That night, Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao sat by the Sea God Lake, talking through the night.
"Sister Xiaotao, tell me about your experiences over these past years." Zhu Ziyang asked with a smile.
"Mm!" Ma Xiaotao leaned against Zhu Ziyang, her pretty face carrying a thoughtful look as she slowly began recounting her journey. Through her words, Zhu Ziyang came to understand the events and opportunities Ma Xiaotao had encountered.
As it turned out, Ma Xiaotao had inherited the god position of the Fire Element God—also known as the Fire God—one of the seven elemental Lord Gods of the Divine Realm, ruler of the Laws of Fire and a First Class God. The fact that Ma Xiaotao gained His recognition and inheritance traced back to three years ago, when she and Diwu Huan'er entered Chichen Mountain to hunt for a soul ring.
——
Three years ago, deep within Chichen Mountain.
"Sister Xiaotao, Sister Xiaotao, I want that Sunflame Fire Ape!" Diwu Huan'er's face was flushed with excitement as she pointed to a massive ape with crimson fur standing before Ma Xiaotao.
"You sure about that?" Ma Xiaotao frowned in concern. "That Sunflame Fire Ape has cultivated for seventy thousand years. Are you really up to it? It might be safer to pick this Forty-Thousand-Year Blazing Flame Swift Dragon instead."
As she spoke, she extended her jade foot to lightly kick the red-scaled land dragon at her side. The subdued Blazing Flame Swift Dragon didn't dare move under her suppression.
"It's fine, really!" Diwu Huan'er remained firm. "I know my strength. Besides, the Sunflame Fire Ape is a power-type soul beast, more suitable for my martial soul than the Swift Dragon."
"Since you've made up your mind, I won't try to stop you." Ma Xiaotao nodded. "Begin, then."
Diwu Huan'er approached the Sunflame Fire Ape and swiftly took it down. A black soul ring emerged from its corpse, and the girl immediately sat cross-legged to absorb it. As she did, a phantom appeared behind her—lion body, dragon head and tail, dragon claws, scales of fire, and sharp draconic eyes—it was her martial soul, the Suanni!
Along with the Suanni phantom, Diwu Huaner's five soul rings manifested: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black—a textbook-perfect configuration. As she absorbed the Sunflame Fire Ape's soul ring, a sixth black ring slowly settled into place.
Ma Xiaotao watched the process unfold smoothly and let out a breath of relief. Then, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy. This girl's talent really did surpass hers.
The Suanni martial soul was innately endowed with Ultimate Fire. Coupled with its True Dragon bloodline, its strength was tremendous. Compared to her own acquired Ultimate Fire, both its potential and combat strength were superior. If they were at the same cultivation level, Ma Xiaotao wasn't confident she'd win.
Soon, Diwu Huan'er finished absorbing the sixth soul ring. Ma Xiaotao rejoiced and prepared to descend the mountain with her, but just as they were about to leave Chichen Mountain, a sudden volcanic eruption disrupted their plans.
Chichen Mountain was an active volcano. Though they had accounted for this possibility and made sufficient preparations, they still had to quickly retreat into a nearby cave to avoid the surging lava.
Within that unremarkable, unnamed cave, Ma Xiaotao and Diwu Huan'er stumbled upon a shrine—the Fire God's Shrine.
"Sister Xiaotao, what is this place?" Diwu Huan'er looked at the astonishing hidden expanse inside the cave, her face full of shock and confusion.
"I'm not sure either. Let's just take a look first." Ma Xiaotao was also puzzled by the grand temple that had appeared before them. Her curiosity overcame any fear, and she stepped forward to investigate.
With Ma Xiaotao in the lead and Diwu Huan'er following, they soon arrived within a hundred meters of the main gates. As they approached, a tremor rippled through the ground, and the doors of the temple slowly opened—almost as if welcoming their arrival.
The two girls were stunned, but they were both bold by nature. After exchanging glances, they sped up and entered the temple without hesitation.
