A moment later, he shook his head repeatedly, his voice full of amazement and self-mockery. "What a shield! A truly excellent shield! Compared to the exquisite defensive Innate Restriction on your shield, the Innate Restriction on that red cauldron Emperor Artifact of mine was nothing but a pile of dog shit!"
"Lord Flame Emperor, there is no need to belittle yourself like that."
Lin Yi spoke calmly, though his tone carried a trace of displeasure at having been toyed with. "After all, even dog shit has its uses."
Rather than growing angry at Lin Yi's blunt mockery, the Flame Emperor threw back his head and laughed. "Haha! You brat have quite the nerve! Even that senior brother of yours would never dare speak to me this way!"
"If Lord Flame Emperor still wishes to toy with me like this, then I shall take my leave for today." Lin Yi's expression darkened slightly as he made to turn and leave.
"Wait, wait, Lin Yi. Why are you so unable to take a joke?" The Flame Emperor hurriedly waved his hands, his teasing manner fading as his tone turned more solemn. "It is rare to encounter a fellow practitioner capable of creating an entirely new method of forging Emperor Artifacts. I was merely curious about your true abilities."
With a wave of his hand, he spoke with undisguised anticipation. "Come, let me show you my real prized treasure!"
"The matter I need your help with concerns this treasure."
As his words fell, the countless clusters of Emperor Fire origin blocking the path receded like a tide, revealing the scene at the deepest heart of the Fire Domain.
A smooth, dark-silver meteorite floated silently in the void. Its surface was covered in dense black holes, and faint light seemed to swirl in their