107: Chapter 107 The Altar Collapses, the Flame Crystal Undergoes a Mutation

The Samsara Seal, woven with Chaos and emerald, seemed to carry the will of Reincarnation from all heavens and myriad worlds and countless living beings, bearing an unquestionable, irresistible force of conclusion as it slowly pressed toward the "Lord of Ashes" at the top of the altar.

Under the shock and backlash of the "Kingdom of Wither" being "covered" and "reshaped" by the "Reincarnation" Dao rhythm, the aura of the "Lord of Ashes" had already plummeted to the bottom, and the hundred-foot manifestation behind him, condensed from ash and dead flames, was like a candle in the wind, flickering unsteadily and on the verge of collapse.

Facing this Dao Seal that contained the complete true meaning of "Reincarnation" and seemed capable of concluding all Karma and past grievances, his deep blue flaming eyes revealed, for the first time, undisguised terror and despair.

"No! I am the 'Lord of Ashes'! The monarch who controls withering and decay! How could I be defeated by an ant like you! I am not reconciled!"

The "Lord of Ashes" let out a hysterical roar, his withered ash hand suddenly raised, no longer attempting to defend against or dodge the slowly pressing, seemingly unavoidable Samsara Seal, but instead, his five fingers clawed, fiercely... grabbing toward the red crystal floating beside him, wrapped in a faint layer of gray "wither" aura—the "burning heaven flame crystal" formed from the Emperor Yan's natal source fire!

"Since I cannot have it, then let us all... perish! Using the endless fire source of the 'burning heaven flame crystal', I will detonate the core ley lines of this 'Burning Heaven Purgatory'! Let this area of ten thousand miles turn into a true... dead land of ashes! You... all accompany me to the grave!"

The "Lord of Ashes" eyes flashed with a crazed light of destruction; he intended to use his final strength to forcibly trigger, contaminate, and then detonate the vast, ocean-like Burning Heaven flame Origin within the "burning heaven flame crystal", using the local ley lines as a fuse to create a world-destroying explosion, dragging Lin Wan, the "Demon-Slaying General Corps", and even the entire "Burning Heaven Purgatory" Secret Realm down with him!

"Not good! He wants to detonate the flame crystal!" The members of the "Demon-Slaying General Corps" fighting below against those gray figures also noticed the anomaly at the top of the altar and exclaimed in alarm, their eyes splitting with rage.

If the "Lord of Ashes" were truly allowed to succeed, not only would they all be buried here, but this "Burning Heaven Purgatory" Secret Realm, and even the surrounding ten thousand miles, would likely turn into a dead zone; the consequences would be unimaginable!

"Wishful thinking!" Lin Wan's eyes turned sharp; he had long since used the "Eye of Samsara" to discern all of the "Lord of Ashes"'s intentions and potential desperate counterattacks.

The moment the "Lord of Ashes" raised his hand, the "Eye of Samsara" between Lin Wan's brows erupted with divine light, and he let out a clear shout: "Fix!"

It was not a immobilization technique, but rather the use of "Reincarnation" Dao rhythm to forcibly interfere with, delay, and distort the connection between the "Lord of Ashes" and the "burning heaven flame crystal", a connection already fragile and unstable due to forced erosion!

At the same time, the speed of the "Samsara Seal" he was pressing toward the "Lord of Ashes" suddenly increased, arriving first despite starting later, beating him to the punch and pressing directly onto the ash hand the "Lord of Ashes" was reaching toward the "burning heaven flame crystal"!

"Hiss—!" Like a branding iron pressed into ice and snow, the purifying and concluding power contained within the Samsara Seal, aimed at "the end" and "decay", clashed violently with the dense "wither" Death Qi on the "Lord of Ashes"'s hand, leading to mutual annihilation.

The ash hand disintegrated and dissipated at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the Divine Soul imprint and "wither" Law belonging to the "Lord of Ashes" within it were forcibly stripped away, purified, and concluded by the "Samsara Seal".

"Ah—!" The "Lord of Ashes" let out a shrill howl, and that hand, along with a small portion of his arm, turned completely into flying ash. His movement to grab the "burning heaven flame crystal" also stalled.

This short moment of hesitation was already enough!

"Five Elements Returning to Ruins, Reincarnation Traction—Capture!"

Lin Wan's other hand had long been forming a seal, his five fingers spread in the air, grabbing toward the floating "burning heaven flame crystal" from a distance! A strange traction force, containing the rotation of the Five Elements, the silence of returning to ruins, but with the "Reincarnation" Dao rhythm as its core, instantly enveloped the "burning heaven flame crystal".

