Chapter 206: Threads Between Soul and Flame
The following morning, Elton and company passed high above the Kingdom of Brassaint, the winds whispering across the skies as the dawn light bled over the horizon. When they finally landed at daybreak, they switched back to traveling by magical vehicle, racing along the roads with steady speed.
Unlike Christy, Elton, and even Shayleaf—whose presence still resonated faintly through her wooden doll—Erica was the only one who showed signs of exhaustion from the long, sleepless journey.
"You guys… why are you all still so energized!?" Erica complained, her voice half-groan, half-whine, as she looked at Elton and Christy sitting calmly beside her.
"Hmm… in my case, perhaps it's because of the evolution of my Aka Boshi no Tengan?" Christy mused thoughtfully. "Though I can't last nearly as long as Gege or Shay."
"But that's your eyes, not your body!" Erica shot back immediately.
"No," Christy countered gently, "I think there's a connection between the soul and the body. For example, Shay's already a Mortal Lord in Spirit, which enhances her magic immensely, but her body and cultivation haven't caught up yet. As for me, the evolution of my eyes affects my soul. Whenever I use the Kokon Tengan, my soul ascends into the Mortal Shedding Realm, temporarily amplifying my Ki, magic, and body—but that power still comes with its own limits."
"Wow wow wow! Sister Chris is so incredibly smart! I think she may be right!" Shayleaf's voice squeaked excitedly from the wooden doll, her leaf-wrapped arms flailing in agreement.
"Eh… then what about El Onyem?" Erica asked, looking toward Elton curiously.
Elton smiled faintly. "As for me… my case is a bit unusual. My spirit, soul, and body are already at the Mortal Shedding Realm boundary. My cultivation's the only part lagging behind—but honestly, that's a good thing. The stronger my foundation before breaking through, the better. Isn't that what Master Bluesonics and Elder Rukia both said?"
Erica blinked at his confident tone, a wave of pride rising in her chest—along with a flicker of competitive unease.
"I understand now," she murmured. "Then for me, the fastest way to grow would be through magic, since it draws directly from spirit. Actually… there's an even greater method I could use. Both you and I, El Onyem, as members of the Soloman Clan, could perform it together. But… it almost feels like I'd just be using you, and I didn't feel right asking."
Elton tilted his head with a warm grin. "Oh really? There's such a method? Why didn't you say so? Tell me what I should do."
"Hehehe! It's because Sister Erri is so prideful—always the self-reliant genius," Shayleaf teased playfully. "For her to even mention this now? That's real character development!"
Christy chuckled softly. "She's not wrong. You're even more prideful than I was, and weirdly enough, that helped me overcome mine."
"Will you two please be quiet! Geez!" Erica grumbled, her cheeks flushed pink. "Anyway, I'll tell you about it, El Onyem."
After she explained, everyone fell silent, processing the complexity of what they'd heard.
"Sounds like something weaker clan members would do to empower stronger ones," Christy said with a wry smile.
"Indeed," Erica agreed, nodding. "It's usually used that way. But El Onyem's case is… unique. A Mortal Lord without officially breaking through in cultivation—an extreme outlier. That alone makes him a powerful source. And with our spiritual link from before, combined with synchronized cultivation and natural compatibility… I wouldn't dare speak of this method to anyone else but him." Her voice softened to a quiet murmur by the end.
Elton smiled, amused and reassured. "Ah, that makes sense. My blood meridian constantly strengthens my body, and my training only adds to it. That's probably why my vessel for growth exceeds the usual bottleneck. Helping you now won't drain me much—just a temporary drop in power."
Soon after, they finally reached the domain of the Bright Brilliant Blade Sect. Disciples hurried through the grounds, their movements tense and rushed from the ongoing war efforts.
The sect felt emptier than before, its echoing halls bearing the weight of distant conflict. Before entering, Elton and company concealed their faces behind new masks, different from their usual White Star Radiance ones, to protect their identities.
Their high-ranked identification tokens, infused with their true auras, were all that was needed for entry. The Winged Serpent, once registered as Elton's contracted beast, followed without issue.
Elton and Christy went to the mission registry to report the completion of their long-standing assignment. Afterward, they made their way back to their assigned quarters—though, in truth, everyone knew that meant Elton's living space.
As they entered, a familiar figure awaited them: a beautiful woman with a playful yet imposing expression, arms crossed as she examined them one by one.
"Elder Rukia!" the three called out in unison, bowing respectfully.
Rukia's sharp gaze swept over them with quiet intrigue, then drifted to the Winged Serpent, who instinctively shuddered. His instincts screamed danger—the aura that leaked from this woman, though restrained, was suffocating even to a Mortal Lord Demonic Beast.
"I'm happy to see you all made it back in one piece," Rukia said simply with a nod. "Follow me. We're going to where Master Bluesonics resides."
Without another word, she took to the air. Her aura vanished completely; to anyone else in the sect, she was invisible. Only Elton and his companions could still perceive her movements—something they'd long grown used to.
The group followed swiftly on foot until they reached one of the sect's forbidden zones. There, Rukia formed a series of hand seals, weaving ancient magic that opened a shimmering gateway.
They stepped through into familiar lands—Elton's old training grounds, where he and his friends had endured years of harsh instruction.
At the far end stood Master Bluesonics, gazing into the endless sky with an unreadable smile. His hands were folded behind his back, the air around him pulsing faintly with an invisible rhythm that bent to his will.
