The Flame Emperor, Yang Hao, maintained a serene smile, yet beneath that placid expression lay the unfathomable weight of countless eons. His burning, incandescent eyes slowly swept across the faces of everyone present, evaluating them one by one. Finally, he broke the silence to address Wang Mei's query.
"The realm from which you have just emerged was nothing more than a mundane, ordinary dwelling of mine," his voice boomed, echoing resoundingly across the vast expanse of the fiery world.
"And this..." He extended his arm, gesturing toward the cascading rivers of molten magma, erupting volcanoes, and the infinite, roaring blazes that stretched to the horizon. "...this is my true Flame Domain."
A heavy silence descended upon the group for several moments. Hearing these words, Murong Yun's breathing turned sharp and ragged. "That magnificent place... was merely a simple residence?" he uttered, his voice trembling with sheer disbelief. "But a solitary doorway in that palace possessed more value than the collective wealth of the entire Tiansxia Continent!"
The Flame Emperor let out a soft, amused chuckle. "Child, when your strength ascends to a certain absolute echelon, worldly wealth ceases to hold any meaning whatsoever. The very objects you mortals perceive as peerless treasures are nothing more than rudimentary construction materials in my eyes."
Upon hearing this, Commander Zheng and Captain Luo exchanged startled glances, the profound shock written clearly across their faces. On the side, Wang Ling's eyes went completely round again. "Construction materials?" she almost shrieked, her voice echoing in the fiery air. "You used something so outrageously expensive just to craft a regular door?"
Ye Fang immediately turned his face away, clutching his forehead mentally—'Oh man… this girl is seriously going to give me a heart attack one of these days.'
To his uttter surprise, however, the Flame Emperor did not display the slightest hint of annoyance. Instead, his deep laughter resonated even louder. "You are indeed a fascinating young child."
Wang Ling scratched her head with an innocent look, completely oblivious to what she had said to trigger such a reaction. The Flame Emperor, Yang Hao, regarded the entire group for a few silent moments. Then—he smiled. It was by no means an ordinary smile; within its subtle curves lay the crushing solitude of millions of years, the deeply etched memories of countless cataclysmic wars, and the profound, eternal exhaustion of the infinite flow of time.
"After the passing of countless millions of years..." his voice gradually reverberated across the vast domain, "...I have finally laid eyes upon living souls once more." His burning gaze lingered on each individual sequentially. "To see you all standing before me today brings a genuine sense of pleasure to my heart."
Hearing those words, a strange, bittersweet emotion welled up within the hearts of the entire group. They could palpably feel that this supreme entity was speaking the absolute truth. He had truly endured solitary confinement for an unfathomably vast stretch of existence—so long that perhaps the very concept and passage of time had entirely ceased to hold any meaning for him.
A fleeting moment of silence ensued. Then, the Flame Emperor slowly raised his hand, causing the entire elemental world of fire to tremble subtly in response.
"If you have braved these depths to claim my ancient legacy..." his voice dropped into an exceedingly solemn, authoritative register, "...then you must successfully endure three monumental trials."
The moment those words reverberated through the air, the expressions of everyone in the group shifted dramatically. Three distinct trials! Legacies of this caliber were never granted easily.
Murong Yun inhaled a sharp, deep breath. Shi Mao subconsciously tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword. Commander Zheng's gaze hardened with immense seriousness, while Wang Ling's vibrant face turned slightly pale with apprehension. Meanwhile, Ye Fang... was frantically plotting within his own mind—
'Alright, this is the classic, unavoidable rule of every single inheritance trope. If this old monster says right now that the first trial requires us to slaughter a ten-million-year-old Primordial Fire Dragon, I am turning right back around and fleeing this place immediately.'
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the Little System suddenly materialized directly before his vision. Placing her hands squarely on her hips, she spoke in an exceedingly haughty, superior tone—
"Host, your vision is far too narrow and small," the System chied.
'Huh?'
