Chapter 1048: First Step on Flame God Realm
“Since Flame Sect Master says so, then there is certainly no issue.” After speaking, Yun Che added, “Junior has a feeling that this time, my master should also have a high degree of confidence.”
“By the way, I wonder where on the body of that ancient hornless dragon its Dragon Gate is located?” Yun Che asked curiously. This was because he had heard for the first time that a hornless dragon had the weakness of a “Dragon Gate” on its body.
“It is at the center of its dragon abdomen.” Yan Wancang said, “Not all dragons have a Dragon Gate on their dragon bodies. Hornless dragons not only have a Dragon Gate, but it is the most obvious among the dragon race, perhaps due to their inability to take human form. However, Cloud Nephew, if you ever encounter a true dragon you must fight in the future, even if it is a hornless dragon, never try to seek its Dragon Gate. Doing so deliberately will only increase the danger. Remember this well.”
Yun Che nodded deeply: “Thank you for the teaching, Flame Sect Master.”
“Alas,” looking at Yun Che, Yan Wancang suddenly heaved a deep sigh, “What a pity, you are still too young, and the Profound God Convention is right at hand. If this Profound God Convention could be delayed a dozen years, giving you enough time to grow, with your talent, it would by no means be impossible for you to enter the top thousand in the Profound God Convention. After that, the Zhou Tian Divine Realm for three thousand years... even I find it hard to imagine what level you would grow to... It is truly a pity indeed.”
He shook his head deeply, his sigh coming from the bottom of his heart.
Yun Che: “...”
“The emergence of Poyun, coupled with the sudden arrival of the Profound God Convention, makes this hunt for the ancient hornless dragon extremely important to our Flame God Realm. If successful, pooling the strength of our three sect masters, we will surely be able to make Poyun undergo another complete transformation in a short time, giving him a high chance of breaking into the top thousand at the Profound God Convention. The subsequent experience in the Zhou Tian Divine Realm will most likely... allow our Flame God Realm to produce the first Divine Lord in its history.”
Yan Wancang looked up. It was evident that he was both immensely hopeful and intensely nervous: “This time, we must succeed no matter what... Everything still depends on your master. Although it is a case of each getting what they need, if we can achieve complete success, the Flame God Realm will definitely remember this as a debt of gratitude.”
At this moment, the air began to stir restlessly, and Yan Wancang slowly rose to his feet: “It seems we have arrived.”
Similar to yet contrasting with the Yin Xue Realm, the Flame God Realm was perpetually scorching hot. Fire element density and activity were extremely high, with temperatures far beyond what ordinary people could bear, yet it was a paradise for those who inherited fire bloodlines, fire-type profound beasts, and cultivators of fire profound arts.
The formation of the Flame God Realm was due to an ancient flame vein. Like the ice vein of the Yin Xue Realm, the flame vein of the Flame God Realm was left over from the ancient era of the gods. The core area of the flame vein was a massive sea of fire spanning nearly a million miles, known as the Burial God Fire Prison!
The people of the Flame God Realm held boundless reverence for the flame vein and the Burial God Fire Prison. Meanwhile, over countless years, they had never ceased exploring the Burial God Fire Prison, but no one had ever reached its bottom... just as in the Yin Xue Realm, no one had ever reached the bottom of Minghan Heavenly Lake.
However, compared to the Minghan Heavenly Lake, which spans only a few dozen miles and whose edge can be seen at a glance, the Burial God Fire Prison stretches for a million miles. Its existence is even more worthy of being called an ancient divine miracle.
The profound ark stopped. As soon as they stepped out of the profound ark, a wave of heat crashed violently upon them. Compared to the icy stillness of the air in the Yin Xue Realm, the air of the Flame God Realm was entirely the opposite extreme—scorching hot and frenzied, as if they had suddenly stepped into a blazing furnace.
The sky here was a startlingly deep crimson, as if it were a red-hot branding iron. Whether this was due to the proximity of the Burial God Fire Prison or whether the sky of the Flame God Realm was always like this was unknown.
Yan Wancang looked at Yun Che. Before he could speak, he was startled. He had thought that Yun Che, who practiced ice profound arts and had long lived in the Yin Xue Realm, would be extremely uncomfortable here. Instead, he saw that Yun Che’s expression and aura were both extraordinarily calm, showing no signs of discomfort. Marveling inwardly, he turned and said, “Here we are, at the center of the Flame God Realm. A short hundred miles south lies the Burial God Fire Prison.”
