In the next few days, Yanzhen visited the Jinyao residence a few times. Each time, he was visiting Cao Yun. Although Yanzhen did talk with Cao Yun, he was really coming to see Jinyang. It was absolutely obvious to everyone. Because the young girl didn't seem to be bothered, Cao Yun and Jinyue did nothing. To be fair, Cao Yun had to put a leash on Jinyue to calm her a little. The girl was convinced that Yanzhen was some evil entity who was trying to seduce her sister. In fact, Jinyue was convinced that he had tricked Cao Yun, who was too naive to notice. Even though her theories made no sense, she was agitated. However, Cao Yun could tell that she was slowly changing her mind. There was still hope for this girl, she was just lacking in common sense, in very surprising areas.
The rest of the time, Cao Yun worked on his Dao of Fire. Despite its shortcomings, the lone human didn't forsake Red Calm. Indeed, he kept on studying the manuscript of this old master. This wasn't because his training method was bad, it was just limited. To be honest, Cao Yun had wondered about dropping it completely and even looked through other materials, but the fact that Yanzhen had been impressed by some techniques made Cao Yun look harder and deeper.
Of course, Cao Yun went through other materials as well. But he didn't limit himself to the Dao of Fire. He also became interested in the Dao of Wind. Cao Yun had understood something extremely important. The movement within the fire was essential. It wasn't the movement of fire itself, but the movement within. Although it might appear chaotic, it was somehow primordial. Through the study of the Dao of Wind, Cao Yun was trying to understand the flows within fire. In fact, Cao Yun had tried to use the Dao of Water, but he was much more familiar with the concept of Wind through his martial arts. That being said, he saw similarities between the two of them, the three of them really.
More than just movement, Cao Yun was wondering if there were connections with the Dao of Death in a sense. For a long time, Cao Yun had wondered how to animate a Bone Demon or a corpse. Animating a flame construct was somehow similar. Obviously, they were different, but they also had many things in common. Cao Yun had to infuse his will within the fire without completely suffocating it with too much control. Certainly, this was closely related to the Bone Demon he was trying to puppeteer.
For days, Cao Yun drew parallels among different Daos. He looked through so many documents that he was sick of it. In a few days, he had read more than some mortals would read in their entire lives. Although he had not meditated or cultivated, he was absolutely exhausted. However, he had obtained real results. In his inner world, the flowers representing his Dao of Fire were starting to have tiny roots. Although this was still very shallow and superficial, Cao Yun had seized a very important concept. Besides, it would help him to understand other Daos as well. Studying one Dao in isolation wasn't a very good idea, nature was interconnected, and Cao Yun could derive understanding from many different sources. Even the Dao of Water or the Dao of Wind could inform one about the Dao of Fire. More surprising than that, the Dao of Death helped as well, albeit a tiny bit.
With that newfound knowledge, Cao Yun wanted to start learning more about the Dao of Fire, he was actually excited. Unfortunately, he was exhausted and was forced to rest for a few hours. For the first time in a very long time, Cao Yun actually slept, and soundly.
When he woke up, Cao Yun saw Jinyao. The young man didn't want to disturb his senior, so he had waited until Cao Yun woke up. Clearly, Jinyao was concerned. Without even hearing him, Cao Yun spread his senses and realized that there were more guards. Moreover, there was a stranger, an envoy of the Raging Volcano tribe. Before Jinyao could tell him anything, Cao Yun knew. However, he let his host break the news to him.
"Senior, Rong Shan sent an envoy. Everyone is ready for the trial. I tried to stall them for as long as I could, but our chieftains demand that you go with them."
This was a bit earlier than he would have liked, but this wasn't a problem at all. Since the beginning, Cao Yun had intended to go to this trial. He certainly wouldn't escape now that he had what he wanted. That being said, Jinyao's concern was pleasant.
"Do not worry. My conscience is clear. You should worry about those who can't claim the same. Those with ulterior motives will not appreciate this masquerade, not in the slightest."
"Senior?"
