The fifth day had arrived.
For five days, Tianyan and his team waited silently near the edge of the Verdant Mist Sect's secluded mine forest. Towering amidst the dense thicket stood the ancient Crimsonflesh Flame Tree, its bark dark red like dried blood, its leaves flickering faintly as if burning. At its center, five scarlet fruits glowed with spiritual light—the legendary Crimsonflesh Flame Fruits—each potent enough to push a peak Marrow Washing Realm cultivator directly into the Heavenly Passage Realm.
At noon, under the blazing sun, a crisp snap echoed.
The fruits had ripened.
Just then, Chen Yixuan—her twin blades glinting in the light—walked closer to the tree and gasped. "There's a seed," she whispered. Nestled beneath the glowing fruit, a golden-red Flameheart Seed pulsed faintly. The team tensed. They had no idea how valuable that seed truly was.
But before they could discuss it, the shadows moved.
From the northern tree line, seven figures emerged.
Clad in black and blood-red robes, bearing the insignia of the Bloodshade Ghost Sect, they came with greedy eyes. Their leader, a tall youth with obsidian hair and chilling eyes, stepped forward, releasing a violent aura of the 8th Layer of the Marrow Washing Realm. Two more, slightly behind him, stood at the 7th Layer, while the remaining four radiated pressure of the 6th Layer.
"It's ripe," the leader muttered. "Perfect."
Tianyan stepped forward, calmly. "Take the seed and go," he said to his team, voice low but firm.
Chen Yixuan frowned. "But—"
"I'll stop them. You all escape. Now."
She clenched her fists. "I'm not—"
Du Heng grabbed her arm. "Yixuan, we have to go! Don't waste his efforts!"
The others reluctantly pulled her back. Tianyan turned to face the enemies alone.
The leader of the Bloodshade Ghost Sect chuckled. "You're only at the 9th Layer of the Spiritual Sea Realm. You think you can stop us?"
"I don't think," Tianyan replied, eyes glowing faintly. "I will."
And then—he moved.
The leader attacked first, thrusting a spear wrapped in ghostfire. Tianyan dodged, countering with a burst of Azureflame, causing the air to shimmer with heat. The first clash was ferocious, shaking the trees around them. Flames exploded, leaves ignited, and ground cracked beneath their feet.
Two more enemies joined in. Tianyan was fast, striking one down with a palm laced in Azureflame, but a second blade caught his side, drawing blood.
Still, he stood tall.
"He's stalling us alone?" one enemy muttered in disbelief.
Wounded and panting, Tianyan staggered.
And then—he did the unthinkable.
He pulled all five Crimsonflesh Flame Fruits into his hand.
"Fool!" the enemy leader shouted. "Even a Heavenly Passage cultivator would explode from consuming one without refining!"
But Tianyan didn't hesitate. His bloodline roared.
As he devoured the fruits, a terrifying burst of crimson and azure energy exploded from within him. Chaotic spiritual energy surged, threatening to destroy his meridians—but a deep, ancient force within his blood suppressed the chaos.
The dragon awakens… Azureflame whispered from within.
In the eye of the storm, Tianyan stood with his clothes torn, aura trembling violently, but eyes clearer than ever.
"Now… let me show you the first form," he said coldly.
He raised his hand, and with a breath of ancient power, flame twisted from his palm, shaping into a long, curved crimson-blue blade.
Primordial Dragonflame Sword – "First Form: Azure Blade Descent!".
The sword howled as if a dragon roared across the battlefield.
He dashed forward.
The leader met him with a ghostly shield—but it shattered upon contact. One after another, Tianyan's blade danced through enemies like wildfire through dry grass. Though outnumbered, his blade struck with the force of wrathful dragons.
Even as his body was bloodied, the sword in his hand never wavered.
Each clash shook the battlefield. Even the 8th-layer enemy found himself retreating, wounded and breathless.
"W-What monster is this?!"
Tianyan's eyes flickered dimly. He had done enough.
But just as one of the enemies aimed a final strike toward his heart, a gust of wind shattered the trees.
A silver-haired youth, dressed in inner sect core disciple robes, arrived in a flash of sword light.
"Chen Yixuan!" he shouted. "You alright?!"
Behind him, Chen Yixuan ran forward and caught Tianyan before he hit the ground, tears in her eyes.
"Idiot…" she whispered. "Why would you take them all?"
Her brother's sword sliced through the enemies like reaping wheat. The core disciple was at the 5th Layer of the Heavenly Passage Realm, and none of the blood shade disciples were his match.
Within moments, the battlefield was painted red.
Tianyan, barely conscious, smiled faintly in Chen Yixuan's arms. "You… came back."
She wiped the blood from his lips. "Of course I did."
And for the first time, the Blazewind Forest was quiet again.
Only the fallen flames and sword marks remained.