Emperor Flame's First Awakening: Three Clans' Joint Battle and Bloodline Shackles

The ancestral grounds of the Xiao Clan were shrouded in swirling purple-black mist from the Earth Core Flame pool. Xiao Feng sat cross-legged on a stone platform at the center, twenty-four fragments of Heavenly Flames orbiting him like stars around a moon. As he circulated the Burning Heaven Technique, the Emperor Scale patterns resonated with the flames, causing the pool water to evaporate into nothingness and revealing the ancient array left behind by Xiao Xuan at the bottom.

"The timing is ripe." Xiao Zhan stood at the entrance, gripping the Xiao Zhan Blade, the reflection of his sons shimmering on the steel. "Do not be greedy; fuse only three flames first."

Xiao Feng nodded, flicking his fingers to send the Fallen Heart Flame, Ancient Spirit Cold Flame, and Green Spirit Earth Core Flame into the array. The three flames collided violently, the resulting energy storm cracking the surrounding rock walls. Xiao Yan acted immediately, his Flame Emperor Fire transforming into chains to stabilize the edges of the array as their Dou Qi converged in the pool to form an Yin-Yang fish pattern.

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

Before the system prompt had even faded, Xiao Feng felt scalding liquid seeping from his pores—a sign that impurities were being refined. When he opened his eyes, his pupils had turned a dual purple-black, and the Dou Qi surrounding him flickered, causing the very space around him to distort.

"Peak Dou Zong?" Xiao Zhan's hand trembled as he gripped his blade. The Xiao Clan had not produced a Dou Zong in nearly a thousand years, yet Xiao Feng had crossed five major realms at only ten years of age.

"It is not enough." Xiao Feng stared at the remaining flame fragments. "Hun Dan's system allows him to leap across realms instantly; only by fusing the remnant soul of the Emperor Flame can I contend with him."

Xiao Yan looked up abruptly. "Third Brother, do you know the danger? Our ancestor perished precisely because he tried to force a fusion with the Emperor Flame!"

"But we have the Devour System." Xiao Feng produced the Dou Saint Experience Card. "Each use grants Dou Saint-level soul power, enough to suppress the rejection reaction." He looked at Xiao Zhan, his gaze like iron. "This is the only path for the Xiao Clan's rise."

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

As Xiao Xuan's remnant Emperor Flame soul merged into the array, the entire ancestral ground shook violently. Xiao Feng felt a weight of ten thousand catties pressing down on him, his Emperor Scales cracking inch by inch to reveal newly formed golden patterns. Xiao Yan crushed a Breakthrough Pill, forcibly pushing his Dou Qi to the peak of Dou King to stabilize the array with all his might.

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

At that very moment, a soul insect scouting for the Soul Clan broke through the perimeter, transmitting the scene to Hun Dan's crystal ball. Hun Dan, who had been in seclusion, opened his eyes, a flash of wariness crossing his gaze. "Xiao Xuan's Emperor Flame? Impossible!"

"My Lord, the Xiao Clan's flame fusion is nearing completion!" an elder of the Blood Soul Hall knelt. "Shall we initiate the Blood Sacrifice Soul Array?"

Hun Dan stared at Xiao Feng's figure in the crystal ball and gave a sinister smile. "No need. Send word to Hun Tiandi—the seal on the Xiao Clan's ancestral grounds is about to open. Invite the Gu Clan and the Thunder Clan to join the feast."

In the Gu Clan's holy land, Gu Yuan watched the fluctuations of the Heavenly Flames in the sky, the Progenitor Ancient Jade glowing faintly. "Xiao Xuan's aura has reappeared. Does the Xiao Clan truly have an heir to the Emperor Flame?" He summoned Gu Tianyi. "Prepare the horses. To the Star Fall Mountain Range!"

At the Thunder God Hall of the Thunder Clan, Lei Yao toyed with a jade slip from the Soul Clan, his lips curling in disdain. "Hun Dan wants to use me as a blade? Very well. Let us see what the Xiao Clan's brat is worth." Behind him, the Thunder Clan disciples stood ready, lightning dancing upon their Thunder God Hammers.

Back at the Xiao Clan's ancestral grounds, Xiao Feng's fusion entered its final stage. The remnant Emperor Flame soul and the flame fragments coalesced into a chaotic-colored fire, and the system prompt rang out, deafeningly loud:

Ding! Fused with the remnant Emperor Flame soul, obtained "Dou Di Bloodline: Awakening"!

Warning! Spatial barrier ruptured, enemy invasion!

Xiao Yan was the first to notice the disturbance. Looking at the approaching experts reflected in the pool, he gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler. "Third Brother, the Gu Clan and the Thunder Clan have both arrived, and there is... Hun Dan!"

