Transmigrating Into a Fantasy World: Signing in During Pregnancy, Reaching the Summit with My Childhood Sweetheart

232: Chapter 232: The Star Core Shines with Flame, the Fiery Shadow Reveals its FangsThe rear hall of Earth Fire Fortress was completely different from the noisy, blazing Molten Fire Grand Hall outside. It was deeper, quieter, its walls built from dark-red warm jade. The naturally formed patterns on the jade resembled flowing magma, emitting a constant, gentle heat. There was a faint scent of sulfur in the air, but more dominant was the heavy, condensed aroma of fire essence, accumulated over untold years.

The hall was sparsely furnished. At its center stood a massive bronze furnace, its base connected to the earth’s Core fire veins. The furnace fire wasn’t fully ignited now; only a dark-red glow slowly churned within, like the breath of a great beast.

Fortress Lord Yan Luo dismissed his attendants, leaving only his son Yan Feng and Nangong Xuan. He no longer concealed the burning desire in his eyes, staring directly at Nangong Xuan: ”Young friend Xuanye, there are no outsiders here now. Name your price for the solar essence crystal. Spirit Stones, mineral resources, Cultivation Techniques, Magical Artifacts, even a position as an Elder of my Earth Fire Fortress—just say the word!”

Nangong Xuan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze swept over the bronze furnace as he said slowly, ”Fortress Lord, do you know why the True Solar Fire is hailed as the Origin of all flames, the most Supreme and noble?”

Yan Luo raised an eyebrow. ”Naturally, because of its ultimate Yang and extreme hardness, its vast Origin, capable of incinerating all things yet also nurturing life.”

”You only know one aspect, Fortress Lord.” Nangong Xuan shook his head. ”The true preciousness of the True Solar Fire lies in its ’righteousness’. Majestic and vast, it purges evil, nourishes all living things—this is the Righteous Path of heaven and earth. Thus, it can endure countless tribulations without perishing, shining upon all heavens for eternity.” His tone shifted, and his gaze seemed to inadvertently glance towards the direction where the Black Fiend Forest group was outside. ”Unlike certain Yin evil fiend fires, which may blaze fiercely for a time but are fundamentally based on erosion, pollution, and destruction. They are ultimately rootless duckweed, defying the Heavenly Dao, destined to backfire sooner or later.”

The expressions of both Yan Luo and his son changed. Yan Feng couldn’t help but ask, ”Brother Xuanye, are you referring to the Nether Fiend Underworld Fire of Black Fiend Forest?”

”Not just the Nether Fiend Underworld Fire.” Nangong Xuan’s tone was calm, yet each word carried immense weight. ”All flames fueled by negative emotions, filthy energy, or plundered vitality are ultimately misguided paths. Their power might be evident in the short term, but persisting in their use will inevitably erode one’s Dao foundation, pollute the Divine Soul, and ultimately reduce one to a monster that knows only destruction. Fortress Lord, with your profound Cultivation and lifelong mastery over fire, have you never noticed? After prolonged exposure to that Nether Fiend Underworld Fire, does your mind occasionally stir with inexplicable restlessness and greed? Does your own True Fire carry a trace of shadowy impurity, difficult to detect?”

Yan Luo’s face paled. He had indeed felt increasingly unsettled lately, and his True Fire during Cultivation seemed less pure than before. He had attributed it solely to his eagerness for a Breakthrough and never considered the Black Fiend fire seed! Now, with Nangong Xuan’s revelation, upon careful reflection, a cold sweat broke out on his back!

Observing his expression, Nangong Xuan knew his words had taken effect and pressed further. ”This Junior is not particularly talented, but has gained some insights into the path of fire. I am willing to use a wisp of Origin True Fire aura from this solar essence crystal to assist the Fortress Lord in refining your True Fire, dispelling the shadowy impurities, and exploring a higher Realm of the fire Dao. In exchange, I only hope the Fortress Lord will temporarily suspend cooperation with Black Fiend Forest and thoroughly investigate the Origin and true purpose of their fire seeds. After all,” he looked meaningfully at Yan Luo, ”cooperating with a powder keg that could explode at any moment is hardly wise.”

