"Hurry up and get old. My enemy friends are not kind people. If this drags on, Baizhou Xing Liu might do something." Ji Changkong shook his head, firmly refusing: "Up here above the sun, both of us are struggling to survive, and we don't have the energy to protect you. I'm sorry, I won't accept this deal. You'd better leave now and head straight back to your continent. Come back here after your spiritual power has recovered."

Although Ji Changkong was somewhat curious about what the union of souls might feel like, this was not the time for indulgence. He was preoccupied with restoring his maternal grandfather's body and urgently acquiring the Nine Luminary Life Tree, leaving him no leisure to concern himself with this woman.

Meng Gang watched as the woman offered herself to Ji Changkong, proposing such a deal. He chuckled wickedly at Ji Changkong, adopting the posture of an amused spectator, occasionally winking and pulling faces at him.

"Then can I just follow you?" the woman pleaded. "I won't cause any trouble. Just let it appear that I am with you. If you encounter any danger, you don't have to worry about my life or death; just let me fend for myself. Would that work?"

"During that time, can we enjoy you whenever we wish?" Meng Gang asked with a strange laugh.

The woman let out a soft sound, her cheeks flushing crimson. She shot Meng Gang a look, whispering, "He can be with me, but you cannot!"

"Why?" Meng Gang was taken aback. He chuckled, "I'm quite capable. You'll know if you try. I have experience in these matters; this little brother of mine is still a novice and might not be able to satisfy you properly." His expression was intensely suggestive.

Shaking her head, the woman stated, "No. I don't trust you. I don't know if you'll take the opportunity to strike at me midway and destroy my soul to seize my spiritual power."

"You should leave early. We need to find a place to cultivate and don't have time to bother with you."

"Moreover, I don't trust others. When we cultivate, you cannot be near us, especially when your spiritual power is weak," Ji Changkong added.

"Is this your first time cultivating above the sun?" the woman inquired again.

"Endure—"

"Heh heh, then perhaps I can offer you some assistance. Those cultivating above the sun for the first time need to find areas where the solar power is thin. I know a place nearby that suits you. How about it? Shall I lead the way?" The woman said enthusiastically, smiling nervously, afraid they would refuse. She quickly added, "After I lead you to that place, I can stay far away and won't disturb you. You can cultivate with peace of mind. I think, given your realm, you shouldn't worry about me from a significant distance, right?"

During their cultivation, their souls could naturally perceive some surrounding life fluctuations. If the woman had no opportunity to launch a sneak attack, he wouldn't care.

After a moment of contemplation, Ji Changkong nodded. "Fine. Since you insist, I will allow it. But remember this: if you dare to approach us unauthorized while we are cultivating, we will immediately treat you as an enemy and attack without mercy!"

"No problem. My name is Li Yan'er. I come from the Tianyun Continent. It's a pleasure to meet you both." The woman said with a bright smile.

"Lead the way," Ji Changkong said impatiently, having no intention of introducing himself.

Seeing his lack of interest in conversation, Li Yan'er merely smiled, said nothing more, and proceeded directly ahead, guiding them toward a location she deemed suitable for their cultivation.

After traveling only a short distance, two Bagua Heavenly Masters with sinister expressions materialized ahead. These two clearly recognized Li Yan'er, and it was even likely they had been pursuing her.

As soon as the two sinister Bagua Heavenly Masters saw Li Yan'er, they glared fiercely at her, their expressions conveying a hatred as if they wished to tear her into ten thousand pieces.

Li Yan'er smiled faintly and continued forward without concern, though she subtly shifted aside, revealing Ji Changkong and Meng Gang behind her.

The moment the two Bagua Heavenly Masters saw Ji Changkong and Meng Gang, their expressions shifted slightly. Then, without waiting for Li Yan'er to say anything, they fled in disarray.

"Cowards," Li Yan'er chirped, flying forward gracefully. She casually explained to the two men, "These two originally tried to... tried to do that to me, but I managed to escape. Afterward, they were furious and wanted revenge. My spiritual power is too weak right now, and if I returned to the Tianyun Continent in this area, I might be discovered by these two. That's why I didn't dare leave immediately, planning to wait until they left the vicinity before finding a suitable time to return to my true body."

Ji Changkong kept a stern face and nodded lightly, showing no reaction.

Meng Gang, however, frowned, remarking strangely, "Looking at their expressions, they clearly hate you to the bone. If you had merely escaped, they shouldn't harbor such intense hatred, right? The matter probably isn't as simple as you make it sound?"

"Ha, you saw through it. Actually, before I fled, I cursed them severely," Li Yan'er said with a smile.

