The wind howled above the Blackflame Ravine.
From the cliff's edge, Jin Zhen stood with his robe fluttering violently behind him. Below, a sea of molten lava boiled like a wrathful beast. The scent of sulfur clung to the air, and jagged rocks jutted like fangs from the cliff walls.
He gazed downward with narrowed eyes. "So this is where it lies… the Devil Lotus."
[System Notification: New Quest Available!]
[Quest: Acquire the Blooming Devil Lotus.]
[Details: Retrieve the rare herb growing from the lava within the Blackflame Ravine. Estimated Difficulty: S.]
[Reward: +5,000 SP, Devil's Bloom Constitution Fragment x1, Reputation +300 in the Demon Domain.]
His lip curled into a smile.
"I'll take that."
From behind, Bai Mei approached cautiously, her voice uncertain. "Sect Master… This place reeks of death. Are you sure about this?"
"I'm more than sure." He flexed his fingers, eyes glowing faintly crimson. "What's a little lava when destiny calls?"
He leapt.
Like a shadow slicing through the void, Jin Zhen descended. As he neared the lava, a dense spiritual pressure surged from the molten surface.
His pupils shrank. "So it's alive."
From within the lava, thorned vines burst out—black, twisted, and pulsing with demonic energy. At their center bloomed a flower with petals the color of blood and eyes embedded within its core.
The Devil Lotus had awakened.
[System Warning: Entity is semi-sentient. Combat is inevitable.]
"So be it." Jin Zhen landed atop a floating rock near the flower. "Let's dance, pretty."
He stretched out his hand. Crimson flames erupted.
"Crimson Overlord Art: Infernal Prison!"
Flames coiled into a spiraling cage that slammed down over the monstrous flower. It hissed, resisting with shrill, unholy shrieks.
The vines lashed out, ripping through the air like whips. Jin Zhen weaved between them, each step leaving afterimages.
"Too slow!" He zipped forward, palm glowing. "Crimson Palm—Second Seal!"
A blast of spiritual force detonated into the flower's core. It shrieked, folding its petals inward.
[System: Damage dealt: 31%.]
"Tough little weed."
More vines came, now blazing with black fire. One caught Jin Zhen's leg, searing through his robe.
He snarled.
"Enough!" His spiritual sea boiled. A golden rune emerged between his brows.
[Activating System Ability: Crimson Overlord's Wrath (Tier-3). Duration: 15 seconds. SP Cost: 2,000.]
His aura expanded wildly. Rocks cracked. Lava exploded upward like geysers.
Jin Zhen became a blazing comet. He surged through the air, ramming through vines, crashing into the flower with all his might.
The impact shattered the vine-root system. The Devil Lotus wailed before bursting into dark petals.
[System: Quest Complete! Rewards Issued.]
[SP +5,000]
[Devil's Bloom Constitution Fragment x1 acquired.]
[Reputation increased in Demon Domain.]
Panting slightly, he grabbed the shattered remains of the flower's core.
Then…
[System Alert: Constitution Fusion Option Available. Fuse?]
"Yes."
[Commencing fusion...]
[New Constitution Gained: Half-Step Devil's Bloom Physique. Effects: Enhanced resistance to fire, improved demonic energy affinity, +20% recovery speed.]
His body shimmered. Scorch marks vanished. Muscles pulsed with new strength.
"Now this…" he clenched his fist, "this is power."
Bai Mei approached from above, descending carefully via her sword.
"You actually did it…" she murmured, wide-eyed.
"Of course I did. But we're not done yet."
He turned his gaze westward, toward the jagged horizon.
"There's more to claim. And this is just the beginning."