That night, Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao sat by the shores of Sea God Lake, talking late into the night.
"Sister Xiaotao, tell me—what have you experienced all these years?" Zhu Ziyang asked with a gentle smile.
"Mhm!" Nestled against him, Ma Xiaotao's delicate face grew pensive as she began to recount her story. Through her words, Zhu Ziyang finally learned of all that had happened to her and the opportunities she had encountered.
It turned out that Ma Xiaotao had inherited the god position of the God of Fire, one of the Seven Elemental Main Gods of the God Realm, the ruler of the Law of Fire and a first-class deity. That she was able to gain His acknowledgment and legacy began three years ago, when she and Diwu Huan'er ventured deep into Chichen Mountain in search of a spirit ring.
Three years earlier, deep within Chichen Mountain.
"Sister Xiaotao, Sister Xiaotao! I want that Sky-Sun Flame Ape!" Huan'er's young face was flushed with excitement as she pointed at the massive crimson-furred ape before them.
"Are you sure?" Ma Xiaotao asked, worry clouding her expression. "That Sky-Sun Flame Ape has cultivated for seventy thousand years. Can you really handle it? Wouldn't this forty-thousand-year Blazing Swift Dragon be a safer choice?"
As she spoke, Xiaotao lightly kicked the subdued fire-scaled earth dragon at her feet. The dragon didn't dare move, cowed completely by her.
"It's fine! I know my own strength," Huan'er insisted. "The Sky-Sun Flame Ape is a power-type beast—it suits my martial soul better than that dragon."
"Since you've decided, I won't stop you. Let's begin."
Huan'er swiftly dispatched the ape, and a black spirit ring appeared. Without hesitation, she sat cross-legged to absorb it. Behind her rose the image of her martial soul—a lion-bodied, dragon-headed beast with scales, sharp claws, and eyes blazing with fire: the Suanni!
Her five existing spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black—glowed brightly, and now a sixth black ring began to settle into place.
Seeing the process proceed so smoothly, Ma Xiaotao finally relaxed, though she couldn't help feeling envious. This girl's talent far outstripped her own. Born with the Extreme Fire attribute and blessed with true dragon blood, Huan'er's martial soul was superior to Xiaotao's acquired ultimate flame. If they fought at equal levels, Xiaotao couldn't guarantee victory.
Soon, Huan'er completed the absorption. Overjoyed, Xiaotao prepared to lead her down the mountain to continue their journey. But suddenly, Chichen Mountain erupted.
Being an active volcano, its eruption wasn't entirely unexpected. They had made preparations, and thus avoided being harmed by the lava, quickly finding refuge in a nearby cave.
It was within that unremarkable cave that they discovered a hidden sanctuary—the Temple of the God of Fire.
"Sister Xiaotao, what is this place?" Huan'er asked, staring in awe at the magnificent hall concealed within the mountain.
"I don't know… let's take a look," Xiaotao said, her curiosity outweighing her unease.
She led the way, Huan'er following close behind. As they drew within a hundred meters of the temple's great doors, they suddenly swung open of their own accord, as if welcoming them.
The two girls hesitated only briefly before exchanging a glance and rushing inside.
The moment they entered, a crimson-golden light shot from the temple's depths, enveloping them. Shocked, they instinctively tried to resist with soul power, but found themselves completely restrained.
Fear clutched Xiaotao's heart. But before despair could overwhelm her, the light carried them to the rear of the temple, where a colossal statue sat upon a marble throne—majestic, wild, and kingly. In its hand it held a crimson crystal orb, from which the binding light emanated.
As she stared at the statue, Xiaotao's mind was pulled into a divine space. There, she met a figure cloaked in crimson radiance. Though His appearance was indistinct, she instantly sensed His connection to the statue.
"Who are You? Where is this?" Xiaotao demanded solemnly.
"I am the God of Fire, master of the Law of Fire. This is My temple," a deep, masculine voice answered.
"Th-the God of Fire?!" Xiaotao gasped in shock.
"You are worthy. Will you become My inheritor and succeed Me as the God of Fire?" He asked directly.
"Wh-what do you mean?" Xiaotao stammered, her mind reeling.
"Simply put—do you wish to inherit My position and become the new God of Fire?"
"You mean… me?" she asked, still unable to believe it. "Now?"
"Of course not now," the Fire God replied with a hint of exasperation. "You must first complete nine trials. Only then can you inherit the position. So—do you accept?"
"I do! I do!" Xiaotao answered without hesitation. Though she didn't yet understand what the trials entailed, she knew full well what godhood represented.
"Very good," the Fire God said warmly. "Close your eyes. Feel the flame of divinity, and you will receive the information of My trials—the first of the Nine Tests of the Fire God."
Xiaotao obeyed immediately, unaware that as the figure faded away, He murmured softly to Himself:
"...Let us hope you do not repeat the failures of your worthless ancestor."
At that very moment, in the God Realm's Heaven of the Seven Elements, within the twin halls of Water and Fire—
"Well? Did she accept?" A stunning goddess in a water-blue gown asked anxiously, her gaze fixed on the armored man before her.
"Of course. What mortal would refuse godhood?" the Fire God chuckled. "I only hope she won't disappoint me the way her ancestor, the so-called Phoenix God Ma Hongjun, once did."
These two were none other than the God of Fire and his consort, the God of Water.
"But… mentioning Ma Hongjun—won't this anger the Sea God?" the Water God asked worriedly.
"Hmph!" The Fire God snorted. "Why should He care? Godhood inheritance is our own affair. Besides, back then, when I gave that Ma Hongjun a chance at godhood on the orders of the old God King, I already did them a great favor."
"Perhaps, but he is still a God King. If He takes offense, He could block your inheritance," the Water God said with concern.
"Don't worry, Ah Shui," the Fire God said, drawing her into his arms. "This time, the Sea God isn't the only one watching Douluo Continent. From Darkness I've learned that both the Gods of Life and Destruction are also paying attention."
"What? Has something happened?" the Water God asked in shock.
"The inheritor of the God of Death has appeared," the Fire God replied with a smile. "And that Ma Xiaotao is very close to him. As long as she proves herself, my godhood will surely be passed down."
"Truly?" Joy lit the Water God's beautiful face.
"Yes. Isn't it wonderful?" the Fire God said with a laugh. "Once I pass down my godhood to Ma Xiaotao, I'll ask the God King of Life to help you claim yours. Then the two of us can leave the God Realm together—wander the stars freely, and no longer endure the arrogance of these so-called new gods."
"Mhm!" The Water God's eyes shone with longing at the thought.
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