477 Trouble After Trouble

"Moving on to the second matter. We have established our group in the Northern Continent and after these few months, they are starting to well known even though we didn't do anything flashy.

"Why is this a problem? Firstly, there are seven first rate influences on the continent. However, we don't have to discuss all of them at once. I want to focus on three influences: Blackwade Clan and its two opponents, Fire God Clan and Joyful Reunion Sect.

"As you have known, the reason why Song Yu fled to the Willow Continent was that these two influences chased her.

"Both of them had their own reason according to our investigation. Fire God Clan wanted to acquire her to get the resources from Fire God Clan. Basically, they are trying to make a marriage to tie these two clans together, just like the Blackwade Clan, they also stemmed from the Heavenly Continent.

"We need to be extra careful when dealing with this Fire God Clan, especially your Pure Fire, a Celestial Fox, and phoenixes might be in their list.

"As for the Joyful Reunion Sect, they did not care about the resource or whatever. Their name has told you everything. Basically, they are an R-18 sect. They have set their eyes upon the beautiful Song Yu or Song Jia.

"However, even with our careful behavior, it seems they also set their eyes on our Spirit Nest. According to Anna, there is a rumor that Spirit Nest is full of handsome guys and pretty chicks. Not that they are wrong though… except Greg, who never shows his face.

"Anyway, I suggest we perform a mass castration to their men since the women would not be able to charm the men in our Spirit Nest.

"Just look at you, the master, there is no way they would be able to charm you. Leoz? He is a muscle brain, so it is a no go. Jean? They think they can provide something more painful than Jeanne? Fabio has been taken while Nelson is far away. The only one left is Greg, who would not show his face… So, we don't need to worry about them." She implored.

"..." Alex was speechless by her statement. Scratching his head in confusion, he said. "As long as we are careful, the Fire God Clan won't notice us. Of course, if it means we need to fight, we would destroy the Fire God Clan even if it means moving the entire Fire God Clan on the Heavenly Continent. We can escape to the Sacred Continent and enter Heavenly Continent from there. I also have the promise to destroy a single evil sect there anyway. As for that R-18 Sect… We should ask someone to censor them…"

Anya chuckled, seeing him playing along with her charade. "Anyway, the rumor seems to have originated because they are often exchanging the goods with the Blackwade Clan. We did not know who spread the rumor, but we should be a bit more careful for the time being."

Alex looked down, weighing something in his mind. "We can stop the development first and have our people focus on grinding EXP and stockpiling the materials. After a while, the rumor should die out and we can start doing business with the Blackwade clan again."

"That is better than my plan."

"Your Plan?"

"My plan is to have them wear an ugly mask and so on. With enough make-up, I think we can make a huge scar on the face, making it uglier."

"Anyway, is there anything else I need to know?" Alex asked, ignoring her plan.

"No. That is all."

"Your maj… Elder Stina can stay here and learn the details about the other world." Alex said, confused about how to call her because of the new identity. In the end, he settled with Elder. "In the meantime, I will consolidate my power."

Alex retired to his room and started consolidating his strength while Anya gave a few books to Stina to learn.

...

Unknowingly, two months passed after Alex started his training. He had fully consolidated his strength and broke through to 6-Star Martial King. Sherry and Kyle had become 7-Star and 8-Star respectively.

Nothing happened in these two months other than Shelka started getting impatient. Knowing Shelka's situation from Anya's mouth, Stina imposed the information lockdown, from the unknown pressure coming from the trial gate to Alex's appearance, even to the point of hiding the scepter.

This to prevent Shelka from getting any clue about Alex, hoping she would come back home before they needed to sneak out of the castle.

Meanwhile, Alex was busy consolidating his power. Despite having increased his cultivation speed with the second refinement, Alex still needed two full months to consolidate his power.

Another thing that kept him busy was his new Pure Fire. After getting enhanced by Phitrus's technique, the Pure Fire even managed to influence Sherry and Kyle nearby.

Stina said Alex's Fire contained the essence of the Ancestor's fire, the one that he embedded in the staff. Furthermore, Alex released a certain scent that made the phoenix cry out of fear.

However, knowing that the essence was not Phitrus's possession. Instead, it was his Pure Fire. Using this special Pure Fire, Phitrus ruled the Phoenix Race with an iron fist.

After practicing, Alex decided to open the Gacha again. The system did not give any advice like she usually did and just gave him the box. Of course, she left after having a chat with him.

[Summoning Ticket (SR) x5]

[Rank 6 Forging Furnace (SR) x1]

[Bluedrasil Berry (UR) x1]

[Water Gallon (UC) x1]

[Bamboo Flute (C) x1]

He was disappointed with the result. He had wanted to get another Gacha Card to open the Gacha Box. Despite having no Summoning Tickets, he got it and only five, making him unable to use '10+1 Summon.'

As for the Rank 6 Forging Furnace, he was not interested in forging. The reason he even learned forging from his teacher was to make a better weapon as well as Alchemy Furnaces. At this point, he already had rank 6 Alchemist Furnace and his Space Ring was filled with weapons.

This time, the UR item was a Material, which was very rare to get. According to his knowledge about Alchemy, this material was one of the ingredients for a rank 7 pill. Saving it for later would be better for him.