Yan Juehai interjected, “During this time, our three great sects have had people stationed here, constantly monitoring the movements of the Burial God Fire Prison. We also brought some young disciples here to train. Oh, by the way, Poyun is here too. He will definitely be very happy to know you have arrived.”
At that moment, a chill abruptly swept through, instantly pushing all the heat away. The entire world suddenly became eerily cold. Yun Che clearly saw that even Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai, both great sect masters, shivered violently under this icy cold.
Mu Xuanyin’s figure appeared before them, her gaze fixed directly south toward the Burial God Fire Prison.
“Yin Xue Realm King...”
Yan Wancang stepped forward, but before he could finish speaking, Mu Xuanyin vanished in a flash of ice, leaving only her bone-chilling voice drifting from afar: “I will go take a look at the Burial God Fire Prison. Che’er, you stay here. Do not wander around, and do not approach the Burial God Fire Prison.”
“Yes,” Yun Che obediently replied.
As the cold receded, Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai both let out a long sigh of relief. Yan Juehai unconsciously wiped his forehead, only to find a thin layer of frost on the hair at his brow. He exclaimed, “Compared to a thousand years ago, the profound strength of the Yin Xue Realm King has actually advanced again... Truly terrifying.”
As soon as he arrived at the Flame God Realm, Yun Che was directly handed over to Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai by Mu Xuanyin.
The ground was parched, giving off a quite strong smell of scorching, as if it might burst into flames at any moment. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but desolation, utterly devoid of life. However, this area was teeming with countless figures. Clearly, these were people from the three great sects: the Vermilion Bird Sect, the Phoenix God Sect, and the Golden Crow Sect. Yun Che quickly swept his spiritual perception around and found no presence other than the aura of the three divine flames.
For a matter as significant as hunting an ancient hornless dragon, even the three sect masters—Yan Wancang, Yan Juehai, and Huo Rulie—were all present. Naturally, those who could come here were no ordinary individuals. The aura of every single person was countless times more terrifying than an erupting volcano. Even the young profound practitioners were undoubtedly the cream of the crop among the younger generation of the three great sects.
A figure approached accompanied by a scorching hot wind. It was none other than the Golden Crow Sect Master, Huo Rulie. He asked bluntly, “Has Mu Xuanyin already arrived? Hmm? Yun boy?”
Yun Che stepped forward: “Junior Yun Che pays respects to Flame Sect Master Huo.”
“Heh, the Yin Xue Realm King has personally gone to investigate the Burial God Fire Prison.” Yan Wancang swept his eyes around and said with a smile, “Where is Poyun?”
Huo Rulie gave Yun Che a deep look: “I didn’t expect they would bring this Yun boy along. Hmph, not surprising. Flame Sect Master Yan, Flame Sect Master Yan, you both have important matters to attend to. Go about your business. This hunt absolutely cannot afford any more mistakes... As for this Yun boy, leave him to Poyun.”
“Hahahaha!” Yan Juehai let out a long laugh: “That is most suitable.”
Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai departed. Facing Huo Rulie, who had a grudge against his master and had once maliciously plotted against Mu Bingyun, Yun Che was far less relaxed than he had been with Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai. Huo Rulie seemed to see through his thoughts at a glance and suddenly said, “Yun boy, you don’t need to be nervous. Although I’m not on good terms with your master, you, boy... count me, Huo Rulie, as owing you a huge favor!”
Yun Che looked at him in surprise... He was astonished that a person of Huo Rulie’s stature, a Golden Crow Sect Master comparable to a realm king, would say such a thing to a young disciple like him.
“That day, Poyun was utterly defeated by you. His dejection at the time made me extremely anxious.” Huo Rulie furrowed his brow. “This boy Poyun is extremely talented and has a very proud nature. He has never been defeated since childhood, and no one has ever surpassed him in elemental principles. But that day, not only did he lose to you, he lost completely and utterly.”
“Alas,” Huo Rulie sighed heavily, “A person who has never been defeated voluntarily admitting defeat shows the immense blow he received. And without those words of yours, it would have been very likely for him to remain in the shadows for a long time, perhaps even to the point of never recovering. No one could have helped him. But you took the initiative to save him... He not only failed to sink into despair, but truly understood that there are heavens beyond heavens. After returning to the sect, his enthusiasm and focus in cultivation have far surpassed the past. Especially his state of mind, which has undergone a subtle transformation. This has brought me great comfort.”
