Super Combat Soldier

Chapter 1112: Chapter 1111: At the Fire Well, Harvesting Flames

This time, Ye Tianchen arrived at Flame Valley, intending to use the Fire God Gourd left by the Divine Calculation to collect some flames from the Fire Well at the center of the Fire Pond in the second layer of the Fire Domain, for the battle against the Devouring Sky Village in three days.

Facing an unknown terrifying entity of immense strength, without certain backup and preparation, it would be impossible. Ye Tianchen was very clear that this was an imminent major crisis. The terrifying entity behind the Devouring Sky Village might very well be an ancient alien race from ancient times. Otherwise, those aware of the Bloodline Power of the Desolate Stone Village residents are extremely rare. Given the passage of millions of years, it is unlikely that anyone knows the secret of their Bloodline Power without continuous oral tradition. Since this terrifying existence knows, it must be an extremely powerful hidden force.

According to the laws of this martial arts world, it’s remarkable for regular martial artists to live for five thousand years. As for emperors, they can live at least thirty thousand years. If they have a life-prolonging immortal elixir, a powerful emperor can refine it to live another thirty thousand years; this is customary and the lifespan limit for Human Clan practitioners. Naturally, the ancient alien race and the Demon Clan are innately powerful, possessing some immeasurable secret techniques granting them a longer lifespan than the Human Clan. Additionally, this martial arts world contains too many unexplored secrets, and certain matters cannot be viewed with absolute certainty until reaching a certain height or cultivation realm, always leaving some with a narrow view.

Regardless of others’ disbelief, Ye Tianchen always felt his judgment might be correct. Many martial artists believed that the ancient alien race had perished in the martial arts world because its laws changed, becoming unsuited for their survival. However, despite the law changes in this martial world, Ye Tianchen thought it unlikely that the ancient alien race would perish. The ancient alien race is innately powerful beyond measure, with divine protection, perceiving things unknown to many Demon and Human Clans, providing significant advantages. Even today, the ancient alien race is likely more powerful than the Demon and Human Clans. Saying that such a powerful race has silently vanished from this world is less plausible than believing they know some significant secret that caused them to hide. Comparatively, Ye Tianchen preferred to believe the latter.

Perhaps many martial artists believed the ancient alien race could not exist in this martial arts world anymore due to millions of years passing from the late ancient times to the present era. Ask, how many could survive millions of years? If a being could live that long, wouldn’t it already be a different kind of Immortal? Eternal and undying?

It raises the inescapable question of how the ancient alien race, if still present, managed to remain hidden for millions of years and survive. Without a secret method, how could they simply remain hidden? Living for a million years equates to Eternal Life—why would they need to hide or conceal themselves? What could make such powerful beings hide?

As for Ye Tianchen, he also doesn’t know why the ancient alien race chose to hide, or how they managed to live for millions of years. Still, Ye Tianchen believes there is a highly significant secret within, and he firmly believes that such a powerful race as the ancient alien race could not have truly perished in the martial arts world.

”The secrets of this world are truly fascinating and worth exploring. To protect my friends and family without powerful strength is impossible. I need to become stronger.”

Ye Tianchen tightly grasped the Fire God Gourd, contemplating this as he reached the first layer of the Fire Domain in Flame Valley, yet he didn’t immediately delve into the second layer. In the second layer exists a young Fire Qilin, known as a divine artifact. Rumor has it only an Emperor can tame a young Fire Qilin, and an adult one can battle a supreme figure of the Emperor Realm, signifying its immense power. In the eyes of general martial artists, it is an untamable and unrivaled divine artifact.

It turns out that when Ye Tianchen first came to collect flames in the second layer of the Fire Domain, he discovered this secret. At the center of the Fire Pond in the second layer, there is a surging Fire Well, seemingly the source from which all flames in the second layer erupt. Initially, he thought the young Fire Qilin was inhaling flames from the Fire Pond, but later realized it was absorbing the flames from the Fire Well at the center, which are far more potent than those from the first and second layers of the Fire Domain. This time, Ye Tianchen came to obtain the Fire Seeds from the Fire Well, which is his ultimate limit under his current cultivation realm. Entering the third layer of the Fire Domain is impossible. Reaching the second layer without being incinerated was mainly due to his initial body tempering and the mysterious Buddhist Holy Skill Yijin Jing that protected him. Otherwise, attaining access to the second layer of the Fire Domain with Martial Saint Realm cultivation is nearly impossible.

