Nine Heavens Pagoda....

"Ahm… Master," Jiang Chen said hesitantly.

She continued smiling gently. "Yes?"

Jiang Chen hesitated, his lips trembling slightly as he looked away, unable to hold her gaze. "Um… nothing," he muttered, turning his face sideways, his words trailing off.

Inside, his thoughts churned with confusion. 'What should I even say? I don't know anything right now… Whatever happens, happens.'

Zi Xia watched his expression, her smile deepening as she caught the faint pout on his lips. 'Cute,' she thought, amused. But at the same time, her own nerves whispered in her mind. 'Still, I don't want to embarrass myself either.'

Breaking the silence, she said softly, "Jiang Chen, we need to start your cultivation. Let's focus on that for now. You are far too weak right now, and there's no time to waste."

Hearing her words, Jiang Chen immediately straightened himself, the childish uncertainty on his face replaced with determination. He looked at her with firm resolve. "Yes, Master!"

"There's no need to bathe right now," she said casually. Without warning, Zi Xia flicked her fingers, and a gentle wave of spiritual energy enveloped Jiang Chen. The energy coursed through every pore of his body, cleansing him from the inside out. A refreshing sensation washed over him, leaving him stunned.

"Woahhh…" Jiang Chen exclaimed in awe, feeling lighter and unbelievably refreshed.

"Now you feel better, right?" she asked, her tone filled with a subtle amusement.

"Yes, Master," Jiang Chen nodded quickly, still marveling at the sensation.

"Then let's go."

"Yes, Master… But where?"

Zi Xia didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stretched out her hand, and a small object appeared, hovering above her palm. It was a deep red pagoda with nine levels, intricately engraved with radiant golden patterns that seemed to ripple and shift like molten metal. The pagoda exuded an overwhelming aura of fire and majesty, its energy so intense that it filled the entire room in an instant.

Jiang Chen's chest tightened as the temperature skyrocketed. He felt suffocated, his skin stinging as if it were on fire. The oppressive heat made him drop to his knees, gasping for breath.

The fiery aura was like a blazing sun, untamed and relentless. Yet, just as Jiang Chen felt he couldn't endure it any longer, Zi Xia waved her hand, pulling back the overwhelming energy. The room returned to calm, though the memory of the heat lingered in Jiang Chen's body.

Zi Xia approached him, kneeling beside him to help him up. Her soft touch steadied him as he struggled to catch his breath.

"Master… what is this?" Jiang Chen finally managed to ask, his voice hoarse with awe and disbelief.

Zi Xia's lips curled into a faint smile. "This is my Dharma treasure—the Infernal Nine-Heavens Flame Pagoda."

Before Jiang Chen could respond, the pagoda in her hand pulsed with a deep glow. The next moment, Jiang Chen felt the world twist and pull around him, and before he could react, both he and Zi Xia were sucked into the pagoda.

Inside the First Level: Blazing Ember Foundation

Jiang Chen found himself gasping for breath once again, kneeling on the ground as an unbearable heat surrounded him. The air was thick and heavy, pressing down on his lungs. He felt like he was drowning in fire.

Zi Xia placed a hand on his back, transferring her spiritual energy into his body. A protective film of energy enveloped him, cooling the searing heat and allowing him to breathe freely again.

"Ma… Master, what is this place?" Jiang Chen asked, his voice shaky, his wide eyes scanning the surroundings.

"This," Zi Xia said calmly, "is the first level of the Infernal Nine-Heavens Flame Pagoda. It is called the Blazing Ember Foundation."

Jiang Chen's eyes widened as he took in the landscape. The ground beneath him was blackened volcanic rock, veined with rivers of glowing magma that flowed sluggishly like molten gold. The air shimmered with heat, creating waves of distortion that made the horizon seem unreal. Towering obsidian spires jutted out from the ground, their tips aflame with flickering embers that illuminated the entire realm in shades of red and orange.

Above them, the sky was an eternal twilight, painted in hues of fiery red and amber. Wisps of ash and smoke floated lazily, and faint trails of ember fireflies drifted in the air, leaving sparks behind them. The heat was alive, a living force that pulsed with primal energy, as though the realm itself was the heartbeat of fire.

"This level," Zi Xia continued, her voice steady, "contains the trace of all origin flames—the very essence of fire itself. It is the beginning of what we call 'Flame.' Cultivating here will help you form the strongest foundation related to flames—a foundation so powerful that your body will be able to adapt to any flame, no matter how strong or destructive."

Jiang Chen's mind raced as he tried to process her words. His gaze drifted to the distance, where a massive brazier stood at the heart of the realm. The brazier held a colossal pillar of flame, twisting and writhing as if alive. Its golden-red light cast long shadows across the landscape, and its heat was so intense that even from afar, Jiang Chen felt its power pressing against him.

He looked back at Zi Xia, his voice trembling. "Master… Are you saying the truth? This treasure…"

Zi Xia smiled faintly, her confidence radiating. "What do you think?"

"But… Master, did you get this from the Sect Master or something? This… this is beyond extraordinary!"

At this, Zi Xia sneered, her expression turning icy. "That old geezer? Do you think he'd possess something like this? Hah! Even if he had something even remotely close to this, he wouldn't give it to anyone. That man is nothing but a selfish, senile old bastard. Even demonic cultivators have more honor than him."

Jiang Chen blinked in surprise. "Master, did he… do something to you?"

Zi Xia's sharp gaze turned to him, making him shiver. For a moment, he regretted asking the question, but then she spoke, her tone cold. "He's a scumbag, Jiang Chen. Never trust that man. No, never trust anyone in the Heavenly Sword Sect except me. Do you understand?"

Jiang Chen nodded, though internally, he couldn't help but think, 'Is my master just paranoid, or is this her possessiveness speaking?'

"Do you trust your Master, Jiang Chen?" she asked, her voice softening but her gaze firm.

"I trust you, Master," Jiang Chen replied sincerely.

"Good. Then do as I say."

"Yes, Master." Jiang Chen thought inwardly, 'What does the rest of the sect have to do with me anyway?'

"Now," Zi Xia said, her tone lightening, "let's focus on your cultivation. You said you wanted to master fire first, right? This is the perfect place for it. And with your Aspectual Body… whether you have it or not, this place will confirm it. No one can surpass the cultivation benefits of this site when it comes to fire."

She glanced at him with a smirk. "But this place's energy is far too intense for you right now. We'll start somewhere with weaker energy."

"Yes, Master," Jiang Chen said, relieved. He wasn't about to jump into the flames of hell right away.

With a wave of her hand, Zi Xia lifted him effortlessly. They flew through the sky, her speed breathtaking. Jiang Chen, shielded by her spiritual protective layer, felt none of the pressure of the speed.

Within moments, they landed in a quieter part of the realm. The heat here was manageable, the embers on the ground glowing faintly rather than blazing fiercely.

"Sit here and meditate," Zi Xia instructed, her voice calm.

Jiang Chen nodded, settling into a lotus position and closing his eyes. He began to run his cultivation manual, the gentle heat of the environment seeping into his body.

Zi Xia stood at a distance, watching him silently, her eyes filled with both anticipation and a rare hint of warmth. 'He has so much potential… Let's see how far he can go.'