"Big Brother, go ahead and burn me, I'm not afraid." Aaron Jace nearly gritted his teeth as he spoke. After saying this, his tone softened a little, "Um, could you seal my consciousness and senses ahead of time before you start burning me?"
Joe Di chuckled, "No can do. The Invisible Desire Toxin might be hidden in your consciousness, or it might be lurking in your senses. So anything connected to you won't be sealed. Of course, I'll set up a soundproof barrier. Scream all you want—no one will hear you."
Aaron Jace's face grew paler at Joe Di's words. Even though he'd never been burned by flames before, he already knew how terrifying and agonizing it must be.
"Big Brother, flames might not work. My father has a kind of fire too, and it's of a high grade. If fire could solve it, my father would've used it long ago," Aaron said weakly.
Joe Di replied calmly, "Your father might have flames, but he definitely doesn't have the kind I possess. Besides, your willpower is rather weak—because you've always cultivated in comfort and luxury. Only by burning you can you be reborn, and your will tempered anew."
Joe Di wasn't just making things up—his flame was the Cosmic Flame, and there were very few in the vast universe who could form such a fire. Moreover, his Cosmic Flame was always entwined with that strand of golden Dao Principle in his sea of consciousness, making his fire far stronger than others'.
Thinking of how his own father looked down on him, even wanting to abandon him, how his mother was still locked in the dungeon, and how he'd suffered from the Desire Toxin all this time, Aaron Jace nearly bit through his teeth as he spoke, "Big Brother, go ahead and burn me. If I die, so be it."
Joe Di looked at Aaron Jace. "I wouldn't dare burn you to death, but my flame is still a bit low-grade, so it'll take longer to burn you. You'll have to endure it."
"Big Brother, can this help your flame advance?" Aaron Jace opened his hand, revealing a pale purple crystal.
"Is this a Stellar Core Flame Crystal?" Joe Di exclaimed, immediately snatching the purple crystal. "You actually managed to get your hands on such a treasure!"
Joe Di had once obtained a Stellar Core Flame Stone—a material formed from the deepest planetary fire sources, capable of upgrading immortal flames. The Stellar Core Flame Crystal is condensed from the Flame Stone itself. After countless years of absorbing fire energy, the stone transforms and becomes the Stellar Core Flame Crystal.
"I couldn't get something this good myself; my mother gave it to me. Now I'll give it to you, Big Brother." The fear in Aaron Jace's eyes lingered.
Joe Di didn't ask further. He vaguely sensed that Aaron Jace's treasures mostly came from his mother, while his father gave him far fewer good things.
"Let me advance my flame." With a wave of his hand, Joe Di summoned a mass of Blackfire. The Blackfire instantly sensed the Stellar Core Flame Crystal and became wild, sweeping up the crystal in a burst of flame.
Blackfire surged violently. If not for Joe Di's control, it would have burst right through the room.
"Amazing! What kind of flame is that?" Aaron Jace asked, stunned, not recognizing the Cosmic Flame.
"Starspace." As Joe Di spoke, the Cosmic Flame rapidly advanced in grade. In just a short time, the Stellar Core Flame Crystal was completely consumed, and the Cosmic Flame officially advanced to sixth-grade immortal flame.
"Big Brother, are you going to burn me now?" Aaron Jace stared at the Blackfire in panic, his whole body trembling.
Joe Di shook his head. "Not yet. First, you need to learn the Starspace Technique, the Titan Body Technique, and the Soul Tempering Technique. When I burn you, you'll have to control your will, switch your cultivation method, and temper your body at the same time."
"Big Brother, I'm afraid I can't switch my cultivation method. I've been practicing the Stardemon Technique." Aaron Jace shook his head—not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't.
Joe Di grinned, "Don't you trust me at all? Since I'm going to burn your body, of course I'm confident I can help you switch to the Starspace Technique."
Joe Di would even alter the meridians Aaron Jace used to absorb spiritual energy, creating a Starspace meridian for him. How could he let Aaron fail to cultivate the Starspace Technique?
The root foundation of any cultivation method is the circulation pathway of spiritual energy. Joe Di changed Aaron Jace's energy flow at its core, developing a Starspace meridian for him.
This wasn't the first time Joe Di had done something like this. Although he no longer had help from the Golden Principle, his cultivation had increased many times over. Besides, Aaron Jace wasn't an ordinary person with no cultivation—he was a Grand Ether Immortal.
