Chapter 656: Invitation to the Festival
"Emperor Flame... It seems to be a fusion of dozens of Divine Flames, incredibly domineering. Even this old man's life essence flame cannot contend with it. Truly deserving of its name as the emperor of flames. Just now, it was this old man who lost."
Their exchange didn't result in the expected cataclysm, but the moment the outcome became clear, Ancestor Huo Ling knew that with just an Avatar, he couldn't defeat the Heavenly Emperor before him.
"I only managed to win by a small margin." Xiao Ming showed no sign of pride, only a faint smile.
Ancestor Huo Ling shook his head and said, "A loss is a loss."
He then turned sharply to Huo Mo and Old Yan. After a moment's hesitation, he waved his sleeve. A fierce flame swept over them and engulfed them both.
"Ah!!!"
Immediately, the two let out harrowing screams as the flames enveloped them, causing Sage Zi Yun and the others to break out in cold sweat.
A few breaths later, the two reappeared in everyone's sight, barely alive.
Huo Mo and Old Yan were barely breathing at this moment, and most of their cultivation had been abolished.
Xiao Ming was somewhat surprised at how decisive this Ancestor Huo Ling had acted.
In reality, Ancestor Huo Ling had his own considerations. By crippling their cultivation himself, even if it came at a high cost, they still had a chance to recover. But if Xiao Ming had acted, their lives might have been forfeited.
Since that was the case, it was better for him to do it personally.
After crippling their cultivation, Ancestor Huo Ling still felt it wasn't enough. He pointed at Old Yan, and a dark flame suddenly burst from his body.
"Huo Yan, you failed in your duty as a protector and did not properly oversee Huo Mo, allowing him to act recklessly under the clan's name and rob others. Today, I strip you of the Divine Flame granted to you by the clan as a warning."
Under Ancestor Huo Ling's cold shout, the pitch-black flame shot up into the sky and converged in his palm, emitting an extreme coldness.
Old Yan, already half-dead, couldn't utter a word of protest despite all the resentment he felt. Instead, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
Undeterred by the lack of response, Ancestor Huo Ling casually tossed the Divine Flame, and the black flame swiftly flew towards Xiao Ming, who caught it effortlessly with one hand.
"This is...?" Xiao Ming examined the dark flame. Although it appeared to be extremely cold, it was merely an illusion caused by absorbing all the surrounding heat. The actual temperature of the flame was exceptionally high.
"This flame is called the Netherworld Earth Flame. Although it cannot be compared to your Emperor Flame, it is still a renowned Divine Flame in the Divine Flame Ranking. It has been nurtured by our clan's elite experts for over a thousand years. In terms of power, it rivals the Greenstone Azure Flame you recently acquired. Consider it a token of compensation." Ancestor Huo Ling spoke in a deep voice, his heart aching with indescribable pain. This flame was part of the Fire Spirit Clan's foundation, and now it was being given away just like that!
"My demands are more than that, aren't they?" Xiao Ming narrowed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips.
"You can withdraw twenty billion Sovereign Spirit Liquids from the largest merchant house in the Merchant Continent by mentioning my name," Ancestor Huo Ling could only continue with a dark expression, seeing that Xiao Ming was still not satisfied even after receiving a Divine Flame.
There was no need for a voucher for the twenty billion Sovereign Spirit Liquids. By now, the entire Merchant Continent had been alerted, and all the experts were watching, including those in the merchant houses. Xiao Ming could simply go and claim the amount.
"There are still four more Divine Flames," Xiao Ming reminded.
"I don't think you can't see that I'm just an Avatar. At this moment, this old man cannot provide you with four more Divine Flames. Even if I could find them, I would never give you that many ranked Divine Flames," Ancestor Huo Ling said in a deep voice.
Fearing Xiao Ming's displeasure, he added, "The most this old man can offer is one more Divine Flame, and it won't be high-ranked. If the Heavenly Emperor finds this unacceptable, our clan will hold the Fire Spirit Festival a year from now. It is an event that takes place once every millennium. At that time, the Heavenly Sovereigns who specialize in fire from the Great Thousand World will gather to compete. If you are able to take the crown, my clan's flames will be yours to choose."
