The secret passage extended deep, almost reaching the heart of the mountain. The deeper they went, the hotter it became. It felt as if a miniature sun lay within, scorching everything in its path. Even with spiritual power circulating to shield their bodies, both of them were drenched in sweat. Up ahead, the red glow grew increasingly intense. This was a deep crimson flame, unlike anything Qin Sang had ever seen. It held not even a trace of impurity. What startled him most was the divine and majestic aura radiating from the flames. There was an indescribable holiness that stirred a sense of reverence in his heart. In a daze, Qin Sang thought he saw a divine bird bathing in the fire. It was stunningly graceful, with a detached gaze that looked down upon all things. Read complete version only at N0v3l.Fiɾe.net The flickering tongues of flame at the edges resembled sorrowful feathers, delicate and tragic. It truly felt as if an ancient divine bird resided within. "Could this be demon fire?" Qin Sang turned to Wandering Man, shock written all over his face. Wandering Man appeared to be searching for something, his gaze shifting back and forth. Upon hearing the question, he nodded and replied, "It could be the Southern Sun Fire, said to be the true natal flame of the legendary sacred beast, the Vermilion Bird. According to legend, this fire can burn through all things. Some say it appears white, while others believe it to be red, like the Vermilion Bird’s feathers. Whether this truly is the Southern Sun Fire is impossible to confirm. No one has ever seen the Vermilion Bird for themselves. Still..." Though still some distance from the core flame, Wandering Man stopped and stared at the fire, speaking with emotion, "The terrifying power of this fire is beyond doubt. Even if it isn’t the Vermilion Bird’s true flame, it must be the fire once commanded by an ancient divine beast. What we are seeing now is merely the outer manifestation, created by the overflowing power of the demon fire. Its true body should be very small, hidden deep within, completely beyond reach." Qin Sang fixed his gaze on the Southern Sun Fire. The legend of the Vermilion Bird had endured for ages, often mentioned alongside immortals as a sacred beast. Now that even cultivators above the Divine Transformation Realm had vanished without a trace, how could such divine beasts still exist? Like its master, the Southern Sun Fire had become a legendary sacred flame. Many modern artifacts and astras bore its name falsely, which showed just how well-known it was. However, Qin Sang was already certain that not all divine beasts were mere fabrications. He had seen a wooden carving of a Luan in Granny Jing’s possession. She had once sensed its aura and witnessed it in person, which meant many divine beasts had truly walked the world. Just like powerful cultivators, they had disappeared without a sound. Qin Sang and Wandering Man stood side by side, silently sensing the aura of the fire. Wandering Man was right. Even if this was not the Southern Sun Fire, it was still the demon fire of some ancient divine beast. Its aura was even more terrifying than what Founder Kuiyin had described of the Devilish Flames of Nine Hells. In comparison, the Ancestral Sacred Flame of the Devilish Qingyang Sect, despite its fearsome name, could only bow in submission. And yet, this was merely a single strand of the fire’s true form. Founder Kuiyin had encountered an entire mass of the Devilish Flames of Nine Hells. The ancient alchemists of Ziwei Palace had once used the Southern Sun Fire for pill refinement, and even sealed it here. Could it be that they had imprisoned a Vermilion Bird? Qin Sang could not help but imagine the glorious era when Ziwei Palace stood intact, deeply envious of the ancient cultivators’ incredible strength and means. "Senior, are you planning to subdue this Southern Sun Fire?" Qin Sang guessed Wandering Man’s purpose. He had once said that the healing process would involve a near-death tribulation. Could it be related to the Southern Sun Fire? Before entering the tunnel, Qin Sang had entertained a similar idea. He had thought about imitating Kuiyin and claiming a powerful spiritual fire to enhance his strength. But once he truly sensed the fire’s might, Qin Sang had immediately abandoned that notion. The Southern Sun Fire was simply too fearsome. Attempting to claim it would be no different from seeking death. He even suspected that a Spiritual Infant grandmaster would retreat in the face of this flame. No one would dare provoke it. How could Wandering Man possibly manage it? Wandering Man gave a helpless chuckle and shook his head. "Even if you summoned a Spiritual Infant grandmaster or a powerful demon at the Transformation Realm, who among them would dare claim they could subdue the Southern Sun Fire? At least in the Small Cold Domain and the Tianxing Alliance, no one can do it, nor even imagine it. I’m not that arrogant." Under Qin Sang’s stunned gaze, Wandering Man said calmly, "I merely intend to throw myself into the Southern Sun Fire, using the power of the fire to burn my body and temper my soul, in the hopes of achieving rebirth through fire. Whether I rise like a phoenix or turn to ashes depends entirely on my luck." Rebirth through fire. Soul refinement by demon fire. Qin Sang was deeply shaken. He had believed that walking the corpse path in order to form a Golden Core was already extreme. Yet Wandering Man had gone even further, seeking the faintest glimmer of life from what was essentially a death sentence. Qin Sang had never heard of such a method for healing. He could not help but wonder whether Wandering Man had gone mad. "Senior, is there truly no other way? Must you go through with this?" Qin Sang felt a pang of unease. No wonder Wandering Man had repeatedly described it as a trial with nine chances of death and only one of survival. But in Qin Sang’s eyes, this was clearly a path of certain death, with no hope of return. It was no different from a moth flying into a flame. Throwing oneself into such terrifying demon fire would lead to instant incineration. No matter how miraculous the Jade Liquid of Three Radiances was, how much could it really help? "Is your injury really beyond all remedy, Senior? Once we leave Ziwei Palace, I’ll be able to form my Golden Core. After that, we can travel together to search for rare pills. The immortal cultivation world is vast. There’s no need to remain confined to the Small Cold Domain. Perhaps we might—" Wandering Man interrupted him, his tone firm. "I’ve tried everything. Nothing has worked. The hidden injury I carry is not something ordinary people can comprehend. I’ve combed through all available records and found no precedent. The only possible path is to destroy the old and rebuild anew. I refuse to spend the rest of my life stuck in the Fake Core Realm. Even if there’s only the slimmest chance, I must hold onto it." He paused for a moment, then his voice softened. "Don’t worry, Brother Qin. If there wasn’t any chance at all, I would not be throwing my life away. Those three drops of the Jade Liquid of Three Radiances will be of great help. Besides, I also know of something that can resist the burning of the Southern Sun Fire and provide some protection. That is why I asked you to come with me." As he spoke, Wandering Man raised his hand and pointed toward the depths of the tunnel. "There’s a fragment of green copper hidden deeper inside. I suspect it’s a shard from an ancient alchemical cauldron. In the past, the cultivators of old set their cauldrons directly atop the Southern Sun Fire to refine pills without fearing the fire's might. That cauldron must have been a divine artifact. Although only a fragment remains, it still retains part of its former power and should offer some protection from the Southern Sun Fire. But retrieving it will not be easy." Qin Sang followed Wandering Man’s gaze. Ahead in the tunnel were several stone chambers of various sizes. All the others were empty, except for the deepest one, where the true body of the Southern Sun Fire resided. The flames produced by the fire's overflow surged out from the chamber, filling the passage entirely without leaving the slightest gap. Nothing could be seen beyond it, only a blazing red glow. Under such conditions, how could they possibly reach the cauldron shard? Qin Sang began to suspect that with his level of cultivation, even a single flicker of those flames might be enough to reduce him to ashes.