Chapter 1519: Chapter 1617: The First Person Below the Martial Lord

The words of the Flame Emperor made Fang Lin suddenly tense up.

Could it be that he resembles someone? Who? Could it be that the Flame Emperor has recognized him as the former Pill Sovereign Fang Lin?

The Flame Emperor stared at Fang Lin for a good while before finally saying, “You bear a striking resemblance to a woman.”

“What?” Fang Lin was baffled upon hearing this; he was an honest man through and through, how could he look like a woman?

The Flame Emperor, seemingly oblivious to Fang Lin’s peculiar expression, continued, “You really do, especially your eyes; they’re exactly the same. If I didn’t know it was impossible, I might even suspect you’re that woman’s offspring.”

At this, Fang Lin suddenly understood; could the woman the Flame Emperor was referring to be his mother, Bai Qingxue?

It was quite possible, since Fang Lin also knew his appearance was mostly inherited from his mother, particularly his eyes, which were identical to Bai Qingxue’s.

“Young man, what is your name?” the Flame Emperor asked.

“This junior’s name is Fang Lin.”

Upon hearing this, the Flame Emperor’s expression turned even quirkier, “Fang Lin? What a coincidence? That woman’s son was also named Fang Lin.”

With that, the Flame Emperor couldn’t help but take a few more glances at Fang Lin, who, however, remained utterly perplexed as if he knew nothing at all.

“It seems I was overthinking it. People die like flames extinguished; that Fang Lin has long perished and no longer exists in this world. Perhaps you are his reincarnation, or maybe there is some mysterious destiny that makes you bear such a resemblance,” the Flame Emperor sighed.

Fang Lin, with a face brimming with curiosity, asked, “Senior, whom might you be speaking of?”

The Flame Emperor chuckled and replied, “That other Fang Lin you speak of? He was an extraordinary figure, the unprecedented first among the Alchemy Tao, achieving the rank of Pill Sovereign–a far mightier existence compared to me.”

Fang Lin feigned surprise, “Even mightier than the Flame Emperor?”

“Indeed, he was the Pill Sovereign after all, the only one to achieve that position in his era. Moreover, he cultivated for merely thirty years, an absolute anomaly amongst anomalies,” explained the Flame Emperor.

Now Fang Lin was displeased. Who was being called an anomaly? How dare the Flame Emperor call someone an anomaly, when he himself could emerge from the Ancient Lamp of Flame God after so long?

“Speaking of which, that Fang Lin–the Pill Sovereign Fang–that guy’s parents were no less remarkable. One was the mighty Martial Lord, unmatched in the world, and the other was the strongest beneath the Martial Lord. An entire family of anomalies, indeed,” continued the Flame Emperor.

This time, Fang Lin’s expression somewhat stiffened. The Flame Emperor had actually described the entire family of Fang Lins as anomalies, which left Fang Lin somewhat speechless.

However, Fang Lin was quite curious, why did his mother Bai Qingxue earn the reputation of being the strongest beneath the Martial Lord from the Flame Emperor?

Fang Lin remembered very clearly that, before his demise, although mother Bai Qingxue was powerful, she shouldn’t have been recognized to such a degree. If one were to talk about the strongest beneath the Martial Lord, the Flame Emperor himself would fit the bill, given his renowned might back in the day, such that even the Old Dried Corpse would genuinely praise him upon mentioning the Flame Emperor.

“According to this junior’s knowledge, Senior Flame Emperor should be the strongest beneath the Martial Lord,” Fang Lin frowned as he spoke.

The Flame Emperor, upon hearing this, laughed at himself, “Not at all, I cannot defeat that Bai Qingxue.”

“Someone even Senior Flame Emperor can’t defeat?” Fang Lin showed a look of surprise, feeling the same astonishment within. It seemed his mother was even more powerful than he had imagined, to the point of outmatching someone like the Flame Emperor.

“I don’t have much time, talking about these things is of no use. Given that you could find my eight lamps, your fate must be exceptional. You better make good use of these lamps. If you dare tarnish my reputation, be careful, or I might pop out of a lamp and come after you one day,” the Flame Emperor said with a nonchalant air.

Fang Lin, wearing an embarrassed expression, replied, “The junior will certainly not disgrace the treasure of Senior Flame Emperor.”

“Also, you say you are the Inheritor of the Supreme Shrine? You should be cautious about that; Mo Shouhe is not as simple as he seems, and that so-called Supreme Shrine may be a trap,” the Flame Emperor warned with a serious tone.

Fang Lin gave a nod, taking the words seriously.

In fact, Fang Lin had begun to suspect the Supreme Shrine as well.

Mo Shouhe, a Martial Lord and one of the old guards, had achieved the rank even before Fang Qingye.

But why had he established a Supreme Saint Hall to select an inheritor? Was he truly only seeking to pass down his mantle to an exceptional Disciple?

Others might find nothing amiss, but having stepped into the realm of Pill Sovereign and being the first of the Alchemy Tao, Fang Lin knew he would not take any Disciples, as there was simply no need to.

The same logic applied to Martial Lords. As far as Fang Lin knew, his father Fang Qingye did not take any Disciples; nor did Martial Lord Hou Yi pass on any legacy.

Yet, Mo Shouhe insisted on selecting Disciples at great lengths? Moreover, the supposed Supreme Divine Treasure remained unfound to this day.

Considering the Supreme Saint Hall was established by Mo Shouhe during ancient times, it seemed unreasonable that it still stood after so many years, with the Supreme Divine Treasure yet to be discovered.

With so many years passed, could there really have been no one of extraordinary strength who managed to find all twelve legacies?

Perhaps, there is no such thing as a Supreme Divine Treasure at all?

Or, as the Flame Emperor suggested, could the Supreme Divine Treasure indeed be a trap, causing geniuses of the Martial Arts to fight each other in every era, only for the strongest to enter the Supreme Divine Treasure and then repeat the cycle?

“There’s one more thing I need to tell you. There must still be a Martial Lord alive in this era; otherwise, the great calamity of old would have already descended. The reason your people are still alive is that someone is silently bearing everything. I do not know who that is, but remember this–even before the true disaster strikes, no one can escape it. Your presence here, meeting me, may mean that you have a role to play in this era; do not forget my words today. Even if you one day surpass me in strength, never lower your guard!” the Flame Emperor said, his seriousness a stark contrast to his initial playful demeanor.

“Junior will heed your advice!” Fang Lin bowed deeply with clasped hands.

“That fellow above, I suppressed him here long ago, and I certainly won’t let him cause trouble,” said the Flame Emperor, pointing upwards.

At the entrance of the cave, the Green-haired Corpse King, who had been vigorously thrashing the Corpse Ginseng, suddenly stiffened. It roared repeatedly but could not move.

A blaze ignited from within it, the Green-haired Corpse King screamed miserably as its body began to melt and disintegrate.

ps: Second update, continuing to type