Capítulo 18: Actors Are Ready! Action!

In the hidden chamber, a portal stood emanating a fiery yet strangely warm aura.

Through the portal, a world bathed in red hues came into view, with temperatures soaring to remarkable heights. Despite the intense heat, there was a curious absence of any harm to the environment.

The atmosphere felt oddly inviting, almost as though it were casting a spell on those present.

Ye Fan and Ji Rongmei, in particular, wore expressions of ecstasy as the fiery aura wrapped around them.

Suddenly, Ji Rongmei snapped back to her senses as she felt something stirring within her. Shocked, she realized her bloodline was responding to something in the environment.

As the bearer of the Inferno Lotus sacred bloodline, Ji Rongmei instinctively recognized what could provoke such a reaction—it was a heavenly and earthly strange fire!

Ji Rongmei felt certain because she, too, possessed one of the heavenly and earthly fires.

Thanks to her Inferno Lotus sacred bloodline, she had been born with an innate flame within her soul, known as the 'Infernal Flame of Sacred Lotus.' This flame was the very reason she had been able to recover her strength so quickly after awakening from a deep sleep.

Ji Rongmei was well aware that her bloodline was anything but ordinary—in fact, it was precisely because of this power that her clan had been massacred.

In her search for information on the Infernal Flame of Sacred Lotus, she had found no records related to it. Moreover, this flame had never reacted to the low-rank heavenly and earthly flames she had encountered before.

She knew without a doubt that her Infernal Flame of Sacred Lotus was a top-tier flame, perhaps even higher than that. "Wait! It never reacted to low-rank fires, so why is it reacting now?" she wondered, stunned. This could only mean that the ancient tomb contained a heavenly and earthly flame of middle rank or above.

Meanwhile, Xiao Chen was busy putting on a show. His expression shifted to one of shock and surprise, as if he hadn't expected the treasure map to actually lead to a real portal. Despite his initial disbelief, he approached the portal with a blend of hesitation and caution.

Ye Fan's eyes were already brimming with greed, looking at the portal. He stepped forward, seeing that Xiao Chen had let his guard down.

"Ye Fan, don't start a fight with him," Rongmei said, her tone annoyed as she noticed his intentions.

One slap would be enough for Xiao Chen to handle Ye Fan, yet this fool was still focused on the treasure.

"He's already at the Mysterious Platform stage; it's impossible for you to win against him head-on," she added, hoping to dissuade him.

Ye Fan nodded at her words, yet his expression remained confident, his mouth twisting into an unusual, arrogant smirk.

"Thanks for the reminder, Senior, but I have a perfect plan. I'm confident I can beat him!" he replied through voice transmission.

When Ji Rongmei saw his twisted expression, a wave of intense disgust swept over her. Naturally, she found it hard to believe in Ye Fan's plan, especially when she wasn't certain she could defeat Xiao Chen herself.

"Is that so?" she responded doubtfully.

Hearing her words, Ye Fan nearly stumbled, his crooked smile twitching in frustration. It was clear she didn't trust him at all.

"If that's the case, I won't worry, Ye Fan," she added.

A warmth blossomed in his heart at her words, realizing she was showing concern for him. Though he had only glimpsed her face, he was confident she was no less beautiful than Tang Jingxue. And naturally, as a vivid dreamer, Ye Fan couldn't help but harbor a few fantasies about Rongmei as well.

Seeing the shift in his expression, Rongmei simply ignored him. Though she planned to escape if things got too dangerous, Ye Fan was still essential to her plans. She would use him as long as she could before discarding him.

It must be said that Heaven's will was truly outrageous. If Ye Fan had been any ordinary powerhouse from the upper realm, he would have been reduced to ashes in an instant.

But what stood out from the plot was the sheer disgust Ji Rongmei felt toward Ye Fan.

As Ye Fan stepped out of the shadows, Xiao Chen immediately began to act.

"Junior Brother Ye, have you been following me this entire time?" Xiao Chen said, his face expressing surprise, as though he hadn't expected Ye Fan to do such a thing.

His expression quickly turned dark, as if realizing Ye Fan was trying to steal his opportunity.

Xiao Chen especially emphasized the word "junior" in a sarcastic tone.

Upon hearing his words, Ye Fan's face immediately darkened in response.

In the cultivation world, a person would only address another as "senior" if their strength surpassed their own, and vice versa.

As for Ji Rongmei, she didn't find anything wrong with Xiao Chen's words.

She was too impressed by his acting skills. She had already confirmed her suspicion long ago—there was no way Xiao Chen hadn't noticed Ye Fan tailing him, given his strength.

She tried to remind Ye fan but that fool was lost in his own world.

After a moment to calm himself, Ye Fan sneered with a cruel smile. "Heh, after snatching my opportunity, do you really think I'll let you walk away unscathed?"

"Don't think you can fool me with that hypocritical act, like you did with everyone else."

"Today, I, Ye Fan, will make you pay for every humiliation a hundredfold," Ye Fan declared, wearing a look of arrogance.

But Xiao Chen wasn't the only one acting here.

Ye Fan was acting as well. He was arrogant, but not foolish.

His goal wasn't to engage in direct combat.

Moreover, after hearing the Senior's words about Xiao Chen's strength, Ye Fan's suspicions were further confirmed.

Now, his only aim was to distract Xiao Chen by provoking him. A sly grin crossed Ye Fan's face as he thought about what would happen next.

Standing opposite Ye Fan, Xiao Chen also secretly chuckled, recognizing Ye Fan's malicious intentions through the Dao of Darkness.

Whatever Ye Fan was planning, Xiao Chen couldn't care less.

With the memories gained from the plot-viewing ticket, Xiao Chen could easily discern Ye Fan's thoughts like the back of his hand.

However, instead of confronting Ye Fan directly, Xiao Chen decided to let him continue. It was the most effective way to draw Ji Rongmei out of the Jade Pendant without facing her head-on.

As he pondered his next move, Xiao Chen activated the "Villain's Eye" on both Ye Fan and Ji Rongmei.

[Name: Ye Fan

Status: Inner disciple of the peerless Heaven Sword Sect and young master of the Immortal Ye family

Cultivation: Divine Awakening Early Stage

Physique: Great Divine Yang body

Destiny: 1950]

[Name: Ji Rongmei

Status: General of the Immortal Ye family and Sole Survivor of the Immortal Ji clan in the upper realm

Current Cultivation: Mysterious Platform peak stage

Former cultivation: [Above Transcend Tribulation Realm]

Physique: Inferno Lotus Sacred Heritage

Destiny: 6100]

Seeing their status panels, Xiao Chen noticed that, aside from the increase in Ji Rongmei's strength, there were no significant changes.

Ye Fan's growth, which had been absurdly rapid in the original plot, had now stagnated.

At the same time, Rongmei felt as though she was being seen through, much like she had during her time at the Silver Sword City bazaar.

At that moment, she had dismissed the feeling, thinking it was her imagination and her senses being dull after a long sleep.

But now that she thought about it, everything made sense.

Unlike the city's bazzar, There were only three people present, and she quickly ruled out Ye Fan. He hadn't even sensed her presence before her awakening, let alone after.

Her gaze immediately shifted to Xiao Chen. She now realized that Xiao Chen was undoubtedly the one who had seen through her.

"So, he knew about me all along?" Rongmei said, her eyes locking onto Xiao Chen's handsome face, a shock of realization washing over her.