"This has nothing to do with me," Han Jue said cautiously, his eyes never leaving the Mirror Lake Holy Spirit's trembling form.
The ancient being's appearance had transformed dramatically. Where moments ago an imposing immortal presence had stood, now Han Jue witnessed something far more unsettling, desperation etched into every line of that ethereal face.
If the Mirror Lake Holy Spirit attempted an attack, Han Jue was prepared. He would immediately deploy the Star-Eating Grass to intercept. After several decades of careful cultivation within his internal world, the parasitic plant had reached the fifth level of World Master rank. More than capable of blocking a blow from an initial-stage Marquis Immortal, it would buy him precious seconds to summon the Ice Wasteland spacecraft and escape.
"Yes, I know," the Qiming Holy Spirit nodded, stepping between Han Jue and the distraught Mirror Lake Holy Spirit.
His white flames flickered with barely contained energy as he spoke, each word measured and deliberate. "That lord once explained there are only two paths to gaining a Holy Flame's recognition."
The Qiming Holy Spirit's gaze swept across the gathered immortals before continuing. "The first is to demonstrate sufficient talent. Each Holy Flame possesses a degree of spirituality, an innate awareness that allows it to choose its own master. If you can prove your genius, your comprehension, your potential, the Holy Flame will recognize you of its own accord."
He paused, his expression growing more serious. "The second path requires pure strength. Pass the seventh stage of the Sacred Pillar Trial through your own power, and you'll earn the Holy Flame's approval through conquest. This is what the seven of us have been striving toward for countless epochs."
"That lord gained the Holy Flame's recognition through the first method," the Qiming Holy Spirit explained, his tone softening slightly. "So we understand the process intimately. Once recognized, you can use the Holy Flame for cultivation and harness its power against your enemies. However, wielding such power requires exceptional physical fitness."
His next words carried an edge of warning. "You're not yet qualified to fully utilize it. Your body needs considerable strengthening before you can safely channel the Holy Flame's full might."
The Qiming Holy Spirit's gaze shifted back to the Mirror Lake Holy Spirit, whose aged appearance now mirrored the weight of countless disappointed epochs. "Mirror Lake... he's worked harder than any of us for this recognition. For you to achieve it before him, " The white-flamed immortal shook his head slowly. "He's devastated. But we will do our best to counsel him, to prevent any... unfortunate decisions."
His final words came out firmly, almost protectively. "You may leave now. Return to your territory quickly."
With that dismissal, the Qiming Holy Spirit turned and departed, his form dissipating into streams of white flame.
Honestly, Han Jue's achievement had stimulated more than just the Mirror Lake Holy Spirit.
The Qiming Holy Spirit's own thoughts churned with anxiety as he left. If things continued like this, would some supremely gifted prince eventually appear and snatch away the Wind-Time Holy Flame's recognition before he could earn it himself?
I need to accelerate my cultivation!
This urgent thought crossed the minds of five of the seven Holy Spirits, all except the Mirror Lake Holy Spirit, who remained frozen in shock, and the Floating Life Holy Spirit, who already stood closest to breaking through.
The Floating Life Holy Spirit felt the pressure most acutely. He was only one step away from advancing to High Marquis level, and he held the greatest hope among them all of achieving King status. If he could pass the seventh stage of the Sacred Pillar Trial and earn his Holy Flame's approval, he would reach the pinnacle of Kinghood, becoming qualified to serve as a senior executive within the Virtual Universe Company, perhaps even enjoying a degree of autonomy similar to the legendary Flame Phoenix King himself.
Han Jue, keenly aware of the tense atmosphere, wasted no time in making his escape.
While the other Holy Spirits worked to restrain their devastated colleague, he slipped away from the Sacred Pillar Space, relief flooding through him with each kilometer of distance gained.
After Han Jue departed, the Mirror Lake Holy Spirit stood motionless, staring at the empty air where the young genius had been standing.
His youthful immortal appearance had aged dramatically in mere moments, transforming him into a white-haired elder whose face bore the weathered lines of countless disappointed centuries.
The Mirror Lake Holy Spirit took a shuddering breath, still struggling to accept reality.
"Mirror Lake, it's all right," the Qiming Holy Spirit said gently, returning to his colleague's side. "I'll arrange for you to speak with the Flame Phoenix King. He should be able to offer guidance, perhaps even alternative paths to power."
"Yes, Mirror Lake, don't let your mind wander to dark places," the Linmu Holy Spirit added, his emerald flames pulsing with concern. "There are always other opportunities."
The Mirror Lake Holy Spirit clenched his fists, the cyan-blue flames around him flickering erratically. When he finally spoke, his voice carried absolute conviction. "I've decided to join the Virtual Universe Company."
The declaration hung in the air, shocking the assembled immortals into momentary silence.
As a Marquis Immortal, albeit only an initial-stage one, the Mirror Lake Holy Spirit possessed strength far exceeding someone like Hu Yanbo. His combat power rivaled any competent Marquis serving in the Company's ranks. The Virtual Universe Company would happily accept such an immortal into their fold. While he wouldn't be afforded significant authority or power, he would still receive the status and benefits appropriate to his rank.
