In Battle Through the Heavens, the Heavenly Flame Ranking lists 22 mystical flames, each possessing unique powers. Among them, the top 10 flames are coveted by even Dou Zun-level experts, while the top 5 can pose a challenge to Dou Sheng powerhouses. But how strong is the No. 9 flame, the “Three Thousand Burning Flame” (三千焱炎火)? On the surface, it appears formidable, but is it truly worth its rank? Let’s dive deeper to evaluate its true strength and potential drawbacks.
The Strength of the Three Thousand Burning Flame
The Three Thousand Burning Flame made its appearance when a Taixu Ancient Dragon Elder imprinted it with a dragon seal in its infancy. Later, it was confined by the Pill Tower for many years, becoming so powerful that even a Dou Zun-level cultivator would struggle to subdue it. One of its most intriguing abilities is granting its wielder a unique physique known as the “Three Thousand Star Physique” or “Immortal Physique,” allowing the user to absorb the power of stars to heal and strengthen themselves.
From the description alone, the Three Thousand Burning Flame seems well-deserving of its place on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, and the power it bestows upon its owner sounds incredible. However, when you look deeper, this flame might not live up to the hype.
Why the Three Thousand Burning Flame is Overrated
- Location and Difficulty of Acquisition
The flame is born in the depths of the starry sky, a region accessible only to those with exceptional space-travel abilities, like the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan. Ordinary cultivators, no matter how strong, need to be at least at the Dou Zun level to even reach the flame’s birthplace. Due to its remote location, the flame often exists for an extended period, gaining strength, making it even harder to capture. While a Dou Zun might struggle to subdue it, a Dou Sheng-level cultivator would find little use for it. Thus, the Three Thousand Burning Flame is out of reach for most, and those who can obtain it might not need it.
- Limited Healing Powers
The Three Thousand Star Physique, supposedly granting immortality, comes with significant limitations. During Xiao Yan’s mission to rescue Yao Lao, he sustained severe injuries in a battle against the Star-Snatching Elder, a peak five-star Dou Zun. Both fighters were gravely wounded—Star-Snatching Elder lost an arm, while Xiao Yan fell unconscious. Despite possessing the Three Thousand Burning Flame and the Yin-Yang Mystic Dragon Pill to aid his recovery, it took Xiao Yan an entire year to heal. Without the pill’s help, his recovery would have taken even longer.
Although Xiao Yan was only at the nine-star Dou Zong level at the time, his abilities far surpassed that of an average Dou Zong. The fact that it took him so long to recover, even with the aid of the Three Thousand Burning Flame, suggests that its healing abilities are far from extraordinary. In many of his subsequent battles, the flame’s healing properties were barely mentioned, indicating its limited effectiveness in combat.
- Neglect from the Pill Tower
The Pill Tower, despite housing the Three Thousand Burning Flame for many years, made no real effort to subdue it. The Pill Tower boasts an array of powerful experts, including the six-star Dou Sheng Pill Tower Ancestor and the two-star Dou Sheng Elder Lin. The other six elders are at least Semi-Saint level, with one of them being a high-level Semi-Saint. Even with the threat of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan’s dragon seal, the Pill Tower likely had the power to overcome it. Yet, they chose not to. If the Three Thousand Burning Flame were truly that powerful or useful, why didn’t anyone from the Pill Tower bother to subdue it? This further reinforces the idea that the flame’s true value is overestimated.
Conclusion: A Chicken Rib?
While the Three Thousand Burning Flame might seem like a valuable treasure at first glance, the reality is that very few individuals can even see it, let alone subdue it. Even for those who manage to control it, its healing abilities and overall utility are extremely limited. The flame’s true potential might only be realized if a Dou Sheng expert helps a Dou Zun or lower-level cultivator forcibly refine it. However, if a Dou Sheng is willing to step in, they could likely offer a better alternative than the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
In the end, the Three Thousand Burning Flame seems like a classic case of “chicken rib”—a resource that’s not worth the effort to acquire, but too precious to discard easily. For most cultivators, it’s simply impractical and ultimately disappointing despite its lofty ranking.
