Chapter 92 Swallowing the Soul-Refining Fire

Tang Yan did not deny how dangerous the fifth floor was.

Without bloody battles behind him, without rich experience in life-and-death clashes, walking that path to the end would have been several times harder than the fourth floor.

He drew in a deep breath. His gaze fell upon the passage leading to the sixth floor, and for some reason, his heart stirred with excitement.

He had a strange feeling.

It was as if there was something on the sixth floor that held an irresistible attraction for him.

Tang Yan was somewhat puzzled. Why would he feel this way?

In the next instant, a trace of shock appeared on his face, because the source of that feeling seemed to be coming from the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame.

At this moment, within Tang Yan's Dantian, the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame began to throb in uneven pulses.

Though the rhythm was not fast, an extraordinary thing like the Creation Flame would not show any abnormal movement lightly. The slightest change was enough for Tang Yan to notice.

After adjusting his state, Tang Yan stepped into the passage and made his way toward the sixth floor.

The moment he arrived, a wave of heat swept toward him.

Tang Yan could clearly feel the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame throbbing faster, as if it had become even more eager.

He looked around the sixth floor curiously.

Compared with the five floors below, the layout of the sixth floor seemed rather strange.

On the northern wall were carved two large characters, vigorous and powerful.

Soul Refinement.

Across the ground were circles of dots, like targets, gathering ring after ring toward the center.

At the very heart of that lotus-pod-like pattern, a cluster of white flame leapt and burned upon the ground.

The Heaven and Earth Creation Flame's abnormal reaction had been stirred by this very thing.

A thought flashed through Tang Yan's mind.

This flame was very likely a Spiritual Flame born between heaven and earth. The reason the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame was so excited was because it wanted to devour the Spiritual Flame before him.

After hesitating for a moment, Tang Yan carefully walked toward the center.

The white flame seemed to sense someone drawing near and suddenly began to sway.

The circular patterns on the ground abruptly transformed into clusters of flame.

A scorching heat washed over Tang Yan. His heart tightened, and he nearly retreated, but then he discovered that his clothes had not been burned at all beneath the flames. He forcefully suppressed the urge to withdraw beyond the circle.

This heat was exceedingly strange.

Not a single bead of sweat appeared on his body, yet Tang Yan felt as if he were already drenched in perspiration.

It was as though a flame was burning his soul.

Thinking of the words "Soul Refinement" on the wall, Tang Yan's heart stirred.

Could this floor be testing his Soul Power?

To an Alchemist, Soul Power and Mental Power were closely connected. The stronger one's Soul Power, the easier it was to control the rhythm of pill refinement.

Even if he could not pass this trial, tempering his Soul Power in such a place would still be an excellent gain.

Once he made up his mind, Tang Yan took another step forward.

The closer he came to the center, the denser and whiter the flames became, and the scorching sensation deepened by another degree.

Fortunately, Tang Yan's Soul Power was already far greater than that of ordinary people.

The ring of fire had a radius of roughly twelve meters. Tang Yan advanced ten meters without pressure before he finally stopped.

A gnawing, corroding sensation rose from deep within his bones, making him wish he could plunge straight into an ice cave.

Tang Yan's body trembled faintly, but he made no sound. After gritting his teeth and calming himself, he lifted his foot and moved another half meter forward.

An even stronger Pressure descended. Tang Yan's body trembled more violently.

He forcefully endured the urge to leave. True Qi circulated through his body, spreading to every limb and bone as he did all he could to resist the torment of this Soul Refinement.

A sword's edge comes from grinding, plum fragrance from bitter cold.

This kind of suffering—I already endured it when I roamed the Inner Jianghu!

As an outstanding Alchemist, if he cowered before a test of Soul Power, he would plant an Inner Demon on his path through the Alchemy Dao.

Tang Yan did not know whether taking one more step would make him faint on the spot, but he could not allow himself to retreat.

With bloodshot eyes, he stared at the white flame one meter away. His heart hardened, and the Fire Control Art began to circulate.

At that instant, the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame suddenly became incomparably excited. Under Tang Yan's control, it leapt nimbly around him.

As for that cluster of white flame, the moment the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame appeared, it was as though it had seen something terrifying. Its blaze instantly weakened, and it swayed gently in the air.

The Pressure on Tang Yan's body abruptly lightened, and the scorching sensation vanished entirely.

A trace of astonishment flashed through his eyes.

Looking at the white flame's state, it seemed almost as if it were prostrating itself in worship.

Could it be that even among flames, there was a distinction between ruler and subject?

Recalling the records within the Supreme Alchemy Scripture, a hint of madness flashed through Tang Yan's eyes.

The Heaven and Earth Creation Flame could devour other Spiritual Flames to strengthen itself.

Then could it devour this cluster of white flame as well?

There was no harm in trying!

A powerful suction force burst from Tang Yan's palm.

That cluster of white flame seemed to possess spirituality. Sensing danger approaching, it immediately flared up.

Caught off guard, Tang Yan felt his mind reel.

He bit the tip of his tongue and forced himself to remain clear-headed. Clenching his teeth, he brought the Fire Control Art fully into motion.

Boom!

Under the Pressure of the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame, the white flame only resisted a few times before it was entirely drawn into Tang Yan's body.

Tang Yan knew that the most crucial step had arrived.

Fusion!

Although the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame was domineering enough, before the white flame was completely refined, it could still injure him.

The soul-scorching sensation from before once again appeared within Tang Yan's body, and this time, it was even stronger.

Tang Yan clenched his teeth. The Fire Control Art did not pause for even a breath.

As time passed, Tang Yan's body trembled without end, and fine beads of sweat seeped out from every part of him.

Tang Yan noticed that under his continuous refinement, the white flame was gradually being swallowed by the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame.

As the white flame's power grew weaker and weaker, the devouring became faster and faster. Before long, the white flame gave up its struggle.

The feeling of Soul Refinement completely faded away.

Tang Yan's entire body lightened. With a faint hiss, the white flame finally vanished in full.

Tang Yan let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.

He sensed the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame and found that the power within it was still unstable. He understood that the white flame had not been completely refined yet and would require further tempering.

He was still inside Absolute Kill Tower, so Tang Yan decided to leave first.

He looked around the sixth floor.

The rings of dots on the ground had not disappeared. Only the flame at the center was gone.

"I wonder how Absolute Kill Tower will react when it discovers the Soul-Refining Fire is gone."

In his heart, Tang Yan prayed that the situation on the sixth floor would not be discovered any time soon.

At this moment, outside Absolute Kill Tower, the onlookers were still in heated discussion.

"It's almost half a shichen. Why hasn't that brat come out yet? Don't tell me he really reached the third floor?"

"Maybe he died inside? Let's wait a little longer..."

Everyone craned their necks in anticipation.

Among those present, aside from Lin Xiao and Wan Fei, almost everyone had placed their wagers on whether Tang Yan would emerge from the second floor or the third.

"City Lord Lin, which floor do you think Tang Yan will come out from?" Wan Fei asked.

A trace of expectation flashed through Lin Xiao's eyes. After a moment of thought, he said, "The fourth floor, or perhaps the fifth. What does Miss Wan Fei think?"

"At least the fifth floor!"

Thinking of Tang Yan's performance in Cangyun Mountain, Wan Fei spoke with certainty.

"I hope so." Lin Xiao nodded.

Boom!

The sound of a door opening rang out.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes shifting again and again between the second and third floors.