The Remnant Soul in the Stone Wall, First Insight into the Burning Heaven Art

An aged voice echoed through the cave, somewhat hoarse yet imbued with an indescribable majesty.

Xiao Yan gripped his iron ruler tightly, his sharp gaze sweeping over his surroundings, but he saw no one. The voice seemed to come from the stone wall itself.

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

"Hehe, there's no need to be nervous. I'm no longer among the living, merely a wisp of a remnant soul." The voice rang out again, and the flame patterns on the stone wall flickered ever brighter. "You could sense the lingering traces of the Heavenly Flames I left behind, and even stir a trace of their presence. Young fellow, your affinity with flames runs deep."

A remnant soul? Lingering traces of the Heavenly Flames?

Xiao Yan's heart stirred. His gaze fell on the flame patterns on the stone wall, and he asked tentatively, "Senior, who are you?"

"Who I am ceased to matter long ago." The aged voice carried a trace of melancholy. "A thousand years ago, I cultivated here and stumbled upon a trace of Heavenly Flame Origin. Unfortunately, I never managed to master it completely. Instead, it turned on me, leaving only this wisp of my remnant soul to keep the stone wall company."

Xiao Yan understood. No wonder the stone wall gave off the presence of the Heavenly Flames; an expert had once dealt with them here.

[Ding! "Inheritance Search" mission triggered!]

[Mission requirement: Obtain inheritance information concerning the Heavenly Flames or flame Dou Techniques from the remnant soul in the stone wall.]

[Mission rewards: 800 points, a major improvement to the Heavenly Flames Simulation ability, and the unlocking of the Profound Tier Low Grade Dou Technique, Basic Fire Control Technique.]

The system notification lifted Xiao Yan's spirits. This trip to the back mountain really had brought him an opportunity.

"Senior, I am Xiao Yan. I've long yearned to learn the way of the Heavenly Flames. Might you be willing to offer me some guidance?" Xiao Yan bowed respectfully, adopting an exceedingly humble manner. It would be foolish to show any disrespect to the remnant soul of a senior who might have encountered the Heavenly Flames.

The remnant soul in the stone wall seemed quite pleased with Xiao Yan's attitude and chuckled. "Hehe, good lad. You know your manners. The fact that you can stir the presence of the Heavenly Flames shows that your soul power far surpasses that of ordinary people. You have the potential to cultivate the Dou Technique I left behind."

"A Dou Technique?"

"That's right." A hint of pride entered the aged voice. "Back then, I drew on the properties of the Heavenly Flames to create a fire-control Dou Technique. Though it's only Profound Tier Mid Grade, it has remarkable effects when it comes to controlling flames. It's a fragment of a technique called the Burning Heaven Art. If you can withstand the soul impact from my remnant soul and commit it to memory, it won't have been left to gather dust."

Soul impact?

Xiao Yan's heart tightened. Attacks on the soul were the most perilous, but for the sake of the Burning Heaven Art and the system rewards, he did not hesitate. "I'm willing to try!"

"Good!"

Before the voice had faded, the flame patterns on the stone wall erupted with a blinding light. A strand of pale golden soul power, visible to the naked eye, shot from the wall and sped straight for the space between Xiao Yan's brows like a small snake!

Though faint, the soul power was exceptionally concentrated and carried a searing presence, as if it meant to burn Xiao Yan's soul to ashes!

"Argh!"

A sharp pain pierced the space between Xiao Yan's brows, as if countless needles were stabbing him, and stars danced before his eyes. But he gritted his teeth and used the soul cultivation method from his previous life (although his cultivation was too low to employ it fully, it could just barely protect his Soul Origin), resisting the impact with all his might.

"Young fellow, hold on! This is a test of your soul power. Make it through, and the Burning Heaven Art is yours!" The aged voice echoed in his mind.

Xiao Yan held his mind steady, letting the soul power surge and roam through his sea of consciousness. He could feel a vast amount of information about the Burning Heaven Art mixed into the other party's soul power, pouring steadily into the depths of his memory.

He did not know how much time had passed. When the soul power gradually dissipated, Xiao Yan's forehead was drenched in cold sweat and his face was pale, but he now had a complete memory of the Burning Heaven Art fragment in his mind.

The Dou Technique was indeed profound. Though only a fragment, it contained the fundamental secrets of controlling flames and would be of immense help to him in mastering the true Heavenly Flames in the future.

[Ding! "Inheritance Search" mission complete!]

[Rewards distributed: 800 points credited, Heavenly Flames Simulation's effects greatly improved, and Basic Fire Control Technique unlocked!]

As the rewards were credited, a cool sensation flowed into Xiao Yan's sea of consciousness, instantly dispelling most of the exhaustion caused by the soul impact. At the same time, he could clearly feel that his control over Heavenly Flames Simulation had grown more adept, and the presence of the Heavenly Flames he simulated felt more real.

"Hehe, I was right about you after all." The flame patterns on the stone wall gradually dimmed, and the aged voice grew weak. "The Burning Heaven Art... I leave it to you... I hope that one day, you can... truly master the Heavenly Flames..."

The voice grew fainter and fainter until it vanished altogether. The flame patterns on the stone wall returned to their former dimness, as if they had never lit up at all.

Xiao Yan bowed deeply to the stone wall. "Thank you for passing on your inheritance, Senior! I will not disappoint you!"

