Black Flame

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Xiao Yan first encountered the Black Flame in his previous life, inside a palace connected to a Dou Di. Its aura rivaled some Heavenly Flames, but its appearance matched none of the ranked black flames he knew. It bypassed his Peak Dou Sheng defenses, entered his body, and became undetectable even to his soul power. Shortly afterward, he entered a spatial gate that drained his cultivation, soul power, and previously possessed Heavenly Flames 1.

The Black Flame nevertheless accompanied him into his new life. He rediscovered it within his Dou Qi vortex when beginning the Flame Mantra, recognizing it as the same flame but greatly weakened. Even in that state, he believed an eruption inside his body would reduce him to ash, making refinement a necessity rather than merely an opportunity 6.

Yao Lao initially wondered whether it was a Heavenly Flame, then identified a magical beast's characteristic ferocity within it. Its ability to raise the Flame Mantra by an entire tier far exceeded what he expected from ordinary beast flames, including ninth-rank ones. Xiao Yan concealed both its connection to his previous life and, later, its otherworldly origin 7 25.

After absorbing the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle's blood essence, the flame transmitted information about its origin and evolutionary potential into Xiao Yan's mind. This revealed the Nine Nether Sparrow's connection to the Primordial Undying Bird and explained why suitable avian blood essence could strengthen its flame even though Xiao Yan was not himself a Nine Nether Sparrow 25.

The Nine Nether Flame subsequently became a constituent of several composite flames. Fusion with the Netherworld Poison Flame produced the Nine Nether Illusion Demon Flame, and the addition of the Sea Heart Flame produced the Nine Nether Illusion Heart Flame. Further refinements eventually yielded the eight-flame Demonic Lotus Illusion Heart Flame and a Fire Spirit, later identified as Little Yao 39 113 171 192.

The flame's earlier refinements also left energy dormant within Xiao Yan. Only after he acquired the Fallen Heart Flame did its heart fire force out these reserves, including energy from the original Black Flame and its evolution through the eagle's blood essence. These reserves contributed to his breakthrough to Dou Zun alongside energy accumulated from other sources 155.

Xiao Yan eventually achieved the previously speculative Undying Flame evolution by feeding the Nine Nether Flame vast quantities of Heavenly Demon Phoenix essence blood. Unknown to him, the demon sparrow bloodline within his body was also essential; the phoenix blood alone would not have been sufficient 226.

Upon entering the Great Thousand World, Xiao Yan encountered Tianhuang, patriarch of the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan. He immediately recognized the clan's connection to the Nine Nether Flame from which his Undying Flame had evolved 307.

Appearance

• Original form: A mass or wisp of pitch-black flame, summonable from Xiao Yan's palm 1 6.
• Refined Dou Qi: Deep black, with faint flames flickering across it; the Dou Qi vortex itself became enveloped in black fire 6.
• Dou Qi cloak: Inky-black protection with wisps of flame burning across its surface 9.
• Fused form: An eerie violet-black flame named the Nine Nether Illusion Demon Flame 39.
• Flame wings: Xiao Yan formed wings from purple-black flame; their proximity visibly suppressed Hai Bodong's Ice Dou Qi 83.
• Nine Nether Illusion Heart Flame: A dusky-blue flame produced by incorporating the Sea Heart Flame 113.
• Demonic Lotus Illusion Heart Flame: A dark-green composite flame. Its newly born Fire Spirit appeared on a blossoming dark-green fire lotus, resembling a tiny girl of thirteen or fourteen with dark-green eyes and flame-shimmering clothing 171.
• Lightning mutation: After Xiao Yan absorbed Black Demon Lightning, traces of black radiance appeared in the Demonic Lotus Illusion Heart Flame and his Dou Qi 219.

Abilities & Skills

Energy Purification and Dou Qi Conversion

The Black Flame burns away energy while leaving exceptionally pure remnants that Xiao Yan can absorb 6.

