Chapter 4 Flame Master Part 4

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

Natasha nodded eagerly. "The city is ruled by two dominant factions-Humans and Mystic Beasts. Among the humans, power is structured into one Empire, two Halls, three Sects, and four Clans."

She continued, "The Empire is the strongest force here. When they took control, all opposition either vanished or was crushed. The Emperor possesses a power equal to a seven-star warrior-he is terrifyingly strong."

Alex pondered. "A seven-star warrior... That's a realm beyond my current three-star Power Sovereign stage. Reaching that level will take time."

Natasha continued, "Then there are the two Halls-Flame Purity Hall and Thousand Blossoms Hall. Flame Purity Hall only trains men with fire attributes, while Thousand Blossoms Hall is exclusive to women. They've been bitter rivals for generations, though no one knows why."

"Then, we have three sects-Herbal Sect, Dreamweaver Sect, and The Astral Oracle Sect. The Herbal Sect produces the best alchemists, Dreamweavers are experts in spiritual attacks, and The Astral Oracle Sect specialize in prophecy."

"And finally, there are four clans-Poison Clan, Sword Clan, Radiance Clan, and Arcane Clan. Each has its own mysteries."

She looked at Alex expectantly. "So? How was my explanation?"

Alex smirked. "Not bad. Now, at least I have a better idea of what to expect."

Natasha grinned. "Great! Then let's get to Karakan and see where fate takes us!"

With that, their journey truly began.

Alex sighed, his voice low and filled with reluctant compassion. "Get up. I give you my word."

He was on this journey not just for power, but to unravel secrets long buried and shoulder responsibilities that had chased him across the continent. Taking this girl along-was it not just another burden?

He was just about to say no when Golden Dragon Kings voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Take her with you. One day, you'll thank yourself for this decision," Victor the Golden dragon said, his tone carrying an odd weight. "To find something this rare in such a place..." His voice trailed off, cryptic and heavy with meaning.

Something about his words made Alex pause. A feeling stirred inside him-vague, but enough to shift his decision. He nodded in agreement.

The girl smiled, relief and hope lighting up her face. "Thank you, kind stranger. My name is Natasha. May I ask yours?"

In truth, Natasha far from naïve. She'd heard stories of cruel men hiding behind masks of kindness. She knew better than to trust a stranger offering a magical pill. But ever since Alex had appeared, she'd felt something-like a distant echo calling from within. A strange warmth. An instinct she couldn't ignore.

That was why she had swallowed the pill without hesitation, and why she had begged him to take her along.

With a faint smile, Alex replied, "Natasha, don't call me kind. It was just a small gesture. My name is Alex Morgan."

He trusted Victor enough not to hide his identity. And something in the old man's words told him Natasha had endured more than her share of hardship.

Natasha looked down, slightly embarrassed. "But how can I not? You saved my life. I'll never forget that. If you don't mind... may I call you Brother Alex?"

He nodded gently. "Alright."

He wasn't some saint. If not for Victor's subtle push, he might have walked away. But now that he had chosen this path, he would make sure she didn't feel abandoned again.

Natasha's eyes lit up. "Brother Alex, do you have a destination? If not, why don't we try to find out more about the Madan Clan?"

Alex hesitated. "Natasha, do you even know what's going on around here?"

"I was just out to pick up some herbs and maps from a nearby town," she said, "Thought they might come in handy."

Her eyes turned slightly red, but she smiled through it. "I know enough, Brother Alex. I'll help you. I'm just afraid I might slow you down."

Alex couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Rock Wood– Edge of the Demon Hills

Rock Wood was a city nestled at the border of the Demon Hills-known as the frontier of the vast Blackrock Territory. Its position made it uniquely valuable. Crowds of merchants, warriors, and mages filled its streets, making it one of the wealthiest cities of the region.

Thanks to his strength, reaching Rock Wood wasn't difficult for Alex . But Natasha's injured leg forced them to slow down considerably.

On the road, curiosity sparkled in Tania's eyes. "Brother Alex, why do you travel alone? Are you really that strong you don't need anyone?"

Alex smiled faintly. "Something like that. But tell me, Natasha-who are the most powerful forces in this Blackrock City?"

Traveling blind in unfamiliar lands was never safe. Alex couldn't rely on Victor here; the old man had little knowledge of minor regions. So he figured Natasha might offer useful insight.

She paused for a moment to gather her thoughts. "There are two dominant factions in Blackrock-Humans and Mystic Beasts. I don't know much about the beasts, but the human powers are divided like this: One Empire, Two Halls, Three Settlements, and Four Sects."

She continued, "The Empire is the most powerful entity here. When it rose, every other power bowed or was wiped out. Anyone who stood against it... simply vanished."

"And why?" She lowered her voice. "Because the Emperor has a Guardian-one as powerful as a Seven-Star Divine Ascendant."

Alex clenched his jaw slightly. A Divine Ascendant of seven stars... he thought. This place is full of secrets. My own power is barely at the early stages of Three-Star Divine Ascendant. I've still got a long way to go... but I won't give up.

Natasha went on, "The Two Halls are Flame Purity Hall and Thousand Bloom Hall. Flame Purity only accepts men-those who wield fire. No women are allowed. Thousand Bloom Hall, on the other hand, is exclusively for women. The two halls are bitter rivals. Some say their leaders share a long-standing grudge... or maybe an unfinished love story."

