The night wind drifted slowly across the floating islands of the Dao Realm Academy.
The academy, which had been full of noise and excitement during the day, was now quiet and peaceful. Lanterns glowed softly along the stone paths, and distant streams reflected the silver light of the moon.
Most disciples had already returned to their rooms to cultivate.
But in a small courtyard near the Alchemy Pavilion, one young disciple still stood awake.
Yao Chen.
A faint golden flame floated above his palm.
The flame was small, no larger than a candlelight.
Yet it carried a strange aura.
The surrounding air trembled gently, as if even the spiritual energy of the academy felt uneasy in its presence.
Yao Chen stared at the flame carefully.
Earlier during the Alchemy Trial he had suppressed it.
But now he allowed it to burn freely.
The golden fire flickered softly.
Inside the flame, faint Dao patterns slowly formed and disappeared like distant stars.
Yao Chen's eyes narrowed.
"Why does this feel… familiar?"
He had never studied alchemy before entering the academy.
Yet during the examination, countless techniques had appeared in his mind.
Precise flame temperatures.
Perfect herb fusion timing.
Ancient pill refinement methods.
All of it had felt natural.
Too natural.
As if he had practiced them not for years…
But for lifetimes.
Yao Chen slowly closed his hand.
The flame vanished.
The courtyard returned to silence.
But the strange warmth remained inside his chest.
Something inside him had awakened.
And he did not understand what it was.
---
Far beyond the Mortal Realm…
In the silent depths of the cosmos…
A massive black palace floated within endless darkness.
The palace was ancient.
Its walls were carved from dark stone older than countless civilizations.
At the center of the palace stood a gigantic throne made from black crystal.
Upon that throne sat a tall armored figure.
His eyes were closed.
The entire hall was silent.
Suddenly—
A faint golden light flashed across a floating stone disk in front of him.
The armored figure's eyes opened instantly.
Two cold crimson lights appeared in the darkness.
"The signal…"
His deep voice echoed across the hall.
"The Primordial Flame has awakened."
The air suddenly became heavy.
Several shadowy figures appeared from the darkness and knelt before the throne.
"My lord."
The armored man stood slowly.
His black armor reflected the faint red glow of the palace flames.
For a long moment he stared at the glowing stone disk.
The disk showed only one direction.
The Mortal Realm.
"So it has returned…"
His voice carried a trace of hatred.
"After so many eras."
One of the kneeling shadows spoke carefully.
"My lord… could it truly be the flame of that person?"
Silence filled the hall.
Then the armored figure spoke a name that had once shaken countless worlds.
"The Medical God."
The shadows trembled slightly.
Even mentioning that title felt dangerous.
The armored figure slowly clenched his fist.
"That man should have vanished with the last cosmic war."
"But if the Primordial Flame has awakened again…"
His crimson eyes burned coldly.
"Then his successor has appeared."
He looked toward the shadows kneeling before him.
"Send the Seekers."
"Search the Mortal Realm."
"Find the one who carries the flame."
The shadows bowed deeply.
"And if we find him, my lord?"
The armored figure's voice became colder.
"Kill him."
"Before he remembers who he truly is."
The shadows vanished instantly.
Only the armored figure remained inside the dark palace.
He looked once more toward the glowing stone disk.
"The Primordial Flame…"
"I will not allow that power to rise again."
---
Back in the Mortal Realm…
The Dao Realm Academy slept peacefully beneath the moon.
Yao Chen slowly returned to his small wooden room.
Inside, a simple bed and wooden desk stood beside a window overlooking the floating mountains.
He sat cross-legged on the bed and began cultivating.
Dao Qi flowed slowly through his meridians.
The energy circulated calmly.
Yet tonight something was different.
As the spiritual energy entered his body, it slowly gathered near his chest.
Then suddenly—
A faint golden spark appeared again.
This time it did not appear in his palm.
It appeared inside his dantian.
The spark flickered once.
Then a strange symbol briefly appeared within the flame.
A burning star surrounded by countless ancient Dao patterns.
Yao Chen's breathing stopped.
The symbol vanished immediately.
But the image remained in his mind.
"What was that…?"
He had never seen such a symbol before.
Yet the moment it appeared…
A deep sense of familiarity filled his heart.
As if that mark belonged to him.
But before he could think further—
A sudden chill passed through the academy.
Yao Chen opened his eyes.
Outside the window, the night sky remained calm.
But for a brief moment…
He felt something strange.
Like an invisible gaze watching from far away.
Yao Chen frowned.
"Strange…"
The feeling disappeared quickly.
But uneasiness remained inside his chest.
---
High above the Dao Realm Academy…
Far beyond the clouds…
Two divine figures stood silently in the sky.
Krishna gazed calmly toward the floating islands below.
Beside him stood Radha.
Her eyes were gentle, yet filled with endless wisdom.
Both of them had witnessed the awakening of the flame.
Krishna spoke quietly.
"The Primordial Flame has begun to awaken."
Radha nodded slowly.
"The boy has started walking the path again."
Her gaze remained fixed on the academy.
"Once the flame appears, the seekers of the cosmos will come."
Krishna did not look surprised.
"That was always inevitable"
He looked toward the distant stars.
"The question is not whether they will come."
"It is whether the boy can survive until his memories return."
Radha smiled faintly.
"The path of destiny cannot be avoided."
Krishna finally turned away.
"Come."
"It is not yet time for us to interfere."
Both divine figures slowly disappeared into the endless sky.
---
Meanwhile…
At the far edge of the Mortal Realm…
A crack silently opened in space.
Dark figures stepped through the distortion.
They wore long black robes marked with ancient runes.
Their leader held a glowing compass-like artifact.
The needle spun slowly before locking onto one direction.
The Dao Realm Academy.
The leader spoke coldly.
"The flame is somewhere within this world."
Several shadows bowed.
"What are our orders?"
The leader's voice was emotionless.
"Find the carrier."
"Confirm the existence of the Primordial Flame."
"And eliminate him."
The shadows disappeared into the darkness.
Their presence left no trace behind.
But the hunt had already begun.
---
Back at the academy…
Yao Chen stood quietly by the window of his room.
The stars filled the night sky.
For some reason, he felt a strange sense of pressure.
As if invisible forces had begun to move across the universe.
He did not know why.
But deep inside his soul…
The tiny golden flame flickered again.
Very faintly.
Almost like it was responding to something far away.
Yao Chen looked down at his hand.
"Who… am I really?"
The wind outside grew slightly stronger.
The lantern outside his room flickered.
And far beyond the academy…
Unknown shadows had already begun their journey toward him.
The search for the **Primordial Flame** had begun.
And Yao Chen had no idea that his peaceful life at the Dao Realm Academy was about to change forever.