Chapter 121: Receiving Guests

The day that was bound to come had finally arrived.

The stifling tension that had gripped Flame City vanished completely on this day. The entire city was adorned with lanterns and streamers, flags fluttered in the wind, and the air was filled with the clamor of crowds, joyous songs, and laughter.

Outside the city gates, Hu Yihu and Hu Mo led the Fire God Army in formation to receive the guests. While Hu Mo could sense the formidable martial power surging toward them from the distance, his mind drifted elsewhere. The image of a certain person lingered in his heart like a persistent mist, one he found impossible to clear away.

Noticing Hu Mo’s distracted state, Hu Yihu frowned slightly and whispered, "Mo'er, perk up. Don't look so dispirited. When you face those people later, don't show any fear; just treat them as ordinary folk. In my eyes, what are emissaries from the Heavenly Saint Palace anyway? These great sects and schools never have anything good to offer."

Hu Yihu’s words were clearly pointed. Hu Mo regained his focus, offered a bitter smile, and nodded.

The martial pressure intensified, rolling toward them like a rising tide. Every soldier in the Fire God Army felt the weight of it, yet each radiated a fierce fighting spirit. These individual wills merged with astonishing speed, forming a collective force that managed to hold back the overwhelming pressure.

Hu Yihu narrowed his eyes and let out a cold snort. A faint circle of flames flickered around his skin, utilizing his strength as a Third-Level Battle Emperor to envelop both himself and Hu Mo, forcefully resisting the crushing force. Hu Mo could sense a thick, murderous intent radiating from his grandfather, as if these guests were his mortal enemies. Even so, Hu Yihu struggled to maintain his defense—the fact that a Battle Emperor was being suppressed to this extent spoke volumes about the terrifying strength of the arrivals.

Hu Mo felt a surge of indignation. These people were being far too arrogant! Since when did guests behave so aggressively toward their hosts? This wasn't a visit; it was an invasion. What infuriated Hu Mo even more was that the pressure contained the signature aura of the Fire God Valley itself. To be suppressed by a sect from his own nation was truly absurd.

He let out a cold snort, and his Chaos Fire emerged, merging with Hu Yihu’s Battle Emperor power. Instantly, the pressure on Hu Yihu eased significantly. Although his Chaos Fire was low in rank, under the propulsion of Hu Yihu’s power, it briefly ascended to the Battle Emperor level. The strain left Hu Mo feeling drained, but he refused to be cowed. He wouldn't let others trample over them.

Feeling the weight lift, Hu Yihu looked at Hu Mo. Sensing the power radiating from his grandson—a force that even he found somewhat daunting—his mood brightened. While continuing to resist the pressure, he laughed heartily and said, "Mo'er, your Chaos Fire is truly miraculous. Today, Grandfather will show you my trump card—the ultimate weapon of the Fire God Army. I hadn't intended to use it on them, but seeing your Chaos Fire has piqued my interest."

He turned toward the Fire God Army and shouted, "Fire God Army, form up! The Fire God Descends!"

As the command fell, the soldiers moved with incredible speed. In moments, a massive battle formation appeared before Hu Mo’s eyes, catching his interest immediately. This formation was unlike any he had ever seen; the most striking difference was its "soul."

The Five Elements Transformation contained many powerful formations, their intricacies truly breathtaking. However, while those formations were powerful, they lacked the soul present in this one. As the soldiers roared and locked into position, decades of accumulated killing intent and bloodlust coalesced instantly. Their auras merged into one, and this unity was so profound that it managed to suppress even the combined might of Hu Yihu’s Battle Emperor strength and the Chaos Fire. It was a sensation of bone-chilling suffocation.

"What a powerful formation. 'The Fire God Descends'—truly overbearing!" Hu Mo marveled from the bottom of his heart. His passion ignited; he wondered what would happen if he combined this formation with his own Heavenly Dipper and Earthly Fiend Array.

"Haha, indeed!" Hu Yihu laughed, his gaze burning as he looked into the distance. "Every soldier in the Fire God Army brought here today is at least at the level of a Fire-Attribute Fury Battle Master. Though few in number, their combined power can rival even a peak Battle Emperor. That is why the Fire God Army remains a deterrent to enemy nations."

Under the resistance of these combined forces, the oppressive martial pressure dissipated. Moments later, hundreds of black specks appeared in the sky, rapidly growing larger. Within seconds, Hu Mo saw them clearly.

