Storms stirred over Wutan

Wutan City, a once-peaceful little frontier town, had become a cauldron of boiling oil, its undercurrents surging and murderous intent lurking on every side.

Though the phenomenon heralding the emergence of the nine nether wind flame had lasted only a moment, it had spread like thunder throughout every corner of the Jia Ma Empire. The dark blue scar of flame that split the sky that day, the terrifying heat that burned away the clouds, and Xiao Ze's peerless bearing as he annihilated three Hall of Souls Dou Zong with a single palm strike had already been recorded on Jade Slips by countless spies and sent to the various powers by carrier pigeon.

For a time, Wutan City became the hottest center of turmoil in the Jia Ma Empire.

Eastern district, Drunken Immortal Tower.

"Have you heard? Xiao Ze, that 'hidden young master' of the Xiao Clan, refined a heavenly flame! It's the nineteenth-ranked nine nether wind flame, with both wind and fire attributes. It can burn mountains and boil seas!"

"Bullshit! My cousin's aunt's nephew works as a servant in the Hall of Souls. He said it wasn't the nine nether wind flame at all, but... a flame left behind by a Dou Di! Xiao Ze is a reincarnated Dou Di!"

"What nonsense! The Heavenly Dao sealed away the Dou Di long ago. How could one reincarnate? Still... Xiao Ze destroyed three Dou Zong with one palm strike. His strength has to be at least at the Dou Sheng level!"

Discussion filled the tavern. Spies from every faction mingled among the patrons, some disguised as traveling merchants, others as unaffiliated cultivators. Some even wore black robes with dark red runes embroidered on their cuffs—the mark of the Hall of Souls.

In a corner, a masked woman took a small sip of spirit tea, a glint passing through her eyes. She murmured to the person beside her, "Send word back to the tribe. Xiao Ze very likely possesses the complete Flame Mantra and has ties to the Ancient Nine Emperors. Xiao Yan has already received his guidance, and his Dou Qi jumped four stars in succession. Raise the target's priority—to 'elimination.'"

A coiled silver snake was unmistakably embroidered on her cuff—a spy of the Snake-People Tribe.

Western district, Misty Cloud Sect branch hall.

"The sect master has issued orders," an enforcer said, kneeling on the floor, his voice trembling. "Suspend all hostile action against the Xiao Clan. Instead, send thirty-six Shadow Disciples into Wutan to watch Xiao Ze and Xiao Yan's every move. No one is to act rashly."

"Yes!" Dozens of dark figures darted out through the windows and vanished like smoke.

Within the great hall, a hazy figure stood before a mirror. Reflected within it was the scene of Xiao Ze standing high in the sky, burning a Hall of Souls Enforcer to nothing.

"The nine nether wind flame... the Xiao Clan..." the figure murmured, her voice as cold and clear as snow. "Xiao Zhan's younger brother has such ability? Or is there... something else behind him?"

She slowly raised her hand. The mirror shattered into specks of luminous dust.

"Pass on my command—if Xiao Ze is willing to submit, grant him an elder's seat. If he refuses, kill him without mercy."

Southern district, Black-Corner Region spy outpost.

"Boss, are we really getting into these muddy waters? Xiao Ze even dares to kill people from the Hall of Souls. Our Black-Corner Region might be strong, but we're still just a bunch of desperate outlaws. Even Dou Zun are rare among us, let alone Dou Sheng!"

"Idiot!" a one-eyed burly man snapped. "It's precisely because Xiao Ze is strong that he's worth gambling on! Haven't you noticed? He showed no mercy when killing those Hall of Souls men. He's announcing to the entire continent—the Xiao Clan will endure in silence no longer!"

Greed flashed in his eye. "If we can ally with Xiao Ze before the other powers do, then if he truly becomes a Dou Di someday, our Black-Corner Region will be among the followers who helped the dragon rise!"

"But... what if he loses?"

"Loses?" The one-eyed man sneered. "If he loses, we can still dig the secrets of the heavenly flame and the Flame Mantra out of his corpse!"

"Pass the order—the Black-Corner Region's Blood Shadow Thirteen Riders are to infiltrate Wutan immediately and wait for an opportunity to act!"

Xiao Clan estate, training grounds.

Xiao Yan threw a punch. Wind and thunder exploded, and the Trial Stone thirty feet away shattered with a deafening crash as his fist force struck it!

