207: Late Nascent Soul stage

The pressure, initially restrained, was like an ancient Vicious Beast awakening from slumber, instantly sweeping through the entire black hole.

The fire lotus swayed violently, and the ethereal purple flames on its petals danced wildly, as if fearing this nascent power.

“Boom!”

An invisible wave of Qi spread out with Li Xiangyun at its center, creating subtle ripples in space wherever it passed.

His Cultivation Realm soared like a rocket—Nascent Soul Early Stage!

The surging momentum of Spiritual Qi showed no signs of diminishing, and a “buzzing” sound emanated from his Meridians, a cheer from power breaking through its shackles.

Nascent Soul Middle Stage!

His aura grew increasingly vast and profound, and the half-black, half-gold flowing light around him began to boil. The Netherworld Darkfire Origin was completely tamed, transforming into a docile torrent of energy, surging endlessly under his control.

Nascent Soul Late Stage!

When his Realm finally settled at the Nascent Soul Late Stage, the explosive pressure slowly receded, yet it remained like a sharp sword hanging overhead, casting an indescribable sense of oppression over this dead silent black hole.

After ten years of arduous Cultivation and refining the Netherworld Darkfire Origin, although he was at the Nascent Soul Late Stage, his true combat power had long surpassed those of the same rank, even enough to contend with Soul Transformation Stage Cultivators.

After all, it was a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire, not a Medicinal Pill used for Cultivation. Breaking through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage was merely a side effect; the true terror lay in the power of the Spiritual Fire itself.

Li Xiangyun slowly raised his hand, and a cluster of ethereal purple flames, mixed with specks of purple-gold lightning, rose from his palm, docilely dancing at his fingertips.

He could clearly feel the surging, vast power within his body. With every move, he felt as if he could tap into the mighty power of Heaven and Earth. The chilling destruction of the Netherworld Darkfire and the overbearing sharpness of lightning perfectly merged, forming his unique and terrifying combat power.

“Ten years…” he murmured to himself, his voice hoarse from disuse, yet imbued with a calm steadiness forged through long tempering. “It’s time to go out.”

The sword seal being triggered meant that Hentian was in danger. Although the mark left by a Golden Core Stage was enough to cope for a while, a strong sense of worry still arose in his heart.

Moreover, during the ten years he had been in slumber, who knew how many changes had occurred in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Without further hesitation, Li Xiangyun moved, floating gracefully from the fire lotus.

The half-black, half-gold fire lotus seemed to possess sentience, transforming into a streak of light that merged into his body, becoming a part of his power.

He took a step, and his figure, like a ghost, weaved through the sea of ethereal purple flames. The Netherworld Fire, which once made every step difficult for him, now receded automatically to both sides like subjects welcoming their king, clearing a path for him.

Soon, his figure disappeared into the depths of the black hole, at the end of the firelight, leaving behind only the Netherworld Fire Sea, which gradually calmed and quieted as its master departed… Deep within the Misty Swamp, miasma rolled like thick ink. The roots of towering ancient trees intertwined in the muddy ground, and occasionally, unknown poisonous insects crawled by, leaving faint rustling sounds.

Li Xingyan sat cross-legged on a piece of bluestone, glowing faintly from Spiritual Qi nourishment, his eyes closed. A circle of red and green intertwined flames enveloped his body.

These flames, seemingly gentle, emitted a scorching aura that kept the surrounding poisonous insects at bay.

Over the past ten years, to evade pursuit, Li Xingyan had followed Fire Old, treading cautiously through this perilous swamp.

Yao Beast inner cores from the swamp's depths and Spiritual Plants hidden in the humus soil all became nourishment for his Realm Breakthrough.

At this moment, the Golden Core in his Dantian slowly rotated, emitting the profound Spiritual Qi characteristic of a Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator. With every breath, wisps of swamp Spiritual Qi were purified by the Myriad Beast Fire and integrated into his Meridians.

“Hoo…”

A mouthful of turbid Qi, carrying some black Impurities, was exhaled from Li Xingyan's mouth. He slowly opened his eyes, a hint of satisfaction flashing within them.

