The morning mist had not yet lifted when Jiang Han and Bo Ren set off from the shrine.
The others watched in silence. Lin Yao handed Jiang a satchel with food and spirit herbs. Yue gave him a single green-feathered arrow, tipped in spirit bone.
"Signal if you need backup," she said.
Zhao Kai crossed his arms. "Just don't get too famous without us."
Jiang Han nodded, gripping Ember Fang, now slung across his lower back. The weapon pulsed faintly—still attuned to the flame-threaded echo he had rescued from Hollowroot Village.
The child—Tian—remained asleep, under Yao's care.
Bo Ren said little as they walked, only tapping his staff every third step—a rhythm older than footsteps.
After two hours of silence, he finally spoke.
> "The Flame Kings built five temples at the height of the Third Sect War," Bo said. "Four have since been lost. The fifth was hidden, not destroyed. Only a few lines remain in old soul-carvings."
> "And you found it?" Jiang asked.
> "No," Bo Ren replied. "It found me."
---
They traveled east through the Ravenspire hills, where jagged black rocks jutted from the earth like broken swords. Here, the air was dry and carried a faint metallic taste.
At midday, Bo stopped beside a crevice carved into a ridge wall. It pulsed with faint flame sigils, buried beneath dust.
He touched the glyph.
It lit in crimson.
> "It remembers you," Bo said, looking at Jiang. "That's no accident."
> "I'm starting to think nothing is," Jiang murmured.
---
The Descent
They entered a descending tunnel, spiraling beneath the rock.
Flame torches lit on their own as Jiang passed, the glyphs along the walls reacting to his presence.
Deeper still.
Until they stepped into a vast underground hall, black stone carved in circular rings leading toward a central dais. Ancient braziers lit with violet flame. The ceiling above was carved with constellations—none of which matched the stars of this world.
And at the center…
A single throne of obsidian.
Empty.
But waiting.
Jiang approached slowly. Every step echoed like footsteps on glass. At the final step, a pressure hit him—hot, old, vast.
> You have entered: Final Temple of the Flame Kings
Soul Resonance Detected.
Initiating Memory Lock…
The flame in the braziers flared—forming an image.
A holographic projection. Not of this world. Not of any world Jiang remembered.
It was himself.
Older.
Wearing black flame robes and a crown of burning glass.
Behind him… universes in collapse. Fragments of worlds burning in violet fire.
Bo Ren watched in silence.
Then the image spoke.
> "If you are seeing this… it means I failed."
> "It means the collapse could not be stopped."
Jiang's breath caught.
> "But it also means the forge survived. You survived. And that means… hope burns still."
The image reached forward.
And placed a hand against the air.
> "You are my echo. My rebirth. My last flame. And you must choose."
The temple trembled.
Below the dais, a new passage revealed itself—leading into a darkness even the flame did not touch.
> New Path Unlocked: Flame Depths – Soul Trial Initiation
Bo Ren exhaled deeply. "This… is not just memory. This is a seed of ascension. Left behind by your past self."
> "And this trial?" Jiang asked, tightening his grip.
> "It's the cost of becoming whole," Bo said. "Not just stronger. But ready."
Jiang stepped to the edge of the new passage.
"Then I'll walk it."
Bo Ren placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You won't walk it alone."