Flame Emperor Legacy Tower

"Xiu, where did you go? I couldn't find you anywhere in the villa," Zhu Zhuqing asked softly as Yang Xiu returned.

Yang Xiu walked over and affectionately stroked her head.

"Did you miss me?"

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing was a little shy, but she nodded.

"Someone in the Sect became a Titled Douluo today. He's no weaker than the Clear Sky Douluo, so I went to see him."

"A Titled Douluo? Really?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, delighted. Her whole heart belonged to Yang Xiu, and since he was the Sect Master of the Flame Emperor Sect, her affection for him extended to the Sect as well.

"Xiu, can I ask how many Titled Douluo our Sect has?"

Zhu Zhuqing had been at the Flame Emperor Sect for several months, but she had spent nearly all her time with Yang Xiu. Apart from Zhang Liao and Hua Xiong, she had met no one else, let alone a Titled Douluo. Of course, she knew about Dragon One and Dragon Two, who appeared in public. Dragon Three had not been revealed to outsiders.

"How many? Not that many. Besides the two you've met, the two everyone on the continent knows about, and the one from today, there are only three more. Mm, the Sect has just eight Titled Douluo."

As Yang Xiu said this, he thought of Spirit Hall's seventeen Titled Douluo. The Flame Emperor Sect had two Limit Douluo, and Zhang Liao and Guan Sheng could each take on several opponents. But within a few years, Bibi Dong would become a Peak Douluo, then a Limit Douluo, and finally a god. There was the Angel God, too. Still, that was a long way off. As long as he became a Titled Douluo quickly and completed their trials to become gods, there would be nothing to fear.

The system had been quiet these past few years, with hardly any missions. He wondered whether that would change once the Shrek Academy storyline began.

Yang Xiu had little left on him now: just two Innate Soul Power Pills and three elixirs he had claimed from the System Shop a few days ago. He thought of Dragon Four and the others, who were at levels eighty-five or eighty-six, then decided against it. Their Innate Soul Power had only been level seven!

Looks like the Sect needs to recruit people. But better to leave places empty than fill them with the wrong ones. We'll only take those with Innate Soul Power of level six or above, and focus our training on those at level eight or above, Yang Xiu thought.

"Xiu? What are you thinking about? You're ignoring me," Zhu Zhuqing said. Only then did Yang Xiu realize his mind had wandered.

"Nothing. I was thinking about whether the Sect should recruit people."

"Oh." Zhu Zhuqing asked nothing more and sat quietly beside him.

I should talk to Dragon One and the others. They travel around the continent more often.

"Dragon One," Yang Xiu called out with Soul Power.

Dragon One arrived shortly afterward.

"Sect Master." Dragon One greeted him respectfully, then stood quietly to one side.

"The Sect will start recruiting disciples in three months. You brothers travel around the continent more often, so I'll leave the arrangements to you. Oh, and Gao Lan doesn't seem to have much to do. You can ask him to help."

"Recruit around a hundred to start with. Their Innate Soul Power must be at least level six, but there's no restriction on age or current level."

"Once you've recruited them, bring them all to me. I can tell whether they're loyal, so you don't need to worry about that."

"Understood, Sect Master."

Ding! System mission: Recruit Sect disciples. Every loyal disciple is a rare talent. For every three disciples recruited with level-eight Innate Soul Power, receive one Beginner Summoning Card. For every disciple recruited with level-nine Innate Soul Power, receive one Intermediate Summoning Card. For every disciple recruited with Innate Full Soul Power, receive one Advanced Summoning Card. In addition, every disciple recruited this time who is loyal to the Flame Emperor Sect will gain fifty Loyalty points.

What, has a gift package just dropped into my lap? Happiness came as fast as a tornado! Yang Xiu nearly laughed as he read the system mission. Their Loyalty scores would also let him spot anyone with ulterior motives at a glance.

"Spread the news across the continent. Make the Sect's location public, too."

Dragon One said nothing, but went to carry out the order.

The next day, word spread that the Flame Emperor Sect was recruiting disciples.

The news swept across the Heaven Dou Empire like a tornado and reached every major faction. The requirements were harsh, though: applicants needed Innate Soul Power of at least level six. That single condition stopped eighty percent of those who had been eager to apply. "Have you heard? The Flame Emperor Sect is recruiting!"

"Tch, that's old news."

"Hasn't anyone noticed something? The recruitment site is on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, and they say the Sect is there too. How come none of us knew?"

"Right! My uncle passes through there every year. Apart from Blue Tyrant Academy nearby, it's all wilderness."

