Chapter 235. Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) Enters the Body

The 2 took stock of the situation and found the casualties from this battle were truly severe.

The fallen Foundation Establishment cultivators alone numbered 20-5, while the remaining 100 or so were mostly wounded, tormented by the power of Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) and rendered temporarily combat-ineffective.

The Chen Clan was also faring poorly. Not only had they lost 2 Foundation Establishment cultivators in battle, but among the remaining members, 5 had been invaded by the Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root), including the promising Kael (Person Name).

Seeing the pained expressions on their faces, Eldrin had no choice but to say, "There are still several portions of Marrow of Mystic Water in the clan treasury. I shall refine a few batches of second-tier medicinal elixirs later—that should eradicate 80 to 90 percent of the Fire Fiend Qi's power."

"The rest should be of little consequence, though it will require a few years of delay."

Kael nodded, enduring the excruciating agony of the Fire Fiend Qi invading his body. Gritting his teeth, he rasped, "I wonder how this torment from the Fire Fiend Qi compares to the physical suffering of breaking through to the Violet Mansion on 1's own?"

Eldrin's pupils contracted slightly as he couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean?"

Kael nodded, gritting his teeth as he spoke.

"I wish to attempt taming the power of the Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root), using this terrestrial Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) energy to temper my meridians and enhance the possibility of breaking through to the Purple Mansion."

There was no denying that this clan brother's idea was indeed feasible.

Although the power of Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) is overwhelmingly fierce, it can temper a cultivator's will. If 1 endures its refining flames and succeeds in subduing it, the likelihood of overcoming physical tribulations in the future increases significantly.

He possessed a triple spiritual root of fire, wood, and earth, coupled with the sharp true energy forged through self-established foundation. Theoretically, he could refine the power of his Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) into his true energy, enhancing its sharpness and domineering force.

Back then, Chen Qingyuan had merely been tainted by a wisp of Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) energy, yet the agony drove him to end his own life. This reveals that the suffering and hardship involved would be beyond imagination, and perhaps exceedingly difficult to accomplish.

It is said that after the eruption of the underground fire vein in the Skybright Valley, the entire spiritual vein was completely corroded by the Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root), transforming a radius of a 1000 miles into a land of molten lava.

Countless spiritual beings were laid to rest within the Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root), and it would likely take at least several 100 years for it to fully settle.

"This spiritual vein and earth vein have both been destroyed."

"Even if the fire vein calms after 1 100 years, its grade will plummet significantly."

Eldrin (Person Name) let out a sigh, having no choice but to lead the group back to the encampment at the foot of Green Sun Mountain.

Spiritual Vein of Mount Qingyang.

Upon a towering mountain peak, a solitary figure stood vigil before a cavern abode.

This person was none other than Patriarch Mo of the Azure Sun Sect. At this moment, Patriarch Mo stood with hair and beard as white as snow, then stepped into the cavern abode.

In the center of the grotto, an elder robed in azure sat cross-legged in serene stillness.

He looked at Elder Mo and asked with a solemn expression, "Junior Brother Mo, what is the current situation?"

"The soul lamps of Chongyang (Person Name) and Mordecai (Person Name) have both been extinguished."

"However, the fire vein of the Daybreak Valley has already erupted. Most of them must have suffered severe injuries. It seems Mordecai (Person Name) truly hasn't let us down."

Elder Mo spoke calmly, yet a trace of profound sorrow lay hidden in his eyes.

From the very moment he handed the Thunder Calamity Pearl to Mordecai (Person Name), Mordecai (Person Name) had already understood his mission.

Sold to the Azure Sun Sect in his youth, he now found his very life bargained away by the same sect upon reaching profound cultivation—a cruelty too bitter to bear.

But Mordecai still went. He had already embraced death when he set out, and in the end, he repaid a century of nurturing and karma from his sect with his own blood and bones.

As Elder Mo’s voice faded, his gaze shifted to the green-robed elder before him. “Senior Brother Liu, did you succeed?”

"Everything went rather smoothly."

The azure-robed elder nodded. It turned out he was none other than Patriarch Liu of the Green Sun Sect, a cultivator at the ninth level of the Violet Mansion.

Elder Liu’s gaze turned slightly cold, his expression detached as he spoke, “This time, by consuming the sect’s treasured quasi-fourth-rank life-extending treasure pill, I have gained another 50 years of longevity and finally broken through to the False Core Realm.”

