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“It’s Xiao Lianian from Red Dragon City!”

“I’ve heard Xiao Lianian is one of the top contenders in this tournament. I wonder how strong he really is. He must be here for the Nine Dragons phenomenon, to see how many dragons will acknowledge him.”

Exclamations and murmurs rippled through the crowd, a display of every kind of human emotion.

Under the vast dominion of the Chaos Fire God Realm lay countless cities, Fire Bane City was one, and Red Dragon City was another.

Xiao Lianian exuded the overwhelming aura of a Grand Emperor, radiating his might as if he feared others might somehow miss it.

He strode through the air, gaze fixed upon the crimson heavens and the faintly visible red dragons within.

He was waiting, for the true emergence of the Nine Dragons Saluting Heavens.

As time passed, more and more cultivators gathered.

The tournament’s rules would only be announced three days later, and in their boredom, everyone was eager for any spectacle.

“Look! Luo Ji from Beacon Fire City is here too!”

“That lunatic? We’d better stay far away from him.”

While people whispered, a young man as graceful as carved jade approached from afar.

He carried a folding fan, his black hair falling to his shoulders, his features almost unnervingly beautiful. His eyes were tinged violet, his skin pale to the point of illness.

As Xu Zimo watched him draw nearer, he realized the man’s path led directly toward their group.

Beside him, Liu Huohuo grew visibly uneasy, taking a few steps back.

Xu Zimo’s eyes narrowed, he seemed to have guessed something.

“Little Huo,” Luo Ji said with a wide grin, “you see your elder brother and don’t even greet him?”

“Help me,” Liu Huohuo whispered urgently, retreating behind Xu Zimo’s group.

“Come along with me, little Huo,” Luo Ji said lightly.

Before Xu Zimo could respond, Zhang Hengzhi had already stepped forward, placing himself between Liu Huohuo and Luo Ji.

“Lord Luo,” Zhang said firmly, “Miss Liu is a friend of mine. What business do you have with her?”

Zhang Hengzhi was not eager to offend Luo Ji, but after traveling together, he’d come to see Liu Huohuo as a lively but kind-hearted girl. He couldn’t simply stand by and watch her be taken away.

“And who might you be?” Luo Ji asked coldly, his smile fading.

“Zhang Hengzhi, Holy Lord of the Celestial Mortal Holy Lands,” Zhang replied.

“Never heard of it,” Luo Ji said, waving his hand dismissively. “Some random sect, no doubt. Step aside. If you spoil my mood, I’ll wipe out your sect on a whim.”

The disciples behind Zhang Hengzhi bristled with anger.

“Three thousand years ago,” one of them muttered, “our sect also produced a Grand Emperor. We’re no random rabble.”

“So you’ve chosen death, then?” Luo Ji said flatly, lifting an eyebrow.

“Luo Ji,” Liu Huohuo said, stepping forward reluctantly, “if you’ve got business, take it up with me. Leave them out of this.”

“We’re betrothed by our elders,” Luo Ji said with a smirk. “Is it not only right that you serve your future husband?”

He gestured toward Xu Zimo’s group. “If you don’t want them to die, come with me.”

Liu Huohuo’s face twisted in distress, hesitation clouding her eyes.

Zhang Hengzhi, ever the righteous man, spoke again.

“If you wish to take Miss Liu,” he said, “you’ll have to step over my corpse first. My life has amounted to little, but at least let me experience a few of Lord Luo’s famed techniques.”

“Experience me? You think you’re worthy?” Luo Ji sneered.

“Seems your charm isn’t working, Luo Ji,” a mocking voice cut in.

Two groups were approaching from the distance.

To the left stood a man in a white robe embroidered with the characters Ancient Rock.

“It’s Ba Xia from Ancient Rock City!” someone recognized him immediately.

The group on the right consisted entirely of women, led by one whose face was hidden beneath a sheer veil.

Her figure, however, graceful curves, a slender waist that could be held in one hand, radiated allure.

“Shangguan Xian!” a man gasped dreamily.

“Isn’t she from the Divine Martial God Realm? What’s she doing here in ours?”

“There’s no rule saying people from other domains can’t join,” someone answered.

The one who had spoken earlier was Ba Xia.

He smirked at Luo Ji and said, “This isn’t Beacon Fire City, Luo Ji. Your word doesn’t carry much weight here.”

Then he turned to Zhang Hengzhi. “Don’t worry. I’ll stand up for you.”

Zhang Hengzhi looked at him with genuine gratitude.

Luo Ji’s expression darkened. He hadn’t truly been angry before, but now, after Ba Xia’s interference, fury flashed in his eyes.

“You really want to meddle?” he asked coldly.

“Lord Luo,” Zhang Hengzhi said, trying to de-escalate, “if Miss Liu is willing, I won’t interfere.”

“Sha Yi,” Luo Ji said impatiently, “kill him.”

At his command, a man stepped out from behind him, his eyes flat and lifeless, his entire body emanating boundless killing intent.

Twin short blades glimmered in his hands as his figure blurred into a streak of lightning, lunging straight for Zhang Hengzhi.

Though both men were of the God Meridian Realm, Sha Yi’s ferocity was overwhelming.

His every move was deadly, his attacks relentless.

Zhang Hengzhi was caught off guard and immediately pressed into a disadvantage.

After just a few exchanges, a harsh rip split the air, Sha Yi’s blade had already cut into Zhang Hengzhi’s abdomen.

“Next time remember that playing the hero requires strength,” Luo Ji spat disdainfully.

“Lord Ba,” Zhang Hengzhi gasped, clutching his wound, “please, help me!”

Sha Yi’s attacks were merciless, his movements fearless, fighting as if his own life meant nothing.

Zhang Hengzhi dared not meet him head-on, and his disadvantage grew worse with each exchange.

Ba Xia, however, merely chuckled at Zhang’s plea. “I only said I’d make things fair, not that I’d fight your battles,” his expression seemed to say.

Even Xu Zimo couldn’t help but shake his head with a faint smile.

Zhang Hengzhi was righteous and perceptive, but too rigid for his own good.

Did he really think someone like Ba Xia would risk himself to help? That earlier remark had only been meant to annoy Luo Ji.

“All right, enough,” Xu Zimo said, lifting a hand.

If he didn’t intervene, Zhang Hengzhi might actually die, and though Xu Zimo cared little for his fate, the man had at least led him safely to the God Realm. That counted for something.

His words went ignored.

Xu Zimo sighed. “Why make me do this?”

He waved his hand.

The magma beneath them suddenly surged to life.

A dragon of molten fire erupted from the ground, roaring as it lunged toward Sha Yi.

Sha Yi tried to evade, but the crushing pressure of Xu Zimo’s aura froze him in place.

A moment later, the fiery dragon swallowed him whole.

With a deafening rumble, it dove back into the magma, dragging him down into the molten depths.

Silence fell across the entire crowd.