Another Breakthrough – Mid-Stage Rank 11
"Halfway there!" Kael couldn't contain his excitement. The flames enveloping his body had begun fusing with the Stellar Violet Flame, giving them that profound violet hue.
But this was only the first step. While he had grasped the basics of the flame's mysteries and could now wield its power, he hadn't yet fully unlocked its potential—that would take more time.
As Kael immersed himself in the Stellar Violet Flame's secrets, his understanding of fire-element fusion deepened, making his control even more effortless.
"No wonder the Stellar Violet Flame is renowned as one of the most powerful mutated flames across the three continents. If I fully merge with it, my strength will reach new heights—enough to rival even the likes of Zorath the Silent and Bloodshadow!" Kael mused silently as he continued absorbing the flame's energy.
Soon, the Stellar Violet Flame surged into Kael's body, flooding his mana channels.
His skin burned red-hot, glowing faintly crimson.
He grimaced—comprehending the flame's power was clearly agonizing.
But then, his brow relaxed slightly…
Because he felt it—the barrier within him had shattered!
Mid-Stage Rank 11!
BOOM!
With a deafening explosion, the bottleneck in Kael's body burst apart. Mana erupted from every channel, swirling violently through the air. The surge of power was so intense that even Grandmaster Qilin and the others below the magic tower took notice.
Inside the tower, only Qilin and Ethan were present.
"Did Kael just break through?" Qilin's eyes flickered with astonishment. She already knew his ranking on the Void Rankings, yet this still left her stunned.
Ethan's disciple was nothing short of monstrous…
"Seems like it." Ethan shrugged helplessly, already numb to Kael's absurd rate of progress. That brat never fails to shock people…
Qilin shook her head wryly. **"I once thought I'd never surpass you in magic. So I hoped to train a disciple who could outshine yours. But it seems Somore still falls short compared to Kael."**
Ethan chuckled smugly, unable to hide his pride in his disciple.
Qilin shot him a sidelong glance, her gaze carrying a hint of something deeper—almost like resentment.
Ethan coughed awkwardly. Kael was right… There really was some history between him and Qilin!
…
Inside the room, Kael didn't celebrate his breakthrough—his focus remained entirely on the critical stage of merging with the Stellar Violet Flame.
"Stellar Violet Flame, fuse with me!" Kael's resolve was unshakable. The flame and his elemental power finally became one, causing the fire around him to erupt violently!
Scorching flames surged through Kael's entire body, their intensity growing fiercer by the second. The temperature in the room skyrocketed as his power soared exponentially…
The fusion was agonizing, yet Kael endured in silence—his brow furrowed, his expression steely, not a single cry escaping his lips.
BOOM!
The flames enveloping him darkened into a profound violet. The Stellar Violet Flamehad been fully absorbed. His fire had mutated once more, its quality surpassing even Frostflame, now infused with the celestial might of the Stellar Violet Flame—unrivaled in its ferocity.
The sheer magnitude of his newfound strength nearly made Kael shout in exhilaration, but he restrained himself.
"I've taken another massive step toward the Legendary realm! Now, I can truly stand against the likes of Zorath the Silent and Bloodshadow! But how would I fare against those Half-Step Legendary experts?" Though confident in facing top-tier Rank 11 opponents like Zorath, Kael remained uncertain about challenging the Half-Step Legendary tier.
Rising to his feet, the violet flames receded, and he exhaled in relief.
"Thankfully, this robe is a Quasi-Sacred Artifact—the Falling Star Robe. Otherwise, the Stellar Violet Flame would've incinerated it instantly." He patted the robe with a wry smile, marveling at the flame's destructive potential. Now stronger than ever, Kael burned with the urge to test his limits in battle.
The commotion hadn't gone unnoticed—not just by Ethan and Qilin, but also by Somore and Shasha, Qilin's other disciples.
Sensing the disturbance from afar, Somore shook her head bitterly. **"As expected of a genius on the Void Rankings… Another breakthrough in such a short time."** The pressure Kael exerted was immense. A prodigy capable of clearing ten floors of the Void Tower was truly terrifying. If he kept advancing at this rate, even talents like Somore would soon be left in the dust.
Before long, she feared she wouldn't even be able to glimpse his shadow.
"No—I must attempt a breakthrough too!" Unbeknownst to Kael, his progress had ignited a fierce drive in Somore. She secluded herself in her room, devoting herself entirely to magical cultivation.
Over the next few days, Kael focused on consolidating his newfound strength. His power grew increasingly stable, and he gained further insights. Only after fully stabilizing his abilities did he finally leave the estate.
The moment Kael stepped outside, he found Jade City abuzz with excitement. People whispered among themselves, as if some major event had occurred.
"Strange, why are there so many mages and warriors?" Kael glanced curiously at the streets. Though Jade City was the continent's holy capital, where magic-users and fighters were common, the ones he saw now were almost all high-tier—Rank 9 and above, their strength far from negligible.
In the distance, a burly, bearded warrior with a rough face snorted. **"Damn it, why's the city so crowded lately? Did everyone catch wind of that news?!"**
Beside him, a mage with a shifting expression replied cautiously, **"Of course. Probably half the city knows by now. Heh… the Flame Monarch's Palace has reappeared!"**
Flame Monarch's Palace!
Though the mage spoke softly, the others nearby—all cultivators with keen senses—overheard. Their expressions flickered at the mention, clearly familiar with the rumors.
"Heh, no wonder. So many flocking here for the Flame Monarch's Palace… Jade City's in for a spectacle!" The bearded warrior scanned the crowd coldly.
"Hmph. Just rumors. No confirmation the palace has truly emerged. And even if it has, most who enter will only meet their doom…" The mage smirked dismissively.
Kael observed their exchange and subtle shifts in demeanor. What he gleaned from their words stunned him.
"The Flame Monarch's Palace?!" Kael's mind raced. According to the warrior, had the palace appeared near Jade City?
The Flame Monarch was perhaps the most familiar ancient Legendary powerhouseto Kael—especially since he'd once received guidance from her Legendary Mark, still sealed within his mind, its secrets yet to be unlocked.
That woman, the Flame Monarch… the one who came closest to the title of Archmage!
As the streets buzzed with speculation, Kael digested this staggering revelation.
The Flame Monarch's Palace… had truly resurfaced.
Kael shared a deep connection with the Flame Monarch. The battle between her and the Water Dragon remained etched vividly in his memory—her heroic bearing still fresh in his mind.
"If the Flame Monarch's Palace has truly emerged, whether the rumors are real or not, it's worth investigating! But where exactly is it?" Kael frowned.
The news of the palace's reappearance had already spread through half of Jade City, and the speed of its dissemination was staggering. Within days, nearly everyone had heard of it, sending the entire city into a frenzy.
Jade City was in an uproar. Countless mages and warriors flooded out of the city, scouring every corner in hopes of finding even the faintest trace of the Flame Monarch's Palace.
Almost the entire city had mobilized, their greed laid bare. Everyone coveted the palace's treasures, and this temptation drew thousands of cultivators into the hunt.
"Junior Brother Kael, you've heard about the Flame Monarch's Palace as well, haven't you? Would you care to join me in searching for it?"
At that very moment, Somore extended an invitation to Kael. She gazed at him with a faint smile.