The telepathic message from the Profound Ice Cold Flame had elevated the Blood Pattern Ring to an astonishing level, making him realize for the first time that it was no ordinary artifact.

As a Heavenly Fire, the Profound Ice Cold Flame possessed uncanny spiritual perception. Yet, even it could not detect the Spirit within the Blood Pattern Ring, illustrating just how bizarre the ring truly was.

Sensing the imminent approach of the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire, the Blood Pattern Ring sealed off the aura and power of the Profound Ice Cold Flame. It utilized the fire essence absorbed recently to refine a Fire Crystal Jade—the very substance most favored by the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire—laying the groundwork perfectly. It even carved out new internal space, preparing for the Earth Core Fire’s arrival. If the Blood Pattern Ring truly lacked a Ring Spirit, even Shi Yan himself wouldn't believe it. "This ring is extraordinary," the Profound Ice Cold Flame transmitted. "A normal Phantom Void Ring can only store objects; it absolutely cannot house a living soul. But your ring is entirely different. It seems unable to store items, yet it can accommodate life forms like myself. Even I cannot sense the Ring Spirit’s presence; that Spirit must be truly remarkable."

Shi Yan clearly felt that no trace of the Profound Ice Cold Flame's aura or power leaked from the Blood Pattern Ring anymore. The ring seemed to have completely suppressed the flame, preventing it from radiating any strength outward. Aside from maintaining telepathic communication with Shi Yan, the Profound Ice Cold Flame could do nothing else. Simultaneously, Shi Yan, encased in the solid ice, suddenly felt the surrounding fire essence growing denser.

“I cannot continue injecting cold energy into the ice covering your body. That ice can only hold for another day or two before it completely melts. You must immediately summon the Earth Core Fire again and guide it into the Blood Pattern Ring before the ice dissolves. Otherwise, you must leave right now; despite having some fire essence in your body, surviving at the bottom of this magma pool will still be impossible.”

The Profound Ice Cold Flame sounded slightly urgent, quickly relaying the latest critical status to Shi Yan.

Shi Yan felt a jolt of terror. Trapped in the magma pool, surrounded by intensely hot magma, he had remained safe only because the Profound Ice Cold Flame constantly fed cold energy into the ice shield enveloping his body. Once that barrier melted, his body would be completely exposed.

Shi Yan had no desire to die.

Receiving the Flame’s message, he dared not hesitate and immediately released his mental consciousness again, slowly approaching the Fire Crystal Jade where the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire resided.

The moment his consciousness touched the Fire Crystal Jade, the Earth Core Fire within immediately became active again. However, this time, when Shi Yan tried to coax its awareness out of the jade, the Earth Core Fire obstinately refused to emerge. It was clearly intimidated by the Profound Ice Cold Flame’s aura from moments before. If the Earth Core Fire didn't come out, the ice around his body continued to erode, allowing more heat to seep in. Shi Yan grew anxious. "It won't obey! Is there any other way?"

"None. There's no way unless you make it willingly leave the Fire Crystal Jade. Perhaps we should leave this place for now? Wait until you figure out the ring's secret, then return for the Earth Core Fire? Decide quickly; if it’s too late, you might not make it out alive."

The Profound Ice Cold Flame was also out of ideas and urged Shi Yan to leave quickly.

Shi Yan frowned in distress, thinking rapidly but finding no immediate solution. The Blood Pattern Ring had a Spirit—a Spirit that, although unseen, seemed to understand his intentions. Since the Spirit had carved out space within the ring and refined the Fire Crystal Jade, it clearly intended for the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire to enter.

If that was the case, perhaps the Blood Pattern Ring itself held the key?

Shi Yan didn't know for certain, but he resolved to try anything left.

After a moment of hesitation, he slid the Blood Pattern Ring off his finger and suddenly tossed it toward the Fire Crystal Jade. Simultaneously, Shi Yan focused his attention, using his mental consciousness to communicate with the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire, urging it to enter the Blood Pattern Ring.

The Blood Pattern Ring shot through the magma pool toward the Fire Crystal Jade. Midway, it abruptly transformed into a streak of firelight, its surface wreathed in flames, emitting a strange, heated aura. Shi Yan was startled, then his eyes instantly brightened.

The Blood Pattern Ring truly seemed to grasp his intent!

The ring was actively refining fire essence and radiating a heat that the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire desired. If the Earth Core Fire couldn't sense the Profound Ice Cold Flame’s presence within the ring, but instead detected this alluring heat, coupled with Shi Yan's mental persuasion, it might finally be swayed to voluntarily enter. A flash of insight struck his mind.

Shi Yan concentrated, communicating with the consciousness of the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire, ceaselessly persuading it to enter the Blood Pattern Ring, broadcasting his sincerity and goodwill. The Blood Pattern Ring landed gently upon the Fire Crystal Jade.

"Boom!"

Clusters of flames erupted simultaneously from both the Fire Crystal Jade and the Blood Pattern Ring. Within those flames resided the aura of the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire, intensely scorching.

Inside the Fire Crystal Jade, the fist-sized mass of Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire was still shifting through various forms, seemingly not fully emerging from the jade, but only projecting a portion of its power to probe the Blood Pattern Ring, investigating what lay within and whether it was a suitable dwelling.

