Chapter 1005: Seventh Layer

Facing the raging flames of the Fire Domain's fifth layer, Li Qing didn't hesitate. He unleashed all four of his heavenly spirit fires, using them as a protective barrier around himself.

Boom!

The four spirit fires, each glowing with a distinct color, encircled him, repelling the relentless waves of fire surging toward him.

As he moved, Li Qing activated the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art, attempting to sense any heavenly spirit fires within the Fire Domain. He had long suspected that such a perpetually burning region might harbor these rare flames.

However, to his surprise, the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art yielded no response whatsoever.

Frowning, he muttered to himself, "How can this be? Such a peculiar fiery place, yet not a single heavenly spirit fire?"

"Am I too late? Or is this anomaly not caused by heavenly spirit fires at all?"

He wondered if the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch had once visited this place and claimed all the heavenly spirit fires.

Regardless, his primary purpose here wasn't to collect heavenly spirit fires, but to refine weapons using the domain's flames.

Now imbued with four heavenly spirit fires, the raging flames of the fifth layer posed no threat to Li Qing. He strode forward, heading in the direction where the Lihuo Profound Jade had flown earlier.

Before long, Li Qing had breached the fifth layer of the Fire Domain and officially entered the sixth.

This was a place few dared to venture. For ordinary cultivators, the sixth layer of the Fire Domain was synonymous with peril. The flames burning within could threaten even those in the void refinement realm.

The sixth layer was eerily silent, a stark contrast to the roaring inferno of the fifth layer.

Wisps of purple mist drifted through the air. As Li Qing moved, these mists surged toward him.

He quickly realized that these purple mists were actually flames in disguise!

Boom!

A strand of purple mist ignited, its terrifying heat nearly melting the very fabric of space. The void around Li Qing visibly distorted.

This terrifying fire possessed lethal potency. Even Li Qing, a grandmaster of fire manipulation, couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.

In this exceptionally dangerous sixth layer of the Fire Domain, even Li Qing dared not act rashly.

"This is truly absurd. Such terrifying and unique flames aren't even heavenly spirit fire. These strange purple flames lack a source fire seed, merely drifting here like rootless duckweed."

Without a source fire seed, they couldn't be refined and absorbed into the body using the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art.

Faced with the vast, ocean-like expanse of purple mist-flames in the Sixth Layer Fire Domain, Li Qing had no intention of venturing deeper.

If the sixth layer was already this terrifying, the flames in the seventh layer would likely be capable of melting him into ashes.

"It seems I'm not destined to meet the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch after all. But refining my second killing sword here should be more than sufficient."

Li Qing muttered to himself, calmly stopping in his tracks. He had a precise assessment of his own capabilities; the seventh layer fire domain was a place even body integration realm old monsters wouldn't dare to tread lightly.

The Profound Yellow True Flame, however, grew anxious. Having finally come so close to the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch's traces, it refused to give up now.

"Keep going! I have a feeling the Heavenly Monarch definitely left something ahead!"

Li Qing rolled his eyes at this traitorous remark. "If we proceed further," he said, "I'm not confident I can survive in the seventh layer fire domain."

"That's just a place the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch visited. There's no guarantee he left anything behind. Do you want me to go in there and die?"

"If I die in the seventh layer fire domain, who will take you to find the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch later?"

Even the Profound Yellow True Flame, which had been so eager to pursue the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch, fell silent at these words.

Still unwilling to give up, the Profound Yellow True Flame pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Why don't you try circulating the heavenly monarch's cultivation technique here? If nothing happens, we'll drop it."

Li Qing considered it and finally agreed. After all, it was just circulating the technique; he had nothing to lose.

Might as well get the Profound Yellow True Flame to give up early!

With that thought, Li Qing began circulating the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art, mobilizing all the true essence within his body.

After a long while, no visible changes occurred. Li Qing spoke up, "See? Nothing's happening. Just give up already. We'll wait until I'm stronger."

Before he could finish, the Profound Yellow True Flame's voice trembled, interrupting him. "What do you mean nothing's happening? I can feel myself trembling! It's a pressure that makes me want to prostrate myself in worship!"

Li Qing quickly noticed that the four heavenly spirit fires surrounding him were indeed undergoing a transformation.

Not only the Profound Yellow True Flame, but even the Netherworld Cold Fire, Spirit Devouring Demon Flame, and Great Sun Golden Flame—spirit fires that had yet to develop spiritual intelligence—were now faintly trembling.

"How is this possible?"

At that very moment, deep within the Fire Domain, in a region untouched by human feet for ages...

Boom!

A fragmented rune, still burning with flames, slowly rose into the air. As this fiery rune emerged, all the flames in the Fire Domain were suppressed, their raging flames instantly extinguished.

Soon, a series of peculiar dao patterns spread outward from the Fire Domain's depths, extending all the way to Li Qing's feet.

"These patterns... they seem to be of the same type as the ones inscribed on the Lihuo Profound Jade?" Li Qing said in disbelief.

The Profound Yellow True Flame, now even more agitated, exclaimed, "Exactly! They're identical! This must be something left behind by a heavenly monarch!"

"I see now. These dao patterns were created to suppress the flames within the Fire Domain. Continue circulating your cultivation technique and follow these patterns. The Fire Domain's flames won't be able to harm you!"

This was truly a mad idea, but Li Qing discovered that the Profound Yellow True Flame's words held true. The purple mist flames of the sixth layer were indeed blocked by these dao patterns, no longer harming him.

"If that's the case..."

A sharp glint flashed in Li Qing's eyes as he stepped onto the path paved with these mysterious dao patterns, continuing deeper into the Fire Domain.

Meanwhile, a massive figure enveloped in dense purple mist slowly withdrew the flames from its body.

"Why have the purple qi mist flames of the sixth layer weakened so much? They can no longer temper my body. Has my secret technique reached great perfection? That shouldn't be possible."

Soon, the Giant Spirit Race member was shocked to discover a human race member advancing toward the seventh layer fire domain.

"Great Spirit God above! Has this human gone mad? How dare he venture into the seventh layer?"

"Even I only dare temper my body with flames in the sixth layer. Isn't he courting death?"