Ye Tianchen didn't expect that after he casually mentioned he was very hungry, the little Fire Qilin would return about two hours later with something resembling a grape. It looked like a kind of fruit, yet also like a thumb-sized fireball, entirely enveloped in blazing flames. Ye Tianchen could feel that the grape-like object contained a powerful force, one that, if released, would undoubtedly shake the skies and earth. Would consuming such a thing directly not be life-threatening?

Seeing Ye Tianchen's hesitation and uncertainty about eating the grape-like object, the little Fire Qilin stood on two legs and patted its chest with its small claws, indicating to Ye Tianchen that it had eaten the same thing. Not only had nothing detrimental happened, but it had also become increasingly strong and formidable.

"The energy contained within this thing is not small. I'm not sure if it's suitable for the human body's constitution. You've likely been consuming this since birth, so your constitution has already been changed. If I eat it, unexpected events may occur, and I might lose my life!" Ye Tianchen said, glancing at the red grape in his right hand, then at the little Fire Qilin.

"Woo woo!" Upon hearing Ye Tianchen's words, the little Fire Qilin showed a pitiful expression, as if it had gone through great effort to obtain the grape-like object to fill Ye Tianchen's stomach, and now that Ye Tianchen wouldn't eat it, it felt a bit saddened.

Ye Tianchen couldn't help but smile wryly at the little creature's adorable yet pitiful expression and said, "Alright, I'll eat it. I trust you won't harm me, and I do want to become real friends with you."

Although their time together was brief, the little Fire Qilin was truly adorable and well-behaved. Ye Tianchen wasn't lying; he genuinely wanted to live in peace with this little Fire Qilin and become true friends. Moreover, this was a Fire Qilin from the legendary Immortal Beast clan, rumored to possess the bloodline power of an Immortal World divine beast. Unless one reached the Emperor Realm, an adult Fire Qilin was unbeatable. It wasn't just an empty reputation. Having a Fire Qilin as a friend would undoubtedly enhance Ye Tianchen's strength. Of course, he didn't think much of it initially. He simply felt that the little Fire Qilin was very well-behaved and nice to him. Upon hearing he was hungry, it went to find food like this. Honestly, if he didn't eat it, Ye Tianchen would feel guilty, wasting the little creature's goodwill.

"Mm-hmm!" The little Fire Qilin made a couple of affirmative sounds and wagged its Qilin tail happily upon hearing Ye Tianchen's words.

Looking at the little creature's joyous demeanor, Ye Tianchen nodded and placed the grape-like object in his right hand into his mouth. To his amazement, as he was about to chew the red grape, it slipped instantaneously into his stomach.

Rumble!

A sensation akin to thunder and lightning erupted as Ye Tianchen suddenly heard such a sound emanating from his stomach.

Sizzle!

It wasn't just any sound—it was a searing, magma-like substance dropping onto the ground, eroding large holes into the earth. Imagine the sound coming from within Ye Tianchen's body, causing his organs to rapidly feel scorched. That searing was heart-wrenching, as if his entire body, meridians, flesh, and bones were burning from the inside out. Soon, Ye Tianchen's entire body turned as red as a fireman, almost about to melt.

"Ah!"

Even with Ye Tianchen's strong willpower and unbreakable Taoist Heart, he couldn't help but cry out in pain. The agony was unbearable, not only the physical pain but also the burning of his soul. If that feeling required a description, it would be "a fate worse than death."

"This force is just too strong. I can't control it. If this continues, my entire body will melt and die!" Ye Tianchen gritted his teeth in frustration.

"Woo woo!" Even the little Fire Qilin seemed frightened. It hadn't anticipated that what boosted its own skill daily would seem to threaten Ye Tianchen's very existence. It anxiously paced in place, unable to approach.

"Little guy, don't be scared. I know you didn't mean to harm me. It's just that the energy within this thing is too immense for me to handle or refine—I can't be as mighty as you!" Ye Tianchen forced a smile.

"Mm woo!"

The little Fire Qilin was anxious beyond measure. It truly intended no harm and even wanted to help Ye Tianchen, grateful for the time spent together. The red grape it offered to Ye Tianchen was extraordinarily potent. Even with its exceptional strength, it took considerable effort to obtain one. It wasn't something to be consumed casually—each year, using all its formidability and knowing the Flame Valley well, the little Fire Qilin could only acquire one. Knowing its miraculous effects, the little Fire Qilin ventured to pluck one for Ye Tianchen, never expecting his reaction. Instead of a miraculous effect, signs of severe meltdown appeared.

"I'm not going to die that easily. This power is too strong, but I'll try refining it!" Ye Tianchen hadn't given up. Seeing the anxious little Fire Qilin, akin to a child who had caused trouble but didn't know what to do, Ye Tianchen felt heartened.

"Woo woo…" The little Fire Qilin's eyes watered as it watched Ye Tianchen.

In their short time together, both the little Fire Qilin and Ye Tianchen felt and recognized one another as good natured, as friends do. It's quick to tell whether someone is worth befriending. Brief contact can reveal such dispositions, rather than requiring years of mutual understanding, a fruitless endeavor.

Assuming a seated position, though the pain was enough to drive one to suicide, Ye Tianchen persevered with indomitable will. He couldn't give in. This force was overwhelmingly powerful; without refining it, he was undoubtedly dead, no room for doubt. Yet, refining this fiery power was challenging. Ye Tianchen knew it was difficult, but he had to try. Resigning to fate wasn't his style. He wouldn't let himself simply await death passively.

Seating himself cross-legged, focusing his mind inward, Ye Tianchen was awestruck upon reaching his dantian, his typical relentless spirit replaced by a sense of despair. In the blink of an eye, his internal state had worsened beyond recovery.

Inside Ye Tianchen's body were innumerable perforations, his organs thoroughly melted. In his dantian, Martial Arts True Qi had been consumed by the raging fire power—simply terrifying to the extreme. This made Ye Tianchen wonder, what exactly was this fiery red grape? Just the size of a thumb, yet housing such destructive power. The little Fire Qilin was truly remarkable; not only had it consumed such a food, but it had also grown stronger by the day without suffering like Ye Tianchen. Did Ye Tianchen simply fail to harness the energy, or was such a food inherently unsuited for the Human Clan's constitution?

As time trickled away, Ye Tianchen watched his body's deterioration without recourse, frowning deeply. Finding no means to halt the scorching energy consuming his body, an overwhelming and astonishing power capable of devouring flesh and even formless Martial Arts True Qi, Ye Tianchen found himself helpless. Trying to extinguish this burning power, he simply had no solution.

Thud!

Ye Tianchen collapsed to the ground, his consciousness dimming, his entire body trembling uncontrollably—a natural physical response. His body was now translucent, melting into flames, on the verge of death. Only a fraction of consciousness remained, yet unable to act. No way existed to dissipate the fiery wrath, yet this tiny grape delivered such devastation. Ye Tianchen's Cultivation Realm and willpower weren't low, yet utterly powerless—pressured to this extreme for the first time, without a shard of recourse, only awaiting death. Not even avoiding death could be managed.

"Fate is unpredictable, Martial Artists never truly know when their time comes; no one can foresee the future. Who'd have thought I'd die here!" Ye Tianchen mused internally, his consciousness finally blurring out completely, as if vanished, soul scattered... (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote at qidian.com, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)

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