Lady Fanshanlu, unchallenged and unheeded, traversed the winding path into the heart of the mountain, towards the grand cavern that served as a secluded sanctuary. No guard or watchful eye impeded her progress. Even those disciples who sat in meditation along the path, upon recognizing Fanshanlu, offered no more than a cursory glance.

For none believed that a trespasser could evade the scrutiny of their esteemed Master, let alone breach these sacred grounds. Moreover, Fanshanlu held a position of considerable influence within the Flame Vein Peak. She was not only a core disciple but also sister to Fanshanmeng, whose future seemed destined for even greater things, whispered to be the very heir to their Master’s mantle.

Thus, the disciples offered no resistance, allowing Fanshanlu to pass with ease, until she stood before a stone chamber, sealed by a crimson door. An oppressive heat radiated from the barrier, threatening to ignite the very blood within any who dared approach.

This chamber, hewn directly from the earth’s fiery core, allowed one to commune with the primal energies of the land. Within its walls, it was not merely the fire essence that thrived, but all essences, save for the calming flow of water, found fertile ground under the fiery will of the earth.

The chamber’s true treasure lay in the pressure exerted by the earth’s burning heart. This pressure compressed the very essence of time, granting those who meditated within a boon; a single day of focused practice could equal many days spent outside its heated embrace.

This sacred sanctuary was the most prized location within Flame Vein Peak, accessible only to the most favored core disciples.

As Fanshanlu neared the chamber, she sent a silent message to Wang Lin. Standing before the crimson door, she raised her hand and with a gentle wave, caused a sliver of an opening to appear. From this slender crack, a guttural roar erupted, followed by a surge of molten fire that formed into the shape of a great dragon, intent on devouring Fanshanlu whole.

Her eyes flashed with determination. As the fire dragon lunged, she uttered a single, arcane word: “Zhuo!”

The dragon faltered, its fiery form trembling before collapsing into a shower of sparks. Without hesitation, Fanshanlu stepped through the narrow opening, the crimson door sealing shut behind her.

At that very moment, high atop Flame Vein Peak, within a secluded dwelling, a woman draped in pristine white robes opened her eyes. Though appearing to be but thirty years of age, her beauty was captivating. Crescent brows framed eyes like phoenix feathers, and glimmering, five-pointed stars adorned her forehead.

With a casual flick of her gaze, her divine sense swept down, enveloping the stone chamber far below. Yet, it did not penetrate its walls. Her survey concluded, she withdrew her attention.

“It is good that Lu’er has returned and sought refuge within the chamber,” she murmured, “Perhaps she will find solace from her burdens.” This woman was none other than Fanshanlu’s Master.

Opposite her sat a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Fanshanlu, yet possessed a far colder demeanor. This was Fanshanmeng. Her lashes flickered, her eyes opening briefly. A silent sigh escaped her lips before she closed her eyes and returned to her meditative state.

Within the stone chamber below, Fanshanlu was immediately assaulted by a wave of intense heat, beads of sweat instantly forming on her brow. Yet, the heat was secondary. A far more significant force, the will of the earth, pressed upon her from all sides, demanding immediate acceptance. A period of meditative acclimation was essential for those new to this chamber.

“I cannot venture too deep,” Fanshanlu said, “It has been too long since I was last here. I must remain near the entrance. This is where I shall await you.” As she spoke, a wisp of smoke escaped her sleeve, coalescing into the form of Wang Lin.

As soon as Wang Lin manifested, the oppressive heat surged toward him, yet just as it reached him, he opened his mouth and inhaled deeply. The fiery wave poured into him.

Wang Lin remained unfazed. The inhaled heat was instantly transformed into strands of pure fire essence, nourishing his body.

“This is indeed a nexus of power,” Wang Lin mused, “A single breath here is worth more than all the lesser veins combined.” This place was exactly what he had sought.

He surveyed the chamber, noting its elongated shape and the crimson hue of the walls, which grew increasingly intense as he moved further in.

“Each zhang marks a degree of intensity,” Fanshanlu explained. “There are thirty-seven zhang in total. Choose your location as you see fit.” Sweat plastered her garments to her skin. She sat near the entrance, ready to enter a meditative state.

“Depart three days hence,” Wang Lin instructed, “I may require more time here. This way, should any unforeseen event arise, it will not impact you.” With a respectful bow, Wang Lin turned and walked deeper into the chamber.

He strode twenty zhang, the concentrated fire energies engulfing him. But as it came into contact with him, he immediately absorbed it all into his body.

With another step, he arrived at the deepest point, thirty-seven zhang in. Kneeling, he formed a hand seal, wasting no time, and placed his hands on the earth on either side of him.

