Now, I said we walked to the Ember Fields, but it was not like there was a road leading straight there from here. First, one of the two major rivers that made the fork where Freebend City is had to be jumped over, and it was a pretty big river, so a pretty big jump.

  Then we had to take a stroll through a forest, and there was not really anything too crazy in there. Just a simple forest, a couple things running around, again nothing crazy.

  After the forest was just an open plains type of environment, and that is where we found the road. It was going from west to east. We followed it towards the west before it slowly curled north, and after walking down that road for quite some time we eventually could see the Ember Fields. And honestly, they were quite beautiful to look at.

  The ground beneath our feet was obviously the color of earth, dark brown, and there was green grass that set atop it, but it was different in the Ember Fields. Regular earth became tinged with red, not quite so deep that it was bright red, just a slight tint, enough to be noticeable.

  The grass itself was the sight to see. It was red, with a tinge of orange mixed in. It made them look like hard pieces of fire just planted into the ground. They were about knee high and could be seen all over the place. The road we were walking on went directly into the Ember Fields, and eventually both our left and right were nothing but ember grass for miles.

  Even under the night sky, I could still appreciate the beauty on display here. I could only imagine how it all looked during the day.

  Anyway, we eventually broke off the road to the right and went deeper into the Ember Fields. Eventually, we came across signs of battle and the members of the Black Dawn calmly waiting for me.

  Now, while I saw signs of battle, that was only in reference to the rubble and destroyed parts of the ground around them. I could even see signs of those holes Lidaz mentioned, though all of them had collapsed. But I could extend my senses beyond that collapse of rubble and see there was quite the underground network here, even though most of it was destroyed. Interesting.

  The body of our bounty target was stored in a ring, but apart from that there was nothing else to really do. So I told everybody to hang tight. Find somewhere to sleep if you have a tent or something of that nature in your ring. Feel free to set it up, but do not build anything too permanent, because we will be buying an entire stronghold tomorrow.

  It was already deep into the night when we reached the Ember Fields, and since I did not need to sleep too often, I simply cultivated the entire night until the warm rays of the sun touched my skin once more.

  It was important to ensure my body was ready for a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm.

  Anyway, the night passed by without a hitch. I spent the whole thing cultivating, while Sendoira slept soundly beside me. Of course, Vrusha and the others were not far off either.

  It was honestly quite peaceful. The combination of the warmth rising from the ground and the cold night air made for quite the comforting environment.

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  But the day was here, and thus it was time to make things happen.

  Though before that, there was a very important question I thought it was high time I asked.

  How much money do I and the clan have?

  The brochure stated the Crimsonhearth Stronghold cost a tidy figure of sixty thousand Rank One Spirit Stones.

  Which I supposed made sense in a way, since the property would have places to train that were strong enough to withstand the force of up to the Nascent Soul Realm.

  That was significant.

  I scanned through the small sum I held on my person. I had long since given most of my wealth over to the members of the clan. It would serve them better anyway. But let us see here.

  Fifteen Rank Two Spirit Stones. Not a single Rank One Spirit Stone. And quite a bit of gold, which was practically useless at the moment. But fifteen Rank Twos, huh. What was the conversion rate again?

  Hm.

  Depending on the purity within, I think that is roughly fifteen hundred Rank One Spirit Stones. Alas.

  Well.

  Taking my gaze away from the ring on my finger, I posed the question to the members of my clan. And while each of them had their own personal savings, the number I was given for the clan designated wealth made me feel a lot better.

  Two hundred thousand Rank One Spirit Stones.

  I am sure there was far more, but it seems we spent quite a large sum on resources for the entire clan in that mermaid empire. All good with me.

  The problem was that we were about to put a large dent into that figure, and we were not exactly earning income at the moment.

  So it would really be good if the High Flame Sect paid the bounty they listed. It would be kind of annoying if they did not.

  Hm, let us settle in before we go and seek them out.

  “Frian, take your team to purchase the stronghold. One night in the elements is enough.”

  He and his team of fifty took off on the way to the kingdom. I could have gone with them, but they all liked being given their own tasks to accomplish. Something about the trust of the Patriarch being important.

  Either way, if it made them happy, then so be it.

  But it was only a few hours later that I felt a pull.

  It came from Frian.

  “TO ME!”

  I knew he would not call for me over something simple. And although I would rather not start an altercation with any force here, at least ones I did not have a grasp on, that went out the window should they attack us first.

  I would rather watch the world burn than turn the other cheek.

  And as always, not a single person in my clan hesitated. Now thousands of Infernals were moving as fast as they could across the land.

  Well, except for Lidaz, who could move quite a bit faster than the rest of us. It made no sense to keep him here.

  “Lidaz, go on ahead and assess the situation. The safety of our people is the highest priority.”

  Lidaz practically disappeared after acknowledging the order and it made me realize just how much our speed was holding him back. But knowing he was going didn’t make me relax or slow down at all.

  My speed only increased as Eternal Flames blazed brightly beneath my feet.

  We quickly left the vicinity of the Ember Fields, and before long we were passing villages, small towns in the distance, and at some point I could’ve sworn I saw or heard someone trying to tell us to halt, but nothing was stopping me from reaching my people.

  Eventually, a walled city came into view and the only reason I stopped at the gates was because that is where I saw Frian and his team.

  Lidaz had already arrived and I could feel the anger swelling.

  But how could I blame him?

  In fact, I suppose I should applaud him for not already burning the city to ash.

  Frian and his people were all in chains and there were people standing in between them and Lidaz. They were sitting up now, but I could quite clearly see dirt on their faces.

  Did they…

  …Did they make…my people…bow?

  …

  …..

  …….

  Before I knew it, or even realized what I was doing Eternal Flames painted the world black and this time…this time I swear to the Eternal Flame itself.

  I WOULD RATHER DIE THAN TO LET SOMEONE QUELL MY ANGER TODAY.

  BECAUSE HOW DARE…

  “FRIAN!

  “TELL ME!

  “TELL ME WHO MADE YOU KNEEL.”