THE STORY SO FAR MAX’S MISSION TO the Hell Words is immediately derailed by the appearance of Tai Su Long, a governor from the core worlds and uncle to Jei Su Long. As the Su Long family is a major sponsor of both the Academy and the military transport the Xin Long, Tai Su Long is able to exert his influence over President Tzu Li Zen and forces him to grant Jei Su Long a new title of Senior Platoon Commander above Max. The mission is further interrupted by a distress call from the planet El’Dshar which has suffered a meteor strike from one of the cursed stars. Max assists in battle and saves a young lieutenant which he later discovers is Hein. The two have a rocky reunion at first, but his time in the military has changed Hein greatly and Max and he soon learn to become friends as well as future brothers-in-law. Max suffers a few more trials on the way to the Hell World with first having to participate in an exhibition match with a High-Tier Sacred Soul Realm cultivator named Rhe Su Long, which he wins by default, but by embarrassing himself and his opponent. As punishment, Max and the battalion are
forced to join a planetary assault on a native world, led by the very same team of Lesser Deity Realm Cultivators who conquered the Earth. While on the planet, Max manages to hide away a small portion of the local population which hopes he can later save once he has more influence within the empire. On their descent to the Hell World of Fhae I’ung, Jei Su Long double crosses the entire platoon and leaves them all to die, but tells the powers that be that Max killed the entire platoon and that he eventually killed Max in self-defense. He then convinces his uncle to give him authority to go on another two tours as ‘security and oversight’. Back on Earth Fia is preparing for her upcoming trial against the three Bird Sisters and is helped by her mother to learn a new martial art that will allow her to defend herself without putting stress on her body or the baby. While Fia trains on Earth, Max trains on the Hell World after finding a refuge underground. He learns how to project his Sacred Soul and in doing so discovered there is a planetary Spirit of Fhae I’ung dwelling deep inside the planet. Max uses his projection technique to teleport his spirit to find her and discovers that she is under attack by a Deep Dweller. After defeating the Deep Dweller, Max realizes Fhae I’ung is already dying. She uses the last of her strength to gift Max with new revelations from the Frenzied Flame as well as secret knowledge of the true relationships between the Frenzied Flame, the Greater Will, I’xol’ukz and the One True Flame which is the embodiment of the Cursed Stars. Max uses this new knowledge to train and grow stronger while he awaits the next tour of legionnaires to arrive. When they do, Max meets up with them, only to see Jei Su Long again as well as Blue Rose, but through Jei Su Long’s incompetence, the skiff and most of the platoon is lost. Max, furious for what Jei Su Long has done, cripples him by destroying his Dantian, but stops just short of killing him thanks to Blue Rose, who counsels him that he will need Jei Su Long alive to face court and help clear his name. Max keeps Jei Su Long alive while they make a plan to trek across the Hell World to the next drop zone. Kelsey, who has been training under the Bloodmoon, discovers the demonic reincarnation of Hong Feng growing ever stronger. She is able to connect with Max while he is on the Hell World and Max tries to convey to her that he is still alive. Princess Lunalah learns of Max’s death and is painfully distraught, but decides to keep the news from reaching Fia so that she may vengefully injure her with the news on the night of her match with the Bird Sisters. Princess Lunalah travels to Jurin Province for this sole purpose and ahead of the match, publicly announces Max’s death, which causes Fia much emotional distress. Kelsey tries to refute it, but Fia is torn and confused. As a result, when the match begins, the Bird Sisters get the better of her and manage to rip off her robes, revealing Fia to be pregnant. The princess, incensed that Fia now carries a child which she believes should have been hers, orders the Warden to ensure both Fia and the baby are killed in the match. The Warden relays the order to her nieces and the Lady Silver Hawk manages to kick Fia in the stomach, gravely wounding both her and the baby, but is stopped from causing further damage by Kelsey, who jumps into the ring. At the same moment, the demonic Hong Feng breaks into the arena, now super powered by a cosmic gate in his chest and partially inhabited by I’xol’ukz. In the turmoil, the Bird Sisters flee, leaving Fia going into labor and fearing the baby is already dead. Kelsey tries to connect to Max to convince Fia that he is still alive. She finds Max while he is just about to depart the Hell World and Max uses his [Spectral Projection] technique to appear back on Earth in a spectral form. He