167: The core of the abyss, a glimmer of hope

Relying on the strong connection between the black iron and the Nirvana Origin, Li Ao and the two women rapidly traveled through this boundless sea of pale fire.

Surrounded by eternally burning destructive flames, silence and destruction were the only main themes here, but the wisp of Nirvana Origin in Li Ao's heart, which contained vitality due to its transformation, was like a lighthouse in the darkness, guiding their direction.

The deeper they went, the more profound the color of the pale flames became, even starting to shimmer with a strange dark-gold luster.

The destructive aura contained within them became purer and more terrifying.

Even the simulated light barrier set up by Zi Yan began to faintly ripple, enduring immense pressure.

Medusa fully circulated her Seven-Colored Dou Qi, her beautiful face taut, clearly not finding it easy either.

"The rules of destruction here have almost materialized," Zi Yan said with a serious expression, her purple-gold Dragon eyes filled with vigilance.

"If we go further, we will probably reach the true core of this Abyss.

I sense an extremely vast and ancient consciousness sleeping there."

Li Ao nodded; he felt it too.

That consciousness was like a dormant primordial giant beast, its power far exceeding that of the previous Flame Giant.

However, the pull emanating from the black iron in his glabella grew stronger, as if urging him forward.

"Xiao Yi Xian's last aura dissipated right here.

No matter what, I must find the answer," Li Ao's voice was low, carrying undeniable resolve.

He was not only doing this for Xiao Yi Xian, but he also vaguely felt that the secret of this Abyss's core might be closely related to his own Nirvana Origin, and perhaps even to that mysterious black iron.

The three continued forward, flying for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, when the scene ahead suddenly changed!

The boundless sea of pale fire came to an end, replaced by an enormous, slowly rotating Flame Vortex!

The center of the vortex was not darkness, but a single point of ultimate dark-gold light that seemed capable of swallowing all light!

An indescribable terrifying suction force emanated from the vortex, as if even one's Soul would be pulled inside!

And at the edge of the Flame Vortex, a strange sight appeared.

It was no longer pure destructive flames, but plants that were entirely pitch black, distorted in shape, yet emitted a faint vitality!

These plants were rooted in the void of the flames, their leaves shimmering with a dark glow like obsidian, completely out of place with their surroundings, yet strangely coexisting with them.

"The extreme of destruction actually bred a trace of vitality?" A hint of surprise flashed in Medusa's purple eyes.

"When things reach an extreme, they reverse; Yin and Yang give birth to each other," Li Ao realized.

The Nirvana Origin within him was abnormally active here; the wisp of "life" aura even faintly suppressed the "death" aura, resonating with the faint vitality emitted by the surrounding black plants.

His gaze was fixed intently on the very center of the Flame Vortex, that dark-gold point of light.

The sensation from the black iron, as well as the inexplicable throbbing in his heart, all pointed there!

"The answer is right there," Li Ao took a deep breath and said to Zi Yan and Medusa, "You two wait here as backup; I will go in and take a look."

"Absolutely not! It's too dangerous!" Medusa immediately objected, her purple eyes filled with worry.

The Flame Vortex felt much more terrifying to her than the Flame Giant had.

Zi Yan also frowned, "Kid, the energy level at the center of that vortex is extremely high.

Even I dare not say I could retreat unscathed."

"I must go," Li Ao looked at them, his eyes firm yet gentle.

"Not just for Xiao Yi Xian, but for myself.

The Foundation of my power might find its answer here.

Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Feeling the transformed Nirvana Origin within him and the restlessness of the black iron in his glabella, an intuition told him that although there was great danger there, it also contained an Opportunity that belonged to him.

Seeing that Li Ao's mind was made up, Medusa and Zi Yan knew they could not stop him.

"Take this," Zi Yan flicked her finger, and a purple-gold Dragon scale landed in Li Ao's hand.

"This is transformed from my reverse scale and contains the power of one of my attacks.

If you encounter a life-or-death crisis, crush it!"

Medusa also stepped forward, gently holding Li Ao's hand and placing a Seven-Colored snake scale into his palm, whispering, "Be careful."

Feeling the concern of the two women, a warm current surged in Li Ao's heart, and he nodded heavily, "Wait for my return."

After speaking, he no longer hesitated.

He circulated his Nirvana Origin, and gray-white Qi enveloped his entire body.

In particular, the wisp of "life" aura was stimulated to its extreme, forming a unique layer of protection.

His figure moved, transforming into a gray streak, and he resolutely charged toward the giant Flame Vortex!

The moment he entered the vortex's range, terrifying tearing forces surged from all directions, seemingly trying to crush him!

The surroundings were no longer flames, but extremely chaotic energy turbulence and spatial fragments!

