“Such power resides within this golden seal…” Wang Lin’s eyes flashed with keen light. He opened his mouth and inhaled, drawing the golden seal into his being as a streak of gold. It vanished into the visage he had conjured upon the colossal sphere of fire, and as it did, the golden light dissipated across the heavens and earth. “Farewell!” Wang Lin intoned softly, having claimed the seal.

Only when the golden seal had completely vanished did Du Qing allow himself a breath of relief. He retreated several paces, eager to flee. His pursuit had been fraught with astonishment at every turn, culminating in the terrifying aura of a Great Celestial emanating from the seal. All thoughts of battle had long since fled, replaced by a desperate yearning to escape.

“A snare! A most cunning snare!” Du Qing muttered in his dismay. After retreating a hundred paces, his expression shifted, and he halted. His gaze swept over the fiery sphere enveloping Wang Lin.

“This one bears a profound lineage and wields a treasure bestowed by a Great Celestial. To encounter such a figure is a stroke of fate! I am a fool to even contemplate flight. Through him, I may yet receive the guidance of that Great Celestial, bolstering my cultivation!”

“And with such a patron, what need have I to fear the Great Soul Sect? No longer must I deliver treasures and valuables to their door with haste!” This realization swept away Du Qing’s despondency, replaced by excitement and anticipation.

“Aye, this is the path. It is an opportunity craved by countless cultivators. Should the other sects of this Celestial Bull Continent learn of the treasure gifted by a Great Celestial, they would descend upon him in a frenzy, fawning over him, fulfilling his every whim… The heavens have smiled upon me! Fortune has arrived for Du Qing, and I alone, it seems, am privy to his true nature. This boon shall be mine alone! I wonder, though, which Great Celestial stands behind him… But no matter! Any of them will suffice!” Du Qing’s wooden frame, devoid of a heart, nonetheless felt the phantom thrum of a heart beating faster.

“Ha ha! A glorious destiny! A most glorious destiny!” Du Qing’s eyes gleamed as he fixed his gaze upon the sphere of fire containing Wang Lin. He drew a deep breath and clasped his hands in a respectful bow, forcing a smile upon his face.

“A misunderstanding! A misunderstanding, Fellow Daoist! I merely observed that the gates of the Azure Dragon Sect had fallen into disrepair, and I desired to rebuild them anew. It so happened that you arrived at this propitious moment to lend your aid. I am eternally grateful, and my pursuit was undertaken solely to express my thanks!” Du Qing declared, spinning the tale without a flicker of shame.

“Oh?” Wang Lin responded, his gaze sweeping over Du Qing, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips as though he saw the man’s true intentions.

“Fellow Daoist is presently engaged in absorbing the essence of the flame. It is a matter of great import! How could Du Qing abandon you at such a time? Fear not, for I shall stand guard and ensure that none intrude upon this sacred endeavor!” Du Qing, unmoved by Wang Lin’s knowing gaze, feared only that the man would distrust him. He raised his right hand towards the heavens, his expression grave.

“Before the Celestial Fiend Laws, I swear to protect this Daoist. Should I harbor even the slightest intent of treachery, may I be struck down by celestial lightning, my Dao falter, and my spirit be scattered!” As Du Qing spoke, a crimson rune appeared in his hand, shimmering with the binding power of his oath. It transformed into a streak of red light that soared into the heavens and vanished, a testament to the Celestial Fiend Continent’s strict enforcement of sworn oaths.

“Very well,” Wang Lin said, regarding Du Qing with profound meaning. “Since your heart is so moved, I shall grant you the opportunity to stand guard.”

These words filled Du Qing with renewed vigor. He had feared that the earlier conflict would make Wang Lin wary, denying him the chance to draw closer and reap the rewards. With Wang Lin’s approval, he straightened his posture, assumed a solemn mien, and nodded vigorously.

“Fear not, Daoist Wang! I shall pledge my very life to safeguard your well-being!” With that, he retreated several hundred paces, sat cross-legged in the air, and unleashed his divine sense to encompass the surrounding area. However, he deliberately excluded the space immediately around Wang Lin, seeking to reassure the cultivator of his sincerity.

Wang Lin remained impassive. Du Qing’s motives were not concealed but laid bare for all to see. The man had been shaken by the power of the golden seal and now sought to ingratiate himself, hoping to gain the favor of the Great Celestial who had forged it.

*So be it,* Wang Lin thought. *I am new to this Celestial Fiend Continent, and there are many things that even soul-searching cannot reveal. I could use such a guide… Especially one who has offered himself so readily. It grants me the upper hand, for he seeks something, and I hold the advantage!* With a cold smile, Wang Lin closed his eyes. His visage slowly faded from the great sphere of fire, vanishing without a trace.

