Earth Core Pearl, First Meeting with Medusa

With a beckon of Qin Chen's hand, the jade bottle containing the Ice Spirit Cold Spring flew out of the jade box and landed in his palm. He then poured the Ice Spirit Cold Spring into his mouth.

As the scorching sensation within his body subsided, Qin Chen immediately steadied his mind and began controlling the wisps of green flame along a special route.

Using the mutual attraction between the green flames, Qin Chen gradually gathered the scattered green sparks from throughout his meridians.

When the final wisp of green flame had been gathered, the green flames gradually fused together. Before long, they condensed into a tiny stream of green magma.

At the sight, Qin Chen was overjoyed. He quickly endured the pain and guided the green magma to continue circulating through his meridians.

As the green magma circulated continuously through his meridians, Qin Chen became increasingly adept at controlling the Green Lotus Core Flame, but the pain coursing through his body grew ever more intense.

Who knew how much time passed before the searing heat continuously released by the Green Lotus Core Flame finally began to recede, giving off a gentle feeling.

"It really hurts..."

Feeling the green magma within him repairing his meridians, as well as his steadily rising strength, Qin Chen revealed a wry smile.

Returning his focus to himself, Qin Chen raised his hand and sucked fiercely. The tiny Spirit-Absorbing Stone inside the jade box turned into a streak of gray light and shot directly into his body, transforming into a tiny gray point of light.

Qin Chen continued to focus inward, guiding the Green Lotus Core Flame toward the gray point formed by the Spirit-Absorbing Stone.

After approaching the point of light, the Green Lotus Core Flame seemed to sense danger. It merely hovered near the Spirit-Absorbing Stone, unwilling to enter it no matter what.

"Damn it!"

Qin Chen cursed inwardly. He could certainly force the flame seed into the space formed by the Spirit-Absorbing Stone, but that was not what he wanted. He had no desire to end up like the Pure Lotus Demon Saint.

After thinking rapidly for a moment, a ruthless glint flashed through Qin Chen's eyes. He drew over two jade bottles from nearby and placed a green lotus seed and a Blood Lotus Pill into his mouth.

Then Qin Chen closed his eyes and sent all the pure energy transformed from the Earthfire Lotus Seed into the space formed by the Spirit-Absorbing Stone.

The Blood Lotus Pill's medicinal power also swiftly erupted within his body, and the blood membrane that had nearly been depleted formed once again.

After sensing the cold energy within Qin Chen's body, the Green Lotus Core Flame looked at the gray point filled with an aura sharing the same origin as its own. It hesitated briefly before finally swaying its body and swimming toward the point of light.

"Finally succeeded..."

Feeling the Green Lotus Core Flame resting quietly within the Spirit-Absorbing Stone, Qin Chen let out a sigh of relief.

Just then, Qin Chen felt a vast and pure energy continuously flowing out of the Spirit-Absorbing Stone. This energy was incredibly pure; without even needing to circulate his cultivation technique, it transformed into specks of green light and merged into every part of his body.

After thinking it over briefly, Qin Chen quickly understood the reason: this was the immense energy the Green Lotus Core Flame had accumulated over nearly a thousand years.

After all, energy could neither appear from nothing nor vanish into nothing. This theory still applied even in a fantasy world.

This was a perfect chance to advance!

Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Chen swiftly formed hand seals and entered a cultivation state. As time passed bit by bit, his strength continued to rise...

Seven days later.

Inside the cave, Qin Chen slowly opened his eyes. A powerful aura then spread out from within him. He clenched his fist, feeling the unprecedented power in his body, his heart filled with excitement.

"The energy contained within the Green Lotus Core Flame truly is terrifying. It directly let me break through from a Five-Star Dou Wang to a Seven-Star Dou Wang."

Qin Chen could clearly feel that his meridians had widened considerably compared to before, and his Dou Qi flowed much more smoothly. The difference was like heaven and earth.

The benefits did not end there. After being tempered by the Heavenly Flame, the Dou Qi within his body had not only become purer, but every wisp also carried a faint trace of green flame, radiating a scorching and tyrannical aura.

(Reason: In the original novel, Xiao Yan first refined the Green Lotus Core Flame before using it to evolve the Flame Mantra. After refining the Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yan's strength directly soared from a Two-Star Dou Shi to a Four-Star Dou Shi. Furthermore, in Chapter 1774 of the original novel, Huo Xuan's strength skyrocketed to High-Grade Half-Saint after refining the Eight Desolations Annihilating Flame. Therefore, I believe it is reasonable for refining a Heavenly Flame to greatly increase one's strength. Could the immense energy it had accumulated over centuries or millennia simply disappear into nothing after it was refined?)

