Chapter 38: Azure Flame, The Awakened

Xie Zhan and the three girls, after being led by Mi Xue to the Medicine Hall atop the Seventh Medicine Peak, each received a brand new resting chamber and a larger cultivation room. Their excitement was short-lived, for the habits instilled during their intensive training soon drew the four of them back into the rigorous cultivation routine of inner disciples. They understood well that this was no time for rest or relaxation.

The Azure Cloud Academy still awaited them.

With Xu Wen’s two-star, eighth-tier strength leading the way, it was almost certain that they would emerge victorious among the new inner disciples from dozens of medicine peaks and earn qualification to enter the Azure Cloud Academy. Yet, they were acutely aware...

The imperial capital’s Azure Cloud Academy gathered the elite from the Azure Cloud Empire and all corners of the world—children of prominent families, young talents recommended by various academies, heirs of powerful houses, and even members of the royal family. A handful of two-star fire mages tossed into this mix would barely make a ripple.

If they did not wish to become the lowest-ranked in the academy, nor mere stepping stones for the other elites, they would need to work harder than ever before, endure greater hardship, and sweat more than they had during training.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

“Wow! So many people!”

On the day of the competition, the four, led by Mi Xue, arrived early at the grand training ground at the base of the First Medicine Peak of the Hortonklin family. Many were already waiting. In front of five raised arenas, groups of fire mages in magical robes were busy setting up barriers, while outer disciples, under the direction of inner affairs stewards, prepared the venue, bustling about—it was clear preparations were nearing completion.

Around the arenas, inner disciples greeted one another, clustered in small groups, discussing excitedly; some of the younger inner disciples, much like themselves, looked about curiously, observing the other peaks’ inner disciples.

“Huh?”

At that moment, they spotted a group of young boys and girls, all wearing the new inner disciple uniforms, walking straight towards them.

“Xie Zhan.”

The blue-eyed youth at the head of the group was strikingly handsome and immediately recognized Xie Zhan, approaching with a stately, quiet girl and a brown-haired girl in a ponytail at his sides, followed by a chubby and a slender boy.

“Blue eyes—could he be...” Jing Yu cast a doubtful glance at Xie Zhan.

“He’s from the Blue Flame House—Blue Flame Lie, inner disciple of the Sixth Medicine Peak, and our greatest rival for the Azure Cloud Academy qualification!” Xie Zhan answered in a low voice.

“Not much to look at, really. Only two-star, seventh-tier, and that chubby one behind him hasn’t even reached two-star, fifth-tier!” Xiang Nan sized up the five approaching youths, curling her lip.

Her attitude was understandable; among the new inner disciples of the Seventh Medicine Peak, she herself was at the two-star, fifth-tier pinnacle—the lowest of their group. Rival? It hardly seemed so.

Xie Zhan opened his mouth to explain, but had no chance.

Blue Flame Lie had already approached, his gaze lingering briefly on Mi Xue before he nodded courteously, then turned to Xie Zhan:

“Where’s Xu Wen? I haven’t seen him.”

Mi Xue was taken aback by the youth’s blunt tone, her delicate brows furrowing.

Xie Zhan, mindful of the Blue Flame family’s power within the Hortonklin clan, had to respond, albeit coldly, “No idea.” Clearly, there was little friendship between them.

Xu Wen had not set foot on the Medicine Peak for the past half month. Had Mi Xue not assured them that Xu Wen would arrive before the competition, the three girls would have long since descended the mountain to fetch him.

“No idea?” The brown-haired girl beside Blue Flame Lie withdrew her gaze from the three girls behind Xie Zhan with a snort. “Isn’t he an inner disciple of your Seventh Medicine Peak? How could you not know where he is?”

“Is Senior Brother Xu so familiar with you? Are we so familiar with you?” Xiang Nan’s temper flared at the remark, with Jing Yu unable to stop her.

The brown-haired girl was as forthright as Xiang Nan, perhaps even more so.

“Hmph! We only came to remind him out of kindness. He’d best withdraw from the competition to avoid getting hurt. The Azure Cloud Academy is not for him.”

