NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: the hunt begans
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The morning sun barely crested over Cinder Wind Village, yet Xiao Tian was already awake, sitting atop a rocky hill just outside the settlement. His fingers twitched as he stared at the flickering ember in his palm.
The flame constantly shifted in color—scarlet, azure, violet, gold—never remaining the same for more than a breath. It was unlike any fire he had ever seen. No ordinary Dou Qi flame, nor one fueled by medicinal herbs or beast cores. It felt… alive.
His mind drifted back to the vision. That lone figure standing amidst a world of fire. His words echoed in Xiao Tian's heart.
"The Dao of Fire… is never-ending…"
"What does it mean?" Xiao Tian muttered. "Why did I see that person… and why does this flame feel so familiar?"
As he focused on the flame, his Dou Qi began to stir instinctively, drawn toward it. But the moment his Qi touched the ember, his body trembled, and an intense heat surged through his meridians. He clenched his teeth, trying to suppress the pain, but the flame greedily absorbed his energy, growing stronger.
He hurriedly withdrew his Qi, and the fire dimmed, returning to a gentle flicker in his palm.
"It feeds on my Dou Qi?" Xiao Tian frowned. "Then… does that mean I can control it if I learn how to balance the flow?"
A surge of determination filled him. If this was his power, he would master it.
But before he could attempt another test—
BOOM!
A powerful shockwave swept through the air, shaking the very ground. Xiao Tian snapped his head toward the village, where a massive explosion of fire and smoke erupted from the central plaza.
His heart pounded.
Cinder Wind Village was under attack.
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Cinder Wind Village – Moments Earlier
The peaceful morning was shattered by the arrival of a group of black-robed men. Their presence alone was suffocating, their Dou Qi radiating menace. The villagers barely had time to react before one of them raised a hand.
A crimson inferno erupted from his palm, obliterating the village's wooden gate.
Screams filled the air as people scrambled for safety.
An elder of the village, his face ashen, stepped forward with trembling hands. "S-Sirs, who are you? Why are you attacking our village?"
The leading figure, his face hidden beneath a hood, chuckled coldly. His voice carried a strange reverberation, as though layered with multiple tones.
"We are searching for something… or rather, someone." His gaze swept over the villagers. "A boy. He awakened something he shouldn't have."
The elder's face paled.
"We have no such person here!"
The man sneered. "If that were true, the flames wouldn't have guided us here."
With a flick of his wrist, the air trembled, and fiery energy surged outward, setting the village ablaze.
"Bring me the boy. Now."
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Outside the Village
Xiao Tian watched in horror as the black-robed figures unleashed destruction upon his home. Buildings crumbled under waves of fire, villagers screamed as they fled, and the very air smelled of burning wood and ash.
"They're looking for me."
His fists clenched. His existence had drawn disaster to the village. He barely understood what was happening, but one thing was clear—these people were not ordinary enemies.
And if he stayed, everyone would suffer because of him.
His first instinct was to run. To escape into the wilderness before they found him.
But then he saw them—a child, barely five years old, trapped beneath a collapsed beam, crying for help. A woman shielding her infant as flames surrounded her. The elder, desperately trying to negotiate with the intruders.
Xiao Tian took a deep breath.
Running was no longer an option.
If they wanted him—he would give them something to chase.
The ember in his palm flared to life.
And for the first time, Xiao Tian stepped forward… into battle.
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