He knew that the senior's remnant soul had completely dissipated.

Having secured this opportunity, Xiao Yan turned to leave the cave. Just then, footsteps sounded at the entrance, accompanied by a chilling voice:

"Xiao Yan, it really is you! How dare you trespass in my Misty Cloud Sect's forbidden ground? Surrender at once!"

Xiao Yan's heart tightened. He turned to look and saw several people standing at the cave entrance. Leading them was none other than Lin Chen, whom he had defeated earlier. Two inner-sect deacons at the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi stood beside him; he had clearly found reinforcements.

Lin Chen looked at Xiao Yan, his eyes full of venom. "I sensed an energy fluctuation in the forbidden ground just now, and I guessed it was you up to no good! You trespassed in the forbidden ground and stole the sect's secret treasure. You're dead!"

The two Eighth Stage deacons also glared at Xiao Yan with hostile expressions, Dou Qi surging around them as they blocked the cave entrance.

"Looks like I can't even leave in peace." Xiao Yan's gaze turned cold, and he tightened his grip on the iron ruler.

[Ding! "Forbidden Ground Breakout" mission triggered!]

[Mission requirement: Repel Lin Chen and the two Eighth Stage deacons and successfully leave the cave.]

[Mission rewards: Eighth Stage of Dou Qi cultivation, 600 points, and 10% restoration progress for the Burning Heaven Art fragment.]

"Perfect. Time to try out the Burning Heaven Art I just obtained and the improved Heavenly Flames Simulation!"

Dou Qi erupted from Xiao Yan's body as he released his peak Seventh Stage presence without reservation. At the same time, the dark red illusion of flame appeared on his iron ruler once more. This time, the flames were more solid, and the scorching presence they gave off was stronger!

"Those bizarre flames again!" Lin Chen's expression changed slightly. Then he shouted with a show of bravado, "Deacons, there's something very strange about this brat. Take him down!"

The two Eighth Stage deacons exchanged a glance and moved at once, lunging at Xiao Yan from the left and right. One used Stacked Wave Palm, while the other unleashed the fierce and forceful Mountain Splitting Fist. Two Eighth Stage Dou Qi forces bore down on him like mountains.

Xiao Yan neither dodged nor retreated. The Burning Heaven Art fragment quietly circulated, and though it was only a fragment, the secrets of controlling flames had already become part of his attack. His iron ruler swept across, the dark red illusion of flame flowing over it and faintly forming a vortex of fire!

"Flame Splitting Wave Ruler!"

The power of the Dou Technique, fused with the fire-control secrets of the Burning Heaven Art, soared! The crimson ruler shadow carried the flame vortex into a collision with the deacon's Stacked Wave Palm on the left.

"Boom!"

Palm met ruler. The deacon felt a searing, violent force surge toward him, and his palm force was instantly swallowed and burned away by the flame vortex. He screamed as the illusory flames swept over his arm, setting his clothes ablaze in an instant. He hurriedly retreated to put out the fire, unable to fight for the moment.

The deacon on the other side was shocked at the sight, and his fist slowed a fraction, almost without thinking.

Xiao Yan seized the opportunity in that fraction of an opening!

He used Wind Walking Step and closed in like a ghost. His iron ruler flipped over, carrying dark red flames straight toward the deacon's chest!

"Mountain Splitting Fist!" With his life on the line, the deacon roared and drove his Dou Qi to its limit, his fist smashing toward the iron ruler with an earth-yellow glow.

"Clang!"

Fist and ruler collided with the ring of metal striking metal. The deacon felt a scorching force surge through his fist and into his body, as if it would burn his meridians to ruin. He grunted and staggered backward from the impact, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

In the flash of a lightning bolt and the spark from a flint, Xiao Yan had driven back both Eighth Stage deacons with his attacks!

Lin Chen watched, dumbstruck. The venom on his face turned instantly to fear. He could not understand how Xiao Yan had become so strong. He could even drive back Eighth Stage deacons?

"Your turn."

Xiao Yan's gaze settled on Lin Chen, his eyes icy.

Lin Chen was so frightened his soul nearly flew away. He dared not stay another moment and turned to run. "Help!"

Xiao Yan did not pursue him. His goal was to break out, not linger in battle. Taking advantage of the opening as the two injured deacons retreated, he used Wind Walking Step and shot out of the cave like a wisp of smoke, speeding toward the outside of Misty Cloud Mountain.

The two deacons wanted to give chase, but their burns made them grimace in pain. They could only watch as Xiao Yan disappeared into the dense forest.

[Ding! "Forbidden Ground Breakout" mission complete!]

[Rewards distributed: Cultivation raised to the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi, 600 points credited, and restoration progress for the Burning Heaven Art fragment at 10%!]

Only after escaping the bounds of Misty Cloud Mountain did Xiao Yan stop. Feeling the surging power of Eighth Stage Dou Qi within him and the additional sliver of insight into the Burning Heaven Art fragment, he smiled.

Though his trip to the Misty Cloud Sect had been full of twists and turns, he had gained a great deal.

The Three-Year Agreement was settled. Next, it was time to return to the Xiao Clan and see how things were.

And Yao Lao... In this life, he would awaken his teacher sooner and make up for his regrets from his previous life.

Xiao Yan looked up into the distance, a confident light shining in his eyes.

His legend had only just begun.