She smiled and continued, "Then there are the Three Settlements-Herbalist Settlement, Dreamshroud Settlement, and Starseer Settlement. The Herbalists craft potions and elixirs, Dreamshroud experts specialize in spiritual attacks, and Starseers can glimpse fragments of the future."

"And finally, the Four Sects-Poison Sect, Sword Sect, Light Sect, and the Occult Sect. Each has its own unique strengths and hidden mysteries."

When she finished, she turned to Alex with a playful glint in her eyes. "So, how was my explanation?"

Alex nodded, impressed. "Very helpful. I feel like I'm finally beginning to understand this world."

When Alex and Natasha stepped out of the Healing Pavilion, they made their way to a small inn on the edge of the town.

"Brother Alex, why did you buy so many herbs?" Natasha asked curiously as soon as they entered the quiet inn room. His generosity had surprised her.

Alex's voice was calm. "To prepare medicine for you."

"What? Medicine? But I don't need-" Natasha's eyes widened. In a world like Liberia, where power ruled and mystic pills dominated the market, herbs were seen as old-fashioned-used only by the truly skilled or truly desperate. But after watching Alex auction a Rank-9 golden pill, she'd realized he wasn't just strong-he was a master alchemist. And now he was making something... for her?

Alex gave her a soft smile. "Now that you're with me, you won't be living like before. Forget what happened. This is your new life."

He laid out the herbs he'd bought from the auction, then pulled out a silver card and extracted a hundred thousand coins. He offered them to her without hesitation.

"Here, take this. Buy whatever you need. And if you need more, just ask."

Natasha blinked, speechless. "No, Brother Alex, I don't... I mean, I can't-" Her throat tightened. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.

But then she smiled softly. "Thank you, Brother Alex." Her eyes shimmered with emotion. No one had ever treated her with such kindness before.

Alex chuckled. "Girls shouldn't cry, Natasha. Remember-your past and birth don't define you. The heavens can flip the game at any moment."

He paused and added, "Don't worry. I'll find your parents. You're not alone anymore."

Night had already fallen. Alex gave Natasha the bed to rest-she was still weak and needed sleep. She didn't resist. The moment her head touched the pillow, she drifted into deep sleep, her breathing slow and peaceful.

Alex sat cross-legged and began meditating. This world was unfamiliar, its energies different. He had to adjust his internal force to align with it and stabilize his cultivation.

Just before dawn, he opened his eyes and looked over at Natasha. Her face was soft in the early light, dimples gently forming on her cheeks as she smiled in her sleep. She looked like someone dreaming a sweet dream.

Alex touched the ring on his finger. "Victor, who is this girl, really? You mentioned something before..."

A deep, aged voice echoed in his mind. "I told you-if you want to know the truth about her, you must create a pill. The Energy-Enhancing Sanjeevani Pill. Only when you give it to her will the truth reveal itself. But judging by her condition, I'd say you don't have much time. A few months, at best."

Alex exhaled slowly. "Most of the ingredients I got from the Healing Pavilion today, and the ones Master Tarishi Deb left behind... they're enough. But one key item is still missing-an Arcane Core of a Rank-9 Beast."

"Where can I find it?"

Victor's mysterious laugh echoed again. "A Rank-9 Beast's Arcane Core won't be easy to get. I searched the Pavilion today, but there were no leads. However... if you want to make your task easier, head to the Alchemists' Association tomorrow."

"The Alchemists' Association?" A smirk crept onto Alex's face. How could he forget-he was an alchemist himself. Back in Marcus, he'd refined high-level pills. But there had never been any official tests there-no Divine Alchemists to oversee one. So he'd never thought much of it.

Morning sunlight spilled across the city streets. Natasha looked up at him with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Brother Alex, where are we going?" she asked excitedly. Her black hair shimmered in the light, cascading like silk down her back.

Alex smiled. "To the Alchemists' Association. There's still one rare ingredient I need for your pill. Let's see if we can find it there."

They walked together toward the grand structure. The Association's gate stood tall and majestic, five golden letters gleaming atop it. But something felt... strange.

As Alex looked at the gate, a shiver ran down his spine. It wasn't just a gate-it carried spiritual energy strong enough to pierce the soul. A weak-willed cultivator would have collapsed under its pressure.

He immediately cloaked Natasha with his Divine-class inner energy, shielding her from the effect. As he released his soul force-

"Oh ho... a Sovereign-class soul! It's been a long time since I've seen one of those!"

A white-haired elder emerged from within the Association. He had sensed Alex's soul pressure-and in a blink, appeared before him, floating in mid-air.

"Haha! You've got sharp senses, boy. You figured out the soul barrier in an instant. Come in!"

Alex studied the elder. This man wasn't weak-in fact, his strength rivaled Alex's. But Alex remained calm. Holding Natasha's hand, he stepped forward confidently.

Inside, another elder glanced up from a table and asked, "Master, why did you come out so suddenly?"

Alex spoke without hesitation. "Master Alchemist, I've come to take the certification exam."

The elder's eyes lit up. "Which level are you applying for?"

With quiet confidence, Alex replied:

"Emperor-class, Tier One Alchemist."

The entire Association went silent.

A storm was coming.