"If you have entered the sacred legacy grounds of an ancient Emperor, the least you can do is display a modicum of basic respect."
'I am showing respect!'
"No. You are simply terrified."
'Well, yeah, there is definitely a fair share of that too.'
The System remained quiet for a brief heartbeat, then added, "At least you possess the grace of being honest."
Ye Fang nodded proudly within his mind—'Hmph! Look at that, even the cold System is a fan of my blatant honesty.'
"Absolutely not," the System shot back instantly, shattering his delusions. "I have merely grown thoroughly accustomed to your profound level of stupidity."
Ye Fang's face flushed a stark crimson with sheer embarrassment. Gritting his teeth in vexation, he glared heavily at the hovering entity. 'You've been talking way too much trash lately!'
"The truth is often bitter, Host," the System retorted flatly.
Just at that moment, Wang Mei stepped forward from the ranks. Bowing with profound respect, she spoke in a clear tone, "Senior, if you would permit this junior, I would like to ask a critical question."
"Speak," the Emperor allowed.
"Will we face these three impending trials collectively as a unified group, or is this legacy destined to be obtained by a single, solitary individual?"
The moment that question left her lips, the rest of the group grew instantly alert. This was undoubtedly the most critical detail of all. If the ancient legacy was meant for only a single person, it meant fierce competition, and perhaps even betrayal, could erupt among them moving forward.
The Flame Emperor remained quiet for a brief moment, then murmured, "An intriguing question." His eyes flared with a brilliant, calculating light. "You are the very first individual among the countless who have come before to pose this specific query."
Wang Mei was slightly taken aback by his reaction.
The Flame Emperor continued smoothly, "Most greedily inquire about the final rewards. Some ask about achieving absolute power. Others seek the secrets to eternal immortality. But you? Your first thought was of your companions." He nodded his head in clear approval. "Splendid."
Wang Mei remained silent, but her cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink. Ye Fang rejoiced within his mind—'Wow! Bonus points acquired just like that!'
Right then, Yang Kai Long took a firm step forward. "Senior."
"Hmm?"
"Is it truly the absolute truth that you have existed within this isolated space for countless millions of years?"
The entire group fixed their intense gazes upon him, recognizing that this question was also remarkably significant. The Flame Emperor remained silent for a long moment, then slowly averted his gaze toward the blazing sky above. A visible flicker of ancient, long-forgotten memories surfaced within the depths of his eyes.
"When I still drew breath..." he murmured softly, "...this very continent bore an entirely different name from what you call it today."
Everyone stood utterly stupefied, their minds reeling.
"When I lived, the vast majority of your current empires did not even exist as dust. When I lived, three separate suns blazed simultaneously within the heavens. When I lived, true Primordial Dragons and Divine Phoenixes soared freely across the open sky."
Silence. Absolute, heavy silence gripped the entire space. Everyone was paralyzed with sheer shock. Just how terrifyingly ancient was this existence standing before them? Commander Zheng's throat went completely dry, and Murong Yun's face lost all remaining color. This wasn't merely ancient history. This was history before the dawn of history itself.
Wang Ling suddenly broke the silence, speaking up with intense, bubbling excitement, "So, have you actually seen a real, living Dragon with your own eyes?"
Everyone stared at her in sheer panic. The Flame Emperor regarded her silently for a few moments, and then—he burst into a soft, warm laugh. "Yes," he replied.
Wang Ling's eyes sparkled with brilliant light. "Really?"
"Indeed."
"How massive were they?"
"Larger than some mountain ranges."
"Did they breathe roaring fire?"
"Absolutely! Though not every species possessed that trait."
"Did they devour humans?"
"Occasionally."
"Did—" Before Wang Ling could utter another syllable, she was abruptly cut off.
"Ling!" Wang Mei instantly lunged forward and pinched Wang Ling's ear tightly.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
"This supreme entity is not some traveling storyteller grandpa!"
"But elder sister..."
"Silence."