Yan Luo fell silent, the light in his eyes flickering intensely, clearly engaged in a fierce internal struggle. Greed, suspicion, yearning for a higher Realm, and worry over his own hidden dangers all warred within him.

After a long while, he suddenly clenched his fist, his crimson beard and hair seeming to stir without any wind. ”Fine! This Fortress Lord will trust you once! If you can truly help me purify my True Fire, I will suspend all fire seed transactions with Black Fiend Forest and investigate them covertly! But if you cannot...” A flash of ferocity crossed his eyes. ”Hmph!”

”The Fortress Lord will know once you try.” Nangong Xuan remained unflustered. He stepped forward, not taking out the solar essence crystal itself, but pointing two fingers like a sword. A wisp of extremely pure flame, tinged with faint golden light, slowly rose from his fingertip. This wasn’t the true True Solar Fire, but a product of him simulating its Origin aura using the fire star key, then blending in a trace of Nirvana Sword Intent to ensure absolute control. However, its pure and vast Concept was already convincing enough.

”Please, Fortress Lord, draw out a wisp of your Origin True Fire.”

Yan Luo took a deep breath and carefully forced out a wisp of crimson flame from his fingertip, containing a few barely perceptible black threads.

The wisp of golden flame from Nangong Xuan’s fingertip gently touched it.

Hiss—!

Like cold water dripping into hot oil, the crimson flame churned violently! The black threads within emitted faint, sharp shrieks, trying to resist, but under the pure righteous aura of the golden flame, they rapidly dissolved and evaporated! Yan Luo shuddered all over, a flush instantly rising on his face. He felt a warm current spreading along his Meridians. The slight stagnation and restlessness caused by long-term exposure to the fiend fire were swept away completely! The True Fire within his body became unprecedentedly lively and pure!

”It... it truly has such miraculous effect!” Yan Luo exclaimed, both shocked and overjoyed, his gaze towards the golden flame on Nangong Xuan’s fingertip growing even more fervent.

At that very moment, a sudden change occurred!

Several piercing screams and violent explosions suddenly rang out from outside the hall! The entire rear hall shook violently!

”What’s going on?!” Yan Luo roared in fury.

An Earth Fire Fortress Disciple, covered in blood, stumbled in: ”Fortress Lord! It’s terrible! The people from Black Fiend Forest suddenly attacked, detonating Fiendish Thunderbolts they carried, and are slaughtering wildly in the front hall! They... they’re also shouting about capturing Xuanye and reclaiming the solar essence crystal!”

”Bastards!” Yan Luo exploded with rage, flames erupting from his body. ”How dare they run wild in my Earth Fire Fortress! Do they truly think this Yan Luo is made of mud?!” Having just received the purification favor from Nangong Xuan and now harboring suspicions towards Black Fiend Forest, their betrayal only added fuel to the fire.

However, before his words faded, the massive bronze furnace in the rear hall shook violently, its lid exploding open! It wasn’t an earth fireout of control, but three pitch-black figures, dense as ink and radiating Nascent Soul Stagefluctuation, shot out from within, aiming straight for Nangong Xuan!

”I anticipated your ambush long ago!” Nangong Xuan seemed to have expected this. He snorted coldly, not meeting the attack head-on. His figure drifted back like a ghost. Simultaneously, the chaos star core on his shoulder suddenly manifested, erupting with dark golden light!

No longer devouring, but—releasing!

The black vortex at the star Core’s center reversed its rotation. The fiendish energy of the Soul-Corroding Life-Devouring Formation it had previously devoured and preliminarily transformed, now mixed with a hint of Nirvana Sword Intent’s essence, surged forth like a bursting dam! It transformed into a gray-black energy storm, instantly engulfing the entire rear hall!

