Devouring the Green Lotus Core Flame!

The canyon was surrounded by sand and lay in a depression, encircled by towering dunes that could conveniently conceal the energy fluctuations and light unleashed by the strange flame. Even from afar, it would not be too conspicuous.

Su You, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, and the others stood guard for him outside the canyon.

Su Zhao stood at the center of the canyon and surveyed his surroundings. Once he had confirmed that everything was ready, he slowly sat down cross-legged.

Three items had been neatly arranged on the ground before him.

A bottle of Ice Spirit Cold Spring, icy blue throughout and giving off wisps of chill; a deep-blue pill, the fourth-grade Purple Nether Cold Pill Su Zhao had refined in advance to protect his heart meridians; and the massive Green Lotus Platform. The azure lotus platform gleamed gently beneath the sunlight, while the azure flame at its center burned quietly. The Green Lotus Core Flame lay within the platform.

He had prepared for this day for an entire year. Only after raising his cultivation to a four-star Dou Ling had he dared to formally begin absorbing it.

Moreover, over the past year, under the combined effects of his Fire Spirit Physique and Calamity Poison Body, he had tempered his meridians and flesh several more times. Compared to when he had absorbed the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, he was far stronger now.

Even so, he did not dare let down his guard in the slightest before a strange flame at its peak.

Su Zhao closed his eyes and regulated his breathing for about the time it took to burn an incense stick. Only when the Dou Qi within him had reached its peak circulation did he slowly open his eyes.

"Let's begin!"

He reached out, picked up the Purple Nether Cold Pill, and swallowed it. A cool medicinal power instantly spread through his meridians, protecting his heart meridians and dantian.

He then tilted back his head and drank the Ice Spirit Cold Spring. A bone-piercing chill instantly exploded from his abdomen.

Seizing the perfect moment before that bone-deep chill faded, he suddenly thrust out his right hand and grabbed the azure flame at the center of the Green Lotus Platform!

The instant his fingertips touched the flame seed, an unimaginably terrifying heat exploded from his palm! It was as though he had grasped the core of the sun itself. The blazing azure flames instantly scorched his palm until the flesh curled and blackened, with white smoke rising from it!

"Urgh—!!"

Su Zhao could not help but let out a low roar. Veins bulged on his forehead, one eye narrowing slightly from the excruciating pain, while the other remained fixed on the restless azure flame in his palm.

He desperately activated the Dou Qi within his body to protect his hand. His Origin Flame surged from his dantian and flowed through his meridians toward his palm, wrapping layer upon layer around the violent Green Lotus Core Flame in an attempt to suppress it.

However, the azure flame struggled too fiercely. Every pulse was like a volcanic eruption, blasting waves of heat across his palm. Su Zhao hardened his resolve. Knowing he could not delay any longer, he took advantage of the Ice Spirit Cold Spring's chill still circulating within him and the Purple Nether Cold Pill's medicinal power not yet fully dissipated, then raised his hand and shoved the Green Lotus Core Flame directly into his mouth!

The instant the flame entered his throat, Su Zhao felt a searing line of fire shoot straight down from his throat, as if he had swallowed a torrent of lava!

The Green Lotus Core Flame rampaged through his body. Everywhere the azure flames passed, his meridians were roasted dry, cracked, and pale, while his organs seemed to ignite all at once!

Su Zhao gritted his teeth and desperately circulated the Scarlet Origin Heaven-Burning Art, forcibly drawing that violent flame through his meridians and slowly guiding it through a complete cycle.

As the art circulated, the Green Lotus Core Flame was drawn bit by bit through his meridians. Every step brought soul-rending agony from the burning.

Pain! Unparalleled agony!

Even with the Purple Nether Cold Pill protecting his heart meridians and the Ice Spirit Cold Spring suppressing the strange flame's power while shielding the inner walls of his meridians, Su Zhao still felt a torment that was nearly unbearable.

The Green Lotus Core Flame was far too violent, several times more ferocious than the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame. Even though he had raised his cultivation to a four-star Dou Ling in advance, he still felt as if this blazing fire would burn straight through his organs!

Damn it, at this rate, before I can refine the strange flame, it'll torment me half to death!

Enduring the agony within him, Su Zhao took a stride and leaped onto the Green Lotus Platform before him, then sat down cross-legged.

The azure lotus platform beneath him faintly emitted a gentle glow, and a cool, mild power flowed from it into his body.

Just as expected!

The instant he sat upon the platform, the turmoil of the Green Lotus Core Flame within him weakened considerably. The platform itself was the cradle that had nurtured the Green Lotus Core Flame and possessed a natural resonance with—and restraint over—the flame. Now that Su Zhao sat atop it, the platform was like a massive vessel, slowly absorbing, containing, and dispersing the Green Lotus Core Flame's violent power, drastically reducing the pressure he had to bear.

Now was the time!

Su Zhao did not dare slacken in the slightest. He circulated the Scarlet Origin Heaven-Burning Art with all his strength, guiding the Green Lotus Core Flame to continue cycling through his meridians.

One cycle, two cycles, three cycles...

With every cycle, the Green Lotus Core Flame's resistance weakened by another fraction, while the portion devoured and refined by the Origin Flame increased by another fraction.

After three cycles, the azure flames that had originally rampaged through his meridians gradually became somewhat more docile. Though they still radiated scorching heat, they were no longer quite so frenzied.

At last, enveloped by the Origin Flame, the Green Lotus Core Flame slowly returned to his dantian.

The moment it entered his dantian, its resistance weakened by more than half again.

At that moment, the crimson Origin Flame blazed fiercely within his dantian. Having fused with the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame and the energy of several beast flames, its power was no longer what it had once been. It was in no way inferior to the Green Lotus Core Flame!

Su Zhao opened his eyes. Azure and crimson light flickered alternately within them as he clenched his teeth.

"It all comes down to this—devour it!!!"

With an angry roar, the Origin Flame within his dantian suddenly swelled, transforming into a crimson sea of fire that swept toward the newly returned azure flame!

Sensing the danger, the Green Lotus Core Flame instantly transformed into the phantom of a massive azure lotus. Its fiery petals bloomed layer upon layer, releasing a terrifying heat capable of destroying heaven and earth as it tried to force back the approaching Origin Flame!

The two flames collided violently within his dantian!

The crimson sea of fire intertwined with the azure fire lotus, flames churning madly within his dantian. Every collision brought another wave of searing pain.

After fusing with the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, the Origin Flame possessed the ferocity of a beast and the greed to devour!

The two forces fought like giant beasts within Su Zhao's dantian. He clenched his teeth so tightly that blood even seeped from the corner of his mouth, yet he stubbornly kept his mind from scattering.

The Scarlet Origin Heaven-Burning Art circulated at full force. The pressure in his dantian suddenly surged, and bolstered by the art, the Origin Flame grew ever fiercer. Layer by layer, it devoured the outer flames of the Green Lotus Core Flame, eroding the power of its flame seed.

The Green Lotus Core Flame's resistance gradually weakened.

Its flames melted away, the lotus phantom shattered, and its energy was absorbed, fused, and assimilated bit by bit by the Origin Flame.

From its initial violent struggle, to its later fierce trembling, and finally to its gradual dimming and withering, the Green Lotus Core Flame eventually lowered its head.