Douluo Starting with the Chaos Divine Examination

"A soul? Brother Mu Chen, are you saying that this ring contains a spirit?" Gu Xun'er asked in surprise.

"Yes," Mu Chen nodded, holding up the ring. "Are you coming out or not?"

One second passed.

Five seconds passed.

Even ten seconds passed, and the ring remained motionless without any response.

"Are you sure you won't come out?" Mu Chen smiled faintly. With a flip of his palm, a black-and-white flame appeared in his hand. As the Yin-Yang Flame materialized, the surrounding temperature rose to a terrifying level.

"Yin-Yang Flame!" Gu Xun'er exclaimed.

As a descendant of the Gu Clan, she instantly recognized the flame as one of the rare and powerful flames listed on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

With the Yin-Yang Flame in hand, Mu Chen slowly brought the ring closer to the fire. The intense heat was enough to threaten the very existence of the soul within.

"How did you detect my presence?" A raspy voice finally emerged from the ring.

Moments later, a white mist began to form, eventually coalescing into the shape of an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard.

"I sensed your soul fluctuations," Mu Chen replied calmly.

"Soul fluctuations? What level is your soul at?" Yao Chen asked, astonished. He prided himself on his concealment abilities, yet Mu Chen had discovered him. This could only mean that Mu Chen's soul power far exceeded his own.

Noting this disparity, Yao Chen realized that resistance was futile.

"Hand over your Heavenly Flame," Mu Chen demanded.

"Heavenly Flame? What are you talking about?" Yao Chen feigned ignorance.

"Do you really want to play coy?" Mu Chen's voice turned cold as he brought the ring closer to the Yin-Yang Flame. The intense heat caused visible discomfort to Yao Chen in his soul form.

"Wait! Wait!" Yao Chen shouted, his ethereal face etched with fear.

After a long hesitation, Yao Chen finally relented, and a wisp of pale, icy fire appeared in his hand.

"Bone-Chilling Flame? Could you be the Medicine Sovereign, Yao Chen, of the Falling Star Pavilion?" Gu Xun'er gasped.

As the future successor of the Gu Clan, Gu Xun'er had been educated on the major powers and figures of the Central Plains. She had never met Yao Chen but had heard of his reputation, particularly his Bone-Chilling Flame. Seeing the flame now, she boldly speculated that the soul before them was the long-lost Medicine Sovereign.

"Little girl, who are you to recognize me?" Yao Chen asked curiously.

"I'm Gu Xun'er," she replied.

"Gu Xun'er? A Gu? Are you from the Gu Clan?" Yao Chen asked in shock.

"Yes," Xun'er nodded.

Turning back to Mu Chen, Yao Chen continued, "Young man, I don't know why you want my Heavenly Flame, but perhaps you're unaware—one body can only safely host one Heavenly Flame. Trying to merge two will result in them clashing, ultimately consuming the user in flames."

"I know. I don't intend to use it myself. Enough talk, hand it over unless you want to suffer," Mu Chen said firmly.

"Young man, you may not realize who I am. I am Yao Chen, founder of the Falling Star Pavilion and an alchemist capable of refining tier-eight pills. Keeping me around is far more beneficial than taking my flame," Yao Chen argued.

"I can refine tier-eight pills myself," Mu Chen replied dismissively.

"You're an alchemist as well?" Yao Chen looked at him in disbelief.

"Enough chatter. Hand it over," Mu Chen ordered.

"Do you really intend to force me?" Yao Chen's face darkened.

The Bone-Chilling Flame was a treasure Yao Chen had risked his life to obtain. Giving it up so easily was unthinkable.

"It seems you won't cooperate without a little persuasion," Mu Chen said coldly. Suddenly, ten radiant rings appeared behind him, glowing with dazzling golden light.

In his hand, Mu Chen's soul power condensed into a pitch-black sword with ten different colored gemstones embedded in its hilt.

The overwhelming soul power surged like a tidal wave, enveloping Yao Chen. Trapped within, Yao Chen felt as though he were a lone ship in a raging sea, moments away from being swallowed whole.

"What kind of soul power is this? Could it be at the peak of the Heavenly Realm?" Yao Chen asked in terror.

"The Heavenly Realm?" Mu Chen scoffed. His soul had already surpassed the so-called Heavenly Realm. He had reached the Di State Realm of soul power.

The Di State Realm represented unparalleled strength, a level that only four individuals on the Dou Qi Continent had ever achieved.

In terms of the Douluo Continent's classifications, Mu Chen was akin to a deity.

Faced with such overwhelming power, Yao Chen knew resistance was futile. The pressure alone left him feeling utterly helpless.

"Now, are you still hesitating? My patience has its limits," Mu Chen warned, his eyes sharp as blades.

"..." Yao Chen fell silent.

Despite his reluctance, Yao Chen raised his hand, and the Bone-Chilling Flame hovered in his palm. Severing his connection to the flame, he reluctantly handed it over.

The moment the flame was freed, it tried to escape but was quickly restrained by Mu Chen's power.

"Now that you have the Bone-Chilling Flame, could you return the ring to Xiao Yan?" Yao Chen asked, his voice heavy with resignation.

"Why are you so eager to return to him?" Mu Chen asked.

"I made a promise to his maternal grandfather—to guard his family for three generations. It's a vow I intend to keep. Can you return the ring?" Yao Chen pleaded.

"The ring is mine now. Whether I give it back to Xiao Yan depends on my mood. You may leave now," Mu Chen said.

With a flick of his hand, a surge of soul energy struck Yao Chen, sending him back into the ring.

Mu Chen then carefully stored the Bone-Chilling Flame in his own storage ring.

(End of Chapter)