Chapter Three: Twin Flames on the Great Road

The Great Dao Variant is a mysterious spiritual entity. Aside from the natural Dao Variants that exist in the world, once one attains the Inscription Realm, they can engrave their own Dao Variant within their body. Such Dao Variants can take on other spiritual forms, not limited to fixed manifestations of nature.

Take, for example, the Dragon-shaped Dao—a variant that the Dragon Maiden herself inscribed when she reached the Inscription Realm. Not only was it extraordinarily powerful, but it also altered her original form. She had been a small green snake, who, by treading carefully along the path of cultivation, finally achieved a brilliant destiny in the lower realms.

Yet, fortune is fickle. One slip, and all her glory was lost. Now, she found herself back at the beginning, forced to start her cultivation anew, her memories erased, transformed into a little green snake in a foreign land.

Indeed, the little green snake in Flamefire Village was none other than her. Yet no one in the village knew her true origins; all they knew was that she had been rescued by Fire Qilin beneath a leaf-rimmed tree outside the village. When she was found, she was on the verge of death, her body exhibiting strange symptoms—sometimes burning hot, sometimes icy cold, sometimes perfectly normal. Had Fire Qilin not alternated between carrying and resting with her, she would likely have died, never again to take human form and embark on the path of immortality.

This, too, was fortune’s favor. She happened to fall into the honest and simple Flamefire Village. Had she landed elsewhere, her fate might have been far worse; she could have even ended up as someone's meal.

At this moment, high in the void several thousand meters beyond the outskirts of Flamefire Village, the battle still raged on, though it seemed it would soon draw to a close.

The scene was as follows:

Bulo had been transformed into the likeness of a child by the Wheel of Reincarnation. Over his head hovered a deadly array, yet the one truly triumphant was the man wielding the Thousandfold Map of Rivers and Mountains. He stood atop a bluegrain bird, his face flush with a sly grin as he gazed at his three adversaries.

Because Bulo had briefly become a child, all the treasures concealed within his sleeves were instantly released. But more than that, an unexpected event occurred. A strange light suddenly shone from his dantian—a blue-green radiance, brimming with powerful rejection, surged outward from his body.

“No!” Bulo cried in alarm, utterly unprepared for his deep-seated Dao Variant to be drawn forth. That precious dragon bone was something he had obtained only through great hardship.

Indeed, fortune had favored him—this precious bone was not originally his but had belonged to the Dragon Maiden. He had never imagined that the Wheel of Reincarnation would wield such heaven-defying power. In hindsight, it made sense; otherwise, he would not have coveted it so.

Now, not only had he failed to acquire the treasure, but he had also brought trouble upon himself. Facing the imminent loss of the dragon bone, his priority was now to preserve his own life; the rest would have to wait.

Before the three enemies could wield their magical treasures, the dragon bone deftly deflected their attacks, shooting forth a beam of light into the distance.

Bulo hurried after it, fearing that the treasure he had painstakingly refined would fall into another’s hands. He could not simply surrender it after all he had endured.

The other powerful cultivators, seeing Bulo’s predicament, made no move to pursue him. Their goal was the Flamefire Dao. As for Bulo, they let him go, knowing the Wheel of Reincarnation’s effects were temporary. If they chased him, they might not succeed in killing him.

The wheel only reverted his body to that of a child; his strength remained at the Cave Heaven Realm, only deprived of the dragon bone’s mystical power. If he chose to hide or avoid them, there was little they could do.

Rather than wasting time, it was better to pursue the Flamefire Dao, which might grant them the chance to forge their own path to greatness.

Now, with Bulo out of the way, the odds of success had greatly increased. Previously, with Bulo present, their chances were slim—he was a realm above them, after all. But now, only two peers remained, and barring any mishap, the Flamefire Dao would manifest among the three of them.

The trio quickly reclaimed their magical treasures and sped off in pursuit of the Flamefire Dao.

As for Bulo, he halted just a meter outside Flamefire Village. He had reverted to his adult form and was completely at a loss as to why the dragon bone chose to descend at this location. In the next moment, he attempted once more to reestablish his connection to the dragon bone. As expected, after a brief struggle, the dragon bone returned to the depths of his body and hid itself away.

Within the village, the little green snake gazed thoughtfully into the void, puzzled by the inexplicable pull she felt—something both intimately familiar and wholly strange.

What was happening to her?

Fire Qilin, too, watched her in confusion. Speaking to her yielded no response—she was so deeply lost in thought.

