Usually, etheric flames need to be constantly in connection with one's soul to keep it aflame.
Once the connection was cut off, the etheric flames would instantly die down, which was yet another reason why practitioners don't use it during a fight.
There were simply too many drawbacks to manifesting an etheric flame that even alchemists would only try manifesting them if they don't have any talent in fire laws or if they consider alchemy as their life that they wouldn't mind spending decades cultivating their soul just to manifest etheric fire.
But even then, only a rare few manage to succeed in manifesting them.
Luna said as her beautiful eyes sparkled, "Because that is the power of the Pseudo-Origin laws within that flame. Actually, the flames would slowly diminish as it exhausts the soul energy contained inside it. But compared to a normal practitioner's etheric flame, yours would seem practically undying."
'If he is able to manifest Pseudo-Origin level flames with his poor cultivation, then that could only mean that his Origin Seed is an amalgamation of Origin Level laws itself and not just Pseudo-Origin laws. But how is he able to manifest such flames without any reaction from his Origin Seed? Unless his soul is...no, no, that's absolutely impossible! Maybe I just can't sense its profound connection with my current ability.' Luna mused.
Luna had previously thought that Damien's Origin Seed was just an amalgamation of Pseudo-Origin laws since an Origin Seed can also be formed from them; specifically, it would be a Pseudo-Origin Seed.
She had never seen any god housing an actual Origin Seed. She doesn't even remember meeting any god as strong as her. She had always considered herself as the strongest, which was one of the reasons she had a supercilious bearing.
So far, the only god with a genuine Origin Seed she knows is herself, which was why she was shocked when she sensed the power contained inside Damien's black flames.
Because it meant that Damien housed an Origin Seed of a god at least as strong as her!
Because of her nature, she found it hard to accept that there existed a god as strong as her.
Since she couldn't even clearly identify the laws in Damien's Origin Seed, she thought it must be a dead seed instead of believing that it was not just a Pseudo-Origin Seed.
She made some initial guesses but didn't dare to believe it without further proof. But seeing the mysterious black flame, her guesses were becoming more accurate. However, she still decided not to tell Damien until she verified it completely.
She had never seen or experienced the kind of laws contained in the jet black flame, which was why she was only able to make faint guesses.
She knows that no matter how strong one's ethereal soul was, they wouldn't be able to produce the strange flames Damien could.
'Which pea-brained god would give away their Origin Seed to a mortal? Why would they even need to do that?' Luna couldn't help but wonder puzzledly.
Luna found it perplexing that a god on the same level as her would be stupid enough to kill themselves by giving away their Origin Seed.
Which god would be crazy enough to throw away their godhood and life for a mere mortal?
And what was the connection between that god and Damien? Or how she had to soul link with Damien? Was the same god involved in both their situations?
Luna knew that it was not just by coincidence Damien came to possess an Origin Seed, which perfectly merged with him.
By now, she had seen many inexplicable and unbelievable things happening to Damien that she doubted whether everything she knew was right.
She also had another guess which could explain why Damien's etheric flames were different. But it was too unbelievable and ridiculous that she quickly threw that thought away.
The more she tried to find an answer to all these confounding questions, the more she felt lost and frustrated.
In the end, she could only hope to merge with her other shards and gain back her memories completely.
Damien was amazed when he learned that his jet-black flames could keep on blazing even after cutting off his soul connection with the flame, even if it were for a short while.
That was the main drawback of the etheric flame, which discouraged practitioners from using it in a fight. But if Damien one day learns to manifest his etheric fire instantly without exhausting himself much, he could use it to battle against other cultivators!
And the more soul energy he provides, the longer the flames would burn.
He then decided to complete the pill concoction before thinking about anything else.
Damien had already controlled the jet black flame and lowered its intensity just enough to not damage the cauldron.
Earlier, just as the jet black flames came in contact with the cauldron, it got heated up more than it could handle within seconds, and the cauldron was this close to being ruined!
Even though it was a Common Grade cauldron, it was not something that a normal practitioner's etheric fire could easily ruin.
Even if a normal practitioner with Damien's cultivation managed to manifest etheric fire, they would find it impossible to even wreck a Common Grade cauldron.
Damien tried his best to maintain control over his jet black flames as he took out the 'Rainbow Grass' and tossed it into the cauldron. And then he threw in the 'Fermented Berry' inside the cauldron.
He was surprised when he saw the Rainbow Grass and the Fermented Berry decaying rapidly, including its medical essence, which was not something Damien wanted to happen.
Damien right away realized that it was a failure!
He was able to control his jet black flames, but he found it hard to fine-tune the temperature and intensity of the flame required to refine the ingredients.
Damien had excellent theoretical knowledge, but he had zero experience practically handling the refining process with precise control. Also, as his etheric fire was chaotic and hard to control, it just made it more difficult for him.
Damien then dispersed the soul energy in the jet black flames that were still ablaze in the cauldron.
The jet black flames instantly dissipated. And when Damien inspected the inside of the cauldron, he saw that it was almost covered in black stains, which gave off an acrid smell that looked as if the cauldron got spoiled.
Fortunately, after completely inspecting it, Damien noticed that the cauldron was not spoiled completely.
Thankfully, due to Luna's warning, he was able to control his etheric fire in time. Otherwise, the cauldron may have got completely destroyed.
But at the same time, he was also astonished that his jet black flames were powerful enough to even break down a Common Grade cauldron with his cultivation.
And the way the jet black flames almost ruined the cauldron was not like ordinary flames. It was as if the flames were decaying and breaking down the cauldron.
Although Damien had failed, he wasn't discouraged in the least. But instead, he got excited to try more experiments with his newly found etheric flames. He was also intrigued by the mysteriousness of his flame and was happy that it was something special.
At first, he was a bit hesitant to manifest the flames again since the first time he tried, he experienced immense pain and emptied his soul energy reserves. But then he thought that it was worth the risk.
But he found it a pity that the ingredients were wasted, and now he would have to pluck more from Lily's inner courtyard. Thankfully, his deal with Lily allowed him to take as many Common Grade herbs as he wants.
And Lily's inner courtyard already had such ingredients in abundance!
He also decided to pluck more herbs than necessary for one pill since he might have to do many trial and error experiments to get his control right.
"Hmm, I should name my etheric flame as the 'Fallen Flame'. It seems more apt, and I somehow feel like the flames represent me. An undying flame which burns and annihilates everything in its path." Damien said with a meaningful expression on his face.
"Pfft, so childish. Naming your own etheric flame...seriously." Luna rolled her eyes.
Damien scoffed, "My flames are worthy enough to have its own name. Besides...it sounds cooler." He said with a smirk.
Luna facepalmed as she wondered if he was someone who really lived two lives.
Since more than 80% of his soul energy was exhausted, Damien felt a bit tired as he felt his body was being drowned by fatigue. Also, the slight internal injuries from yesterday hadn't healed yet completely.
But there was still more than half an hour left before Lily's training session starts.
He decided to replenish his expended soul energy as much as he can before the training session starts.
Damien got up from the floor and slumped onto the bed like a half-filled sack.
"Luna, wake me up in half an hour," Damien ordered Luna as if she was his secretary.
Luna's expression glowered, "You! I am not your personal alarm bell. You want this goddess to wake you up? Hmph, your mother will wake you up."
But Damien had already dozed off not to hear Luna's ranting and ravings.
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