Previously, all seven Holy Spirits had refrained from joining, each nursing hopes of one day becoming a peak-level King like the Flame Phoenix King himself, a position that would grant them genuine influence and respect within the Company's vast hierarchy.
But now...
"Join the Virtual Universe Company?" The Floating Life Holy Spirit materialized beside them, his tall, thin form crackling with barely restrained energy. After a moment's consideration, he nodded slowly. "Very well. That's actually a practical decision."
"I'll contact the Flame Phoenix King on your behalf," the Floating Life Holy Spirit continued, his tone businesslike. "He can facilitate your entry and ensure you're placed in a suitable position. At the very least, it will give you access to resources and training opportunities unavailable here in the Seven Flames Palace."
The Mirror Lake Holy Spirit nodded numbly, accepting this new path forward with weary resignation.
After leaving the Sacred Pillar Space, Han Jue's first destination was Dulan Main City.
Qi Yunxian now served as the acting City Lord, with Yaoguang Ye assisting him in administrative duties. Although over thirty years had passed within the Seven Flames Palace's unique time flow, in the outside universe's standard time, only a little over three years had elapsed, a relatively brief period for immortal cultivators.
In the City Lord's Mansion, the atmosphere carried a comfortable familiarity.
"My Lord! You've returned!" Yaoguang Ye exclaimed with genuine delight, his face lighting up as Han Jue entered the main hall.
Before Han Jue had departed for the Sacred Pillar Trial, he had already provided them with the antidote to the Moxu poison fruit. Both Yaoguang Ye and Qi Yunxian were now technically free men, no longer bound by the threat of that particular compulsion.
However, considering everything Han Jue had achieved for them, gratitude far outweighed any lingering resentment. He had brought the Yaoguang family an entire main city, elevating their status dramatically. Regardless of the poison fruit's influence, Han Jue had earned the right to be considered a guest of honor within the Yaoguang family, someone worthy of being treated as an equal to Yaoguang Tianyou himself, the family's patriarch.
"Hmm," Han Jue acknowledged with a slight nod, his gaze sweeping across the well-maintained hall. "You've done quite well managing things here."
The Dulan family had been eradicated, but their cultivation methods for the Blood Orchid vine had survived the purge. This parasitic plant technology remained quite useful, and now even the citizens of Yaoguang Main City cultivated Blood Orchid vines for both protection and power enhancement.
"Sir!" Qi Yunxian strode in from a side entrance, his bearing confident and commanding.
The older cultivator's eyes shone with sincere gratitude. "Thanks to your assistance, I've achieved a position I never dared imagine! The Qi family now controls Dulan Main City, something that would have been impossible just a few decades ago."
Yaoguang Tianyou had kept his promise. As long as the Qi family agreed to become vassals of the Yaoguang family, he would not interfere in Dulan Main City's internal affairs. All they needed to do was periodically pay tribute in Spark Coins to Yaoguang Main City, a reasonable arrangement that granted them substantial autonomy.
For Qi Yunxian, a third-level World Master, reaching such a position represented an incredible ascension. The path from talented cultivator to City Lord was one that required not just power, but opportunity, connections, and often extraordinary luck.
Freedom? He already enjoyed more freedom than most World Masters could ever hope for.
Han Jue remained his greatest benefactor, the person who had made everything possible.
"I came here mainly to inform you that I'm leaving soon," Han Jue said with a slight smile, his tone casual but firm.
"Leaving?" Yaoguang Ye's expression fell, disappointment flickering across his young face.
"Yes, leaving this place..." Han Jue paused, considering how to phrase it. "Think of it as me departing the Mirror Lake Divine Kingdom entirely."
It was essentially the same thing, really. These individuals would probably never leave the Mirror Lake Divine Kingdom in their entire lifespans. The vast cosmos beyond held dangers and opportunities far exceeding anything available in this relatively backwater region.
"From now on, this territory is in your hands," Han Jue continued, addressing both of them. "Manage it well. Build something lasting."
"Sir, will we... will we meet again?" Yaoguang Ye asked nervously, unable to hide the concern in his voice.
"Probably not."
The blunt honesty hung in the air for a moment. Then Han Jue waved his hand in farewell, turned, and soared into the sky, his figure becoming smaller against the artificial firmament of the Seven Flames Palace.
Above Dulan Main City stood the Dulan Tunnel, one of many passages connecting the various layers of this vast cosmic structure.
Ignoring the Dulan guards' startled attempts to stop him, Han Jue descended directly through the tunnel into the Chaotic Lands below. He continued his descent without pause, passing through the swirling rainbow light barriers that separated the civilized regions from the untamed wilderness, until he finally emerged from the Seven Flames Palace's outer perimeter.
The vast cosmos opened before him, infinite and dark, studded with distant stars like diamonds scattered across black velvet.
Outside the Seven Flames Palace, on Flame Phoenix Mountain, the Flame Phoenix King sat upon his throne.