"Including your clan's Sacred Flame?"
Xiao Ming, who had initially been somewhat displeased, couldn't help but ask after hearing this.
Those lower-ranked Divine Flames were worlds apart from the Fire Spirit Clan's Sacred Flame. Four of those flames together couldn't compare to the Sacred Flame.
By rights, given his status, Ancestor Huo Ling should be using the best flame, the Sacred Flame of the Fire Spirit Clan. However, Xiao Ming could tell that the flame Ancestor Huo Ling was using, though formidable, was not the Sacred Flame.
What did this imply? Ancestor Huo Ling couldn't subdue the Sacred Flame.
This revealed the extraordinary power of the Sacred Flame.
When Ancestor Huo Ling heard this, he gave Xiao Ming a deep look before nodding heavily, "Including the Sacred Flame."
Their entire conversation was overheard by everyone present. Upon hearing that Ancestor Huo Ling promised to give Xiao Ming the Fire Spirit Clan's Sacred Flame if he met the requirements, reactions were mixed.
Some people thought that Ancestor Huo Ling was a cunning old fox. They believed that even though the Heavenly Emperor had temporarily bested Ancestor Huo Ling today, it was merely due to the power of his Divine Flame.
The Fire Spirit Festival, however, was not an event where flame power alone could ensure victory. It tested many aspects of fire control.
Moreover, many of the participating Heavenly Sovereigns were of the Immortal Grade. Not to mention others, even Ancestor Huo Ling himself was of the Immortal Grade.
To prevent the loss of the Sacred Flame, he would undoubtedly participate personally.
The gap between an Avatar and the true body was immense. At that time, the confrontation wouldn't be as simple as today's skirmish.
If the Heavenly Emperor lost at the Fire Spirit Festival, even if the Fire Spirit Clan had to compensate with another lower-ranked Divine Flame, they would still regain their lost face.
However, there were a few who thought that Ancestor Huo Ling might suffer a significant loss. After all, with the appearance of the Emperor Flame, Xiao Ming's identity as a Grandmaster Alchemist was confirmed.
A Grandmaster Alchemist on the verge of reaching the Spirit Grade Great Grandmaster rank. How could his control over flames be lacking?
Of course, if Xiao Ming truly managed to surpass all the other Heavenly Sovereigns and win the crown, his name would resound throughout the Great Thousand World, and the impact of Ancestor Huo Ling's defeat today would be minimized.
Losing to an unknown person and losing to someone with a prominent reputation were entirely different matters.
Besides, if everyone else also lost, it would be as if the Fire Spirit Clan hadn't lost.
However, the primary thought of Ancestor Huo Ling was that Xiao Ming wouldn't be able to take the Sacred Flame.
From their earlier exchange, he had gauged Xiao Ming's level clearly. Xiao Ming was only at the Initial Phase of the Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign. The chances of him taking the Sacred Flame at the Fire Spirit Festival were extremely low.
Ancestor Huo Ling was actually worried that Xiao Ming wouldn't agree, since it was essentially a gamble with very low odds of success.
To his surprise, he actually agreed.
"In a year, this Emperor will personally visit the Fire Spirit Clan. I hope you won't go back on your word."
As Xiao Ming spoke, he summoned Huo Mo's storage bag.
Ancestor Huo Ling hesitated but ultimately sighed inwardly as he watched Xiao Ming pocket the storage bag.
'Never mind, the techniques on Huo Mo can only be cultivated up to the Perfection Earthly Sovereign Stage. Heavenly Sovereigns have already found their own path. It's okay for him to see them. I can get it back when the Fire Spirit Festival begins.'
"Since this is the case, I shall await that day and welcome you with open arms. Farewell."
Ancestor Huo Ling glanced at Huo Mo and Old Yan one last time before cupping his hands towards Xiao Ming. A burst of red light enveloped them, and in the next instant, the three of them disappeared from the sky under the gaze of countless onlookers.