It's okay, there are plenty of people around

The warm-up phase ended, and although Su Luo managed to irritate Situ Ye, the latter was still beaming with joy after receiving so many valuable items.

With a smile on his face, Situ Ye stepped out of the small shack.

“Alright, now the selection for the Seven Disciples of the Heavenly Demon Sect begins. The first round, Yin Youming, please take over,” Situ Ye said, stepping aside to let Yin Youming take the stage.

Yin Youming stepped forward, his voice hoarse as he explained, “The first test is simple. Survive in my Ghost Flame for a quarter of an hour without perishing.”

As he spoke, a pale, grayish flame ignited in his hand. With a casual flick, the flame spread, quickly engulfing a large area.

Yin Youming gestured for everyone to proceed.

Seeing the Ghost Flame, the others couldn’t help but gulp, doubting whether they could survive within it. Just glancing at it was enough to send shivers down their spines.

However, no one retreated. If they couldn’t even face the first trial, why were they even here?

The first person charged in, and the others clenched their teeth and followed suit.

But as soon as they entered, they regretted it.

The flame was bizarre, its effects contradictory—its surface scorching hot, yet a piercing cold seeped into their bodies.

It was a surreal sensation of being both burned and frozen.

What’s more, a crushing mental pressure pounded their willpower. A single moment of weakness could render them unconscious.

The Ghost Flame attacked both the body and the mind, making it a uniquely challenging and troublesome ordeal.

Su Luo calmly stepped in. He was far too familiar with the Ghost Flame to be bothered by it.

Time ticked by, and those with insufficient cultivation were reduced to ashes. Those who survived were already on the verge of collapse, their anguished screams echoing the severity of the Ghost Flame.

Yin Youming, who had been expressionless, began to show signs of delight.

Especially his right cheek, which started twitching uncontrollably, giving him an eerie appearance.

Yin Youming reveled in the sounds of suffering.

The cries of pain accelerated his blood flow, filling him with a strange sense of joy. Moreover, if he were to meditate during this time, his cultivation speed would significantly increase.

This was Yin Youming’s peculiar hobby, or perhaps, his unique method of cultivation.

In the original storyline, Su Luo’s agonized cries and the emotional pain within the Ghost Flame deeply captivated Yin Youming.

It had been a long time since Yin Youming had encountered such satisfying shrieks, pushing him into a state of peak enjoyment.

The more he heard Su Luo’s screams, the more he grew fond of them, and the better his cultivation state became.

Without a doubt, he had set his sights on Su Luo.

In subsequent trials, Yin Youming helped Su Luo become one of the Seven Disciples of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

But this assistance came at a cost. Yin Youming would often subject Su Luo to the Ghost Flame, using the pain to heighten his own cultivation experience.

For a period of time, Su Luo was continuously tortured by the Ghost Flame, another chapter of painful memories.

Yet, it was through this suffering that Su Luo eventually comprehended the advanced form of the Ghost Flame—the Hellish Ghost Flame.

This newfound power significantly boosted his strength, solidifying his position within the Heavenly Demon Sect. From then on, no one dared to belittle Su Luo.

With his newfound strength, Su Luo could continue to humble Lin Xuan.

This was how the villain Su Luo progressed—through sheer discomfort and torment.

Yet, this time, Su Luo felt nothing at all. Not a single sound escaped him as he casually strolled through the Ghost Flame.

At the same time, he activated his skill, [Feeling the Pain Together].

This ability halved the damage and passed it onto others.

Now, not only were the others struggling to endure, but they were also shouldering part of Su Luo’s burden.

Before long, several challengers succumbed to the strain and met their demise.

But Su Luo didn’t mind. There were plenty of others around; if one died, another could step up. If they all perished, the first trial could simply end early.

Yin Youming noticed something amiss. How was the mortality rate so high?

It was strange. He had been careful with his control, yet so many had fallen. Could it be that the current generation of the Heavenly Demon Sect was this weak?

However, he would not lower the intensity. If they couldn’t endure this, how could they participate in the Heavenly Demon Grand Ceremony?

The Sect Master’s pressure would be far more severe than this. If they couldn’t even handle this, they would embarrass themselves in front of everyone at the ceremony.

Seeing that Su Luo was completely unaffected, Situ Ye decided he couldn’t let him have it so easy.

With a wave of his hand, he directed all the Ghost Flame around Su Luo to converge upon him, increasing the intensity he faced.

“Situ Ye, that’s not appropriate,” Yin Youming said, glancing at Situ Ye. He still wanted a somewhat fair selection, especially since so many were already gone.

“It’s more than appropriate,” Situ Ye retorted, slipping some treasures to Yin Youming under the table.

“Then it’s appropriate,” Yin Youming acquiesced.

It didn’t really matter anyway; what mattered was that everyone was happy.

Of course, this was also due to Situ Ye’s understanding.

The sudden increase in temperature didn’t faze Su Luo.

It was just a warm sensation, nothing more.

Su Luo remained unfazed, but the others weren’t so lucky. They were immediately chosen to bear the brunt.

After a while.

“Su Luo, if you can’t take it, feel free to beg for mercy,” Situ Ye said, eager to hear Su Luo’s cries of surrender.

“I think you can add a bit more,” Su Luo replied.

“Don’t think I won’t do it,” Situ Ye challenged.

“I’m not saying you won’t. I’m saying you can’t.”

“Hmph, just you wait.”

Situ Ye took immediate action, determined to prove him wrong.

But Yin Youming withdrew the Ghost Flame.

“What’s the meaning of this, Yin Youming?” Situ Ye demanded, his pride pricked by Yin Youming’s defiance after accepting his bribes.

Yin Youming ignored Situ Ye’s glare, saying calmly, “The time is up, and if we continue, everyone will perish.”

What was once a crowded field had now dwindled to just a handful.

Except for Su Luo, the remaining few were barely holding on, on the brink of death.

Situ Ye scoffed, “They’re pathetic.”

Normally, they would have moved straight to the second trial. But with the current state of the participants, they would all be dead before it even began.

With no choice, they had to take a break.

“You’re not bad, being able to remain unscathed in my Ghost Flame,” Yin Youming offered a rare compliment.

“Hmph,” Su Luo responded with a cold laugh, already plotting how to eliminate him later.

Situ Ye chuckled, “You’re smiling now. I bet you won’t survive the next trial.”

“So, what are you betting on?” Su Luo challenged.

“Panacea Divine Pills, top-grade,” Situ Ye produced the pills, certain Su Luo wouldn’t survive the next round.

These pills were highly effective for boosting cultivation, especially for those at the Golden Core stage, but couldn’t be taken in quick succession. They were, therefore, extremely valuable.

“Situ Ye, I can’t simply ignore this. If you lose, you must give him the pills,” Yin Youming intervened, though his intention was more to rein in Situ Ye’s excessive behavior than to genuinely support Su Luo.

“Naturally, I can afford to lose,” Situ Ye said confidently.

“Fine, I’ll see what you can do to me,” Su Luo taunted.

“Heh, I hope you can keep that smile on your face,” Situ Ye sneered.

“You too,” Su Luo shot back.