Mu Chen was gently lifted into the air, engulfed in a radiant blaze of azure flame. Suspended in the sky, his eyes turned completely white as he spoke in a voice that echoed with divine resonance:
"Ignis Veritas, Cineris Cor, Lux Obscure, Ardor Caelestis."
In that instant, a surge of circular energy erupted from his body, releasing a shockwave that rippled outward—shaking the shrine and toppling nearby trees.
He descended softly, landing with grace. As he raised his hand, the scroll unfurled on its own, revealing an ancient inscription:
"When the soul's Flamma Deus descends, let no falsehood endure. He who survives the Ninth Flame shall be bound no longer by heaven or hell."
Elder Liang stood in silence, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and hope. He gave a slow nod, affirming what Mu Chen had just achieved.
Mu Chen stared in disbelief at the flames enveloping him, a mix of awe and confusion flashing across his face.
"Elder Liang... what kind of flame is this? It's only the first, yet it feels overwhelming."
"Heh... I must admit, I'm astonished. Its strength has multiplied so quickly."
"What do you mean by that?" Mu asked, perplexed.
"The Ember Ashen Flame absorbed tremendous energy when it merged with you."
"Merged? But I didn't do anything."
A familiar voice rang out in Mu Chen's mind.
"I did," Yin Yue spoke calmly.
Startled, Mu stumbled and nearly lost balance.
"Again?! Don't sneak up on me like that!"
Elder Liang's expression grew uneasy, a flicker of concern flashing through his eyes as he watched Mu's strange behavior.
"Mu... tell me, are you experiencing memory lapses?"
Mu slowly lifted his head, meeting Liang's gaze. He gave a small shake of the head, unsure how to explain the presence of Yin Yue within his consciousness.
"Ah… very well. I'll leave you to rest. Tomorrow, I'll teach you how to endure the Second Flame."
"But Elder Liang..."
"What is it, Mu? Something wrong?"
"No... nothing," he murmured.
"Then rest well. I'll see you at dawn."
Elder Liang turned and walked away, leaving Mu Chen with a deep sigh.
"I wanted to ask… if I'll ever see him again, once I leave the Northland and head for the city."
"There's no need to worry. He'll always remain by your side."
Suddenly, the Fenghuang emerged from within Mu Chen, manifesting before him in its true form. Its skin shimmered with a majestic blue hue, its eyes luminous and graceful. An ornate bangle adorned its neck. It blinked slowly, its gaze calm and aware—like that of a sentient being.
Mu Chen stared unflinchingly and approached the divine creature.
"It was you," he whispered, "You're the one who saved me from those wolves in the Forbidden Forest."
"Boom. Hahaha."
The phoenix let out a laugh—eerily familiar, the same tone as Yin Yue's.
Mu Chen recoiled, stunned by the sight of the sacred beast laughing aloud.
"Who are you? And how did you get inside me?"
A swirl of azure ash enveloped the Fenghuang, concealing it. Then, from the ashes emerged a breathtaking woman. Her skin was smooth and luminous, her figure draped in a feathered garment—short, alluring, and ethereal. A blue phoenix mask adorned her face, marked by fine, glowing lines. She descended gracefully, hands folded before her.
Mu Chen's eyes locked with hers, unable to look away from the captivating light within them.
"Mu Chen, allow me to properly introduce myself."
"I am Yin Yun—the divine beast, Fenghuang. Guardian and emblem of peace in Aestrion. I am bound to you, eternally. Our lives are one. If you perish, so shall I. I have dwelled within you for millennia."
Mu Chen let out a sharp laugh, clearly incredulous.
"Hah! You've lived in me for thousands of years? But I'm only seventeen!"
"I don't fault you, Mu Chen," she replied gently. "Stay calm, and I'll help you understand the path ahead."
Yin Yue turned, lifting her hands delicately as she brushed through the dense mist before them. As the fog parted, it revealed an odd structure—shaped like a television, but clearly not one. Within it, hazy images flickered, almost as if it were projecting a moving vision.
"Mu Chen, come closer," she said gently.
Mu Chen paused, wary, before slowly stepping forward.
The fog deepened, then cleared again, forming a vivid illusion—almost like a memory etched in mist. Within it, a distant realm emerged. Majestic beasts—noble and awe-inspiring—soared across the land, all resembling the divine Fenghuang. These creatures had once served the gods themselves. But in time, powerful mortals rose, and one by one, they captured the beasts, binding them with chains and sealing pacts of dominance.
Among them, the Fenghuang was still young and fragile. It hid, watching in silence as its kin were taken.
Eventually, the gods descended in wrath. Many of the humans who dared challenge them were annihilated. Yet some escaped, vanishing into the shadows.
