Volume One: The Celestial Hall of Misty Clouds Chapter Fifteen: Tempering the Body with Fire Essence

Chapter Fifteen: Tempering the Body with Fire Essence

Deep within the earth’s veins, magma boiled and firelight filled the entire subterranean world. In the center of a vast molten lake stood a singular, enchantingly beautiful red lotus—the Nine-Petal Fireheart Lotus. This extraordinary flower could only be found in the magma realms at the planet’s core, a rare marvel of the immortal path that appeared but once in three millennia. Every part of it brimmed with the purest fire essence. It was said that consuming a single petal could grant a lesser immortal a century’s worth of cultivation. Moreover, it was a peerless remedy for wounds, potent enough to heal even the gravest injuries of high immortals without regard for their strength.

One could only imagine how precious such a celestial blossom was in the immortal domain, yet here it was, hidden beneath the immortal grounds of the Cloudmist Immortal Palace, a rare treasure indeed!

Upon a fire-red boulder at the edge of the molten lake sat Zhou Hao, cross-legged with his eyes closed. He was to cultivate in this magma world for twenty years, for the environment here was unique—the fire essence so rich that a year’s cultivation equaled five years in the outside world.

In other words, with just twenty years here, he would attain what ordinary disciples only achieved in a century.

“I have eaten a petal of the Fireheart Lotus; now I need not fear the searing heat of this magma world. I wonder how my cultivation will proceed—let’s find out.” With that, Zhou Hao began to draw in the surrounding fire essence, seeking to convert it into immortal power.

Following the instructions of the Azure Cloud Codex, Zhou Hao activated his primal yin-yang energies and started absorbing fire essence. It was as though a dynamo had been installed within him; scarlet streams of fire essence surged toward his body from the ocean of flames. At first, he trembled, then settled into stillness.

It was clear to see—the countless streams of fire essence converged like rivulets towards Zhou Hao, his body becoming a vortex.

But soon, dramatic changes took place. His face, once fair and smooth, flushed deeply, then turned scalding and red, steam rising furiously from his skin. His features contorted in agony, as if possessed by madness.

“Ah!” he screamed, wracked with pain. His robes were instantly reduced to tatters, leaving his bare body trembling upon the rock. He could feel the fire essence rampaging within him, impossible to refine into immortal power. Instead, it brought him excruciating torment.

His primal yin-yang energies strove to suppress the chaotic fire essence, but Zhou Hao’s cultivation was too weak—his primal force was feeble and fragile. If he continued to force the suppression, even his primal core might be ignited by the fire essence, leading to utter destruction.

What allowed him to endure was the petal of Fireheart Lotus he had previously consumed. That petal was the crystallization of fire essence. Even as the raging fire essence coursed through his body, it could not break through the newly strengthened mortal shell, for the lotus petal had already been absorbed and fused within him. Zhou Hao now possessed a physique akin to flame; the fire essence could do him no real harm.

“If I cannot refine it into immortal power, then let it temper my body—refine!”

With a shout, Zhou Hao ceased using his primal yin-yang energies and switched to an indirect approach. He would use the fire essence within him to temper his body; after all, his flesh was now immune to being burned by the fire essence.

Though a lesser immortal, the fire essence at the earth’s core could easily claim Zhou Hao’s life—if not for the Fireheart Lotus petal he had consumed. Its pure spiritual power had been entirely absorbed by his body; now, by tempering his flesh with fire essence, he would only become stronger.

It was a boon without a single drawback!

Columns of fiery light rose from the surrounding magma, forming a dazzling barrier around Zhou Hao. Drawing on the fire essence within the magma, he began to temper his immortal body. The process was anything but simple, for he had to endure the searing pain upon his skin, flesh, and even marrow.

This was the essence of bodily tempering: to endure wave after wave of agony, so that the body would grow stronger and gradually become immune to pain—a process ordinary mortals could scarcely imagine.

Upon the rock, Zhou Hao’s entire body was wreathed in flames. He endured inhuman torment, forging his flesh in the raging fire, as the fire essence battered every inch of his flesh and bone.

“Mmmph—”

A muffled groan escaped his lips, his face beaded with sweat as he sat cross-legged within a pillar of flame, resembling an ascetic monk lost in meditation.

Who knew how long this arduous training lasted? The world beneath the earth’s veins was silent, disturbed only by the occasional pop of a bubble in the molten lake. Cultivation was dull and tranquil; here, time itself seemed to lose all meaning.

“Hoo—”

At last, a soft exhale shattered the silence. The firelight around Zhou Hao dissipated, and he seemed to have grown smaller, his skin somewhat darkened.

“My body’s been refined so much it’s shrunk! This won’t do, I’m still growing. I need to find something to eat.” Zhou Hao was well aware of the state of his body. Glancing around, he began to search for food.

Even immortals, though long-lived, retained the mortal habit of eating. Like mortals, it was partly to strengthen the body, for immortal cuisine was always infused with spiritual essence. To say immortals ate for sustenance was less accurate than to say they ate for “nourishment.” And, like mortals, it was also to satisfy the appetites of the flesh—did not Confucius himself remark upon the primal desires for food and companionship?

For the moment, however, only eating was on his mind.

Looking up, Zhou Hao’s gaze fell upon the Nine-Petal Fireheart Lotus, perched high above. Its beauty was seductive beyond compare; seven petals still shimmered with drifting scarlet light, like a rain of red meteors.

“Forget it, I can’t eat that. Better look for something else.” Zhou Hao shook his head at the Fireheart Lotus.

“If this place can give rise to such a high-grade species as the Nine-Petal Fireheart Lotus, there must be lesser creatures as well.” He mused aloud.