"Do you think Blue Tyrant Academy might be the Flame Emperor Sect?" The moment he finished speaking, everyone looked at him as though he were an idiot. "I was just saying," he muttered.

"Tch."...

... In a hotel.

"Did you know the Flame Emperor Sect's requirements are really high? You need Innate Soul Power of at least level six."

"Then hardly anyone will get in, will they?"

"That's asking too much."

"Exactly."

"What level are you?"

"Level three."

"This humble fellow happens to have level-six Innate Soul Power," one man said proudly.

Everyone around him looked at him with envy.

Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

"The Flame Emperor Sect has always been known across the continent for being mysterious and powerful. I thought they intended to remain hidden. Few of their people travel the continent, either. I wonder why they're recruiting disciples now. Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, what do you think?"

"Sect Master, the Flame Emperor Sect has only two Titled Douluo. They're no threat to us. There's no need to pay them much attention," Bone Douluo said.

Ning Fengzhi said nothing. Instead, he looked toward Sword Douluo beside him.

"The Flame Emperor Sect is on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, yet no one has found it after all these years. They're mysterious and keep a low profile. We can't judge them by what they show the world."

"As for why they're recruiting disciples now, I don't know. But with the Clear Sky Sect staying out of sight, another faction like the Flame Emperor Sect gives us more strength to stand against Spirit Hall," Sword Douluo said calmly.

"You're right, Uncle Jian. The continent has been too quiet these past ten-odd years. Who knows what kind of storm is brewing?"

"Especially with Spirit Hall. Who knows what they're plotting? That's why I keep stressing that the Upper Three Sects must stand together, branches of the same tree."

"What's there to fear? When soldiers come, we'll send generals; when water comes, we'll dam it with earth," Bone Douluo said.

"Uncle Gu, it isn't as simple as you think."

"Forget it. Just call me when there's a fight. I'm going to find Rongrong." Bone Douluo left in a bluster.

"Uncle Jian, it seems we should visit the Flame Emperor Sect when they start recruiting."

"Yes, we should."

Over the next few days, group after group of people arrived at the location the Flame Emperor Sect had named, but they found nothing. Some began to suspect the Sect was deceiving them. Then again, recruitment was still three months away, and the Flame Emperor Sect had always been mysterious.

Time passed quickly, and half a month went by.

Yang Xiu opened his eyes after cultivating.

"Finally, level seventy. I hope the Sect Secret Realm doesn't disappoint me." At the same time, the system issued a mission.

The host has reached level seventy. New mission: Obtain a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. Reward: Flame Emperor Legacy Tower.

"Hm? The Flame Emperor Legacy Tower?"

Flame Emperor Legacy Tower: Contains the legacies of Huaxia's civil officials and military generals from thousands of years of history, divided among separate small spaces. Those with the Flame Emperor Bloodline (soul) and Martial Might (Intelligence) above thirty may enter. If they gain the recognition of a remnant of a True Spirit, they may obtain its legacy. Once a legacy is bestowed, the True Spirit will fall asleep and can awaken again in ten years.

A Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, the totem of Huaxia, coils around the tower. It guards the Flame Emperor Legacy Tower and tests for the Flame Emperor Bloodline. Anyone who forces their way in will face its wrath. (The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon cannot travel more than one hundred meters from the tower, but within that range, it is invincible.)

"System, what do the legacies contain? Can people I've summoned inherit their own legacies?"

"Only two kinds of things: strategy and martial techniques, and Martial Might and Intelligence."

"As for inheriting their own legacies, host, what would they gain from something they already possess? They may even be stronger now than they were in those legacies."

"Martial Might? Some kind of currency?"

"Something like that. Put simply, Hua Xiong has only ninety-one Martial Might in the legacy, but now he's a level-ninety-five Super Douluo."

"That is not what it means, host. Receiving a legacy will increase their own Martial Might and Intelligence. Have you been in Douluo so long that you've forgotten what those generals were like at first?"

Yang Xiu understood at once and was overjoyed. With the tower, the Flame Emperor Sect's strength would soar.

"Are there any restrictions? Can people without the Flame Emperor Bloodline enter?"

"Each person may enter once in their lifetime. Anyone without the Flame Emperor Bloodline must have a Loyalty score of at least ninety-five toward the Flame Emperor Sect. They must also earn the recognition of a summoned person whose legacy is in the tower. With that person's guidance, they may obtain that person's legacy."

"I think I've only seen two people who meet those requirements."

"That's fine too."

"But first, I have to get a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. If the Sect Secret Realm doesn't work out, I'll have no choice but to hunt a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast." A flash of killing intent crossed Yang Xiu's eyes. The Flame Emperor Legacy Tower was too important to him.