"What a pity. Quite a bit of energy dissipated during the absorption process just now. It seems that route for devouring energy is unique to the Flame Mantra. Without cultivating the Flame Mantra, one can only rely on oneself to absorb that immense energy."

Rubbing his chin, Qin Chen thought inwardly, In that case, my increase in strength is actually inferior to that of a Flame Mantra cultivator. In the original novel, Xiao Yan only rose two stars at the Dou Shi stage. It seems that aside from part of the energy being used to evolve the cultivation technique, Medusa's evolution consumed most of it.

Qin Chen slowly stood up and gave a long stretch. His bones crackled loudly. Looking at the cave, now completely unrecognizable, he could not help but smile before walking outside.

If his refinement had failed, he would probably have ended up a hundred times worse than this cave.

"Congratulations, Young Master, on successfully subduing the Heavenly Flame."

The moment Qin Chen stepped out of the cave, Qing Lin, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately came up to him. Seeing how happy the little girl was, anyone unaware of the situation might have thought she was the one who had successfully refined the Heavenly Flame.

Pinching Qing Lin's fair little cheek, Qin Chen smiled softly. "This was all thanks to Qing Lin. Otherwise, forget refining the Heavenly Flame—I probably would not even have found a trace of it."

Qing Lin's cheeks flushed red from Qin Chen's pinch. She quickly changed the subject. "Young Master, what should we do next?" Qing Lin needed rest.

Qin Chen stroked his chin and thought for a moment before saying softly, "Let's go to the Flame Bone Mountain Range first. If things go smoothly, afterward we'll go meet the woman that old gentleman is afraid of."

Just as Qing Lin was about to say something, Qin Chen curled his lips and teased, "But there's no rush now. Let's rest first. Qing Lin protected me for so long, so she must be exhausted."

Hearing this, warmth welled up in Qing Lin's heart...

The Flame Bone Mountain Range, said to be the site of an ancient volcanic eruption.

From afar, the entire mountain range appeared dark and charred, as if it had been scorched by blazing flames countless times. A pungent odor permeated the air, and one could faintly feel the scorching heat radiating from within the mountains. Even from some distance away, Qin Chen could feel waves of stinging pain on his skin.

This left no foothold anywhere around the mountain range, so Qin Chen could only hold Qing Lin while hovering in the air.

Earth Core Pearls, First Meeting with Medusa

"Young Master, what are we doing here?" Qing Lin, held in Qin Chen's arms, blinked her large eyes, her little face full of confusion.

Qin Chen chuckled and asked, "Qing Lin, do you still remember the magma where we found the Heavenly Flame?"

Qing Lin's eyes lit up. "Of course I do! Did Young Master come here to search for treasures too? Should Qing Lin release Little Red?"

Little Red was naturally the name of the Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. Qing Lin had asked Qin Chen to name her. Qin Chen had initially wanted to refuse, knowing full well how poor his naming talent was, but the little girl kept pestering him until he finally gave in.

"We did come here to search for treasure, but this time, I won't need to go down personally."

After speaking, Qin Chen slowly closed his eyes and sank his awareness into the Heavenly Flame within his body, carefully sensing it.

A moment later, he abruptly opened his eyes. His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's as it locked onto one dormant volcano.

"Come out!"

As Qin Chen's low shout rang out, the Heavenly Flame inside him suddenly erupted. That volcano shook violently, spewing countless fragments of rock along with thick smoke.

Scorching magma, like an awakened giant dragon, slowly flowed down the fissures in the mountain. Wherever it passed, the already sparse vegetation instantly turned to charcoal.

Qing Lin stared in utter shock from his arms, her once-lively eyes now opened wide as she muttered, "Th-this is too incredible!"

She had not expected Young Master's Heavenly Flame to be so powerful that it could forcibly awaken a volcano that had been dormant for years.

Not a ripple appeared on Qin Chen's face. His eyes remained fixed on the erupting volcano. A moment later, his gaze sharpened. He reached forward with his right hand, and an enormous flaming palm instantly condensed, grabbing fiercely at the magma in midair.

As though it possessed life, the flaming hand precisely wrapped around a blood-red orb within the magma. Qin Chen lightly swept his arm, and the flaming hand carried the scorching orb slowly back.

When the red orb reached him, Qin Chen reached out and grabbed it in his palm. The instant it touched his hand, an incomparably pure fire-attributed energy surged through his palm and into his meridians, causing the Dou Qi within his body to stir faintly.

