Beyond the shimmering veils of the Five Elements Star, a chaotic dance of light obscured the inner workings. Mortal eyes could only perceive the swirling quintessence, waves of elemental power radiating outwards.

Within this maelstrom, Wang Lin stood unmoved, his countenance serene. Upon his open palm, a twitching mound of earth shifted and reformed, struggling to break free. The grains writhed, taking on fleeting shapes, yet with a final clench of Wang Lin’s hand, they crumbled, their defiance extinguished in the face of his mastery.

This soil, born of the Five Elements’ earth essence, hinted at the very source of creation. Wang Lin, with newfound purpose, added it to the two already nestled within his storage ring.

The other portion was from the Celestial Sovereign!

“Truly, a grand design from one who treads the lands of Immortal-Astral,” Wang Lin mused, his eyes gleaming with understanding. “To solidify the very spirit of the earth within this formation, a feat of immense power! Given millennia, perhaps this spirit could have ascended, a third-step embodiment of earthen power.” A covetous light danced in Wang Lin’s eyes as he beheld the Five Elements Array. His interest was piqued.

“I already hold dominion over the essence of fire,” he thought, a smile playing on his lips. “If I could claim the remaining four, my cultivation would surge beyond measure! And what new power might be born from the unification of the Five Elements?” The surrounding elemental energies seemed to hum with his ambition.

Towards interlopers, especially those with ill intent from lands beyond the Domain of the Caves, Wang Lin held no sentimentality. Strength was the only law. Should they possess the power to restrain him, so be it. But within his domain, these outsiders were nothing more than bandits, and he would surpass them in their avarice!

With the earth spirit claimed, Wang Lin strode forward. In that instant, a sea of fire engulfed his senses.

A crimson landscape stretched before him, heaven and earth alike painted in the fiery hue. The very air shimmered with heat, distorting vision as waves of power reverberated. In this inferno, life held no purchase, only the consuming dance of flames.

The crackling roar of the fire filled the air, yet it held no threat for Wang Lin. Within this elemental inferno, he felt strangely at ease.

Within the towering spire on the Five Elements Star, in the lower chambers, a robed elder and three companions watched Wang Lin’s figure in the fiery mirror, the initial shock upon their faces now hardened into grim resolve.

“The fire spirit is similar to the earth, but its raw destructive power could consume even the strongest cultivator, body and soul! Even if Wang Lin claimed the earth spirit, he will not find such ease in this fiery prison!” The elder spoke, unaware of the flame essence residing within Wang Lin.

Their knowledge of Wang Lin was limited. The Five Elements Star was largely isolated, and information regarding Wang Lin’s true nature came only from rumors filtering in from errant cultivators. What they knew was fragmented, gleaned over time from hushed investigations, never revealing the secret of his elemental mastery.

“Indeed, fire is far more volatile than earth,” the middle-aged woman hissed, her eyes burning with vengeful glee. She blamed Situ Nan, and all those associated with him. “He may have the soil spirit, but in this fire array, this wretch shall burn.”

The other two remained silent, their eyes fixed on the mirror, a seed of doubt planted in their hearts.

Within the fire array, as Wang Lin stepped forward, the surrounding flames roared to life. The sea of fire churned, rising in monstrous waves that crashed towards him from all sides.

From the heart of the inferno, nine fire-formed Kirin materialized, each towering hundreds of feet in height. Their bodies blazed with elemental might, heat radiating from their fiery hooves.

With snarling faces, the Kirin charged towards Wang Lin from all sides. A truly fearsome sight, they were surrounded by billowing inferno.

Upon the Five Elements Star, those who witnessed this scene felt a thrill of anticipation, as the mirror reflected this moment to the sky. Every cultivator within the tower turned their gaze upwards.

“Let us see how he overcomes this trial!” The black-robed elder snarled, clenching his fist. “This time he shall be burned!”

But at that moment, the elder’s face twisted in shock, mirrored by a shrill cry from the woman beside him.

“Impossible! He…he…”

A wave of gasps echoed throughout the tower, as every observer witnessed the same impossible scene.

Within the fire array, Wang Lin watched the advancing Kirin with serene eyes. As the beasts came within ten feet of him, they faltered, their eyes filled with confusion. Then, with a toss of their fiery manes, the Kirin fell to their bellies, emitting soft whimpers.

The once-fearsome beasts now resembled docile kittens, their expressions conveying only delight as if they had found their master!

Even the surrounding flames danced with joy around Wang Lin, who raised his hand and pressed it downward. An earth-shattering boom reverberated through the array.

Every flame within the world converged, save those around Wang Lin and the kneeling Kirin. Before him, a being of colossal power was born: a fire giant, clad in blazing armor, a cape of fire billowing behind him. His body was pure flame, his very hair crackling with heat.

With a roar, the fire giant knelt before Wang Lin, placing his hands upon his chest, a fierce adoration blazing in his featureless face.

“What is the meaning of this?” the black-robed elder stammered, his face ashen. “The fire spirit…it kneels before him!”

The woman paled, unable to speak. Her gaze towards the mirror, towards Wang Lin, now contained a deep, unshakeable fear.

Beyond the tower, every cultivator of the Guizhen Sect stared in stunned silence at the image in the sky.

Earlier, Wang Lin’s taming of the earth spirit had shocked them. But now they witnessed something beyond comprehension: the fire spirit, without a single word or action from Wang Lin, had knelt in fealty. He merely stood as a king within his own kingdom.

This was a sight beyond understanding, creating a deep-seated sense of terror and unrest.

In the tower’s tenth level, Nado and the middle-aged man watched with dark eyes.

The two exchanged a glance.
“The essence of fire!” Nado whispered

“A master of flames to the point of perfection! That’s how he commands such loyalty!”
They knew Wang Lin wouldn’t leave easily.

The middle-aged man readied himself.
“Lend me your strength, I need you to weaken the water barrier before I begin my assault!”

The man raised his sword, and vanished.