Chapter 43: A Paradise on Earth

Jiang Min took out a large wooden tub.

She poured in fresh water and various fire-element spirit herbs, then used her fire spiritual energy to boil the mixture.

After the medicinal liquid in the tub had boiled for a long while, she took out the demon core of the Lava Python and tossed it in. Instantly, the entire tub exuded a thick aura of fiery spiritual energy. Stepping into the tub, she sat cross-legged in the boiling medicinal liquid, forming hand seals as she absorbed the fire-element medicinal power within.

Streams of scorching medicinal energy coursed through her entire body, as if tongues of flame were burning within her, searing and tingling her nerves. Beads of sweat the size of peas broke out on Jiang Min’s brow; the pain was so intense she wanted to writhe, but she gritted her teeth and stubbornly endured.

The agony of body tempering.

And this was only the beginning.

She endured for more than ten days straight. The fire-element medicinal energy in the tub grew weaker and weaker, until barely any remained. Under the nourishment of the surging medicine, Jiang Min’s physical body became noticeably stronger.

She slowly opened her eyes, a trace of crimson light flickering in their depths.

Though the medicinal bath had left her exhausted in both body and spirit, she knew she had to press on, seizing the moment while the medicine was still taking effect to begin the next step: tempering her body with earthfire.

She stepped out of the tub and looked down from her high vantage point at the slowly flowing river of magma, her face troubled. The molten gold-and-red lava bubbled and spat, sending up showers of sparks.

“Even with the foundation of the previous two body-tempering stages and the support of spirit herbs, the thought of wading into this lava river to cultivate still makes me a bit nervous…”

Even the special tokens crafted by demonic cultivators had melted away when dropped in this river.

How much more vulnerable was she, with nothing but flesh and blood?

Jiang Min put away the wooden tub and the nearby formation disks, leapt down from the giant rock, and walked to the edge of the lava river. A wave of blistering heat rolled over her, distorting the air around her.

The little grass spirit immediately flew from her arms, keeping far away from the lava river. It was far too terrifying; it had no desire for a premature death.

Jiang Min cast an exasperated glance at the little grass, then turned to face the river of magma. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself. “There’s nothing to fear. If one wishes to walk the path of blades and fire, one must eventually pass through such trials.”

She shed her clothing.

Fire spiritual energy gathered at her feet as she stepped into the lava.

Ssssst!

The searing pain shot up from her feet, making Jiang Min instinctively want to retreat. But though it hurt, the lava did not actually harm her body; on the contrary, waves of medicinal energy surged toward her feet, nourishing every inch of flesh and bone. Relieved, she stepped fully into the lava, sitting cross-legged so that half her body was submerged.

Sssss…

Thick white mist billowed up, enveloping her completely. Jiang Min gritted her teeth against the burning pain, formed hand seals, and focused on circulating her body-tempering technique, summoning the earthfire to temper her flesh.

Nearby, the little grass lay motionless on a rock, quietly standing guard at her side.

May everything go smoothly for her.

…

Jiang Min cultivated quietly in the subterranean magma river, losing all sense of time.

Meanwhile, the outside world had erupted in chaos.

As it turned out—

The eruption of Flame Mountain was not caused by an earthquake, but by the appearance of a legendary blessed land!

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At the summit of the thousand-zhang-high Flame Mountain, a torrent of rich, dense spiritual energy gushed forth.

At the same time, violent lightning intertwined with blazing fire, sealing the volcano’s mouth with a powerful barrier.

Only by passing through the lightning-fire barrier could one enter the crater and discover what lay within. One Foundation Establishment cultivator had already tried to force his way in, only to be blasted to ashes by the lightning and fire—after that, no one else dared take the risk.

At this moment—

Two cultivators hovered above the volcanic mouth, studying the methods to break the formation. The other cultivators stood far away, watching the pair with a mixture of envy and fear.

Golden Core Masters!

Only Golden Core Masters could soar through the air.

As time passed, word spread.

More and more cultivators gathered around the crater: some using the surging spiritual energy to cultivate, others taking advantage of the chaos to kill and plunder.

Everyone’s attention was fixed on the two Golden Core Masters, waiting for them to break the barrier and reveal the blessed land hidden within the volcano’s heart…

Deep underground.

Magma flowed, casting a fiery glow throughout the cavern.

A lone figure sat cross-legged in the molten river, shrouded in a thick mist that rose and swirled, obscuring her form.

