Battle Through the Heaven: Purple Heaven

"Green Lotus Core Flame!" Yao Lao's voice, laced with shock and elation, echoed abruptly in Xiao Bai's mind.

Lifting his gaze, Xiao Bai saw a pure cyan glow piercing the teal-tinged magma ahead. As they drew closer, a small space bathed in cyan light revealed a delicate cyan lotus standing gracefully within.

"There really is a Heavenly Flame!" Hai Bodong's face lit with awe, beholding a naturally grown flame for the first time.

"Hiss!" As they prepared to enter the cyan space, the Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake let out a sharp screech, its diamond-shaped pupils flickering with fear toward the lotus.

Xiao Bai waved it off, dismissing it. This snake probably tried for the flame before and paid a price. Licking his dry lips, he stepped into the cyan glow. Contrary to expected scorching heat, the temperature dropped eerily, a strange coolness enveloping him.

His eyes scanned the space, settling on the central cyan lotus. Its eight leaves gleamed like translucent jade, flawlessly natural. The lotus platform bore holes emitting faint fluorescence—likely Earth Fire Lotus Seeds. His gaze lingered on the swaying cyan flame atop the platform.

Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame List. Born deep within the earth, forged by countless temperings, fusions, compressions, and carvings of earthly fire. Ten years to gain spirit, a hundred to take form, a thousand to become a lotus. At its peak, it glows cyan, with a core flame of unpredictable power, capable of triggering volcanic eruptions near magma zones.

As Xiao Bai admired the lotus, a familiar stir rose within, like facing heavenly thunder before. Unsure what Little Yi and the others intended, he relaxed his mind, less wary here than in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Unrestrained, the three thunder seeds darted out, circling him excitedly.

"What… are these?" Hai Bodong gaped at the tri-colored thunder orbs, more stunned than by the flame. He recognized the crimson thunder but hadn't expected two others.

"Wood, fire… earth… Kid, you don't have all five elements, do you?" Yao Lao asked, astonished, familiar with the wood and fire thunders from the mountain range but surprised by the earth one.

"How rare! Heaven has five seasons, earth five directions, man five extremes—everyone's got all five elements," Xiao Bai replied calmly to Yao Lao, deflecting.

To Hai Bodong, he added, "No need to be shocked. They're just my little pets."

With growing strength, Xiao Bai no longer feared revealing the thunder seeds. He'd need them in future battles, and hiding them was futile. As long as the talisman, his greatest secret, stayed concealed, he was fine.

Yao Lao, exasperated, thought, That's not what I meant! He'd asked about five thunders, but Xiao Bai's evasion signaled no further answers, so he dropped it.

After hovering briefly, Little Yi, Little Bing, and Little Wu surged toward the cyan flame on the lotus. Sensing a threat, the flame flared, cyan fire mist rippling outward like waves across the space. The three thunders erupted in response, lightning flashing as they teleported above the flame.

The cyan space became a battleground, yellow, red, and cyan thunder arcs clashing with cyan fire mist, thunder and fire intertwining fiercely. "Kid, quick—pull back your thunders!" Yao Lao, observing, shouted urgently. Damn it, his thunders are siphoning the Green Lotus Core Flame! He sensed the yellow thunder absorbing earth attributes, the crimson fire, and the cyan wood, threatening the flame's core if unchecked.

"No rush, Senior. They can't take much," Xiao Bai said calmly, soothing him. He felt that without ample lightning energy, the seeds couldn't consume enough to harm the flame's essence.

"Fine! But every sip of its essence drops your alchemist inheritance by a tier. Your call!" Yao Lao snapped, irked by Xiao Bai's nonchalance.

Xiao Bai rolled his eyes. The old man's really riled, resorting to threats. "I… I can't hold!" Hai Bodong suddenly bellowed, bolting out of the space. Outside, he exhaled heavily, his ice armor reduced to a thin layer, arcs of lightning flickering on it. Another second, and I'd be done. Glancing at Xiao Bai, unscathed within an invisible shield repelling the fire mist, he envied. Powerful soul force is the way to go.

Gotta break this seal fast, Hai Bodong resolved. Dou Ling's nowhere near enough with this guy. A Dou Huang wouldn't be this pathetic today.

After a teacup's time, the thunder seeds, sated and vibrant, returned to Xiao Bai. The Green Lotus Core Flame, like a maiden ravaged by brutes, flickered weakly. Sensing their enhanced might, Xiao Bai nodded, satisfied, and recalled them. "See, Senior? No harm to its core," he said, grinning to Yao Lao.

Yao Lao sighed in relief. Thank heavens, just a bit drained, not damaged. "Could you warn me next time, kid? I thought—" He paused, not finishing.

"What? Thought I got greedy and planned to break our deal?" Xiao Bai teased, raising a brow.

