Chapter 130: The Ten Immortal Families

Ji Kan's eyes blazed with a furious light as they locked onto Ling Meixue, who had suddenly stopped grinning. His jaw tightened, and he steeled his nerves, circulating the energy of his Golden Core in preparation for battle. But as he did, a creeping unease settled over him. The shattered ice around him began to reform, the shards glinting like jagged teeth in the dim light. The temperature plummeted further, the air growing so cold it burned his lungs. Stranger still, the ice seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly flame—flames that flickered coldly, as if born of frost rather than heat. Dark fog began to seep into the icy domain, swirling like a living thing, casting eerie shadows that danced and twisted. The howling wind carried with it the mournful cries of ghosts, sending shivers down his spine.

The Shadow Bell chimed, but this time, no sound emerged. Only the faint vibration of the bell's form shook the air. Symbols etched into its surface began to glow, their light piercing through the thickening fog, making the darkness even more palpable. Ji Kan's eyes widened as he took in the scene, his heart pounding in his chest. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he could feel the chill of dread creeping up his spine.

"What's going on?" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the ghostly wails.

"What is a weak man like you doing on a battlefield like this?" A calm, almost mocking voice echoed in his ears, sending a jolt of shock through him. Ji Kan's heart skipped a beat as he slowly turned toward the source of the voice.

Standing behind him was Han Yunfei, his Whipblade resting casually in his hand. His eyes were calm, but there was a murderous glint in them that made Ji Kan's blood run cold. Han Yunfei's aura radiated killing intent, so palpable it felt like a physical weight pressing down on Ji Kan's shoulders. Ji Kan's mind raced. He hadn't even sensed Han Yunfei's approach. At this range, if they were outside in the real world, he would have been dead before he even realized it.

His eyes darted to the side, and his breath caught in his throat. A massive city of swords had materialized within the ice domain, its towering structures blending seamlessly with the icy landscape. The dark fog swirled around it, giving the scene an even more ominous feel. Cheng Yutian, the Little Sword Emperor, had entered the domain without a sound, his Sword Emperor City now a part of the battlefield. Ji Kan's mouth went dry as he realized the gravity of the situation, he didn't sense any of these people approaching.

Cheng Yutian's gaze was fixed on a spot behind Ji Kan, his expression unreadable but his intent clear. Ji Kan's heart trembled as he slowly turned his head, his movements stiff with fear. There, standing behind him, was Jiang Feng. His body was covered in draconic scales that shimmered with an otherworldly light. Lightning crackled between the scales, giving him a terrifying, almost godlike appearance. Behind him, a massive vortex spun silently, its presence radiating disdain. In Jiang Feng's hand was a glowing dagger, its light causing the hairs on Ji Kan's arms to stand on end.

"H... how did all of you get here?" Ji Kan stammered, his voice trembling as he looked at Ji Moran, who stood nearby. Her eyes held a hint of pity, a look that cut deeper than any blade. Once, she might have looked at him with indifference or even mild annoyance, but now there was only sorrow. Ji Kan's mind raced, his thoughts a chaotic whirlwind. This was the Obsidian Waterfall Realm, a place where only the strongest could survive. He was surrounded by geniuses—Cheng Yutian, Han Yunfei, Jiang Feng, and Ling Meixue. Each of them was a force to be reckoned with, and he was hopelessly outmatched.

Ji Moran sighed softly, her gaze lingering on Ji Kan for a moment before she turned away. She had warned him not to interfere, but he had been too stubborn, too blinded by his own pride to listen. Now, he was paying the price.

"Die," Jiang Feng said simply, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. He waved his hand, and the flaming vortex surged forward, slamming into Ji Kan with the force of a collapsing mountain.

"No!" Ji Kan's scream echoed through the icy domain, but it was too late. The vortex engulfed him, its flames consuming everything in their path. Just as it seemed he would be reduced to nothing, the ring on his arm glowed brightly, and he vanished from the domain. By the standards of the outside world, he should have been dead, but here, he was merely expelled from the Obsidian Waterfall Realm.

Jiang Feng watched dispassionately as the number on his ring flashed, increasing from 69 to 89. "Hmm, he's not worth much either way," he murmured, his tone indifferent.

"He's going to be a headache when we get back," Ji Moran said, shaking her head with a sigh. "All the complaining will definitely be annoying."

"It can't be helped," Jiang Feng replied, his gaze shifting to Cheng Yutian and Han Yunfei. "He doesn't seem to even have a spirit projection. He wouldn't have been a match for anyone here in the long run. I might as well take his points."

"Can you keep up?" Jiang Feng asked Ji Moran without turning his head.

"Most definitely!" she replied, her voice firm.

Just as the tension between the remaining fighters reached its peak, a low chuckle broke the silence. "Haha, gentlemen, it would seem that I would have to crash this uninvited party," a voice called from outside the domain. Ji Moran waved her hand, pulling back her ice domain. The strain of maintaining it was evident on her face, but she held her ground. Jiang Feng, too, had retracted his Bipolar domain, his Draconic Resilience now fully activated.

