The heat waves in the Earth Core underground cavern had yet to fully subside. Azure flames flickered on the stone platform like pulsing stars. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged at its edge, a faint azure glow lingering around him—the residual aura of the Green Lotus Core Flame, not yet fully restrained. His head hung low, his long hair hiding half his face and leaving only his tightly set jaw exposed. He appeared to still be regulating his breathing and stabilizing his cultivation, but his Emperor Realm Soul had long since spread like a spiderweb, taking in the entire cavern and every subterranean vein within ten miles.
"Whew..." Yao Lao's soul form floated beside him, his translucent figure much fainter than before. Clearly, forcibly channeling his soul power to help Xiao Yan absorb the Heavenly Flame had taken a tremendous toll on him. Watching Xiao Yan's aura gradually settle, his eyes filled with satisfaction. "To think you could leap straight from the third stage of Dou Qi to a four-star Dou Shi. The refining power of this Green Lotus Core Flame truly is formidable."
Xiao Yan slowly raised his head, just the right amount of exhaustion on his face, yet a bashful smile lingered at the corner of his mouth. "It was all thanks to you, Teacher. Without your Flame-Gathering Formation and your soul power protecting my meridians, the Heavenly Flame would have burned me to ashes long ago." He deliberately let his voice tremble slightly, as though even speaking drained his strength. Meanwhile, he secretly circulated his Dou Qi, compressing the azure flame that had already taken solid form in his dantian another three measures. That was his true power, at least at the level of a peak Dou Ling, merely disguised through exquisite control as the fluctuations of a four-star Dou Shi.
Yao Lao waved a hand, sounding somewhat reflective. "Your own willpower far surpasses that of ordinary people, too. I've seen plenty of geniuses try to absorb Heavenly Flames over the years. Eight or nine out of ten fell at the hurdle of their inner demons. To keep your mind steady through pain that burned your heart and gnawed at your bones—that strength of character is rarer than talent." He paused and turned toward the azure lotus on the stone platform, now considerably dimmer. "You've absorbed the Heavenly Flame Origin. You should put away the remaining flame as well. It might prove useful someday."
Xiao Yan followed his gaze. The once-full azure lotus had shrunk to the size of a fist, its petal edges slightly curled like a plant on the verge of withering. Only up close could one sense that those seemingly feeble flames still held enough heat to melt refined iron. He stood with feigned hesitation, stumbling a little, as though he had yet to adjust to the surge of strength after his breakthrough. "This... can still be stored?"
"A Heavenly Flame may be fierce, but it also has a spirit," Yao Lao explained. "Now that you've absorbed its origin, you've established a slight connection with it. Try guiding it with your Dou Qi."
Xiao Yan nodded and extended his right hand as instructed. He deliberately slowed his movements, making the Dou Qi flowing from his fingertips seem awkward, like a novice trying to control a Heavenly Flame for the first time. Pale azure Dou Qi coiled into a tiny vortex around his fingertips and slowly reached toward the residual flame. Just before the two touched, the flame suddenly thrashed violently. A tongue of fire over a foot long shot up, lashing at Xiao Yan's fingers in defiance.
"Watch out!" Yao Lao hurriedly warned.
Xiao Yan gave a feigned cry of alarm and abruptly drew his wrist back, seemingly dodging the flame in a panic. In truth, the Dou Qi vortex at his fingertips secretly changed frequency, entering a subtle resonance with the residual flame's fluctuations. This was the point of compatibility he had found only after analyzing it for an hour with his Emperor Realm Soul. His apparently clumsy evasion was actually guiding the flame to lower its guard.
Sure enough, the tongue of flame struck empty air and paused, as though puzzled, before shrinking back. The lotus-shaped residual flame swayed gently, looking almost endearingly simple-minded.
"Looks like it recognizes you as its new master." Yao Lao relaxed and smiled. "Keep going. Wrap it in Dou Qi, then place it in a jade bottle."
Xiao Yan pretended to grit his teeth and reached out again. This time, his movements were somewhat steadier. Azure Dou Qi flowed like gentle water, slowly enveloping the residual flame. It struggled several times, but seemed to have sunk into a heap of cotton; no matter how it charged, it could not break through the restraints. A moment later, it drew in its flames as though resigned to its fate, allowing the Dou Qi to lift it and carry it slowly toward the jade bottle Xiao Yan already held ready.
