Chapter 1671: Supreme Heavenly Fire

Master Kong once said that innate embryonic toxins require the burning of celestial fire to be completely resolved. I had thought that only by truly becoming a Great Sage could this be achieved. Unexpectedly, my Witch Soul has taken the lead and attracted it.

If I could use this opportunity to temper my physical body, would it not directly and completely resolve the innate embryonic toxins that have troubled me for a year, freeing me from all worries?

"Does the Celestial Fire Tribulation involve the celestial fire directly burning the Witch Soul?"

Thinking of this, Zhang Xuan quickly asked.

The Conferred Sage Tribulation is divided into soul, body, and heart tribulations. Since this so-called Celestial Fire Tribulation is also a punishment from the Heavenly Dao for cultivators, will it have similar steps?

"The Celestial Fire Tribulation is divided into three parts: burning the soul, burning the spirit, and burning the heart! With your current strength, you should be able to withstand the soul burning. However, burning the spirit and burning the heart will be very difficult; a slight mistake could lead to your complete annihilation, body and spirit."

Hearing his question, the Bone Dragon hesitated for a moment before saying, "Especially the final burning of the heart, which involves inner demons and affects your dao heart. Once the dao heart is extinguished, everything ceases to exist. If your physical body also reaches the Great Sage Second Layer Golden Body realm, and your soul combines with it, with vital energy and blood nourishing your soul form, perhaps you could still contend. But a mere soul... that's incredibly difficult! In ancient times, countless Witch Soul Masters died at this stage, with hardly anyone surviving..."

The Dragon Bone Divine Spear had seen him use his Witch Soul back at Dragon Creek Mountain, so it wasn't particularly concerned to see him cultivating his soul now.

"Do you mean that if my physical body also reaches the Golden Body realm, undergoing the Celestial Fire Tribulation would be safer?" Hearing its grave tone, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.

"Precisely! The physical body's defensive power is much stronger than that of a pure soul. With the physical body resisting and the soul assisting, the chances of success are greater. But a pure Witch Soul... I've never heard of anyone succeeding!" The Bone Dragon flew out from Zhang Xuan's waist, its flickering black void showing concern.

It had only just recognized him as its master. If this fellow were to cultivate recklessly again and accidentally kill himself, who would it complain to?

It would be too embarrassing for a dragon if word got out...

Even though it was nothing but a pile of bones now...

"My physical body... is still very far from that stage right now!"

Hearing the other party's words, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

His physical cultivation had not yet learned Master Kong's high-grade breakthrough method. Additionally, without a suitable cultivation technique, even if he wanted to break through, he wouldn't be able to.

Furthermore, even if he did break through, he would still be a great distance from the Golden Body realm and certainly wouldn't be able to catch up with the current situation.

"Let it come then! I'd like to see just how powerful this Celestial Fire Tribulation is!"

The Dragon Bone Divine Spear had once followed Ancient Sage Ran Qiu in his conquests across the world. Although it had been sealed and lost many memories, its insight and experience were still beyond compare for ordinary people.

Since it said it would be difficult, this celestial fire probably wouldn't be that easy to handle.

However, Zhang Xuan cultivated the Heaven's Path Divine Art, making him invincible among those of the same cultivation level. What did its power matter?

If others could overcome it, why should I be afraid?

Rumble!

As he mused inwardly, the dark clouds in the sky had already accumulated to their peak.

Similar to the dark clouds of a lightning tribulation, they were utterly black, like an overcast day. Upon closer inspection, countless flames churned and burned within them. Even before they arrived, they gave off a sense of scorching the heavens and earth, destroying all things.

Sizzle!

A ball of flame descended, streaking straight towards Zhang Xuan's soul form.

Unlike the usual fiery red, it was pitch-black, like ink.

Had it not been falling from the sky, one might have suspected it was merely a painting, not a real entity, drawn with ink.

"This is celestial fire?"

Seeing that the flame hadn't even reached him yet, but cracks were already appearing in the space above, like a falling meteor, exuding immense pressure and aura, Zhang Xuan's scalp immediately tingled.

He had seen many flames before: scorching ones, mighty ones. He had even come into contact with the most powerful earth fire in refining furnaces... But he had never seen anything so bizarre and so powerful!

Pitch-black like ink, without the slightest glow, unable to be withstood even by space—this was celestial fire?

Could a Witch Soul truly contend with this?

Let alone a Witch Soul, even his physical body, which far surpassed supreme-grade Saint artifacts, would probably melt instantly upon contact!

"Th-this isn't ordinary celestial fire; it's... it's Supreme Celestial Fire!"

While Zhang Xuan was stunned to the point of madness, the Dragon Bone Divine Spear also seemed unable to believe it, trembling continuously.

"Supreme Celestial Fire? What's that?"

Zhang Xuan quickly looked.

"Celestial fires are also categorized by grade. Normal cultivators usually encounter Grade-3, the lowest grade, which is fiery red. Powerful master teachers and combat masters encounter Grade-2, which is stark white. Ancient Sage Ran Qiu and others, personally guided by Master Kong and cultivating the most supreme cultivation techniques with pure true qi, encountered Grade-1, which is sky-blue. The higher the grade, the more powerful the Golden Body refined by it becomes... Legend has it there's a Supreme Celestial Fire, far beyond Grade-1, known as the Fire of the Heavenly Dao, and it's black... Only Master Kong experienced it, and that was when his physical body had already reached the Golden Body realm... You, how could you have attracted it?"

Floating in the air, the eyes at the Dragon Bone Divine Spear's dragon head flickered continuously, as if it had seen a ghost.

Supreme Celestial Fire burns all things; nothing can escape its incineration, nothing can escape its destruction. Let alone a mere soul, even Golden Body realm or even Immortal realm experts would only be reduced to ashes if they came near it...

This fellow, who had merely made a breakthrough in his Witch Soul, how could he have attracted it?

Just surviving an ordinary celestial fire tribulation was already incredibly difficult. This kind... it's almost impossible!

His luck was just too terrible!

"How would I know..."

He hadn't expected this flame to have such a formidable origin; Zhang Xuan felt like crying but had no tears.

It was just a celestial fire tribulation. Did it have to be such a grand affair?

Filled with frustration, he knew this was not the time to dwell on it. Just as he circulated his energy, he saw the flame had already reached his Witch Soul and enveloped it.

Whoosh!

Upon contact with the black flame, his soul immediately began to burn. The intense pain caused Zhang Xuan's expression to change, and he trembled uncontrollably.

He had thought it would be like enduring a lightning tribulation, where he could withstand it as long as he persevered. He never imagined these flames would be so powerful; a slight mistake and his soul would be reduced to ashes, leaving nothing behind.

"Heaven's Path Divine Art, circulate!"

Knowing the situation was critical and that the Dragon Bone Divine Spear couldn't be relied upon, Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth without hesitation. His entire body's power immediately circulated, rapidly contending with the flames.

Buzz!

A brilliant golden light flared.

His originally transparent soul now revealed a golden outline, like a colossal Buddha statue.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!

The golden light's power was strong, but the celestial fire's might was even greater. Even before touching the light, it tore apart the surrounding space, as if it intended to drag it into the spatial turbulence, completely shredding it into powder beyond recovery.

"Stabilize!"

Without hesitation, Zhang Xuan pointed forward, and the True Comprehension of Spatial Sealing was unleashed.

The torn space restabilized.

However, the celestial fire remained terrifying. His golden body seemed to be assimilated, gradually turning black.