Chapter 401 - 324: Absorbing the Endless Flame, Visitors from the Immortal Realm

The power of this Endless Flame can’t be underestimated—since I’ve got it, there’s no way I’m letting it go to waste.

Lin Chang’sheng decided to refine and absorb the Endless Flame right here and now.

By then, his attacks would carry the power of flame, making them even more powerful.

"What a freak!"

Sword Elder could only sigh to himself—this kid’s talent already far outstrips what he had in his youth.

In other words, so long as this kid doesn’t die, his future achievements are bound to surpass his own.

At this moment, Lin Chang’sheng couldn’t care less what Sword Elder was thinking—his mind was wholly immersed in refining the Endless Flame.

As Lin Chang’sheng circulated his primordial power, the fire within the crystal stone was drawn out by him, transforming into waves of firelight that enveloped his entire body.

The scorching fiery flame made Lin Chang’sheng’s forehead bead with sweat, his whole body flushed red.

As the Endless Flame entered his body, Lin Chang’sheng felt unbearable heat and stabbing pain surging through him.

Even though he’d already reached the Middle Stage of Divinity Transformation physically, he still sensed how formidable this force was.

A single misstep and he’d risk burning himself alive!

"My body is actually being tempered by the flame?"

Lin Chang’sheng was a little surprised.

Because he discovered that as the Endless Flame coursed through his body, it kept tempering his physique, meridians, and even his blood itself.

Luckily, his body was strong enough that absorbing the fire posed no threat to his life.

If it were an ordinary cultivator, even a touch of this Endless Flame would probably reduce them to white bone.

As time passed, the Endless Flame within the crystal stone grew less and less, while the flame power inside Lin Chang’sheng surged even more intensely.

But Lin Chang’sheng had mastered the Fiery Sun Fire Control Skill, so he could keep the flame in check and gradually stabilize it.

Without a proper cultivation technique, this fire would be enough to burn any Nascent Soul Stage cultivator to ashes.

Half an hour later, all the Endless Flame within the crystal stone had been absorbed and refined by Lin Chang’sheng, turning its power into his own.

"Damn, that feels good—"

Lin Chang’sheng opened his eyes, let out a long breath, and spread his palm—a ball of flame danced in his hand. It was the Endless Flame itself.

"What a freak!"

Sword Elder muttered to himself again.

In the next instant, Lin Chang’sheng flexed his power, and flames from the Endless Flame surged violently, enveloping his whole body.

But now that he had refined it, the flames couldn’t harm him at all—though to others, it’d be utterly fatal.

Lin Chang’sheng casually threw a punch; the Fist Aura twined with fiery power.

BOOM—

The fist struck the ground, and not only did it cause massive damage, but a blaze erupted where it landed, showing not even a hint of dying down.

If this Endless Flame doesn’t meet something that can restrain it, it can burn for centuries, even a thousand years, and never be extinguished.

Watching the undying blaze on the ground, Lin Chang’sheng was quite satisfied.

From now on, even if he couldn’t kill his foe outright, he’d just burn them to death.

"Soon, I’ll be leaving this place. I’d better go see Yu Wenjing!"

Lin Chang’sheng thought to himself. Now that he’d dealt with all his foes in the Immortal Relic Land, his next step was to leave here.

Before departing, Lin Chang’sheng planned to visit Yu Wenjing and say his final goodbye.

After all, Yu Wenjing had helped him more than once. Now, as he was headed for the Immortal Realm, he had no idea when he’d next return.

By the time he came back, it might well be centuries later—by then, who knew if Yu Wenqian would even still be there.

This is the gap between martial artists and cultivators.

Cultivators roam the heavens and earth, living for hundreds, even a thousand years.

But ordinary martial artists simply can’t outpace centuries of passing time.

...

Great Yu, Imperial City.

Yu Wenjing stood in red robes, phoenix crown on her head, gazing toward the distant direction of the Liuyun Immortal Sect.

Though it had since been renamed the Immortal Ascension Sect, she always called it by its old name.

That name made her feel closer to it.

"Chang’sheng, you and I no longer belong to the same world. One day, when you ascend to the Upper Realm, you’ll forget me. I was just a passerby in your life—nothing more."

Yu Wenjing let out a soft, mournful sigh. The thought that, someday, she would fade from Lin Chang’sheng’s memory left her unable to suppress a wave of sadness.

She so wished that Lin Chang’sheng’s talent wasn’t quite so high—then he could stay here forever. It would be enough if she could just see him a few more times in this lifetime.

But some things will never go the way you wish.