Xiao Feng stood up, the Emperor Flame dancing in his palm as the pool water evaporated entirely. He raised his eyes to the sky, a cold, sharp smile playing on his lips. Xiao Zhan tightened his grip on the Xiao Zhan Blade, the fire-patterned steel glowing with a dark red light. "Activate the mountain-protecting array! Today, no one shall disturb 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, the red light of his system terminal flickering at his fingertip. "Xiao Feng, even if you fuse the Emperor Flame, you cannot escape this net. The Xiao Clan will perish here!"

Chapter 19: Siege of the Three Clans: Might of the Dou Zong and Bloodline Backlash

The stone gate of the ancestral grounds exploded outward. Xiao Feng stepped into the air, wreathed in chaotic-colored flames. His purple-black pupils swept over the allied forces of the three clans at the foot of the mountain, his pressure descending like a heavy hammer and grinding the rocks within a hundred yards into powder.

"Peak Dou Zong?!" Gu Tianyi exclaimed, his battle blade nearly slipping from his hand. Though he was a young talent of the Gu Clan, he was only at the Dou Ling realm; how could he withstand such pressure?

Gu Yuan's expression was grave as he stepped into the air. "A descendant of Xiao Xuan, truly remarkable. But do you know that fusing the Emperor Flame without authorization invites the backlash of heaven and earth?"

"Enough talk!" Lei Yao leaped into mid-air, wielding his Thunder God Hammer. "The Thunder Clan is here only for the Heavenly Flames!" Lightning exploded from the hammer, transforming into a hundred-foot-long lightning dragon that lunged at Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng flicked his finger, and a wisp of Emperor Flame flew out, burning the lightning dragon into nothingness. Lei Yao's pupils shrank; this casual strike had shattered his Profound-tier Dou Skill. What kind of strength did this youth possess?

"The Gu Clan and the Thunder Clan are merely being used," Xiao Feng's voice boomed like a bell. "The Soul Clan is the true mastermind behind this. Why not join me in fighting the common enemy?"

Before Gu Yuan could speak, Hun Dan's Bone Dragon arrived, hundreds of Soul Clan secret techniques condensing into black beams of light. Xiao Feng waved his sleeve, the Emperor Flame forming a shield. The black beams vanished upon contact, and the backlash burned a massive hole in the Bone Dragon's wings.

"Xiao Zhan! You have failed to discipline your son!" Hun Dan shrieked from behind the Bone Dragon. "Today, I shall let you witness the might of the Soul Clan's blood sacrifice!"

The Blood Sacrifice Jade Slip in his hand erupted with blinding red light. A blood-colored array suddenly rose around the Xiao Clan's ancestral grounds, countless Soul Clan incantations slithering through the air and forcibly draining the Dou Qi of the Xiao Clan disciples.

"No! It's the Blood Sacrifice Soul Array!" Xiao Zhan slashed his blade at the array wall, but it was like cutting into empty space. "This array uses the Xiao Clan's bloodline as a guide; only the patriarch's essence blood can break it!"

Xiao Feng's eyes turned blood-red, the Emperor Flame surging several yards high as his bloodline boiled. "Father, lend me your strength!" He opened his palm, and Xiao Zhan resolutely slashed his own, his essence blood merging with the Emperor Flame to burn a crack into the array wall.

"Little Yan, take the clansmen and retreat!" Xiao Feng roared. "I will cover the rear!"

Xiao Yan nodded, the Heavy Xuan Ruler sweeping out as the Flame Emperor Fire forced back the approaching Soul Clan cultivators. He turned to help Xiao Zhan, only to see his father stagger and collapse, black blood seeping from his seven orifices—the essence blood had been backlashed by the array, and he had been poisoned by the Soul Clan's curse!

"Father!" Xiao Yan's pupils shrank, and the fire lotus at his fingertips surged uncontrollably. "I'll slaughter you all!"

The youth's Dou Qi climbed crazily, his Flame Emperor Bloodline going completely berserk. A twelve-foot fire lotus phantom appeared behind him, illuminating the entire mountain range as if it were daylight. Gu Yuan was shocked. "This boy has awakened the Flame Emperor Bloodline? Retreat!"

Hun Dan was also startled and ordered the Bone Dragon to ascend, but Xiao Yan raised his hand and unleashed a "Flame Splitting Wave-Devouring Ruler." The ruler's light, carrying the Flame Emperor Fire, slashed down with fury, cutting the Bone Dragon in two!

"Impossible..." As Hun Dan fell, he sacrificed the Soul Clan's secret treasure, the "Spirit Devouring Bead," but Xiao Feng grabbed him by the throat in mid-air, the Emperor Flame drilling into his consciousness through his fingertips.

