Leo I

Atop the mountain peak, an ancient and majestic palace came into view, built from a strange red stone that, under the sunlight, emitted a soft yet blazing radiance, like a sanctuary burning with eternal flame. On the square before the palace, an old man stood with his hands behind his back; his figure was straight and tall, radiating a restrained but powerful aura, with blazing fire elements dancing lightly around him like loyal guards.

Seeing this, Porter immediately showed a respectful expression, stepped forward quickly, knelt on one knee, and said, "Father, your son Porter brings Lin Tian and Laun to pay respects."

Only then did Lin Tian and Laun realize that the man before them was Porter's father, the fire-type demigod Harry. Harry nodded slightly, his gaze falling gently on Porter, then lifting to look at Lin Tian and Laun. When he saw Lin Tian, a flicker of approval passed through his eyes. "Rise."

Lin Tian and Laun quickly bowed. "Lin Tian (Laun) pays respects to Great-Grandfather (Senior)."

Harry smiled and nodded. "No need for formalities. Come with me to see the ancestor." With that, he turned and led the three toward the palace.

Stepping inside, the palace was spacious and bright, with walls inlaid with various glowing gems that cast a riot of colors across the space. Following a long corridor, they arrived at a vast hall. At the far end, seated on a throne, was a man in splendid red robes. His face was handsome, his eyes deep and gentle, as if containing boundless wisdom—it was Leo I.

Everyone bowed in unison. "Paying respects to the ancestor (Senior Leo)!"

Leo I raised his hand lightly, his gaze sweeping over Lin Tian and Laun before settling on Lin Tian. "All rise. I had Porter bring you here today to meet you, especially Lin Tian, and to answer some of your questions about cultivation."

Lin Tian and Laun stood up, their eyes full of reverence and anticipation.

Leo I fixed his gaze on Lin Tian and said, "Lin Tian, it is truly rare for someone so young to step into the Saint Domain. However, this path of the Saint Domain has only just begun. Comprehending profound mysteries is no easy task; you must feel them with your heart and never rush things."

Lin Tian listened attentively, then ventured a probing question. "Ancestor, I have heard that profound mysteries are subdivisions of the laws. But how are these mysteries divided, and where should one start?"

Leo I smiled slightly and said, "The fire-type profound mysteries can be roughly divided into six types. They are: the Fire Element Profound Mystery, which allows you to manipulate fire elements at will, flames moving as your heart desires; the Fire Body Profound Mystery, where flames can merge into the flesh, transforming you into a fire-element lifeform; the Scorching Heat Profound Mystery, extreme temperatures that can melt all things; the Explosion Profound Mystery, where flames contain terrifying explosive force, unleashing immense power in an instant; the Flame Space Profound Mystery, which forms a space of flames to trap and burn enemies; and the Soul Attack Profound Mystery, which uses flames to scorch the soul. The most important thing in comprehending profound mysteries is to take nature as your teacher, to feel the natural phenomena of fire-type mysteries that exist in the world."

Lin Tian was deeply surprised inwardly, then probed further. "And what about fusing profound mysteries? Where should one start with that?"

Leo I's expression turned serious. "Fusing profound mysteries means combining the power of multiple mysteries to unleash might far beyond a single one. This requires not only a deep understanding of each mystery but also finding the points of harmony between them. For example, merging the blazing heat of the Scorching Heat Profound Mystery with the mutability of the Fire Element Profound Mystery allows flames to both heavily wound enemies with intense heat and flexibly track targets, leaving opponents nowhere to hide."

Hearing this, Lin Tian grew even more puzzled about Leo I. To test Leo I's strength further, he asked, "Ancestor, but how does one attempt to fuse profound mysteries?"

Leo I stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and raised his hand, lightly waving it. A ball of flame appeared out of thin air. The flame constantly shifted forms in his hand, sometimes turning into a fierce fire lion, other times into a nimble fire serpent, but each change carried extreme heat. He said, "To fuse profound mysteries, you must first build a connection between different mysteries on a spiritual level. You need to deeply analyze the essence of each mystery, find their commonalities and complementary points. Then, through constant meditation and practice, guide the power of different mysteries to intermingle within your body. This process is extremely difficult, and you may face countless failures. But as long as you find the fusion point of two mysteries, you will eventually break through. Conversely, if you cannot find that fusion point, your progress in fusing mysteries will never advance."

Harry added from the side, "The ancestor speaks truly. Back when I tried to fuse the Scorching Heat Profound Mystery with the Fire Element Profound Mystery, I failed hundreds of times, and even suffered severe injuries from losing control of the power a few times. But I could never find the entry point, so I never succeeded in fusing mysteries."

Leo I looked at Harry and nodded slightly in agreement, then continued, "Moreover, fusing mysteries is not something achieved overnight. After successfully fusing two mysteries, you can try to incorporate more. Each additional fusion brings a qualitative leap in strength. But remember, haste makes waste—do not be impatient."

After hearing this, Lin Tian and Laun gained a much clearer understanding of profound mysteries and their fusion, while also feeling the difficulty of the road ahead.

Leo I seemed to read their thoughts and encouraged them with a smile. "Don't worry. As long as you persevere, you will surely achieve success on the path of fusing mysteries."

Lin Tian said gratefully, "Thank you for your teachings, ancestor. This junior will give it his all."

Laun quickly added, "Senior's guidance has enlightened me. I will train diligently."

Leo I returned to his throne and said, "Mm. The path of cultivation is long. Besides your own efforts, opportunities are also important. As you comprehend profound mysteries, you may encounter unexpected chances—be sure to seize them."

Leo I's gaze fell on Lin Tian again. "Your talent is very high, even surpassing mine. I hope you will bring glory to the Leo Family. If you ever have any doubts about cultivation in the future, feel free to come to Fire God Mountain to find me."

A warm current surged in Lin Tian's heart. "Thank you for your kindness, ancestor!"

Afterward, Leo I answered more of Lin Tian and Laun's questions about cultivation and matters to note in Saint Domain training, and also addressed some doubts Harry and Porter had. All four gained a great deal. Among them, Lin Tian constantly cross-referenced these situations with the descriptions from Coiling Dragon in his past life, combining them with his own circumstances to lay a solid foundation for future cultivation.

Leo I said, "That will be all for today. You've had a long journey—go and rest."

Everyone bowed once more, and under Harry's lead, they left the palace.