The Inner Chamber lay deep underground, beneath the belly of Twilight Mountain, protected by sealing formations and streams of pure energy. Only authorized disciples were permitted to enter—even the elders could not interfere at will.
That day, Li Yun stood before a massive stone gate, carved with symbols of fire and sky. Two elder guards beside the entrance scanned his rank token, then nodded.
"Congratulations, Disciple Li Yun. You have three days and three nights. After that, the formation will force you out."
The gate opened, and a warm wind filled with spiritual particles swept across his face.
Li Yun stepped inside.
Within, the Inner Chamber was divided into several meditation chambers—small caves carved into the stone, each filled with spirit crystals that radiated a soft glow.
Li Yun chose one of the deepest chambers.
As he sat down and began to meditate, he immediately felt it—as if a sea of energy flowed in from every direction, filling his pores, seeping into his bones and blood.
"This formation accelerates spiritual circulation fivefold," whispered Tian Luo. "Use this chance to form your foundational core. Without it, you're only halfway to true power."
Li Yun nodded inwardly. He closed his eyes and began forming the core.
Hour after hour passed. He endured the pain as energy condensed in his dantian, forming a small orb of pure power. But then, something happened...
As the energy peaked, he saw a black shadow within his mind. It wasn't from him. It wasn't from Tian Luo.
"What is that?" Li Yun asked softly.
"...It's not mine," Tian Luo replied in a low voice. "There's another force… hidden in this place."
Suddenly, the walls of the meditation chamber trembled.
Beyond the stone formation, a crack opened—revealing a narrow passage invisible to the naked eye. It was filled with dust, and at its end—an ancient altar bearing faded red-golden symbols.
Li Yun stepped closer.
Upon the altar lay an old tome covered in thick dust. But the moment he touched it, the dust vanished, and the book began to glow faintly.
The inscription on the cover read:
"Skyfire Trace, Legacy of the Li Clan."
Li Yun's eyes widened.
"This... is a technique from my clan?"
Tian Luo was silent for a few seconds. Then, "Yes… I recognize the emblem. This is part of the Crimson Legacy, the ultimate technique of the Li Clan before its downfall."
"But it was hidden in the Inner Chamber. How?"
Tian Luo replied with a grim tone, "Someone... saved it from your clan's destruction and hid it here. Someone who knew that one day… the last descendant of the Li Clan would come seeking it."
Li Yun opened the book. On its first page, words were etched:
"To the blood of Li that remains—if you find this, know that your clan is not lost. You were only asleep. Rise, and reignite the Skyfire Trace."
His eyes shimmered.
All this time, he had believed the Li Clan's legacy was gone. But this—this was more than a technique. It was a symbol of hope. And perhaps... the key to restoring his clan.
For the next two days, Li Yun studied the tome. Its technique was vastly different from anything taught at Twilight Sky Academy. Not only did it strengthen the body and energy, it also merged with a skyfire spirit that could be summoned under certain conditions.
However, the technique carried risk.
"If you fail to merge," Tian Luo said, "your body will burn from within."
"But if I succeed?"
"You will master the first form of the Sky Ancestor Flame. A technique even the elders have never witnessed."
Li Yun pondered. Then he sat back down, took a deep breath, and began...
The first attempt.
On the third day, just as time ran out, Li Yun's body emerged from the Inner Chamber in a burst of light. But the guards looked at him with puzzled expressions.
"You…" one of them said, "...your aura… it's different."
Li Yun simply lowered his head slightly, then walked away without replying.
Within his body, the foundational core had formed. And in his dantian, a small golden flame began to flicker, dancing like a spirit newly awakened from a long slumber.
"You are now… closer to the truth about your clan," said Tian Luo. "But that also means… the one who destroyed your clan will begin to sense your presence."
Far away, in a hidden dark chamber beneath the Academy, an old man in black robes opened his eyes.
"So... the flame has returned," he whispered.
He stared at a small formation before him—revealing the silhouette of Li Yun.
"In that case, it's time to awaken our old killer…"