The Tenth Heaven of Five Elements requires utilizing the Five Elements to temper the bones, meridians, and flesh. The Divine Soul Heart must become intimately familiar with the Five Elements' primordial power; only when the soul body is saturated with the Five Elements' power can one move through mountains, descend into water, and burrow through earth without hindrance.

The power of the Five Elements can be cultivated simultaneously or specialized in one. Generally, a Heavenly Scholar who has communicated with one of the Four Sacred Beasts in the Four Symbols Heaven, upon breaking through to the Five Elements Heaven realm, will choose to primarily cultivate the power corresponding to that Sacred Beast, thus maximizing the potential of that single element.

The Azure Dragon Sacred Beast corresponds to Wood power of the Five Elements; the Vermilion Bird Sacred Beast corresponds to Fire power; the White Tiger Sacred Beast corresponds to Metal power; and the Yi Wu Sacred Beast corresponds to Water power.

The reason for this tendency is the limited energy of the Heavenly Scholar. If one attempts to master everything, the time invested is not merely four or five times longer; sometimes, balancing two powers requires ten, or even dozens of times more time and effort!

This is because the fusion of two powers presents the most terrifying bottleneck for the cultivator—a fusion bottleneck that is sometimes even more difficult than breaking through to a new realm!

Most critically, once one chooses to cultivate multiple powers concurrently, there is no turning back; only by truly fusing the two powers together can one advance to the next realm.

The arduous path of balancing powers allows for forward momentum only; retreat is impossible!

This means that once this path is chosen, one cannot abandon one power midway to resume specializing in the other.

However, should this incredibly arduous path of power fusion be successfully traversed, the cultivator often possesses terrifying, astonishing power even within the Four Symbols Heaven or Five Elements Heaven realms. In this world, there are always those driven by obsession or singular focus who choose the most difficult road.

It is rumored that many cultivators communicated with all four Sacred Beasts during the Four Symbols Heaven stage, and then spent another hundred years fusing the Five Elements' primordial power while still in the Five Elements Heaven realm. Such individuals could single-handedly resist several experts of the Six Harmonies Heaven realm; the power formed by the fusion of the Five Elements and the Four Sacred Beasts, once perfected, is said to possess extraordinary utility.

Yet, the time these individuals took to advance from the Four Symbols Heaven to the Five Elements Heaven was dozens of times longer than those specializing in a single power. By the time they finally managed to fuse all Five Elements power, they could indeed contend with several Six Harmonies Heaven realm Heavenly Scholars. However, in that vast span of time, the scholars specializing in a single power would have almost all reached the Seven Stars Heaven realm, and some might have even directly broken through to the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm!

Even with the fusion of the Five Elements power, they would still be no match for a Seven Stars Heaven realm Heavenly Scholar, let alone a master of the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm.

Therefore, although everyone knows that fusing the Five Elements power is a path of cultivation, the overwhelming evidence suggests it is not a clear road to success. Thus, as years pass, fewer obstinate individuals dare to tread this difficult and lengthy path.

Southeast of Lingyun City, within a desolate, ruined temple.

“Sect Master, are you truly decided?” Mu Luo stood before Ji Changkong, his face heavy with concern.

Ayiguli and the three Da Gan brothers also wore grave expressions, gazing at him blankly. Ayiguli hesitated for a moment before trying to persuade him, “Sect Master, fusing the Five Elements power within the Five Elements Heaven realm—this is an extremely arduous path! You mentioned yourself that virtually no one in the Central Lands dares to attempt it, and none who have taken this road have ended well. In our Western Regions, this path is considered a dead end; no master would permit a disciple to choose it.” The three Da Gan brothers nodded in unison. Though filled with words of counsel, the three could not speak the Central Lands dialect and thus found no way to express themselves.

Ji Changkong smiled calmly at Mu Luo and the others. “I know what you are worried about. I know this road is not easy. If I specialized in a single primordial power, I could quickly advance to the Six Harmonies Heaven realm. From any perspective, that course of action is sound!” Mu Luo and the others nodded, displaying expressions that suggested this was the only logical outcome.

