After leaving the Meteor Sea, the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant guided them toward the "Sky Burning Volcano" on the western continent—the place where the ancient Martial Immortal Zhurong had fallen. Legend said that Martial Immortal Zhurong had entered the Martial Dao through flame, condensing his lifetime of insights into the "Sky Burning Seal," which he hid within the "Molten Holy Hall" deep inside the volcano. Sky Burning Volcano erupted all year round, its crater surrounded by lava capable of melting refined iron. There were also ancient surviving "Flame Restrictions." Ordinary cultivators did not even dare approach it, yet it had become the only path Chen Fan and his group could take to find the third Martial Dao mark.
When the Qi and Blood Ship landed on the plain outside the volcano, the air was already thick with scorching heat. In the distance, Sky Burning Volcano resembled a sleeping fire dragon. Its crater continuously belched black smoke and ash, while red lava could faintly be seen flowing within the mountain.
"The temperature of this Sky Burning Volcano is way too high. My qi and blood are practically being roasted solid!" Lin Xiaohu wiped the sweat from his brow. Even the circulation of qi and blood within his body had become sluggish.
Chen Fan circulated his Earth Immortal qi and blood, forming a faint golden protective barrier around himself that cut off the searing heat outside. "Martial Immortal Zhurong entered the Dao through flame, so the Sky Burning Seal must be connected to the volcano's flame origin. If we want to obtain the mark, we must first adapt to the Flame Power here—or even merge it into our own Martial Dao."
Su Muxue held the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant in her hand. It was emitting a faint red glow now, resonating with the volcano's fiery aura. "According to the pendant's senses, the Molten Holy Hall lies a thousand zhang inside the volcano. But on the path to the hall, there is not only lava blocking the way, but also a 'Flame Restriction.' Its power far exceeds the Earth Vein and Sea Vein Restrictions we encountered before. We will need to simultaneously wield Earth Vein Power, Sea Vein Power, and Flame Power to break it."
Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded at the foot of the volcano. A group of cultivators in crimson robes surrounded them. At their head stood a gaunt old man, scorching spiritual energy swirling around him. He held a staff wreathed in flames—it was none other than Old Monster Scarlet Fire, the Late Soul Transformation cultivator and leader of the Sacred Fire Cult, a diehard force of the Spiritual Root system.
"Chen Fan, you really came!" Old Monster Scarlet Fire's voice was filled with fervor. "The Sacred Fire Cult believes in 'Spiritual Energy Supremacy.' You Martial Dao heretics dare dream of destroying the Spiritual Root order? Today, I will bury you in the flames of Sky Burning Volcano and make you offerings to the Sacred Fire!"
The Sacred Fire Cult disciples raised their magical artifacts as well, launching countless flame spells toward Chen Fan's group. These flames differed from ordinary spells. They were infused with the Sacred Fire Cult's Sacred Fire Power, their temperature far surpassing ordinary fire. They could even burn qi and blood power.
"Miss Su, use the Ice Heart Talisman to suppress the flames. Li Mo, lead the disciples in defense. I'll deal with Old Monster Scarlet Fire!" Chen Fan shouted. His Earth Immortal qi and blood intertwined with the Sea Vein Power of the Cang Ming Seal, forming a "Water Vein Shield" that blocked the incoming flame spells. At the same time, his body flashed forward as he charged at Old Monster Scarlet Fire, earthy-yellow Earth Vein Power gathering in his hand to form an "Earth Vein Battle Saber."
Old Monster Scarlet Fire had not expected Chen Fan to be so fast. He hurriedly swung his staff, raising a massive wall of fire before himself. "Sacred Fire Secret Technique—Sky Burning!" The wall of flames instantly surged outward and swept toward Chen Fan, as though it would swallow him whole.
A sharp glint flashed through Chen Fan's eyes. The Earth Vein Battle Saber in his hand slashed out, its earthy-yellow saber force merging with Sea Vein Power to form Water-Earth Dual Attribute saber force. In an instant, it split the wall of flames in two. Seizing the chance, he rushed before Old Monster Scarlet Fire, his saber force driving straight at the man's chest.
Old Monster Scarlet Fire's face changed drastically. He hurriedly gathered Sacred Fire Power into a shield before himself. Yet the Evil-Breaking Power contained within the Earth Vein Battle Saber easily pierced through the shield, leaving a wound on his chest so deep that bone showed. "Impossible! How can your qi and blood power restrain Sacred Fire?" Old Monster Scarlet Fire's eyes were full of disbelief. Never had the Sacred Fire Cult's flame spells been broken so easily by Martial Dao qi and blood.
"Because Martial Dao power originates from the world's source, while your Sacred Fire is merely 'false flame' twisted by the Will of the Heavenly Dao." Chen Fan sneered and slashed out with the Earth Vein Battle Saber again. The saber force carried the chill of Sea Vein Power, instantly freezing the Sacred Fire Power around Old Monster Scarlet Fire.
"No! I refuse to accept this!" Old Monster Scarlet Fire let out a hoarse roar, intending to detonate the Sacred Fire Power within his body and perish together with Chen Fan. But Chen Fan had already seen through his intentions. Earth Vein Power entered the man's body and instantly sealed his meridians, leaving him unable to mobilize even the slightest power.
"The Sacred Fire Cult's era should end." A flash of saber force passed through Chen Fan's hand. Old Monster Scarlet Fire's head fell to the ground, and his corpse collapsed onto the scorching earth, soon roasted black by the volcano's heat. Seeing their leader slain, the remaining Sacred Fire Cult disciples scattered in all directions in terror. Yet Li Mo and the other disciples cut them down one by one, thoroughly clearing away the obstacle.
