Ming Qi, witnessing this scene, was indescribably shocked. The Holy Flame Emperor had likely remained in this cliffside cave since the battle, unaware of the passage of time. He must have perished by now, but what about this clear consciousness?
After hurling the Fire Emperor Sword, he watched as the Holy Flame Emperor paced back and forth within the cave, drawing crimson lines of fire on the ground. Ultimately, they formed the very magic circle Ming Qi had encountered upon entering the cave.
After completing the formation, the Holy Flame Emperor sat motionless.
A short while later, Ming Qi felt a sudden, muffled sound in his consciousness. Then, his eyes went dark, and vision returned to clarity.
When Ming Qi took in the scene before him, he was still a bit shaken. The surroundings were still the same fiery cavern, gushing streams of flame everywhere. The crimson magic circle on the ground was shimmering with a fiery glow. He was still conscious of the moment he had just stepped onto the magic circle.
But Ming Qi's memory of the battle he had witnessed earlier was crystal clear. He memorized the appearance of every person present, as instructed by the Holy Flame Martial Emperor.
Looking down at his feet, the magic circle shimmered, with no other changes. Less than three meters ahead lay the Holy Flame Martial Emperor's true form.
Ming Qi, holding the Fire Emperor Sword, cautiously took another step forward. Having reached the Martial Emperor realm, he had practically reached the point of transcending reincarnation and experiencing neither life nor death. Although he didn't know how many years had passed, he couldn't be sure whether the Holy Flame Martial Emperor before him had truly fallen.
So, he decided to go over and take a look.
At the same time, a profound question lingered in his mind: what was the Holy Flame Martial Emperor's purpose in using the Fire Emperor Sword as a lure to bring the possessor here and, through a mysterious formation, recreating a miniature of the great battle that day?
Ming Qi always believed that every gain must come with a loss. Since he had obtained the Fire Emperor Sword, and it was clear that the Holy Flame Martial Emperor had a backup plan, there was no reason to end it here.
Perhaps, with a few more steps, the truth would be revealed.
Ming Qi took a few steps forward, finally settling in the very center of the formation.
In the very center of the formation, a flaming cloud swirled and burned, as if ready to break free from its constraints and soar completely into the air. However, it seemed restrained by an immense force, unable to tumble in place.
Standing on the flaming cloud in the center of the formation, Ming Qi vaguely saw the Holy Flame Martial Emperor's true form suddenly move before him!
At first, he thought it was an illusion. After all, flames surged within the cave, and streams of fire, imbued with flaming energy, danced through the air, distorting the airflow.
But the next moment, Ming Qi was shocked to discover that it wasn't an illusion. The Holy Flame Emperor's true form had truly moved!
The Holy Flame Emperor slowly turned around, locking eyes with Ming Qi.
As the Holy Flame Emperor turned, Song Tingfeng saw a small golden hourglass appear beside him. It began to swirl around him, its silver grains rolling down the hourglass.
The hourglass held only a few silver grains, seemingly only about a hundred.
After a dozen or so of them had rolled down, the Holy Flame Emperor, whose eyes had been tightly closed, suddenly opened. His lifeless form suddenly erupted with an unparalleled, vibrant aura, as if a parched, withered land had suddenly been graced with the source of life.
Song Tingfeng's eyes widened in surprise as he gazed at the vibrant Saint Flame Emperor before him. He spoke slowly, each word clearly, "Are you the Saint Flame Emperor?"
The Saint Flame Emperor nodded in reply, then pointed at Ming Qi and said, "This may not be a fortunate encounter for you, but it seems you no longer have a choice."
"Hmm?"
Ming Qi was somewhat puzzled by the Saint Flame Emperor's words. Such a fortuitous encounter truly couldn't be measured in terms of luck or misfortune.
He had been a former assassin, a man who respected the principle of profit exchange and understood the principle of high risk, high reward. The Saint Flame Emperor's meticulously orchestrated scheme naturally had his own agenda. If it had been unconditional, Ming Qi would have felt uneasy.
"I don't have much time left. When the hourglass runs out, I will completely turn to dust. So, what are my conditions?"
The Holy Flame Emperor paused, then continued, "I have used the power of time and space to project the battle that day. I'm sure you've already memorized the appearances of everyone involved. My conditions are simple. If you promise to kill them all in the future, I will grant you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"What opportunity?"
"The chance to travel between star regions, an unprecedented test that will allow you to shatter the barriers of time and space and embark on the path to power!"
"What is a star region?"
Ming Qi was filled with curiosity about this unheard-of place, but it was the final line, "Embark on the path to power," that captivated him. He desperately needed power, but he didn't have much time, or perhaps he simply couldn't wait any longer. The long years ahead felt like a life-or-death ordeal for him.
"The Star Region lies at the rift between the forces of time and space. There, the long years seem fleeting, fleeting like a fleeting moment. Yet, for those within, they possess a very real existence. Therefore, every step taken within the Star Region is a profound experience. While a year or two in the real world might be a journey, within the Star Region, it could even be hundreds or thousands of years!"
"So, it's a place for training."
Ming Qi understood immediately, and his heart pounded. If he could enter the Star Region, he could potentially rapidly grow stronger and achieve many of his cherished goals.
After a moment of contemplation, he boldly looked up and asked, "Can you tell me the identities of those individuals and how to find them?"
The Holy Flame Martial Emperor said, "When I turn to dust, I will leave behind six blood beads condensed from my lifeblood essence. Each blood bead corresponds to the location of one of these individuals. Simply follow the blood beads and you will find them."
Ming Qi nodded. Noticing that the sand in the golden hourglass had already drained out, he asked, "Then please tell me how to enter the star field."
"Once you have the blood beads, I have opened a space-time portal beneath me. This portal will take you directly to the star field. But remember one thing: this portal can only support one round trip. No matter what, only once!"
"Yes, I understand." Ming Qi nodded, waiting for the last few grains of sand in the golden hourglass to drain out.
"Young man, I hope you will keep your promise."
The Holy Flame Martial Emperor's voice had become somewhat hollow, but it still sounded incredibly majestic. "I will abide by it, but I also hope that what you say is truly achievable."
Ming Qi wasn't thrilled by the existence of the star field. Although it was a meticulously crafted plan by the Holy Flame Martial Emperor, he didn't know if it was truly false. If the star field the Holy Flame Martial Emperor described was a mixture of truth and illusion, he naturally wouldn't fulfill his promise regarding the blood beads.
At this moment, the Holy Flame Martial Emperor's voice rang out again: "Although I have opened the path to the star field for you, it is filled with dangers and murderous intent. If you perish there, then it can only be said that it is fate's will, leaving you and me to turn to dust with regret..."
The voice quickly faded, and the last grain of sand fell from the golden hourglass. The Holy Flame Martial Emperor's body trembled, then turned into dust so indistinguishable to the naked eye and flew away. Simultaneously, six blood-red beads converged on Ming Qi.