Chapter 3 Flame Master Part 3

"I am entrusting these two difficult tasks to you, Alex," said Terrence, his gaze fixed on Alex. "We have complete faith in you. When you reach your destination, we will awaken and join you in eradicating both Mo Tiyanyin and the Evil Shadow Clan!" His eyes shimmered with hope.

"Alex, your clan and the Evil Shadow Clan share an ancient enmity, so you must always remain cautious. However, before I leave, take this."

Terrence Dale removed a ring from his finger and handed it to Alex.

"This is the 'Emperor's Flame Ring.' It contains a hundred feet of storage space. Inside, you'll find rare herbs, techniques, and emergency supplies. If you ever face an opponent beyond your capabilities, break the 'Dimensional Stone' inside, and it will teleport you to a safe location. This is especially useful to escape the demons of the Outer World. Additionally, the ring holds a fragment of my soul, which will reveal important secrets when you reach the necessary level of power. Until then, guard it well!" Terrence Dale spoke with solemnity.

Alex examined the ring carefully and discovered its hidden treasures. His heart pounded with excitement. He bowed his head respectfully. "Master, I will protect this ring with my life!"

"Demons from the Outer World?" Alex muttered. It seemed even his master had a deep hatred for them. That dark shadow he had seen before-was it one of them?

"You are still young, with limitless potential. Now, I can finally be at peace. Let my soul merge with the stars."

Slowly, Terrence Dale's soul transformed into stardust and faded away.

"Master, do not worry!" Alex bowed three times in deep respect.

Victor Cade also gazed at Terrence Dale and said, "Alright, brother, wait for me. I will leave my mark on this world too!"

After a moment, Alex turned to Victor Cade and asked, "Elder Victor, what should we do now?"

"Hey, I was your master's brother! Don't call me by name, call me 'Master' instead!" Victor laughed.

"Master!" Alex responded respectfully.

"Now that sounds better!" Victor smiled and entered the ring.

"The true 'Flame Mantra' has now merged with your mind. In our world, this power is called 'Sacred Light,' not just different flames. Ordinary people only use it for medicine, unaware that it is the greatest nemesis of the dark demons."

"Sacred Light? What is the difference between that and my flames?" Alex asked curiously.

"Good question! Regular flames can be controlled by anyone. But 'Sacred Flames' are sentient and can act independently. They are so powerful that they can rule entire realms!"

Doubt crept into Alex's mind-could he really control such an immense power?

Victor chuckled. "Don't worry! The greater the power, the heavier the price. Every hundred thousand years, these flames must undergo a rebirth, and the process is extremely dangerous. I once faced that trial myself and nearly died."

Alex took a deep breath, his determination unwavering. "If that day comes, I will give it my all!"

Without hesitation, he stepped out of the cave with confidence.

"Dark demons of the new world, you will soon meet me!" He gazed toward the distant horizon.

"The dimensional gate to the new world will take some time to open. I doubt you fully understand the rules of this world. Let me explain everything in detail." Victor's calm voice echoed in Alex's ears.

"Master, please tell me!" Alex had wanted to ask this question for a long time, but he hadn't expected Victor to sense his curiosity so quickly.

"The world we are heading to is called Liberia. There is no magic there; only Spiritual and Cultivation Power."

"In this world, generations of effort have pushed the development of power to its peak. As a result, power has become an integral part of everyday life. That is why, on this continent, the importance of strength is unparalleled."

"Due to this extreme advancement, countless cultivation methods have evolved. Some techniques are incredibly powerful, while others are weak. In your home continent, Markas, cultivation was divided into four main levels: Heavenly, Earthly, Mortal, and Divine. Each level had three sub-ranks: Beginner, Intermediate, and High. However, in this world, three more levels have been added: Immortal, Saint, and Deity. Each level is divided into four subcategories: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Peak."

"A warrior's cultivation technique plays a crucial role in determining their future success. For example, a warrior in Liberia who cultivates a mid-tier Mortal technique will undoubtedly be stronger than someone cultivating a high-rank Earthly technique in Markas."

