The aura of the innate fire made the Purple Lightning wary.

It felt that this unknown flame indeed had a strong desire to consume it.

And it seemed to have that capability.

Noticing the Purple Lightning’s fear, Qin Ruqing was satisfied and smirked slightly.

With the groundwork laid, it was time to sweeten the deal, so she said:

“Let’s get back on track, Purple Lightning. You know very well why Immortal Shaozhen fell.”

“Was it because of your weakness? No, blaming yourself for something even the two Dao Sovereign couldn’t handle is foolish!”

“What you should truly hate are those alien races!”

“Your former contractor fell because of them, and you yourself have been forced to drift and be imprisoned for hundreds of years because of the war. Shouldn’t there be an explanation for all this? Are you willing to remain in the Void Realm, struggling with whether it was your fault or Shaozhen’s fault… Are you willing to accept that?”

Qin Ruqing’s words were entirely filtered from Shaozhen.

When Shaozhen sensed she couldn’t receive any mental waves, she turned her gaze toward Qin Ruqing.

The girl seemed to be up to something again.

From their previous interactions, Shaozhen could confidently say that some of the more sophisticated beings might not be as cunning as this girl.

The naïve Heavenly Fires certainly couldn’t resist her verbal attacks.

Indeed, the Purple Lightning’s inner conflict was strong.

Having learned from Shaozhen’s experience, it thought it was already cautious of flattering humans, but it still found its emotions stirred by this human.

It truly resented being stuck in the Void Realm.

Whether imprisoned or with some freedom, the Purple Lightning saw no difference!

It missed the days on the battlefield.

The most crucial point was that it had been deeply wronged, and Shaozhen had fallen because of it.

How could it just hide away here!

The Purple Lightning realized that whether this human was flattering or not didn’t matter.

What mattered was that this human did hit the core issue.

This human might not necessarily need it because without it, Dao Sovereign Fusheng would still help find another Heavenly Fire, and this human had the ability to contract.

She was already a Heavenly Fire contractor.

But where would it find another capable human who could take it back to the battlefield?

For the first time, the Purple Lightning’s thoughts were this clear.

It declared loudly: “Human, I am willing to be your contractor!”

“But you must agree to one condition—take me back to the battlefield and, no matter what, We punish those alien races!”

Qin Ruqing pondered for a while but did not immediately agree.

She said: “I can only guarantee that with me, you will certainly witness the battlefield. However, today’s battlefield is no longer like the old one. Your past will be addressed, but not necessarily by eliminating alien races.”

Based on what she had seen and heard in the Void Ream so far, Qin Ruqing had a new understanding of the beast races.

She did not believe in fighting to end war and thought that human-beast relations should be sought through new methods.

Thus, when the Purple Lightning demanded to punish all alien races, Qin Ruqing did not agree outright.

Such deep meaning was difficult for the Purple Lightning to understand.

But it latched onto what it wanted to hear: “Your past will be addressed.”

That was enough for it.

The Purple Lightning shouted: “Alright!”

Shaozhen, standing aside, clearly sensed that Qin Ruqing and the Purple Lightning had reached some sort of tacit understanding.

She looked at Qin Ruqing and said: “I have to admit, you seem to have a knack for dealing with fire spirits.”

The previous Golden Mist Soul Fire could be said to have a good temperament, but Shaozhen knew very well how difficult the Purple Lightning’s temperament was.

To win the favor of a fire spirit with just a few words without any trial—this meant either Qin Ruqing had an extraordinary talent, or her verbal skills were truly impeccable.

Qin Ruqing smiled and sincerely said, “I just happen to have some insights in this area.”

In her previous life, she was a niche game streamer who grew her fan base to hundreds of thousands in just a year.

Given more time, Qin Ruqing was confident she could have become a top blogger.

This was quite rare in the niche gaming category.

Because the fan base was vertical and highly loyal.

