Ch. 1428 - Sacred Flame Trinity

“This Prince’s Manor seems quite famous,” Xu Zimo said casually.

“Famous? That’s putting it lightly,” Bian Wenzhou replied. “In the Chaos Fire God Realm, their prestige is unmatched. Even the Chaos Fire God Realm wouldn’t dare provoke them easily.” He glanced at Xu Zimo. “Perhaps we should return for now and plan our next move?”

“Tell me first,” Xu Zimo said. “What’s the story behind this Prince’s Manor?”

“You must’ve heard of the Chaos Fire Progenitor,” Bian Wenzhou said.

Xu Zimo nodded. Even if he hadn’t before, after spending some time in this realm, that name had been repeated to him often enough to wear down his ears.

“After the Chaos Fire Progenitor founded the Chaos Fire God Realm, he left,” Bian Wenzhou explained. “That’s what the rumors say, anyway. In truth, when the domain was created, it wasn’t just him, he had several sworn brothers who helped establish it.”

“Brothers?” Shangguan Xian thought for a moment. “Do you mean the Sacred Flame Trinity?”

“Exactly. The Sacred Flame Trinity,” Bian Wenzhou said with a nod. “In those days, aside from the Fire Ancestor himself, they were the most powerful in the entire domain. When the Chaos Fire God Realm was first founded, it was a small and obscure force. The reason it grew into what it is now, one of the seven great God Realms, is entirely due to the Trinity’s efforts. The Sacred Flame Trinity brought the domain to its current glory. Their contributions can’t be overstated. After they relinquished power, they retreated into seclusion and stopped involving themselves in worldly affairs. As for this Prince’s Manor, it belongs to their descendants.”

Hearing that, Xu Zimo asked, “And how does that concern our hunt for the Blade Tyrant?”

“We can’t act recklessly inside the Prince’s Manor,” Bian Wenzhou said. “And we have no solid proof that the Blade Tyrant is hiding there. Your compass may be powerful, but it’s still an inanimate object, its results can’t be used as evidence. If we offend the Prince’s Manor, we’ll be making enemies of the entire Chaos Fire God Realm.”

“You’re afraid?” Xu Zimo asked bluntly.

“To be honest, yes,” Bian Wenzhou admitted without shame. “I’m the Lord of Fire Bane City. Every move I make affects my city and its people. I have to think of them, so yes, I’m afraid.”

“If you’re afraid,” Xu Zimo said with a wave of his hand, “then don’t get involved.”

But just then, Bian Wenzhou’s expression shifted. His tone became serious as he looked at Xu Zimo. “Young Master Xu, Fire Bane City is willing to stand with you. I’ll even put my old life on the line if that’s what it takes.”

Xu Zimo studied him for a moment, then glanced into the calm void behind him. “You’ve been advised by someone, haven’t you?”

Bian Wenzhou smiled bitterly. “You jest, Young Master Xu.”

“It’s Bian Shishi, isn’t it?” Xu Zimo asked.

Bian Wenzhou only gave a helpless smile and said nothing.

“Fine. I’m in no rush to see her,” Xu Zimo said, waving dismissively. “If she wants to meet, she’ll make it happen.”

Then he turned his eyes toward the Prince’s Manor and said to Zhang Hengzhi, “If your Celestial Mortal Holy Lands doesn’t want to get involved, you can leave now.”

“I trust you, Young Master Xu,” Zhang Hengzhi said firmly. After everything he’d witnessed, he knew Xu Zimo wasn’t the type to act without confidence.

“And you?” Xu Zimo looked to Shangguan Xian.

“I’ll always believe in you,” she said with a playful smile.

“Then knock on the door,” Xu Zimo ordered. “Tell them to hand over the Blade Tyrant. If they comply, we’ll leave peacefully. If not, then we break in and take him by force.”

“Let me go,” Bian Wenzhou offered.

He walked up the steps toward the manor gate, but the guards immediately blocked his way.

“Stop. This is the Prince’s Manor. No one enters without invitation. Didn’t you know that?” one of the guards barked.

“Call your steward,” Bian Wenzhou said, his tone stiffening a little. “We’re here because someone we’re hunting is hiding in your manor.”

The guard sneered. “Ridiculous. And who are you to demand to see our master? Get lost before we throw you out.”

“You!” Bian Wenzhou’s face flushed with anger and embarrassment.

“City Lord Bian,” Shangguan Xian said lightly, stepping forward, “why don’t you let me handle this?”

She raised her hand, and a surge of spiritual power erupted. The two guards barely had time to draw their blades before they were blasted off their feet and sent flying.

“You, what are you doing?!” the guards shouted in panic.

“Go and fetch your steward,” Shangguan Xian said coldly. “If you don’t, I’ll leave your corpses right here.”

“You, wait!” The two exchanged a terrified look and quickly fled into the manor.

Watching her in action, Bian Wenzhou felt a bit awkward.

He was the Lord of Fire Bane City, the master of the Black Crow Dao Court, a Grand Emperor of prestige in his own right. Yet here, in the grand Chaos City, no one even bothered to give him face.

After a short wait, a group of men stormed out from within the manor, murderous intent rolling off them. They were clearly the Prince’s Manor guards, each one clad in matching silver robes, their auras powerful and disciplined.

In an instant, several dozen of them surrounded Xu Zimo’s group.

“Who dares attack the Prince’s guards?” a loud voice demanded.

The speaker was a portly man with a drooping mustache and an official’s hat perched on his head.

“Steward Huang, it was this woman,” one of the battered guards pointed at Shangguan Xian.

Though Huang the steward wasn’t much to look at, he clearly had authority. His eyes swept over the group, quickly recognizing Xu Zimo as their leader.

The fact that these people had come to the Prince’s Manor, attacked the guards, and still stood so calmly meant they weren’t afraid.

Huang’s eyes narrowed slightly, then he smiled. “May I ask how our humble manor has offended the distinguished guests?”

“It’s not that you’ve offended us,” Shangguan Xian said coolly. “We merely wished to speak to someone in charge, but your guards refused to report our arrival.”

Huang blinked in surprise. Normally, anyone wanting to meet someone from the Prince’s Manor had to schedule it far in advance. These people had barged straight in, of course the guards wouldn’t let them through.

Still, he masked his thoughts and asked politely, “May I have your names?”

“This is Young Master Xu,” Bian Wenzhou said quickly. “He just took first place in the Chaos Fire God Realm’s grand competition.”

Their own names carried little weight here, but Xu Zimo’s did.

As soon as he heard that, Steward Huang’s demeanor changed instantly. A warm smile spread across his face. He turned and kicked the wounded guard to the ground.

“Blind fool! Young Master Xu is an honored guest of our Prince’s Manor, and you dared bar his way?” he barked.

Then, waving to the other guards, he ordered coldly, “Take him away and execute him.”

The guard’s pleas for mercy echoed briefly before he was dragged off to his fate.

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