"Alright, you're Big Brother—whatever you say, I'll listen. Before you burn me, I have one request." Aaron Jace sighed helplessly; he had no choice.
"Go ahead." Joe Di didn't mind.
Aaron Jace took a deep breath, the fear in his eyes fading. "Big Brother, I may be a second-generation cultivator, but I'm not a complete fool who bows to everyone. I've seen your methods—they're extraordinary. Even if you burn me to death, my father might not be able to kill you."
"Just say whatever you want—don't get all sentimental." Joe Di knew he wouldn't burn Aaron Jace to death.
Aaron Jace continued calmly, "If I die, Big Brother, when you reach greater heights, please save my mother. The second thing is, please help me kill two people: Paul Xiling of the Unending Immortal Sect, and Harriet Yue of Pure Path Canon."
...
Yaohua Snow Mountain, one of the Five Grand Sects on Magic Garment Immortal Continent, is led by Empress Rona Snow, herself one of the Five Immortal Emperors, with seventh-tier Immortal Emperor strength.
Today was a grand occasion for Yaohua Snow Mountain. All five major sects of Magic Garment Immortal Continent had been invited by Empress Rona Snow to attend as honored guests.
True to its name, Yaohua Snow Mountain stretches for a hundred thousand miles of continuous snowy peaks. Countless rare treasures lie hidden among these peaks, but no one dares to search for them—this is Yaohua Snow Mountain’s territory.
“Cheng, this is the first time I’m bringing you before everyone. You should get to know the other sect heirs and prepare for the Magic Garment Summit. Your cultivation is currently the lowest, but that’s fine—the Summit is still some time away. With your talent, you’ll catch up.” On a flying ship bound for Yaohua Snow Mountain, Marlon Jace patiently instructed the blond youth beside him.
After speaking, Marlon Jace sighed, “I had planned for you to remain in seclusion at the Stardemon Pool until you reached Grand Dao Immortal. I didn’t expect Ivy Snow, Empress Rona Snow’s disciple, to break through to Immortal King so quickly…”
An Immortal King means little to the sect masters of the Five Grand Sects. But when an heir breaks through to Immortal King, it is a major event.
The Magic Garment Summit isn’t just about the sect masters debating Dao—it’s mainly the heirs of the five sects competing, and in truth, it’s a bloody contest of skill.
The five disciples who debated at the last Summit are now the current sect masters. There’s a clear agreement: whichever heir first breaks through to Immortal King, the other four sects must bring their heirs to offer congratulations. This is a show of dominance, adding prestige to the upcoming Magic Garment Summit.
This time, Ivy Snow of Yaohua Snow Mountain was the first to reach Immortal King, so the other four sect masters had to bring their heirs to celebrate.
The blond youth replied calmly, “Father, don’t worry. I’m the youngest and my cultivation is the weakest, but I’m confident that before the next Summit, my strength won’t lose to any of the other four.”
Marlon Jace nodded, knowing exactly which four people his son meant.
The entrance to Yaohua Snow Mountain was like a sculpture of ice and jade—majestic and breathtaking.
Marlon Jace led his son, Jie Cheng, onto the welcoming avenue at the mountain gate. In the distance, a welcoming attendant called out, “Palace Master Marlon Jace of Star Demon Palace, Young Palace Lord Aaron Jace has arrived…”
Marlon Jace’s expression darkened, and he said coldly, “This time, it’s my second son, Jie Cheng.”
A stunning woman in white appeared before Marlon Jace, apologetically bowing in the immortal salute. “Palace Master Jace, I’m truly sorry. Our attendant didn’t know Star Demon Palace had changed heirs. Please forgive us—this is Yaohua Snow Mountain’s mistake.”
Marlon Jace chuckled, “Sect Master Mo, you’re too kind.”
The Magic Garment Summit allows heirs to be replaced, but the new heir must be younger than the first and of closer bloodline. Marlon Jace bringing Jie Cheng here made it clear—the Star Demon Palace heir had been changed to Jie Cheng.
“Ha! Palace Master Jace, such decisiveness—changing the Young Palace Lord just like that…” A hearty laugh echoed from afar.
After the laughter, Yaohua Snow Mountain’s attendant announced loudly, “Sect Master Eugene Xiling of Unending Immortal Sect, Young Sect Master Paul Xiling has arrived…”