Chapter 58: Devouring the Sacred Fire

"A storm is coming."

Qin Changsheng, currently within the Sacred Fire Valley, could keenly feel the shifting atmosphere over the past few days.

Everything inside the Sacred Fire Valley had changed from how it was when he first arrived. Initially, people would orderly receive the baptism of the sacred fire and needed the Holy Maiden's permission. But now, all of that had changed.

In order to boost their strength ahead of an impending battle, the entire desolate clan no longer restricted their people from entering and absorbing the power within. Even Qin Changsheng, an impostor masquerading under the identity of Golden Horn, could now openly and proudly walk into the sacred fire.

A massive battle was about to erupt. The top-tier powerhouses of the human race were closing in on the Sacred Fire Valley in vast numbers, placing immense pressure upon the entire desolate clan. Consequently, they were resorting to every available means to enhance the strength of their people.

And undergoing the baptism and tempering of the sacred fire was the supreme way to achieve this enhancement.

Qin Changsheng was also frantically absorbing the energy within the sacred fire.

He understood that trying to swallow the entire sacred fire in front of so many powerful figures was completely unrealistic. Instead, he decided to stealthily extract a portion of the sacred fire's origin.

Although the progress of his Golden Elixir would be slightly slower, as long as he made a breakthrough with the origin of the sacred fire, Qin Changsheng could officially embark on his own path of the Golden Elixir.

Fortunately, the external pressure was heavy enough that Qin Changsheng no longer needed to absorb it in secret. Furthermore, many powerhouses had been dispatched to the defense lines, and even the Holy Maiden of the desolate clan was anxiously monitoring the situation outside, paying no heed to the subtle changes within the sacred fire.

"Emergency! Emergency! The human race is attacking!"

Accompanied by a cry of panic, the desolate clansmen inside the Sacred Fire Valley could no longer sit still. Sophie, the Holy Maiden, also split a portion of her divine sense to look beyond the Sacred Fire Valley.

At this exact moment, Qin Changsheng opened his eyes.

"It has begun. It's time for my performance."

Qin Changsheng sighed softly. His immortal eyes slowly unsealed, and taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, he began searching for the origin nestled deep within the sacred fire. This was his prime opportunity to fish in troubled waters.

The burning area of the sacred fire was exceptionally vast, with the flames covering a region dozens of miles across the entire valley. The entire valley resembled a volcanic crater, and the sacred fire was rooted right at the heart of this crater; otherwise, it could never have supplied the tempering and enhancement for millions of desolate clansmen.

With the Holy Maiden keeping watch earlier, Qin Changsheng had not dared to act rashly. But now, with the human race striking at their doorstep, every member of the desolate clan was restless, and all eyes were drawn outward. No one suspected that their former clansman, Golden Horn, was actually an impostor.

With no one watching him, Qin Changsheng's immortal eyes quickly penetrated through layer after layer of flames. Within a mere moment, he locked onto the sacred fire's origin at the very center of the blaze. Countless dao laws were swaying within it, and the grade of this sacred fire had clearly reached the immortal tier, if not even higher.

Moreover, there was an abundance of this origin energy. Knowing his time was limited, Qin Changsheng instantly widened his immortal eyes, opening his inner world wide as countless streams of immortal light diffused outward!

Just as a pulling force was about to engulf the sacred fire's origin, the entire Sacred Fire Valley trembled violently.

It felt as though an ancient will was awakening. A fire spirit revived, charging ruthlessly and chillingly toward Qin Changsheng!

It seemed intent on burning this trespasser to ashes.

That was a terrifying power surpassing the realm of immortals!

Startled after being locked onto by this presence, Qin Changsheng realized he had underestimated the terrifying might of the sacred fire and had been overly idealistic. In fact, many people had severely underestimated this sacred fire.

"Changsheng Monument, aid me!"

Qin Changsheng let out a cold grunt.

Just as the fire spirit was about to reach him, the Changsheng Monument transformed into a sword and smashed fiercely toward the fire spirit of the sacred fire.

"Clang!"

The sword radiance transformed by the Changsheng Monument collided violently with the fire spirit, erupting with a deafening metallic screech. The fire spirit was instantly repelled by this single blow, causing the entire Sacred Fire Valley to shake. Flames scattered in all directions, and the surrounding temperature soared instantly.

Seizing this opportunity, Qin Changsheng did not hesitate for a second longer. He fully opened his inner world and swallowed the origin in one massive gulp.

He knew in his heart that he only had this single chance. If he missed it, once the fire spirit recovered, he would never have another opportunity to devour it.

However, even as Qin Changsheng frantically devoured the origin, the fire spirit rapidly recovered from the previous blow. It let out a heaven-shaking roar, and terrifying fire laws surged wildly toward Qin Changsheng, seemingly determined to burn this audacious trespasser who dared to violate its majesty into complete ashes.

Feeling the fire spirit's fury and terrifying power, Qin Changsheng's heart turned cold. He knew that although he had temporarily repelled the fire spirit with the help of the Changsheng Monument, fully devouring the origin and escaping the fire spirit's pursuit would require an even greater effort.

"Changsheng Monument, lend me your strength once more!" Qin Changsheng roared, driving the Changsheng Monument with all his might.

The Changsheng Monument bloomed once again with dazzling immortal light, transforming into an indestructible barrier that stood before Qin Changsheng. At the same time, a powerful devouring force surged from the monument itself, resonating across the distance with the inner world within Qin Changsheng's body, jointly devouring the origin.

With the assistance of the Changsheng Monument, Qin Changsheng's speed in devouring the origin accelerated abruptly. However, the power of the fire spirit grew increasingly violent. It continuously unleashed roars as the laws of fire frantically bombarded the barrier transformed by the Changsheng Monument.

By now, the entire Sacred Fire Valley was in a state of absolute boiling chaos. Flames soared into the sky, piercing the firmament and dyeing the entire heaven and earth a blazing crimson. The terrifying high temperatures caused the air itself to warp, as if wanting to incinerate everything into nothingness.

Yet, amid this fierce battle, Qin Changsheng remained utterly calm and steadfast. He continuously adjusted his condition to ensure he could devour the origin and withstand the fire spirit's attacks at his absolute peak.

Time ticked away second by second, and more and more of the origin was devoured. Qin Changsheng could feel the power within his body rapidly surging, and the path of the Golden Elixir was faintly showing signs of opening.

The Yin-Yang ocean within his inner world began to boil violently due to the arrival of the sacred fire's origin.

Even though Qin Changsheng had devoured enough origin to fill a pond, it was still not enough to shake the entire Yin-Yang ocean!

Devouring madly, Qin Changsheng swallowed a third of the sacred fire's origin in the blink of an eye!

Just as he prepared to continue devouring, the fire spirit sensed a grave crisis. With a sudden, deafening roar, a power even more terrifying than before erupted from the fire spirit, crashing directly onto the barrier formed by the Changsheng Monument.

"Boom!"

A massive roar echoed as the barrier transformed by the Changsheng Monument was shattered directly by the fire spirit's strike. Qin Changsheng swayed, his face turning pale in an instant. He felt a formidable force flood into his body, wildly wreaking havoc upon his meridians and flesh.

"Pfft!" Qin Changsheng could not suppress the blood rising in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his figure teetering precariously.

A look of madness and determination flashed in Qin Changsheng's eyes: "You want to stop me? It won't be that easy!"

Taking a deep breath, Qin Changsheng forcibly suppressed the agonizing pain within his body. Formulating hand seals, he drove the power within himself to its absolute limit, once again urging the Changsheng Monument to contend against the fire spirit.

The Yin-Yang dao laws emerged, and immortal power poured forth!