Chosen Prodigies Gather in the Flame Region

Central Plains, deep within the Flame Region, Heaven-Burning Valley.

Heaven and earth were a furnace, raging flames burning through the sky. An immense volcanic crater rose from the land, crimson magma surging like rivers, countless Fire Essence crystals floating in the air like scattered stars. This was the ancient Heavenly Flame trial ground—Heaven-Burning Valley, and the venue for the Heavenly Flame Tournament.

Today, voices clamored at the valley entrance, where mighty experts gathered like clouds.

Chosen prodigies, independent cultivators, and sect elders from the great powers of the Central Plains assembled here, some to contend for opportunities, others to probe the secret of the Nine Nether. Agents of the Gu Clan, the Hall of Souls, and the Black-Corner Region had all infiltrated the gathering. Killing intent lay hidden; a storm was coming.

Above the high platform, the Nine Nether Windfire Token hovered in the air, its crimson-gold flames illuminating Xiao Yan's silhouette. He stood at the center of the flame platform, his black robes snapping in the wind. Though his Windfire Emperor Body had yet to awaken, countless experts already felt their hearts tremble.

"Xiao Yan! Nine Nether Token Lord!" A young man clad in thunderflame armor strode through the air, wielding twin thunderfire hammers. "I am Lei Fen, young master of the Thunderfire Sect, a Six-Star Dou Zong. I have come to test your skill!"

Before his words had faded, he smashed both hammers down. Thunder and fire intertwined, forming a thousand-zhang pillar of thunderflame that blasted straight toward Xiao Yan's head!

"Well met!" Rather than retreat, Xiao Yan advanced. He took one step forward, and his Windfire Emperor Body erupted!

"Ninefold Windfire Transformation—First Transformation, Burning Mountain!"

Nine Nether wind flame mingled with a Heartflame Fragment, forming an enormous palm of wind and fire. With a single strike, the thunderflame pillar shattered on the spot! The shock wave swept outward, hurling Lei Fen a hundred zhang away. His armor split, and he spat blood.

"Defeated!"

The entire gathering erupted in an uproar.

"He... defeated Lei Fen with one palm strike as a Three-Star Dou Zong?!"

"Impossible! Lei Fen is one of the hundred greatest prodigies in the Central Plains!"

Before anyone could recover, another figure darted out—a prodigy from a collateral branch of the Gu Clan, Gu Yan, a Seven-Star Dou Zong wielding the clan's secret weapon, the Flame-Patterned Blade.

"Xiao Yan, you stole the Ancient Emperor Token Talisman and sullied the name of the Nine Nether. Today, in the name of the Gu Clan's rightful lineage, I will suppress you!"

Blade light cascaded like a waterfall, wreathed in flame patterns. With a single slash, he stirred the flames of heaven and earth, forming the Gu Yan Heaven-Burning Formation and sealing off Xiao Yan's retreat!

"The Gu Clan's tricks are as irritating as ever." Xiao Yan snorted coldly and formed seals with both hands. "Nine Flames Return to Origin Art—Third Form, Return to Origin, Burn the Heavens!"

Nine Nether wind flame surged upward against the descending attack, resonating with the Heartflame Fragment. Wind and fire condensed into a spiraling pillar of flame that shot into the heavens! Wherever it passed, the Gu Yan Heaven-Burning Formation shattered inch by inch. A crack opened in the Flame-Patterned Blade, and Gu Yan was blasted away, his blade ruined and his body wounded!

"The second defeated!"

Deathly silence fell over the gathering.

At that very moment, a third figure quietly emerged—Ying Sha, the foremost assassin of the Black-Corner Region, an Eight-Star Dou Zong who cultivated the Shadow Flame-Devouring Art, which specifically countered the power of Heavenly Flames.

He appeared soundlessly behind Xiao Yan, thrusting his long blade of black flame straight toward his heart. "Die, Lord of the Nine Nether!"

"Hmph. A skulking coward." Without even turning his head, Xiao Yan's windfire emperor body reacted on its own. Nine Nether wind flame transformed into fiery wings that swept backward, driving Ying Sha away. Xiao Yan abruptly turned and thrust out a finger. "Ninefold Windfire Transformation—Second Transformation, Earth-Splitting!"

Boom!

