Into Hell

Half a month passed quietly in cultivation.

On the Eighth Floor of the Symbol Master Tower, Luo Heng was enveloped in a faint golden glow. Neither the spiritual pressure nor the bolts of lightning that struck from time to time could harm him in the slightest. Instead, they were continuously devoured and refined by the Myriad Law Seal, turning into pure Spiritual Power that nourished his Niwan Palace.

Before the stone stele that recorded the "Formation of Life," Luo Heng lightly touched its patterns with his fingertips. The vast profound truths of the talisman array surged into his consciousness like a river, swiftly analyzed, deduced, and absorbed by the Myriad Law Seal.

The Formation of Life had three transformations: "Life-Generating Light," "Life-Generating Azure Waves," and "Myriad Transformation Flame." He had already cultivated the first two to Minor Mastery, while the third, "Myriad Transformation Flame," had only just revealed its doorway to him.

The power of this Qi Stage spiritual secret art was far beyond that of the Refined Grade Myriad Techniques Spirit Needle. The third transformation in particular, "Myriad Transformation Flame," could turn Spiritual Power into blazing fire capable of burning away one's spiritual sea. Its might was terrifying.

On this day, a faint hum came from within Luo Heng's body.

Within his Niwan Palace, the Myriad Law Seal suddenly shone brilliantly. The formerly pale-golden seal became more solid and profound, and a third clear phantom talisman rune emerged on its surface!

Three-Mark Rune Master, achieved!

Almost at the same moment, the dark gold Yuan Core Phantom in his dantian abruptly swelled. Its size increased by a full circle, its rotation accelerated, and the Primal Energy it exhaled became even more vast and pure.

Late Heaven Yuan Realm, breakthrough!

Luo Heng slowly opened his eyes. Golden light and sword radiance seemed to intertwine within them for an instant before vanishing, leaving only calm behind.

Feeling the surging strength within his body, a satisfied curve rose at the corner of his lips.

Late Heaven Yuan Realm, Three-Mark Rune Master.

With the quality of his Primal Energy and the strength of his Spiritual Power now, along with half-formed Sword Intent and the Formation of Life, if he faced a Small Perfection of the Core Formation Realm expert again, he still

"Tower Battle... Zhou Tong, I hope you don't disappoint me." Luo Heng wore a smile. After all, he was a sunny young man who brought despair to others.

He rose to his feet and stretched his body, producing a series of crackling sounds.

After cultivating on the Eighth Floor for half a month, he had gained tremendously, but his mind had remained in a state of intense tension throughout. He needed to relax a little.

As he descended the Symbol Master Tower, every disciple he encountered respectfully saluted him. Their eyes were filled with admiration, but their faces were also numb with shock.

This was completely insane. He stayed on the damn Eighth Floor for half a month... Was he even human?!

Even Senior Sister Ziyue, the second strongest, could only remain steadily on the Sixth Floor!

When Luo Heng returned to the courtyard beside his Bamboo House, he found Lin Dong practicing a fist technique in the open space. His fist wind was fierce, and faint thunder rumbled with every strike. It was the first move of the Tiangang Thunderclap Fist Luo Heng had taught him, "First Appearance of Lightning."

What pleased Luo Heng was that Lin Dong's aura had already reached the Mid-Earthly Yuan Stage. His Spiritual Power fluctuations were also quite solid, clearly stabilized at the level of a Mid-stage First Seal Rune Master.

Breaking through two barriers in just half a month—worthy of being the protagonist of the Original Work.

Luo Heng clicked his tongue in amazement. Not bad, Dongzi.

Not far from Lin Dong, Little Yan was lying on a piece of warm jade, dozing. Its body had grown another round and was now about the size of an ordinary village dog. Its crimson fur was sleek and glossy, its Fire Python Tail thicker and more powerful, while cold glints flickered from its claws and fangs. Its aura was comparable to that of a Body Tempering Sixth Level martial artist. Its growth rate was downright terrifying.

It was even stronger than in the Original Work. Perhaps it was because it had come to Flame City to cultivate earlier.