Scanning his surroundings, he found this underground world to be a hellscape of fire and stone. Aside from himself and the lotus, there was nothing—so barren as to be unnerving.

“Could it be there’s something strange about this molten lake?” At last, Zhou Hao gazed suspiciously at the crimson magma beneath his feet.

“Well, this is supposed to be hellish special training. Since I’m here, I may as well explore the depths. Even if the bottom holds the eighteenth level of hell, I’ll fish out a ghost if I must!”

Bold beyond his abilities, Zhou Hao dove straight into the molten lake without a second thought. This was not his first time, but this time he intended to venture deeper—a forbidden area for him.

“I’ll follow the stem of the Fireheart Lotus downward; it’ll help me find my way back.” An idea flashed in his mind.

The lotus was rooted in the lake, and Zhou Hao had previously descended to retrieve petals, but never explored the roots. Now, he would see where the Fireheart Lotus was truly born, and what lay at the lake’s bottom.

He followed the long lotus stem down, deeper and deeper. The lake’s depth was unfathomable; though he was not flying, he swam for a long time without reaching any solid ground—no rocks, no soil, only an endless sea, albeit on a smaller scale.

“It’s too hot—my body can’t take much more. I mustn’t dive any further.” Zhou Hao felt the temperature rise to a terrifying level, one that would have turned an ordinary lesser immortal to bare bones. Even with the lotus’s protection, he was feeling the strain.

Turning to leave, he was distracted by a swarm of dark shapes ahead. A school of fish-like creatures was swimming towards him. Here, vision was limited—an immortal’s eyes could barely see ten yards—so he could not tell what they were.

In moments, the creatures reached him, and he got a clear look. They had fish heads and bodies, but a single snake-like tail. Their entire bodies were covered in fine red scales, and even their pupils were a bloodthirsty crimson—they looked fierce and savage.

“Serpentine Firefish!”

At a glance, Zhou Hao recognized them, thanks to his fondness for reading. Yunfang’s library was always open to him, and Yunfang had even ordered him to spend at least three hours there daily.

Lack of experience could be remedied by books!

“These Serpentine Firefish are fierce and irritable, always traveling in packs—it’s true! But today, you all will be the first offerings to my hungry belly!”

Grinning, Zhou Hao extended his five glowing claws to seize the fish. The creatures were not to be outdone; they bared their mouths full of sharp white teeth—clearly carnivorous predators!

His once delicate fingers were now as deadly as iron hooks. Any Serpentine Firefish that touched them was instantly wounded. Zhou Hao’s fingers flexed into claws, golden light flickering at the tips like flames. He dodged their gaping maws, and with a touch of his claws, the fish’s bodies were torn apart—like a butcher’s stall.

Before long, some thirty Serpentine Firefish had been dispatched, not one left alive. Zhou Hao manipulated the water to push the fish upward, preparing to leave the lake.

“Roar—”

Suddenly, a roar erupted behind him. Zhou Hao turned, startled—he thought it was some monster, but it was still Serpentine Firefish. This time, though, it was an endless, seething mass—a veritable sea of fish, all baring sword-like fangs.

Thousands upon thousands, the Serpentine Firefish surged in a crimson tide. Amidst them were titans, as thick as water tanks, with fins spread wide like enraged lions. Their eyes bore snake-like pupils, exuding a chilling menace.

“Damn, help!” Zhou Hao’s eyes nearly popped from his head. He quickly gathered up the slain fish and fled, summoning every ounce of his power to escape.

The endless horde of Serpentine Firefish surged after him, moving far faster than Zhou Hao. In the blink of an eye, they were upon him.

“Kill!”

The first rank of Serpentine Firefish was already at his heels. Knowing he could not outrun them in the depths, Zhou Hao turned to fight.

Razor teeth, gaping jaws, one wave after another—Zhou Hao was surrounded. Yet the fish that drew near were ripped open, their guts spilling out. Light blazed from Zhou Hao’s body—the fire-tempered flesh radiated such heat that it drove back the fish.

“They fear the firelight from my body?” Zhou Hao was surprised by the reaction.

“But that makes no sense—they were born in this molten lake. Why would they fear fire?”

“Never mind, just get out before they devour me alive. I, an immortal, will not be eaten by a horde of fish!”

A sudden idea struck him. His body shrank and vanished in a flash, causing the larger fish to bellow in rage, their serpentine tails lashing the water.

In truth, Zhou Hao hadn’t disappeared—he’d transformed into a Serpentine Firefish, weaving through the school. Using the lotus stem as his beacon, he made his escape.

The fish swarm had surrounded him, but within their ranks he could hide without fear. Swimming upward along the lotus stem, there was still some risk of being discovered, but it would be less conspicuous.

He flicked his serpentine tail, swimming upward without pause. Some of the fish around him, noticing something odd, became suspicious of this “different” companion.

“Where are you going?”

“Everyone’s hunting the intruder—why are you leaving?”

Though Zhou Hao couldn’t understand their language, his immortal senses grasped their intent. He chose not to respond—there was no time to waste talking.

“Strange—he swims faster when we talk. Has he found food?”

“Food? Has that one found something to eat? Let’s follow and get a share!”

“But he doesn’t look like one of us. He swims differently!”

“Damn, our kind always travel together—why is he acting so odd? Let’s check him out. There’s something off about that one!”

A few dozen Serpentine Firefish formed a group and gave chase. They quickly caught up with Zhou Hao.

“Hey you, stop! Who are you, really? You’re not a Serpentine Firefish, are you?” the leader shouted.