Thunderous clashes shook the heavens above a fiery mountain range where rivers of molten lava flowed endlessly through cracked valleys. Black smoke churned into the sky, merging with storm clouds that glowed red from the inferno below.
High above the volcanic landscape, four Peak Qi Refinement experts stood locked in a deadlock of absolute might.
Their auras alone were enough to crush ordinary mortals. Any common man standing beneath them would be reduced to ash before even comprehending the terrifying power gathered in the skies.
"You outsiders have no claim to this land—much less its treasures!"
The furious roar came from a towering warrior wreathed in flames.
His skin carried a faint golden glow, while blazing heat radiated from every pore of his body. His crimson hair stood upright like a burning crown. In his hands rested a pair of massive axes whose edges burned red-hot, their golden handles matching the magnificent armor covering his body.
Directly opposite him floated a beautiful middle-aged woman dressed in flowing black garments.
Her long jet-black hair reached her waist and danced in the heated winds. In each hand hovered a laughing skull forged from dark energy.
She smiled coldly.
"The mere fact that a rift opened to this lesser realm signifies the arrival of the Great Reset."
The skulls laughed alongside her words.
"The world creates opportunities through danger. Only the strong have the right to claim anything, and only the stronger have the right to keep it. Surely even the natives of this realm understand that. Your Death Arms themselves urge you toward conflict."
Her smile widened.
"Your claim that you arrived first means nothing to me... and means even less to the Obsidian Shadow Empire."
The native's eyes burned with even greater fury.
His gaze shifted toward the remaining two experts.
One was a handsome man who appeared to be in his early thirties.
Dressed in elegant crimson robes embroidered with golden phoenixes, he carried a magnificent halberd over his shoulder. His handsome features and noble bearing made him look every bit a prince among cultivators.
Yet despite the hostility around him, he remained silent.
The final expert appeared to be at death's door.
His face was wrinkled beyond measure. His back was bent. His hair was completely white.
Such old age was rare among cultivators.
Not because they could not age—but because most either advanced or died before reaching such a state.
This old man had remained trapped within the Qi Refinement Realm for so long that his lifespan was nearly exhausted.
Hearing the native's declaration, the old man suddenly shouted.
"I don't care whose territory this is!"
His voice trembled with desperation.
"I refuse to die trapped in this realm! If there's even the slightest chance that the Flame Heart can help me break through, I'll seize it!"
His eyes turned bloodshot.
"You talented youngsters have no idea what it's like to spend an entire lifetime clawing your way to this stage only to become trapped forever!"
His aura erupted.
"I WILL BREAK THROUGH!"
The old man suddenly dove toward the volcano below.
Before he could descend more than a few dozen meters, dozens of flaming crescent slashes shot toward him.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
He hastily raised his giant war axe and smashed the attacks apart.
Hearing the old man's words only fueled the native's rage further.
Without hesitation, he unleashed his cultivation.
His armor-type Death Arms erupted with flames.
Golden fire engulfed his body.
His Eternal Arms—the twin axes—absorbed vast amounts of qi until their blazing red color deepened into a terrifying azure blue.
The surrounding air distorted.
The lava beneath trembled.
As he gathered power for one of his strongest techniques, he spoke with murderous intent.
"I, Changhou, have guarded this place with my family for five years."
His voice echoed across the mountains.
"This Flame Heart was promised to my youngest child!"
The blue flames surrounding him intensified.
"I don't know where you outsiders came from..."
"I no longer care."
His axes rose.
"But none of you shall have it."
His eyes glowed like miniature suns.
"Either you leave now with your followers..."
"...or you die."
The handsome man from the Phoenix Cry Empire narrowed his eyes.
For the briefest moment, confusion flashed across his face.
Something felt familiar.
Very familiar.
The native's aura.
The nature of his flames.
The faint golden energy hidden beneath the surface.
It reminded him of something.
Someone.
Then his expression hardened.
Without another word, he immediately retreated from the battlefield.
At the same time, he transmitted a mental command to his forces below.
Full retreat. Immediately.
