Within the Blood Patterned Ring, the Profound Ice Cold Flame continuously transmitted messages, imparting the detailed cultivation methods of the "Extreme Refinement" to him one by one.

Following the Profound Ice Cold Flame's guidance, Shi Yan drew upon the scorching power emanating from the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire, drawing the flame power filling his body, thread by thread, into the meridians within him.

When a few unorthodox meridians were infused with the flame power, the meridians felt as if they were being incinerated. The pain was beyond what an ordinary person could endure.

If his body hadn't been tempered once before by the Cold Flame's icy power on Gate Luo Island, rendering it extraordinarily resilient, he might have truly been burned to ashes under the intense heat of the Earth Core Fire.

The Profound Ice Cold Flame's cold energy only permeated his limbs, bones, and viscera. As the searing heat of the Earth Core Fire flowed through his body, the cold power lurking within his flesh and blood slightly mitigated the scorching intensity of the flame.

It was precisely because of this that although Shi Yan’s body endured immense suffering, his physical body and meridians were not melted away by the flame power. The Profound Ice Cold Flame had foreseen this. The reason it dared to use the Earth Core Fire to let Shi Yan practice this "Extreme Refinement" was because it knew Shi Yan's body was extraordinary, knowing that the cold energy originating from it was stored within Shi Yan's flesh and blood. This cold energy was usually invisible and intangible, showing no overt signs, but when Shi Yan's body was being burned by the intense flame, it subtly counteracted some of the scorching heat for Shi Yan.

The Profound Ice Cold Flame knew that this cold energy was sufficient to prevent Shi Yan’s meridians and flesh from being incinerated and melted by the Earth Core Fire, but it offered little relief from the torment felt by Shi Yan’s body.

He had to bear the agony of his body being burned, and that would not change. Furthermore, that faint chill made Shi Yan's consciousness clearer, allowing him to perceive the pain of the fire incinerating his body even more acutely. As if encased in solid ice, wisps of small flames erupted from within Shi Yan's body. At a glance, his body appeared to be burning fiercely, his flesh glowing an astonishing red like a branding iron. The moisture in his body was rapidly draining away. Shi Yan, originally possessing a magnificent physique, became gaunt and withered, much like when he executed his berserk martial techniques.

With the flames burning within him, Shi Yan roared incessantly, his eyes bloodshot, his expression savagely distorted.

The Profound Ice Cold Flame did not interfere, quietly sensing the changes occurring in Shi Yan’s body, observing the natural defensive response generated by his flesh under the fiery onslaught.

Shi Yan's body had already turned dark brown. The moment the flame power infiltrated his interior, his Petrified Martial Soul immediately activated.

Alas, under the surging flames, with the fire raging internally, incinerating him from within, his dark brown skin was now covered by a blaze of fiery red under the flame’s burning.

The Profound Ice Cold Flame quietly monitored the transformation of Shi Yan’s body. It noticed that as the internal burning intensified and the flame power grew heavier, Shi Yan’s Petrified Martial Soul became increasingly active, seemingly having its potential spurred, proactively helping Shi Yan resist the physical damage and reducing the destructive effects of the flame incineration. Simultaneously, Shi Yan’s Undying Martial Soul also seemed to have been awakened and began to stir. The Profound Ice Cold Flame gradually relaxed.

This "Extreme Refinement" technique, which it had taught Shi Yan, was rather rash. It had initially thought Shi Yan wouldn't be able to bear it and would give up quickly.

Who knew that Shi Yan was truly abnormal, his nerve fortitude far surpassing ordinary people. Under the "Extreme Refinement" technique, he could actually maintain consciousness, slowly drawing in the flame power according to its instructions, truly tempering his physical body. The gradual exertion of the two Martial Souls let the Profound Ice Cold Flame realize that as long as Shi Yan could withstand the fire's burning, the potential of those two Martial Souls would be catalyzed, and they would grow stronger while helping him fend off the Earth Core Fire.

The physical body being tempered, the Martial Souls evolving—this dual benefit was enough to significantly boost Shi Yan's strength.

Ever since reaching an agreement with Shi Yan, and learning that Shi Yan was someone who kept his promises, the relationship between it and Shi Yan had become amicable.

Currently, sealed within the Blood Patterned Ring held by Shi Yan, its power couldn't be fully exerted. Until it broke free from the Blood Patterned Ring, it did not wish for anything to happen to Shi Yan.

If something were to happen to Shi Yan, it might never escape the Blood Patterned Ring again. Even if the Blood Patterned Ring gained a new master, it couldn't guarantee that the new master would be willing to spare it like Shi Yan was.

Therefore, maximizing Shi Yan's strength using the knowledge it possessed, and minimizing the possibility of accidents befalling Shi Yan, was the best course of action for it right now.

And so, it proceeded to do just that.

After an unknown amount of time—Shi Yan felt it was as long as a century.

The external penetration of the Earth Core Fire's flame power ceased. The flame power within his body was consumed during the tempering of the physical body, gradually diminishing until it finally vanished entirely.

Having endured inhuman torment, this rare tranquility even made Shi Yan feel as though he had passed into another world.

"What is it?"

Shi Yan’s mind sank into the Blood Patterned Ring, and he inquired of the Profound Ice Cold Flame.

