Chapter Fifty: The First Victory

Gu Rong saw Li Mu take out the Gourd of Fire, and it took all his effort not to laugh.

“The Gourd of Fire—what kind of treasure is this, really? I’ve never heard of it,” he remarked, barely sparing it a glance.

Li Mu flicked his fingers, and a slender thread of fire slipped from the mouth of the gourd.

The fire thread glowed yellow, but if one looked closely, they would notice a streak of violet winding through it. This was the result of over a month’s labor; Li Mu’s true energy carried the essence of purple fire. After countless experiments, he had found a unique way to guide the Gourd of Fire, and now even its green and yellow flames bore the attributes of purple fire.

This was a remarkable achievement, his trump card.

Yet Gu Rong stood with the calm of someone unconcerned, not even glancing his way.

But on the platform, the cultivators in the Vein Training stage could clearly sense something strange. Some began to whisper, “What kind of treasure is that gourd? It looks like a first-rate artifact, but its fire is bizarre.”

“Heh, it can’t be Wine Sage’s wine gourd. That gourd always scares me when I see it,” Tie Hai mused, thinking of Wine Sage and feeling a chill.

“Speaking of him, Wine Sage seems to have gone north, searching for some cure. They say he’s suffered terribly at the hands of those from Ming Jade Valley.”

A monk stared at the Gourd of Fire, his expression unreadable. “The Gourd of Fire? I’ve heard of it—it’s a common artifact in the Fire-Melting Realm, where everything is named for fire.”

Ye Yibai’s gaze fell briefly on the thread of fire before he turned away. “Madam Wang, do you know Li Mu?”

Madam Wang’s face was respectful. “Yes, Lord Ye.”

Like her, Ye Yibai was also at the late stage of Vein Training, but he had long reached its limit and could advance to the Pill Formation stage at any time. Everyone revered him all the more.

“This young man is exceptional—to obtain such a treasure, and it even contains the essence of strange fire.” Ye Yibai nodded slightly.

Madam Wang smiled, “He is very talented. I’ve tried several times to recruit him into Jade Iron Sect, but he has no such intention. However, if he makes it into the top ten this time, I’ll make sure he joins us, one way or another.” As she spoke, her eyes revealed a hint of confusion.

Their conversation was not shielded by any isolation array, so nearby cultivators could hear them.

Many faces changed, not least that of Tu Xi, steward of the Two Extremes Gate. His cheeks darkened instantly, and he shouted, “Gu Rong, get out of there, quickly!”

Madam Wang turned to him with a gentle smile. “No need to shout, Steward Tu. Nothing can be heard on the platform. Have a drink and ease your worries.”

A cup of divine tea appeared before Tu Xi.

Tu Xi’s face was grave; he ignored the tea, staring intently at the arena, muttering, “So it’s strange fire—but the Divine Yellow Armor wasn’t forged with strange fire. I refuse to believe this Gourd of Fire, merely a first-rate artifact, could break through the armor’s defenses.”

Gu Rong had no idea what was happening off the platform.

He stood arrogantly in the arena, hands empty, letting the thread of fire lightly touch the Yellow Armor.

Pop!

At first, it was like peeling an egg, but in an instant, the fire turned venomous, snuffing everything out.

Wherever the fire thread passed, the Yellow Armor melted away like snow in water, dissolving into liquid.

“Ah!” Gu Rong screamed.

As he realized the fire thread’s presence, nearly all his Yellow Armor was burned away, his body flailing wildly across the arena as if roasted.

His proud Shattering Light Spear was tossed aside, he knew not where.

“Why aren’t you helping?” Tu Xi’s face paled, shouting at Madam Wang.

“It’s fine. He won’t harm Gu Rong. Steward Tu, why not take a closer look?” Madam Wang’s sharp eyes sparkled with a sly smile.

Tu Xi stared hard, finally noticing that while the fire thread seemed wild, it burned only the Yellow Armor, never touching Gu Rong himself.

His face grew darker and his surprise deepened. He knew the Yellow Armor was worn by Gu Rong. To control fire so precisely—there was likely no other cultivator in Deyang City, even among those in the Foundation Building stage, who could achieve such mastery.

“He’s only a Foundation Building cultivator, without a sect? The manager of the Pill Shop?”

Tu Xi’s words were awkward to hear.

Madam Wang replied with a smile, “That’s right, but after the competition, who knows?”

She was deeply amazed—she’d known Li Mu could win, but hadn’t imagined he would win so resoundingly. She truly wished to bring him into Jade Iron Sect; if another sect took him, it would be disastrous.

The Divine Yellow Armor, under the purple flame’s burning, melted completely into golden water, flowing across the arena.

Li Mu skillfully controlled the fire, guiding every drop of golden water away from Gu Rong, ensuring not a trace harmed him.

It was necessary—such competitions forbade cultivators from killing their opponents. Should a fatal blow be struck, Vein Training stage cultivators would intervene and halt the contest.

If injuries occurred, it could spark needless blood feuds.

“Do you want to try another move?”

Li Mu, observing Gu Rong’s blank gaze, felt a trace of pity.

Gu Rong stared at Li Mu, trying to speak but unable. His treasured artifact lost, his Yellow Armor destroyed, his confidence shattered. “You win.”

A series of dull thuds sounded.

The protective barrier around the arena activated, and Li Mu rode a cloud, drifting out.

Many cultivators on the platform watched Li Mu; their expressions had transformed from contempt to fear. No one wished to face that slender thread of fire. It was a flame capable of destroying even second-rate artifacts—while fire restrains metal, Divine Yellow Armor was no ordinary artifact. Li Mu’s fire was, at worst, a third-rate strange fire.

Sun Qi greeted Li Mu with respect, “Brother Mu, you really are amazing.”

“It’s nothing. I didn’t let your spirit crystals go to waste, did I?” Li Mu replied calmly. “Let’s go back and see Ying’er.”

“Ying’er didn’t come today. What a pity—if she’d seen what happened on the platform, she’d be so happy!” Sun Qi followed behind Li Mu, his words tinged with regret.

“She didn’t come.”

Li Mu’s demeanor grew solemn.

Li Ying was not a cultivator. With so many cultivators present, there was bound to be ill intent. Though Jade Iron Sect patrolled, some things were difficult to prevent.

A few in the crowd instinctively stepped aside, watching the two leave as voices rose in discussion.

“Damn, this competition was truly tough.”

“Agreed. Gu Rong was strong enough to place in the top ten, yet he was utterly defeated in the first round by this unknown Li Mu—defeated so badly, all his pride gone.”

“Deyang City really produces talent. It’ll be exciting to watch.”

“Of course. It’s the city established by the leading sect of the Cloud Mountain Realm. Haha, Old Wang, looks like you can forget about making it into the top ten this time.”

“Oh, that’s not certain.”

The crowd below debated, but the platform itself was unusually quiet. Madam Wang, smiling, raised her hand. “Steward Tu, you should fulfill your promise now.”