After enjoying a warm meal, Lady Yuexian rose from the table, her eyes calm but focused.
"Follow me," she said, tying her robe tighter around her waist.
Lin Yuan blinked, setting down his chopsticks. "Where are we going?"
"To the underground treasure house," she replied. "Where the sect stores all its most valuable flames, weapons, artifacts—and opportunities."
---
The deeper levels of the sect were not something ordinary disciples were allowed to enter.
Even the air felt heavier as they descended the marble steps behind the inner sanctum. Ancient runes lined the walls, flickering faintly with formation light. Spiritual pressure pressed down from all directions. At the jade gate to the treasure vault, two elders in silver robes bowed low upon seeing Lady Yuexian.
No words were exchanged. With a single gesture, the massive gate groaned open.
What awaited inside stole Lin Yuan's breath.
Dozens—perhaps hundreds—of crystal orbs floated in midair, each containing a flame of a different hue. Deep blue fire danced like lightning. Emerald green ones pulsed like breathing hearts. There were even clear, near-invisible flames that bent light itself.
The air shimmered and sang with the energy of bound spirits. Heat waves danced like mirages.
A robed elder with long gray eyebrows stepped forward, peering at Lin Yuan.
"So this is the one who submitted the Sun-Moon Great Array?" he said, voice dry as parchment but eyes sharp.
Lin Yuan bowed deeply. "Yes, Elder."
Lady Yuexian spoke calmly. "I've brought her for flame affinity testing."
"Very well." The elder waved his hand.
A circular sigil made of burning characters appeared on the floor, the script constantly shifting. "Place your palm on the sigil. Let the flames speak."
Lin Yuan stepped forward, inhaled deeply, and pressed his palm onto the burning glyph.
*FWOOOOOSH!*
Three orbs flared at once.
The silver-white, the gold-tinged, and a pale-blue flame pulsed simultaneously, casting layered shadows across the floor.
The elder's expression shifted from passive to intrigued. "Three flame reactions… That's extremely rare."
Lady Yuexian folded her arms, but her voice held a note of pride. "She has a treasure body. Not only did he survive over a hundred high-grade healing pills during Taiyin cultivation, he remained conscious through most of it. His foundation is unusually solid."
The elder turned to Lin Yuan with newfound interest. "Now approach the flames. Feel them. Let the right one choose you. But remember: the one that burns brightest isn't always the best. Follow the one that resonates with your soul."
---
Lin Yuan moved slowly among the floating orbs. The closer he got, the more pressure he felt on his chest.
Some flames were beautiful—mesmerizing even—but cold. Others burned like boiling hatred.
But one flame... a soft, white-gold light, pulsing like the sun through thin mist—called to him.
It felt like sunlight on a winter morning. Gentle. Healing. Familiar.
When he neared it, his fingers tingled.
"This one," Lin Yuan said. "It feels like... me."
Lady Yuexian's brows furrowed. "That is the Sunfire Seed."
The robed elder raised an eyebrow. "A healing flame. Rare. Very rare. But not known for offensive strength."
Lady Yuexian turned to Lin Yuan. "Are you sure? The Sunfire is excellent against darkness and illness. It will help you recover from injuries quickly. But it grows very slowly, and sunstones—its food—are almost extinct. Without them, cultivation will be hard. Worse, some may try to kill you just to obtain the Sunfire."
Lin Yuan thought briefly of his siblings. Of pain. Of survival.
"I still choose it," he said.
Lady Yuexian smiled faintly. "Then take the seed."
---
Back at her residence, Xiao Hu was the first to run over. "Let me see your fire!"
Lin Yuan summoned a flicker of white-gold light to his palm. It danced like a lazy flame in the wind.
Xiao Hu frowned. "It's not even hot! That's disappointing."
Lady Yuexian chuckled. "It's not meant to burn, but to protect."
She led them all into a sealed Qi-gathering chamber.
"Cut your hand. Let the flame enter your blood. I'll be monitoring the process. Don't resist it."
Lin Yuan nodded. He bit his thumb and guided the Sunfire into the wound.
It vanished into him without resistance. No pain. No heat. Nothing but a soft pulse.
"Do you feel anything?" Lady Yuexian asked, eyes sharp.
"No," Lin Yuan replied.
She frowned. "Strange. It's already merged. Completely."
---
She spent five hours circulating Qi through his body, watching for any instability. None came.
By the time she slumped from exhaustion, Lin Yuan had only taken three high-grade healing pills.
"It's night," she said softly. "Let's rest and eat."
---
Later that evening, Lin Yuan read picture books with Xiao Hu and Qingxue by candlelight. They all fell asleep in a pile of warm bodies and blankets, peaceful at last.
But deep in the night...
Ba-dump.
Lin Yuan's heart suddenly beat with force.
A warmth spread from his core. It wasn't burning or painful—it was familiar. Like an old friend waking inside his blood.
The Sunfire had accepted him.
---
At dawn, Lady Yuexian summoned him to the quiet garden behind her home.
She handed him a sealed scroll.
"A mission," she said.
Lin Yuan's eyes widened. "A mission?"
"A rogue cultivator has been sighted in the eastern range. He's using demonic fire techniques. Hurting innocent villagers."
She looked at him carefully. "You'll go with a group of inner disciples. Observe. Assist. Learn. And most importantly—survive."
He took the scroll and nodded solemnly.
Let me know and I'll cocontinuecon