Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 228

Chapter 228: Skyfire Hunt II
Aiden’s journey to obtain the Skyfire had been grueling, with each passing day feeling like an eternity. It had been three long years since he first set foot near the Skyfire tree, and the relentless heat had tested his endurance to its limits. Now, standing mere inches away from his goal, Aiden prepared himself for the final step that would grant him control over the Skyfire.

“Alright… time to finish this,” Aiden muttered to himself, eyeing the radiant tree before him. His skin, which had suffered severe burns and melted away in previous attempts, had finally healed, thanks to months of meticulous meditation and the application of his advanced healing techniques. His body had grown more resilient, tempered by the unforgiving heat, yet he knew the last step would be the most challenging.

With a deep breath, Aiden took that final step. The instant his foot touched the ground near the tree, his leg melted away, leaving only a bone with golden markings exposed to the searing heat. Pain was not a concern; Aiden had long since numbed his pain receptors in that area, anticipating this exact moment.

“Good thing I took care of that,” he murmured, gazing at his skeletal leg. Without hesitation, he activated Saint Heal, the potent healing energy coursing through his body, rapidly regenerating his leg until it was whole once more. However, the intense heat made his skin flush red, as if he had been boiled alive.

“This is insane… even after all this time, it’s still this difficult,” Aiden grumbled, gritting his teeth as he stood his ground. The heat was unlike anything he had ever experienced, a living, breathing force that sought to consume him entirely.

Despite the challenge, Aiden remained determined. He knew that the leader of the Alchemy Association had taken fifty years to tame their Skyfire, a feat that had cemented their legendary status. But Aiden didn’t need fifty years. He had to succeed now, cause he can, and He will.

He stood there, allowing his body to adjust to the scorching environment, sweat pouring down his face. Every second felt like an eternity, but he was patient. He had come too far to turn back now.

The heat continued to assault him, attempting to melt him down to nothing, but Aiden endured, his body slowly adapting to the fiery aura emanating from the Skyfire tree. The flames licked at his skin, but they no longer had the same effect as before. His body was evolving, hardening with each passing moment.

Finally, Aiden took another step, closer than ever to the Skyfire. His determination had brought him this far, and he would not be denied.

“This is it… the final test,” he whispered to himself, his eyes locked on the radiant flames that danced around the tree.

Aiden stood there despite him getting boiled red like an lobster fresh out of boiling pan.

****

In the Tower of the Mystic Flame Sect branch within Skyfire City, a storm of confusion and fear had erupted. The sect leader, Alberto, stood at the head of the table, his expression dark and severe as he slammed his hands down in frustration. Before him, a projection flickered, showing the image of Eeh’liel—a nightmarish figure, a black skeletal skull crowned with ominous authority.

“What the hell is that thing?” Alberto’s voice was filled with incredulity and barely concealed rage.

The image of Eeh’liel lingered in the center of the table, its eerie presence casting a shadow over the room. The black skull, adorned with a crown, was a grotesque mockery of life, its hollow eye sockets emanating a cold, deathly aura that seemed to seep into the very air around them.

“And why is that thing protecting the Skyfire?” he demanded, his tone growing sharper as he sought answers from those around him.

The sect disciples exchanged uneasy glances, each trying to grasp the situation. Finally, one spoke up, his voice trembling slightly. “Leader, maybe it is the Skyfire’s doing. It could have gathered the death energy from the surrounding forest and used it to create this… skeletal guardian for its protection.”

The explanation was tentative, more a theory than a solid fact. The disciple was drawing a parallel to other known instances where Skyfires had created guardians. “You know, like the Volcanic Heart Skyfire,” he continued. “It made a Magma Human-like guardian to protect itself. This could be something similar.”

Alberto’s eyes narrowed as he considered this. “Evan, it’s said that the Skyfire here is linked to life, so how could it create something like this?” he questioned, his tone indicating skepticism.

Evan, a more seasoned disciple, nodded confidently, leaning forward as he addressed the leader’s concerns. “Yes, life. But that thing, it’s nothing more than the reanimated bones of a dead cultivator, a senior, no doubt. In its own twisted way, it represents life—albeit life after death.”

