CHAPTER 498: CHAPTER 379 XIAO JIU: LET ME INCREASE THE DIFFICULTY OF THE GAME! _2

"The rules of the competition are roughly these, you have one hour to prepare."

Yan Xi finished explaining the rules of the competition and didn’t say much more, returning to the referee’s position to play with his phone.

"According to Senior Yan Xi’s explanation, there are mainly two ways to advance in the preliminary round: one is to defeat the Fire Phoenix clone, and the other is to hold out until the end. It seems he didn’t mention we can’t form teams?"

"Yes, we should be able to form teams. It’s just not clear whether the starting positions in the competition are random or fixed. If it’s random, we should find each other first thing."

"This preliminary round tests not only the strength of the Spiritual Beasts but also the perception of fire. I think finding the Fire Phoenix clone will definitely not be easy."

...

Around Chen Mo, several Dongxia contestants had already started discussing.

According to the rules announced by Yan Xi, teaming up in this competition was allowed.

Although there are limited slots for advancement, teaming up is definitely better than fighting alone.

Chen Mo was pondering.

Finding the Fire Phoenix clone seems to be the fastest way to advance, but he thought of a way to finish the match faster.

"Comrade Chen Mo, stand behind us during the competition, and the senior guarantees your spot in the finals haha!"

At this moment, a muscular, bald man laughingly said to Chen Mo.

He wore the largest Dongxia uniform, but oddly it looked more like a tight suit on him.

His main Spiritual Beast was a Fire Fiery Flame Ape of Overlord Sixth Rank, which had thick fur, but its head was also completely bald, not a single hair.

It seems this master and servant pair is the epitome of "I went bald, and I also became stronger."

"Thank you, Senior, for your kind offer, but I already have my own plan!"

Chen Mo politely declined the bald senior’s offer.

He already had a rough plan in mind, one that required him to act alone. If he teamed up, he might end up... accidentally hurting his teammates.

"Well... alright then!"

The bald man was somewhat surprised and puzzled.

He naturally recognized Chen Mo, the newly emerging talent Spirit Master from Dongxia, and his initiative to invite him was based on recognizing Chen Mo’s potential and wanting to make a connection.

He thought for sure Chen Mo would accept.

After all, although Chen Mo is stupendously talented, his foundation is still not strong, and the growth level of his Blazing Flame Fox is only Overlord Third Rank. He’s probably just here to ’go through the motions’ or experience the atmosphere of the large competition.

But Chen Mo refused.

The bald man didn’t insist, but sighed.

Everyone was forming teams, and Chen Mo going alone seemed like a free giveaway.

Maybe that’s the pride of the youth?

Apart from the Dongxia Spirit Masters, the Spirit Masters from other countries also started to form teams.

Soon, several alliances were formed on the field.

Firstly, the alliance of Twelve Fire Element Spirit Masters of Dongxia led by the Vermilion Bird of Overlord Eighth Stage.

The large nations like Star Flag Country, Rashan Country also formed alliances with their own country’s Spirit Masters.

As for the Gaul Empire, Pyramid Country, and other nations, they formed alliances with nearby countries.

Neon Country originally wanted to ally with Dongxia, but since most of Dongxia’s Spirit Masters were not willing, they had to ally with neighboring Qieying Country instead.

Other smaller countries that only had one Spirit Master participating also hurriedly joined other teams.

Except for Chen Mo, there were a few lone wolves, but most were just unlucky ones without teams.

Soon, the one-hour preparation time ended.

"15 minutes until the competition starts, please all contestants enter the Source World and wait for the official start of the competition."

Following Fire Phoenix Yanxi’s emotionless voice, contestants from various countries and their Spiritual Beasts walked towards their numbered virtual pods.

The next second, all virtual pod screens lit up with white light.

At the same time, the screen broadcasting the competition switched to the view of the Source World.

Upon entering the Source World, Chen Mo, using coordinates, teleported to the designated competition arena—Flame Demon Nest.

This arena was a 1:1 replica of the Spirit Realm’s Flame Demon Nest crafted for the competition. The black scorched earth flowed with scorching red-hot magma, emitting a suffocating heatwave.

