The Family Tournament

The morning sunlight poured through the clouds, bathing the Fen family's training grounds in a serene yet tense atmosphere. Today, the family's grand competition was about to begin. Fen Jin stood at the edge of the arena, surveying his surroundings, a swirl of complex emotions rising within him—anticipation mingled with unease. For him, this was not just a simple contest; it was a chance to decide his fate.

"Fen Jin, are you ready?" A familiar voice interrupted Fen Jin's thoughts. He turned to see several of the younger members of the Fen family, already positioned on the field, clearly prepared.

One of them, named Fen Hao, sneered as he looked at Fen Jin. "Waste, you better be careful today. Sure, you've gotten stronger these past few days, but do you think you can beat us, the true geniuses?"

Fen Hao's gaze was filled with provocation, but Fen Jin remained silent, coldly staring back at him. Fen Hao was one of the most talented of the younger generation in the Fen family, having already broken through to the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi, making him nearly invincible. Fen Jin, once a prodigy, was now seen as a joke.

However, there was no fear in Fen Jin's eyes—only determination. He knew that today's contest was not just about proving himself; it was a test of his ability to control the Nether Flame. Today, he would fight for his survival, to open a new door in his life.

As the match officially began, the atmosphere in the arena grew taut with tension. The younger generation of the Fen family were eager to show their strength, while Fen Jin stood quietly to the side, his eyes flashing with resolve.

The first to challenge him was Fen Hao's friend, Fen Xiao. With Dou Qi at the Seventh Stage, Fen Xiao was one of the mainstays of the younger generation.

"Useless, don't blame me for being merciless," Fen Xiao sneered as he approached, raising his fist. A powerful aura of Dou Qi surged from him.

Fen Jin took a deep breath, feeling the stirrings of the Nether Flame within him. He quickly activated his Dou Qi, his energy resonating with the Nether Flame. The eerie green fire flickered in his palm, quickly spreading over his body. In an instant, Fen Jin was enveloped by a layer of green flames, emitting a chill that spread through the air.

"Come at me," Fen Jin said softly, his gaze resolute.

Fen Xiao's fist shot forward, and Fen Jin swiftly met the attack. Their fists collided with a thunderous sound, each strike vibrating through the air.

Fen Jin soon realized that controlling the Nether Flame was more difficult than ever. With each strike, he had to concentrate harder to keep the flame's power in check. At first, he relied solely on Dou Qi to enhance his strength, but as the battle progressed, the Nether Flame began to grow more restless, as if it desperately sought to unleash all of its energy.

"How is this guy suddenly so strong?" Fen Xiao thought in shock. He had originally believed Fen Jin was just an irreparably useless person, but he now found himself stunned by Fen Jin's unexpected strength.

Fen Jin remained calm; despite the intensifying battle, his mind grew clearer. In this match, he not only needed to defeat his opponent, but also conquer the Nether Flame inside him, preventing it from spiraling out of control.

"Boom!"

Fen Jin and Fen Xiao's attacks collided mid-air, creating a shockwave that shook the ground beneath them. Cracks appeared in the earth from the force of their clash. Fen Jin's face twisted in pain—though the power was immense, he still hadn't fully mastered it. Each time he unleashed the Nether Flame, he paid a great price, and the strain on his body was becoming overwhelming.

"I need to make this power a part of me," Fen Jin thought to himself, knowing that if he couldn't fully control the Nether Flame, he would never become a true master.

"Break it!" Fen Xiao roared, his Dou Qi exploding with force as his fist glowed with a brilliant light, crashing toward Fen Jin.

Fen Jin's heart tightened. Immediately, his body erupted with even fiercer Nether Flame. This time, he didn't just rely on his Dou Qi; he fused it with the power of the Nether Flame. His presence instantly became as intense as a blazing fire.

"Boom!"

Fen Jin struck, his fist meeting Fen Xiao's with an eruption of fire and Dou Qi. It was like a comet colliding with Fen Xiao's fist, the force of the flames scattering his Dou Qi. Fen Xiao was forced back, retreating several steps, his face pale.

"You..." Fen Xiao gasped in fear. He hadn't expected Fen Jin's strength to suddenly surge, and it was far beyond anything he had imagined.

Fen Jin steadied himself, his eyes cold and unwavering. "It's not over yet."

He struck again. This time, the Nether Flame on his fist burned even more fiercely. Fen Xiao, completely unprepared, was pushed back step by step. Finally, with a powerful punch, Fen Jin sent him flying, and Fen Xiao crashed to the ground, unconscious.

The arena fell silent. Everyone stared, dumbfounded. They had expected Fen Jin to fail easily in this match, but instead, he had defeated Fen Xiao with overwhelming force.

"Fen Jin won?"

"What's going on? Isn't he a waste?"

"How could his power suddenly be this strong?"

Whispers filled the air as people speculated, but Fen Jin remained unmoved. He wasn't proud of this victory; he knew that behind this win lay even greater challenges.

The power of the Nether Flame, though powerful, was still something he couldn't fully control. His body had begun to buckle under the strain of its energy. Each release brought intense pain, and he knew clearly that this power wasn't just raw force—it was tied to some unfathomable existence.

"This is just the beginning," Fen Jin murmured. "I must understand this power more deeply if I'm to truly master it."

The family tournament was far from over, but for Fen Jin, this battle had already ceased to be about victory or defeat. It was now a profound trial between him and the Nether Flame. Was this power his blessing, or the source of his downfall? Only time would tell.