This power was not a forced seizure, but rather, through a profound, near-"Dao" resonance, it gently yet irresistibly severed the fragile layer of gray "wither" aura that the "Lord of Ashes" had forcibly branded onto the surface of the "burning heaven flame crystal", and then slowly pulled it to fly toward Lin Wan.

The "burning heaven flame crystal" seemed to sense the aura contained within Lin Wan's "Reincarnation" Dao rhythm—an aura that encompassed everything, was full of vitality and creation, and was completely different from "wither"—and it trembled slightly, its surface crimson light flowing, actually taking the initiative to cooperate and accelerate toward Lin Wan.

"No! That is mine! It is mine!" The "Lord of Ashes" watched helplessly as the "burning heaven flame crystal" broke free of his control and flew toward Lin Wan; his only remaining arm waved frantically, letting out a desperate and unreconciled roar.

His final reliance and crazy plan were completely dismantled by Lin Wan in such a clever and powerful manner.

"Yours?" Lin Wan reached out and steadily caught the flying crimson crystal, which was the size of a fist, warm to the touch, yet contained terrifying heat. Feeling the vast, pure, yet unyielding and Nirvana-imbued flame Origin within, he looked coldly at the "Lord of Ashes", whose aura was withered and whose manifestation had almost collapsed, "An item of Emperor Yan, how can a lackey of 'the end' like you dare to covet it? Now, it is time to send you on your way."

As his voice fell, the Samsara Seal already pressed onto the remains of the "Lord of Ashes" suddenly erupted with brilliant light! The power of "conclusion" and "Rebirth" contained within it, like a flood breaking its banks, instantly rushed into the body of the "Lord of Ashes", charging toward his core, which was wrapped in ash and dead flames, condensed from the Origin of "the end", endless resentment, and Death Qi!

"No! I am not reconciled! The Holy Master... will avenge me! 'the end'... will eventually descend! You... will all... die..."

The "Lord of Ashes" let out one last curse filled with venomous resentment, and his entire body, along with the broken ash manifestation behind him, melted, disintegrated, and was purified in the interweaving Chaos and emerald light of Reincarnation, like ice and snow under the scorching sun. Finally, it turned into wisps of pure gray air currents, having lost all "wither" will and leaving only pure fragments of the "the end" Law, which were absorbed and transformed by the "Samsara Seal", becoming a slight supplement to Lin Wan's "Chaos Samsara Dao Fruit".

As for the remnant Divine Soul imprint and consciousness of the "Lord of Ashes", they were thoroughly washed and purified by the Reincarnation Dao rhythm, turning into a speck of pure true spirit. Carrying confusion and relief, it was pulled by an invisible force of Reincarnation, drifting toward the Reincarnation passage in the unknown, awaiting his next... Reincarnation.

A "Lord"-level existence of the "Void Church", at the Late Stage of Soul Transformation, wielding the authority of "wither" and possessing formidable strength, thus completely perished, body and Soul scattered, re-entering Reincarnation.

Once the "Lord of Ashes" died, his connection with the "Ash Altar" and those gray figures was instantly severed.

"Boom—!" Having lost the power support and core control of the "Lord of Ashes", the "Ash Altar", which stood a thousand feet tall, constructed from dark red crystals, and exuded a dense aura of "wither" and "decay", let out a roar of being unable to bear the load. The strange dark red patterns lit up on its surface quickly dimmed and cracked, the entire altar began to shake violently, and countless cracks spread like spiderwebs; it was on the verge of collapse.

And those gray figures, having lost the blessing of the "Lord of Ashes" and relying on the "wither" power provided by the "Ash Altar" to maintain their powerful combat strength, saw their auras instantly plummet, their attacks becoming disorganized and weak.

"The enemy leader has been executed! The altar is about to collapse! Follow me and kill! Leave none alive!" Lin Wan put away the "burning heaven flame crystal", his gaze like lightning as he swept across the battlefield below, his cold voice resonating throughout the space.

"Kill—!" The members of the "Demon-Slaying General Corps", seeing Lin Wan eliminate the powerful enemy with thunderous means, had their morale greatly boosted and roared in unison. The power of their battle formation became even stronger, like tigers entering a flock of sheep, launching the final and most violent extermination against those panic-stricken, weakened gray figures.

