Chapter 996: Hoping the Prince Consort Will Lend a Helping Hand

In the great hall.

As Lin Chen obtained the first key, the remaining floating flames suddenly surged, transforming into a wave of fire that poured down the hall. Sensing the power of this fire wave, many martial artists’ expressions changed slightly, and almost without hesitation, they retreated towards the hall’s exit.

This fire wave was stronger than the one at the hall’s entrance before; they couldn’t withstand it.

Of course, some were unwilling to retreat and prepared to resist the flames, but the final result was that they turned to ashes.

After this wave, the number of martial artists in the hall had decreased by a hundred.

In the entire great hall, Lin Chen was the only one unaffected by the flame flow. This time, it wasn’t because of his strength, but because he held a key. When the flame wave appeared, the key emitted a glow, forming a halo that blocked the flame wave.

The flame wave came quickly and disappeared just as fast.

After ten breaths, the flame wave vanished, and a group of fireballs appeared at the front of the hall once again.

Upon seeing the number of fireballs, Lin Chen’s pupils contracted slightly. This time there were ten more fireballs than last time, does this mean the second wave of flame flow is stronger than the first?

If that’s the case, each subsequent wave of flame flow will be stronger than the previous one, and to conserve energy, one must seize the keys as quickly as possible.

Some may want to conserve their strength, but the plan to wait till later to snatch the keys is likely to fall apart.

Lin Chen murmured inwardly, the rules of the Holy Fire Hall forced everyone to strive for the keys in the earlier rounds; otherwise, the damage from the flame flows alone in the later rounds would be unbearable.

While Lin Chen was able to think of this, everyone else in the hall could also figure it out. At this moment, the gazes directed at the key within the fireball were more fervent than before.

Boom!

Almost simultaneously, dozens of figures moved together, with various treasures flashing wildly and colliding fiercely in mid-air, producing deafening sounds of metal clashing.

Flames, ice, fierce winds… countless weapon shadows filled the entire hall with the sound of howling.

The key was only ten feet in front of these figures.

Ten feet was an instant distance for any martial artist in the hall, yet at this moment it seemed like an insurmountable gulf. Whoever came closer to the key would inevitably face attacks from others.

The cries of agony rose and fell, even Lin Chen felt these guys were a bit insane.

Six factions had their eyes on this key, with eight Innate Fourth Realm powerhouses amongst them, but the next moment Lin Chen’s eyes suddenly shifted to where the key was.

A figure appeared, grasping the key with one hand; none of the martial artists engaged in battle in the hall noticed.

Lin Chen also took a deep look at this person, even he didn’t know when the person had gotten close to the key. If the person’s goal wasn’t the key, but rather him… he’d likely receive a slap.

Although his divine thought didn’t detect when the person approached the key, it only meant the person cultivated a top-notch body technique, reaching the pinnacle of concealing divine soul presence. But this doesn’t mean that if the person approached him, he would truly be oblivious.

Innate martial artists have a natural perception of lethal danger, unless the person’s body technique is so strong that even martial artists below the Myriad Phenomena Realm couldn’t perceive it, but Lin Chen doesn’t believe such an otherworldly cultivation technique exists.

The power of any cultivation technique is tied to its realm.

If an Innate Fourth Realm martial artist could approach an Innate Sixth Realm powerhouse just through body technique, then there wouldn’t be a differentiation between the Innate Sixth Realms.

Li You held the key with a smile on his face; even though all those competing martial artists were looking at him, he didn’t mind because they had no chance anymore.

Boom!

The remaining flames surged at this moment, transforming into a flame flow. The martial artists who intended to snatch the key from Li You’s hands changed their expressions, and, ignoring him, began to resist this flame flow.

After ten breaths, the flame flow receded.

The unwilling martial artists struck once more, yet strangely, the halo around Li You hadn’t disappeared, and all attacks that landed on it vanished without a trace.

The key protected Li You.

Seeing this scene, Lin Chen’s pupils shrank suddenly, and a certain suspicion formed in his heart.

No one knew that the key would protect its holder, especially since the first person who seized the key died directly, so nobody thought about this.

Thus, once the flame flow appeared, the key was essentially recognized, protecting its master.

Was this person lucky or did they know this beforehand?

The time of the flame flow could be estimated based on the previous one, but there’s no precedent to reference for the key’s protection of its holder after the flame flow.

Lin Chen didn’t consider the person lucky, because it was too coincidental.

To accurately estimate the timing of the flame flow in such circumstances requires considerable composure, and such calculating individuals wouldn’t take risks without absolute certainty.

Therefore, this person knew more about the Holy Fire Hall than the Ten Thousand Flames Sect disciples. What is this person’s origin?

Once it was confirmed that Li You couldn’t be attacked, the martial artists present, though unwilling, could only give up and began to focus on the next wave of fireballs.

After three breaths, another wave of fireballs appeared, this time ten more than before.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Holy Fire Hall was created by the founder of our Ten Thousand Flames Sect. It’s not too much for our sect to have one key!”

Meng Bing shouted, and an Innate Fire roared from his body. The other disciples of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect also summoned their Innate Fires. The appearance of nearly ten Innate Fires caused the entire hall’s temperature to rise sharply.

The other martial artists who were about to act held back after hearing Meng Bing’s words.

It wasn’t that they really wanted to give face to the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, but because the disciples of the sect were not weak in overall strength. To truly confront them wouldn’t be advantageous, nor could they ensure they could seize the key from the sect. If they ended up without the key, and also offended the sect, it would indeed be a huge loss.

After all, the exit to the Holy Fire Realm is on the Ten Thousand Flames Sect’s territory.

