Chapter 18: First Primordial Heavenly Flame, Lady Azure.
Ling Ying, already familiar with the forest surrounding the Outer Academy of Jia Nan Academy, swiftly sneaked them both out and led Xiao Xun'er into the woods as soon as possible. After ensuring the area was safe, they stayed at a distance, watching as Xiao Hua prepared to breakthrough and enter Dou Grandmaster realm.
“Fuuu… Huuu…”
Taking a deep breath to calm his mind, Xiao Hua removed the Heavenly Suppression Band from his wrist. The accumulated Dou Qi within him erupted, unleashing a powerful gust of wind that felled several trees in the surrounding area.
Moments later, a new gust of wind suddenly swept through. Xiao Hua, Ling Ying, and Xiao Xun'er looked up to see the clear blue sky darkening as ominous clouds gathered overhead.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The thunderous roar of the dark clouds sent magical beasts in the forest fleeing in terror. Xiao Hua could sense the immense destructive power within those clouds. Even a single strike could obliterate anyone below the Dou King level.
‘To think I must face this kind of lightning to break through to Dou Grandmaster… What cursed luck! What love I’ve received from heaven?’
Xiao Hua cursed his misfortune inwardly, letting out a wry sigh. But then his eyes sharpened as he focused on the dark clouds above.
‘If I cannot escape it, I will face it head-on. If you’re coming, then come! If heaven wishes for me to fall, I shall defy it.’
With renewed determination, Xiao Hua unleashed his bloodline—the Heavenly Lightning Bloodline. The beasts within his bloodline, enraged by the heavens' provocation, roared and charged at the dark clouds.
In response, the dark clouds struck back, unleashing the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning upon the beasts of the Heavenly Lightning Bloodline and Xiao Hua.
“AHHHHHH!!!!!”
Xiao Hua screamed as the excruciating pain far exceeded his expectations. Despite the agony, he gritted his teeth and bore it. The Heavenly Tribulation Lightning continued to strike relentlessly, leaving his body battered and bloody.
"Shit! This damn lightning really hurts! It feels like it’s striking every bone, and to make matters worse, it’s as if my blood is discharging this cursed lightning, frying me from the inside out! I’m getting burned on the outside while being fried from the inside! What a wonderful situation I'm in!"
Despite his complaints, Xiao Hua remained in the lotus position, steadfast and resolute, like a mountain deeply rooted in the earth—unyielding and eternal.
After enduring countless strikes from the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning, he sensed the time was right. He accessed the System and activated the ticket for the Primordial Heavenly Flame, causing a wheel to appear on the screen. The wheel was filled with the names of the Heavenly Flames, just like in the novel.
"Does this mean the names of the 22 Primordial Heavenly Flames are exactly the same as the 22 Heavenly Flames? Looks like the author’s getting lazy..."
The wheel spun briefly before landing on one of the flames. A massive crack appeared in the sky, and the ground began to tremble violently. Yet Xiao Hua stood firm. As the seconds passed, the tremors grew more intense. Countless large cracks formed, spewing magma from the earth.
The magma ascended into the crack in the sky, triggering a massive reaction. Violent winds swirled into tornadoes, creating a storm that sent massive boulders and uprooted trees flying into the air.
'You’ve got to be kidding me! The Heavenly Tribulation Lightning isn’t even over, and now I have to deal with all this? It’s a miracle I’m still sitting in my lotus position!'
---
Currently a 9-Star Dou Practitioner on the verge of a breakthrough, Xiao Xun Er knew her advancement would never compare to what Xiao Hua was experiencing. Ever since gaining dominion over her Heavenly Flame, she had devoted herself to cultivating relentlessly, all to stay by Xiao Hua’s side.
This determination fueled her growth, allowing her to surpass the abilities she had in both the novel and the manhua. She didn’t want to be merely protected by him; she wanted to fight alongside him—the one with monstrous talent and an unbending will.
But now, as she witnessed his struggle, she realized that the efforts and pain she endured to grow stronger were minuscule compared to what Xiao Hua had to endure. Even so, she was resolute in her desire to stand by him, to share in the view he saw, and to journey together until the end of time.
Suddenly, she was startled as a crack appeared in the sky. She watched it warily, sensing an overwhelming presence emanating from the fissure—one far more powerful than even the strongest being she and the other members of the Ancient Eight Clans considered the peak of existence.
Her father, Gu Yuan, the Clan Head of the Gu Clan.
Yet, the presence and strength she sensed from the crack in the sky easily surpassed her father's, leaving her breathless.
Moreover, as the crack appeared, the ground began to tremble, and within seconds, the tremors grew violent, causing deep fissures to form. Moments later, magma burst forth from the earth, transforming and devastating the landscape.
“What’s happening, Old Ling?!” Xiao Xun Er shouted.
“I don’t know, but it’s definitely related to the boy. Hang on tight, Young Miss! We need to retreat further, or we might get caught in this.”
Ling Ying quickly scooped Xiao Xun Er into his arms and flew further away, escaping the destruction unfolding around them.
She glanced back and saw a massive storm forming into a colossal tornado, with magma flowing out, creating a scene of utter devastation. Yet, despite the chaos, she felt no fear for Xiao Hua. Deep down, she believed he would succeed in his breakthrough.
‘Please be safe, Brother Xiao Hua! Xun'er is waiting for you!’ she prayed silently for his safety.
---
Once the magma entered the cracks and ceased flowing, a powerful pulse emanated from the fissure in the sky, and moments later, she appeared, walking toward Xiao Hua with an elegant and graceful demeanor.