Having lost the command and power blessing of the "Lord of Ashes", these "Void Church" lackeys, at most in the Early Stage of Soul Transformation and mostly at the Nascent Soul stage, had almost no power to resist in front of the well-trained, tacitly cooperative, and high-morale "Demon-Slaying General Corps". In just a short incense stick's time, they were all slaughtered, with not a single one escaping.

Meanwhile, the huge "Ash Altar" also completely collapsed with a deafening roar, turning into countless dark red gravel and pervasive gray smoke and dust, sinking into the surging "Sea of Ashes" below, stirring up towering gray waves.

The altar collapsed, those gray figures were exterminated, and the dense "wither" Death Qi that permeated the entire underground space began to slowly dissipate. Although the "Sea of Ashes" still existed, having lost its source and support, its corrosiveness was greatly reduced, and the pollution to the environment was gradually suppressed and purified under the counterattack of the "Burning Heaven Purgatory"'s own violent flame power.

A crisis capable of detonating the "Burning Heaven Purgatory" and causing a huge disaster was forcefully resolved by Lin Wan single-handedly.

"Clean up the battlefield, check the altar ruins, and see if there are any missed clues or hidden dangers. Collect the spoils, especially the things on the bodies of those 'the end' lackeys; perhaps we can find more intelligence about the 'Void Church'." Lin Wan landed back on the ground and gave instructions to the members of the "Demon-Slaying General Corps" who were cleaning up the battlefield. He himself held the "burning heaven flame crystal", carefully sensing the mysteries within it.

"Yes! Elder Lin!" The crowd respectfully accepted the order and quickly took action.

"Elder Lin's Divine Might! If it weren't for the Elder turning the tide this time, the consequences would be unimaginable!" That Guest Elder at the Soul Transformation stage from the Eastern Wastelands came to Lin Wan's side, looking at the "burning heaven flame crystal" in Lin Wan's hand, his eyes filled with amazement and admiration. He had witnessed with his own eyes the battle of Laws between Lin Wan and the "Lord of Ashes" that transcended the ordinary Soul Transformation level, especially the mystery and power of that final "Samsara Seal", which was simply inconceivable.

"It is my duty." Lin Wan waved his hand, his gaze still lingering on the "burning heaven flame crystal" in his hand. The crystal was warm to the touch, and inside it seemed to be countless tiny flame spirits dancing and colliding, emitting a scorching and pure flame Origin power, with an unyielding, Nirvana-imbued intent to burn everything contained within. However, Lin Wan's "Eye of Samsara" keenly noticed that deep in the core of this pure flame Origin, there seemed to be a hidden, extremely faint, yet essentially high-level, strange fluctuation that was completely different from "the end" and even faintly had a tendency to dominate.

"This 'burning heaven flame crystal' seems... a bit strange." Lin Wan frowned slightly, carefully probing toward the core of the crystal with his Divine Sense and the insight of the "Eye of Samsara".

However, the moment his Divine Sense and "Reincarnation" Dao rhythm touched that trace of strange fluctuation— "Hum—!"

The "burning heaven flame crystal" suddenly trembled, erupting with an unprecedented, brilliant crimson light!

A vast, ancient, and boundless power—seemingly from the era of the world's inception and the birth of all things, filled with endless creation and life-force, yet distinct from mere flame—exploded from the depths of the crystal!

This power was so vast, so pure, and so noble that it seemed to transcend the mundane and rise above the Law!

The moment it appeared, the entire "Burning Heaven Purgatory" Secret Realm shook!

Those violent fire spirits, as if seeing a monarch, ceased their dancing and bowed in submission toward the "burning heaven flame crystal."

The flowing magma, solidified ash, and even the collapsed ruins of the altar trembled under the shroud of this power.

Immediately after, in the center of the brilliant crimson light erupted by the "burning heaven flame crystal," a flame—more pure and profound than the crimson, seemingly condensing all the Origin and essence of creation of all flames in the world, presenting a noble, eternal, and nearly transparent pale gold color—slowly and steadily... rose up!

This wisp of pale golden flame, only the size of a soybean, emitted a supreme pressure that made everyone present, including Lin Wan, feel their Souls tremble as if facing the Origin of heaven and earth!

The flame Law contained within it had already transcended the categories of "burning heaven" and "destruction," faintly touching upon the supreme Concepts of "creation," "life," and "innovation"!

"This... is this..." That Eastern Wasteland Soul Transformation Guest Elder, as well as the members of the "Demon-Slaying General Corps" who were cleaning the battlefield, were stunned by this sudden anomaly, staring dumbfoundedly at that wisp of pale golden flame emitting supreme pressure, almost unable to believe their eyes.

