Deep within the Immortal's Abode, in a secluded chamber, three young figures, two male and one female, stood with solemn expressions, gazing at the skeletal remains on the throne. Or, more precisely, they stared intently at the pulsating, heart-shaped purple flame.
"Kim Nhi, are Abnormal Flames truly that formidable?" Luo Ren realized that knowledge was indeed an invaluable asset. Without Kim Nhi, he would likely have spent a very long time poring over records on the Ice Heaven Continent.
"Flames also have different grades. Ordinary flames that humans use for cooking are called Mortal Flames. Flames emitted by cultivators with Fire-attribute spirit roots are known as Spiritual Flames," Kim Nhi slowly explained.
"A level higher than Spiritual Flames are called Blazing Flames. These flames are on a par with Young Master's Profound Water. The flames Hong Lien uses are Blazing Flames."
She paused, then continued, "Abnormal Flames are a hundred, even a thousand, times stronger than Blazing Flames."
Luo Ren swallowed, then cautiously asked:
"Abnormal Flames are that powerful? So, can the Three-Flavored True Flame be considered an Abnormal Flame?"
Kim Nhi fell silent. After a moment, she sighed and said, "Young Master, you do not yet have the authority to know the grade of the Three-Flavored True Flame."
Luo Ren silently nodded, not pressing the matter further.
"I can't believe it's the Purple Heart Burning Void Flame, ranked ninth on the Abnormal Flame Ranking. Who exactly is the owner of this Immortal's Abode? To possess something so heaven-defying…"
Hong Lien's fragrant lips uttered a bewildered, astonished sound. It was strange, this was the first time Luo Ren had seen her lose her composure.
"Abnormal Flame Ranking?" Luo Ren immediately asked with curiosity.
"Indeed. In the entire history of the Dragon Vietnamese Star, Abnormal Flames haven't appeared frequently, but their owners have all been figures who astounded the world," Hong Lien continued to explain.
"According to records, the entire Dragon Vietnamese Star has a total of sixteen types of Abnormal Flames. Based on their achievements when they appeared, the entire star compiled a ranking, and the Purple Heart Burning Void Flameranks ninth on it."
"I never thought the owner of this Immortal's Abode possessed it," Tinh Nhi said, uncharacteristically serious.
"Based on the lightning-emitting scepter in his hand and the Purple Heart Burning Void Flame, this person must have possessed at least two types of spirit roots, and both were spirit roots with powerful offensive and destructive capabilities. Not to mention, he was also skilled in alchemy and formation arts," Luo Ren observed the skeletal remains.
"In the history of the Ice Heaven Continent, such figures can be counted on one's fingers. I never imagined we would be fortunate enough to witness one," Hong Lien sighed with emotion.
The three fell into a brief silence.
"Alright, we can't simply take this senior's inheritance without effort. Conveniently, there are three items here that appear far from simple. How shall we divide them?" Luo Ren saw the two women were slightly flustered. Since the credit for breaking the formation was entirely his, they seemed a bit embarrassed. He decisively opened his mouth to suggest.
"It's not as simple as you think. That scepter and the skull-ring are at least Earth-grade. It won't be easy to make them acknowledge a master."
"Not to mention, with our current cultivation, refining an Abnormal Flame is extremely difficult. We could even explode and die."
Hong Lien said with a serious expression.
"Sister Hong Lien, earlier, when choosing the cave entrance with the Sand Sea Group, you said there were treasures here. Was your woman's intuition referring to the Purple Heart Burning Void Flame?" Tinh Nhi recalled and asked.
"Yes, I primarily cultivate Fire-attribute spiritual roots. At that time, I felt something urging me to come here. Now I know it was the Purple Heart Burning Void Flame," Hong Lien explained with her sweet, red lips. In her heart, there had always been a kind of summoning that compelled her to choose this cave entrance.