Not far away, Ren Xiangfeng stood, a vicious smile playing on his lips. He was the leading figure of Verdant Sky City's younger generation, a man known for his brutality and cunning. His arms and legs were covered in root-like vines that pulsed with a sickly green light, releasing poisonous gases into the air. Han Yunfei glanced at him but said nothing, though his eyes burned with a silent promise of death.

"The Verdant Sky City's Ren Xiangfeng, a lustful creature at heart. How... amusing," Ling Meixue said, her voice dripping with disdain. Her killing intent spiked, her gaze locked onto Ren Xiangfeng like a predator sizing up its prey.

"To experience the might of the Celestial Shadow Church, as well as the Dao of the Little Sword Emperor, would leave me smiling even in my sleep," Ren Xiangfeng replied, his tone mocking. "Not to mention this brother over here that everyone has been talking about—the rising star of the Obsidian Woodlands. How could I, Ren Xiangfeng, miss such an amazing opportunity?"

"You're right," another voice chimed in. This time, it was a young woman—Shi Yan, from Obsidian Lake City. Like those from Mists Ridge, she was renowned for her mastery of water spiritual energy, which blended seamlessly with the element itself. "This opportunity to fight against the strongest of our generation is too good to pass up."

"It's a shame you killed Gao Zhenlei and Zhan Huito before such a spectacular moment could happen," Ren Xiangfeng said, his smile widening. "All the leading figures of our generation have gathered for an amazing showdown. A free-for-all like this is brutal, to say the least."

"Those two were nothing but lowlifes who preyed on the weak," Ji Moran snapped, her eyes cold. "It's heaven's justice."

"Haha, if that's not a sealed confession, I don't know what is," Shi Yan said with a smirk.

"Enough of this," Cheng Yutian barked, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Either fight or get lost!"

The air crackled with energy as the gathered fighters prepared for battle, each one a force of nature in their own right. The stage was set for a clash of titans, and the Obsidian Waterfall Realm would bear witness to a battle that would be remembered for generations to come.

______

The upper realms trembled as whispers of the ten most powerful flames spread like wildfire, igniting chaos and fear across the immortal domain. For hundreds of millions of years, the Immortal Realm had been governed by the shadow of the God Realm, a world that existed above even the highest heavens. Legends spoke of gods like the Fiend, the Buddha, the Sun, and the War Gods etc—beings of unimaginable power who had shaped the cosmos. Yet, no one had ever found concrete evidence of their existence. That is, until the birth of the ten flames.

The flames were said to have been born during the 50-million-year war between the factions of the Immortal Realm. It was a time of endless bloodshed, where the heavens themselves wept for the suffering below. To bring peace to the known worlds, the heavens created the ten flames, each imbued with the essence of divine power or so the people thought. These flames were not mere tools of destruction but instruments of balance, meant to be wielded by chosen warriors who would usher in a new age. With their might, ten families rose above the rest, becoming lords of the immortal world. Some of these families still thrived, their legacies unbroken, while others vanished into obscurity, waiting for the call to resurface.

The Jiang Family (江) wielded the Skyforge Flame (Caelestis Fernax), infernal fire that could forge and unmake reality itself.

The Huang Family (黄) commanded the Golden Crow Sun Flame (Saloris Infernum), a solar inferno capable of birthing and extinguishing stars.

The Yue Family (月) held the Phoenix Moon Flame (Lunara Glacies), an icy fire that could freeze and shatter time.

The Chan Family (禅) bore the Buddha Grand Flame (Zenithus Sanctum), a tranquil fire that purified corruption and brought enlightenment but could also destroy.

The Guo Family (郭) mastered the Undead Ghost Flame (Mortem Umbra), a necrotic fire that resurrected the dead as spectral warriors.

The Xiao Family (萧) controlled the Heavenly Cloud Flame (Nimbus Divinus), a cloud fire that rode the firmanent and reshaped the skies.

The Mei Family (梅) possessed the Three Eyes Illusionary Flame (Mirage Trioculus), a hallucinogenic fire that warped perception and memory.

The Mo Family (莫) harnessed the Abyssal Void Flame (Tenebris Abyssus), an anti-fire that devoured light, sound, and soul.

The Lian Family (连) wielded the Eclipsed Soul Flame (Umbra Anima), twin flames that could sever and bind souls.

The Tiansu Family (天肃) commanded the Eternal Storm Flame (Tempestas Aeternum), a hurricane of fire and lightning that could not be quenched by heaven or earth.

Yet, in a twist of fate, the Sun and Moon Flames had found new heirs. The Jiang Clan, already bearers of the Skyforge Flame, had somehow gained the Golden Crow Flame as well, a feat unheard of in the annals of history. Meanwhile, the Ji Clan of the mortal world, a family once thought insignificant, had inherited the Phoenix Moon Flame. This unprecedented shift sent ripples through the upper realms, as the balance of power began to tilt dangerously.

It was later uncovered that the ten flames were not mere creations of the heavens but the souls of the most powerful gods of the God Realm. These gods had fallen to the Immortal Realm after their passing, their essence crystallizing into the flames. No one knew who had spread this rumor or how it had come to light, but one thing was certain: those who possessed the flames would rise above the rest. A time of chaos was nearing, and bloodshed would cover the world. A dark age was descending, and the flames were awakening in quick succession, heeding the call of the heavens.