In this eternally molten, silent world, time slips through like sand between the fingers—so subtly that the passage of even decades seems to barely stir the boundless lava. Time, here, appears almost insignificant. A single month passes in the blink of an eye. During this month, thanks to those so-called "flame orbs," Xiao Yan made remarkable progress. After absorbing and refining nearly sixty of them, he clearly felt his body vessel—expanded following his previous promotion—begin to swell once again. This sensation signaled to Xiao Yan that he now stood at the pinnacle of the Five-Star Battle Emperor rank. With just the right opportunity, he could easily transcend into the Six-Star Battle Emperor tier. At this point, Xiao Yan realized that continuing to focus solely on cultivation was no longer the optimal path. While cultivation could never be neglected, it was also essential to strike a balance—not to become overly rigid or excessively enthusiastic in one's practice, for such rigidity would ultimately prove detrimental. Thus, upon realizing he had reached the pinnacle of the Five-Star Sovereign rank, Xiao Yan ceased his night-and-day, relentless training and instead shifted his focus to refining the "Six-Aspect Flowing Body Technique," which had recently begun to show initial promise. Time also flowed slowly as Xiao Yan refined his techniques of Qi cultivation. During this period, he gradually set aside his focus on Qi cultivation and devoted himself more fully to the practice of combat techniques. As a result, his mastery of the "Six Harmonies Flowing Body Technique" deepened significantly, and the first level, "Splitting the Flame," became not only smoother but also stronger and more powerful. By concentrating entirely on one aspect, the results far surpassed those achieved when multitasking. Through consistent practice, Xiao Yan's understanding of the "Six Harmonies Flowing Body Technique" gradually matured. Each time he performed it, he could weave a dense, impenetrable network of staffs around his body—enabling him to move freely within the molten rock without even touching a single drop of lava. This solid, iron-like defense began to reflect the subtle elegance of the soul imprint described in the scroll. While practicing the "Six Harmonies Flowing Body Technique," whenever he had a moment of leisure, Xiao Yan would occasionally study the so-called "Five Wheels Separating Fire Method," and this study proved to open up new perspectives for him. The principle of flame control, as the name suggests, is the method of mastering flame manipulation. Xiao Yan had never studied this technique before. In his daily use of hetero-flames for attacks, his control remained only moderately basic—far less refined than the so-called "Five-Ring Separation Flame Method." Indeed, in certain aspects, even compared to Han Feng, Xiao Yan's skill in wheel-based flame control might fall short. It was precisely his exceptionally robust soul energy—significantly exceeding that of ordinary alchemists—that enabled him to hold his own against Han Feng during their duels involving hetero-flames. Thus, upon encountering the "Five-Ring Separation Flame Method" now, Xiao Yan felt a genuine sense of novelty, as though stepping into a completely new domain. The flame techniques described in the method were not only visually splendid but also achieved exquisite control with minimal soul energy expenditure, culminating in a powerful, expansive burst of flame. While Xiao Yan was studying the "Five-Orb Separated Fire Technique," Tian Fire Master remained absent, as he had expended immense energy attempting to manifest spatial abilities within the molten rock—appearing only infrequently. Xiao Yan did not mind this, though it was his first encounter with such a fire-controlling technique. As a sixth-rank alchemist who had himself created the formidable "Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus," he found the learning process far less difficult than when mastering the fundamentals of technique. His robust spiritual strength enabled him to grasp most fire-controlling techniques instantly, endowing him with a rare aptitude in both alchemy and fire manipulation that surpassed ordinary practitioners. In the following period, Xiao Yan effortlessly immersed himself into the remarkable world of flame control embodied by the "Five-Ring Separating Fire Method." Within less than ten days, his ability to manipulate fire nearly doubled. Yet, amidst his deep focus on this world of flame mastery, the moment of breakthrough arrived subtly and unexpectedly. When the sensation of breakthrough surfaced, Xiao Yan was refining the first form of wolf-shaped fire spirit within the "Five-Ring Separating Fire Method." Upon