That night, Li Hao summoned the locket sprite again.
She appeared, her expression serious.
"Master, what you refined is not an ordinary flame," she said.
Li Hao's gaze sharpened.
"Then what is it?"
"It is a Heavenly Flame—but not in its mature form."
She raised her hand, forming an image of a blazing, radiant fire.
"Heavenly flames are born between heaven and earth, formed from pure natural energy. They are alive, evolving, and far beyond ordinary flames."
Li Hao listened intently.
"But… they can also be created," she continued. "If a normal flame is nourished by the energy of heaven and earth for a long time, it can evolve into a heavenly flame."
She then waved her hand again—this time, multiple flames appeared.
Some burned with ice. Some flowed like water. Some howled like wind. Some were heavy like earth. Some twisted like void.
"Flames are not limited to fire," she said softly. "They can carry different elements. Ice flame, water flame, wind flame, earth flame, even void flame… and many more."
Li Hao's eyes widened slightly.
"And your flame…" she continued, her voice lowering, "has the potential to become a multi-elemental Heavenly Flame."
Silence followed.
This was no longer just rare.
It was unprecedented.
Li Hao slowly exhaled.
This path… was far greater than he had imagined.