Chapter 118: Caelestis Fornax And The Golden Crow Sunflower Seeds

The chamber was silent now, the oppressive weight of the battle lifted, leaving behind only the faint hum of residual energy. Jiang Feng and Ji Moran sat in the center of the scorched battlefield that was a long burning road, their bodies battered but their spirits unbroken. The air was thick with the scent of burnt earth and the faint metallic tang of blood, a reminder of the fierce struggle they had just endured.

Ji Moran leaned heavily against Jiang Feng, her breathing shallow and steady. Her ice phoenix spirit projection had vanished, its energy spent, but her eyes still held a glimmer of defiance. "Jiang Feng," she murmured, her voice weak but clear, "what was that gate? That... darkness...its unsettling!"

Jiang Feng hesitated, his gaze distant as he recalled the abyss that had consumed him, the empty void, the voice of darkness. "It's... complicated," he said finally. "A power I didn't fully understand until now. But it came at a cost. I'll explain everything later. For now, we need to recover and claim our reward."

Ji Moran nodded, her trust in him unwavering despite the ominous aura that still clung to him. Together, they began to meditate, drawing in the left over spiritual energy of the chamber to heal their wounds and replenish their strength. Hours passed, the silence of the chamber broken only by the soft rhythm of their breathing.

When they finally rose, the chamber had transformed. The oppressive darkness had lifted, the lingering energies of

Ice, water,poison and lightning, were replaced by a warm, golden glow that emanated from the far end of the room. There, atop a raised dais, stood a massive sunflower, its petals radiating a celestial light. At its center were six seeds, each glowing with an inner fire that seemed to pulse in rhythm with the heartbeat of the sun.

"That's the Golden Crow Sunflower Seeds. Haha, nice you lucked out kid" the voice of the Aetherion Dragon rumbled in his mind.

"Indeed, it's a treasure from the God Realm, where this piece of land fell from" echoed the Eternal Flame Codex.

Jiang Feng's eyes widened as he approached the dais, his steps slow and deliberate. "The Golden Crow Sunflower Seeds," he whispered, his voice filled with awe. Then he frowned as he thought about the phrase God Realm.

Ji Moran followed closely behind, her gaze fixed on the seeds. "They're... beautiful," she said softly. "But I can feel their power from here. It's overwhelming."

The seeds were unlike anything they had ever seen. Each one was about the size of a walnut, its surface etched with intricate patterns resembling the three-legged Golden Crow. The seeds glowed with a warm, golden light, and the air around them shimmered with heat, as if they contained a fragment of the sun itself.

As Jiang Feng reached out to claim the seeds, a voice echoed through the chamber, deep and resonant, like the tolling of a celestial bell. "To claim the Golden Crow Sunflower Seeds, you must prove your worthiness. The trial is simple: endure the heat of the sun and the gaze of the Golden Crow."

"A next trail?" Jiang Feng frowned

Before they could react, the chamber was engulfed in a blinding light. The temperature soared, the air becoming so hot that it felt like their skin was burning. The sunflower at the center of the dais began to glow brighter, its petals radiating an intense heat that seemed to sear their very souls.

Ji Moran gasped, her body trembling as she struggled to withstand the heat. "Feng, I can't—"

"Hold on!" Jiang Feng shouted, his voice firm despite the pain. He reached out and took her hand, his grip tight. "We've come this far. We can't give up now!"

Ji Moran wanted to say something else but before she could, an icy tree rippled above her head. Above that tree, an ice phoenix spread its wings and loud out a cry that caused shown flake to fall. The heat that almost caused Ji Moran to faint lessened instantly.

But as the heat intensified, a massive projection of the Golden Crow appeared above the dais, its three legs gripping the air as if it were perched on an invisible branch. Its eyes, glowing with the light of a thousand suns, fixed on Jiang Feng and Ji Moran, piercing into their very souls.

The crow's voice echoed in their minds, ancient and commanding. "To wield the power of the sun, you must understand its essence. The sun gives life, but it also takes it. It is a force of creation and destruction, of light and shadow. To master it, you must embrace both."

Jiang Feng's mind raced as he tried to comprehend the crow's words. The heat was unbearable, his body screaming for relief, but he forced himself to focus. "The sun... it's not just light. It's fire, energy, life. But it's also... transformation. It burns away the old to make way for the new."

Jiang Feng's comprehension skill had even shocked the towering figure of the Titan Race's leader. His unparalleled ability to grasp the profound had saved his life against Zhan Huito, and now, once again, it was demonstrating its extraordinary power. The air around him seemed to hum with an unspoken energy, as if the heavens themselves were acknowledging his talent.

The crow, perched on thin air, tilted its head slightly, its obsidian eyes narrowing as it studied Jiang Feng. There was a flicker of something—surprise, perhaps even respect—in its gaze. It had witnessed countless prodigies across the upper worlds, those born with silver spoons and endless resources, yet none had ever radiated such raw, innate understanding.

