Hearing this, a flash of understanding crossed Fang Yang's eyes.
He reached out and made a grasping motion in the void. The Heavenly Flame Pill, flowing with twenty-two-colored radiant light at the top of the central pillar, slowly flew into his palm.
The pill felt warm to the touch. Its surface overflowed with brilliant light, condensing the very essence of all the flames between heaven and earth within it.
The characteristics of the twenty-two Heavenly Flames perfectly blended within it, yet maintained a delicate balance.
"Let's begin."
Fang Yang sat cross-legged and placed the Heavenly Flame Pill into his mouth.
The pill dissolved the moment it entered his mouth. Suddenly, an ocean-like, majestic energy violently erupted within his body.
The power of the twenty-two Heavenly Flames exploded simultaneously, as if trying to tear him apart completely from the inside out.
His meridians violently trembled under the impact of the frenzied energy, and his bones emitted an overwhelmed hum.
Even with Fang Yang's current cultivation at the peak of the Nine-star Dou Sheng realm, he couldn't help but let out a muffled grunt under the impact of this power, with fine beads of sweat seeping from his temples.
Enduring the pain, he formed hand seals. The flame rune on his brow suddenly lit up, emitting rays of divine light that formed a protective barrier around him.
"Divine Art of Pill Transformation, refine!"
As the cultivation method operated, a mysterious power spread out from within him.
Under the guidance of this power, the violent medicinal efficacy was gradually refined, turning into twenty-two streams of pure energy of different colors, converging into his Dantian like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.
Each energy stream contained the essential characteristics of a single Heavenly Flame. Harmonized by the Divine Art of Pill Transformation, they perfectly fused, forming a delicate balance.
As the refinement continued, the aura around Fang Yang became increasingly profound and vast.
A faint twenty-three-colored flowing light rippled across the surface of his body. Every breath he took triggered the energy tides of the entire Heavenly Flame Space, as if he were the center of this world.
After an unknown period of time, Fang Yang abruptly opened his eyes.
The deep black in his pupils seemed capable of swallowing all light, yet deep within, a twenty-two-colored radiance faintly shimmered.
He slowly stood up. The aura around him reached its absolute peak, causing the surrounding space to distort.
"It's time."
Fang Yang's gaze locked directly onto the Emperor Flame that ruled over the heavens in the air above.
With a single step forward, the entire Heavenly Flame Space violently trembled. The runes on the twenty-three giant pillars lit up simultaneously, as if responding to his call.
"Emperor Flame, come!"
He extended his right hand, palm facing upward.
An invisible gravitational force erupted from within him, causing the entire space to boil at this moment.
The Emperor Flame trembled slightly. The speed at which its twenty-two colors circulated abruptly accelerated, emitting a scorching aura.
The temperature in the space climbed to the absolute extreme in this moment; even the void itself began to distort and incinerate.
As the Emperor Flame continuously descended, for every inch it dropped, the suppression bearing down on Fang Yang increased by a fraction.
*Boom——*
The moment the Emperor Flame finally landed in his palm, a world-destroying energy burst forth.
Fang Yang's entire body was engulfed by dazzling light. The power of the twenty-two Heavenly Flames collided violently with the Emperor Flame, erupting with deafening roars.
He felt unprecedented pain, as if every inch of his flesh was being torn apart, and every wisp of his soul was being burned.
"Ugh..."
Fang Yang couldn't help but let out a painful groan.
The power of the Emperor Flame far exceeded his imagination, as if it wanted to incinerate both his physical body and soul into ashes.
He frantically operated the Flame Mantra, forcefully refining this power.
The flame rune on his brow erupted with unprecedented radiance, like a scorching sun rising.
Black Void Swallowing Flames continuously surged out, beginning to slowly devour the Emperor Flame.
Just then, a figure quietly materialized.
If Fang Yang could spare the attention to observe right now, he would surely be shocked to find...
This figure's appearance was exactly identical to his own, except that his eyes held a calmness that had weathered the vicissitudes of life.
"It's time..."
The Artifact Spirit muttered softly to itself, a complex look flashing in its eyes—a mix of relief and reluctance to let go.
It raised its hands and formed an ancient, profound mystical seal. Every single movement triggered a resonance with the laws of heaven and earth.
"Divine Seal of Heaven, unseal!"
The next moment, the twenty-three heaven-reaching pillars on the Heavenly Flame Square shook simultaneously, and the sealing runes on their surfaces shattered inch by inch.
A resplendent golden Source Qi shot into the sky from the central pillar, emitting a heart-palpitating suppression.
This Source Qi contained the most pure source power of heaven and earth, as if it were the very origin of the entire world.
It radiated a gentle yet powerful light, illuminating the entire Heavenly Flame Space.
"Jin, my mission has ended..."
The Artifact Spirit—or rather, the other Fang Yang—began to turn transparent the instant he completed the unsealing.
He took a deep look at Fang Yang, who was currently merging with the Emperor Flame, a relieved smile appearing on the corners of his mouth.
"In this life, I shall surely surpass the past and ascend to that supreme realm."
As his voice faded, he transformed into specks of starlight and dissipated into the heaven and earth.
Leaving only a faint, seemingly illusory sigh echoing in the space.
"My name is Wu..."
The exact instant Wu vanished, a sudden and bizarre change occurred in the heaven and earth.
A second sun appeared in the sky. Heaven and earth collapsed. A boundless sea of fire descended from the heavens, enveloping the entire Heavenly Flame Space.
That resplendent golden Source Qi surged toward Fang Yang, merging into his transforming body.
After an unknown period of time...
Fang Yang opened his eyes at the center of the boundless sea of fire. His pupils were now a field of dazzling gold.
He felt the surging power within his body, as well as the Emperor Flame that was perfectly merging with him.
Countless memory fragments flooded into his mind at this moment. They were the past of "Wu," his former avatar.
"So that's how it is..."
He murmured softly, finally understanding the truth behind everything.
Wu was an avatar he had once separated, carrying a portion of his soul's origin. It had stayed here to guard the Emperor Flame, waiting only for today's return.
All the scheming, all the waiting, was for this moment of perfect fusion.
"I am named Jin, and he was Wu..."
"Wu Jin Tian Zun..."
Fang Yang—or rather, the current Wu Jin Tian Zun—slowly raised his palm.
In the center of his palm, twenty-three-colored flames danced docilely. Every single wisp of fire contained the power to incinerate all creation in the world.
He felt the Source Qi flowing within him. It was power at the Dou Di level, a true mighty force that touched the very origin of heaven and earth.
"So this is... the Emperor Realm."
He whispered to himself, his voice carrying a hint of enlightenment.
At this moment, Fang Yang finally understood the true meaning represented by the title Wu Jin Tian Zun.
Wu—without beginning or end. Jin—reborn from the ashes. Tian Zun—revered by heaven and earth.
Fang Yang's gaze swept across his surroundings. Under the influence of his aura, the entire Heavenly Flame Space began to undergo a transformation.
The originally shattered void began to autonomously repair itself, and the collapsed laws of the world reconverged.
"Refine!"
The twenty-three heaven-reaching pillars were instantly refined, turning into a streak of flowing light that submerged into his body.
Fang Yang could feel that an unprecedented connection had been restored between himself and the Heavenly Flame Bead.
With a mere raise of his hand or a step of his foot, he could now draw upon the infinite power contained within it.
"It's time to go back..."
He took a single step forward, and the entire Heavenly Flame Space trembled with him.
The era of Wu Jin Tian Zun had finally arrived!
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