On a dark, rainy night, torrential rains surged through the forest, wind whistling loudly and rustling the trees with a continuous hiss. From time to time, a thunderclap would roll across the sky, its deep, resonant sound echoing through the mountains, lingering in the air. Above the dense, oppressive sky, silver streaks of lightning flashed, accompanied by sharp crackling sounds, casting brilliant white light that periodically illuminated the dark forest as if day had broken. Between the steep mountain cliffs, an elderly figure stood firm on a sharp outcrop, hands resting at his sides. His weathered face remained expressionless, gazing steadily at the flashing lightning and booming thunder. With a slightly bent posture, he stood as steady as an ancient pine, unshaken by the storm's fury—calm, composed, and utterly undisturbed. Yet, upon closer observation, one notices that every time the elder's gaze drifts toward the cave far off, its entrance partially obscured by scattered stones, his palm—resembling an eagle's claw—unconsciously tightens, only to gradually relax again after a moment. Standing amidst the thunder and lightning, the elder remained silent, simply gazing upward without uttering a word. Occasionally, his eyes would sweep toward the cave, pausing only briefly before gently withdrawing, as if afraid that even a single glance might disturb the young man's meditation. The black night, marked by relentless thunder and lightning, passed slowly. The forest endured relentless punishment from the storms. As the night began to fade and a pale dawn light slowly crept across the eastern sky, the forest revealed its shattered and wounded appearance. A full, round sun rose slowly over the eastern horizon, casting a gentle, warm light across the land, bringing renewed vitality and freshness to the forest that had been battered by thunder and lightning all night. Standing atop the rocky outcrops, the herbal elder slightly tilted his head to watch the sun ascend, his eyes briefly scanning the still, silent mountain cave—no signs of movement or response. At once, the hands beneath his sleeves clenched tightly together. His eyes twitched slightly, and with a deep breath of the crisp morning air, he struggled to calm himself. Yet the lingering anxiety that spiraled within him refused to settle, leaving him far from his usual composed demeanor. The slightly thin fingers of his hands gently tapped his arm. As time passed, however, the cave remained utterly still. And thus, the once-rhythmic tapping gradually grew as chaotic and disordered as the elder’s own restless heart. The rising sun slowly traversed half the sky, and the warm sunlight had begun to grow noticeably intense. Under these conditions, the impatience simmering within the old physician's heart grew even more pronounced. After another brief period of stillness, the ten fingers tapping rhythmically on his arm suddenly stilled. The murky gaze of his aged eyes gradually radiated a sharp, determined intensity—clearly, after a full night of waiting, he no longer intended to continue this aimless patience. As his fingers halted, a powerful, resolute aura rose steadily from within him, exerting such pressure that the several flying beasts circling high above were startled into panicked shrieks, fleeing the very place they had long feared. Just as the old physician prepared to forcefully enter and investigate, the previously quiet cave finally exhibited its first movement since last night. "Boom!" Inside the mountain cave, a fierce surge of energy suddenly expanded and was then intercepted by the rock walls, instantly causing numerous massive cracks to rapidly spread across the walls. Standing on the rocky outcrop, the elderly pharmacist observed the swiftly spreading fissures and slightly relaxed his taut facial expression—since there was still activity, the people inside were at least safe. Not long after the initial energy surge, several even more powerful surges followed, and under the repeated impacts of these energy waves, the solid mountain walls clearly began to show signs of instability. "What on earth is going on?" the pharmacist murmured, frowning again as he gazed at the cave walls on the verge of collapse. "Boom!" Just as the old physician was at a loss, a thunderous blast—comparable to the fury of last night’s storm—suddenly erupted within the cave. With this surge of energy, the cave, already on the verge of collapse, began to sink dramatically inward, groaning under the weight of successive thunderous crashes. Massive boulders tumbled down in succession, instantly transforming the once-stable cave