Preparations Behind the Shadows

The morning breeze swept across the rear courtyard of the Eastern Sky Sect. Footsteps echoed steadily atop the flat stones, accompanied by the gentle murmurs of the spiritual river flowing on the western side. Li Yun stood beneath an ancient tree, his body upright, eyes closed.

Since the announcement of the Four Sect Tournament, the entire sect had transformed into a grand training ground. Disciples pushed past their limits, striving to break through to new stages, while the elders devised strategies and arranged their teams.

But Li Yun was in no hurry.

He knew the path he walked was no longer merely about ascending—it was about piercing through buried history.

"Your body still hasn't stabilized after absorbing the inheritance," Zhiya's voice broke the silence. She stood not far from him, holding a pouch of spiritual herbs in her hand.

"I know," Li Yun replied softly. "But if I delay any longer, the Crimson Sky energy might erupt."

Zhiya stepped closer and placed the pouch beside the meditation stone. "Then use these herbs. At the very least, they'll calm your energy flow for three days."

Li Yun slowly opened his eyes. "Thank you."

Zhiya was about to respond, but suddenly paused. She turned eastward, her eyes narrowing.

"Someone's approaching," she murmured.

From between the large trees, a figure cloaked in black emerged. His steps were light, nearly soundless, yet the spiritual pressure he carried was unsettling. Li Yun and Zhiya tensed, but the figure raised a hand.

"I come not to fight... only to observe," he said calmly.

"Who are you?" Zhiya asked coldly.

"I... am a shadow from your clan's past," he replied, his gaze fixed on Li Yun. "My name is Huoyan."

Li Yun frowned slightly. The name was unfamiliar, but the aura this man radiated was unusual. Not malicious, but not friendly either—like fire burning on the border between ice and ember.

"I was once a disciple of the final generation of the Crimson Sky Clan before its fall," Huoyan continued. "You... are the heir chosen by that legacy. But do you realize that the inheritance has yet to fully awaken?"

Li Yun's eyes sharpened. "Explain."

Huoyan snapped his fingers, and from within his robe appeared a glowing red crystal.

"This is a Soul Core Fragment of the Crimson Sky Legacy. Without it, you're holding an empty shell. The peak power of the inheritance will forever remain out of your reach."

Zhiya's face paled. "Then why haven't you claimed it yourself?"

Huoyan chuckled briefly. "Because I... failed. My body couldn't withstand its true flames. But you, you're different. That fire has chosen you. I merely came to test you... to see if you're truly worthy."

Suddenly, Huoyan raised his hand and formed a blazing formation on the ground. In an instant, the land around them lit up with rings of radiant red fire.

"If you can endure three seconds within the True Soul Flame... this fragment is yours."

Li Yun said nothing. He simply stepped forward.

Zhiya moved as if to stop him, but Li Yun turned briefly, offering a faint smile. "I need to know my limits."

He entered the circle.

The first second, his body felt submerged in lava. Pain coursed through to his very bones.

The second, the fire assaulted his mind. Memories flashed—his mother's weeping, the fall of his clan's home, the burning Crimson Sky emblem.

The third...

Everything turned still.

The flames transformed into light. Li Yun's body was encircled by a gentle red vortex, and the symbol on the back of his hand flared with brilliance.

Huoyan was silent. Then he smiled.

"The legacy has accepted your soul. Take it."

The crystal fragment floated toward Li Yun, slowly merging with the legacy energy already within him. At once, intense heat surged from his body—this time, controlled. His eyes gleamed sharper than before.

"The tournament draws near, and they won't come merely to showcase strength. Beneath it all... an old war is ready to begin anew," Huoyan said, vanishing into a swirl of red mist.

Zhiya approached, her face full of questions.

"Weren't you afraid he was setting a trap?" she asked.

Li Yun stared at his trembling hand, now pulsing with new power.

"Sometimes... the only way forward is to step into the flames."