The Boundary-Breaking Talisman, no larger than a palm, darted through the void at incredible speed. In that fleeting moment, Shi Hao had no idea how far he had traveled.
Finally, the talisman disintegrated, erupting into a burst of flames that ignited the void, forming a portal that expelled him out.
Shi Hao marveled at the rarity of such a treasure—its precision was astounding. At the very moment its divine energy was exhausted, it tore open a passage to the outside world, creating the safest route possible.
**Boom!**
Shi Hao crashed onto the ground, sending dirt and rocks flying. The immense impact carved a deep crater where he landed. He stood up, surveying his surroundings.
The grass reached past his waist, and the land was desolate.
This was an endless prairie, stretching as far as the eye could see. Shi Hao had no idea where he was or how far he was from Tianzhou.
The wind blew, rustling the tall grass and carrying the scent of earth and greenery.
Shi Hao soared into the air, but blood seeped from his wounds. He frowned—his body had been pierced by a divine sword wielded by a True God in the dark prison, leaving him severely injured. Though he had consumed the precious medicine of the Peacock Clan, his wounds had yet to fully heal.
“Celestial Clan!” he muttered coldly.
This time, he had suffered an unexpected calamity. After escorting Yun Xi for hundreds of thousands of miles, repaying a debt of gratitude to the Celestial Clan, he had been imprisoned and humiliated in return.
He reflected on the matter—some great clans, in pursuit of supreme legacies, would discard all conscience, committing acts far more deceitful and brutal without hesitation.
From this day forward, he vowed never to allow himself to be cornered again.
“Strength is the foundation,” he sighed softly.
“If I ever become an Emperor, I will return—even the royal and imperial clans shall fall.” Shi Hao had made no oath when leaving the Celestial Clan, nor had he uttered a single word. He had simply cast them a deep, silent glance.
Because words meant little compared to true action.
“Demon Sunflower Garden, Netherworld, Heavenly Nation… I will visit them all, composing a song of blood and fire.”
This was not an oath, merely a declaration of what he intended to do. As he gazed into the distance, the cold figures of several sect leaders who had sought to capture and kill him flashed before his eyes.
At the horizon, mountains loomed, indicating that this was not purely a grassland.
Standing mid-air, Shi Hao coughed up blood—his injuries from the Celestial Clan were severe, with over a dozen bloody holes in his body.
This ordeal had left him deeply humiliated.
“I must rise, strengthen my power. Even alone, I will one day become an imperial clan!” He descended and strode forward across the vast grassland.
The grass was lush, the land boundless.
Using the divine ability of shrinking the earth to traverse great distances, he pressed onward, hoping to find signs of civilization to determine his location.
Along the way, Shi Hao coughed up blood again, his brow furrowing. He needed to find a place to heal—this was the first time he had been so grievously wounded outside of battle.
Suddenly, he halted. A thunderous, muffled roar reached his ears.
Then, the earth trembled violently, accompanied by a flood-like howl.
Soon, he saw it—a black tide surging toward him at terrifying speed, shaking the entire prairie.
“Wait, no—those are cavalry!” Shi Hao’s eyes widened.
A legion of armored knights clad in black swept across the grassland like a dark deluge. Their mounts were no ordinary beasts—each was a colossal wolf, as large as an elephant, covered in shimmering black scales. They moved faster than the wind.
Thousands of these monstrous wolves charged forth, their riders brandishing halberds and spears, their killing intent palpable even from afar, as if winter itself had descended.
At the same time, Shi Hao heard another deafening rumble behind him. Turning, he saw a crimson tide—another cavalry, this one riding ferocious lions with manes like blazing fire.
The lions roared, shaking the earth as they charged, their riders clad in blood-red armor, wielding terrifying weapons.
In an instant, the silence shattered. The crimson lions and black wolves clashed in a brutal battle.
Shi Hao was stunned—he had just arrived and already witnessed a full-scale war. Fortunately, it was clear this was not directed at him.
He transformed into a phantom, darting across the grassland to observe from a distance.
“Kill them!”
“Roar—!”
The battlefield erupted in chaos. Blood sprayed as massive lion claws tore through the earth, while the black wolves retaliated with savage ferocity.
A crimson lion ripped a wolf apart, sending blood gushing into the air. A black wolf retaliated, firing a blade of light that cleaved a lion in two.
“Black Wolf Bandits, you will pay with your lives!” the crimson riders roared, their weapons glowing with runes.
“Blood Lion Marauders, you’re the ones who deserve death!” the black riders countered, hurling spears that unleashed countless dark beams.
The battle was gruesome. Bodies—both human and beast—rained from the sky, staining the grassland red.
Many combatants took to the air, wielding treasures and divine abilities in a brutal aerial clash.
Shi Hao was astonished—these were clearly bandits, yet among them were experts at the Divine Flame Realm, even a pair of True Gods locked in combat.
“How fierce… Where is this place?” He was baffled. Even outlaws here were so formidable—what kind of land had he stumbled upon?
Before long, the battle ended. Both sides retreated, leaving behind hundreds of corpses—massive lions, black wolves, and fallen warriors.
“Chaos Flame is just an ancient legend! You attacked us based on hearsay, and you will pay for it!”
“Nonsense! Our Black Wolf Clan discovered traces of it first, only for your Blood Lion Group to steal and murder! We demand justice!”
Shi Hao’s heart pounded. **Chaos Flame?**
A legend spoken of in hushed tones—could it truly exist in this world?
To reach the Divine Flame Realm, one needed to “ignite the divine flame.” The name of the realm itself revealed its nature.
Some used Divine Flame Pills, others relied on their own power, but the most formidable sought the rarest flames in existence—baptizing themselves, tempering body and soul for unparalleled strength.
Flames like Turbid Divine Fire and Five-Colored Heavenly Fire ranked among the most coveted.
Netherworld Fire and Heavenly Paradise Flame were even more legendary—obtaining them ensured a perfect evolution, laying an unshakable foundation. Yet few in history had ever found them.
As for Chaos Flame, it was considered a myth. Some believed ancient figures had discovered it, only to be consumed by its power.
Different flames produced vastly different results. Thus, any cultivator aiming for the Divine Flame Realm tread carefully—this step determined their future potential.
**Where was this place? How could there be clues about Chaos Flame here?**
Shi Hao’s heart raced. He was currently at the Supreme Being Realm, and his next step would be igniting his divine flame.
The mere mention of Chaos Flame was intoxicating. Even if it was just a legend, even if those who found it had perished—its allure was undeniable.
As the battlefield quieted, Shi Hao approached, finding a few dying warriors. Using a secret technique, he revived one to interrogate.
“Where is this place?”
“Fire Province.”
Despite its name, there were no flames in sight—only an endless prairie. But soon, Shi Hao understood why it bore such a title.
“How far from Tianzhou?”
“Never heard of it.”
This confirmed that he had crossed at least dozens, if not hundreds, of provinces.
“Which provinces border this one?”
“Celestial Immortal Province and Kun Province.”
Shi Hao’s eyes flickered. Celestial Immortal Province was home to the renowned Celestial Immortal Academy—where Feng Wu, whom he had once battled at the Bronze Sparrow Altar, resided.
Then, he asked the most pressing question: “You found traces of Chaos Flame?”
After further interrogation, he gleaned some information.
Fire Province was a lawless land, teeming with bandits, factions, and adventurers. It was rich in divine ores and treasures, even rumored to house immortal metals buried in a legendary ancient mine.
A paradise for mercenaries, a den for outlaws, and a proving ground for geniuses from prestigious academies and noble clans.
And now—Shi Hao had arrived.
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