Inheritance

Outside the main hall, the Second Elder looked at Lin Ming, whose aura was greatly depleted yet whose eyes remained bright. Then he glanced at his own tattered robes, revealing light everywhere. His face was filled with complex emotions—shock, admiration—which finally coalesced into a long sigh. He addressed Lin Ming, and indeed everyone else, and solemnly announced:

"The younger generation is truly formidable! I... have lost. I am completely convinced of such strength! Lin Ming, you are absolutely qualified to learn the Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations from my Blazing Flame Valley!"

The test has been passed flawlessly! Lin Ming's undeniable performance has earned him everyone's respect and recognition!

Tang Zhen smiled with satisfaction and stepped forward, saying, "Young friend Lin Ming, please come with me."

He didn't lead the way himself, but nodded to Tang Huo'er beside him. "Huo'er, you take Lin Ming to the Transmission Pavilion first. I'll be there shortly!"

Tang Huo'er blushed slightly, nodded, walked up to Lin Ming, and said in a clear voice with admiration and a gentleness she herself didn't realize, "Lin Ming, I'll take you to the Transmission Pavilion."

After bowing to Tang Zhen and the elders, Lin Ming, led by Tang Huo'er, passed through numerous Restriction and arrived at the Transmission Pavilion, the most central part of Blazing Flame Valley.

"This is the Transmission Pavilion of my Blazing Flame Valley. Except with specific permission, entry is prohibited at all times!" Tang Huo'er said to Lin Ming.

The attic, entirely dark red, seemed to have endured countless years of fire, exuding an aura of antiquity and vicissitude. Around the attic, the space was slightly distorted, with faintly flowing, intense energy forming a natural protective barrier.

As Lin Ming was observing, Tang Zhen arrived. The three of them then proceeded to the front of the pavilion.

As soon as the three stopped, three figures darted down from the pavilion, transforming into three elderly men dressed in red, who bowed to Tang Zhen.

"Elders, please activate the Restriction," Tang Zhen said, waving his hand.

Upon hearing this, the three elders unleashed their full power, each forming a hand seal that landed on the Restriction. The fluctuating Restriction instantly opened a gap in front of Lin Ming and the other two, revealing the entrance to the Transmission Pavilion.

Seeing this, Tang Zhen immediately led Lin Ming away, and the tightly closed door opened automatically.

Upon entering the pavilion, the light suddenly became deep and dim. The interior space was far more spacious than it appeared from the outside, clearly due to the use of Space Power. Rows of bookshelves, carved from some kind of warm, fiery jade, were neatly arranged, displaying countless scrolls and Jade Slip, emanating energy fluctuations of varying strengths and the aura of time. The air was filled with a faint fragrance of books and the scent of fire, quiet and solemn.

Tang Huo'er did not linger at the bottom, but instead led Lin Ming directly up the central spiral staircase. With each level they ascended, the surrounding energy pressure intensified, and the treasured texts became increasingly precious.

Upon reaching the second-to-last floor of the attic and looking up at the top floor, Tang Huo'er stopped in her tracks. Even she couldn't enter the top floor without permission. Although obtaining permission wouldn't be difficult, the rules still had to be followed.

Seeing this, Tang Zhen took another step, and had Lin Ming follow him down to the top floor of the attic.

The space here was no longer spacious, but rather quite compact. There were no bookshelves in the center, only a small Crimson Crystal Platform. Above the platform, suspended, was a perfectly round crystal sphere, roughly the size of a human head, with a deep, lustrous red hue. Inside the crystal sphere, it seemed to contain an eternally burning flame, Radiant Flow. Countless fine, star-like runes were created and swirled within, emanating an indescribable, majestic, ancient, and sharp pressure of will!

Simply standing in front of this crystal ball, Lin Ming felt the Purple Extreme Annihilation Flame within his body slightly agitated, and his soul also felt an attraction and pressure originating from its source.

"Lin Ming, this is the treasure passed down through my Blazing Flame Valley — the Ancestral Flame Crystal." Tang Zhen's voice was lowered here, filled with respect.

"The complete inheritance of the <Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations> is contained within this Ancestral Flame Crystal. Furthermore, the insights, understandings, and even the spiritual imprints left by past Valley Master and elders who practiced this technique are all contained within it. This will allow the inheritor to avoid many detours when practicing this technique. I only have one daughter, Huo'er, so I am extremely grateful to you, Lin Ming. Now, go and receive the inheritance!" Tang Zhen said with a look of satisfaction and gratitude in his eyes.

Lin Ming stared at the Ancestral Flame Crystal, which seemed to contain a world of flames. Of course, Lin Ming couldn't be frivolous about someone else's ancestral artifact. So, Lin Ming nodded solemnly.

Taking a deep breath, he sat cross-legged in front of the Crimson Crystal Platform, closed his eyes, and the vast, ocean-like high-level Soul Power of his High-Grade Spirit Realm cautiously extended like a trickle, reaching out to touch the azure-red Ancestral Flame Crystal.

At the very moment their Soul Power touched—

"Boom!"

Lin Ming felt as if his consciousness had been thrown into the crater of an erupting volcano! Countless profound information about flames, explosions, and the use of energy flooded into his mind like a burst dam! Not only the <Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations> method of igniting flames, impacting specific meridians, and rapidly increasing strength, but also countless fragments of insights from predecessors!

He "saw" a Red-Haired Ancestor, at the brink of death, ignited the Beast Flame within his body and miraculously survived; he "felt" how another ancestor skillfully balanced the Flame Power, unleashing the full potential of the second transformation; he "experienced" a Valley Master who, amidst a vast expanse of thunder, used the Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations to battle a being of thunder, gaining a completely new understanding of the ultimate mystery of the third transformation...

