Strength Must Be Proven

Qin Chen stepped out of his room, his long blonde hair flowing behind him as the cool night air brushed against his skin.

His golden eyes burned with newfound power—his entire body felt lighter, stronger, and overflowing with Qi after his cultivation breakthrough.

But he wasn't satisfied.

I need more flame energy.

His Fire Sovereign Dao Body and Crimson Star Flame Manual had allowed him to rocket through six cultivation stages in a single night, but his progress had hit a wall—the Northern Wilderness lacked flame energy, meaning he needed an alternative source to push his cultivation even further.

There's only one person who might have an answer.

A certain older female outer sect elder, who had always been fond of him, might know where he could find a rich source of fire Qi.

With his next step in mind, Qin Chen headed toward her location—

But the moment he entered the sect's outer training grounds, he felt it.

The sharp sting of hostility.

Qin Chen barely walked a dozen steps before a group of outer sect disciples stepped into his path.

Their expressions were a mix of irritation, amusement, and arrogance.

A sneering voice broke the silence.

"Look who it is—Azure Sky Sect's rising star."

Qin Chen's gaze flickered over them—five in total.

At the front stood Xu Yang, a Qi Refinement Stage 8 cultivator, and one of the more notorious figures among the outer disciples.

The moment Qin Chen saw him, he understood.

They weren't jealous.

They were mocking him.

The fire phenomenon from his awakening had shaken the sect, and word had spread like wildfire. There were whispers of how Qin Chen had a legendary Fire Dao Body, of how he had "awakened his true potential."

But then…

The same Qin Chen showed up in the outer sect, unchanged.

Still at Qi Refinement Stage 6.

To them, it was pathetic.

"All that hype, and you're still stuck at Stage 6?" Xu Yang scoffed, crossing his arms. "I thought you'd at least advance to Stage 7 after all that commotion."

Another disciple grinned. "Guess a flashy light show doesn't mean real strength, huh?"

Laughter erupted from the group.

"Right? He's still the same weak pretty boy!"

Qin Chen remained calm, unfazed.

His golden eyes swept across them with indifference, as if they weren't even worth his time.

"Move."

That one word was sharper than any sword.

It sent a wave of cold silence through the group, turning their amusement into irritation.

Xu Yang's expression darkened. "Or what?"

Qin Chen sighed. "You're wasting my time."

Xu Yang sneered. "No. You're wasting ours. If you want to take the trial, then prove you deserve it. Right here. Right now."

The other disciples grinned, mocking and eager to watch a show.

Qin Chen smirked.

Perfect.

Xu Yang lunged first, his fists glowing with earth-attributed Qi, a technique designed to create massive force upon impact.

Boom!

The ground shattered as he launched a devastating punch at Qin Chen's chest.

A direct hit—

Or so it seemed.

Qin Chen vanished.

A blurred afterimage of golden flames remained where he had stood, flickering before dissolving into nothing.

Xu Yang's pupils shrank.

"What?!"

Before he could react—

Bang!

Qin Chen's fist crashed into his ribs, sending him flying several meters before he skidded to a stop, gasping for breath.

Gasps erupted from the other disciples.

"No way… how is he that fast?"

Xu Yang gritted his teeth, shaking off the pain.

"You got lucky!"

He charged again, his hands forming a seal, activating his martial art—

"Stone Crusher Palm!"

A massive phantom palm of condensed earth Qi materialized in the air, slamming toward Qin Chen like a falling boulder.

Qin Chen's eyes flashed.

He didn't move.

He simply clenched his right fist.

Boom!

Golden flames swirled violently, condensing around his knuckles. His hand burned hotter than molten metal, the air around him warping from the sheer heat.

Hell Flame Fist.

BOOM!

The moment his flaming fist collided with the Stone Crusher Palm, a violent explosion of heat and Qi erupted between them.

Crack!

The earth Qi construct shattered in an instant—melted by the extreme temperature of Qin Chen's attack.

Xu Yang was sent flying, crashing into the training ground floor, coughing violently.

Silence.

Utter silence.

No one could believe what they had just seen.

A single punch.

Qin Chen hadn't just overpowered Xu Yang's attack—he had melted right through it.

From the sidelines, a figure watched with narrowed eyes.

Unlike the other disciples, he wasn't laughing.

He wasn't mocking.

He was analyzing.

His name was Li Feng, one of the strongest outer sect disciples—someone who had been on the verge of breaking into the inner sect for over a year.

And now, a new wild card had appeared.

His lips curled into a smirk.

"Interesting…"

Qin Chen dusted off his sleeves, his golden eyes flickering with disinterest.

"Are we done here?"

Xu Yang groaned, forcing himself to sit up. His face twisted in anger, but when he met Qin Chen's gaze, he felt an unfamiliar sensation—

Fear.

For the first time, he realized—

Qin Chen was not the same person they had mocked before.

Not even close.

The rest of the group parted silently, no longer daring to stop him.