• During refinement, most incoming Heaven and Earth Energy was destroyed, but the surviving portion helped increase his strength 6 7.
• Once integrated with the Flame Mantra, it automatically tempered energy entering his vortex into Black Flame Dou Qi 6.
• Before being subdued, it consumed Xiao Yan's supplied Dou Qi almost immediately, threatening to exhaust his reserves 6.
• Not all energy associated with its refinement was immediately absorbed. Energy from both the initial Black Flame refinement and its later evolution remained dormant in Xiao Yan until the Fallen Heart Flame's tempering released it 155.
• The Black Flame's existing quality made the second-rank Red Flame Demon Bear's beast flame insufficient to produce another Flame Mantra evolution. Xiao Yan instead retained that weaker flame as material for Life Transformation Fire 10.

Evolution Through Avian Blood Essence

The Nine Nether Flame can continue evolving by absorbing the blood essence of avian magical beasts 25.

• The Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle's Ancient Phoenix ancestry was essential to its documented transformation; seventh-rank blood essence without that ancestry would not have sufficed 25.
• Its growth can cause the Flame Mantra to evolve without Xiao Yan devouring another flame 24 25.
• Its source species, the Nine Nether Sparrow, can evolve into the Primordial Undying Bird, with the flame strengthening alongside it 25.
• Undying Flame was initially a distant possibility. Xiao Yan speculated that obtaining it might require a Dou Di-level magical beast, rather than establishing this as a confirmed requirement. He later achieved the evolution through vast quantities of Heavenly Demon Phoenix essence blood and the assistance of his own demon sparrow bloodline 25 226.
• The Heavenly Demon Phoenix essence blood alone was insufficient for the Undying Flame transformation. The narration identifies Xiao Yan's demon sparrow bloodline as an additional decisive factor, although Xiao Yan did not know this 226.
• Nine Nether Profound Ice is a related evolutionary branch possessed by the Nine Nether Cold Sparrows. Qin Wan'er explained that its altered attribute left its power below that of the Undying Flame, though it remained formidable 317.

Soul-Body Suppression and Refinement

The flame independently attacked the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle's Soul Body during its attempted possession of Xiao Yan 23.

• The eagle became terrified at its appearance and could not escape once engulfed 23.
• Within a few breaths, it reduced the Soul Body to pure soul energy for Xiao Yan to refine 23.
• Direct flame refinement preserved more energy and produced a purer result than Xiao Yan expected from defeating the soul through combat 23.
• The resulting gain brought his Soul Force to the peak of the mid Mortal Realm 25.

Poison Resistance and Limitations

Black Flame Dou Qi counteracts Poison Dou Qi, preventing Xiao Yan from using the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture's method to acquire that attribute 20.

• Yao Lao believed the flame could protect Xiao Yan even against poison administered by someone with the woeful poison body 28.
• That protection was not absolute: a rare neurotoxin caused hallucinations and bodily paralysis despite the flame's presence 31.
• The Nine Nether Flame protected Xiao Yan's hand from burning when he seized the Netherworld Poison Flame's core, but did not prevent the swallowed flame's enhanced neurotoxin from affecting him 35.
• After escaping the neurotoxin's illusions, Xiao Yan used the Nine Nether Flame to burn away the poisonous vines restraining him in the Heavenly Poison Swamp 31.

Combat Applications

The Black Flame strengthens Xiao Yan's attacks and flame-based techniques 13 14 33.

