Flame Hunt in the Dark of Night

The night was black as ink.

Above Wutan City, neither stars nor moon shone. Only a wisp of eerie blue fire streaked across the sky, like a meteor, yet more like—a hunter's eye.

That fire was the Flame Hunt Spirit Xiao Ze had formed from Nine Nether Wind Flame—a spirit bird woven entirely of wind and fire. Shaped like a falcon, its wingspan barely reached three feet, yet it held the power to burn souls to nothing. It did not harm ordinary things, devouring only concealed auras. Once it sensed hostile fluctuations, it would automatically lock onto its target and ignite the runes hiding them.

At that moment, the firebird circled above the Drunken Immortal Tower in the eastern part of the city, then abruptly plunged!

"Boom—!"

Eerie blue flames instantly engulfed the entire tavern, yet not a single open flame spilled outward. The temperature alone soared to a thousand degrees, vaporizing wine and charring wooden beams. The three spies hiding in secret compartments turned to ash before they could even scream.

"First nest cleared."

Xiao Ze stood on a rooftop a hundred zhang away, his hands clasped behind his back, his black robes snapping in the hot wind. With a light tap of his fingertip, the firebird took shape again and flew west.

Western city, the Misty Cloud Sect's covert lookout post.

"This is bad! The Drunken Immortal Tower's signal is gone! Something must have happened! Send word—"

Before the black-clad man finished speaking, the window lattice spontaneously ignited. Then eerie blue ripples spread across the walls, the floor, and even the air of the entire hidden chamber.

"Th-this is heavenly flame?! No—!"

"Hiss—"

All seven shadow guards of the Misty Cloud Sect burned to nothing before they could even activate their soul tablets.

The firebird passed through the wall, beat its wings, and flew south.

Southern city, the hideout of the Black-Corner Region's Blood Shadow Thirteen Riders.

"On guard! We're under attack!"

The one-eyed burly man roared and had only just raised his saber when he saw a streak of eerie blue light seep silently through the crack in the door.

"Bang!"

The entire hidden chamber exploded. Five of the Thirteen Riders instantly vaporized. The remaining eight recoiled in terror, only to discover that wind and fire had sealed their escape route.

"Run! Run!"

"Can you escape?"

Xiao Ze stepped out of the firelight. With a single stride, he stood in their midst. He did not strike; the pressure of his Dou Sheng power alone forced the eight Dou Wang assassins to their knees, blood spilling from their mouths.

"The Black-Corner Region? Desperadoes?" He sneered. "I'll give you one chance—submit or die."

"We... submit! We submit!"

"Good." Xiao Ze raised his hand, driving a fiery seal into their leader's brow. "From this day forward, you are the Xiao Clan's 'Dark Flame Guard.' If you dare betray us, this seal will explode, scattering your souls beyond recovery."

The eight trembled as they kowtowed.

"Go. Find the other spies' hiding places for me," Xiao Ze said evenly. "I want to catch them all in one net."

Northern city, the Gu Clan spies' base.

"Quick! Activate the Returning Star Mirror! Contact the clan! Xiao Ze is wiping us out!" A Gu Clan spy frantically channeled power into a jade talisman.

But the instant the jade talisman lit up, it shattered with a crack and crumbled to powder.

"What?! Even our communications are blocked?!"

"Because—" A cool voice came from the roof. "I have already laid the Nine Nether Soul-Severing Formation, cutting off the inside from the outside. Communication, concealment, escape techniques—none will work."

Xiao Ze descended through the air, Nine Nether Wind Flame coiling around him like dragons, flames rising in his eyes.

"Even members of the Gu Clan dare run wild in my Xiao Clan?"

"Xiao Ze!" the spy shouted furiously. "Do you know who we are? We are—"

"A branch of the Gu Clan, ordered to monitor the movements of the Nine Stars," Xiao Ze interrupted with a sneer. "Unfortunately, your masters aren't yet qualified to meet me."

He flicked his fingertip, sending out a thread of eerie blue fire.

"Hiss—"

The spy was annihilated before he could even scream.

The remaining three were frightened out of their wits and fell to their knees, begging for mercy.

"Spare us! We were only following orders!"

Xiao Ze looked down at them, his voice icy. "I can spare your lives."

The three rejoiced.

"But—" His tone shifted. "I want you to take back a message."

"What message?"

"Tell the Gu Clan that the leader of the Nine Stars has returned. If they send any more rats to bother me, I won't mind paying them a visit myself and burning down their Returning Star Hall."

The three trembled as they accepted his command. Xiao Ze waved his hand, sending fiery seals into their bodies and planting soul contracts.

Outside the city, in a wild forest.

The firebird circled one last time. After confirming that no hidden hostility remained, it became a streak of light, flew back into Xiao Ze's palm, and merged into his body.

[Ding! Mission "Wutan Defense Battle" clearance rate: 92.7%]

[Mission completion grade: S]

[Rewards issued: Dou Sheng-level formation "Nine Nether Heaven-Burning Grand Formation," heavenly flame defensive secret art "Wind-Flame Body Protection Art," special reward: Flame Hunt Spirit (upgradable)]

Xiao Ze stood atop the city wall, gazing into the distance.

The fires of Wutan City had died out, but the killing intent had not dispersed.

"This is only the beginning."

He raised his hand, sending a fire talisman shooting straight toward the Xiao Clan's hidden chamber.

Inside the hidden chamber, Xiao Yan suddenly opened his eyes. Sensing the message within the fire talisman, he read it aloud in a low voice:

"Xiao Yan, set out tomorrow for the Magical Beast Mountain Range. It is time—to claim your first heavenly flame."

The corners of Xiao Yan's mouth lifted slightly, his fighting spirit surging. "Yes, Uncle."

The wind stilled, the fire died, and the night returned to silence.

But everyone knew—

The nights of Wutan City would never be peaceful again.

And Xiao Ze's flame hunt had only just begun.

Next chapter preview: "Journey to the Magical Beast Mountain Range." Xiao Yan sets out, Xiao Ze lays his plans in secret, and the struggle for heavenly flame quietly begins.