Celestial Refining Divine Scripture

Under the overwhelming Immortal might, all the youths were as silent as cicadas in winter; after the voice fell, there was a deathly stillness for several breaths, even those with some backing were intimidated.

Whoosh!

The crowd surged forward, two beats slower.

A dense, dark mass—at the very least ten or twenty thousand people.

The leading expert swept his gaze around and flicked his sleeve.

Swish!

A streak of Immortal light soared into the sky, transforming into a small, tower-shaped Immortal seal, spinning rapidly in midair.

Ancient Immortal radiance spread out like a tide, showering down and enveloping everyone.

Xu Yang only felt his whole body tighten; that Immortal light seemed to pierce through his bones, sweeping over him. Immediately after, a line of numbers floated before his eyes: seventeen!

"Is this... age?"

Xu Yang was stunned, his expression turning peculiar.

He was already nineteen.

How did it become seventeen?

Could it be that from Spirit Realm to Immortal Realm, the measurement in Immortal Realm had actually reduced his bone age?

It seemed that this could only be the explanation.

But, it was a good thing.

"Hmph!"

The Immortal suddenly let out a cold snort, pointed with a bent finger at the tower-shaped Immortal seal above, which immediately shot out streaks of Immortal light into various places among the crowd.

At the same time, hundreds of figures were blasted away on the spot.

"No older than twenty. Those whose bone age increased from using special Immortal Elixirs—count yourselves unlucky."

"The Black Fire Immortal Mountain trial has existed for countless years, its rules spread far and wide. You can’t even figure this out and still try to slip through? Dream on."

The icy shout echoed through the heavens and earth, making everyone’s face pale and hearts tremble.

Suddenly, hundreds of people were gone—while not much compared to the total number, it was undoubtedly a tremendous deterrent.

"I am Chi Ning, steward of the Black Fire Immortal Mountain Inner Sect, and host of this trial."

The middle-aged man retrieved the small tower Immortal seal, standing with hands behind his back as he sternly declared, "This trial will recruit three thousand Outer Sect Disciples and one thousand Inner Sect Disciples. There are two rounds: the first round is the Black Fire Melting Furnace; anyone who endures less than three days will be eliminated. The longer you endure, after the second round, if the number of those who pass exceeds the recruitment quota, then the best candidates from both rounds who meet the requirements will be selected."

Everything matched what was described in the booklet.

"Round one, the Black Fire Melting Furnace, begins now."

As his words fell, Chi Ning turned and pressed his curved palm down.

Whoosh!

Boom!

The ground shook, and from the vast, ink-black mountain range behind, a colossal dragon of black fire soared ten thousand zhang high, letting out an earth-shattering roar.

Roar!

Heaven and earth trembled, space warped, and blazing heat swept over.

The dragon appeared lifelike, as if a true fire dragon, soaring and circling in the sky, spreading directly to the crowd before it, forming a gateway staircase connecting the mountains.

"From this point, stepping into the mountain range means entering the Black Fire Melting Furnace!"

Chi Ning finished and stood aside.

The crowd was restless.

The terrifying pressure barreling toward them made hearts quake and courage fail.

But soon, someone shot forth, leaping onto the black fire dragon and charging toward the area within the mountain range shrouded in black fire.

With someone taking the lead, the crowd behind surged like a tidal wave.

Xu Yang dashed ahead with the crowd.

The searing pressure was intense, but it was only a façade.

At least with his strength and personal experience, he did not feel immense terror.

Whoosh!

Stepping inside, the surroundings were suddenly towering walls of fire, with an extremely broad, vast central area, easily spacious enough for tens of thousands.

The wild, violent pressure raged from all directions, above and below, several times stronger than outside.

Xu Yang swept his gaze about, then directly chose a spot at the edge and sat down cross-legged.

The first round of the trial was simple: endure the Black Fire’s corrosion here. Whatever means you used, just survive till the end.

Standard: three days!

For him, it was easy.

The surrounding Black Fire corrosion was far from threatening him.

Even as time intensified it, he could still bear it.

"Hiss, what a terrifying corrosion."

"Is this the Earth Flame Black Fire of Black Fire Immortal Mountain?"

