Somewhere deep within the Scorch Realm, a lone figure stood atop a jagged cliff, his silhouette framed by the crimson glow of molten rivers below.
Jalen.
He had spent the past few months hidden in the underground ridges of Riley State, far from the prying eyes of the Yale Clan. It wasn't just about evading their forces—it was about preparing Nate. The boy had recently broken through to the Peak Pearl Realm, and Jalen had taken it upon himself to guide him, temper him, and ensure he was ready for what lay ahead.
But then the Origin Shard struck again.
As always, when it sensed a treasure worthy of its attention, it hijacked Jalen's body without warning, dragging him across realms and leaving Nate behind. Jalen hated the feeling—being a puppet to the shard's whims—but he had learned to live with it. Thankfully, Nate was safe. The ridge they'd been hiding in was fortified with powerful formations, stocked with food, and equipped with an escape array should danger arise. Jalen had even left instructions: if he didn't return in a few days after he's gone, Nate was to seek out the Raine Sect and tell them Jalen had sent him.
He trusted the boy. Nate would survive. He had to.
Now, Jalen stood overlooking a river of lava, its surface bubbling and hissing with deadly intensity. A powerful formation protected the river, preventing anyone from entering until the realm itself granted permission—even to Jalen, despite being the strongest cultivator here in the scorch realm.
But even without the formation, the river was no place for the weak. Its flames were so potent that even seasoned flame cultivators could be reduced to ash in seconds if not careful. Jalen, however, was no ordinary cultivator.
To pass the time, he explored the surrounding terrain. Flame beasts roamed the area—none strong enough to threaten Jalen—and none dared approach him either. He collected rare fire-type herbs, their vibrant hues glowing against the scorched earth. Then, he stumbled upon a commotion.
A group of ten cultivators, ranging from Peak Star Realm to Peak Moon Realm, were locked in battle with a Peak Imperial Realm flame lion beast. Among them was Lloyd—his younger brother—wielding the Luminal Edge, a radiant blade of light. Lloyd was struggling, barely keeping the beast at bay. Despite using techniques like Luminous Veil Steps to dodge and Flare of Recursion to teleport to previously visited spots, he had sustained several injuries.
Jalen watched silently, letting the battle unfold. He knew Lloyd wouldn't appreciate interference unless absolutely necessary. But as the tide turned and Lloyd teetered on the brink of death, preparing to summon his supreme-grade lightsaber, Jalen acted.
A gust of wind sliced through the air—the fourth technique of the Spirit Wind Art, Wind Needle—piercing the beast's spirit sea and stunning it mid-charge.
Then, the shadows beneath the flame lion twisted unnaturally. The seventh technique of the Shadow Art, Shadow Devour, activated.
Darkness surged upward, engulfing the beast in a swirling vortex of consuming shadow. It roared once—then vanished, swallowed whole.
Before the other cultivators could react, Jalen used Shadow Eclipse to whisk Lloyd away, leaving no trace. As far as they knew, whatever had killed the beast had also claimed Lloyd. They braced for death, but it never came.
___
Back at the cliff, Jalen and Lloyd sat together, sharing a flask of liquor beneath the scorched sky.
"So, you're here for the treasure too, brother?" Lloyd asked casually with a hint of curiosity.
Jalen nodded, saying nothing.
"I thought you wouldn't be interested. It's mainly for flame cultivators," Lloyd mused. Then his eyes widened. "Wait… do you also practice flame cultivation?"
He knew Jalen wielded Light Qi and Shadow Qi from their time in the Vault at Renin Mountain. He had recently learned about Jalen's wind and ice attributes when he saved him and others from the Raine sect from the assassins of the Crimson Vale sect. But if he also practiced Flame Qi, then that would mean his brother practices five types of elemental qi, which shouldn't be possible according to normal cultivation standards.
Jalen didn't answer.
"Why are you here then? This treasure doesn't benefit you either."
Lloyd's unease grew. Jalen's silence about him being able to use fire qi was a bit unsettling.
"The Patriarch and the elders said this place would help temper my body and raise my realm," Lloyd offered.
"They're right," Jalen replied. "The Fire Qi here is intense. While it's more beneficial to flame cultivators, Light Qi shares some common attributes. It can be useful to you."
Lloyd nodded slowly. "So… why this cliff?"
"For the treasure," Jalen said simply.
"You're telling me the treasure everyone's searching for is right here?"
Jalen nodded again.
"Then why haven't you retrieved it?"
"There's a formation protecting the route to get to the treasure that even I cannot break forcefully without angering the realm," Jalen explained. "But it's weakening. Once it's down, I'll go. And before you ask—no, you can't come. If you were a flame cultivator or at least at the Peak Imperial Realm, by all means. But you're neither."
"Don't worry," Lloyd said quickly. "I have no intention of going anywhere near that river. The Patriarch warned me to stay away from places that are too dangerous. And I can tell that river would devour me if I dared set foot in it."
"Good."
The brothers spent a few more days together, reminiscing and training. Eventually, Jalen saw Lloyd off to a region rich in Light Qi, ideal for his growth. And when Jalen returned to the cliff, the formation was gone. Signs of battle and passage littered the area—others had come and gone; some likely perished.
Without hesitation, Jalen summoned his Flame Qi, wrapping it around his body like a protective cloak. His garments shimmered with heat-resistant energy. Then, he dove into the flaming river.
The descent was brutal. The heat was suffocating, the pressure immense. But Jalen pressed on, his body shielded by layers of Qi. The river twisted and turned, revealing hidden caverns and ancient glyphs etched into the stone. He passed the charred remains of those who had tried and failed.