Chapter 571: Add Me—Is That Enough?

Entrance to the Sacred Flame Realm of Wan Huozong.

Zeng Xi, including the Zhuang Qiang sisters, along with everyone who had entered and exited the Sacred Flame Hall, had not left; more than half of those who failed to enter the Sacred Flame Hall had also stayed behind.

Everyone wanted to know immediately whether anyone had received the ancestral master’s legacy of Wan Huozong.

“Someone’s coming out!”

While everyone waited, a figure appeared at the entrance—Meng Bing and the other two emerged at the doorway.

The Wan Huozong disciples, upon seeing Meng Bing appear, wore expressions of anticipation—they had already learned from those who exited the Sacred Flame Hall that Master Meng had entered the golden gate, just one step away from receiving the legacy.

Meng Bing, stepping out of the entrance, sensed the hopeful gazes of his sect brothers and shook his head slightly in shame.

He had not received the legacy!

Meng Bing’s ashamed expression said it all; the two other fourth-stage primordial cultivators from Fenxing Valley and Xuan Huang Sect quickly confirmed they too had failed to obtain the legacy.

“Even Master Meng couldn’t obtain the legacy—looks like the ancestral master’s inheritance is still here.”

A Wan Huozong disciple spoke, lamenting Master Meng’s failure yet secretly rejoicing inside—the legacy still remained; perhaps they themselves might have a chance in the future.

“It’s not confirmed yet—not everyone has emerged so far. Lin Chen is still inside.”

Wang Chen, hearing his junior’s words, murmured softly: Master Meng is undoubtedly powerful, but in his heart, he still believed Lin Chen was stronger than Master Meng.

As long as Lin Chen hadn’t emerged, nothing was settled.

“Master Meng, did you see Brother Lin?”

From Qianji Sect, Zeng Xi couldn’t help but feel curious—he hadn’t entered the second trial, but he’d learned the situation from his own Jiang brother, who had chosen the green gate.

In Zeng Xi’s view, Lin Chen must have entered the golden gate. Since Meng Bing and the other two who entered the golden gate had emerged, but Lin Chen hadn’t, did that mean Lin Chen had received Wan Huozong’s ancestral legacy and was currently inheriting it inside?

“Lin Chen didn’t enter the golden gate? Then… why hasn’t he emerged yet?”

Meng Bing, hearing Zeng Xi’s question, glanced at Jiang Chen standing beside him, then scanned the crowd, his eyes filled with confusion.

Logically, those who entered the green gate should have emerged quickly. Since Lin Chen didn’t enter the golden gate, he should’ve already come out—there’s no way he chose the black gate.

“Sister, what’s going on?”

Zhuang Wei, hearing Meng Bing’s answer, whispered through spiritual transmission: “We clearly saw the Imperial Son-in-Law enter the golden gate—why are these Wan Huozong cultivators saying they didn’t see him?”

Zhuang Qiang didn’t answer her sister, for she herself was pondering: Where had the Imperial Son-in-Law gone?

The Imperial Son-in-Law entering the golden gate—this was something she and her sister had witnessed with their own eyes, impossible to falsify!

So was Meng Bing lying?

But the others who entered the golden gate with Meng Bing were two from Fenxing Valley and Xuan Huang Sect—if Meng Bing lied alone, the other two would expose him, unless all three were lying together.

Why would these three conspire to lie?

A dark suspicion arose in Zhuang Qiang’s heart: Could these three have teamed up against the Imperial Son-in-Law inside the golden gate?

To seize the legacy?

And to cover up their actions, they had collectively claimed the Imperial Son-in-Law never entered the golden gate?

If so, the Imperial Son-in-Law must have been attacked by all three.

“Sister, should we expose these three?”

“Wait and watch—the entrance to the Sacred Flame Realm hasn’t closed yet.”

Zhuang Qiang shook her head. Whether Meng Bing and the others had attacked the Imperial Son-in-Law inside the golden gate would become clear once the entrance sealed.

She wouldn’t expose them now because she harbored another suspicion.

