Ethereal Flame Furnace: Bloodline Resonance of the Twin Imperial Sons

The Earth Core Flame Pool in the Xiao Clan ancestral grounds steamed with purple-black mist. Xiao Feng sat cross-legged on a stone platform in the center of the pool, twenty-four Heavenly Flame fragments circling his body like stars orbiting a moon. He circulated the Burning Heaven Technique, causing the Emperor Scale patterns to resonate with the Heavenly Flames. The pool water was evaporated into nothingness by the intense heat, revealing the ancient array diagram left behind by Xiao Xuan at the bottom.

"Third Brother's flames have grown stronger again." Xiao Yan stood by the pool's edge, the Fallen Heart Flame rising automatically from his palm to echo the Heavenly Flame fragments in the air. He noticed the Xiao Clan emblem on Xiao Feng's chest was undergoing a metamorphosis, the patterns gradually evolving from flames into a spreading phoenix—the sign of a Dou Di bloodline awakening.

Xiao Zhan stood at the entrance, gripping the Xiao Zhan Blade, the reflection of his sons shimmering on the blade's surface. Ever since Hun Dan's mechanical legion had retreated, the Xiao Clan had shifted its focus back to Dou Qi cultivation, and Xiao Feng's "Heavenly Flame Fusion Project" had become the key to their revival. "The heat is just about right," he reminded in a deep voice. "Do not be greedy; try fusing three Heavenly Flames first."

Xiao Feng nodded and flicked his fingers. The Fallen Heart Flame, Ancient Spirit Cold Flame, and Green Spirit Earth Core Flame flew into the array diagram first. The three Heavenly Flames collided violently within the formation, the resulting energy storm cracking the surrounding rock walls. Seeing this, Xiao Yan immediately took action, his Flame Emperor Fire transforming into chains to stabilize the edges of the array as their Dou Qi formed a Yin-Yang fish pattern within the pool.

Ding! Host has fused three Heavenly Flames, triggering the Devour System bonus. Obtained "Burning Heaven Three Profound Transformations: Extreme"!

As the system notification exploded in his consciousness, Xiao Feng felt scalding liquid seeping from his pores—a sign that impurities were being thoroughly refined. When he opened his eyes, his pupils had turned a dual purple-black, and his every movement caused the surrounding space to distort.

"Dou Zong peak?!" Xiao Zhan exclaimed, his blade trembling slightly from the shock. The Xiao Clan had not seen a Dou Zong powerhouse in nearly a thousand years, yet Xiao Feng, at only ten years old, had crossed five major realms.

"It's not enough." Xiao Feng stared at the remaining Heavenly Flame fragments. "Hun Dan's system allows him to cross realms instantly; ordinary cultivation is too slow. Father, I want to try... fusing the remnant soul of the Emperor Flame left by Ancestor Xiao Xuan."

Xiao Yan looked up abruptly. "Third Brother, do you know how dangerous that is? The Ancestor fell precisely because he tried to force a fusion with the Emperor Flame!"

"But we have the system's devouring function." Xiao Feng took out the Dou Saint Experience Card. "Each use provides a brief burst of Dou Saint-level soul power, enough to suppress the rejection reaction." He looked at Xiao Zhan, his gaze as firm as iron. "This is the only way for the Xiao Clan to rise rapidly."

Xiao Zhan remained silent for a long time before finally retreating to the edge of the array. "I will guard you. If there is any anomaly, stop immediately."

As Xiao Xuan's Emperor Flame remnant soul merged into the array, the entire ancestral ground began to shake violently. Xiao Feng felt a weight of ten thousand tons pressing down on his shoulders, his Emperor Scale cracking inch by inch to reveal new golden patterns beneath. Xiao Yan crushed a Breakthrough Pill, forcibly raising his Dou Qi to the peak of Dou King to maintain the stability of the array with all his might.

"Hold on!" he shouted. "Your soul power is breaking through to the Heavenly Realm!"

At that very moment, the Soul Clan's scout Soul Insect breached the Xiao Clan's defenses, transmitting the scene in real-time to Hun Dan's crystal ball. Hun Dan, who had been in secluded cultivation, opened his eyes, a flicker of wariness crossing them. "Xiao Xuan's Emperor Flame? That's impossible! He was clearly already..."

"My Lord, the Xiao Clan's Heavenly Flame fusion is nearing success!" a Blood Soul Hall elder knelt to report. "Shall we activate the 'Blood Sacrifice Soul Array'?"

Hun Dan stared at Xiao Feng's figure in the crystal ball and suddenly revealed a sinister smile. "No need. Tell Hun Tiandi that the seal on the Xiao Clan's ancestral grounds is about to open—let the Gu Clan and the Thunder Clan be the ones to disrupt this fusion."

In the Gu Clan sacred grounds, Gu Yuan gazed at the abnormal Heavenly Flame fluctuations in the sky, the Progenitor Ancient Jade at his fingertips glowing faintly. "Xiao Xuan's aura... could it be that someone in the Xiao Clan can truly inherit the Emperor Flame?" He turned and summoned Gu Tianyi. "Prepare the mounts; follow me to the Star Fall Mountain Range."

In the Thunder God Hall of the Thunder Clan, Lei Yao toyed with a Soul Clan jade slip in his hand, his lips curling in disdain. "Hun Dan wants to use our hands to wipe out the Xiao? Very well. I'll take the opportunity to see what those two little brats are worth." The Thunder Clan disciples behind him were already fully prepared, lightning dancing on their Thunder God Hammers as if to tear the firmament apart.

In the Xiao Clan ancestral grounds, Xiao Feng's fusion entered its final stage. The Emperor Flame remnant soul and the Heavenly Flame fragments finally coalesced into a chaotic-colored flame, the system notification nearly shattering his consciousness:

Ding! Successfully fused Emperor Flame remnant soul. Host has obtained "Dou Di Bloodline: Initial Awakening"!

Warning! Spatial barrier ruptured; external forces are approaching!

Xiao Yan was the first to sense the disturbance. He looked at the large number of powerhouses approaching in the reflection of the pool water and gripped his Heavy Xuan Ruler tightly. "Third Brother, the people from the Gu Clan and the Thunder Clan are here, and also... Hun Dan!"

Xiao Feng rose slowly, the Emperor Flame dancing in his palm, evaporating the pool water into nothingness. He looked up at the horizon, a cold smile rising on his lips. "They've come at the perfect time. Let them see just how scorching the Xiao Clan's fury truly is."

Xiao Zhan gripped the Xiao Zhan Blade, the nano-alloy on the blade having long been quietly replaced with the Xiao Clan's unique Fire Pattern Steel. "Pass the order: activate the Great Mountain Protection Array. Today, no one shall disrupt my son's breakthrough."

The clouds over the Star Fall Mountain Range were dyed purple by the Heavenly Flames. Gu Yuan's Griffin Legion and the Thunder Clan's Thunder Cavalry stood in a standoff at the foot of the mountain. Hun Dan stood atop a Soul Clan Bone Dragon, gazing at the pillar of fire rising toward the ancestral grounds, the system terminal at his fingertips flashing red. "Xiao Feng, so what if you've fused the Emperor Flame? I have already laid a net from which there is no escape—the Xiao Clan will fall today."