Paimon and Seven-Face exchanged glances, each ruled half of the sea, stirring the vast North Sea.
As more and more water currents converged, the realm of flames shrank steadily.
Paimon stepped into the air, his hands spread wide. Between them appeared a spear emanating dense demonic energy.
“Demon Spear Slaying Heaven!” Paimon roared, thrusting the weapon forward. The spear pierced through layers of shattered void, stirring both sea and fire as it drove toward the consciousness entity.
“Suppress!” Xu Zimo poured the last of his strength into the Primordial Chaos Bead.
The nearly dimmed Primordial Chaos Bead once again shone brilliantly, suppressing the remnant consciousness.
With a thunderous boom, the world of flames was ripped apart. The tip of the demonic spear pierced directly into the entity’s forehead.
In an instant, wind and thunder howled; fierce gales condensed into countless demonic arrows that tore into its body.
The consciousness entity screamed in agony.
Under the control of Seven-Face, the might of the North Sea surged higher and higher until it completely extinguished the world of flames.
Finally, the consciousness entity exploded, and the shockwave sent everyone flying.
The Primordial Chaos Bead returned to the True Life World, while Xu Zimo’s body collapsed to the ground.
“My lord, are you alright?” Paimon asked, supporting him anxiously.
Xu Zimo waved his hand weakly, forcing himself to stand straight.
He looked toward the place where the consciousness entity had exploded. There, a broken stone stele and a single flame floated in the air.
“Bring it to me,” Xu Zimo said.
Seven-Face retrieved the stele. Xu Zimo’s eyes narrowed as he read the two characters carved upon it, “Zhurong’s Inquiry.”
He stared at the stele, and suddenly the world before his eyes changed.
It was as though his consciousness was drawn into a new realm.
When he regained awareness, vivid scenes unfolded before him.
A giant stood amidst a boundless land, his entire body engulfed in flames.
The flames incinerated all things. He was revered as the God of Fire.
Zhurong, the first fire god of the world. The flame he used bore his name.
The Flame of Zhurong.
He lived in the Primordial Era, the most primitive age of the Nine Heavens.
Ancient Gods ruled; resources were scarce, and they were the leaders of existence.
The vision shifted, and a question arose in Xu Zimo’s heart.
What is fire?
Some use fire to fight, it is violent, destructive, and scorching.
Others use it to cook or to bring warmth.
Fire, in its essence, is creation.
Whether the blazing inferno that burns all things or the tiny spark used to cook a meal, both serve the needs of life.
Thus, fire is the embodiment of creation.
The scenes changed rapidly, and within mere moments, Xu Zimo felt as if he had lived through countless ages. His vision finally returned to the North Sea.
“My lord, are you alright?” Paimon asked again.
“A bit weak. It’ll take a long time to recover,” Xu Zimo replied, shaking his head.
Ordinary exhaustion could be quickly restored at his level, but the Primordial Chaos Bead had drained him deeply.
Both his spirit and body, even his blood essence, were heavily depleted.
When the vision faded, the words “Zhurong’s Inquiry” slowly disappeared from the stele.
But within Xu Zimo’s mind, a new scripture emerged.
One of the Ancient Divine Secrets.
Zhurong’s Inquiry.
Zhurong was the master of fire, and naturally, this scripture was all about the Way of Flame.
Beside him, the crimson flame flickered, it was none other than the Flame of Zhurong.
Xu Zimo reached out and collected the flame.
Paimon and Seven-Face returned to the God World, while Xu Zimo found a quiet place to rest and recover.
At this moment, in the Mirage Tides Heaven. One of the Nine Heavens as well.
The Phantom Sea surged faintly, gray and lifeless. In this place, nothing, no matter how light, could float upon its surface.
Anything that touched the Phantom Sea sank instantly, without resistance.
The Phantom Sea was a world unto itself.
Beneath it lay the path to the Netherworld, the final destination of all beings.
This was the road of death, the end of everything.
For this realm received only the dead.
Death energy blanketed the entire world. The Phantom Sea was divided into eighteen layers,
each corresponding to the Eighteen Hells.Here, there was no distinction between good and evil; all souls, regardless of merit, descended first into the Eighteenth Hell.
Only through deeds and contributions could one ascend, layer by layer. Those who reached the First Hell earned the right to reincarnate.
Of course, reincarnation meant becoming a new person, all memories of the past life erased.
In the Mirage Tides Heaven, the first stop was Starhaven Stronghold.
Beyond it lay Soul Gathering Pass.
At this moment, before Starhaven Stronghold, countless souls of the dead were gathered, lining up to have their identities marked before entering.
Suddenly, two beams of golden light burst open across the heavens.
The Mirage Tides Heaven was eternally shrouded in darkness.
Thus, when golden light appeared, it was blinding, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
The skies of the Mirage Tides Heaven were torn open by a pair of hands, and from within stepped a figure clad in immortal robes.
“By decree of the Heavenly Court, I have come to capture a soul. I ask the Lord of Death to cooperate,” the newcomer announced solemnly, unfurling a scroll in his hand.
His voice echoed across the land. The crowd grew noisy, but no one answered.
“Where is the chief of Starhaven Stronghold?” the immortal-robed man demanded, eyes sharp as lightning.
“Who’s making such a fuss?” a lazy-sounding voice replied.
A figure emerged above Starhaven Stronghold, a middle-aged person, neither clearly male nor female.
He wore men’s clothing, yet his features were delicate. Red lips, fine nose, and a soft, almost feminine voice.
“The Heavenly Court wants a certain soul. Please cooperate and help us find it,” said the immortal-robed envoy.
“When did matters of the Mirage Tides Heaven fall under the Heavenly Court’s authority?” the middle-aged figure retorted.
“This is the Immortal Lord’s command. Do you dare defy it?” the envoy snapped.
“Have you forgotten what happened three hundred thousand years ago?”
“If it’s truly the Immortal Lord’s order, have him come take the soul himself. Who do you think you are?” the middle-aged one replied coldly.
“You of the Mirage Tides Heaven grow more insolent by the day,” the envoy said, his tone turning icy. “I’ll report this to the Immortal Lord, and you’ll bear the consequences.”
“Wait,” the middle-aged person called as the envoy prepared to leave.
“What is it?” the envoy frowned.
“This is the Mirage Tides Heaven, the resting place of the dead. Do you think a living being can come and go as they please?” the middle-aged one said.
He spread his hands, and a vast portion of the Phantom Sea began to churn.
Death energy surged forth, carrying the cries of the damned and the tides of blood from hell itself.
“You dare rebel?!” the envoy shouted in fury.
At once, immortal light flared around him, forming a radiant sword as he charged forward.
“Rebel? We’ve never bowed to anyone,” the middle-aged one replied with a grin.
“Perhaps in the outer realms you could contend with me. But here, in the Mirage Tides Heaven, you’re nothing but an insect.”
The blood sea swallowed the immortal light whole, engulfing the envoy completely.