[Consume 15 years of Lifespan to repair the [Nine Flames Profound Art] to completion?]

Confirm.

In an instant, Jiang Chen plunged into a profound state of enlightenment. Countless insights, techniques, and nuances regarding the Nine Flames Profound Art flooded his mind. Under the System’s omnipotent guidance, the fragmented manual stitched itself back together, flaws vanishing, logic perfecting.

He didn’t know how much time passed before he snapped awake.

[Nine Flames Profound Art: First Layer (Complete)]

Effect One: [Flame Perception] – Detect open flames within five zhang.

Effect Two: [Flame Conjuration] – Condense two fist-sized fireballs.

Effect Three: [Imbue] – Attacks gain +20% Fire Damage.

Effect Four: [Ward] – Fire Damage reduction +30%.

Special Effect One: [Shield-Breaking Blaze] – Flames possess innate shield-piercing properties.

Jiang Chen’s eyes lit up. The completed First Layer already surpassed the Third Layer of the Blazing Oil Technique. That shield-breaking property alone made it lethal.

Hungry for more, he pushed further.

[Consume 3 years of Lifespan to raise the [Nine Flames Profound Art] to the Second Layer?]

Confirm.

The crimson fireball hovering in his palm shifted. The deep red hue brightened, bleeding into a vibrant orange. While the temperature doubled, the flame began to radiate a strange, hypnotic halo.

“Gah!”

A Fire Crow suddenly shrieked and dove from the rafters, aiming straight for the fire in Jiang Chen’s hand.

Jiang Chen wasn’t worried about burning the bird—he was worried about wasting the Qi needed to re-summon the flame. He jerked his hand back, and the crow missed, tumbling through the air.

Undeterred, the bird spun around, eyes locked onto the orange flame with fanatical obsession.

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. “First Layer is Crimson, focused on destruction. Second Layer is Orange… and it seems to have a mental effect?”

He commanded the crow to leave. The bird hesitated, caught between the master’s order and the irresistible lure of the flame. After a long moment of struggle, discipline won out, and it reluctantly flew out the window.

Jiang Chen closed the shutters and checked the panel.

[Nine Flames Profound Art: Second Layer]

Effect One: [Flame Perception] – Range increased to ten zhang.

Effect Two: [Mental Interference] – Bewilders the consciousness of living beings within ten zhang.

Effect Three: [Compression] – Fireball volume halved, power doubled.

Effect Four: [Imbue] – Attacks gain +30% Fire Damage.

Effect Five: [Ward] – Fire Damage reduction +40%.

Special Effect One: [Shield-Breaking Blaze]

Special Effect Two: [Heart-Bewitching Illusionary Flame]

“No wonder it acted like a moth to a flame,” Jiang Chen mused. “The Illusionary Flame literally hacks the brain.”

His ambition flared. Why stop here?

[Consume 37 years of Lifespan to raise the [Nine Flames Profound Art] to the Ninth Layer?]

It was the most expensive upgrade yet—a total investment of 55 years. But the potential was terrifying.

“Do it.”

He didn’t hesitate. Lifespan was just a number to a farmer.

Whoosh.

The fireball in his hand shifted again. Orange deepened into a brilliant, pure Yellow.

The flame shrank to the size of a baby’s fist, but the heat radiating from it was apocalyptic. Invisible waves of distortion rippled outward, warping the air.

A sharp, acrid smell filled the room. Jiang Chen’s spiritual sense swept out—wooden bowls on the table were turning to ash just from the ambient heat.

Suddenly, a violent red warning flashed in his vision.

[WARNING: HOST REALM INSUFFICIENT] [WARNING: HOST FIRE SPIRIT QI INSUFFICIENT]

Jiang Chen froze. “What?”

[Current Realm insufficient to control Max-Level Art. Continued escalation will result in Host death.]

Jiang Chen broke out in a cold sweat. The System quickly clarified.

[Nine Flames Profound Art: Layers 1-3 (Foundation Establishment). Layers 4-9 (Golden Core).]

He understood immediately. The technique was too powerful. Trying to wield the upper layers with a Foundation Establishment body was like trying to hold a star in a paper cup.

He was currently at the Mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Reaching Golden Core would take time.

He checked his current status. He had been forcefully capped at the Third Layer.

[Nine Flames Profound Art: Third Layer]

Effect One: [Flame Perception] – Range fifteen zhang.

Effect Two: [Mental Interference] – Range fifteen zhang.

Effect Three: [Evil Perception] – Detect Yin-Evil energy within fifteen zhang.

Effect Four: [Compression] – Condense three highly compressed fireballs.

Effect Five: [Imbue] – Attacks gain +40% Fire Damage.

Effect Six: [Purge] – +30% Damage vs. Yin-Evil targets.

Effect Seven: [Ward] – Fire Damage reduction +50%.

Effect Eight: [Resilience] – Negative status effect reduction +30%.

Special Effect One: [Shield-Breaking Blaze]

Special Effect Two: [Heart-Bewitching Illusionary Flame]

Special Effect Three: [Righteous-Yang Flame]

“Eight passive effects and three specials… at just the Third Layer?” Jiang Chen stared at the yellow flame dancing in his palm. The heat it emitted felt incredibly close to the Earth Fire used in the Alchemy Hall.

This wasn’t just a combat spell. With this level of flame control and temperature, he could skip renting alchemy rooms entirely. He could refine pills—and even forge artifacts—right here.

Jiang Chen clenched his fist, extinguishing the flame.

He looked around the room. It was a disaster. The table was scorched black, the wooden bowls were piles of gray ash, and the walls were singed.

“I need to move,” he muttered. “If I try to refine pills in a wooden shack, I’ll burn the roof down over my head. Collapsing a house because the heating was too high… that would be too embarrassing.”