“All of this is thanks to you.”
Yun Che shook his head and humbly said, “Flame Sect Master overpraises me. My victory that day was merely due to luck. The words I said to Brother Poyun came from the bottom of my heart.”
“Hmph! Although I can’t stand your master, but...” Huo Rulie pounded his chest fiercely, “You, boy, are ten thousand times more agreeable than your master. This great favor must be repaid. If you fancy anything from my Golden Crow Sect, or if you want me to do something for you, just say the word!”
“...” The sheer magnitude of this statement left Yun Che momentarily at a loss for words.
“I have already called for that boy Poyun. He will be here soon. If there is anywhere you want to go, just tell him.”
Just as Huo Rulie finished speaking, a hurried voice rapidly approached from afar.
“Sect Master... Sect... Sect Master!!”
A middle-aged man wearing a Golden Crow flame robe, his face flushed red, rushed over like lightning, his expression deeply panicked.
Huo Rulie’s brows furrowed deeply as he scolded, “What is the matter? Why are you so flustered!”
“The young master... Young master he...”
Hearing the words “Young master”, Huo Rulie jerked as if burned, rushing forward to grab the middle-aged man’s shoulder: “What happened to Ye’er? Speak quickly!”
“The young master... suddenly his profound energy went into chaos... he is... he is about to...”
“Wha... t!!”
A ball of Golden Crow flame burst out of control, the violently exploding air sending Yun Che flying far away, nearly making him spit blood. Meanwhile, Huo Rulie had already vanished, disappeared without a trace.
“What a terrifying aura.” Yun Che clutched his chest and groaned softly, then took a heavy breath.
Young master... Huo Rulie’s son? The one who was mistakenly injured by Master a thousand years ago?
It was said that for the entire millennium, Huo Rulie had been doing everything in his power to keep him alive by a thread... Just like during these thousand years, Mu Xuanyin had spared no expense to prolong Mu Bingyun’s life.
Looking around, Yun Che grew frustrated.
The two great sect masters had personally gone to the Yin Xue Realm to bring them over. He had thought they might go to the Vermilion Bird Sect or the Phoenix God Sect, at least to be treated as honored guests of a great realm by basking in his master’s glory. Instead, they were brought directly to this desolate land near the Burial God Fire Prison...
And after arriving, first Mu Xuanyin abandoned him, then Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai handed him over to Huo Rulie... and Huo Rulie vanished in an instant.
Was this the Flame God Realm’s hospitality? It definitely deserved a bad review!
Left alone and isolated in this unfamiliar place, Yun Che did not dare wander around recklessly, so he could only wait where he was. At that moment, three young profound practitioners flew quickly from the direction of the Burial God Fire Prison. They carried extremely active flame auras, as if they had just completed some kind of training in the Burial God Fire Prison.
“Golden Crow Sect people.” Sensing the flame auras of these three young profound practitioners, Yun Che muttered to himself.
But just as they passed by him, the three young profound practitioners suddenly stopped, locking their gaze and aura onto him.
“Who are you? Why are you here?” A girl’s voice, filled with deep vigilance, called out to Yun Che rudely.
During the period when the ancient hornless dragon shed its scales, this area had also been sealed off by the three Flame God sects as a forbidden zone, with no outsiders allowed to step foot inside. Yun Che, dressed in a striking white snow robe and lacking the aura of any of the three Flame God sects, immediately put them on high alert.
Yun Che turned around and said politely, “I am Yun Che of the Yin Xue Realm.”
These three young people, two men and one woman, looked exceptionally young, about the same age as Mu Xiaolan, at most no more than twenty years old. Yet their profound strength was a shocking Soul Realm Level 1!
Mu Xiaolan, being accepted into the Ice Phoenix Palace at the Divine Origin Realm, was naturally considered quite talented. But these three young people, similar in age to Mu Xiaolan, had cultivation far surpassing hers.
Indeed, those brought here to witness the hunting of the hornless dragon were no ordinary disciples.
What Yun Che did not expect was that after he stated his name, the faces of these three young profound practitioners all drastically changed:
“Yun Che!? Are you the Yun Che of the Yin Xue Realm?”