Evan’s voice held a certain conviction, his smirk revealing his confidence in his reasoning. He wasn’t merely guessing; he was putting together pieces of a puzzle based on what they knew of the Skyfire’s nature and the phenomena it had caused in the past.

“But it looks more like a Death Puppet, the kind used by demonic sects,” another disciple interjected, unable to shake the feeling of dread that Eeh’liel’s image invoked.

Evan turned to face the disciple, his expression turning slightly condescending as he explained further. “That would have been a valid concern if that thing were exuding demonic energy. But it’s not. It’s releasing pure Immortal energy, just like any orthodox cultivator would.”

The room fell silent at this, the disciples unable to refute Evan’s point. It was true that Eeh’liel, despite his terrifying appearance, didn’t radiate the malevolent energy typical of demonic entities. Instead, his presence was shrouded in an aura of powerful, but untainted, Immortal energy.

In situations like these, where ancient forces and mysterious energies converge, it’s crucial to approach with both caution and understanding. The Skyfire’s guardians, whether formed from magma, bone, or some other element, are typically extensions of the Skyfire’s own essence, created to protect and preserve it. Understanding the nature of these guardians can offer insights into the Skyfire itself—what it represents, what it seeks to defend, and how it might react to those who approach it.

In this case, Eeh’liel’s existence as a skeletal guardian indicates that the Skyfire may have drawn upon death energies to form its protector. Yet, the fact that it releases Immortal energy, rather than demonic energy, suggests that its purpose aligns more with the natural order, maintaining a balance rather than disrupting it. This duality—life and death, preservation and destruction—embodied in Eeh’liel, offers a glimpse into the Skyfire’s true nature: a force that transcends simple definitions of good and evil, life and death, instead encompassing a more complex, more profound reality.

For those dealing with such entities, it’s essential to recognize and respect this complexity. The guardians are not mere obstacles but embodiments of the Skyfire’s will. To overcome them—or perhaps to align with them—requires not just strength but wisdom, an understanding of the underlying principles that govern their existence.

“Then find a way to defeat it without letting others know,” Alberto commanded, his voice firm. Despite the fact that they had cultivators far stronger than Eeh’liel, they couldn’t afford to unleash their full power. A large-scale battle would draw too much attention, broadcasting their actions to the entire city like a beacon.

It would be a disastrous move, akin to cutting off their own foot, and Alberto was determined to avoid such a scenario.

“I want that Skyfire, or we risk losing Lady Serina’s favor,” he added with a serious tone.

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the gravity of his words. Lady Serina was the most talented disciple the sect had seen in the last millennium. Her skill in alchemy was so advanced that she could create pills even the Sect Leader of the Mystic Flame Sect’s main branch couldn’t replicate. Her value was immeasurable, and they had uncovered ancient records detailing how to evolve her Martial Spirit.

Evolving her martial spirit means adding wings to her talent, making her even more valuable asset to Mystic Flame Sect.

The key to her evolution was the absorption of Skyfires— the more she absorbed, the stronger her Martial Spirit would become. This made the Mystic Flame Sect’s pursuit of Skyfires a priority across the Immortal Realm.

“We will defeat him and secure that Skyfire for Lady Serina,” Alberto declared, his voice resolute. Everyone nodded in agreement, their determination solidified. They began to craft a strategy to eliminate Eeh’liel quietly, without alerting the world to their actions.

Unfortunately for them all of their thoughts, theories are wrong.

Eeh’liel is not result of Skyfire will as it don’t need any, it can simply give a trial to its challenger, Eeh’liel was something that Aiden summoned.

But they don’t know about it, and Eeh’liel also didn’t mentioned anything as he from the records he got after plundering memory of the cultivators that somehow got the location of Skyfire nest.

Now, Eeh’liel is guarding the entrance until Aiden can tame the Skyfire and master it for himself.

And Mystic flame Sect is hoping to obtain it for themselves.