The crimson sky above the Trial Abyss blazed like burning paper as Li Tianming stepped into the nineteenth trial—The Scarlet Trial of Withering Flame. The moment his foot touched the scorched ground, waves of blistering heat surged at him like molten dragons.
This was no ordinary realm. Here, spirit herbs combusted on their own, forging flames with mysterious alchemical properties. It was said that only those who could balance Heavenly Flame Qi and withstand Soul-Crushing Heat could survive long enough to discover the Ember Heart Lotus, a legendary herb needed to pass the trial.
Suddenly, the ground shattered.
A towering figure emerged—a Flameborn Warlord, clad in molten rock armor, eyes blazing like twin suns.
"You who seek ascension, show me your blade," the warlord boomed.
Li Tianming's hand slowly reached behind him, drawing forth his ancient weapon—Voidshatter, the sword once sealed by his Fourth Sect Ancestor. As it unsheathed, it released a deep resonance that echoed like forgotten thunder.
His aura surged.
> "Destruction Sword Art — First Form: Ashen Ruin."
Voidshatter howled as it carved a semi-circle of black flame, colliding with the warlord's hammer. Sparks scattered like stars torn from constellations.
The battle erupted.
> "Second Form: Blightfall Eclipse!"
This time, the blade shimmered with void-essence and flame, cleaving the air itself, distorting space with each slash. Yet, the warlord regenerated endlessly through the Phoenix Ember Core within his chest.
Yue Qianyin's voice echoed faintly in Tianming's soul—a memory? Or a soul-thread connection?
> "Control the alchemy of this realm. Refine his flame, don't fight it."
Closing his eyes, Tianming began circulating his internal energies, merging the Spirit Refining Scripture with the ambient flame aura. He drew out alchemical threads, siphoning the Phoenix Ember Core's energy into Voidshatter.
> "Destruction Sword Art — Third Form: Embervoid Spiral!"
The warlord let out a final roar as Tianming pierced through him, the blade spiraling like a celestial storm. The warlord exploded, and the trial seal burned onto Tianming's palm.
He fell to his knees, gasping, but smiling. The Ember Heart Lotus floated before him, gleaming in golden-red hues.
He had earned it.