A year had passed.
Beyond the Heavens, in the Thunder Marsh.
Violet lightning stretched endlessly here. Xu Xuan sheathed his sword and dispersed his formlessness. All the Ding Fire within his Dharma Form had gone out, while the tribulation fire remaining on either side of the Primordial Gate had been cut off by Severance, unable to burn its way across.
"At last, I can move again."
Xu Xuan withdrew his Dharma Form and took the shape of an Immortal in green robes with a sword at his side. The Ancient God rested quietly on his shoulder.
The price of this sword challenge had been steep indeed. Although his injuries were now contained, he could no longer wield his authority freely. Worse still, his lifespan had been burned away!
Xu Xuan himself had no idea how many years he had lost, but he did not particularly care. Given his method of attaining the Dao, if this world were destroyed, he would inevitably perish with it.
For now, lifespan was not important.
Once his injuries had mostly healed, his understanding of Ding Fire had subtly deepened, especially his understanding of True Lord Bitter Day's attainments and Dao arts! That True Lord was cultivating Wonder and Constancy.
Given how fond Ultimate Fire was of him, if he called out, it would not be difficult to take on an Ultimate Fire retainer position. Ascending to immortality through it would be a proper path.
This was the supreme path of tribulation fire, enough to burn an entire world and destroy everything. It accorded with the Lesser Yin Lord's Dao, so the resistance should be far weaker. Yet the Dust-Sweeping faction's actions clearly revealed designs on Bing Fire as well, particularly the golden rank of [Constant Light].
If that was the case, Ding Fire would have