Thinking it over, Jiang Liu stopped and headed deeper into the Fire Domain.
Chapter 329 Becoming a Host Body
The colorful flames on the seventh level of the Fire Domain are extremely dazzling, but also extremely dangerous, with unimaginable temperatures inside.
The divine power painstakingly cultivated by cultivators can be directly ignited and is impossible to resist. This five-colored flame seems to possess a demonic quality, capable of devouring anything.
Although Jiang Liu strolled inside, he dared not let the flames enter his body; the five-colored cloud flames were too terrifying.
He continued deeper, stopping only near the edge of the eighth level. Ahead, wisps of multicolored mist swirled, appearing peaceful and serene. The eighth level's fiery domain was within reach, its terrifying heat surging like a mighty river, directly impacting the seventh level, as if the heavens and earth were a bronze furnace, refining everything in the world.
He gasped. The five-colored flames were only two colors less than the seven-colored mist, but the temperature difference was so great that it could not be measured by reason.
The five-colored flames were already almost too much for him to bear, and the seven-colored mist was even more terrifying. Jiang Liu did not stop, but crossed the boundary and entered the fire domain of the eighth level.
At this moment, a thick layer of blood energy had gathered on his body, and the martial will of a human immortal enveloped his entire body, resisting the erosion of the flames.
We can barely hold them off!
"I'm almost at my limit. Keep going. I still have Chaos Qi to use. These flames are no threat to me..."
Seven-colored mist drifted before him, like countless tiny rainbows. Jiang Liu dared not be careless at all, for the ground was covered with huge, strangely shaped rocks, forming a stone forest.
At this moment, he saw a huge rock in front of him, hundreds of meters high, like a small mountain. As he got closer, he found a stone cave with several shimmering black feathers at the entrance.
Without much thought, it was clear that the feather belonged to the Crow Taoist. And this cave dwelling on the eighth floor was naturally his place for refining weapons.
Jiang Liu didn't enter the cave, as he didn't know if the old monster had set up any restrictions. In front of the cave was a pile of divine iron, obviously the product of failed weapon forging. Jiang Liu searched briefly and only found a piece of divine iron the size of a longan, resembling a piece of mutton-fat jade.
The small iron block was as white as jade, but it was obvious that the essence inside had been lost.
Jiang Liu looked at the huge pile of divine iron scraps and shook his head inwardly, saying, "That old demon is really wasting resources, ruining such a huge pile of divine iron!"
Without lingering any longer, he headed deeper into the Fire Domain once more. In thousands of years, Jiang Liu was probably the second person to enter the eighth level of the Fire Domain. Relying on his unparalleled immortal body and the chaotic energy in the Sea of Bitterness, he withstood the burning of the seven-colored flames.
The chaotic energy of the river is also a strange phenomenon of the cycle of rebirth, possessing various miraculous effects.
The seven-colored mist swirled around, not particularly dense, but possessing an astonishing temperature that no leader could withstand; it was capable of incinerating the heavens.
Wisps of chaotic energy overflowed from the Sea of Wheels, merging with the seven-colored mist, counteracting the power that could directly burn the river to ashes.
"We're almost at the ninth floor, are you still going to go in? Green copper block, why don't you move a little? Fine, since you're not responding, I'll just leave!"
Just as Jiang Liu abandoned the idea of going deeper, his Sea of Wheels trembled violently, almost startling him. A large bronze cauldron burst forth from his Sea of Wheels, hovering above his head, scattering wisps of chaotic energy.
The three-legged, two-eared round cauldron is simple and elegant, exuding an aura of primordial chaos and boundless power.
Jiang Liu immediately stopped in his tracks, unsure whether to advance or retreat. It was clear that the green copper block was leading him into the fire domain of the ninth level, but upon seeing the nine-colored flames, Jiang Liu felt a tremor run through his very soul.
Jiang Liu sensed that the cauldron based on the green copper block was heading towards the interior of the fire domain. He had no choice but to follow it unless he completely abandoned the green copper block.
"I'd like to see what it is that's attracting you. Could it be that immortal flame?"
The ninth level of the fire domain has been uninhabited for thousands of years, making it a true death zone. Jiang Liu walked forward with the cauldron above his head and saw dozens of humanoid ashes.
"This pile of ashes alone represents at least one powerful being! Tsk tsk... More than a dozen powerful beings died in the ninth level of the Fire Domain..." Jiang Liu was shocked. This was a place of certain death, yet so many people had tried to enter it over the countless years.
The nine-colored flames seemed to transcend the realm of the human world, burning as if in another vast world, both dreamlike and terrifying, with nine-colored mist pulsating and destroying everything.
Despite the presence of the green copper block, the chaotic energy, and the body of an immortal, Jiang Liu was still terrified.
Although he really wanted to collect the flames in this area, which would be perfect for a sneak attack, unfortunately, there was no container to hold them. Even the small purple jade sword between his eyebrows was not exposed in the eighth layer of the fire domain. As soon as he came into contact with the seven-colored flames, Jiang Liu felt that he would be burned to ashes in an instant.
