Immortality Cultivation

Chapter 245: Earth Fire Burning Body

After separating from Mu Fenghua, the lingering sorrow in Fang Hao’s heart was quickly washed away by the coldness and urgency of reality. He was now alone, with the Sun Family’s overwhelming dragnet of pursuit behind him and the unknown dangers of the Secret Realm ahead. There was no time for sentimentality; surviving and becoming stronger was the only path.

Following the vague guidance of the star evolution plate, he crept toward the depths of the Secret Realm, to that area where spatial fluctuations were abnormal. Along the way, he was even more cautious. His Shadowless Evasion Technique had almost become an instinct, and his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes scanned the surroundings constantly, not daring to be the slightest bit careless. The Sun Family might have already spread his portrait and aura; there was no telling how many eyes were looking for him in this Secret Realm now.

After walking for about a day, the terrain ahead began to change strangely. The ground was no longer soil and forest, but vast stretches of dark red rock that looked like congealed blood. A faint smell of sulfur permeated the air, the temperature was rising significantly, and the air he inhaled into his lungs carried a burning sensation.

This is... the Earth Fire region? Fang Hao’s heart stirred. He remembered that the second stage of the Hundred Refinements Golden Body Art—Earth Fire Burning Body—required drawing Earth Fire into the body to temper the tendons, bones, flesh, and blood, enabling the Physical Body to resist high temperatures and even initially possess the ability to control flames. He had long since completed the first stage, Lightning Induction Body Tempering, which had greatly increased his Physical Body’s defense and strength, but he had never found a suitable Earth Fire environment to practice this second stage.

This area right now seemed perfect!

However, he did not dare to go deep immediately. Lands of Earth Fire were often accompanied by powerful fire-type Demon Beasts or other dangers. He first found a hidden crack on the edge to hide in, using his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes to observe carefully.

In the distance, the earth cracked open into hideous gashes, and crimson magma flowed slowly like a river, emitting a terrifying high temperature. In the magma river, huge bubbles occasionally bulged and burst, splashing hot slurry. The free-roaming fire Qi in the air was so dense it almost turned into solid red mist. On the edges of some magma pools, one could even see a few strange Spiritual Plants that were entirely crimson, as if condensed from flames; they were clearly not ordinary items.

A good place! Truly an excellent place to Cultivate the Earth Fire Burning Body! Fang Hao was secretly delighted. But he also saw that on the banks of those magma rivers, several Demon Beasts covered in crimson scales, shaped like lizards with a single horn on their heads, were resting; their auras were all around the third rank, clearly the overlords of this place. Further away, deep within the magma, there seemed to be even more obscure and powerful auras lurking.

Can’t force my way in, need to think of a way. Fang Hao pondered. He needed a relatively safe place where the Earth Fire was pure enough to Cultivate. Ideally, a hidden spot where Earth Fire surged, but no powerful Demon Beasts were entrenched.

He took out the star evolution plate and injected Qi. The compass needle spun around, seemingly interfered with by the dense fire-type Qi here, becoming somewhat chaotic. But soon, the needle pointed to the northeast of this Earth Fire region, where the spatial fluctuations seemed even more abnormal, and... the sensation of the battle heaven axe fragment also seemed to point in that direction?

Could it be... not only is there Earth Fire there, but it might also hide the next fragment? Fang Hao’s eyes lit up. This was an unexpected joy. It seemed that this Savage Secret Realm was indeed full of treasures everywhere, and Opportunity and danger coexisted everywhere.

He no longer hesitated, chose the direction, and pushed his Shadowless Evasion Technique to the limit. His figure almost merged into the dark red rock background as he cautiously crept toward the northeast. He avoided the obvious magma rivers and Demon Beast nests, choosing to travel through rock crevices and areas where scorching air currents steamed, which could hide his figure to the greatest extent.

The deeper he went, the higher the temperature, and the free-roaming fire Qi in the air was almost about to ignite. Fang Hao had to circulate his Qi to protect his body to feel better. His Hundred Refinements Golden Body Art also seemed to be stimulated, slowly circulating on its own, and the bronze luster under his skin seemed to become deeper under the high temperature.

After walking for about two hours, a strange sight appeared ahead. It was a huge circular crater surrounded by black basalt. Inside the crater, it was not flowing magma, but a huge fire pit with a diameter of over a hundred feet, bottomless, constantly spraying dark red, almost pure white flames upwards! The rocks on the edge of the fire pit were burned into a glass-like state. The temperature of the flames was terrifyingly high; from far away, Fang Hao felt his protective Qi light sizzling, about to be ignited. Above the fire pit, the air was distorted, emitting crackle explosions.

And on the edge of the fire pit, on a sunken rock wall near the inside, Fang Hao’s Clear Spring Spirit Eyes suddenly saw a palm-sized, entirely dark golden, irregularly edged metal fragment embedded there, emitting a Savage aura that was out of place with the surrounding flames! The fourth battle heaven axe fragment! It was actually stuck on the edge of this terrifying Earth Fire pit, and it had been there for who knows how many years, yet it hadn’t been melted by this terrifying high temperature!

It’s really here! Fang Hao was excited. But immediately, he frowned. The temperature of this fire pit was too terrifying. With his current cultivation and Physical Body, he feared that if he got within thirty feet, his protective Qi light would be burned through, and within fifty feet, his Physical Body would be scorched. Not to mention that the fragment was stuck on the inner edge of the fire pit; to get it, he would have to go down near the fire pit, or even possibly brave the flames to pry it out.

