The Nameless Firebird (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Two days later, the upper echelons of the Xu Family issued a strict order.

Maintain a state of emergency and tighten defenses!

Both were to be carried out in tandem, and clansmen were forbidden from leaving the family grounds unless absolutely necessary.

As for the resource points in the outside world, the order demanded that the grand formations remain active day and night, with heightened vigilance and preparedness; if any situation arose, they were to transmit a request for reinforcements back to the clan immediately.

Once the news broke, everyone knew that something major had happened.

There was certainly an enemy lurking outside, and the family feared a surprise attack.

Therefore, no one was foolish enough to defy the order.

Lin Changheng had anticipated this long ago.

The Purple Maple Bay Chen Family had suffered such a heavy loss that they would inevitably seek revenge.

Although the Chen Family had struck first, the situation had spiraled out of control; this was the powerful, unreasonable momentum of hatred, sweeping everything forward in its wake, refusing to rest until death.

As the saying goes, a blood feud can only be washed away by a sea of blood—this was exactly what it meant.

However, this had no impact on Lin Changheng, for he had no intention of leaving his home at all.

In the blink of an eye, another year passed.

Returning from the General Affairs Hall, Lin Changheng's face remained as calm as ever, but deep down, he was filled with anticipation.

Because of the high demand for Miasma-Clearing Pills, the accumulation efficiency of his Fire Crow Treasure Seed and Green Wood Snake Treasure Seed had slowed by more than half.

But he had finally waited long enough.

"After all these years, the Spirit Snatch of the Fire Crow Treasure Seed, layer by layer... it is finally reaching the fifth layer!"

What kind of realm was the fifth layer of a Treasure Seed?

Lin Changheng did not know, but he had a vague premonition that the Fire Crow had its limits.

After all, it was a low-grade demonic beast, a beast kept in captivity.

Its bloodline was too diluted, and its ancestors were not necessarily prosperous either.

Hoping to reach the pinnacle with a single bloodline was unrealistic, but he did not know exactly what level it could reach.

Yet, Lin Changheng did not dwell on it; as long as it existed, he would continue to perform Spirit Snatch, snatching until the very end, until it reached its limit!

Moreover, it had always been Spirit Snatch—when would Life Transformation be triggered?

Lin Changheng was puzzled and had been exploring this constantly.

When the Origin Cauldron first appeared, it only manifested after the Origin Treasure Seed had finished its Spirit Snatch; perhaps once the Spirit Snatch reached its end, Life Transformation could occur.

He had a vague feeling that it might truly be drawing near...

He had a premonition!

Inside his room, Lin Changheng looked at the discarded Crimson Flame Pills and Wood Origin Pills he had laid out before him, rubbing his hands in excitement.

He reached toward the latter first.

The Origin Cauldron in his sea of consciousness trembled slightly, and the essence blood from the discarded Wood Origin Pill was drained away in an instant.

[Green Wood Snake Treasure Seed: Fourth Layer]

[Spirit Snatch: 12/100]

A new, solidified Treasure Seed formed once more and was plucked into his soul, while a phantom of a Treasure Seed appeared in its original place.

Lin Changheng naturally knew that this was formed from the excess Green Wood Snake essence blood.

The next instant:

[Acquired: Poison Neutralization Art: Ascension to Truth]

[Effect: Body gains keen perception of toxins; capable of expelling mid-grade toxins]

"Not bad."

Seeing this effect, Lin Changheng could not help but nod slightly, quite satisfied.

Although his body's resistance to toxins had not increased again, it had shifted toward "keen perception." Sometimes, "avoidance" was more important than "immunity"; if one could avoid danger early on, why suffer the consequences?

Furthermore, it had the effect of expelling mid-grade toxins from the body, providing an extra layer of security.

If the former was a "passive" ability, this could be considered an "active" skill.

After all, this Green Wood Snake was a low-grade bloodline, a first-tier early-stage demonic beast; being able to achieve this effect was quite good.

But compared to the effects of the Fire Crow Treasure Seed, it was still far inferior.

Even among demons, the gap was not small.

"Your turn."

