Chapter Eleven: The Eightfold Seal

Demonic Beast Mountain Range, beside the ancient pool.

Red Flame and Blue Rain stared unblinkingly at the mark on Ye Zihan’s left arm. The pattern and words recorded on the last page of “The Five Illusions Manual” gradually resurfaced in their minds.

“The Eight Gates Seal!”

Red Flame was the first to cry out in astonishment. He exchanged a glance with Blue Rain and saw the same grave expression reflected in her eyes. Their gaze returned to Ye Zihan, and Red Flame’s face grew stern: Could this child truly be the one foretold in prophecy, the child destined to defy the heavens?

Blue Rain took a few graceful steps and walked up to Ye Zihan, bending down to examine the mark on his left arm carefully. “It’s exactly the same as the pattern in the manual. This is indeed the Eight Gates Seal.”

Casting a glance at Red Flame, Blue Rain continued, “This child must be the one prophesied to defy fate.”

“No wonder when we entered his body years ago, we felt imprisoned, unable to move freely until today, when we finally broke free. Even our source soul flames were forcibly left within him. It seems this Eight Gates Seal was at work.”

Given the strength of the two, being sealed by a child for twelve years was almost laughable. But if it was due to the Eight Gates Seal, Red Flame felt at ease.

“We searched high and low, never expecting that the one our souls chose would be the very child we’ve been seeking, the one destined to defy the heavens. Fate is truly unpredictable,” Blue Rain sighed quietly.

“All the better—it saves us the trouble of searching,” Red Flame smiled. “Let us follow this child and witness whether the prophecy comes to pass.”

“It won’t be so simple,” Blue Rain shot Red Flame a look, her face thoughtful. In her mind, a line of text appeared: “When the seal breaks, the defier emerges, the phantom god is startled, chaos engulfs the Three Realms!”

“The child who defies fate is born. The Three Realms will soon be plunged into great turmoil.”

Red Flame spread his hands. “For centuries, the Three Realms have simmered with unrest. Even the Thousand Nether Blood Phantom Dragon clan has begun to hunt its own. Great upheaval is inevitable. Besides, the elders in the temple are hardly models of restraint.” His gaze grew cold. “From observing the Phantom God Temple’s actions over the past three centuries, I believe you’ve seen hints of that matter. Otherwise, with your temperament, even in soul form, you’d have fought me to the death.”

Blue Rain trembled slightly, but did not retort, seeming to regret her impulsiveness years ago.

Seeing her like this, Red Flame chuckled softly. “Don’t blame yourself too much. That incident wasn’t your fault—you were deceived by those old men, used by them.”

He paused, then changed his tone. “Besides, this may not be a bad thing. Though our powers are greatly diminished and we exist only as souls, we happen to reside within the body of the child destined to defy fate. Perhaps this is the will of heaven, fate guiding us to follow him and witness the storms of the Three Realms once more.”

Blue Rain gazed deeply at Red Flame and nodded.

While they conversed, Ye Zihan listened in confusion, stunned by talk of the Eight Gates Seal and the prophecy. He had never heard of such things and could only stare at them with wide eyes.

Red Flame smiled, patting Ye Zihan’s shoulder. “Little one, do you know why you lack the aura of the Five Elements within your body?”

Ye Zihan shook his head blankly.

From birth, every person’s body is imbued with a certain attribute, circulating one or more of the Five Elements—metal, wood, water, fire, earth—varying from person to person.

Generally, most people possess only one elemental aura. Those with exceptional talent, like Ye Zixue, are blessed with two, making their power extraordinary.

At five years old, a child’s elemental aura merges into their meridians and breath, detectable through the Five Elements Stone. Yet Ye Zihan was an anomaly. At twelve, he still had none, earning him the title of “useless.”

“The reason you lack the Five Elements aura isn’t because you’re dull, but because of this.” Red Flame pointed to the mark on Ye Zihan’s left arm.