In a year, the status of his spirits was also progressing by leaps and bounds.

[Anna (Dark)

Level: 49/80 (9-Star Martial King Stage)

Exp: 45387/400000]

[Leoz (Thunder)

Level: 50/80 (10-Star Martial King Stage)

Exp: 345342/410000]

[Nelson (Dark)

Level: 49/80 (9-Star Martial King Stage)

Exp: 212434/400000]

[Fabio Fabotelli(Fire)

Level: 48/80 (8-Star Martial King Stage)

Exp: 75374/390000]

[Greg (Earth)

Level: 46/80 (6-Star Martial King Stage)

Exp: 64533/370000]

[Vera Fabotelli (Water)

Level: 46/80 (6-Star Martial King Stage)

Exp: 304388/370000]

[Jeanne (Thunder)

Level: 49/80 (9-Star Martial King Stage)

Exp: 13222/400000]

[Anya (Light)

Level: 46/80 (6-Star Martial King Stage)

Exp: 297278/370000]

[Artur (Light)

Level: 45/80 (5-Star Martial King Stage)

Exp: 317387/360000]

[Jean (Water)

Level: 45/80 (5-Star Martial King Stage)

Exp: 275675/360000]

Most of them had leveled up by two or three, and Leoz almost reached the Martial Emperor, making him close to the leader of Second Rate influence in the Northern Continent. Alex still had his EXP cards, enabling him to increase their level at a moment's notice.

At the very least, he could save up the EXP cards, making it a trump card for them. This would prove to be useful for when he came back to the Northern Continent.

…

Two months later,

"Master, we are ready to depart." Stina came to the courtyard, greeting him like usual. "We shall move farther from this city first to ensure that Princess won't see us."

"I will leave the arrangement for you." Alex nodded before turning to Anya. "You, Sherry, and Kyle shall stay here. This place should be safe."

"Don't worry about us. We can take care of ourselves." Anya nodded.

"That's right, Master. Just you wait, I am going to become a Martial Emperor as soon as possible." Sherry puffed her chest, looking very ambitious with her plan. After knowing about it, Sherry was eager to have the same form as him. In fact, she was a bit jealous of Anna and Anya. Even though she met him first, they were getting together before she could. That was why she thought if she had the same form, she could also get the same treatment as them from him.

"Yeah. I am rooting for you." Smiled, Alex turned back to Stina. "We should go."

Stina nodded and led him outside. In front of the castle was a Tier 5 Phoenix. Stina told him that he would be their mount for this journey. Albeit, another trouble came their way.

"Ara… How can you leave me behind, my Supreme… You should inform me that you have finished the trial and want to go toward the Flying Continent." She appeared out of nowhere, saying while narrowing her eyes.

"!!!" Startled, Stina and Alex sweatdropped. After making sure there was no clue about Alex, she even managed to find out. This thought alone made them wary against her.

Little did they know, she was just frustrated after having no information about Alex and decided to stroll around. She knew there was no trial this long, so she started roaming the castle after six months. She never thought she would be able to meet Alex, who was trying to escape from her.

"You have promised to bring me on your journey. You think you can go to Angel Race because I think you are still in the middle of Phoenix Race's trial? You need to have a good reason if you want me to stay."

Narrowing his eyes, he tried to come up with a reason. He was not someone that would break a promise. One might say just make an exception for this, but he always believed if there were first, there would be second, third, and so on.

Having no reason in his mind, he said. "Alright."

"Are you sure?" Stina quickly sent a thought transmission.

"Yes. Besides, she might do something outrageous if she goes back while bringing the news about this. I have no reason to make her stay or go home, so let her come with us." Alex nodded, observing the dangerous Shelka carefully.

Hearing his answer, Stina said, "Alright. You may come with us. The other side already knows I am coming, so having another one would be no big deal."

Shelka clenched her fists, thinking she had won. She thought, 'Fufu… You can escape from me, my Supreme. Still, to think you want to leave without me, I need to think up a way to punish you."

Unbeknownst to her, this trip cost her that very thought.

Alex jumped to the back of the phoenix, waiting for the others to come. Stina and Shelka followed him immediately as Stina gestured to the phoenix to fly.

"Scree!" The phoenix flapped its wing and uttered a cry before starting to fly.

It took them one week before arriving on the flying continent.

This was the first time Alex saw a flying continent and the sight mesmerized him. The continent itself was not that large, around the size of Heavenly Sword Sect. Even the population was not too crowded, making people feel the nature of this continent.

There were even mountains and rivers in the sky. He could even see a free waterfall, stretching from this continent to the bottom of the ocean.

Curious about the continent, he activated his Spirit Eyes only to find nothing. He could not find anything that could make the continent fly. In other words, he thought it would be physics. Not ordinary physics, but another world's physics, making this a wonder of the world.

A few yellow-haired winged humans were flying around the continent. Their white wings symbolizing they were not human, but more like a birdman or something.

Upon spotting the phoenix, they flew toward them and bowed their heads. "Your Majesty, Phoenix Queen, We have been informed of your presence. We will lead you toward the sky castle immediately."