The Black-Corner Region.
The east.
Jade City.
By now, Jade City had become a sea of pink flames. Their heat warped the air above the city, and amid the blazing inferno, the spatial rift at its center was the only thing that stood out.
The most terrifying part was—
All these flames were flowing out of that spatial rift.
"Earth Demon Old Ghost, there's no need to be so sarcastic. You came here to see if there was anything to be gained, didn't you? What, the mighty Earth Demon Old Ghost has been stopped by these little flames?"
Earth Demon Old Ghost was undoubtedly one of the old-guard Dou Zong experts in the Black-Corner Region. Though stronger than Su Qian, he wouldn't start a fight with him over a few words.
Jia Nan Academy still commanded respect.
"Hmph!"
Earth Demon Old Ghost snorted. "Don't trouble yourself over me."
The aura around Earth Demon Old Ghost suddenly erupted, and the terrifying force made everyone present narrow their eyes.
He was a Seven-Star Dou Zong.
His strength was undoubtedly above everyone else's.
A fearsome opponent, that Earth Demon Old Ghost.
Su Qian, however, seemed unconcerned. He glanced around, his expression grave. "Have some of the hidden experts shown themselves because of this, too?"
There were more Dou Zong experts in the Black-Corner Region than the few known to the public.
Many others had gone into hiding to seek a way to break through, hoping to advance further. Su Qian could clearly sense that several old fellows had quietly made their way here.
Just then—
Earth Demon Old Ghost let out a shout. Powerful Dou Qi enveloped him as he charged into the pink flames.
However—
The instant Earth Demon Old Ghost touched the pink flames, his expression changed drastically.
Swish!!
Earth Demon Old Ghost immediately retreated. The Dou Qi covering his body seemed to have become fuel for the pink flames. No matter how he tried to extinguish them, they wouldn't go out.
"Get off me!"
Earth Demon Old Ghost's strength was unfathomable. Only after his powerful Dou Qi shook violently did the pink flames finally break free and fall to the ground, where they burned several smoking holes in an instant.
"Hiss!!"
Seeing this, all the experts present drew in a sharp breath.
"What kind of flames are these? They're so powerful that even someone like Earth Demon Old Ghost can't get through them?"
"Flames that burn Dou Qi—terrifying!"
"If it were us, we'd have been reduced to ashes already."
Some Dou Wang experts couldn't help backing away. They understood now that this place probably had nothing to do with them.
If they insisted on breaking in,
they'd likely be reduced to nothing but ashes.
"What in the world are these things?" Earth Demon Old Ghost looked grim. Even with the strength of a Seven-Star Dou Zong, he couldn't withstand the pink flames. His Dou Qi was like the perfect fuel for them.
Seeing that even Earth Demon Old Ghost had failed, Mo Tianxing finally looked at Su Qian.
"Great Elder Su Qian, don't you want to save your students from Jia Nan Academy?"
"As far as I know, three of your students are in there."
Su Qian's expression shifted slightly.
Mo Tianxing was right. He did need to rescue the students who had been sucked inside. The three students trapped within were practically the strongest of their year at Jia Nan Academy.
The academy couldn't afford such a loss.
If they couldn't be rescued, it would have a serious impact on Jia Nan Academy's future recruitment.
"Since you've come in person, Sect Master Mo, I assume some members of the Black Emperor Sect were sucked in as well. Was your son among them?" Su Qian asked coldly.
Mo Tianxing gave a soft snort.
"So what?"
"My son is a Six-Star Dou Emperor. He's stronger than your Jia Nan Academy students, isn't he?"
"I thought my son would give me a pleasant surprise. As for your students, they're only Dou Ling. In flames like these, they probably won't even have a chance to struggle."
Su Qian turned to look at the elders of Jia Nan Academy.
"You're all Fire Attribute Dou Qi users. Try using your fire attribute."
The two elders heard him.
Their eyes lit up.
Right! This place was full of flames. What if they used Fire Attribute Dou Qi?
"Yes, Great Elder!"
At Su Qian's words,
everyone turned their eyes to the two Jia Nan Academy elders with Fire Attribute Dou Qi.
In their view,
though Su Qian wasn't as strong as Earth Demon Old Ghost, his knowledge and judgment were far superior.
He was the Great Elder of Jia Nan Academy. How could he not be well-informed?
Swish!
Whoosh!!
The two Dou Huang elders with Fire Attribute Dou Qi charged into Jade City. This time, the situation seemed quite different from before.
Because—
As soon as they entered Jade City, the pink flames didn't rush toward them. Instead, they parted of their own accord, opening a path that led straight to the spatial rift.
"What?"
"That's all it takes?"
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
Such terrifying flames, and it was that simple?
Just as everyone was rejoicing and preparing to send in more experts with fire attributes, an even more powerful pink flame slowly emerged from the spatial rift. Once it had fully come out, it took the shape of a person.
The figure had long pink hair and faintly pink eyes. His robe, woven of black and pink, made him look especially strange and sinister.
"Everyone."
"Playtime is over."
The figure spoke, looking at the crowd. He waved a hand, and the surrounding pink flames streamed into his mouth.
"Until the person I'm waiting for arrives, let's play a game."
As he spoke,
he gave a light wave of his hand. Chains made of pink flames clattered out of the rift, with more than a dozen people bound in them.
"Lin Xiuya, Han Yue, Lin Yan!"
Seeing the three figures bound by the pink flame chains, Su Qian couldn't help taking a step forward.
A vast wave of pink flames rushed toward Su Qian.
"I told you, we're going to play a game. It hasn't even started yet, so why are you in such a hurry?" The figure still wore a smile.
Mo Tianxing saw his son.
"Who are you?"
"You should know what happens when you provoke the Black Emperor Sect!"
The figure shook his head, looking completely unruffled.
"I told you, until the person I'm waiting for shows up, you have to play this game with me. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to..."
As he spoke,
the pink chains turned into blades and pierced straight through one of the Dou Wang experts.
"My son!!"
A sect leader saw the man get skewered and his body turn to ash in the pink flames. He let out a cry of grief.
"Look. That's what happens when you don't cooperate."
"Are you willing to play a game with me?"
Su Qian didn't step forward again.
Instead, he asked,
"What game do you want to play? And who are you waiting for?"
"Perhaps we can help you find him."
The figure smiled faintly and pointed to his own face.
"Someone who looks exactly like me."
"Oh, right."
"Before the game begins, let me introduce myself. Welcome to the Time Realm, everyone. And remember my name: Shen Shihuang!"