Unbeknown to him, Rocky saw the source of the rich spiritual power he had felt, when he carefully
picked up the glinting package and opened it. He beheld an exquisitely embellished brocade box. He
could not believe that he was holding it in his hand! Apart from the box, he saw the package also
contained a book and a map.
Placing the brocade box securely in the package, Rocky scrutinized the book whose pages were frayed
at their corners, because it was obvious that countless hands had turned them. It was titled, 'Demonic
Fire Codex'. Now that he had taken a closer look at it, he grasped that it was about a spiritual martial
arts skill, and meant for the spirit manipulators, who were at the Heavenly Stage. Next, he opened the
creased and dusty map and began studying it, after he had smoothened the lines and blown the dust
off. Initially, he was confused by the many marks around, what looked like a route on the map. Then,
his focus shifted, and he noticed a cross that was drawn in one part of the map. From what Rocky
could see and put together, it seemed like was a treasure map.
Now that he had seen the book and the map, he picked up the brocade box with much trepidation. Its
well-crafted magnificent exterior told Rocky that something even more splendid was inside. It was plain
that its contents were extremely significant - otherwise, why would anyone get such a magnificent
container? He could discern that it contained important things, but what were they - that was the
million-dollar question. Curious to find out, and get his answer, Rocky slowly opened the brocade box.
While he was doing that, he was blinded for a few seconds, when a scarlet ray surged from the narrow
opening and illuminated the surroundings. However, his eyes quickly adapted to the bright light. When
he looked inside the brocade box, he was surprised to see a giant scarlet pearl, the size of a ping pong
ball. Also, besides being colorless, it was transparent. Rocky was bewildered by what he saw next -
bright flames dancing inside the scarlet pearl! Those rising flames were indeed sending out a forceful
spiritual power.
Amazed and moved, "What's this?" is what Rocky could say. To take a closer look, he then, took the
scarlet pearl out of the box. He could not still figure out its significance, even though he had been
observing it for a while. However, what he could tell, was that it was much more than a rare treasure,
like a Dark Heaven Egg or Heaven Divine Lotus Seed, which could be refined.
Now that Rocky had understood that the scarlet pearl was unique, he channeled his spiritual power into
it to study it further, and comprehend what it was all about. Most unexpectedly, within a few seconds, it
auto-ignited in his hand, and before he knew what was happening, leaping flames began rising towards
the cave's high ceiling. Also, they were growing bigger by the minute. Shortly after that, the pearl
gradually rose and flew into the air with the upward thrust the conflagration had created. Magically, like
shape-shifters, the flames took the forms of several formidable dragons, started flying around the pearl,
and lit up the entire cave, from top to bottom, leaving no dark corners. This scene of the fire,
incandescent light, and spiritual power held Rocky spellbound.
However, that did not continue for long. Soon, the flames around the pearl disappeared, and it started
falling down from the air. But the ever watchful Rocky did not let it hit the ground, and he caught it
midway.
"I wonder if this a Spiritual Weapon like the Frozen Wind Dagger?" Rocky murmured to himself. With
his focus then shifting to the corpse that was in front of him, countless questions bothered him, he
thought, "Who is this? Why did this person carry these treasures to the cave? Why, and how did this
person die?"
Unfortunately for Rocky, he could not figure out the answers to the questions that puzzled him.
Therefore, collecting his thoughts, he put the three treasures into his pocket. Then, noticing a token
around the corpse's waist, he glanced at it. When he reached out to take it, he recognized the flame-
shaped sign on it. Rocky was convinced that he had seen it earlier, for otherwise, its sign could not look
so familiar.
"Could it be the Roaring Flame Empire's sign?" Rocky could not stop himself from thinking about it.
Nevertheless, he soon remembered that once he had seen the sign at the Beast Evaluation Contest
that had been held at the Super Beast Farm. It was the same Roaring Flame Empire's flame-shaped
sign, that Carter had used during the event.
"Most probably, this person is from the Roaring Flame Empire?" Rocky thought as he looked at the
dead body once again.
Apart from the token around the corpse's waist, Rocky could not see any other signs that would reveal
its identity. However, he was sure about one thing, that the person had been a great spirit manipulator.
Rocky could deduce that from the three treasures he had recovered from the bag. A brilliant spirit
manipulator dying in the cave did not augur well.
All of a sudden, a sonorous sound from above, interrupted Rocky's thoughts. On looking up, he saw a
huge and long shadow appear above him. The dark apparition's eyes emitted hellfire and were fixed on
him.
