I asked you to go down the mountain and get married, not to shock the world!

Mingchuan's face was also somewhat pale. Continuously activating the Nine Dragon Sword for high-intensity travel and defense had taken a heavy toll on him.

He sheathed the Nine Dragons Sword, glanced at the jade box in his hand that exuded a faint chill, and a hint of relieved joy flashed in his eyes.

"Finally got it."

He smiled and gently opened the box lid a crack.

Instantly, an indescribable fragrance and vibrant life force spread out, making the surrounding raging fire elemental energy seem to become somewhat docile.

The Glazed Golden Flame Fruit lay quietly in the box, its interior swirling with golden flames, a truly magnificent sight.

Jizhou leaned closer, looking at the divine fruit with curiosity and awe, and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Ming, what exactly is the use of this fruit? It seems much more powerful than the Earth Fire Red Lotus!"

Mingchuan closed the box and carefully put it away before explaining, "The Glazed Golden Flame Fruit is a divine object that can only be nurtured by the essence of the earth's core fire veins over ten thousand years. Its efficacy lies mainly in the word 'origin'."

He paused, then continued, "For low-level cultivators, it can refine their innate qualities, reshape their foundation, and greatly enhance their cultivation potential and affinity with fire-type spiritual energy."

For high-level cultivators, especially those facing a bottleneck in their cultivation realm, the wisp of golden flame within it has an extremely small chance of igniting their divine fire, allowing them to glimpse a trace of the mysteries of the laws, and laying an almost impossible foundation for future breakthroughs into the Nascent Soul stage or even higher realms.

“Ignite the divine fire…” Ji Zhou murmured repeatedly. Although he didn’t quite understand the specific meaning, he knew how heaven-defying it was just from the description.

He couldn't help but gasp, "If word gets out about this, the entire Spirit Realm will probably go crazy, right?"

“Therefore, this matter is between you and me, and must not be revealed to anyone else.” Mingchuan solemnly instructed, “Possessing such a treasure is a crime. Before you have sufficient strength, if such a divine object is exposed, it will be a fatal disaster.”

“I understand!” Ji Zhou nodded solemnly immediately, fully aware of the implications.

Mingchuan nodded in satisfaction, then looked around.

After the fierce battle and the upheaval at the bottom of the lake, the energy in this area became extremely unstable. The golden sparks floating in the air became more concentrated and active, and several uneasy roars from other monsters could be heard in the distance, clearly disturbed by the previous commotion.

"This place is not safe to stay for long," Mingchuan judged. "You've just broken through and experienced a series of changes. You need to find a quiet place to thoroughly consolidate your realm and familiarize yourself with the power of the Core Formation stage. I also need to recover from my energy depletion."

This hidden realm seems more complex than we imagined. Let's retreat to the outer area and find a safe place.

“Okay, I’ll listen to Ming.” Ji Zhou naturally had no objections.

Without further delay, Mingchuan identified the direction and led Jizhou along the way, carefully avoiding several areas with abnormally turbulent energy, and quickly headed towards the entrance of the secret realm.

Along the way, Jizhou could clearly feel the changes in his body.

The spiritual energy surged endlessly, the five senses became more acute, and the speed at which the perception and absorption of the surrounding fire elemental energy far exceeded that of the past.

He even tried to control a wisp of spiritual power at his fingertips. The crimson-gold spiritual light was solid and gentle, carrying a restrained heat, completely different from its previous impure state.

Is this the Core Formation stage? And it's already stepped directly into the middle stage!

Jizhou's heart was filled with anticipation for the future and endless gratitude for Mingchuan!

Mingchuan, while traveling, was also making plans in his mind.

Jizhou's rapid growth proved his foresight and also gave him a reliable assistant.

Now that he has obtained such a divine object as the Glazed Golden Flame Fruit, it will be of immense benefit to his future cultivation path.

This trip to the hidden realm yielded far more rewards than expected.

However, he vaguely sensed that this Burning Heaven Secret Realm was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

The spatial node at the bottom of the lake, the naturally formed protective array, and the powerful lava fire lizard...

All of this seems to point to a deeper secret within the secret realm.

Perhaps, once we have enough strength, it will be necessary to explore this area again.

But now, the primary task is to digest the gains made this time and improve our strength.

The two figures darted swiftly through the crimson sky and earth, gradually disappearing into the distance, leaving behind only the still restless lava lake and the secret at its bottom, temporarily sealed yet still containing infinite possibilities.

Soon, Mingchuan chose a spot where he was backed by a red rock wall and in front of him was a natural barrier formed by several strange rocks burning with eerie blue flames.

Although the fire elemental energy here is not as dense as in the depths, it is gentler and more stable, and less likely to be disturbed.

With a wave of his hand, he set up several simple concealment and protection barriers, isolating this place from the outside world.

To avoid being unintentionally disturbed by the cultivators, including Master Lingxu.

“Let’s do it here,” Mingchuan said, taking out the jade box again.

The moment the box was opened, the refreshing fragrance and boundless vitality of the Glazed Golden Flame Fruit once again filled the air, making the already gentle fire spirit energy around it seem even more active and welcoming.

Jizhou looked at the divine fruit with golden flames flowing inside, his eyes burning with desire, but also with a hint of nervousness.

The pain of being refined by the Earth Fire Red Lotus is still fresh in my memory; the refining process of this obviously higher-level divine object must be even more dangerous.

Mingchuan saw his concerns and smiled, saying, "Don't be too nervous. Although the medicinal properties of the Glazed Golden Flame Fruit are stronger, its core lies in nourishing the source and igniting spirituality, which is different from the domineering burning of the Earth Fire Red Lotus."

"As long as the method is appropriate and the process is gradual, there will not be too much pain, but rather a natural and gradual improvement."

He carefully held the Glazed Golden Flame Fruit in his palm and said to Jizhou, "This fruit has too much energy; we need to refine it in several batches."

I will first draw upon a wisp of its primordial golden flame energy. You and I will absorb it simultaneously, slowly nurturing and fusing it with our own spiritual power. Do not be greedy or try to rush it.

Ji Zhou nodded solemnly: "Okay! I understand, Ming-ge, you can begin!"

"Ah."

Mingchuan nodded, and a wisp of extremely pure and gentle spiritual power gathered at his fingertips, like the most skillful carving knife, and gently made a cut on the glass-like fruit peel.

The fruit flesh was not broken, but a wisp of golden mist, as thin as a spider's thread yet pure to the extreme, rose gently from the scratch.

As soon as the golden energy appeared, the surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment, and an indescribable aura of law spread out.

"Concentrate your mind and calm your breath, guide it into your body!" Mingchuan shouted in a low voice, then sat down cross-legged, opened his mouth and gently inhaled, drawing half of the golden mist into his body.

Jizhou dared not be negligent and followed the same method, carefully introducing the remaining half of the golden energy.

The moment the golden energy entered his body, the violent impact Ji Zhou had anticipated did not occur. Instead, it was an extremely gentle and warm current, like the early spring sun melting snow, silently seeping into his limbs, meridians, and even his dantian...

It penetrated to the very depths of the soul!

An indescribable feeling of comfort spread through me!