The forest was quiet now, with only the faint crackle of scorched leaves breaking the silence. Lin Fan wiped the blood from his lip, his body aching from the intensity of the fight. The charred remains of his enemies lay scattered, a stark reminder of his newfound strength.
Yet, Lin Fan's expression remained cold. The battle had been a small victory, but it was clear the Lin family wouldn't stop. Those cowards who fled would return with reinforcements.
"They'll come again," Lin Fan muttered, clutching his fist tightly. "Good. Let them come. I'll send every last one of them back in ashes."
Lin Fan pressed onward through the forest, his mind focused on two things: survival and growth. The Beast Core had propelled him to the second stage of Qi Refining, but it wasn't enough. He needed more power if he wanted to truly stand against the Lin family.
The dense forest began to thin as he climbed higher into the mountains. The air grew drier, and the faint scent of burning lingered. Lin Fan's instincts flared—something unusual was ahead.
In the distance, a faint orange glow lit up the horizon. As Lin Fan approached, he saw it: a massive, fiery chasm tearing through the mountain range. The flames surged like an ocean of molten fire, radiating intense spiritual energy.
"This place…" Lin Fan whispered, his eyes narrowing. The heat was overwhelming, yet it felt strangely familiar. The fire resonated with the flame in his core, as though beckoning him forward.
The Blazing Sun Ascension Art scroll had mentioned places like this: natural fire veins, brimming with spiritual energy. They were perfect for refining fire-type techniques—but entering one was a gamble with death.
Lin Fan hesitated, his body trembling slightly under the oppressive heat. The flames ahead could destroy him—or forge him into something far stronger.
"I've survived worse," he whispered, stepping forward. "If I'm too afraid to take risks, I'll never rise above them."
The moment Lin Fan entered the fiery chasm, the heat surged like a tidal wave, wrapping around him. His skin burned, sweat pouring down his body as the flames licked at his robes. Every step felt like a battle, but he pressed on, his eyes locked on the glowing depths of the chasm.
The fire was alive here. It roared and howled, as if testing his resolve. Lin Fan gritted his teeth, channeling the Blazing Sun Ascension Art to repel the flames. The ember in his core flared, pushing back against the fiery storm.
Hours passed like this, the flames relentless in their assault. Lin Fan's body trembled as exhaustion set in, but his will remained unbroken. He sat cross-legged amidst the inferno, his mind focused entirely on refining the energy around him.
The flames began to change. They no longer burned him but instead flowed into his body like rivers of molten power. Lin Fan's core absorbed the energy, expanding and strengthening with each passing moment.
Suddenly, a roar echoed through the chasm, shaking the ground beneath him. Lin Fan's eyes snapped open as the fire around him surged violently. From the depths of the flames emerged a massive creature—a Flame Wyrm, its glowing body coiled in the fire like a serpent of molten lava.
The beast's golden eyes locked onto Lin Fan, its roar vibrating through the air. Lin Fan stood, his body trembling but his gaze steady.
"If this is the guardian of the flames," Lin Fan said, his lips curling into a faint smile, "then let's see if I'm worthy."
The fire around him burned brighter as the Flame Wyrm lunged, its massive body twisting through the air. Lin Fan's fists ignited with the flames of his cultivation as he charged forward to meet the beast head-on.
The battle for survival—and growth—had begun.