"So it seems you have a destiny with this Abnormal Flame. Can you refine it?" Luo Ren asked seriously. He sensed that the Lightning Scepter and the Ring were also extraordinary, so he was willing to let her choose the Abnormal Flame.
"That's right, I don't have a Fire-attribute spirit root. This thing isn't very useful to me," Tinh Nhi said, waving her small hand sincerely.
Hong Lien was slightly moved. An Abnormal Flame was truly too precious, yet the two people before her were willing to let her choose it. Should she choose it or not?
"You two choose first," she said to Luo Ren and Tinh Nhi with a smile. Refining an Abnormal Flame was extremely dangerous. Letting them take their items and leave would prevent her from implicating them.
She had no intention of letting go of the Abnormal Flame. Even if there was only a 1% chance of success, she had to take the risk. This item was too precious for a primary Fire-attribute cultivator like her; it would cause her strength to soar.
"Alright, then I'll choose the Lightning Scepter," Tinh Nhi replied playfully, skipping towards the skeleton. Her mother had a Lightning-attribute spirit root, so this item would be perfect to gift her.
As Tinh Nhi's small hand was about to touch it…
"BE CAREFUL!" Luo Ren and Hong Lien, who were constantly paying attention to this side, suddenly roared in unison.
An unexpected change occurred.
The skeletal remains, which had been sitting on the throne, suddenly stood up. Its two eyes emitted strange lights, and it spoke in a hoarse voice:
"You wish to receive my inheritance? First, you must defeat me."
Its voice sounded as if it had endured countless eons of vicissitudes, yet it carried boundless majesty.
THUD!
The bronze stone door suddenly slammed shut, cutting off Luo Ren and the others' retreat.
"Young Master, the formation has been dispelled. You can use your spiritual energy," Kim Nhi reminded Luo Ren.
Clearly, this was a combat test, so the formation that prevented the use of spiritual energy had been removed.
The Purple Heart Burning Void Flame suddenly rose, slowly spinning. The temperature in the room rapidly increased, and a few small sparks began to spread, scorching the room.
This was another part of the test: to make Luo Ren and the others fight in a harsh environment.
"Quickly, use spiritual energy to protect your bodies!" Hong Lien said gravely, simultaneously radiating a layer of Fire-attribute spiritual energy to envelop herself.
Luo Ren and Tinh Nhi dared not be negligent. Around Tinh Nhi, a gentle breeze condensed, enveloping her petite body.
Around Luo Ren, a layer of dark blue water also formed.
"Profound Water!" The two women's eyes shone. Under the harsh, scorching conditions from the Abnormal Flame, Water-attribute had a certain advantage.
However, even with spiritual energy protecting their bodies, the three were already drenched in sweat. The temperature of the Abnormal Flame was truly terrifying. Even though it wasn't directly attacking them, the pressure it exerted was significant.
"Fight!" The skeleton spoke in a hoarse voice, raising its right hand holding the scepter. Lightning suddenly condensed, striking directly at the three.
ROAR!
Facing the skeleton's first attack, a phantom image of a black bear appeared, standing majestically behind Luo Ren like a guardian deity.
"Earth-attribute spiritual energy?" Luo Ren's actions clearly attracted the attention of the two women.
"I'll handle the defense. You two attack," Luo Ren said sternly, raising both arms and crossing them.
Behind him, the Earth Bear roared, following Luo Ren's movements. Its two powerful arms crossed, preparing to receive the incoming bolt of lightning.
CRACK!
The phantom image of the Earth Bear trembled, its two arms shattered by the lightning.
Luo Ren frowned. This was the first time an attack had shattered the Earth Bear. Inside his dantian, the Spirit Earth Cauldron rotated, and very quickly, the Earth Bear's recently shattered arms re-condensed.
Seeing Luo Ren successfully defend, the two women had no time for surprise and immediately used their martial skills to attack the skeleton.
"Blazing Fire Palm!" In Hong Lien's slender hand, Blazing Fire surged and condensed, forming a palm technique with powerful offensive force.