Finally, driven by the small cauldron made of green copper blocks, Jiang Liu ventured alone into the deepest part of the Fire Domain, which was filled with endless and terrifying rumors.
Nine-colored flames flickered, as if countless gods and demons were wailing, and various mysterious and ancient voices rang in his ears, as if he had entered a battlefield of gods.
The temperature was terrifying; even those sheltered in the chaotic energy felt uncomfortable, as if their skin were about to tear and they were nearly suffocating. Although he was not the first person to reach this place, he was the first person to arrive here in thousands of years.
As a fire crow, the Crow Daoist was born from divine fire, so he was not afraid of the eighth layer of flames, but he dared not cross the line into the ninth layer.
The green copper block was truly mysterious; it remained completely unchanged amidst the nine-colored flames, and even the "Nine Provinces Cauldron," forged from it, could withstand such temperatures. Any other weapon, even a sacred weapon, would likely have been instantly reduced to ashes.
Suddenly, at the very edge of the fiery domain, a strange sound came, like a person sighing, or like a creature crawling.
"Has it appeared? The green copper block has truly resonated with the immortal fire?" Jiang Liu's heart skipped a beat.
At the edge of the fiery domain lay a desolate land, only a few miles in circumference, barren and lifeless, devoid even of flames. Yet, in this desolate land, a small tree had now appeared.
"A tree?!"
Jiang Liu's eyes widened in surprise. At the end of the fire domain, a tree appeared, moving rapidly as if it had grown legs, rushing towards him.
"What the heck, what's it going to do?!"
He didn't believe it was just a tree or a tree spirit; it was definitely that cluster of immortal fire, the immortal fire at the center of the fire domain.
"What are you trying to do? Hey, hey, hey... Green Copper Block, why don't you stop it!"
The sapling disappeared in the blink of an eye. Jiang Liu was startled and looked himself over, but he was not missing any limbs.
He secretly exhaled and then looked inward, and he became somewhat unsettled.
The cauldron had already withdrawn its power from the Sea of Wheels above its head and suppressed it above the Spring of Life. But the small tree rooted in the Spring of Life, constantly absorbing the chaotic energy, made Jiang Liu's heart pound violently.
On one hand, he was happy to have obtained this immortal fire; on the other hand, he felt as if he had become the host of the small tree that the immortal fire had transformed into, and it was constantly devouring his chaotic energy.
You must know that the chaotic energy that permeated the Sea of Bitterness was something Jiang Liu had accumulated over a year, and now it was being devoured by the sapling at a visible speed, giving him a premonition that things were about to end badly.
Chapter 330 The Situation in the Eastern Wilderness
There are many legends about the Fire Domain, and many of the records are almost absurd.
For example, one ancient book records that an immortal was burned to death in the deepest part of the Fire Domain. Another ancient book records that the Desolate Tower once appeared there and remained there for thousands of years.
There are also records that there are ten types of flames in the Nine-Layer Fire Domain, but the tenth type has no origin and has only appeared a few times throughout history.
Now, the tenth flame, the Immortal Fire Tree, has taken root in the Jiang Liu's Sea of Wheels.
Jiang Liu was both incredulous and shocked.
The sapling wasn't tall, its roots firmly planted in the spring of life. Its roots and trunk were vigorous, like a coiled dragon, seemingly nurtured by the primordial energy of the river and the sea. Each leaf danced like a flame, radiating immense joy. Those blazing flames seemed capable of burning away the heavens and collapsing eternity!
"Legend has it that the tenth type of flame in the Fire Domain once burned an immortal to death..."
The flames on that small branch, resembling leaves, were none other than the legendary tenth flame, a flame said to be able to burn even immortals. At that moment, he witnessed an unbelievable scene: the leaf-shaped flames burned continuously, and the flames themselves were actually layers upon layers of runes!
The sea of wheels collapsed in the flames, but it instantly reformed, which was extremely strange!
Jiang Liu felt a chill run down his spine as he watched the Sea of Wheels shatter and then heal. However, the green copper block remained suspended above the Spring of Life, motionless, which put Jiang Liu at ease.
But after a short while, Jiang Liu was left speechless with a mix of laughter and tears. The chaotic energy was something he had painstakingly cultivated over a year, and now it was all gone in an instant—how could he not feel heartbroken?
"I hope you won't be like the green copper block..." Before Jiang Liu could finish his thought, the chaotic energy in the sea of bitterness was completely plundered by the sapling. The sapling gradually calmed down, then took root in the spring of life, and no longer reacted.
Jiang Liu's lips twitched, and he muttered, "Damn it, we've invited another ancestor!"
Returning from the ninth floor, he lost all interest in continuing his secluded cultivation. He had already spent half a year cultivating in this fire domain, and further seclusion wouldn't yield much benefit, so he naturally wouldn't waste his time here.
The Fire Domain is located in the State of Wei. The river flows out of the Fire Domain and arrives at the capital of Wei. We are preparing to inquire about the information of the Eastern Wilderness over the past six months.
The State of Wei is separated from the State of Yan by five states, a total of 107,000 li. The State of Wei is 5,000 li long from north to south and 6,000 li long from east to west. Its territory is much larger than that of the State of Yan, and it is also much more prosperous. Naturally, there are many more cultivation sects in the State of Wei.
