Chapter 749 - 49: Rising to Fame in the Ten Thousand Flames Sect
Chapter 749: Chapter 49: Rising to Fame in the Ten Thousand Flames Sect
Junior Brother Zhao wants to apprentice under Elder Zhuang, aspiring to become his sole disciple. As the sole disciple, Elder Zhuang would undoubtedly dedicate all his efforts to him.
Unfortunately, Junior Brother Zhao failed in his attempt to apprentice.
"Perhaps in this duel, Junior Brother Zhao is not aiming to defeat Lin Chen, but rather using it as an excuse to showcase his talent to Elder Zhuang."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Tai smiled slightly, as this seemed very plausible.
Boom!
Just as Zhang Tai and others were conversing, there was a change on the Fire Refining Platform. A pillar of fire suddenly shot up with crimson flames, as if a valve had opened, and following that, other pillars also burst skyward with flames.
One, two, three, four...
A total of four, eliciting gasps from many disciples below. In the assessment for disciples of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, one part is to stimulate the Innate Fire. Stimulating one fire can permit entry to the outer sect, three permits the inner sect, while four marks one as an outstanding Inner Sect Disciple. Five is the standard for a Direct Disciple.
Is five possible?
The hope was palpable among many disciples, and three seconds later, when the fifth fire pillar shot up with a purple flame, cheers erupted below.
On the Fire Refining Platform, even the Steward serving as a judge smiled at this—Zhao Haoyang’s talent is quite commendable, though he initially chose the wrong elder.
Yet Zhao Haoyang, the man of the moment, showed no sign of joy.
Five Innate Fires only meet the lowest standard for becoming a Direct Disciple. He had merely passed one test, an outcome that did not satisfy him.
"Again!"
With a shout, Zhao Haoyang’s hand seals reformed, and underfoot, the runes began to shine. After three breaths, the sixth pillar started trembling, and the flames grew lively.
Boom!
An orange-red flame surged up, soaring skyward in an instant, merging with the other five Innate Fires in the air like a dazzling display of fireworks.
"Six flames, Senior Brother Zhao is amazing!"
"But it’s not just as simple as six flames; these six Innate Fires have different mother flames and are six Abnormal Fires."
An Innate Martial Artist spoke slowly. Among the ten thousand recorded flames of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, there are mother flames and child flames. One mother flame can merge with others to give birth to various child flames.
If there are child flames from the same mother flame, they are called ’same fire’ by disciples of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, whereas if the mother flames differ, the child flames are ’abnormal fire.’
Many disciples have a natural affinity with some Innate Mother Fire, making it easier to comprehend and refine its associated child flames.
Summoning six Innate Fires might only seem commendable to the higher-ups of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, but summoning six Abnormal Fires implies that Zhao Haoyang could refine a large number of Innate Fires in the late period.
"Senior Brother Zhuang, do you regret it now?"
At a volcanic crater, several elders nodded approvingly at Zhao Haoyang’s summoning of six Abnormal Fires, and turned to Zhuang Lie: "Senior Brother Zhuang, Zhao Haoyang has great talent; I think you should take him as a disciple."
Zhuang Lie’s expression was complex. If he hadn’t seen Lin Chen, he would have accepted Zhao Haoyang, but after seeing Lin Chen, his interest in Zhao Haoyang diminished.
This is human nature.
You can accept something average without seeing the best, but after seeing the best, you can’t settle for less.
He had never before seen someone mastering the Fire Merging Technique during their first practice.
"Let’s see how Lin Chen performs first."
"Senior Brother Zhuang, Lin Chen can no longer join our Ten Thousand Flames Sect, even if he performs better than Zhao Haoyang; he’s still someone else’s disciple. Besides, I don’t think Lin Chen can surpass Zhao Haoyang."
Zhuang Lie pursed his lips, facing the elders’ persuasion. He finally said, "As long as Lin Chen scores less in this round than Zhao Haoyang, I will take Zhao Haoyang as my disciple."
...
The cheers below the Fire Refining Platform quieted as the six Innate Fires returned to their pillars, but the low murmurs continued.
At this moment, Zhao Haoyang’s gaze also turned to Lin Chen, with a look of pride: "Now it’s your turn."
Being able to summon six Abnormal Fires, he was quite pleased with his performance.
Zhao Haoyang stepped aside, and Lin Chen rubbed his nose, hesitated not, and stepped into the spot Zhao Haoyang had stood.
