Chapter 6 Flame Master Part 6

The flames of Baya blazed higher, twisting and swirling like a living beast. With a deep, thunderous roar from Alex, the spiritual energies of the heavens and earth seemed to come alive, resonating with his voice. In mere moments, the aura around him split into three distinct streams, flowing directly toward the three primary ingredients resting inside the alchemical cauldron.

The clarity of the energy flow was breathtaking. Every alchemist and spectator below stood frozen in awe. Never before had they witnessed spiritual energy being drawn so swiftly-and with such precision.

As the streams of spiritual power touched the three ingredients, their wild, conflicting energies began to settle. What once was a violent battle between the elements now transformed into a gentle dance of unification.

"Incredible technique..." murmured Zhen Lei, Vice Chairman of the Alchemist Association. His eyes gleamed with fascination as he leaned forward. "This boy's control over his Flame Spirit is extraordinary. He didn't just tame the chaos-he pulled external spiritual energy and balanced it within the mix. This is no ordinary skill. This is brilliance."

Murmurs of disbelief echoed among the other members standing below.

"Is this even possible?"

"Those ingredients were known to reject one another... and he just fused them?"

Bai Feng, the Chairman, kept his gaze locked on Alex. Slowly, he leaned toward Zhen Lei and whispered something. Zhen Lei gave a firm nod and exited the hall without delay.

In the upper balcony, a silver-haired girl's expression darkened. Her sharp eyes followed Zhen Lei as he disappeared through the exit.

"So... they've been watching him all along."

A small smile tugged at her lips.

"But I'm not one to back down easily."

Down on the stage, Alex was fully immersed in his craft. With calm focus, he nodded toward Baya. The phoenix-like beast responded instantly, its eyes glowing as it breathed flames once more. The blazing fire engulfed the ingredients, binding their energies even further.

Alex's voice rang with quiet confidence. "Now begins the real exam."

He pressed both hands forward, channeling his internal energy. Slowly, the fused liquids began to thicken and swirl-once hostile, they now moved in harmony, seeking unity.

"It's done," Alex whispered with a rare smile.

Gasps echoed across the hall.

"He actually did it... on his first try?"

But this was just the beginning.

The real challenge awaited-transformation into pills, and the heavenly trial of the Alchemy Lightning Tribulation.

Alex sat cross-legged, grounding his energy. He knew the process of forging high-grade pills was long and arduous.

Days passed...

Five days later...

Dark clouds began to gather above the Alchemist Association.

Thunder cracked. Lightning shimmered behind the clouds, waiting to strike.

"Alchemy Lightning Tribulation of Nine-Colored Thunder... for an Emperor-rank pill," Bai Feng muttered, a smile forming on his face. "Now we'll see if Alex can endure it."

A breath caught in Akira's throat.

"Can he survive this?"

The sky darkened. And then-

The first bolt of lightning fell.

Alex's eyes snapped open, his voice booming- "Come!"

An invisible force burst out around him, and Baya's flames surged upward in a protective circle. The first bolt crashed downward-but just before it could strike the ground, it hit Alex's spiritual shield.

His body trembled under the force-but he remained firm.

"He took the first bolt!" someone shouted from below.

"But more are coming!"

The clouds roared louder. This time, not one-but three bolts shimmered in the sky.

Alex steadied his breath.

"Baya-this is your real test now."

Baya let out a piercing cry as her golden flames erupted, forming a blazing wall between Alex and the sky. Her wings spread wide, glowing like a sun.

The three bolts struck simultaneously.

The ground shook.

The entire hall trembled.

People backed away in fear.

"Can he really take all of that?"

Alex's eyes burned with unwavering resolve. He drew every ounce of power within and thrust both hands toward the heavens.

"I don't back down!"

His inner force merged with Baya's fire, and a burst of golden light exploded in the sky.

When the smoke cleared... the lightning had shattered.

The crowd was stunned.

"He survived three bolts..."

But before anyone could speak further-

A final crack tore through the heavens.

The Ninth-Colored Lightning-the deadliest and most divine.

Bai Feng's eyes widened. Akira clenched her fists in fear.

