Chapter 1196: Burning Heaven Valley

Wang Tie's voice was low, "The situation just now was critical; there's no time for details. Junior brother's injury is far more than the Nascent Soul being corroded by the Silence Extinction force. That bizarre power is extremely poisonous, already entangled with his own Sword Origin and even part of his divine soul's source, almost symbiotic."

Beside him, Xiao Ran heard this, his complexion grew even paler, and he gritted his teeth, "Senior brother, could it be… truly unsolvable?" He had just felt the relief brought by Han Wuxian's infusion of that miraculous power, and had thought hope greatly increased.

Wang Tie shook his head, his gaze showing a healer's determination: "It's not unsolvable, but… extremely difficult and exceedingly perilous. Conventional pill refinement taken orally cannot precisely affect the entangled spot; instead the Silence Extinction force may devour the medicine's potency, accelerating the deterioration."

He looked at Han Wuxian, eyes blazing: "We must employ an unconventional 'external coating and internal refinement' method, and it requires a cultivator of extraordinary level, whose mastery of power is micro‑refined, to guard from the side; only then is there a sliver of hope!"

"What is 'external coating and internal refinement'? Wang brother, feel free to explain," Han Wuxian asked calmly.

Wang Tie inhaled deeply and explained: "By 'external coating' we don't mean literally applying to the surface. It requires using Ten‑Thousand‑Year Earth‑Core Milk as the base, Nine‑Orifice Reviving Lotus as the conduit, supplemented by forty‑nine kinds of yang spiritual herbs, to lay a Nine‑Yang Rebirth Array. The junior brother sits at the array's eye, borrowing its power to transform the Celestial Material's potency into supreme yang vitality, which is then 'coated' onto the outside of his Nascent Soul, forming a protective layer that temporarily isolates and slowly neutralizes the Silence Extinction force."

"But that's only a superficial remedy," Wang Tie's tone grew heavier, "The crucial part is the 'internal refinement'! At the moment the 'external coating' takes effect and the Silence Extinction force is temporarily soothed, a supreme master must inject a strand of ultra‑pure, source power that can suppress the Silence Extinction force, precisely into the deepest entangled core of the junior brother's Nascent Soul, refining it with thunderous force! This process is like a mortal physician dancing on the heart's tip; any misstep—if the force is too weak it won't eradicate, if too strong… the junior brother's Nascent Soul will collapse in an instant!"

Xiao Ran inhaled a gasp of cold air; this was literally a gamble with life!

Wang Tie looked at Han Wuxian, his eyes filled with pleading and hope: "Comrade Han, the method you just used to disperse that Xuan Gen Dao Lord's technique contained a power I cannot comprehend, seemingly above the Silence Extinction, and your mastery of power has reached a consummate state. This 'internal refinement' step, across the whole world, I fear only you have any chance of accomplishing!"

Han Wuxian heard this, pondered briefly. The method Wang Tie described was indeed perilous, but the extreme demand for power control was not a difficulty for him. The very nature of Chaotic Return‑to‑Void Qi was indeed sufficient to counter the Silence Extinction force.

"The method is feasible," Han Wuxian nodded, "Can you, Wang brother, gather the required forty‑nine yang spiritual herbs?"

Wang Tie's face turned grim: "That's the second difficulty. Of the forty‑nine herbs, most aren't exceedingly rare, but three principal medicines—'Blazing Sun Herb', 'Crimson Essence Fungus', and 'Golden Flame Flower'—are extremely scarce and must be freshly harvested while their properties are vibrant to be effective. I've searched far and wide, gathering forty‑six, but still lack these three. As far as I know, these three grow in the extreme yang regions…"

He paused, then pointed west: "The nearest place that might contain all three is the 'Burning Heaven Valley'! But there the earth fire rages, the environment is extreme, and powerful fire‑type demonic beasts dominate—danger upon danger. I intended to venture there after obtaining the Celestial Material, but was blocked by the Xuan Gen Dao…"

Han Wuxian understood: "In that case, we must not delay. We'll go to that Burning Heaven Valley and retrieve those three spiritual medicines."