Cao Yun didn't add anything else to those cryptic words and stood up. Instead, Cao Yun spoke inwardly. Deep down, Dian Mo was enjoying everything. He absolutely wanted to be there for the show. Those Flameborns didn't know what they had walked into.
"Let's not make them wait. I'm looking forward to meeting this Rong Shan. Let's hope for his sake that he is a reasonable man."
Then, Cao Yun simply walked outside the residence. In the courtyard, Jinyue and Jinyang were holding back the guards. Yanzhen was there as well, vouching for Cao Yun. It was probably the first time ever that Cao Yun had seen Jinyue happy to be by Yanzhen's side.
"Senior, this won't be a fair trial at all! You've saved our lives, how can this be a crime?!"
"Senior, don't go! We'll help you fly away! Don't go or you'll never come back!"
Jinyue and Jinyang were in tears. Both girls were certain that Cao Yun was walking to his death. As a matter of fact, the guards were also convinced of that and literally took fighting stances, certain that they could break Cao Yun's bones if he tried to escape. However, they were a bit worried about Yanzhen's presence. The young Flameborn might actually crush them. Of course, they didn't know that this would be a better fate than having Cao Yun fight them with actual killing intent. Cao Yun had no reason to pull his punches if someone really tried to injure him, or even kill him. Although he enjoyed some people from the Ancient Obsidian tribe, he had no actual attachment to it, so he wouldn't bat an eye at killing guards if they were abusive.
Ironically, the feared presence of Yanzhen had most likely saved the lives of the guards. Otherwise, they could have incurred Cao Yun's wrath because of their arrogance. If they had attacked Jinyue or Jinyang in any way, they would have paid, but not necessarily with their lives. Cao Yun wasn't ruthless for no reason, and he intended to both prove it and show people what his reasons could be. They would all see how ruthless he really could become under the right circumstances.
It took some time and Jinyao's efforts, but Cao Yun was able to calm the twins. Then, he walked outside and followed the guards. The twins, their father, and Yanzhen left and followed Cao Yun as well. After all, the twins were witnesses to what had happened.
Cao Yun was brought to the three leaders and Shaman Heiyan. The shaman was hiding himself as much as he could because he didn't want Cao Yun to know that he knew. Instead, he wanted to see the descendant of the Ash Bringer in action. Seeing Cao Yun's eyes, Shaman Heiyan was certain that Cao Yun wasn't walking into a trap, he had laid it, and his prey was too arrogant to understand their fate. Although Cao Yun appeared weak to everyone around him, he seemed like an old terrifying monster to Shaman Heiyan. If he truly was what Shaman Heiyan hoped and feared he was, the Ancient Obsidian tribe wouldn't be destroyed. However, it didn't guarantee the safety of everyone in it.
Rong Shan's messenger was Chiyan. Huilu, Huichi, and Huishou were all there. In fact, Huilu was already talking to Chiyan, trying to smooth things over.
"As I told you, we are men of our word. Cao Yun is our guest, but he will answer for his acts. Should he be found guilty, my Ancient Obsidian tribe will cut all ties to him. We'll even offer him up to your Raging Volcano tribe for punishment."
Huichi was upset, but Huishou was clearly keeping him in line. For once, they seemed to have found a compromise between them. And this compromise appeared to be Cao Yun's neck. Honestly, Cao Yun wasn't even angry about it. It made sense, they would not risk their entire tribe for a stranger even if he had saved two of their kin. However, he really didn't like it at all. Indeed, they all talked as if Cao Yun wasn't even there, he was just a piece of furniture, or mere cattle ready to be brought to slaughter. And, in their eyes, this was what Cao Yun was, nothing more.
A small delegation left with Chiyan, Huishou, Huilu, and Cao Yun. Huichi stayed in the Ancient Obsidian tribe in order to take care of defenses. The three chieftains couldn't all leave at the same time to preserve the fate of the Ancient Obsidian tribe. In fact, this was also why they had three leaders in the first place. Instead of risking breaking apart their tribe, their father had put all three of them in charge equally, hoping they would balance each other out and making sure that it was harder to actually kill the leader of the Ancient Obsidian tribe. Ironically, their father had been killed while outside the tribe. Although they were convinced that another tribe had assassinated him, it had looked as though wandering demons had killed him.
