Divine Soul Little Person glow with a lustrous violet radiance.

Under the prolonged burning of the Undying Fire, a sliver of Lu Chen's consciousness remained awake. His Divine Soul instinctively operated the secret art, tirelessly refining the remaining power of the Undying Fire and condensing the final tenth of the Divine Runes.

The Undying Fire obediently cooperated with its master and did not resist in the slightest. Even so, Lu Chen's consciousness remained like a lone boat upon a raging sea.

It looked as though it would capsize at any moment, yet it never fell, just like his unyielding will.

Buzz!

Finally, at the very last moment, the Undying Fire was completely refined. Countless purple Divine Runes suddenly swelled, then instantly spread and covered the entire Divine Soul.

All the pain and burning anguish vanished in that instant.

Endless purple light spread from above the Qi Sea, like a purple sun hanging high in the sky. It illuminated the entire Qi Sea and radiated an ancient, mysterious aura!

Outside the Qi Sea,

Nine Netherbird gave a startled cry. Surprise appeared in her eyes as she looked up at Lu Chen.

Purple light was actually flowing over Lu Chen's body. Purple flames even rose from him, while countless mysterious purple patterns emerged across his fair skin, blooming with a lustrous glow.

Mysterious purple patterns appeared and faded away one after another, while streams of richly violet Purple Flame poured continuously into his body, transforming this ordinary fleshly body.

Lu Chen could vaguely sense that his body was undergoing some unimaginable change. It seemed to be growing fuller, its connection to heaven and earth becoming even closer.

Who knew how much time passed?

Upon the cracked mountain peak, a figure sat silently in meditation. The violet glow on his skin had gradually returned to normal, and the terrifying Purple Flame had completely withdrawn.

Watching this scene, Nine Netherbird secretly let out a sigh of relief. A trace of delight appeared in her beautiful eyes.

From the looks of it, Lu Chen seemed to have succeeded?

At that moment, Lu Chen's tightly shut eyes trembled, then slowly opened. Purple flames curled within his black pupils, giving off an eerie sensation.

Lu Chen raised his head and looked at Nine Netherbird, who stood gracefully nearby, her pair of long jade-like legs especially alluring. He grinned and said with relief, "I succeeded."

"What level is your Divine Meridian?"

Nine Netherbird asked expectantly.

"Well..."

Lu Chen scratched his nose and said somewhat awkwardly, "I don't know either..."