Meng Bing obtained the key and then clasped his fists like Lin Chen, “Thank you all for letting me have this.”

“Brother Meng, you are too kind. Since the Holy Fire Hall was indeed created by your sect’s founder, we willingly yield this key to the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.”

“That’s right, no one can do without the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.”

The key has already fallen into Meng Bing’s hands, further contention is unrealistic, so martial artists from various sects present began speaking words of goodwill, though everyone knew what was really going on.

A wave of flame reappeared, this time causing a hundred martial artists to withdraw, leaving less than three hundred remaining in the hall.

Fireballs reappeared, their number increasing again, but what excited all the martial artists in the hall was that this time there were actually keys inside two of the fireballs.

“Our Daluo Sect wants one key!”

“Our Star Luo Sect wants one key!”

“This key belongs to our Fulong Sect!”

Many super sects acted once more, and the contention was even fiercer than last time. Ultimately, after paying a painful price, the two keys were obtained by Innate Fourth Realm experts from the Star Luo Sect and Fulong Sect.

The hall started to fill with the smell of blood.

With the next wave of flames, over a hundred more people left the hall. Lin Chen also witnessed Zeng Xi’s exit and saw the unwillingness in Zeng Xi’s eyes.

With Zeng Xi’s talent, he’s not inferior to those Innate Fourth Realm martial artists, but the Martial Path is like this; aside from talent, timing is also crucial. If the Holy Fire Hall opened twenty years later, the one leading the Thousand Mechanism Sect would have been Zeng Xi by now.

It can only be said that he was born at the wrong time.

In the following waves, two keys appeared in each round, and the number of martial artists within the hall decreased until only a few dozen remained.

“Sister, it’s our turn now.”

Zhuang Qiang nodded at her sister’s words; she hadn’t rushed earlier not because she lacked the strength to contest for the keys, but because she didn’t want to be embroiled in the fierce battles.

Every time the flames appear, the number of martial artists from various sects decreases, and now the remaining forces on the scene are no more than three people, unable to form alliances.

With the fireballs appearing, Zhuang Qiang shouted lightly, “Move!”

The two sisters immediately burst forth, accompanied by more than ten other figures doing the same. The ones able to remain here are mostly Innate Fourth Realm martial artists, and at such a short distance, no matter how fast their body techniques are, it’s difficult to widen the gap significantly.

“Those two have finally made their move.”

Lin Chen saw Zhuang Qiang and her sister take action, and his eyes held an evaluating look. Ever since entering the hall, he’d paid attention to these two women.

With so many rounds of keys appearing, these two women hadn’t made any moves, seemingly uninterested in the keys. Now it became clear that they weren’t uninterested, but intended to simultaneously seize two keys — their ambition was truly immense. Even the hosts, the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, had only taken one key.

Bam!

Zhuang Qiang struck down an attacking long sword with a palm and glanced towards her sister. Her sister had also gotten the key, but now faced the encirclement of four Innate Fourth Realm martial artists, as did Zhuang Qiang.

Though the remaining factions are no more than three people each, they share a common goal: whoever grabs a key becomes the target of attack. Even while attacking, they remain wary of others.

“Too greedy.”

Meng Bing, standing beside Lin Chen, slowly spoke. These two women intended to obtain two keys; had they aimed for just one, perhaps the martial artists present might have been willing to concede. But to monopolize two would surely incite anger among the masses.

After several breaths, Zhuang Qiang paled; she could withstand attacks on her side, but her sister couldn’t hold on much longer.

With a sidelong glance at the whole scene, especially seeing Lin Chen standing leisurely aside, Zhuang Qiang made up her mind.

“Prince Consort, I implore you for assistance.”

Watching with an amused expression, Lin Chen was taken aback upon hearing the transmission.

Prince Consort!

When did he become Prince Consort?

But the next moment Lin Chen quickly realized that these two women were part of the Flower Race, related to Senior Sister Jiang.

“Prince Consort, my sister and I are not greedy; we’re compelled to enter the next stage, and our entry will also be beneficial to you.”

Zhuang Qiang transmitted again, and Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed upon hearing, his figure flashing, appearing next before the beleaguered Zhuang Wei.

“Everyone, let’s allow this key to be taken.”

Lin Chen’s appearance caused the Innate Fourth Realm martial artists prepared to attack to hesitate. They didn’t want to clash with Lin Chen; the fate of Wan Xingyao from the Eight Desolates Sect remained vivid in their minds, yet conceding a key also filled them with reluctance.

“Lin Chen, we already let you take one key, isn’t this too excessive?”

“This has nothing to do with you; don’t assume that defeating Wan Xingyao makes you truly invincible.”

Hearing the words from those five Innate Fourth Realm experts, Lin Chen’s expression was indifferent, “Since you all are unwilling to concede, then feel free to act.”

Seeing Lin Chen’s staunch stance, the five experts hesitated, and amidst their hesitation, the remaining flames surged, ushering another fiery wave.

Even Lin Chen was astonished at the power of this flame wave, and the Innate Fourth Realm martial artists who hadn’t obtained keys turned pale instantly; they couldn’t withstand this blaze.

Extreme unwillingness appeared in their eyes; had they known the situation, they wouldn’t have held back just because they were wary of Lin Chen.

Rumble!

The flame wave rushed like a flood, and when it dissipated, no martial artist without a key remained standing in the hall.

Present, along with Lin Chen, were only sixteen people.

Just as Lin Chen was prepared to transmit inquiries to the two women, that cold voice echoed once more.

“First stage ends, commence the second stage!”