"So this is a god's trial?" Qin Ming and Ma Hongjun felt as if several cards appeared in their spiritual sea and each summoned the first card.

A solemn voice rang in their ears.

["Qin Ming, Black-Level Four Trials, First Trial: Baptism by Demonic Flame. Endure under the demonic flame for six months, maintaining your true self."]

["Ma Hongjun, Fire God's Nine Trials, First Trial: Baptism by Demonic Flame. Endure under the demonic flame for one year, maintaining your true self."]

As expected, the first trial was the Baptism by Demonic Flame, just as Tianlin had predicted. With both together, Qin Ming could help share the burden.

"Then, I wish you luck. From here, follow Ah Huo. I must take my leave," said the Fire God. As a mighty celestial god, he couldn't accompany them through the trials; assigning things to the Flame Lord was sufficient.

"Farewell, Lord Fire God!" The Flame Lord bowed and then said to the two, "Follow me!"

The Flame Lord led them deeper. Behind Sui Ren Valley lay the sealed land of the demonic flame.

Of course, the Fire God would not unleash all the demonic flames for the trial—enduring the full force would destroy even him. Only a small portion was unsealed.

But even this tiny portion made both feel their inner desires intensify as they approached. Qin Ming, usually self-disciplined, felt it; let alone Ma Hongjun, whose evil fire, dormant for years, now threatened to flare up again.

"What terrifying demonic fire—even I almost succumbed. I wonder about Hongjun…" Qin Ming worried for Ma Hongjun, as the flame was fearsome even without entering their bodies.

"Hmph, are you scared? Too late now. Since you've accepted the Fire God's trial, it's too late to regret." The Flame Lord sneered, leading them to a cliff. He pointed down. "This is the sealed land of the demonic flame. Jump, and your trial begins. In a year, I'll come collect your corpses."

"Hongjun." Qin Ming patted Ma Hongjun's shoulder, intending to encourage him.

But Ma Hongjun spoke first. "Teacher, you don't need to say anything. I understand. These demonic flames stir the desires for wealth, lust, and power. But that's not the strongest force. My boss told me the story of a great god—his power came from love, hate, passion, and enmity. I'll use those to resist wealth, lust, and power!"

With that, Ma Hongjun leapt into the array below. Qin Ming smiled—his talk with Tianlin before leaving had truly helped him grow.

He jumped after Ma Hongjun without hesitation.

Their decisiveness surprised the Flame Lord. Using love and hate to resist the temptation of wealth and power was indeed what the Fire God had said—the only way to resist the demonic flame. So this chubby kid knew.

Could the great god he mentioned actually be the Fire God himself?

Qin Ming and Ma Hongjun jumped into the sealed land. Instantly, countless purple-black demonic flames surged from the ground, corroding both their bodies and souls.

Under the Fire God's protection, their lives were safe, but the pain remained. The only way to end the suffering was to give in to their desires and become a peerless devil.

"Hongjun, recite the calming mantra Tianlin taught and use the Daoist mental method. Don't let the demonic flame corrode your soul," Qin Ming called.

"Yes, Teacher. 'The human path is vast, the immortal path is boundless, the ghost path is joyous! Life is the gate for humans, immortals value life, ghosts value endings; the immortal path is always auspicious, the ghost path always ominous; high purity and beauty, mournful songs echo in the void...'" Ma Hongjun sat cross-legged, practicing the Daoist method to clear his mind.

Qin Ming sat beside him, helping to share the demonic flame's corrosion. With their combined efforts, at least the first six months should be no problem.

…

While Ma Hongjun and Qin Ming were being tested, Ning Rongrong's group finally arrived at Sea God Island. With Ning Rongrong's ultimate ice, storms on the sea were no threat, and their ship arrived much faster than in the original.

Now, guided by some local priests, they reached one of the Sea God's Seven Sacred Pillars—opposite the Seahorse Pillar.

Land soul masters must cross the Sea within the Sea to reach the Seahorse Pillar and qualify for the Sea God's trial.

The Sea within the Sea was full of fierce sea soul beasts—weak soul masters would struggle to cross.

But for them, it was easy. Yu Tianheng's lightning greatly restrained sea creatures, and Ning Rongrong's ice froze the surface. They crossed with ease.

Yet, their excellence made the Seahorse Douluo's gaze grow cold. He thought: only one faction on the continent could have bred so many prodigies.

He clenched his fist behind his back and questioned, "You lot—are you from Spirit Hall?"

Spirit Hall once attacked Sea God Island but was repelled by the seven sacred pillar guardians. Though Sea God Island won, the grudge remained.

Thus, Spirit Hall members could never receive the Sea God's trial.

"We're not. We come from the three upper sects of the Douluo Continent. Senior, you can tell by my martial soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. I am the direct heir and next sect leader," Yu Tianheng said, then pointed to Ning Rongrong. "This girl is the next heir of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Oh, the upper three sects," Seahorse Douluo relaxed. They bore no grudge with Sea God Island. "But this girl's martial soul isn't the Glazed Tile Pagoda, but the Snow Maiden. Can she inherit the sect if she doesn't have the main martial soul?"

"Senior, I have twin martial souls. My other one is the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda," Ning Rongrong said, revealing the pagoda.

The nine-colored light stunned Seahorse Douluo. He hadn't expected such a prodigy: twin martial souls and breaking the Glazed Tile Pagoda's limit.

"Remarkable. Young lady, when you grow up, the sect rankings may need rewriting," Seahorse Douluo marveled.

Everyone smiled. Did they need to wait for Rongrong to grow up? The rankings had already changed, and their true genius wasn't even here yet.