Chapter 31:Skyfire Arena
They said flame could not choose.
That it only burned.
But today, it would prove them wrong.
---
The arena hovered above the sect's highest mountain, suspended between runes carved into the clouds themselves. Tens of thousands of disciples gathered, alongside envoys from six major sects and two divine domains.
This was no ordinary duel.
It was a Heaven-sanctioned flame-claiming ritual.
At its center stood Mei Ling — cloaked in frost-pink flame silk, hair braided in silver ribbons, her spirit shivering with fear… and hope.
To her left: Lei Wuxian, the Thunder Crown, radiating divine lightning and arrogance.
To her right: Long Feng, cloaked in quiet silver soulfire — no crown, no guards… just resolve.
---
The Grand Elder raised the Phoenix Pearl, and the arena hushed.
"The bond ritual begins now. Each man shall offer a gift of flame. The maiden shall choose which she accepts."
Lei Wuxian stepped forward, golden lightning wrapping around his arm like a serpent of power.
He raised a Lightning Lotus Heart Core — a divine treasure from the Thunder Realm's sacred storm pool.
"With this," he said, "I promise Mei Ling eternity, divine ascension, and a palace among the stars."
The crowd gasped in awe.
Then silence.
All turned to Long Feng.
---
Long Feng stepped forward without a word.
He opened his palm.
There was no artifact.
No divine core.
Only his flame — silver, pure, ancient.
And inside it… a single frozen tear, wrapped in lotus frost.
> "This is the tear she shed the day I saved her," he said softly.
"I kept it… because that was the moment I realized she wasn't just a disciple.
She was my reason."
The crowd stilled.
Even Lei Wuxian blinked.
---
She stepped between the two men, the wind tangling her hair, her flame pulsing softly in her chest.
She looked at Lei Wuxian first — divine, cold, perfect.
"You are everything a girl should want," she whispered. "But I'm not that kind of girl."
Then she turned to Long Feng.
"You're stubborn. Arrogant. And so damaged that even your soul burns crooked."
She smiled tearfully.
"But you gave me a name when I was just a tool. You gave me flame when I was fading."
Her voice trembled.
> "So I choose you.
Not because you're perfect.
But because you see me."
---
The moment the words left her mouth, the bond flames surged — silver and pink merging in midair.
A beam of soulfire shot into the sky, cracking the clouds. Heaven itself rippled.
Mei Ling turned to Long Feng… and kissed him.
In front of everyone.
In front of gods.
In front of the one who once ended his life.
It wasn't a soft kiss.
It was messy, desperate — like clashing flames licking at scars they didn't know they needed to burn away.
> She gripped his robe.
He wrapped his arms around her waist.
Their cores touched.
And in that instant—
The Flame Bond was complete.
---
Thunder cracked.
Lei Wuxian's spear pierced the sky, lightning arcing like divine fury.
"You dare—!"
He moved forward, but a barrier of soulfire stopped him — ancient, sovereign, sacred.
It wasn't Long Feng's doing.
It was the flame itself.
The heavens had accepted the bond.
And not even a Crown Prince could break it.
He clenched his fist.
"This isn't over," he growled.
"No," Long Feng said, holding Mei Ling protectively, "it's just beginning."
---
That night, silence fell over the sect.
But in Long Feng's private chamber, silence did not last.
They didn't speak much. Words were no longer needed.
Mei Ling touched his cheek.
He cupped her jaw.
And fire bloomed again.
---
Her robe slipped to the floor, leaving only silk bands that glowed with frost.
His fingers burned as they trailed across her waist.
> "Are you sure?" he whispered.
> "I claimed you in front of heaven," she said breathlessly. "Now let me claim you in flesh."
Their lips crashed. Their bodies entwined.
She moaned as he lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist.
He carried her to the bed, laying her down like something sacred — then worshiped her with lips, hands, flame.
She wasn't just his maiden now.
She was his equal. His lover. His soulbond.
And in the firelight, they became one.