Soon, she returned to normal, once more the innocent and carefree companion who loved to play with Fire Qilin, as if nothing had happened.

Outside the village, Bulo saw nothing amiss. After a brief pause, he departed into the distance.

Boom!

A thunderous roar shook the ground once again. The village chief and elders of Flamefire Village, who had intended to return home, were forced to halt and watch from afar.

Suddenly, with a whistle, a streak of flame shot skyward—a palm-sized spark burst from the earth and soared into the void.

Before long, it spotted a highland and sped towards it—the very location of Flamefire Village.

Seeing this, the village chief hurried his people back to the village. There was no time to scavenge for opportunity; disaster was at hand.

If the Flamefire Dao descended upon their village, the consequences would be unthinkable. The external heat was already unbearable; the internal temperature was far greater. Anyone below the Cave Heaven Realm would be utterly incinerated, leaving not even ashes behind.

Yet, their speed was no match for the Flamefire Dao. With a deafening crash, it landed precisely on the highland near the village.

In an instant, all the surrounding trees and rivers were reduced to scorched earth—a blazing inferno now encircled the village. Only the defensive barrier protected them from annihilation.

Fortunately, the Dao’s descent had not directly struck the village. Otherwise, with its might, the barrier would have been shattered in a heartbeat.

Even so, life in the village was unbearable—the temperature soared, and for the first time, the name Flamefire Village was truly apt.

The chief and his people, seeing that the worst was avoided, breathed a sigh of relief. Channeling their spiritual energy for protection, they hurried home.

Their only thought now was for the children—still so young, barely past their recent baptism. Remaining at the Profound Veil Realm, they were not yet strong enough to withstand the power of a Dao Variant. If they could not endure, disaster would follow.

“Chief Huoyun, how is the child?” On his return, the first place he visited was Fire Qilin’s home, inquiring as soon as he entered.

To his relief, Fire Qilin was unharmed, sitting cross-legged on the bed, condensing the illusory inner core at his dantian.

What had happened?

How had Fire Qilin managed to leap an entire realm in a single day?

Huo Miaomiao motioned for the chief to lower his voice, then led him outside and explained.

It turned out that all of this was thanks to Fire Qilin’s father. Before his departure, he had entrusted Huo Miaomiao with a box, telling her to keep it safe—that its contents might be needed in the future, as a safeguard for Fire Qilin.

She did not know exactly what was inside. She only knew her father’s instructions: in a moment of crisis, give Fire Qilin the pill within—it might save his life.

Huo Miaomiao was not a great cultivator herself, only at the early Essence Origin Realm. If not for desperation, she would never have used the pill on Fire Qilin.

Thankfully, she did. Had she waited for the chief to return, Fire Qilin would have faded into nothingness.

The chief, satisfied, left after some conversation to check on another child who had completed the baptism.

But there, the situation was not so fortunate—the child nearly died.

The sudden descent of the Flamefire Dao had caught the village unprepared. Fortunately, the defensive barrier activated automatically, saving everyone—for now.

“Gather everyone in the village for protection,” Chief Huoyun ordered, sending his people to assemble.

He then went to the clan’s small shrine to pray.

Before him stood a tiny altar, less than a meter tall, bearing a tablet inscribed with the words “Huoyun Heretic God.” Bowing reverently, the chief spoke:

“Great Fire God, I know you can hear me. Please, have mercy and save your descendants.”

As he spoke, his resolve to remain standing faltered; he knelt, seeking to show true sincerity.

Whether moved by his devotion or by fate’s design, suddenly a strange beam of light shot down from the void—a drop of divine blood, exuding immense pressure, descended above the village. Without resistance, it pierced the barrier and transformed into gentle energy, suffusing the village with radiance.

It did not end there. Several children who had not undergone baptism were instantly cleansed, while those at the Profound Veil Realm were elevated an entire realm, reaching the early Essence Origin stage—a blessing born of disaster.

Was that all? No, it was only the beginning. The chief and several others at the mid Essence Origin Realm received a surge of fortune, their spiritual power reaching new heights, poised to break through to the next level.

But none benefited more than Fire Qilin. Consuming the Break Cloud Pill, he had already ascended one realm; now, he advanced to the late Essence Origin stage. His inner core was nearly solid—just one more step, and he would reach the next great realm.

Yet, in a day’s time, peace here would be shattered. Because of the heretic god’s blessing, outsiders would be drawn by rumors of a miraculous treasure, and people from all directions were already on their way.