The Inner Academy's back mountain was quiet that night.
The air carried a faint warmth, unusual even for this region, and the ground seemed to breathe out a low, steady heat from somewhere deep below.
Xiao Yan stopped before an unmarked path, a thin jade token resting in his hand.
The token pulsed with light — the key Elder Su Qian had given him, a sign of the Academy's cautious approval.
"The Fallen Heart Flame has been sealed for years," Yao Lao's voice murmured inside the ring.
"It was born here, nurtured by the Academy's qi formation. But remember, boy — this flame is alive. Its temperament is strange, more cunning than violent. If you falter, it'll slip into your heart and rot you from the inside."
Xiao Yan nodded slightly. His expression was calm, his steps steady as he entered the narrow tunnel.
The deeper he went, the heavier the air became. The faint glow of his flame flickered against the stone walls, each step echoing into the darkness.
---
After what felt like an hour of descent, the passage widened into a vast underground hall.
At the center floated a cluster of crimson light — faint at first, but growing clearer as his eyes adjusted.
The Fallen Heart Flame hovered quietly above a stone altar, pulsing like a heart under dim light.
Wisps of faint smoke curled upward, vanishing into the air.
Even from this distance, Xiao Yan could feel his emotions being stirred — restlessness, faint anger, a wave of unease creeping into his chest.
He immediately circulated his Flame Mantra, calming his heart. The foreign emotions subsided, though not completely.
"It's already trying to invade your mind," Yao Lao warned.
"That's its nature. Fallen Heart Flame feeds on instability. Remember your breathing technique. Focus."
---
Xiao Yan took a long breath and summoned the Green Lotus Core Flame.
A soft blue light surrounded him, suppressing the distorted heat around the altar.
Slowly, he moved forward — step by step — until he stood within ten meters of the sealed flame.
The barrier formation covering the altar flickered with faint runes, the energy of countless years still holding strong.
He reached out, his palm pressing against the air above it. The array shuddered in response, like water rippling under pressure.
"You'll need to refine the seal's outer layer first," Yao Lao said.
"Don't rush. If you break it carelessly, the flame will flee."
Sweat beaded on Xiao Yan's forehead as he channeled the lotus flame into the barrier.
Blue and red light intertwined — heat rose sharply.
The cavern filled with the deep sound of cracking stone.
Minutes passed like hours.
The runes dimmed one by one until the final layer gave a soft snap.
The crimson flame drifted free, silent, almost gentle. Then, in the blink of an eye, it surged forward, straight into Xiao Yan's chest.
---
He staggered, barely catching his breath.
A crushing heat spread through his body, threatening to split him apart.
The Green Lotus Core Flame flared in instinctive defense, forming a shield around his spirit.
Two flames clashed — not in a great explosion, but in silence.
Inside his spiritual sea, they wrestled for dominance — blue and red twisting together, swallowing and separating.
> "Steady… guide it, don't resist!"
Yao Lao's voice was firm but calm.
"You've prepared for this. Let it melt slowly into your Dou Qi. Don't let your spirit scatter."
Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, his mind locking onto the rhythmic pulse of the flame.
Pain receded, replaced by warmth — fierce, but alive.
Bit by bit, the red light dimmed and sank into his core.
When the glow faded, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged in silence, his breathing shallow but even.
His Dou Qi circulated with a faint golden-red hue now, thicker and smoother than before.
"You did well," Yao Lao finally said.
"From now on, the Fallen Heart Flame is yours. But don't forget — it's not truly tamed yet. You'll need time to blend it completely."
Xiao Yan opened his eyes. The cavern's oppressive heat had vanished; the air felt clean again.
He rose slowly, looking up toward the distant ceiling. His thoughts already racing. This flame, he could feel its nature. Its attraction to the darkness within his heart.
It fed on evil, which was exactly why it was perfect. Xiao Yan held no illusions about Xiao Chen. He was evil. It was his nature. And as a member of the Xiao family, it was his duty to wipe their name clean.