"A Six-Star Dou Zhe... in just seven days!" Xiao Li stood to one side, his aged face filled with shock. "The Flame Mantra the young master taught him is this terrifying!"

"It still isn't enough." Xiao Ze stood on a raised platform with his hands clasped behind his back. "Xiao Yan, although your talent has awakened, your foundation is still unsteady. You haven't unleashed even a tenth of the nine nether wind flame's power."

Xiao Yan withdrew his fist and bowed respectfully. "Please instruct me, Uncle."

Xiao Ze nodded and swept a hand through the air. A dark blue flame appeared, transforming into nine wind-and-fire tornadoes that wove together into a formation overhead.

"The power of a heavenly flame lies not in 'strength,' but in 'control.' The nine nether wind flame governs both wind and fire. Wind fans the fire's might, and fire rides the wind. If you can fuse the two, you can produce the threefold wind-fire-thunder transformation and multiply its power."

He tapped a fingertip lightly. The tornadoes abruptly compressed into a strand of dark blue fire as fine as a hair, which settled gently on a fallen leaf.

"Hiss—"

The leaf vanished soundlessly, leaving not even ash behind.

"This... this is the true way to use a heavenly flame?" Xiao Yan's pupils sharply contracted.

"Starting today, I will teach you the Nine Transformations of the Heavenly Flame," Xiao Ze said, his voice low. "The first transformation: wind and fire give rise to each other, condensing filaments into threads. The second transformation: wind, fire, and thunder surge, splitting the earth and cleaving mountains... The ninth transformation: Windfire Heaven-Burning, All Spirits Annihilated."

Xiao Yan dropped to both knees. "Your nephew swears to master it, even at the cost of his life!"

Outside the city, deep woods in the desolate mountains.

Three figures crept silently forward. Their leader held a compass with nine faintly glowing star points that pointed toward Wutan City.

"My lord, the detector confirms that the nine nether wind flame aura is present, and its fluctuations match the 'nine-star resonance' recorded in the ancient texts!" a subordinate whispered.

"Hmph. To think the Xiao Clan hid a secret like this." The leader sneered. Part of a golden pattern showed beneath his cuff—the emblem of the Gu Clan.

"Send word back to the clan. Tell them—the 'Chief of the Nine Stars' has appeared. Recommend activating the 'Returning Stars Plan.' Also..."

He looked toward Wutan City, murderous intent flashing in his eyes. "If Xiao Ze refuses to return to the clan, execute him on the spot for the Crime of Betraying the Clan."

Night, the mountain behind the Xiao Clan estate.

Xiao Ze stood alone atop a cliff, gazing at the stars that filled the sky. He murmured, "Wind rises from the tips of duckweed; great waves grow from the faintest ripples. Now that spies from every side have arrived, Wutan City... will soon be swept by bloody rain and murderous winds."

[Ding! High-risk hostile fluctuations detected ×17. Identifying...]

[Discovered: Gu Clan spies ×3, Hall of Souls covert emissaries ×5, Snake-People Tribe scouts ×4, Misty Cloud Sect shadow guards ×6, Black-Corner Region assassins ×8...]

[Warning mission triggered: Wutan Defense Battle]

[Mission objective: Purge the hostile spies who have infiltrated Wutan City within seven days (elimination rate ≥80%)]

[Mission rewards: Dou Sheng-level formation, "Nine Nether Heaven-Burning Grand Formation"; heavenly flame defensive secret art, "Wind-Flame Body Protection Art"]

The corners of Xiao Ze's mouth lifted slightly. "Perfect timing."

"Since you want to probe the Xiao Clan's depths, I'll make sure—none of you return alive."

He raised his hand. The nine nether wind flame circled in his palm, transforming into a dark blue firebird that spread its wings and flew into the night sky.

Wherever the firebird passed, the spies concealed in the darkness blanched—their concealment runes had ignited, exposing them!

"No! We've been discovered!"

"Retreat!"

"Aah—! My soul!"

Screams rang out one after another. Wherever the firebird flew, spies burned, and even their communication Jade Slips were reduced to nothing.

Xiao Ze stood atop the mountain like a flame god looking down upon the common people.

"Wutan City is my Xiao Clan's starting point."

"If any of you wish to trample over it, then first—I'll burn your ambitions to ashes."

Wind rose and clouds surged. The killing storm had arrived.

And Xiao Ze had already lit the first fire.

The road to Dou Di opened in blood!