And... this place, I always feel something is wrong. Fang Hao stared at the constantly surging pure white Earth Fire, feeling a little uneasy in his heart. The power of this flame seemed to be much stronger than the Earth Fire he knew, and the color and fluctuations of the flame also gave him a feeling of... a living creature?

Just as he was figuring out how to make a move, suddenly, deep in the fire pit, the pure white flame surged upward violently. Within the flames, a pair of huge, cold pupils burning with golden flames vaguely appeared, scanning the direction where Fang Hao was hiding!

Although it only flashed by, that terrifying pressure like a prehistoric beast waking up and the extremely scorching killing intent made Fang Hao instantly feel like he had fallen into an ice cellar, and yet also like he had been thrown into a furnace; the hair all over his body stood on end, and his blood almost froze!

Fourth rank? No, maybe more! Is this a Fire Spirit born in this Earth Fire pit?! Or some kind of terrifying flame Demon Beast?!

Run! Run immediately! This thought was the only thing left in Fang Hao’s mind. This thing was definitely not something he could deal with now! Let alone getting the fragment, if he stayed a moment longer, he would probably be treated as a snack by this flame beast!

He did not hesitate, turned around and fled! Shrinking the Ground to an Inch and Divine Spirit Steps exploded to the limit simultaneously, and his figure fled for his life in the direction he came from like a frightened rabbit! He didn’t even dare to look back, fearing that the gaze in the flames would lock onto him again.

He fled for more than ten miles in one breath, and only when he could no longer feel that terrifying scorching pressure did Fang Hao dare to stop, leaning against a hot rock, panting heavily, still feeling a lingering fear.

Damn it, this place is too evil! That fragment... is not easy to get. Fang Hao’s face was ugly. The fourth fragment was right in front of him, but he couldn’t get it; this feeling was extremely frustrating. Moreover, with such a terrifying flame creature entrenched there, let alone now, even if he completed the Earth Fire Burning Body and his strength improved by a large margin, he probably wouldn’t dare to provoke it easily.

Looks like I need to plan carefully. Fang Hao calmed down. For now, it was better to find a relatively safe place where the Earth Fire was strong enough to complete the Earth Fire Burning Body first. With a stronger Physical Body, perhaps there would be a way to deal with that flame creature, or find other ways to get the fragment.

He took out the star evolution plate again. This time, he was not looking for the direction where the fragment sensation was strongest, but for an area where the Earth Fire Qi was dense but relatively peaceful, without powerful creatures entrenched. The compass needle trembled and pointed to the northwest corner of this Earth Fire region.

Fang Hao followed the guidance and spent another half a day coming to a relatively gentle zone. This was an area composed of countless geothermal springs of various sizes emitting heat. The spring water was scalding, but not at the terrifying high temperature that could melt rock; the spring water was a pale milky white, containing pure fire Qi and a strange vitality. Around the springs grew many fire-loving Spiritual Plants, and there were even a few weak fire lizards active; seeing Fang Hao, they immediately burrowed into the rock crevices nearby.

This place is good! Fang Hao’s eyes lit up. This geothermal spring could just be used to Cultivate the Earth Fire Burning Body! The spring water temperature was high enough, the fire Qi was pure, and there was no great danger.

He found a medium-sized spring with a secluded location, the deepest water, and the densest fire Qi, set up concealment and protective Formations around it, then took off his clothes (leaving only a pair of shorts) and sat cross-legged on the edge of the scalding spring water.

Hundred Refinements Golden Body Art second stage—Earth Fire Burning Body!

He silently recited the mantra, adjusted his breathing, and guided the Qi and blood in his body to circulate along a specific route. Then, he cautiously slowly reached one hand into the scalding, white-steaming milky white spring water.

Hiss—!

An indescribable burning pain came from his fingertips instantly, as if it wasn’t water, but molten iron! His skin turned bright red instantly, and the sharp pain made the veins on Fang Hao’s forehead bulge, but he gritted his teeth and endured, not pulling his hand back.

He circulated the Cultivation Technique, trying to guide a trace of pure fire Qi from the spring water, through the pores of his fingertips, slowly seeping into his body.

Urgh ah—!

The moment the fire Qi entered his body, it was like a red-hot steel needle, fiercely piercing into his Meridians! Wherever it passed, the Meridians felt the sharp pain of being burned and torn! Fang Hao groaned, his body couldn’t help but tremble, and beads of sweat just emerged, only to be evaporated by the high temperature.

But he knew this was just the beginning. To complete the Earth Fire Burning Body, he had to endure this pain of Earth Fire burning the bones! Using this power of Earth Fire to burn and temper the Impurities, blockages, and the relatively fragile Meridians, bones, and flesh in his body, making them tougher and stronger, and even initially able to accommodate and use fire-type power!

He endured the inhuman pain, guiding that faint trace of Earth Fire power, moving slowly and arduously in his body. Every movement was like rolling in a mountain of knives and a sea of fire. His skin turned bright red, like a cooked shrimp, and white smoke even rose from his body surface; that was the sign of Impurities in his body being burned and discharged.

Cultivation officially began in silent pain. And this crisis-ridden Secret Realm also temporarily became a temporary refuge for Fang Hao to go into seclusion and accumulate strength. He had to seize the time to arm himself as much as possible before the Sun Family’s net was completely tightened.