The Earth Core Pearl, also commonly known as the Earth Core Fire Pearl, is a concentrated energy orb formed over countless ages from the refined essence of the deep earth. This orb harbors an immense energy, and it is said that when crafting some eighth or ninth-rank pills, the legendary Earth Core Pearl is essential. This remarkable pearl is typically deeply embedded within the earth, making it exceedingly difficult to find. However, during volcanic eruptions, it is sometimes expelled from the earth's depths. Most people who possess such pearls have acquired them through this means, while those who personally encountered them deep beneath the earth—like Xiao Yan—are quite rare. When Xiao Yan first saw the Earth Core Pearl, his heart beat faster. He fully understood just how rare this pearl was, and he also knew that it was the primary material used in crafting the Earth Core Lightning Pearl. The Earth-Core Lightning Pearl is not a pill, but a rather specialized remedy prepared through an unusual method—by refining the Earth-Core Pearl through a specific quenching process. If the process succeeds, the Earth-Core Lightning Pearl is formed. While it cannot be consumed, it possesses an astonishing power; even a Supreme Battle Sovereign would suffer severe injuries—necessarily shedding layers of skin—if struck directly by it. The method for crafting this Earth-Core Lightning Pearl, Xiao Yan had once stumbled upon accidentally while browsing through the prescriptions left by the Medicine Elder. Impressed by its immense power, he had remembered it vividly. After arriving in the Central Plains, he had occasionally thought about it, yet had always been hindered by the extreme difficulty in finding such pearls, so he had only kept it in his mind. Yet he had never imagined that today he would have such a fortunate opportunity... "Should I succeed in obtaining it, it would indeed serve as a solid backup asset." Xiao Yan gazed intently at the fiery pearl suspended within the thick, crimson energy, pondering for a while before finally succumbing to its allure. With great wealth at stake, taking risks to secure such a rare treasure was well worth it. As this thought formed, Xiao Yan no longer hesitated. His soul energy spiraled around the thick, crimson liquid, though slightly distant, the intense energy contained within still caused subtle ripples in his soul force. Xiao Yan paid no attention to the subtle fluctuations of the soul, his mind firmly focused on the crimson orb, waiting for the perfect moment to act! By observation, he had already realized that the turbulent energy within the viscous liquid would periodically intensify or weaken, and the indicator of this variation was the intensity of the flames on its surface. The deep, blood-red, viscous liquid subtly emitted glimmers of light, flickering intermittently, becoming the sole source of illumination within the otherwise endless black abyss of the eye. Xiao Yan's soul energy remained like a coiled serpent, motionless and steady. The intangible soul force gently pulsed, maintaining this stillness for an indeterminate length of time—until suddenly, the flickering flames on the surface of the viscous liquid plunged to their dimmest point. "Shh!" At the very instant the blood-red liquid dimmed, Xiao Yan's soul energy surged forth like a leopard leaping from its hiding place, blazing out in a flash of lightning. "Plush!" The speed of the soul force was astonishing—within less than a breath, it plunged directly into the crimson liquid. A subtle *puff* sounded, and the soul force surged right through! As soon as it touched the viscous liquid, Xiao Yan felt as though he had plunged into molten lava, a searing heat continuously eroding inward toward the depths of his soul. Fortunately, the unique fire within him provided protection, and this heat did not inflict serious damage on his soul over the short duration. Feeling the intense, furious energy coming from behind, Xiao Yan also felt his scalp grow numb. If that surge of energy struck him within such a confined space, his soul would likely shatter on the spot. With a determined grit, he pushed his speed to its absolute peak, shooting forward toward the mouth of the earth eye. Though Xiao Yan was exceptionally swift, the crimson mountain flood that followed was no slower, closing in with remarkable speed! The obsidian stele, just laid upon the earth-eye, suddenly shuddered violently. Yet this stele proved no ordinary material—it withstood the violent energy surge emanating from below. Shh! Shh! As the stele absorbed the impact, the numerous beams emanating from the surrounding altars abruptly shifted and converged, fully covering the stele, like a thousand hydraulic jacks, firmly pressing and sealing the earth-eye in place. With the aid of the sunlight, the tremors of the stele gradually