Meng Bing and the other two entered the golden gate and failed to obtain the legacy; the Imperial Son-in-Law also entered the golden gate, yet Meng Bing and the others never saw him—could it be that due to the Imperial Son-in-Law’s own nature, or some method left behind by Wan Huozong’s ancestral master, he was not in the same space as these three?

If this guess proved true, revealing now that the Imperial Son-in-Law had entered the golden gate would expose his secrets.

“Actually, not only Lin Chen hasn’t emerged—two others who entered the second trial haven’t emerged either.”

In the crowd, a fourth-stage primordial cultivator spoke—he had entered the second trial and knew sixteen had entered, yet only thirteen had emerged so far.

“Three others left? Besides Lin Chen, who are the other two?”

Everyone exchanged glances, suddenly realizing they’d overlooked something: besides Lin Chen, they had no idea who the other two were.

Anyone capable of entering the second trial—a primordial fourth-stage cultivator under fifty—was no ordinary talent; yet now, no one could recall their origins.

If they were from a super sect or a martial family, they couldn’t have remained unknown—especially neighboring sects, due to ancestral feuds, often sent young disciples to compete, both to spur their cultivation and prevent full-scale war.

As everyone began analyzing the identities of the two unknowns, another figure appeared at the entrance—Ye Feng emerged.

Ye Feng stepped out, swiftly scanning the crowd; upon seeing no sign of Lin Chen, he made no pause and headed straight toward Wan Huozong’s mountain gate.

Seeing this man leave without greeting anyone, many Wan Huozong disciples wore displeased expressions—after all, the Sacred Flame Realm and Sacred Flame Hall were created by their ancestral master; Wan Huozong was the host. Even if leaving, he should have at least acknowledged the sect.

“Don’t interfere!”

Meng Bing had already landed beside the Wan Huozong disciples; seeing a disciple about to speak up and stop him, he barked a command.

He didn’t know this man’s identity, but before entering the Sacred Flame Realm, the sect master had instructed him: ignore whatever this man did inside.

The sect master must know this man’s identity—and it was significant.

Yet before Ye Feng could leave the scene, a voice thundered across the entire area: “Stop!”

As the voice fell, Ye Feng felt his body freeze—he clearly sensed a powerful aura locking onto him. Only one person in Wan Huozong would dare treat him this way.

If he continued to ignore it and leave, Dongfang Canglang would pretend ignorance and kill him instantly.

Ye Feng halted in place—he wanted to see whether this man would truly dare attack him before everyone, once his identity was revealed.

The sudden voice left everyone in the crowd stunned—they didn’t know who had spoken, but the shout had sent ripples of blood surge through many primordial cultivators.

A single voice carried such terrifying power—this person must be at least primordial fifth stage.

As Ye Feng stopped, clouds above churned violently, and a figure in black robes appeared as if stepping through a tear in the heavens.

His black robe was embroidered with star patterns; as his sleeves fluttered, tiny spatial cracks formed, only to be instantly smoothed over by invisible force—he radiated supreme nobility, making others dare not look directly.

Immediately after this youth appeared, a beautiful woman and an old man emerged behind him—clearly his maid and bodyguard.

“Sister, he’s here too!”

Zhuang Wei, gazing at Dongfang Canglang hovering above, eyes wide with shock—the ancestral master of the Sacred Flame Hall was among the top elites of the Yan Emperor’s Court, but his legacy shouldn’t have drawn this man’s attention.

Not all prodigies had come for this opening of the Sacred Flame Hall, since not all cultivators pursued the path of refining primordial fire.

Zhuang Qiang’s eyes held a trace of worry—the Imperial Son-in-Law still hadn’t emerged, and now Dongfang Canglang had appeared. Something major must have happened—please don’t drag the Imperial Son-in-Law into it.

Few in the crowd had seen Dongfang Canglang before, but several cultivators, upon noticing the star patterns on his robe, subtly changed expression.

They didn’t recognize Dongfang Canglang, but their sect elders had warned them: if encountered outside, treat anyone wearing this robe as a noble guest—never offend!

“Don’t speak rashly—be silent!”