Sensing Luo Heng's return, Lin Dong immediately withdrew his fist. Little Yan also raised its head alertly and let out an affectionate "Awoo."

"Brother Luo Heng, you're out of seclusion!" Delight appeared on Lin Dong's face.

"Mm. Dongzi, you've improved quite a bit." Luo Heng nodded approvingly.

"It's thanks to the resources of the Symbol Master Association, Master Yan's and Senior Sister Ziyue's occasional guidance, and Xiao Diao..." Lin Dong scratched his head somewhat sheepishly. The Stone Talisman Spirit Liquid, combined with the Symbol Master Association's pills and Concentration Incense, had made his cultivation over the past half month twice as effective. He was far stronger than he had been back in Qingyang Town.

"Fortuitous opportunities are also part of one's strength. If you can seize them, that's your ability." Luo Heng smiled, then continued, "Come on. Accompany me to the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild."

"The Myriad Gold Merchant Guild?" Lin Dong was a little puzzled. Having been in Flame City for so long, he had gained some understanding of that faction. Was Brother Luo Heng finally going to buy something?

"I'm going to meet a friend, and while I'm at it... see if there are any 'good things.'" Luo Heng said with a smile.

The Myriad Gold Merchant Guild's intelligence network spanned all of Flame City, and it was mortal enemies with the Blood Wolf Gang. Perhaps he could learn certain information there.

The headquarters of the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild was an imposing five-story pavilion, bustling with people coming and going.

When Luo Heng and Lin Dong appeared at its entrance, a sharp-eyed steward immediately recognized Luo Heng and hurried over respectfully.

"Young Master Luo! You've finally come! Manager Xuan Su often speaks of you! Please, come in!"

The steward led the two of them to an elegant Quiet Room on the third floor, served fragrant tea, then hurried off to report their arrival.

Before long, a fragrant breeze swept in as Xuan Su pushed open the door. She wore a light-purple dress that outlined her graceful figure, and her beautiful, radiant face carried a perfectly measured smile of surprise.

"Young Master Luo, it has only been a month, yet your bearing surpasses even before!" Her beautiful eyes shifted as they swept over Luo Heng, and a trace of astonishment flashed within them.

Though she could not see through Luo Heng's exact cultivation, she could sense that his aura had become even more unfathomable. The concealed sharpness of his presence gave even her, a Core Formation Realm martial artist, a faint sense of dread.

"You flatter me, Manager Xuan Su." Luo Heng smiled faintly, then said to Lin Dong, "This is my brother, Lin Dong."

"Lin Dong greets Manager Xuan Su." Lin Dong hurriedly stood and saluted, inwardly startled by this woman's imposing presence.

"Young Master Lin, there is no need for such formality. Since you are Young Master Luo's brother, you are a friend of my Myriad Gold Merchant Guild." Xuan Su smiled beautifully. Her gaze lingered briefly on Lin Dong, and a trace of appreciation flashed through her eyes. This youth had a solid foundation and a steady aura. He was clearly no ordinary person.

"This is... a Fire Python Tiger Cub?" Her gaze finally fell on Little Yan, who was curiously looking around at Lin Dong's feet, and she was startled once more. Anyone able to tame a Demon Beast with such potential was clearly not simple. Lin Dong truly was extraordinary.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xuan Su dismissed the others, and her expression became somewhat solemn.

"Young Master Luo, have you come this time because of the Blood Wolf Gang?" she went straight to the point.

"Correct." Luo Heng nodded and asked, "Has Yue Shan made any moves recently?"

Xuan Su pondered for a moment before replying, "According to the intelligence we have gathered, Yue Shan has been in frequent contact with Tianhuo City recently, especially with Master Han Yun of the Tianhuo City Symbol Master Association."

"Han Yun?" Luo Heng raised a brow, a guess forming in his heart.

"Indeed. Han Yun and Master Yan have never gotten along. This Tower Battle concerns the ownership of the Symbol Master Tower, and Han Yun is determined to win. Yue Shan seems to want to use the Tower Battle as an opportunity to cooperate with Han Yun and severely cripple—or even... destroy—the Flame City Symbol Master Association in one stroke. And naturally, Young Master Luo, you are their foremost target," Xuan Su said slowly.

