Chapter 762: Mind-Governing Flame Refinement (II)
Throughout the process of refining it, the Heart Flame had remained entwined with his soul. Nourished by Lin Zheyu's distracting thoughts, inner demons, and soul origin power, it gradually took on his imprint. After becoming tainted with a trace of his soul aura, the Heart Flame formed a unique connection with him.
This faint connection alone isn't enough. My control is only temporary and possible only when its owner isn't controlling it. The Heart Flame's connection with Xiao Yiqing still exists, so I could never exert this degree of control in her presence. Moreover, the moment I leave the void within the Primordial Chaos Pool, Xiao Yiqing will immediately sense the existence of this wisp of Heart Flame. I must sever its connection with her completely...
With a thought, he began experimenting. Crisp clangs repeatedly rang through his sea of consciousness as golden energy surged madly into his soul. Lin Zheyu controlled the Heart Flame and conducted experiment after experiment, pondering how he could completely imprint it with his own essence.
The more distracting thoughts, inner demons, and soul origin it consumes, the stronger its connection with me becomes... I may not have much else, but I certainly don't lack soul origin power...
His spiritual sense swept through the void within his spirit divine repository. Nearly 80% of the soul origin power stored in the divine repository remained after the expenditure required to cultivate the Heart Flame Spirit-Tempering Art. A new concept soon took shape in Lin Zheyu's mind. His cultivation of the Heart Flame Spirit-Tempering Art had not been for nothing.
By cultivating this secret art, Lin Zheyu had accumulated extensive insights into the Heart Flame and considerable experience in controlling its burning frequency. He intended to approach the problem from two directions. First, he would continuously feed distracting thoughts, inner demons, and soul origin power into the Heart Flame to strengthen its connection with him. Second, he would focus on its burning frequency and use that as a potential opening through which to sever its connection with Xiao Yiqing.
There might be many possible methods, but given Lin Zheyu's present realm and breadth of knowledge, altering the flame's burning frequency was the only one he had discovered. As long as he could turn the method into a proper cultivation technique, however, he could improve it through cultivation and accumulate vast experience and insights. Lin Zheyu was confident that he would eventually find a breakthrough.
"I'll call it the Mind-Governing Flame Refinement Art..." Lin Zheyu said softly.
A vague concept for this technique had already emerged while he was cultivating the Heart Flame Spirit-Tempering Art. It only took complete shape after the Heart Flame Spirit-Tempering Art reached its limit. As the thought flashed through his mind, the data within his consciousness blurred momentarily before reforming. As expected, the Mind-Governing Flame Refinement Art appeared on the data panel.
'Mind-governing' referred to controlling one's thoughts and preventing distracting thoughts and inner demons from arising, and providing nourishment for the Heart Flame. 'Flame refinement' meant refining the Heart Flame and making it one's own. This was the essence of the Mind-Governing Flame Refinement Art.
The technique had a highly specific purpose. Lin Zheyu had created it primarily to counter Xiao Yiqing's Heart Flame attacks. Although mastering the technique would be extremely difficult and require a long journey, reaching Initiation was easy. After all, if the requirements for Initiation were set too high, it would have been difficult to create the technique in the first place.
A low threshold and a lofty objective made for the ideal approach to creating techniques for Lin Zheyu, who could use Origin Force to accumulate experience continuously and refine his techniques through repeated iterations. Setting the threshold too low posed a problem, however, as it would only allow him to reach Initiation. The experience and insights accumulated after reaching Initiation would be insufficient to develop the technique's subsequent stages or even produce another iteration. Lin Zheyu would have to find the right balance himself.
***
Four days later.
A dull knocking came from outside Lin Zheyu's room. It continued for a long time, but no one answered.
"He still hasn't emerged from seclusion... To prepare for the life-and-death arena matches, Fellow Xiao has been cultivating diligently. He gained a sudden insight a few days ago and entered seclusion. He should emerge within another few days..." Ji Haozhong explained.
Before him stood a short-haired man dressed in white who carried himself with an overbearing air.
"Hmph! 'Should'? If he's afraid of dying, he can simply concede as soon as he steps into the arena. Why bother making excuses?" the man scoffed disdainfully.
The man was named Leng Bo, and he was one of the Vermilion Bird Sect disciples attending this Ascension Assembly. Xiao Yiqing had sent him to urge Lin Zheyu to enter the arena. After all, Xiao Yiqing had accepted Woo Qianqian's deal. No matter what happened, Lin Zheyu had to make an appearance in the life-and-death arena.
Whether he conceded immediately upon entering, endured for a while before conceding, or was slain by his opponent had nothing to do with Xiao Yiqing. She merely wanted to see whether this young man, whom she found somewhat unusual, was worthy of her attention. If he died so easily, then he would not be worth watching in the first place.
"Move! If you continue blocking my way, don't blame me for what happens next," Leng Bo said calmly.