"Oh-ho… my dear children," he said, his tone light yet echoing with a calm authority. "You've finally returned. Tell me about your adventures—and that includes you, little girl Erica."
Elton, Christy, and Erica exchanged glances, still finding his presence as unfathomable as ever. After a brief silence, Elton and Christy began recounting their journeys, followed by Erica, who added her own experiences with careful precision. Each of them, consciously or not, left subtle pauses within their words—space for Bluesonics' wisdom to sink in.
"Hahaha!" Bluesonics' laughter rolled across the field like a breeze. "Such great adventures! Such thrilling experiences!"
"Thrilling is an understatement… it was mostly running for our lives," Christy muttered beneath her breath.
"What an adventure… always a clan meddling in mine," Erica added, sighing in complaint.
Elton could only smile wryly, while Rukia's lips curled into a smirk. Bluesonics, as usual, pretended not to hear them, maintaining his cheerful demeanor.
"Heh… well then," he said, his tone turning faintly mischievous. "I'm sure you all know what comes next. It's time for your next assignment! But before that—show me what you've learned. Think of it as a warm-up… or a reminder of where you stand. Oh, and let me take a look at that Winged Serpent as well."
His amused gaze turned toward the serpent, who instantly paled. The pressure of that glance alone made his body tremble. Though Elder Rukia was terrifying in her own right, she was still a Mortal Lord—likely within the Soul Realm.
The man before him, however… was something else entirely.
"W-wait, he's—!" The serpent swallowed hard, unable to finish.
"Well then," Bluesonics said with a grin that was both playful and predatory. "Let's begin."
Elton, Christy, and Erica shared a look of mutual dread before nodding in unison.
By evening, the trio were sprawled across the training room floor, surrounded by glowing recovery runes and six empty elixir bottles. Every muscle in their bodies screamed in agony.
"…Every time I train with Master or Elder Rukia, I feel like I haven't improved at all," Erica groaned, barely lifting her head. "Even back when I was Gold Tier 3, it felt the same. I know I've grown stronger, but the gap between us—it's just absurd…"
"They're just that powerful," Elton said with a weary smile. "Can't be helped. If nothing else, I can feel how much stronger I've gotten since returning, even in this short time."
Christy sighed deeply. "Well, I'm happy for you, Gege, but me and Erri are really feeling the pain right now."
Elton chuckled softly. "It's best we get used to it. Master said this is only the beginning. He wants us to reach our absolute peak as Golden Lords before transcending into the Mortal Shedding Realm—and then we'll face the real trial."
"Ugh… that sounds horrifying," Erica said, paling again before straightening her back with a determined look. "But it doesn't matter. If I want to reach the apex and not be a burden to El Onyem or anyone else, then I'll endure whatever it takes."
"That's the spirit, Erri!" Christy said encouragingly, then winced as her back cracked. "Ugh… but even knowing that, it's hard to stay motivated when it hurts this much."
After resting and recovering from their brutal training session, the trio moved deeper into another chamber within the forbidden zone — a secluded space meant for higher-tier spiritual arts. Here, Elton prepared to aid Erica using one of the Soloman Clan's secret bloodline techniques.
This technique was known as the Art of Bloodline Transference — an ancient Soloman art that allowed one user to transfer a portion of their Strength, Ki, or Magic, while also elevating the other's soul foundation. The deeper the compatibility between users, the safer and more beneficial the process became. Normally, the second participant risked serious backlash or depletion. But when the resonance between souls was strong, both could gain something invaluable — shared enlightenment through soul connection.
In this case, Elton and Erica were exceptions among exceptions. Erica, one of the Soloman clan's top prodigies, possessed a bloodline brimming with spiritual brilliance. Elton, however, had long since surpassed the original Soloman lineage. Ever since the incident at eight years old, his bloodline had undergone an evolution beyond known limits — refined by his seven awakened meridians, and on the verge of unlocking an eighth special meridian.
Their compatibility was nearly perfect. With Elton's power and his body's exceptional recovery factor, the usual risks of this technique were almost nonexistent. For Erica, however, this would be a defining moment — an evolution that could permanently elevate her spiritual grade and her standing among the Soloman bloodline heirs.
Elton stood calmly, his presence radiating quiet strength. "Alright then, Erri. Let's begin."
Erica smiled softly, her eyes filled with gratitude and determination. "Yes, El Onyem… and thank you again for your help."
"I'll keep watch over you both to make sure everything proceeds safely," Christy said, her expression serious as her gaze moved between the two.
Both nodded solemnly in response.
Then, without hesitation, Elton and Erica began. Their hands formed intricate seals as chants rippled through the chamber. Symbols of light and flame floated in the air, aligning in perfect synchronicity between them.
A series of glowing aura threads wove together, connecting their hearts, their bloodlines, and their souls. Slowly, a shell of white liquid flame formed around Erica — thick and luminous, pulsing with her heartbeat. Within moments, she appeared encased in a flaming cocoon, its surface rippling like molten glass infused with light.
The room hummed with overwhelming energy. Elton's Celestial sense flared subtly as he stabilized the transference, while his meridians glowed faintly within his body.
Outside the fiery shell, Christy's eyes softened. The power emanating from the cocoon carried not just heat, but purity — the unmistakable mark of the Soloman clan's sacred flame.
The process continued throughout the night, white flames flickering in rhythmic waves as two souls intertwined and rose beyond their limits.