Chapter 17: True Flame Treasure and Shattered Pride
The battle has ended, but tension remains thick in the air.
Only two figures stand on the shattered arena — Bai Si and Ye Chen, battered but upright.
Suddenly—
FWOOSH—
A blinding white flame bursts from Ye Chen's palm.
The platform cracks beneath him. The temperature skyrockets.
A storm of whispers floods the crowd.
"W-What is that?!"
"That's… a True Flame?!"
One elder bolts up, eyes wide.
"An Immortal Flame Treasure…! A real one!"
Even Liu Bing, watching from the stands, is stunned.
That's no technique. It's a treasure — incredibly rare, found by luck alone.
And Ye Chen… never mentioned it.
"We were friends," Liu Bing mutters under his breath. "When did he get that…?"
---
Masked Pressure
Liu Guan Yi narrows his eyes behind the mask.
A faint smile curls his lips.
"So he got lucky."
The Immortal Flame burns brilliantly as Ye Chen charges forward, using the treasure to boost his power.
But Liu Guan Yi makes no move to dodge.
Instead—
BOOM—
His hidden cultivation explodes outward.
Rank 4 Initial Stage.
His figure blurs. One flash—Sword Escape.
Ye Chen blinks—
Then a brutal punch lands in his gut.
A follow-up strike crashes into his shoulder.
CRACK!
He's flung backward. The Immortal Flame flickers — then dies down, unable to resist raw power.
---
End of the Trial
Fang Lanyue steps forward, voice calm but firm.
"Ye Chen and Bai Si… have passed."
"They are now personal disciples of Sect Leader Ji Ning."
Shock. Envy. Murmurs in every direction.
But no one objects.
Even with a treasure, Ye Chen lost. But his battle spirit — and the Immortal Flame — proved his worth.
The masked man turns to leave.
But then—
He stops.
Reaches up.
Removes the mask.
Black hair. Calm, piercing eyes.
"Liu Guan Yi…!"
"He's… back?!"
"That monster—what stage is he even at?!"
Everyone freezes, too stunned to speak.
Liu Guan Yi says nothing. He simply turns… and walks away.