Seeing the dangerous light sparkling in the shadow's eyes, Rocky ran for his life. Horrified, he could
see a colossal mouth, its gigantic, jagged jaws wide open, with blood oozing from its innards, descend
on him. Rocky wished his feet were wheels, and he could push them at the speed of light.
Nevertheless, he was running as fast as he could, when he felt that something long, wet, and slippery
had grabbed him. He realized that he was in the coils of the shadow's tongue, which was taking him
into its cave-like mouth. When Rocky was inside, he was terrified, as it seemed to him that he was in a
place of never-ending darkness.
Around the time, Rocky was getting hurled inside the monstrous shadow's mouth, a flag, with 'Timber'
written on it, was fluttering in front of a military camp in the Gehenna Border area that the Timber Deity
Empire defended.
"What did you say? Three envoys from the Roaring Flame Empire have disappeared. They went
missing on the Gehenna Border, while they were on their way to pay tribute. What the hell happened?"
An angry female voice roared in the enormous military tent.
The person who had just shouted angrily at the commanders was a charmingly charismatic lady with
delicate features. Her annoyance only highlighted her chiseled cheekbones, and the blood that rushed
to her face, made her look like a princess, with a snowy skin that had been delicately painted in the
most subtle crimson hue. Her exasperation only highlighted her exceptional beauty, even as she stared
at the commanders who stood in front of her. In that state too, her eyes shone like almond-shaped
diamonds and heightened their attractiveness. No man in the world could resist them, and every man
wanted to drown in their depths. Each of the commanders who stood in front of her inwardly was
smitten with her. Though they stood respectfully, her words did not register with them. Their heads
were filled with her image, in their hearts, they were making love to her, and their pouted mouths were
kissing her, already.
Had Rocky been present, he would have been shocked to see her and learn that she was the lady in
blue who had fought Marcia for the treasure box.
"Your Royal Highness, we have sent our men to search around the Gehenna Border. Rest assured, we
will find them soon. I request you not to be upset," a grim-faced commander addressed her, while he
held his cap and bowed to her.
The other commanders also bowed to her, and jointly urged her not to get angry regarding the three
missing envoys. Though they mustered the courage to address her, yet they were afraid of her wrath,
and cold beads of sweat were shining on their faces.
The lady who had such power that she could make might army commanders feel like truant boys,
waiting for their punishment, was none other than Alyssa Mu, the king's favorite, and the Timber Deity
Empire's princess. Alyssa Mu's talent became obvious early in her childhood. When she was five, her
father, the king, sent her to the Timber Deity Empire's spiritual race, and its head became her teacher.
With his help and guidance, Alyssa practiced the spiritual race's power, and started on her cultivation
path. Besides that, she had been taking all kinds of rare elixirs and exotic treasures for a long time,
therefore, it took her no more than thirty years to reach the Divine Stage.
Alyssa and Marcia were the only two spirit manipulators, who had reached the Divine Stage before
their thirties on the Wild Spirit Land. And both of them were female. However, there was a lot of
mystery surrounding them in the Wild Spirit Land.
Most of the spirit manipulators wondered how the two ladies reached the Divine Stage before they
were thirty, as there were only a few spirit manipulators of the Divine Stage in the entire land. It was
therefore, surprising that they could achieve such a high level at such a tender age. Speculation and a
lack of any information about the two ladies enhanced the veil of mystery that surrounded them.
Indeed, how Alyssa Mu and Marcia accomplished so much so early was a secret, which made them an
enigma for all. Were the mystery surrounding how they achieved their elevated status, and became
powerful in the Timber Deity Empire to be addressed, the answers would shock the entire empire.
"Find the three envoys at once, and bring them back here. The tribute they took from the Roaring
Flame Empire is priceless. There is an important map, a book on a rare spiritual martial arts skill, and
the Dragon Flame Pearl, a special spiritual weapon. We cannot risk other countries finding them and
taking them away, especially the Holy Dragon Empire. Keep their search a secret. We have to
safeguard our alliance with the Roaring Flame Empire and not let other empires know about it. We
have to keep it secret. Therefore, mind you all - I will not spare anyone who makes a mistake, or
causes an accident that jeopardizes our treaty," a worried Alyssa, spoke those words seriously, and
meant every word she had uttered.
"Yes, Your Royal Highness!" the commanders answered in unison.
"Then, why are you still here? Go, find the Roaring Flame Empire's envoys and bring them back,
safely! In case, you cannot locate them, you must bring back the map, as that is crucial for our
success. And mind - in case you fail to do so, all of you will be beheaded!" Alyssa angrily yelled at
them, when she saw that they were still standing there, and not moving out to fulfill their mission.
Scared out their wits, the commanders fled out of the tent at once.
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