Ascending to Godhood: I Can Foresee All Futures

Without the Profound Flame Order, even a Mystic Realm expert would likely pay a tremendous price to force their way through such a dense and complex Restriction—and they would risk triggering its self-destruction.

Under the continuous glow of the Profound Flame Order, the layers of Restrictions gradually dimmed and dissolved like melting ice.

A hundred breaths later, the entire cliff face suddenly let out a low RUMBLE as loose stones tumbled down.

Immediately after, a previously unremarkable, uneven section of the cliff face beneath the giant cyan rock abruptly caved inward.

With the dull grinding of mechanisms, a dark, cavernous entrance about ten feet high and five feet wide slowly appeared before them.

The cave’s interior was pitch-black. A faint whiff of long-sealed Spiritual Qi, mingled with a musty odor, drifted out.

Just as Chen Sheng was about to enter, Sun Yuzhi raised a hand to his shoulder, stopping him.

With a flick of her sleeve, a streak of pale blue light shot out, vanishing into the pitch-black entrance as swiftly as a lightning bolt.

After a moment, Sun Yuzhi confirmed there was no immediate danger near the entrance and gave a slight nod.

"We can go in, but stay cautious. Stick close to me."

"Alright."

Chen Sheng nodded and followed close behind Sun Yuzhi, stepping into the cave mansion.

The passage was narrow at first, just wide enough for two people abreast, but it opened up dramatically after about a hundred feet.

The walls were smooth, clearly the result of artificial shaping. Faint, blurry murals were visible, depicting the life and cultivation insights of the Profound Flame Daoist.

But due to their age, many parts were faded and difficult to make out.

Even more mysteriously, whenever Chen Sheng passed by holding the Profound Flame Order, the faint glow of a Restriction would flare up on the walls and ceiling before quietly fading, as if verifying the identity of the one who had come.

Without the token, every step would have likely triggered a fatal Restriction.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they reached the end of the passage, where a gleaming white jade stele about nine feet tall blocked their path.

The jade felt smooth and warm to the touch, and it emitted a soft white glow that illuminated the small stone chamber.

The inscription, carved in a powerful and vigorous script, recorded the final words of the Profound Flame Daoist:

"I was once a hunter from Cyan River who, by a stroke of fortune, inherited a predecessor’s legacy and set foot upon the path of cultivation. Though my aptitude was mediocre, my will was firm. Through persistence, I finally reached the Innate realm, broke through to the Profound Realm, and formed a Golden Core...

Unfortunately, a mishap overseas damaged my foundation and drastically shortened my lifespan. On the brink of death, like a falling leaf returning to its roots, I came home to Cyan River to slumber. I have left behind three tokens for those with fate. If you have received my inheritance, I hope you will carry on my will, advance with courage and diligence, and never let your Dao heart falter... The final words of Profound Flame."

The words conveyed a mix of acceptance and regret, along with earnest hope for his successor.

A solemn expression on his face, Chen Sheng faced the jade stele and bowed three times in respect.

After completing the rite, he stepped forward and fitted the three Profound Flame Orders into three shallow, matching indentations on the stele’s surface.

With a soft CLICK, they fit perfectly into place.

The next moment, an intense, interwoven radiance of cyan and red erupted from the jade stele.

The three tokens flared with a brilliant light of their own, seemingly merging with the stele.

A low RUMBLE echoed from deep underground, and the entire cave mansion began to tremble slightly.

The jade stele slowly sank, disappearing into the ground.

Simultaneously, the stone wall ahead, which had seemed to be a dead end, rumbled loudly and split down the middle, sliding open to either side amid the grinding of gears and the flow of brilliant light.

A wider, brighter stone chamber was revealed.

The stone chamber was about thirty feet square. Embedded in the ceiling were several massive Luminous Pearls, casting a soft glow over everything.

Lining the walls were simple stone shelves, neatly arranged with dozens of multicolored Jade Scrolls and three foot-long jade boxes.

In the center of the chamber, a desiccated corpse sat cross-legged on a slightly raised stone platform, clad in a faded Daoist Robe.

The style of the Daoist Robe was ancient and unadorned; despite the long years, it remained largely intact.

The corpse’s hands were formed into a sealing technique before its abdomen, its head slightly bowed. Though its flesh had long since withered away, its skeleton remained ramrod straight, faintly exuding the extraordinary bearing it must have possessed in life.

What drew the most attention, however, was the fist-sized crimson flame burning silently on the stone platform before the corpse.

The flame was pure in color, with a nearly transparent core and a crimson outer edge. It flickered soundlessly, radiating a bizarre aura that was both scorching hot and chillingly cold.

"The Profound Spirit Yin Fire!"

Sun Yuzhi’s gaze sharpened, her voice tinged with astonishment.

"You recognize this fire, Vice Envoy?"

Chen Sheng asked, feigning confusion.

"The Profound Flame Daoist made his name largely through the Divine Techniques of this fire."

Sun Yuzhi took a few steps closer to sense it more carefully.

"This fire is born from the yin energy of the earth’s ley lines. Its coldness can corrode the very bone, yet it contains a blazing heat within. It’s a natural counter to all forms of Protective Gang Qi and other sinister things, making it exceptionally difficult to deal with. But it’s a pity... this particular Yin Fire’s spiritual essence has been damaged. Its power is less than a tenth of what it once was.

It must be because no one has been nurturing it since the Profound Flame Daoist passed, so it has wasted away over the long years.

However, if you can successfully refine it, it will still be a great asset. If you can find a suitable Spiritual Object to nourish it in the future, it might one day return to its full strength."

Chen Sheng nodded slightly, then stepped into the stone chamber. His gaze swept past the Profound Spirit Yin Fire, finally settling on a Jade Pendant hanging from the corpse’s neck.

The Jade Pendant was only half of a whole, its broken edge jagged and uneven. Though its color was a warm, pure white, it was covered in dust and looked utterly unremarkable.

Chen Sheng, however, did not underestimate it in the least. According to his Celestial Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil, this object had a mysterious origin, likely from overseas, and was the single most valuable item in the entire cave mansion.

Without hesitation, Chen Sheng raised his hand and made a grasping motion, causing the Jade Pendant to fly into his palm.

It was cool and smooth to the touch. Aside from feeling remarkably hard, he could discern no other special properties for the time being.

Chen Sheng could only put it away carefully, saving it for future study.

Meanwhile, Sun Yuzhi walked over to the stone shelves and began to open the three jade boxes.