Chapter 566: I Implore the Imperial Son-in-Law to Extend His Aid

In the grand hall.

After Lin Chen obtained the first key, the remaining floating flames suddenly surged, transforming into a torrent of fire that cascaded down the hall. Sensing the power of this fire surge, many cultivators changed expression and retreated toward the exit without hesitation.

This fire surge was stronger than the one at the hall’s entrance—they could not withstand it.

Of course, some refused to yield, preparing to endure the inferno, but their final fate was to be reduced to ash beneath the flames.

After this wave passed, a hundred more cultivators were gone from the hall.

Lin Chen was the only one in the hall unaffected by the inferno—not because of his strength, but because he held the key. When the inferno appeared, the key emitted light, forming a halo that blocked the flames.

The inferno came swiftly and vanished just as quickly.

Ten breaths later, the inferno disappeared, and another fire Tuan appeared before the hall.

Seeing the number of fire Tuan , Lin Chen’s pupils contracted—this time there were ten more than last time. Did that mean the second wave of inferno was stronger than the first?

If so, each subsequent wave would be stronger than the last. To preserve strength, one must seize the key as quickly as possible.

Some who hoped to conserve energy and wait to snatch the key later would find their plan shattered.

Lin Chen murmured silently to himself: the rules of the Sacred Fire Hall forced everyone to compete for keys in the early rounds—otherwise, the damage from later infernos alone would be unbearable.

Lin Chen could deduce this, and so could everyone else in the hall. At this moment, their gazes toward the keys within the fire Tuan burned hotter than before.

BOOM!

Almost simultaneously, dozens of figures moved. Glowing treasures flashed wildly through the air, colliding violently with deafening metallic clangs.

Flames, ice, gale winds… countless weapon shadows filled the hall with howling energy.

The key lay just ten zhang ahead of these figures.

Ten zhang was an instant’s distance for any cultivator in the hall—but now it was a chasm. Whoever drew near the key would face coordinated attacks from all others.

Screams rose one after another; even Lin Chen thought these men had gone mad.

Six factions had targeted this key, including eight cultivators of the Fourth Stage of Primordial. But then Lin Chen’s gaze suddenly fixed on the key.

A figure appeared, seizing the key—none of the battling cultivators noticed.

Lin Chen studied the man closely. Even he had not sensed when the man arrived beside the key. If the man’s target had not been the key, but Lin Chen himself… he would likely have received a slap.

Though his spiritual sense had not detected the man’s arrival, that only meant the man had mastered an elite body technique, achieving extreme concealment of his soul and qi. But it did not mean Lin Chen would be blind if the man approached him.

Primordial cultivators possessed a natural instinct for mortal danger. Unless this body technique was so powerful it could hide its user from all below the Myriad Forms realm, Lin Chen did not believe such an invincible art existed.

The power of any technique was tied to the user’s own realm.

If a Fourth Stage Primordial cultivator could sneak up on a Sixth Stage Primordial cultivator merely through body technique, then the distinction between the two realms would be meaningless.

Li You gripped the key, smiling. Even as all the battling cultivators turned toward him, he paid them no mind—because they had no chance left.

BOOM!

The remaining flames erupted violently, becoming another inferno. The cultivators who had been rushing to seize the key from Li You paled—they abandoned their pursuit and scrambled to defend themselves against the inferno.

Ten breaths later, the inferno receded.

The disgruntled cultivators attacked again—but strangely, the halo around Li You had not vanished. Every strike that struck the halo dissipated without a trace.

The key protected Li You.

Seeing this, Lin Chen’s pupils shrank sharply—he had a suspicion.

The key also protected its holder. This was unknown to all—especially since the first person to seize the key had died immediately, so no one had ever considered this possibility.

Thus, once the inferno appeared, the key recognized its master and would shield him.

Was this man merely lucky—or had he known this beforehand?

Estimating the inferno’s timing could be done by observing the previous wave—but the key’s protective ability after the inferno had no precedent.

Lin Chen did not believe it was luck—it was too coincidental.

To precisely predict the inferno’s timing required absolute calm. Someone so calculating would never risk himself without absolute certainty.

This man understood the Sacred Fire Hall better than even the Wan Huozong disciples. Who was he?

Having confirmed they could not attack Li You, the cultivators, though furious, abandoned their attempt and turned their eyes to the next fire Tuan .

Three breaths later, another fire Tuan appeared—this time, ten more than the last.

“Friends! The Sacred Fire Hall was founded by our Wan Huozong’s ancestral master! It is only right that our sect claim one key!”

Meng Bing roared, unleashing a Primordial Flame from his body. The other Wan Huozong disciples followed suit, summoning their own Primordial Flames. Nearly ten Primordial Flames filled the hall, raising its temperature sharply.

Other cultivators who had been about to move halted at Meng Bing’s words.

It wasn’t that they truly wished to grant Wan Huozong this favor—it was that Wan Huozong’s disciples were collectively strong. A direct clash would yield no advantage, and they could not guarantee seizing the key from them. To fail in taking the key while also enraging Wan Huozong would be a disastrous loss.

After all, the exit to the Sacred Fire Realm lay within Wan Huozong’s territory.

Meng Bing seized the key and, imitating Lin Chen’s gesture, bowed: “Thank you all for your courtesy.”

“Meng Brother, you are too modest. The Sacred Fire Hall was indeed founded by your sect’s ancestral master. We willingly yield this key to Wan Huozong.”

“Indeed. Wan Huozong must not be left out.”