After lingering in the Scripture Pavilion's Dao rhyme star sea for who knows how long, Tang Xiaoqi felt his understanding of the "purification" and "guardian" Dao had solidified, and he faintly touched the threshold of the deeper "balance." The warmth from the jade pendant on his chest became clear again, guiding him to leave this ocean of knowledge and proceed to the next place of fortune.
With a thought, his form seemed accepted by this space, naturally "flowing" toward the Scripture Pavilion's exit. Passing through that invisible boundary and stepping again onto the innate cloud sea, the scene before him had transformed. The Scripture Pavilion's ancient tower body slowly faded into the chaotic mist behind him, while ahead, a building of completely different style attracted his gaze.
It was a crimson hall, not built of bricks and stones but seemingly carved from a single massive crimson crystal with lava flowing within. The hall was not particularly tall, yet it emanated a scorching yet restrained majestic aura, as if a sun were sealed within. The space around the hall was slightly distorted, with rich fire element laws and a peculiar "transformation" Dao rhyme that seemed capable of melting all things permeating the air. Above the hall entrance, again no plaque hung, but his intent told him—[Pill Refining Room].
Unlike the Scripture Pavilion's vast profundity, the Pill Refining Room gave an impression of ultimate "focus" and "transformation."
Stepping through the hall entrance, a wave of heat rushed forth—but this heat was not violent; rather, it carried a strange vitality and purity. The interior space was equally vast. In the center stood a massive Bagua pill furnace cast from some dark red divine metal. The furnace had no firewood beneath it but floated suspended in mid-air. At the furnace bottom, a cluster of seemingly weak yet heart-palpitating chaotic-colored flames burned quietly—it was this flame cluster that provided the heat source and core Dao rhyme for the entire pill furnace and indeed the entire Pill Refining Room.
The surroundings were not empty but floated with dozens of auxiliary cauldrons of varying sizes and materials, as well as some shelves made of jade. Upon them lay some medicinal residue that had long lost its spirituality and turned to stone, and some rust-covered pill refining tools, speaking of this place's former busyness and present silence.
Xiao Qi's gaze was immediately drawn to that chaotic flame cluster at the furnace bottom.
The flame cluster was merely fist-sized, chaotic in color, as if containing all the world's colors, yet presenting a texture nearly approaching "nothingness." It burned quietly, without sound, without smoke, without even much heat radiating outward. Yet within Xiao Qi, the Nirvana Crimson Flame sword spirit transmitted a strong craving and a trace... of imperceptible trembling awe!
Simultaneously, the Four Symbols jade pendant on his chest transmitted unprecedented burning heat—not a warning, but excitement at encountering something of the same origin.
"What kind of flame is this..." Xiao Qi was shocked in his heart. He had encountered the Southern Ming Departing Fire, that supreme yang and rigid evil-burning divine fire; he had seen the Earth Lung Poison Fire, violent and sinister; not to mention the Samadhi True Fire and Infant Fire used by ordinary cultivators. But never had a flame given him such a peculiar sensation—it seemed to have no attribute, yet seemed to contain all attributes; it appeared weak, yet within it seemed to hold the origin power from the beginning of heaven and earth, melting chaos, deriving all things!
He carefully approached the central pill furnace—the closer he got, the more he could sense the extraordinary nature of that chaotic flame. The void around it was slightly collapsing, as if even light and space could be melted and absorbed by it. If not for the furnace's miraculous material and the powerful array imprisoning it, this flame wisp would likely have already reduced everything to nothingness.
Just as he was concentrating entirely on observing this chaotic flame wisp, a stream of information, as if triggered, naturally flowed into his mind—not from a light sphere, but from the residual intent imprint of this Pill Refining Room itself:
"Chaos Pill Fire, not post-heavenly fire but formed from a single point of innate chaos origin qi, containing the true meaning of 'emptiness' and 'completeness.' Can melt all things, return to origin, transform post-heavenly into pre-heavenly. It is the supreme treasure for pill refining and artifact crafting. Yet its nature is proud—those without a chaos body or power of equivalent origin cannot wield it; touch it and be burned..."
The information cut off there, but its meaning made Xiao Qi's heart tremble violently!
Chaos Pill Fire! Return to origin! Transform post-heavenly into pre-heavenly!
This was simply a fortune tailor-made for him! His Purification Origin pursued precisely driving away post-heavenly filth and returning to pre-heavenly purity! His Dao path was precisely to understand all laws, ultimately pursuing chaos returning to unity! If he could control this fire, whether for pill refining or artifact crafting, there would be a qualitative leap! More importantly, using this fire to temper the body and refine the spirit might accelerate his understanding of chaos true meaning, perhaps even purify his own spiritual power, advancing toward the pre-heavenly realm!
Moreover, the information mentioned "those with power of equivalent origin"—his Four Symbols jade pendant was precisely a wondrous object containing partial chaos origin laws! And his Green Lotus origin that had merged multiple powers and constantly evolved toward chaos...
A bold idea rose in his heart.
He must attempt to subdue this wisp of Chaos Pill Fire!
He took a deep breath, not acting rashly. First, he sat cross-legged three zhang away from the pill furnace, adjusting his state. His Golden Core circulated, spiritual power filled him; Guardian Sword Intent was restrained internally, protecting his heart meridian and Sea of Consciousness; Purification Origin stood ready, prepared to deal with possible foreign energy impact. Simultaneously, he fully communicated with the Four Symbols jade pendant on his chest, guiding that warm power containing balance and chaos meaning to envelop his entire body.
After completing these preparations, he slowly extended his right hand, his fingertip wreathed with a trace of pure power—the fusion of chaos meaning guided by the Four Symbols jade pendant and his own Green Lotus origin—carefully reaching toward that seemingly weak yet actually terrifying chaotic flame.
This was an extremely dangerous action. Once his power could not gain the Chaos Pill Fire's recognition, or was insufficient to control even one ten-millionth of its power, he would be instantly burned into nothingness, unable even to escape with his soul.
His fingertip was about to touch the edge of that chaotic-colored flame cluster.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.