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“What’s wrong? You’re scared already?” the young woman said with a smug smile.

Then she added, “But don’t worry. The outer matches are overseen by my father. I can ask him to pair you with some weaker opponents so you’ll last a few more rounds.”

Hearing this, Xu Zimo couldn’t help but shake his head with a faint smile.

He could tell the girl meant no harm. She was just a bit spoiled and proud, but not a bad person.

“What’s your name?” Xu Zimo asked.

“This young lady changes neither name nor surname,” she declared proudly. “I am Liu Huohuo. Why are you asking? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for me? My future husband must be a true hero who stands tall above all others!”

“Fallen for you?” Xu Zimo shook his head. “If there are gods in this world, I am their daddy. If there are devils, I am the king of all. Do you really think I’d be interested in a little girl who still smells of milk?”

“Who are you calling a little girl?” Liu Huohuo puffed out her chest defiantly. “I’m already nineteen! By all rights, I could be married!”

“Oh, I see,” Xu Zimo said with mock realization. “So you’re still single because no one wants you.”

“You’re talking nonsense!” Liu Huohuo snapped. “There are so many people asking to marry me they could trample my doorstep flat! I just have high standards, that’s all!”

Their banter continued the whole way, and Xu Zimo found the journey far less dull for it.

At last, the group arrived at the entrance to the Chaos Fire God Realm.

It was a living volcano, flames bursting skyward in waves that lit up the heavens.

The ground all around was covered in dark gray ash, and crowds had already gathered there. Some were competitors for the God Realm trials; others had come just to watch.

This volcano was unlike any other. The entrance to the Chaos Fire God Realm lay at its very summit.

Around the mountain, all kinds of structures rose from the molten terrain, inns built atop magma flows, taverns standing amid seas of fire.

For the Fire God Race, this was a paradise. For the human disciples of the Celestial Mortal Holy Lands, it was unbearable heat.

Fortunately, Zhang Hengzhi had prepared. He took out several Absolute Cold Pills and handed them to his disciples.

“Take these,” he said. “They’ll protect you from the heat for a short while. But be careful when walking here. If you fall into the lava, you’ll be reduced to ash in an instant.”

“This place is terrifying,” one disciple whispered nervously.

“For the Fire God Race, it’s not dangerous at all,” Zhang Hengzhi said with a chuckle. “They could bathe in lava and call it refreshing.”

He offered a pill to Xu Zimo as well, but Xu Zimo simply shook his head.

To him, this fire wasn’t dangerous at all, merely warm.

Liu Huohuo looked at the group and said, “Since you escorted me here safely, I’ll return the favor. Come with me, I’ll take you into the God Realm.”

Just as she spoke, the magma at the volcano’s base suddenly shifted.

Flames erupted upward, forming the shape of a golden lotus.

Upon the lotus stood a man clad in golden armor, untouched by the fire, his voice echoing with authority.

“The Chaos Fire God Realm is now open! All who seek entry, prepare yourselves!” he announced.

His gaze swept across the entire volcano. “Three days from now, I will declare the rules. Anyone not present by then will forfeit their qualification to compete.”

When he finished speaking, he and the golden lotus sank back into the molten depths.

The crowd erupted into chatter.

Liu Huohuo led Xu Zimo’s group along a narrow path winding upward along the volcano’s side.

The road was uneven, with loose rocks and steep drops. A few times, someone nearly slipped into the lava below.

Eventually, they reached a massive city built inside the volcano.

It was enormous, sprawling along the crater’s edge, complete with every sort of shop and dwelling imaginable.

“I’ll find you an inn. You should all rest,” Liu Huohuo said.

She guided them to the most luxurious inn in the bustling central district.

As soon as they entered, a waiter hurried up to greet her.

“Prepare seven of your best Jadefire Rooms for me,” Liu Huohuo ordered casually.

“Miss Liu, that’s not necessary,” Zhang Hengzhi said quickly. “We can share rooms, two or three of us together.”

“Just take them,” Liu Huohuo said, crossing her arms. “What? Do you think I can’t afford it?”

The Jadefire Rooms truly lived up to their name.

Inside, there was no trace of the volcano’s sweltering heat, instead, a refreshing coolness filled the air.

“Interesting,” Xu Zimo said with a faint smile.

After arranging their lodgings, Liu Huohuo left.

Night was falling, and the group decided to rest.

Xu Zimo brought out the blue man from the God World, and was surprised to see him absorbing the volcano’s energy.

Or rather, not the volcano’s energy itself, but something hidden within it.

As the blue man drew in the mysterious power, Xu Zimo could sense the powers contained within it, pure, fundamental, like the origin of all edicts.

His comprehension deepened rapidly.

By dawn, he could already feel the heavens stirring, the signs of a coming tribulation.

Once he overcame it, he would become a true Saint Sovereign.

Suddenly, there came a knock at the door, bang, bang, bang.

Xu Zimo stepped out of his room.

Liu Huohuo was waiting outside, with Zhang Hengzhi and the disciples behind her.

“What is it?” Xu Zimo asked.

“There’s a phenomenon tonight,” Liu Huohuo said excitedly. “Nine Dragons Saluting Heavens. We came to invite you to see it.”

“Nine Dragons Saluting Heavens?” Xu Zimo repeated, curious.

“You’re really lucky,” she said proudly. “It’s a once-in-a-century event! The Nine Dragons phenomenon represents divine recognition. It’s said that the current Chaos Fire Progenitor once received the acknowledgment of seven fire dragons back in his day.”

“Recognition? What do you mean by that?” Xu Zimo asked, puzzled.

“The volcano we’re standing on,” Liu Huohuo explained, “was brought here long ago by the Fire Progenitor himself, using his supreme power. The flames can reflect a person’s future. The stronger your destined path, the more fire dragons acknowledge you. They say that anyone who earns the recognition of all nine dragons is destined to become an Infinite Dao powerhouse.”

“That sounds a bit exaggerated,” Xu Zimo said with a small smile.

The group left the inn and stepped outside.

The sky above was already crimson red.

Crowds were gathering at a cliffside, the closest point to the heart of the phenomenon.

From the heavens came faint, resonant dragon roars.

Xu Zimo and the others followed the flow of people to the edge.

Then, someone suddenly cried out in astonishment.