"The Flame Emperor's... core... source fire?" Lin Wan was also inexplicably shocked.

He could feel that this wisp of pale golden flame was the true core of the "burning heaven flame crystal," the source of its endless flame Origin and Law essence!

Moreover, the essence of this flame seemed to be on a higher level than he had imagined!

It was by no means comparable to ordinary "burning heaven" flames!

Just then, an even more astonishing anomaly occurred.

That wisp of pale golden flame, emitting supreme pressure, paused slightly after rising about three feet above the "burning heaven flame crystal."

Then, as if sensing something, it actually... changed direction and, like a swallow returning to its nest, floated slowly and gently toward Lin Wan's glabella, toward the "Chaos Samsara Dao Fruit" that was slightly heating up and emitting Dao Rhyme interwoven with Chaos and emerald green.

"This is..." Lin Wan felt a jolt in his heart.

He could feel that this wisp of pale golden flame seemed to have no malice toward him; rather, there was a sense of... affinity, dependence, and even... yearning coming from it?

And the target was his "Chaos Samsara Dao Fruit"?

Before he could think further, the wisp of pale golden flame had already floated to his glabella.

Under the wrapping and attraction of the Chaos and emerald green Dao Rhyme emitted by the "Chaos Samsara Dao Fruit," it trembled slightly, and then... merged into the "Chaos Samsara Dao Fruit" without any hindrance!

"Boom—!!!"

Lin Wan only felt as if a sun had exploded within his Sea of Consciousness!

Endless light and heat, endless flame essence, and endless vitality of creation erupted violently with the integration of that wisp of pale golden flame, pouring into the "Chaos Samsara Dao Fruit"!

The "Chaos Samsara Dao Fruit" shook violently.

The Five Elements, Returning to Ruins, life, the end, and Reincarnation Dao Rhyme that were originally balanced and flowing within it seemed to have a piece of red-hot iron thrown into them, instantly becoming boiling and violent!

Especially the side representing "Fire," as well as the emerald green Dao Rhyme representing "life" and "creation," shone brightly, crazily absorbing and fusing with the vast and pure flame Origin and vitality of creation brought by the pale golden flame!

"Ah—!"

Even though Lin Wan's Divine Soul was resilient and his Foundation was stable, he was still forced to let out a muffled groan by this sudden, tsunami-like impact of Origin power.

His face turned bright red instantly, and the aura around him fluctuated violently and uncontrollably.

He could not help but sit cross-legged, fully operating the "Chaos Samsara Dao Fruit" to guide and refine this sudden, unimaginably huge gift.

In the eyes of the others outside, after the pale golden flame merged into Lin Wan's glabella, he was enveloped by a layer of scorching yet vital pale golden flame.

At the position of the "Chaos Samsara Dao Fruit" at his glabella, it was as if there was an extra small, eternally burning pale golden sun, emitting endless light, heat, and supreme pressure.

His aura began to climb wildly at a terrifying speed!

The fire Spiritual Qi in the surrounding heaven and earth, and even the flame Origin of the entire "Burning Heaven Purgatory" Secret Realm, seemed to have been summoned, beginning to gather crazily toward Lin Wan, turning into crimson torrents that poured into his body, were absorbed and refined by the pale golden flame, and transformed into purer and more magnificent power to nurture Lin Wan's Cultivation, Physical Body, and Divine Soul!

"Is this... a Legacy? Or... a Fusion?" That Eastern Wasteland Soul Transformation Guest Elder, looking at Lin Wan, who was wrapped in pale golden flames with his aura rising steadily, had eyes full of unspeakable shock and envy.

He could feel that the wisp of pale golden flame was by no means an ordinary object; it was very likely the true core Legacy left by the Flame Emperor, or perhaps... an existence of a higher level that transcended the "burning heaven flame crystal" itself!

And at this moment, this grand Opportunity had actually chosen Lin Wan and fused with his "Reincarnation" Dao Fruit!

"Everyone, listen up! Protect Elder Lin! No one is allowed to approach or disturb him!" The captain of the Seventh Squad, a middle-aged Sword Cultivator with a resolute face, was the first to react.

He shouted sternly while quickly spreading out with the other Soul Transformation Cultivators, firmly guarding Lin Wan, who was sitting cross-legged and breaking through, in the center, scanning the surroundings vigilantly.

Although the enemy had been wiped out, this "Burning Heaven Purgatory" Secret Realm was mysterious and unpredictable; it was hard to guarantee there were no other dangers.

