The Heavenly Flames Contest and Origin Trial in the Heaven Burning Ancient Domain

[System notification: Main quest "Seek the Heavenly Flame Origin" activated. Objective: venture deep into Wan Huo Cavern at the heart of the Heaven Burning Ancient Domain, subdue the seven Origin Heavenly Flames, and activate the Heavenly Flame Origin. Time limit: 48 hours. Reward: unlock the Heavenly Flames Unification ability; the team gains the Flame Immunity passive (reduces fire damage below Dou Zong level by 100%). Failure penalty: be consumed by the ancient domain's Heaven Burning Baleful Qi, and suffer backlash as the Heavenly Flames' energy runs wild.]

Chapter 1: The Lava Beast Tide of Scarlet Fire Canyon

The sky above the Heaven Burning Ancient Domain was crimson. Tiny sparks floated through the air, and breathing them into the lungs felt like being stabbed by countless needles. Scarlet Fire Canyon was their first stop upon entering the ancient domain. Scalding lava flowed down the rock walls on either side, while cracks covered the scorched earth at the canyon floor, spouting sulfurous flames from time to time.

"The fire element concentration here is fifty times higher than outside," Xiao Yan said, spreading his palm. Heavenly Flames rose half a foot above it, fiercer than usual. "Even my Heavenly Flames are restless. Everyone, be careful to control your energy. Don't set off an explosion." He pressed the Elemental Core to his forehead, and five-colored light seeped into his body, barely suppressing the rampaging Heavenly Flames.

On Lu Mu's detector screen, a dense mass of red dots was approaching from deep within the canyon. "They're Lava Beasts, more than a hundred of them! Their bodies are made of lava, and their temperatures are over a thousand degrees. Get within three meters and you'll be burned!"

Before he had finished speaking, the scorched earth at the bottom of the canyon suddenly exploded. Dozens of lizardlike creatures emerged from the cracks-their bodies were covered in obsidian-like scales, lava dripped from their mouths, and a flick of their tails sent waves of fire lashing out.

[System notification: Encountered a Lava Beast pack (level: Mid-Level Dou Wang). Traits: physical attacks inflict burns; upon death, they self-destruct and produce small volcanic eruptions. Weakness: the blue crystal core in the head, which stores the fire element.]

"Zi Yan, clear them out with Dragon Phoenix Flame!" Xiao Yan shouted. Zi Yan spread her wings, and golden-red flames surged toward the pack like a tide. The Lava Beasts were enveloped in fire and let out piercing shrieks, but their scales were extraordinarily tough. Even the Dragon Phoenix Flame could not burn through them at once.

"Attack their heads!" Wu Hao's Space-Splitting Axe, carrying the power of space, hacked toward a Lava Beast's head. The blade struck its scales, sending sparks flying. "These scales are harder than obsidian!" He used the impact to spring backward, dodging a wave of fire whipped up by a beast's tail. The scorched earth burst into a raging blaze the instant the wave swept over it.

Lin Xiuya aimed his sword specifically at the Lava Beasts' eyes, where no scales protected them. Sword light flashed, piercing the eyeballs of several Lava Beasts, and the glow of their blue crystal cores shone through their eye sockets. "Now!" He turned his blade and drove it through an eye socket, precisely flicking the crystal core free. Deprived of its core, the Lava Beast's body rapidly solidified, then cracked apart into black-gray stones.

Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames suddenly surged. The Elemental Core's fire attribute fused with them, transforming into a green-and-red fire dragon. "Use fused fire! Their scales can't stop the Heavenly Flame Origin!" The fire dragon swept over the pack, melting the Lava Beasts' scales and exposing the lava flowing inside. Their blue crystal cores flickered in the intense heat.

The battle lasted an hour, leaving the canyon piled with Lava Beast corpses. Lu Mu picked up an intact blue crystal core. "This can store the fire element. It's perfect for enchanting a weapon." He set the core into Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flame dagger, and a layer of pale blue flame immediately shimmered over it. "Attack power increased by thirty percent, and it inflicts burns too."

[System notification: Lava Beast tide cleared. Obtained "blue crystal cores x89." Unlocked the Fire Element Enchantment recipe.]

Chapter 2: The Heaven Burning Baleful Qi and Bone Fire Formation of the Ash Plain

Beyond Scarlet Fire Canyon lay a plain that stretched beyond the horizon. A thick layer of ash covered the ground, sinking to their ankles when they stepped into it. Purple-black mist drifted above the plain, hissing as it corroded any rock it touched. This was Heaven Burning Baleful Qi, formed from the condensed resentment of countless living beings consumed by flames. It could contaminate Dou Qi and even cause Heavenly Flames to run out of control.