“But the secret art I cultivate is the most wondrous in this world—an ancient technique existing only in ancient legends, one few have ever witnessed firsthand.” He continued, “And this wondrous technique hinges on one word: ‘Fusion.’ Having cultivated for so long, I deeply recognize its miraculous efficacy in merging various powers. In essence, I possess a natural advantage, far greater than others.” He paused, then smiled. “If I don’t utilize such a perfect advantage, I will surely regret it! Furthermore, I feel the most crucial aspect of my cultivation lies right here. If I fail to persist in fusing the Five Elements power one by one, it may run contrary to the very essence of my secret art, perhaps hindering my advancement permanently!” Mu Luo, Ayiguli, and the others looked astonished, seemingly unable to grasp the meaning of his words. Ayiguli and Mu Luo understood the Central Lands dialect, but Ji Changkong’s profound and esoteric statements left them somewhat at a loss.

“That’s enough, stop trying to persuade me. Starting tonight, I officially begin cultivating the power of the Five Elements Fire! Heh heh, although I lack Fire Primordial Crystals, I possess better substitutes!” He waved his hand, halting Mu Luo’s further counsel. “Mu Luo, just keep watch for me. We aren't traveling tonight; before we return to the Ji family, I must at least be able to utilize one of the Five Elements powers.”

Hearing this, Mu Luo knew further persuasion was useless and could only nod helplessly; there was nothing he could do.

The Sect Master is a genius of extraordinary natural talent; perhaps he truly can walk this path to the end, Mu Luo consoled himself internally. The three Da Gan brothers stood silently, dutifully forming a triangle around Ji Changkong in the center. Ayiguli retreated to a corner near the temple entrance, her star-like eyes gazing vaguely at the night sky, wondering if this man was foolishly obsessed or possessing profound wisdom disguised as simplicity. Why must he walk a path no one dares to tread?

A piece of crystal-clear, fiery-red bone floated out of the spatial pouch. Intense heat instantly radiated from the fragment. Thick streams of Fire Primordial Power flowed within it like water, appearing iridescent and lustrous, much like a peerless ruby.

Mu Luo’s pupils constricted, and he let out a soft gasp. He instantly recognized that the object in Ji Changkong’s hand was no ordinary Fire Elemental Stone. This bone fragment, with flowing Fire Primordial Power, was likely far more precious than the so-called Fire Primordial Crystals. Mu Luo was not ignorant of matters, yet after examining it closely, he still could not discern which exotic beast this bone belonged to.

“What a beautiful bone!” Ayiguli exclaimed inwardly, her beautiful eyes immediately fixed on the luminous, shimmering Phoenix bone in Ji Changkong’s hand.

The Fire Phoenix was an ancient exotic beast of the Fire element. Though not as ancient or mysterious as the Vermilion Bird Sacred Beast, which existed since the dawn of heaven and earth, it was certainly representative of flame. Before its Nirvana and reincarnation, all the Fire Primordial Power within the Fire Phoenix was concentrated entirely within its skeleton—a collection Ji Changkong happened to encounter.

Had the Heavenly Origin Pearl not performed its marvelous function by capturing the soul of this Phoenix capable of Nirvana, even with his abilities, he could not have so easily acquired its entire skeleton. A Phoenix bone permeated with Fire Primordial Power was more precious than Fire Primordial Crystals nurtured in Heaven and Earth treasures. For a Heavenly Scholar of the Five Elements Heaven realm cultivating Fire power, the skeleton of a Phoenix just before Nirvana was quite simply the most valuable Fire Elemental Stone in existence.

Just this single piece of fire-bone emitted a dense, scorching heat. Gripping the Phoenix bone tightly in both hands, Ji Changkong took a deep breath, and his Divine Soul immediately quieted.

A wisp of primordial power flowed out from his palms, entirely enveloping the fire-bone. The profound mystery of the ‘Fusion’ character from the Tai Xu Secret Record cycled through his mind. His Divine Soul suddenly adjusted to a state of chaotic non-self, and the whole person seemed to vanish from the world.

In the next instant, the primordial power surrounding the fire-bone appeared truly like flowing water, marvelously adhering to the crystalline, fiery bone. The bone, which should have been utterly impermeable, seemed like a sponge, rapidly absorbing the primordial power clinging to its surface into itself. Mu Luo, Ayiguli, and the three Da Gan brothers stared intently at his movements. The moment he descended into the state of non-self, the three Da Gan brothers abruptly stood up, their faces etched with panic. If Mu Luo had not signaled that everything was fine, they likely would have rushed forward to examine Ji Changkong’s soul condition.

“Elder, what—what is happening?” Ayiguli could no longer contain herself, asking Mu Luo in a low whisper.