Humm—
The instant the jade bottle touched the residual flame, a faint white glow spread across its surface—the heat-insulating runes Xiao Yan had carved beforehand. He quickly screwed the lid shut, tucked the bottle into his robes, and let out a long breath. Fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead. This time, he really had expended some effort: he had needed to appear to subdue it with difficulty while ensuring its aura did not leak during storage and attract unnecessary trouble.
Watching his sequence of movements, Yao Lao nodded in approval. "Well done. Keep that residual flame safe. When you cultivate a fire-attribute technique in the future, using it to nourish your Dou Qi will save you considerable effort." He floated to the edge of the cavern and looked at the pitch-black tunnel entrance. "We shouldn't linger here. Although your great divine ability concealed most of the disturbance caused by the Heavenly Flame's emergence, some powerful expert might still detect a stray thread of evidence. We must leave as soon as possible."
Xiao Yan's thoughts stirred. The "great divine ability" Yao Lao mentioned was the Earth Vein Veil he had seemingly triggered by accident while drawing on the Earth Core magma. It had conveniently become his best cover. He took up the conversation, adding a touch of curiosity to his voice. "Teacher, I think I felt the whole cavern shaking just now. Did something happen underground?"
"The Heavenly Flame disturbed the energy of the earth veins." Yao Lao thought little of it and explained casually. "There's an ancient earthfire vein beneath the Tagor Desert. The Green Lotus Core Flame's formation here was probably connected to it. While you were absorbing the flame, the earth vein energy surged and caused a small shift in the crust. It happened to block outside scrutiny for us. A crooked shot hit the mark, you might say."
Xiao Yan feigned sudden understanding, but inwardly sneered. There had been no crooked shot hitting the mark. He had detected two concealed auras prowling underground—one carrying the distinctive chill of the Snake-People Tribe, the other brimming with bloody savagery, like the leader of some magical beast pack. Only then had he deliberately stirred the Earth Vein Qi, creating the illusion of a natural disaster to force those prying observers back. Thinking about it now, those auras were most likely connected to the Snake-People Tribe and the desert's high-tier magical beasts. The waters of the Tagor Desert ran deeper than he had imagined.
"Which way do we leave?" Xiao Yan asked, glancing at the tunnel through which they had fallen. Faint rumbling came from it now; evidently, the earlier shifts in the crust had caused much of it to collapse.
Yao Lao pointed toward a fissure on the other side of the cavern. "I investigated just now. That fissure connects to an abandoned mine on the edge of the desert. Leaving through there will be the most discreet."
Neither delayed any longer. Xiao Yan shouldered his simple pack and followed Yao Lao into the fissure. Narrow and winding, it allowed only one person to squeeze through sideways. The rock walls were damp, and cold droplets occasionally fell onto his shoulders. Xiao Yan deliberately slowed his steps and kept his breathing heavy, as though moving through such a cramped space was particularly taxing. At the same time, he watched the marks on the walls from the corner of his eye. Several fresh scratches carried faint traces of poison along their edges, as though left by some giant snake crawling past. They faintly echoed the Snake-People Tribe aura he had sensed earlier.
"Are there snakes in this fissure?" Xiao Yan asked with feigned anxiety, "accidentally" kicking a loose stone.
"Just some low-tier sand snakes. Pay them no mind," Yao Lao's voice came from ahead. "They fear fire. The Heavenly Flame aura on you alone will scare them away."
Xiao Yan acknowledged him and quietly restrained some of the azure glow in his palm. He did not want to beat the grass and startle the snakes. The Snake-People Tribe had entrenched itself in the Tagor Desert for years, and its strength was unfathomable. The legendary Queen Medusa in particular was said to be a peak Dou Emperor, with half a foot already in the Dou Zong realm. This was not yet the time to encounter them.
After they passed through the fissure, the space before them suddenly opened up. It was an enormous underground mine. Marks left by mining tools remained on the walls, suggesting it had not been abandoned for very long. Piles of discarded ore lay in the center, giving off a faint metallic sheen.
"This used to be a place for mining Black Iron Ore. It was abandoned once the vein ran dry," Yao Lao explained. "Follow the mine tunnel straight ahead, and you'll reach Black Rock City at the desert's edge."
Xiao Yan nodded and was about to move when he abruptly stopped and listened. A faint rustling came from deep within the mine, as though something was moving rapidly—and there was more than one.
Yao Lao sensed the disturbance too, his soul form instantly tensing. "Careful. Those are human auras, and there's more than one group."