Shi Yan sensed the Earth Core Fire’s cautiousness.

Without using his mental consciousness to urge it, Shi Yan simply waited silently, awaiting the Earth Core Fire’s decision.

The fire essence of the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire quietly seeped into the Blood Pattern Ring, stealthily investigating the small ring to see if it was a satisfactory new home. The ice covering his body grew increasingly hot and unbearable.

Sweat beaded on Shi Yan's forehead; his heart tightened with a degree of nervousness.

Time slipped away silently. With every passing second, the ice melted a little more. If he delayed too long, it would be difficult for him to emerge from the magma pool alive.

After waiting for what felt like an eternity, as sweat broke out across his entire body, the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire finally made its move.

The Earth Core Fire within the Fire Crystal Jade coiled upward, gradually emerging from the jade. Trusting Shi Yan to some extent, the Earth Core Fire suddenly enveloped the Blood Pattern Ring. Under Shi Yan’s gaze, the fist-sized mass of the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire began to shrink bit by bit. Shi Yan watched as wisps of flame flew into the Blood Pattern Ring, drawn toward the small Fire Crystal Jade that was already inside.

Shi Yan’s face filled with delight as he stared fixedly at the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire.

Soon, the fist-sized Earth Core Fire completely vanished into the Blood Pattern Ring. After the fire disappeared, the ring pulsed with a ring of crimson light, flickering intermittently.

The Blood Pattern Ring suddenly moved.

A ripple of rainbow light spread out. The ring actively flew off the Fire Crystal Jade, hovering in the magma pool, slowly drifting toward Shi Yan.

Shi Yan did not hesitate. He reached out and snatched the Blood Pattern Ring, sliding it back onto his finger, and plunged his mind into its depths.

Inside the Blood Pattern Ring, a bizarre vortex enveloped the Profound Ice Cold Flame, sealing its aura and power completely.

In another region, within a realm of flame condensed from fire tendrils, a small Fire Crystal Jade rested silently. Inside this jade, a mass of fire burned exceptionally actively, constantly shifting forms. Both the Profound Ice Cold Flame and the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire resided within the Blood Pattern Ring, separated into two distinct micro-spaces, clearly delineated. Remarkably, their powers did not conflict or affect one another.

As Shi Yan’s consciousness settled, he immediately perceived the life fluctuation of the Profound Ice Cold Flame and the joyful awareness of the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire. The two flames coexisted within the ring, each radiating its own vital aura, yet they seemed entirely unable to sense the other. Truly miraculous!

The Profound Ice Cold Flame was extreme cold, and the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire was extreme heat. If the powers of these two flames overlapped, they would suppress each other. The Profound Ice Cold Flame was somewhat better off, as its power was far superior, but for the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire, which had not yet fully evolved its life form, suppression by the Cold Flame’s power would be extremely detrimental to its evolution.

The Blood Pattern Ring had opened two spaces, separating the two flames. Although they were both within the ring, their energies were confined to small areas. Not only did their powers not interfere, but even their life consciousnesses were partitioned, making them unable to perceive the other’s existence.

“Did it get in?” the Profound Ice Cold Flame transmitted. "Yes, it's inside," Shi Yan confirmed.

“Then what are you waiting for? Hurry and get out of here!”

“Mm, I’m starting to ascend.”

“Splash!”

Shi Yan burst through the surface of the magma pool, his entire body crimson, covered only by a thin veil of white mist.

Within that white mist was an icy cold air that dispersed outward, neutralizing the magma’s intense heat and preventing Shi Yan's flesh from being incinerated. Reaching the surface of the magma pool, Shi Yan finally felt safe. The fire essence here was actually quite weak—so weak that Shi Yan felt his physical body could withstand it even if the Profound Ice Cold Flame’s power were entirely depleted. Of course, Shi Yan wasted no time; he didn't wait for the mist to dissipate completely to test the environment before beginning to climb the adjacent crimson rock face.

The Dragon Slaying Sword now proved its worth.

With one stab, the crimson rock wall was chipped open. Shi Yan swung his sword repeatedly, simultaneously solidifying his own body. When his flesh touched the red-hot rock, he felt only a faint stinging pain in his palm, not the burning of iron heated to a searing temperature.

His body, tempered by the essence of the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire, had adapted to the high temperatures. Furthermore, having entered the third stage of Petrification, his physical defense had also risen to a new level, making him utterly unafraid of the intense heat. Soon, aided by the Dragon Slaying Sword, Shi Yan gradually ascended to the crater’s rim. A full moon hung high in the star-dusted night sky.

Under the pure moonlight, Shi Yan, still reddish from the heat, emerged from the volcano and called out loudly, “Lord Mo, are you here?”

“Whoosh! Whoosh!”

The sound of the Green Blood Demon Bats flapping through the air suddenly echoed.

Not long after, a Shura Blood Guard of the first Heaven-stage of Status arrived, riding a level-four Green Blood Demon Bat.

“Young Master Yan, great changes have occurred in the Garan Sea Region over the last half year. Lord Mo has already returned to Undying Island ahead of schedule. He ordered me to stay and await you,” the Shura Blood Guard bowed. A great change?

Shi Yan was stunned, frowning as he mounted the Green Blood Demon Bat, his face etched with confusion. …