Ye Fang silently offered a prayer of gratitude to Wang Mei in his mind. 'Brilliant job, Wang Mei! You did a fantastic job shutting the mouth of this insufferable chatterbox.'
The Flame Emperor burst into rich laughter once more. For the first time in countless millions of years, someone had dared to ask him such mundane, innocent questions.
Just then, Ye Fang's keen perception picked up on something else. He observed that Yang Kai Long was staring intently at the Flame Emperor, and the Flame Emperor, too, would occasionally cast a deep glance back at him. There was something peculiar lurking within their locked gazes. Like... a hidden connection. A lingering mystery. An unspoken truth.
Ye Fang's curiosity piqued immediately. 'System.'
"Yes?"
'Don't you find something incredibly bizarre happening here?'
"Absolutely... not."
'What utter rubbish are you spouting now!'
Right then, the Flame Emperor lightly raised his hand. Instantly, the roaring flames that had been violently spreading across the entire domain calmed down completely, subduing into a gentle hum.
"Now..." he spoke, his voice commanding absolute focus, "...let me clarify a few crucial matters for you all." Everyone immediately tuned in, hanging onto his every word.
"First. I am no longer among the living. What you see before you is merely a minuscule fragment of my primordial consciousness—a Legacy Guardian."
Everyone nodded grimly. This revelation was expected; no entity could possibly survive for such an astronomical length of time, at least not through ordinary cultivation means.
"Second. My legacy is not merely a source of absolute power; it is an immense responsibility." His voice grew heavy and solemn, reverberating with cosmic gravity. "Whoever inherits it must fulfill certain monumental duties in the future."
An immediate alarm blared loudly within Ye Fang's mind—'Danger! Red alert!'
"Yes," the System agreed entirely.
'Responsibility means endless trouble.'
"You are entirely correct for once."
'Immense, life-threatening trouble.'
"I am currently enduring immense trouble too," the System muttered in an incredibly faint whisper, "dealing with a problematic Host like you."
Ye Fang instantly made a definitive resolution within his mind—'If it turns out to be a massive, troublesome responsibility, I am giving this entire legacy to Yang Kai Long without a second thought.'
The System remained quiet for a few moments, then remarked, "Sometimes, I truly marvel at how incredibly powerful your survival instincts are."
'Thank you for the praise!'
"That was by no means a compliment, Host."
Right then, the Flame Emperor delivered his third and final point, and it proved to be the most shocking of all.
"Third. Within these three impending trials, raw power will not be the most critical factor."
Everyone was utterly stunned.
'Power isn't important?' Shi Mao thought to himself in deep shock. 'In a brutal cultivation world? How is that even remotely possible?'
Ye Fang mused in sheer astonishment. 'This has got to be the very first cultivation world where raw power doesn't reign supreme.'
The Flame Emperor smiled faintly, as if he could effortlessly read the chaotic thoughts flashing through everyone's minds. "The first trial will test the purity of your heart. The second trial will test the depth of your intellect. The third trial will test the resilience of your soul. And only after passing these shall you be deemed worthy of inheriting my legacy."
Ye Fang let out a massive sigh of relief within his mind—'Splendid. Absolutely splendid.'
The System inquired, "Why exactly are you rejoicing, Host?"
'Because at least in the first trial, I won't have to face and slaughter some ten-thousand-year-old ancient dragon.'
"Host."
'Yeah?'
"I still consider you a complete and utter fool."
Various distinct reactions rippled through the rest of the group. Murong Yun fell into deep, strategic thought. Shi Mao's brows furrowed tightly. Commander Zheng remained incredibly solemn, while Wang Mei appeared perfectly calm and collected. Wang Ling was practically bouncing with pure excitement.
And Yang Kai Long... he continued to stare unblinkingly at the Flame Emperor, as if something deep within his very being was beginning to stir—an ancient resonance that he couldn't quite comprehend.
