Leon stood atop a mountain. But the abyss below looked nothing like an abyss.

It resembled a boundless sea of fire stretching endlessly into the distance. Rivers of molten lava flowed through the landscape, illuminating the world with a crimson glow. Even standing this far away, sweat poured down Leon’s face like a fountain. The scorching heat made his skin ache.

"Fuck..." Leon wiped the sweat from his forehead. "System, from now on, you should just call these suicide missions. What the hell is this place? And what exactly am I supposed to do here?"

The system responded immediately.

[Host is currently standing before the famous Hell’s Pool of Nexar.]

[This place serves as the burial ground of the firstborn princes of the 14th Generation Primordial Phoenix Clan.]

Leon blinked. "Huh? Phoenixes?" He frowned. "Don’t those only exist in myths? And why does a phoenix graveyard look like this? Are all phoenix burial grounds giant seas of fire?"

[Negative, Host.]

[The firstborn prince of the 14th Generation Primordial Phoenix Clan was Renata, a being regarded as the strongest phoenix ever born throughout history. Phoenixes are symbols of rebirth and resurrection. However, when the proud Renata died, she rejected resurrection. Instead of returning to life, she allowed her soul to remain within this place. The flames covering Hell’s Pool were created by her lingering soul. Their purpose is to prevent anyone from entering.]

Leon’s expression stiffened. "To stop people from entering?" He pointed at himself. "And you still want me to go in there? So I can piss off the strongest phoenix in history and die a horrible death?"

[Host possesses permission to enter Hell’s Pool.]

Leon blinked in surprise. "I have permission? Why?"

A brief silence followed. Then the system answered.

[Answer unknown.]

[The system does not possess that information.]

Leon’s eye twitched. "Very helpful."

He looked down at the endless inferno below.

The flames twisted and surged like living creatures, making the entire region resemble a corner of hell itself. A shiver ran down his spine despite the unbearable heat.

’This place has seven levels?’ Leon swallowed. ’I will just die if I even stand here for more than one hour. What fucking 7 levels. This is the true definition of insane.’

"Can I come back later and do this mission?" Leon asked hopefully.

[Negative, Host.]

Leon’s face darkened. "Then what am I supposed to do?" he complained. "Even if I somehow survive this place, it’ll take me years to reach the seventh level."

He rubbed his forehead in frustration. "I don’t have that much time. Not even close. I still have my college finals to attend. Then there’s the military training camp assessment. I have less than twelve days left." He let out a sigh.

[The gate used by the host to reach the mission location is a Heaven-Grade Time Loop Gate.

Considering Host’s shortage of time, this special facility was arranged.

Due to passing through the Time Loop Gate, the flow of time has been altered.

Ten days in this world are equivalent to one hour in Host’s original world.]

Leon’s eyes widened. "For real?" He stared at the system panel in disbelief. "Something like that is actually possible?"

[Affirmative, Host.]

A smile immediately appeared on Leon’s face. "Good. Very good."

At least the issue of time had been solved.

However, the moment his gaze landed on the endless sea of flames below, his expression stiffened again. The inferno stretched beyond the horizon, radiating enough heat to make his skin sting even from this distance.

Leon couldn’t help but gulp. "But... What’s the use of having all the time in the world if I’m not even alive to use it?"

[The current mission is extremely difficult because the rewards are exceptionally valuable.]

[Reward 1: Blue Flame]

[Description: The most basic requirement for becoming an alchemist is possessing an alchemy flame. Among all alchemy flames, the Blue Flame is considered the strongest.]

[Reward 2: Great Scripture of Alchemy]

[Description: Contains the recipes for every pill from Grade 1 to Mythic Grade.]

Leon stared at the rewards for a moment. "But what exactly is alchemy?"

[Alchemy is the art of refining pills from raw materials. Alchemy pills possess a wide variety of effects. They can help cultivators break through bottlenecks, cure diseases, strengthen the body, enhance abilities, improve bloodlines, and much more.]

[In the cultivation world, talent in alchemy is often considered more valuable than talent in cultivation itself.]

Leon’s eyes narrowed. Of all the benefits the system had listed, only one caught his attention.

"What kind of diseases can it cure?"

[Any disease.]

[There is no disease in existence that cannot be cured through alchemy.]

Leon’s heart skipped a beat. "Even if someone is in a coma?"

[Affirmative, Host.]

Silence fell. Leon lowered his head, his thoughts drifting elsewhere. ’Even a coma...’

His mother’s face surfaced in his memory.

Then the face of the mysterious figure from his dream. The centipede.

Words echoed in his mind. ’If you want your mother to wake up from her slumber someday... if you want to do what you are meant to do, which you’ve forgotten, then kill that worm.’

Leon’s fists slowly tightened. ’Is this what he meant? Was this the reason he told me to kill that centipede?’

For the first time since arriving at Hell’s Pool, the blazing sea of fire before him no longer seemed quite as intimidating. A new determination ignited within his eyes.

’If alchemy can really wake Mother up... Then I will clear this mission even if I have to die a million times.’

Leon gritted his teeth and stepped forward. The moment he moved closer, the temperature surged again. His skin felt as though it were being pierced by countless burning needles. And he hadn’t even reached the First Level yet.

A sense of dread crept into his heart. But he didn’t stop. He closed his eyes.

And then...

He jumped.

The instant his body descended toward the First Level, flames engulfed him.

Hiss!

His flesh began to melt almost immediately.

Skin blackened. Muscles shriveled. In the blink of an eye, patches of white bone became visible beneath the burning flesh.

"AAAAAAARRRGGGHHHHHHHHH!"

[Fire Resistance: 0.21%]

[Fire Resistance: 0.24%]

[Fire Resistance: 0.27%]

A guttural scream tore from Leon’s throat. The sound echoed throughout Hell’s Pool, carrying across the mountains and driving away every living creature in the surrounding region.

The pain was indescribable. It felt as though every cell in his body was being burned alive.

Yet the flames showed no mercy. They continued devouring him relentlessly.

By the time Leon finally crashed onto the ground of the First Level, most of the flesh on his body had already been scorched away.

Large portions of bone were exposed to the air. And even those bones seemed to be slowly burning.

His vision blurred. His consciousness began to fade. Leon could feel his life slipping away with every passing second.

’No. I have to do it. I have to endure it.’

He forced himself to endure the suffering but his knees buckled. His body swayed.

He was almost about to collapse...

But suddenly...

Two streaks of crimson light shot out from the depths of Hell’s Pool. They pierced through the sea of flames like meteors and raced straight toward him.