From the fiery peaks of Mount Embersoul, a celestial cultivator in the nascent Void Tribulant stage would inevitably sense his presence. But Wang Lin was prepared. The moment the woman, a vision of ethereal beauty, shimmered into being, the tendrils of his primordial spirit, a mere fragment of his true self, ignited the flames, merging with the earth. Like a serpent of fire, he plunged into the very heart of the land, following the main vein of geothermal power toward the sanctuary of his true form.

Borne on a raging torrent of fire, Wang Lin felt no pain. This was because his true form, his primordial essence, had ventured forth, imbibing a vast amount of fire’s very essence. Without this, his physical vessel would have been consumed by the raging flames unleashed by the core.

Thus, his body was only absorbed by the earth at the moment that woman arrived.

The woman’s eyes burned with rage, for she could clearly feel the tremors in the earth’s core as though some dark entity was devouring it from within. This disruption ignited a burning hatred in her heart.

“To play such tricks before my very eyes? You seek death!” she snarled, striding to a spot thirty-seven paces from the rock chamber. With a mighty step, she merged with the earth and began her pursuit.

As the pair hurtled through the fiery veins, the very mountain shuddered. Disciples, roused from their meditations, poured forth from their secluded chambers, their faces etched with worry as they beheld the quaking, crimson peak.

Among them was Fan Shanlu, who knew this upheaval must be connected to Wang Lin. She sighed, lamenting that this Wang Lin seemed destined to stir chaos wherever he trod.

Fan Shanmeng stood nearby, her gaze narrowed as she studied the mountain. After a moment, she turned her gaze to Fan Shanlu.

“Sister, was it you who brought a stranger into the chamber?” she telepathically inquired.

“Though you are my sister, speak not such reckless accusations. I have been manipulated by you for too many years within the realm of the Cave Dwelling. Now you would falsely accuse me? Have you no conscience?” Fan Shanlu spat back, her eyes icy.

She would never forget her sister’s machinations in the realm of the Cave Dwelling. Her sister, in her pursuit of manipulating Wang Lin, had even embroiled her in her schemes. The peril of that moment had chilled her to the bone, and opened her eyes.

Fan Shanmeng fell silent, uttering no further words.

As Mount Embersoul trembled, several powerful auras erupted within the Great Soul Gate, tendrils of terrifying divine sense swathed the mountain.

This peak was but one of forty-nine such strongholds under the domain of the Great Soul Gate! While not every peak was guarded by a cultivator in the nascent Void Tribulant stage, it was clear to see the power and scale of the Great Soul Gate.

But leaving the Great Soul Gate aside, in the depths of the earth’s fiery heart, Wang Lin’s physical body was engulfed in flames, traveling at breakneck speed. In his wake, the woman, her beauty twisted with venom, relentlessly pursued him.

Yet, the earth now resonated with the will of Wang Lin’s true essence. Wang Lin moved as easily as a fish in water, gaining speed, while the woman found herself hampered. She struggled to unleash her full power.

For now, they remained separated by a distance that refused to close, plunging deeper into the heart of the fiery veins.

Deepest of all, within the vast skull of the Earthfire Dragon Soul, Wang Lin’s true form had plunged, settling into a lotus position within. Hands weaving incantations, he began to devour the Dragon Soul’s very essence.

Time was short, and peril abundant. Wang Lin could spare no thought for aught else. His only goal was to swallow the essence of fire.

As he consumed it, the Dragon Soul shrieked in torment. Within its skull, Wang Lin’s chin had transformed, no longer bearing the mark of the Vermillion Bird, the change creeping upward to reshape his mouth into his own mortal lips!

“Faster, more!” Wang Lin’s true form roared inwardly, as the Dragon Soul thrashed and writhed, the agony of being consumed threatening to drive it to oblivion.

Each convulsion sent ripples through the earth, rocking the Great Soul Gate, especially Mount Embersoul, which buckled under the assault. The peak of the mountain shattered, spewing forth a sea of flaming debris.

A conflagration erupted, threatening to consume the very sky.

This caused great unrest within the Great Soul Gate as frightened disciples retreated.

“What is happening?!”

“Has someone dared to infiltrate the Earthfire veins?”

The question rang out as more disciples arrived.

Deep beneath the ground, the woman sensed the earth’s agony more acutely. Her face, once a vision of beauty, was now carved in frost. She paused, gazing at Wang Lin’s body fleeing before her. Lifting her hand, she summoned a bronze mirror, ancient and worn.

“Ancient Mirror, reveal the shadow of the heavens, and hunt this fugitive!” she commanded. The mirror flared with light as howls echoed from within. A cloud of vaporous black smoke spewed forth, coalescing into a gigantic, horrifying visage of a demon.

With a roar, the demon lunged forward, devouring the distance between them.

It halved the space between them in an instant, until the demon was a mere thirty paces behind Wang Lin!

Wang Lin’s mind was divided, his true form consumed with the task of devouring the Dragon’s Soul, while a fragment remained within his body to guide it. Seeing the demon closing in, a glint of steel flashed in his eyes.

“The Ghost Face of the Great Soul Gate…” Wang Lin’s brow furrowed. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, creating a ripple that swallowed him whole. As he vanished, the demonic face crashed into the space he had occupied.

The earth shuddered, but soon, the woman, a streak of color, arrived. She paused, a frown etched upon her face.

“What is this?” she mused, before lifting her head. She sensed Wang Lin re-emerging in the earth ahead.

“To be able to blink in this heat, you are not to be trifled with,” she said, “still, you hesitated until now, it must take a great cost to move this way, so let’s see how many times you can.” she smiled.

“You hid the wolf’s head, but you forgot to tuck the tail!” she smirked to herself as the face reformed and engulfed her, as she continued her pursuit.

Wang Lin fled, always just out of range of his hunter, making sure to adjust his path ever so slightly.

Wang Lin’s true form felt the change and was grateful for the extra time.

Slowly, inexorably, Wang Lin’s true form began to take on more of his likeness.

The Earthfire Dragon Soul thrashed, but failed to stop the relentless absorption, this was not a question of strength, but a test of fire against fire!

It was clear that the Dragon was no match.

At long last, Wang Lin’s eyes flashed into a likeness of himself.

The dragon, in its agony, shook the earth and sky.

Wang Lin’s hands began to weave another spell, and his forehead formed to his likeness.

When that happened, a great will was unleashed that took form.

Wang Lin had regained much of his form, aside from his hair, which was still the red of the Vermillion Bird.

“Just the hair now!” Wang Lin’s gaze hardened, but the sudden shifts in energy caused his hunter to stop, confused.

“I have been outmaneuvered! He sought to split me to draw me into this trap!”

With a snarl, the woman gave up the chase and headed straight for the original Wang Lin.

He had succeeded in buying more time.