Lin Wan had clearly entered some kind of critical state of Epiphany and Breakthrough, and there was absolutely no room for error.

The remaining members of the "Demon-Slaying General Corps" also reacted immediately, forming battle formations to guard the periphery, their expressions solemn and ready for battle.

They looked at Lin Wan, who was wrapped in flames, their eyes filled with awe, excitement, and anticipation.

Elder Lin was already powerful, and now that he had obtained such a great Opportunity, once the Breakthrough was successful, his strength would inevitably skyrocket.

This was undoubtedly great news for the Alliance and the great cause of fighting against "the end"!

Time passed slowly amidst the tense protection of the crowd and Lin Wan's selfless Cultivation.

In the Secret Realm, fire Spiritual Qi surged wildly, turning into crimson tornadoes that poured into Lin Wan's body.

The pale golden "sun" at his glabella grew brighter and brighter, and the pressure it emitted became stronger and stronger, faintly showing a trend of resonating with the entire "Burning Heaven Purgatory" Secret Realm.

And Lin Wan's aura, under this terrifying infusion and refining, continued to climb and break through...

Late Stage Soul Transformation...

Half-step Void Refining...

Finally, at a certain critical point, it was like a volcano that had accumulated enough power, erupting violently!

"Boom—!"

A vast, magnificent, and indescribable terrifying aura, seemingly capable of burning the heavens and creating all things, scorching yet containing endless vitality, soared from Lin Wan's body!

At his glabella, the phantom of the "Chaos Samsara Dao Fruit" appeared again, but its form had undergone a world-shaking change!

The Dao Fruit, which was originally interwoven with Chaos and emerald green and contained the phantom of the Five Elements cycle, now had an eternally burning, pale golden flame at its core, seemingly containing the ultimate mystery of fire and the Origin of creation!

This wisp of flame merged perfectly with the emerald green "life creation" Dao Rhyme originally in the Dao Fruit, making the Dao Fruit as a whole present a brand-new form—interwoven with Chaos, emerald green, and pale gold, flowing endlessly, more perfect, more vast, and more unfathomable!

The Dao Rhyme it emitted was no longer just "Reincarnation," but also incorporated the destruction of "burning heaven," the vitality of "creation," and a supreme Concept that seemed capable of "Nirvana Rebirth" and remaining undying through tribulations!

At the same time, Lin Wan's Cultivation, pushed by this vast power, followed the natural course of events and broke through the Bottleneck that had plagued countless Soul Transformation Cultivators like a natural chasm, unstoppable!

Void Refining stage!

Moreover, it was not an ordinary entry into Void Refining, but a Void Refining with an unimaginably solid Foundation and profound background, stable at the Peak of the Early Stage of Void Refining as soon as it broke through, only one step away from the Middle Stage of Void Refining!

Lin Wan, in this "Burning Heaven Purgatory" Secret Realm, through Destiny and coincidence, fused with the mysterious pale golden flame left by the Flame Emperor, which was suspected to transcend the "burning heaven flame crystal" itself and contained the essence of "creation" and "Nirvana."

His Cultivation skyrocketed, breaking through the Soul Transformation barrier in one fell swoop, and he officially stepped into the... Void Refining realm!

He became another, and the youngest, Void Refining expert in the Tiannan Continent, and even the entire Five Regions, on the surface, following Emperor Yan, Venerable Dan, Fairy Yaoxi, Jian Wuya, Elder Xingshu, and others!

Moreover, he was a Void Refining expert who possessed the "Chaos Samsara Dao Fruit," fused with the "creation Nirvana" true fire, had a strong restraining ability against the power of "the end," and had combat power far exceeding those of the same rank!

Just as Lin Wan completed his Breakthrough, slowly opened his eyes, and felt the unprecedented, vast power in his body that seemed to be able to control a region of heaven and earth, as well as the world-shaking changes in the "Chaos Samsara Dao Fruit"—

"Hum—!"

In his hand, the "burning heaven flame crystal," which had lost its pale golden flame core but still contained magnificent flame Origin, suddenly trembled again, and projected a crimson beam of light, shining into a corner buried by rubble deep in the collapsed "ash altar" ruins below.

It seemed that there was something else hidden there, which had a deeper connection with this "burning heaven flame crystal," or rather, with the Flame Emperor.

And Lin Wan's Divine Sense, which had just broken through and become sharper and more vast, also faintly felt that deep in the ruins of the altar, there seemed to be a trace of an extremely weak, yet familiar and strange, bizarre fluctuation that made his "Reincarnation" Dao Fruit tremble slightly.