into a chaotic heap of rubble. "Ah!" Inside the cave, a piercing, hoarse roar suddenly erupted—like that of a wounded wild wolf—shattering the stillness. As the roar surged forth, a more terrifying wave of jade-colored flames surged out, sweeping through the cave with overwhelming force, reducing any obstacle in their path to liquid by the sheer intensity of the blaze. "It's happened indeed..." Hearing the strained, painful cry, the elderly physician's face immediately fell grim. He muttered under his breath, then swiftly enveloped himself in his pale, bone-like spiritual cold flame, forcing it through the jade flames, and darted in lightning-fast strides into the cave, now utterly devastated. Upon landing, he quickly scanned the interior, his gaze finally narrowing as it settled on the young man kneeling nearby—head bowed, fists clenched and repeatedly hammering the stone surface with fierce rage. At this moment, Xiao Yan's clothes were nearly completely burned. Perhaps due to the earlier strengthening of his skin, although he now appeared covered in blood streaks, his injuries were actually only minor. Noticing the arrival of Yao Lao, Xiao Yan struggled to lift his head. The face that had previously been so vibrant was now almost entirely pale, twisted and terrifying, with a bright streak of blood visible at his lips. As he clenched his teeth, a steady stream of blood seeped from his gums. The solid rock beneath him had been shattered by the force of his fists, forming cracks that resembled a web. His eyes swiftly swept over Xiao Yan, whose face was contorted in agony from enduring immense pain. The dry skin of Yao Lao also subtly trembled, as it was difficult to imagine the sheer intensity of suffering that could compel such a person—known for his exceptional self-control and endurance—to appear in this state. "Give up on that damned thing!" Yao Lao felt a chill run through him as he watched Xiao Yan's face grow increasingly pale. He hadn't expected the Burned Decree to cause such a torment during the absorption of the hetero-flames, one that could drive a person mad. "N-no... it's all right... I—I can still endure!" Xiao Yan's eyes were blazing with anger, his teeth clenched tightly. Faint, mumbled words slipped through the gaps between his tightly pressed teeth. With his fist once again slamming hard against the stone surface, the massive rock suddenly shattered in a thunderous explosion. With trembling, blood-streaked fists, Xiao Yan's palm merely rested against the edge of a rock. The slightly sharp edge of the stone sliced through his palm, drawing a wound that caused blood to flow freely, staining the stone a vivid, glaring crimson. "Enough!" Seeing Xiao Yan's blood-soaked hands, Yao Lao grew visibly angry. With a sharp cry, he planted his foot firmly onto the ground, and his body surged forward toward Xiao Yan with tremendous force. "Boom!" As Yao Lao charged forward, Xiao Yan, who had been kneeling on the ground, suddenly shuddered. A vast surge of emerald flames erupted from within him, pouring out in overwhelming numbers and sweeping directly toward Yao Lao. The sheer volume of the flames managed to halt Yao Lao completely. "Ah!" As the streaks of azure flame surged forth, they seemed to burst directly from the pores of Xiao Yan, radiating intense pain as his muscles, bones, and cells were scorched. Holding his head, Xiao Yan slammed hard against the adjacent rock, though fortunately, while the azure flame inflicted unbearable agony, it also protected his body—otherwise, the impact alone might have knocked him unconscious. More and more azure flames erupted from within Xiao Yan, until eventually he transformed into a living furnace, so vivid and imposing that it sent a shiver of fear through onlookers. "The energy of the Qinglian Earth Heart Fire is simply too powerful. With Xiao Yan's current Doushī strength, he cannot smoothly absorb it—he must suppress it! Damn it! The only resource I have available is the Qi Fire. Using it to aid him is like pouring oil on fire!" With a seasoned gaze sweeping over Xiao Yan's condition, Yao Lao instantly grasped several underlying issues. Yet, even though he understood the problems, he still couldn't find a solution and thus grew increasingly anxious, pacing back and forth. However, just as Yao Lao began to feel somewhat helpless, a low, resonant cry suddenly echoed within the cave. As the cry faded, a vibrant seven-colored shadow shot forth from within Xiao Yan's sleeve, its pale violet eyes fixed upon the jade-green flames dancing on Xiao Yan's body. Instantly, a mysterious radiance surged within those eyes.