She moved with an ethereal grace; Her slender frame adorned in flowing garments that seemed to dance with every step. Her features were delicate, framed by silky strands of obsidian green-colored hair cascading down her back. Eyes, pools of liquid sapphire, held a captivating wisdom. A porcelain complexion radiated a subtle glow, accentuating a serene beauty reminiscent of characters from cultivation manhuas and novels. Her presence, a harmonious blend of elegance and strength, left an imprint that lingered in the air like the essence of a mesmerizing tale.
“Well now, this is truly a surprise. Who would have thought I’d see that idiot’s will in the form of a Lightning Beast? However, this still doesn’t explain how I ended up here.” The green-haired lady was puzzled by her sudden arrival but recognized the Heavenly Lightning Bloodline. Her gaze shifted to Xiao Hua, who was gritting his teeth, enduring the intense pain.
“Ah. I apologize for the late introduction. I am the Primordial Heavenly Flame, the Primordial Green Lotus Core Flame. You may call me Lady Azure. No need to respond right now—I already know what you’re trying to do, boy.” The lady, identifying herself as the Primordial Green Lotus Core Flame, introduced herself with a voice that was both beautiful and melodic.
She gave him a perplexed look before continuing, “However, I must say, you’ve surprised me by possessing the Heavenly Lightning Bloodline and managing to awaken the will of the Primordial Heaven Lightning, the Nine-Colored Lightning Beast. Calling you crazy would be an understatement—enduring the pain and suffering of waking this fool could easily shatter anyone’s mind, no matter how strong.”
“Congratulations on achieving the impossible for any mortal in history—witnessing both the flames and the lightning born at the dawn of the Great Thousand World. But it seems you’re barely hanging on, so let’s get to the main point, shall we?” She clapped her graceful hands together, smiling amicably.
“Are you trying to refine me, with your pathetic strength, little boy?”
Lady Azure released a suffocating pressure. The amicable smile vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, indifferent expression as if she were gazing at a lifeless corpse.
In addition to the pain he was already enduring, Xiao Hua was on the verge of fainting, just a step away from death. Yet, he continued to grit his teeth, meeting Lady Azure’s gaze.
“Yeah… I am. I apologize for the offense, but I really need to get stronger and will need to refine you.” Xiao Hua uttered with great difficulty.
“Oh, I know. After all, no sane person would do this without desiring something in return. So, answer me, boy. Why are you so desperate to become stronger, enduring such immense pain when you are still just a little child?”
Xiao Hua was momentarily stunned by Lady Azure’s question before the pain from the lightning snapped him out of his reverie. He answered in a serious tone, locking eyes with her. “To live. To see tomorrow. To see… a sunrise, with the people I hold dear.”
Lady Azure was taken aback by his response. “…I see. Such an ordinary wish. And yet, here you are, withstanding pain that none can bear, enduring pressure that would force most to their knees. Truly, what a surprising ordinary wish from such an extraordinary boy.”
Xiao Hua said nothing in response, continuing to bear the relentless strikes of the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning while maintaining his gaze on her.
They held each other’s gaze for a moment before she nodded and stepped closer. Now standing face to face, she smiled—beautifully and elegantly. For Xiao Hua, this was the first time he had ever been this close to someone so breathtakingly beautiful.
While Xiao Xun'er was indeed a beauty, she was still a child, making it difficult for him to feel anything deeper for her. He did feel love, but anything beyond that was nearly impossible.
“Very well. I shall allow you to refine me. However, I’ll ask a favor of you afterward. Don’t worry, it’s not something as trivial as your life or possession of your body. But it will be the most difficult and painful task you’ve ever faced. So, what do you say?” Lady Azure asked, her gaze piercing.
Xiao Hua hesitated for a split second before nodding in agreement. In his current situation, he had no choice, and he could feel that he was at his limit, needing something to break through.
“Good. Let’s begin!” Lady Azure said with an excited smile.
She then transformed into her original form—the Primordial Green Lotus Core Flame. Xiao Hua extended his hands, and the Primordial Green Lotus Core Flame swayed slightly before slowly moving toward him.
As the green-colored strip of lava entered his mouth, Xiao Hua immediately closed it without swallowing. Instantly, his entire body was consumed by an extreme heat, making him feel as if he were burning from the inside out.
Despite the searing heat, Xiao Hua focused on the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning above him and began absorbing the violent bolts into his body. This time, he felt as though countless needles were pricking his organs and tendons, desperately trying to escape.
The extreme heat from the Green Lotus Core Flame and the destructive forces of the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning clashed violently within him. It took every ounce of his willpower just to remain conscious.
Forcefully enduring the waves of pain coursing through his body, Xiao Hua gradually closed his eyes and allowed his mind to descend into his body, turning into a spiritual form.
Inside, he saw that many of his Qi Paths were damaged. The green-colored flame and golden-colored lightning that had entered his body earlier had already divided into countless threads of tiny green wisps and golden sparks. These threads contained terrifying energy that randomly surged through his Qi Paths, incinerating and vaporizing anything that obstructed their path.
Xiao Hua used his Dou Qi to wrap around both the wisps of Primordial Heavenly Flame and the sparks of Heavenly Lightning, directing them along the route of the ‘Chaos Mantra’ Qi Method.
However, both energies were wild by nature, making them nearly impossible to control. Despite repeated failures, Xiao Hua persisted, stubbornly attempting to direct the wisps of Primordial Heavenly Flame and sparks of Heavenly Tribulation Lightning.
After countless attempts, Xiao Hua’s heart leaped with joy as he realized that the green-colored wisp and golden spark had finally begun to move along the path his mind had set. With great care, Xiao Hua’s spirit guided the green wisp and golden spark through the correct Qi Path route.