"Maybe... fate only lets us go this far and no further."

Yu Wenjing murmured desolately.

The breeze brushed past, tossing Yu Wenjing’s long hair, making her look all the more forlorn.

Night slowly deepened.

Jin Wuque strode over. "Your Majesty, it’s late—you really ought to rest and take care of your phoenix body."

Yu Wenqian took one last look at the distant horizon, withdrew her gaze, and headed toward the Great Hall.

Every night, Yu Wenjing would stand here, gazing into the distance deep into the night.

She so wished this had all just been a dream.

And that when she woke, she’d be back at the banks of the Mu City Yun River, meeting Lin Chang’sheng for the very first time.

Whoosh—

A breeze drifted by, and someone appeared, unmoving in the darkness of the Great Hall’s corner.

Jin Wuque was startled instantly.

"Who’s there?"

Jin Wuque immediately placed himself protectively in front of Yu Wenjing.

"Guards, to me!"

At his sharp cry, more than a hundred guards from outside the Imperial Palace Hall rushed in together.

They surrounded the shadowy figure in layers.

"Stand down!"

But Yu Wenjing just waved her hand dismissively—she could tell from the figure’s silhouette, even in the shadows, exactly who had come.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Though Jin Wuque was puzzled, he immediately had the guards fall back.

Yu Wenjing finally lost control of her buried grief. She rushed straight into the shadow’s arms.

"I just knew it—you’d come back to see me—"

Tears streamed down Yu Wenjing’s face; her heart was a whirlwind of emotion.

The figure was none other than Lin Chang’sheng.

Yu Wenjing’s response caught Lin Chang’sheng totally off guard. He never imagined that he’d hold such weight in her heart.

"Wenjing, I came this time to—"

Lin Chang’sheng was just about to say his farewells, but Yu Wenjing reached out and pressed her hand to his mouth, refusing to let him speak further.

Truthfully, Yu Wenjing understood everything deep down. This was just a shallow pool—it could never hold someone like Lin Chang’sheng, a mighty dragon.

He was always meant to swim off, further into the wider sea.

"I won’t ask for anything else. Just stay with me for one night. Talk with me, okay?"

Yu Wenjing spoke slowly and gently.

She knew that after tonight, she might never see Lin Chang’sheng again in this life.

This night, she did not want to let slip away.

Otherwise, it would forever be her greatest regret.

Lin Chang’sheng nodded.

That night, Lin Chang’sheng and Yu Wenjing talked for a long time. Laughter came from the room now and then, and Yu Wenqian felt she hadn’t been this happy in a very long while.

But happiness never lasts long. When Yu Wenjing woke again the next morning, Lin Chang’sheng was already gone.

Thinking back on the joy of last night, Yu Wenjing felt she’d lived her life without regret.

...

In a flash, ten days passed.

The barrier surrounding the Immortal Relic Land twisted, and a crack appeared—two figures slipped inside.

They were Sword Sect’s Celestial Nether Sword Sect’s Sixth Elder’s prized disciples: Jian Fan and Qing Luo.

Jian Fan wore white robes, his face full of pride. He was thin, exuding the honed presence of a sharp sword.

Qing Luo, in contrast, was dressed in green, a birthmark the same color standing out on his face, a green hairpin atop his head giving him a strangely delicate, almost feminine air.

"This godforsaken Abandoned Land—and Elder Situ actually died here? What a joke!"

Jian Fan scoffed in disdain. His divine sense briefly swept the area, finding the spiritual energy so sparse that it was impossible for any Divinity Transformation cultivator to be born here.

And yet, Elder Situ had died in this place—did a mere Nascent Soul ant somehow kill him?

If so, that would be a hell of a shame.

"Exactly. I want to see for myself who managed to kill Elder Situ!"

Qing Luo echoed in agreement, though there was an unmistakable touch of femininity beneath his words.

Hearing Qing Luo speak, Jian Fan’s brow creased slightly in annoyance.

If his master hadn’t commanded them to come together, Jian Fan wouldn’t want to work with Qing Luo for anything in the world.

Just hearing the guy open his mouth was almost unbearable.

"Jian Fan, Senior Brother, what should our next step be?"

Qing Luo looked at Jian Fan, his expression unreadable, making Jian Fan’s skin crawl.

Jian Fan drew out a white jade stone, saw the direction of the blood-red mark, and immediately shot off.

"Jian Fan, wait for me!"

Qing Luo shouted after him.

If not for being fellow disciples, Jian Fan would’ve killed this freak himself by now.

Whoosh whoosh—

The two turned to streaks of light, flying into the distance.