He extended his right hand and opened his palm. A ball of flame suddenly condensed in his hand. It radiated no heat whatsoever, yet the air around it distorted. As Leng Bo stared down at him with cold indifference, Ji Haozhong's heart tightened slightly, and an overwhelming sense of danger arose within him.
Ji Haozhong sighed inwardly. The gap between martial artists and the geniuses of these leading sects is still far too great!
As far as he knew, Leng Bo was merely a young cultivator who had only recently advanced to the Golden Core realm, yet he gave Ji Haozhong such an intense sense of danger.
"Let's talk this over, fellow friend. The Martial Alliance is a subordinate force of the Vermilion Bird Sect. If a conflict breaks out between us here, we will inevitably become a laughingstock. Please give me another moment. I'll use an emergency communication talisman to notify Fellow Xiao," Ji Haozhong hurriedly said with a smile.
"Hmph!" The man snorted and gestured for Ji Haozhong to proceed.
He had only been putting on a show to intimidate Ji Haozhong and had no intention of actually attacking. This was Black Tortoise City, after all. If he caused trouble here, even his status as a Vermilion Bird Sect disciple would not spare him from the consequences.
I've done all I can to delay him until now. Hopefully, this won't disturb your cultivation... Ji Haozhong muttered inwardly.
He lightly patted his storage pouch with his right hand, and a jade talisman that Lin Zheyu had left with him appeared in his palm. He sent a message through the jade talisman and received a reply in fewer than ten seconds.
"Fellow Xiao replied. He said he'll head over shortly," Ji Haozhong said after reading the message.
"Good. If he doesn't enter the arena, you'll take his place. Defend a life-and-death arena for two days, or die..." Leng Bo said indifferently. His voice carried a trace of chilling menace that made Ji Haozhong's heart palpitate.
As soon as he finished speaking, the tightly shut door abruptly opened. Leng Bo felt a terrifying sense of danger descend upon him, only for it to vanish without a trace moments later. That fleeting sensation alone drenched his back in cold sweat.
"Apologies for keeping you waiting. Please inform Senior Xiao that I will head over after a brief rest," Lin Zheyu said calmly.
"Hmph... Fine!" Leng Bo was about to snort coldly, but forcibly stopped himself and ground out the words through clenched teeth.
He did not even have the courage to look at Lin Zheyu. He turned around stiffly and hurried out of the inn. Once outside, a gentle breeze swept past and dispersed some of the chill in his heart.
"What's going on? How could I sense such intense danger from a crude martial brute? Even if he has reached the mid-stage of the Shackles realm while I have only just advanced to the Golden Core realm, I am a genius of the Vermilion Bird Sect! How could a crude martial brute like him possibly compare to me? Damn it..."
Leng Bo's body trembled slightly, and the chill in his heart refused to fade. He hated this feeling. He fought against it and tried to reject it, but to no avail. Leng Bo discovered that he did not even have the courage to turn around and re-enter the inn.
Damn it! Damn it... Leng Bo roared inwardly, though whether he was cursing Lin Zheyu's strength or his own cowardice was unclear.
***
"So the Heart Flame's burning left a faint trace of the Vermilion Bird's aura within my body..." Lin Zheyu silently contemplated as he watched Leng Bo depart.
Heart Flame was one manifestation of the Vermilion Bird Flame. Although the Heart Flame kindled by Xiao Yiqing was merely a faint wisp, its fundamental nature remained immensely powerful. When Lin Zheyu opened the door and gave Leng Bo a cold glance, he inadvertently stirred the lingering aura within his body, resulting in what had just occurred. Leng Bo's fear primarily came from that trace of Xiao Yiqing's residual aura. The instant Lin Zheyu realized something was amiss, he immediately brought it under control.
"We didn't disturb your cultivation, did we?" Ji Haozhong asked with a wry smile.
Lin Zheyu cupped his hands in gratitude. "No, I was almost ready to emerge from seclusion anyway. Thank you for looking out for me these past few days."
"There's no need for such courtesy between us." Ji Haozhong waved his hand and asked solemnly, "Still, would you like to rest for a while before heading over?"
"No need. These few days of seclusion have already restored me to my peak condition. Besides, I don't intend to fight to the death. If I encounter someone too powerful, I'll simply concede," Lin Zheyu said with a smile.
As he spoke, the blood qi within his body surged and completely erased the lingering Heart Flame aura. As for the Heart Flame that had burned within his soul, he had already extinguished it upon leaving the Primordial Chaos Pool. There was something strange about Xiao Yiqing, and Lin Zheyu was deeply wary of her. If he had allowed the Heart Flame to continue burning within his soul, it might have brought him unforeseen trouble.
"That's good. Do you want to eat something first, or shall we leave now?" Ji Haozhong asked.
"Let's leave now."
"All right. I'll go with you and cheer you on from below." Ji Haozhong nodded, and the two walked out of the inn side by side.