At a certain moment—

The figure’s eyes snapped open.

Within them, crimson flames flowed like molten lava.

“The Crimson Flame Body—complete.”

Jiang Min exhaled a breath of scorching air, her face lighting up with joy. Sitting in the magma, she felt no discomfort at all—instead, it was as relaxing as soaking in a hot spring.

Body-tempering arts greatly enhanced one’s physique. For example, at this moment, her physical strength alone surpassed even that of a twelfth-level Qi Condensation cultivator. Yet, few chose the path of body cultivation; after all, with myriad spells to command and storms to summon, why endure such hardship and expense for mere bodily strength?

Only those devoted to martial disciplines—sword cultivators, blade cultivators, and the like—would invest so much in tempering their bodies.

Jiang Min had only started down this path because of the peach branch, forced by circumstance.

But now, she was thoroughly satisfied and enamored with the way of body cultivation. Though the process was arduous, it meant she now possessed an extra life-saving skill—ordinary spells and blades could no longer so easily harm her.

Now that the Crimson Flame Body was complete—

Her next goal was the Wind and Thunder Body recorded in the Scripture Pavilion!

Jiang Min rose and walked back to the shore, dressing herself as she mused,

“With the Crimson Flame Body perfected, training for the Wind and Thunder Body is secondary—what matters most is that I can finally begin the core technique of refining treasures within my dantian.”

Refining the peach branch—though the artifact-binding technique was helpful, the most important step was the dantian treasure-refining art.

Jiang Min had undertaken body cultivation precisely to lay the foundation for this.

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Now that the Crimson Flame Body was perfected, she could go to the Scripture Pavilion and select a treasure-refining method to fully refine the peach branch, finally resolving the trouble that had been weighing on her heart.

As for the Wind and Thunder Body, she would certainly learn it as well, but there was no need to rush.

“Hm? Where’s A’Ling?”

Jiang Min looked around in confusion, but saw no sign of the little grass.

Whoosh!

A flash of fiery red darted out from behind a rock. Jiang Min looked closely—it was indeed the little grass! But now its aura was noticeably stronger, and blazing flames danced atop its grass-blades.

The little grass spiraled triumphantly in front of Jiang Min, trailing a long fiery tail. It had just eaten a spirit herb growing in a rock crevice and now, it too could breathe fire.

“Did you eat something?”

The little grass waggled its blades in affirmation, then darted toward Jiang Min, intent on using its flames to take revenge for the time Jiang Min had threatened it with a fireball.

Heh, time for a hug!

“Don’t you come any closer!” Jiang Min’s eyes widened as she dodged away. She didn’t fear fire itself, but her clothes were made of ordinary cloth—they wouldn’t survive being burned.

Seeing her evade, the little grass grew bolder and chased after her. But Jiang Min was quick; with one swift motion, she caught the little grass in her hand. No matter how fiercely the grass burned, she felt nothing at all.

“Ha! You can’t escape from my grasp, can you?” Jiang Min teased, grinning.

The little grass flailed its leaves in defiance, smacking her hand. Hmph! Bullying the weak, you wicked woman.

Once the grass had retracted its flames and nestled back into Jiang Min’s arms, she donned her Cloud-Chasing Boots and leapt nimbly along the mountain walls, finally escaping the deep chasm to return to the surface.

“Hm? Why are there so many people?”

Jiang Min saw cultivators darting through the forest toward the crater, including quite a few Foundation Establishment experts flying on their magical artifacts.

She turned and looked up at the volcano’s mouth.

There, torrents of spiritual energy surged, purple lightning and crimson fire intertwining. Clearly, some precious treasure or blessed land had appeared.

“Could the volcanic eruption be related to this phenomenon at the crater?” Jiang Min wondered, glancing once with some regret before turning to leave.

The opportunity was tempting, but it wasn’t one she could compete for.

If it were only among Qi Condensation cultivators, she’d have a chance. But with so many Foundation Establishment experts present, how could a mere Qi Condensation initiate hope to vie with them? It would be suicide. She was bold, but not reckless—when her cultivation grew, she’d have better chances at fortune. In such a vast world, opportunities were never lacking.

But after a few steps—

She suddenly stopped, a strange feeling stirring in her heart.

“Wait… The crater’s barrier is formed by lightning and fire?”

“Didn’t I get a little Lightning-Fire Sword from that female cultivator I killed in the mountains?”

…