Ye Zihan was taken aback, glancing at his left arm and the birthmark he’d had since birth. “Isn’t this just a birthmark?”

Red Flame nearly staggered at the remark—the grand Eight Gates Seal called a birthmark?

Blue Rain covered her mouth, laughing softly. “Child, this is no birthmark. This mark is called the Eight Gates Seal. The absence of Five Elements aura is because of it.”

Ye Zihan scratched his head, bewildered.

“The Eight Gates are eight nodes in the human meridians. The Five Elements aura flows through these nodes to reach every part of the body. These gates are: Opening Gate, Rest Gate, Life Gate, Injury Gate, Block Gate, Scene Gate, Shock Gate, and Death Gate.”

“In simple terms, this seal prevents the Five Elements aura from circulating in your body. Once the seal is broken, you’ll be able to cultivate the Five Elements like any other practitioner and enhance your power,” Blue Rain explained.

“Breaking the seal will allow me to cultivate the Five Elements?” Ye Zihan was skeptical.

“That’s right,” Blue Rain replied. “And in this world, only three people can break the seal. Red Flame and I are two of them.”

Ye Zihan’s heart stirred, but he still doubted them. The absence of Five Elements aura had caused a great stir in his family. The patriarch had tried everything, but nothing worked, eventually giving up on him. Though these two possessed remarkable power, he wasn’t sure they could help. Yet hope began to rise in his heart.

Red Flame raised his brows. “Don’t underestimate us, little one.”

Blue Rain glared at Red Flame, then spoke gently to Ye Zihan, “We wouldn’t say this unless we were confident. If you’re willing, we can break the seal for you.”

Seeing their certainty, Ye Zihan’s heart was moved. If there truly was a way to cultivate the Five Elements, he could finally shed the label of “useless”—a burden he’d carried for twelve years.

With a soft thump, Ye Zihan knelt before them. “If you can break the seal and let me cultivate the Five Elements, I will forever be grateful!”

Blue Rain gently helped Ye Zihan up, smiling. “No need for such formalities. We do this not just for you, but for ourselves and all living beings. Besides, you’re our host now—if you can’t cultivate the Five Elements, it would be a joke.”

“And you are the child destined to defy fate. Helping you may be our mission,” Red Flame added.

“I am the child who defies fate?” Though he’d heard the term several times, Ye Zihan still didn’t fully understand.

“That seal is the best proof.”

Red Flame glanced at the mark on Ye Zihan’s arm, then rummaged in his robes and produced a spatial scroll.

Opening the scroll, Red Flame took out an ancient book.

As Red Flame revealed the tome, a strange light flashed in Blue Rain’s eyes, but she only sighed softly.

Red Flame flipped to the last page, revealing a pattern to Ye Zihan: eight evenly spaced black magatama, a pentagram embedded within, and a red flame at the center. Seeing it, Ye Zihan was thunderstruck. He looked down at his left arm—the mark was identical!

Amazed, Ye Zihan looked again at the book. Beneath the pattern was a line of small characters: “Two thousand years, storms rise, the seal breaks, the defier emerges, the phantom god is startled, chaos engulfs the Three Realms!”

He stood in a daze for a long time before the blankness faded from his face. He recalled that even the least talented in his clan possessed Five Elements aura, while he, though not lacking in comprehension, had none.

Perhaps he truly was the child destined to defy fate!

“When the seal breaks, you walk the path of defiance. As the child who defies fate, your life will be extraordinary. If the heavens oppose you, you will defy them!” Blue Rain gently patted Ye Zihan’s shoulder.

“Yes!” Ye Zihan nodded firmly.

“It’s getting late. Let’s find a place to rest and prepare. In a few days, we’ll break the Eight Gates Seal,” Blue Rain said, glancing at the sky.

“Agreed,” Red Flame and Ye Zihan replied.

The three figures gradually disappeared into the depths of the ancient forest beneath the twilight.