Chapter 3: Hidden Flame
The wind carried a subtle chill as Alex meditated beneath the moonlight, golden strands of spiritual energy flowing quietly around him like a calm stream. Though his outer appearance was tranquil, his mind stirred with strategy. The village was primitive, the people untrained, their bodies unrefined—but their souls were unshackled. That was all he needed.
Suddenly, the familiar chime echoed in his mind:
Ding! Main Quest Issued!
Quest Title: Hidden Flame
Objective: Hide your true identity. Slowly spread the way of cultivation among the people. Endure the passage of time and prepare disciples for the coming of the Great Pirate Era.
Reward: Immortal Realm Breakthrough Pill
Warning: Exposure of immortal identity to higher powers before the right time may cause system lockdown or timeline collapse.
Alex's brows rose slightly. Immortal Realm Breakthrough Pill... Even in his previous life, such a pill was a treasure countless emperors would slaughter for. It wasn't something he could ignore. But the risk of timeline collapse? That meant this world was still too fragile to bear the full weight of true cultivation. He would need to build his foundation in secret.
He stood and looked at the village, then up at the starlit sky. He understood now—this world had its own trajectory. The Great Pirate Era would become the perfect storm for ascension... if he laid the groundwork correctly.
The next day, Alex wandered the village with purpose. He sought not strength, but potential. Children were too young. Most adults too set in their ways. But then he found her—a teenage girl training with a wooden stick behind her house, sweat pouring from her brow, every strike carrying the force of determination.
Her name was Lina, daughter of a fisherman. Her dream was simple: to become strong enough to protect her sick younger brother from bandits and beasts. It was enough.
"Your footwork is unbalanced," Alex said, stepping into view.
She looked startled, but not afraid. "Who are you to say that?"
He smiled faintly. "Someone who once shattered mountains with his sword."
Lina laughed—then saw the sword on his back. Not wood, not iron, but something older. Sharper. Alive.
"Prove it," she challenged.
Alex did not answer with words. He lifted a single finger and tapped a rock beside him. It split cleanly in half, the cut surface smooth like polished marble. Lina's mouth fell open.
"I can teach you," he said calmly. "But only if you promise to keep it secret. What I offer is not from this world."
Lina swallowed hard, then nodded. "I swear it."
Ding! Sub-Quest Completed: Spread the Seeds
Reward: 100 Origin Points, Random Martial Skill Scroll (Yellow Rank)
You have received:
– Origin Points: +100
– Martial Skill Scroll: Flowing Leaf Sword Art (Yellow - Mid-Tier)
Alex handed her the scroll that materialized in his hand. "Study this. I'll return tomorrow."
He turned to leave, but paused. The system had already begun tallying progress, and with it came a strange, quiet joy—not the bloodlust of war, but the thrill of growth. He wasn't just a cultivator anymore. He was now a founder.
That night, as he looked out over Baruba Island's dark horizon, Alex whispered to the stars:
"Let this world sleep for now. When the age of pirates rises… I will awaken it."
And far, far away, in the seas yet untouched by his presence, a ripple stirred—one that would one day shake the world.