These two were the most important effects of the Seven-Colored Lotus. Beyond them, it had many other uses—enough that on the Celestial Profound Continent, countless powerhouses would vie for it.

The Seven-Colored Lotus had the same effect on Demon Beasts and Profound Beasts as it did on human Martial Artists.

’No wonder this place has attracted so many Profound Beasts. If news of the Seven-Colored Lotus got out in the outside world, I’m afraid even some Tier Seven Martial Kings and Tier Eight Martial Emperors would be drawn here.’

This was no joke. A Tier Seven Seven-Colored Lotus could provide a noticeable boost even to experts at the Martial Emperor Level.

’I have to get my hands on this Seven-Colored Lotus.’

Ye Xuan’s eyes glinted as he made up his mind.

He had come to the Floating Light Secret Realm precisely for its treasures. Now that he had found the Seven-Colored Lotus, it was impossible not to be tempted.

If he could obtain the Seven-Colored Lotus, it would be a net gain even if he had to spend his entire month in the Floating Light Secret Realm just for this.

But with so many Profound Beasts and Demon Beasts around, trying to snatch the Seven-Colored Lotus from their midst by rushing in recklessly was out of the question.

’I have to come up with a plan.’

Ye Xuan’s mind raced as he considered his options.

For a moment, he couldn’t think of any good ideas.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the numerous Demon Beasts present.

’If I could enslave a Tier Five Demon Beast, my chances of obtaining the Seven-Colored Lotus would increase dramatically.’

Ye Xuan set his sights on the few Tier Five Demon Beasts in the area.

However, it seemed those Tier Five Demon Beasts were already under the control of the three Profound Beasts. Furthermore, Ye Xuan wasn’t confident that his own Three-Stars Devouring Martial Soul could even subdue a Tier Five Demon Beast.

BOOM!

Just then, a dazzling beam of light erupted from the crimson glow at the lake’s center.

POP! POP! POP!

Like a bolt of lightning, the beam of crimson light shot out from the cavern ceiling, piercing through innumerable layers of rock to soar into the heavens.

At the same time, the entire Magma Lake began to churn violently. A torrential wave of fiery power swept out in all directions, annihilating everything in its path.

The three Tier Five Profound Beasts immediately sensed the danger and led the other Demon Beasts in a hasty retreat. However, a few Tier Four Demon Beasts failed to dodge in time and were instantly engulfed by the red energy erupting from the Magma Lake.

With shrill cries, the Demon Beasts were instantly turned to ash, leaving no trace behind.

’What terrifying flame energy.’

’Is the Seven-Colored Lotus finally maturing?’

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Unable to restrain their impulses, two Tier Four Profound Beasts instantly charged toward the center of the Magma Lake.

Seeing this, a mocking look appeared in the eyes of the three Tier Five Profound Beasts on the shore.

BOOM!

The next moment, a flare of fiery energy erupted from the Seven-Colored Lotus. The two Profound Beasts’ eyes widened in terror, and they were incinerated instantly, not even having time to scream.

’Idiots.’

’Once the Seven-Colored Lotus grows its seventh blossom, it forms a Fire Element energy shield around itself. As long as the lotus isn’t fully mature, that shield won’t break, and any creature that approaches will be incinerated.’

’That beam of light must have been a sign that it’s about to mature. At this rate, it won’t be long now.’

The three Tier Five Profound Beasts communicated among themselves while simultaneously releasing a terrifying wave of Soul Power, creating a boundary that forbade all other Demon Beasts from approaching the lake’s edge.

The disturbance caused by the Seven-Colored Lotus immediately alerted the Martial Artists lying in wait outside the cavern.

In fact, the beam of light that soared into the heavens was seen with perfect clarity by every expert who had entered the Floating Light Secret Realm.

「In a certain valley.」

Chairman Zhu Tianlan of the Celestial Gold Kingdom shattered a Tier Four Demon Beast with a single palm strike. He then looked up abruptly toward the distant sky, his expression visibly stirred.

"Such a terrifying fiery aura... Could a rare treasure be emerging?"

With a thick note of surprise in his voice, Zhu Tianlan’s figure flickered, and he shot off toward the source of the disturbance.

「Several hundred miles away.」

Chairman Dongfang Yanyu also looked up in astonishment.

"This fiery energy... it’s incredibly similar to the Earth Fire aura I sensed before. Could that be its location?"

「In another dense forest.」

Luan Hong looked up in surprise.

"This fiery energy... it’s powerful, yet brimming with vitality. Could it be the emergence of some high-grade treasure? Judging from the aura, it must be at least Tier Six or higher."

With a look of excitement and astonishment, Luan Hong’s figure flickered and vanished.

In an instant, countless human experts throughout the Floating Light Secret Realm sensed the phenomenon and began to swarm toward its source.

Deep within the underground cavern, a look of profound surprise appeared on Ye Xuan’s face.

The moment the Seven-Colored Lotus released that crimson beam, he had keenly sensed a trace of an extraordinary power.

’The Seven-Colored Lotus may be a Tier Seven Spirit Medicine, and it can release terrifying power upon maturing, but that aura just now... it shot to the heavens and spread for over a thousand miles. A Seven-Colored Lotus is definitely not capable of that.’

Ye Xuan frowned, muttering to himself.

His knowledge of Spirit Medicines was flawless; he was certain of it. As powerful as the Seven-Colored Lotus was, its aura should, at most, only be detectable by those in the immediate vicinity of this mountain.

