Seeking the Way in the Heavens

The Dao-Seeking Platform hung above the nine heavens, towering over the pinnacle of the Central Plains' fortune. It was where the Ancient Dou Di had proven their paths. Legend held that only those who truly "sought the Way from Heaven" could set foot upon it. Nine ancient patterns were carved into its surface, each bearing an "Emperor's Question" left by a Dou Di of ages past—"What makes an emperor?"

Lin Yan climbed upon the clouds. There were no steps beneath his feet; he relied solely on his Will Flame True Blaze to kindle a bridge of fire, ascending one step at a time.

Wind and thunder rolled, and heaven and earth changed color.

The instant he stepped onto the Dao-Seeking Platform, the nine ancient patterns blazed to life, and nine aged, majestic voices rang out from the void:

Nine questions struck in succession, aimed straight at the heart of his path.

Below the platform, myriad races gathered. Gu Clan Elders, inheritors of Heavenly Flames, and survivors of ancient peoples all craned their heads to watch.

"He's only a mortal. He doesn't even possess a Heavenly Flame, yet he dares ascend the Dao-Seeking Platform?"

"No one without a Heavenly Flame has ever reached the fourth stage of the Nine Flames Trial, yet he's already broken through the Nirvana Sea of Fire... But this stage of seeking the Way is no trial. It is the proving of a path!"

"If he answers even one question wrong, his soul will scatter, never to be reborn!"

Winds rose and clouds surged. Lin Yan stood at the platform's center as the nine Emperor's Questions crashed down upon him like heavenly thunder, shaking him until blood seeped from his seven orifices and his meridians nearly split. Yet his eyes blazed like torches. Mortal flame burned within them, neither dying nor retreating.

"I... am not of the Gu Clan, nor a child of Heavenly Flames, nor a descendant of a Dou Di." He spoke slowly, his voice quiet, yet piercing the wind and thunder of the nine heavens. "I came from Ash Kiln Village. To protect its old and young, I once fought Dark Flame with mortal flame. I have no legacy, no bloodline, no heavenly mandate—but I have resolve."

He raised his hand, and Will Flame True Blaze surged upward, blooming like a fire lotus in his palm.

"My flame was neither bestowed by heaven and earth nor born of Heavenly Flames. It was forged from the wishes, the convictions, and the steadfast protection of countless ordinary people—"

"This flame is named 'Protection.'"

"My resolve is not to become an emperor, not to subjugate, not to live forever—"

"My resolve is to make this world cease judging worth by bloodline, cease deciding life and death by Heavenly Flames, and cease condemning a child to slavery simply because they have no flame seed!"

Boom—!

Will Flame True Blaze shot into the sky, actually stirring the manifestation of nine flames returning to origin. Nine pillars of crimson-gold fire rose from across the continent, encircling the Dao-Seeking Platform and resonating with the flame in Lin Yan's palm!

"The nine flames... are resonating?!" A mighty Gu Clan expert dropped to his knees in horror. "Impossible! The nine flames recognize only Dou Di True Blood. How could they resonate with a mortal's flame?!"

"He... he isn't answering 'What makes an emperor,'" a Dou Sheng Remnant Soul murmured. "He is—redefining the Emperor's Path!"

The nine ancient patterns trembled, and the final question rang out:

Lin Yan slowly drew the Flame Blade, pointing its edge toward the heavens, his voice like thunder:

"If I become an emperor—"

"I will erect no lofty platforms, impose no prohibitions, subjugate no races, and oppress no common people."

"If I become an emperor—"

"I will open the gates to myriad arts and kindle the flames of all people, so mortals, too, may contend for heaven's mandate, and the weak, too, may have the right to defend their paths!"

"If I become an emperor—"

"Not for supremacy, not for order, not for eternity—"

"Only—to protect the world!"

As his words fell, his blade swept out!

BOOM—!!!

His single slash held no might to shake heaven and earth, no force to burn mountains and boil seas. Yet a vast, righteous power pierced the nine heavens and struck the center of the nine ancient patterns!

In an instant—

All nine patterns shattered!

The Dao-Seeking Platform split!

The heavens opened!

A golden pillar of light descended from the cleft sky, illuminating Lin Yan as the nine flames circled him like stars paying homage to the moon.

Within the void, nine remnant souls of Ancient Dou Di appeared. They gazed at Lin Yan for a long time, then bowed in unison:

Boom—!

The nine flames converged upon his heart. Will Flame True Blaze seethed within Lin Yan's body, beginning to condense into an unprecedented power—the Dou Di Source!

Though not yet complete, it had already taken root.

Lin Yan stood upon the shattered Dao-Seeking Platform, gazing at the cleft Firmament, and said softly:

"This is not the end."

"This is... the first step toward a mortal becoming an emperor."

The Nine Flames Emperor Court.

Xiao Yan looked up at the rift in the sky, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "What he cut through wasn't the trial. It was the shackles of the old Emperor's Path."

Yao Lao's remnant soul appeared. "Back then, you broke the order with Heavenly Flames. Today, he established his path with mortal flame. You opened the Emperor Road. He—opened the New Era."

"Yes." Xiao Yan sighed softly. "From this day forward, the Dou Qi Continent will no longer be a world belonging only to the strong."

"Mortal flames will sweep across the plains, and the Emperor's Path will return to the people."

End of chapter

Next chapter preview: "Emperor Seed Sprouts"

Lin Yan returned to Ash Kiln Village, ignited the Emperor Flame Trial Stele with Will Flame True Blaze, and established the "Mortal Flame Gate," open to all people. Enraged, the Nine Clans secretly colluded with the Chaos Remnants to destroy the trial's foundation. Lin Yan swore, "Whoever blocks the mortals' path, I will cut them down—even if you are an emperor!" As emperor flame first kindled, the New Order and the old powers would inevitably clash!