Xiao Yan's heart tightened, and his Emperor Realm Soul instantly locked onto the targets. Three groups hid in abandoned tunnels on either side of the mine. Their auras were a mixed jumble; the strongest was merely a peak Dou Master, while the weakest was only a five-star Dou Zhe. Clearly, they belonged to no major sect. They seemed more like wandering cultivators or desert bandits.
"Looks like they caught the scent of the Heavenly Flame and came to pick up an easy prize," Xiao Yan said quietly, deliberately making his voice sound nervous. "Teacher, should we take another route?"
Yao Lao snorted. "Nothing but a pack of clowns hopping about. You've just broken through; they'll make good practice while you familiarize yourself with the Heavenly Flame. Remember, don't reveal its true power unless you absolutely must."
"All right," Xiao Yan answered, tightening his grip on the dagger at his waist.
Just then, five figures suddenly rushed out of the tunnel on the left, all dressed in rags and wearing greedy, vicious grins. Their leader was a burly, one-eyed man carrying a rust-speckled great axe, openly radiating the aura of a seven-star Dou Shi. "Boy, hand over whatever you've got inside your robes, and I'll let you die quick!"
Movement also came from the tunnel on the right. Seven black-clad men carrying curved sabers filed out, led by a tall, thin man with sinister eyes. "You Black Wind Stronghold scum dare fight our Blood Wolf Gang over loot? This kid's giving off fire-attribute energy. He must have found a treasure. Get lost if you know what's good for you!"
The two groups stood with swords drawn and bows bent, yet their gazes remained fixed on Xiao Yan as though he were a succulent piece of meat.
Xiao Yan retreated a step in feigned panic, pressing his back against the rock wall. His left hand slipped over the jade bottle inside his robes, while the dagger in his right rose slightly into a defensive position. "What... what do you want? I'm just an herb gatherer passing through..."
"An herb gatherer?" The one-eyed brute scoffed, dragging his great axe over the ground with an ear-piercing scrape. "Who are you trying to fool? I was nearby when the earth veins shook. I clearly sensed a Heavenly Flame emerging here. Who else could have it besides you?"
The tall, thin man gave a sinister laugh as well. "Quit pretending, boy. Hand over the Heavenly Flame, and we might spare your life. Otherwise, don't blame us for being ruthless."
The two groups pressed closer, their intertwined auras forming an invisible pressure. Any ordinary Dou Shi would probably have been scared out of his wits facing more than a dozen desperate outlaws, but Xiao Yan's heart remained utterly still. He was even quietly calculating how to dispose of them cleanly without exposing his strength.
"Looks like there's no avoiding this." Xiao Yan took a deep breath, then suddenly lifted his head, a flash of resolve crossing his eyes. "If you want what's mine, come take it with your own strength!"
Before his words faded, he drew a wisp of the Green Lotus Core Flame from his body and attached it to his dagger. Azure flames danced along the blade, their glow subdued but their heat extraordinary. This was the result of his deliberate control: it looked unremarkable in power, yet was more than enough for these small fry.
"There really is fire!" The one-eyed brute's eyes lit up, and his great axe cleaved through the air with a whistle. "Take him down!"
The five men from the Black Wind Stronghold swarmed forward, flashes of blades and sweeping axe shadows instantly enveloping Xiao Yan.
Rather than retreat, Xiao Yan advanced, weaving through the crowd like a phantom. He deliberately slowed himself, making every strike seem slightly awkward, as though he had only just learned to use flame-infused Dou Qi. The azure fire on his dagger traced faint trails through the air. It appeared weak, yet he always evaded attacks at the instant when not even a hair could fit between them, while precisely striking his enemies' openings.
Sss!
With a soft hiss, the first Black Wind Stronghold member to charge clutched his wrist and screamed. His curved saber had been struck by the azure fire and instantly melted into a puddle of molten iron. The scalding liquid splashed onto his arm, raising a mass of blisters.
"This fire... it's so hot!" the man cried, retreating in pain.
The one-eyed brute flew into a rage at the sight, sweeping his great axe sideways and forcing Xiao Yan to retreat repeatedly. Just then, the Blood Wolf Gang members on the right suddenly attacked. Seven curved sabers struck at Xiao Yan's flank like seven bolts of lightning, clearly intending to reap the fisherman's profit while others fought.
"Despicable!" Xiao Yan feigned an angry shout, hurtling backward while thrusting his dagger out in a reverse grip. The azure fire surged half a foot along its blade, just enough to block the two leading sabers. Two crisp clangs rang out as the sabers were knocked aside, their edges now bearing charred black marks.
