Trace of the Fallen Heart Flame, a Perilous Journey into the Cavern

(1)

The moment Zi Yan fell off the arena platform, the entire fighting arena fell silent. Everyone stared wide-eyed at the new student standing on the platform, his body wreathed in flames and his figure unsteady. No one had expected Zi Yan, the Dou Emperor ranked first on the Strong Ranking, to "lose" the match like this.

Zi Yan climbed to her feet and dusted off her skirt. The lollipop was still in her mouth, but her gaze had changed. She stared at the line of fire still flickering beneath Xiao Yan's feet, then suddenly grinned. "Interesting. This round... you win."

The arena was dead silent at first, then erupted in cheers like a roaring mountain and a surging sea. The referee's voice trembled with excitement. "I declare the champion of this Strong Ranking Challenge-Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Yan could hold on no longer. Darkness filled his vision, and he fell backward. Before he lost consciousness, he seemed to see Wu Hao and Lin Xiuya of the Inner Academy rushing over, as well as Zi Yan's eyes, flickering with curiosity and scrutiny.

[System notification: Defeated Zi Yan, first on the Strong Ranking (special determination). "Fame on the Strong Ranking" mission complete!]

[Rewards issued: 500,000 points, unlocked Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique "Heavenly Flames Burning Heaven Art," Zi Yan's favorability +30!]

[New clue triggered for the main quest "Trace of the Fallen Heart Flame": Head to the Inner Academy's "Earth Core Magma Pool" to investigate.]

(2)

When Xiao Yan woke again, he was lying in a spacious stone chamber. Luminous pearls were embedded in the walls, and a faint medicinal fragrance filled the air. Wu Hao was sitting beside the bed peeling an apple. When he saw Xiao Yan wake, he immediately shoved the apple toward him. "You're finally awake! You've slept for three days. If you'd stayed asleep any longer, that girl Zi Yan was going to throw you into the magma pool to 'sober you up.'"

"The magma pool?" Xiao Yan sat up and found that most of his injuries had healed. Clearly, someone had used excellent healing medicine on him.

"It's a forbidden area in the Inner Academy," Wu Hao said, lowering his voice. "Legend says the Fallen Heart Flame was born there, but the academy sealed it a hundred years ago. Only the top five on the Strong Ranking are qualified to approach it. You took first place this time, so you can apply to investigate."

Xiao Yan's heart stirred. This had to be the "Earth Core Magma Pool" the system notification mentioned.

"Oh, right." Wu Hao suddenly remembered something and pulled a black token from his robes. "This is a pass to the 'core area.' Your new cave dwelling is on Burning Heaven Cliff. It's ten times better than Azure Wind Cave, and the spiritual Qi is so dense it can liquefy."

Just as Xiao Yan took the token, the stone chamber door was pushed open. Zi Yan came bouncing in, a pitch-black fruit in her hand. "Hey, you're awake? This is for you. An Earth Core Fruit. It can replenish Dou Qi."

The fruit gave off a scorching heat. When Xiao Yan took it, his palm grew numb from the burn. [System notification: The Earth Core Fruit contains dense fire-attribute energy. It can increase Heavenly Flame purity by 5%.]

"Thanks." Xiao Yan put the fruit into his Storage Ring.

"You're welcome." Zi Yan stared at his hand. "Your flame is pretty special. Its presence is a little like what's in the magma pool. Are you going there?"

"Mm."

"I'm going with you!" Zi Yan said at once. "The magma fish there are the tastiest. I'll take you to catch some!"

Xiao Yan was about to refuse, but Wu Hao secretly gave him a look and whispered, "Zi Yan is the Inner Academy's 'living map.' With her along, you can avoid a lot of detours."

(3)

Three days later, Xiao Yan and Zi Yan arrived at the seal on the Earth Core Magma Pool. It was a curtain of light formed from countless runes, emitting a faint blue glow and locking the scorching heat of the magma firmly inside. A stone tablet stood beside it, bearing four large characters in scarlet script that looked as if it had been written in human blood: "Death to trespassers."

"The previous academy head set this seal using the blood essence of ten Dou Emperor magical beasts." Zi Yan poked the curtain of light. "An ordinary person would be burned to ashes just by touching it, but we have Strong Ranking tokens, so we can open a small gap."

She pressed her token against the curtain. It instantly lit up red, and a gap just wide enough for one person appeared. Xiao Yan followed her example and slipped in after her.

The moment they passed through the curtain, a wave of scorching heat struck their faces, a hundred times hotter than the magma pool in the Black Stone Mine. Before them lay a boundless sea of magma. Red magma churned across it, sending up pillars of fire dozens of zhang high from time to time. Countless fiery red motes drifted through the air-unformed masses of fire-attribute energy.

