Two days later, the Xu Family’s upper echelons issued a strict order.

Maintain the lockdown, consolidate defenses!

These two directives were to be enacted simultaneously! All clan members were forbidden from leaving the family grounds unless absolutely necessary.

As for the resource points in the Outer World, they were ordered to keep the Grand Arrays running day and night, maintain high alert, and send a message back to the clan for aid at the first sign of trouble.

Once the news broke, everyone knew something major had happened.

There had to be an enemy lurking outside, waiting to launch a deadly assault.

Therefore, no one was foolish enough to defy the order.

Lin Changheng had anticipated this.

The Chen Family of Purple Maple Bay had suffered a great loss and would certainly retaliate.

Although the Chen Family had struck first, there was no stopping it now. Such was the powerful and irrational driving force of hatred, sweeping everything forward in its inexorable tide, ceasing only with death.

This was the very meaning of a blood feud, which could only be washed away by a sea of blood.

But this had no effect on Lin Changheng, as he had no intention of going out anyway.

...

「In the blink of an eye, another year passed.」

Returning from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, Lin Changheng’s face was as calm as ever, but his heart was filled with anticipation.

Because of the high demand for the Decompression Pill, the accumulation rate for the Fire Crow Treasure Seed and the Cyan Wood Snake Treasure Seed had slowed by more than half.

But he had finally made it.

’After all these years of performing Spirit Stealing on the Fire Crow Treasure Seed, layer by layer... it’s finally time for the Fifth Layer!’

’The Fifth Layer of a Treasure Seed... what kind of Realm is that?’

Lin Changheng didn’t know, but he had a faint premonition that the Fire Crow had a Limit.

After all, it was a Mixed Grade Demon Beast, a Tamed Beast.

Its bloodline was too diluted, and its ancestors might not have been particularly powerful either.

It was unrealistic to hope its bloodline could reach the very peak, but he didn’t know what level it could actually reach.

But Lin Changheng wasn’t hung up on it. As long as there was potential, he would keep performing Spirit Stealing, all the way to the very top, to the very end!

’Besides, it’s always been Spirit Stealing. When will Metamorphosis trigger?’

Lin Changheng didn’t understand, but he had been probing for the answer.

’Back then, the Primordial Cauldron only appeared after the Spirit Stealing for the Origin Treasure Seed was complete. Perhaps when Spirit Stealing reaches its end, Metamorphosis will be possible.’

He had a feeling in the back of his mind that it might be getting really close...

He had a premonition!

...

In his room, Lin Changheng looked at the wasted Red Flame Pills and Wood Element Pills laid out before him, rubbing his hands together in excitement.

He first swept his hand over the latter.

The Primordial Cauldron in his sea of consciousness trembled lightly, and the Essence Blood of the wasted Wood Element Pills was completely drained.

[Cyan Wood Snake Treasure Seed·Fourth Layer]

[Spirit Stealing: 12/100]

A new, solidified Treasure Seed formed once more and was plucked into his Divine Soul. In its original place, the phantom of another Treasure Seed appeared.

Lin Changheng knew, of course, that this was formed from the excess Cyan Wood Snake Essence.

The next moment,

[Acquired: Poison Transformation Technique: Ascension]

[Utility: Body gains keen perception of poisons, can initially expel Middle Grade Poison.]

’Not bad.’

Seeing this Utility, Lin Changheng couldn’t help but nod slightly, quite satisfied.

Although his body’s resistance to poison hadn’t increased again, it had shifted toward "keen perception." Sometimes, "avoiding" is more important than "resisting." If he could avoid it early on, why would he need to suffer through it?

Moreover, it also had the effect of expelling Middle Grade Poison from his body, adding another layer of security.

If the former was a "Passive" ability, then this could be considered an "Active" skill.

After all, the Cyan Wood Snake was a Mixed Grade Bloodline, a Tier One Early Stage Demon Beast. To be able to achieve this effect was quite good.

But compared to the effect of the Fire Crow Treasure Seed, it was still far inferior.

Even among demons, the disparity could be huge.

...

’Your turn.’

