158: Chapter 157 The Fourth True Meaning: Heavenly Fire!

Jiang Hanzhou fell silent.

This was a question he had never considered before.

He had never imagined that having too many True Intents could actually become an obstacle to a Breakthrough.

"Of course, you don't need to worry too much," Master Xue Mu's tone softened. "Having many True Intents makes a Breakthrough difficult, but once you do break through, you will be an invincible existence within the same Realm."

"I was the same back in my day. It took me a full thirty years to condense six types of True Intent and advance from the Primal Elephant Realm to the Dragon Fetus. It took another thirty years from the Dragon Fetus to the Jiaotai Realm. From the Jiaotai Realm to the Mysterious Glimpse Realm, I have yet to make a Breakthrough even now."

When he said this, his tone was calm, without a trace of frustration.

"But I have no regrets," he said. "Because I know that once I step into the Mysterious Glimpse Realm, I will be the strongest existence within that Realm."

Jiang Hanzhou raised his head to look at this old man with red hair and a red beard.

In those red eyes, there was no confusion, no unwillingness, only determination and self-confidence.

"This Disciple understands," he said.

Master Xue Mu nodded and smiled with satisfaction.

"Alright, we can discuss these deeper truths slowly in the future. Now, I have two tasks to arrange for you."

He stood up, walked to the window, and pointed to a cliff in the distance.

That cliff was located on the west side of Red Fire Peak, about a hundred zhang high. It was grayish-white throughout, appearing particularly abrupt amidst the crimson mountain body.

The cliff was crisscrossed with countless sword marks.

Some were several feet deep, some as shallow as a strand of hair; some were fierce and overbearing, some continuous and unending, some sharp and piercing, and some heavy and steady...

Every sword mark contained some kind of profound Concept.

"That is Lijian Cliff," Master Xue Mu said. "It holds the sword marks left by the generations of sword experts of Dragon Abyss Palace. From the Ancestral Master who founded the sect to the Grand Elder still alive today, all have left their marks upon it."

"You will go to the foot of the cliff every day to meditate, using your Golden Sharpness True Intent to sense the Metal element Concept within those sword marks. When you can leave your own sword mark on that cliff wall, your Golden Sharpness True Intent will be considered a Minor Achievement."

Jiang Hanzhou gazed at the cliff covered in sword marks, his eyes flickering with a burning light.

"This Disciple will remember."

"The second task," Master Xue Mu continued, "Red Fire Peak has a Forbidden Ground called the 'Earth Fire Cave'."

"That is the core of the earth fire spiritual vein, where the Fire element Spiritual Qi is concentrated to the extreme. An ordinary Cultivator who enters will be burned to ashes before they can last a single incense stick's time."

"But if you can endure it, the Earth Fire power there is the supreme treasure for Body Tempering."

He turned to look at Jiang Hanzhou.

"What level have you Cultivated your Li Huo Golden Body Art to?"

"The fourth level, Condensing Qi into Flame," Jiang Hanzhou said.

A hint of approval flashed in Master Xue Mu's eyes.

"The fourth level, not bad. If you can enter the Earth Fire Cave and use the power of the earth fire to temper your Physical Body, you might be able to achieve a Breakthrough to the fifth level—Blood Burning."

"Blood Burning?" Jiang Hanzhou raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Master Xue Mu nodded. "The fifth level of the Li Huo Golden Body Art is called 'Blood Burning'. It uses the Lihuo True Flame to ignite one's own Qi and blood, transforming amidst the burning and being reborn amidst the destruction. Once you break through, your Qi and blood power will surge several times over, and your recovery ability will be astonishing."

He paused, a profound look flashing in his eyes.

"Furthermore, if you can Cultivate in the Earth Fire Cave, you might be able to capture the fourth kind of True Intent—Heavenly Fire."

Heavenly Fire.

Jiang Hanzhou's heart skipped a beat.

Master Xue Mu looked at him and smiled slightly.

"What? Are you tempted?"

Jiang Hanzhou took a deep breath and nodded slowly.

"This Disciple is willing to try."

Master Xue Mu laughed heartily and patted his shoulder.

"Good! This is what a Disciple of mine, Master Xue Mu, should be!"

He walked back to his seat, picked up his teacup, and drained it in one gulp.

"Starting tomorrow, you will go to Lijian Cliff to meditate on the sword marks for three hours every day. In the afternoon, enter the Earth Fire Cave for Body Tempering; hold on for as long as you can."

"I will prepare the Medicinal Pill, Spirit Stone, and the access token for the Earth Fire Cave for you."

"Half a year later, the Dragon Gate Trial will begin—if you feel you are prepared, go and give it a try."

Jiang Hanzhou stood up and bowed solemnly.

"This Disciple will surely give it my all."

Master Xue Mu waved his hand, signaling him to sit down.

"Alright, that is all for today. Go back and rest; tomorrow morning, a young attendant will take you to Lijian Cliff."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded, stood up, and took his leave.

Walking out of Lihuo Hall, the setting sun was slowly sinking into the West Sea.

The entire Red Fire Peak was bathed in golden-red afterglow. In front of the scattered Immortal Caves, Disciples were coming in and out; some were holding Medicinal Pills, some carrying spiritual materials, and some were in groups of three or five, whispering to one another.

Jiang Hanzhou stood on the platform in front of the hall, watching this scene, and a feeling that was hard to describe suddenly welled up in his heart.

This was Dragon Abyss Palace.

This was Red Fire Peak.

This was the place where he would Cultivate from now on.

He took a deep breath, drawing the aura of the crimson mountain deep into his lungs, then turned and walked towards his own Immortal Cave.

The Immortal Cave was located on the mountainside. It was a naturally formed stone grotto that had been simply excavated and renovated to become a place suitable for living and Cultivation.

In front of the entrance was a Formation light curtain, which could be opened using the token Master Xue Mu had given him.

He stepped into the Immortal Cave.

The interior was not large, about three zhang square, with a stone bed, a stone table, a stone stool, and a small Cultivation room, with a simple Spirit Gathering Formation engraved on the floor.

Simple.

But it was enough.

Jiang Hanzhou sat cross-legged on the stone bed and closed his eyes.

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, that golden light remained brilliant, intertwining with the deep blue of the Tide and the red-gold of the Pure Yang to form a magnificent three-colored canopy.

Golden Sharpness True Intent, one layer achieved.

Half a year.

He opened his eyes and looked at the sky outside the window, which was gradually darkening.

Half a year later, the Dragon Gate Trial.

He wanted to see it.

He wanted to know just how strong those true Prodigies were.

He also wanted to know just what height his "Late Bloomer" fate could take him to.

The night grew deeper, and the lights on Red Fire Peak lit up one after another, like stars dotting every corner of this fiery red mountain.

Jiang Hanzhou withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes.

Inside his body, the Lihuo True Flame burned quietly, nourishing every inch of his Meridians and every wisp of his Qi and blood.