Ch. 1405 - Fire Wights

“The Heartflame Trial tests the cultivator’s very soul,” Shangguan Xian said with a faint smile. “If you’re not confident, don’t attempt it. There’s no turning back once you start.”

Xu Zimo looked over at Zhang Hengzhi. Among the three of them, Zhang Hengzhi was the weakest in strength.

“Don’t worry,” Zhang Hengzhi replied with a grin. “I may not be the strongest, but I have a firm Dao Heart. I don’t fear this so-called Heartflame.”

The so-called Heartflame was, in truth, a bridge, one suspended between two cliffs, stretching toward the mountain peak. Flames danced all along it, purple and ghostly, as if countless twisted faces writhed within the fire.

By the time the three arrived, others had already begun crossing. Some faces twisted in agony, their pain beyond description. A few were engulfed by the flames, reduced to nothing but ash. But some walked steadily, unaffected, striding straight across.

“Oh, by the way,” Shangguan Xian said with a sly smile, glancing at Xu Zimo. “There’s a piece of news you might find interesting.”

“What news?” Xu Zimo asked.

“The City Lord of Stone Flame City has come to the Chaos Fire God Realm,” she replied.

At that, Xu Zimo understood. The man had come to avenge his son.

“And what’s this so-called City Lord’s cultivation realm?” Xu Zimo asked.

“You really want to know?” Shangguan Xian teased. “Join our Divine Crow God Realm, and I’ll make sure the City Lord never troubles you again.”

Xu Zimo shook his head slightly and turned to Zhang Hengzhi.

“He’s probably a Sovereign Lord,” Zhang Hengzhi answered. “The lords of the cities beneath the Chaos Fire God Realm are all at least Grand Emperors. Stone Flame City’s lord is among the stronger ones.”

“Then that’s no fun,” Xu Zimo said calmly. He had hoped to capture a Fire God Race Saint Sovereign for Blue Man to study.

...

The three stepped onto the fire bridge.

The moment Xu Zimo set foot on it, his vision changed, an endless purple sea of flames surged toward him, threatening to engulf his entire being.

Xu Zimo’s gaze turned sharp, demonic light flashing in his eyes. When he opened them again, the sea of fire vanished. But behind him, flames continued to burn, as though feeding on his very soul.

The Heartflame seemed to consume one’s spirit like fuel, the more it burned, the fiercer it grew.

He glanced at his two companions. Both seemed to be facing the same illusion. Shangguan Xian recovered quickly, her eyes regaining clarity in an instant. Zhang Hengzhi took a bit longer, but eventually broke free as well.

“Let’s hurry across,” Zhang Hengzhi urged, his voice tense.

The intensity of the fire had far exceeded his expectations. His entire body ached as though it were being torn apart; his vision blurred from the pain.

As they moved, Xu Zimo asked casually, “Who holds power over the Chaos Fire God Realm now?”

“Of course, it’s the Fire Ancestor,” Zhang Hengzhi replied. “Even though the Chaos Fire Progenitor is no longer here, the new generation of the Fire God Race remains powerful. Among the Seven Fire Realms, our Chaos Fire God Realm ranks in the top three.”

“You’ve seen the Water Beasts, haven’t you?” Xu Zimo asked.

Zhang Hengzhi shook his head, but Shangguan Xian’s expression darkened. “I went to the Departure Fire God Realm once. It’s already been overrun by Water Beasts.”

Xu Zimo fell silent, lost in thought.

If the Water Beast disaster in Fire Bane City had been caused by the Blue Men, then what about the others? Were there more of them out there? And where had they come from?

He had no answers yet, only questions. He would have to wait until the Blue Man awoke to learn more.

As they continued along the bridge, a sharp whistling sound broke through the air.

Three figures approached at incredible speed, their blue robes fluttering behind them. As they neared, the three suddenly launched an ambush, three curved blades flashing toward Xu Zimo.

Clang, clang, clang!

Xu Zimo punched out, shattering all three blades.

The assassins didn’t falter. Flames erupted from their bodies as they attacked from three different directions.

Xu Zimo frowned slightly. Their strength wasn’t impressive, too weak to pose any real threat. Why send such people to kill him?

He lifted his right leg and kicked.

Boom! The entire void trembled, the air rupturing into a gaping rift. The three assassins were swallowed whole, their bodies vanishing into nothingness.

Just then, Shangguan Xian seemed to realize something.

“Watch out!” she shouted.

Even as her words fell, the bodies of the three assassins began to glow red. A terrifying heat built up within them, like a volcano about to erupt.

In the next instant, they exploded.

BOOM!

The blast was so powerful it shattered the bridge itself. Flames surged skyward, engulfing Xu Zimo completely. His silhouette vanished in the inferno, leaving only fire raging through the void.

Shangguan Xian and Zhang Hengzhi had reacted fast enough to escape. Since the attackers had only targeted Xu Zimo, the two were unharmed.

“What just happened?” Zhang Hengzhi asked in shock.

“They were Fire Wights,” Shangguan Xian said grimly. “It’s said that some factions secretly cultivate them. They’re like living bombs, deadly zealots who cultivate forbidden self-destruction arts. When their cultivation reaches its limit, their bodies can’t contain the power and explode.”

Her expression darkened further. “That technique was originally created by one of our Fire God Race’s ancestors. He made a mistake in his cultivation, and this cursed art was the result. Later, certain forces began using it to breed Fire Wights in secret.”

“Who could have done this?” Zhang Hengzhi asked. “This must’ve been a planned assassination.”

“I don’t know,” Shangguan Xian said, shaking her head. “That technique has long been forbidden. But the only one Xu Zimo has truly offended is Stone Flame City. They certainly have the power to cultivate Fire Wights… but without proof, we can’t accuse anyone outright.”

Both of them stared intently into the molten depths below.

An incident like this, especially during a trial, was a direct provocation to the Chaos Fire God Realm’s authority. Surely the overseers wouldn’t stay silent.

“Zimo!” Shangguan Xian called out toward the molten sea.

Just then, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

She turned quickly, only to find Xu Zimo standing right behind her, perfectly unharmed.

“Zimo, you’re alright!” Shangguan Xian said with visible relief.

“A mere assassination like that won’t kill me,” he said, shaking his head. “Let’s go. We should reach the Chaos Fire God Realm first.”

He didn’t say it aloud, but in his mind, Stone Flame City had already been marked for destruction. Some people, it seemed, were far too eager to meet their end.

The three reached the mountain’s summit, where a crimson vortex swirled above a platform. This was the entrance to the Chaos Fire God Realm.

Without hesitation, they stepped into it.

The world spun violently, and when they opened their eyes again, they found themselves in a different realm altogether.

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