"Bullshit, if this were the Earth Flame Black Fire, all of us would be burnt to ash the moment we stepped in."

"Three days—not so easy."

"This first round is nothing much; with my Early Stage of True Immortal cultivation, enduring three days is a breeze."

...

The crowd was chaotic—some anxious and fearful, some utterly unconcerned, calm and relaxed.

Though a first-rank Immortal Soldier was the minimum, if one had True Immortal Realm cultivation, of course it was much easier.

At least in Xu Yang’s eyes, those of True Immortal Realm as long as they weren’t barely breaking through, the first round posed no suspense.

As time passed, the place gradually calmed down.

The crowd dispersed all around, sitting down cross-legged where they were.

Xu Yang quietly felt the Black Fire energy swirling around him—filled with frenzy and violence, while in the air faint sparks, barely noticeable to the naked eye, drifted about.

His heart stirred, and he silently began to circulate the Celestial Refining Divine Scripture.

Buzz!

Strands of invisible flame flowed into his bones, swallowed by his Immortal Seed.

"Stronger than ordinary Immortal Spirit Qi."

Xu Yang’s eyes flashed.

He immediately moved to where the flames were densest and began absorbing them.

There were quite a few others doing the same.

Some youths sat cross-legged, flames of various colors flickering on their bodies as they slowly devoured the surrounding Black Fire.

Evidently, many who came to Black Fire Immortal Mountain’s trial intended to cultivate this path.

Time passed quietly.

In a blink, three days had gone by.

Suddenly—

A gentle disturbance swept through the Earth Fire Melting Furnace.

Xu Yang snapped his eyes open.

He saw the crowd sitting all over had already dwindled by half.

Somehow, quietly and soundlessly, those unable to bear it had already been moved away.

The trial was not yet over.

Three days was the standard, but the longer you held out, after the second trial if the number of those who passed exceeded the quota, it all depended on the results from both rounds.

Moreover, if you performed exceptionally—caught the attention of powerful figures in the mountain and were taken as a Direct Disciple—then that would be reaching the sky in a single step.

By the fifth day—

There were fewer than a thousand people left in the Earth Fire Melting Furnace area.

All were True Immortal Realm.

The seventh day—less than a hundred people.

Xu Yang even found many were at Middle Stage of True Immortal Realm.

Only he, a first-rank Immortal Soldier, stood out glaringly.

Naturally, many noticed Xu Yang; he paid them no mind.

Where he should conceal his abilities, he would, but here, Xu Yang felt it unnecessary.

He lacked resources; outstanding performance would definitely attract attention.

Of course, without background or foundation, standing out would invite much competition, but Xu Yang did not fear this at all.

"Damn, what kind of freak is this guy? He’s still holding on?"

A young man could not endure any longer, flushed red as he rose, glancing at Xu Yang with shock and jealousy.

The next moment, he was moved outside.

Outside the Earth Fire Melting Furnace.

Chi Ning gazed at Xu Yang within, surprise on his face as well.

"Steward, this fellow is seriously monstrous. The ones left now are all either strong Early Stage True Immortals or some Middle Stage True Immortals, but judging by their state, none handle it as easily as this guy."

"For a first-rank Immortal Soldier to perform like this—he’s outright a monster!"

"If he excels in the second round too, maybe he’s a seed."

All the Inner Sect Disciples of the mountain were shocked, discussing in hushed tones.

Chi Ning nodded slightly, narrowing his eyes: "This one is indeed remarkable, especially since he has yet to reach True Immortal Realm—his potential is great and his foundation strong. His Immortal Base is probably at least sixth-grade!"

"Sixth-grade Immortal Base, hiss!"

The disciples exchanged looks, drawing cold breaths one after another.

Throughout the Inner Sect, sixth-grade Immortal Bases could be counted on one hand.

"But this kid has never revealed any advantage in the path of flame from start to finish. Is it all just his foundation?" Chi Ning frowned slightly, muttering doubtfully.

Black Fire Immortal Mountain values disciples with exceptional talent in flame above all.

After all, Black Fire Immortal Mountain is famed for Earth Flame Black Fire—one of the top Immortal Fires in Black and White Star Heaven. Coupled with the sect’s complete inheritance, obtaining its fortune means immense power."