King of Assassins-Chapter 573 - 450: Karmic Fire Refines the Spirit

Gao Xuan is not an impatient person, but with the duel between Wang Haichan and Li Buyi imminent, he wants to take this opportunity to sneak into the Celestial Secret Palace and retrieve the Kunyuan Divine Spear.
But if the Karma Fire Red Lotus doesn't bloom, he can only wait.
According to Jin Wufeng, the Karma Fire Lotus only blooms once in a billion years. The Kunyuan Divine Spear placed in the Celestial Secret Palace won't be lost.
No matter how it's chosen, Gao Xuan can only choose the Karma Fire Lotus. However, he feels somewhat restless.
At this moment, the Karma Fire Lotus bloomed.
One hundred and eight blood-red petals unfolded layer by layer; with each petal unfolding, the heat in the air increased substantially.
The place was already as scorching as a furnace, and as the temperature continued to rise, Shui Qingbo couldn't withstand it first.
Even with the Nanming Li Flame Sword, Shui Qingbo couldn't endure such high temperatures. The extreme power of Karmic Fire, moreover, directly targeted the Divine Soul.
Noticing the situation wasn't good, Gao Xuan immediately drew Shui Qingbo into the Sleeve Universe.
Originally wanting to let Shui Qingbo absorb some Immortal Qi, it seemed this wasn't a good idea.
Jin Wufeng was indeed cunning. Just the power of the Karma Fire unleashed by the blooming of the Red Lotus was enough to obliterate one's body and soul.
Only with the White Tiger Imperfect Golden Body can one withstand the omnipresent karmic fire.
However, Jin Wufeng overestimated. The Karmic Fire directly targets the Divine Soul, something even the White Tiger Imperfect Golden Body cannot withstand.
With Jin Wufeng's level of Divine Soul, a sweep of Karmic Fire would instantly turn him to ashes.
The Karma Fire Red Lotus, which blooms once in a billion years, is indeed extremely domineering.
Even the Nine Peaks Profound Nether Celestial Robe couldn't withstand the Karma Fire of the Red Lotus. The Vermilion Bird Ring was also just ornamental in the face of the Karmic Fire.
Luckily, the Sleeve Universe's self-contained environment ensures that as long as the Nine Peaks Profound Nether Celestial Robe remains intact, Shui Qingbo stays safe inside.
The crimson Karmic Fire penetrated layers of Spiritual Artifacts and directly impacted Gao Xuan's body.
Gao Xuan's recent arduous training with the White Tiger Imperfect Golden Body also paid off. His body was flawless and without gaps; although the karmic fire was intense, it couldn't enter Gao Xuan's body.
However, within Gao Xuan's sea of consciousness, the sizable patches of karmic fire formed a continuous sea of flames, turning it into a fiery ocean.
Gao Xuan's Divine Soul was trapped in the center of this crimson ocean of fire. Though his Divine Soul Origin was strong, it was still a notch below the Karmic Fire.
Fortunately, his Divine Soul was exceptionally firm, guarding it steadily against the erosion of the Karmic Fire.
He just needed to wait for the Red Lotus to fully bloom and hope the Karmic Fire would naturally retreat.
That's what Gao Xuan thought, but he hadn't expected the full bloom of the Karma Fire Red Lotus to be so frightening.
Each blood-red petal of the sinister and ultimate red lotus, as it fully unfurled, intensified the Karmic Fire.
By the time the outer thirty-six petals unfolded, Gao Xuan already felt the pressure.
The speed of the Red Lotus blooming was swift, but by the time it fully bloomed, his Divine Soul would likely be refined by the Karmic Fire.
Yet, as the master of the Nine Peaks Profound Nether Celestial Robe, he couldn't put himself into the Sleeve Universe.
At this time, even if Gao Xuan wanted to leave, it was too late.
This wasn't Gao Xuan's carelessness; the Six-winged Celestial Cicada hadn't issued any warning. He didn't sense any danger.
As it turned out, the Karma Fire Lotus was unexpectedly so domineering, far beyond his expectations.
It was only at this time that the Six-winged Celestial Cicada flapped its wings, emitting an extremely sharp cry.
Gao Xuan sighed internally; what's the point of calling out now? After all, I trusted you so much.
The White Tiger Imperfect Golden Body could withstand the Karmic Fire for a while. The key is that the Karmic Fire isn't very destructive to material. The real power of the Karmic Fire lies in burning the Divine Soul.
Gao Xuan thought of berating Jin Wufeng. Truly lacking in learning, daring to take on the Karma Fire Lotus with the half-baked White Tiger Imperfect Golden Body was a sure way to die.