"They thought this old man was bedridden and on death's doorstep, powerless to do anything but watch as they besieged the Sunstar Sect."

"Surely by the day of the final battle, we'll be able to give them 1 hell of a surprise."

The Elder Mo also revealed a pleased expression, stroking his beard as he said, “After the underground fire vein erupted in the Heavenly Dawn Valley, I suspect quite a few of the Purple Mansion cultivators under Lyra (Person Name) have been invaded by the Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root).”

"This would delay them for at least half a year, while the Patriarch only needed 5 months to fully recover and emerge from seclusion."

"Once Elder Xu emerges from seclusion and a Golden Core cultivator presides over the mountain-guarding formation, even 3 to 5 ordinary Golden Core cultivators wouldn't be able to breach our defenses."

"They'll be left battered and bloodied when the time comes."

Meanwhile, at the foot of Qingyang Mountain.

Lyra gazed at the severely wounded companions, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

Aside from Eldrin (Person Name), Chen Changxuan, and the highly cultivated Patriarch Qian, all other Golden Mansion cultivators who participated in the battle sustained severe injuries.

In this battle, only 30-some Zi Palace cultivators had joined the fray. Yet before the fighting had even begun, over a dozen had already been infiltrated by the Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root). Truly, this was an inauspicious start.

Especially figures like Patriarch Fang and Xavier (Person Name), who were at the Purple Palace, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm), served as the elite combat forces in this battle.

Eldrin also felt somewhat troubled and said with concern, "Their Fire Fiend Qi has invaded their bodies, I'm afraid it will be difficult for them to regain their combat strength in a short time. Should we postpone the attack?"

"It's not that there's no way around it."

Lyra stated calmly. After all, as a Tier-4 Alchemist, she naturally had methods to suppress the Fire Fiend Qi.

She said calmly, "Didn't we capture some third-tier clam pearls during the battle at Celestial Python Lake?"

"I still have a few of these left. They can be refined into Water Essence Evil-Dispelling Pills, which will allow them to unleash 70 to 80 percent of their combat power after consumption."

True to her word, Lyra spent 5 days refining 2 batches of Water Essence Evil-Dispelling Pills.

After consuming it, the group expelled 60 percent of the Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) from their bodies. The remaining injuries could be nursed with medicinal pills. Though they were still unable to fight at full strength, they could now unleash 70 to 80 percent of their combat prowess.

By this point, although everyone's injuries had not yet fully healed, Lyra had decided they could wait no longer.

Grand Elder Xu's injuries had been meticulously calculated by Lyra (Person Name)—even his healing elixirs and secluded cultivation period were precisely accounted for by Lyra's (Person Name) divinations.

Now that Elder Xu's injuries are nearly healed, emerging from seclusion prematurely would likely render all previous efforts in vain.

Once his injuries fully healed, he would be able to preside over the formation. With a Golden Core Elder's cultivation presiding over the Mid-Fourth-Tier formation of Green Sun Mountain, even several Golden Core cultivators joining forces would find it nearly impossible to breach.

By then, they would inevitably be plunged into a bitter struggle. Even if they succeeded in breaching Green Sun Mountain, it would consume an immense amount of manpower and resources, ultimately resulting in a Pyrrhic victory where both sides would be left severely wounded.

"Let's begin."

3 days later, with a single command from Lyra (Person Name), tens of thousands of cultivators relentlessly activated their magical treasures and divine abilities, launching a frenzied assault on Mount Qingyang.

"How could it be so fast?"

On Mount Qingyang, the cultivators of the Qingyang Sect turned pale and hastily activated the mountain-protecting formation to resist.

Elder Mo's expression shifted slightly, clearly taken aback by Lyra's swift decision to assault the mountain-protecting grand formation.

On their side, tens of thousands of cultivators were dispatched to continuously drain the energy of the mountain-protecting formation, while the Zifu and Foundation Establishment cultivators stood poised in the void, not yet making a move.

Low-level cultivators would deplete the energy of the mountain-protecting formation, while high-level cultivators guarded their juniors. Only by waiting for the critical moment to strike with full force and breach the formation was the optimal strategy.

