Ding!

  Host Qi is used up!

  Status; Recovering.

  A wave of unbearable hotness came crashing at him like wildfire, every hair on his body shriveled while his skin seared, turning red and taut.

  The fire burned through his clothes, turning it to ashes in seconds, and digging deep into his pores. But the moment it entered his body, it disappeared like a stone thrown in an ocean, leaving only his skin to bear the burn.

  The others watched him quietly, with fear gripped heart.

  Jin Yu curled in pain as he felt like he was thrown in fire.

  A grunt left his lips as he pushed himself to his knees, he sent his will to his spatial ring, skimming his eyes through the content.

  Something.... something... something.

  He chanted through gritted teeth as the pain became unbearable, his skin was starting to blister, a faint smell of burning filling his nose.

  Something please....

  His eyes flickered to the pills section.

  No, Useless!

  Weapons..

  No!

  Artifacts.

  He barely know their use.

  The clothes...

  His eyes landed on a set of dark red cloth.

  Phoenixbrood silk!

  Jin Yu didn't think twice, it materialize in his hand and clothe his bare body in a second.

  Drastically, the heat reduced, the tension on his body lessened.

  He breath a sigh of relief.

  Though It's still very hot, it's enough not to burn his skin.

  But he could tell it won't last long, a few hours at most.

  He searched through his ring again, more thoroughly this time.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Then he found exactly what he's looking for.

  A radiant, deep-blue robe threaded with starlight-like patterns.

  Spiritweave Garment.

  A Nascent Soul-grade artifact. Said to be Imbued with spatial reinforcement runes. Reduces physical damage, lightens bodily burden during flight, and passively resists extreme temperatures.

  He'd bought it at the auction house back home at Louyang, as a total joke to spite the bidders.

  Who knew it'll come in handy today.

  He didn't take it out, just left it at a side for easy access.

  He withdrew his will, focusing back on his surroundings.

  He looked at the large platform ahead, a killing Intent radiating from him, but he doesn't even know who to kill.

  With barely contained rage, he stood up and walked towards it.

  He stopped just a step away from it.

  He looked at the bridge Seer had been minutes ago, and where he had disappeared.

  "I don't believe that albino will die so easily." he said to himself and took a step, just one step.

  The three people far behind him watched with bated breath, eager to know what'll happen this time.

  The same thing happened.

  Phrroooooom!

  A layer of energy shot up around the entire platform, forming a dome in the blink of an eye. Jin Yu was sucked in instantly, his figure flashing and reappearing right at the center.

  But something was different this time, and it's the color of the film.

  It was Red.

  Luminous Red. Just like the color of the Lava.

  Jin Yu looked around the dome, his expression wary.

  The others stared intently at him, to see if he'll also disappear, but it doesn't seem so.

  He was standing in the center, perfectly fine.

  And more importantly, he noticed that the heat had completely vanished, as if he had crossed a threshold where the heat couldn't enter

  Hummmm...

  A faint hum began to rise from all around the dome. Jin Yu drew his sword in one smooth motion, settling into a firm stance.

  A moment later, an old man, perhaps in his fifties, appeared on the platform, just ten meters away.

  Dressed in flowing black robes, he stood with his left hand crossed behind his back in quiet elegance, while his right hand slowly stroked his long beard with a certain ritual calm, like a man deep in thought, yet always in control.

  His presence rolled out across the platform like mist, silent and absolute.

  The air around him subtly warped, as though space itself bent to accommodate his existence.

  He carried no weapon, but his aura pressed down like the weight of unseen mountains.

  His expression was stern, his temperament calm. But his eyes…

  They shimmered like black stars that is quietly aware of things no mortal mind could hold.

  Jin Yu’s gaze narrowed.

  Is this the master of this place?

  The old man studied him for a moment longer, then finally spoke. His voice was cold, distant and steeped in authority.

  "Mortal. How dare you not bow to this Lord?"

  Jin Yu’s brow twitched. Still, he answered.

  "Why should I?"

  The man’s expression darkened, just slightly, but the shift in the air was instant, like a blade sliding half an inch from its sheath.

  "How dare you not pay homage to me in my World, mortal, do you seek destruction?"

  A heavy pressure immediately descended on Jin Yu, pressing on him like a mountain, wanting to force him to his knees.

  His bone creaked in protest while his knees trembled slightly, bending little by little.

  A torrent of anger bursted in Jin Yu's heart as he gritted his teeth, desperately resisting the pressure.

  This bastard want to make me kneel?

  "I'd rather die!"

  He growled through gritted teeth, bones creaking louder as he straightened his leg, just slightly. In that instant, a Cold Red bled took over his eyes, locking onto the man with unbridled coldness.

  Just then–

  Ding!

  Ancient will detected!

  Absorbing.......

  As if a mountain was taken off his shoulder, the pressure disappeared , his posture straighten, and a wave of relief washed over him.

  But Jin Yu didn't wait a second, he flashed from his position, appearing right in front of the man, his sword hacking brutally at him.

  But it passed through the man like air.

  Jin Yu's body jerked forward slightly from the inertia .

  The man's body flickered, growing subtly transparent, though it was barely noticeable, it was unmistakable. but it wasn't because of the attack, but something deeper.

  A flicker of something, shock, or perhaps fear, ghosted across the old man’s face, but it vanished almost instantly. He straightened, smoothing the crease in his aura like a man brushing dust off his robe.

  Jin Yu took a half step back, eyes narrowing.

  "So, you're a fake."

  The man’s voice boomed, sharp and indignant.

  "Lowly being! How dare you act rashly before this Lord? It seems—"

  "Oh, shut that ancient mouth."

  Jin Yu cut him off with venom. "You strut like a god, but you don’t even have a body to stand on."

  He jabbed a finger at the man’s chest, or where it should have been, his fury crackling, unchecked.

  "Just an echo pretending to be a thunderclap."

  "Mind your tongue!" the man snapped, voice rising, but still trying, barely, to stay composed.

  Jin Yu stepped closer, radiating disdain.

  " You’re just a crusty remnant, a barking shadow with no bite. You call yourself a Lord? You should be hiding in shame, not giving speeches. Hell, you’re not even worth exorcising."

  A flicker of surprise flashed through the man’s eyes, quickly buried beneath something darker.

  Something cruel.