But the range of the energy released just now was far too wide, far exceeding the limits of a Seven-Colored Lotus.

This gave Ye Xuan the keen sense that something was amiss.

’Could there be another Fire Element treasure beneath this Seven-Colored Lotus?’

It wasn’t impossible.

The conditions required for a Seven-Colored Lotus to grow were extremely strict; it couldn’t just sprout anywhere.

In fact, for any Spirit Medicine of Tier Six or higher to mature, it required specific external conditions.

And that faint power mixed in with the Seven-Colored Lotus’s aura... it felt familiar to Ye Xuan.

’That feeling... it’s so familiar. What is it?’

Ye Xuan frowned, deep in thought, trying to grasp the fleeting idea at the edge of his mind.

Suddenly, he glimpsed a flicker of flame dance across the Magma Lake. As if he had realized something, his eyes lit up, then immediately filled with shock.

He finally understood why the aura felt so familiar. In his past life, he had once encountered a type of Celestial Fire, and its aura was identical to what he was sensing now.

’Could there be a Celestial Fire in this Magma Lake?’

Excitement immediately surged through Ye Xuan.

Among the various types of unusual flames, Demon Fires were the most common, Earth Fires were more powerful, and Celestial Fires were the most terrifying of all.

Legend told that the entire Celestial Profound Continent held countless Demon Fires and hundreds of Earth Fires, but only eighteen types of Celestial Fire.

Each of these eighteen Celestial Fires was one-of-a-kind, and each possessed heaven-defying power.

Any single one of them was enough to drive even a Tier Nine Emperor Level Alchemist into a frenzied pursuit.

But the movements of Celestial Fires were too ephemeral and secretive. Though legends spoke of eighteen types, records from the last millennium only documented the discovery of seven or eight, and the number actually obtained by Alchemists was smaller still.

In his past life, despite being a Tier Nine Emperor Level Alchemist, the strongest flame Ye Xuan had possessed was merely the Heart Marrow Fire, which ranked third among all Earth Fires.

And while the Heart Marrow Fire was considered incredibly powerful on the Celestial Profound Continent, it fell far short when compared to a Celestial Fire.

He had encountered a Celestial Fire in his past life as well, but unfortunately, he had failed to capture it.

Therefore, upon realizing that a Celestial Fire might be hidden here, Ye Xuan was so thrilled that his entire body trembled.

He cautiously observed the activity on the lake, constantly probing that aura with his senses.

’This is definitely a Celestial Fire.’

The more Ye Xuan observed, the more certain he became.

Both Celestial Fires and Earth Fires are natural phenomena, but there is one crucial difference between them: Celestial Fires possess life, whereas Earth Fires do not.

While a Celestial Fire is forming, it develops a trace of rudimentary sentience. This sentience might not be advanced, but it allows the flame to instinctively seek fortune and avoid calamity, giving it a capacity for subconscious action.

Ye Xuan’s eyes shone. He was now determined to find the Celestial Fire within the Magma Lake.

Compared to a Celestial Fire, the Seven-Colored Lotus, as precious as it was, now seemed insignificant.

’I just don’t know what stage this Celestial Fire has reached. If it was just born, I might have a chance of subduing it. But if it’s already matured to a certain degree, trying to tame it with my current strength would be suicide.’

Ye Xuan mused.

The power of a Celestial Fire was terrifying. Before a fully-formed Celestial Fire, even a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor would be as helpless as an infant, instantly incinerated.

However, since this Celestial Fire had only managed to nurture a Seven-Colored Lotus, it likely hadn’t grown too powerful yet.

Otherwise, its aura wouldn’t be so faint. The emergence of a true Celestial Fire should have been enough to obliterate the entire mountain.

After learning of the possible existence of a Celestial Fire, Ye Xuan’s entire perspective shifted.

He commanded the Ground-Drilling Armor to immediately begin withdrawing from the mountain.

He could tell at a glance that the Seven-Colored Lotus was still three days away from maturing. In those three days, he had to prepare to subdue the Celestial Fire.

SQUEAK SQUEAK!

Just as Ye Xuan was preparing to leave, the Little Purple Mink appeared on his shoulder and began to squeak in protest. Its eyes were glued to the Seven-Colored Lotus in the lake beyond the rocks, gleaming with desire.

’This little fellow is such a treasure-fiend.’

Ye Xuan was speechless. He knew how tempting the Seven-Colored Lotus was to the Little Purple Mink, but right now, its importance to him had greatly diminished.

"Who?"

The Little Purple Mink’s movements had been faint, but they had instantly alerted the three Tier Five Profound Beasts by the lake.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

A few Demon Beasts immediately charged over, swiping a claw at the ground where Ye Xuan was hiding.

’Not good, they found me.’ Ye Xuan’s heart sank.

RUMBLE!

The rocky ground was smashed open, revealing a huge hole as rubble flew and dust billowed.

The Demon Beast was about to strike again.

SQUEAK SQUEAK!

With an angry squeak, the Little Purple Mink transformed into a streak of purple lightning and shot out, slamming into the Demon Beast’s abdomen.

BOOM!

The Demon Beast, a full three meters tall, howled in pain as it was sent flying backward. Arcs of electricity coursed over its body, and a scorched, black wound appeared on its abdomen.

WHOOSH!

The Little Purple Mink appeared by the lake, its expression a mask of contempt and pride.