“Since you said it’s up to me, I’ll stay right here then.” Mu Ji’s face was full of smiles.
Mu Ji was somewhat of a renowned beauty in the Heavenly Fire Temple. Her proactive behaviour at such a major event naturally drew some attention.
“Who’s that guy? I’ve never seen him before. Just a nobody, and Mu Ji is actually throwing herself at him? Does anyone know that kid?”
“I don’t know him either, never seen him.”
“He looks a bit familiar. Five hundred years ago, during the Heavenly Fire Trial registration, this guy signed up as a Dominion Realm cultivator. I think his name is Lin Yun!”
“So, he’s the arrogant kid who dared to sign up as a Dominion Realm cultivator. Mu Ji is at least at the Saint Realm. Why would she throw herself at an overconfident Dominion Realm nobody?”
…
Originally, Lin Yun’s arrival went unnoticed, but Mu Ji’s actions drew a certain degree of attention to him.
For Lin Yun, however, this kind of attention gained through a woman was something he could do without.
If Lin Yun was to make a name for himself in the Heavenly Fire Temple, it would be through his own strength, not anything else.
“Lieutenant Lin Yun.” Old Black approached.
“Old Black, how have you been? Has that Shu Chi caused you any trouble?” Lin Yun asked.
Lin Yun had always been concerned that Shu Chi might try to harm Old Black.
“It’s fine. As long as I can endure, he can’t do anything to me,” Old Black said with a smile.
After a pause, Old Black grinned and said, “Once you become a Heavenly Fire General, Lieutenant Lin Yun, I bet he won’t dare trouble me anymore.”
Generally, reaching the Transcendent Realm would earn one the title of Heavenly Fire General.
Lin Yun nodded.
Over the past ten years, Lin Yun had spent much of his time cultivating his realm, aiming to break through to the Transcendent Realm as soon as possible.
Lin Yun believed that reaching the Transcendent Realm wasn’t too far off.
“By the way, Old Black, what are the specific rules of the Heavenly Fire Trial?” Lin Yun asked.
Having spent a relatively short time in the Heavenly Fire Temple, Lin Yun had never witnessed a Heavenly Fire Trial before.
“Lin Yun, I know. Let me explain,” Mu Ji quickly chimed in.
Mu Ji pointed with her slender hand toward the massive arena ahead and said, “See that arena? That’s where the Heavenly Fire Trial will take place. In the middle, there are three ten-metre-high stone platforms and seven five-metre-high stone platforms.”
“I see them,” Lin Yun nodded.
Mu Ji continued, “If you can climb one of the three ten-metre platforms and hold it until the trial ends, you’ll secure a top-three spot and earn a place for Heavenly Fire Tempering. If you can climb and hold one of the seven five-metre platforms, you’ll rank fourth to tenth. While you won’t get a Heavenly Fire Tempering spot, you’ll still receive a reward.”
“I see,” Lin Yun immediately understood the format of the Heavenly Fire Trial.
The ten stone platforms were only a few square metres in area.
Due to their small size, if someone was attacked and couldn’t hold their ground, they could easily be knocked off.
In short, to claim and defend a platform, one needed sufficient strength.
“Lieutenant Lin Yun, it looks like Shu Chi is heading our way,” Old Black said, patting Lin Yun’s shoulder.
Lin Yun turned to see Old Black’s enemy, Shu Chi, striding purposefully toward them.
“Is he looking for trouble? If I remember correctly, Shu Chi also signed up for this Heavenly Fire Trial,” Old Black said with a hint of worry.
As they spoke, Shu Chi reached Lin Yun.
“Kid, you’re pretty bold, daring to get close to Mu Ji?” Shu Chi’s face was dark.
Shu Chi had pursued Mu Ji long ago, but Mu Ji, with her high standards, had never looked twice at him.
Now that Mu Ji was openly approaching Lin Yun, he naturally felt unbalanced.
“None of your business!” Lin Yun stared ahead at the arena, not even glancing at him.
Not to mention that Lin Yun and Mu Ji were merely comrades who had fought together, with no other relationship. Even if there was something, it wasn’t Shu Chi’s place to comment!
“You…” Shu Chi’s face darkened to the extreme.
Though he hadn’t won Mu Ji, he still harboured those feelings. Being scolded by Lin Yun in front of her made him feel humiliated.
“Shu Chi, I approached Lin Yun on my own,” Mu Ji said.
“Mu Ji, when did your taste get so poor? You have plenty of suitors. You didn’t even glance at me, yet now you’re throwing yourself at this Dominion Realm trash? Is he even worthy?” Shu Chi questioned, barely containing his anger.
He was furious. The woman he couldn’t win was throwing herself at a nobody he despised?
“Trash? Hmph, Lin Yun is countless times stronger than you, Shu Chi. You’re not even fit to compare with him. Also, he’s no longer in the Dominion Realm,” Mu Ji said with a cold laugh.
Shu Chi, of course, didn’t know about Lin Yun’s demon-hunting mission at the border.
He only knew that Lin Yun had been away for a long time, either training or on a mission, but he had no details.
With so many members in the Heavenly Fire Temple, it was common for people to come and go for training or missions. There was nothing unusual about it.
“Even if he’s reached the Initial Saint Realm, I can still crush him!” Shu Chi gritted his teeth.
Then he turned to Lin Yun, “Kid, during registration, I said I’d teach you a lesson in the arena. Just wait and see!”
Shu Chi already disliked Lin Yun, and now he was even more determined to crush him in the trial!
“Want to teach me a lesson? You’re not qualified,” Lin Yun replied calmly.
“Hmph, acting all high and mighty. When I trample you in the arena, let’s see how you keep pretending!”
With that, Shu Chi stormed off.
“Pfft, Shu Chi sure talks big. He’s going to be in for a rough time,” Mu Ji giggled, covering her mouth.
Having fought alongside Lin Yun for so long, Mu Ji knew well his strength and ruthlessness.
She could already foresee the fate awaiting Shu Chi for picking a fight.
The dispute had drawn the attention and discussion of some nearby members.
Gossip about a commotion over a woman was always of great interest to everyone.
“That guy was only at the Dominion Realm during registration. Even if he’s reached the Saint Realm now, it’s probably just the Initial Saint Realm. If Shu Chi goes after him, he’s going to suffer.”
…
Of course, this was just a minor episode. After some discussion, the crowd soon moved on to other topics.
As time passed, the moment for the Heavenly Fire Trial to officially begin finally arrived.
