342: Chapter 342 The Covenant at Heaven's Gate: Three Tests of the Heart

"I was wondering who had broken into our Heavenly Fire Sect, but it turns out to be the Huangdao Sect Master, Wuming, gracing us with his presence—my apologies, my apologies!"

The burly man had a rugged appearance and a voice like a booming bell, yet every word he spoke was refined, without a hint of crudeness.

"Sect Master Chi Wen, it has been many years. Please forgive my presumptuous visit."

Wuming cupped his hands and smiled, his tone gentle.

"Nonsense! Your arrival is the great fortune of our Heavenly Fire Sect. However, what moves me even more right now is this brother here—his words contain their own universe, and with just a few sentences, he has cleared my mind."

Chi Wen's gaze burned brightly as he turned to Jiang Chen, his smile hearty.

"Sect Master Chi Wen, please suppress your shock and doubts as I explain what I am about to say."

Wuming carefully laid out everything he had seen and heard since first meeting Jiang Chen.

"So it is a Land True Immortal who has arrived in person! No wonder every word struck at the origin of the Great Dao, making one feel ashamed yet enlightened."

Chi Wen cupped his hands and bowed, his etiquette flawless. Beneath that rugged, martial exterior lay the character of a scholar.

Jiang Chen's lips curled slightly: "Sect Master Chi Wen, there is no need to beat around the bush. I have come here for only two things—first, to invite the Heavenly Fire Sect to join my ranks and help me gather incense and faith across the Azure Blue Star; second, your sect's supreme treasure—the eight types of supreme exotic flames. I am in urgent need of them for refining and am willing to exchange them for treasures of equal value. I will not take them by force."

Wuming chimed in at the right moment: "Chi Wen, you can rest assured. My Master's might is such that even King Peng of the Ferocious Beast Clan has bowed his head in submission and is currently assisting him in sealing the luck of the Azure Blue Star. As long as you agree to these two matters, the rewards you receive will far exceed your imagination."

Chi Wen's brows furrowed, his expression grave: "This is a major matter that I cannot decide alone. I must summon all the elders and disciples of the sect to discuss and decide together."

"That is only right. A hasty promise would only diminish its weight."

Jiang Chen nodded, "Convene the sect assembly as soon as possible and give me a clear answer."

"Very well! Please follow me into the sect!"

Chi Wen laughed heartily, raised his hand, and brought out a red-patterned teleportation talisman. With a pinch of his fingertips, the talisman burst into a cluster of deep blue light, forming a rotating portal. The three stepped inside and instantly arrived within the Heavenly Fire Sect.

Moments later, Chi Wen had gathered everyone in the martial arts square—disciples lined up like fire, elders standing solemn like pines.

"I have gathered you all today to announce two major events—this is the Land True Immortal, Lord Jiang Chen. He has arrived at our sect in person, willing to lead the Heavenly Fire Sect toward a new path for the Great Dao..."

Before Chi Wen could finish, the entire crowd was in an uproar.

"Sect Master! The supreme exotic flames were left behind by our ancestors when they bathed in fire and achieved nirvana; how can we just hand them over? Even if a True Immortal has arrived in person, he cannot break the backbone of our sect!"

"That's right! The Heavenly Fire Sect would rather burn than submit! If you want us to bow our heads, first ask our flames if they agree—if this True Immortal wants to test our mettle, let him bring it on!"

"The Heavenly Fire Sect has been established for over ten thousand years. Even after enduring tribulations and suffering repeated heavy losses, we have always stood tall—this ten-thousand-year lineage is a backbone cast in blood and fire; how can it be easily entrusted to others?!"

The disciples and elders of the Heavenly Fire Sect were filled with righteous indignation, their robes billowing like waves, their gazes burning like flames.

Chi Wen looked at the seething crowd before him, shook his head helplessly, and a trace of bitterness appeared on his lips: "Everyone, please suppress the fire in your hearts for a moment."

He raised his hand to signal, his voice steady yet unquestionable: "Lord Jiang Chen's words pierced through the fatal flaw of our sect—it was not pickiness, but insight. This person's realm is unfathomable, and if we can obtain his assistance, we might be able to turn the tables."

"Why would our Heavenly Fire Sect need outside help!"

A young disciple stepped forward, his spine as straight as a sword, his voice like the clashing of metal and stone.

"The sect was created by our Founder with his own hands. The four words 'Better to break than to bend' are carved on the mountain gate stone, and also carved into the bones of every generation of disciples! Even if we cannot withstand the might of a True Immortal, we will never bow our heads to serve as subjects or submit as slaves!"

"We don't fight for bread, we fight for pride! Sect Master, please expel these intruders immediately!"

