Grand Ceremony Invitation

"The emperor's flame... seems to be a fusion of dozens of spiritual fires. It is so domineering that it can't even control my own natal spiritual fire. The emperor in the fire is worthy of the name. I lost just now.👹☝ 6❾ 🐧🍮"

The battle between the two did not produce the earth-shattering spectacle one might expect, but the moment the outcome was revealed, the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor knew that with just a clone, he could not possibly defeat the Heavenly Emperor before him.

"This time we only won by a slight margin." Xiao Ming didn't seem particularly smug; he just smiled faintly.

The Fire Spirit Old Ancestor shook his head and said, "A loss is a loss."

He then abruptly turned to look at Huo Mo and Elder Yan, pondered for a moment, and with a flick of his sleeve, a burst of flames swept over them, enveloping the two men.

"Ah!!!"

The moment they were engulfed in flames, the two let out a bloodcurdling scream, which made True Monarch Ziyun and the others break out in a cold sweat.

A few breaths later, the two, barely alive, reappeared in everyone's sight.

At this moment, Huo Mo and Elder Yan were barely breathing, their strength almost completely destroyed.

Seeing this, Xiao Ming was somewhat surprised; the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor was quite ruthless in his attacks.

In truth, the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor had some ulterior motives. He personally crippled the two men's cultivation levels, and even if the cost was high, they still had a chance to recover. But if Xiao Ming were to take action, they might lose their lives.

Since that's the case, he might as well do it himself.

Having abolished the cultivation levels of the two, the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor seemed to feel that it was not enough. He pointed at Elder Yan, and a Dark Black Flame suddenly shot out from Elder Yan's body.

"Huo Yan, you have failed in your duty to protect the Dharma, neglecting to keep a close watch on Huo Mo, allowing him to act arrogantly and domineeringly, robbing and extorting money on the road, relying on the power of his clan. Today, I will strip you of the Spirit Fire bestowed upon you by your clan as a warning."

Under the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor's cold shout, the flames, as black as ink, shot into the sky, gathering in the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor's palm, radiating extreme cold.

Elder Yan was already half-dead, and now that his Spirit Fire had been drained from his body, even if he was still resentful, he couldn't speak. Instead, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Receiving no reply, the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor didn't care. He simply tossed the Spirit Fire in his hand, and the pitch-black flame flew rapidly toward Xiao Ming, who caught it with one hand.

"What is this?" Xiao Ming looked at the dark flame in his hand. This Spirit Fire seemed extremely cold, but this was an illusion created by absorbing all the heat from the surrounding area. The temperature of the Spirit Fire itself was exceptionally high.

"This fire is called Netherworld Earth Fire. Although it is not as powerful as your Emperor Flame, it is still a well-known Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire on the Ranking List. It has been nurtured by the strong members of our clan for over a thousand years. In terms of power, it is no less than the Azure Rock Green Flame you just obtained. Consider it an apology for what happened before." The Fire Spirit Old Ancestor said in a deep voice, feeling an indescribable heartache. This was the foundation of the Fire Spirit Race, and it had been given away just like that!

"My demands go far beyond this, don't they?" Xiao Ming narrowed his eyes and said with a chuckle.

"The Heavenly Emperor can retrieve the Supreme Spirit Liquid worth two billion by giving my name at the largest trading company on the Merchant Continent." Seeing that Xiao still wouldn't budge even after obtaining a Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire, the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor could only continue speaking with a dark face.

The Fire Spirit Old Ancestor didn't provide any proof for the two billion Supreme Spirit Liquid, but there was no need for proof anyway. The entire Merchant Continent had been alarmed, and all the powerful figures were focused on this place, including the people from the trading company. Xiao Ming could simply go over and collect the money.

"There are still four Spirit Fire left," Xiao Ming reminded him.

"If you don't believe me, you can't tell that I'm just an avatar. Right now, I can't find four more Spirit Fire for you. Besides, even if I could find them, I couldn't possibly give you so many Spirit Fire that are on the Spirit Fire Ranking," the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor said in a deep voice.

Seemingly afraid of displeasing Xiao Ming, he added, "At most, I can only give you one more Spirit Fire, and its ranking won't be high. If the Heavenly Emperor feels this is insufficient, our clan will hold the Fire Spirit Grand Ceremony, which takes place once every thousand years, a year from now. At that time, the Heavenly Sovereign of the Great Thousand World who are proficient in the Path of Fire will gather together to compete with each other. If you can win the crown, you can choose any flame from our clan."