She achieved all this with just one skill, which could be said to be a core thought of the previous internet era: “Altruism.”

Precisely understanding others’ benefits and needs, and once this was achieved, her own “benefits” naturally followed.

Just like her negotiation with the Purple Lightning.

Qin Ruqing did not mind whether the Purple Lightning was contracting with her because of Shaozhen or had other motives.

Instead, she would actively use the Purple Lightning’s motives to achieve her goals.

From the current situation, it seemed they had reached a mutually satisfactory outcome.

As for emotions, they could be explored later.

After leaving the consciousness space, Shaozhen said to Qin Ruqing:

“You are very clever. Your control over fire is nearly as good as mine. There’s nothing more I can teach you.”

Qin Ruqing immediately replied: “How could that be? I still feel there’s much to learn from Immortal Shaozhen about fire techniques!”

Qin Ruqing was truly sincere.

She knew her own level of skill well.

Even though she had contracted two types of heavenly fire now, she didn’t feel she had reached the pinnacle of fire techniques.

Shao Zhenxian was the top expert in this field; how could she not have anything to teach her?

Shao Zhen looked at Qin Ruqing’s bright and sincere eyes and thought, The reason this girl’s scheming doesn’t make people dislike her is probably because of this.

She has a clear and open-minded aura, acts with integrity, and truly manages to neither owe anything to herself nor to others.

So, Shao Zhen admitted that even though she realized Qin Ruqing had some deliberate flattery, she was still won over by Qin Ruqing’s “pleasing.”

How could one not like such a junior?

Therefore, Shao Zhen couldn’t help but give a few more pointers:

“The essence of fire techniques lies in realizing that fire has spirit and truly treating it as a living being.”

“This is originally the most difficult part, but it doesn’t apply to you.”

“You didn’t know the Golden Mist Soul Fire had spirit before, but after discovering it, you accepted the existence of the heavenly fire spirit very naturally and genuinely treated it as a companion.”

“I think that’s why Purple Lightning accepted your ‘sweet words.’ Otherwise, even if you spoke to the heavens, such a proud spirit would not easily contract with you.”

“Since you’ve grasped this point, the remaining difference is just time and cultivation, which are not problems for you. So I said I have nothing more to teach you.”

Shao Zhen’s words carried a hint of imperceptible surprise.

Qin Ruqing caught this slight surprise and smiled a bit embarrassedly.

Shao Zhen didn’t mind Qin Ruqing’s silence and said in the end:

“Take good care of Purple Lightning, and if possible, help us old folks guard the human realm!”

“Although the burden is a bit heavy, seeing a junior like you makes me feel that there’s not completely no hope.”

“When everything is at peace, remember to return to the Immortal Tomb to offer incense for us.”

Shao Zhen, with her hands behind her back, gazed eastward and, like the first time they met, gave Qin Ruqing a free-spirited smile.

This smile overlapped with the awe-inspiring figure from Qin Ruqing’s memory, the one who had struck down the demon king.

Shao Zhen disappeared.

Qin Ruqing suddenly felt the surrounding space-time was so quiet it made her anxious.

She instinctively asked Purple Lightning, “Has the Immortal Venerable left?”

Qin Ruqing used the cautious term, “left.”

Purple Lightning, however, replied directly: “She has completely fallen! This time, she has truly gone to meet her old comrades.”

Qin Ruqing’s previous light-heartedness vanished.

Her heart felt cold and a chill seemed to run through her.

For the first time, she vividly sensed how many ancestors’ bones were buried beneath the land she stood on.

Qin Ruqing remained silent until the Dao Sovereign Fusheng reappeared.

She finally couldn’t help but ask, “Sovereign, does this mean that once the heroic spirits sealed in the Immortal Tomb are awakened, they can never remain?”

Whether it was Qin Ruqing’s illusion or not, it seemed that the light around the Dao Sovereign Fusheng dimmed momentarily.

