After clearing the sixth floor, the flame array teleported Long Feng and Mei Ling to the main sect grounds — a dazzling courtyard layered in crimson marble and glowing flame veins, surrounded by tens of thousands of disciples from every branch of the Crimson Flame Sect.
News of the Soul Flame Awakening had already spread.
Whispers raced through the ranks like wildfire.
> "That's him?"
"The one who took the Soul Crystal?"
"But he's just an outer disciple…"
"They say he survived the Serpent Flame trial. With two flame maidens…"
"Is he a chosen flame-bearer?"
Eyes filled with awe.
Jealousy.
Fear.
And hatred.
---
The Grand Elder's Summon
Elder Bai Wen stood at the center of the marble altar platform, cloaked in red-gold ceremonial flame robes. His face was calm, but his spiritual pressure leaked around him like a coiled inferno.
At his side was the crimson decree scroll — rarely used except for sect-wide matters.
"Long Feng," he called, voice calm and cold.
The murmurs hushed instantly.
Long Feng stepped forward, Mei Ling at his side.
"You stand accused," Bai Wen said, "of disrupting sect harmony, stealing the Soul Flame Crystal without rightful permission, and…"
He paused.
"…carrying a forbidden lineage."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
---
The Trap
Mei Ling's face paled. "They're going to try and publicly crush you…"
Long Feng didn't blink.
"Then let them."
From the right side of the altar, three inner court disciples walked up. All wore black trimmed flame robes and silver-banded gauntlets — the mark of combat elders' personal disciples.
The center one, a tall, spear-wielding man named Wei Zhan, smirked arrogantly.
"I challenge Long Feng to the Pillar Duel," he said loudly.
Elder Bai Wen nodded. "Accepted."
> The Pillar Duel:
A life-and-death battle where the accused fights for their place — or dies.
---
Mei Ling Protests
Mei Ling stepped forward, furious. "He was invited to the trial! He passed fairly! There's no violation!"
Bai Wen gave her a false, serene smile. "And you are?"
"She is the Lotus Frost Maiden," a voice cut in coolly.
Everyone turned.
Xue Yiran stepped onto the platform, robes flowing like divine fire, her presence noble and untouchable.
"If you challenge him," she said calmly, "you challenge every flame chosen by the pagoda."
A stir passed through the crowd.
Now two maidens had claimed him.
> He wasn't just a rogue disciple anymore.
He was becoming a symbol.
And that terrified the elders more than any power he held.
---
Duel Begins – Wei Zhan Attacks
The arena rose — a circular platform of pure crimson flame metal.
Long Feng and Wei Zhan stepped in. The latter spun his crimson spear once, grinning confidently.
"No weapons, trash?" Wei sneered.
Long Feng smiled. "Didn't think I'd need one."
---
Round One:
Wei Zhan dashed forward — spear blazing with twin flame arcs.
Long Feng dodged low, then struck upward with a flame-infused palm.
Wei blocked, but staggered.
"You're faster than you look—"
Round Two:
Wei released a barrage of spear strikes, forming flame dragons in midair. The ground split beneath their feet as shockwaves erupted.
Long Feng activated his Soul Flame — his eyes glowing silver.
With a sweep of his arm, he erased the dragons mid-air and kicked off the ground, slamming his elbow into Wei's ribs.
> Crack!
The crowd gasped.
---
The Assassins Return
Just as the duel climaxed, two figures in black suddenly flickered into existence above the crowd.
Shadow Qi surged.
> "Assassins!" someone shouted.
The crowd panicked, and chaos spread like wildfire.
Wei Zhan saw his chance — eyes glowing with dark intent. The duel was no longer fair.
He stepped back and prepared to drive his spear into Long Feng's back — timed with the distraction.
But—
A second spear shattered his from the side.
Xue Yiran stood behind him, eyes narrowed. "You attack from the back… and call yourself an inner disciple?"
Wei turned pale. "Y-you—! This isn't—!"
> Boom—!
Long Feng landed a full-powered palm to his chest, enhanced by the Soul Flame.
Wei Zhan coughed blood and flew backward, crashing into the arena wall.
---
The Kill Order Revealed
The two assassins attacked from opposite ends of the courtyard — both aimed for Long Feng's heart.
But this time…
He was ready.
He raised one hand — and a dome of silver flame erupted from his body, burning so fiercely that it melted the assassins' shadow techniques mid-flight.
They screamed — not in pain, but confusion.
"What… kind of fire is this…?!"
Long Feng's voice echoed across the chaos.
> "The kind that remembers.
The kind that burns fate itself."
He threw both palms forward.
The Soul Flame surged — and the assassins were reduced to ash before they hit the ground.
---
Aftermath – Divided Sect
The crowd fell silent.
What had started as a trial… had turned into a purge.
And Long Feng?
He stood at the center of it all — calm, tall, glowing with soul flame light, and surrounded by two maidens who had defended him without hesitation.
Elder Bai Wen clenched his fists.
But he couldn't act now.
Too many eyes.
Too much power had revealed itself.