Meng Gang still frowned, clearly not believing Li Yan'er’s explanation, but he knew further discussion was pointless, so he simply followed suit—

Soon, Li Yan'er led Ji Changkong and Meng Gang to an area where the solar fire's flame energy was relatively thin. Li Yan'er was quite perceptive; after bringing them there, she voluntarily moved far away.

She stopped only five li away from Ji Changkong and Meng Gang, standing motionless.

"This woman is strange; not a single word she said was true. Be careful," Meng Gang warned immediately once Li Yan'er had departed.

Ji Changkong nodded. "I understand. I already said it: if she dares to approach while we are cultivating, you and I will join forces and immediately blast her. No need to show mercy."

Only then did Meng Gang relax. He stretched lazily. "Then let's let our souls truly adapt to the power of the true solar fire here first. Ha, this woman chose a decent spot; the solar flames here are indeed very weak, perfect for newcomers like us."

Ji Changkong smiled, intentionally widening the distance between himself and Meng Gang. "One on each side. Withdraw the spiritual power defending our souls and completely expose them."

Meng Gang nodded. He moved to the opposite side just like Ji Changkong, and the two separated, beginning to use the true solar fire here to cultivate their souls.

Heavenly Fire originates from the sun. It requires collection of solar flame energy through the soul to be condensed. Of course, one can also borrow formations to absorb the essence of the sun to form Heavenly Fire. Back then, the Xiao family, in order to deal with the Ghost Demon King, used powerful formations to gather the essence of sunlight to create Heavenly Fire.

However, the Heavenly Fire the Xiao family condensed using formations was very weak and could never fully unleash the power of Heavenly Fire.

True Heavenly Fire comes from the core of the sun. The Nine Luminary Life Tree resides within the sea of Heavenly Fire, and that Heavenly Fire is terrifying, capable of incinerating any soul, refining any spirit alive.

The Heavenly Fire that forms naturally in the sun's core is far more potent than the Heavenly Fire the Xiao family formed using formations!

The Heavenly Fire Ji Changkong intended to control was not this type.

The Heavenly Fire he wished to control was condensed from souls: the sparks shot out during the instantaneous explosion of a solar flare. These sparks briefly roam the planet's surface without reaching other continents. By gathering those sparks one by one, fusing the intense flame power of the sun with the condensed soul, and urging it on with a special method, he could form another manifestation of Heavenly Fire.

The sparks shot out by flares are barely visible to the naked eye, yet they contain incredibly fearsome power. These sparks gather slowly. After a period, the accumulated sparks gradually form a new flare, which erupts once more with terrifying power.

Sparks and flares operate in this perpetual cycle, filling the realm above the sun with power that makes all beings tremble.

This kind of Heavenly Fire is even more terrifying than the type formed naturally in the sun's core!

This is why Li Hentian repeatedly emphasized that only after obtaining the Vermilion Bird's essence blood and tempering his soul with the Vermilion Bird's power could one dare to approach the Nine Luminary Life Tree. Once one possessed the Vermilion Bird's essence blood and understood the secret of the Three Absolute Fires of Heaven and Earth, one could condense even more powerful Heavenly Fire, naturally no longer fearing the Heavenly Fire around the Nine Luminary Life Tree.

He retracted the layer of spiritual force that shielded his soul from direct contact with the solar flame energy. As expected, the solar power that seemed almost unbearable for Meng Gang was child's play for his soul.

However, Ji Changkong dared not be careless. His soul still chose to collect the most rarefied solar power nearby, seeking out the faint light of the flares contained within. He drew into his soul the light that held immense power but had not yet formed another flare.

For his first attempt at condensing Heavenly Fire, he dared not collect too many sparks. At first, he only found a small spark, integrating that tiny spark into the solar energy, following the secret method to mix in his own spiritual power and mental intent, perfecting it step by step.

After an unknown amount of time...

A tiny flame suddenly flickered within the three flame-shaped forms of his soul. The next moment, through his efforts, that very small flame gradually grew larger, slowly becoming a palm-sized flame that hovered before him.

"Li Yan'er, I'd like to see where you can run this time! Where are those two lovers you found? I'll kill them both, and this time you definitely won't escape!" Suddenly, a fierce fluctuation of soul power echoed from afar. The two cold-eyed Bagua Heavenly Masters who had appeared earlier returned, accompanied by three more Bagua Heavenly Masters.

No wonder they had gained confidence; they had clearly brought back three allies.

Ji Changkong's mind stirred. He grasped that wisp of Heavenly Fire in his palm. Although he didn't wish to meddle, he wanted to test the power of the Heavenly Fire, so he actively walked toward Li Yan'er.