The powerful flames finally drew the attention of the Fire God's lingering divine sense.

Far away in the Divine Realm, the Fire God smiled slightly. "Oh? Is this the one the Asura Legacy holder mentioned, the one who can inherit my godhood? Indeed, that fire is impressive—worthy to be tested by burning."

"Come in, then. Ahead lies either hell or heaven, depending on your fortune."

With a flip of his palm, the Fire God opened a portal to a different dimension at the Extreme North. Ma Hongjun exclaimed with joy, "Teacher Qin, look! The gate is open!"

"What an intense heat—it must be there. Hongjun, let's rush in!" Qin Ming, possessed by the Inferno Grey Wolf, pushed off with his hind legs and leaped straight into the space.

Ma Hongjun followed at once. As soon as they entered the scorching hell, the spatial gate closed behind them.

To suddenly move from a place of extreme cold to one of extreme heat was uncomfortable even for two fire-attribute soul masters. The flames previously absorbed by Tianlin were now rekindled by the Flame Lord.

"So this is the Scorching Hell. Besides ultimate ice or fire soul masters, I doubt anyone else could survive here," Qin Ming sighed.

"You're right—this is a cultivation paradise for flame soul masters." A massive fiery red silhouette descended from the sky—it was the Flame Lord. "By order of the Fire God, I'll escort you both to Hell Flame Valley at the heart of Scorching Hell."

"Thank you, Flame Lord," Qin Ming cupped his hands. He had already learned of the Flame Lord's existence from Tianlin, so he wasn't surprised.

The two followed the Flame Lord deeper, heading to a place even Tianlin hadn't reached.

"Hell Fame? That's a strange name. Teacher Qin, have you heard of it?" Ma Hongjun asked. Normally, gods name their domains with a purpose, but Hell Flame sounded ominous, as if it would incinerate people completely.

Qin Ming shook his head. "Never heard of it—maybe it's related to the Fire God?"

"No need to guess," the Flame Lord said. "Even the Fire God himself doesn't know why he chose that name. He became a god from humanity. He said his fire greatly respects that name, so he used it."

Soon, they arrived at a warm valley. Yes—warm, not scorching. The temperature was just right, quite unlike outside. It felt like spring all year round, despite the valley's name. In truth, it was a lush and auspicious place.

At the center of the valley sat a stone table, where a middle-aged man calmly drank tea.

"Ah, drinking tea with a phantom body can't capture the true subtle fragrance. It's a pity my real body can't descend to the mortal realm. I haven't tasted earthly tea in ages," the man sighed.

Hearing his self-talk, Ma Hongjun and Qin Ming immediately realized: This man didn't belong to the human realm—he must be the Fire God from the Divine Realm.

"Qin Ming greets Lord Fire God!"

"Ma Hongjun greets Lord Fire God!"

They both greeted him hurriedly. Compared to any Title Douluo, this was the true powerhouse.

The man set down his cup and looked at them, his gaze locking instantly onto Ma Hongjun. With his ability, he saw at a glance which of the two was the one Tianlin said could inherit the Fire God's godhood.

"You must be Ma Hongjun. The Asura Legacy holder spoke to me about you. As expected, you are extraordinary—your Phoenix martial soul is second to none among all martial souls except for god-level ones. You are qualified for my Fire God trial. However, Tianlin said your temperament isn't the best. Are you confident you can withstand the burning of the Demonic Flames? If not, it's still not too late to leave."

The Fire God's tone was intimidating, not just to scare Ma Hongjun. Failure in the test would be devastating.

But Ma Hongjun showed no fear. Now he had many who sincerely supported him. "Lord Fire God, please grant me the trial. Send me into the Demonic Flames—I will prove myself to you."

The Fire God sensed Ma Hongjun's resolve and was moved. This guy wasn't as bad as Tianlin had said. He didn't feel any fear—just this courage was already rare.

Either Tianlin had misunderstood him before, or something significant had changed him recently.

Either way, it was good news. The Fire God smiled. "Barely satisfactory. What about you? Are you here to take the trial as well?"

When the Fire God looked at him, Qin Ming immediately replied, "Yes, Lord Fire God, please grant me the trial as well. I know I'm not qualified for your godhood; I'm only here to assist Hongjun."

The Fire God nodded. "That's fine. Among soul masters, your talent is quite outstanding—not inferior to the Sea God's Seven on Sea God Island."

Qin Ming was the second-youngest Soul Emperor on the continent's surface in the original story, and his talent was exceptional among ordinary soul masters.

He had also cleansed his soul power with the purple-gold elixir from Tianlin. If he could further improve through the Fire God's auxiliary trial, he might one day become a god—not a primary or even secondary god, but there was hope for a tertiary god.

"Now, both of you step forward. Let the Light of the Fire God judge your qualifications!"

Qin Ming and Ma Hongjun stood before the Fire God without hesitation.

The Fire God raised his palm, sending out a beam of firelight that shone down, covering both of them.

First was Qin Ming. The firelight turned into a black pillar, forming a flame-shaped flower with four petals on his forehead.

This was the mark of the Black-Level Four Trials. Qin Ming's talent was slightly below that of Zhu Zhuqing (who took immortal herbs in the original), since his purple-gold elixir was a bit inferior to true immortal grade.

But reaching the Black-Level was already extremely rare.

On Sea God Island, only the seven Sea God's Heirs among the Title Douluo could pass the Black-Level Trial.

As for Ma Hongjun, the firelight was a dazzling red—the mark of the top-level trial. Just as the Fire God was about to be disappointed, three streams of light suddenly appeared on Ma Hongjun.

These were from the three immortal herbs Ma Hongjun had consumed, and he was now refining their medicinal power with the Fire God's light.

The Fire God was delighted. This guy was originally a lower-grade Evil Fire Phoenix, but after consuming nearly three immortal herbs—two of which were pure yang and supreme yang grasses, and the third harmonized the two—if he could refine all the essence, his talent would rise greatly.

The red light gradually shifted, tinged with gold—scarlet gold, the mark of the Fire God's Nine Trials.

A flaming cloud appeared on Ma Hongjun's forehead. The Fire God said in satisfaction, "At last, a human who can begin the Fire God's Nine Trials has appeared. Very good! The trial for a first-tier god begins!"