C1719 The Natural Intimacy

In the depths of the Everlands, beneath the Fireheart Mountains, Mo Baichuan furrowed his brow as he gazed at Yu Yuan with a puzzled expression. "Why aren't you affected in the slightest? Could it be because the Serpentflame was originally yours? But that doesn't make sense," he said to the composed Lunar Spirit.

Mo Baichuan was baffled as the furnace continued its descent. The roiling magma around them contained the most intense flame energy in existence. The Blazing Fire was siphoned off by the furnace's mystical design, its raw power tempered by the fire circle before being carefully harnessed by Mo Baichuan.

Once the ferocity of the flame energy was diminished, it would gradually integrate with Mo Baichuan's Solar Spirit. The fire vein beneath the Fireheart Mountains, connected to the Earthfire of the Everlands, grew more formidable the deeper it plunged.

Mo Baichuan, well-versed in the Fireheart Mountains and with a Solar Spirit tempered by time, still shied away from directly absorbing the Blazing Fire. It was only through his understanding of the fire circle's wonders within the furnace walls that he could devise a method to weaken and then absorb the energy intermittently.

The more he delved into the Path of Earthfire, the more he grasped the sheer terror of the Earthfire. It was no wonder that it required the chilling might of seven Wintermaws, drawing ice energy from seven Frostfell domains, to counterbalance the scorching heat, allowing the Everlands to remain habitable for those on the surface.

Already a master of fiery secrets, Mo Baichuan's soul felt an unbearable scorching sensation as he descended within the furnace, a discomfort that was hard to ignore. Yet Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit remained unfazed, a fact that astonished him.

"I don't feel any discomfort at all," Yu Yuan remarked casually.

Propped against the furnace wall, Yu Yuan's spirited body, the Lunar Spirit, absorbed the fire circle's power, forming a protective shield of spiritual energy and flames. This barrier kept his spirited body safely within the furnace, shielded from the direct onslaught of the magma pool.

With focused intent, he sought to understand the essence of the fire...

Before long, he discovered that his Lunar Spirit was well-suited to the magma pool. The searing agony that tormented other Lunar Spirits was, to him, a source of warmth.

He also experienced an extraordinary sense of security and trust!

"Hehe."

Even his gaze upon Mo Baichuan was filled with a sense of ease and comfort, as though they were naturally destined to be the most steadfast of allies, impervious to any force that might try to break them.

This peculiar sensation was one he had previously felt when his Solar Spirit encountered the snow bear in the Ashlands.

Suddenly, he was struck by a revelation.

Deep beneath the Everlands lay a mysterious Primal Soul, perpetually enshrouded by the blazing fire. This blazing fire served as the Primal Soul's most dependable shield, keeping all malevolent forces at bay.

The Primal Soul and Earthfire shared an innate affinity, suggesting that perhaps they had forged a covenant in the earliest of times.

They were interdependent from the start.

In his first life, both he and the Demon God Bertain were graced by the Primal Soul, which, upon choosing them, imparted secrets linked to their very souls.

His cultivation of the Wraithbinding with his Lunar Spirit might just earn him the recognition of the Earthfire, which explained his sense of tranquility.

Mo Baichuan, having shifted his focus to the Path of Earthfire and merged with the Fireheart Mountains, gradually refined the power of Earthfire, integrating it into his Solar Spirit Body.

Thus, Mo Baichuan bore the essence of the blazing fire.

He had once been the Primal Soul's emissary, while Mo Baichuan carried the mark of the blazing fire, though he had yet to gain its favor or recognition, and had not yet overcome the numerous trials.

"What's with that mysterious laugh?"

Mo Baichuan's expression was stern as he sensed the turbulent flames beneath the furnace. The fire within him seemed to be kindled, lacking the composure of Yu Yuan.

"I know where President Lyi is, but I can't reach him at the moment. The Serpentflame is quite peculiar; once the lid is sealed, it appears to cut us off from the rest of the world."

"I have this feeling that while we're inside the furnace, Han Miaoyuan, Zu Ann, the Lunar Meridian, and the so-called supreme primordial spirits of the Everlands can't eavesdrop on our conversation through the Serpentflame."

After a moment of silence, Mo Baichuan demanded, "Explain the person who taught you to refine pills and granted you the Serpentflame. What's the story there?"

An obscure herbalist, whose memory now seems jumbled and confused, shouldn't possess the skills to craft a furnace like the Serpentflame.

Such an unusual furnace, lacking even an artifact soul, doesn't appear to be the handiwork of the Artifact Sect or the Everlands.

What's more astonishing is the fire circle etched inside, which conceals the true essence of the Path of Earthfire. Each time he studied it, he would uncover something new.

Without a doubt, Mo Baichuan's current status and his return to the Unbound state after his Solar Spirit was shattered are all thanks to the Serpentflame!

"You can choose to remain silent, but don't attempt to deceive me. A person of his caliber wouldn't be obscure; he must be a figure who has shaken the heavens and the earth!" Mo Baichuan was utterly convinced, clenching his teeth in determination.

"Then I'll keep it to myself," Yu Yuan said with a smile.

Mo Baichuan's challenge was like striking at the air, leaving him feeling unsatisfied. "Why have you come to me then? I'm powerless when it comes to President Lyi. Han Miaoyuan has made it clear that only when I ascend to godhood can I bring Lin Daoke forward to present his sword to President Lyi!"