• Restraint destruction: Xiao Yan judged it capable of easily destroying the mercenaries' special net and reinforced iron cage; he initially withheld it to conceal his trump card and investigate their headquarters 11 12.
• Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations: Supplied the flame for the First Transformation, raising his strength sufficiently to form Dou Qi Armor. Its later evolution increased the technique's effectiveness 13 33.
• Flame Splitting Wave Ruler: Coated the Xuan Heavy Ruler in black flame during the attack against She Mo; its fused successor later coated the weapon in violet-black fire 14 49.
• Demon Fury Fire Lotus: Combined with Life Transformation Fire to create a black-and-white lotus that destroyed the Netherworld Poison Flame's skeletal host and devastated the surrounding forest 33 34.
• Fire Lotus limitations: The fusion nearly depleted Xiao Yan. His enhanced Soul Force, recovery pills, and strengthened Purple Cloud Wings were crucial to completing the attack and escaping its blast 34.
• Ice Dou Qi suppression: The Nine Nether Illusion Demon Flame's wings exerted an overwhelming suppressive effect on Hai Bodong's Ice Dou Qi, noticeably slowing its circulation 83.
• Annihilation Flame Eyes: Xiao Yan fired two purplish-black flame beams from his eyes to break the Sea Heart Flame's green-lotus disguise. The strike hit its core and severely damaged its nascent intelligence, exposing its true form 104.
• Scaling flame techniques: The Demon Fury Fire Lotus and Nine Profound Annihilation Burning Heaven Eyes continued to grow stronger as Xiao Yan fused more powerful flames. The latter additionally required lightning power 334.

Nine Nether Illusion Demon Flame

Fusion with the Netherworld Poison Flame added its terrifying neurotoxin to the Nine Nether Flame's power 39.

• Xiao Yan estimated the fused flame to be considerably stronger than Yao Lao's Bone Spirit Cold Flame 39.
• Releasing its neurotoxin into the surroundings was unlikely to affect experts above Dou Zong, but was described as devastating against groups below Dou Wang 39.
• It enabled an extremely weakened imitation of Nightmare Sky Mist. Xiao Yan believed this application could silently kill an entire city's inhabitants, though it could not reproduce the original technique's immense scale and duration 39.
• The Netherworld Poison Flame's ten-thousand-year energy accumulation was crucial to the Flame Mantra reaching Earth Tier. An ordinary specimen would, in principle, have raised it only to the peak of Black Tier 39.
• The resulting cultivation leap left Xiao Yan's foundation slightly unstable, prompting him to spend time consolidating it 48.
• Xiao Yan later recognized an internal “evil flame” as a side effect of Heavenly Flame fusion. The first fusion of the Nine Nether Flame and Netherworld Poison Flame had made his temper more volatile; the effect became more pronounced after he incorporated the Sea Heart Flame 113.

Later Composite Flames and Fire Spirit

The Black Flame's Nine Nether Flame form remained part of Xiao Yan's expanding collection of fused flames rather than being replaced by an unrelated flame 113 171.

• Nine Nether Illusion Heart Flame: Combined the Nine Nether Flame, Netherworld Poison Flame, and Sea Heart Flame into a single dusky-blue flame 113.
• Demonic Lotus Illusion Heart Flame: Formed from eight unusual flames and greatly surpassed the former Nine Nether Illusion Heart Flame. At its debut, Xiao Yan still judged it inferior to the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame he had possessed in his previous life 171.
• Fire Spirit manifestation: The eight-flame fusion gave birth to the Fire Spirit later called Little Yao. She shared a mental connection with Xiao Yan and could assist in refining newly acquired flames 171 192.
• Lightning affinity: Black Demon Lightning caused a mutation in the Demonic Lotus Illusion Heart Flame and Xiao Yan's originally fire-attributed Dou Qi, adding a trace of lightning affinity and increasing their offensive potential 219.

Undying Flame

The Undying Flame is the realized higher evolution of the Nine Nether Flame, not merely another name for one of its intermediate composite forms 226 307.

• Power increase: Its power exceeded that of the preceding Nine Nether Flame by more than a hundredfold 226.
• Restoration: It granted its wielder an undying trait similar to, but far stronger than, that of the Three Thousand Burning Flame. It could repair damage provided that the damage did not instantly obliterate the wielder 226.
• Dou Qi combustion: Its offensive power could burn Dou Qi away completely, resembling the fourth-ranked Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame in this respect 226.
• Estimated standing: Xiao Yan believed it was no weaker than the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame and might be stronger. This was his estimate, not a formal Heavenly Flame Ranking assignment 226.
• Planar limitation: Restrictions of the Dou Qi Continent's plane prevented it from displaying its full power 226.

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