sensing the sudden, extraordinary flow emanating from the depths of his soul, he immediately dissolved the hand seals he had formed and swiftly returned to the cave. Inside the clean, quiet cave, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged, striving to contain the waves of unusual fluctuations within his body. With a simple finger flick, around a dozen red "fire orbs" materialized before him. Only then did he close his eyes and quickly formed the hand seals for meditation and cultivation. As soon as the Seal of Imprint was formed, the space around it surged violently. Waves of intense, fiery energy surged outward from Xiao Yan, coiling like long, crimson serpents around his body before finally seeping into his very being through his breath. In this world of molten rock, the sheer abundance of fiery energy was profoundly beneficial—making Xiao Yan's promotion not only smooth but virtually guaranteed, with no risk of energy depletion disrupting the process. Moreover, within his storage relic, he still held several "Fire Pearls," each brimming with potent energy. Should any unforeseen circumstances arise, these pearls would ensure the promotion would proceed without interruption. As more and more fiery energies flowed into Xiao Yan's body, his skin gradually flushed red. Fine white mist rose from his head, and veins across his skin bulged like earthworms, creating a rather intimidating sight. Under the continuous infusion of external energy, rapid transformations were taking place within Xiao Yan's body. With each promotion, subtle evolutions seemed to occur—like an expansion process, transforming a small pond into a small lake. The capacity to store qi multiplied accordingly. Meanwhile, various meridians, bones, and muscles within his body underwent distinct enhancements, steadily strengthening his internal power. Xiao Yan's advancement lasted approximately three days before finally drawing to a close... Within the mountain cave, once the final traces of fire-energy drifted into his body, silence settled in. At that very moment, the powerful aura emanating from within him fully retreated into his body, no longer spilling outward at all. The young man sat bare-chested upon the stone, eyes closed, motionless—like an old monk who had sat in meditation for years. His stillness was so complete that, were it not for the faint, ever-present aura surrounding him, one might have truly believed he had suffered an unexpected mishap during the advancement, such as a fire-overflowing condition. This stillness persisted within the cave for about half an hour, until a soft, gentle breath quietly broke the silence. Steady breath circulated through Xiao Yan's nasal passages, and gradually, his eyes opened. The calm black gaze seemed only slightly brighter, with no other noticeable change—yet anyone familiar with Xiao Yan would perceive that his aura had grown both deeper and more intense. With his eyes open, Xiao Yan raised his hand, gently sealing the "Flame Pearl" that had been prepared but ultimately not used, into his storage relic. He then paused to feel the now significantly amplified and robust aura within his body, a satisfied smile forming at the corners of his mouth. This promotion not only firmly established Xiao Yan at the six-star Emperor level but also warmed his internal energy further. Xiao Yan understood this enhancement was due to the ambient energy of this location. Fortunately, thanks to the protective power of the Strange Flames, the turbulent energy had not disrupted him in any significant way. "The feeling of advancing is truly magnificent," said Xiao Yan, standing at the entrance and spreading his arms, a gentle smile playing on his lips. At this moment, every aspect of his body—meridians, muscles, bones, and even cells—was at its peak of perfection. He almost sensed that with merely a slight movement of his arms, the powerful energy within him would surge forth like a volcanic eruption. In just two months, Xiao Yan had achieved another breakthrough. Such speed would surely make many Dou Huang-level masters feel humbled and ashamed. At this level, it was common for Dou Huang masters to take a year or even several years to gain just one star of strength. Yet Xiao Yan accomplished this in mere two months—an extraordinary talent indeed. He casually clenched his fists, feeling the fierce momentum building, ready to burst at any moment. Xiao Yan smiled, just about to test his current strength, when his brow suddenly arched as he lifted his gaze toward the deep chasm leading to the Sky-Burned Qi Tower—there, faint gusts of wind seemed to be stirring. Under Xiao Yan's watch, the wind sounds grew progressively closer, and a figure soon materialized into his line of sight.