The heavy silence before the cave lingered like a drawn blade. Ling Xian stood before the ancient formation—Heaven's Silence Binding Array—lost in a whirlpool of thoughts. His heart trembled not in fear but anticipation. Whatever lay within the cave, it was beyond the bounds of the Fallen Sky Realm.
He stepped cautiously inside, carefully weaving his spiritual sense to check for hidden formations. The air grew cold and dense as he moved deeper, the glow of spiritual energy flickering faintly on the rough cave walls.
Suddenly, he froze.
Inside a vast hollow chamber, a massive beast lay coiled—black-scaled with molten red veins glowing under its thick skin. It radiated a terrifying aura even in slumber.
"A Primordial Flame Guardian Beast," Ling Xian murmured, his eyes narrowing. "And it's guarding... a gate."
The stone archway behind the beast was adorned with ancient runes—its surface glowing with soft flames that pulsed like a heartbeat. A thin veil of golden mist covered it, sealed by both formation and bloodline might.
He exhaled slowly. "This isn't just a beast cave… this is a sealed legacy."
Realizing he had no chance against such a beast in his current state—Early Meridian Opening Realm—Ling Xian reached into his robe and pulled out a talisman made from blood-soaked jade and star-woven silk—Eclipsing Veil Technique Scroll.
Eclipsing Veil Technique – A high-level concealment method from ancient times, once used by assassins of the Void Shadow Clan. It blends divine sense with natural aura, erasing one's presence completely, even from high-tier spirit beasts or arrays for a short duration. Ling Xian had prepared it the previous night before his journey, inscribing the runes by hand.
He activated it with a drop of his blood. His form shimmered, becoming indistinct, as his spiritual signature dissolved into the surroundings. With utmost caution, he stepped around the sleeping beast and approached the gate.
The moment his hand touched the mist, the gate responded.
Woooosh.
He was sucked into a stream of golden light—and his vision went black.
When he opened his eyes, he was floating in a vast world of fire.
Mountains blazed in the distance, lakes boiled with radiant light, and meteors of pure flame soared through the skies. In the center stood a temple of glowing obsidian and golden fire.
From within it, a woman slowly emerged.
She hovered in the air, composed entirely of flame, her features ethereal and breathtaking. Crimson hair flowed like a burning river, her eyes glowing like twin suns. She gazed at Ling Xian with a mixture of pride and disdain.
"A mere cultivator at the early stage of Meridian Opening Realm dares to enter my domain?"
Her voice carried the weight of eons.
"Who are you to seek the Primordial Celestial Flame?"
Ling Xian stepped forward respectfully, eyes clear.
"I am Ling Xian. I seek to claim this flame not for greed, but to refine myself. For alchemy, for battle, and for forging the path ahead."
She narrowed her eyes.
"The Primordial Celestial Flame has not found a worthy bearer since the era of the Ancient Flame Monarch. Even the heavens have forgotten me. And yet, here you are… a boy barely standing at the threshold of cultivation."
"Very well. Let's see how deep your resolve truly runs."
Her domain shifted instantly. Ling Xian found himself bound by tendrils of fire. His body felt like it was melting.
First Test – Physical Endurance.
Blue flames erupted around him, burning his muscles, bones, and blood. His skin blistered, and blood steamed under the heat. He clenched his teeth, refusing to scream. Every heartbeat was like a hammer against his ribs. He fell to one knee, then the other—but did not collapse.
The pain grew unbearable. Vision blurred. His lips cracked, and fingernails broke against the molten ground. But still—he endured.
Second Test – Spiritual Resolve.
Illusions surged—his past life's betrayals, his death, the despair of losing everything. His godhood lost. His comrades slaughtered.
He stood firm, breathing hard, refusing to flinch. The images turned darker—his own hands covered in the blood of innocents, the twisted whispers of enemies. Guilt. Rage. Isolation.
And still—he remained steady, gaze like steel.
Third Test – Emotional Burden.
Now came the images of those he once loved: his wives, his brothers-in-arms, his homeland swallowed by time. A gentle voice whispered his name—his mother's. He fell to his knees, hands trembling. Tears formed, dripping into the flames.
"Do you regret it?" the flame spirit's voice echoed.
He whispered, "No. I regret nothing… but I remember everything."
The flames surged once more, hotter than before. His robes turned to ash, skin peeled, and soul flickered—but he did not break.
Then, the flames ceased.
She reappeared, floating inches above him, her tone more curious now.
"You… are strange. Not only did you endure everything, you remained clear-minded through it all."
She extended a hand, touching his forehead.
Suddenly, she flinched.
"You… your soul… you've lived as a god before."
Her eyes widened, flashing with ancient knowledge.
"I saw it—your destruction… and the Primordial Being who caught your soul before it vanished. So that being is still alive…"
She withdrew her hand slowly, gaze softening slightly.
"You have power… but not enough to wield me completely."
"Still, I acknowledge your potential. I grant you my Half Recognition. You may bear a fragment of my flame and return when you are worthy of more."
A small wisp of golden fire emerged from her chest and flew into Ling Xian's core. He trembled as the Primordial Celestial Flame Seed fused with his inner world.
At the end of the flame trial, after the Primordial Celestial Flame Spirit grants Ling Xian her Half Recognition, she says:
"You may bear a fragment of my flame and return when you are worthy of more. Once you reach the peak of this realm—when your cultivation stands at the pinnacle of the Heaven Ascension Realm—return to me. If you still prove worthy… you will not only gain the complete Primordial Celestial Flame, but I… shall descend with you."
Her gaze shimmered with ancient pride and a trace of mystery.
"Until then… survive, grow, and earn the right to command me fully."
"Until we meet again… Ling Xian."
And the domain dissolved.
Ling Xian's eyes snapped open.
He was back at the gate. The beast remained asleep. The cave was silent.
His body still ached, but deep in his soul, the flame burned with soft radiance.
He had taken the first step toward mastering something long lost to even the heavens themselves.
To be continued…