"Lin Daoke," Yu Yuan murmured thoughtfully.

Perhaps because of the Domain Channel still present in the Moonfall Sanctuary, his Lunar Spirit was able to intermittently exchange messages with his main body.

While he couldn't know in real-time what his main body and Solar Spirit were doing in the Ashlands, he could still receive delayed updates.

He had also picked up on the Abyssal Greater Basilisk's remarks and the Abyssal Leviathan's concerns for Lin Daoke.

"Between myself, Han Miaoyuan, and Lin Daoke, whom will you assist?" Yu Yuan inquired.

Mo Baichuan was taken aback.

"You've been underground for too long and might have missed the shifts in the outside world. At Han Miaoyuan's behest, those factions have begun to act," Yu Yuan briefly outlined the situation.

He informed him that Duan Yisheng, Zhongli Dapan, Tan Yuan, Shen Feiqing, and others had been successively captured.

"I can sense something," Mo Baichuan replied.

Yu Yuan's expression became stern, and he got straight to the point. "Alright, let's hear it. In the end, will you side with me, or with Han Miaoyuan and Lin Daoke?"

"In the past, even if we had a decent rapport during Hong Qi's time, I wouldn't have changed my stance for that. But lately, I can't quite explain it, as I've been infusing more earthfire power into my Solar Spirit, I've started to feel an aversion to Han Miaoyuan. He makes me uneasy just being around him."

Mo Baichuan introspected, tuning into his inner feelings, and declared, "He strikes me as utterly insincere!"

"That's exactly it!" Yu Yuan exclaimed, clapping his hands in relief. His Lunar Spirit grazed the fire circle behind him as he pondered the many legends of the blazing fire. "If Lin Daoke were to one day descend and offer his sword to President Lyi, do you have the power to call upon the Earthfire to ensnare him after your ascension?"

"This..." Mo Baichuan's frame shook as he fixed Yu Yuan with an intense gaze. "Yu Yuan, the leader of the Sword Sect represents the pinnacle of our human strength, our bulwark against the Dark Phoenix and foes from beyond. Are you truly contemplating meddling with Lin Daoke, to have him perish in the earth's core?"

"Perish?" Yu Yuan's eyes sharpened, picking up on the gravity of Mo Baichuan's words. "You mean to say, if Lin Daoke were indeed to plummet into the earth's depths, and the ferocity of the Earthfire consumed him, he wouldn't just be trapped, but would actually die there?"

Mo Baichuan nodded slightly, affirming, "Aside from President Lyi, who is an anomaly, any other being of flesh and blood would likely meet their end, the Dark Phoenix included. Lin Daoke would certainly be no exception."

He had chosen this most arduous sacred way because of that intense flame, hoping that it would aid him in his divine ascension and enable him to confront the formidable Dark Phoenix of the Everlands.

For millennia, the Dark Phoenix had never dared to delve into the Earthfire's core, nor had it ever reached the Primal Soul.

Mo Baichuan was convinced that once he ascended, with the ultimate flame of the Earthfire forged within him, he would dare to challenge the Dark Phoenix, confident in his ability to wound the formidable creature.

In such circumstances, he would need to wield the power of the Blazing Fire to seek out and battle the Dark Phoenix in the outside world.

Should the Dark Phoenix plunge into the heart of the Earthfire, it would likely be reduced to ashes amidst the intense heat of the blazing fire.

On its own turf, the Dark Phoenix would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage when exposed to such extreme flame energy.

If the Dark Phoenix were to perish, then Lin Daoke would not escape the same fate.

"I've come to you for an answer! If the day arrives when I need to harness the Earthfire you've mastered, I hope you will assist me. Even if it means helping me to take down Lin Daoke," Yu Yuan called out, then added, "Rest assured, the demise of Lin Daoke will not spell the end for humanity."

He respected Lin Daoke and held no significant animosity towards the Sword Sect Master. Yet, Lin Daoke was solely devoted to Han Miaoyuan, serving as his most lethal weapon.

The Abyssal Leviathan and the Abyssal Greater Basilisk were correct; without eliminating Lin Daoke, victory would remain elusive.

He was uncertain how much longer his journey on the Supreme Path to Godhood would take, so he needed to be prepared for all eventualities.

"Killing Lin Daoke? That's a tall order," Mo Baichuan mused, shaking his head slightly. "You realize that to even stand a chance against Lin Daoke, I would first need to ascend to godhood through the Path of Earthfire. Moreover, I'd have to draw him deep beneath the surface, far beyond the Fireheart Mountains. We must go deeper still!"

As he spoke, the Forge of the Sun began to plummet rapidly.

At a critical juncture, the furnace came to an abrupt halt.

Rip!

The outer wall of the furnace emitted a tearing noise. The disguise of the fire spirit animal pattern, masquerading as a flame, no longer offered any protection.

The fire circles etched within, whether fully understood by Mo Baichuan or not, all began to whirl in a frenzy.

"This is as far as I can go for now! Yet it's still insufficient. A cultivator at the level of the Primordial Spirit Realm would have their soul set ablaze upon leaving the furnace, but even so, I doubt it would be enough to harm Lin Daoke!" Mo Baichuan said, as sparks spilled from his eyes, nostrils, and ears.

Within the furnace, shielded by the fire circle, he was nearing his limit of endurance.

Yet, in that instant, a stray thought found its way into Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit.

"..."