BTTH: The Legend Of Xiu Emperor

Time, like water, never flows backward and passes extremely fast. It is like sand in your hands—grasp it tightly, and it slips away even faster.

Yet, time also behaves paradoxically.

When you pay it no mind, it rushes by. But when you focus on it, every moment seems to stretch on endlessly.

Cultivation is something that remains untouched by the passage of time.

When one immerses themselves fully in cultivation, the outside world's ticking clock becomes irrelevant. In such a state, time seems to fly.

Day after day, Hun Xiu repeated the same routine—practicing and sleeping.

Days blended into weeks as Hun Xiu lost all track of time. By the time he noticed, his injuries had fully healed.

---

After his injuries healed, Hun Xiu returned to the back mountain to practice. He had grown fond of this place.

Having spent days cultivating in his room, he found it stifling. The fresh air and open skies of the back mountain offered a unique comfort.

Sitting cross-legged atop the mountain, Hun Xiu concentrated as the dou qi of heaven and earth gathered around him, roaring like a tempest. The sheer volume of energy rushing toward him was awe-inspiring.

The sound was deafening, like the roar of dragons and tigers combined, shaking the heavens. If Hun Xiu opened his eyes, he would see the sky itself distorting under the pressure of the gathered energy.

As his seals shifted, the dou qi surged into his body. A crimson power radiated from him, forming a blazing aura that painted the sky above the mountain a deep red, as if a sea of fire were burning in the heavens.

This phenomenon didn't go unnoticed. The Soul Clan's strongmen turned their gazes toward the back mountain, but none approached.

The clan leader, Hun Tian Di, had explicitly forbidden anyone but Hun Xiu and his bodyguard, Hun San, from entering this area.

Standing in the courtyard with his hands clasped behind his back, Hun Tian Di gazed at the fiery sky above the back mountain. "So, his injuries have healed," he murmured. "And he's already making a breakthrough."

Elsewhere, Gu Yuan, who was playing with Gu Xun'er, paused and looked toward the mountain. "A breakthrough to the two-star Dou Huang level with such a phenomenon?" he muttered. "Even some Dou Zong cultivators can't stir up such a storm. Hun Xiu is truly far from ordinary."

---

Oblivious to the commotion he was causing, Hun Xiu remained fully immersed in his cultivation. At this critical juncture, he poured his essence, energy, and spirit into the process.

Heaven and earth's energy spiraled toward him in an unending stream, his blazing aura growing fiercer.

Finally, a loud boom echoed, shaking the mountain and vibrating the void itself. The flames surrounding Hun Xiu vanished, and the tumultuous energy stilled. The sky, once painted red, returned to its natural state.

Hun Xiu opened his eyes and exhaled deeply, a satisfied smile on his lips. "It's done," he said softly. "Dou Huang, two stars."

Hun Xiu stood and called out, "Uncle San."

Hun San appeared instantly, kneeling before him. "Master," he said respectfully.

Hun Xiu nodded. "Uncle San, has anything major happened in the clan recently? How long until the clan competition?"

"Master," Hun San replied, "you've been cultivating for ten days. The clan's young master competition is in three days."

"As for major events... there's one," he added.

"Oh?" Hun Xiu raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Hun San explained, "The clan's young master competition's rewards. The announcement has caused quite a stir among the younger generation."

"Rewards?" Hun Xiu's interest was piqued. "What kind of reward could cause such a commotion?"

"Master Void's sub-flame," Hun San replied.

Hun Xiu's eyes widened. "The sub-flame of the Void Devouring Flame?"

As a contender for the Soul Clan's young master position, Hun Xiu understood the significance of this flame.

The Void Devouring Flame held unparalleled status in the clan, its importance rivaling that of Hun Tian Di himself. In the eyes of many elders, it was even more valuable than the clan leader.

The Soul Clan owed much of its enduring strength to the Void Devouring Flame. It was the foundation of their power and lineage.

Suppressing his shock, Hun Xiu asked, "Is the sub-flame the reward for the first place?"

Hun San nodded.

Hun Xiu's gaze hardened with determination. The sub-flame was vital—it held the key to the Flame Devouring Codex, a technique that could replicate and control flames with the same power as their original.

He clenched his fists. I must obtain it.