"Thank you, young brother."

After regaining his senses, the white-haired man looked at Ling Chen immediately, cupped his hand in a gesture of thanks.

"No need to be polite, senior, I did it for self-preservation."

Ling Chen chuckled dryly. It was he who should thank the other person; if the white-haired man hadn’t retained a shred of will, Ling Chen might already be a corpse lying here.

"Senior should be well now, right? Hehe, congratulations." Ling Chen cupped his hands to the white-haired man and said with a smile.

"You are mistaken."

The white-haired man shook his head, "It is the evil energy that has kept this body going until now. Now that the evil energy has been completely cleared, it means that this body won’t last for much longer."

"Is that so?"

Ling Chen showed a look of surprise but then understood, the white-haired man had already perished a thousand years ago; a dead person couldn’t possibly have a chance of resurrection.

"Young brother, you need not grieve for me."

The white-haired man was open-minded, his gaze appeared deep as he spoke, "No matter what, I am a person dead for a thousand years. To regain consciousness now, even if for a short time, makes me content; why should I wish for more?"

"The people by my side in those days have all turned to dust; living today holds no meaning for me."

Hearing the white-haired man’s words, Ling Chen was momentarily silent. The man’s perspective had already seen through life and death. Ling Chen sighed lightly, "I have some questions for senior if I may. What kind of force invaded the Fire God Sect back then?"

To destroy an ancient sect as powerful as the Fire God Sect completely, Ling Chen was curious about the invading demonic power and its strength.

"The demonic force that invaded?"

A trace of cold intent appeared in the white-haired man’s eyes, "Regarding the origins of that force, I’m not very clear either."

"What, even senior doesn’t know?"

Ling Chen was a bit incredulous.

"That force was named Evil Monarch Tower; as far as I know, it was just a second-rate demonic sect. However, at that time, the Evil Monarch Tower suddenly acquired immense strength. Its followers seemed almost possessed, and the battle power it unleashed was probably unmatched among top sects in the Nine Provinces."

"Oh?"

Ling Chen was similarly puzzled. A second-rate demonic sect couldn’t annihilate a sect of the Fire God Sect’s caliber. Surely, there was another force at work behind the scenes.

"Back then, the Evil Monarch Tower was incredibly cunning. I suppose they’d set their sights on our Fire God Sect’s Flame Emperor Order for a long time. They chose a time to attack when our sect master, Lord Xi Yan, was in seclusion, contemplating the martial arts in the Flame Emperor Order, not thinking those evil cultivators would seize the opportunity."

A flicker of cold light appeared in the white-haired man’s eyes, "The Evil Monarch Tower dispatched many experts at the time, each one fearless in battle. The tower master achieved a terrifying cultivation level of Saint Dao Eightfold Realm."

"Yet despite that, he was ultimately killed by Lord Xi Yan. They perished together in the deepest part of this cave mansion."

As he spoke of Lord Xi Yan, the white-haired man’s voice held an undoubted reverence. However, beneath that reverence seemed to be a hint of affection, which surprisingly startled Ling Chen; it seemed the white-haired man and Lord Xi Yan had an extraordinary relationship.

"I wonder, what was Sect Master Xi Yan’s cultivation level at the time?"

Ling Chen was moved by the words Saint Dao Eightfold Realm. This level was close to the pinnacle of the Saint Realm. Sect Master Xi Yan could perish alongside such a powerful foe, indicating extraordinary strength.

"Xi Yan’s cultivation was at the Saint Dao Sixfold Realm."

The white-haired man said indifferently, "However, she was an astonishing talent. Given time to fully comprehend the martial arts in the Flame Emperor Order, killing the Evil Monarch Tower master would have been much easier. Sadly, fate didn’t grant her that time."

Ling Chen’s eyes briefly glimmered, then he nodded in agreement. Sect Master Xi Yan indeed deserved the title of an outstanding talent. Reaching the Saint Realm and challenging higher-level foes was incredibly difficult. To defeat the Evil Monarch Tower master, two levels above her, was indeed remarkable.

"Is the Flame Emperor Order still in the cave mansion?" Ling Chen couldn’t help but ask the question troubling him the most.

"Yes."

The white-haired man nodded, "If I’m not mistaken, that Flame Emperor Order should still be with Xi Yan, entombed in the Fiery Region with her."

Ling Chen breathed a sigh of relief, evidently, he hadn’t come in vain. The Void Emperor’s royal decree indeed existed here; otherwise, he’d have made this trip for nothing. But soon, he realized, frowning slightly: "Fiery Region? What is that place?"

"Fiery Region is the forbidden land of the Fire God Sect; only the sect leaders can enter."

Ling Chen was taken aback. Only the past sect leaders of the Fire God Sect could enter; he had no qualification to go in. Without access to the Fiery Region, how could he obtain the Flame Emperor Order?

"You don’t need to be so disappointed. With the demise of the Fire God Sect, and Xi Yan’s death over a millennium ago, the barrier’s power in the Fiery Region has weakened. If you have the key, you should be able to enter,"

"A key?"

Ling Chen was surprised, then hurriedly retrieved the black small sword from the Heavenly Mansion Ring, "Is it this item?"

The white-haired man smiled and nodded, "This is a part of the complete key. However, to enter, you need to gather three keys to open the Fiery Region’s entrance."

"Three keys?" Ling Chen frowned slightly; he would need to cooperate with Huangfu Qi and Murong Qingcheng to enter the Fiery Region.

However, he didn’t want either of them to find out about the Flame Emperor Order. Was his only option to take the keys from them?

"Where is the Fiery Region in the cave mansion?"

Ling Chen asked.

"In the center of the cave mansion, amidst a fiery sea. The Fiery Region entrance is there."

Replied the white-haired man.

"The center of the cave mansion, huh..."

A glint appeared in Ling Chen’s eyes. This Void Emperor’s royal decree; he was determined to obtain it...