Xiao Ran hurriedly said: "Brother Han, Burning Heaven Valley is far from a safe place; how can you risk this for me? My injury…"

Han Wuxian cut him off: "Xiao brother, no need for more words. When an old friend is in trouble, we cannot stand by. Moreover, I have some interest in that Burning Heaven Valley." He vaguely sensed that such extreme‑yang lands might further forge the 'life' aspect within his Chaotic Return‑to‑Void Qi.

Seeing Han Wuxian's resolute stance, Xiao Ran felt a warm current rise in his heart, said no more, and simply recorded this gratitude deeply.

Wang Tie was even more grateful, tears streaming: "Thank you, Comrade Han!"

"Qing Lin, you stay here to guard, lay a seal, and ensure no one disturbs," Han Wuxian instructed Qing Lin.

"Yes, master!" Qing Lin obeyed.

Han Wuxian then said to Wang Tie and Xiao Ran: "We set out at once."

He rolled up his sleeves, a gentle force enveloped Wang Tie and Xiao Ran, and with a single step he tore through the void, heading west toward Burning Heaven Valley.

The speed of a Refinement‑Void stage cultivator is astonishing, and with Han Wuxian's grasp of the Dao of Space, in less than half an hour the three had already reached the outskirts of Burning Heaven Valley.

Before even approaching, a scorching gust slammed into them. Looking ahead, the land was a sea of crimson; magma in the valley surged like a river, and the air reeked of sulfur. Ordinary cultivators here would likely struggle to even maintain their protective aura.

"Blazing Sun Herb thrives on earth‑fire essence, commonly growing in the red‑rock fissures along magma rivers. Crimson Essence Fungus usually co‑exists near earth‑fire vein nodes. As for Golden Flame Flower… it's the rarest, blooming only atop the Earth‑Core Fire Lotus, which is often guarded by powerful demonic beasts," Wang Tie explained swiftly, his familiarity with the herbs' habits evident.

"Splitting up is more efficient, but this place is dangerous, and Xiao brother is wounded…" Han Wuxian thought briefly, "Wang brother, you and Xiao brother pair up and follow the safe route to find Blazing Sun Herb and Crimson Essence Fungus. I will go alone to seek the Golden Flame Flower."

"Impossible!" Wang Tie and Xiao Ran objected simultaneously. They both knew that seeking the Golden Flame Flower was the most perilous.

"Brother Han, my injury is no longer serious; I can go with you!" Xiao Ran insisted.

"I'm somewhat familiar with this place…" Wang Tie added.

"Don't worry, I know my limits. You gather what's needed as quickly as possible, then wait for me at a safe spot on the outskirts."

His tone carried a convincing composure. Having witnessed his methods, the two knew he was not a mere pretender and reluctantly agreed.

Han Wuxian's figure flashed, vanishing into the scorching gust and twisted light, plunging straight toward the deepest part of Burning Heaven Valley.

The deeper he went, the hotter it became, even manifesting invisible fire demons that could scorch the soul. Yet for Han Wuxian, these were merely a gentle breeze. His spirit sense spread out, meticulously searching for traces of the Earth‑Core Fire Lotus.

Finally, at the center of a massive magma lake, he saw a lotus floating atop the lava, radiant with golden light! At its core, a cluster of strange blossoms leapt with golden flames—indeed the Golden Flame Flower!

Yet beside that Earth‑Core Fire Lotus, the magma churned, and a massive silhouette slowly rose!

It was a colossal serpent, its body cloaked in dark‑red scales, a single horn sprouting from its head. Its vertical pupils stared coldly at Han Wuxian, exuding a terrifying demonic aura comparable to the pinnacle of mid‑Refinement‑Void stage—clearly the guardian of the Golden Flame Flower.

"Human, get out of my domain!" the giant serpent roared with a hoarse spiritual wave, its anger scorching.

Han Wuxian, too lazy for words, pointed his finger like a sword, unleashing a grayish sword aura!

The serpent sensed the terrifying aura within the sword energy, horrified to the brink, and erupted a torrent of raging flames while its body plunged into the magma!

Snort!

The sword aura ignored the flames, cutting straight through the serpent's body!

The serpent let out a mournful screech; half its body instantly stiffened, then vanished as if erased, turning to nothingness! The other half hurriedly sank into the magma, fleeing in haste.