"Including your clan's Sacred Fire?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ming, who was already quite unhappy, couldn't help but ask.

The spirit flames ranked lower on the Spirit Fire Spirit Fire Ranking are worlds apart from the Fire Spirit Clan Sacred Fire. The four flames combined are no match for the Sacred Fire of the Fire Spirit Race.

Logically speaking, given the status and position of the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor, he should have used the best Spirit Fire of the Fire Spirit Race, namely the Fire Spirit Clan Sacred Fire. However, Xiao Ming could sense that although the Spirit Fire he used was powerful, it was not the Sacred Fire.

What does this mean? It means that the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor could not subdue the Fire Spirit Clan Sacred Fire.

This demonstrates the formidable power of this Sacred Fire.

Upon hearing this, the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor gave Xiao Ming a deep look, then nodded emphatically and said, "Including the Sacred Fire."

The conversation between the two was overheard by everyone present. When they heard that the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor had promised to give Xiao Ming the Fire Spirit Clan Sacred Fire if he met the requirements, everyone reacted differently.

Some people think that the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor is cunning and treacherous. They believe that even if the Heavenly Emperor has temporarily defeated the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor today, it is only because he is relying on the power of the Spirit Fire.

However, the Fire Spirit Grand Ceremony is not something that can be won simply by relying on the strength of the flames; rather, it tests the Path of Fire Control from multiple aspects.

Moreover, many of the Heavenly Sovereign attending the meeting were of Immortal Grade; not to mention others, even the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor himself was of Immortal Grade.

He will definitely take personal action to prevent the Sacred Fire from being lost.

The difference between the clone and the original is self-evident; the clash back then wouldn't have ended as easily as it does now.

Even if the Fire Spirit Race loses at the Fire Spirit Grand Ceremony, they can still regain the face they lost today, even if Heavenly Emperor Fire Spirit Race Heavenly Flames.

However, a few people felt that the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor would suffer a great loss, after all, with the appearance of Emperor Flame, Xiao Ming's status Alchemy Grandmaster had been confirmed.

How bad could the control of flames be for an Alchemy Grandmaster has reached the threshold of Spirit Grade Alchemy Grandmaster?

Of course, if Xiao Ming really does overpower all the Heavenly Sovereign and win the crown, then Xiao Ming will surely become famous Great Thousand, and the impact of the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor's loss today will be minimized.

The impact of losing to an unknown person is completely different from losing to a famous person.

Moreover, since everyone lost, it's as if the Fire Spirit Race didn't lose.

However, what the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor was thinking about most was probably that Xiao Ming couldn't take away the Sacred Fire.

Through their exchange, he had a clear understanding of Xiao Ming's cultivation level; he was merely Early Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign, and his chances of successfully taking the Sacred Fire at the Fire Spirit Grand Ceremony were pitifully low.

He was actually a little worried that Xiao Ming would disagree, after all, this was a gamble with a very low probability of success.

To his surprise, Xiao Ming actually agreed.

"One year from now, This Emperor will personally travel to the Fire Spirit Race. I hope you will not break your promise."

As Xiao Ming spoke, he beckoned and took the Storage Bag from Huo Mo's body.

Seeing this, the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor hesitated, for Huo Mo still carried the Fire Spirit Race's most core Cultivation Method, the Fire Spirit Sacred Canon.

Seeing that Xiao Ming had already put away the Storage Bag, the Fire Spirit Old Ancestor could only sigh, thinking to himself, "Oh well, Huo Mo only has the first seven levels of the Holy Scripture, which can only be cultivated to the Earthly Sovereign Great Perfection. Even the Heavenly Sovereign has already found his own path. Let him see it now. I'll ask for it back when the Fire Spirit Grand Ceremony begins."

"Since things have come to this, then I will await the day when I will welcome you back with open arms and take my leave."

The Fire Spirit Old Ancestor glanced at Huo Mo and the other man, then stopped and cupped his hands towards Xiao Ming. A burst of red light erupted, and in the next instant, the red light enveloped Huo Mo and the other man. The three of them disappeared into the sky right before everyone's eyes.