Using the recoil, he spun through the air and landed precisely on a piece of discarded ore. His gaze swept over both groups, carrying a fierceness that seemed fierce on the outside but hollow within. "You dare gang up on me? Aren't you afraid my teacher will come settle the score?"
"Your teacher?" The one-eyed brute scoffed. "How strong could the teacher of a little Four-Star Dou Shi brat like you be? Even a Dou Wang couldn't save you today!"
No sooner had he spoken than his expression suddenly changed. He looked sharply down at his chest. A small, charred hole had appeared there at some unknown moment, and wisps of smoke were slowly rising from it.
"You..." Disbelief filled the one-eyed brute's eyes as he slowly toppled over. Even in death, he never understood how he had been killed.
Everyone around him froze.
Xiao Yan held his dagger with a look of feigned bewilderment, as though he too had no idea what had happened. Only he knew that in that instant, he had used a wisp of soul power to condense the azure fire on his dagger into an almost imperceptible thread, firing it through the brute's heart at a speed beyond a Dou Shi. He had planned this long ago: kill the chicken to warn the monkeys, while disguising his strength as "luck."
"Boss!" the Black Wind Stronghold men cried.
The tall, thin Blood Wolf Gang leader's pupils contracted sharply as well. He had not seen Xiao Yan's attack at all. His vision had merely blurred for an instant, and the one-eyed brute had fallen. This boy seemed far stronger than he looked!
"This one's tough! Retreat!" The tall, thin man made an immediate decision, turning to flee.
How could Xiao Yan let them leave? These people had seen him use the Green Lotus Core Flame. If they escaped, they would inevitably attract greater trouble. A cold gleam flashed through his eyes. Dropping his pretense, he stamped hard, and the ore on the ground suddenly exploded. Countless stone fragments shot out wrapped in azure fire, like a small rain of flame.
"Ah!"
Screams rose one after another. The Blood Wolf Gang members ran fastest, but they were also the first struck by the fiery rain. When the azure flames landed on them, raging fires instantly erupted. No matter how they rolled, they could not extinguish them. Within moments, they were reduced to charred remains.
The remaining Black Wind Stronghold members were frightened out of their souls. How could they still dare resist? They dropped to their knees and begged. "Mercy, my lord! We had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai! Please spare our lives!"
Xiao Yan slowly walked up to them. The azure fire on his dagger flickered, reflecting his icy gaze. "Just now, you said you wanted my life?"
The men begging for mercy turned deathly pale, unable to utter a word.
Xiao Yan wasted no more words. His dagger swept out, azure fire flashed, and the men instantly fell to the ground, their lives extinguished. He deliberately controlled his power, leaving clean wounds and no unnecessary traces.
The entire mine fell silent at once. Only the scorched smell left by the flames remained.
Yao Lao floated beside him and looked at the corpses on the ground, his gaze complicated. "You certainly act decisively."
Xiao Yan lowered his eyes, his voice subdued. "Mercy toward an enemy is cruelty toward yourself. Teacher, since they dared come to steal a Heavenly Flame, they should have considered this outcome." He paused and raised his head, the earlier "inexperience" returning to his eyes. "Let's go before anyone else comes."
Yao Lao nodded and said nothing more. Looking at Xiao Yan's back, he kept feeling that something about the boy had changed, yet could not put his finger on it. That ruthlessness did not seem fitting for a youth who had only just broken through to Dou Shi. But on second thought, on this Dou Qi Continent where the strong devoured the weak, the softhearted truly could not live long. With that, he accepted it.
Xiao Yan did not look back, striding toward the depths of the mine tunnel. He could feel Yao Lao's gaze on his back, but did not care in the slightest. The slaughter had not merely been to silence witnesses; it had also been to temper his own state of mind. Having fallen from the Emperor Realm, he needed to readjust to this world's laws of survival, and iron and blood were the best catalyst.
The jade bottle inside his robes grew slightly hot—the warmth of the Green Lotus Core Flame. Xiao Yan gripped it tightly and silently thought, Securing the Heavenly Flame is only the first step. Next, it's time to visit Black Rock City. They say there's a trade route there leading into the heart of the Jia Ma Empire. Perhaps I can find clues about other Heavenly Flames and the faction behind that mysterious Otherworlder.
The light at the end of the mine tunnel grew brighter and brighter: dawn at the desert's edge. Xiao Yan walked toward it, his shadow stretching long behind him. The azure flame quietly died in his palm, yet left an undying edge within his eyes.
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