Welcome to the Realm. Please Die Quietly.
The sky cracked open like an egg filled with spiritual lightning.
Dozens of cultivators stood before the shimmering rift in Blackmoon Forest, whispering and flexing Qi like insecure peacocks at a wedding.
I adjusted my robes (tight, black, stylish—obviously) and joined the crowd.
Behind me, Qing'er and Lan Ruo walked like they were ready to murder anyone who looked at me too long. Which was… most people.
"Did you see that guy? That's Li Xian. The useless young master from the Li Clan."
"Thought he died. Didn't he get caught with a married sect elder once?"
"Wait, I heard he dual cultivated with someone from the Crimson Veil—"
"Yeah, and survived. Freak."
I smiled.
I love rumors. Especially when they're true.
The sect overseer, some crusty elder from the Flaming Lotus Pavilion, stood in front of the gate.
"Welcome to the Infernal Bloom Garden. Inside are fire beasts, cursed flora, deadly terrain, and your own ego trying to kill you. Survive seven days. Retrieve the Blooming Flame Lotus."
The portal pulsed ominously.
"Oh," he added, "and if you die, try not to scream too loud. It disrupts the Qi."
Then he walked away. Helpful.
"Entering first," a bored voice said.
Yao Xinyi floated toward the rift, veils trailing behind her like a ghost bride. Her gaze flicked toward me.
"Don't fall behind, Dragonborn."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's not public knowledge yet."
She didn't answer. Just vanished into the portal.
"...Okay. Creepy and hot. Got it."
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
Realm Transition: INFERNAL BLOOM GARDEN
Time Limit: 7 Days
Primary Goal: Find Blooming Flame Lotus
Hidden Side Objective: Survive Seduction Trial (???)
Searing light. Twisting heat. Smell of ash.
The moment I stepped through, my body dropped onto hard red soil. Flames flickered in the distance. Giant vines moved like snakes. The air itself felt... hungry.
I stood slowly. Qing'er and Lan Ruo landed nearby.
"Well," I said, "it's beautiful."
Qing'er swatted a flying fire wasp the size of my fist.
"I hate it already."
Lan Ruo sniffed. "Someone's watching us."
"No kidding—"
CRASH.
From behind a burning tree, something emerged.
Tall. Curvy. Glowing red skin.
Clawed hands. Silver hair. Eyes like melting gold.
She walked like sin. Talked like smoke.
"Well, well… it's been so long since I've seen a Dragonborn in the flesh."
I blinked.
"...Do I know you?"
"No. But your blood calls to mine. And you're quite... cute."
[SYSTEM WARNING]
Race Detected: Half-Ifrit (Fire Spirit × Succubus Hybrid)
Mood: Flirty, Hungry, Dangerous
Compatibility: …Why do you even have to ask?
The woman circled me.
"My name is Vel'ara. This garden was once our territory. Then the cultivators came. Burned it. But we still linger…"
She leaned close.
"Let me taste your Qi. Just a little. It's been centuries since I felt something so… ancient."
Behind me, Qing'er was glowing pink again.
"Step. Back."
Lan Ruo's blade gleamed.
"Unless you want to bleed fire, demon."
Vel'ara grinned. "Jealous mortals. So adorable."
I raised a hand. "Everyone calm down. Let's not start a flame war."
...
No one laughed.
Tough crowd.
"Vel'ara," I said, "if you want a taste of my Qi, you've got to earn it."
"Oh?" she purred. "What's the price?"
"Information. About the Flame Lotus."
She licked her lips.
"Deal. But only if you survive my first kiss."
And then she lunged.
I dodged left. She followed. Her claws grazed my chest.
Heat exploded through my body—not painful, just… alive. Like my Qi was responding to her touch, pulling something from deep within my bloodline.
I activated Dragonfire Pulse—blasting her back with a wave of gold flame.
She laughed as she flew through the air.
"Ohhhh yes. You're real. I'll see you again, little dragon. And next time… we finish the dance."
She vanished in a shimmer of smoke.
Qing'er punched my shoulder.
"What the hell was that?!"
"An Ifrit. Half-succubus. Possibly fire royalty."
"You flirted with it!"
"She flirted with me first!"
Lan Ruo sighed. "We need to move. This realm is alive. It shifts."
And shift it did.
The ground cracked. The sky darkened. A low growl echoed through the trees.
We turned.
From the jungle, a massive beast emerged—part lion, part snake, part furnace.
Yao Xinyi stood calmly in front of it, sword drawn.
Without looking, she said, "Took you long enough to catch up."
Then the beast attacked.
To be continued...
Author's Note
🔥 A wild Ifrit waifu appears!
🔥 Yao Xinyi's ready to flex.
🔥 Realm Trial is in full motion—deadly, sexy, and chaotic.
Next chapter: Team battles the beast, Vel'ara's secret, and MC begins feeling side effects from the Dragonblood awakening