"The detector shows that the concentration of baleful Qi doubles every kilometer. In the core area, it's dense enough to disperse a Dou Emperor's Dou Qi," Lu Mu said, his voice muffled slightly by a special filter mask. "We have to find the Purifying Flame Seed to get through. Otherwise, the baleful Qi will corrode us before we reach Wan Huo Cavern."

Zi Yan suddenly sneezed. The baleful Qi that had settled on her dragon scales had reddened her skin. "This wretched mist is so annoying. Even my Dragon Phoenix Flame can't burn it away!" She tried breathing out a small burst of flame, but instead of dispersing, the baleful Qi turned into an even denser black mist. "It got stronger instead?"

[System notification: Heaven Burning Baleful Qi trait: devours flame energy to strengthen itself. It must be neutralized with energy containing the breath of life, such as the Dew of Life from the Spirit Plant Realm.]

"Dew of Life!" Xiao Yan remembered the supply he had brought from the Spirit Plant Realm. He immediately took out a bottle and sprinkled the dew into the air. The pale green dew hissed as it touched the baleful Qi. The black mist instantly dispersed, revealing tiny black particles within. "It works, just as I thought! Lu Mu, calculate how much we'll need. We have to use it sparingly."

Lu Mu's detector quickly produced a result. "One bottle of Dew of Life can purify the baleful Qi over a hundred square meters. The three bottles we have left will only get us three hundred meters. There must be a clue to the Purifying Flame Seed ahead."

They had advanced less than a hundred meters when the plain suddenly shook. Countless skeletal arms reached out from beneath the ash, surrounding the group. Eerie blue flames burned on the arms, and twisted human faces appeared in the fire. This was the Bone Fire Formation, made from the remains of the dead who had been contaminated by baleful Qi.

[System notification: Encountered the Bone Fire Formation (level: Peak Dou Wang). The formation core is hidden deep within the piles of bones. Destroy it to stop the Bone Fire from burning.]

"These bones are burning with wronged souls!" Zi Yan's dragon eyes could see the resentment in the flames. "They're crying..." Unable to bring herself to attack with fire again, she sprinkled Dew of Life on the nearest bones instead. The dew seeped into them, and the eerie blue flames gradually turned into a gentle white light. "It works! Life energy can soothe them!"

Xiao Yan immediately divided the remaining Dew of Life among the group. "Don't attack with flames. Purify them with the Dew of Life! Wu Hao, you're strong. Use your axe to pry the piles of bones apart and find the formation core!"

Wu Hao rummaged through the piles of bones with his Space-Splitting Axe, but every pile he hacked apart brought more Bone Fire arms out of the ground. Lu Mu suddenly pointed ahead and to the left. "The baleful Qi is thinnest over there! The formation core must be there!"

The group advanced toward the thinner baleful Qi. Zi Yan swept the bones aside with her dragon tail, revealing a black stone stele beneath them. Four ancient characters, "Heaven Burning Soul Suppression," were carved into it, and a ball of black flame burned at its base. It was the formation core.

Xiao Yan let the last drop of Dew of Life fall onto the black fire. The flames leaped violently, and the ancient characters on the stele lit up with golden light. The skeletal arms all around them fell, and the eerie blue flames became points of white light that flew into the sky like fireflies.

[System notification: Bone Fire Formation broken. Obtained "Soul-Suppressing Stone Stele fragments x5" (can suppress baleful Qi). Purifying Flame Seed energy signature detected 500 meters ahead.]

Chapter 3: The Heavenly Flames Guards of the Flame Seed Temple

At the end of the Ash Plain stood a temple built of obsidian, its rooftop flame sculptures glowing red beneath the crimson sun. Seven flame patterns were carved into the temple doors, faintly resonating with the presence of the Heavenly Flames inside Xiao Yan. This was where the Purifying Flame Seed was kept.

When they pushed open the doors, a pure breath of fire element washed over them. The Heaven Burning Baleful Qi was completely shut out. Eternal flames burned on the stone pillars inside, and a fist-sized golden Flame Seed floated above a raised platform in the center. Four guards made of fire stood around it, holding flaming spears. Their bodies were flowing flames, and their faces bore only two points of orange-red light.

[System notification: Encountered Heavenly Flames Guards (level: Early-Level Dou Emperor). Formed from the Purifying Flame Seed's energy, they are immune to physical attacks and can only be defeated with Heavenly Flames of the same origin.]

"Looks like we'll have to fight fire with Heavenly Flames." Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames danced in his palm, resonating with the guards' fire. "Zi Yan, your Dragon Phoenix Flame counts as a branch of the Heavenly Flames. Come at them with me!"

He charged the guard on the left first, turning his Heavenly Flames into a sword and thrusting at its chest. The guard raised its spear to block. The two flames collided with a boom, and the blast set the flames in the temple roaring. "Their flames are very pure, only a little weaker than my Heavenly Flames!" Xiao Yan seized the chance to channel the Elemental Core's energy into his Heavenly Flames. The sword instantly surged in size and pierced the guard's body, which dissolved into sparks.

