Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Li Fire Path.

This path derives its name from an Earth Fire.

Between the Li Fire Path and the Nansha Three Islands lies an Earth Fire, also known as the Li Fire, at the sea’s floor.

For Lin Chen, the Five Elements of Innate Energy are already within his grasp: he has gathered the Lingxiao Energy of the Gold Attribute, the Mother Tree Essence of the Wood Attribute, the Canglan Energy of the Earth Attribute, but the Water Attribute is unavailable throughout the Nine Kingdoms. The only energy he can complete is the Fire Attribute.

Liang has been unable to retake the Nansha Three Islands all these years, partly due to interference from the Han Kingdom, but another reason is this Li Fire.

If Liang were to wage war on the Nansha Three Islands, the islands might ignite this Earth Fire, causing the entire Li Fire Path and other surrounding paths to be engulfed in flames, drying the ground, leaving a thousand miles of scorched earth.

Likewise, the Nansha Three Islands would also cease to exist.

”Lin Chen, if this Li Fire is left untamed, it will wreak havoc on all living things. A thousand years ago, the Great Song Dynasty sealed this Li Fire deep beneath the sea, with only two access points—one on our Li Fire Path, the other on the Nansha Three Islands.”

At the nearest coastal mountain range of the Li Fire Path, Fang Funan led Lin Chen into its depths. The scene became increasingly terrifying; at first, they saw a few yellowing shrubs, but as they ventured deeper, even the last trace of green was completely consumed.

The inner peaks were devoid of vegetation, with exposed gray rocks.

”Lord, is this Li Fire truly so dreadful?”

Lin Chen had encountered various types of Innate Energy, but none, whether the Lingxiao Energy or the Canglan Energy, could cause such destruction.

”Even First-Grade Martial Artists would find it hard to escape if touched by the Li Fire. Back then, it took the Great Song Dynasty ten years to seal it, and two First-Grade Martial Artists gave their lives for it.”

Fang Funan’s eyes grew solemn: ”Even with an array seal, this Li Fire remains in a dormant state, yet it’s not easy to approach. You need to be prepared.”

”I understand.”

Lin Chen nodded; on the way, he had already learned from His Majesty about the sealed state of the Li Fire on this path.

The Great Song Dynasty sealed the Li Fire under the sea, putting it into dormancy. Even in this dormant state, it turns the mountain range into scorched earth. One can only imagine the terrifying heat within the array.

”Neither Upper Grade nor Middle Grade Martial Artists can enter the array, lest they awaken the Li Fire. This time you must enter alone.”

Fang Funan had considered providing Lin Chen with helpers, but having Upper Grade and Middle Grade Martial Artists enter might awaken the Li Fire. Lower Grade Martial Artists... wouldn’t significantly aid Lin Chen.

In case of danger, if Lin Chen couldn’t handle it himself, more Lower Grade Martial Artists wouldn’t suffice.

While they spoke, the two reached the mountain valley center.

”Greetings, my lord.”

At the valley entrance, Martial Artists guarded against anyone disrupting the array.

”Hmm.”

Fang Funan responded, leading Lin Chen directly into the valley, stopping finally before a dark green jade stele at its center.

”This is the entrance to the array; first, put on these clothes.”

Fang Funan produced a wooden box, which Lin Chen opened to find a green garment inside.

”This attire is sewn with Thousand-year-old Ice Marrow and Ice Silk, to help you withstand the Li Fire’s heat. Remember, retreat immediately if there’s danger.”

”Understood, I’ve noted it.”

Lin Chen donned the outfit, feeling an icy chill penetrate his body through his pores, forcing him to circulate his Qi Blood for warmth.

Lin Chen’s eyes lit up; this clothing was indeed remarkable, the cold rivaled that he once experienced at March Pond.

Fang Funan said no more; the Li Fire had been sealed in the array for years, remaining dormant. With care, it wouldn’t awaken. His repeated warnings stemmed from caution.

From his bosom, Fang Funan drew out a black sphere the size of a pearl, embedding it into the jade stele’s slot.

The moment it lodged, the stele erupted with blinding red light, vibrating as a fissure appeared at its base. Gales of terrifying crimson-golden air swept forth, filling the air with blistering heat.

Rocks around the valley flickered with a dark red hue at a visible speed, while Fang Funan stood before Lin Chen, dispersing the heat with his aura.

Moments later, the crimson-golden gale vanished, leaving the fissure torn a full yard wide, revealing a dim red glow inside.

”The seal hasn’t been opened in fifty years; the heat wave inside had amassed too long. Wait one two-hour before descending.”

”Understood.”

After one two-hour, Lin Chen hesitated no longer, stepping into the fissure.