Xiang Nan’s brows shot up in anger, even Shi Ya felt the remark was somewhat outrageous and turned up her chin.

“Just you?”

“Exactly!” The brown-haired girl planted her hands on her hips, brimming with pride. “We’d originally planned to teach you a lesson, but heard that Xu Wen acted like a man last time in the Blackwater Mountains. So, we decided to give you advance warning—prepare to withdraw, lest you get hurt too badly in the competition.”

“You—” Xiang Nan was about to retort, but was pulled back by a solemn-faced Jing Yu.

“From what you say, your Blue Flame Senior has learned to control the Blue Flame?” Xie Zhan frowned at Blue Flame Lie, whose expression remained calm, his tone heavy.

Blue Flame Lie smiled, radiant with confidence and pride. “I may not control it perfectly yet, but defeating you will be no trouble.”

Their exchange left Xiang Nan and Shi Ya momentarily stunned, their anger cooling as they glanced at Xie Zhan and then Jing Yu, whose gaze was complicated.

“Blue Flame House’s blue flame bloodline? Are you awakened?” Mi Xue’s voice trembled with shock and surprise as she looked at the blue-eyed youth who had previously escaped her attention.

“So, Senior Sister knows of the Blue Flame House. I thought the Hortonklin family had long forgotten about us.” Blue Flame Lie’s smile turned cold, his tone sharp, not so much self-deprecating as accusatory. “It’s been over twenty years... If I hadn’t awakened, and once the elders pass, our Blue Flame House would be utterly fallen! Hmph...”

Seeing Blue Flame Lie’s aggrieved expression, Jing Yu quietly pulled Xiang Nan and Shi Ya aside to explain.

The Blue Flame House was once the pride of the Hortonklin family, for its members possessed a mysterious, powerful force within their bodies. Upon reaching a certain level in fire magic cultivation, they could awaken and gain access to the hidden ‘Blue Flame’ in their bloodline—a force far deadlier than ordinary fire elements.

By merging with the Blue Flame, the user’s power could surge three to six tiers. The Blue Flame House was thus always among the clan’s elite, easily reaching five-star or even six-star fire mage status, and at its peak, had produced an eight-star grand magus.

With their help, the Hortonklin family enjoyed a period of great glory.

Alas! Since the last upheaval, in over twenty years, the Blue Flame House produced no more successful awakenings; mediocre talent caused their brilliance to fade, and many newer members of the clan simply overlooked them.

“Is the Blue Flame truly that powerful?” Hearing Jing Yu’s explanation, Xiang Nan and Shi Ya covered their mouths in shock. “He’s already reached two-star, seventh-tier. If he uses the Blue Flame, wouldn’t that make him as strong as a three-star fire mage?”

“How could Senior Brother Xu Wen be his match?”

“At least you understand!” Blue Flame Lie said coldly.

“So I advise you, for this year’s competition, you’d best choose to withdraw. I can’t control the Blue Flame steadily yet, and if I fail to hold back and injure you, don’t blame me!” Blue Flame Lie swept his gaze over Xie Zhan and the three girls, arrogance and self-assurance on full display.

This time, however, Xie Zhan and the girls did not argue.

If his strength was as he claimed—awakened—then once the contest began, they would face a team with the power of a three-star fire mage...

Just as their morale was about to be crushed, a familiar voice called out from the crowd behind them:

“The Blue Flame bloodline doesn’t mean invincibility. Besides, you said yourself you can’t control it properly. Best stay off the stage, lest you hurt your own teammates during the chaos.”

“Senior Brother Xu!” Xiang Nan looked joyfully towards the speaker.

“You finally made it...” Blue Flame Lie and his four companions grew more solemn.

Xu Wen, clad in a brand-new inner disciple’s magical robe, was as composed as half a month ago, his eyes calm as still water, not even glancing at Blue Flame Lie and his group. He had little patience for such upstarts.

“Hmph, in that case, we’ll settle it in the arena! I’ll show you who truly deserves to represent the Hortonklin family in the Azure Cloud Academy!”

Pride meets pride; only when the arrogant confront someone even more audacious do they realize their place. With a cold snort, Blue Flame Lie turned and left with his four companions.