Feeling the gazes of everyone, Kong Ling slowly raised her eyelids.
The pure golden flame mark between her brows seemed to be slightly warm, and information about the first test surfaced in her mind.
She took a soft breath and said in a clear and calm voice, "My First Trial is called 'Heart Fire Soul Tempering,' which involves being tempered by the Primordial Divine Fire until the soul and the flame begin to merge."
After he finished speaking, a brief silence fell around the round platform.
Everyone's gaze unconsciously drifted to the seemingly harmless flame that burned quietly on the round platform beside them, and the same thought popped into their minds: That's it?
Compared to the trials others faced, Kong Ling's "accepting tempering" seemed... a bit too simple and direct, even somewhat bland.
Is the first hurdle for those who pass the nine examinations actually easier than for them?
Fire God took in the "nothing special" expressions on everyone's faces.
He let out a barely audible hum, his clear voice carrying an air of arrogance that seemed to say, "How dare you mortals be so ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth?"
"Hmph, don't think this assessment is easy just because it sounds simple."
He flicked his finger, and a spark flew toward the cluster of Primordial Divine Fire, its flames swaying gently.
"The fire before you is no ordinary fire; it is the 'Fire of Rules'."
He paused, his golden-red eyes sweeping over the crowd. "It is the manifestation of the very concept of the first flame born at the beginning of chaos, when heaven and earth were first separated! It is the source of all fires, the ancestor of all flames."
"It represents one of the fundamental laws governing the burning, light, and heat of this universe!"
" The Ultimate Fire among you humans is utterly insignificant before it!"
Seeing the stunned expressions on everyone's faces, Fire God revealed a smug look.
"At the same time!" Fire God's voice suddenly rose, saying, "It is also my Fire God Travers, born with me, fought alongside me, and... fell silent here with me."
"This is my Super Divine Artifact, the Primordial Divine Fire, also known as the Primordial Kindling Fire!"
" Super Divine Artifact?!"
These three words were like a thunderclap, exploding in everyone's ears.
Xu Tianyi, Xu Wei, and others may lack a clear understanding of the exact level and power of the Super Divine Artifact.
Kong Xuan and Gu Yuena, who clearly understood the status and power that Super Divine Artifact represented in the Divine Realm, felt a sudden jolt in their hearts.
Kong Xuan took a half step forward, his gaze fixed intently on the seemingly gentle flame, and asked incredulously, "Senior Fire God, are you saying... this wisp of Primordial Divine Fire is itself a Super Divine Artifact?"
He learned from Evelyn, the God of Love, that the Fire God Inheritance contained Super Divine Artifact. He had guessed that it might be something like armor, a warhammer, or a divine sword, but he never expected that the so-called Super Divine Artifact would be a wisp of flame!
This completely overturned his preconceived notions about the form of divine artifacts.
Fire God glanced at Kong Xuan, his eyes seeming to say, "He's really never seen the world."
He crossed his arms, his clear voice carrying an air of self-righteous arrogance. "Who says divine weapons have to be swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks?"
With a flick of his fingertip, a tiny wisp of Primordial Divine Fire danced between his fingers like a sprite. "I am the deity who wields the essence of fire. My innate Super Divine Artifact is the very first wisp of 'fire' in this world. Is there a problem?"
This question left Kong Xuan speechless for a moment. He touched his nose, revealing a rare hint of awkwardness at being unable to respond.
A hint of arrogance appeared on the God of Fire God's face. " The Primordial Divine Fire was not Heavenly Forging, but rather condensed from innate laws, and is of the same origin as my divine essence."
"Even ordinary divine artifacts, and even top-tier level First-Level Divine Artifact, require activation and control."
"And the Primordial Divine Fire itself is part of the authority of 'fire,' the law of fire, and the will to burn eternally."
The Fire God then turned his gaze to Kong Ling, the successor he had chosen, and his tone became exceptionally serious.
"Little girl, listen carefully. This Primordial Divine Fire possesses its own sentience. It is usually docile and restrained, which is why it didn't harm you in the slightest when we came into contact with it earlier."
He pointed to the serene flame on the round platform. "But when you truly begin to Heart Fire Soul Tempering and unleash its power of assessment, the situation will be completely different."
"At that time, the divine fire will no longer be restrained. It will begin from the smallest details, scorching your Soul Power and testing its purity and resilience; it will drill into your meridians, scorching their width and strength; it will penetrate your flesh and bones, tempering the foundation upon which it bears Divine Power."
"It might even... penetrate your Sea of Consciousness, directly scorching your will and the very essence of your soul!"
The Fire God's golden eyes were fixed on Kong Ling, and he emphasized, "Throughout the entire process, you must remain absolutely conscious, guiding, enduring, and attempting to understand this torment of burning your body and forging your soul with your own will."
"Once consciousness succumbs, is consumed by pain, or the mind loses its composure, the assessment will be immediately terminated, and the candidate will be deemed to have failed."
He paused, looking at Kong Ling's slightly pursed lips, and then said, "And the consequences of failure, at best, will be damage to the soul and a significant drop in cultivation."
"In severe cases... they will be assimilated by the divine fire, their intelligence will dissipate, and they will become a mere wisp of fuel for this Primordial Kindling Fire, vanishing into the world."
Upon hearing this, the surrounding temperature seemed to plummet.
The color drained from everyone's faces, and their gazes toward Kong Ling changed completely.
The initial thought that her assessment would be easy had long since vanished, replaced by a deep sense of awe and a hint of... pity.
Compared to Kong Ling's assessment, the others' assessments, though equally difficult, at least offered room for maneuver and provided ways to protect themselves even if they failed.
What Kong Ling faces is a high-stakes gamble where she throws everything into the furnace, and the consequences of failure are unimaginably dire.
No wonder it's a nine-exam test!
The difficulty and danger of this First Trial have already exceeded the scope of ordinary trials.
" Ling'er..."
Kong Xuan's throat tightened, and his voice was lower and hoarseer than usual.
He wanted to say "It's too dangerous," "We can find another way," and even wanted to pull her back behind him.
But all the words that welled up in his mouth were swallowed back down.
The opportunity to inherit the divine position is extremely rare. As her elder brother, he cannot and should not, in the name of protection, break her wings that are about to unfold.
Kong Ling sensed the heavy, mountain-like emotion in his brother's eyes.
She turned around and met Kong Xuan's eyes, which held deep worry, and a clear and firm smile bloomed on her face.
"Brother, I'm no longer the little girl you need to protect all the time."
"This path was my own choice, and this test was something I was destined to face."
"I will endure the pain of the process; I am also aware of the dangers involved."
She tilted her head slightly, looking at her brother. "This time, I will persevere, and..."
She paused, then said with unwavering conviction, "I will succeed too."
Without grand pronouncements or impassioned speeches, it was simply a straightforward statement, yet it was more powerful than any vow.
The solemnity on Kong Xuan's face gradually faded, eventually turning into a relieved and gratified smile.
"Okay." He nodded emphatically, his voice regaining its usual steadiness, but with an unusual gentleness. "My sister, you've never been a hothouse flower, I believe in you."
He raised his hand, as if wanting to pat the top of her head like he did when they were children.
But he stopped halfway through reaching out and ultimately just gently patted her shoulder.
Go for it, and remember, I'll always be there for you.
Kong Xuan then turned to Fire God and asked, "Senior Fire God, do their assessments also have time limits?"
Fire God stood with his arms crossed, watching the interaction between the brother and sister with great interest.
Upon hearing this, he casually replied in his clear voice, " The First Trial must be completed within one hundred days. If the requirements are not met by the deadline, the test will automatically become invalid, and the qualification will be revoked."