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With the successful devouring of the Xuanhuang Flame, the once-rampaging fire within Fang Yang finally settled.
The deep golden-yellow flame now flowed like a docile river through his meridians. Wherever it passed, the meridian walls shimmered with a crystalline luster.
Fang Yang sank his consciousness inward—he could feel the rebirth brought by the Heavenly Flame.
His scorched meridians were healing at a visible pace, and the newly formed channels were several times tougher than before.
Even his bones had been refined by the fire's essence, now resembling thousand-refined divine steel—faint metallic sheen glinting on their surface, interlaced with mysterious flame-like runes.
"Is this… the effect of Heavenly Flame body tempering?" Fang Yang mused inwardly.
He cautiously circulated his soul power and discovered it now moved over 30% faster through his refined meridians—and with far greater density.
Every strand of soul energy now carried the Xuanhuang Flame's unique, ancient weight. As it flowed, it faintly resonated with the ambient soul energy of heaven and earth.
Still seated cross-legged, Fang Yang's eyelids fluttered slightly.
When he slowly opened his eyes, his once pitch-black irises now swirled with deep golden-yellow flame—entire pupils transformed into miniature suns of fire.
Within those eyes, Xuan and Huang energies intertwined, crystallizing into primordial glyphs that radiated a soul-chilling pressure.
After a moment, the flames in his eyes gradually receded, returning his gaze to its original dark hue—yet now brighter, deeper, clearly enhanced by the fire's hidden blessings.
The Xuanhuang Flame had condensed into a tiny, stable fire seed, hovering steadily within his dantian.
Though small, it pulsed with immense energy, constantly releasing pure flame essence to nourish his entire meridian network.
"This… is the Heavenly Flame's primal origin," Fang Yang whispered.
Suddenly—his brow furrowed.
Without warning, the Xuanhuang Flame surged violently inside him.
He remembered—Heavenly Flames naturally sought to devour one another.
And now, the Xuanhuang Flame was actively consuming his awakened elemental Flame martial soul!
"No—my martial soul is being devoured?!"
For a Spirit Master, losing one's martial soul was tantamount to shattering one's cultivation foundation—at best, becoming crippled; at worst, instant death.
He watched helplessly as his original orange-red Flame martial soul was completely swallowed by the Xuanhuang Flame.
Just as despair gripped him—a torrent of energy erupted from the Xuanhuang origin, instantly healing all damage.
Fang Yang raised his right hand.
"What…?"
In his palm danced no longer ordinary flame—but a deep, solemn Xuanhuang flame, quiet yet suffocating in its presence. The air around it visibly warped from intense heat.
When the 'Heavenly Flame' appears, all flames submit!
…
Fang Yang's consciousness gently withdrew from the Heavenly Flame Orb's inner realm.
As he opened his bedroom door, the sound of laughter and chatter from the living room made the corners of his mouth lift unconsciously.
His mother, Lin Ximeng, and Na'er had returned.
Na'er now wore a brand-new white dress—simple, yet it accentuated her already adorable beauty, adding an ethereal liveliness to her presence.
"Mom," Fang Yang asked, walking over with feigned innocence, "did you find any info on Na'er's family?"
Though he knew Na'er's true identity, he had to play the part of an unknowing boy.
Lin Ximeng sighed softly and tapped his forehead gently.
"The city registry has no record of Na'er at all. But you—first thing out of your mouth is about her? Don't you care if Mom's tired after running around all day?"
"Ow! That hurts!" Fang Yang exaggeratedly clutched his head—but his eyes sparkled with mischief. "I know Mom's the best! I was just worried about Na'er…"
Lin Ximeng shook her head, amused. "Yang'er… what are you really up to?"
Fang Yang instantly straightened, voice earnest:
"Mom, since we can't find Na'er's family right now… can we adopt her? I'll take good care of my little sister!"
As he spoke, he stole a glance at Na'er, who was quietly fiddling with her dress hem.
So cute~
Na'er is just so cute~
"You silly boy," Lin Ximeng laughed warmly. "Didn't I already agree last night? But it's up to Na'er—does she want to stay?"
Fang Yang nodded and knelt beside Na'er.
Looking into her amethyst-clear eyes, he said softly, "Na'er… will you stay with us? I'll protect you—never let you suffer a single wrong. And I'll buy you so many delicious treats!"
Na'er blinked, then whispered shyly, "I… I want to stay. But… I like the noodles Big Brother makes the most."
"You like them? Then I'll make them for you every day!"
Relief flooded Fang Yang's heart—his greatest fear had been Tang Wulin swooping in like some tragic love-interest thief.
Lin Ximeng watched her son, then frowned slightly. "Yang'er… you seem… a little different?"
Fang Yang touched his face, feigning shock. "Mom, you noticed? Did I just get… even more handsome?"
He struck an exaggerated pose—making Na'er cover her mouth to stifle a giggle.
Yet… Na'er had sensed something.
Deep within Fang Yang's body pulsed a terrifying flame—one she didn't recognize at all.
Lin Ximeng shook her head, but a smile tugged at her lips. "You're such a show-off!"
Still, she knew—something had changed in him.
His eyes were deeper, his presence subtly refined, as if tempered by an ancient, invisible fire.
Soon after, Lin Ximeng went to prepare dinner, and Fang Yang settled Na'er in.
He then returned to his room.
"Almost… forgot the most important part—the Mantra's evolution!" he chided himself inwardly.
In his post-devouring euphoria, he'd nearly missed this crucial step.
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he let his soul power surge—fiery energy roaring through his meridians like a living river.
At his mental command, the Xuanhuang Flame Origin slowly emerged—a flame not wild or roaring, but ancient, dense, and heavy, as if forged over millennia. This was the 23rd-ranked Heavenly Flame on the Heavenly Heavenly Flame List.
"Let's begin…"
Fang Yang inhaled deeply. The Flame Mantra roared to life within him.
His soul power transformed into countless flame chains, laced with primordial runes, snaking toward the Xuanhuang Flame.
The Heavenly Flame, sensing this wasn't mere possession but complete fusion, erupted in primal resistance.
It could accept being used—but not being erased by ba separate will!
With a furious roar, the Xuanhuang Flame surged like an enraged dragon—heat so intense the very air in the room twisted.
Fang Yang grunted. His skin flushed crimson, nearly blistering—but he gritted his teeth and pushed the scripture to its absolute limit.
The flame chains tightened, dragging the rebellious fire back, inch by agonizing inch.
"Refine—NOW!"
At his command, the chains yanked the flame into his core.
His body became a crucible—melting, reshaping, and fusing the Heavenly Flame's essence into his very being.
It felt like ten thousand blades carving his soul—every meridian scorched, every nerve on fire—yet his mind remained utterly clear.
Time lost meaning.
At last—the deep golden flame surrendered.
It dissolved into a gentle stream, weaving into his bones, blood, and soul.
Boom!
A muffled sound echoed within his dantian.
The Flame Mantra had evolved!
To his astonishment, the scripture's meridian pathways had grown vastly more intricate—yet each full circulation now took far less time, producing soul power of unprecedented purity, all imbued with the Xuanhuang Flame's profound power.
"High-Grade Yellow Tier!"
In one leap, the scripture had ascended two full ranks (from Low-Grade Yellow Tier)—a true rebirth.
Fang Yang opened his eyes—once more, Xuan and Huang energies swirled in his pupils.
He extended his palm.
A wisp of deep golden flame danced joyfully—temperature spiking instantly, then calming as if bowing to his will.
This was Heavenly Flame Unity!
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