Chapter Four: The Sacred Fire Spirit Physique

Upon stepping into the pavilion, Xiao Yi was instantly rendered speechless by the sight before him.

The bookshelves reached from floor to ceiling, stretching endlessly beyond his field of vision. They were packed with ancient texts and scrolls, many of which shimmered with a faint, spiritual luster, clearly indicating they were no ordinary items.

"Is this... the 'Mountain-Burning and Peak-Splitting Fist'?!" He pointed at a bamboo slip on the lowest shelf, his voice trembling. "A Profound-grade high-tier combat technique! Legend says it can shatter a three-zhang block of bluestone with a single punch. At the auction house in Wuwei City, it would fetch at least fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

"The 'Void-Splitting Flash' (Earth-grade low-tier)! A masterpiece among movement techniques; when executed, it leaves behind nine afterimages, making one’s trajectory impossible to track in battle!"

His gaze swept upward, and his breathing grew increasingly rapid. "This... the Earth-grade high-tier 'Ocean-Covering and Cloud-Flowing Manual'! It can channel the water-attribute spiritual energy within a ten-zhang radius to form a protective shield!"

Xiao Yi felt his scalp tingle and his throat go dry. In the outside world, a Yellow-grade mid-tier technique could cause small families to fight to the death. A Profound-grade technique was something mid-tier sects would treasure as a foundation-securing heirloom. As for Earth-grade... that was the kind of thing that invited the covetous eyes of major sects and could trigger rivers of blood!

Yet here, Earth-grade techniques were scattered about like common books, and even Yellow-grade high-tier manuals were relegated to the very bottom shelf.

"This... is this even a library?" Xiao Yi gasped, his heart threatening to leap out of his throat. "This is clearly a treasure trove that would drive every cultivator in the Eastern Territory into a frenzy!"

Just then, an aged and gentle voice echoed in his ears: "Welcome to the Pavilion of Myriad Laws, Xiao Yi."

"Who's there?!" Startled, Xiao Yi spun around, but he saw no one.

"Do not be alarmed; I am the guardian of the Pavilion of Myriad Laws," the voice resonated again, ethereal and distant. "I will select the most suitable technique for you."

Xiao Yi calmed himself and hurriedly cupped his hands in a salute. "Junior Xiao Yi pays his respects to you, Senior!"

*No wonder there are so many techniques here; this is truly the profound heritage of a great sect!* Xiao Yi muttered to himself, his shock still lingering.

A gentle yet irresistible force swept over his entire body, as if meticulously probing his constitution and spiritual resonance. A moment later, a brilliant red light flared deep within the bookshelves, emanating from a secret manual with an antique bronze sheen on its cover.

"This is the 'Heaven-Burning Fire Classic,' a Heaven-grade low-tier cultivation manual," the guardian’s voice held a hint of approval. "It is specifically suited for fire-attribute cultivators. When practiced, it can channel the fire-attribute spiritual energy of heaven and earth, increasing the power of fire-based arts by at least thirty percent."

"H-Heaven-grade low-tier?!"

Xiao Yi felt as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning. He gasped, his eyes wide enough to bulge from their sockets. His hands gripped his robes so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Coming from a cultivation family, he understood better than anyone what a "Heaven-grade technique" represented. In the entire Great Qian Dynasty, there were fewer than ten known Heaven-grade techniques, and each one was regarded as a priceless heirloom by top-tier sects or the Imperial Clan. Even for direct disciples, one had to reach the Golden Core stage just to be eligible to read a fragment!

In the small city of Wuwei, an Earth-grade mid-tier technique was already a treasure kept under lock and key by the major powers. Even his own Xiao family’s ancestral technique was only an incomplete Earth-grade low-tier manual—missing the final three pages—and yet, that alone had allowed the family to hold its ground in Wuwei City for a century.

And now, a complete Heaven-grade low-tier manual was right in front of him. And it was being given to him for nothing.

"S-Senior, this is too valuable..." Xiao Yi’s voice wavered uncontrollably; he felt as though he lacked the strength to even lift his arms. "What merit does this disciple have to accept such a supreme treasure?"

"In the Xuantian Sect, a Heaven-grade technique is merely the foundation," the guardian’s voice carried a trace of a smile. "Moreover, you are worthy of it."

"Me?" Xiao Yi was stunned.

"Do you know what your constitution is?"

"Constitution?" Xiao Yi scratched his head. "This disciple only has an ordinary fire spirit root..."

"Incorrect." The guardian’s voice suddenly became solemn. "You possess the Fire Spirit Sacred Body, a physique seen once in a millennium!"

"Fire Spirit Sacred Body?!" Xiao Yi’s mind buzzed, leaving him completely bewildered. He had never heard the name before, but the term "Sacred Body" alone told him it was no simple matter!

"This constitution is the pinnacle for fire-attribute cultivators. Cultivating fire-based techniques yields twice the result with half the effort, the power of fire spells is multiplied, and you can even directly devour exotic flames for your own use!"

The guardian explained slowly, "However, your Sacred Body has remained dormant. All these years, your spiritual energy was absorbed by your constitution, which is why your cultivation felt stagnant. The Fire Spirit Sacred Body cultivates very slowly, but because of the immense power of fire-based techniques, challenging those at higher cultivation levels is effortless!"

"S-so that's it!" Xiao Yi realized with a mix of shock and delight. No wonder he always felt his spiritual energy was insufficient—it was because his constitution was too heaven-defying! And he could even challenge those at higher levels!

"Now, I shall activate your Sacred Body."

As the words fell, the spiritual energy within the Pavilion of Myriad Laws surged, transforming into countless crimson specks of light that converged upon Xiao Yi. The specks entered his body, instantly turning into streams of scorching heat that surged through his meridians.

Xiao Yi felt as if he had been thrown into a furnace; it was both agonizing and exhilarating, with even the gaps in his bones burning. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to cry out as the fire-attribute spiritual energy within him erupted violently, shattering his long-standing bottlenecks like wet paper!

Fourth level of Qi Refining! Fifth level! In just a few breaths, his cultivation jumped two levels, reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining!

After a long while, the heat gradually subsided. Xiao Yi opened his eyes, feeling his body filled with explosive power. With a light flick of his finger, a nimble flame danced into existence, radiating intense heat.

"This is... the Fire Spirit Sacred Body?" He watched the flame on his fingertip, his eyes flashing with ecstatic joy.

"The Fire Spirit Sacred Body is activated, and the 'Heaven-Burning Fire Classic' will complement you perfectly," the guardian’s voice echoed again. "Cultivate diligently. Do not squander this talent, and do not fail the cultivation of your master."

Xiao Yi clutched the 'Heaven-Burning Fire Classic' tightly, took a deep breath, and bowed deeply to the empty air. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior! This disciple will keep it in his heart!"

He turned and rushed out of the Pavilion of Myriad Laws. Sunlight spilled onto his face, and he was filled with renewed drive.

A Heaven-grade technique! The Fire Spirit Sacred Body! And ten thousand spirit stones!

Xiao Yi clenched his fists, flames burning in his eyes.