"Watch your step." Zi Yan stepped onto a floating piece of obsidian. "These stones are slippery. If you fall in, don't even think about getting back out."

Xiao Yan circulated his Dou Qi to protect himself and followed her, leaping from one piece of obsidian to another. Roars from colossal beasts occasionally echoed from the depths of the magma sea. Zi Yan said they were "Magma Colossal Beasts," Dou Emperor-level magical beasts that fed on magma and were not to be trifled with.

[System notification: Dense fire-attribute energy detected. Green Lotus Core Flame activity increased. Absorbing the surrounding energy masses is recommended.]

Xiao Yan did as advised and released the Green Lotus Core Flame. The red motes around him immediately swarmed toward it as if drawn by its pull, merging into the flame. He could feel its temperature slowly rising.

[Green Lotus Core Flame purity increased to 36%... 37%...]

"There's a cave over there!" Zi Yan suddenly pointed at a small island in the middle of the magma sea. "That's where I caught magma fish last time!"

The two leaped onto the island. The cave was pitch-black, and crystalline rocks covered its entrance, giving off energy fluctuations even denser than those of the magma sea.

[System notification: Traces of the Fallen Heart Flame detected. An anomaly lies deep inside the cave!]

Xiao Yan tightened his grip on his iron ruler and was about to enter when Zi Yan suddenly pulled him back. "Wait. There's a smell of blood inside."

She took a luminous pearl from her robes and lit up the cave. Several corpses lay on the floor, all dressed as Inner Academy students. Their wounds were charred black, as though burned by flames, but a strange hint of purple tinged the edges.

"People from Burning Heaven Valley did this." Zi Yan's expression darkened. "That's the color of their Purple Nether Flame. Those fellows have been coming to the magma pool to steal things lately. I even drove them off last time."

Xiao Yan examined the corpses and found that each held a broken token-a Strong Ranking token. It seemed these people had come to investigate the magma pool, only to be killed by members of Burning Heaven Valley.

[System notification: Burning Heaven Valley members detected, 500 meters away. Strength: Beginner Dou Emperor x3.]

"They're coming," Xiao Yan said quietly, extinguishing the luminous pearl.

(4)

Footsteps sounded outside the cave, and three men in black robes walked in. Purple flame patterns were embroidered on the hems of their robes. Their leader was a one-eyed man with a scar running from the corner of his eye to his jaw. He held a longsword burning with purple flames.

"Heh heh heh, I didn't expect to meet little princess Zi Yan here." The one-eyed man licked his lips. "And a new face? Are you Xiao Yan, the new number one on the Strong Ranking? Perfect. Hand over your tokens, and we'll spare your lives."

"Dream on!" Zi Yan shielded Xiao Yan behind her, her Beginner Dou Emperor presence erupting. "Didn't I hurt you enough last time? You still dared to come back?"

"We were careless last time," the tall, thin man behind the one-eyed man said with a smile. "This time we brought Burning Heaven Powder. Let's see how you dodge it!" He pulled out a black porcelain bottle and moved to open it.

Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened. Before they could act, the Green Lotus Core Flame suddenly erupted, golden-red flames filling the cave in an instant. "Flame Prison: Vermilion Bird!"

The firebird rushed at the three men with a clear, ringing cry. Purple and golden flames collided with a sizzle. The one-eyed man and his companions hadn't expected Xiao Yan to attack without warning. They hastily formed Dou Qi shields, but the firebird struck them and drove them back again and again.

"What kind of flame is that?" The one-eyed man was shocked and furious. His Purple Nether Flame was actually being suppressed!

"Kill him!" the tall, thin man roared. He drew a dagger and stabbed toward Xiao Yan's back. Zi Yan reacted swiftly, kicking him flying before smashing her fist toward the one-eyed man's face, a fierce wind trailing the blow.

Xiao Yan became locked in a fight with the remaining man, a fatty. His Dou Qi was earthy yellow, and his defenses were astonishing. When Xiao Yan's iron ruler struck him, it left only a white mark.

"Brat, no matter how strong your flame is, it can't break my Mysterious Earth Shield!" The fatty laughed wildly and slammed both fists into the ground. The cave floor suddenly split open, and countless earthen spikes thrust up at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan used Wind Spirit Shadow-Splitting Step to dodge while circulating the Heavenly Flames Burning Heaven Art to its limit. It was the Earth-tier Dou Technique rewarded by the Strong Ranking mission. It could bring out the full power of Heavenly Flames and even briefly distort space.