Hearing this, Luo Heng sneered. "Just as expected. Yue Shan wants to kill with a borrowed blade and kill two birds with one stone."

"Young Master Luo, you must be careful. Han Yun is narrow-minded and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. His disciple Zhou Tong is already a Three-Mark Rune Master, and his strength cannot be underestimated. If they secretly collude with the Blood Wolf Gang, there may be unforeseen changes during the Tower Battle," Xuan Su warned Luo Heng.

"Thank you for the reminder, Manager Xuan Su." Luo Heng nodded. He had already made his calculations.

"There is something else..." Xuan Su paused and lowered her voice. "Our people have discovered that the Blood Wolf Gang seems to be secretly gathering a strange poison called Soul-Eroding Powder. It is colorless and odorless, and it specifically harms the soul. Its effects are especially severe on Talisman Masters. Even a Core Formation Realm expert would suffer damaged Spiritual Power and a drastic decline in strength if caught off guard."

"Soul-Eroding Powder?" Luo Heng's expression sharpened. He was rather familiar with this thing.

"This substance is extremely rare and vicious. We only learned of it after accidentally intercepting their procurement list." Xuan Su's tone was grave as she continued, "Before the Tower Battle, Young Master Luo must take care with food, drink, and objects to prevent any mishaps."

"I'll remember that." Luo Heng nodded. Yue Shan truly would stop at nothing to get rid of him.

Then again, that made sense. Once he had offended someone as talented as Luo Heng, if he did not eliminate him, he might as well wait for death.

"The Myriad Gold Merchant Guild has long-standing enmity with the Blood Wolf Gang. If Young Master Luo needs help, please do not hesitate to ask," Xuan Su said sincerely.

"Not for now. I have my own plans regarding the Tower Battle. But if we go to war with the Blood Wolf Gang completely in the future, I may truly need the guild's assistance." Luo Heng spoke calmly.

"We will not hesitate!" Xuan Su said without a moment's delay.

After chatting for a while longer, Luo Heng and Lin Dong rose to take their leave.

Xuan Su personally escorted them to the entrance. Before they parted, she took out an exquisite Storage Ring and handed it to Luo Heng.

"Inside are some pills to restore Spiritual Power and Primal Energy, along with a few small protective items. They may prove useful during the Tower Battle. Consider it a small token from the guild."

Luo Heng did not refuse. He accepted the ring and thanked her sincerely. "Thank you."

After leaving the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild and walking along the bustling street, Lin Dong could not help asking, "Brother Luo Heng, if Yue Shan and Han Yun really join forces, won't we be at a severe disadvantage during the Tower Battle?"

"At a disadvantage? If they want to play dirty, then we'll play along. Before absolute strength, every scheme and trick is futile." Luo Heng's tone was calm. If he could break through to the Lesser Yuan Core Realm before the Tower Battle, he would not mind paying an early visit to the Blood Wolf Gang's headquarters.

Besides, he was now a Three-Mark Rune Master, had brought the Formation of Life to Minor Mastery, and possessed a trump card like the Myriad Law Seal. Even if Zhou Tong was among the best Three-Mark Rune Masters, he had nothing to fear.

As for Soul-Eroding Powder... His Great Devouring Art could refine even Mysterious Nether Water and Jie Kong Yan. Mere strange poison was nothing. So long as it was not instantly fatal, he was confident he could neutralize it.

After leaving the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild, Luo Heng did not return directly to the Symbol Master Association. Instead, he took Lin Dong through several of Flame City's main commercial streets. It was both to familiarize Lin Dong with the surroundings and to see whether they could find anything worthwhile.

Afternoon sunlight spilled over the bluestone road. Shops lined both sides of the street, and hawkers' cries rang out without end.

