The sun hung high in the sky, casting long golden beams across the ancient stones of Frostcloud Ridge. Birds soared above, but the mountain beneath held a secret.
Long Feng stood at the mouth of a cliffside cave long forgotten by his clan.
To the ordinary eye, it was just a wall of moss and stone—but Long Feng's divine senses picked up ancient formations barely clinging to life. Runes flickered faintly like whispers from the past.
"This is it…" he murmured. "The place where my disciple sealed the Three-Flame Pill Furnace."
His fingers brushed over the formation lines.
A sharp click echoed. The stone shimmered with red light, and the earth trembled as a hidden entrance opened, revealing a narrow passageway carved into the rock.
Without hesitation, he stepped into the darkness.
The air grew heavier with each step. It wasn't natural—this was the breath of ancient flame, the spirit of alchemy itself. At the tunnel's end was a wide chamber dimly lit by fire crystals embedded in the walls.
In the center stood an enormous, rusted pill furnace. Black scorch marks marred its surface, and dried blood stains decorated the stone floor around it. Time had nearly erased its presence from the world.
But Long Feng knew it intimately.
The Three-Flame Pill Furnace.
An ancient alchemical relic he had once wielded to craft forbidden pills—powerful enough to defy heavenly judgment.
He approached slowly. The silence of the chamber felt sacred.
Then, he placed his palm on the cold metal.
BOOM!
A surge of fire roared to life. The furnace trembled, glowing with a deep crimson light as long-sealed inscriptions reawakened. Spirals of flame circled the room, like spirits rejoicing at their master's return.
A voice echoed through the runes on the wall:
> "Only he who bears the Flame Soul may ignite the Cauldron of Heaven."
Golden symbols lit up across Long Feng's body. The mark of a true Flame Sovereign.
With a deep breath, he sat cross-legged before the furnace and closed his eyes.
---
🔥 Within the Dantian…
His spiritual world was vast—unnaturally so for a Body Tempering stage cultivator. It was the hidden truth of the Heavenly Root Physique—capable of holding immense power, if one could unlock it.
Floating in the middle of this space was a faint ember.
It flickered weakly. But Long Feng recognized it instantly.
The Vermilion Ember.
A soul flame he'd nurtured for centuries in his previous life—one of the Nine Flames of Reversal.
"Still alive after all this time…" he whispered. "Let's begin."
He began to chant.
> "Heaven's fire, reverse thy flow. Burn not outward, but inward. Ignite my soul, and reveal my might."
The Nine Flame Reversal Sutra activated. The flame resisted at first—writhing, testing his will. But Long Feng's soul was too refined, too supreme.
He forced the ember into his dantian's center.
Agony.
His meridians lit up like molten metal. Muscles tore and reformed. Veins blackened, then turned gold. His bones cracked, then shone like jade.
Yet through it all—Long Feng did not flinch.
> "More pain... more growth."
The Vermilion Ember fused into his spiritual root.
BOOM!
Qi surged through him like a flood. His cultivation rose with frightening speed.
Body Tempering 3rd layer... 4th... 5th layer!
Each layer reinforced his body and soul. His senses sharpened, his vision deepened. He could hear wind brushing dust, smell stone reacting to heat, feel the heartbeat of flame itself.
And then—silence.
The Vermilion Ember had fully merged with him.
A small crimson flame tattoo formed on his palm. A mark of the first flame reclaimed.
> [Flame Acquired: Vermilion Ember]
[Technique Unlocked: Ember Ignition – First Stage of Nine Flame Reversal Sutra]
[Artifact Recognized: Three-Flame Pill Furnace]
The giant furnace shook again. With a pulse of energy, it shrank down into a crimson ring, which floated to his hand and slid onto his finger.
> [Bound Artifact Stored Successfully]
Long Feng opened his eyes.
Golden light glowed within them. His aura had transformed from mortal to something fierce, refined, and ancient.
"The path begins again," he whispered. "One flame down. Eight to go."
---
⛰️ Outside the Cave…
Long Feng emerged from the sealed path just as the sun began to dip toward the west. The warmth on his skin felt different now—gentler. Or perhaps he had grown stronger.
A soft voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Long Feng…?"
He turned.
At the edge of the hill stood Mei Ling—the gentle herbalist girl. Her dark eyes blinked in surprise. A basket of spirit herbs hung from her arm.
"I saw smoke from the cliffs," she said softly. "You were in that cave?"
Long Feng gave a faint smile. "Just meeting an old friend."
Her gaze lowered to his palm.
"That mark… it wasn't there before."
He raised his hand. The flame tattoo pulsed faintly, then vanished under his control.
"A token," he said simply. "For those who survived fire and didn't burn."
Mei Ling stared at him. "You… feel different."
"So everyone keeps saying."
"No… I mean it. It's like your whole soul changed."
A breeze blew. Her hair danced in the wind like black silk.
Long Feng stepped closer. "You're not afraid?"
"I'm a little afraid," she admitted. "But I'm more curious. You've always been kind… but now you seem…"
He tilted his head. "Dangerous?"
She smiled. "Divine."
The word struck him in the heart.
He looked away, then back at her. "I'll be leaving the village soon."
"For the outer sect?"
"Yes. There are techniques I need. Treasures that belong to me. And... enemies waiting to be reminded I'm not dead."
Mei Ling hesitated, then said, "I picked these for you." She held out the basket. "They're just herbs... nothing special."
He took them gently. "Anything from you is special."
A faint blush rose on her cheeks. "Then… take care of yourself, Long Feng."
He nodded. "I will. And Mei Ling…"
"Yes?"
"When I return, I'll be someone worthy of protecting others—including you."
She smiled again, turned, and disappeared into the trees.
Long Feng looked up at the setting sun.
A new path had begun—one paved in fire, war, and rising love.
And the heavens were watching.