After dealing with the Sacred Fire Cult, Chen Fan's group advanced into Sky Burning Volcano. The passages inside were narrow and steep, the rock walls on either side blisteringly hot. Lava occasionally surged from cracks, forcing them to remain vigilant at all times. After walking for roughly half a shichen, they arrived before an enormous lava pool. A floating stone bridge stood in its center, and at the bridge's end lay the entrance to the Molten Holy Hall. Above the bridge flickered a crimson curtain of flame—it was the "Flame Restriction" Su Muxue had mentioned.
"This Flame Restriction is too powerful. My Earth Vein and Sea Vein Power can barely resist it, much less break it." Chen Fan tried injecting qi and blood power into the curtain, only for it to rebound instantly. It even burned a wound onto his arm.
Su Muxue walked to the edge of the lava pool and gazed thoughtfully at the molten lava. "Martial Immortal Zhurong entered the Dao through flame. The Sky Burning Seal must contain flame origin power. Perhaps we need to draw the volcano's flame origin into our bodies and merge it with Earth Vein and Sea Vein Power, forming the power of 'Three Veins United,' before we can break the restriction."
"Draw in flame origin? Wouldn't that burn us to death?" Lin Xiaohu's face went pale. The temperature of the lava pool was already more than he could bear, let alone drawing flame origin into his body.
Chen Fan nodded instead, determination flashing in his eyes. "If we want the Sky Burning Seal, we have to take the risk. Miss Su, use the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant to stabilize my mind. Xiaohu and Li Mo, protect me. I'll try to merge with the flame origin."
Su Muxue nodded and pressed the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant to Chen Fan's brow. White light flowed into his body, forming a barrier that protected his heart and mind. Chen Fan walked to the edge of the lava pool and sat cross-legged. Forming seals with both hands, he began guiding the flame origin within the lava pool into his body according to the incomplete portion of Martial Immortal Zhurong's inheritance that had been read from the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant.
The red flame origin surged into Chen Fan's body through his arm like a fire dragon. In that instant, he felt as though his entire body had been thrown into a furnace. His meridians seemed ready to burn and melt, while his flesh gave off sizzling sounds beneath the searing flames. He clenched his teeth, using Earth Vein Power to protect his body and Sea Vein Power to nourish his meridians. At the same time, he used the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant's power to stabilize his mind, gradually merging the flame origin into his qi and blood.
Time passed bit by bit. A layer of crimson fiery radiance gradually rose around Chen Fan. Earthy-yellow Earth Vein Power, blue Sea Vein Power, and red Flame Power intertwined within him, forming a pillar of three-colored light. He could feel the power in his body rising at a furious pace. His Earth Immortal realm was becoming more stable, and he even showed faint signs of breaking through to the Late Earth Immortal stage.
"Three Veins United—it worked!" A gleam of delight flashed through Su Muxue's eyes. The three-colored pillar around Chen Fan resonated with the Flame Restriction's glow, and the restriction's power was gradually weakening.
Chen Fan slowly opened his eyes, a flame-like sharpness flashing within them. He rose to his feet as the three-colored qi and blood power around him surged, forming an enormous "Three Veins Spear" that stabbed toward the Flame Restriction.
"Break!"
The spear collided with the restriction in an earth-shaking explosion. The crimson Flame Restriction was instantly torn apart, turning into countless fragments of fire that merged into Chen Fan's body, making his Flame Power even more abundant.
"We did it!" Lin Xiaohu shouted excitedly. The group crossed the stone bridge and headed toward the entrance of the Molten Holy Hall.
Within the Molten Holy Hall, a crimson jade seal floated above the central stone platform. Scorching flames coiled around it—it was the Sky Burning Seal they had come seeking! Chen Fan stepped forward and grasped the Sky Burning Seal. Vast flame origin power surged into his body and thoroughly merged with his Earth Vein and Sea Vein Power, forming the Late Earth Immortal combat strength of "Three Veins Converged"!
At that moment, the hall's walls suddenly lit up, and murals appeared one after another. They depicted the incarnation of the Will of the Heavenly Dao devouring the world's source, implanting the Spiritual Root system into all living beings, and ultimately driving the world toward collapse. The final mural showed a martial artist gathering all nine Martial Dao marks and using the power of "Martial Path Convergence" to shatter the incarnation of the Will of the Heavenly Dao, restoring the world's source to normal.
"This is... the prophecy left behind by Martial Immortal Zhurong!" Su Muxue's expression turned grave. "The Will of the Heavenly Dao's ultimate plan is to completely devour the world's source and turn the entire world into its 'Spiritual Root puppet arena'! Gathering all nine Martial Dao marks is the only way to stop it!"
Chen Fan looked at the murals, his eyes full of determination. He knew that the responsibility on his shoulders was growing ever heavier, but his path forward had also become clearer. He placed the Sky Burning Seal inside his robes, then turned to the others and said, "We have obtained three Martial Dao marks. Six more are waiting for us to find them. No matter what schemes the Will of the Heavenly Dao has, we must gather all nine seals as quickly as possible and prepare for the final battle!"
The group left the Molten Holy Hall and headed toward the next ancient ruin. Sky Burning Volcano's lava still erupted, but Chen Fan was now surrounded by the power of the Earth, Sea, and Flame Veins. Like a Martial Dao sovereign controlling nature itself, he strode resolutely along the path of "Martial Dao Against Heaven." He knew the challenges ahead would be even harsher, but as long as his companions remained at his side, as long as the will of the Martial Dao endured, he would surely reach the end, shatter the shackles of Spiritual Root Destiny, and return freedom and vitality to the world.
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