"Heavenly Flames Burning Heaven Art: Flame Twist!"

The golden-red flames suddenly transformed into a spinning drill of fire and slammed into the fatty's Mysterious Earth Shield with the force to tear space apart.

Crack!

A fissure appeared in the Mysterious Earth Shield. The fatty's expression changed drastically, but before he could retreat, the drill of fire broke through his defense and burned a hole in his shoulder.

"Ah!" The fatty screamed as he was sent flying backward. He struck the cave wall and fell unconscious.

Meanwhile, Zi Yan had dealt with the tall, thin man and was fighting fiercely with the one-eyed man. His Purple Nether Flame was not as domineering as the Green Lotus Core Flame, but it was exceptionally insidious. A little of it brushed Zi Yan's sleeve by accident, immediately corroding a large hole in the fabric.

"Xiao Yan, use your fire!" Zi Yan shouted.

Xiao Yan understood. He sent a line of Green Lotus Core Flame winding toward the one-eyed man's wrist. Caught off guard, the man had his wrist bound by the line of fire. His Purple Nether Flame went out at once, and his longsword clattered to the ground.

Zi Yan seized the chance and punched him in the chest. The one-eyed man spat out a mouthful of blood, fled the cave in sorry shape, and jumped into the magma sea, evidently intending to use the magma to escape.

"Don't let him get away!" Zi Yan was about to give chase, but Xiao Yan stopped her.

"He won't get far." Xiao Yan pointed at the longsword the one-eyed man had dropped. "It has my flame mark on it. I can use it to track his location."

(5)

Having dealt with the people from Burning Heaven Valley, the two went deeper into the cave. The farther they went, the denser the energy fluctuations grew, and the crystals on the stone walls became larger and larger, like clusters of flames hanging upside down.

At the very back of the cave stood a circular stone platform engraved with an intricate formation. A drop of dark red liquid floated at its center, giving off a presence that made even Xiao Yan's soul tremble.

[System notification: Fallen Heart Flame origin blood essence detected! Contains a portion of the Fallen Heart Flame's power. Absorbing it can greatly increase Heavenly Flame purity and provide a chance to comprehend the "Flame Shaping" ability!]

"This is..." Zi Yan's eyes widened into circles. "The legendary Blood of the Heart Flame! They say that when the Fallen Heart Flame was sealed a hundred years ago, it left behind three drops of origin blood essence. I never thought there'd be one here!"

Xiao Yan had just reached out to take it when the stone platform suddenly shook violently. The runes on the formation lit up red, and the entire cave began to tremble.

[Alert! Powerful energy reaction detected. A Magma Colossal Beast is approaching. Strength: Peak Dou Emperor!]

"Oh no! It's an ancestor-level Magma Colossal Beast!" Zi Yan's face went deathly pale. "The presence of the Blood of the Heart Flame drew it here!"

A heaven-shaking roar came from outside the cave. The entire island trembled, and many pieces of obsidian fell into the magma sea, sending up enormous waves. Xiao Yan looked toward the entrance and saw a mountain-sized beast rising from the magma. Its body was made of hardened magma, and its eyes were two masses of burning flame. With every breath, it spewed pillars of fire dozens of zhang long.

"Run!" Zi Yan pulled Xiao Yan toward the cave entrance. "That old monster could crush us with one slap!"

But Xiao Yan did not move. He looked at the origin blood essence on the stone platform, then at the Magma Colossal Beast drawing ever closer to the cave entrance. A flash of resolve crossed his eyes. "You go first. I'll follow once I have the Blood of the Heart Flame!"

"Are you crazy?" Zi Yan said anxiously. "Which matters more, your life or the blood?"

"Both matter." Xiao Yan smiled and pressed the iron ruler into her hands. "Take this and wait for me outside. Trust me."

Zi Yan looked at his determined gaze and gritted her teeth. She turned and rushed out of the cave. "I'll wait for you at the seal. If you don't come, I'll eat all your magma fish!"

(6)

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, turned, and rushed toward the stone platform. The Magma Colossal Beast had already charged into the cave. Its enormous claw swept down with the force to destroy everything, and rubble fell from the ceiling all around.

Xiao Yan used Wind Spirit Shadow-Splitting Step to weave through the falling rubble while driving the Heavenly Flames Burning Heaven Art to its limit. The Green Lotus Core Flame blazed over his body, forming a suit of golden flame armor.

"Heavenly Flames Burning Heaven Art: Flame Bind!"

