Chapter 83: The Mysterious Realm of Flames (Part Two)

“No, it’s simply a conclusion drawn from our sect’s comprehensive assessments over the years. All our encounters with the Flameborn have taken place in the arena. During the ten years when cultivators from the Tenfold World enter the Flame Domain for tempering, the domain is open to us, but the Flameborn themselves remain within their territories and do not venture out. Only when the arena competition begins do we face them directly.”

“As for those with awakened bloodlines, they are the Flameborn who have unlocked their innate bloodline talents. The inhabitants of the Flameborn clan are divided into two types: ordinary folk who have not awakened their bloodline, and those who have. The unawakened are no different from our own ordinary people, but any awakened Flameborn, if placed in our Tenfold World, would be considered a super genius,” Bai Ze explained.

“What a peculiar race. They sound quite similar to the demon clans. Does that mean the Flameborn are not pure humans?” Ji Mo asked, deeply surprised.

“Yes, that’s right. They are not pure humans. It’s said that the Flameborn are descendants of both witches and demons. Of course, that’s just legend. We don’t know for certain,” Bai Ze shrugged.

Descendants of witches and demons? Ji Mo’s heart stirred at this, and she instinctively wanted to ask Peony Fairy. She called several times, but Peony Fairy did not respond at all, so Ji Mo let it go. Her thoughts shifted, and she turned the conversation to the arena tournament Bai Ze had mentioned: “Brother Bai, when does their tournament start, and what are the rules? Does everyone who steps onto the stage have to fight to the death?”

That fellow Ao Feng had thrown her in here, almost certainly intending for her to participate in that so-called tournament. Now that someone knowledgeable was present, it was wise to get the details first.

“The tournament is set up by the Flameborn for us from the Tenfold Cultivation World. Every time cultivators from our world come to train here, the Flameborn arrange the arena battles, letting cultivators of the same level from both sides compete head to head. Life and death are left to fate. Of course, the tournament is set up because of us, but the participants are not just us outsiders. Thousands of Flameborn cultivators use the opportunity for their own talent selection.”

“The arena battles start from the Qi Refining stage and go all the way up to the Integration stage. Anyone from the Tenfold World who enters can challenge the corresponding level in the arena. Anyone who can defeat a Flameborn in the ring will receive generous rewards from their main clan,” Bai Ze continued.

“So you’re saying that if a cultivator from the Tenfold World defeats or even kills a Flameborn in the ring, the Flameborn not only won’t punish the outsider, but will lavish them with rewards?” Ji Mo stared in disbelief.

“Exactly,” Bai Ze nodded, and Ji Mo was speechless, finding this clan not only excessively arrogant but also harsh and ruthless towards their own disciples.

“But since the lowest cultivation of those entering from the Tenfold World is at the Core Forming stage, why do the Flameborn bother setting up arenas for the Qi Refining stage?” Ji Mo pondered a moment before raising another question.

“It’s a long story. The arena tournament between the Flameborn and the Tenfold Cultivation World officially began when the upper echelons of both sides reached an agreement to allow us entry into the Flame Domain. At that time, the trial disciples sent in included both Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators.”

“But after the tournaments started, almost no Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Tenfold World survived the ring. Eventually, to avoid needless and horrific losses, our world stopped sending low-level disciples into the Flame Domain.”

“Although the Tenfold World no longer sends low-level disciples, the Flameborn have kept those two lower-stage arenas for their internal competitions. If I recall correctly, it’s been over a hundred thousand years since our world sent Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment disciples into the Flame Domain.”

“What’s unexpected is that your sect sent you in this time, which shows how highly they regard you. Ji Mo, if you win even once in this tournament, you’ll bring great honor to our Tenfold World,” Bai Ze grew increasingly excited, his gaze toward Ji Mo growing brighter, as if he couldn’t wait to see her show her might in the ring.

“Over a hundred thousand years ago, not one low-level cultivator from the Tenfold World survived the arena, and now you keep urging me to fight in the ring. Are you just hoping to see me die?” Ji Mo looked at Bai Ze with suspicion, wondering if this seemingly straightforward man was actually the most cunning of all.

“Misunderstanding, misunderstanding. Ji Mo, your sect threw you in here clearly to have you participate in the tournament. I’m just cheering you on. Besides, if you win, the rewards from the Flameborn are enough to make anyone envious,” Bai Ze gave a sheepish laugh under Ji Mo’s skeptical gaze, quickly waving his hands to show he meant no harm, though his words sounded full of calculation to her ears.

“No matter how rich the rewards, you need a life to enjoy them!” Ji Mo sneered coldly.

“Hmph, as a cultivator, if you fear death so much, why walk the immortal path at all?” Geng Xiao, who had been standing silently to the side, snorted disdainfully; Ji Mo glared at him in anger.

After glaring at Geng Xiao, Ji Mo frowned deeply. Though she disliked Bai Ze and Geng Xiao’s constant encouragement for her to enter the tournament, she knew full well Ao Feng’s temperament—sending her to this place was certainly for the tournament. If she refused to participate, she’d likely never leave the Flame Domain.