These fourth-stage primordial cultivators urgently warned their juniors, fearing one might offend this nobleman.

All present were primordial cultivators; hearing their seniors’ warnings, they instantly realized this black-robed youth must have an astonishing origin—otherwise their seniors wouldn’t have been so insistent.

In an instant, the entire scene fell silent.

Dongfang Canglang scanned the crowd expressionlessly, his gaze not even lingering on Ye Feng—a mere ordinary royal clansman wasn’t worth his attention.

“Come out.”

Dongfang Canglang’s gaze fixed on the entrance of the Sacred Flame Realm; all eyes in the crowd followed his gaze—was someone still inside the entrance?

At the entrance of the Sacred Flame Realm, Lin Chen stepped out, his eyes immediately locking onto the young man.

Without even glancing at the maid behind him, he knew this was Lord Dongfang.

Only someone of such status would dare overshadow Wan Huozong on its own territory.

Lin Chen had to admit—Lord Dongfang was indeed powerful; he had barely reached the entrance and was about to extend his spiritual sense when the man had already sensed him.

“It’s the Imperial Son-in-Law!”

Zhuang Wei was excited; the crowd, too, filled with anticipation at Lin Chen’s appearance—especially Zhao Haoyang and Wang Chen, who wanted to know if he had obtained the legacy.

Had it not been for the sudden arrival of the black-robed youth, they would’ve already shouted their questions.

“Where’s Li You?”

Seeing Lin Chen appear, Dongfang Canglang’s face darkened completely. A royal member had entered, yet Li You hadn’t emerged—the outcome was obvious.

Lin Chen replied calmly: “Who is this Li You you’re referring to?”

“Don’t play dumb here!”

Dongfang Canglang’s eyes glinted with coldness. With Li You’s strength and the treasures he’d been given, only someone carrying a powerful artifact could have killed him—unless it was this Lin Chen.

Lin Chen didn’t answer. At that moment, another figure appeared in the crowd.

“Lord Dongfang, please calm down. Let me ask a few questions first.”

Zhuang Lie appeared on the scene—he recognized Lord Dongfang’s identity. As he stepped toward Lin Chen, the old man behind Dongfang Canglang moved like a phantom, blocking Zhuang Lie’s path.

“Wan Huozong Elder, this is my master’s affair—please don’t interfere,” the old man said with a smile, yet his tone brooked no refusal.

Zhuang Lie’s eyes blazed with fury—this was Wan Huozong’s territory, and Lord Dongfang was acting with utter insolence.

…

Deep within Wan Huozong.

Two elders were playing chess.

The elder in red robes slowly placed a stone: “Isn’t this going too far?”

“The young lord’s actions were sanctioned by the Master. Let the younger generation settle their own affairs.”

The elder in blue robes followed with his move. Hearing this, the red-robed elder frowned slightly but dropped the subject.

If even the Master knew, Wan Huozong could no longer intervene.

…

…

Meng Bing and the other Wan Huozong disciples also wore expressions of fury—this was their sect’s territory, yet someone had blocked Elder Zhuang, openly usurping authority, showing no respect whatsoever to Wan Huozong.

Zhuang Lie’s face was grim—the old man before him smiled pleasantly, yet his aura had locked onto Zhuang Lie, pressing down with immense pressure.

This man is a Pre-Natural Sixth Stage cultivator… and not an ordinary one at that.

“Elder Zhuang need not worry for me.”

Seeing Elder Zhuang appear, Lin Chen felt a warmth in his heart; Elder Zhuang was no blood relation, yet treated him as if he were a family junior.

But Lin Chen now understood: this Eastern Young Master dared act so brazenly on Wan Huozong’s territory, yet the sect’s leader had not shown himself—likely choosing to turn a blind eye. He had no reason to drag Elder Zhuang into this.

“Try not to provoke this Young Master. I will go summon my uncle.”

Zhuang Lie, hearing Lin Chen’s mental message, quickly replied in kind, urging Lin Chen not to act rashly—when facing this Eastern Young Master, it was better to endure.

“Elder Zhuang, rest assured, I understand.”