191: The assessment begins, Earthly Flame Sea

The gates of the Heavenly Flame Palace opened.

But the Disciples of the various Holy Lands and Sects were in no hurry to enter.

A middle-aged Loose Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Fifth Layer Realm charged straight into the gates:

"Since no one else is going in, I'll go first!"

"immortal inheritance, here I come!"

He transformed into a streak of red light and dashed through the gates.

The moment he entered, the spiritual runes on the gates flickered before dimming once more.

The middle-aged Loose Cultivator was initially rejoicing that he had entered early.

Having the chance to get his hands on the Legacy first.

But soon, the smile vanished from his face.

"What is with these flames!"

"How are they so powerful!"

"No!"

The middle-aged Loose Cultivator waved his hands, casting various Spells to block the encroaching flames, but his spiritual energy was instantly ignited by the fire.

One must know that his spiritual energy was of the fire attribute.

Yet, for some reason, it was still set ablaze by these flames.

Within moments, the middle-aged Loose Cultivator turned into ash, his face filled with despair.

"What's the deal with that sea of fire?"

"I recognize it, that's Earth Flame Fire. Although it's not yet a Spiritual Fire..."

"...it is still a powerful and special type of flame."

"How can there be such formidable flames right at the entrance?"

Many Loose Cultivators who had been eager to move suddenly didn't dare to rush forward anymore.

They had originally wanted to enter early.

But seeing the middle-aged Loose Cultivator's miserable fate, most of them no longer intended to enter.

Many Loose Cultivators had cultivation bases that weren't even as high as that middle-aged man's.

"How weak!"

"It's our turn!"

"It's just mere Earth Flame Fire."

A Gray-robed Youth from the Taiyin Holy Land wore a look of contempt on his face.

He glanced at the Tianyang Holy Land's group, then turned into a streak of light and rushed into the gates.

Other Disciples of the Taiyin Holy Land also rushed in.

"That's He Ran, a Personal Disciple of the Taiyin Holy Land!"

"It's said that his Physique is the Yin Fire Body!"

"His combat strength is among the top of the Taiyin Holy Land's younger generation."

"Now things are getting interesting. The relationship between the Tianyang Holy Land and the Taiyin Holy Land is terrible."

"After entering the Heavenly Flame Palace, there will surely be another fierce struggle!"

Disciples from several other Holy Lands also entered one after another.

Many Cultivators who didn't possess a fire Spiritual Root or a fire-attribute Physique also thought about sneaking in.

But to their surprise, before they could even enter the gates, they were repelled by a powerful spiritual force and sent flying back.

"Su Yun, let's meet up after we enter the Heavenly Flame Palace."

Wang Shiyan's red lips lightly brushed Su Yun's cheek as she spoke in a charming voice.

Immediately after, she flashed back to the Tianyang Holy Land's group, sharing an affectionate look with Su Yun in the process.

With a flash, Su Yun also returned to the Taixuan Holy Land's group.

At this moment, Chen Junfeng and Li Jingheng, who were in the Taixuan Holy Land's group, looked at Su Yun with extreme envy.

"Dammit, Su Yun is way too popular!"

"It's one thing for so many Senior Sisters and Junior Sisters in our Holy Land to like him..."

"...but there's even such a beautiful Fairy from the neighboring Tianyang Holy Land who likes him too!"

"It shouldn't be like this! How am I any worse than him?"

Chen Junfeng said, feeling somewhat distressed.

Li Jingheng silently patted his shoulder:

"At least he's more handsome than us."

"And stronger than us."

Chen Junfeng was speechless.

Liu Chengfeng turned to look at the Disciples and said in a grave tone:

"Disciples, you must be careful during the assessment!"

"You may set out now!"

"Yes, Elder!"

Su Yun and the others turned into nearly a hundred streaks of light and rushed straight into the gates.

The Disciples of the Tianyang Holy Land followed closely behind.

Seeing that all the Holy Land Disciples had entered, the Cultivators from various Sects and cultivation families also rushed in.

A moment later, the area outside the Heavenly Flame Palace became deserted.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the gates closed.

