Leo I

At the mountaintop stood an ancient yet magnificent palace. Built from a strange red stone, it radiated a gentle yet blazing glow beneath the sunlight, like a sanctuary where eternal flames burned. On the square before the palace stood an elderly man with his hands behind his back. His posture was upright, and he exuded a restrained yet powerful aura. Blazing fire elements danced softly around him like loyal guards.

At the sight of him, respect immediately appeared on Porter's face. He hurried forward, dropped to one knee, and said, "Father, your son Porter has brought Lin Tian and Laun to pay their respects."

Only then did Lin Tian and Laun realize that the man before them was Porter's father, the fire-element Lower God Harry. Harry nodded slightly, his gaze resting warmly on Porter before shifting to Lin Tian and Laun. When he saw Lin Tian, a trace of approval flashed through his eyes. "Rise."

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

Harry smiled and nodded. "No need for such formality. Come with me to meet the ancestor." With that, he turned and led the three of them toward the palace.

Upon entering the palace, they found it spacious and brightly lit. All kinds of glowing gemstones were embedded in the walls, bathing the entire interior in a dazzling array of colors. They proceeded down a long corridor and arrived at a vast hall. At the far end of the hall, seated upon a throne, was a man dressed in a magnificent crimson robe. He had handsome features and deep yet gentle eyes that seemed to contain boundless wisdom. He was Leo I.

Everyone bowed together. "Greetings, Ancestor (Senior Leo)!"

Leo I lightly raised a hand. His gaze swept across Lin Tian and Laun before settling on Lin Tian. "Rise. I had Porter bring you here today because I wished to meet you both—especially Lin Tian—and answer some of your questions regarding cultivation."

Lin Tian and Laun rose, their eyes filled with reverence and anticipation.

Leo I looked at Lin Tian and said, "Lin Tian, it is no small feat for someone so young to have entered the Saint Domain. However, the path of the Saint Domain has only just begun. Comprehending Mysteries is no easy task. You must contemplate them with care and never be hasty."

Lin Tian listened intently before asking tentatively, "Ancestor, I have heard that Mysteries are subdivisions of laws. But how are these Mysteries divided, and where should one begin?"

Leo I smiled slightly. "Fire Mysteries can roughly be divided into six types. The Fire Element Mystery allows one to freely control fire elements, making flames move at one's will. The Fire Body Technique Mystery allows flames to merge into the physical body, transforming one into a fire-element lifeform. The Scorching Mystery produces ultimate high temperatures capable of melting all things. The Explosion Mystery imbues flames with terrifying explosive force, unleashing immense power in an instant. The Flame Space Mystery can create a flame space to imprison or scorch enemies. The Soul Attack Mystery uses flames to burn the soul. The most important thing in comprehending Mysteries is to take nature as your teacher and perceive the natural phenomena that contain fire Mysteries."

Lin Tian was greatly astonished. He then probed further, asking, "What about fusing Mysteries? Where should one begin with that?"

Leo I's expression turned serious. "Mystery fusion is the combination of the powers of several Mysteries, allowing one to unleash strength far surpassing that of a single Mystery. This requires not only a deep understanding of each Mystery, but also finding the points where they fit together. For example, if one fuses the blazing heat of the Scorching Mystery with the transformations of the Fire Element Mystery, the flames can both scorch and grievously wound enemies with powerful temperatures while flexibly pursuing their targets, leaving opponents nowhere to hide."

Upon hearing this, Lin Tian found himself even more puzzled by Leo I. Seeking to test Leo I's strength further, he asked, "Ancestor, how should one attempt this fusion of Mysteries?"

Leo I rose to his feet and walked to the center of the hall. With a light wave of his hand, a ball of flame appeared out of thin air. The flame constantly changed shape in his hand, at times becoming a fierce fire lion and at others a nimble fire serpent. Yet every transformation carried ultimate heat. He said, "To fuse Mysteries, you must first establish connections between the different Mysteries on a mental level. You need to thoroughly analyze the essence of each Mystery and find both their common ground and complementary aspects. Then, through constant meditation and practice, guide the powers of the different Mysteries to merge within your body. This process is extremely difficult, and you may encounter countless failures. But as long as you find the point where two Mysteries can fuse, you will eventually make a breakthrough. Conversely, if you cannot find that point, your Mystery fusion will never improve."

Harry added from the side, "The Ancestor speaks the truth. When I tried to fuse the Scorching Mystery and the Fire Element Mystery back then, I failed hundreds of times. On several occasions, I was even seriously injured when the power went out of control. But I could never find an entry point, so I was never able to successfully fuse the Mysteries."

Leo I looked at Harry and nodded slightly in agreement before continuing, "Moreover, Mystery fusion cannot be achieved overnight. After successfully fusing two Mysteries, you can attempt to incorporate more. Each additional Mystery fused will bring a qualitative leap in strength. But remember: haste makes waste. Never rush for success."

After hearing this, Lin Tian and Laun gained a much clearer understanding of Mysteries and Mystery fusion. At the same time, they deeply felt the difficulty of the road ahead.

Leo I seemed to see through their thoughts and encouraged them with a smile. "There is no need to worry. As long as you persevere, you will certainly achieve something on the path of Mystery fusion."

Lin Tian said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, Ancestor. This junior will certainly give it his all."

Laun hurriedly added, "Senior, your teachings have enlightened me completely. I will certainly cultivate diligently."

Leo I returned to his throne and said, "Mm. The path of cultivation is long. Aside from one's own effort, fortuitous opportunities are also quite important. During your comprehension of Mysteries, you may encounter unexpected opportunities. You must be good at seizing them."

Leo I's gaze fell upon Lin Tian once more. "Your talent is extremely high, even greater than mine. I hope you can bring glory to the Leo Family. If you have any doubts regarding cultivation in the future, feel free to come to Fire God Mountain and find me."

Warmth surged in Lin Tian's heart. "Thank you for your favor, Ancestor!"

Afterward, Leo I answered more of Lin Tian and Laun's questions about cultivation, as well as matters requiring attention during Saint Domain cultivation. He also answered Harry and Porter's cultivation questions. All four gained greatly from the exchange. Lin Tian, in particular, continuously compared this information with the content he had written about in his previous life through Coiling Dragon, combining it with his own circumstances to lay a solid foundation for his future cultivation.

Leo I said, "We shall end here today. You have had a tiring journey, so go and rest."

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