Ma Hongjun hadn't expected the attack to come so suddenly.
He instantly activated his Phoenix Playing with a Hundred Birds movement technique, swiftly dodging the fireball.
At this moment, the fire dragon pounced again, scrutinizing Ma Hongjun from its high perch.
Although the Fire Domain was almost untouched by humans, it knew the innate rule of Soul Masters hunting Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings.
Sensing the Soul Ring aura on Ma Hongjun, it understood that its companion, with whom it had spent so much time, was gone.
The fire dragon was now enraged.
"Human, you killed my companion!"
The fire dragon's eyes blazed as it stared at Ma Hongjun.
The little Vermilion Bird flew over, chirping, and actually stood in front of Ma Hongjun, glaring angrily at the fire dragon.
It seemed unable to tolerate its friend being bullied.
At the same time, the little Vermilion Bird's parents, the two large Vermilion Birds, also stepped forward.
They ignored Ma Hongjun but protected the little Vermilion Bird.
At this moment, the other Soul Beasts also looked over.
They all looked at Ma Hongjun, this suddenly appearing human, with hostility.
Especially the two three-legged golden crows and the other three fire dragons.
In the Fire Domain, a relatively small area, these similar races are all related by blood.
Among Ma Hongjun's ten spirit rings are those from the three-legged golden crows and fire dragons.
They can easily distinguish spirit rings of the same kind.
Therefore, they naturally regarded Ma Hongjun as an enemy.
Ma Hongjun's aura was not weak. Most of those present were 200,000-year-old spirit beasts, and the aura Ma Hongjun displayed was similar to that of 200,000-year-old spirit beasts.
"Fire Blaze, fighting is not allowed on Fire God Mountain!"
At this moment, a clear voice rang out.
A magnificent seven-colored blazing fire phoenix flew out.
"Little Blaze!"
Ma Hongjun was surprised at first, then he understood. Little Blaze was the messenger of the Fire God, so it was normal for it to be on Fire God Mountain.
The fire dragon became even more furious, and flames spewed from its nostrils.
Ma Hongjun's heart pounded, not because he was afraid of the fire dragon,
but because the current situation was unfavorable to him.
Suddenly, a horde of beasts, all over 100,000 years old, stormed in.
What soul master had ever encountered such a sight!
To be honest, Ma Hongjun wasn't afraid of one, nor two, but three would likely be unavoidable!
"He killed Huo Jiao, I won't let him get away with this!"
The fire dragon named Huo Lie stared intently at Ma Hongjun, uttering a harsh threat, though its flames weakened.
The other soul beasts remained still, only the Fire Dragon and the Three-Legged Golden Crow glared at Ma Hongjun with hostility.
The Vermilion Bird clan looked at the little Vermilion Bird.
They were undoubtedly surprised; how had the little Vermilion Bird come to Mount Huoshen?
Most importantly, how had it withstood the pressure to climb the mountain?
Only then did Ma Hongjun have the mind to observe the scene on the mountain.
Besides the scattered soul beasts, in the center of the summit, there was a pool.
The pool contained no water, only clusters of red flames rising.
This was the Heavenly Fire Pool.
Above the Heavenly Fire Pool was a massive crimson-gold throne.
The crimson-gold throne floated in the air, projecting beams of light.
Most of the soul beasts here turned their gazes back to the throne, filled with worship and longing.
This was the Throne of Inheritance!
It was the reason the soul beasts had gathered here.
This was a path of advancement left to them by the Fire God.
No soul beast had yet sat on the Throne of Inheritance.
The twenty-odd soul beasts lived peacefully in this small area, though they maintained a certain distance from each other.
Combining this with what Xiao Chi had said earlier, Ma Hongjun guessed that there must be some unspoken rule prohibiting fighting on Mount Fire God.
This was the place where the Fire God manifested, and it should be revered, not allowing fighting—that made sense.
Xiao Chi walked towards Ma Hongjun.
"Why did you come here?"
Xiao Chi asked.
Because this was the inheritance ground for soul beasts, the opportunities were reserved for them; it wasn't appropriate for a human like him to be here.
Ma Hongjun's gaze swept over the soul beasts present, his meaning clear: it was for their sake.
The soul beasts came to compete for opportunities; he came to compete for soul beasts.
Soul beasts were his resources.
