Chapter 1042 - 570: The Meaning of "Annihilation

"The Tomb of the Void is not purely a Land of Nothingness," the elder continued, "there, the resentments and obsessions of many ancient civilizations remain. They have been eroded by the void, transforming into void spirits. They will attack all living beings and may even corrode your divine soul, plunging you into endless illusions and despair."

"The Void Burial Heaven Array is one of the most powerful arrays of the Master of Nothingness. It can devour all life and extinguish all hope. Once trapped within it, survival is slim," worry flashed in the elder’s eyes, "You must be careful. The dangers of the Tomb of the Void far exceed those of the Nucleus of Annihilation."

Xu Qinghan took a deep breath, understanding that each trial would be a test of life and death.

"Senior, I understand," Xu Qinghan said determinedly, "I will not retreat."

The elder nodded with satisfaction: "Very well. Although the power of fire within you is strong, to completely master it, you require more profound tempering. Before heading to the Tomb of the Void, you need to meditate in the sanctuary for a while, fully assimilating the power of the seed from the Nucleus of Annihilation and learning ways to counter the void spirits and the Void Burial Heaven Array."

In the days that followed, Xu Qinghan embarked on rigorous cultivation once again.

She sat cross-legged before the altar, feeling the pulse of the fire. To her, the dim flame seemed more resilient than ever, as if it carried the will of countless guardians of fire.

She immersed herself in the ancient fire scriptures, which recorded the experiences of fire guardians fighting against void spirits and the Void Burial Heaven Array. She learned that void spirits are not merely void creatures; they are transformed from the obsessions and resentments of beings eroded by the void, retaining their memories and abilities from when they were alive but becoming twisted and mad under the void’s control.

The Void Burial Heaven Array, on the other hand, is a terrifying array centered on the power of nothingness and supplemented by the resentment and obsessions of beings. It can distort space, reverse the cosmos, and even obliterate the divine soul of a being.

In the scriptures, Xu Qinghan also discovered some clues regarding the origin of the fire. The ancient texts described the connection between the birth of fire and the origin of the cosmos, as well as some ancient places forgotten by time. She knew these would be challenges she would face in the future.

During her cultivation, Xu Qinghan tried to wield the power of the seed from the Nucleus of Annihilation. She found that this seed not only enhanced her power of fire but also made her more sensitive to the power of nothingness. She could even sense the "meaning of annihilation" within the power of nothingness, which is the source of both Gui Xu and the Master of Nothingness’s strength.

She attempted to fuse the power of fire with the meaning of annihilation. Although it was only a preliminary attempt, it gave her a vague understanding of "fire void transformation." It was not a descent, but a transcendence, a possibility of integrating the void into the fire system.

At the same time, she worked even harder on the fire secret technique taught by the elder. These techniques were not mere offense or defense; they were about how to purify the void and awaken beings eroded by it.

Whenever the night was quiet, Xu Qinghan would think of Senior Brother Xu Ran’s dissipating figure and those guardians who sacrificed themselves for the fire. Their sacrifice turned into her motivation to move forward, making her more determined. She knew she carried the hope of the entire cosmos.

Three months later, Xu Qinghan’s power advanced by leaps and bounds again. The ancient god’s fire within her had now reached a whole new level, and the imprint of the ancient god’s fire on her forehead shone brilliantly, like a true golden star.

She could easily manipulate the ancient god’s fire into various forms, whether it be blazing flames or unbreakable barriers, reaching a state of perfection. Her resistance to the power of nothingness was also greatly enhanced; ordinary void erosion could no longer affect her.

"Child, you are ready," the elder looked at the transformed Xu Qinghan with eyes full of admiration. Although his breath remained weak, his spirit was much better.

Xu Qinghan stood up and bowed deeply to the elder and the other fire guardians: "Thank you for the teachings, seniors, Qinghan will remember them."

"There’s no need for this," the elder lifted her, "The hope of fire rests on you. Now, it’s time to start your second step—the Tomb of the Void."

He walked to the altar, waved his hand, and the fire on the altar leapt, radiating a golden light that condensed into an ancient star map in the air.

On the star map, a dim light point enveloped by dense void aura stood out prominently.

"The Tomb of the Void is located on the edge of the cosmos, once the battlefield of the Master of Nothingness and ancient civilizations, also one of the regions with the highest concentration of the void’s power," the elder pointed at the star map, "You will be directly transmitted via the fire network to the peripheral area of the Tomb of the Void. Remember, once you enter the Tomb of the Void, you will face unprecedented challenges."

Xu Qinghan’s gaze swept over the star map, seeing the expanse of deathly silence around the Tomb of the Void eroded by nothingness, her heart grew solemn.

"Child, are you ready?" the elder asked.

Xu Qinghan took a deep breath, eyes sparkling with unwavering determination: "I’m ready!"

The elder nodded and then looked at the other fire guardians.

"Everyone, the hope of fire will set forth again," the elder’s voice rang loudly, echoing through the valley, "We shall activate the fire network once more to protect the fire’s igniter on this journey!"