This Fire Is Not That Fire

The majesty, will, and power of the gods enveloped Qiu Yan at this moment, ignoring the obstacles of flesh and bones, penetrating inward and reaching his soul!

Qiu Yan focused his mind and concentrated his thoughts, concealing the Black Hole in his soul. His Half-Step Fusion Living Soul trembled, swirling and emitting fluctuations of thought that collided with his Divine Sense.

Instantly, his mind jolted, and his thoughts surged, drifting over along with that Divine Sense.

The next moment, the scenery before Qiu Yan changed; it was no longer a simple iron shop, but a fiery red world!

The surrounding temperature remained high, and this intense heat seemed to be scorching his soul, causing a fire to ignite within Qiu Yan and a sense of irritability to arise in his mind. However, he did not try to dispel it, but instead let the irritability spread.

He looked up and surveyed his surroundings, where lava filled the air. The lava, like pools of water, was scattered all around, with one or two bubbles rising from it every now and then, bursting open to produce a few sparks.

The ground beneath Qiu Yan's feet was red-hot, cracked stone, and he could feel a burning sensation under his feet.

Looking at the stones, Qiu Yan's heart stirred.

He knew that his Divine Sense had not been diverted elsewhere; they had invaded his mind, constructing an illusion that directly affected his senses and thus his perception.

Like the rocks beneath his feet, red as blood and steaming, whenever he felt a burning sensation in his heart, it would immediately seep into the depths of his consciousness, giving rise to a scalding feeling.

"This Fire Sovereign trying to use this illusion to intimidate me, to subdue my mind, to establish its authority, and then do something else. However, although I need to use this opportunity to test it and disguise myself as an ordinary scholar, there's no need for me to humiliate myself. This Fire Sovereign wants to establish its authority, but it has chosen the wrong person." Thinking this, he flicked his sleeves, closed his eyes, and silently recited scriptures.

"Hmm? You scholar, how dare you be so arrogant and rude before the divine throne!"

Suddenly, a tremendous sound descended from above, merging with the surrounding Divine Sense, causing a tremor that shook the entire Sea of Fire, giving one the feeling of the sky collapsing and the earth splitting apart.

"This god certainly has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. This roar, without employing any particularly profound methods, still manages to demonstrate Divine Path majesty. Interesting."

Thinking this to himself, Qiu Yan looked up. Before him stood a magnificent palace, the entire palace engulfed in flames. The flames twisted and condensed on the palace roof into an armored giant, head bowed, staring at Qiu Yan with glaring eyes, looking fierce and imposing.

Above the giant's head, the sky was also ablaze with red, with fiery clouds drifting by.

Qiu Yan looked at the giant and narrowed his eyes. Since he was going to disguise himself, he couldn't use Divine Ability powers, making it difficult to detect the opponent's true strength.

However, Qiu Yan, being a god, even without the ability to use Divine Sense, possessed a vision and perspective far exceeding that of ordinary people. Upon observing the layers of Divine Sense and recalling the other party's method of wielding it, he quickly formed a deduction—

"This Divine Grade is below the Fourth Grade, so it cannot Domain Derivation. Otherwise, there would be no need to use illusions to intimidate it; it could directly expand its Domain of Law."

As he pondered, the fire giants surrounding the palace twisted and roared, "How dare you! Having been rebuked by this god, you'd better kneel down and admit your mistake!"

Qiu Yan feigned surprise, as if waking from a dream. He straightened his clothes, calmly cupped his hands in greeting, and slowly said, "I was unaware of the arrival of the Divine Lord. I have been extremely rude. Forgive me, forgive me."

The fire giant calmed down slightly, and his voice softened. "Now that you know your sins, why don't you kneel down and beg for forgiveness?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yan straightened his neck and declared loudly, "Our Great Rui upholds filial piety above all else. I am but a humble student with some merit and fame, and I only kneel when I pay homage to Heaven and Earth and when I meet my parents. How could I demean myself at any other time?"

Qiu Yan's statement was somewhat opportunistic. He had now passed the imperial examination and was considered a scholar-official, so in theory he was not required to kneel before the emperor. However, this was only the law of the mortal court and did not apply to the Divine Path. Nevertheless, his actions gave people the impression of a rigid scholar.

The fire giant frowned. "What a silver-tongued scholar! I ask you, do you know your crime?"

"I am naturally aware of my sin. Disrespecting the gods is a serious offense. However, I am a Great Rui and a registered scholar. Even if I am guilty, it is not up to the gods to judge me!"

"Nonsense! Your crime is far more serious than mere negligence!"

Boom!

As soon as the fire giant finished speaking, the entire area erupted in a frenzy, with waves of heat sweeping across the surroundings.

Standing on the crimson rock, Qiu Yan felt the heat emanating from Eight Directions, causing him to sway and drift like a small boat in a storm!

Then, another sentence came rushing in—

"You have used your strange and wicked skills to bewitch people and disrupt the social Order; your crime is heinous! Even if I, the god, were to extract your soul, the emperor would have no grounds for complaint!"

These words revealed murderous intent, seemingly striking directly at Qiu Yan's soul, causing a tremor in his heart and a feeling as if a mountain was pressing down on his mind.

Then, the booming words abruptly changed their tone—

"However, Heaven cherishes life, and I do not wish to commit unnecessary killing. If you tell me the details of the method for making the Stove Bellows, I will forgive and forget!"

