The Nine Lands trembled, and the vault of heaven turned crimson.
The remnants of the Nine Clans gathered in alliance at the Ashen Abyss. Joining forces with the Ancient Flame Remnants, they brought forth the Flame Venerable Decree, sealed away for a thousand years—a bronze edict forged from ancient emperor flame, inscribed with "Fire shall return to its rightful lineage; unruly flames shall be put to death." They proclaimed that Azhao had established the Flame Precepts, destroyed the venerable throne, and thrown order into chaos. As the "Rebel of Fire," she was to have her body burned by heavenly fire and her soul imprisoned in the Flame Prison, forever denied reincarnation.
"Mortal Flame has fallen into chaos. Only heavenly fire can set it right!"
"Restore the Flame Venerable! Restore order to the Nine Lands!"
At a single command, the armies of the Nine Clans descended upon the borders. The Ancient Flame Remnants rode Tribulation Fire Beasts down from beyond the heavens, leaving cities reduced to ash and mountains and rivers scorched and split in their wake. With fire as their sword and tribulation as their decree, they shattered every mortal-fire stele, burned every Dao Inquiry Stele, and forcibly stripped the fire seeds from the people's palms. These they sealed within the Fire Prison Cauldron as fuel to rekindle emperor flame.
Heavenly fire was about to descend.
At the heart of the Nine Lands lay Brightheart Plain, where Dao Inquiry Steles stood like a forest. Azhao stood alone among ten thousand steles. Before her were ninety-nine newly erected Dao Inquiry Steles; behind her were countless mortals who had rushed there to protect them. There were elders, women and children, Fire Cultivators missing arms, and young children with buds of flame still nestled in their palms.
"Azhao, leave," an old Fire Healer