Open the second stage!

An icy voice fell, and the hall had a peculiar energy fluctuation. The next moment, three fiery gates appeared before everyone.

As these three giant gates made of pure fire condensed in the hall, a distinctly intense aura instantly spread, enveloping all sixteen of Lin Chen’s group.

One green, one gold, and one black.

The green flame gate on the left exuded a vibrant vitality. Just by looking at it, Lin Chen felt extremely comfortable in his divine soul.

This green fiery gate seemed to contain the most pure essence of life, making one irresistibly want to enter it to receive its nourishment.

Several breaths later, Lin Chen shifted his gaze from the green flame gate on the left to the golden gate in the middle.

With just one glance, Lin Chen’s divine soul trembled. An intangible yet mountain-like oppressive force came washing over him, the golden light blinding yet not scorching, carrying an undeniable sacredness and grandeur.

The entire golden gate stood like a blazing sun king. Facing this gate was like confronting a supreme existence, an overwhelming insignificance swelling from the depths of the soul, compelling one to kneel down in worship.

Bang!

Not far away, a sound resonated, shocking Lin Chen back to consciousness. He turned his gaze to the right, where a middle-aged man was kneeling on the ground.

Seeing the other kneeling on the ground, Lin Chen understood that this person, like himself, had looked at the second golden gate but could not withstand the pressure, thus involuntarily kneeling down.

The others’ bodies were also trembling at this moment, seemingly resisting the urge to kneel.

Lin Chen’s gaze shifted to the third black flame gate. Compared to the other two, this black flame gate appeared ancient and quietly absorbed the surrounding light and sound, presenting an unfathomable, void-like state within, as if beyond the gate lay an endless abyss.

“Prince Consort, choose the green gate.”

Amidst Lin Chen’s contemplation, Zhuang Qiang’s telepathic message reached his ears.

“Do you know the origins of these three gates?”

“The first green gate is a medicinal field. Years ago, the ancestor of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect created the Holy Fire Hall and came to our Flower Race, seeking numerous spirit medicine seeds and nurturing them with the unique vitality of the Innate Fire.”

Zhuang Qiang did not hide anything. Her target this time was clearly the first green gate.

She was looking for a spirit medicine that had become extinct outside, and according to the elder, the only possible place to find it was the Holy Fire Hall.

Lin Chen was a little surprised by Zhuang Qiang’s words. Most Innate Fires indeed nurture vitality, a characteristic tied to the Innate Fire itself.

Aside from a few special Innate Fires, most need to absorb ample Earth Vein Qi to sprout, which is the vitality herbs require.

If this green gate was indeed the medicinal field planted by the ancestor of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, the rank of the spirit medicine within, after thousands of years, would be unimaginable.

Any one plant from inside would be of exceptional value outside.

“What about the other two gates?”

“The second gate should be the inheritance gate left by the ancestor of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, but my sister and I do not know about the third gate. However, our elders warned us before coming not to step into the black gate.”

Lin Chen understood. The ancestor of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect was generous, not letting martial artists leave empty-handed.

Even if they couldn’t obtain the inheritance, they could enter the green gate to collect spirit medicine inside. In the Flame Dynasty, such a benevolent strong person was rarely seen.

“You mentioned before that letting you two into the second stage would help me. What kind of help is it?”

Lin Chen did not forget the woman’s previous words, which persuaded him to help, otherwise just one “Prince Consort” wouldn’t have moved him.

Considering Senior Sister Jiang, he could save one key, but for both to want it was greedy. Without the last words of the woman, he wouldn’t have helped the other woman out of the situation.

“May I ask if the Prince Consort’s goal is the inheritance of the ancestor of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect?”

“Yes.”

Facing Zhuang Qiang’s question, Lin Chen admitted without hesitation. Having reached here, denying his aim for the inheritance would be too hypocritical.

“Then please, Prince Consort, do not enter the golden gate immediately. Wait for my sister and me to exit the green gate before you enter the golden gate.”

“Why?”

“To receive the inheritance of the ancestor of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, there will certainly be tests. Behind the green gate is a spirit medicine that, when consumed, enhances the compatibility between a martial artist and Innate Fire, beneficial for both refining and manipulating Innate Fire.”

Zhuang Qiang slowly explained, standing by her previous statement.

Though she didn’t know how the ancestor of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect would choose his inheritor, it was sure not to be as simple as only the first stage. The ancestor was the foremost in controlling Innate Fire in the entire Flame Dynasty, and selecting an inheritor would surely involve testing refinement or manipulation of Innate Fire.

“Can’t I enter the green gate and then the golden gate?”

“Prince Consort, each person can only choose one gate to enter and cannot enter a second gate.”

Lin Chen suddenly realized that indeed these two women were beneficial to him.

Meanwhile, as Lin Chen communicated with Zhuang Qiang through telepathy, others present began to take action. Meng Bing looked at the others slowly and said, “Regarding the Holy Fire Hall, the only records left by the ancestor are about these three gates. The green gate supposedly contains spirit medicine, but after so many years, no one can be sure if the spirit medicine is still there.”

Over tens of thousands of years, it is uncertain if these spirit medicines remain capable of such a prolonged growth period, perhaps they have long depleted.

The crowd’s faces showed a look of contemplation, but they did not ask Meng Bing. At this point, everyone was a competitor, and there was no need to voice some thoughts to avoid reminding opponents.