As soon as they stepped inside, a beam of crimson-gold light shot from the depths of the temple and struck them precisely. Alarmed, they tried to resist by releasing soul power, only to find their bodies bound by the red-gold light—completely immobilized.
Ma Xiaotao's face turned pale with fear and despair. But before she could spiral into panic, the red-gold light carried them to the depths of the temple, where a grand statue stood. The deity was seated on a marble throne, his posture wild and regal, one hand raised holding a crimson crystal orb. The beam of light that restrained the girls was emitted from that very orb.
Overwhelmed by the statue's majesty, Ma Xiaotao's spirit was pulled into a mysterious space by the red light. There, she saw a figure cloaked in red radiance. Though his appearance was unclear, she instinctively sensed a connection between him and the statue.
"Who are you? Where is this place?" Ma Xiaotao asked warily.
"I am the Fire God, the wielder of the Laws of Fire. This is my divine temple." A deep, masculine voice came from the figure, speaking words that left Ma Xiaotao nearly stupefied.
"F-Fire God?!" she blurted out, staring dumbfounded at the glowing figure.
"You are worthy. Would you become my chosen one and inherit my god position, becoming the next Lord of Fire?" The Fire God continued calmly.
"What do you mean?" Ma Xiaotao felt her mind go blank. Everything seemed surreal.
"To put it simply—do you want to inherit the Fire God's divine position and become the new Fire God?" he explained patiently.
"You mean… I can become the next Fire God?" Ma Xiaotao finally snapped out of her stupor but still felt like she was dreaming. "Right now?"
"Of course not." the Fire God replied, slightly exasperated. "You must first complete nine trials to earn the inheritance. Well? Do you accept the challenge?"
"I do! I accept!" Ma Xiaotao didn't even need to think. Though unclear on the nature of the trials, she knew enough about god positions to say yes immediately.
"Good!" the Fire God sounded pleased. "Close your eyes. Sense the Fire God's Light, and you'll receive the trial's information—starting with the first of the Nine Trials."
Ma Xiaotao complied at once, missing both the Fire God's disappearance and his faint parting words:
"…Let's hope you don't repeat the mistakes of your useless ancestor."
—
In the Divine Realm, Elemental Heaven, Fire and Water Temple.
"Well? Did the girl accept?" A beautiful goddess in a flowing aqua-blue gown asked with concern.
"What mortal would turn down godhood?" the flame-armored male god replied with a chuckle. "I only hope this Ma Xiaotao doesn't turn out like her ancestor, the Phoenix God Ma Hongjun, and waste my efforts."
These two were, of course, the Fire God and Water God—husband and wife among the Seven Elemental Lord Gods.
"But if we're talking about Ma Hongjun… Ah Huo, won't Sea God be displeased by this?" Water God asked worriedly.
"Hmph!" Fire God snorted. "Displeased? What does it matter to him if I pass on my god position? Leaving aside that it's our right to choose successors, just agreeing to grant Ma Hongjun a chance back then was already a huge favor from me."
"Still, he's a God King. If he really takes issue with it, you might not be able to pass your god position smoothly."
"Don't worry, Ah Shui." Fire God wrapped his arm around her. "Sea God isn't the only one watching the Douluo Continent. According to Darkness, the Life and Destruction God Kings are watching too."
"What? Something big is happening?" Water God was stunned.
"The Death God's inheritor has appeared," Fire God replied, smiling. "And Ma Xiaotao is close to that inheritor. As long as she proves herself, my inheritance is practically guaranteed."
"Really? That's wonderful!" Water God exclaimed in delight.
"Isn't it?" Fire God laughed. "Once I pass the position to Ma Xiaotao, and Life God King helps you take your position, we can leave this Divine Realm, roam the stars, and live carefree—no more bending to these young gods!"
"Mm!" Water God closed her eyes, already lost in the daydream.
(End of Chapter)
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