"Liberia has three main factors that determine one's strength:"

1. Cultivation Power – If a warrior is only at the One-Star Power Sovereign level, even if they possess a rare Heavenly-tier technique, they will never defeat a Six-Star Power Sovereign who only uses an Earth-tier technique.

2. Cultivation Method – If two warriors of the same level fight, the one with a superior cultivation method will always have the upper hand.

3. Combat Techniques – These are special techniques used to enhance combat effectiveness. In Marcus, combat techniques were divided into four levels: Class One, Class Two, Class Three, and Class Four. Each class was further divided into Low, Medium, and High ranks. However, in the new world, the ranking system has expanded to include Immortal, Saint, and Deity techniques.

"Countless combat techniques exist in this world, but most warriors can only access Class One techniques. To acquire more advanced techniques, one must either join a powerful faction or enroll in an academy. Some warriors are lucky enough to inherit ancient secret techniques left behind by their ancestors, granting them immense power. These combat techniques become even more potent when they align with one's cultivation method."

"For ordinary warriors, cultivation techniques are limited to Class One. Some mid-tier and minor factions possess Class Three techniques. Immortal-tier techniques are only found among the most powerful emperors and elite factions. As for Saint-tier techniques, they have not been seen in centuries."

"But the truth is, this vast world is filled with countless hidden warriors and mysterious locations. In ancient times, many great warriors hid their invaluable techniques, waiting for a worthy successor to find them. That's why there is an old saying: 'If you fall off a mountain, don't panic-take a few more steps... you might just find a divine cultivation method!'"

"This saying is not just a myth. Over the past thousand years, many warriors have stumbled upon legendary techniques by sheer luck, rising to become supreme warriors. However, because of this, many people now willingly throw themselves off cliffs, hoping to gain miraculous powers-most of them only end up with broken bones."

"Liberia is a land of wonders and mysteries!"

"Not everyone here becomes a great warrior. Just like in Marcus, one must endure extreme pain and struggle to advance in power. However, since this is a higher-tier world, the natural energy is far richer and stronger, allowing its inhabitants to grow in strength more rapidly. Most warriors can at least reach the Power Sovereign Rank, Adept Rank, and Power Wielder Rank. Scholar Rank refers to warriors from Markas or its surrounding regions, as their strength is limited. Adept Rank includes warriors from Plutonia, while Power Wielders are the warriors of Liberia itself. The most capable ones eventually become Power Saints. But becoming a Supreme Power Sovereign is exceedingly difficult. That level is usually reserved for ancient clans, royal families, or hidden supreme warriors. Even then, most of them are only at the initial stages of Supreme Power Sovereign. No one has reached the peak of that rank in thousands of years-either they died before achieving it, or they were slain by the dark forces of the Shadow Abyss."

"In Markas, currency is divided into three types: Copper, Silver, and Gold. 100 Copper Coins equal 1 Silver Coin, and 100 Silver Coins equal 1 Gold Coin."

"The power levels here are as follows: Power Sovereign, Power Immortal, and Power Adept. Each level is divided into nine stars. Once a warrior reaches the peak of the Ninth Star, they can attempt to break through to the next level."

"Ancient texts state: 'From Supreme Power Sovereign to Power Immortal-those who attain the Tenth Level will become true Supreme Power Sovereigns, or as Liberia calls them, Power Saints.'"

Alex was left speechless. So much information all at once! But within him, a newfound hope arose.

He looked up at the sky, determination gleaming in his eyes.

"A new beginning!" he said with a confident smile.

The endless sky stretched infinitely, merging seamlessly with the vast land below. Occasionally, the sky rippled like the wings of unseen birds, distorting slightly before stabilizing again. At one such point of distortion, a young man with a lean but strong frame appeared, carrying a heavy burden on his back.

"So, this is the continent of Liberia?" Alex muttered to himself as he took in his surroundings. "The energy here is thick... even denser than what I experienced in Markas."

Suspended mid-air, he absorbed the new environment with a calm yet focused demeanor. The spiritual energy of this land far exceeded that of his previous domain. There was no doubt that this was a world of a higher level, filled with unknown opportunities and dangers.

"Master, where should we go first?" Victor's voice echoed from the ring Alex wore on his finger, not interrupting but merely guiding him.