Dao Sovereign Fusheng replied, “Because the power of the Immortal Tomb’s barrier only allows them to enter a state of eternal slumber, unaffected by time. But once they are awakened, the state of slumber is broken, and with the inheritance they have bestowed, the traces will be captured by the Heavenly Dao and thus can no longer remain.”

The phrase “with the inheritance they have bestowed” made Qin Ruqing’s mood even heavier.

Since Shao Zhen had not openly offered inheritance to others, the traces captured by the Heavenly Dao were probably due to the Wind, Cloud, and Thunder Techniques she had imparted to her.

This technique, which could only be taught by a direct disciple, was given to Qin Ruqing, making her a disciple in essence even without the formal title.

Moreover, Qin Ruqing had indeed performed the rites of gratitude for her master.

So, did she personally push the Immortal Venerable to her demise?

Qin Ruqing couldn’t avoid feeling this self-reproach.

But she quickly shook her head.

Not to mention that the Immortal Venerable end was already determined when the Dao Sovereign awakened her, just considering the Immortal Venerable’s own will, she probably preferred someone to inherit her will.

Furthermore, Qin Ruqing could sense that the Immortal Venerable’s final state was peaceful and expectant.

Peaceful because she had achieved completeness with Purple Lightning, and expectant because her hopes were placed on Qin Ruqing.

“One should not be self-reproachful and narrow-minded,” Qin Ruqing told herself and then lifted her head.

“Dao Sovereign, if that’s the case, then you and the other Masters will also…”

This question was crucial.

If even beings like Dao Sovereign could vanish, who would maintain the barrier of the Immortal Tomb?

“This master… might still hold on for a while longer.”

After all, he still had one last thing to do.

Qin Ruqing breathed a sigh of relief and didn’t continue to ask how long this “while” was.

From the Dao Sovereign’s tone, it seemed it wouldn’t be short.

“Then, Sovereign, can this younger generation finally evolve the Dao Physique?”

She mentally counted and felt all conditions were met.

But the Dao Sovereign Fusheng shook his head.

Hmm??

Was there going to be another twist?

Didn’t he say there were only two conditions?

The Dao Sovereign Fusheng said, “Your divine soul is still too weak and does not yet have spirituality, so it is insufficient to withstand the qualitative change of the Dao Physique.”

Qin Ruqing’s expression became serious.

The divine soul not yet having spirituality?

That sounded very serious.

The key was, why hadn’t the Dao mentioned this before?

Before Qin Ruqing could ask, the Dao Sovereign sighed and slowly explained, “The so-called transformation of divine soul spirituality, in the language of your generation of cultivators, is roughly called ‘conception of the infant,’ also known as ‘transformation of the infant.’”

Qin Ruqing’s expression changed from serious to awkward.

Oh dear, cultivation stuff again!! can’t understand bit.

Since she entered the Void Realm, she had been dealing with the profound and enigmatic rules, and mastering the rules wouldn’t be reflected in cultivation.

As a result, Qin Ruqing had actually forgotten about the conception of the infant!

It’s really not her fault; she had already defeated several Yuan Infants before.

In the Outside World, Fang Zhejun and the others were genuine young Nascent Soul cultivators.

Moreover, in the Immortal Tomb, battles, tests, and the competition for inheritances were all measured by rules, which was like a fish in water for Qin Ruqing.

Thus, she had never felt the urgency of cultivation here.

Seeing Qin Ruqing in silence, Fusheng thought she might be embarrassed and comforted her:

“There’s no need to rush your cultivation. I only realized after awakening that the cultivator ranks in the End of the Law Era are so numerous. However, the Dao is simple. In our ancient times, cultivator strength was not divided by rigid stages but by the mastery of rules and Dao.”

“Strictly speaking, ancient cultivators only had two major realms: the Nascent Soul, where humans shed their mortal bodies and began to advance towards immortality.”

