In the universe where cold and darkness coexist, the four directions are nothing but boundless void; even if there is an occasional glimmer of light, it is unknown how many tens of thousands of miles away it lies.
The vast universe and the infinite starry sky bury too many secrets. This is a dead and silent place located at the edge of the outer universe, where space is distorted within infinite time, and the heavens and earth here present a chaotic state.
Gale winds rage through the starry sky; even the top-tier Saint-Rank Heavenly Sovereign powerhouses of the universe would not dare to step foot here easily. Suddenly, a beam of light swept across the void, completely ignoring the chaotic gale.
Roar...
As the light descended through the air, a low, rumbling sound followed. The dead, silent space suddenly had a voice; brilliant flames surged across the sky, and that scorching heat seemed capable of incinerating the world.
The moment this light stopped, billions of flames surged forth. The sea of fire, connecting heaven and earth, seemed to have carved out a world of flame, and at the center of this world stood a young man with delicate features.
His body was slender, carrying a hint of laziness and uninhibited grace. Within his pitch-black eyes, brilliant firelight surged, appearing exceptionally gentle yet profound. On his forehead was a flame mark, shimmering with many magnificent colors.
"In the name of Flame Emperor Xiao Yan, I command all the fires of the world to return as one!!!"
At the young man's loud shout, strange firelight suddenly emerged from countless planes in the deep, infinite reaches of the universe. The endless living beings of billions of planes heard the name of the Flame Emperor and bowed in long, reverent worship.
Flame Emperor Xiao Yan, the most powerful expert in this boundless universe. Twenty-seven years ago, as one of the two heroes of the Great Thousand World, he and two other top-tier powerhouses were known, praised, and revered by the world as the main force in the battle against the Heavenly Evil God.
Twenty-seven years have passed, the Great Thousand World has flourished, and this top-tier powerhouse of the Great Thousand World has finally reached the pinnacle of his life.
Roar.
Endless flames condensed before the Flame Emperor into a furnace of great medicine. The brilliant Empyrean Flame burned fiercely, transforming into a spinning, dazzling fire lotus that rose into the air, releasing billions of rays of light to dispel the endless darkness.
Beneath the Flame Emperor's feet, a brilliant lotus bloomed, and endless flames surged into that furnace of medicine. At the same time, an indescribably rich medicinal fragrance diffused wildly.
The world knows that the Flame Emperor attained the Dao through fire, but his even more world-renowned skill is the art of alchemy. This powerhouse's alchemy is the best in the Great Thousand World, capable of refining peerless medicinal treasures that benefit Saint-Rank Heavenly Sovereigns.
After twenty-seven years of silence, the Flame Emperor struck again, using billions of mountains and rivers as a cauldron, the power of the world as firewood, and the will of all living beings as fire, seeking to refine for himself an unprecedented Sovereign Emperor Pill.
When the Sovereign Emperor Pill is formed, the Great Dao is solidified; when the laws are complete, the Firmament appears.
Accompanying the emerging, misty medicinal fragrance, a trace of strange fluctuations appeared in this endless void, and boundless spiritual light descended like a curtain of light.
Spiritual light, thick as hanging clouds, poured down from the high heavens, causing the heavens and earth to tremble. It gradually gathered, and finally, everyone saw with shock that in the void of the Great Thousand World, a spiritual light curtain with no visible end was slowly appearing.
This light curtain gave a hazy and mysterious feeling, as if countless mountains, rivers, suns, moons, and stars were engraved upon it, resembling a world of its own.
A terrifying majesty radiated from it, and under that majesty, the minds of countless living beings trembled slightly, struck with fear by such power.
The Firmament Billboard is the concrete manifestation of the will of the Great Thousand World and represents the recognition of that will. As long as one can brand their true name upon this world will, they can gain the recognition of the Great Thousand World and master its world power.
The Firmament Billboard was hazy and mysterious, difficult to fathom. On one part of the billboard, spiritual light condensed into four divine rays. The first line contained a complete name: 'Mu Chen'.
Mu Chen, the first Grand Overlord in the history of the Great Thousand World to fully imprint his true name upon the will of the Great Thousand World. Below his true name were three surnames: 'Xiao', 'Lin', and 'Ye'.
These three surnames represented three powerhouses who had attempted to inscribe their true names over countless years, yet failed due to insufficient strength, only taking half a step forward.
Among them, the Immortal Great Emperor representing the 'Ye' surname had sacrificed himself to save the Great Thousand World countless ages ago. As for the remaining two, they were the Flame Emperor Xiao Yan and the Martial Ancestor Lin Dong, known together as the two heroes of the Great Thousand World. And today, it was the time for the Flame Emperor to re-establish his true name.
"Twenty-seven years, the time is now."
A supreme Sovereign Emperor Pill suddenly flew from the furnace of the sea of fire into the Flame Emperor's body. The entire world instantly became scorching hot, as hot as a furnace, as if even the heavens and earth showed signs of melting.
Roar...
Within the Flame Emperor's body, brilliant flames suddenly swept out. The flames were colorful and magnificent, yet radiated boundless mystery, suffused with a kingly aura, as if they were the emperor of fire, majestic and prominent. This was the Empyrean Flame, the legendary emperor of all fires.
The Flame Emperor waved his hand, and the roaring Empyrean Flame gathered, transforming into a giant pen of fire. He then held his hands in a void embrace, and the pen of fire pierced through the infinite void, striking toward the Firmament Billboard.
Boom boom...
As the pen made of Empyrean Flame approached, mysterious mist seemed to surge on the Firmament Billboard. That mist appeared thin, yet possessed a mysterious power capable of blocking everything.
However, at this moment, the 'Xiao' character on the Firmament Billboard suddenly shone with brilliant light. Instantly, the pen of fire broke through everything with ease, and the tip lightly touched the surface to begin writing.
On the Firmament Billboard, spiritual light flickered like sparks. With every stroke, a graceful 'Yan' followed the 'Xiao' surname. The two characters 'Xiao Yan' were completed, and a beam of fire instantly shot out, merging into the flame-patterned mark on the Flame Emperor's forehead.
On the Firmament Billboard, a complete true name floated, possessing an indescribable majesty that made everyone who saw it unable to help but kneel.
Boundless spiritual light radiated down, enveloping the Flame Emperor. At this moment, the Flame Emperor could feel his perception permeating the entire Great Thousand World.
"Sigh! It has been countless years; do I still want to go back now?"
The Flame Emperor stood at the pinnacle of the starry universe, enjoying the praises of billions of living beings. Yet, no one noticed his gaze flying toward a corner of the universe, where a plane emitting chaotic fluctuations resided. That was his hometown, the Battle Qi Continent plane. However, what no one knew was that he actually had another hometown.
"After so many years, why would I suddenly think of this? Could it be that I haven't forgotten..."
The Flame Emperor suddenly spoke to himself. Countless past experiences surfaced in his mind. Having been famous for thousands of years, he had lived a long time, but in the corner of his memory, that experience of less than fifty years was so deeply engraved. After all, that was his previous life!
"Perhaps, I should go back and take a look."
A tremor suddenly stirred in the Flame Emperor's heart, but he knew better than anyone that he was no longer who he once was; even if he wanted to return, it would be incredibly difficult. As the thought echoed in his mind, a figure of flame suddenly split from his body.
"Go! Just take a look for me, just one look..."
The Flame Emperor said silently in his heart. That origin clone, split from him, charged into a vortex in the depths of the universe, and then, for a long time, there was no movement.