Early the next morning, clouds and mist wreathed the altar atop Fire God Mountain, and rays of rosy light shone in their thousands.
The ten young disciples who had passed the clan assembly's selection gathered there with their guards. Yun Che and his daughter, Yun Ling Xue, were among them.
Elder Huo Xuan stood in the center of the altar, dressed in ancient ceremonial robes and holding a staff burning with dark blue flames. His aged voice echoed across the mountaintop.
"The Burning Heaven Secret Realm opens once every hundred years. It is a place left behind by the ancestors of our Fire God Clan. Within it lie great treasures, but also deadly perils. You must remember the clan rules: do not kill one another within the secret realm. Should you encounter outside enemies, work together and ensure your own safety."
After speaking, Elder Huo Xuan glanced at Yun Che again and frowned, advising, "Yun Ling Xue, you may still bring another guard inside. Are you certain you do not need one?"
Yun Ling Xue nodded. "Thank you for your kindness, Grand Elder. The two of us will suffice."
Elder Huo Xuan said no more and immediately raised his staff. The dark blue flames at its tip abruptly surged, turning into a pillar of fire that shot straight into the clouds.
In an instant, heaven and earth changed color. The ground around the altar began to shake violently, and golden runes emerged from beneath it, intertwining into a massive Teleportation Array. At its center, space twisted into a deep, dark vortex that exuded an ancient, mysterious aura.
"The time has come. Enter the array!"
At Elder Huo Xuan's command, the ten disciples and their accompanying guards stepped into the Teleportation Array in succession.
Yun Che and Yun Ling Xue exchanged