Shi Yan knew precisely where those milky-white droplets originated, and he understood the miraculous effects they possessed. Sinking his consciousness into his flesh and blood, he scrutinized the droplets closely. Shi Yan rapidly considered the possibilities in his mind: this peculiar power could stimulate and enhance the Martial Soul, enrich true essence, and held numerous mystical uses; he had always known this energy was immensely beneficial to him.

It seemed, however, that this miraculous energy had not yet been fully refined, nor had it truly integrated into his body entirely.

Upon receiving the transmission from the Profound Ice Cold Flame, Shi Yan did not hesitate for long. After only a brief contemplation, he immediately decided to attempt to fully integrate them into every cell and fiber of his body, allowing them to become genuine nourishment for his physical form.

Inside his body, a dense surge of flame energy flowed through his meridians. The flame energy spread outward from the meridians, permeating his entire skeletal structure and flesh.

Under the tempering of the flame energy, his physical body was subjected to a thousand refinements, making it even more robust, better suited to accumulating power, and more capable of handling the surging true essence.

"Extreme Refinement."

Having cultivated to this point, Shi Yan had developed his own profound understanding of tempering the body with flame energy.

He knew that the physical cultivation technique called "Extreme Refinement" was quite peculiar, and he understood the pleasing transformation his body was undergoing through the tempering of the earthly fire.

"Those milky-white droplets are not the moisture from your body; they will not evaporate under the flame. You only need to use your flame energy to melt those droplets open, and they will diffuse throughout your cells, fibers, and flesh. It is actually not difficult. All you need to do is inject the minuscule points of fire from your flame energy into those milky-white droplets."

The Profound Ice Cold Flame perceived that Shi Yan had begun his endeavor and immediately explained the detailed method.

Shi Yan instantly grasped the concept.

When the flame energy was amplified countless times, it manifested as minute specks of fiery light—those specks were the foundation of the flame energy, scattered throughout Shi Yan's body.

As long as he could use his consciousness to control those specks of fiery light, merging them with the milky-white droplets inside his body would dissolve the droplets, truly diffusing them into his flesh and cellular structure. Shi Yan began the attempt.

Focusing on a single point, he expanded his consciousness, which became like a magnifying lens... searching for the meridian with the densest concentration of flame energy, and taking control of the flame energy within that meridian.

Injecting it into a patch of flesh in his chest, his consciousness magnified infinitely, and the flames gradually began to change. When amplified countless times, those flames transformed into radiant clusters composed of innumerable specks of fiery light.

Shi Yan's mental power reached an unprecedented level of concentration. His spiritual energy instantly divided into countless small streams, each injected into the specks of fiery light, attempting to manipulate them so they moved toward the milky-white droplets in that specific area.

It was smooth sailing!

Within that patch of flesh, thousands upon thousands of fiery light specks overlapped with the milky-white droplets in accordance with the changes in his consciousness. A profoundly mystical sensation suddenly imprinted itself upon his heart.

Shi Yan distinctly perceived a warm current forming in his chest. That warm current felt like some form of nourishment truly diffusing within the flesh of that area. A joy surged in his heart. Shi Yan endured the pain of his physical body and began the process of transformation throughout his entire being!

Time flew by swiftly.

Within the lava pool, Shi Yan practiced the "Extreme Refinement," infusing the milky-white droplets formed from the peculiar energy within his body with flame energy, slowly altering his entire system.

How long passed, he could not say.

How many times he performed the refinement, he could not recall.

One day, Shi Yan awoke again, his eyes brilliant and bright, dazzling like stars in the darkest night. The Profound Ice Cold Flame cooperated perfectly, immediately dispersing all its flame energy and ceasing to admit any more incoming flame energy. "How is it?" the Profound Ice Cold Flame transmitted.

Shi Yan smiled.

With a mere flicker of his will, the skin of his body instantly turned yellow-green.

The third stage of the Petrifying Martial Soul!

Lifting the Dragon Slaying Sword, he made a light slash, and a wound instantly appeared on his arm.

As soon as the wound manifested, the flesh seemed to suddenly come alive. It slowly writhed, and at a speed visible to the naked eye, it rapidly healed the gash.

The wound became visible, its healing instantly apparent. During combat, any damage sustained to the body could be fully recovered while fighting—this was the third stage of the Undying Martial Soul!

Dual Martial Souls had evolved!

"Impressive!"

The Profound Ice Cold Flame was also quite surprised. "It seems 'Extreme Refinement' truly suits you. After this period of arduous cultivation, your body has been tempered countless times. Not only can it withstand the flame energy, but your Martial Souls have even evolved simultaneously. Excellent, truly excellent!"

Shi Yan’s expression was one of pure contentment. "I feel more and more that agreeing to your terms was the most correct decision I ever made."

"Naturally, I told you that you would never regret it!" the Profound Ice Cold Flame declared proudly. "Look at the Soul Gathering Orb. It has also been completely refined now. It contains soul power. The Soul Gathering Orb can no longer remain on the Fire Crystal Jade, or the soul power might be damaged by the Earth Core Fire. It is time for us to leave this place."

Shi Yan started, gazing toward the nearby Soul Gathering Orb.

At some unknown point, the Soul Gathering Orb had turned dark cyan, its surface smooth and translucent, with a strange fluidity seemingly flowing within. The orb no longer emitted wisps of peculiar black smoke, and resting on the Fire Crystal Jade, it had lost its ability to suckle souls.

