Start from a baby to become a Taoist

Chapter 462 The Meaning of "Nirvana"

“The Tomb of the Void is not a place of pure nothingness,” the old man continued. “There, the resentment and obsession of many ancient civilizations still remain. They have been corrupted by the void and transformed into Void Wraiths. They will attack all living beings and even erode your soul, plunging you into endless illusions and despair.”

"The Void Burial Array is one of the most powerful arrays of the Void Lord. It can devour all life force and extinguish all hope. Once you fall into it, it's a nine-out-of-ten chance of death." A trace of worry flashed in the old man's eyes. "You must be careful. The danger of the Void Tomb far exceeds that of the Annihilation Star Core."

Xu Qinghan took a deep breath. She knew that every trial would be a test of life and death.

“Senior, I understand,” Xu Qinghan said firmly. “I will not back down.”

The old man nodded with satisfaction: "Very good. The power of the primordial fire within you is strong, but you still need to hone it further to fully control it. Before heading to the Void Tomb, you need to meditate in the sanctuary for a period of time to thoroughly digest the power of the Extinction Star Core Fire Seed and learn some methods to deal with the Void Wraiths and the Void Burial Sky Array."

In the days that followed, Xu Qinghan began her arduous spiritual practice once again.

She sat cross-legged before the altar, feeling the flickering flames. The dim flames now appeared even more resilient in her eyes, as if they carried the will of countless guardians of the flames.

She immersed herself in the ancient scriptures of the Flame of Life, which recorded the experiences of the Flame of Life Guardians in their struggle against the Void Wraiths and the Void Burial Array. She learned that the Void Wraiths were not simply Void creatures; they were the remnants of obsession and resentment left behind by living beings corrupted by the Void. They possessed memories and abilities from their previous lives, but were manipulated by the Void, becoming twisted and insane.

The Void Burial Sky Array is a terrifying array built around the power of nothingness, supplemented by the resentment and obsession of living beings. It can distort space, reverse the universe, and even completely obliterate the souls of living beings.

In the ancient texts, Xu Qinghan also found some clues about the origins of the flame. Those ancient texts described the connection between the flame's birth and the origin of the universe, as well as some ancient places forgotten by time. She knew these would be the challenges she would face in the future.

During her cultivation, Xu Qinghan experimented with utilizing the power of the Extinction Star Core Fire Seed. She discovered that this fire seed not only enhanced her Fire Power but also made her more acutely aware of the power of nothingness. She could even sense the "extinction" meaning contained within the power of nothingness, which was the origin of the universe's return to nothingness and the source of the power of nothingness.

She attempted to merge the power of the flame with the meaning of annihilation. Although it was only a preliminary attempt, it gave her a vague understanding of "the flame turning into nothingness." It was not a fall, but a transcendence, a possibility of incorporating nothingness into the flame system.

At the same time, she also worked harder to cultivate the secret techniques of the torch passed down by the old man. These techniques were not simply about attack or defense, but more about how to purify the void and how to awaken the creatures that had been corrupted by the void.

In the stillness of the night, Xu Qinghan would always think of her senior brother Xu Ran's vanished figure, and of the guardians who sacrificed themselves for the flame. Their sacrifice became her driving force, and made her even more determined. She knew that she carried the hope of the entire universe on her shoulders.

Three months later, Xu Qinghan's power made another leap forward. The ancient divine flame within her body had reached a completely new level. The mark of the ancient divine flame between her brows was now as tangible as a real golden star, radiating dazzling golden light.

She can freely draw upon the ancient divine flames, transforming them into various forms, from blazing fire to impenetrable barriers, all with unparalleled skill. Her resistance to the power of nothingness has also greatly increased; ordinary void erosion can no longer affect her.

"Child, you are ready." The old man looked at Xu Qinghan after his transformation, his eyes filled with admiration. Although his breath was still weak, his spirits were much better.

Xu Qinghan stood up and bowed deeply to the old man and the other guardians of the torch: "Thank you for your teachings, seniors. I will remember them in my heart."

“There’s no need for that.” The old man helped her up. “The hope of the torch rests on you. Now, it’s time to begin your second step—the Tomb of the Void.”

He walked to the altar, raised his hand and waved it. The fire on the altar suddenly leaped, emitting a golden light that condensed into an ancient star map in the air.