Hundreds of flying battle beasts blanketed half the sky. Hu Mo was surprised to find that the beasts were uniform in grade and species; only the leader was a seventh-level beast, while all others were sixth-level. They were beautiful, resembling giant birds with white feathers, golden crests, and massive beaks that glinted with blinding gold—clearly their primary weapon. Hu Mo’s first impression was that of an eagle, magnified many times over. The sheer presence of this swarm was immense, let alone the people riding them. These so-called emissaries were not to be underestimated.

Hu Yihu, sensing Hu Mo’s confusion, whispered, "Those are Heavenly Cloud Beasts. Seventh-level beasts, exclusive to the Heavenly Saint Palace, and their symbol."

"Heavenly Cloud Beasts? The Heavenly Saint Palace is truly extravagant. Imagine the power required to assemble such a flight of beasts!" Hu Mo remarked, his interest in the palace deepening.

Hu Yihu shook his head slightly. "Naturally. As the arbiters of the Battle Continent, they must maintain absolute deterrence to hold the continent together. I doubt the other five great sects combined could shake them. Enough of this. Let’s attend to these 'ancestors' quickly; if they get angry, it will only bring trouble."

Hu Yihu sighed helplessly and raised his battle blade. The Fire God Army let out a simultaneous roar, sending a wave of scorching heat into the sky. Hu Yihu’s voice echoed for thirty miles, sonorous and deafening.

"The Skyfire Empire welcomes the noble envoys of the Heavenly Saint Palace and guests from the five great sects!"

As he finished, the soldiers repeated the shout, forcefully pushing back the momentum of those in the sky.

"Is this the Fire God Army of the Skyfire Empire? Truly, their reputation is well-deserved; they are incredibly fierce!" an elderly man in white, with golden flowers embroidered on his chest, spoke loudly, his tone filled with genuine admiration. "Brother Zhu was right. I was worried our momentum might be too strong, but it seems they could have handled twice as much. With an army like this, the Skyfire Empire's status as a great power is unshakable!"

"Brother Wang Xu, you are too kind," replied a red-haired man wreathed in flames. This was Zhu Wannian, master of the Fire God Valley and known as the Fire God of this generation. "Let us enter. Today is a joyous occasion; we mustn't miss the auspicious hour, or your disciple will be displeased. Haha, I only recently learned that you had taken the Crown Prince of the Godwood Empire as your student. No wonder the boy’s cultivation speed is so astounding—it makes others envious!"

"Brother Zhu, you flatter me, though my student’s talent is indeed exceptional," Wang Xu laughed. "I am particularly pleased that he is marrying your empire’s little princess. But enough talk, let us enter!" Wang Xu chuckled, glanced at Flame City, and spurred his beast forward.

As he passed over Hu Mo, his figure paused. He looked down, scanned the ground with a puzzled expression, and then flew on, muttering to himself, "Strange. How could there be an aura of Chaos? Did I miscalculate?"

Hu Mo held his breath, not daring to move. He had completely retracted the Chaos Fire into his body, bringing his martial power to a standstill.

*Such powerful perception, to sense my Chaos Fire,* Hu Mo thought, cold sweat dampening his clothes. *I must not be so careless in the future.*

Hu Yihu noticed the change and immediately channeled a stream of power into Hu Mo, soothing his meridians after the minor backlash. "Mo'er, are you alright?" he asked with great concern, not even glancing at Zhu Wannian, who was watching from above.

Hu Mo nodded. "I am fine, Grandfather. I will be more careful next time."

Hu Yihu nodded, looking into the distance with a furrowed brow. "The Earth Sect, the Ice Wave Gate, and the Golden Soul Palace have also arrived. We must handle them differently. You have much to learn, Mo'er, for you face many old foxes. Once you finish welcoming them, go do what you must. Your thoughts cannot be hidden from me—don't forget, I am your grandfather!"

Hu Mo was stunned, instantly understanding what Hu Yihu meant. He gave a bitter, helpless smile. "Grandfather, what are you talking about? I don't understand."

"Don't play games with an old man; it's useless," Hu Yihu huffed. "Little one, don't forget how you came into this world. Your father snatched your mother from the hands of the Emperor himself to bring you into existence. Like father, like son—do as you see fit. That boy is just a prince of some foreign nation; your father once beat the Crown Prince of this very empire, the current Emperor! Do not disgrace our Hu family!"

Hu Mo sighed softly and looked toward the palace. "Perhaps," he whispered to himself, "one really should follow one's heart."