“Ascension(Trancending), where one truly achieves the immortal body and begins to touch the Dao.”

“After becoming an immortal, the strength of an immortal usually depends on the Dao they ascended. The six main Daos set in the current inheritance trials are among the strongest mainstream paths.”

“When the Dao reaches perfection and completes the transformation of the Five Decays, it becomes a true Heavenly Being, which I previously mentioned as the Heavenly Realm.”

The words of the Dao Sovereign overturned all of Qin Ruqing’s previous understandings.

From the Dao Sovereign’s tone, Qin Ruqing could clearly tell that the Dao Sovereign was disdainful of the complex divisions of the current cultivation world.

In ancient times, the Dao was simple, but now, in an era of declining Dao, cultivation had become increasingly complex.

Fusheng seemed a bit worried that Qin Ruqing might be misled by the current cultivation system and kindly advised:

“With your Azure Lutos Dao Physique, which is the most perfect Dao weapon and naturally attuned to the Dao, you have saved much of the effort others spend in understanding the Dao.”

“Therefore, after forming your Nascent Soul, you should focus on practicing Chaos and you will likely achieve the supreme Dao.”

“Discard the false and retain the true…”

The Dao Sovereign Fusheng’s words were rare guidance on the true Dao.

If Qin Ruqing were not a disciple of the Dao Ancestor, Fusheng would not have had the leisure to give such advice.

Qin Ruqing was not uneducated; on the contrary, she was highly perceptive and good at grasping the essence.

She pondered over the Dao Sovereign’s final advice, “Discard the false and retain the true,” and gradually, the mist in her mind began to clear.

Qin Ruqing seized this rare opportunity, immediately sat down to contemplate, and her aura surged.

After calming down, her eyes reopened, appearing as clear as morning dew.

Qin Ruqing murmured, “From nothing comes something, from something comes nothing, ever-changing, all paths merge into one—that is Chaos…”

Her eyes became resolute. “From now on, I, Qin Ruqing, will focus on mastering Chaos!”

The Dao Sovereign, Fusheng, smiled and nodded. “Good.”

Indeed, she had understanding.

Qin Ruqing bowed deeply to the Dao Sovereign and said loudly, “Thank you for the guidance, Master Sovereign.”

She knew that such guidance on the Dao could save an ordinary person from a hundred years of detours.

Regardless of the Dao Sovereign’s reasons, she felt grateful.

Fusheng nodded. “In that case, you may begin forming your Nascent Soul.”

His tone was as calm as if he were asking Qin Ruqing to sit down for a meal.

Qin Ruqing seemed unfazed, showing no hesitation.

She immediately sat down in a meditative posture and began to guide her aura.

This time, forming the Nascent Soul was smooth and effortless.

Qin Ruqing felt no obstruction, even simpler than any previous breakthrough.

Recalling the Dao Sovereign’s earlier comment on her weak divine soul, this “weakness” was probably from the Dao Sovereign’s perspective, but Qin Ruqing felt she must be cautious.

She quietly took out the Divine Silk from her storage bag.

The Divine Silk was used to strengthen the divine soul and was only employed during the Divine Transformation stage.

However, with the Dao Sovereign’s guidance, Qin Ruqing now understood that the best materials should be used at critical moments.

This was a crucial moment for forging her blade.

Qin Ruqing’s eyes became determined.

She used it!

Without hesitation, she refined the thousand strands of Divine Silk in one go.

Her divine soul, nurtured and strengthened, slowly grew, and the spiritual energy circulated through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, eventually flowing to the dantian.

The Golden Core in the dantian, stimulated by the spiritual essence, gradually transformed, taking on the appearance of an infant, ultimately resembling Qin Ruqing herself.

Outside the Immortal Tomb, thunderclouds suddenly surged.

Moreover, the little Purple Lightning within Qin Ruqing seemed to have sensed something, and without hesitation, opened its “big mouth”…