Countless lines of fire shot from his hands and wound toward the Magma Colossal Beast's limbs. The beast roared and swung a flaming claw, burning through the lines, but Xiao Yan had achieved his goal. Taking advantage of that moment's delay, he rushed to the stone platform and snatched the drop of origin blood essence!

As soon as the origin blood essence entered his hand, it turned into a warm current that poured into his dantian and merged with the Green Lotus Core Flame. He could feel the flame's purity rising wildly. The golden-red fire gradually took on a hint of dark red-the color of the Fallen Heart Flame!

[Green Lotus Core Flame purity increased to 50%! Comprehended the "Flame Shaping" ability (can condense Heavenly Flames into any form, increasing attack flexibility)!]

Seeing the Blood of the Heart Flame taken, the Magma Colossal Beast flew into a rage and brought its enormous claw crashing down on Xiao Yan. His gaze sharpened, and he used the Flame Shaping he had just comprehended. The Green Lotus Core Flame instantly transformed into a pair of enormous flaming wings, carrying him soaring upward to evade the blow by a hair's breadth.

"Roar!"

The beast's claw struck the stone platform, and the entire cave collapsed in an instant. Xiao Yan beat his flaming wings and rushed out of the collapsing cave, flying toward the seal. The Magma Colossal Beast roared and gave chase behind him. Enormous pillars of fire kept grazing past him, burning the obsidian in the sky to ashes.

[Dou Qi remaining: 10%. Flaming wings are continuously consuming energy. Escaping as quickly as possible is recommended!]

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and poured his last trace of Dou Qi into his wings, increasing his speed once more. Just as he was about to reach the seal, the Magma Colossal Beast suddenly spewed a pillar of fire dozens of zhang across, completely cutting off his escape!

"Xiao Yan!" Zi Yan screamed from outside the seal.

Xiao Yan watched the approaching pillar of fire, a ruthless gleam flashing in his eyes. He abruptly fused the Green Lotus Core Flame with the power of the Fallen Heart Flame he had just absorbed. His flaming wings expanded in an instant, transforming into a fiery phoenix that blotted out the heavens and the sun!

"Flame Prison: Phoenix Nirvana!"

The phoenix let out a deafening cry and struck the pillar of fire with the force to burn everything to ruin. The two immense masses of flame energy collided with an earth-shaking boom, and the entire magma sea began to boil.

At the moment the flames exploded, Xiao Yan used the recoil to burst through the blockade of fire, falling toward Zi Yan at the seal. Zi Yan hurriedly caught him, pressed her token against the curtain of light, opened a gap, and slipped out.

Behind them, the curtain of light cut off the Magma Colossal Beast's roars, which gradually faded into the distance.

(7)

Lying on the grass outside the seal, Xiao Yan gasped for breath. His flaming wings had already dissipated, and the Dou Qi in his body was completely spent. He lacked even the strength to raise a hand. But he could feel that the Green Lotus Core Flame in his dantian was more active than ever before. That hint of dark red was like a sleeping dragon that might awaken at any moment.

Zi Yan fed him an Earth Core Fruit and poured a bottle of healing medicine down his throat. Puffing out her cheeks, she said, "If you take a risk like that again, I really will eat all your magma fish!"

Xiao Yan smiled and took a dark red crystal from his Storage Ring. It was a fragment of the formation he had pried from the stone platform before the cave collapsed. [System notification: Fallen Heart Flame seal fragment obtained. It can be used to research a way to undo the seal.]

"Let's go back." Xiao Yan struggled to his feet.

Zi Yan supported him and suddenly asked, "Why do you want the Fallen Heart Flame so badly?"

Xiao Yan looked toward the Inner Academy, where the sky was already turning pale as a fish's belly. He thought of the Xiao Clan in Wutan City, Yao Lao's instructions, and the main quest on the system panel that had never changed.

"To become stronger," he said softly, his voice carrying an unquestionable resolve. "To protect the people I want to protect, and to uncover some... truths from a hundred years ago."

Zi Yan looked at his profile and suddenly smiled. "Then let me help you. I know a lot of the Inner Academy's secrets. Maybe they'll have the answers you want."

The light of the rising sun fell on the two of them, stretching their shadows long. Xiao Yan tightened his grip on the seal fragment, the heat in his palm seeming capable of melting anything. He knew that the true challenge concerning the Fallen Heart Flame had only just begun.

[Main quest "Trace of the Fallen Heart Flame" progress: 30%. Key item "Seal Fragment" obtained.]

[Side quest "Burning Heaven Valley's Plot" triggered. Investigate why Burning Heaven Valley frequently comes and goes from the magma pool. Reward: 100,000 points and unlock the Earth-tier Dou Technique "Seal-Breaking Palm."]