Only the experts from various factions remained, waiting for the younger generation to finish the assessment... Inside the Heavenly Flame Palace.

A vast Sea of Earth Flame Fire submerged all the Cultivators who had entered the gates.

A mysterious voice suddenly rang out:

"The first trial: the Sea of Earth Flame Fire."

"Those who cross the sea of fire will be considered to have passed the first trial."

Just as the voice faded, the surrounding Sea of Earth Flame Fire began to boil.

The Sea of Earth Flame Fire, which was originally only a few dozen feet high, instantly surged to hundreds of feet.

"Interesting."

"But it's useless against me!"

He Ran walked easily across the sea of fire, pale blue flames appearing on his body.

The Earth Flame Fire did not affect him in the slightest.

In contrast, the Loose Cultivators and Cultivators from small Sects who had entered the sea of fire were already feeling the strain.

They struggled to defend against the Earth Flame Fire, looking at He Ran with envy:

"As expected of a Disciple from the Taiyin Holy Land, he's truly impressive."

"Wait, who is that?"

"Aren't those the Disciples of the Lingwu Holy Land?"

A group of brawny young Cultivators, with faint red Protective Spiritual Light flashing on their bodies, were moving rapidly across the sea of fire.

The surrounding flames were completely unable to harm them.

"Are these Body Tempering Cultivators?"

"They're truly incredible."

"Such powerful flames hitting their bodies, and they act like it's nothing."

Many Cultivators took a deep breath and said in surprise.

Cultivators from the other Holy Lands all easily resisted the sea of fire and flew toward the depths.

"So much Earth Flame Fire."

"It seems this is the first step of my rise!"

Chu Chen said with some excitement.

His Nine Tribulation Flame Body had not yet fully awakened; he still needed to absorb nine types of Spiritual Fire.

Although Earth Flame Fire wasn't a Spiritual Fire, absorbing it could still increase his Realm.

So he began to circulate his Cultivation Technique, and the surrounding Earth Flame Fire was instantly sucked into his body.

"Who is that?"

"He can actually absorb Earth Flame Fire into his body? That's amazing!"

"He seems to be a Disciple of the Tianyang Holy Land!"

Several nearby Loose Cultivators looked at Chu Chen in disbelief.

A smug expression appeared on Chu Chen's face:

"Hmph, a bunch of ignorant people. I am a future Immortal; isn't it normal for me to be able to absorb some Earth Flame Fire?"

Then, he glanced toward where Wang Shiyan was.

In his mind, since he was so impressive, he would surely attract Senior Sister Wang's attention.

Instead, he found that Wang Shiyan had once again sidled up to that man.

"Tsk, what's the use of having a higher Realm than me?"

"Can he swallow these Earth Flame Fires?"

Chu Chen gritted his teeth as he looked at Su Yun's back.

Immediately after, his expression froze:

"W-what is going on?"

...Su Yun calmly watched the Sea of Earth Flame Fire surging around him.

To him, this Sea of Earth Flame Fire was not an assessment trial at all.

It was a Heaven And Earth Treasure.

He directly activated his Devouring Sacred Body, not even releasing a Spiritual Energy Barrier, and simply stood in one spot, continuously absorbing the Earth Flame Fire.

The surrounding Sea of Earth Flame Fire seemed to be attracted by something, surging toward Su Yun's direction in an instant.

"What's happening? The power of the Earth Flame Fire has decreased?"

Many nearby Cultivators suddenly felt the Earth Flame Fire weaken. Their originally faltering Spiritual Energy Barriers instantly stabilized, successfully blocking the encroaching flames.

A moment later, they noticed the situation over by Su Yun.

"Who is this?"

"So powerful!"

"He actually absorbed the entire sea of fire?"

They stared at Su Yun with wide eyes, utterly shocked.

The Sea of Earth Flame Fire, which was hundreds of feet high, slowly began to recede.

Then, it vanished completely.

"No!"

"My Earth Flame Fire!"

"It was all absorbed by that person!"

Chu Chen was instantly dumbfounded.