The woman from the Obsidian Shadow Empire noticed.
The old man noticed as well.
Neither cared.
In their eyes, the handsome cultivator was simply abandoning the fight.
The native was strong, but neither of them feared him.
The woman remained confident in her own strength.
As for the old man...
It was as if years of frustration had finally driven him mad.
He laughed wildly.
"If I can't obtain the Flame Heart..."
His cultivation erupted violently.
"...then we'll all die here!"
The giant war axe in his hands blazed with brilliant crimson flames.
Every ounce of cultivation he possessed flowed into the weapon.
His cutting power climbed to unprecedented heights.
This would be his final gamble.
His final attempt at reaching the next realm.
Seeing the impending clash between the two men, the woman's expression finally turned serious.
She unleashed her own cultivation.
The laughing skulls in her hands shot forward.
Halfway through the air they expanded rapidly.
Bones stretched.
Fangs emerged.
The skulls transformed into two gigantic black serpents that roared toward both men simultaneously.
The heavens shook.
Three Peak Qi Refinement experts unleashed their full strength at once.
Far away from the battlefield, the handsome man from the Phoenix Cry Empire watched the destruction unfold.
The violent energies illuminated the horizon.
His eyes narrowed.
"That native..."
"There is a trace of familiarity."
"The nature of his flames..."
"The explosiveness..."
"It resembles the Golden Crow bloodline of our royal family."
Before he could think further, a voice called out.
"Senior Brother Yifan!"
Looking down, he saw his forces gathering below.
Descending from the sky, Yifan landed among them.
A young cultivator immediately stepped forward.
"Senior Brother, why did you order a retreat?"
Yifan calmly observed the wounded members of his expedition before responding.
"Our mission was to investigate this newly opened realm."
"We were not sent here to start a large-scale conflict."
He glanced toward the distant mountains.
"That Flame Heart is valuable, but not valuable enough to risk everything."
The disciples listened attentively.
"Remember, while our younger cousins train within the Death Knights' training grounds, we have our own path."
His eyes swept over the group.
"This realm is rich with opportunities."
"There will be countless treasures hidden throughout these lands."
"Our priority should be establishing a foothold for the Phoenix Cry Empire."
The young man nodded but still frowned.
"Even so..."
His fists clenched.
"Retreating from those Obsidian Shadow bastards leaves a bitter taste in my mouth."
Several disciples immediately voiced their agreement.
"They invaded territory connected to our borders."
"This realm opened within Phoenix Cry's sphere of influence."
"That alone is enough cause for war."
Yifan nodded.
"Perhaps."
"But wars between empires are matters for our elders."
His gaze sharpened.
"What we need is strength."
"With the Great Reset beginning, powerful treasures will emerge everywhere."
"So will powerful enemies."
He pointed toward the distant battlefield.
"If we don't become stronger quickly enough, we'll be swatted aside like flies once the true monsters of this world begin moving."
Silence followed.
Then Yifan added,
"One more thing."
"Do not cause trouble for the natives."
Everyone looked surprised.
"I believe they may be connected to our royal family."
The group erupted into shocked whispers.
A young woman stepped forward.
"If that's true, Senior Brother, shouldn't you return and report this to His Majesty?"
Yifan nodded.
"Exactly."
"You will continue exploring while I'm gone."
His gaze shifted northward.
"There is a forest one hundred miles north of here."
"Establish a camp there."
"Gather resources and treasures that aren't already claimed."
"Remain peaceful whenever possible."
His expression hardened.
"And be cautious of the Obsidian Shadow forces."
"That woman may not be as strong in close combat, but she remains a Peak Qi Refinement expert."
The group nodded seriously.
Satisfied, Yifan ascended into the sky once more.
As his figure disappeared beyond the clouds, the remaining disciples immediately organized themselves.
The young man and woman assumed command.
Without wasting another moment, they led the Phoenix Cry expedition northward into the unknown lands of the newly opened realm.
Behind them, the distant volcano erupted with enough force to illuminate the entire horizon, signaling that the battle for the Flame Heart had finally begun.