Now he was directly connected to the earth’s fiery heart, drawing upon its will and its essence. He was also within the domain of the Great Soul Sect, a place teeming with powerful cultivators. It was a daring act, like plucking a tiger’s very teeth.

Fanshanlu watched Wang Lin’s retreating figure, the heat radiating from the crimson walls distorting her vision. With a quiet sigh, she closed her eyes and entered a meditative trance.

Wang Lin, meanwhile, began to channel the energies. His hands pressed against the ground, and streams of pure fire essence rose, surging toward him, tearing through his hands, flooding into his being.
As the days waned, Wang Lin became consumed by the inferno’s embrace. On the third day, his presence seemed to vanish entirely, becoming one with the very veins of the earth-fire. Only then did his spirit, a wisp of essence, begin its slow unfurling. It threaded through his form, breached the confines of the stone chamber, and plunged deep into the fiery heart of the earth-fire vein.

His physical vessel, now saturated with fire’s essence, could absorb no more. The path to embodying the true form of fire lay not in accumulation, but in the conquest of the earth-fire’s very will!

Only by devouring that raw, untamed spirit, and claiming dominion over the earth-fire of Tianniu Continent, could Wang Lin fully manifest his true self.

“This time,” he vowed, his spirit taking the shape of his true form, a Vermillion Bird head atop a body crackling with the power of origins. “I must succeed!” Though the image appeared strange, the raw, primal fire that radiated from it was a force to behold.

As Wang Lin’s spirit delved deeper, he perceived the earth-fire vein for what it truly was: a colossal fire dragon, its serpentine form stretching endlessly beneath the land. It pulsed with an ancient, decaying aura, its existence spanning countless epochs. It was a living embodiment of the earth-fire vein itself.

The dragon possessed no mind, only a raw, untamed will. This will, like the inexorable force of the heavens, resided within every scale of the dragon and pressed relentlessly against Wang Lin.

With a gleam in his Vermillion Bird eyes, Wang Lin stood firm. Instead of retreating before the onslaught of the dragon’s will, he unleashed his own flames, consuming and devouring with savage speed.

He sought to devour this will!

To nurture his own spirit with its essence!

To forge his own, true embodiment of the fire’s will!

As the consumption began, the earth-fire vein shuddered with earth-shattering force. A surge of even greater power, a wave of destructive, all-consuming fire will, crashed down upon Wang Lin, threatening to crush him.

But this was not his mortal body. This was his true form, and the dragon’s onslaught did not break him. Instead, the continuous devouring of the dragon’s will began to alter his Vermillion Bird visage. Flesh appeared where feathers had been, transforming the lower jaw!

This transformation ignited a spark of hope within Wang Lin’s spirit!

“Follow the flow of this will, find the dragon soul’s head, and devour it all!” he cried, knowing that time was fleeting. “There lies my true completion!” Without hesitation, he plunged deeper into the earth, following the current of power that surged through the dragon’s immense form.

He had to reach the dragon soul’s head. He had to complete the manifestation of his true form before the powerful cultivators of the Great Soul Sect discovered his intrusion. If he failed, all would be lost.

Three more days bled into the fiery abyss. Fan Shanlu stirred from her meditation. She could no longer sense Wang Lin’s presence. A moment of silent contemplation passed before she rose and left the stone chamber.

In the wake of Fan Shanlu’s departure, the stone chamber remained untouched, its secret undisturbed. But this peace was fleeting! Deep within the heart of the earth, Wang Lin, in his true form, hurtled onward, devouring the crushing will of the dragon as he raced toward its source, its head, consumed by the need for speed.

Three more days. As dusk settled on the third day, Wang Lin had ventured so deep into the earth-fire vein that he could no longer discern his path. Then, through the swirling flames, he saw it: the head of the colossal fire dragon!

A head of ancient majesty, tens of thousands of feet in length, its breath heavy with the dust of ages. At that very moment, Wang Lin’s true form shot forward with blinding speed, piercing the skull of the dragon soul.

As his form plunged into the dragon’s head, the entire earth-fire vein jolted with violent force, releasing a deafening roar that shook the very foundations of the world!

The roar reverberated upward, shaking the Fire Vein Mountain to its core. Boulders tumbled from its peak, and rivers of molten fire surged from within.

The sudden upheaval tore the eyes open of a woman sitting cross-legged in a cave at the mountain peak. A sense of dread flashed across her face. Instantly, her spirit expanded to encompass the entire mountain. Her expression became twisted with rage!

“Such audacity!” With a flicker of motion, she erupted from the cave and charged downward, blasting the stone chamber doors from their hinges.

At the instant of the doors shattering, Wang Lin’s body, thirty-seven feet within, was enveloped by the flames. A searing current pulled him, rushing him down into the earth-fire vein.

“Trying to escape, are you?!” The woman’s face was consumed by fury.