"Is the master of the island present? A wandering immortal seeks an audience. I hope you can spare some time to meet!"

  Xu Fang's voice echoed through the illusionary formation, reaching deep into Golden Turtle Island.

  "Who is it?"

  As Xu Fang's voice spread, a surprised voice responded from within the island. Soon after, a graceful figure slowly appeared. "It's you?!"

  "You know me?"

  Xu Fang frowned slightly. The Goddess of Cloud Soaring smiled faintly and said, "Xu Fang, the criminal immortal who slaughtered a million heavenly soldiers in a single battle. Who in the Three Realms doesn't know of you?"

  Hearing this, Xu Fang's frown eased, and he smiled. "It's my honor to receive such praise from the Goddess."

  "Do you think I'm praising you?"

  "I'll take it as praise."

  The Yunxiao looked Xu Fang up and down. "I never expected the infamous Demon-Slaying Divine General, feared throughout the Three Realms, to be such a glib talker."

  "Haha, I also never expected the renowned Yunxiao goddess to be so talkative."

  Xu Fang responded without hesitation. The Yunxiao was momentarily stunned. "You know me?"

  "I didn't before, but now that you've admitted it, I do."

  Yunxiao: "...I was careless."

  ...

  Golden Turtle Island was no longer the thriving hub it had been during the peak of the Jie Sect. The island was now desolate, though it still retained its abundant spiritual energy, with many rare flowers and plants scattered about.

  "So, you want to borrow the Twelve-Grade Karmic Flame Red Lotus?"

  After Xu Fang explained his purpose, the Goddess of Cloud Soaring furrowed her brows. "You want to use the Karmic Flame within it to burn away your karmic force?"

  "Exactly."

  Xu Fang nodded. "I previously went to the River of the Underworld to inquire. The Ancestor of the River of the Underworld mentioned that the Twelve-Grade Karmic Flame Red Lotus was lent to your master during the Investiture of the Gods."

  "Are you insane? Do you not know how terrifying the Karmic Flame is?"

  The Goddess of Cloud Soaring said, "This flame is one of the most fearsome in the Three Realms. Aside from the Red Lotus itself, there is no other treasure or divine ability that can control it. The flame feeds on karmic force. Once it touches you, it will spread rapidly and only extinguish after all the karmic force within you has been burned away. But are you sure you can withstand it?"

  She didn't say the rest: once all the karmic force within Xu Fang was burned away, his physical body might not survive the Karmic Flame either!

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  "I have no other choice. I'll do my best. After this, I owe you a favor. As long as it doesn't violate my principles, I will do anything for you."

  Xu Fang clasped his hands and bowed. "Please, Goddess, help me."

  Yunxiao looked deeply at Xu Fang, her expression complex.

  During the battle at the South Heavenly Gate, when Xu Fang fought a million heavenly soldiers, she had been present. She had even suggested to Master Tongtian that they befriend Xu Fang to revitalize the Jie Sect.

  Over the past hundred years, she had searched everywhere for Xu Fang, even venturing to Mount Fangcun.

  Unfortunately, in her eyes, Mount Fangcun appeared barren and desolate. It seemed that Master Bodhi had used illusionary magic to conceal the mountain from outsiders.

  Now that she had met Xu Fang and learned of his dangerous plan, she knew that if Xu Fang succeeded, it would be a great boon for the Jie Sect!

  But if he failed? He would surely perish! This was a gamble!

  After much deliberation, the Yunxiao looked deeply at Xu Fang. "Fine! I'll lend you the Karmic Flame!"

  She didn't say more, because she understood that if Xu Fang succeeded, he would naturally help the Jie Sect.

  If he failed, there would be no need to say anything!

  "Thank you, Goddess."

  Xu Fang watched as the Yunxiao extended her hand, and a small red lotus, about the size of a palm, appeared. Flames of crimson fire danced on its surface, giving it an eerie, demonic aura.

  This was the Karmic Flame contained within the Twelve-Grade Karmic Flame Red Lotus!

  As Master Bodhi had said, Master Tongtian resided in the Purple Heaven Palace and no longer had use for his treasures. After Yunxiao escaped the Tushita Palace, Master Tongtian had given all his treasures to her.

  ...

  "So this is the Karmic Flame."

  Xu Fang gazed at the crimson lotus, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

  The Goddess of Cloud Soaring nodded. "Follow me."

  With that, she retracted the Karmic Flame and led Xu Fang deep into Golden Turtle Island, arriving at the entrance of a cave.

  "This cave was my cultivation site in the past. It's safe here on Golden Turtle Island. The rest is up to you."

  As she spoke, the Goddess of Cloud Soaring extended her hand, and the Karmic Flame slowly floated up.

  "Xu Fang is deeply grateful."

  Xu Fang didn't say more. After watching Yunxiao leave, he closed the cave entrance with a loud bang.

  As he channeled his mana, the Karmic Flame expanded with a loud pop. Without hesitation, Xu Fang leaped into the flames!

  "Ah—"

  The moment he entered the Karmic Flame, Xu Fang felt as though he had entered a world of fire. All around him were raging crimson flames!

  Although his attributes included fire, they were nothing compared to the Karmic Flame. With just a single scream, he was completely engulfed by the flames!

  His body, his primordial spirit, and the boundless karmic force within him were instantly consumed by the flames!

  The raging Karmic Flame burned away the karmic force within Xu Fang inch by inch. The pain of the flames scorching his body felt like his skin was being peeled and his bones ground to dust. The agony was so intense that Xu Fang couldn't even scream.

  Because the karmic force within Xu Fang was so immense, the Karmic Flame rampaged through his body, burning relentlessly. From his flesh to his bones, his meridians to his blood, every part of him was consumed bit by bit.

  Soon, the physical pain faded, as Xu Fang's senses were completely burned away. But the pain in his primordial spirit reached deep into his soul!

  His body, hair, meridians, flesh, and blood gradually melted under the flames. In the time it took to burn an incense stick, Xu Fang's figure had vanished from the flames, leaving only a charred skeleton!

  The skeleton appeared blackened, but under the burning Karmic Flame, tiny buds of flesh began to grow!

  This was his flesh regenerating!

  Unfortunately, as soon as these buds appeared, they were mercilessly consumed by the Karmic Flame!

  ...

  An unknown amount of time passed.

  "Cough—"

  In the sea of flames.

  A cough sounded, and Xu Fang weakly opened his eyes. His flesh and blood began to rapidly regenerate!

  However, his spiritual energy had long been exhausted.

  Now, his face was pale, drenched in sweat, and his breathing was shallow, as if he were gravely ill.

  "Huff—"

  Xu Fang gasped for air, struggling to sit up. "Finally, it's over... I survived..."

  Looking at the Karmic Flame still burning around him, Xu Fang smiled faintly. "Since the Karmic Flame can no longer harm me, there's no rush to leave..."

  His innate attributes included fire. Now that he had encountered the Karmic Flame, how could he be satisfied with merely using it to burn away his karmic force?

  Faced with such a powerful flame, he had to absorb and refine it for himself!