Within the volcano crater.

The scorching surface of the lava occasionally bubbles up, and the intense heat causes the space around the crater to distort.

On the lava's surface, several Dao platforms, each about two meters wide and half a meter high, float above the lava with seven figures already standing on them.

The lava surface is over fifty meters from the crater opening, and about thirty meters away on the volcano's inner wall, there are protruding platforms, turned fiery red from the high temperature, from which wisps of white vapor emerge.

"Mr Jiang, if you want to enter, it's best to test the temperature first. This heat is not something an ordinary early Divine Infant Realm cultivator can endure; without a high enough realm and Great Dao comprehension, it's easy to let the fire poison invade your body!"

Fire Phoenix whispered a gentle reminder.

Jiang Chen nodded slightly, casting a glance below and fixing his gaze on one of the unoccupied platforms.

He was not reckless; the air within the crater was subtly reddish, indicating a rich concentration of Fire Path aura, and the Fire Path aura in such high-temperature lava naturally carries an exceedingly high temperature. If absorbed rashly, it might damage the Sea of Consciousness!

Buzz!

An undisguised Dao aura emanated from Jiang Chen's body, and a layer of starfire appeared over him.

"Well... is Mr Jiang's comprehension of the Fire Path really this poor?"

"At this rate, even cultivating at the crater would be quite challenging for him!"

"Ah! Although his formation Dao accomplishments are profound and unfathomable, he's still just an early Divine Infant Realm cultivator!"

The volcano crater's students looked at the starfire surrounding Jiang Chen and began talking quietly.

Whoosh!

An instructor glanced at Jiang Chen, then soared and landed onto a platform beside the one Jiang Chen had locked his gaze on, eyeing Jiang Chen within the crater with concern, poised to rescue him at any moment.

In the entire crater, only three people did not believe Jiang Chen's comprehension of the Fire Path was as apparent as it seemed.

One was Zhang Qian, who had fought alongside Jiang Chen and knew part of his strength; even just knowing a portion, he didn't believe Jiang Chen couldn't withstand the platform's high temperature.

The second was Fire Phoenix, beside him; when the starfire appeared around Jiang Chen, her eyes flickered with a hidden flame, showing a hint of surprise in her expression.

The third was Instructor Lin, the one with the highest understanding of the Fire Path present. Sensing the starfire on Jiang Chen, his eye twitched, and from the starfire, he felt an extremely deeply hidden surging Fire Path aura!

This Jiang Chen, his understanding of the Fire Path is so profound, this aura... it might be superior even to some late Divine Infant Realm students!

Instructor Lin muttered in his heart, looking at Jiang Chen with a touch of astonishment.

Whoosh!

Under everyone's watchful gaze, Jiang Chen leapt up, landing on one of the platforms within the volcano's interior.

A rushing wave of heat crashed over, crazily trying to invade Jiang Chen's body.

"Such violent flame energy; clearly, it's not just the heat here that deters many students, but also these violent Fire Path auras!"

Jiang Chen murmured to himself, turning to bow slightly to the nearby instructor on the platform: "Thank you, Instructor, but you can focus on your cultivation. This temperature, I can handle."

The instructor paused, then focused; the invisible violent flame energies crashing against Jiang Chen were unexpectedly all blocked by the starfire around him.

Moreover, subtle auras transmitted from the starfire, seemingly absorbing those violent energies!

"How impressive!"

The instructor chuckled, sighing in admiration, confidently settling down and beginning his cultivation.

"He's gone down, Jiang Chen really went down!"

"He's blocked those violent energies?!"

"Wow, does this guy have such a deep understanding of the Fire Path as well?"

"What a peculiarity! Given this situation, Jiang Chen's comprehension of the Fire Path is comparable to some late Divine Infant Realm cultivators!"

"What kind of talent is this? It's terrifying!"

"Comprehension doesn't equate to combat strength; maybe his understanding is just slightly stronger!"

The students at the volcano crater exclaimed, while a whispering instructor expressed his conjecture.

Regarding this speculation, everyone nodded in agreement, believing Jiang Chen's Great Dao comprehension was high, but his combat strength might not be equally strong.

Although Jiang Chen had once slain powerful figures at the Integration Realm Peak, it was because he had leveraged formations and Heavenly Momentum; at that time, everyone felt the imposing Heavenly Momentum, and while such a momentum made slaying an Integration Realm Peak slightly difficult, alongside the Protecting Institute Great Formation, it sufficed!

Thus, everyone still regarded Jiang Chen's individual strength as the same as during his battle with Sun Zheyang and Bo Liancheng.

"Comprehension doesn't equate to combat strength?"

Zhang Qian glanced at the instructor who spoke, smiled faintly, deeply looked at Jiang Chen, his eyes showing a hint of admiration, muttering internally.

That fellow would definitely not encounter such a thing as comprehension not equating to combat strength! Senior Yun Tao mentioned that he even prioritized his mastery of spiritual power, let alone Great Dao comprehension. Perhaps, he truly possessed the power to contend with late Divine Infant Realm cultivators!

The volcano crater's discussions did not distract Jiang Chen; after thanking the instructor who wanted to help him, he sat cross-legged and began absorbing the surrounding volatile energy.

Whew! Whew! Whew!

As Jiang Chen absorbed, the violent energy in the volcano turned tumultuous, gathering around him into a faint reddish mist.

"Why is he absorbing like this?"

"This is too intense, such absorption could damage the Sea of Consciousness!"

"Isn't this reckless?"

"This is too haphazard!"

This time, not only the students at the crater, but even instructors on some platforms and those on Dao platforms at the lava surface looked at Jiang Chen, furrowing their brows slightly.

"Instructor Lin, he... won't encounter any problems, will he?"

Fire Phoenix showed a hint of worry in her eyes as she glanced at Jiang Chen, then turned to Instructor Lin beside her.

"Rest assured, he isn't reckless. Since he dares to act this way, he must rely on something! But... why is he absorbing this way? Comprehending the Great Dao shouldn't be done like this!"

Instructor Lin comforted softly, though his brows furrowed and a touch of perplexity surfaced in his eyes.

"Has it begun?"

Above Fire Path Mountain in the high sky, Sang Zhenye looked at Jiang Chen, shrouded in a red mist below, softly muttering something.

"Mr Jiang, the only thing I can teach you is this somewhat crude alchemy technique. There is still a year's time; with your alchemy technique, once you temper the Primordial Spirit and master the spiritual fire, reaching the level of a fourth-grade Pill Master will be easy."

Sang Zhenye curled a faint smile at the corner of his lips, speaking to himself:

"You are originally a fourth-grade Alchemist! Work hard, strive to reach the fourth grade before heading to the Changling Main Court. That place is where you belong; this small Mingqian Realm is not where you should linger for long!"

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