"Libera is divided into four regions-South, East, West, and North. Our destination is the northernmost region, the weakest among them. I have unfinished business there... and something important to find. The 'Sacred Flame'-I must know if it still exists after all these years," Victor spoke with a sense of urgency.

"Sacred Flame?" A spark of excitement lit up in Alex's heart. It was a feeling he had felt when he had searched for the Sacred Flame in Marcus, though it had been a while since Alex had found one.

"Descend. Flying is strictly prohibited in this land unless you belong to the ruling class. If we're seen, it will invite unnecessary trouble," Vajraketu warned.

Without hesitation, Alex adjusted his posture and slowly descended towards the ground.

The moment his feet touched the earth, a sharp voice reached his ears.

"If you hand over the treasure map, we might spare you. Otherwise, you won't leave here alive," a gruff man threatened, his lips curling into a cruel grin. Behind him, a group of bandits smirked, their expressions filled with malicious intent.

"I don't know anything! I'm just a servant of the Madan family. If you want the map, ask them!" the girl pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.

"We already did. The head of the Madan family, before his last breath, claimed you took it. So, what do you say now?" the leader growled, taking a menacing step forward.

The girl clenched her fists, a look of resignation crossing her face. "If you're going to kill me, just do it. Why make up excuses?"

"Enough talk! Strip her! Search for the ring!" The leader's order was met with disgusting laughter as the men advanced.

Alex's fingers curled into fists. His blood boiled as he took a step forward.

"Alex! Hurry! I sense a familiar energy to the east!" Victor's urgent voice rang out.

A moment later, the girl tried to escape, but just as the bandits lunged, a gust of force swept through the area-Alex had arrived.

A single glance at the scene was enough to ignite his fury. His aura flared, and with a swift movement, his mysterious flame erupted, engulfing the weaker bandits instantly. They collapsed, writhing in pain.

"Who the hell are you?! This girl is our prey!" The leader roared, his eyes filled with fury. "Brothers, kill him!"

"Careful! Their leader is a six-star warrior!" the girl warned.

But before the words fully left her lips, Alex moved. In the blink of an eye, he launched a devastating attack, cutting through the gang like a blade through paper. Within moments, only the leader remained, trembling in fear.

"You... you monster..." the bandit stammered.

Alex ignored him and turned to the girl, noticing the wound on her leg. Without hesitation, he handed her a small pill. "Take this. It will heal your injury."

The girl hesitated for a second before accepting it. The moment she swallowed the pill, warmth spread through her body, and her wound began closing rapidly.

"Who were these people after you?" Alex asked.

"I don't know... but I heard that the madan family was recently destroyed. Someone claimed I had the treasure map, and now... well, you saw what happened," she explained, still shaken.

The bandit leader, seeing no escape, panicked. "We were just following orders! We were told that she had the map, that's all!"

The girl turned to Alex and bowed deeply. "I... I can never repay you for saving my life."

"There's no need for formalities," Alex said, helping her up.

"What should we do with him?" Alex gestured toward the bandit leader.

"Let him go," the girl said firmly. "He was only following orders. I... I just want to find my parents and take revenge for the Madan family."

Alex nodded and turned to leave, but the girl hesitated.

"Alex... Can I come with you?" she asked softly.

He paused.

"I don't have anyone left," she continued. "I can cook, clean, and-more than that, I need answers. Please, at least until I figure out the truth."

Alex studied her for a moment. Something in her eyes reminded him of himself. Before he could respond, Victor spoke.

"Take her with you. You will thank me later for this decision. There is something about her... something rare."

Though puzzled, Alex ultimately nodded.

"Alright. You can come with me."

The girl's face lit up with relief. "Thank you! My name is Natasha. May I know yours?"

"Alex Morgan."

They traveled north toward the border city of Rock Wood, a key settlement near the Black Rock region. Situated at the edge of the Demon Cliffs, the city thrived on commerce, attracting warriors, merchants, and mages from all over.

However, the journey was slow due to Natasha's injured leg.

As they walked, she glanced at Alex curiously. "Why are you traveling alone? Are you so powerful that you don't need anyone?"

Alex chuckled. "Something like that. What about you? Tell me more about this Black Rock city. Who holds power there?"