Volcanic rocks were permeated with a pungent sulfur smell, agonizingly hot, in this lava covered area, the intense heat created a red hell.

The competition had not yet started, so Chen Mo’s movements were confined to a small space of several dozen square meters.

"Wuu~"

Under such harsh conditions, both Xiao Jiu and Chen Mo felt no discomfort whatsoever.

Xiao Jiu, needless to say, while Chen Mo is because he activated the "Invincible Mode".

Due to the high difficulty of this Fire King preliminaries, once Fire Phoenix releases the dojo, Spirit Masters would hardly have any resistance, so all the participants have gained an effect of [unable to receive damage].

This competition will purely be a battle and competition between Fire Element Spiritual Beasts!

"It seems every contestant’s starting point is random. In that case, even if we form a team, we have to find our teammates first. Xiao Jiu, go up and take a look."

Chen Mo had Xiao Jiu fly into the air to observe the surroundings.

"Wuu~"

Xiao Jiu nodded as the air around it lifted it into the mid-air, and soon it saw the entirety of the Flame Demon Nest.

Less than a thousand meters from them, there were 4 beams of different colors, each representing a contestant.

"It looks like the area of this map isn’t very large, about the size of a small island. With the speed and observation capability of Overlord Level Spiritual Beasts, it’s easy to locate other contestants. When the fight for the Fire Phoenix’s avatar begins, fierce battles will likely erupt."

"Chirp!?"

Not far away, a Flame Sparrow Emperor hovered in mid-air, another spirit beast of a contestant from Qieying Country.

Like Xiao Jiu, scouting the surroundings before the race.

Enthralled upon seeing Xiao Jiu.

Damn, a flying Six-tailed Spirit Fox!?

About 10 minutes later.

Accompanied by a deep bell sound, the Fire King race preliminaries officially began!

The moment the competition started, a tremendously hot flame suddenly swept from the center of the Flame Demon Nest outward, blanketing the entire nest in the blink of an eye!

"Yan Xi has released his dojo, and this is the Mythical Fire Nanming Lihuo!"

The competition commentator explained.

Fire Phoenix Yan Xi masters two kinds of Mythical Fires, Nanming Lihuo known for its extreme fierceness besides the Nirvana Fire.

This is the companion sacred fire of the Vermilion Bird, very lethal to shadowy demons and spirits, and its quality is nearly at the mythic level!

The moment Nanming Lihuo Dojo erupted, nearly twenty contestants’ spirit beasts were directly eliminated.

At the same time, nine flaming Fire Phoenixes burning with dazzling golden flames appeared in the sky, falling from the sky like nine shining suns.

These are the avatars of Fire Phoenix.

As these avatars descend, many contestants rush with their spiritual beasts towards where the avatars fell, trying to gain an advantage.

Watching the falling Fire Phoenix avatars from the sky, Chen Mo remained unperturbed and calmly said to the Six-tailed Wishing Spirit Fox by his side:

"Xiao Jiu, let’s start!"

Chen Mo had no intention of fetching those Fire Phoenix avatars.

This preliminary round didn’t prohibit cooperation, nor did it ban combat.

So — as long as Xiao Jiu eliminates all other contestants, then Xiao Jiu would be the champion!!

Directly skipping the finals, turning the preliminaries into the finals!

"Wuu!"

The Wishing Six-tailed Spirit Fox nodded gently, fierce flames rising from its body.

Light Fire! Corona Flame! The Sin Flame of the Dark Demon Dragon! Green Lotus Heart Fire! Chi Li True Fire!

The five distinctively colored flames bloomed sequentially on the six fluffy tails, turning Xiao Jiu’s golden pupils bright red!

The next second, the five Mythical Fires began to merge at an astonishing speed.

Perfect level Nine-layered Heavenly Fire!

Chen Mo was letting Xiao Jiu fuse five Mythical Fires to release the newly mastered embryonic form of the dojo, directly increasing the difficulty of the competition for other contestants!

Let this "storm" be even more intense!