At this point of time, there was one question which Ace has already failed to comprehend. Should he walk further down the path of flames or the path of slaughter now that he has already decided for the element of ice to be his secondary law and identity.
He was walking down a similar path to his master, Ultric who had also forsaken the power of ice in order to seek greater strength from the star he has created himself.
The intense heat was pervading through his skin, travelling deeper into his flesh which was screaming from the intense and unforgiving scorch, his body convulsing in fear and excitement of this newfound strength as though the pain was just a teaser.
Ace's bloodshot eyes were covered by his fatigued eyelids which finally managed to rest for the first time in this world of flames. He was enjoying this process as his body fell into a deep sleep.
The flames embraced Ace as though Ace was its child, caressing his body and being sure not to harm him in the slightest.
Nourishing his body which has already been purified to the extreme, only trying to ensure that Ace wouldn't come to any harm.
It was only a day, but to Ace whose soul was in another world, he had already lived an entire time as a mortal.
A mortal who has experienced the ups and downs of life.
When Ace opened his eyes again, tears were gushing out of his eyes uncontrollably.
"Charlotte, wait for me, with this strength, I'll save you sooner or later!"
Ace bolted out of his room, taking off into the sky without being noticed by anyone.
Making use of wings manifested from his Nirvana flames which contained the life essence of the flame dragon from an unknown dragon race, Ace managed to accomplish something which should be impossible.
As for his cultivation base, he was already in the Martial Spirit realm, which is also known as the Transcendent realm.
The reason for the Martial Spirit realm being known as the Transcendent realm was because it really meant rebirth for every cultivator that manages to step into this realm.
Within each cultivator, there would be a soul spirit formed. The soul spirit could take on any form, a weapon, a living being or even a human or place.
The soul spirit was divided into different grades which were ranked by different colours.
From white, to green, to blue, to purple, to orange, to red and finally black.
When a cultivator finally feels that he's at his limit, the cultivator will then be able to make a breakthrough to the Martial Lord realm which is the first realm of the Four Domains.
But a weak soul spirit comes at a price, those that fail to awaken at least an orange grade soul spirit will never be able to step into the Martial Saint realm.
And the grade of the soul spirit is also indefinitely affected by the final quality of the Foundation Tower and the body during the Body Tempering realm which is neglected by many, especially those who gained the talent to cultivate while being born in a mortal family.
Ace may have only just stepped into the Martial Spirit realm, but the soul spirit he has awakened was already orange in colour and at its brightest, just one more step and he would awaken a red soul spirit.
*Spring Breeze Inn*
"Boss, we're here to register for the rooms arranged to us by the Nebula Kingdom."
Cidd said towards the old man who was dressed in ragged clothing unlike the others or the man at the counter who was wearing high quality clothing.
"Young man, you seem to have mistaken me for somebody else. I'm just an old man sitting here enjoying some wine, but if you don't mind, you can join me as well."
"Is that the reason why the workers are looking at you with slightest reverence in their eyes?"
"You're smart." The old man said as he poured himself another bowl of wine before gulping it down.
"But just because you figured out that I'm the boss here doesn't mean that you earned the accommodation stated by the Nebula Kingdom. Your sect master has to defeat me in a battle."
"Fine by me."
Before anyone could even tell the old man that their sect master wasn't present, Ace had already stood in front of them facing the old man fearlessly.
"Young boy, you should get out of the way before I hurt you. Just because you're the junior of some elites doesn't mean that you're a match for me. Even your seniors…"
"Old man, you seem to have gotten the wrong idea here. I'm the sect master."
The moment Ace said this, the old man suddenly attacked Ace with his palm, gathering a burst of wind which surrounded his palm.
"Frost wall."
Compared to Ace whose strength right now was invincible below the Four Domains realms, all he did was make use of his frost law to easily neutralise the attack of the old man.
The entire time, the smile on his face was present, his calm demeanor making it such that no one worried for him. Even when the old man ambushed him with an unexpected fierce attack from a Martial Spirit realm cultivator, Ace easily blocked it with a single thought.
"Young boy, it seems that I have underestimated you, but still, for someone your age to actually be a sect master instead of an elite disciple means that you still have a long way to go. Take this token, it will show you the way to the VIP section of my Spring Breeze Inn."
"Thank you senior." Ace took the token over and got the others to follow him before leaving.
"Sect master, are you just going to let the matter slide after what the old man just did?" Lancelot couldn't help but ask in disapproval, only to realise that Ace was looking at him with a serious expression.
"Don't mess with that old man, if he was serious just now, I would already be turned into dust right now."
"No way, he seems to be just an…"
"An average cultivator? Someone who concealed his true cultivation from all of you without being noticed and even able to muster up that much strength casually? Remember, in the Nebula Kingdom, no one is simple regardless of how weak they might seem on the surface."
Lancelot wanted to rebut, but couldn't find the words to.
"I understand."
As the sect made their way to the VIP section with the token guiding Ace by showing the correct path in his mind, they stopped at a gigantic courtyard which had many empty rooms built around it.
The courtyard scenery was simple but beautiful.
Sakura trees that gave one a peace of mind. A lake with a few simple fishes. A garden with some plants and flowers being cultivated.
The houses and rooms were made of wood, exuding an aromatic scent of nature.
The courtyard itself was also a high quality cultivation ground which is actually even better than their sect, but considering the radius of the sect compared to this courtyard, everyone present could understand just how difficult it must have been for Ace to accomplish that cultivation environment for everyone.
"Everyone, choose your own room and rest for the day. There are still about three more days until the rules are issued to us."
"Yes sect master."
As everyone took their leave, Ace walked towards the pond and sat down by the bench near it. Watching the fishes swim in the lake, free from their natural predators unlike most cultivators who struggle to even stay alive from their enemies.
"What's the matter? You seem troubled." Jay asked in concern as he sat down on the bench opposite to Ace.
"I was just thinking about Charlotte for a moment and how life has actually forced us apart."
Jay sighed with a perplexed expression on his face, "You know, sometimes I really wonder if I should be jealous of your cultivation talent or should I be glad that I don't have to suffer your fate. Even most geniuses your age won't be as mature as you."
"You do not know about this, but just before I came here, I lived an entire lifetime as a mortal more than once. Each worse than the other with them leading to despair and loneliness in the end. I was petrified, left struggling in the depths of the ocean only to be pulled out by the light ray which pierced through the water.
But when I tried to grab onto it, my hand passed through it as a whirlpool sucked me into another lifetime where I became a scholar, only to be framed for my intelligence and wits which threatened many which feared that their darkest secrets would be discovered.
Again and again, I went through despair. So much that I was numbed to it, I grew accustomed to the feeling of loneliness, but right when I was about to lose sight of who I truly am, it was Charlotte who once again pulled me back to my senses.
Jay, I need your help. I swear on my life that I will save Charlotte!"
Ace said with determination in his eyes as a red soul spirit of a sword embodying the crimson wings of a phoenix manifested behind his back.
That was his soul spirit. His soul spirit which was only one step away from being at the peak of all soul spirits in the world.
Soon, he would awaken his soul spirit into the final stage in which only experts at Jay's and Lucifer's level can accomplish.