Chapter 2

Up in the hall, everyone was still whispering, gossiping about the ridiculous scene that just played out.

All of a sudden, something unexpected happened.

A heavy, muffled sound of someone coughing up blood made everyone whip their heads around.

Baron Carlson, the Upper Sect Emissary, seated at the guest of honor's table, suddenly turned crimson and coughed up a mouthful of blood, splattering across the table before him.

His core energy instantly went berserk, and a scorching blast of heat erupted from his body.

"No. It was backlash—his own fire turning against him!" a knowledgeable elder cried out in shock.

The hall plunged into chaos as everyone stumbled back in panic, terrified of being swept up by the rampaging energy.

It wasn't that no one wanted to help. The truth was, no one could. Once Solar Flame took hold, it was nearly impossible to break free. One wrong move, and the Solar Flame would erupt, burning a person to ashes in seconds.

But Herman was totally clueless about how deadly Baron's condition really was. All he saw was an opportunity to be the hero.

"Emissary, don't panic. I'll save you!" Herman called out.

Without another thought, he charged forward and unleashed a burst of wild, brute sword energy.

He was trying to use his ferocious sword energy to crush the raging Solar Flame inside Baron.

"You fool! Stop right now," a chorus of elders yelled at him.

Herman's sword energy, though fierce, only fed Baron's Solar Flame, making it burn even wilder.

Sure enough, the instant Herman's sword energy hit Baron, Baron's body convulsed violently, like a balloon about to burst.

Baron's face flushed even deeper red, and blood started trickling out from every opening in his face.

The situation was spiraling out of control.

"Herman, quick, use this!" Leah shouted.

She pulled a vial from her robes and tipped out a pitch-black pill.

"I found this rare pill deep inside the Demon's Den. It can definitely save the emissary," she declared.

She moved to put the pill into Baron's mouth.

My eyes widened in shock.

A faint trace of demonic energy clung to that pill.

That thing was a counterfeit, forged from a demon beast's core. Its effects were volatile—deadly poison for mortals, and for cultivators, it'd just make the Solar Flame inside them blow up.

"Stop! He can't take that," I yelled.

I sprang forward, ready to intervene.

The Cold Energy flowing through my veins was exactly what could put out this Solar Flame.

But just as I moved forward, a hand grabbed me, iron-tight.

"Get lost! Don't you dare stop Leah from saving the emissary," Herman barked.

He shoved me hard, not holding back at all.

"Why are you stopping Leah? Do you want the emissary dead?" he snapped.

He clamped down on my wrist, keeping me from getting anywhere near.

I could only watch, powerless, as Leah pressed that deadly fake pill into Baron's mouth.

His body convulsed, then went still, and the red flush on his face began to disappear.

Herman shot me a smug look. "Serena, see that? The emissary's condition has stabilized."

"You're just jealous—jealous that Leah's better than you, so you want to ruin her opportunity. Let me tell you, not a chance in hell!" he sneered.

"Once the emissary wakes up, he'll definitely invite Leah to join the Upper Sect. When she leaves your little backwater sect, you'll be even less worthy of standing in her shadow," he sneered.

I stared at his twisted face, then at Baron, whose life force was fading so fast that it was almost gone.

I started struggling, but Herman's cultivation far surpassed mine. I couldn't break free.

I shouted at Herman, "Herman, can't you see? The emissary's life force is fading fast. If you keep stopping me from saving him, you'll be the Celestial Order's disgrace!"

Herman glanced over and saw Baron's face was no longer flushed, but now ghostly pale—not healthy, just lifeless.

Panic flashed across Herman's eyes.

"Leah, the emissary..." he muttered, uncertainty in his voice.