These words, like a monstrous wave, crashed down, echoing the previous two sentences. They solidified in the air, bursting forth with overwhelming force, giving Qiu Yan a feeling of being unable to resist!

"Confess! Hand over the Stove Bellows!"

A powerful voice that reaches deep into the heart!

The immense pressure simulated a scene of soul shattering in Qiu Yan's mind, disguised as an emotion of feeling insignificant. An ordinary person, when simulated and disguised in this way, would believe it to be their own feeling, and thus be shocked by the Fire Sovereign and lose their sense of proportion!

"This method is certainly novel, but it's not particularly complicated..."

As Qiu Yan pondered, various images suddenly surfaced in his mind—

It was a typical scene in Star Platform Town, where people lived in peace and contentment, with kind fathers and filial sons, and loving brothers, all in harmony. Among them was the Liu Household, mother and son, who were also enjoying a happy time together.

But behind this beautiful scene, every household worships the Fire Sovereign, living in peace with one another. Even the beggars on the roadside always have a smile on their faces and often recite the name of the Fire Sovereign.

One day, Qiu Yan arrived in this idyllic town and left behind a utensil called Stove Bellows, breaking the town's tranquility. After Qiu Yan left, a struggle ensued over the Stove Bellows, with each household scheming against each other, openly and secretly fighting, and even forgetting to offer incense and tribute to the Fire Sovereign!

Soon, the peaceful village was plunged into strife, alienation, and near collapse.

When the illusion dissipated, the grand voice spoke again, "So, do you know your crime? You have caused the honest villagers to only pursue profit and even turn their backs on their own families. Can you bear such a great sin? Tell me the method of the Stove Bellows, and let me control it. That is the right path."

Qiu Yan remained silent for a moment, then asked, "I heard from the people in town that the Fire Orthodox God was a minister of the Ancient Shu Kingdom. He was deified after his death. He should know that it is difficult to eradicate the people's pursuit of profit. When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they are well-fed and clothed, they know Honor and Disgrace. What is the use of worshipping gods if people are not well-fed and clothed? They should be made rich so that they can pursue higher goals."

Unexpectedly, these words provoked a furious outburst from the loud voice!

"This is heresy! If Mind Arts is not pure, even the greatest wealth is undeserved. Moreover, when have I ever served as a minister of the Ancient Shu Kingdom? What you are saying has nothing to do with me! Quickly hand over the method of the Stove Bellows! The villagers of Star Platform Town were my believers in life and will serve me in death! How can I let a scholar like you ruin this good deed! If you are unwilling to hand it over honestly, I might have to personally capture your soul and search your spirit!"

These words clearly treated the people of the town like his own pigs and dogs, tearing away his pretense. He was a god, high above, and if Qiu Yan's actions hadn't shocked him, how could he have said so much to a mortal? Now that his patience had run out, he would stop rambling!

Instantly, flames rose all around, and the fire giant in the sky transformed into thunder and flames, pressing down on Qiu Yan!

"This Fire Sovereign is indeed not the one who was conferred the title of God back then!"

A flash of Spiritual Light struck Qiu Yan as he grasped a key point from the other party's words. Then, a sense of impending doom arose in his heart, and he saw flames spreading like a sea, reaching him in the blink of an eye!

But he didn't panic. As a deity himself, he knew that the deity in front of him was only communicating through telepathy and didn't have many tricks up his sleeve. These flames were actually similar to psychological suggestion. Only by being resolute in his heart could he resist them. The more panicked he was, the deeper he would fall into the illusion!

"Well done! Everything before me is just an illusion, a clash of consciousnesses, which suits me perfectly. It allows me to unleash my Daoheart Fist Intent without physical interference, and also to investigate potential dangers and prevent a situation like the one just now from spiraling out of control!"

Qiu Yan's thoughts flashed by, and the word "knowledge" rose in his mind. He raised his hand and drew a line in the air, and the word "knowledge" quickly condensed at his fingertips.

Then a line of text appeared out of thin air--

Do as you please without overstepping the bounds!

The words convey a sense of ease and composure, of knowing when to advance and when to retreat!

"Hmm?" A surprised voice came from the celestial palace.

Then Qiu Yan opened his hand and grabbed the line of characters, pressed it on his body, integrated into himself, and the word "" burst out from his chest!

Just then, Heavenly Fire engulfed him, but Qiu Yan's thoughts flickered, and he transformed into a beam of light, moving freely through the Sea of Fire, stretching and contracting at will, advancing and retreating with ease, flying swiftly towards the palace in the sky!

"What kind of technique is this? Oh no! This scholar has spoken clearly from beginning to end, and may have seen through the nightmare illusion. He's actually doing the opposite, indulging in wild speculation, as if he's gained Divine Ability! Fortunately, I was prepared..."

With Divine Sense, waves of Divine Sense surged from the palace, stirring up the restlessness in Qiu Yan's mind, intending to ignite his anger and harm him!

Unexpectedly, another word "knowledge" flew out of the light passing through the sea of fire, then stretched and turned into a column of words--

One should not reveal a person's deceit through words!

The words themselves convey a sense of having been prepared and having a backup plan!

Then this column of characters twisted and rotated, condensed into a character "", and fell into the light!

Snap!

Qiu Yan's irritability was stripped away, and she flew out with a whoosh, like a weary bird returning to the forest, straight into the palace.

Rumble!

The next moment, a scream came from inside the palace, which then collapsed, revealing a middle-aged man in a red court robe!