Du Qing adhered to his oath with unwavering zeal, vigilantly guarding the perimeter. He had resolved to seize this opportunity and prove his worth, seeking to atone for the previous unfortunate encounter. Time flowed steadily, and three days passed.

Throughout these days, Wang Lin kept a sliver of his divine sense attuned to Du Qing, yet simultaneously focused on rapidly absorbing the flame essence within the fiery sphere.

The sphere was born of a minor vein of fire, not a major artery, and thus its absorption proceeded slowly. The essence it contained was vast, imbued with a profound Fire origin force that hinted at the presence of a higher law. This law was the very will of the flame, and Wang Lin sought to consume not only the origin force but also its will.

The sixteen fiery dragons that ringed the sphere gradually vanished over the three days, absorbed by the sphere itself. A sense of fiery will began to emanate from the blaze, and Du Qing was the first to perceive it. His expression grew solemn, and he glanced at the fire without speaking. On the dawn of the fifth day, as the sun rose and cast its golden rays across the desolate landscape, the sphere of fire containing Wang Lin erupted in a cataclysmic roar.

The sound was deafening. As the echoes reverberated, the sphere rapidly contracted, shrinking to a mere ten feet in diameter. Within, the flames writhed, and a vague silhouette of Wang Lin could still be discerned. Around Wang Lin, a Vermillion Bird seemed to circle.

The Vermillion Bird’s cries echoed through the heavens, and the sphere once more contracted, though this time, the process was slower. Several hours passed before it dwindled to a mere seven feet. Yet within this smaller sphere, the will of fire exploded with overwhelming force, shrouding the heavens and earth and seemingly poised to contend with the very will of the earth-fire veins of the continent. It was as though, for a moment, two distinct wills of fire existed upon the Celestial Bull Continent.

The sensation was peculiar. One will emanated from the earth-fire veins inherent to the continent, while the other emanated from the seven-foot sphere, as witnessed by Du Qing.

“Truly, he is one blessed by a Great Celestial,” Du Qing murmured, drawing a deep breath. “His fire origin can contend with the will of this land itself!”

Suddenly, the sphere shuddered once more, contracting violently from seven feet to a mere three. Wang Lin stepped forth from within the sphere, his white hair flowing freely.

He sat cross-legged beside the shrinking sphere, his expression grave. With a hand seal, he pointed towards the shrinking orb. The Vermillion Bird cried out with renewed vigor, and the sphere contracted once again, ultimately diminishing to a single foot.

Within this foot-long sphere, a miniature Vermillion Bird could be seen, circling wildly, emitting a continuous stream of bird calls. This sight caused Du Qing’s eyes to widen. Gazing at the flame, a single, shocking thought entered his mind.

“That Vermillion Bird is his true form of fire origin… He has channeled all of the earth-fire vein essence into that Vermillion Bird’s form. Is he, perhaps…” Du Qing gasped, his face pale with alarm.

“Is he attempting to condense his origin essence into a true form?!” Du Qing recoiled, aghast at the possibility.

“When an origin essence manifests in true form, cultivation may reach the third step in Empty Realm! Using the power of origin essence, he can absorb the vastness of the heavens and the earth, and be invincible in battle! True origin essences are usually easy to obtain, but if you want to reach the Empty Xuan Realm in cultivation, you must personally comprehend the changes of False origin essence. The more origin essences one has, the stronger he will be. This is something that cultivators on Celestial Fiend Continent all know!”

“Furthermore, origin essences have layers, from when it appears at the beginning, to when it condenses into an origin magic weapon, until the origin is accomplished. All steps must be taken one by one. But according to legend, there are some gifted people who can promote the origin essence to grow again after success, and finally condense a true origin body! It is rare to see it, but once it appears, it will be so powerful that it will be frightening! In my life, I have only seen a true origin essence of Soul in the ancestor of the Great Soul Sect, and I have never seen a second… Could Daoist Wang really be condensing the true origin essence?!” Du Qing’s gaze at Wang Lin was incredulous.

On the Celestial Fiend Continent, among the thirty-six prefectures of the Ancient Kingdom, the Dao Ancient lineage held twelve, including Sky Prefecture, the location of the Dao Ancient royal family.

Within Sky Prefecture, nestled amidst green hills and clear waters, was a place where leaves danced on the wind and rivers sang. Deep within the heart of these falling leaves, one could discern a towering, azure altar that reached towards the clouds.

The altar radiated an aura of ancient history. Upon it, sat a young man clad in black. He seemed young, but he gave off an aura of antiquity, as if he had lived for countless ages.

He was Xuan Luo.

The moment Wang Lin unveiled the golden seal on the Celestial Bull Continent, Xuan Luo, who had secluded himself in cultivation, opened his eyes.

“He has come…” A smile played on Xuan Luo’s lips. He knew that the disciple he had chosen would not perish in the void but would surely arrive on the Celestial Fiend Continent!