Chapter 25: Infernal Pursuit: The Patriarch's Shadow
The golden light of Liam's breakthrough had subsided, leaving behind a profound stillness in his Elder's residence. His Golden Core, now in its Middle Stage, thrummed with a boundless energy, the cosmic essence within it expanding his perception to an unprecedented degree. He felt as if the entire Volcanic Veins region was laid bare before his senses, every subtle tremor, every distant spiritual fluctuation, a clear whisper in his mind. The arduous journey, the brutal trials, and the absorption of the Azure Star Ore had culminated in this moment of transformative power.
Sael and Lyra stood before him, their eyes wide with awe, reflecting the golden afterglow of his ascent. Sael's face was etched with unwavering devotion, her loyalty reaffirmed by the impossible feat she had just witnessed. Lyra, her sapphire eyes gleaming, looked at him with a deep reverence, her clan's future irrevocably tied to this young, ascended being.
"Liam," Sael whispered, her voice filled with a tremor of pure admiration. "Golden Core, Middle Stage! This is truly miraculous. No one achieves this in mere weeks, especially from a destabilized core."
Liam offered a tired but triumphant smile. "The Azure Star Ore proved invaluable. It anchored my core perfectly." His gaze hardened slightly. "But this power... it has attracted unwanted attention."
Lyra, ever vigilant, seemed to sense his shift in mood. "The Blazefire Sect?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Liam nodded. "My breakthrough sent ripples. Patriarch Inferno himself has sensed it. His spiritual signature is immense, a raging inferno. And he is mobilizing." Liam's newly enhanced perception could pinpoint the movements of a formidable force, hundreds of miles to the south, led by an aura that dwarfed all others.
"Patriarch Inferno is a Golden Core Realm, Peak Stage expert, Liam," Sael warned, her tone grave. "His power is terrifying. He commands the Blazefire Sect, a ruthless organization with thousands of cultivators and powerful fire-attributed beasts. If he brings his full force, even our array may not hold."
Liam considered. A direct confrontation with Patriarch Inferno, especially with his sect's full might, was still suicide. He was Golden Core Middle Stage, but the gap between Middle and Peak was vast, akin to the gap between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core. Patriarch Inferno would also possess formidable fire techniques, honed over centuries. He needed a strategy.
"They will not attack immediately," Liam mused, his mind racing. "Patriarch Inferno is cautious. He will send a reconnaissance force first, to gauge the strength of the disturbance, to confirm the breakthrough. They will be elite."
"Then we prepare for an ambush," Sael stated, her eyes glinting with a predatory light. "We hit them hard and fast, showing them enough strength to deter a full-scale invasion, but not enough to reveal all our cards."
Lyra, though less experienced in combat, contributed. "The Volcanic Veins have many hidden pathways, underground rivers of magma, and treacherous canyons. My clan's knowledge of this land's spiritual ore veins and hidden passages can guide us."
Liam nodded, a plan forming in his mind. "We don't fight them near the Cloud Serpent Tribe. We lead them away. Into a natural ambush point where the terrain favors us." He spent hours with Sael and Lyra, meticulously planning, using Lyra's detailed knowledge of the local geography and Sael's combat experience.
Days later, the spiritual tremors intensified. Liam sensed a powerful reconnaissance force approaching – two Golden Core Realm, Initial Stage experts, and a dozen elite Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their auras burned fiercely with fire energy.
"They are here," Liam stated, his voice calm. "Sael, Lyra, remain hidden. Follow my lead. We will lead them to the Obsidian Serpent's Gorge."
The Obsidian Serpent's Gorge was a narrow, winding canyon, its walls made of jagged black rock. It was known for its volatile spiritual energy and the occasional presence of powerful, territorial beasts. Liam and Sael positioned themselves strategically, while Lyra and a few Star Ore scouts positioned themselves on higher ground, ready to relay information.
The Blazefire Sect's reconnaissance force entered the gorge, their fiery auras illuminating the dark rock. Their leader, a stern-faced man named Elder Cinder, sensed the lingering spiritual fluctuations from Liam's breakthrough. "The breakthrough was indeed genuine," Elder Cinder growled. "But this place... it feels too quiet."
Just as they reached the narrowest point of the gorge, Liam struck. He didn't reveal himself immediately. Instead, he channeled his 'Celestial Wind Arts,' creating a sudden, powerful updraft that disrupted their formation, sending dust and small rocks flying. Simultaneously, Sael, hidden above, unleashed her 'Viper's Entanglement' technique, her whip transforming into dozens of shimmering green spiritual vines that wrapped around the Blazefire Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators, binding them instantly.
