The next day, as the first light of dawn appeared on the eastern horizon, Xiao Yan, who had been sitting cross-legged all night atop the mountain, slowly opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed in the depths of his dark eyes, and his aura rippled slightly before being absorbed back into his body.
After a night of continuous refinement, the cultivation he achieved yesterday has become much more solid. Next, he should prepare to refine the Flame Mantra that Ye Honglian gave him.
To Xiao Yan's surprise, Ye Honglian possessed the complete Flame Mantra Technique. Ye Honglian herself was not entirely sure why, only remembering that the technique had been stored in her mind since she transformed into human form, and that she had only passed it on to Xiao Yan yesterday.
Obtaining the complete Flame Mantra was an unexpected delight for Xiao Yan. Now that the Flame Mantra was complete, he only needed to refine it to begin refining the Red Lotus Karmic Fire. At that time, Xiao Yan believed that his cultivation would definitely leap to the Origin King realm. However, he wondered if, with the remaining Earth Core Marrow in his possession, his cultivation could reach the Origin Emperor Great Realm.
Once he reaches that level, coupled with the methods Xiao Yan currently possesses, it's likely that no one in this Far Southern Land will be able to truly threaten him. Even if those two major sects join forces, he will be completely fearless. Of course, this is on the premise that he doesn't involve Burning Flame Valley.
After resting for a while, Xiao Yan closed his eyes and focused his mind again, looking inward at a crimson ball of light about the size of a fist in his mind. This was the complete Flame Mantra that Ye Honglian had given him.
The ball of light resembled a blooming, fiery red lotus flower, surrounded by a ring of red light that emitted a scorching aura. Although it wasn't some special power, it still surprised people.
Having learned from the previous two experiences, the process of refining the Flame Mantra this time was as smooth as ever. In less than two hours, Xiao Yan had refined and absorbed all the information contained within the ball of light, making it a part of himself. Afterwards, taking advantage of this momentum, Xiao Yan cultivated frantically for a while, and his cultivation level was completely stabilized at the Late Origin Return Realm, even approaching the Peak Late Origin Return Realm. However, he eventually stopped under Xiao Yan's deliberate suppression.
Although he could indeed reach the Peak Late Origin Return Realm in one fell swoop with the power of the Flame Mantra, the path of cultivation is ultimately better taken steadily and surely. Being too hasty will only backfire.
Of course, that being said, within half a year, Xiao Yan's cultivation level broke through from the Late Origin Transformation Realm to the Late Origin Return Realm, a full level leap. Such speed is already extremely astonishing. Once such terrifying speed gets out, it will probably attract a lot of hostile gazes.
"Hmm, your aura is refined, and your cultivation is completely stable. It seems that refining the Flame Mantra has been quite beneficial to you."
Ye Honglian raised her eyes and glanced at Xiao Yan. Although her words were ordinary, a hint of surprise flashed across the depths of her eyes.
Even if the cultivation technique is powerful, the key to the refinement and growth of one's cultivation still depends on one's own ability. If it were an ordinary person, even with the help of a top-notch cultivation technique, they might not be able to achieve such miraculous results.
"I must thank you for passing on the entire Flame Mantra to me, senior. Otherwise, my cultivation would not have been able to be consolidated."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan bowed respectfully in response. The latter smiled wryly, too lazy to say more. His slender, fair fingers once again caressed the zither in front of him. As a melodious tune rang out, the void in front of Xiao Yan suddenly distorted, and a point of red light quietly bloomed. It then extended and, in the blink of an eye, grew into a beautiful red lotus, with flames curling on it, emitting an especially terrifyingly high temperature. This was precisely what Xiao Yan had come to the Fire Maple Forest to find.
Heavenly Flames, Red Lotus Karmic Fire!
The moment Xiao Yan saw the Fire Lotus before him, his breath caught in his throat. His dark eyes were fixed on the Fire Lotus, the burning desire in them unmistakable. The excitement in his heart caused his entire body to tremble slightly uncontrollably.
Since returning to the Southern Region, he had been preoccupied with this matter, searching in various ways in order to find the Red Lotus Karmic Fire as soon as possible. Now, the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, ranked eighth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, has finally appeared before him. There is no falsehood, no illusion, and no obstruction. For Xiao Yan at this moment, the Red Lotus Karmic Fire is something that is within his grasp!
"Boy, I know you've been waiting for this moment for a long time, but I still have to remind you one more time: remember what I said, and remember your promise. You must protect Bing'er. Although there's the Lightning Punishment Oath before you, remember, I'll be watching you closely!"
After Ye Honglian finished speaking, her figure, who was sitting cross-legged in front of the guqin, gradually disappeared in the breeze. Only her last strange and cold words echoed in Xiao Yan's mind, which made him gradually come back to his senses after a long time. Then, the Red Lotus Karmic Fire in front of him became violent in an instant.
"Boom!"
A terrifying burst of flames swept outwards, the magnificent firelight shining upon the Qing Shan like a newborn sun. The rocks crumbled rapidly, the thatched hut was instantly burned to ashes, and the life force on the surrounding land vanished immediately. Flames even lunged fiercely at Xiao Yan himself.
This time, Xiao Yan had no pills to aid him, but he still had a powerful weapon in his hands...
With a flick of his wrist, the Storage Ring on his finger flashed with light, and then a blue ice crystal the size of a thumb appeared in the air above his palm—it was the Extreme Cold Ice Soul!
The moment the Extreme Cold Ice Soul appeared, a cold wind suddenly swept through the originally scorching world. A thin layer of ice immediately covered Xiao Yan's palm, and countless ice fragments in the air condensed. The weather on the mountaintop quickly turned cold, and the climate of the entire world was constantly alternating between ice and fire.
Controlling the Extreme Cold Ice Soul, Xiao Yan flicked his finger, sending it directly into the Red Lotus Karmic Fire. Then, with a wave of his hand, pale blue flames surged forward, engulfing all the crimson fire and enveloping the Fire Lotus in a palm-sized ball of light. The outer layer was protected by pale blue flames, while the inner Red Lotus Karmic Fire was temporarily suppressed by the Extreme Cold Ice Soul essence. Now, it was Xiao Yan's turn to devour it.
Without much hesitation, Xiao Yan opened his mouth wide and swallowed the ball of light in one gulp. Immediately afterwards, a terrifying power suddenly erupted, like a raging beast, rampaging into Xiao Yan's body.