"Found you, Earth Core Pearl!"

The Earth Core Pearl, also known as the Earth Core Fire Pearl, was a special energy form condensed from pure energy deep beneath the earth over countless years.

It contained vast energy and possessed the ability to gather fire-attributed energy. Using it for cultivation could yield twice the result with half the effort.

Not only that, Earth Core Pearls could be used to refine Tier 8 or even Ninth-Grade Pills. They could also be tempered through special means into Earth Core Thunder Pearls.

Earth Core Thunder Pearls could not only be consumed, but were also powerful weapons for killing. If a Dou Zun expert took one head-on, even if he did not die, he would be severely injured.

More importantly, because they contained pure fire-attributed energy, Earth Core Thunder Pearls had an immense restraining effect on soul bodies.

However, because Earth Core Pearls formed deep underground, they were generally extremely difficult to find. Even if one was discovered by chance, anyone lacking sufficient strength could not retrieve it. But for Qin Chen, who possessed the Green Lotus Core Flame, obtaining one was as easy as turning his hand.

Now that he had this...

"Hehe." Looking in the direction of the Misty Cloud Sect, Qin Chen revealed a meaningful smile.

Next, Qin Chen searched the entire Flame Bone Mountain Range and ultimately found three Earth Core Pearls. He contentedly stored the treasures in his Storage Ring and smiled. "Let's go, Qing Lin. We're heading back."

As soon as he spoke, the wings on Qin Chen's back beat once, carrying Qing Lin toward the Tagore Desert, leaving behind only the volcanic range still spewing thick smoke.

Deep within the desert, inside a majestic palace.

A bewitchingly beautiful woman lounged lazily against a magnificent golden throne. Yet upon closer inspection, one would find an obvious trace of sorrow on her alluring face.

"A Heavenly Flame?"

At some point, surprise flashed through her soul-stirring violet eyes as her gaze instinctively turned northeast.

In that direction, she sensed a familiar, violent aura, exactly the same as the aura from the Magma World several days ago.

Medusa curled her red lips, a cold glint flashing through her eyes. "I thought I had no fate with you, but I never expected you to deliver yourself to my doorstep."

With that, her figure flashed, transforming into a streak of pale violet light that shot out of the palace. She stirred up a fierce gale as she raced toward the source of that aura.

Tagore Desert, among a cluster of rarely visited sand dunes.

Qin Chen stored the medicinal cauldron before him in his Storage Ring. Looking at the dozen or so smooth dark-red orbs floating in his hand, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

These were Earth Core Thunder Pearls he had refined using a single Earth Core Pearl. The energy contained within an Earth Core Pearl was far too immense—even a Dou Zun expert could be blown half to death by it—so Qin Chen could not possibly refine an entire Earth Core Pearl into just one Earth Core Thunder Pearl.

Looking at Qing Lin, who stood timidly nearby, Qin Chen placed several Earth Core Thunder Pearls into a jade bottle and handed it to her. He smiled. "Qing Lin, put these beads into your Storage Ring first. Later, I'll demonstrate how to use them."

"Alright, Young Master." Qing Lin carefully stored the Earth Core Thunder Pearls in her Storage Ring, then asked, "Young Master, now that the refinement is complete, should we leave?"

Qin Chen chuckled, put away the remaining Earth Core Thunder Pearls, and said, "No rush. Let's wait for a guest first."

"Who is Young Master waiting for?"

"In this Tagore Desert, who else is worthy of my waiting? Naturally, the infamous Queen Medusa."

At this point, Qin Chen turned toward a sand dune not far away and smiled. "Wouldn't you agree, Your Majesty?"

The moment his words fell, a faint rustling sound came from behind the dune. Then, a graceful figure slowly appeared before them.

The woman wore a purple brocade robe patterned with snakes, outlining her breathtaking curves. Her long black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her face was peerlessly beautiful. Between her brows rested an innate blend of charm and majesty.

"Gulp!"

Qin Chen swallowed unconsciously. It was not because his resolve was weak, but an instinctive reaction. The woman's beauty and temperament were simply too extraordinary. Across both his lifetimes, he had never seen anyone so breathtaking.

Uh...

Fine, to put it bluntly, he was lustful. He had not reached the saintly state of being unmoved by desire. Facing such a stunning beauty, it was only natural for slight ripples to stir in his heart, so long as they did not ruin anything.

Besides, he had never intended to become a saint.

What was cultivation for? Was it not to live freely and unrestrained?

If cultivation meant suppressing one's instinctive desires, then what was the point of cultivating? He might as well smash his head into a block of tofu.