Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

”Do not lower your guard. Back then, I did not enter the core region; I merely found a Fire Crystal and then left.”

The Empress warned.

Qin Yu nodded silently, his mind tense, not daring to be careless even for a moment.

If anything went wrong, he could instantly retreat into his Lifebound Space.

However...

If he truly entered the Lifebound Space, how would he come out again?

The Empress couldn’t wait for him at the same spot forever, and without her protection, relying solely on his own body, could he really make it out alive?

Unless...utilizing Instant Movement...

And luck would have to be on his side.

Upon seeing the deep region where even space seemed burned into turbulence, Qin Yu couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.

If he ended up in there, it might be...

If worst comes to worst, he would hide quietly in the Lifebound Space, releasing some aura and waiting for the Empress’s rescue.

...

In the depths of the Endless Fire Domain.

The scorching magma surged like rivers, flames rampaging throughout the entire space like wild dragons.

The terrifying high temperature distorted the space, and in many places, it felt as if the space could crack open at any moment.

This region was an absolute forbidden zone for all living beings!

Even taking a single breath of the air here could instantly incinerate a person’s internal organs.

Two figures swiftly traversed through it, as if the terrifying environment posed no obstacle whatsoever.

”Your Majesty, is this the core region?”

Facing the apocalyptic scene before him, Qin Yu’s expression was solemn.

The Empress ahead of him was surrounded by a faint golden glow, the Power of Gold Attribute Dao Rhyme enveloping them both.

Evidently, even the Empress had to activate her Dao Rhyme to resist the perils of the region.

The Empress nodded slightly, slowing her pace, eyes scanning around, attempting to find the cause of the turbulence within the Endless Fire Domain.

However, wherever her eyes fell, the entire Fire Domain was filled with destructive and furious aura; apart from this, nothing seemed abnormal.

Whether it was due to the peculiarities of this region or the overwhelming pressure emanating from the Empress, upon entering the core region of the Endless Fire Domain, no Flaming Giant Beast came forth to attack.

The whole space was dead silent, apart from the sound of magma rolling and flames soaring.

Faced with such unusual calm, the Empress’s expression turned grave.

”Strange, where are those flame beasts?”

Qin Yu’s gaze swept over, also sensing the anomaly.

According to the Empress’s earlier explanation, there should have been those flame beasts in this region, and the Fire Attributes Dao Rhyme within their Fire Spirit Core was even stronger.

However, despite being in this region for over a minute, not a single flame beast was encountered.

”You can try sensing with your mind.”

The Empress explained lightly, a rare solemnity flashed across her majestic face.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu’s mind stirred, sensing downward direction.

At this moment, he was startled to discover that the entire magma Fire Domain below was not flowing outward, but in a bizarre manner, was moving deeper inward.

In Qin Yu’s perception, the energy within the entire Fire Domain seemed drawn by an inexplicable force, flowing with the magma towards the depths.

”Something inside is absorbing this space’s energy. The disappearance of those beasts is likely because they’ve transformed into Dao Rhyme and are being absorbed by something inside.”

Seeing Qin Yu notice the anomaly, the Empress slowly spoke.

”Is the entire Fire Domain’s energy being devoured?”

Qin Yu found it hard to believe.

The Empress moved swiftly; they’d come at least a hundred miles, and it was only a corner of the Fire Domain.

If something truly absorbed the entire Fire Domain’s energy, it was unimaginable what terrifying existence it must be.

The Empress nodded slightly, saying no more. Her beautiful eyes glistened with divine light, seeming capable of seeing through the magma to clearly observe the flow direction of the Fire Domain’s energy.

After an unknown period, the Empress suddenly halted.

Fortunately, Qin Yu reacted in time, avoiding colliding into her; yet, they were a hair’s breadth apart, so near that he could clearly smell the fragrance emanating from the Empress.

”What’s wrong?”

Qin Yu surveyed his surroundings, his pupils abruptly shrinking as a horrific whirlpool emerged amidst the surging magma ahead.

The Empress did not reply; after some hesitation, she slowly raised her arm. Between her slender fingers, a strand of golden light swiftly gathered, and a faint but terrifyingly sharp aura rippled outward.

”Swish!”

In the next moment, the Empress gently pointed her finger, the golden light transformed into a golden Sword Qi, whistling forth.

”Boom!”

Where it passed, the magma below was forcibly torn into a massive ravine.

”Bang!”

However, as the Sword Qi neared the whirlpool, it seemed to collide with an invisible wall of air, maintained for a mere moment before suddenly shattering, dispersing into countless glowing fragments.

Seeing this, Qin Yu’s expression drastically changed.

Even though it was casually executed by the Empress, he could clearly sense the terrifying might contained within that golden Sword Qi; even a Foundation Establishment Realm expert would find it difficult to withstand it fully.

Yet such a fierce Sword Qi was easily obliterated?

”Hmph!”

The Empress snorted coldly, an immense pressure surged from her body.

Around her, the golden light intensified, as if she was clad in an extraordinary golden armor, appearing as a golden war deity, whose intimidation one dared not meet with eyes directly.

The vast Power of Dao Rhyme surged, and the originally destructive and chaotic space nearby surprisingly calmed down; even the magma below seemed intimidated by the mighty power, halting its flow.

