The celestial flame emperor

The blinding light was all-encompassing, swallowing Li in its radiance as he stepped through the shimmering gate. He shielded his eyes with his arm, the warmth of the light bathing his battered body. For a moment, the world seemed to dissolve into pure, brilliant whiteness, and Li was weightless, adrift in the void.

But then the light began to fade, replaced by soft, diffused hues of gold and silver. As his vision cleared, Li found himself standing in a vast expanse unlike anything he had seen before. The oppressive darkness of the abyss was gone, replaced by a serene and surreal beauty.

 He stood on a raised stone platform, its surface carved with intricate runes that glowed faintly with an ancient energy. Beyond the platform stretched an endless, tranquil field of silvery mist, punctuated by floating lanterns that radiated gentle light. The air was heavy with an aura of power, thick and intoxicating, yet strangely calming. He had a feeling of home, though he couldn't guess why as he had never experienced such.

In the center of the platform lay a massive stone coffin, its surface adorned with reliefs of celestial dragons, phoenixes, and ancient battles. Surrounding the coffin were treasures of untold value, jade tablets inscribed with arcane techniques, glowing crystals pulsing with qi, weapons that shimmered with an ethereal glow, and artifacts whose purposes Li could only guess at. The sheer magnitude of it all left him speechless.

The entire platform seemed to be filled with treasures whose purpose Li could not begin to guess at. It was obvious that they were all ancient and had not been held by any humans for hundreds if not thousands of years.

"This…" he murmured, stepping forward cautiously. "Where am I?"

A soft hum resonated through the air, a vibration that seemed to emanate from the coffin itself. It wasn't threatening, but it carried a presence, a weight that spoke of immense power and ancient wisdom. It exuded a sense of the occupant still living.

Li approached slowly, his footsteps echoing faintly on the stone. As he drew closer, he could make out the inscriptions on the coffin. The language was old, far older than anything he had encountered in the sect's libraries. Yet, inexplicably, he could understand it.

Here lies Tianxuan Zhi, the Celestial Flame Emperor, Master of the Nine Realms, Keeper of the Celestial Flame. May his wisdom guide the worthy, and his power guard the balance of existence.

Li's breath hitched. Tianxuan Zhi—the name was legendary even in the fragmented tales passed down in his sect. The Celestial Flame Emperor was a figure of myth, a cultivator whose mastery over qi was said to rival the heavens themselves. It was said that he had ascended beyond mortality, becoming one with the cosmic flow of existence. But no one knew what had become of him after his supposed ascension. Strong cultivators over millennia have searched relentlessly without discovering the grave. Some ancient texts have it that the grave was hidden in an unknown dimension and would only be discovered by the worthy.

"This is his grave," Li whispered, awe and reverence colouring his voice.

As he circled the coffin, his eyes fell upon the items arranged around it. Each item was obviously a treasure that seemed to pulse with life, their energies resonating with the platform's runes. A golden scroll caught his attention first, its surface shimmering with shifting patterns of light. The energy it radiated was pure and unrestrained, unlike anything he had encountered before.

Compelled by an invisible force, Li reached out and picked up the scroll. The moment his fingers brushed the surface, a wave of knowledge flooded his mind, images of celestial formations, techniques for manipulating qi in ways never before imagined, and the profound understanding of universal principles.

"This… this is the Celestial Foundation Technique," he realized, his voice barely above a whisper. It was a cultivation method of unparalleled complexity, capable of refining qi to its purest form and unlocking untapped potential within the body.

But as he held the scroll, a voice echoed in his mind, deep and resonant.

Knowledge is not freely given, young one. To wield such power, you must prove yourself.

Li frowned, the weight of the scroll growing heavier in his hands. "Prove myself? Haven't I already endured enough trials?"

The voice didn't respond, but the platform beneath him pulsed faintly, as though acknowledging his protest.