Cao Yun didn't make a fuss at all. In fact, he appeared to be the most relaxed of the entire delegation. An outsider would have thought that Cao Yun was some kind of royal figure being transported by his followers who were terrified to displease him. Indeed, Cao Yun was calm, and everyone around him was nervous. They always looked at Cao Yun. Of course, they were worried that he might try to escape, but they were also afraid of going to this trial where the Raging Volcano tribe would be.
As they drew near, Cao Yun could feel the presence of the Raging Volcano tribe. They had come with a small delegation led by Rong Shan himself. However, they were all extremely strong. Although they weren't more than twenty, each one of them was at least as strong as the strongest Flameborn of the Ancient Obsidian tribe. Only the hidden presence could surpass them. To be exact, this hidden presence was most likely powerful enough to kill most of them, even if they fought together. Honestly, even Cao Yun had a hard time telling how powerful the hidden presence was, simply because he was preserving his strength as much as possible.
Anyway, Cao Yun immediately recognized Rong Shan as he had the same facial traits as his son. Besides, he had war ashes on his face and upper body that reminded Cao Yun of his son. With his senses, Cao Yun could tell that some of his son's ashes were literally on his skin. Despite being an outsider, Cao Yun knew of this practice. Until his son could rest in peace, Rong Shan would keep some of his ashes, only a little bit, on his skin at all times. Of course, resting in peace could have many meanings. It could mean actual justice, or it could mean death. Honestly, even Cao Yun couldn't tell what Rong Shan would do, but he could see rage in his eyes.
Shaman Heiyan was asked to speak. He was a bit afraid but walked forward. The area chosen for the trial was now surrounded by many powerful Flameborns. They could all tell that the Ancient Obsidian tribe was weak. Despite trying to have a show of strength, their most powerful warriors weren't strong enough. It was obvious that they would be annihilated by the Raging Volcano tribe if a conflict were to arise. But Shaman Heiyan was worried by something else. He was worried that Cao Yun would obliterate his Ancient Obsidian tribe.
In Shaman Heiyan's eyes, Rong Shan and the Raging Volcano tribe were done already. They were playing with a terrifying entity, and they didn't even realize it. Their entire area felt as though it were the maws of Cao Yun, and the young-looking man was ready to swallow them whole. That being said, Shaman Heiyan was the only one who could actually supervise this ceremony. Such a trial was almost a religious rite. As such, Shaman Heiyan had no choice and conducted the ceremony as it should be. He simply hoped that his tribe would survive Cao Yun's presence.
"As our traditions allow it, we will hold a trial against Cao Yun. As a guest of our Ancient Obsidian tribe, he will receive all the honors due to any of our tribesmen, as if he were a Flameborn himself. This trial will be under the protection of the Fire Thearch himself. If anyone dares to violate the sanctity of this trial or its verdict, they will suffer the wrath of the entire Broken Fire World. Do all parties accept this covenant?"
"Undying flames be my witness, I accept."
"Undying flames be my witness, I accept."
Rong Shan and Huishou spoke for their tribe. As they spoke, they manifested their flames. They quite literally manifested a part of their very essence. This was almost like a vow on one's Dao Heart. At the very least, it was binding, they had to abide by the laws of this trial. Of course, no one asked for Cao Yun's words. He was an object of the trial, not a subject at all.
Rong Shan walked forward.
"I present my grievances. My son was slaughtered and reduced to ashes by this man's bare hands. Although my son had gone too far with his behavior, death was an unjust punishment. And the outsider had no authority to mete out such a cruel punishment to a member of my tribe. As such, I demand retribution. Does anyone contest my words?"
Before Cao Yun could speak up, Jinyue rushed to the center of the trial.