”The flames in the second layer of the Fire Domain are exceptionally powerful. I must use the Buddhist Holy Skill protection to enter, and even then, I must be cautious. If I encounter that young Fire Qilin, the chance of getting out alive is almost nonexistent!”

Ye Tianchen thought as he carefully trod into the second layer of the Fire Domain in Flame Valley, not daring to be careless. As he walked, he silently recited the Buddhist Scripture mantras, powered by strong Martial Arts True Qi.

Tranquil mind, pure and untainted, guard your nature, conquer your heart...

These sixteen characters were the mantra that suddenly surfaced in his mind the day Ye Tianchen ventured into the second layer of the Fire Domain, nearly perishing in the Divine Form. It is the main guideline of the Yijin Jing Cultivation Skill, powerful beyond belief, capable of resisting the Fire Power of the second layer in Flame Valley, which Ye Tianchen had never anticipated, saving his life. This time entering the second layer, he plans to employ these potent sixteen-character scriptures.

As the sixteen characters emerged and circulated in Ye Tianchen’s mind, projecting into tangible characters encircling his body, Ye Tianchen felt enveloped by a Buddha Light, as though wearing a protective cloak, boosting his confidence as he cautiously walked into the second layer of the Fire Domain.

Despite being protected by formidable Buddhist scriptures, and possessing a sufficiently strong body, upon stepping into the second layer of the Fire Domain, Ye Tianchen still felt a sharp pain, akin to his body being torn apart, an overpowering pain he couldn’t ignore. He couldn’t help but internally praise having the protective Buddhist scriptures; otherwise, entering would have been impossible. The flames in the Flame Valley are in no way inferior to those in the Fire Dragon Pond beneath the Heavenly Number Mysterious Sect’s base. Could there be some connection between them?

Having entered the second layer of the Fire Domain in Flame Valley, Ye Tianchen gradually approached the center, moving neither too fast nor making significant noise. He dared not use Qi Manipulation Flight, for even moving in the second layer was arduous; flying would deplete his Martial Arts True Qi immensely. Encountering danger would leave no strength for defense. Ye Tianchen considered these factors carefully, as he now found himself in a perilous situation: defending against the flames in the second layer, despite being shielded by potent Buddhist scriptures, a minor mishap could result in destruction by the surrounding flames. More alarmingly is the young Fire Qilin active in the second layer of the Fire Domain; being discovered or approaching is catastrophic!

Step by step, with utmost caution, Ye Tianchen proceeded toward the center of the second layer of the Fire Domain. When he reached the edge of the Fire Pond in the second layer, he cautiously surveyed the surroundings, not immediately getting closer. There was no cover whatsoever in the vicinity, and being discovered would leave no escape path. Encountering the young Fire Qilin would not only prevent collecting flames from the Fire Well but could also mean walking into a fatal trap—a highly unfavorable risk.

”It seems the young Fire Qilin is not here, making this an excellent chance to gather Fire Seeds!” Ye Tianchen calculated, sensing no powerful aura from the young Fire Qilin.

Whoosh!

Opportunities are fleeting; Ye Tianchen swiftly flashed to the Fire Pond’s edge, regardless of consuming his Martial Arts True Qi, quickly employing the Divine Movement Skill, dashing toward the Fire Well at the center. In mere moments, he reached the Fire Well, silently chanting the spell, opening the Fire God Gourd’s lid, and, forming a seal with his right hand, uttered the word ”Collect,” suspending it above the gourd’s mouth to gather fire from the Fire Well.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Three flames swiftly entered the Fire God Gourd, and Ye Tianchen smiled, surprising himself with his fortunate quick success. But just as he intended to close the Fire God Gourd and swiftly leave the second layer of the Fire Domain, he suddenly felt a chill on his back, as if a powerful presence stood behind him... (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com); your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)