Myriad Beast Spirit Flame
Passing through that layer of Dark Gold Light Shield felt like stepping into another world in an instant.
The blood-red sky, the pervasive Sectarian Qi, and the biting chill of the outside world all vanished, replaced by an indescribable tranquility and antiquity.
The space inside the Altar was far more expansive than it appeared from the outside. The floor beneath their feet was a smooth, mirror-like dark gold, stretching to the horizon with no end in sight. The air was filled with pure and gentle energy; every breath brought a sense of comfort, and Dou Qi subtly increased.
However, in an instant, a pressure originating from the Life Origin, like an invisible tide, spread from the deepest part of the space, making people's souls involuntarily feel awe and insignificance.
"Is this... the place where Half Sage Cremation Grounds? Such pure energy, such terrifying pressure!" Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes were filled with shock.
Here, Xiao Yi Xian could sense that the cultivation speed here would probably be several times faster than outside, but the omnipresent pressure made it difficult to completely calm her mind.
Zi Yan also became much more composed, her small face serious as she sensed her surroundings. Her Ancient Void Dragon Bloodline was unusually active here, yet it carried a strange sense of rejection and anger, as if she sensed a lingering aura that shared a common origin but was also full of hostility.
The moment Lin Ming stepped into this place, his brows furrowed slightly. The Jade Profound Heart Flame that had been flowing calmly within his body suddenly stirred with an extremely subtle tremor! A familiar yet completely different feeling swept through his heart like a weak electric current.
Focusing intently, Lin Ming's heart skipped a beat, and he exclaimed, "This is... the sensation of Heavenly Flames?"
His perception of the Heavenly Flames was extremely keen; this primal, primal stirring was absolutely certain!
"Could there be a Heavenly Flames within this Altar Space?" This thought made his heart race.
Heavenly Flames are Heaven and Earth Divine Object, each one incredibly precious. He immediately focused his mind and energy, fully activating the Jade Profound Heart Flame within his body, while simultaneously spreading his Spirit Realm Soul power like a spider web, carefully capturing the source of that faint, unusual fluctuation.
"What's wrong, Lin Ming?" Xiao Yi Xian noticed Lin Ming's unusual behavior and asked softly.
"My Heavenly Flames senses something; there might be another kind of Heavenly Flames in this space," Lin Ming said in a deep voice, his sharp gaze sweeping across his surroundings.
"There's another Heavenly Flames?" Elder Yao's surprised voice came from his Storage Ring. But he believed it in an instant. After all, there was indeed a vague connection between Heavenly Flames. Back then, he himself had used this characteristic of the nascent Fallen Heart Flame to attract Lin Ming. At least, that's what Elder Yao himself believed.
With Lin Ming's powerful Soul Perception and the dual search of the Heavenly Flames resonance, the source of that feeling gradually became clear.
"Over there, deep in front of this vast space!" Lin Ming pointed in that direction.
Having confirmed the direction of the Heavenly Flames, Lin Ming and his companions did not delay and immediately sped towards that unknown depth.
The dark gold ground beneath their feet was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting their rapidly moving figures. The surroundings were empty and silent, with only the sound of their clothes rustling in the wind and the omnipresent, heavy pressure of the Half Sage weighing on their hearts.
However, this seemingly peaceful Altar Space was clearly not without danger. After they had traveled for about a few miles, some elusive phantoms began to appear in the space ahead.
These phantoms are not physical entities; they vary in shape, some resembling distorted shadows, while others vaguely resemble the outlines of Magical Beasts such as wolves, leopards, and eagles.
They were translucent gray-black in color, surrounded by a faint Sectarian Qi and resentment, their eyes empty yet filled with an instinctive hatred for all living beings. They seemed to have been born naturally from the energy of this space, or were fragments of Beast Soul that had escaped from its depths, drifting aimlessly.
"Be careful, it's Beast Soul Remnants!" Lin Ming's eyes narrowed, and he immediately warned.
Although these Beast Soul Remnants are not particularly strong individually, mostly equivalent to human Dou Wang or even Dou Ling levels, their numbers seem considerable, and they have existed in this space for countless years, making their nature even more bizarre.
Sure enough, as Lin Ming and his companions approached, the lingering Beast Soul Remnants that had been drifting aimlessly seemed to be sharks that had smelled blood. Their empty eyes locked onto them instantly, and they let out silent roars, surging forward like a tidal wave with intense negative emotions!
They do not launch any real attacks, but the Sectarian Qi and resentment they carry can directly erode the soul and disturb the mind. When there are many of them, the combined Soul impact is quite considerable.
"Hmph, you demons and monsters, how dare you block my way!" Lin Ming snorted coldly, without even needing to use his Heavenly Flames.
With a thought, his Spirit Realm Soul power surged forth, transforming into an invisible soul barrier in front of him, while a powerful Soul impact swept forward like a storm!
"Hiss hiss hiss--"
Those Beast Soul Remnants that charged at the forefront seemed to have encountered their nemesis. Under Lin Ming's Soul impact, they let out a shrill scream, their forms instantly becoming thinner. Many of the weaker ones were directly shattered, turning into pure soul energy and dissipating, leaving only a faint resentment that was Purified by the space.
