Battle Through the Heavens 03: Ascension of the Flame God
Episode 11: Soul Blaze Ritual
[Recap – Previous Episode 10 Summary]
After overcoming the deadly Firefall Trial, Xiao Yan successfully attuned his inner flame with the ancient "Sky Demon Flame Lotus." The harsh training in the Flame God Valley reshaped his soul and cultivation base. Elder Huo announced the final challenge — the Soul Blaze Ritual — a test that only true successors of the Flame God can endure. Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows, mysterious figures from the Ice River Valley begin plotting to steal the ancient flame's legacy before it awakens fully within Xiao Yan…
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Episode 11 starts as the golden sun rises over the ancient Flame God Temple — a towering structure carved into the molten heart of the volcano. The ground trembles lightly under the pressure of spiritual energy condensing from all directions. Hundreds of Flame God disciples gather silently in a massive circular formation, their faces full of respect and fear — for today, Xiao Yan will undergo the Soul Blaze Ritual, a ceremony that has claimed the lives of many before him.
Elder Huo stands at the altar, his fiery robes fluttering without wind. "Xiao Yan," he says, his voice echoing with flame-wrapped authority, "step into the circle. From this moment onward, your soul will be tested by the Divine Flame itself. If your will falters, you will burn from the inside, leaving only ashes behind."
Without hesitation, Xiao Yan steps into the center of the ritual circle, his expression calm but fierce. In his eyes burns a determination that no flame can shake — the will to rise beyond the heavens, to protect those he loves, and to one day surpass even the Flame God himself.
As Elder Huo chants an ancient incantation, the ground beneath Xiao Yan glows with crimson symbols. The Flame God's Insignia burns on his back, igniting in golden light. Suddenly — boom! — a column of divine fire erupts around him, forming a giant lotus-shaped blaze. The temperature skyrockets. Even watching disciples have to retreat, shielding their faces from the heat.
Xiao Yan's entire body is now submerged in fire, his flesh, bones, and soul directly exposed to the legendary Soul Blaze. He grits his teeth, sweat pouring, skin beginning to char. Inside his spiritual sea, the remnants of the Green Lotus Core Flame and Bone-Chilling Flame clash violently with the divine lotus flame — threatening to tear his soul apart.
But then… from deep within his soul… a spark appears.
It's not an ordinary flame.
It's his original flame will, forged through years of life and death, betrayal, struggle, and love. The spark ignites — whoosh! — burning brighter than the rest. His body begins absorbing the divine fire, no longer resisting it. His soul starts to devour the fire, merging with it!
Elder Huo's eyes widen. "He's… turning the ritual into a breakthrough?"
The Flame God's altar begins to rumble as a phenomenon occurs — Nine Suns Flame Rain pours from the sky. Golden flames descend like blessings, acknowledging Xiao Yan as a true successor. The flame lotus around him collapses inward, sucked into his soul.
Suddenly — BOOM!
A terrifying wave of pressure explodes from Xiao Yan as he rises mid-air. His robes are incinerated, revealing a glowing flame symbol on his chest. His eyes open — golden, blazing, divine.
He has stepped into the 9-Star Dou Zong realm — but not just any Dou Zong. His flame aura now carries traces of the Divine Flame God Bloodline, a lost legacy!
The disciples kneel unconsciously. Elder Huo mutters, "Flame God… has truly chosen him."
But far away, in the icy northern mountains, a shadowy woman watches through an ice mirror. Her voice is cold and murderous: "So, Xiao Yan has inherited the divine fire? He must die before he awakens its full power…"
The scene cuts to Xiao Yan floating in the sky, the flame mark on his chest still glowing. He looks at his hands — power surging like a storm. But deep in his heart, he knows…
This is only the beginning.
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Next Episode Preview – Episode 12: "Bloodline of the Ancient Flame Clan"
Xiao Yan explores the legacy left behind by the Flame God, discovering secrets about his bloodline. Meanwhile, assassins from the Ice River Valley infiltrate the Flame Temple, and a long-forgotten enemy from Xiao Yan's past returns with a deadly vengeance…