The village square of Ember Hollow was louder than usual that morning.

  Groups of villagers whispered among themselves while glancing toward a single person walking quietly across the stone path.

  Xi Yan.

  Only yesterday he had been known as the boy who could not cultivate. The useless one. The boy without spirit.

  But after the Spirit Stone shattered, everything changed.

  Still, not everyone believed it.

  “Maybe it was just luck,” someone muttered.

  “He still can’t beat real cultivators,” another replied.

  Xi Yan ignored them. His mind was focused on something else entirely.

  Inside his head, the golden screen of the Flame Ascension System appeared again.

  Mission: Absorb 10 strands of Fire Qi

  Progress: 0 / 10

  Reward: Beginner Flame Technique

  Xi Yan exhaled slowly.

  Fire Qi…

  He could faintly feel a warm energy flowing through his body now, something he had never experienced before.

  But before he could leave the square, a familiar voice stopped him.

  “Well, look who’s walking around like he’s important.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Xi Yan stopped.

  Standing ahead of him was Zhao Kang, the strongest young cultivator in the village. His arms were folded, and several boys stood behind him like followers.

  Zhao Kang smirked.

  “So you broke the Spirit Stone. Do you think that suddenly makes you strong?”

  Xi Yan calmly replied, “Move.”

  The simple word shocked everyone.

  Zhao Kang’s smile disappeared.

  “You dare talk back to me?”

  Before anyone could react, Zhao Kang shoved Xi Yan hard.

  Xi Yan staggered backward but kept his balance.

  Anger flared inside his chest.

  At that moment, the Primordial Flame Seed inside his body reacted.

  A burning warmth spread through his veins.

  Inside his mind, the system spoke.

  Warning: Host emotions rising. Flame energy responding.

  Xi Yan looked at his right hand.

  A small flame suddenly appeared above his palm.

  The villagers gasped.

  Fire… without a technique… was almost impossible.

  Zhao Kang frowned.

  “A cheap trick!”

  He rushed forward and threw a punch.

  But just before the fist reached him—

  The flame in Xi Yan’s hand exploded outward.

  WHOOSH!

  A burst of heat pushed Zhao Kang backward. His sleeve caught fire and he quickly slapped it out.

  The entire square went silent.

  Zhao Kang stared at Xi Yan in shock.

  “You… you can really use Qi?”

  Xi Yan himself looked surprised.

  The flame slowly faded from his palm.

  Then the system chimed again.

  Mission Progress Updated

  Fire Qi Absorbed: 3 / 10

  Xi Yan’s eyes widened.

  Just releasing the flame counted as absorbing Fire Qi?

  Zhao Kang clenched his fists angrily. Being pushed back in front of the whole village was humiliating.

  “This isn’t over, Xi Yan!” he shouted before storming away with his followers.

  The villagers stared at Xi Yan differently now.

  Not with pity.

  But with fear.

  Xi Yan quietly walked past them.

  His eyes turned toward the distant mountain beyond the village.

  Blazing Mountain.

  That was where the fire energy in the area was strongest.

  If a small spark could push Zhao Kang back…

  Then what could happen if he truly mastered the Primordial Flame?

  Xi Yan clenched his fist.

  “For the first time in my life,” he whispered, “I can finally grow stronger.”

  And far away, deep within the blazing heart of the mountain…

  Something ancient slowly began to awaken.