Zi Yan faced a guard holding a fire shield. Her Dragon Phoenix Flame struck the shield and bounced back. Her eyes darted, and she suddenly withdrew her flames and retreated. Sure enough, the guard raised its shield and pursued. She took the opportunity to circle behind it, turning her Dragon Phoenix Flame into a fiery claw that struck the unshielded spot behind its heart. The guard's body instantly fell apart, turning into a rain of golden fire.

Seeing this, the other two guards suddenly merged into an enormous mass of flame. Four arms reached out of it, thrusting their flaming spears at once. Wu Hao blocked with his Space-Splitting Axe and Lin Xiuya with his sword, but the fire burned them so badly that they hurriedly retreated, leaving charred marks on their weapons.

"They can merge!" Lu Mu shouted. "Quick, use the Soul-Suppressing Stone Stele fragments! The stele can absorb flame energy!"

Xiao Yan immediately flung the fragments at the giant guard. When they touched its flames, they gave a low hum and began frantically absorbing its energy. The giant guard visibly shrank, until the fragments absorbed it completely, leaving only a red flame crystal core.

The Purifying Flame Seed floated slowly down from the platform and merged into Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames on its own. Instantly, the Heavenly Flames inside him grew docile, and the agitation caused by the Heaven Burning Baleful Qi vanished entirely. He could even feel the surrounding fire element submitting to him.

[System notification: Purifying Flame Seed obtained. Heaven Burning Baleful Qi Immunity status unlocked. You may now freely enter and leave the ancient domain's core area.]

Chapter 4: The Seven Origin Heavenly Flames of Wan Huo Cavern

Beyond the Flame Seed Temple, the sight of Wan Huo Cavern was breathtaking. It was a massive volcanic crater ten thousand meters across, with a churning sea of lava at the bottom. Seven flames of different colors burned in the lava, forming seven enormous pillars of fire that soared straight into the sky. Each flame radiated a pressure that made heaven and earth change color. These were the Origin Heavenly Flames: Green Lotus Core Flame (green), Fallen Heart Flame (gold), Sea Heart Flame (blue), Netherworld Poison Flame (purple), Red Lotus Karmic Fire (red), Three Thousand Burning Flame (white), and Purifying Lotus Demon Flame (black).

[System notification: The seven Origin Heavenly Flames have awakened. They must be subdued in order, from weakest to strongest: Green Lotus Core Flame → Fallen Heart Flame → Sea Heart Flame → Netherworld Poison Flame → Red Lotus Karmic Fire → Three Thousand Burning Flame → Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. Forcibly subduing them out of order will cause the Heavenly Flames to run wild.]

"We'll start with the Green Lotus Core Flame," Xiao Yan said, looking at the green pillar of fire on the far left. "It has the same origin as my Heavenly Flames, so it'll be the easiest to communicate with." He leaped into the crater, the light of the Elemental Core shielding his body. The lava parted beneath his feet, forming a path.

Within the Green Lotus Core Flame's pillar, a massive green lotus emerged, the flames on its petals slowly turning. As Xiao Yan approached, the lotus suddenly bloomed and shot out a stream of green fire, but it went out on its own as soon as it touched his Heavenly Flames. This was the acknowledgment of Heavenly Flames from the same origin.

"Come with me." Xiao Yan held out his hand. The green lotus became a streak of light and entered his palm. The Heavenly Flames inside him instantly surged, their color changing from orange-red to alternating green and red.

[System notification: Green Lotus Core Flame subdued. Heavenly Flames raised to Mid Earth Class. Obtained the skill Green Lotus Fire Lotus.]

Subduing the next flames went exceptionally smoothly. Xiao Yan soothed the Fallen Heart Flame with his spiritual power, and it became a golden flame that entered his forehead. The Sea Heart Flame resonated with the Elemental Core's water attribute and docilely became part of his Heavenly Flames. The Netherworld Poison Flame resisted at first, but Xiao Yan suppressed its toxicity with the Purifying Flame Seed, and it finally submitted...

When he reached the sixth flame, the Three Thousand Burning Flame, something unexpected happened. The white pillar suddenly surged, trapping Xiao Yan at its center. The surrounding sea of lava churned violently, and the pillars of the other six Heavenly Flames all turned toward him. Angry human faces appeared in the flames.

[System notification: "Heavenly Flame Origin Guardian Mechanism" triggered. The Three Thousand Burning Flame is the "Keeper of Order" among the Heavenly Flames. To subdue it, you must prove that you can control all the Heavenly Flames!]

"What are you worried about?" Xiao Yan communicated with the pillar through his spiritual power. "I don't want to enslave you. I want to make the Heavenly Flame Origin whole again!"

