The sun hadn’t risen, but the valley glowed crimson.Wei Zixin knelt on a stone platform carved with immortal runes. His torso was bare, revealing spiraling veins of spirit light dancing beneath his skin. The air shimmered with condensed qi, almost choking.Chen Fi stood before him, eyes calm, palm pressed to Zixin’s back.“This technique draws from celestial fire,” Chen Fi said. “Few can survive its imprint.”Zixin grunted, jaw clenched. “I will.”Flames erupted.The stone platform cracked. The runes ignited. Wei Zixin screamed as a tide of burning qi surged into him.His meridians twisted. Bones popped. Blood vaporized into steam.“Hold it!” Chen Fi shouted. “You must imprint the mark or it will consume you!”Zixin clenched his fists. “Crimson Sky Codex—First Seal!”A flaming lotus appeared on his chest.The pain vanished.Zixin opened his eyes, now glowing red-gold.Later that night, Zixin trained under a waterfall of molten qi, slicing through liquid flame with his sword.Chen Fi