Are you done yet?

Even the former disciples of the Lava Stream Sect weren't too confident in their supreme elders, but the fact that they hadn't given up gave them hope. However, those with quick thinking skills realised that they would still be in danger even if Shui was defeated. Now that they had lost a majority of their Sky Realm experts, they would hardly function as a threat to the other cities especially since they didn't have complete control over the city like the mayor did. Therefore, in a sense their fate was already sealed.

However, the supreme elders found hope in the horrifying flame that Shui released.

"Hmph, don't think we haven't seen through you. Although that flame of yours is quite the threat. There's no way you can use such a power without some dire consequence. Additionally, if you had flung that flame from above the elders you could have made a more efficient use of it. You thought you had cleverly hidden it but we see through you! You're not actually in the Sky Realm, are you?"

His reasoning was faulty, but his conclusion was spot-on. However, since he didn't want them to gain any confidence and take any risks that he couldn't plan for, Shui chose to crush their speculation.

"Normally I wouldn't care about whatever you want to say to make yourself feel better, but it would be troublesome if you three ran away while I'm on the ground."

Shui hadn't mastered the laws of wind to the level where he would be able to fly by manipulating them, but just like one could fly due to their progress in energy cultivation, this possibility was also present in soul cultivation. However, since by the time most possessed souls strong enough to use this method they could already do it through energy cultivation and it was easier that way, this method wasn't very well known. Even Shui had to enter the triple harmony to replicate the effects of flight.

He started off by lifting his right leg and stopped it in the air like there was something there. The elders wanted to laugh at this attempt but they all found themselves gulping in anticipation as Shui took his next step, and then continued. Shui was expending quite a lot of effort maintaining his position in the air through mental control, but of course it didn't show. As if he was simply climbing a staircase, Shui rose into the air with ease.

"Are you embarrassed yet or shall I go higher?"

The supreme elders tried to stifle their anger, but the youngest couldn't accept this slap to the face. He took a step forward but was held back by the oldest who went in front of him with his head held high and his hands behind his back.

"Let's stop the useless chatter and continue. Why don't you see if that ember of yours will be of any use against us?"

"No, supreme elders!"

"Don't do it!"

Normally they would never doubt them, but after seeing hell open in front of them, the disciples and other elders couldn't hold back their concern. The supreme elders frowned at how little faith they had in them, but they kept their eyes on Shui.

Everyone thought he would use that evil flame once more to assert his dominance, but Shui laughed instead.

"Hahahaha! You really think I can't see through your plans? That I don't know of the Thousand Flames Cauldron of your sect?"

At the mention of the 'Thousand Flames Cauldron', those from the Lava Stream Sect were shaken, including the supreme elders.

"What's the Thousand Flames Cauldron?" asked one member of the audience.

"I'm not sure. I've heard of it but all I know is that it must be a special artifact that they have."

"Hmm, I think I have an idea," replied a man with the first signs of grey in his hair.

"Really?"

"Yes, I believe it was an ancient artifact used by a famous alchemist King. Supposedly it has the ability to absorb different flames and then replicate them. But I didn't think they would have it."

If Shui hadn't mentioned it, no one would have suspected that the Lava Stream Sect had such an artifact because such rumours didn't exist. In fact, most disciples only knew the name of the artifact but not its location.

Everyone wondered how Shui was aware that they had such an artifact before they took it out, but they couldn't see his expression beneath the mask.

"Hmph, since you know of it then there's no point in hiding it."

The eldest supreme elder then opened his hand and a small cauldron floated above it. Despite it staying the size of his fist, the cauldron released a deep and profound aura that had withstood the test of time. When it appeared, the natural laws gathered around it and caused complex runes to appear near it. This was the sign of an archaic-rank artifact.

As he stared at the cauldron, wariness brew in Shui's heart. Although this artifact wasn't made to be used in fights, besides Sui and his own body, nothing he had would be able to last a single blow against it. Truthfully, Shui only knew about the Thousand Flames Cauldron because he had read about in the Primordial Library, but the reason why he thought they had it was because Cruz had once investigated its whereabouts and found clues that led him to their sect.

'This will take more effort than I thought.'

Shui was still confident of his victory, but now he prepared for more than a simple scratch or two.

While Shui faced off against the supreme elders in the air, Lily, Ryan and Henry infiltrated the martial academy for Jacob. The only one guarding his room was a disciple in the Soul Realm so they had no trouble taking care of him.

The 'cell' that he was in was a well-furnished guest room with fresh fruits placed on a smooth wooden table. Likely as they hadn't decided how to deal with him yet, besides being restrained by blue stone handcuffs he didn't seem to have endured any inconveniences.

"Hmm, who are you.... I see, he must be the cause of this then."

Right as Lily began showing her face, Jacob deduced majority of what was happening outside his room.

"We should quickly leave but before that I would like to thank you." said Lily.

"It's fine. In the end I was only following orders. Besides, our family has caused you and your siblings a lot of trouble. I should be apologizing for that."

Jacob's humble attitude shocked the siblings who remembered him being more arrogant, as well as Henry who was familiar with his cunning and ruthless nature. However, they would be even more shocked if they heard his thoughts.

'I thought I would be more worried after they arrested me, but I was oddly calm. Even though I wanted to surpass him, I always thought of my father as a supreme existence whose back I could only chase after. Rather than a father he was more like an ultimate goal, and a rival.

So when I thought about finally overcoming my father, our business and wealth didn't matter to me anymore. I was just glad to finally be free of him. Once it sunk in that I killed him, that he was dead, I realised that I had no more regrets.

Even if I died with my wife and child hating me, I would be fine. But if he still requires my help, then this time, of my own will, I will aid him. After all, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have found the resolve to defeat my father.'

Even when more was known about his situation and he accomplished great feats, history would still remember him as someone who committed patricide. However, the man himself would never regret his actions.