The massive immortal's fiery red wings folded behind him, his predatory eagle-like eyes tracking something in the distance. Despite his relaxed posture, power radiated from him like heat from a forge, the unmistakable presence of a peak-level King, one of the strongest beings in this entire sector of the universe.
As he watched the Ice Wasteland spacecraft materialize outside the Seven Flames Palace's boundaries, the Flame Phoenix King waved one hand in a casual gesture.
"Go. Have Han Jue come see me."
"Yes, my lord!" A guard standing behind the throne immediately bowed and departed to carry out the command.
Emerging into the void of space, Han Jue felt the familiar sensation of true freedom. The oppressive weight of the Seven Flames Palace's internal atmosphere, with its layers of watchful immortals and ancient powers, finally lifted from his shoulders.
His spacecraft hummed with quiet efficiency, Rimuru's consciousness guiding its systems with perfect precision.
Suddenly, proximity alarms chimed softly.
A sleek silver spacecraft, triangular in design and radiating obvious quality, rapidly approached the Ice Wasteland vessel.
"Beep!"
An incoming transmission request appeared on Han Jue's display. He accepted it, curious about who would intercept him so quickly.
"Your Highness Han Jue, greetings," a polite voice transmitted through the communication channel. "I am Xu Huang, guide and steward of Flame Phoenix Mountain. Congratulations on completing your training at the Seven Flames Palace. That is no small achievement."
"Xu Huang?" Han Jue was stunned, his mind racing.
Wasn't Xu Huang dead? The treasury he'd discovered had seemed like a posthumous legacy, prepared by someone expecting never to return.
Following the silver spacecraft's transmitted coordinates, Rimuru piloted the Ice Wasteland vessel into a vast docking bay within Flame Phoenix Mountain itself. The interior revealed itself to be a massive space station, complete with artificial gravity, atmospheric controls, and countless docking berths for vessels of every size and description.
Soon, a middle-aged man in an elegant silver robe approached Han Jue's landing platform. Seven flame icons adorned the back of his robe, marking his official status within the Seven Flames Palace hierarchy. His bearing spoke of confidence earned through experience, and his eyes held the depth of someone who had seen much of the universe's wonders and horrors.
"Xu Huang?" Han Jue asked as he descended from his spacecraft, studying the man before him.
The man's appearance matched descriptions from the treasury's records, but something about him seemed more substantial, more present than Han Jue had expected from historical accounts.
"Your Highness Han Jue, you've heard of me?" Xu Huang appeared genuinely startled before breaking into a warm smile. "That's quite surprising. My fame doesn't usually precede me in such circumstances."
"Yes, I discovered and claimed the treasury you left behind," Han Jue said frankly, seeing no reason to hide the truth.
He distinctly remembered Xu Huang's self-deprecating humor in those recorded messages, the playful yet melancholic tone of someone who had accepted certain limitations in his cultivation path.
"Ah... well, that's..." Xu Huang's expression flickered with embarrassment before settling into rueful acceptance. "I suppose it's my honor to have been of assistance to Your Highness, even if indirectly. That treasury represented my accumulated resources from many centuries of effort."
He cleared his throat, visibly gathering himself. "In any case, Lord Flame Phoenix King wishes to see you. I'll escort you to his presence now."
"Flame Phoenix King..." Han Jue murmured thoughtfully. "He's the lord who claimed the Fire-Sky Holy Flame recognition long ago, correct?"
He roughly understood why Xu Huang was here, alive and serving, rather than dead as he'd assumed.
"That's correct," Xu Huang confirmed with a nod.
As they walked through the gleaming corridors of Flame Phoenix Mountain, Xu Huang elaborated on his own history. "After I abandoned my treasury and departed that region, I believed my chances of achieving Immortality had dwindled to nearly nothing. My talent had its limits, and I'd exhausted most obvious paths to advancement."
His expression brightened considerably as he continued. "However, I hadn't anticipated the Floating Life Holy Spirit's generosity. Despite my failure to pass his Sacred Pillar Trial, he was willing to accept me as a disciple. More remarkably, he helped arrange my entry into the Virtual Universe Company proper, a tremendous opportunity that completely changed my fate."
"Eventually, I managed to break through to Immortality," Xu Huang said with obvious pride. "I became a subordinate of Lord Flame Phoenix King, serving here on Flame Phoenix Mountain. The position also granted me regular access to study the Fire-Sky Holy Flame, which has proven invaluable for my continued cultivation."
"I see," Han Jue nodded, understanding falling into place.
The Void Emperor had found a patron in the Floating Life Holy Spirit, who had then connected him to the Flame Phoenix King. That network of relationships had saved Xu Huang from obscurity and provided him with resources far beyond what he could have achieved independently.
It was a reminder of how crucial connections and opportunities were in the cultivation world, talent alone rarely sufficed without someone willing to invest in your potential.
As they approached the throne room where the Flame Phoenix King awaited, Han Jue straightened his posture and prepared himself mentally.
Whatever came next, he needed to navigate this meeting carefully. The Flame Phoenix King represented power on a scale Han Jue couldn't yet match, a being who had achieved what even the Seven Holy Spirits still strived toward.
The massive doors ahead began to open, revealing the blazing presence beyond.