The crow's feathers ruffled faintly, as if stirred by the weight of its own thoughts. It knew, better than most, that the true path to power in the later stages of cultivation wasn't paved with treasures or pills, but with the ability to unravel the mysteries of heaven and earth. Jiang Feng, it seemed, was a rare soul who could do just that.

The crow's gaze lingered, penetrating and ancient, as if it could see through the very fabric of Jiang Feng's being. It had seen the gate of darkness, that ominous threshold between life and oblivion, and it recognized the shadows that clung to Jiang Feng like a second skin. But there was something else, too—a spark, a defiance that refused to be extinguished. The crow's eyes softened, almost imperceptibly, as if it had made a decision.

"You are... unusual," the crow finally spoke, its voice a low, gravelly rasp that seemed to echo from the depths of time. "I have seen many who claim to be chosen, but you... you are different Eternal child. You do hold true to your family's name."

Jiang Feng met its gaze, unflinching. "Different how? And do you know my family?" Jiang Feng asked in surprise.

The crow didn't answer immediately. Instead, it spread its wings, its feathers catching the faint light of the realm. It was a deliberate motion, almost theatrical, as if it were preparing to reveal a secret long buried. "There is no second trial for the Sunflower Seeds," it admitted. "But I needed to see if my flame could coexist with your infernal essence. The Skyforge Flame... it is not something one simply stumbles upon."

Jiang Feng's brow furrowed. "The Skyforge Flame? What does the Skyforge Flame have to do with anything?"

The crow's beak curved into something resembling a smirk. "Everything. The Skyforge Flame and the Solaris Infernum, along with Lunara Glacies, the sun and moon flames—were once equals, legends spoken of in hushed tones. But we vanished, along with the other top ten flames, millions of years ago. Until now."

The air grew heavier, charged with an unspoken dread. Jiang Feng could feel it, even his mind rumbled for unknown reasons, followed by a subtle shift in the atmosphere, as if the realm itself were holding its breath at the words spoken by the Golden Crow before him. The crow's words hung between them, laden with implications he couldn't yet fully grasp.

"The damn crow has invoked karma!" The Aetherion Dragon grumbled.

"Hmph... speaking to a bird will cause things like these to happen" replied the Codex in a tone of annoyance.

At their voices, the Golden Crow took a long deep look at Jiang Feng but wasn't really looking at Jiang Feng but at the Aetherion Dragon and the Eternal Flame Codex. It said nothing, it knew what the Aetherion Dragon's presence represented, Chaos, untold Chaos. While the Codex was the artifact the Eternal Clan used to rule their domain. Shaking its head it went back on topic, ignoring the words of the two, Jiang Feng didn't know that the Golden Crow could hear their words but the other two knew but didn't care, they all knew each other at some point in the past.

"The Obsidian Waterfall Realm," the crow continued, its voice dropping to a near whisper, "or so the humans call it, has awakened something ancient. The Solaris Infernum and Lunara Glacies have crossed paths with the Caelestis Fornax. Do you understand what this means?"

Jiang Feng shook his head slowly, though a part of him already sensed the gravity of the situation. The names alone carried a weight that seemed to press against his chest.

The crow leaned closer, its eyes burning with an intensity that made Jiang Feng's skin prickle. "It means the balance of power is shifting. The flames of creation and destruction are stirring once more. And you, Jiang Feng, are standing at the center of it all, Karma as awakened, Chaos will descend."

The words settled over him like a mantle, heavy and inevitable. He could feel the threads of fate tightening around him, pulling him toward a destiny he couldn't yet comprehend. But there was no fear in his heart—only a quiet determination soaking in darkness, a resolve to face whatever lay ahead.

The crow watched him for a moment longer, then let out a low, approving caw. "You will do," it said simply, before taking flight, its Golden form disappearing into the swirling mists of the realm.

Jiang Feng stood alone, the weight of the crow's words still echoing in his mind. The path before him was shrouded in mystery, but he knew one thing for certain: he would not falter. Whatever trials awaited, he would face them head-on, armed with the one weapon no one could take from him—his unyielding comprehension of the world around him and the Celestial Dagger.

---

As the light faded with the departure of the Golden Crow, Jiang Feng and Ji Moran found themselves standing before the dais once more. The six Golden Crow Sunflower Seeds lay before them, their glow now gentle and inviting. Jiang Feng reached out and carefully picked up one of the seeds, feeling its warmth spread through his hand.

"These seeds... they're incredible," he said, his voice filled with wonder. "I can feel their energy. It's like holding a piece of the sun itself."

Ji Moran picked up a seed as well, her eyes wide with amazement. "What do we do with them?"

Jiang Feng smiled, a determined glint in his eyes. "We cultivate. These seeds will help us break through to new heights. But we need to be careful. Their power is immense, and if we're not ready, it could consume us, these should be good for you too, seeing that the Sun and Moon flames complement each other."