These insights, some violent and intense, some delicate and subtle, some filled with destruction, some containing vitality... They resounded in Lin Ming's soul like countless voices, and countless images flashed in his consciousness. The massive flow of information assaulted his Soul Barrier. If his Soul Realm had not reached the High-Grade Spirit Realm, he would probably have been trapped in these insights for a long time!

Lin Ming kept his mind focused, his Soul Power as firm as a rock, unmoved by the torrent of information and the impact of his will. He carefully sorted through and absorbed those precious inheritances and insights, verifying and integrating them with his own understanding of flames, especially his control over the Purple Extreme Annihilation Flame.

His body surface involuntarily began to shimmer with a purplish-red light. His aura was sometimes suppressed like a volcano about to erupt, and sometimes it would suddenly surge up. It was because he had unconsciously activated a tiny bit of a secret technique.

Time seems to lose its meaning in this process of inheritance.

After an unknown amount of time, the surging torrent of information gradually subsided, and the countless sounds and images in the soul slowly dissipated, eventually returning to calm. The light within the Ancestral Flame Crystal also gradually dimmed, restoring its previous profound appearance.

Lin Ming slowly opened his eyes, a deep, fiery world flashing within them. He exhaled a long breath of hot air, his face showing a hint of weariness, but even more so, a sense of enlightenment and joy.

The inheritance has been successful!

He not only obtained the complete cultivation method of the "Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations," but also gained valuable experience from the sages of the Blazing Flame Valley throughout the ages. This allowed him to directly advance his understanding of this secret technique from the beginner level to an extremely high level, saving him countless hours and risks of self-exploration.

Lin Ming stood up and bowed solemnly to Ancestral Flame Crystal.

This gesture is a tribute to the precious treasure left behind by the ancestors of Blazing Flame Valley.

Then, Lin Ming turned to Tang Zhen, bowed politely, and sincerely said, "Thank you for your kindness Valley Master Tang!"

"Haha, Lin Ming, how do you feel?" Tang Zhen laughed.

"I benefited greatly." Lin Ming praised without hesitation.

"Congratulations, Big Brother Lin!" Tang Huo'er, who had been quietly waiting below, saw Lin Ming stand up and show a satisfied expression, and a bright smile immediately appeared on her face. She could sense that Lin Ming seemed to have gained an aura that was more in harmony with the flames, more restrained yet dangerous.

Seeing his daughter's smile at Lin Ming, Tang Zhen sighed inwardly. However, if it was Lin Ming, it wasn't unacceptable. So, Tang Zhen said with a smile, "Haha! Lin Ming, Huo'er calls you Big Brother, so you don't need to call me Valley Master anymore. If you don't mind, just call me Uncle Tang!"

"Valley Master Tang, this..." Upon hearing this, Lin Ming looked slightly flattered.

"Huh?!" Upon seeing this, Tang Zhen immediately showed his displeasure.

"Uncle Tang!" Seeing this, Lin Ming no longer refused to address him.

"Haha! Great!" Tang Zhen beamed with joy at this.

Upon seeing this, Tang Huo'er also broke into a bright smile.

Night falls in Blazing Flame Valley, where singing and dancing fill the air. Guests and hosts alike revel in the banquet.

Blazing Flame Valley brought out its treasured fine wines and Spiritual Fruit, creating a lively atmosphere. Lin Ming not only saved Tang Huo'er also demonstrated astonishing strength and potential, earning the unanimous respect and friendship of everyone in Blazing Flame Valley. Furthermore, Lin Ming also mastered the Blazing Flame Valley's secret Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations. Although this opportunity was earned by Lin Ming's victory over the Second Elder, they still felt it violated ancestral rules. However, now that the deed was done, they could only try to find ways to remedy the situation.

So, at the banquet, after several rounds of drinks, the Great Elder stood up, came to Lin Ming, and handed him a Scarlet Token engraved with Nine-Dragon Pattern Lin Ming.

Seeing this, Lin Ming immediately asked with a question in his mind, "Great Elder, what is this?"

In response, the Great Elder said, "Lin Ming, this is the Guest Elder token of my Blazing Flame Valley. After discussion by our Elder Council, we have decided to make you Guest Elder of my Blazing Flame Valley. Are you willing?"

Seeing this, Lin Ming was somewhat stunned. After all, in the original story, Xiao Yan also learned the Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations, and he didn't have this kind of guest elder thing. How come this suddenly happened to him?

Seeing Lin Ming in a daze, the Great Elder revealed his displeasure, "What? Do you think that my position Guest Elder of Blazing Flame Valley is not worthy of you?"

Seeing this, Lin Ming realized that his momentary daze had been disrespectful. Coming to his senses, he immediately said, "Great Elder, Lin Ming flatter me. I am utterly unworthy to accept this token!"

"Putting everything else aside, the fact that you've received the Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations technique is a privilege reserved for core disciples and a select few elders!" The Great Elder meant that you've already received benefits that only a select few elders can obtain, so you're no longer qualified.

Seeing this, Lin Ming knew that if he refused any longer, he would really offend the old man. So he stopped refusing, solemnly accepted the token with both hands, and said loudly, "In that case, Lin Ming will accept it with humility!"

After receiving the token, Lin Ming immediately addressed the elders as "Great Elder!", "Valley Master!", "All Elders!", and "Lin Ming greets you!"

This address instantly filled the room with joy, and many people burst into laughter. "Haha! Good! Good! That's more like it!"