"After this intense burning, the Soul Gathering Orb has been refined into pure soul power. From now on, this orb is no longer a rare treasure, but merely a container. After we leave here, it will still require some time until that soul power truly settles before it can be absorbed."

"What about the Earth Core Fire?"

"The life form of the Earth Core Fire has not completely materialized yet, but it should be soon. At this stage, it has already gathered all the flame energy of the Ten Thousand Year Volcano. Its life formation is no longer heavily tied to the Ten Thousand Year Volcano; it only requires time. You can bring it along."

"Bring it along?"

Shi Yan was momentarily stunned. After pondering for a moment, he took out the Pure Bottle and held it in his palm. "This thing was what I originally intended to use to contain it. Can it be used to take the Earth Core Fire away?"

The Profound Ice Cold Flame did not answer immediately, its consciousness quietly observing the Pure Bottle. After a moment, it transmitted: "No. If the Earth Core Fire had not evolved, it could be contained. But not now. This bottle is sealed and cannot breathe; its materials restrict it, which will be detrimental to its evolution. It cannot be used."

Shi Yan was aghast.

The Pure Bottle was indeed meant for storing the Earth Core Fire, but the current form of the Earth Core Fire was special, situated in the critical phase of evolving into Heavenly Fire and forming a complete life.

During this stage, the restrictive power of the Pure Bottle would interfere with the Earth Core Fire's evolution, potentially causing unforeseen deviations in its transformation.

"If it can't be contained, taking it out will be difficult," Shi Yan hesitated for a while, then asked, "Is there no other way?"

"Not exactly." The Profound Ice Cold Flame showed a slight hesitation before continuing, "Have you forgotten where I reside?"

Shi Yan's eyes lit up.

"This ring is extremely marvelous; it can accommodate living souls. I can enter it... the Earth Core Fire should also be able to enter. However, whether this ring will restrict the Earth Core Fire remains to be seen based on whether you can gain complete control over this ring. Besides that, there is one more difficult aspect."

"What is it?"

"I am inside. That fellow might not dare to enter," the Profound Ice Cold Flame stated proudly. "Never mind now; even if it forms a complete life, it won't be my match. It naturally fears me."

"If you don't release your aura, it won't sense you, so it should be fine, right?"

"Before it enters, I can conceal my aura, but inside the ring, I cannot. Moreover, once it enters and discovers I am present, it will feel deceived by you, which is absolutely not what you want to see."

"This won't work, that won't work. What should I do?"

"Don't conceal my aura. Try to communicate with it. If its affection for you surpasses its fear of me, it should actively enter. Only then will its feelings toward you not be affected. Remember, if it feels you have deceived it, it will never willingly befriend you again."

"I'll try," Shi Yan took a deep breath, condensed his spiritual consciousness, and tentatively mixed some of the flame aura from his body into his mental power, quietly approaching the Fire Crystal Jade where the Earth Core Fire resided.

Upon sensing Shi Yan's mental consciousness, the Earth Core Fire was overjoyed and actively drew closer, tightly wrapping around Shi Yan's mental awareness.

Shi Yan was not rushed; he first played with it, engaging in simple communication through consciousness.

When Shi Yan felt the atmosphere of communication was at its most harmonious, he enveloped a wisp of the Earth Core Fire's consciousness, detached it from the Fire Crystal Jade, moved it to his location, and extended the hand wearing the Blood Patterned Ring, commanding with his mind for the Profound Ice Cold Flame to release its aura.

As soon as the aura of the Profound Ice Cold Flame flowed out from the Blood Patterned Ring, the consciousness of the Earth Core Fire reacted like a startled bird. Ignoring Shi Yan's mental attempts to keep it, it fled in terror back into the Fire Crystal Jade. Shi Yan sighed internally, and his mental consciousness hurriedly pursued it, attempting to explain his intentions.

The Earth Core Fire was deeply fearful, becoming extremely agitated. It changed into various panicked forms within the Fire Crystal Jade. No matter how Shi Yan tried to lure it with his consciousness, it dared not emerge from the jade again. "It's no use," Shi Yan's consciousness returned after a long while, transmitting helplessly to the Profound Ice Cold Flame.

"No, you are about to succeed," unexpectedly, the Profound Ice Cold Flame returned such a statement.

"What?" Shi Yan was taken aback. "I said you are about to succeed!" the Profound Ice Cold Flame responded again, its tone quite excited. "Where did this ring of yours come from? How did you obtain it? Did you not sense the change within the ring just now?"

"What change?" Shi Yan was bewildered.

"Your ring began rapidly sealing my aura the moment it sensed the approach of the Earth Core Fire! After the Earth Core Fire retreated, my aura has been completely locked down! And inside the ring, a new space has been opened! Within that space, a small Fire Crystal Jade has actually formed!"

"What?!" Shi Yan was horrified.

"The ring used the flame energy that flowed into it during this period to miraculously refine a Fire Crystal Jade and seal my power! It has prepared everything for the arrival of the Earth Core Fire! It fundamentally understood your intentions and knew what you were trying to do, arranging everything for you in advance! Where on earth did you acquire this ring? I have been inside the ring this whole time, yet I cannot sense the existence of a ring spirit at all. This ring is a divine artifact!"