A majestic voice came from the Three Thousand Burning Flame. "Three hundred years ago, a colonizer tried to seize the Heavenly Flame Origin and destroy the world. We will never trust anyone again!"

"Colonizers?" Xiao Yan recalled what had happened at the Void Beast Nest and Starfall Pavilion. "I know them! I've already destroyed their Energy-Devouring Core and purified the Withering Virus!" He raised the Elemental Core above his head, and images of the Void Mother Core and the Heart of Starfall appeared within it. "What I want is to protect, not destroy!"

The Three Thousand Burning Flame flickered slightly, clearly hesitating. Just then, the black pillar on the far right suddenly lit up. The Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, the strongest of the seven Heavenly Flames, finally stirred.

Chapter 5: The Awakening of the Heavenly Flame Origin and the Heaven Burning Guardian

A figure in black robes slowly emerged from the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame's black pillar. His body was made of pure flame, and his face was indistinct, yet he radiated a pressure that made all the Heavenly Flames submit. This was the Heaven Burning Guardian, a consciousness born from the Heavenly Flame Origin.

"Prove your words." The Guardian's voice sounded like countless flames burning. "Fuse your blood with the Heavenly Flames and make a pact to live and die together. Then we will believe you."

Xiao Yan did not hesitate. He drew his dagger and sliced open his palm, letting his blood drip into the Heavenly Flames. At the same time, he poured all the Elemental Core's energy into them, fusing it completely with the presence of the seven Heavenly Flames. "I, Xiao Yan, swear here and now to live and die with the Heavenly Flame Origin. Should I break this oath, may the Heavenly Flames devour my body!"

The instant blood touched flame, all seven pillars exploded, becoming seven streaks of light that entered Xiao Yan's body. Flames enveloped him, his skin took on seven colors, and the Elemental Core pulsed violently at his forehead. At last, it fused completely with the Heavenly Flames. A seven-colored lotus mark appeared on his forehead, the symbol of the Heavenly Flame Origin.

The Guardian looked at Xiao Yan. The flames beneath his black robes bowed slightly. "After three hundred years, we have finally found someone who can control the Origin. Remnants of the colonizers are still watching the Heavenly Flames. Their World-Destroying Fire has already awakened in the Realm of Nothingness. You must prepare yourself."

[System notification: All seven Origin Heavenly Flames subdued. The Heavenly Flame Origin has awakened! Heavenly Flames Unification ability unlocked (allows the traits of the seven Heavenly Flames to be fused at will). The team has gained the Flame Immunity passive. Main quest complete!]

Xiao Yan felt his body fill with unprecedented power. He raised a hand, and the seven Heavenly Flames flowed through his palm, able to become either a fire dragon that burned heaven and destroyed earth or a warm little flame. "Where is the Realm of Nothingness? I'll go and stop them."

The Guardian pointed at the sky above the crater, where a black rift had opened. "Pass through here, and you will reach the Realm of Nothingness. But time flows differently there. One day is equal to a year outside. Do you... want to leave now?"

The energy signature from the Realm of Nothingness on Lu Mu's detector screen was extremely dangerous. "The World-Destroying Fire's energy signature there exceeds Peak Dou Zong. We may need to prepare..."

"No matter how long we prepare, what must come will come." Xiao Yan clenched his fist, the seven-colored lotus mark flickering on his forehead. "Zi Yan, Wu Hao, Lu Mu, Lin Xiuya... will you come with me?"

Zi Yan's Dragon Phoenix Flame resonated with his Heavenly Flames, seven-colored light glimmering within the golden-red fire. "Where you go, I go." Wu Hao slung the Space-Splitting Axe over his shoulder and grinned. "Can you call it a fight without me?" Lu Mu pushed up his glasses. "My detector hasn't scanned the Realm of Nothingness yet. Of course I'm going." Lin Xiuya's sword trembled slightly, humming with a yearning for battle.

The Guardian watched them, and the flames beneath his black robes curved in satisfaction. "Go. The Heavenly Flame Origin will show you the way." He raised a hand and waved it, widening the black rift into a portal. The presence of the Realm of Nothingness drifted out from within.

Xiao Yan led the way into the rift, the seven Heavenly Flames forming a shield around him to withstand the chaotic energy of the Realm of Nothingness. Behind them, the crater in the Heaven Burning Ancient Domain gradually grew calm. The sea of lava became docile once more, and seven-colored lotuses grew where the seven pillars of fire had stood, guarding this birthplace of the Heavenly Flames.

[System notification: New plane "Realm of Nothingness" detected. The Heavenly Flame Origin has an energy connection to this plane. Confirm teleportation?]

Xiao Yan's voice echoed through the rift with unprecedented resolve. "Confirm."