Upon entering Weidu, one immediately senses the presence of cultivators.
It was a huge restaurant, and no ordinary people came and went. Everyone who came in and out was a cultivator. Even the servants had practiced some martial arts.
Jiang Liu drank alone by the window, but his divine sense was constantly probing, and he heard every sound around him.
"The Demon Emperor's tomb has finally sunk. The ruins are filled with resentment, mountains of corpses, and rivers of blood. In the end, we still failed to conquer it. Our Eastern Wilderness's most precious treasure—the Desolate Tower—has vanished forever!"
"It cannot disappear forever. The desolate tower will coexist with the world and will reappear sooner or later."
"That's true. It can even kill immortals, so it won't decay. Perhaps in a few thousand or tens of thousands of years, it will come back to this world and choose a person with a destiny."
"I don't think it will be that long. The Desolate Tower has been gone for ten thousand years. I think it should reappear in the world. Maybe in the near future, it will burst out from under the Eastern Wilderness."
The turmoil surrounding the Demon Emperor's Tomb finally subsided. All the factions in the Eastern Wilderness made their moves. Even though several mysterious figures from the Central Continent came, they still couldn't subdue it. At the critical moment, it disappeared into the earth's veins, like a dragon returning to the sea, and vanished completely beneath the Eastern Wilderness.
Jiang Liu drank a cup of wine, kept the most precious green copper block for himself, the Demon Emperor's Heart was obtained by the unscrupulous Taoist Duan De, and the Great Emperor's Sacred Weapon was returned to the descendants of the demon race.
"The Sea of Wheels is in my hands, Ye Fan. I'm very curious about how you grew up!"
"...Have you heard? The Ji family's divine body has reached its peak. In the past year, they have fought dozens of battles, and the ancient powerhouse with the phenomenon of the moon rising over the sea has been invincible. No one among their generation can rival them!"
"So what if no one can defeat them? Several old monsters from the demon race have emerged: the Peacock King and the Crow Taoist. They have stirred up a bloody storm, supposedly to stand up for the demon princess. Several elders from the Holy Land and the Ancient Desolate Families have died!"
"I heard that the demon princess obtained the Great Emperor's Sacred Weapon in the Demon Emperor's Tomb. It was her ancestor's weapon. Now that she has mastered the Great Emperor's Sacred Weapon, do you think the Ji family's divine body can still be invincible among its peers?"
"A great era of contention! Geniuses are emerging in every holy land, ancient family, and demon race. The Ji family's divine body and its extraordinary phenomenon might not be enough to make them a force to be reckoned with. The demon princess possesses a Great Emperor's Sacred Weapon, and the Holy Maiden of the Yao Guang Holy Land has greatly increased her power. I've heard that her Moon Palace possesses unparalleled power; even the Yao Guang Holy Son is no longer her match. And that ancient holy body—many families and holy lands have bounties on him, and he's actually killed several elders..."
Jiang Liu's ears perked up; he had finally heard news of Ye Fan. How could he not be overjoyed and surprised?
"The Bronze Immortal Palace has appeared. Don't you want to try your luck in the immortal realm? I heard that the Ancient Holy Body obtained great benefits in the Immortal Palace."
"That's a dangerous place, even more terrifying than the Demon Emperor's Tomb. We're wise enough not to get involved. You all saw what happened a few months ago in the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land. Even the Supreme Elder of the Holy Land perished there. How many of those who wanted to take advantage of the situation actually made it out?"
"However, we could consider getting our hands on that Ancient Sacred Body..."
"That's a vicious person who could even kill an elder of the Ji family!"
"Fortune favors the bold! Besides, there's no need to fight him; just providing information will get me a pound of source stones from the Ji family..."
"It's not just the Ji family, but also the Yao Guang Holy Land. Perhaps, providing information to other holy lands will yield even greater rewards."
"..."
After finishing his meal, Jiang Liu had a general understanding of the current situation in the Eastern Wilderness. The Demon Emperor's tomb had sunk into the earth's veins, the Desolate Tower had not yet appeared, and Ye Fan had once again entered the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land to pick the Sacred Fruit and Divine Spring. His Sacred Body must have been perfected by now. Although he no longer had the Green Copper Block, he might have obtained some supreme treasure, thus enabling him to kill the Ji family elder in one fell swoop.
The Bronze Immortal Palace has already been created, and the Primordial Qi of All Things undoubtedly belongs to Ye Fan. Meanwhile, the Primordial Ancient Mine in the Northern Region has become increasingly turbulent recently, with various powerful families and holy lands about to make significant moves.
"The Eastern Wilderness's vision is about to turn its attention to the Northern Region! We need to hurry."
Just outside Wei Capital, as Jiang Liu approached the magnificent city gate, he saw two arrest warrants, both bearing the name Ye Fan. Ye Fan's face was very youthful, quite different from the Ye Fan he remembered. Jiang Liu felt he might not even recognize him if they met face-to-face.
"Old classmate, it's been two years!"