As the Six-winged Celestial Cicada's cries reached an even higher pitch, the power of Karmic Fire had permeated Gao Xuan's Divine Soul.
For the first time, Gao Xuan experienced the excruciating pain of the Divine Soul burning. Physical pain, after all, has its limits.
Pain at the level of the Divine Soul has no limits.
Only at this moment did Gao Xuan understand the cruelness of refining the Divine Soul. He even thought it was too lenient with Yang Yunjun.
With his Divine Soul invaded by the Karmic Fire, all Gao Xuan's negative emotions erupted at once.
In his previous life, muddling along aimlessly, he died an unclear death.
Given a new chance, even though he had a good hand dealt, he had still done some foolish things.
Like the Nine-Revolutions Divine Cicada incident, without any assurance on his part, he rushed to accept the trial, genuinely thinking he was the Master of Heavenly Mandate.
All of Gao Xuan's memories flooded forth, and the associated negative emotions became fuel for the Karmic Fire, causing Gao Xuan's Divine Soul to burn even more fiercely.
The severe pain at the Divine Soul level, conversely, became further fuel for the Karmic Fire. Circling in this fashion, Gao Xuan's Divine Soul was on the verge of disintegrating into ashes in the Karmic Fire.
Gao Xuan knew he had to suppress the pain on the Divine Soul level, not to be swayed by negative emotions.
But knowing is one thing, being able to do it is another matter entirely.
The agony at the level of the Divine Soul couldn't be restrained by any means. It wasn't something Gao Xuan could control.
The only thing Gao Xuan could control was his heart, his emotions.
After all, he was an assassin, becoming increasingly calm at the most critical juncture, even if the agony in his Divine Soul almost tore him into a thousand pieces.
By this time, the second layer of the Karma Fire Lotus's petals was just opening; another thirty-six inner circle petals were poised to bloom one by one.
Gao Xuan knew that if he couldn't restrain the Karmic Fire now, he truly would be doomed.
Of course, this was also a rare opportunity to refine the Divine Soul.
Usually, when Gao Xuan observed his own Divine Soul, it was clear and bright as glass, seemingly possessing the ability to endure through ten thousand lifetimes.
Under the Karmic Fire, Gao Xuan realized just how fragile his Divine Soul was. The seemingly glass-like clarity of his Divine Soul hid innumerable negative emotions, hiding countless tiny flaws.
The so-called unity of inner and outer, Primordial Immaculate, was merely his own assumption.
Having undergone so many world trials, his progress on the Divine Soul level was limited.
However, he did eventually make some progress.
In past lives and present, the trials of several worlds, centuries of cultivation within the Book of Genesis, all these add up to a millennium.
Gao Xuan reflects on his myriad experiences, considering the most vital to be the self-confidence given by the Celestial Mandate.
Reborn, I am the Master of Heavenly Mandate. Nothing can escape my control.
Thinking of this, Gao Xuan declares solemnly on the soul level, "I am the Celestial Mandate!"
This is not a slogan shouted by Gao Xuan but the activation of the Six-winged Celestial Cicada, summoning the Aurora Sword·Celestial Mandate.
Though he holds no sword in his hand, nor is there any Sword Artifact in his soul, with the three pairs of wings of his Lifebound Marvel, the Six-winged Celestial Cicada, Gao Xuan is sufficient to manifest the Celestial Mandate.
The Six-winged Celestial Cicada is also the only divine marvel that exists within Gao Xuan's soul.
Grasping the key insight, the Six-winged Celestial Cicada immediately responds, with all three pairs of translucent wings vibrating at high frequency.
At this moment, Gao Xuan recalls his experience of reincarnation through Transformed Zen in the first world.
He took the Six-winged Celestial Cicada as his Lifebound Marvel, yet never considered himself as the Six-winged Celestial Cicada.
Clearly, he is the master of the Six-winged Celestial Cicada. The Six-winged Celestial Cicada is merely a marvel, a marvel that grants him immense power.
At this critical juncture, Gao Xuan understands the principle that he is indeed the Six-winged Celestial Cicada, but he never truly comprehended its essence.
To wield the Six-winged Celestial Cicada without understanding its nature, how could one fully unleash its true power?
Living the life of a cicada allowed him to understand a cicada's survival habits and wisdom.
Although that cicada was not the Six-winged Celestial Cicada, the principle remains the same.
Gao Xuan grasped this vital principle, and naturally, his divine soul became one with the Six-winged Celestial Cicada, inseparable.
The layers of karmic fire on the Six-winged Celestial Cicada evaporated under the high-frequency vibration of its three pairs of wings.
The agile Six-winged Celestial Cicada could find gaps amidst the layers of karmic fire, evading its encirclement.