"Can Alex survive this one...?"

For Alex, confronting the Pill Lightning was not just a challenge-it was a heavenly trial ordained by fate itself.

Alchemists... those who walk the sacred path of medicine and spirit, must prove their worth to the heavens. And when forging a Sovereign-tier pill, the heavens descend with thunderous wrath, unwilling to let such creation defy the balance of nature.

The more powerful the pill, the greater the rejection of the heavens.

If the alchemist's will falters... if his heart trembles even for a breath-

The Pill will be shattered.

The Lightning will consume all.

And everything will return to dust.

This was the final gate. The true test of an alchemist's soul.

RUMBLE!

Above the platform, nine-colored clouds churned violently. Lightning bolts intertwined like ancient dragons twisting within a sea of thunder. Their roars echoed across the mountains.

Akira's brows furrowed. Her usually calm gaze now showed a rare flicker of worry.

Nine-Colored Pill Lightning...

Even among Sovereign-tier tribulations, it was one of the most terrifying phenomena.

Though she trusted Alex... even she knew-

This wasn't something one could overcome with mere talent.

The slightest mistake, and the pill... would vanish forever.

All eyes from the Alchemist Association were locked on Alex.

Yet he... simply smiled.

He raised his gaze to the heavens, looking directly into the heart of the storm. That faint smile on his lips slowly deepened, revealing not fear... but excitement.

"Heavenly Lightning? For others, it may be a trial..."

"...but for my Demon Puppet, it is a divine opportunity."

A soft chuckle escaped his lips.

With a single flick of his hand, a stream of silver light burst from his spatial ring. In the blink of an eye, a towering puppet appeared-its frame forged of celestial alloys, its aura heavy and ancient.

This was his Demon Puppet-enhanced by the legendary Golden Dragon Victor himself. Once thought to have reached its peak, Victor had silently reforged it while Alex prepared the pill. He had rebuilt it, layered it with spiritual veins, and awakened hidden formations.

Now... it was no longer what it once was.

Its body shimmered with divine brilliance, capable of withstanding strikes even from stage 1 power sovereign warriors. But with Victor's secret modifications-

It had surpassed that realm entirely.

Alex's heart pounded slightly.

This puppet... may even face a Four-Star power sovereign head-on!

He stepped forward, placing his palm gently on the puppet's chest. Then, he looked skyward, his voice calm yet firm-

"This time, it's your turn to face the heavens."

Thunder answered his call.

From the nine-colored storm, an enormous bolt gathered-shaped like a divine serpent, its scales flashing crimson and indigo. It hissed, then struck down like a falling star.

*BOOM!*

Just before impact, Alex raised a single finger.

With a metallic roar, the Demon Puppet soared into the sky like a divine guardian, its silver form cutting through clouds and lightning alike.

Gasps erupted in the square.

"He's crazy...! That puppet may last a few hits, but this is Sovereign-grade Lightning!"

"No one has ever tried to face the tribulation with a puppet!"

Even Akira's heart tightened-but before panic could take hold, her eyes widened.

The Demon Puppet... did not shatter.

It did not fall.

Instead... it began absorbing the lightning.

Silver light turned golden, its body pulsating with thunderous energy. Every arc of lightning that struck was devoured by the ancient arrays hidden within it.

"He's absorbing it...?! That puppet... it's *feeding* on the tribulation?!"

Silence fell.

And then-

"Now I understand..." Zhen Lei, standing in the distance, muttered to himself, "why this boy dares to challenge the Sovereign path at such a young age..."

More bolts fell, one after another. Like heavenly spears, they poured down.

But the puppet did not fall.

Instead, the space around it began to tremble. Red-gold lines shimmered across its frame. A faint divine aura emerged-signaling an evolution.

"The puppet... it's about to ascend. It's turning into a True Golden Heavenly Puppet!"

Back on the platform, Alex stood with hands behind his back. His expression was calm, his robes fluttering in the wind. He did not lift a finger.

He didn't need to.

His creation-his companion-was walking the path of heaven in his place.

And above, the sky... still roared in fury.