Placing the scroll carefully back among the treasures, Li turned his attention to the other artifacts. A crystalline orb floated nearby, its surface swirling with vivid colours that seemed to shift in rhythm with his heartbeat. When he touched it, visions of battle flooded his mind—scenes of Tianxuan Zhi wielding the orb to summon storms, command fire, and rend the earth asunder.

"This must be his Celestial Orb," Li thought, withdrawing his hand.

Next to the orb was a sheathed sword, its hilt crafted from a material that glowed faintly with a pale blue light. The blade's energy was cold yet sharp, its aura cutting through the air even without being drawn. Li hesitated before reaching for it, his hand hovering just above the hilt.

As his fingers made contact, a searing chill ran through him, followed by a surge of strength that nearly brought him to his knees. He gritted his teeth, his vision flashing with images of Tianxuan Zhi wielding the sword in battles against towering beasts and armies of darkness.

"Frostbane," Li whispered, as the name and all information about it seeped into his mind. "One of the Eternal Sovereign's blades."

But even as he marvelled at the treasures, a nagging unease prickled at the back of his mind. This was no ordinary grave, it was a repository of power and knowledge, left behind for a purpose. And the purpose was not simply for someone to stumble upon it by chance.

The hum in the air grew louder, and the light of the runes on the platform intensified. The sarcophagus shifted slightly, as though reacting to his presence. A voice echoed once more, this time from everywhere and nowhere.

You have entered my sanctum, child of destiny. Why do you seek my power?

Li froze, the voice resonating through his very soul. He looked around, trying to find its source, but the chamber remained still.

"I… I didn't come here by choice," he said, his voice steady despite his racing heart. "The abyss brought me here."

The silence that followed was oppressive, the air heavy with expectation. Then, the voice returned, quieter but no less commanding.

For you to be here, then you are destined to wield my power. But strength without purpose is a double-edged sword. Power without understanding is a curse. If you seek to claim what lies here, you must answer. What will you do with it?

Li hesitated, the weight of the question bearing down on him. Images of his friends flashed through his mind. Mei Ming's quiet strength, the twins' loyalty, Zhang Wei's leadership. The sect master's love for him, elder Han, all his sect members. The curse of his blood and those he knew were already searching for him. He thought of Lu Heng, the darkness that had taken hold of him, and the threat he posed not just to Li but to the entire sect.

"I will protect," Li said finally, his voice firm. "I will protect my friends, my sect, and those who cannot protect themselves. I will use this power to ensure that no one has to suffer. I will break the curse of my bloodline."

The runes on the platform flared brightly, the light washing over him in waves. The hum grew into a resonant melody, a harmony that seemed to echo in his very bones.

Then take the power; you were meant to have it. But remember, the power you already wield comes with great responsibility. Gain mastery over it before your enemies destroy you. This pocket of space is yours henceforth. My spirit will leave now that you are here. But my essence will keep maintaining the space. Use it as a sanctuary.

The treasures around him pulsed, their energies converging toward him. Li felt a surge of warmth and vitality as the knowledge from the scrolls, the strength of the weapons, and the wisdom of the artifacts flowed into him. It wasn't overwhelming but empowering, as though each piece of the Celestial Flame Emperor's legacy had been tailored to fit him.

The coffin grew quiet, its hum fading into a soft glow, as the Celestial Flame Emperor's presence disappeared. Li stepped back, his body thrumming with newfound strength. He felt lighter, his mind clearer, his connection to the power in his blood deeper than ever before.

But as he turned toward the edge of the platform, the mist began to shift, revealing a narrow path leading away from the grave. The path was lined with faintly glowing stones, their light casting long shadows in the mist.

Li took a deep breath, his grip tightening on Frostbane's hilt. "The Celestial Flame Emperor's power has chosen me," he murmured. "Now it's my turn to prove I'm worthy of it."

With one last glance at the sarcophagus, he stepped onto the path, the treasures of the Eternal Sovereign resonating with each step he took. The grave pulsed and then faded as he twisted the scabbard of Frostbane and disappeared.