Ch. 1403 - Shangguan Xian’s Temptation, Entering Chaos Fire God Realm

The dragon pearl pierced straight through Ba Xia’s body.

Taking advantage of his weakness, the Violet-Gold Dragon Emperor grabbed him with its claws and hurled him violently into the magma below.

The crowd stared at the bubbling lava, waiting for a long time, but Ba Xia never resurfaced.

“Could he really be dead?” someone asked uncertainly.

“Impossible. Ba Xia is a Grand Emperor. How could ordinary magma harm him?” another replied in disbelief.

Yet no matter how long they waited, Ba Xia did not appear again.

Only Xu Zimo knew the truth.

Beneath that magma, he had set up a spatial gate connected to the God World.

Both Sha Yi and Ba Xia had been drawn into it, likely now serving as food for the Blue Man.

Xu Zimo yawned, feeling his interest fading.

He turned to Zhang Hengzhi and the others and said, “Let’s go back to the inn. Better to get some sleep than waste time here.”

“You killed Ba Xia,” Liu Huohuo said, her flushed face turning pale.

“Was I not supposed to?” Xu Zimo asked.

“His father is the Lord of Stone Flame City,” Liu Huohuo sighed. “He’ll never let you go after this.”

“Then I don’t mind sending his father to join him,” Xu Zimo said with a faint smile.

Since enmity had already been formed, sparing Ba Xia would have changed nothing. His enemies would never forgive him anyway.

As Xu Zimo prepared to leave, Shangguan Xian walked toward him, her steps light and graceful like lotus petals upon water.

“Greetings, fellow cultivator,” she said with a soft laugh.

“What do you want?” Xu Zimo asked.

Shangguan Xian slowly removed the veil that had covered her face.

The sight stunned everyone.

She was like a peony about to bloom, beautiful but not gaudy, radiant yet pure.

Her face was oval, her nose slender and elegant, her cherry lips pale as rosebuds. Her skin was flawless, white as snow.

Tiny star-shaped earrings hung from her ears, and her long black hair cascaded down her back, tied loosely with a blue ribbon.

“May I ask where you come from?” she said gently. “A man of such talent can’t possibly be unknown.”

Her voice was soft and clear, like the call of a songbird, delicate yet melodious.

“Just a nameless wanderer, unaffiliated,” Xu Zimo said casually.

At that, a flash of light passed through Shangguan Xian’s eyes.

With a hint of shyness, she said, “Would the young master consider joining our Divine Crow God Realm? There are many cultivation matters I’d love to consult you about.”

Her demeanor was demure, her beauty almost inviting.

But Xu Zimo suddenly reached out and pinched her cheek, hard.

Shangguan Xian froze, taken aback. The two stood close, and she hadn’t expected him to be so bold, to act without warning.

“Little girl, don’t try to use your charm techniques on me,” Xu Zimo said flatly. “You’re still far from capable.”

Shangguan Xian’s expression darkened as she quickly took a step back to avoid another touch.

“You misunderstand me, young master,” she said with a faint smile. “I merely wished to recruit you.”

“Recruit me?” Xu Zimo laughed, as if he’d heard the greatest joke in the world.

“Even the overlord of the Radiant Court wouldn’t dare recruit me. What is your Divine Crow God Realm compared to that? Just a mangy bird with half its feathers missing.”

“Your words are too much,” Shangguan Xian said coldly, her smile fading.

“You’re lucky,” Xu Zimo said evenly. “If I didn’t find you somewhat interesting, I might’ve ended you on the spot.” He turned away. “Perhaps you think I’ve gone too far, but I’m only speaking the truth.”

With that, he waved his hand and left with Zhang Hengzhi and the others.

Shangguan Xian stood in place, watching his departing figure, deep in thought.

“Senior sister, should we…” one of the women beside her made a throat-slitting gesture.

“Investigate first,” Shangguan Xian said, shaking her head.

She couldn’t see through Xu Zimo at all, and she never acted without certainty.

Otherwise, for that single touch on her cheek, she would have killed him without hesitation.

Back at the inn, Xu Zimo told everyone not to disturb him. He returned to his room alone, eager to enter the God World and check on Blue Man’s progress.

“How is he?” Xu Zimo asked upon arrival.

“My lord, he indeed feeds on Fire God Race,” Paimon said with a nod. “I fed him those two from before, and his laws have strengthened considerably.”

“He hasn’t awakened yet?” Xu Zimo asked.

“No. It’s like a bottomless pit, I can’t tell how many of the Fire God Race he’ll need to consume before he wakes,” Paimon replied.

“How strange,” Xu Zimo murmured. “A creature that feeds on the Fire God Race… what exactly is he?”

“My lord,” Paimon said, “I have a theory. The Blue Man and the Fire God Race might not truly be enemies.”

“Oh?” Xu Zimo raised an eyebrow. “Why do you say that?”

“The Blue Man feed on the Fire God Race,” Paimon explained. “But as you said earlier, those of the Fire God Race who consumed even a drop of his blood lived a hundred years longer. It feels… reciprocal.”

He continued thoughtfully, “The Blue Man consume them, but the Fire God Race covet his power just as much. If word of Blue Man’s existence spreads, the entire Fire God Race will hunt him down. My lord must keep this secret.”

“That makes sense,” Xu Zimo nodded. “I understand.”

He observed the growing strength of the creature’s laws, then sat cross-legged to meditate and comprehend.

He needed to prepare for his heavenly tribulation.

For Xu Zimo, tribulation was nothing to fear.

Most Saint Sovereigns faced near-certain death during theirs, one wrong move and their cultivation would fall, sometimes never to rise again.

But Xu Zimo was different. He could simply face his tribulation within the God World itself.

Did the Heavenly Dao of that realm dare to strike him?

He meditated the entire night, murmuring to himself, “It’s close. I can feel it, just one final step.”

Leaving the God World, he returned to his room.

Today was the third day, the day they were to enter the Chaos Fire God Realm.

When he stepped outside, Zhang Hengzhi and the others were already waiting.

“Finally! You’ve been in seclusion for three days. If you hadn’t come out soon, I was going to kick down your door,” Zhang Hengzhi said.

Liu Huohuo added, “The Envoy of Chaos Fire is coming today. I know a few inside details, I’ll fill you in.”

Her father was a guardian of the Chaos Fire God Realm, so Xu Zimo didn’t doubt her.

After three days, the area surrounding the Chaos Fire God Realm was packed with people, hundreds of billions, as far as the eye could see.

Heads crowded together, an ocean of cultivators.

Many were from other regions, not just the Chaos Fire God Realm, all hoping to take advantage of the opportunity.

Above the magma field, clusters of fire lotuses bloomed in the air.

The Chaos Fire Envoy appeared again, stepping into the sky.

His aura was immense, his gaze cold and authoritative as it swept across the gathered masses.

He said indifferently, “Now I will announce the rules. Those entering the competition, remain where you stand. Spectators who are not participating may take the Fire Road to the right and enter the Chaos Fire God Realm directly.”

As soon as he finished speaking, more than half of the crowd split off and began heading toward the Fire Road.

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