subsided, and soon, they entirely faded away. Xiao Yan, who had been steadfastly prepared beside the stone tablet, finally exhaled in relief upon seeing the tablet gradually grow still. He glanced at the ancient altar with a sense of wonder, never having expected it to still exert a stabilizing effect. "Truly perilous," Xiao Yan murmured, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. He had realized that if he had moved any more slowly during the earlier phase, not only would he have missed the Heart Pearl of the Earth, but his very soul might have sustained significant injury. Calming his turbulent emotions, Xiao Yan quickly turned to the young physician beside him. Seeing that she remained unshaken, he breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his head, slowly spreading his palms—within them lay a serene, crimson pearl. "This must be the Heart-of-the-Earth Pearl..." Gently clutching it, a surge of intense heat radiated from within the pearl. To his surprise, Xiāo Yīn noticed that the surrounding fiery energies seemed to be subtly gathering toward him, as if drawn to the pearl. Observing the subtle shifts in the surrounding realm, a surge of exhilaration flashed across his eyes. The Heart-of-the-Earth Pearl not only attracted nearby fiery energies—it was truly remarkable! Should he cultivate with it in the future, the effects would surely be exponentially enhanced. "Indeed, no wonder it's so extraordinary—the pearl is truly marvelous..." Xiāo Yīn fondly held the glowing crimson orb, feeling an undeniable sense of delight. This discovery was truly a substantial gain. "However, unfortunately, it's still not easy to now lift the stone tablet—without that viscous liquid blocking it, the core fire should be able to reappear and the rate at which it generates yang fire should significantly increase..." After handling it for a while, Xiao Yan turned his gaze back to the tablet, shook his head with a touch of regret. He had originally hoped to use the yang fire here to nurture and strengthen the seed of the Hua Sheng fire. As Xiao Yan sighed with mild disappointment, a beam of light suddenly poured down from the heavens, precisely illuminating the earth-core pearl in his palm. "Pff!" Under the sunlight, the deep crimson earth-core pearl suddenly trembled violently, and then a delicate sound emerged—gradually, a dense, white flame rose gently from the surface of the pearl. This unexpected development startled Xiao Yan. As he instinctively reached out to release the flame in his hand, he noticed the earth-core pearl at the base of the white flame, and his eyes immediately narrowed: "This is yang fire? How could such a transformation occur without the presence of the core fire?" Xiao Yan's brows furrowed slightly, then as if remembering something, he sharply slammed his palm against his fist: "Ah! This Earth Core Pearl has absorbed countless Earth Core flame sprouts over the years. Now, upon contact with sunlight, it immediately responds—transforming directly into the origin of Yang fire. That means, as long as the energy within the Earth Core Pearl doesn't dissipate completely, it will continuously generate Yang fire..." Even with his usual composure, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel pleased. If this were true, then the flame seed he nurtured within him would have an inexhaustible supply of nourishment—no longer needing to constantly travel and search for various beast fires. "This truly is a treasure!" Xiao Yan smiled. For him, this Earth Core Pearl was simply incredibly practical. Taking several deep breaths to calm himself, Xiao Yan glanced at the young physician who remained seated in meditation, her body motionless. Seeing no signs of disturbance in her, he nodded slightly and settled back into a meditative posture, beginning to absorb the yang fire generated by the Earth's Core Pearl. With this pearl, the growth of the internal fire was merely a matter of time. During the following period, Xiao Yan devoted his entire mental focus to absorbing the yang fire. Under his relentless efforts, the internal fire within him grew rapidly, visibly and steadily. Three days passed—fleeting in the course of cultivation. Meanwhile, as Xiao Yan immersed himself in the exhilarating sensation of his internal fire intensifying, the once-constantly spring-like city of Ye gradually grew colder. On a particular day, delicate snowflakes began to drift down, falling slowly and unexpectedly, leaving the populace in awe. Eventually, someone noticed something significant, leapt to a higher vantage point, and looked out toward the city's outskirts—only to find himself utterly stunned. Outside the city, countless white figures were slowly approaching from all directions, each bearing an identical emblem on their chests. A fresh, vibrant snowfall, cold and crisp to the bone.