Chapter Sixty-One: Tempering the Body with Heavenly Fire

“According to what that little mudfish just said, this realm should be the Fire Domain,” Lantis remarked, surveying the environment around them.

Although the ground gleamed red and transparent like burning crystal, it emitted an unexpected chill, as if it had been lonely and cold for countless years.

“How strange that the Fire Domain has not a trace of heat,” Shadow muttered, clearly puzzled.

Not only him—Li Ren and Lantis felt the same unease.

“Whatever the case, we should keep moving. Thankfully, in this Tower of Realms, the vortex above is quite obvious,” Li Ren said, gazing up at the ominous whirling vortex in the sky, some distance away.

Without wasting another word, the three pressed forward, stepping across the fiery red ground.

“Heavenly Fire Domain! Activate!” A rigid, emotionless voice echoed from all directions throughout the realm.

Suddenly, the crystal ground beneath their feet grew even more luminous.

Before any of them could react, the temperature around them began to rise rapidly.

The fiery crystals underfoot actually began to burn.

Fortunately, their abilities allowed them to withstand the heat for now, but it was clear—the farther they advanced, the stronger the flames would become.

“Those who endure the burning of Heavenly Fire are granted the right to enter the next realm.”

The voice spoke again, just as devoid of feeling.

As the words faded, the vortex leading to the upper realm began to spin, forming a pillar of light identical to the one they had encountered in the Earth Domain.

“Heavenly Fire! Damn it!” Lantis gritted her teeth.

“Heavenly Fire?” Standing within the realm of flames, Li Ren was confused by Lantis’s reaction.

“If it were ordinary fire, it would hurt us, but it wouldn’t be too dangerous. But Heavenly Fire is entirely different.”

Heavenly Fire, according to legend, possesses immense restraint against all monsters. If one were to categorize it, the group, radiating demonic energy, would certainly fall under the monster classification.

Under the powerful suppression of Heavenly Fire, the experience was exceedingly unpleasant.

“Still, this might not be such a bad thing,” Lantis said, brushing her sleek, shiny black hair and tying it behind her head.

“Natural restraint carries its own benefits. If you can withstand the tempering of Heavenly Fire, your power will surely increase—it’s training under pressure, like purification. Especially for you.” As she spoke, Lantis turned to Li Ren.

Li Ren, still perplexed, pointed at himself. “Me?”

“Of course! You’re all bone, and you chose the shield warrior class—the toughest, most resilient. If Heavenly Fire burns you, the benefits will be greatest for you, though it will also be the most painful.”

“Hm? Why?”

“Because the quality of your body is lacking. You have so many impurities inside—if you can endure the burning, all those impurities will be burned away, leaving only your purest bones. Your hardness will improve dramatically, and you can imagine how much your strength will increase.”

Li Ren broke out in a cold sweat. What did she mean, his quality was lacking? But thinking it over, he nodded. It made sense—he thought his bone foundation was maxed out at 999, but perhaps there was room for improvement. Otherwise, why wasn’t the attribute displayed as gray?

“This feels like those novels about body refinement,” Li Ren mused, recalling stories he’d read out of boredom.

“Well, you’re not wrong. Body refinement is an apt term. You’re at the point where you need a round of refinement. This stage is yours—go ahead, we’ll wait here,” Lantis said, directing him forward, then retreated with Shadow out of the domain of flames.

Somehow, she managed to bring her exclusive little sofa from Cloudfall City. When Li Ren glanced back, he was surprised to see her reclining comfortably on the soft cushion. She waved at him, giving an encouraging gesture.

Li Ren rolled his eyes and decided to ignore these two unreliable companions behind him.

“You’re really going to let the Lord undergo refinement by Heavenly Fire?” Shadow watched Li Ren’s advancing silhouette with concern.

“So you understand, do you?” Lantis glanced at him—he certainly knew a lot, a mysterious aura about him. But Lantis was disdainful of his talk about reincarnation; her inherited memories held no method for returning to a past life—not even legends. Such a reversal of the laws of heaven and earth would only be possible if you could control all rules. If you could, why not resolve all your unsolved business at that time? Truly unnecessary.

“I planned to let the Lord experience Heavenly Fire eventually, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. He’s still a bit too weak,” Shadow ignored Lantis’s odd expression, guessing her thoughts but knowing there was no alternative.

“He’s nearly ready. Thanks to the Cerberus encounter and the two skeletal guards, he’s barely reached the minimum threshold. The only question is whether he can endure the agony of every bone being shattered,” Lantis replied, her tone becoming more serious.

They spoke no further, simply watching the distant figure, resolutely pressing forward step by step.

Li Ren had no idea what the two behind him were discussing. His mind harbored only one thought.

Heat.

It was unbearably hot.

As he advanced, the air itself seemed to ignite.

The intense heat was omnipresent.

Along with this searing heat, Heavenly Fire exerted its relentless suppression and a fierce urge to destroy him.

With a loud crack, a plume of smoke erupted from Li Ren’s broad shoulder.

His bones, scorched by Heavenly Fire, spontaneously fractured and exploded.

Bone dust drifted in the air, carried away by the scorching waves and quickly vanishing, its destination unknown.

So hot—unbearably hot! He felt as though he’d been plunged into molten iron. He could almost sense himself melting. The burning sensation was like a steel brush, its sharp bristles scraping every inch of his body.

The heat ignored all physical barriers, searing even his soul.

He wanted to scream, but no sound came—every ounce of strength was focused on resisting Heavenly Fire! Every bit of power was consumed, compressed into his bones.

He halted, realizing the formidable power of Heavenly Fire.

He had managed only a short distance forward before stopping, his gaze fixed on the pillar of light leading to the next realm, a surge of bitter unwillingness rising in his heart.