The Crimsonflame Bloodbloom felt warm in Kael's grasp. Though saturated with intense fire energy, it didn't burn—instead, its power resonated palpably, a testament to its potency.
Unlike ordinary flora, the Crimsonflame Bloodbloom wasn't a true flower but a spiritual essence condensed from the purest flames.
"Compared to the chaotic energy within the Earthfire Cavern, the fire element in this bloom is far more stable… and structured." Kael nodded in satisfaction. Now he understood why these blooms were so coveted. The cavern's raw energy was too volatile; even with his fire affinity, it strained his limits, let alone aided cultivation. But the Bloodbloom? Entirely different.
Its energy was refined, as if distilled of impurities, making it exponentially easier for Kael to comprehend the fire element's mysteries.
A flicker of gratitude crossed his mind. Without the little cat's guidance, securing this bloom would've been impossible. Bringing it along was the right call after all.
"What?! That brat snatched a Bloodbloom without a sound?!" The old man's eyes bulged. While he and the middle-aged man had been locked in struggle, Kael had claimed one effortlessly.
"You've got to be kidding me…" The middle-aged man scowled.
Magic rippled through the air. Though stunned, the two adversaries never ceased their clash. Their spells detonated midair in rapid succession, but the old man's superior skill ultimately prevailed, securing his prize.
Yet neither resorted to lethal force. Every elite here represented a major faction; recklessness was unthinkable. Their skirmish remained a contest of prowess, not bloodshed.
Tucking the bloom away, Kael marveled at the vast fire energy coiled within—a treasure beyond measure for his current needs.
But now wasn't the time to harness it. This environment was no place for cultivation.
"This young brother's perception is truly remarkable. Impressive, indeed!" The old man chuckled, keeping a cautious distance from both Kael and the middle-aged man after securing his own Crimsonflame Bloodbloom. His eyes gleamed with amusement as he studied Kael.
The Crimsonflame Bloodblooms streaked through the air at blinding speeds, making them nearly impossible for ordinary mages to track. Most could only cast their magic wide, like casting a net, hoping to snag one by sheer luck.
But such crude methods paled in comparison to the little cat's extraordinary sensory abilities!
Kael smiled faintly. "The two of you were preoccupied with your own struggle, so you simply missed this one. Pure luck on my part."
He didn't dare underestimate these two. Both were experts—their strength unfathomable to him. Anyone capable of entering the Earthfire Cavern was undoubtedly at least on par with Kael, if not stronger.
"Hah, you're too modest, young man." The old man clearly didn't buy Kael's explanation, and neither did the middle-aged man. Their gazes sharpened with wariness as they dismissed his words outright.
No wonder this kid, despite his mediocre strength, dares to compete here. He must have some hidden advantage.
Both the elder and the middle-aged man now regarded Kael as a serious rival.
In their eyes, Kael's power might be unremarkable, but his methods were extraordinary. If they had initially dismissed him as insignificant, they now saw him as a formidable contender.
The Crimsonflame Bloodblooms were scarce—each gale carried only a dozen or so, making them exceptionally precious.
As Kael held his prize, his mind raced with calculations.
"The refined fire energy in this single bloom is still slightly insufficient. If I could obtain two, I'm certain I could achieve complete fusion with the fire element!"
His current fusion was only preliminary. With two blooms, he could fully grasp the essence of fire and perfect his mastery.
There was a world of difference between initial fusion and complete fusion. Achieving the latter would undoubtedly elevate Kael's strength to new heights.
Back then, Orc had only attained an initial fusion with the water element—a minor enhancement that barely boosted a mage's power, which was why Kael had been able to defeat him. But complete fusion? That was an entirely different realm of power.
"The wind's picking up again!"
The old man and the middle-aged man couldn't conceal their delight, their voices hushed with excitement.
Within the Earthfire Cavern, the gales came without warning or pattern. No one had expected another tempest to follow so swiftly after the last—a stroke of fortune that sent spirits soaring.
Whoooooosh—!
Another howling gust tore through the cavern, its wail like the shrieking of vengeful spirits. Riding the whirlwind were eight or nine streaks of crimson, flashing past with lightning speed, their trajectories near-impossible to track.
"Perfect timing!"
Figures leapt into action—not just the old man and his rival, but several others nearby. Magic and battle aura flared as hands shot out, each contender vying fiercely for the elusive blooms.
"Kael, two hundred meters to your left front!" The little cat's warning came sharp and urgent.
Kael's focus snapped into place. With a nod, he cast his magic wide like a net. The moment his energy unfurled, a blood-red streak—a Crimsonflame Bloodbloom—plunged straight into his grasp. Triumph surged through him.
Another one!
With the cat's guidance, securing this second bloom felt effortless, as natural as a fish taking to water.
"That kid got another one!"
"There's something off about him—which faction's backing him?" The old man's suspicion deepened. Around them, more eyes began flicking toward Kael, their gazes sharpening with calculation.
Even Mia, watching from a distance, felt a thrill of admiration. The Grand Speaker's judgment never falters. This boy... even I can't see through him.
"Two blooms in such a short time. This trip was worth every risk." Kael's resolve hardened.
A single Crimsonflame Bloodbloom brimmed with immense fire energy. Two? They were keys to unlocking the element's deepest secrets—and now, mastery felt within reach.
Eight or nine Crimsonflame Bloodblooms surged forth with the gale, but within the Earthfire Cavern, over a dozen figures waited—several of whom, standing closer to the depths by virtue of their formidable strength, reaped bountiful harvests. Thus, the majority of these blooms were swiftly claimed by the foremost experts, leaving Kael's acquisition as little more than a "straggler" that slipped through their grasp.
Having secured two blooms, Kael had already drawn considerable attention. He lingered briefly, but as the winds showed no signs of returning and the gazes of the crowd increasingly fixated on him, he decisively abandoned further attempts to collect more.
Knowing when to quit is wisdom. The denizens of the Earthfire Cavern were not to be trifled with, and attracting undue scrutiny would only invite trouble.
"Time to go." With a sweeping glance at the assembled contenders, Kael retreated calmly, melting away from the fray.
"At least the kid knows his limits..."
"Good riddance—one less competitor to worry about."
His departure was met with quiet relief. Having witnessed his uncanny methods, the others recognized that his exit only improved their own odds.
Return to Thousand Moon Lake
Kael left the Earthfire Cavern and returned to his tent at Thousand Moon Lake—a private quarters specially arranged for him by Zorath the Silent.
Seated cross-legged inside, he retrieved the two Crimsonflame Bloodblooms from his spatial ring. The moment they materialized, the tent flooded with an oppressive density of fire element, its energy crackling visibly in the air.
Tendrils of flame swirled and condensed, saturating the space with an unyielding heat. Kael closed his eyes, attuning himself to the elemental currents, drawing them inward.
Simultaneously, the fire energy already fused within him resonated outward, triggering a low, thunderous hum as the elements harmonized.
Like moths to a flame, the ambient fire energy converged upon Kael, as though he were a lodestone for its power. Gradually, the tension in his brow eased—a sign of dawning comprehension.
"The fire element is nearing complete fusion!"
Once fully integrated, his mastery over fire magic would become as instinctive as breathing, unlocking untold advantages for his current pursuits.
Then—BOOM.
An internal barrier shattered. Fire energy erupted through every channel of his mana pathways. Kael's eyes flew open, alight with revelation.
At last, a breakthrough.