btth 2: the new flame

Xiao Tian stared at the flickering ember in his palm, his breath shallow. The flame twisted and churned, its colors shifting unpredictably—red, blue, gold, and even shades he had never seen before. It was alive, pulsating with an ancient and terrifying power.

He swallowed hard.

"How… how do I have this?"

Everyone in Cinder Wind Village cultivated using elemental force, a weaker form of Dou Qi suited only for low-level techniques. True cultivators, those who wielded Dou Qi and powerful battle techniques, only existed in the higher planes. Heavenly Flames were myths, legends that belonged to the past.

But the flame in his palm was very real.

The wooden floor beneath him started blackening, smoke rising as the boards charred. The heat wasn't just intense—it was destructive beyond reason.

If I don't control this, I'll burn the entire house down!

Xiao Tian clenched his fist, trying to force the flame to disperse. It resisted at first, but after a few tense moments, the heat faded, and the ember vanished into his palm.

He exhaled sharply, his body trembling.

"What the hell is happening to me?"

Before he could process it further, a sudden noise outside made him snap to attention.

BOOM!

A shockwave rattled the village. The faint glow of torches flickered beyond his window, and shouts filled the air.

Xiao Tian rushed to the door, stepping out into the night. The village, usually peaceful, was in chaos. A group of black-robed figures had appeared at the entrance, their faces hidden beneath dark masks. In the torchlight, their leader's golden eyes glowed ominously.

"The village elder must be here somewhere," one of them spoke, his voice cold. "We sensed a Heavenly Flame awakening in this area. If you cooperate, we won't need to burn this place down."

Xiao Tian's heart pounded.

They're after… me?

He instinctively stepped back, but the wooden porch beneath him creaked. One of the figures immediately turned toward him.

"There! That boy!"

The leader's gaze locked onto Xiao Tian, and for a brief moment, his golden eyes widened.

"His flame… It's not one of the 24 Heavenly Flames…!" His voice trembled. "It's something… new."

Xiao Tian had no time to process the meaning of his words.

"Seize him!"

The robed figures dashed forward, their speed unnatural.

Xiao Tian's instincts screamed at him to run, but the moment he turned—

BOOM!

A fiery explosion erupted from his body, repelling his attackers. The heat was overwhelming, warping the air itself. Xiao Tian fell to one knee, clutching his chest as his veins glowed faintly with molten light.

The leader staggered back, his eyes widening in shock. "This… this heat… It's as powerful as the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame!"

Xiao Tian didn't understand. He didn't care.

All he knew was—if he stayed, the village would be destroyed.

With no other choice, he turned and ran into the darkness of the forest, leaving behind the only home he had ever known.

---

Meanwhile, in the Higher Planes…

A lone figure stood atop a floating palace, gazing down at the vast world below. His long hair swayed in the wind, and his eyes burned like molten gold.

He had sensed it—the birth of a new Heavenly Flame.

A ghost of a smile played on his lips.

"After all this time… someone finally inherited my will?"

His voice was barely above a whisper. But across the realms, those attuned to the Dao of Fire felt it—

The Flame Emperor's presence had stirred once more.

---