Lin Changheng composed his thoughts, communicated with the Origin Cauldron without a word, and brushed his hand over the crimson pill.

As the Fire Crow essence blood was extracted, the progress of the Spirit Snatch climbed rapidly.

[Spirit Snatch: 100/100]

The crimson treasure seed trembled, having taken form. As Lin Changheng touched it, information flowed back to him.

[Fire Crow Treasure Seed: Fifth Layer]

[Available for further refinement of Demon Race innate talent: Fire Control]

With a thought, the treasure seed flew out of the cauldron's mouth and into his body. Lin Changheng shuddered, feeling an unprecedented warm current wash over his entire being.

It was a sensation that made even his soul tremble, leaving him somewhat intoxicated.

It felt as if the flame in the lamp on the table before him would move at his whim, swaying as he pleased.

Suddenly struck by a flash of inspiration, he blew a breath toward the lamp's flame.

With a bang, the lamp flame exploded, manifesting like a small, two-foot-wide sun hanging in the air. A hot breeze rushed toward his face, and waves of fire rolled outward.

Had it not been for the courtyard walls blocking the view, any outsider witnessing this would surely have been shaken to their core, struck by unspeakable shock.

Then, Lin Changheng watched as the wooden table was scorched by the flames and instantly reduced to ash.

It fell to the ground with a soft rustle.

Is this not the extent of a Fire Bullet Art cultivated to the perfection realm? No, its power might not even compare.

Furthermore, it is even more elusive and unfathomable!

After a long moment, Lin Changheng's agitated heart calmed, and as he regained his senses, he saw—

[Acquired: Fire Control Art: Mastery]

[Effect: Ultimate control over ordinary flames; extreme enhancement of fire-type arts]

Lin Changheng's eyes flickered. What was this he saw?

Two instances of the word "extreme"!

"Ultimate," "extreme"!

It represents both the "highest point" and the "very end." Perhaps this fifth-layer treasure seed... has truly reached the limit of the Fire Crow bloodline's power.

A thought stirred in Lin Changheng's mind: what would happen if he extracted more essence blood now?

Once the thought took root, it was difficult to suppress. However, having exhausted his supply of inferior pills, Lin Changheng could only take out two genuine [Crimson Flame Pills] to begin the extraction.

Hum, hum~

At that very moment, an unexpected change occurred.

Within his sea of consciousness, the [Origin Cauldron], which usually glowed with a deep cyan luster and flowed with Daoist rhythm, suddenly erupted with brilliant cyan light, accompanied by the sound of bells ringing and cauldrons clashing.

Crimson light began to intermingle within the cauldron, and the clouds at its rim took on a cyan-red hue.

Next, a high-pitched, mysterious sound seemed to ring out, and the various strange, ancient beast patterns carved onto the cauldron's body began to writhe, as if they had come to life.

The beasts' eyes were sharp, their roars shaking the heavens.

"Hiss..."

This transformation caused even Lin Changheng to gasp.

Then, the Origin Cauldron gave a single jolt, and everything returned to silence.

Afterward, the scene before his eyes changed drastically—all things were annihilated, the void shattered. Looking around, there was only a vast, crimson expanse covering the sky and earth, like blood and flame, constantly expanding and spreading until it occupied his entire field of vision.

He finally saw it clearly—

It was a giant bird of flame, nameless to him, residing in a realm of pure fire.

Its wings were woven from flowing lava, every feather burning with an inextinguishable true fire. When it spread its wings, they were like clouds hanging from the sky, obscuring the firmament.

The giant bird lowered its head, its golden pupils like two great suns, reflecting his own tiny figure.

Before Lin Changheng could react, the giant bird suddenly let out a long cry, its sound shaking the nine heavens!

—The sea of fire covering the sky suddenly contracted, transforming into billions of streams of flowing fire that poured down like a celestial river, flooding toward him!

Lin Changheng could not dodge; he could not even move to evade. Before he could even scream, he was engulfed by the terrifying, sky-filling torrent of fire.

"This is..."

In the small room, Lin Changheng's face was etched with terror. He stumbled back two steps in a panic, opened his eyes, and returned to his senses, breaking into a cold sweat that soaked his back.