He chose to come to the Li Fire Path now knowing that once he reached the Middle Grade, entry would be barred, and given his cultivation speed, attaining Middle Grade wouldn’t take long.

Fang Funan watched as Lin Chen’s figure disappeared into the rift. He did not leave, but chose to stay in the valley. If anything changed inside, he could respond immediately.

...

...

Zi!

Within the array, Lin Chen looked at the dark red sky above, holding a transparent bead in his hand.

This was given to him by Your Majesty. The bead can absorb Li Fire energy. He has a total of six such beads. As per Your Majesty’s words, as long as he fills these six beads with Li Fire energy, it will be sufficient.

In fact, the Li Fire energy in one bead would be enough. Your Majesty gave him six beads only to ensure he would have multiple chances in case he failed to refine and absorb the Li Fire energy in the future.

In front of him was a flowing river, but the river didn’t flow with water, but magma.

The magma surged, rushing and tumbling in the river. Lin Chen attempted to approach the river with a bead in hand, yet after a tea’s time, the transparent bead showed no change.

”The Li Fire energy here is insufficient; I need to find another place.”

Lin Chen frowned. He could only stay inside the array for a month, as the Duke repeatedly instructed him. Even though he could withstand the temperature, the energy emitted by the Li Fire contained fire poison. If he stayed longer than a month, the fire poison would invade his body and be difficult to eliminate.

This fire poison was not ordinary. Once invaded, it clung to the body like a lingering ailment. Beyond being hard to eradicate, it would affect the martial artist’s body, gradually consuming the Qi Blood marrow and flesh, turning one emaciated and causing their realm to decline.

”According to the Duke, the deeper one goes, the richer the Li Fire energy becomes.”

Lin Chen put away the bead and quickly moved forward. As he delved deeper, the width of the river in front of him continued to expand, and the speed at which the magma surged increased.

Rumble!

Three days later, Lin Chen halted, looking at the shocking scene before him, his eyes filled with awe.

In front of him, the magma river was a thousand feet wide, and ahead lay a collapsed vortex with a hundred-foot diameter, leading to an abyss whose depths were unseen.

Boiling magma, mixed with waves of crimson gold, cascaded down. When the magma torrent struck the abyss cliff, it rose as lava splashes a hundred feet high, and the ice silk on Lin Chen’s clothing exploded into fine ice crystals, evaporating into mist in an instant of heat.

Thunderous sounds emanated from the abyss’s bottom, as if a great beast from the earth’s core was devouring the crimson gold waterfall.

Similarly, on the abyss’s opposite side, there was also a thousand-foot river with constantly tumbling magma falling down.

From Lin Chen’s perspective, he could barely make out the vague shape of the opposite river due to the abyss’s vastness. Remembering the Duke’s words, that the array had two entrances, he realized why there was a river on the other side of the abyss.

That side should belong to Nansha Three Islands.

If one entered from the Nansha Three Islands’ entrance, one would be standing on the abyss’s other side, separated by the enormous abyss.

Lin Chen stepped back ten feet, barely withstanding the heat, taking out the six transparent beads from his breast, finding one bead had a strand of fiery red energy.

”Li Fire energy.”

Seeing this strand of fiery red energy, Lin Chen’s eyes glowed brightly. He had just stood for a few breaths and already had a strand of fiery red energy. At this rate, it would take about three days to fill one bead.

Filling six beads would take eighteen days, and at this efficiency, a month would be enough.

The only problem was he could only stay in this spot and not move forward. He could clearly feel the cold provided by his clothing had already diminished by thirty percent.

Fortunately, he was prepared in advance.

With a movement of Divine Thought, two golden flying sabers slowly appeared in front of him. Under his control, the sabers carried a bead forward.

One foot, three feet, five feet, ten feet... thirty feet...

The sabers were unaffected by the intense heat, but Lin Chen stopped fifty feet from the abyss.

Further forward, he could feel his control over the sabers became increasingly difficult.

It seemed this Li Fire had an effect on Divine Soul as well.

But this distance was sufficient for him; it was deeper than his previous standing position.

The sabers gently landed, and the bead fell to the ground.

Lin Chen didn’t concern himself with the bead anymore. According to Your Majesty, if there was Li Fire energy nearby, the bead would absorb it automatically. He only needed to wait until it was filled and bring it back.

Of course, Lin Chen didn’t plan to wait idly. He took out the Martial Arts Seal from his breast.

Taking advantage of the waiting time, he decided to fight a few more challenges on Martial Arts Mountain. He remembered a notification stating that if he entered the top 60,000, he could redeem items related to the Divine Soul with points.

He didn’t necessarily have to redeem them but could check for good items first.