"Get back into your system!" Xiao Feng roared. "The Xiao Clan is not something you can covet!"

Hun Dan let out a shrill scream as his figure dissipated into points of light. At that moment, Xiao Zhan's voice came from behind. "Feng'er, watch out!"

Xiao Feng turned to see Gu Yuan and Lei Yao attacking in tandem. Both were at the peak of the nine-star Dou King realm, their moves showing hints of a perfect combination. He circulated his "Heavenly Demon Wings" to dodge, but felt a wave of dizziness—the side effects of the Emperor Flame fusion had finally taken hold, and his soul power receded like a tide.

"I will spare you for today!" Seeing Xiao Feng's unstable aura, Gu Yuan signaled for Lei Yao to retreat. "But the Gu Clan will not give up on the Heavenly Flames."

Watching the allied forces of the three clans retreat, Xiao Feng finally collapsed to one knee, unable to hold on any longer. Xiao Yan hurried to support him, only to see the Emperor Scale patterns on his brother fading rapidly; the world-shaking power had been but a fleeting moment.

"Third Brother, are you alright?"

Xiao Feng shook his head and looked toward where Xiao Zhan lay, seeing his father being carried toward the ancestral grounds by the elders, his face as pale as paper. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "It was my negligence... the Soul Clan's conspiracy will not succeed a second time."

The system prompt sounded at the right moment:

Ding! Host has fused with the Emperor Flame for the first time, obtained "Bloodline Suppression" talent (Damage to Soul Clan cultivators +30%).

Warning! Emperor Flame backlash has caused your cultivation realm to drop to the early Dou King stage. Three months of quiet recuperation are required for recovery.

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, "That bastard Hun Dan must have calculated our period of weakness following the fusion. Third Brother, we must increase our strength as quickly as possible, otherwise..."

"I understand." Xiao Feng stood up and gazed toward the depths of the Star Fall Mountain Range, "Ancestor Xiao Xuan once said that a fragment of the Tou She Ancient God Jade lies at the heart of the Star Fall Mountain Range. If we can collect all seven pieces, we can summon the true form of the Emperor Flame—at that time, the Soul Clan will have no chance of victory."

Xiao Yan nodded, flames igniting on the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his palm, "Then let us set off. The Xiao Clan's vengeance will be paid for in the blood of the Soul Clan sooner or later."

Xiao Zhan slowly opened his eyes in the ancestral inner chamber, looking at the Xiao Zhan Blade by his bedside, and whispered softly, "Old Xuan, the burden of the Xiao Clan must ultimately fall upon the shoulders of these two children..."

Chapter 20: The Star Fall Secret Treasury: Tou She Ancient God Jade and Devouring the Starry Sky

Three months later, beside a magma lake in the depths of the Star Fall Mountain Range, Xiao Feng sat cross-legged with twenty-four fragments of Heavenly Flame arranged around him in the Big Dipper Array. He circulated the Burning Heaven Technique; although the Emperor Scale patterns had not fully recovered, they possessed a newfound steadiness and weight.

"Third Brother, are you ready?" Xiao Yan stood by the lake holding the Heavy Xuan Ruler, his gaze burning, "According to ancient records, the fragment of the Tou She Ancient God Jade is at the bottom of this magma lake."

Xiao Feng nodded, and Heavenly Flame flew from his fingertips, tracing the crest of the Xiao Clan onto the surface of the lake. The lake water boiled in response, revealing a stone gate deep within, with the four ancient characters "Gate of Emperor Flame" carved upon it.

"Watch out for the array," Xiao Feng warned, "Ancestor Xiao Xuan failed to enter back then; there must be a hidden mystery."

The two stepped into the stone gate only to find the inner chamber empty, save for a jade slip resting on a central stone platform. Just as Xiao Yan reached out to touch it, the jade slip suddenly erupted with brilliant light, and countless images flooded into their minds—it was the scene of Xiao Xuan failing his breakthrough to the Dou Di realm.

"My descendants, if you see this jade slip, you must have already awakened the Emperor Flame bloodline." The phantom of Xiao Xuan appeared, "There are seven fragments of the Tou She Ancient God Jade in total, hidden among the eight ancient clans. The Soul Clan holds two of them; you must be exceptionally vigilant."

The scene shifted, and the figure of Hun Tiandi appeared. He held two black jade fragments in his hand, a sinister smile curling his lips. Xiao Feng clenched his fists so tightly that his nails pierced his palms, "Hun Tiandi..."

"Remember, the true form of the Emperor Flame can only be summoned with all seven jade fragments." The phantom of Xiao Xuan began to fade, "Do not act rashly. The Soul Hall forces of the Soul Clan are spread across the entire continent, and among them..."