Seeing that the public anger was hard to suppress and the situation was nearly out of control, Chi Wen suddenly drew upon his source divine fire. A crimson-gold flame shot into the sky, illuminating the entire mountain gate as if it were burning glass! He roared up to the sky: "Silence—!"

The entire scene became instantly silent enough to hear a pin drop.

His eyes were like torches, and he spoke word by word: "In the ten thousand years of our Heavenly Fire Sect, we have never produced a single True Immortal! Have you... forgotten the blood and breath the Founder could not swallow before he passed away?"

"His lifelong wish was to return to our homeland on the Flame Star and wash away the shame of our sect's destruction in blood! Yet we, his descendants, possess the fire but not a single one of us has stepped into the True Immortal realm, and no one can take up the sword to seek justice for him!"

"When I took over the position of Sect Master, I received this last wish from my Master. Today, the appearance of Lord Jiang Chen is a favor from heaven—this is the only opportunity to hope for revenge! Whoever dares to be disrespectful to him again is a traitor to our ancestors and our sect!"

Chi Wen respected Jiang Chen not just for his heaven-defying cultivation, but because he faintly saw—only by borrowing this immense momentum could the blood feud that the Heavenly Fire Sect had buried for ten thousand years truly have a chance to be uncovered and vindicated.

As his voice fell, everyone lowered their heads in silence, and the uproar completely ceased.

An old elder with hair and beard like frost walked out slowly, his sleeves slightly raised: "Since that is the case, everything will be decided by the Sect Master. But if this Lord Jiang Chen wants to take charge of our sect, he must show his true abilities to make us sincerely convinced."

"I propose: open the Heavenly Gate and invite him to brave the three trials set by the Founder alone. If he can break through the gate and is willing to promise to help our sect avenge ourselves on the Flame Star—we shall naturally serve him as our master and pledge our lives to him!"

Chi Wen turned and looked solemnly at Jiang Chen: "Lord Jiang Chen, you have heard it as well. As long as you pass the three trials of the Heavenly Gate and agree to the pact of avenging our sect, the Heavenly Fire Sect will be the sharpest blade in your hand from this day forward; wherever the blade points, we will never waver!"

Jiang Chen laughed heartily, his eyes flashing with brilliance: "Three gates? Even ten gates are nothing to fear! As for revenge—once the Azure Blue Star is unified, I am bound to expand my territory. The grudge on the Flame Star will be settled in passing!"

He stepped forward, his robes fluttering in the wind: "Lead the way."

"Understood!" Chi Wen bowed, then led the way forward.

Everyone followed along and arrived at a place where an ancient temple stood towering before them—its blue tiles were mottled, its red paint dull, and a half-rusted copper bell hung from the corner of the eaves, making no sound as the wind passed by.

"This is the Heavenly Gate?" Jiang Chen stopped and asked.

Chi Wen nodded and spoke slowly: "This temple was built by the Founder himself before his ascension; it is the trial ground condensed from his life's work."

"Back then, he was besieged and killed on the Flame Star, heavily injured and near death, his True Immortal body falling to the Heavenly Immortal realm. Knowing his time was running out, he still forced his remaining strength to establish the sect, just to leave behind a spark—to let his descendants take up the sword and pay his debts."

"Inside the Heavenly Gate, there are three life-and-death trials. Only those who have reached the True Immortal realm can enter, break through the gate to obtain the treasure, and then launch an expedition to the Flame Star to slaughter all enemies."

Jiang Chen stared at the temple gate for a moment, then suddenly sighed: "No wonder he could carve out a paradise within the magma veins... He truly had the aptitude of a Land True Immortal. It is a pity his luck was too thin, and a talent died young."

Today, the galaxy is vast, and the Great Dao is difficult; for a mortal to cultivate to the True Immortal realm is already defying heaven and changing fate—how arduous it truly is.

Chi Wen lowered his eyes, his voice hoarse: "The Founder was amazingly talented, but we, his descendants, are weak. In ten thousand years, not a single person has been worthy of entering the gate... The word 'revenge' has long since become a mirage."

"Fortunately, today, Lord Jiang Chen has arrived—just like a heavenly fire, splitting open this ten-thousand-year cold night."

Jiang Chen's expression became serious: "Since I have taken the Heavenly Fire Sect under my command, the Founder's last wish is now my mission. Blood debts must be repaid with blood."

He lifted his foot and crossed the threshold, his back as calm and steady as a mountain: "Everyone, please wait quietly outside the gate. When I return, it will be the time for our enemies to lose their heads."

Jiang Chen's gaze was like a blade, and he stepped steadily into the depths of the Heavenly Gate.

As soon as his figure disappeared into the dark arched gate, the entire Heavenly Gate suddenly closed, and there was not a sound left.

Everyone held their breath, and the air seemed to congeal.