This energy wasn’t pure fiendish Qi. Having been ’digested’ by the star Core and ’neutralized’ by the Nirvana Concept, it remainedviolent, but lost much of itsinsidious corrosion nature, gaining more of a pure chaotic, annihilating power!

The three black figures were caught off guard, instantly swallowed by this sudden energy storm! They specialized in concealment, ambush, and fiendish Qi corrosion—when had they ever encountered this form of energy that seemed capable of annihilating everything? Their protective fiendish light wasRampant erosion and wear, emitting a teeth-grating sound of shattering. Their momentum abruptly stalled.

”What kind of power is this?!” the lead Nascent Soul Fiend Cultivator cried out in terror.

Seizing the opportunity, Nangong Xuan had long since retreated near the hall entrance, joining Su Muxue who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Behind Su Muxue, the moon wheel shed its clear radiance. Taiyin Star Power transformed into a cold barrier, temporarily blocking the residual waves of the energy storm and theThe pervasive evil aura.

”Fortress Lord! Black Fiend Forest harbors wolfish ambitions! Not only are they creating chaos outside, but they also intended to ambush and kill me here in the rear hall. Their goal is likely not just the solar essence crystal, but to use this to provoke a deadly conflict between Earth Fire Fortress and an unknown force (referring to Nangong Xuan), allowing them to reap the benefits! They might even intend to take this chance to act against you, Fortress Lord!” Nangong Xuan’s voice clearly reached Yan Luo’s ears, filled with shock and fury.

Yan Luo looked at the chaotic energyrampage within the hall and the threeBlack Demon Forest in a sorry state Nascent Souls. Recalling how they couldLurking out from the heavily guarded furnace, clearly having operated within Earth Fire Fortress for a long time—their hearts were trulypunish!

”Good! What a fine Black Fiend Forest! This Fortress Lord is now irreconcilably opposed to you!” Yan Luo wasUtter rage. ”Feng’er, activate the fortress’s Restrictions, seal all exits! Today, none of these Black Fiend scum shall leave!”

Flames surged around him like a fire god as heFirst to rush towards the three Nascent Soul Fiend Cultivators! Yan Feng immediately obeyed the order, activating the Restriction token in his hand.

Instantly, alarm bells blared throughout Earth Fire Fortress. Countless pillars of fire shot into the sky as powerful Restriction light barriers began to close.

The chaos in the front hall outside continued, but the Earth Fire Fortress Disciples, with their superior numbers, had begun organizing a counterattack after the initial assault.

Nangong Xuan and Su Muxue exchanged a glance. Their objective had already been achieved. The sowing discord plan wasExceeded the target; Earth Fire Fortress and Black Fiend Forest hadCompletely tearing apart the relationship.

”Let’s leave this troubled place first.” Nangong Xuan took Su Muxue’s hand. Their figures flickered,Avoid the battle, and sped towards their predetermined escape route. The chaos star core hovered above them, rotating slightly, quietly devouring anyScattered evil energy or earth fireYu Bo tried to stop along the way.

Behind them were Yan Luo’s furious roars, the despairing shrieks of the Fiend Cultivators, and theroaring sound of Earth Fire Fortress’s Restrictions fully activating.

Earth Fire Fortress, this steel fortress built upon a volcano, wasCompletely ignited by anger and murderous intent tonight.

What Nangong Xuan didn’t know was that the moment he used the star Core to release that mixed energy, far away at the edge of Qinglin Forest, Elder Qing Lin, who was strengthening defenses with Zi Linger, and an ancient, slumbering consciousness deep within the tree of life in the Green Wood Clan’s Holy Land, both simultaneously ’glanced’ towards the direction of Earth Fire Fortress, revealing thoughtful expressions.

The power of the star Core had already begun to attract the attention of this world’s true Supreme existences.