> [Status Update: 4 Days Remain Until Trial Commencement]
Formation Bonus Active: "Mirrored Momentum" – Tier I Proficiency
System Tip: Train under natural flame pressure to accelerate mastery.
---
Dawn – Routine Interrupted
Jiang Han woke to an unnatural stillness.
Ashroot Pavilion usually hummed faintly with soul warmth—but today, it pulsed cold.
Tempest rose before Jiang even opened his eyes, curling into defensive stance. The Phoenix Hatchling hopped from its perch and flared brightly, scanning the wind.
Something was wrong.
Jiang dressed, sword at his back, and stepped into the outer field.
A line of ash had been drawn around his camp.
Warning him. Or marking him.
He ran a finger along it. It hissed under his touch, refusing to disperse.
> [Unknown Ritual Pattern Detected – Flame Curse Glyph (Delayed Trigger)]
Analysis: Suppression Trap – Meant to disable soul pet synchronization for 6 hours upon ignition.
Jiang's jaw tightened.
> "They're not hiding anymore."
---
Morning – The Whisper Network
At the market row, conversations shifted as he passed.
Some pointed.
Some bowed their heads.
Others looked away.
> "That's the one from Blue Star."
"Took the Echo Trial alone."
"He didn't just survive. He changed."
A girl from a crystal-forged realm handed him a flame-infused fruit.
> "My brother was rescued by you. He said you fought a shadow of yourself."
> "Did he survive?"
> "He's sleeping. But his flame's no longer screaming."
She bowed once and left.
Behind her, Yanxi appeared—quiet, unreadable.
> "The ash line," she said. "I saw it."
> "You know who?"
> "I know who wants you rattled."
She handed him a scrap of burnt soul paper.
> "Mark of the Scythe. You're being scouted."
> "Why me?"
She looked up.
> "Because you're not afraid of yourself. That terrifies them."
---
Midday – First Rumors of the Flame Scythe
Jiang returned to Ashroot Pavilion to find Bo Ren.
> "You followed me here?"
> "Didn't follow," Bo Ren said, tossing a packet of spirit salve onto the campfire. "I got pulled in through my own gate. Didn't know you'd be here until the market whispered it."
They sat side by side in silence.
Bo Ren finally spoke.
> "Someone's targeting low-ranked trialists. Drain their flame, steal their souls, leave them alive."
> "Flame Scythe?"
> "I heard the name once from Long Chen. Said they were vultures waiting for chaos to hide in."
Jiang looked toward the second sun drifting overhead.
> "They want a war before the trials even begin."
> "Then we don't give it to them," Bo Ren said.
> "We cut their knife-hand first."
---
Evening – Training Begins
Jiang moved to the obsidian flats beyond the ridge to test his new skill.
Tempest hovered above while the Phoenix circled low, casting shifting shadows as Jiang began striking through open flame formations drawn into the ground.
Skill: Mirrored Momentum – Tier I
Effect: Stacking coordination with each consecutive strike.
He slashed once. Twice.
Flame built in arcs around him, echoing from each swing with increasing speed. Every tenth strike triggered a backdraft that accelerated the next.
He lost track of time.
When he finally stopped—panting, shirt soaked—he noticed someone watching again.
Not Ashkin this time.
A girl in Voidstep robes, her eyes metallic, her hand wrapped around a soulblade shaped like a candle.
She didn't move.
She just mouthed a single word:
> "Soon."
---
Nightfall – The Whisper That Becomes a Storm
> [Notice: Trialist "Jiang Han" recognized by six independent factions]
New Title Unlocked: "Flame Without Master"
Title Bonus: Immune to forced contract bindings below Sovereign tier. Gains bonus resistance to flame possession attempts.
> Rumors Active: "The Boy Who Defeated Himself" | "He Burns His Own Shadow" | "Ashroot Ghost"
Jiang sat at the fire.
He didn't feel stronger.
He felt watched.
The Scythe had marked him.
And someone stronger than them… was waiting.
But as Tempest curled at his side and the Phoenix Hatchling glowed like a warm ember under his hand, Jiang felt something else:
He wasn't alone.
And this time—he'd make sure no one else had to burn alone either.