He was only one step away from the Late-stage Golden Core. If he could find another millennium-old Corrupting Heart Grass, he might be able to use that opportunity to Breakthrough.

Just then, his ring suddenly grew warm, and Fire Old's voice, tinged with urgency, echoed in his mind: “Be careful! They’re here!”

Li Xingyan's heart tightened. Almost instinctively, he circulated his Spiritual Fire to protect his body, his gaze sharply sweeping around.

The swamp's silence seemed to be instantly sucked away, leaving only the sound of his own heartbeat and the howling Yin wind in his ears.

“Thump, thump, thump…”

Heavy footsteps came from deep within the miasma, making a grating squishing sound as they stepped in the mud. Two figures broke through the thick fog, slowly appearing before Li Xingyan.

On the left was a bull-headed, human-bodied monster with a green face and fangs, blood-red eyes, holding a rusty iron fork, and surrounded by black Death Qi.

On the right was a horse-faced, human-bodied figure with a pale face and disheveled long hair, holding a glowing chain that made a harsh “clanking” sound as it dragged on the ground.

“After hiding for ten years, I was still found after all…” Li Xingyan clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the Ox-Head and Horse-Face before him.

Through Fire Old's narration, he had long known the Origins of these two monsters and their purpose.

Li Xingyan looked at the pressing Ox-Head and Horse-Face, feeling the Soul Transformation Stage pressure that was like a mountain pressing down, knowing that with his Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivation, he had no chance of victory.

So, he softly called, “Teacher!”

“Hmm!” Fire Old's voice came from the ring, and then a powerful Spiritual Fire energy surged into Li Xingyan's limbs and bones.

His aura rapidly swelled at a visible speed. The Golden Core in his Dantian spun wildly, and Spiritual Qi surged like a tide, instantly breaking through its shackles and forcefully raising him to the Nascent Soul Pinnacle Stage Realm!

“Hmph!” Li Xingyan's hair stood on end, his surrounding Spiritual Fire violently flickering due to the surge in power, and his eyes shot out a determined light.

He knew this was a temporary boost Fire Old had gained by burning his Origin, and every bit of power could not be wasted.

“Overestimating yourself!” Ox-Head sneered at the sight. His iron fork brought forth a sky full of Death Qi, like a black lightning bolt, piercing directly at Li Xingyan's heart.

The iron fork made a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air, and wherever it passed, the swamp's mud was pulverized.

Li Xingyan dared not be careless. His figure shifted like a ghost, moving sideways, while simultaneously forming hand seals rapidly: “Myriad Beast Fire, Devour!” The crimson flames transformed into countless illusory Yao Beast figures—fierce tigers, giant wolves, venomous pythons—roaring as they pounced at Ox-Head, attempting to slow his attack.

“Petty tricks!” Ox-Head swept his iron fork, and the black Death Qi instantly tore apart the Yao Beast fire shadows, his attack never pausing.

“One isn’t enough, so how about three!” Two more clusters of flames rose within Li Xingyan—the ethereal blue of Mystic Frost Ice Crystal Flame and the platinum of Earth Core Glazed Flame intertwined.

“Fire Old, help me with the Fusion of flames!” His throat bobbed as he forcefully suppressed the intense pain caused by the backlash of power.

Fire Old's solemn voice echoed in his mind: “Steady your mind, focus and control the flames!”

The three Spiritual Fires swirled before Li Xingyan, and under the guidance of Fire Old's Divine Soul power, they began to merge with difficulty.

The extreme cold of Mystic Frost Ice Crystal Flame and the extreme heat of Earth Core Glazed Flame collided, making sizzling sounds, while Myriad Beast Fire acted as a link, barely entwining the two extreme forces.

“Condense for me!” Li Xingyan roared, veins bulging on his forehead.

The three flames finally intertwined into a three-colored fire lotus, with destructive arcs of light flickering at the edges of its petals. It was precisely that trump card move, the World-Destroying Fire Lotus!