The Empress clearly sensed something amiss; the sudden upheaval in the Endless Fire Domain was likely caused by the vortex before her eyes.

The magma vortex was like a giant abyssal mouth devouring the terrifying energy within the Fire Domain.

No matter what lies at the vortex’s center, the Empress cannot let this anomaly continue; otherwise, it would pose a massive threat to the Great Yan Immortal Country.

”Boom!”

Just as the Empress’s aura burst forth, the surrounding magma surged violently, and from the vortex, a crimson fiery column rapidly shot out, carrying a world-ending momentum, directly targeting the Empress.

”Your Majesty, watch out!”

Qin Yu’s expression changed instantly, sensing a terrifying Power of Dao Rhyme within that fiery column.

He had no doubt, if it hit him, he would be incinerated by this horrific energy in an instant.

A trace of anger flashed in the Empress’s beautiful eyes; as an Empress, she had never endured such provocation.

”Whoosh!”

In the next moment, golden light surged and instantly transformed into a massive Sword Qi mid-air before her.

”Boom!”

Before Qin Yu’s shocked eyes, the two fearsome energies clashed violently, and almost in an instant, the golden Sword Qi severed that fiery column.

Yet, the fearsome Power of Dao Rhyme did not dissipate; even though it was torn to shreds by the terrifying Sword Qi, it continued its assault like a sky full of fiery rain, targeting the Empress.

”Bang! Bang!”

The Empress frowned slightly as silver light suddenly manifested before her; a thundering web composed entirely of destructive Thunder Power appeared.

The fiery rain poured down, and the Thunder Power before her trembled wildly, yet the Empress remained unmoved.

In Qin Yu’s eyes, the Empress’s form appeared exceptionally majestic at this moment.

Her seemingly graceful figure gave off an impression akin to a tall, steadfast mountain.

”Your Majesty possesses both gold and thunder Dao Rhyme?”

Qin Yu was profoundly shaken; he once asked Lingtian Peak why they feared the Empress so much, and Ling, the Tributor, reluctantly explained it wasn’t fear.

Of course, he eventually stated that the Empress’s power ranks her among the top three Emperors of the Nine Immortal Countries!

Because of this, Qin Yu felt that fearing the Empress wasn’t shameful.

Only now, witnessing the Empress wield gold and thunder Dao Rhyme forces, did he understand how she managed to storm the Great Chu Imperial Capital back then.

”There’s something there, I think.”

Suddenly, Qin Yu felt as if he was locked onto by something.

To be precise, both he and the Empress seemed to be targeted by this Fire Domain.

He scanned the area, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

”Celestial Eye!”

Qin Yu concentrated, divine light flowing from his eyes.

”Buzz...”

In the next instant, Qin Yu’s pupils shrank suddenly, an indecipherable look of shock washed over his face.

Under the Celestial Eye, the scene before him changed dramatically.

Where once there was nothing at the vortex, now a towering Parasol Divine Tree grew, standing like an ancient monument at the very core of the Endless Fire Domain.

If not seen through the Celestial Eye, Qin Yu could hardly believe that in the destructive and chaotic Endless Fire Domain, there existed such a lush green Divine Tree.

The trunk of the Parasol Divine Tree was stout, covered with golden patterns that resembled flowing magma veins.

The tree’s branches and leaves were lush, each leaf seeming to burn with flames, and the entire tree radiated a sacred glow from afar.

Its roots extended deeply like a giant dragon into the Fire Domain below, with endless Fire Domain energy flowing gently into its magma-like veins.

”Your Majesty!”

As he saw the Empress preparing to strike again, Qin Yu spoke up.

”Hmm?”

The Empress raised her eyebrows slightly.

”Can’t Your Majesty see that Divine Tree?”

Qin Yu pointed at the Parasol Divine Tree ahead, asking.

”Divine Tree?”

The Empress paused, recalling a secret chronicled in an ancient book.

It’s said that within the Endless Fire Domain, there exists a Parasol Divine Tree, carrying the fire-attribute Dao Rhyme power, representing hope within destruction.

However, several Emperors of the Great Yan Immortal Country had ventured into the Endless Fire Domain but found nothing.

More crucially, as the Empress looked toward the direction Qin Yu was pointing, she couldn’t see the Divine Tree he described.

”You... can see the Parasol Divine Tree?”

The Empress asked, a bit perplexed.

Qin Yu nodded and vividly painted a picture of it.

Seeing Qin Yu speak so vividly and without any sign of joking, the Empress felt something stir within her.

Could it be that not everyone can see the Parasol Divine Tree?

But Qin Yu had just broken through to the Lotus Platform Realm; how could he see the legendary Parasol Divine Tree?

”Your Majesty, don’t rush to strike.”

Qin Yu sensed that the Parasol Divine Tree before him seemed to possess a hazy consciousness that would instinctively protect itself if threatened.

The Empress was unsure, but the fierce aura surrounding her quietly dissipated.

For an instant, Qin Yu felt as though the sensation of being locked onto by an unknown force vanished entirely.

”Your Majesty can’t see it?”

Qin Yu was puzzled; with the Empress’s supreme divine techniques, how could she not see this massive Parasol Divine Tree?

The Empress shook her head, looking at Qin Yu with a newfound curiosity.