Chapter 1: Rebirth of the Immortal Monarch The sky tore open with a thunderous roar, crimson lightning dancing across the heavens like vengeful serpents. Amidst the raging storm, a figure stood tall upon the peak of Mount Celestial, his white robes stained with blood. "Fellow Daoists, have you truly come this far just for my Eternal Heaven Scripture?" Lin Xuan's voice remained calm, though his spiritual energy was nearly depleted. Before him stood tens of thousands of cultivators from the 3 immortal sects and 9 demonic clans. "Lin Xuan, hand over the scripture and we might spare your soul!" roared the white-bearded elder floating in the lead, gripping his Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure). Lin Xuan chuckled, a trace of irony flashing in his eyes. "Spare my soul? What a joke! You've hunted me down across 90-8 realms, slaughtered my disciples, and destroyed my sect. Did you truly believe I would surrender?" He raised his hand, a brilliant golden light erupting from his palm. "Since you all crave the Eternal Heaven Scripture so much, then experience its final technique with me—Heaven's Wrath, Divine Retribution!" The world shook. Countless cultivators paled, frantically retreating. But it was too late. A blinding golden radiance enveloped everything, space itself shattering like glass. When Lin Xuan regained consciousness, he found himself in a simple wooden room. The morning sun streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. "This is..." He looked at his pale, slender hands, then at the youth in the bronze mirror—delicate features, somewhat sickly complexion, wearing the blue robes of an outer sect disciple. Memories flooded his mind. This body's original owner was also named Lin Xuan, a outer sect disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect. Just 16 years old, he possessed the poorest of spiritual roots and had been bullied incessantly. Last night, he had been beaten to death by several fellow disciples for refusing to hand over his monthly allocation of 3 spirit stones. "To think I, the Immortal Monarch who once dominated the immortal realm, would be reborn in the body of a humble outer sect disciple." Lin Xuan shook his head wryly. But soon, his eyes sharpened. "Since heaven has given me a second chance, I shall reclaim everything that was mine. Those who betrayed me, those who hunted me—wait for my return." He sat cross-legged, attempting to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. As expected, this body's spiritual roots were abysmal, barely able to absorb any energy. "With such poor aptitude, no wonder he was bullied." Lin Xuan sighed, then suddenly remembered something. "The Eternal Heaven Scripture should still be within my sea of consciousness." He closed his eyes, and sure enough, a golden scripture floated within his consciousness—the very Eternal Heaven Scripture that had sparked such covetousness. "The Eternal Heaven Scripture can reconstruct spiritual roots and recast a divine body. This is perfect." Lin Xuan's eyes lit up. He immediately began circulating the technique according to the scripture. A warm current flowed through his meridians, the spiritual energy around him swarming toward his body like iron to a magnet. The pain from his injuries rapidly faded, and his spiritual roots began transforming at a visible rate. After a full 12 hours, Lin Xuan opened his eyes, a flash of light passing through them. "First layer of the Eternal Heaven Scripture complete. My cultivation has reached the third level of Qi Refining." He felt the surging spiritual power within him, a faint smile gracing his lips. "This speed is barely acceptable." Just then, the door was kicked open with a bang. 3 outer sect disciples swaggered in, the leader a pockmarked youth. "Lin Xuan, hand over your spirit stones! Did yesterday's beating teach you nothing?" The pockmarked youth grinned maliciously. Lin Xuan's gaze turned cold. These were the very disciples who had beaten the original owner to death. "The spirit stones are right here." Lin Xuan stood up, taking 3 spirit stones from his pouch. "Come and get them if you dare." The pockmarked youth snorted coldly and reached for the stones. But in that instant, Lin Xuan moved. A palm strike, simple and direct, yet carrying immense force. "Ah!" The pockmarked youth was sent flying, crashing through the door and landing in the courtyard. The other 2 stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. "How... how is this possible? You..." The pockmarked youth struggled to get up, face full of shock and fear. Lin Xuan stepped forward, looking down at him coldly. "Tell Zhao Tian, I will settle this score with him personally." After the 3 fled in panic, Lin Xuan returned to his room, continuing his cultivation. He knew this was merely the beginning. In the world of cultivation, the strong were respected, and he needed to regain his strength as soon as possible. "The Azure Cloud Sect... I remember now. 3 100 years from now, this sect will be destroyed in a great calamity." Lin Xuan murmured to himself. "But now that I'm here, history will be rewritten." He took a deep breath, once again entering a state of meditation. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth continuously poured into his body, his cultivation rising at an astonishing rate. The path of immortality was long and arduous, but he had already seen the scenery at its peak. This time, he would climb even higher.