Lin Dong followed behind Luo Heng, his gaze constantly sweeping over their surroundings. Flame City's prosperity far surpassed Qingyang Town's. The countless cultivation resources, rare treasures, and exotic items opened his eyes, and his desire to grow stronger became even more intense.

Little Yan was held in Lin Dong's arms, with only its little head sticking out. Its tiger eyes also looked around curiously. Whenever it spotted sparkling ores or caught the scent of unusual herbs, it would let out an excited low growl.

"Brother Luo Heng, where are we going next?" Lin Dong asked.

"Let's take a look at the Ancient Market in the north of the city." Luo Heng's gaze narrowed slightly as he continued, "That place is full of all sorts of people, and information travels fastest there. We may hear something interesting."

The Ancient Market was an area in Flame City specializing in the trade of all kinds of strange and unusual items. It was difficult to tell genuine goods from fakes there, but true treasures also surfaced from time to time. Many martial artists and Talisman Masters liked to try their luck there.

After crossing several streets, the two soon arrived at a somewhat chaotic but extremely lively district. The roadside was packed with stalls, their owners varied in appearance, while cries of sale rose and fell one after another.

"Rune pen excavated from an ancient Talisman Master ruin! The only one of its kind!"

"Complete wings of a third-rank Demon Beast, the Wind Spirit Sparrow! Excellent material for crafting flight talismans!"

"Incomplete ancient map, suspected to record the burial site of a Creation Realm expert! Only five hundred Yang Yuan Stones!"

All kinds of sales pitches filled their ears. Ninety-nine percent of them were exaggerated claims or outright scams, though one or two genuine items occasionally lay hidden among them.

Luo Heng quietly spread out his Spiritual Power, calmly sweeping across stall after stall. The Myriad Law Seal's ability of Analysis allowed him to easily distinguish an item's approximate value and authenticity.

After walking through half the street, he found nothing especially worth buying.

Lin Dong, however, stopped at a stall selling low-grade spiritual herb seeds. He traded a few Yang Yuan Stones for several Soul-Calming Flower seeds said to aid the growth of Spiritual Power, intending to use the Stone Talisman to see whether he could ripen them and condense pills.

Just as they were about to leave, Luo Heng suddenly paused, his gaze falling upon an inconspicuous stall at the street corner.

The stall owner was a gaunt old man dozing in the shadows. Scattered across his stall were several dull-colored ores, a few ordinary-looking medicinal herbs, and a palm-sized grayish-brown metal fragment covered in dust.

What drew Luo Heng's attention was precisely that metal fragment.

Under the Myriad Law Seal's perception, a trace of extremely faint yet unusually pure sharpness circulated within the metal fragment.

Interesting. Luo Heng's heart stirred as he walked over to the stall.

The old man seemed to awaken and lazily lifted his eyelids. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Pick whatever you like. The prices are marked beside them."

Luo Heng picked up the grayish-brown metal fragment. It was slightly heavy in his hand and icy to the touch. Its surface was covered in rust and scratches, making it look like nothing more than a discarded scrap of metal. The marked price beside it was fifty Yang Yuan Stones.

"Boss, where did this piece of metal come from?" Luo Heng asked casually.

"Who knows? I picked it out of a pile of scrap ore. It looked sturdy, so I put it out." The old man yawned, clearly not taking the item seriously. "If you really want it, take it for thirty Yang Yuan Stones."

Luo Heng did not haggle. He directly took out thirty Yang Yuan Stones and handed them over.

The old man glanced at him in surprise, seemingly not expecting the young man to be so straightforward. After taking the money, he ignored him again.

Lin Dong leaned closer and asked softly, "Brother Luo Heng, is there something special about this metal fragment?" He had stared at it for a long time without seeing anything unusual, and the Stone Talisman had not reacted either.

"We'll talk after we get back." Luo Heng put away the metal fragment without explaining further.

Just as the two were about to leave, an oddly mocking voice suddenly sounded from beside them:

"Oh? Who do we have here? Isn't this the great genius Luo Heng of our Flame City Symbol Master Association? What, you couldn't stay in the Symbol Master Tower, so you came to this dump to pick through trash?"