Flame Plate! Charizard Gains Ultimate Fire

Mu En looked at Chi Hong and asked:

"Judging by your expression, you aren't thinking of collecting all seventeen plates, are you? That would take quite an effort."

The light went out of Chi Hong's eyes. He sighed.

"Never mind that for now. Are you sure you want to give me this plate? You said yourself that it's an object bordering on the divine."

Mu En paused, then said:

"This plate is no use to me anymore. With my talent, I can't comprehend its mysteries. I'd rather give it to a new student with a bright future. I'm a teacher, after all. It's my duty to do everything I can to nurture my students."

At that moment, Charizard sensed the Flame Plate's power from inside its Poké Ball and could no longer hold back. It came out on its own.

It stared longingly at the plate alongside Chi Hong.

Mu En said with interest:

"Say, young man. I just told you that only the strongest experts can sense the plate's power. Aren't you curious about who I am?"

Chi Hong's smile froze. He already knew Mu En's identity, but he had unconsciously overlooked that question.

"You hadn't volunteered your identity, sir, so I certainly couldn't ask. You must have your reasons for keeping it hidden."

Mu En smiled and shook his head.

"Then let me introduce myself. My name is Mu En, and I'm the current Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion in Shrek's inner court."

Chi Hong put on a suitably surprised expression, his face growing more solemn and respectful.

Mu En continued:

"I can give you the plate, but there's one condition."

Chi Hong patted his chest, his gaze firm.

"Name it. If I can get the Flame Plate, I'd even explore the dangerous depths of Sea God Lake for you. I'd gladly never attend another class again."

Even the good-tempered Mu En was nearly struck speechless.

"You really will take any chance to get out of class. I have a grand-disciple who awakened a Martial Soul called the Evil Fire Phoenix. It's a top-tier beast Martial Soul. Powerful as it is, it produces an evil fire that constantly eats away at its host."

"Both cultivation and combat feed that evil fire. Once it grows too strong, its host is liable to lose control and attack everyone nearby."

Chi Hong understood. Mu En was talking about Ma Xiaotao from the original story.

That crazy woman really was something else. She had nearly killed Huo Yuhao the first time they met.

If his Charizard and Greninja hadn't reached the ten-thousand-year level, he wouldn't have wanted to go anywhere near her.

Mu En sighed.

"That evil fire is extremely hard to eradicate. She can either ease it with rare ice-attribute treasures or suppress it herself. The academy's teachers are almost all at a loss. I tried drawing on the plate's power and using Solar Fire to suppress and purify the evil fire, but that only made it spiral further out of control."

"My own ability was lacking. I can sense that if someone could wield the true Fire Law within the plate, they could surely purify the evil fire—even transform it into Ultimate Fire!"

Chi Hong looked thoughtful.

"So, Mu En, you want me to use the plate's power to free your grand-disciple from her evil fire."

Mu En nodded. "Exactly. I can only entrust this to you."

With that, he handed the plate to Chi Hong.

The moment it neared Chi Hong, the plate erupted with crimson light. The temperature around them soared, and firelight engulfed almost this entire stretch of Sea God Lake.

Mu En was stunned.

In just a few seconds, the heat had reached the might of Ultimate Fire—and it was still climbing.

On Douluo Continent, attributes had an upper limit. Once they reached it, they were called ultimate attributes.

But strictly speaking, fire's temperature had no upper limit. It could keep rising without end, approaching the temperature of the instant of the explosion that created the world.

The heat here was still nowhere near that point, but it had already surpassed the continent's ultimate limit. That meant the fire had reached the divine level.

Hissss—

The surface of Sea God Lake began to boil and evaporate in an instant.

Mu En reacted at once. Raising a hand, he drew on the Soul Power of a Limit Douluo and confined the spreading heat to the area before them.

Chi Hong barely registered what was happening around him. He held the plate in both hands, his eyes fixed on a single tongue of flame.

He felt a mysterious power awaken within him. He could control the plate's power at will, bestowing its blessing on Charizard and strengthening its moves.

The next moment, the plate rapidly merged into Chi Hong's body and vanished.

The surrounding temperature returned to normal.

Mu En let out a breath of relief, a few drops of cold sweat running down his face. If the heat had risen any further, even he might have lost control of it.

So the plate truly held power beyond the Divine Realm.

It was hard to believe there were sixteen more plates like it in the world. If this child collected them all, perhaps he could even surpass Lord Sea God.

The thought left Mu En more convinced than ever that he had made the right decision.

By giving Chi Hong a plate he had no use for, he could build goodwill with him. If Chi Hong then purified Ma Xiaotao's evil fire, Shrek would gain another peerless prodigy wielding Ultimate Fire.

If he could see Shrek's future grow brighter, he could leave this world in peace when his time came.

"Phew—"

Chi Hong breathed out slowly. He had never felt so good, so clear-headed and invigorated.

[You have obtained the Flame Plate. Path to godhood (1/17)]

Now he seemed able to control flames like a soul master, though his fire was less powerful than Charizard's.

Chi Hong looked at his two Pokémon.

Probably because of his influence, Greninja hadn't felt the temperature change and was doing fine.

Charizard, on the other hand, was in a world of its own. It hummed contentedly, its tail swaying with delight.

Chi Hong's newfound power brought Charizard tremendous benefits too.

Charizard's Solar Fire could now rival the might of Ultimate Fire.

And with the Flame Plate's blessing, all its fire-type moves were twenty percent more powerful.

Chi Hong turned a determined gaze on Mu En.

"Thank you, Mu En. I accept your condition. I can help purify your grand-disciple's evil fire, but I can't do it yet. I need some time to train—not too long, though. I should be ready by next semester."

Mu En nodded with relief.

"As long as you can do it. If you need anything, tell me. This old man may not have long to live, but I still have a little influence on this continent."

"And I imagine you've guessed there's another plate beneath Sea God Lake. You can't take it yet, though."

Chi Hong blinked. "Of course. I wouldn't steal it."

Mu En explained with a smile:

"That plate has been down there for many years. It's become part of the foundation that sustains Sea God Lake. If you took it away, the entire lake would erupt and flood Sea God Island. If you want it, you'll have to give me some time to separate it from the lake."

"How long will that take?"

Chi Hong asked curiously.

Mu En chuckled.

"About as long as it takes you to purify the evil fire."