He'd indeed been tempted. He hadn't expected the seeds to feed on the flame, but he ultimately resisted claiming it. First, he'd promised Yao Lao. Second, he had other plans for his five thunder seeds. Still weak, they showed little, but if all five elements aligned, an overly strong seed might unbalance his five-element harmony, a concern tied to his vital organs. Imbalanced elements could disrupt his cultivation. The best approach was a treasure providing steady five-element energy to nurture the seeds evenly, not sporadic absorptions like today's wood or tomorrow's earth. Such a treasure, from his novel knowledge, might exist—a Heavenly Flame—but his current strength was too low to pursue it.

"Haha, let's go, let's get the flame!" Yao Lao laughed awkwardly, dodging the jab, urging, "Listen, collecting the Green Lotus Core Flame can't be forced—"

Xiao Bai, tuning out Yao Lao's lecture, flared crimson light, forming a protective shield. Approaching the lotus, he produced two jade boxes, using Little Bing to refine the flame. "Huh? You know how to harvest the lotus platform?" Yao Lao asked, startled, not having reached that part in his explanation.

"Who're you underestimating?" Xiao Bai shot a glance at the black ring, his tone sly.

"Heh…" Yao Lao gave a dry laugh, rubbing his nose. Damn, forgot this kid's no rookie like my disciple. Always so mysterious.

___

Two Thousand Meters from the Underground Passage

In the desert, two groups faced off. "Xiao Ding, hand over the treasure you dug up, and I'll let you go!" a burly middle-aged man bellowed.

"Luo Bu, don't push it! We're just scouting terrain for a client, not raiding ancient ruins. There's no treasure!" Xiao Ding retorted, frowning at the Sand Mercenary Corps encircling them.

Trouble brewed. Luo Bu's ambush wasn't about treasure but seemed intent on wiping out their hundred-strong Desert Iron Corps. The Sand Corps, Stone Desert City's top mercenaries, had one Da Dou Shi and one Dou Shi, while the Desert Iron boasted four Dou Shis. In a fair fight, victory was uncertain. But Luo Bu, a three-star Da Dou Shi, led today's attack with only Xiao Ding and Xiao Li present, their numbers thinned—a bad spot.

"Commander, their haste to return from the passage screams treasure!" Mo Xing, Luo Bu's sidekick, sneered, fanning the flames.

Luo Bu dismissed Mo Xing's words, seeing through his grudge against Xiao Li, who'd beaten him before, goading Luo Bu for revenge. The real reason was the Desert Iron's rapid rise, threatening Luo Bu's dominance. Seizing the chance to eliminate the brothers, he'd played along with Mo Xing's "persuasion."

"Xiao Ding, if you value treasure over your men's lives, you'll all stay here!" Luo Bu roared, fearing delay. Brandishing a long saber, he charged, Mo Xing grinning viciously at Xiao Li, following suit.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li met them head-on, but after a brief clash, they retreated, battered. Facing the murderous pair, they knew escape was slim. "Big Brother, I'll lead the men to cover your breakout. Avenge me—kill these scum!" Xiao Li wiped blood from his mouth, glaring at Luo Bu and Mo Xing.

Xiao Ding stayed silent. With Qing Lin here, we won't die, he thought, but Xiao Bai's warning gave him pause. Seeing Xiao Li's resolve to die, he acted, pulling him to Qing Lin. "What're you doing, Big Brother?" Xiao Li asked, confused.

Ignoring him, Xiao Ding addressed Qing Lin, "Miss Qing Lin, please help us!"

"Are you alright, Big Brother? She's just a kid starting cultivation!" Xiao Li gaped, thinking his brother had lost it.

Xiao Ding shot him a look, focusing on Qing Lin. She nodded. She'd wanted to release Little Fire earlier but held back, mindful of Xiao Bai's warning against revealing the snake. Now it's fine, right? These are Young Master's kin, and they'll die without help.

Touching her sleeve, a red flash erupted, swelling into the four-to-five-zhang Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. "This… this is!" Xiao Li stammered, tongue-tied, realizing why Xiao Ding sought her aid.

"Fourth-tier beast!" Luo Bu and his men froze, breath catching at the fiery snake's bloodthirsty diamond eyes and overwhelming aura.

"Run!" Someone in the Sand Corps shouted, and their tight encirclement shattered, mercenaries scattering like frightened beasts. Luo Bu, seeing the snake target him, legs trembling, steeled himself to fight. It's been ordered—fleeing's a death sentence against a fourth-tier beast.

The snake, eyeing Luo Bu warily, lashed its tail experimentally. Clang! Boom! Luo Bu's saber sparked against it, barely pausing the tail before it smashed his chest, shattering his armor and sending him flying.

Sprawled, spitting blood, Luo Bu lay as the snake nodded, as if satisfied. See? Not everyone's like that lightning freak. Proud, it reveled in proving its strength, having mistaken humans for Xiao Bai's caliber from its sheltered magma life. Elated, it prepared a celebratory magma blast, its cheeks swelling.

Suddenly, a crushing aura descended from the horizon, freezing the panicked crowd. Never had they felt such power. The snake's swollen cheeks deflated, its body prostrating, its bravado gone.

In the crowd's sight, a voluptuous figure with crimson energy wings and a golden crown appeared overhead, radiating allure and menace.

"Queen Medusa!"