At this time, the thirty-six petals of the third layer of the Karma Fire Red Lotus bloomed one by one.
The power of the karmic fire increased once again.
Although the Celestial Mandate Gao Xuan wielded was marvelous, it could not withstand the enhanced karmic fire.
The dark golden Six-winged Celestial Cicada also turned into a bright red in the karmic fire. The three pairs of rapidly vibrating wings could not resist the red karmic fire.
Gao Xuan thought, the Celestial Mandate is a great force; by being reborn and relying on the Six-winged Celestial Cicada, he had the upper hand everywhere, riding the trend, only then could he say the Celestial Mandate is with him!
It is not that having the Celestial Mandate allows one to manipulate destiny at will.
At this moment, as the Karma Fire Red Lotus blooms, the karmic fire incinerates all divine souls, that is the great force. At this moment, the celestial mandate is not his to master.
No matter his confidence in 'I am the Celestial Mandate', he couldn't change the reality.
Gao Xuan reflected on his life, questioning what insights truly aligned with his heart?
Was it the agility of retreating thousands of miles if a strike missed? The meticulousness of anticipating the enemy? The perseverance that wouldn't give in from countless thwartings? The decisive determination of slashing and conquering? The courage without fear of life and death? The rebellion against being bound by rules?
Gao Xuan felt none of these were right; these are his traits, his nature, yet insufficient to confront the enormous change ahead.
Gao Xuan thought of that Martial Arts World, thought of the Thirteen Grand Protectors' Cross Training, thought of the Sumeru Mountain Spear.
In that world, he realized the simplest principle: to defy means to rebel!
Why defy? By relying on unparalleled power!
Why is the Thirteen Grand Protectors' Cross Training so strong? It's precisely because of its overwhelming power, allowing one to act with no constraints.
If the Celestial Mandate is not with me, then I shall rise with all my might and fight.
At this point, the Thirteen Grand Protectors' Cross Training Method naturally emerged in his heart.
He did not need to temper his body now, only needed to use this extremely overpowering will to bolster his divine soul.
A divine soul is born innately but is controlled by acquired emotions and consciousness.
Gao Xuan adopted the tyrannical power and intent of the Thirteen Grand Protectors' Cross Training to fortify his divine soul, reconstructing its energy center around this concept.
The karmic fire disregarded Gao Xuan's comprehension, as its power already penetrated his divine soul inside and out.
Just when Gao Xuan's divine soul was about to shatter, golden light gleamed from his soul, proactively dispersing into countless specks of golden light.
In an instant, the dispersed golden light recombined into a Six-winged Celestial Cicada.
Through destruction, decomposition, and reformation, Gao Xuan's divine soul shed all the karmic fire.
Filaments of dark gold emerged on the surface of the Six-winged Celestial Cicada, rapidly transforming into a dark gold cocoon, completely encapsulating Gao Xuan's divine soul.
At this time, the one hundred and eight petals of the Karma Fire Red Lotus fully opened.
The blooming lotus displayed an unmatched beauty of vitality, as if condensing all the world's beauty within it.
However, the power of karmic fire simultaneously peaked.
The most beautiful red lotus is born in death and destruction.
The dark gold cocoon silently melted in the karmic fire, revealing Gao Xuan's divine soul.
This time, Gao Xuan's divine soul was no longer in the shape of a Six-winged Celestial Cicada but returned to its original appearance.
However, his divine soul body appeared exceptionally solid, no longer as translucent as glass but more like gold-cast, with firm and fluid muscle lines, seemingly holding infinite strength.
The overwhelmingly powerful divine soul state, from inside to outside, exuded a sovereign, domineering force.
This force was so solid and tough that even the strong karmic fire was directly repelled by the divine soul's power.
Under the tempering of karmic fire, Gao Xuan's Undying Golden Cicada underwent a transformation which allowed him to regenerate from destruction.
At this moment, the Six-winged Celestial Cicada transformed into a Dark Gold Armor, enveloping Gao Xuan's divine soul.
Gao Xuan felt a form of enlightenment, only at this moment did the Mechanical Battle Cicada, Undying Golden Cicada, and Six-winged Celestial Cicada truly unite, and truly merge completely with his divine soul.
Reaching this stage, karmic fire no longer posed any threat.
Gao Xuan could also leisurely appreciate the beauty of the Karma Fire Red Lotus when it bloomed fiercely, regardless of its origin, the sight of the red lotus in full bloom was indeed unsurpassably beautiful.
After reaching the zenith of its bloom, the one hundred and eight petals of the Karma Fire Red Lotus withered instantly, leaving only three radiant golden lotus seeds in the center of the lotus pod, shimmering with pure, exquisite golden light in the air...