On the star map, a dim point of light shrouded in dense, ethereal energy stands out prominently.

"The Void Tomb is located at the edge of the universe. It was once the battlefield where the Lord of Nothingness fought against ancient civilizations, and it is also one of the areas where the power of Nothingness is most concentrated," the old man said, pointing to the star map. "You will be directly teleported to the outer area of ​​the Void Tomb through the Fireline Network. Remember, once you enter the Void Tomb, you will face unprecedented challenges."

Xu Qinghan's gaze swept across the star map, and she saw the desolate star fields around the Void Tomb that were being eroded by nothingness. A sense of solemnity welled up in her heart.

"Child, are you ready?" the old man asked.

Xu Qinghan took a deep breath, her eyes shining with determination: "I'm ready!"

The old man nodded, then looked at the other guardians of the torch.

"Gentlemen, the hope of the torch will once again embark on its journey." The old man's voice was loud and clear, echoing through the valley. "We will reactivate the Torch Network to protect those who ignite the torch!"

"May the flame burn eternally!" Hundreds of aged figures responded in unison. They sat cross-legged around the altar, their bodies radiating a faint but tenacious power of the flame, which intertwined with the flames on the altar, forming an ancient resonance.

Xu Qinghan felt this power and was deeply moved. She knew that she was not alone; the entire Spark Network was fighting for her.

The old man raised his hand and waved, and a golden light shot out from the altar, landing at Xu Qinghan's feet and forming an ancient teleportation array.

"Go, child," the old man said kindly. "Remember, as long as the flame burns, hope endures."

Xu Qinghan bowed to the old man and all the guardians again, and then resolutely stepped into the teleportation array.

Golden light enveloped her instantly, and the next moment, she disappeared into the Firewood Sanctuary.

When Xu Qinghan opened her eyes again, she found herself in a desolate starry sky.

As far as the eye could see, there was only endless darkness and cold. There was no starlight, no sign of life, only the occasional drifting cosmic dust, and a distant star field shrouded in pitch-black nothingness.

That star field is the Tomb of the Void.

It was once a prosperous star field, but now it is shrouded in dark void. Countless broken star fragments float in the void like tombstones, exuding a suffocating deathly silence.

Xu Qinghan felt the terrifying aura emanating from the Void Tomb. That power of nothingness was even more concentrated and purer than the core of the Annihilation Star, as if it could devour all life.

"This is... the Tomb of the Void." Xu Qinghan murmured softly, the ancient god's flame within her body began to surge violently, as if sensing a threat from the void.

Without the slightest hesitation, she transformed into a golden streak of light and rushed straight towards the Void Tomb. The closer she got, the stronger the power of nothingness became, even beginning to erode her protective barrier of ancient divine fire. Xu Qinghan gritted her teeth and channeled all her energy into the Ancient Divine Fire, dispelling the void energy that tried to entangle her.

She rushed to the edge of the Void Tomb, where there was no longer any atmosphere, only an extremely dense aura of nothingness, surging towards her like a black tide.

"Om-"

The moment she entered the Void Tomb, countless pitch-black void chains shot out from all directions, coiling around her like venomous snakes!
These chains are not physical entities, but are formed from pure nothingness, carrying the power to corrode all things, attempting to completely bind Xu Qinghan.

"Hmph!" Xu Qinghan snorted coldly. She suddenly unleashed the Ancient God's Flame, and a blazing golden flame burst forth from her body, instantly vaporizing those ethereal chains!

However, more chains of nothingness surged forth from the darkness, dense and endless, like a giant net of nothingness, threatening to trap her completely.

At the same time, a series of deep roars came from the depths of the star field, and countless Fallen Ones and Void Hunters rushed out of the darkness, their eyes flashing with greed and bloodlust, and pounced on Xu Qinghan.

"As expected, this is one of the Void Lord's strongholds!" Xu Qinghan's expression turned solemn. She knew that this was just the beginning.

She concentrated the ancient divine flame into her fists and slammed them forward, unleashing torrents of golden energy that instantly vaporized the onrushing fallen ones.

She moved with lightning speed, weaving through the dense attacks. Every dodge was fraught with danger, and every counterattack contained the power to split mountains and shatter rocks. She was no longer the girl who needed protection, but a torchbearer reborn from the ashes. Each of her attacks carried the purifying power of the flame, dispelling the void.