"Wind Spirit Blessing!" As if having practiced beforehand, the Wind-attribute spiritual energy around Tinh Nhi swirled rapidly, quickly merging into Hong Lien's Blazing Fire Palm.
Fire met wind.
In an instant, its power increased a hundredfold, fiercely striking the skeleton.
The skeleton stood calmly in place, allowing the powerful palm strike to impact its body.
BOOM!
The flames dissipated. The three people's eyes suddenly constricted.
"How can this be? Late-stage Fourth Cycle Body Cultivator! The defensive power of its bones is terrifying!" Hong Lien cried out in alarm. Her attack, combined with Tinh Nhi's, would have severely wounded even an Early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
Yet the skeleton only suffered a slight scrape, not even a small bone was broken.
"Who exactly is this person? A Pill Cultivator, a Formation Cultivator, Fire-attribute, Lightning-attribute, and now even a Body Cultivator?"
Tinh Nhi mumbled seriously, her slightly budding chest heaving, showing that she wasn't as calm as she appeared.
Without giving the three time to think, the skeleton's figure vanished instantly. When it reappeared, it was already close to the three, its lightning-flickering scepter striking down.
ROAR!
Luo Ren stepped in front of the two women. The Earth Bear roared, its hard fist meeting the Lightning Scepter head-on.
Luo Ren knew that the two women weren't skilled in defense. Fire-attribute was only suitable for offense, while Wind and Wood attributes were only for auxiliary enhancement and increasing speed.
"Wood-attribute Blessing!" Tinh Nhi activated her Wood spiritual energy. Several tough vines, condensed from Wood-attribute, appeared and wrapped around the Earth Bear's biceps, intending to increase its defensive power.
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
The Earth Bear's two fists continuously collided with the Lightning Scepter. Each collision shattered its arms, and despite the Wood-attribute enhancement, it still couldn't withstand the impact force of the attribute with the strongest destructive capability: Lightning.
At this moment, Luo Ren finally understood why Luo Piao Lei and Luo Yu held such terrifying authority in the Luo Clan. Possessing a Lightning-attribute spirit root was simply too overbearing.
Inside his dantian, the Spirit Earth Cauldron continued to operate ceaselessly, and the Earth Bear's two arms were continuously re-condensed after each shattering.
Tinh Nhi's situation wasn't as good as Luo Ren's. She didn't have a cauldron and also had to use a portion of her spiritual energy to suppress the heat from the Purple Heart Burning Void Flame, showing signs of fatigue.
"Blazing Fire Whip!" Hong Lien used flames to condense a long whip. She lashed it around the skeleton's body, intending to hinder its actions.
The skeleton temporarily paused its attack on the Earth Bear, gripping the whip with one hand and yanking hard.
Hong Lien couldn't withstand the strength of a Body Cultivator. Her body, by inertia, flew towards the skeleton.
The skeleton raised its Lightning Scepter, clearly intending to strike her once she flew within range.
"Hmph! Myriad Wood Shield!" Tinh Nhi snorted coldly. Countless Wood-attribute spiritual energy rapidly formed a large shield, blocking Hong Lien's path.
CRACK!
The Myriad Wood Shield shattered before the Lightning Scepter. However, it bought Hong Lien enough time. She released the whip, stabilized her body, and moved out of the skeleton's attack range.
"Fly, you bastard!" Luo Ren seized the rare opportunity. With both hands, he manipulated the Earth Bear, grabbing the skeleton's leg, and spun his entire body once, throwing it with full force.
WHOOSH!
The skeleton was thrown far away, hitting the chamber wall and falling down. However, it calmly stood up again, much to the dismay of the three.
"The bones of a Body Cultivator are too terrifying!" Hong Lien wiped the sweat from her forehead. She could feel the temperature in the room steadily increasing. The Purple Heart Burning Void Flame was still performing its role of creating pressure.
"Hehe!"
A mischievous giggle suddenly echoed.