The Elder Hall was silent—oppressively so.
Ye Feng stood in the center, surrounded by marble pillars and sharp stares. The ancient torches flickered along the walls, casting shadows that danced like phantoms.
At the far end sat Elder Mo, the sect's record keeper. Beside him, hovering midair in a crystal cube, was a scroll sealed with a black flame sigil.
"Ye Feng," Elder Mo said, voice grave. "This scroll… bears your name."
Ye Feng narrowed his eyes. "I've never seen it before."
Elder Mo nodded. "That's the problem. This seal belongs to the Forgotten Flame Sect—destroyed over a thousand years ago."
A wave of murmurs swept through the hall.
[System Warning: Forbidden Artifact Detected]
Name: Scroll of Forgotten MightStatus: UnreadOrigin: Unknown — Matching 3% to Ancient Hellfire ScriptsRisk Level: ???Recommendation: Touch it anyway. What's the worst that could happen?
[Side Note: Definitely not cursed. Probably.]
Ye Feng stepped forward, placing a hand on the glass. The moment his fingers touched the surface—
FWOOSH!
The black flames surged, the scroll shattered free, and a burst of searing light engulfed him.
He heard voices—a thousand screaming souls. Visions flooded his mind: warriors burning entire sects with a single technique, a masked figure crying blood, and a man who looked just like him—falling through the sky.
Then silence.
The scroll unrolled in his hands.
[New Skill Acquired: Hellfire Palm (Lv. 1)]
Description: A forbidden flame technique. Burns spiritual energy to create a palm strike that scorches soul and body.Effect: +120% Damage Boost to Internal Organs. Leaves a lingering burn.Warning: May damage the user if overused.
[Passive Unlocked: Forgotten Flame Affinity]
Allows the Host to wield ancient flame arts previously thought lost. Boosts fire-type techniques by +30%.
[Reputation +80] — Mystery Deepens! [Infamy +30] — Forbidden Scrolls and Ancient Power? Is Ye Feng the Devil's Rebirth?
Ye Feng opened his eyes, now tinged with crimson heat.
The elders stared at him in a mix of awe and fear.
"You…" Elder Mo whispered. "You are not ordinary."
Ye Feng smirked. "I've been trying to tell you that."
He turned and walked out of the hall, the scroll burning away behind him like a memory erased from time.
Outside the chamber—
Xue Yuning stood hidden in the corridor, her breath caught.
"That aura… it wasn't just power. It was pain. And fury."
Her hands clenched.
"He's changing."
Elsewhere, Lin Ruyan tore through her room in frustration.
"Why? Why does he keep rising?! Why can't I stop thinking about him?!"
Her reflection in the mirror didn't answer—but her eyes no longer held certainty. Only confusion.
[System Note: Host's enemies now view you with fear. Former lovers? Emotional damage. Current admirers? Very, very curious.]