Qin Chen smirked.

This is only the beginning.

With that, he walked past them, heading toward his original destination—

Qin Chen strode across the sect grounds, his golden eyes burning with intent.

The battle from earlier had settled one thing—his power was real. But power alone wasn't enough.

He needed more. More Qi, more refinement, more progress.

Yet, the Northern Wilderness was barren in flame energy—a problem that had already blocked his growth. If he couldn't cultivate freely, then all his advantages were useless.

That's why he was now headed to meet Elder Lan Yue.

She was one of the few outer sect elders who had always treated him kindly, even before his awakening. If there was anyone who might have insight into fire cultivation in this region, it was her.

His robes fluttered in the night wind as he made his way through the sect, passing torchlit courtyards and scattered disciples. Some stopped to whisper and glance in his direction, but he ignored them.

He had more important things to focus on.

The outer sect elder resided in a quiet, secluded part of the sect, where few disciples ventured unless they sought guidance.

Reaching the small courtyard, Qin Chen stopped outside a wooden pavilion. A soft lantern glow flickered from inside, casting shadows against the entrance.

He stepped forward and knocked.

Creak.

The door slid open slightly, revealing an older woman with graceful features, silver-streaked hair, and wise, yet kind eyes.

Elder Lan Yue studied him for a moment before a gentle smile crossed her lips.

"Qin Chen. I was wondering when you'd come see me."

A Lack of Fire Qi – The Harsh Reality

She motioned for him to enter. Qin Chen stepped inside, taking in the simple yet refined interior, a tea set steaming on the table.

He didn't waste time.

"Elder Lan Yue, I need your knowledge."

Her brow arched in curiosity. "Oh?"

He met her gaze. "Where can I find a strong source of flame Qi?"

For a moment, she was silent. Then, she let out a slow sigh and shook her head.

"I was afraid you'd ask that."

Qin Chen frowned. "What do you mean?"

She sat down, motioning for him to do the same.

"Qin Chen, our Azure Sky Sect—and, in truth, the entire Northern Wilderness—is one of the worst places for flame cultivators."

Her words hit like a hammer.

"This land lacks natural flame veins, volcanoes, or any major sources of fire Qi. That is why our sect specializes in earth, wind, or ice based techniques. That's why you will find almost no flame cultivators in this region."

Qin Chen's frown deepened.

"Not a single place? No hidden fire grounds, no natural flame pits?"

Elder Lan Yue shook her head. "None."

The weight of her answer settled in his chest.

If the Northern Wilderness was barren, that meant he couldn't rely on absorbing external flame Qi to advance quickly. His cultivation would always be restricted by his environment.

His Fire Sovereign Dao Body might be legendary, but even the strongest physique couldn't pull power from nothing.

Seeing his disappointment, Elder Lan Yue continued.

"However, while flame energy is scarce, there are rare treasures that contain condensed fire essence. If you can obtain them, they could help push your cultivation forward."

Qin Chen's gaze sharpened. "What kind of treasures?"

She nodded, listing a few.

-Scarlet Sun Lotus – A legendary flower that blooms once every hundred years, radiating pure fire essence.

-Molten Core Fruit – A spirit fruit formed in places where underground heat has accumulated for centuries.

-Fire Spirit Stones – Condensed remnants of ancient volcanic eruptions, able to boost fire-attributed cultivation.

"Any of these would greatly aid your cultivation," Elder Lan Yue said. "However, they are extremely rare, and I do not possess any. Additionally, they would most likely have to be purchased, as they only grow in areas with flame energy. And with the extreme lack of flame cultivators in this region, you can imagine that there's a very small market for selling such items."

Her words rang clear—even if these treasures existed, getting them wouldn't be easy.

Qin Chen nodded slowly, absorbing the information.

But then—

He froze.

His expression twitched.

His golden eyes widened slightly.

Then he let out a deep, frustrated sigh and raised his hand to his forehead.

I'm an idiot.

Elder Lan Yue gave him a confused look. "Qin Chen?"

He exhaled sharply. "Why in the world did I not check the system for flame cultivation resources?"

He had access to a literal divine shop, capable of selling legendary items, divine techniques, and priceless treasures—yet here he was, asking around like a clueless mortal.

The system had what he needed.

It always had.

I got so caught up in the limitations of this world that I forgot… I am no longer bound by them.

A slow smirk crept onto his lips.

"Elder Lan Yue, thank you for your wisdom." He stood up. "I think I know exactly what to do next."

She blinked, puzzled by his sudden change in demeanor. "Oh? And what is that?"

He chuckled. "Let's just say… I have some connections."

With that, he bowed respectfully before turning and walking out of the pavilion, his pace quickening.

The moment he was far enough away, he opened the System Interface and searched.

[System Store]

- Fire-Attributed Treasures & Resources -

A massive list unfolded before him.

His eyes flickered as he saw the first item on the list.

And when he did—

His heart skipped a beat.