"Ambush!" Elder Cinder roared, his eyes blazing with fury. He unleashed a torrent of fire, but Liam was already moving.
Liam appeared like a golden blur, darting between the Foundation Establishment cultivators, his Golden Core-infused 'Ocean Blasts' striking with devastating precision. BOOM! BOOM! Each punch sent a raider flying, unconscious or severely injured. His movements were too swift, his attacks too powerful for them to defend against.
The other Golden Core Realm Initial Stage expert, a woman named Sister Blaze, unleashed a wave of searing flames, trying to incinerate Liam. But Liam used his 'Celestial Wind Arts' to redirect the flames, turning them back on the Blazefire Sect's own forces, causing chaos.
Sael, meanwhile, engaged Elder Cinder directly. Her whip cracked like thunder, empowered by her Golden Core Middle Stage. Elder Cinder, a master of defensive fire techniques, was formidable, his body encased in layers of hardened flame. But Sael's attacks were precise, targeting the subtle gaps in his fiery armor, forcing him onto the defensive.
Liam quickly incapacitated the remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators, then turned his attention to Sister Blaze. She was fierce, her attacks relentless, but her focus was on overwhelming him with brute force. Liam, using his analytical perception, identified a subtle flaw in her rapid-fire technique – a momentary lag in her spiritual energy circulation between attacks.
He dodged her most powerful fireball, then, in a blinding flash, appeared directly behind her. He channeled his Golden Core energy into his 'Cosmic Fire Tiger Clone'. This time, the tiger was even larger, more vibrant, its golden flames radiating an oppressive heat.
"Cosmic Inferno!" Liam bellowed, unleashing the fiery tiger onto Sister Blaze's back.
ROOOOOAR!
The Cosmic Fire Tiger Clone slammed into Sister Blaze with devastating force. She shrieked in agony as her fiery defenses shattered, her body engulfed in golden flames. She was sent hurtling through the air, crashing against the canyon wall, her aura flickering weakly. She was defeated.
Elder Cinder, seeing Sister Blaze fall, roared in pure fury and desperation. He was being pushed back by Sael's relentless assault, and now Liam had joined the fray. He knew retreat was impossible; he had to break through. He unleashed his most powerful technique, the 'Infernal Pillar,' a towering column of pure, destructive flame that rose from the ground, aiming to incinerate Liam and Sael.
Liam and Sael exchanged a determined glance. They channeled their combined Golden Core energies, Liam's golden cosmic energy, and Sael's green spiritual power. Sael's whip glowed with a vibrant emerald light, while Liam summoned his strongest 'Celestial Wind Arts' and directed his 'Ocean Blast' towards the pillar's base.
As the Infernal Pillar surged upwards, Liam and Sael struck simultaneously. Sael's whip lashed out, creating a vortex that diverted the pillar's energy, while Liam's 'Ocean Blast' created a powerful counter-pressure at its base. The massive column of flame wavered, then, with a deafening roar, exploded harmlessly into the sky, its power dissipated.
Elder Cinder stared in disbelief, his technique countered so completely. He knew he was outmatched. He gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with hatred, and activated a hidden escape talisman. With a flash of crimson light, he vanished, abandoning his remaining forces.
Liam and Sael immediately pursued him, but Elder Cinder's escape technique was swift. They knew he would report back to Patriarch Inferno, confirming Liam's immense power. The main confrontation was now inevitable.
Liam and Sael quickly returned to the gorge, where the remaining Blazefire Sect raiders were either incapacitated or desperately trying to flee. Liam, with Lyra's help, rounded them up, binding them with spiritual seals.
Lyra, who had watched the entire battle unfold from her vantage point, descended, her sapphire eyes gleaming with awe. She had seen Liam's overwhelming power, Sael's fierce loyalty, and their perfectly synchronized teamwork. "Liam," she whispered, her voice filled with profound admiration. "You are truly magnificent. You defeated two Golden Core experts!" Her gaze lingered on his powerful, battle-hardened form, a new level of adoration shining in her eyes.
Liam offered her a tired but triumphant smile. The battle had been fierce, and his energy was depleted, but he had proven his Golden Core Middle Stage strength. He knew Patriarch Inferno would now come for him, personally. The true test of his destiny was drawing near. His cultivation path was clear, but the path to becoming Star Emperor was paved with fire.