Ch. 1404 - Presence Behind The Scenes

In truth, there weren’t that many real participants in the competition.

Most of the crowd were merely spectators.

This was a grand event for the younger generation of the Chaos Fire God Realm, a chance to determine the strongest among them.

It was a rare spectacle, one that might not occur again for centuries.

So it wasn’t surprising that countless people had gathered to watch.

Once the bystanders had left, only a few hundred true competitors remained.

The Chaos Fire Envoy swept his gaze over the group of contestants and said calmly, “Along the path to the Chaos Fire God Realm, two trials have been set up. They’re not particularly difficult, just meant to weed out those who are unworthy or here to take advantage.”

Though his words sounded light, no one dared to relax.

The qualification to reach the origin of the Fire Ancestor was far too important.

No one could guarantee they wouldn’t meet disaster along the way.

Everyone was ready to give their all, like lions fighting rabbits, still going full force.

From the Celestial Mortal Holy Lands, Zhang Hengzhi would be participating, so he temporarily entrusted the sect’s disciples to Liu Huohuo’s care.

“Master Xu,” Zhang Hengzhi said with a smile, “you have a great chance this time to win a high placement, and bring some honor to us humans.”

“What about humans?” Xu Zimo asked, puzzled.

“You might not know,” Zhang Hengzhi sighed, “but this Inferno Crucible Heaven ultimately belongs to the Fire God Race. Humans have a low status here. When our sect’s Grand Emperor ancestor founded the Celestial Mortal Holy Lands, his purpose was to create a safe haven for the human race. But now the sect has declined, and I feel ashamed before our forebears.”

“Every person has their own fate,” Xu Zimo replied. “It’s the same for races. Nothing lasts forever.”

“That may be true,” Zhang Hengzhi said, “but in all my years, among humans, you are the most gifted genius I’ve ever seen. Perhaps one day, we’ll have another Saint Sovereign among us.”

Xu Zimo only smiled and said nothing.

The human race had nothing to do with him.

Zhang Hengzhi carried a strong sense of racial loyalty, but Xu Zimo didn’t.

He looked up at the Chaos Fire Envoy, who had already finished his speech and was now pointing toward the mountain pass ahead.

“You may depart whenever you’re ready,” the envoy said. “You have three days. Anyone who fails to reach the Chaos Fire God Realm within that time will be disqualified.”

With that, the envoy left, and the contestants began forming small groups, racing toward the mountain top.

Xu Zimo, not knowing many others, chose to travel alongside Zhang Hengzhi.

Unexpectedly, Shangguan Xian appeared and followed after them.

“Master Xu, we meet again,” Shangguan Xian said with a gentle smile.

She wasn’t wearing her veil today, and her breathtaking beauty drew countless sidelong glances.

“Oh,” Xu Zimo replied with a brief nod, acknowledging her presence.

He didn’t believe he was so charming that a single glance could make her infatuated. If she insisted on following him, she clearly had some ulterior motive, and Xu Zimo hated trouble the most.

“The first trial on the path is the Forest of Blazing Fire,” Shangguan Xian said, sharing what she knew.

“There’s no shortcut for this one. The forest is filled with Flame Trees, plants that even devour members of the Fire God Race. You humans must be especially careful.”

Zhang Hengzhi listened intently, nodding from time to time.

Xu Zimo, however, was unconcerned. The Flame of Zhurong he wielded was the ancestor of all fire, why would he fear this?

When the group arrived at the so-called Forest of Blazing Fire, they saw before them a vast jungle.

The massive trees grew from pools of molten lava, their trunks a deep, glowing red.

There wasn’t even solid ground to stand on.

Flames crackled and hissed all around.

Even from a distance, Zhang Hengzhi could feel his skin burning, his blood seeming to boil inside his veins.

“Let’s meet on the other side of the forest,” Shangguan Xian said with a smile, then stepped directly onto the magma, walking gracefully forward.

The lava didn’t seem to burn her at all. Encased in a glow of celestial flame, she moved lightly and elegantly, almost ethereal in her poise.

Though she appeared delicate, each step carried her far ahead.

Inside the blazing forest, countless Flame Trees began to stir, twisting and writhing.

They attacked any who came close.

Some participants were caught off guard, struck down into the lava and instantly devoured.

But most managed to advance safely.

“The Fire God Race really has the advantage here,” Zhang Hengzhi sighed.

Sword energy surged around him, and a massive heavenly sword appeared at his back.

Leaping into the air, he flew on his sword, cutting through the sea of flames with sheer power.

Every Flame Tree that came near was instantly cleaved in two.

Meanwhile, deep within the Chaos Fire God Realm, inside a vast and imposing hall…

The grand chamber radiated authority and power.

More than a dozen figures sat within it.

At the highest seat was a man shrouded in crimson mist. Only his voice revealed that he was male.

The others around him were also cloaked in thick red robes, their faces hidden from view.

“One must admit,” a voice finally said, breaking the silence, “this time’s selection has produced some fine young talents.”

“Indeed,” another replied. “Several cities have promising seedlings, worth watching. They represent the hope of our Chaos Fire God Realm.”

“There’s also another matter,” someone said. “The young lord of Stone Flame City has been killed. I doubt Blade Tyrant will let that go.”

“Who killed him?”

“Apparently a human youth.”

“Blade Tyrant won’t forgive that. Does he really intend to spill blood within our Chaos Fire God Realm?”

“Let’s observe for now,” the crimson-shrouded figure at the head said calmly.

At his words, the entire hall fell silent again.

Everyone turned their attention toward the front, where the void projected a live image of the Forest of Blazing Fire.

Xu Zimo had no desire to show off.

The flames here couldn’t harm him in the slightest.

So instead of dodging, he simply jumped straight into the lava, walking leisurely through it as though taking a swim.

The tens of thousands of degrees of heat didn’t even make him flinch.

“That guy…” one of the contestants murmured, narrowing his eyes.

Even the Fire God Race couldn’t endure such flames for long, so how could a human?

Passing through the molten river and into the heart of the fiery forest, Xu Zimo found the Flame Trees trying to attack him as well.

He responded with a single burst of fire that burned them all to ash.

By the time he emerged from the forest, fewer than fifty participants had been eliminated.

Some of them were simply too weak to continue.

Zhang Hengzhi and Shangguan Xian were already waiting for him on the other side.

“You look more like a Fire God Race member than we do,” Shangguan Xian teased.

Xu Zimo shook his head slightly. “What’s the second trial?” he asked.

“The Heartflame Trial,” Shangguan Xian said seriously.

“How does it work?” Xu Zimo asked.

“The Heartflame Trial burns the soul itself,” she explained. “If you can endure it, you pass. If not, your soul will be reduced to ashes.”

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