Time passed.
Only one divine beast remained—the Fenghuang. Over the ages, its power swelled, radiating through the realms. Word of its might reached the ears of Mò Yán, the Demon King, whose envy burned hotter than any flame. Desperate to claim that power, the demons invaded the Aestrion realm.
But they were repelled.
With the gods standing united and the Fenghuang at their side, the invaders were crushed and forced to retreat. Aestrion was left in peace—briefly.
Then came a catastrophe.
In pursuit of a divine dragon, the four kingdoms of the late River Clan unknowingly dislodged an immense celestial stone. It hurtled from the heavens and struck Aestrion, shattering its lands and sowing ruin.
Years passed. No rain fell. The soil turned to dust. The gods, weakened by hunger and despair, began to perish one after another.
The demons returned.
Seeing their ancient foes broken and frail, they launched a final assault. The gods stood no chance. Every last one of them was slaughtered. The vision darkened as the scene shifted to the once-glorious palace.
But before it could reveal more, Yin Yue waved her hand sharply, and the vision dissolved.
"What was all that?" Mu Chen asked, stunned.
"I'll tell you everything soon. But this place isn't safe."
Her voice grew urgent. "We must leave. Now."
She turned to light and vanished, reentering Mu's body.
Mu Chen inhaled slowly, then darted forward, leaping from rooftop to rooftop until he landed atop a boulder.
Unbeknownst to him, three assassins—agents of the king—had been dispatched to investigate the brilliant light that had illuminated the sky that night. They had been tracking Mu Chen since he appeared.
"Mu, you're being followed," Yin Yue whispered in his mind.
"Mm. Got it," he replied.
He quickened his pace, his steps light and swift. The assassins matched his speed, closing in.
"They're fast. If you keep running, they'll catch up. You'll have to deal with them, Mu Chen."
"Alright. But who are they? Why would anyone want to kill me?"
"I can't say for certain. But if they've come with blades drawn, it's clear someone sent them to end your life."
"But... I haven't done anything wrong."
"Enough. Stop talking. Eliminate them!"
"Fine."
Mu Chen came to a sudden halt, sliding to a stop as he turned to face his pursuers.
The assassins also stopped, now directly confronting him.
"Who are you? Why have you been chasing me?" he demanded.
"We should be asking you the same. How did you come to possess the Ninefold Flame?"
They know about the Ninefold Flame… They must've been sent by the king.
Mu Chen said nothing, thoughts racing. He slowly lifted his head, his expression unreadable.
"Well," he said calmly, "if you're looking for the scroll, rest assured—it's in capable hands."
He stepped forward, composed.
"Mu Chen, what are you doing?" Yin Yue questioned, her voice tense.
"Didn't you tell me to get rid of these rats?" he replied under his breath.
"Hey, boy. Who exactly are you talking to?" the lead assassin asked sharply.
"Umm, to get rid of you. Haha."
"You're insolent beyond measure."
The assassins launched into action, fanning out in a calculated assault toward Mu Chen.
Mu Chen stood rooted to the spot, unmoved. His gaze tracked each subtle twitch of muscle, every shift in weight—the trained eyes of a predator.
One of them lunged from above, throwing a powerful punch.
"Hmm," Mu exhaled softly. A faint flicker of flame danced across his fist as he shifted, dodging effortlessly. His counter came instantly—his knuckles crashing against the assassin's jaw with a bone-cracking force, shattering teeth and hurling the man violently against a boulder. He collapsed, unmoving.
The remaining two struck in unison, fists flashing in tandem.
Mu Chen didn't flinch. Rooted to the ground, he absorbed the barrage, parrying every strike with ease. One of the assassins slipped in a well-placed hook that caught Mu's cheek, snapping his head to the side.
He staggered slightly, spat blood to the ground, and smirked.
The assassins brandished their star-forged blades, each pulsating with elemental energy. With a synchronized motion, they hurled the glowing swords toward him.
Mu Chen raised his fist and clenched it tightly.
In midair, the blades ignited—then disintegrated into cinders before touching him, ashes fluttering like dead petals through the dark.
Unshaken, the assassins surged forward again, their powers igniting the air around them.
Mu weaved through the attacks like water through stone. Closing the gap between them, he caught both by the wrists, pulled them forward, and smashed their heads together with a sickening thud.
Flames erupted along his arms. He pressed both palms against them, the fire transferring from his skin to theirs—consuming them in a blazing roar that left only ashes scattered at his feet.
He stood over the remains, breath steady.
Unbeknownst to him, another presence lurked nearby. From the shadows, a blade whistled through the air—
"Mu Chen! Behind you—!"