However, these Beast Soul Remnants seemed utterly irrational and unaware of fear.
The lingering resentments continued to surge forward, passing through Lin Ming's Soul impact zone. Although their forms were damaged, they still relentlessly attacked the three, attempting to corrupt their souls with their malevolent Sectarian Qi.
"Annoying thing!" Zi Yan pouted. She hated enemies that had no physical form and were unpleasant to fight.
Immediately, a brilliant purple light emanated from Zi Yan's body, and the domineering Dragon Might of the Ancient Void Dragon was released without reservation! This pressure, originating from the pinnacle of her bloodline, had a natural and absolute suppression on these Remnant Soul of Magical Beasts in terms of rank!
The effects are immediate!
Those Beast Soul Remnants that approached Zi Yan seemed to have encountered their natural enemy. Their momentum came to an abrupt halt, their gray-black forms trembling violently and emitting fearful cries. They dared not advance any further, and some of the weaker ones even prostrated themselves, trembling. Wherever the Dragon Might's might passed, it forcefully cleared an area.
Xiao Yi Xian appeared much more composed; she didn't even release Poison Mist.
Her Woeful Poison Body inherently possesses extremely strong resistance to various negative energies, so the malevolent Sectarian Qi erosion from these Beast Soul Remnants had little effect on her. She simply stood there quietly, and the gray-purple Dou Qi naturally flowing around her gently repelled the approaching remnants. When those remnants touched her Dou Qi, they seemed to be burned, emitting a "sizzling" sound and becoming even fainter.
The three employed their respective methods: Lin Ming used his Soul Power to clear a path and crush them, Zi Yan used her Dragon Might might to intimidate and clear the area, and Xiao Yi Xian was immune to all evil. Although there were many of these drifting Beast Soul Remnants, they could not effectively hinder them at all. They could only be annihilated like moths drawn to a flame in the path of the three.
However, as they ventured deeper, the Beast Soul Remnants that appeared gradually grew stronger. Some remnants began to emerge with an aura equivalent to that of Dou Emperor level). They were more solid in form, had a heavier Sectarian Qi, and were more resistant to Soul impact and Dragon Might might. Lin Ming needed to take them seriously, or Zi Yan needed to expend more effort to repel them.
"It seems we're getting closer and closer to the source of that Heavenly Flames's aura." Lin Ming casually swatted away a leopard-shaped remnant spirit that tried to ambush him, and said in a deep voice, "These Beast Soul Remnants are probably all related to that Heavenly Flames. The closer we get, the greater the influence, and the stronger the remnants become."
Xiao Yi Xian and Zi Yan nodded, their expressions becoming even more wary.
Crossing this area shrouded in Soul Shadow felt like a prelude and test to reaching the core. They quickened their pace, "surrounded" by countless gray-black lingering spirits, like a powerful ship cutting through the waves, resolutely advancing towards the direction they sensed to be most fervent and full of the wildest life force.
As he delved deeper, the pulsation of the Heavenly Flames within Lin Ming's body became increasingly pronounced. He could even faintly "hear" through the Jade Profound Heart Flame a grand, surging, roaring aura of countless beasts, brimming with wildness, vitality, and... a trace of imprisoned rage?
Continuing onward, after about the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, the scene before them suddenly changed.
A vast, crystal-clear lake came into view. The water was not colorless, but rather shimmered with a dreamlike seven-colored luster, radiating an immense Life Aura and soul energy! Just by approaching the lakeshore, Lin Ming felt as if his soul was being cleansed by a hot spring, an indescribable comfort, and even the Soul Power he had consumed in the previous battle and breaking the Restriction was rapidly recovering.
However, if you look down into the lake, you can see a faint crimson glow beneath!
"This is... Spirit Liquid condensed from the purest Life Source Energy and Soul Origin?!" Elder Yao's voice rang out in astonishment, filled with disbelief.
"Such immense energy is simply God! Cultivating one's soul here would likely be as effective as using Tier 7- or even Tier 8 Medicinal Pill!"
Upon hearing this, the group was shocked.
After a long while, their gazes shifted again, and they were immediately captivated by the scene in the center of the lake.
In the center of the lake, Black Stone Platform about ten feet square stands quietly. The surface of the platform is as smooth as a mirror, and the edges are carved with fine dark patterns. There seems to be flowing light in the patterns. Upon closer inspection, they are somewhat similar to ancient animal patterns, which adds a touch of antiquity and mystery to the stone platform, making it look like a black Lotus Pedestal rooted in the lake.
In the center of the stone platform, a crimson flame was burning quietly, its shape constantly changing. The phantoms of countless powerful Magical Beasts, such as tigers, leopards, lions, elephants, eagles, pythons, dragons, and phoenixes, appeared and disappeared in the flames, each one lifelike, exuding an indescribable eeriness and mystery, and radiating the most primal wildness and power!
Gazing at the crimson flame that kept changing its form, Lin Ming's pupils shrank, and he instantly recognized the Heavenly Flames! It was the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, a wondrous fire of heaven and earth, ranked twenty-second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking and formed from the Soul of Myriad Beasts and Myriad Beast Bloodline!