“When does the tournament start?” Unable to avoid the trouble, Ji Mo had no choice but to accept it. After careful thought, she shifted the topic and looked again to Bai Ze.

“Oh? Ji Mo, have you figured it out? The tournament starts in about three years. You can use this time to cultivate and raise your level—maybe you’ll surprise us all,” Bai Ze was first stunned, then ecstatic. To persuade an outsider at the Qi Refining stage to join the Flameborn tournament was no small matter.

As for whether Ji Mo would survive, that was not his concern. He and Ji Mo had no enmity, but were merely acquaintances; his lengthy conversation was partly because he found her agreeable and, as a genius at the Core Forming stage, he had his own pride and was unlikely to act against a young Qi Refining girl.

So, to Bai Ze, encouraging Ji Mo to join the tournament was a delight. If she won, as he said, it would bring honor to their world, and he would be hailed as her discoverer. If she lost and died in the ring, it was no concern of his.

“Are there any special restrictions? For example, if a Qi Refining cultivator has trained their body beyond the sixth tier of Transcendence, do they compete in the Qi Refining tournament or the Foundation Establishment one?” Ji Mo asked again, unaware of Bai Ze’s inner calculations. Even if she knew, she wouldn’t care—he owed her nothing, why should he favor her in everything?

She didn’t believe herself the protagonist of fate, that anyone she met would inexplicably support or follow her with unwavering loyalty. As for schemes, with or without Bai Ze, she couldn’t escape the tournament since the Flameborn had such a system in place.

Her only thought now was: since she had decided to participate in the arena battles, she should learn all the rules in advance, lest she enter blindly and make a mess of things. After all, a body cultivator at the sixth tier of Transcendence was already equivalent to a junior Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“Of course, the sixth tier of body refinement can only compete in the Foundation Establishment tournament. But you’re only at the fourth tier of Qi Refining—why worry so far ahead? Wait, you’re at the fourth tier of Qi Refining, yet your body refinement has reached the fourth tier of Transcendence? Are you taking the body cultivation path?” Bai Ze followed Ji Mo’s question, but halfway through, he examined her more closely and exclaimed in surprise.

He had previously only noted Ji Mo as a low-level Qi Refining cultivator and hadn’t observed her body refinement. Now, looking seriously, he was shocked. In their world, a talented body cultivator stood equal to a spiritual cultivator; those who achieved sanctification through the flesh and ascended to the heavens possessed combat power unmatched by spiritual cultivators. Of course, even in their world, flesh sanctification was exceedingly rare. That was why he hadn’t paid attention to Ji Mo’s body refinement before.

“I’d say I practice both spiritual and body cultivation. The reason my spiritual cultivation lags behind is that I have five elemental roots—cultivating all five is inherently slower than most. And in the Flame Domain, the spiritual energy is rich in fire, while the other four elements are scarce. Advancing in spiritual cultivation quickly is almost impossible here, so I have no choice but to focus on body refinement,” Ji Mo explained.

“You have all five elemental roots? You look about fourteen or fifteen, and at that age, cultivating all five elements to reach the fourth tier of Qi Refining means your talent must be extraordinary.” This time, not only Bai Ze was shocked—even the aloof Geng Xiao cast her a glance.

“It’s alright, just so-so, neither good nor bad,” Ji Mo replied vaguely.

So-so, neither good nor bad? What kind of answer was that? Bai Ze eyed her with dissatisfaction but soon let it go. Five balanced elemental roots, reaching fourth tier Qi Refining at her age was absolutely not slow. Her modest words must be self-effacing. Judging by her speed, her five roots were at least top grade and perfectly balanced.

Balanced top-grade five elemental roots—such a talent was already remarkable. Among five-element roots, the hardest part was achieving balance. If all five were top grade, that talent surpassed ordinary single-root geniuses, second only to mutated single-root prodigies.

If there was any drawback, it was slower cultivation speed, but cultivators never lack time. Five-element cultivation meant few rivals at the same level—in Bai Ze and Geng Xiao’s world, five-element cultivators were the toughest opponents at their tier. Moreover, Ji Mo not only cultivated all five elements but had also reached the fourth tier of body refinement…

With such strength, she truly had a chance in the Flameborn tournament. Realizing this, Bai Ze’s gaze toward Ji Mo grew increasingly fervent. If he could confirm her victory now and befriend her early, it would be all gain and no loss. Bai Ze’s mind raced—forming ties with an unripe peerless genius could only benefit him.

(To be continued…)

PS: With nearly two thousand bookmarks, the average subscription is less than thirty. Though there aren’t many chapters posted yet, these numbers are enough to make one spit blood. Is this story really so poor? Based on my years of reading, I honestly believe this isn’t a bad piece. Maybe it’s just because I can’t write moving launch statements, so everyone’s reading pirated copies? Spraying blood in frustration.