joins Kelsey in defeating I’xol’ukz and Hong Feng, but is enraged when he sees what the Bird Sisters have done to Fia. He chases after them and brutally slays them as retribution for killing his unborn child. He is about to take on the Warden next, but is out of time and is further stopped by the princess who is overjoyed to see Max still alive. The princess promises him a proper match with the Warden upon his return, but envisions her own future with Max, thinking that Fia and the baby are already dead. Max returns to Fia to find she has given birth to a son, which somehow survived the trauma. Max names him Bryce and uses his [Sacred Brand of the Frenzied Flame] technique to imbue Kelsey’s axe with a portion of his spirit, turning it into a barrier-producing weapon just like Venja. He then tells Kelsey to take the entire family into the wild as the Warden and Princess already assume them all dead. He still has two weeks to get back to Earth and doesn’t trust what might happen to them while he is still away. Max returns to his real body just in time to get off the Hell World and reunites with Hein on board the Xin Long. Jei Su Long is sent to the brig to await trial once they return to Du Gok Bhong. Kelsey gets Fia and her family to the settlement out in the wild and they see hope there, but Fia then notices a small birthmark of an inverted triangle on the back of the baby’s neck. I’xol’ukz, having finally found its true vessel in the form of Max’s son, has marked him to be inhabited once he reaches maturity.
PROLOGUE MY DEAREST YOUNGER Sister, Lunalah, I greet you with good tidings from the Lu Shui territories. Having read your letter regarding the Iron Bull, it would seem there is indeed some discrepancy in regard to his demise. As of the writing of this letter, I have been informed that the Iron Bull was safely recovered from the Hell World of Fhae I’ung, as was the Young Master of the Twin River Sect, Jei Su Long. You have made some bold accusations in your letter, dear younger sister, about Master Jei Su Long, but now that the full cast is assembled, I will see to it that the truth is revealed. As the Academy of Du Gok Bhong falls within the remit of my domain, I will be sending a magistrate to discern this matter fully. Trust and believe, younger sister, that if this letter penned by yourself, instructing the Iron Bull to murder his own men, is indeed proven to be a fraud, then I will have no choice but to retract my earlier statements and issue the just punishment to my own subjects. However, if your hand in this is proven, then it will be done so in an official court of law. I trust I will not have to remind you of the consequences of such a thing. Especially in the eyes of our father. Let us pray, for your sake, dear Lunalah, that the search for truth will not reveal such misdoings. I wish your tribute all the best in his upcoming trial. Sincerely Second Princess Rheutera Crown regent of the Lu Shui territories 98th heir to the imperial throne Lunalah’s insides curled as she re-read the letter from her older half-sister. Curse the damned bitch, she thought. For all her luck in finally securing a clear path to the Iron Bull, now this woman throws a further obstacle in her path. It had only been days now since the Iron Bull had revealed himself to her, projecting his Sacred Soul across the stars. That feat alone was worthy of some kind of ascension, but it seemed he would have a trial even before arriving home now. Lunalah looked across her desk to where her aide, Ling Wei, was waiting patiently for a reaction to Rheutera’s letter. The girl knew as well as she did the truth regarding the letter she had sent, instructing the Iron Bull to return from his Hell World mission alone so that Terra could benefit from the imperial reward. In retrospect, it was a rash and hasty act. One born of desperation for balancing the planet’s finances. But now it had become a weapon in the hand of one of her sisters. No way could she afford to have something like that revealed in court. “Ling Wei,” Lunalah said. “You are trained as a barrister, are you not?” Ling Wei bowed humbly. “Indeed, I am your majesty.” “What do you make of it then?” she said. “This letter.” Her brows furrowed with uncertainty. “What aspect, your majesty?” “Well can she prove my letter is real or not?” Ling Wei again looked stumped for an answer. Lunalah sighed. “Perhaps I need to make myself more clear. Is it possible to prove my letter was fraudulent?” “That is…a great challenge indeed, your majesty, considering it is not.” “Who says it is not?” Ling Wei blinked. “I suppose only those who consider it is not?” The girl was being careful around her. As well she should. But she was also quite clever. Lunalah smiled at her. “Exactly. So, who is needed to say my letter is a fraud to convince those who say it is not?” Ling Wei’s eyes shifted to the side in thought. “Well… perhaps the best and only way, would be for the Iron Bull to deny its authenticity?”