Suddenly—the Flame Emperor's piercing gaze shifted and landed directly upon him. Their eyes locked in a silent embrace. For a split second, the entire surrounding world seemed to grind to a complete halt.
No one else in the group perceived anything unusual, but Yang Kai Long's heart began to thud violently against his ribs. Because at that exact millisecond, the White Dragon Martial Soul residing deep within his body trembled subtly. Immediately following that, his Blue Dragon Body also began to react violently, its latent energy surging.
Yang Kai Long's expression morphed completely, a look of profound shock overtaking his features. The Flame Emperor's smile deepened significantly, yet he uttered no words. Absolutely nothing. This cryptic silence only served to make the underlying mystery infinitely deeper.
After a brief period, the Flame Emperor casually waved his hand. Instantly, a colossally massive round table forged entirely from condensed, solid flames materialized before them. Upon its surface rested countless rare spiritual fruits, divine elixirs, and radiant, glowing chalices.
"Rest and recuperate before the trials officially commence," he instructed smoothly. "You have all journeyed across a long and perilous path to reach this domain. The examinations shall officially begin on the morrow."
Everyone was utterly taken aback; they had fully expected the trials to launch immediately without respite. Wang Ling's wide eyes glued themselves instantly to the exotic fruits arranged neatly on the table. "Can we actually eat these?"
The Flame Emperor laughed heartily. "By all means, help yourselves."
The exact millisecond those words left his lips, Wang Ling bolted forward, leaving everyone else in the dust. The remaining members of the group simply watched her reckless dash.
'And she's at it again,' everyone thought in absolute unison.
"Ling!" Wang Mei called out in deep embarrassment, but it was already far too late. Wang Ling had already picked up a brilliant, glowing red spiritual fruit and taken a massive, gluttonous bite.
The very next instant—BOOM!
Intense, searing flames began to violently erupt from every pore of her body. "Ahhhh! I'm burning alive! Save me!"
The entire group jumped back in absolute shock, but the Flame Emperor simply burst into hearty, booming laughter. A few seconds later, the violent flames dissolved into nothingness. Wang Ling opened her eyes, only to realize to her absolute amazement that her cultivation base had directly surged forward by a minor realm!
"What in the world?" She stood completely stupefied, staring at her hands.
The Flame Emperor spoke casually, "Do not fret, little girl. That was merely a light snack."
The entire group was left completely speechless, an absolute silence descending upon them. A legendary, heaven-defying fruit capable of instantly elevating a cultivator's realm... was considered nothing more than a light snack to him.
Ye Fang internally called out—'System!'
A brilliant flash of blue light crackled, and the Little System materialized before his vision. "Yes, Host?"
'Quickly tell me, just how absurdly powerful was this monster back in his prime?'
The System scanned the radiating entity for a few silent seconds, then chimed. "Error."
'Error?' Ye Fang was thoroughly taken aback. 'What do you mean, error?'
"The target's true power level is far beyond what is suitable to reveal to the Host, primarily because the Host is currently far too weak. Your current cultivation base is simply too pathetic to even comprehend the scale."
'What do you mean by that?! Why did you just casually insult me out of nowhere?!'
"Meaning, if I were to attempt to state the actual numerical value of his energy index, your mind wouldn't even be able to grasp the conceptual scale."
'Then explain it to me in simpler terms!'
The System remained quiet for a few moments, then stated solemnly, "If the entirety of the current Tiansxia Continent is merely a shallow pond... then this individual was a boundless, bottomless ocean. And even in this state, he remains remarkably powerful."
Ye Fang's eyes threatened to pop entirely out of his skull. 'That much?!'
"Yes, Host. And remember, this is merely a fading Remnant Soul. His true, unmitigated power during his lifetime was exponentially greater than what you see now."
No words could escape Ye Fang's constricted throat. He slowly turned his gaze toward the endless, blazing sky above. He could genuinely feel that they were standing directly before a primordial existence whose sheer scale and majesty the current era couldn't even begin to fathom.