DRAGON EMPEROR

CHAPTER 16 Wrapped in Fire

“Alright, it's time to test the resolve,” Lu Yunfeng announced.

There was a staircase made of jade on the left of the stage. It was the Flaming Steps, which consisted of nine steps.

It was produced by an expert craftsman hired by the Lu Family with a lot of money. It was a strange device, with intricate writing engraved on its surface.

The writing on the stairs will be active when someone steps on it. It would begin to emit a scorching heat that surrounded the challengers who were trying to climb the stairs.

Similar to being enveloped in a blazing fire, the person must endure the pain and torment of being enveloped in flames.

Although the fire was not real, the sensation was no different from being inside a real fire.

Moreover, the scorching heat was getting stronger at every step.

For this test, it is a competition between who can last the longest, and who can climb to the highest rungs.

Naturally, the longer and higher the steps one could take showed a stronger willpower.

Let me go first.

A Lu Family junior of about sixteen walked towards the Flaming Steps. The first time he stepped onto the stairs, a huge beam of light instantly appeared from there, emitting a fiery red radiance.

The expression on the young man's face changed drastically. He looked in pain, but he immediately gritted his teeth and took one more step to the second level, which was followed by one more step to the third level.

At that moment, he stopped and began to struggle against the pain of being enveloped in flames.

However, his body began to tremble in just ten breaths. His face was very pale and wrinkled. It was obvious that he was enduring a very severe torment.

Ten more breaths passed. Unable to withstand the heat any longer, he shouted and jumped from the Flaming Steps.

“Lu Li, third step, twenty breaths.”

Lu Yunfeng announced.

Then, the Lu Family juniors advanced one by one to take the test.

However, most of them persisted around the third and fourth step and only lasted about twenty to thirty breaths.

Allow me to try!

Lu Chuan walked over. He glanced at Lu Ming and sneered before climbing the stairs.

His pace was swift as he reached the fifth step without any signs of stopping.

Then, he stopped at the fifth step and stood there for fifty-two breaths.

This surprised a lot of people.

“Mm, as expected of big brother Lu Yao. Even though his sister had equal talent, her brother was no less formidable either. To actually be able to survive at the fifth step for fifty-two breaths!” Duanmu Qing praised.

“Haha, Envoy Duanmu likes to praise excessively,” cried the First Branch Elder.

Lu Chuan smiled with satisfaction.

Then, the test continued. There were some people who had strong wills, two of whom were not inferior to Lu Chuan. One persisted at the fifth step for fifty-two breaths, while the other persisted for fifty-five breaths.

However, no one dared to challenge the sixth step.

Soon, only Lu Yao and Lu Ming were left on the stage.

Lu Yao glanced at Lu Ming and approached the Flaming Steps.

At that moment, everyone's gaze focused on Lu Yao.

There was a great deal of hope given to Lu Yao. Everyone wanted to see how strong his determination was.

Those with extraordinary talent might not have such a strong will.

Lu Yao carefully stepped onto the first step, and quickly climbed onto the second step.

Step by step, he rose to the sixth step at once, with no sign of stopping.

Reaching the sixth step meant that he had surpassed others. Everyone held their breath and focused on him.

However, Lu Yao did not stop. He took one more step and ascended to the seventh level.

“Lu Yao actually rose to the seventh step. Really impressive!”

“Let's see how long he can last.”

The crowd began to make predictions.

But the answer soon came to them.

Eighty-six breaths.

Lu Yao lingered on the seventh rung for eighty-six breaths before he descended from the stairs.

“Impressive, really impressive! Not only was Lu Yao endowed with extraordinary talent, but he also possessed a strong will! She really is a girl blessed by the gods!”

The people in the crowd were discussing intensely.

Lu Yao was expressionless as he turned around and walked away, as if what he had just achieved meant nothing. When he passed by Lu Ming, there was a look of disdain in his eyes.

"Did you see that? That's the difference between us.” His soft voice echoed in Lu Ming's ears.

"Is that so? You better remember those words.” Lu Ming's lips smirked as he walked towards the Flaming Steps.

“He surpassed his own limits!” The Elders of the First Branch sneered at the main tribune.

“How many steps do you think Lu Ming can take?” Lu Chuan asked the other youngsters while smiling on the stage.

“From the way I see it, this at most will be the second step.”

“Less than ten breaths on the second step, in my opinion.”

Some other young men laughed.

As those words came out of their mouths, their smiles froze in place as their eyes widened involuntarily.

At that moment, Lu Ming had ascended the second step. He walked up to the third step but seemed to have no intention of stopping as he ascended one more step to the fourth step.

The fifth step followed, and the next sixth step...

Lu Ming did not stop after he reached the seventh step. He lifted his leg and ended up in the eighth step.

However, that was not Lu Ming's goal! Just then, he lifted his leg and took one more step.

Amidst the crowd, everyone's hearts lifted along with Lu Ming's feet. Then, he aligned with Lu Ming's feet as he reached the ninth level.

What followed was a loud commotion.

"Kill up! Lu Ming ascended to the ninth step! How could this possibly happen?!"

“So what if he can get there? The point was to see how long he could last! It would be even more embarrassing if he couldn't handle it and left in one breath!”

“Too confident. It will be a sight worth witnessing when he turns into a fool because his mind is shattered from being unable to withstand the torment,” First Branch Elder said coldly.

“Ming!”

"Young Master!"

Li Ping and Qiu Yue's hands were sweating under the stage. Their eyes were filled with worry.

However, the hustle and bustle of the audience slowly subsided.

That was because ten breaths had passed.

Lu Ming had actually endured at the ninth step for ten breaths without descending.

Clearly, those ten breaths were just the beginning.

Time slowly goes by. Twenty breaths, thirty breaths...

A hundred breaths had passed quickly, but Lu Ming still remained at the peak.

His slender figure stood upright on the ninth step, like a sharp knife.

The crowd was silent.

“I'm sure his mind has collapsed. Could he die standing?”

The First Branch Elder sneered.

However, at that moment, Lu Ming smiled. “Lu Yao, what you said is true, this is the difference between you and me.” His voice echoed from far away.

His words were not only like a slap on the First Branch Elder's cheek, but it was also a slap on Lu Yao's cheek.

Those words came from Lu Yao to Lu Ming. At that moment, Lu Ming had replied to him with a bitter truth.

Lu Yao's beautiful eyes flickered as she looked at Lu Yao, who was above the Flaming Steps. However, he quickly calmed himself down. “Lu Ming, you have been a scum all your life, suffering humiliation from others, it is quite a strong will that you have achieved. However, this was only a basis; the most important was talent. Next I will show you, the real difference between you and me!”

The crowd suddenly saw the light after his speech.

After thinking about it, it was only natural that Lu Ming, a trash, would have a stable mind after suffering endless humiliation after so many years.

“So so!” Duanmu Qing smiled.

"Is that so?" A faint smile formed on Mu Lan's face. He was looking forward to the reaction of Duanmu Qing and the First Branch Elder after they witnessed Lu Ming's performance later on.

Lu Ming's eyes were calm as he smiled weakly at the stairs. As if he was taking a walk in the park, he slowly walked down the stairs.

“Alright, the first round is over. Proceed to the second half, testing the meridians. Prepare the meridian testing altar!” The Second Branch Elder announced.

About ten muscular men then raised an altar that was about one hundred and fifty centimeters tall onto the stage. There was a solid inscription engraved on the altar.