Her heart soared. The Iron Bull would be needed to come to her rescue yet again. “Yes. Surely with his standing now, they could not deny such a testimony.” “Well… that is if he agrees.” “What do you mean agrees?” “He would have received the letter from you already, your majesty. He would know it is authentic.” Lunalah could not fathom what she was talking about. “Then tell him it isn’t. I will simply write to him again to tell him to deny it in court.” “Your majesty, I have dealt with the Iron Bull previously,” Ling Wei said. “He is not one easily tamed. Or commanded.” Isn’t that the truth, Lunalah thought with a wicked smile. It was just those qualities that brought a stirring of her desire. A wild untamable beast. But one she would make her own. “We must use tact then,” Lunalah said. “Let us commence drafting the letter immediately.” “But time has passed since this letter arrived, your majesty. The Iron Bull is likely to arrive at Du Gok Bhong in a matter of weeks. A letter may not reach before his arrival.” She was right. Time was of the essence. Lunalah smiled at Ling Wei. “Then you shall attend to Du Gok Bhong as my royal hand. The Iron Bull will no doubt need a barrister to defend him from the treachery my elder sister has planned. You would be the perfect envoy.” Ling Wei blinked in surprise. “Me? I… well yes, your majesty. I suppose so.” “You must convince him that the letter is a fake and ensure both he and I are delivered safely out of the net that has been cast by my elder sister, understood?” Ling Wei bowed. “Y-yes, your majesty.” One last obstacle, she thought. But she would ensure his success by any means. “You will travel by my own imperial vessel to arrive in time for the Iron Bull’s return to Du Gok Bhong,” Lunalah said. “And you will return with him on the same.” She then smiled. “I wish to be the first to greet the Iron Bull on his return home. He will then immediately have his duel with Lady Silver Tear for control of Jurin Province. From there I will see what other accolades may be befitting of the trials he has overcome upon the Hell Worlds.” Like a royal consort perhaps, she thought with a smile. She then thought a moment more. The Iron Bull had just lost his betrothed and child. He would be nursing deep wounds. Wounds she yearned to heal with her own warmth. But she had to be certain that it was only her warmth that he would seek. Even sending the likes of Ling Wei was perhaps a risk. “Ensure you spend no more time with him than necessary,” Lunalah said. Ling Wei raised a brow. “The man is grieving, Ling Wei,” Lunalah said. “Or did you perhaps forget his recent loss? It would not be appropriate for an unwed woman such as yourself to be in such close proximity to a man perhaps seeking comfort. Your relationship must remain strictly professional. Is that understood?” Ling Wei looked aghast. “Why of course, your majesty! I would never dream of any such impropriety taking place!” The girl seemed almost offended, but in truth Lunalah envied her. The thought of spending a week or so alone with the Iron Bull aboard her imperial cruiser was a thing of fantasy. The temptation was almost enough for her to force going on the trip herself, but such a move would be too bold for many reasons. One, she would not dare to confront her older sister in person, especially upon her home territory. And two, she could not so quickly make her intentions with the Iron Bull known. Patience, she reminded herself. The hard part was over. Ridding herself cleanly of the Iron Bull’s betrothed was accomplished. All she had to do now was fulfil his every desire for power. And that started with clearing both his name and hers. “Ensure the Iron Bull knows that his discretion regarding the letter will hold very high reward,” she said. “Reward that I will bestow upon him personally on his safe return.” “I will, your majesty,” Ling Wei said but still looked unsure. Lunalah didn’t like that. The task had no room for error. “Ensure you do not fail me either, Ling Wei,” she said and then narrowing her eyes threateningly, she made sure the message was clear. “For your future relies on the success of the Iron Bull’s trial as well.” ...
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