Fallen Heaven: Rise of Faizi Tian
Episode 48 – The First Chain
Faizi's hand hovered just inches from the blazing chain.
The heat was unbearable — not the warmth of a fire, but the kind of searing force that could melt bone and soul alike.
*"Do it,"* the Seal urged, its voice coiling through his thoughts like smoke. *"Every link you break brings you closer to true strength."*
Ren's voice cut across it, sharp and steady. "Once you start, there is no turning back. You must be ready to bear whatever comes out of that prison."
Faizi met his gaze. "You already know what's inside, don't you?"
Ren's eyes narrowed. "Enough to know it should never be freed."
The Seal hissed, venomous. *"And yet… without it, you will never surpass the petty realms you crawl through. Break it, and you will leap beyond the sky."*
The tension between the two forces — Ren's caution and the Seal's temptation — pressed down on Faizi until he felt like the cavern itself might split. But in the end, it was his own resolve that decided.
He gripped his sword tighter. "If the trial is strength… then I'll face it head-on."
With one swift motion, he slashed at the first chain.
The cavern exploded in light. The rune-carved link screamed as if alive, molten cracks racing along its surface before it shattered. A wave of flame surged outward, hitting Faizi like a collapsing sun. His vision went white, his skin blistering before his cultivation flared in defense.
The Seal roared in triumph. *"One down!"*
But the victory was short-lived. From the molten pillar, a shape began to form — a colossal, flame-wreathed hand clawing at the air. The ground trembled, fissures opening to spew lava across the cavern floor.
Ren stepped forward instantly, sword flashing in a defensive arc. "You fool! It's trying to force its way out already."
Faizi's breathing was ragged, but the surge of power in his body was undeniable. The Ember Root Realm within him boiled, expanding, his control over flame sharpening as if the fire itself bent to his will.
Then the voice came — not the Seal's, but something deeper, heavier, older.
*"Who… dares break my bonds?"*
The air itself seemed to ignite with the sound, and every instinct in Faizi's body screamed at him to kneel. He forced himself to stand.
"I am Faizi Tian," he said, his voice steady despite the crushing presence. "And I will not kneel."
The molten hand clenched, dragging more of its form through the gap in the chains. One shackle broken… eight remained.
Ren's eyes were grim. "If you keep going, you won't just be fighting to control the Seal. You'll be fighting to survive it."
The Seal's laughter echoed in his mind. *"And isn't that exactly what you've trained for?"*
The first chain lay shattered at his feet, its golden light fading into embers.