The power of wind and fire pierced Ying Sha's chest. His black flames scattered, his long blade burned to nothing, and he was sent flying backward, his fate unknown.

"The third defeated!"

The entire gathering fell to its knees!

"The Nine Nether Token Lord overwhelms every hero!"

"With his Windfire Emperor Body, he fought above his rank and defeated three mighty Dou Zong in succession!"

"This young man surely has the makings of a great emperor!"

Xiao Yan stood on the high platform, wind and fire swirling around him like an emperor descending upon the world. With a beckoning gesture, he drew three spatial rings into his palm. After sweeping them with his spiritual sense, he sneered. "The Thunderfire Sect has the Thunderfire Nine Revolutions Art, the Gu Clan has the Flame-Patterned Blade Manual, and the Black-Corner Region... actually had a fragment of the Heaven-tier Dou Technique, the Burning Heaven Art?"

His eyes brightened. "Perfect. This will complete my Flame Mantra!"

"From today onward, the Burning Heaven Art belongs to the Nine Nether Token Lord. If anyone objects—" His gaze swept across the gathering. "Come onto the platform and fight."

No one dared answer.

"Splendid! Splendid! Splendid!" An aged laugh rang out. "To think a descendant of the Xiao Clan could be such a figure. Truly worthy of being chosen by the Nine Nether!"

An old man approached, treading upon flames, a crimson-gold ancient scroll in hand. Smiling, he said, "I am an elder of the Heaven-Burning Pavilion, charged with presiding over the Heavenly Flame Tournament. Having witnessed the Nine Nether Token Lord defeat powerful foes in succession, and in accordance with the rules, I hereby award him—the complete scroll of the Heaven-tier Dou Technique, the Burning Heaven Art!"

The entire gathering was stunned.

A Heaven-tier Dou Technique, a supreme treasure of the continent, had truly fallen into Xiao Yan's hands!

"My thanks." Xiao Yan accepted the scroll and swept it with his spiritual sense, wild joy surging in his heart—the Burning Heaven Art faintly resonated with the Nine Flames Return to Origin Art, as though they shared the same source!

He raised his head and gazed into the depths of the Flame Region. "The Heavenly Flame Tournament has only just begun... the true trials still lie ahead."

In the shadows, three figures quietly withdrew.

"Send word to the Hall of Souls—Xiao Yan has obtained the Burning Heaven Art. He must be killed before he comprehends it!"

"The Gu Clan has made its move as well. The remnants of the Ancient Emperor Guards have infiltrated the Flame Region and are preparing to activate the Ancient Emperor Flame-Sealing Formation."

"The Black-Corner Region alliance has been formed. Three days from now, deep in the Flame Region, we will surround and kill Xiao Yan!"

Wutan City, the Xiao Clan Ancestral Shrine.

Xiao Ze sensed the Burning Heaven Art falling into place. Nine Nether wind flame trembled violently, and his eyes snapped open. "With a Heaven-tier Dou Technique joining the Nine Flames Return to Origin, the Windfire Emperor Body will advance to its second stage—the Flame Emperor Body!"

"Yan, you have found the right path... next will come the Dou Sheng tribulation, the Emperor-Banishing Lock, and that—the final nine flames return."

He formed seals with both hands and murmured, "Nine Nether Chain Formation, seventh link, activate."

"No one may bar my Xiao Clan's path to emperorship!"

Above Heaven-Burning Valley, crimson clouds churned, and the Nine Nether Windfire Token blazed brilliantly, as though answering some ancient summons.

Amid the wind and fire, nine phantom flames seemed to emerge slowly, resonating with one another like stars returning to their places.

The Nine Flames Return to Origin—four had already awakened.

Next chapter preview: "The Flame Mantra Shakes the World"

Xiao Yan entered seclusion to comprehend the Burning Heaven Art, merging it with the Nine Flames Return to Origin Art to create the Nine Nether Heaven-Burning Art. On the day he emerged, upheaval struck the Flame Region, and the main fallen heart flame grew restless. The Gu Clan activated the Ancient Emperor Flame-Sealing Formation, seeking to burn the Xiao Clan's bloodline to ashes. Xiao Yan shattered the formation with his new cultivation art, burning a thousand-strong army with a single flame. The name of the Nine Nether resounded across the continent!