Lin Changheng composed himself and, without a second thought, had his consciousness communicate with the Primordial Cauldron, his hand sweeping over the red elixirs. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

As the Fire Crow Essence Blood was extracted, the Spirit Stealing progress soared.

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

...

The Red Treasure Seed trembled, already formed. When Lin Changheng touched it, information flowed back to him.

[Fire Crow Treasure Seed·Fifth Layer]

[Can continue to Refine into Demon Race Lifebound Talent: Fire Control]

With a thought, the Treasure Seed flew out of the cauldron’s mouth and entered his body. Lin Changheng shivered as an unprecedented warm current washed over him.

It was a sensation that made even his Divine Soul tremble, leaving him somewhat entranced.

It felt as if the flame in the lamp on the table before him would move with his will, swaying as he wished.

Suddenly, inspiration struck. He blew a breath toward the lamp’s flame.

BANG! The lamp flame exploded, like a miniature sun two feet in diameter hanging in the air. A hot wind rushed to his face as waves of fire rolled out.

If not for the courtyard walls blocking the view, any outsider who saw it would have their Heart and Spirit tremble, shocked beyond words.

Then, Lin Changheng saw the wooden table within the blast get licked by the flames and instantly turn to ash.

It crumbled to the ground with a soft RUSTLE.

’Even the Fire Bomb Skill cultivated to the Perfection Realm is probably only this powerful, right? No, its might may not even compare.’

’And this is far more unpredictable, more mysterious and unfathomable!’

After a good while, Lin Changheng’s Heart and Spirit was still in turmoil. When he came back to his senses, he saw—

[Acquired: Fire Control Technique - Transformation]

[Utility: Ultimate control over ordinary flames; Limit enhancement for Fire Magic.]

Lin Changheng’s eyes flashed. What did he just see?

’Two words implying the absolute peak!’

’Ultimate’ and ’Limit’!

’They represent both the "highest point" and the "very end." Perhaps this Fifth Layer Treasure Seed... really is the end of the Fire Crow’s bloodline power.’

An idea sparked in Lin Changheng’s mind. ’What would happen if I absorbed more Essence Blood right now?’

Once the thought arose, it was difficult to suppress. However, he had run out of Wasted Pills, so Lin Changheng could only take out two Genuine Red Flame Pills to perform the extraction.

HUMMMM~

At that moment, a sudden change occurred.

In his sea of consciousness, the Primordial Cauldron—glowing with a profound cyan luster and flowing with the rhythm of the Dao—suddenly erupted with cyan light, accompanied by the sound of chiming bells and striking cauldrons.

Red light began to mix within the cauldron, and the misty clouds at its mouth turned a mix of cyan and red.

Then, a profound, high-pitched sound seemed to ring out, and the various strange, ancient beast-shaped patterns carved onto the cauldron’s body began to squirm as if they had come alive.

The beasts’ eyes sharpened, their roars shaking the heavens.

GASP...

This strange transformation made Lin Changheng suck in a sharp breath.

Then the Primordial Cauldron trembled, and everything fell silent.

Afterward, the scene before his eyes changed abruptly—all creation was annihilated, the Void shattered. He looked around to see nothing but a sea of crimson that blotted out the sky, like blood, like flame, constantly expanding and spreading until it consumed his entire field of vision.

Finally, he could see clearly—

It was a colossal, nameless bird of fire, residing in a pure Flame Realm.

Its wings were woven from flowing lava, and every single Feather burned with an undying True Fire. When it spread its wings, it was like a cloud hanging from the heavens, obscuring the sky.

The giant bird lowered its head, its golden pupils like two great suns, reflecting his tiny figure.

Before Lin Changheng could react, the giant bird let out a long cry, its voice shaking the nine heavens!

—The boundless sea of fire suddenly contracted, transforming into billions of streams of flame that poured down like a celestial river, flooding toward him!

Lin Changheng had no time to dodge, couldn’t even dodge. He was unable to even scream before he was engulfed by the terrifying streams of fire from the sky.

’This is...’

In the small courtyard house, a look of terror on his face, Lin Changheng stumbled back two steps. He opened his eyes again, his spirit returning to his body as he broke out in a cold sweat that soaked his back.