Flame Emperor Legacy Tower

"Brother 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 up to her and stroked her head fondly.

"Did you miss me?"

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing was a little shy, but she nodded anyway.

"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 happily. Her whole heart belonged to Yang Xiu, and since he was the Flame Emperor Sect's master, she cared about the sect too.

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

Zhu Zhuqing had been at the Flame Emperor Sect for months, but she had spent almost 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 were publicly known. 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."

That reminded Yang Xiu 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 Bibi Dong would become a Peak Douluo in a few years, then a Limit Douluo and a god. There was also the Angel God. Still, those days were far off. As long as he became a Titled Douluo quickly and completed their trials to become gods, he would have 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 almost nothing left: just two Innate Soul Power Pills and three pills he had claimed from the System Shop a few days earlier. He thought of Dragon Four and the others, who were at levels eighty-five and 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 go without than accept poor candidates. We'll only take those with Innate Soul Power of level six or higher, and focus our training on those at level eight or above.

"Brother Xiu? What are you thinking about? You're ignoring me," Zhu Zhuqing said. Only then did Yang Xiu realize he had drifted off.

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

"Oh." Zhu Zhuqing asked no more and sat quietly beside him.

I should talk to Dragon One and the others about it. 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 recruit disciples in three months. You and your brothers travel around the continent a lot, 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."

"We'll take around a hundred to start, but their Innate Soul Power must be at least level six. 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 needn't 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, the loyalty of every disciple recruited this time who is loyal to the Flame Emperor Sect will increase by fifty points.

Is this a gift package? Happiness hit like a tornado—way too fast! Yang Xiu nearly laughed as he read the mission. The loyalty ratings 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 his orders.

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

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

"Please. That's old news."

"Hasn't anyone noticed? They said recruitment will take place on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, where the sect is supposed to be. So why have none of us ever seen it?"

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

"Could Blue Tyrant Academy actually be the Flame Emperor Sect?" The moment he finished, everyone stared at him as if he were an idiot. "I was just saying," he added weakly.

"Yeah, right." ...

... In a hotel.

"Did you hear how high the Flame Emperor Sect's standards are? You need Innate Soul Power of at least level six."

"Then hardly anyone will get in."

"That's asking too much."

"Exactly."

"What level are you?"

"Level three."

"This humble fellow happens to have level-six Innate Soul Power," a bystander declared proudly.

Everyone around him looked at him with envy.

At the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

"The Flame Emperor Sect has always been known for being mysterious and powerful. I thought they would remain hidden. Few of their people even travel the continent. Why recruit disciples now? Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, what do you think?" Ning Fengzhi asked.

"Sect Master, those two Titled Douluo of theirs aren't enough to threaten us. There's no need to pay them much mind," Bone Douluo said.

Ning Fengzhi said nothing. He looked instead to Sword Douluo beside him.

"The Flame Emperor Sect has been on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City for years, yet no one knows where it is. They're mysterious and keep a low profile. We can't judge them solely by what we've seen."

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

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

"Especially with Spirit Hall. We don't know what they're plotting. That's why I keep stressing that the Upper Three Sects must stand together."

"What's there to fear? When soldiers come, send generals; when floodwaters rise, pile up earth," Bone Douluo said.

"Uncle Gu, it isn't that simple."

"Fine. Just call me when there's a fight. I'm off to find Rongrong." Bone Douluo bustled away.

"Uncle Jian, we should visit the Flame Emperor Sect when they begin recruiting."

"Yes. We should."

Over the next few days, group after group arrived at the place the Flame Emperor Sect had named, but none found anything. Some began to suspect the announcement was a hoax. Then again, recruitment was still three months away, and the Flame Emperor Sect had always been mysterious.

Time passed quickly. Half a month went by.

Yang Xiu opened his eyes after cultivating.

"Finally, level seventy. I hope the sect's secret realm doesn't disappoint me." At that moment, 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? Flame Emperor Legacy Tower?"

Flame Emperor Inheritance Tower: Contains the legacies of Huaxia's civil officials and military generals across thousands of years, divided among separate small spaces. Those with Huaxia blood (or souls) and strength (or intelligence) above thirty may enter. If they gain the recognition of a remnant of a predecessor's true spirit, they may receive that predecessor's legacy. After passing on a legacy, the true spirit falls asleep and may 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 Huaxia blood. Anyone who forces their way in will face its wrath. The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon cannot leave a radius of one hundred meters around the tower, but within that range, its power is invincible.

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

"Only two things: strategy or martial techniques, and strength or intelligence values."

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

"Strength values? Are those some kind of currency?"

"I suppose so. Put simply, Hua Xiong's strength value in his legacy is only ninety-one, but he's now a level-ninety-five Super Douluo."

"No, host. Receiving a legacy will increase their strength and intelligence. Have you been in the Douluo world so long that you've forgotten what those generals were originally like?"

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 Huaxia blood enter?"

"Each person may enter once in their lifetime. Anyone without Huaxia blood must have a loyalty rating of at least ninety-five toward the Flame Emperor Sect. They must also gain the approval of a summoned person whose legacy is in the Inheritance Tower. Under that person's guidance, they may receive that person's legacy."

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

"That's fine."

"But none of it matters until I get a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. If the sect's secret realm doesn't work out, I'll have to hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast." Killing intent flashed in Yang Xiu's eyes. The Inheritance Tower was too important to him.