In fact, while Vermilion Bird Ridge still has ordinary 100,000-year-old soul beasts, those that can ascend to Vulcan Mountain are almost all 200,000-year-old soul beasts.
However, Ma Hongjun hasn't encountered any along his journey.
These soul beasts aren't in the direction Ma Hongjun came from.
Like the forest, the side adjacent to the central lava lake is inhabited by powerful soul beasts; in the forest, they are the Three-Legged Golden Crows,
while in Vermilion Bird Ridge, they are the Little Vermilion Bird family.
The other powerful ones are all in the central area; the soul beasts in the central area of Vermilion Bird Ridge are all over 200,000 years old, so they all gather at Vulcan Mountain.
This is why Ma Hongjun hasn't encountered any soul beasts along his journey.
If he only wanted to obtain ordinary 100,000-year-old soul beasts, Ma Hongjun could have found them by searching in the other three directions of Vermilion Bird Ridge.
Moreover, Ma Hongjun could handle those 100,000-year-old soul beasts
. However, Ma Hongjun's ambition doesn't stop there; ordinary 100,000-year-old soul beasts are no longer enough for him.
Of course, there's another reason why Ma Hongjun, knowing the danger, still went to Vulcan Mountain:
the Heavenly Fire Pool!
According to the Fire Domain Guide's description of the Heavenly Fire Pool...
The Heavenly Fire Pool not only allows soul beasts to undergo rebirth, but it can also strengthen the martial souls of soul masters.
Of course, this only applies to fire-type martial souls.
Every inheritor of the Fire God must undergo a Heavenly Fire baptism.
The future Fire Dance may also experience this.
The Heavenly Fire Pool is one of the rewards for passing the Fire God's assessment!
These soul beasts dare not enter the Heavenly Fire Pool casually, because the price of rebirth is too high.
Entering the Heavenly Fire Pool, a soul beast will lose its original body and memories, reshape its body, and begin cultivating anew.
This is a very cruel process, and success is not guaranteed. Generally, no soul beast dares to try.
Losing memories is tantamount to death.
Few soul beasts would attempt this kind of rebirth.
However, the Heavenly Fire Pool remains a sanctuary for these soul beasts, because it offers another path.
It's like having another option.
Most soul beasts enter the Heavenly Fire Pool because they cannot overcome their life tribulations and choose to enter here.
It can be said that the Heavenly Fire Pool provides these hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts with a way out.
The throne of inheritance in the sky radiates light, enveloping the numerous soul beasts below.
To them,
this is a divine position!
He simply didn't know how to sit in this position.
A fire dragon coiled up, then rose and flew towards the throne.
The other soul beasts watched calmly, offering no obstruction.
Countless rays of light poured forth from the throne, condensing and scattering to form a horizontal barrier.
"Bang!"
The fire dragon seemed to crash into the light barrier.
Flames erupted from its body, impacting the barrier!
Then, the thin layer of light barrier seemed indestructible, still allowing the fire dragon to charge.
From beginning to end, it didn't cause a single ripple.
From the powerful aura emanating from this fire dragon, Ma Hongjun could sense that this fire dragon had at least two hundred thousand years of cultivation.
Soon, the fire dragon was exhausted.
It fell.
However, below was the Heavenly Fire Pool; if it fell in, it would be burned to ashes.
In the end, there were only two outcomes:
either annihilation
or rebirth!
At this moment, the fire dragon that had attacked Ma Hongjun, named Huo Lie, flew up to catch the fire dragon.
After the fire dragon landed,
a Vermilion Bird flew up, its crimson flames surging around it. With a cry, it violently crashed into the light screen.
"Bang!"
This time the impact was even greater.
A shockwave spread outwards; although they weren't on the same level, Ma Hongjun could feel the intense vibration in the upper air.
But the light screen remained unmoved.
It was clear that this Vermilion Bird was more than twice as powerful as the fire dragon!
A preliminary estimate put its strength at least at 300,000 years!
Soon, the Vermilion Bird stopped its attack, but it hadn't used its full strength.
Saving a sliver of energy, it flew back to the mountaintop, needing no help from its companions.
This was the second one!
Then came the third,
the fourth
…
clearly, these soul beasts weren't trying for the first time.
One after another, they charged toward the throne.
(End of Chapter)