However, the power of the Void Lord was too immense, and the Void Tomb, as the concentration of his power, contained an unimaginable number of Void creatures.

As Xu Qinghan fought, she sensed the faint aura of the embers deep within the Void Tomb. She knew that was the spark she was searching for.

She must overcome these obstacles, venture deep into the Void Tomb, and find the suppressed embers.

"Jie Jie Jie..."

Just then, a series of eerie laughs came from the darkness, and blurry, twisted figures, filled with resentment and an aura of nothingness, surged out from all directions.

They are not purely ethereal beings; their bodies are twisted and blurred, yet one can still discern the outlines of what were once living beings. Their eyes gleam with resentment and madness—the spirits of ancient civilizations corrupted by nothingness, transformed into vengeful ghosts!

These ethereal vengeful spirits are even more terrifying than the Fallen. They not only possess powerful ethereal energy, but also retain all the bizarre abilities they had in life, and can even directly attack the soul, plunging people into endless illusions and despair.

"Torchbearer... surrender your torch... and return to nothingness with us..." A vacant vengeful spirit uttered a hoarse voice. Its body was twisted, yet the outline of a once powerful mage could be seen. It raised its hand and waved, and streaks of pitch-black runes flew out from its palm, transforming into vacant chains that directly entangled Xu Qinghan's soul!

Xu Qinghan felt a chill run down her spine. She suddenly unleashed the Ancient God's Flame, and a blazing golden flame burst forth from between her brows, transforming into a golden barrier that instantly vaporized the ethereal runes.

However, more ethereal vengeful spirits surged out of the darkness, emitting mournful howls. Attacks formed from the power of nothingness, carrying the power to corrode the soul, rushed towards Xu Qinghan.

While fighting, Xu Qinghan also resisted the erosion of her soul. She knew that the most terrifying thing about these ethereal vengeful spirits was not their physical attacks, but their corrosive effect on the soul.

She suddenly unleashed the ancient divine flame, and a blazing golden flame burst forth from her body, transforming into a golden ripple that spread outwards.

"Purify with the fire!" Xu Qinghan roared. Wherever the golden ripples passed, the ethereal vengeful spirits let out painful howls. Their bodies began to crumble inch by inch under the purification of the fire, eventually turning into specks of nothingness and dissipating into the void.

However, the number of Void Wraiths was too great; they seemed endless, surging out from every corner of the Void Tomb and rushing towards Xu Qinghan one after another.

Xu Qinghan knew she couldn't waste time here. She had to find the spark of life as soon as possible, otherwise the power of life within her would be exhausted sooner or later.

She suddenly soared into the sky, transforming into a golden streak of light, and rushed straight into the deepest part of the Void Tomb.

However, just as she was about to rush into the core area of ​​the Void Tomb, she suddenly felt a terrifying pressure coming from ahead.

"Boom!"

The entire Void Tomb trembled violently, and streams of pitch-black void energy surged out from its depths like a tide, condensing into a massive black vortex in the air.

Within the vortex, countless ancient runes flickered, twisted and eerie, radiating a chilling power.

"The Void Burial Sky Formation!" Xu Qinghan's expression changed drastically. She knew that this was the most powerful formation set up here by the Lord of Nothingness.

The pitch-black vortex suddenly expanded, instantly engulfing Xu Qinghan.

Xu Qinghan felt an irresistible suction force coming from the vortex, and her body fell uncontrollably into the depths of the vortex.

She suddenly unleashed the ancient divine flame, and a blazing golden flame burst forth from her body, transforming into a golden barrier in an attempt to resist the suction force.

However, the power of the Void Burial Sky Formation was too great. It could not only devour all life force, but also distort space and reverse the universe. Xu Qinghan's Fire Barrier began to tremble violently under the erosion of the Void Burial Sky Formation, as if it would shatter at any moment.

"You who ignited the flame, you cannot escape!" A cold and majestic voice came from the depths of the Void Burial Sky Formation, the voice filled with endless mockery and coldness.

Xu Qinghan suddenly looked up and saw a dark figure slowly emerging in the center of the Void Burial Sky Formation, exuding a terrifying pressure.

It was a Void Monarch formed from pure nothingness power!
(End of this chapter)