As the black flame swallowed the Fallen Heart Flame into his body, Fang Yang's frame convulsed violently.
An unprecedented burning sensation engulfed him—every cell scorched, reforged in apocalyptic fire.
He clenched his jaw, sweat beading on his brow, instantly vaporized into white mist by searing heat.
"So this… is the Heart Flame's soul-forging torment…?"
His mental roar shook with agony.
He knew this Heavenly Flame's terror:
Fire born of heart—refining qi, tempering bone—burning foes from within to ash.
Though this was his fifth Heavenly Flame devoured, the pain intensified—this flame seared flesh AND soul—dual torment beyond mortal endurance.
His body trembled like a leaf in a storm, blood boiling like magma, spiritual power surging wildly—on the brink of shattering.
He stood at a volcano's maw—swallowed by fire and lava.
Time lost all meaning in this crucible.
Minutes? Hours? Reality dissolved into pain.
Fang Yang clung to consciousness by instinct, a single thread of clarity holding back oblivion.
Then—
the storm calmed.
The Fallen Heart Flame's fury subsided, turning inward.
"Fallen Heart Flame—devoured!"
Fang Yang felt its oceanic power merge with his core, a faint smile touching his lips.
His soul power surged to Level 55.
Excess energy flooded his Soul Core, condensing it further, now glowing with ember-light.
"Time to refine it."
He inhaled sharply, diving deep into his meridians.
Guiding the flame along the Flame Mantra's path, the Black Flame's absolute dominance left the Fallen Heart Flame helpless.
Refinement proved smoother than expected.
When the last ember merged, his Flame Mantra ASCENDED—Heaven-Tier Mid-Grade!
Now—fuse five Heavenly Flames.
"Begin!"
Fang Yang released all suppression.
The Fallen Heart Flame barely surfaced—before the Black Flame pounced like a starved tiger.
This Black Flame was already Xuanhuang + Myriad Beast + Yin-Yang + Green Lotus fused.
Now—all five flames merged:
yellow, red, black-white, emerald, colorless—collapsing into pure, chaotic black.
This Black Flame swirled with arcane runes, flickering with primordial halos, burning silently—yet threatening to devour souls.
"Unburnt Black Flame…"
Fang Yang stared at the dancing fire in his palm, voice hushed.
Its power dwarfed his prior flames—fivefold terror condensed.
Meow~
A soft, velvety meow shattered the silence.
Fang Yang gaped—his Black Flame had shaped itself into a tiny black cat!
Its flame-pupiled eyes studied him curiously, ears twitching.
It stretched lazily, fire-tail brushing his wrist—warm, not scorching.
Its form shifted between fluffy fur and pure flame—ethereal, mesmerizing.
"Could this be… a Heavenly Flame Spirit?!" Fang Yang whispered, awe-struck.
No legend spoke of Heavenly Flames taking such lifelike form!
This must be the Fallen Heart Flame's sentience—merged, reborn!
The kitten nuzzled his palm, purring contentedly.
Fang Yang's lips curved into a tender smile.
He gently stroked its head—fur soft as silk, warm as sunlight.
"You'll be 'Xiao Hei' (Little Black) now," he murmured.
The kitten blinked its fiery eyes, nodding solemnly.
It leapt onto his shoulder, curling into a cozy ball. Clearly making itself at home.
"Good Xiao Hei—time to return," Fang Yang whispered.
The kitten nodded, dissolving into black light—reabsorbed into his core.
---
Fang Yang pondered briefly, then resolved:
Refine Soul-Transformation Pills—fourth-tier!
Pills to elevate martial soul quality—crafted from Rank 9 Alchemist memories and Star Dou Forest treasures.
From his storage device, he pulled ten-thousand-year spirit herbs—gifts from Di Tian himself: immortal grasses, celestial flowers.
As a Ninth-Tier Alchemist, he needed no cauldron—his bare hands could refine pills midair.
"Begin—Fourth-Tier Soul-Transformation Pills!"
His fingers formed seals.
Yang Flame from Yin-Yang Twin Fire blazed in his palm, heat soaring.
His spiritual power guided each herb into the inferno.
HISS!
Herbs melted instantly, spinning into crystalline elixirs.
Smelting, purifying, merging—each step flowed like water through his fingers.
As the final seal struck—
FLASH!
Brilliant light erupted.
"Pills complete!"
Eight lustrous pills coalesced in the flames, natural pill-markings swirling, fragrant with divine energy.
Fourth-Tier Soul-Transformation Pills—peak grade!
Capable of fundamentally elevating martial soul quality.
Fang Yang captured them in a jade vial, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.
With these, Xie Xie and the others would see their martial souls refined…
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