“Behind the second door is the place where our sect’s forefather left his inheritance, but you all just felt the pressure. Whether you have the chance to receive the inheritance, everyone must judge for themselves.”

“As for the third black door…”

Meng Bing looked around the crowd: “The original words left by the forefather about this door were that it is the Forbidden Gate. The forefather didn’t say what is inside, but I don’t recommend you go in.”

Lin Chen looked at Meng Bing with a hint of appreciation in his eyes. This is also a gentleman, speaking the truth.

Clearly knowing everyone is here for the inheritance of their Ten Thousand Flames Sect’s forefather, yet he did not hide anything at all.

What Lin Chen didn’t know was that it wasn’t that Meng Bing didn’t want to hide it, but because before coming in, the sect had instructed him and Elders had stated that there is no need to hide it from outsiders.

This was the forefather’s ancestral teaching!

For the forefather, the person who can inherit his legacy does not necessarily have to be from the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, and the high-level members of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect can only accept the forefather’s whimsy, and they also understood clearly. No matter who gains the inheritance, they must appreciate this favor from the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.

“Thank you, Brother Meng, for informing us. This inheritance is probably not for me, so I’ll choose the Green Gate.”

A Martial Artist of the Innate Fourth Realm from the Fulong Sect spoke first; this was the person who had just kneeled on the ground. He couldn’t withstand the pressure of the Golden Gate, realizing he couldn’t obtain the inheritance.

If that’s the case, it’s better to enter the Green Gate to see if one can obtain some precious Spirit Medicine.

Martial Artists who have cultivated to the Innate Fourth Realm are not indecisive people. After making a decision, the man from the Fulong Sect directly walked towards the Green Gate.

With this person taking the lead, soon two more figures entered the Green Gate.

“Prince Consort, my sister and I are going in first.”

Zhuang Qiang also sent a sound transmission to Lin Chen, then exchanged a glance with his sister, and the two of them stepped into the Green Gate.

After a dozen breaths, only six people were left on the scene.

Lin Chen glanced at the other five people. There was no need to mention Meng Bing of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect. The man skilled in scheming was also present, along with three others from the Star-Burning Valley, Profound Yellow Sect, and another mysterious man.

Meng Bing nodded to Lin Chen, ignored the remaining few, and was the first to step towards the Golden Gate, disappearing inside quickly.

After Meng Bing went in, the two Martial Artists of the Innate Fourth Realm from Star-Burning Valley and Profound Yellow Sect also stepped into the Golden Gate.

Li You glanced at Lin Chen and another person, smiled, and said, “Aren’t you going in?”

“No rush.” Lin Chen answered calmly.

The other man didn’t even acknowledge Li You, just stood there quietly.

A few dozen breaths later, seeing that Lin Chen and the other man really had no intention of entering the Golden Gate, Li You showed a look of impatience. The task conferred by his Young Master, he had to complete it.

“I’m someone who enjoys adventure and knows my own limits. The inheritance of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect’s forefather is beyond me, but what’s inside the Black Gate piques my interest.”

Li You found an excuse for himself. This time he entered this place, and his Young Master went to great lengths to awaken the Holy Fire Hall just to let him enter the Black Gate to retrieve an object.

Now, only the last step of the task given by the Young Master remains, so he didn’t need to hide it anymore.

Li You stepped towards the Black Gate, but just as his figure approached the Black Gate, Lin Chen’s eyebrows raised, and his entire aura rose. Meanwhile, the man who had remained silent from the start moved.

However, this man’s target was not Lin Chen, but Li You.

Boom!

At some point, a longsword appeared in the man’s hand, and with a slash, a brilliant golden light slashed towards Li You.

Puff!

Li You didn’t expect to be ambushed. Although he perceived it first and dodged to the side, he was still affected by this Golden Sword Qi, and a mouthful of blood spilled out.

Lin Chen was now staring intently at the middle-aged man, his eyes full of vigilance. This golden Sword Qi from the opponent also made him feel a slight threat.

“Emperor’s Qi, you are from the Central State Royal Family!”

Li You wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, glared at the man: “What does your Royal Family intend to do, to go against Young Master Dongfang? Does your Royal Family want to be annihilated?”

“Go against?”

The middle-aged man sneered: “My Royal Family is the true ruler of the Flame Dynasty, how is there any going against, your master has overstepped.”

His purpose in coming to the Holy Fire Hall was to prevent anyone from entering the Black Gate.

Li You knew that his words couldn’t intimidate this person, so he turned his gaze to Lin Chen: “Lin Chen, Young Master Dongfang has always thought highly of you. As long as you kill this man, I will speak well of you to the Young Master, and then Young Master will surely give you a rich reward. The rise and fall of dynasties, Young Master Dongfang represents the future, while the Central State Royal Family is merely lingering on its last breath.”

Li You’s words added a hint of caution to the middle-aged man’s eyes. Currently, in the competition among various powers and geniuses, the Royal Family was indeed at a disadvantage, and he was afraid Lin Chen might really be tempted.

“I want to know what exactly is inside this Black Gate. Why don’t you both explain first so I can make a decision.”

Lin Chen spoke calmly, not being moved by Li You’s promise. He had encountered this Young Master Dongfang’s subordinates several times already.

PS: I wrote two chapters yesterday. I habitually smoked while typing, and after a few cigarettes, my wound became inflamed and hurt a bit. Today I can’t smoke while writing, so I felt very uncomfortable writing. I apologize, there will only be one chapter today. I’ll get back on track soon.

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