Chapter 477: Merging Hun Dun, the Hun Dun Flame

He changed his strategy, no longer attempting to resist the attacks of the flame creatures, but instead trying to interact with them in a different way. He relaxed his body, allowing his energy to resonate with the surrounding fire elements, following their changes rather than forcing them to maintain a fixed form.

Surprisingly, when Lin Xuan changed his attitude, the attacks of the flame creatures gradually turned into curious probes. They flew and circled around him, seemingly observing this special visitor. Lin Xuan reached out his hand, and a fire bird landed on his palm; it neither burned him nor was it harmed by the Primordial Cold, as the two seemingly opposing energies reached a marvelous balance.

At this very moment, Lin Xuan's state of mind suddenly cleared, and he finally understood the essence of the Hun Dun Flame—eternal change and innovation. If the Primordial Cold represented order and stability, then the Hun Dun Flame represented transformation and vitality. The two appeared to be opposites, but in reality, they complemented each other, just like everything else in the universe.

"There is nothing that remains eternally unchanged, nor is there any chaos without rules," Lin Xuan muttered to himself, "True balance lies in understanding that there is constancy within change, and change within constancy."

As Lin Xuan's realization deepened, the surrounding flame creatures began to gather; they no longer maintained their individual forms, but instead merged back together, returning to that mass of orange-red flame. This time, the flame did not avoid Lin Xuan's approach, but slowly drifted toward him.

A silent communication unfolded in Lin Xuan's heart, as the Hun Dun Flame conveyed information to him in a non-verbal way. Lin Xuan understood that this was the Hun Dun Flame acknowledging him, preparing to accept his fusion. But unlike the Primordial Cold, the Hun Dun Flame's method of fusion was more complex, requiring him to complete a final test.

"What do I need to complete the fusion?" Lin Xuan asked in his heart.

The Hun Dun Flame did not answer directly, but instead manifested a peculiar scene before Lin Xuan: the flame split into two masses, one solidifying into an ice-crystal-like form, while the other burned more wildly. Then, the two masses of flame began to permeate each other, eventually merging into one to form a gold and blue energy sphere.

The numerous flame fragments of the Hun Dun Flame gradually aggregated, re-condensing into a pure orange-red fireball, larger in volume than before, with a more dazzling light. This fireball hovered before Lin Xuan, the heat it radiated appearing exceptionally astonishing even within this Void Fire Illusion Realm.

Just as Lin Xuan stared at the fireball, an aged yet powerful voice suddenly rang out in his mind:

"Young Practitioner, you have understood the importance of change, but understanding is not the same as acceptance. I see the Primordial Cold within your body and feel your pursuit of balance."

Lin Xuan was slightly startled: "You can speak?"

"I have existed longer than you imagine," the voice continued, "I have witnessed the rise and fall of countless civilizations and experienced the joys and sorrows of countless lives. Now, I am merely a vessel for power, but I have retained a portion of consciousness."

The fireball rotated slowly, and various shifting patterns could be vaguely seen within the flames, as if telling stories of ancient times.

"Next, is the true test." The aged voice declared, "Not knowledge, not technique, but whether you can truly accept eternal change."

No sooner had the words fallen than the hovering fireball suddenly vibrated violently, its light surging and its form changing rapidly. In an instant, it transformed into a giant fire dragon, orange-red all over, eyes like torches, roaring toward the sky. Subsequently, the fire dragon dove down and drilled directly into Lin Xuan's chest!

"Ah!" Lin Xuan could not help but let out a cry of pain. Unlike the slow integration of the Primordial Cold, the Hun Dun Flame's way of entering was extremely direct and violent, like a raging fire instantly igniting his entire body.

Even more terrifying was that after the Hun Dun Flame entered his body, it immediately clashed violently with the Primordial Cold. The two Heaven and Earth Origin fragments, one cold and one hot, one still and one moving, were already opposite in nature, and now they were locked in an unreserved struggle within Lin Xuan's body.

Lin Xuan felt himself become a battlefield for two supreme forces. The Primordial Cold congealed into frost, attempting to freeze the invading flames; the Hun Dun Flame transformed into countless Fire Snakes, weaving through his meridians, attempting to melt the cold ice. The two forces refused to give way, crashing wantonly within Lin Xuan's body.

The intense pain brought Lin Xuan to the brink of collapse; he could clearly feel his meridians cracking continuously under the tug-of-war between the two forces, and his internal organs were also suffering severe impact. If it were an ordinary cultivator, they would likely have already exploded and died.

"Control... must control them..." Lin Xuan gritted his teeth, attempting to suppress the two energies with his willpower, but the effect was minimal. Both the Primordial Cold and the Hun Dun Flame were Heaven and Earth Origin fragments, containing the primordial power of the universe, which could not be easily mastered by human effort.

"Why... why is it like this..." Lin Xuan knelt on the ground, arching his body in pain, "I have already understood their essence, why can I still not fuse them?"

Just as he was about to fall into despair, many images flashed through his mind: his first encounter with the Primordial Cold in Beiming Hanyuan, the confrontation with the Void Council, the concept of balance that Helian Zigui had spoken of, and his own reflections and realizations regarding the balance of void and reality throughout his journey.

"Perhaps... I was wrong," Lin Xuan thought with difficulty, "I have been trying to control these two forces, making them act according to my will... but Heaven and Earth Origin fragments are the most primitive forces of the universe; they have their own laws and will..."

A brand-new idea formed in Lin Xuan's heart: rather than forcing control, it would be better to let Nature take its course, allowing the two energies to flow freely according to their respective characteristics, while he himself became the transit point for their convergence.

Thinking of this, Lin Xuan no longer tried to suppress the chaos within his body, but instead opened his mind, shedding all defenses, and allowed the two energies to flow through his meridians without obstruction. At first, the situation seemed to become worse—without control, the conflict between the two energies became more intense, and Lin Xuan's pain reached its limit.

But just at the moment he thought he was about to be torn apart, a miracle occurred.

As the Primordial Cold and the Hun Dun Flame flowed freely, they gradually formed a unique cycle pattern. Where the cold air solidified, the flames were activated in response; where the flames were vigorous, the cold air cooled them in a timely manner. The two forces began to restrain and promote each other, forming a marvelous balance.

This balance was not static, but full of dynamic harmony—as natural and fluid as the Yin and Yang transformation and the changing of the seasons in the universe. Lin Xuan was surprised to find that when he no longer obsessed over control, the two forces instead began to harmonize on their own.

As the balance was established, the pain in Lin Xuan's body rapidly subsided, replaced by an unprecedented sense of power. He could clearly feel that the Primordial Cold and the Hun Dun Flame were undergoing a deep fusion, not a simple addition, but the formation of a brand-new energy form.