"Here we go, now it’s Lin Chen’s turn. How many do you think Lin Chen can summon?"
"I heard Elder Zhuang once personally visited the Canglan Sect and later said Lin Chen had considerable talent in fire manipulation. He should manage four."
"Four? You really think highly of Lin Chen. I think, at most, three."
These few Innate Martial Artists had been on the Fire Refining Platform before, well aware of how stimulating Innate Fire depended partly on personal talent and partly on the cultivation level of the Fire Merging Technique.
Even if Lin Chen has talent, he hasn’t practiced the Fire Merging Technique for long. Guessing three or four was out of respect for him as the top at Martial Arts Mountain and for Elder Zhuang’s recognition.
At the center of the Fire Refining Platform.
Lin Chen took a deep breath, glanced at Zhao Haoyang standing aside, and finally nodded to the judge in front.
With a change of hand seals, Lin Chen closed his eyes. The Fire Merging Technique within him started operating, and at the moment of activation, he felt a special force underfoot pulling into his body, momentarily hindering the operation of the Fire Merging Technique.
However, the next moment, it returned to normal.
"Rise!"
After a few breaths, Lin Chen’s eyes snapped open with a light shout.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Instantly, flames shot up from four fire pillars.
This scene caused Zhao Haoyang’s pupils to shrink sharply. How could this be?
Below, many Direct Disciples immediately turned solemn, and those Below Innate from the inner and outer sects collectively fell silent.
Even the judge fixed his gaze tightly on Lin Chen at this moment.
In a split second, four Innate Fires—such talent...
Boom!
Two seconds later, the fifth Innate Fire appeared, and Zhao Haoyang clenched his fists, fingers deeply embedded in his flesh.
One more, and Lin Chen would catch up with him.
Being equal in six would mean he lost, considering he’d trained in the Fire Merging Technique for ten years.
Ten seconds later, the sixth Innate Fire appeared.
The scene erupted into an uproar.
They have matched, equaling in the number of Innate Fires.
"The six Innate Fires Lin Chen summoned aren’t all Abnormal Fires, Junior Brother Zhao hasn’t lost yet."
The man beside Zhang Tai spoke. Zhang Tai, however, shook his head. Even if they weren’t Abnormal Fires, considering Lin Chen’s limited time with the Fire Merging Technique, Junior Brother Zhao essentially lost.
These words were merely to save face for Junior Brother Zhao and the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.
However, this face-saving attempt was obliterated ten seconds later.
Boom!
The seventh Innate Fire shot out from the stone pillar, rendering the scene instantly silent.
Surpassed!
In terms of Innate Fires, the rule is that the side with more fires triumphs, assuming all are Abnormal Fires.
If the numbers differ, the side with more wins.
It’s a longstanding rule among disciples during assessments at the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.
Zhao Haoyang’s entire demeanor was deeply dejected. Elder Zhuang wasn’t wrong—he indeed was no match for Lin Chen.
On the Fire Refining Platform, having summoned seven Innate Fires, Lin Chen’s eyes glimmered with a trace of hesitation. However, it was fleeting and went unnoticed as everyone was still reeling from the shock of seven Innate Fires.
One breath, two breaths... thirty breaths.
No more Innate Fires were summoned. Below, Zhang Tai and others involuntarily let out a sigh of relief. Even though it’s not their duel with Lin Chen, had Lin Chen summoned even more Innate Fires, it would also leave them disgracefully overshadowed.
"Young man, stop holding back, show me your full strength. Summon as many as you can; if you want to impress me enough to get benefits, surprise me!"
As these words fell, Zhuang Lie’s figure oddly appeared on the Fire Refining Platform.
Seeing Zhuang Lie appear, Lin Chen couldn’t help but let the corners of his mouth curl up. He was indeed pondering whether to stop to save some face for the disciples of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.
But since Elder Zhuang expressed this, he would give it his all.
"Since Elder Zhuang has instructed so, I will do my best."
With these words, Lin Chen’s aura rose once again.
"Boom boom!!!"
The remaining two fire pillars instantly shot up with flames.
Nine Innate Fires immediately covered the sky above the Fire Refining Platform, yet this was not the end.
As Lin Chen’s hand seals changed, disciples below the platform were staring wide-eyed with astonishment. Several holding fire-control magical artifacts had their artifacts clatter to the ground, looking up at the platform in disbelief.