“The Sect Master may truly be able to fuse the Five Elements power in a relatively short time!” Mu Luo’s expression was solemn. He glanced at the three Da Gan brothers before explaining, “Don’t be nervous. The Sect Master’s soul body has merged with Heaven and Earth; at this moment, he has become a component of the cosmos. Even I cannot detect the fluctuations of his Divine Soul!” Under these circumstances, as if by subconscious instinct, he continued to act according to the intention he held before entering this state. “Do you see? The Sect Master right now is unaware of what he is doing. His Divine Soul is empty, like the air; the Star Cloud Soul Refining Art has ceased its normal flow trajectory…” Taking a deep breath, Mu Luo’s voice trembled slightly, “But—but he is still cultivating! Look, the fire-bone in his hand is changing! This shows he is subconsciously doing something to that bone fragment, yet we watch him openly, and we have no idea what he is actually doing?” Ayiguli was struck dumb, silent for a long time.

“Elder, you say his soul is empty and he has no consciousness—then how is he still acting?” Da Gan asked.

“Instinct! That is the instinct of his cultivation!” Mu Luo pondered for a long moment, then suddenly shook his head and sighed lightly. “No wonder he disdains cultivating our Divine Sect’s Aura Luo Divine Grace Perfection Art. With such a profound technique in hand, why chase after the trivial?” Upon hearing this, the three Da Gan brothers were also stunned. As Protector Elders of the Aura Luo Divine Sect, Mu Luo’s words were an undisguised denigration of the sect’s founding divine art, while elevating an unknown Central Lands cultivation secret art!

“Stop talking, lest you disturb the Sect Master’s cultivation,” Mu Luo commanded sharply. Ayiguli and the three Da Gan brothers immediately quieted, but the four pairs of eyes suddenly lit up, fixed intensely on the cultivating Ji Changkong.

Crack! With a crisp sound, that crystal-clear, fiery-red bone suddenly cracked open like an eggshell. Fiery-red marrow flowed out and vanished into Ji Changkong’s palm.

Fragments of bone, the size of a fingernail, burst into flames with a peng sound, glowing red-hot like branding irons, igniting both his hands. Fierce flames burned fantastically around his hands, emitting strange energy fluctuations. In the blazing fire, his sleeves instantly turned to ash, yet his arms remained completely unharmed, even exhibiting a crystalline sheen. The flesh on his arms turned translucent, the meridians and bones within clearly visible. A distinct fiery-red light flowed within the meridians and bone segments. Seen from afar, the flames burning on his arms seemed to be sinking into the meridians and bones within them. Upon close inspection, one could even see flames drifting within the meridians—it was utterly miraculous.

In just a short while, the fire-bone disappeared without a trace. His arms seemed to flow with fire light, like Fire Primordial Crystals. The bone fragments continued to burn, and wisps of primordial power flowed up his arm meridians into his upper body, vanishing near his chest.

This burning lasted an entire night! When the flames extinguished, the bone fragments were nowhere to be seen, but Ji Changkong remained deeply immersed in cultivation, utterly detached from the external world.

At high noon, when the sunlight was at its peak, Ji Changkong’s eyelids fluttered, and he suddenly awoke from his state of non-self. Apart from the missing sleeves, his arms had returned to normal, though his pale skin now carried a slight flush, making him appear healthier.

Mu Luo, who had stood guard all night, seeing him finally awaken, quickly asked respectfully, “Sect Master, are you feeling any discomfort?”

He shook his head, rose from his cross-legged posture, and clenched his fists. The knuckles crunched as they snapped. Residual heat lingered in his arms; a few tiny fragments of the Fire Phoenix bone had not completely melted, emitting faint warmth within his finger joints.

The Fire Phoenix Bone is truly formidable; even after a full day of burning, it hasn't entirely dissolved, he thought with awe. Then, smiling, he shook his head at Mu Luo: “No discomfort. Converting the Fire Primordial Power of the Five Elements isn't that difficult.” As soon as the words fell, peng, flames ignited in the palms of both his hands. The vigorous flames danced flexibly between his five fingers like little fire snakes, appearing almost alive. Having been with him for so long, Mu Luo was accustomed to his astonishing displays and was not surprised this time; instead, he said as if it were natural, “The Sect Master is a transcendent talent in cultivation; once he grasps the knack, understanding will come swiftly!”

“I am no cultivation prodigy, merely luckier than most,” he said, extinguishing the flames instantly. Ji Changkong patted the dust from his clothes and walked straight toward the temple entrance. He looked up at the blinding sun and laughed, “I wonder if Auntie has broken through to the Five Elements Heaven realm yet. Heh heh, you had better reach that realm too; I certainly can’t use this entire Fire Phoenix skeleton by myself!”