MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 223
Chapter 223: The Flame Clan's Decline
"After the seven gods of the Flame Clan were defeated," Roxin began, her voice echoing through the dimly lit corridors, "the entire clan retreated into this ruin."
"Anything before this period has been documented elsewhere, so there's no need to delve into those details."
"What my brother and I are interested in is the history of the Flame Clan from the time of the Jing God's fall to the clan's complete destruction."
"The information we've gathered is based on the records left behind by the Flame Clan survivors, so it's quite reliable."
As the three of them walked deeper into the mansion, Roxin continued her narrative.
Roda, leading the way, couldn't help but feel a twinge of exasperation. He had created an opportunity for his sister to connect with Lu Ming, but she was engrossed in recounting historical tales.
But then again, what else could Roxin talk about? This was her area of expertise.
Lu Ming, on the other hand, seemed genuinely interested. He truly knew very little about the history of the Black Mist Zone, and learning more would deepen his understanding of this world.
Roxin's voice continued, painting a picture of the Flame Clan's past.
"During the early years of the Jing God's slumber, life for the Flame Clan members here was quite peaceful."
They had abundant resources, a manageable population, and no immediate threats to their survival. This place was a haven for them.
"Unfortunately," Roxin sighed, "this ruin is too small..."
"Small?" Lu Ming echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"From our perspective, it's enormous," Roxin explained. "But for Ancient Realm experts, it's truly tiny."
The mobility of experts was indeed greater. To those in the Ancient Realm, this place would feel like a cramped cage. And when powerful beings were confined for too long, problems inevitably arose.
"When the gods fell," Roxin continued, "the Flame Clan's overall strength remained largely intact."
"There were four quasi-divine-level experts: the Three Kings and the reigning Flame Emperor, not to mention the numerous Ancient Realm experts below them. In total, there were about a hundred Ancient Realm experts within the Flame Clan at that time."
Over a hundred Ancient Realm experts are trapped in this ruin... Roxin's use of the word "small" was no exaggeration.
The trio reached King Lin's bedroom. Roda entered and conducted a quick search, emerging moments later with a shake of his head.
"Not here," he reported to Lu Ming and Roxin.
They moved on to the next potential location.
Roxin picked up her narrative again. "For the first thousand years, perhaps due to the lingering presence of the Jing God, peace prevailed. The Flame Clan continued to reproduce, and their population grew."
"But a thousand years later, as the population increased, the Flame Clan elders discovered a troubling issue. No one in the new generation could break through to the Ancient Realm."
Lu Ming couldn't help but ask, "Why was that?"
Roda turned, his expression grave. "Insufficient Origin Power and lack of life-or-death combat experience. Advancing to the Ancient Realm demands both."
Roxin elaborated, "As I mentioned earlier, there were around a hundred Ancient Realm experts within the Flame Clan at that time. Even if they didn't actively cultivate, the Origin Power they passively absorbed was enough to cause the Origin Power concentration within the ruins to plummet."
"This ruin could absorb Origin Power from the outside, but its capacity was limited. Sustaining a hundred Ancient Realm experts was already pushing its limits."
"More importantly, advancing from the Origin Realm to the Ancient Realm required life-or-death trials. There were no external enemies here for the Flame Clansmen, so they lacked those opportunities."
"In short, the Flame Clan's high-level power was dwindling, and the new generation couldn't fill the gap."
"Over time, the Flame Clan was bound to lose its Ancient Realm experts, leading to a significant decline in overall strength."
Roxin paused, her voice taking on a somber tone. "The Three Kings' Rebellion, the event that ultimately led to the Flame Clan's downfall, occurred against this backdrop."
"At that time, the three ancient kings were the Black King, the Green King, and King Lin. The Black King and King Lin were over 5,000 years old, nearing the end of their Ancient Realm lifespans. Even the Green King, though younger, was still over 4,000 years old. And the reigning Flame Emperor was also close to death."
"The three kings realized that all the quasi-divine experts of the Flame Clan were nearing the end of their lives, and there was a gap in the new generation of experts."
"So, they secretly met with the Flame Emperor, hoping to open the Flame Clan ruin and return to the Black Mist Zone."
As Roxin finished speaking, the trio arrived at the ancestral hall of King Lin's lineage.
Roda entered the hall.
After a brief flicker of restrictive light, he emerged looking disheveled.
He shook his head. "It's not here either."
Roda, with a determined expression, began to weave a series of intricate hand gestures. A faint light emanated from his eyes, scanning the surroundings.
"This is a secret technique Brother learned from an ancient text," Roxin explained, her voice hushed. "It can help us uncover hidden locations within the Flame Clan ruins."
Lu Ming nodded in understanding, his curiosity piqued.
Moments later, Roda led them into the mansion's garden. Roxin continued her narrative as they walked.
"During the secret meeting," she said, her voice tinged with sadness, "the negotiations between the three kings and the Flame Emperor broke down."
"Soon after, internal strife erupted within the Flame Clan, ultimately leading to its complete destruction."
"But according to the records my brother and I found, no one has ever revealed the details of that meeting. The most detailed record is only four words: 'Their opinions differed.'"
Roxin's tone lightened as she offered her own interpretation. "I imagine the three kings wanted to lead the Flame Clan out of this ruin and back into the Black Mist Zone, but the Flame Emperor refused."
"But, Brother Lu, think about it," she continued, her voice turning serious. "It had only been a thousand years. The gods are immortal, and the Flame Clan's enemies surely hadn't forgotten them. If they left the ruin, they would have faced certain retribution."
Lu Ming nodded in agreement. Roxin's logic was sound.
Roxin then furrowed her brow. "But staying in this ruin wasn't a solution either. The experts were gradually dying, and being trapped here, they couldn't participate in the Heaven Ascension Stairs or give birth to new gods. In short, there was no hope within the ruin..."
Lu Ming smiled at her innocent frustration. "Well, it's the Flame Clan's problem. What does it have to do with us?"
Roxin pouted, then retorted playfully, "Immersion! Brother Lu, it's called immersion! When researching historical matters, immersion is crucial."
Lu Ming chuckled, then turned serious. "But there's another question," he said. "I find it hard to believe that a simple disagreement about leaving the ruins could lead to a conflict so severe that it wiped out the entire Flame Clan."
If he were in the Flame Clan's position, deciding whether or not to leave the ruin would undoubtedly be a weighty matter, one that concerned the clan's future. However, it shouldn't have escalated to the point of complete annihilation.
Roxin's smile returned. "That's why I mentioned earlier that this is just a historical story. Compared to what's written in the books, I think the 'power struggle' narrative makes more sense."
"Perhaps the three kings wanted to overthrow the Flame Emperor, leading to internal strife and the clan's eventual downfall. Doesn't that sound more logical?"
Lu Ming nodded in agreement. "At least it's more plausible than fighting to the death over leaving the ruins."
Roxin continued, "But my brother and I found over a dozen rare books, and none of them presented it that way. One book even mentioned that the three kings had an excellent relationship with the Flame Emperor and no desire for the throne."
Just as Roxin finished her sentence, Roda's voice cut through the air.
"I found it. It's right here."
End of Chapter 223