They settled into a meditative stance, each holding a Golden Crow Sunflower Seed in their hands. As they began to channel their spiritual energy, the seeds responded, their glow intensifying. Waves of heat and light radiated from the seeds, enveloping Jiang Feng and Ji Moran in a cocoon of golden energy.

Jiang Feng felt the seed's energy surge through him, filling his meridians with a fiery warmth. The pain from his wounds faded, replaced by a sense of vitality and strength as well as burning heat. His cultivation base, once stagnant, began to expand, the barriers holding him back crumbling under the seed's power as his essence lake began to burn.

Ji Moran experienced a similar transformation. The ice phoenix spirit projection within her stirred, its energy merging with the seed's solar essence. Her cultivation base, already formidable, began to reach new heights, her connection to the heavenly Dao deepening.

As they cultivated, the chamber around them seemed to fade away, replaced by a vision of the sun itself. They stood at the center of a blazing inferno, the Golden Crow circling above them, its wings spread wide. The crow's voice echoed in their minds, guiding them, teaching them the secrets of the sun and fire.

Hours passed, the energy of the seeds flowing through Jiang Feng and Ji Moran like a river of fire. Finally, as the last traces of the seed's power were absorbed, they opened their eyes, their auras radiating a newfound strength.

Jiang Feng rose to his feet, his body brimming with energy. His cultivation had reached a new level, his connection to the abyss and the sun now intertwined. The Gate of Darkness loomed in the back of his mind, as if watching him. His Essence lake now looked like a burn expanse, bathing in golden flames as he reached fifteen thousand meters in diameter, firmly placing Jiang Feng at the fifth stage of the Essence Condensation Stage.

Ji Moran stood beside him, her ice phoenix spirit projection now glowing with a faint golden hue. "I feel... incredible," she said, her voice filled with awe. "Like I've been reborn." She had fully stepped into the Golden Core Realm without using the treasure from the ice chamber which amazed her.

Jiang Feng nodded, a determined smile on his face. "This is just the beginning. With the power of the Golden Crow Sunflower Seeds and you reaching Golden Core, we'll be unstoppable."

-

High above, in the deeper, more enigmatic reaches of the sky, two pairs of colossal eyes gleamed like celestial orbs, watching over the chamber where Jiang Feng and Ji Moran stood. The first pair of eyes was icy and detached, their gaze as frigid as the void between stars. The other pair burned with a fiery intensity, radiating a fury that could scorch the heavens themselves. The cold eyes shifted slightly, their frosty gaze locking onto the blazing ones, and a voice, smooth and devoid of emotion, broke the silence.

"You gave him your Sunflower Seeds?" The words hung in the air, crisp and deliberate, carrying an undertone of disbelief.

The fiery eyes flickered, their glow intensifying as if stoked by the question. A low, rumbling voice, like the growl of a distant thunderstorm, responded. "And you gave her your Phoenix Blood Leaf?" The retort was sharp, almost accusatory, yet there was a hint of amusement buried within its depths.

The cold eyes narrowed, their icy demeanor unshaken. "The Phoenix Blood Leaf was necessary. She carries the potential to awaken the dormant flames within her lineage. It was a calculated decision."

The blazing eyes flared, their light casting flickering shadows across the sky. "And yet you question my choice? The Sunflower Seeds are not given lightly. They are a test, a trial of worthiness. Jiang Feng... he is more than he appears. His comprehension is unparalleled, even by the standards of the upper worlds. If anyone can unlock their true potential, it is him."

A silence stretched between them, heavy and charged, as if the very air were holding its breath. The cold eyes remained unreadable, their glacial stare unwavering. Finally, the voice spoke again, softer this time, almost contemplative. "You believe he can bridge the gap? That he can unite what has been divided for eons?"

The fiery eyes dimmed slightly, their glow softening as if lost in thought. "I believe he has the potential to do more than that. The Obsidian Waterfall Realm has awakened forces long forgotten. The Solaris Infernum, the Lunara Glacies, the Caelestis Fornax—they are stirring once more. If there is anyone who can navigate the chaos to come, it is him."

The cold eyes lingered for a moment longer, their gaze drifting back to the chamber below. Jiang Feng stood there, his figure small yet resolute, a lone figure against the vastness of the realm. Ji Moran was beside him, her presence a quiet strength, her own destiny intertwined with his.

"Time will tell," the cold voice finally said, its tone neutral but carrying a weight of finality. "But remember, old friend, the stakes are higher than ever. If we are wrong..."

The fiery eyes flared once more, cutting off the sentence. "We are not wrong. The threads of fate have woven themselves around him for a reason. All we can do now is watch... and wait."

With that, the two pairs of eyes slowly faded, their presence dissolving into the endless expanse of the sky. Below, Jiang Feng and Ji Moran remained unaware of the celestial conversation that had just taken place, their focus firmly on the path ahead. But high above, the echoes of that exchange lingered, a silent reminder that their journey was far more than a simple trial—it was the beginning of something far greater, a convergence of destinies, the binding of karma that would shape the very fabric of existence.

*****

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