Li Ao compressed his Annihilation Domain to the extreme, struggling to stabilize his body, advancing arduously toward the dark-gold light at the center of the vortex like a fish swimming upstream.

The closer he got to the center, the greater the pressure, and the clearer the dark-gold light became.

Li Ao could sense that it was not merely light, but an... entrance?

Or rather, a core node formed by the ultimate power of destruction?

Just as he was about to touch that dark-gold node, another anomaly occurred!

The vast consciousness that had been silent all this time seemed to finally be completely awakened!

An indescribable will, filled with ancient vicissitudes and absolute destruction, pressed down like the entire world, fiercely impacting Li Ao's Soul!

"Buzz!"

Li Ao felt as if he had been struck heavily; blood instantly seeped from his seven orifices, and his Sea of Consciousness felt like it was about to explode!

If his Soul Realm had not already reached the Spirit Realm Mid Stage, and if he had not undergone Nirvana Rebirth, and if the black iron were not suppressing his mind, this single blow would have been enough to cause his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!

"Intruder... die..."

A vague, icy intent, devoid of any emotion, sounded directly in the depths of his Soul.

Immediately afterward, the dark-gold node violently expanded, transforming into a giant eye composed entirely of dark-gold destructive flames!

Within the eye, there was no emotion, only pure, ultimate indifference.

The Eye of Destruction!

It stared at Li Ao, and a subtle dark-gold beam of light, as if transcending rules and ignoring space and defenses, shot directly toward Li Ao's glabella!

This attack contained the Origin rule of destruction of the Flame Abyss, far surpassing previous attacks!

Li Ao felt his very existence begin to disintegrate and annihilate under this gaze!

A hair's breadth from death!

At this critical moment!

The black iron in Li Ao's glabella finally erupted with unprecedented light!

It was no longer passively defending, but actively flew out from Li Ao's glabella, transforming into a palm-sized, entirely dark iron piece covered in profound patterns, hovering in front of Li Ao!

That black iron seemed to be the true core of this destructive world!

The moment it appeared, the entire Flame Vortex paused!

The dark-gold beam shot by the Eye of Destruction, upon contact with the faint light emitted by the black iron, instantly became docile, as if a subject meeting an emperor, and then... it was slowly absorbed by the black iron!

Not only that attack, but the massive destructive energy within the entire Flame Vortex began to uncontrollably converge toward the black iron!

The black iron was like a bottomless pit, frantically devouring the most fundamental destructive power of this world!

For the first time, fluctuations resembling "emotion" appeared in the Eye of Destruction—was that disbelief and... fear?!

"Impossible... This is... nirvana star core... the long-lost... core..." Disjointed, horrified intent transmitted once again.

nirvana star core?

Li Ao's heart trembled violently.

Was this the black iron's true name and Origin?!

The black iron devoured the destructive energy, its patterns growing brighter, and the annihilation aura it emitted became purer and more ancient.

It slowly rotated, as if breathing, completing itself.

As the energy drained away, the giant Eye of Destruction began to dim and become unstable.

The vast consciousness within it also let out a painful wail, as if its Foundation had been shaken.

Li Ao was inspired and immediately sat cross-legged behind the black iron, fully circulating his Cultivation Technique, guiding the destructive Origin energy—which had been filtered and transformed by the black iron, making it relatively gentle and pure—to merge into his body!

This was a once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity!

By taking advantage of this, he could not only rapidly increase his cultivation but also deepen his understanding of the Nirvana Origin!

His aura began to surge at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Four-Star Dou Zun Middle Stage... Peak... Five-Star Dou Zun!

However, Li Ao's focus was not entirely on cultivation improvement at this moment.

His Soul Power, utilizing the black iron's connection to this world, spread out like a tide, meticulously searching and sensing for any faint trace that might belong to Xiao Yi Xian...

Just when he was about to despair, deep within the core of the Eye of Destruction, enveloped by the power of ultimate destruction, he suddenly sensed an extremely faint, yet tenacious... Soul fluctuation!

That fluctuation carried the unique coldness of the Calamity Poison Body, yet it strangely achieved Fusion with a wisp of Nirvana Origin aura, forming a completely new, balanced, and resilient state of existence!

It was Xiao Yi Xian!

She truly had not been completely annihilated!

Her true spirit, after detonating the Calamity Poison Body and the Nirvana Origin, had surprisingly turned misfortune into fortune, integrating into the core of this destructive world in an unbelievable way.

Amidst the ultimate destruction, she preserved a point of spiritual consciousness, and was even... undergoing some kind of transformation?!

The light of hope, like a spark ignited in the darkness, instantly illuminated Li Ao's heart!

He suddenly opened his eyes, looking at the gradually dimming core of the Eye of Destruction, an unprecedented brilliance erupting in his gaze!

"Xiao Yi Xian... wait for me!"