"Rest for now. You need to continue communicating with the soul of the Earth Core Fire. During this period, between each session of cultivation, you must connect your spiritual consciousness with the Earth Core Fire. Before the Earth Core Fire’s life form fully solidifies, you must leave your eternal mark within its soul, ensuring it always remembers you."

"Alright."

Without another word, after concluding his exchange with the Profound Ice Cold Flame, Shi Yan immediately condensed his spiritual consciousness and slowly approached the Fire Crystal Jade where the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire resided.

The moment his spiritual consciousness touched the Fire Crystal Jade, the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire within it suddenly transformed into a smiling face.

The Earth Core Fire was not an inanimate object. Inside the Fire Crystal Jade, it was constantly shifting, transforming into all manner of wondrous forms. This time, it had turned into a smiling face, seemingly overjoyed.

Shi Yan's spiritual consciousness perceived the surge of delight emanating from it.

For some reason, the Earth Core Fire this time felt even more attached to him, enveloping his spiritual consciousness and playing with it for quite a while. The Earth Core Fire still didn't want Shi Yan to leave.

Shi Yan had no choice; his spiritual consciousness had to stay and amuse it until his consciousness grew utterly exhausted. Only when the Earth Core Fire itself seemed tired did it let him go, allowing Shi Yan the opportunity to depart. "That was tiring this time."

"Did you feel that it showed you even greater affection this time? That it's becoming more dependent on you, treating you as one of its closest kin? Did you have that sensation?"

The Profound Ice Cold Flame's consciousness transmitted from within the Blood Patterned Ring. "I did have that feeling."

"That’s right." The Profound Ice Cold Flame seemed to have anticipated this outcome. "Your body was tempered by the Earth Core Fire for a time, and now your body carries an aura of flame, and even your spiritual power is imbued with fiery energy. These powers originated from it, so it naturally likes this aura and treats you as kin, viewing you as one of its own, which is why it will increasingly regard you as family."

Shi Yan was stunned.

"I had you temper your body with the flame precisely to fully win over the Earth Core Fire. Only when your body is filled with its aura will it regard you as kin, as the dearest person, and never be able to leave you."

The Profound Ice Cold Flame slowly explained, "Therefore, you must be even more diligent from now on. Practicing 'Extreme Refinement' not only strengthens your physical body but also has the potential to evolve your Martial Souls, and further, it allows you to obtain the Earth Core Fire. With so many benefits converging, you have no reason not to put your all into it."

"En, I know what to do."

"Very good. I will now continue to infuse you with more flame power. This time, the intensity will increase again!"

Shi Yan's expression flickered, but he nodded with firm resolve. "Bring it on."

The next moment, surging flames poured in from all directions. This time, the flame power was exceptionally ferocious and scorching, instantly enveloping his body.

The dense flame power seemed to form another layer of armor attached to the surface of his body, separating him from the solid ice. "Begin!" the Profound Ice Cold Flame transmitted.

Shi Yan abruptly closed his eyes and directed the flame power on his body's surface into those few special meridians within him.

In the magma pool, there were no sun, moon, or stars; there was no concept of time.

At the bottom of the pool, Shi Yan cultivated frantically. He performed the "Extreme Refinement," subjecting himself to self-mutilation. During every rest period, he had to release his spiritual consciousness to communicate with the Earth Core Fire in the Fire Crystal Jade.

Day and night blurred together.

The "Extreme Refinement" tempered his physical body, while communicating with the Earth Core Fire severely drained his spiritual power. Shi Yan was refining both body and spirit, without a moment's respite, completely draining his energy, treating himself with brutal discipline.

One day.

He was undergoing the arduous refinement of "Extreme Refinement" again.

This time, as he forcefully directed the potent flame into his body, enduring immense pain while guiding the flame to flow through his meridians, his spiritual power sank into his body, and he abruptly discovered a wondrous sight.

His spiritual power explored within his flesh and blood, and suddenly, he saw his flesh being magnified infinitely. He could even see every cell, every fiber of tissue... He couldn't tell if his spiritual power had increased, or if his body had changed through "Extreme Refinement." He could clearly see the most minute aspects of his body—a piece of flesh, infinitely magnified. Shi Yan could see the cells of his flesh, the fibers of his tissue, and tiny droplets of milky-white liquid!

Milky-white droplets!

They were slightly smaller than the body's various cells but radiated an extraordinary aura. Shi Yan’s spiritual power sank into one milky-white droplet, feeling it carefully—the strange power released from the mysterious Martial Soul!

Each time an acupoint absorbed sufficient vital essence and was purified, those streams of strange power would flow out from the acupoint.

This power could stimulate and strengthen the Martial Soul, and enrich the essence!

Those droplets, seemingly smaller than cells, were precisely the miraculous power emanating from the acupoints! They had taken the form of milky-white droplets, dispersed among the cells and fibers, present everywhere.

"What is that?"

The Profound Ice Cold Flame's consciousness suddenly transmitted from within the Blood Patterned Ring. "That milky-white droplet contains a marvelous power. That power seems... seems highly beneficial to your body. You could try to fully refine them and disperse them throughout your blood and flesh cells and fibers; it will certainly bring you great benefits!"