Right now Lucius was in deep contemplation inside his soul sea.
he was siting on the throne in deep thinking, along side the old orb was also there.
"Boy.. i really pity you... from what i can see, your mother was violated and they both were then most probably killed. so there is no real possibility of them surviving.", said the old orb.
"Yeah i know, but what should i do now..?", asked lucius, this was the biggest question.
"First, you should away the Crimson Soverign Flame's Spirit Vein.", replied the old orb.
"Yeah! that's right! that treasure should still be there! they must've unable to take it away due to the formation, the probably didn't even notice it, but where will i keep it?" asked Lucius.
"with the help of the current crimson flames you have, if the flame allows, you will be able to contract the vain, hence it will be able to settle itself in your sea."
"Many people do this to monopolize the flames, but since the spirits can feel emotions, most never became successfull. but if you ask the flame spirit you have right now to help you, it will surely become a simple task for you." replied the orb.
"How will i convince it?", asked Lucius.
"Oh.. dont worry! let this old man 'convince' the spirit and come back, you stay here. it will only take a few minutes.", replied the old orb as it vibrated as if making evil plans.
then the orb left as lucius was still standing there, clueless.
After a short while, the spirit came back as it said:
"I...will...help...you.", it said.
"okay! thank you.", replied lucius to the baby like spirit.
Lucius was then about to leave when the old man suddenly stopped him.
"wait! i saw that your clothes are tattered. let me gift you a technique, using this, you will never have to worry about clothes. it only uses Qi while the technique works, after that no usage."
[Imparting technique 'Obsidian Law: Thousand Faces Technique']
[Would you like to proceed? (yes/no)]
"Oh? free technique? sure! why not?", said Lucius as he tapped on the yes button.
Instantly a series of information came to his mind. he then came out of his mind sea.
he was still, currently sitting on a huge rock near the river, cross legged. as the old ball said, he was really tattered for some reason.
Lucius first took of his clothes, as he went to the river, wishing to bath himself. he was all bloodly and dirty, his head even took some injuries, although now they were completely healed due to him being a cultivator.
After bathing, he came out looking all handsome. he didn't had any good body as he didn't cultivate in body cultivation yet. and he still looked like a 14 Year old kid after all.
Lucius then imagined something and a simple purple black martial artist outfit generated over him. the style was simple for now to make him look poor. don't forget that Lucius used to be a Manhua artist. so his imagination was top knotch. he could generate any sort of clothes, making even emperors of all kind pale in comparison. heh.
Anyways, after the clothes, he also changed his face. it shortened his jawline, making his face take a oval shape, he also turned his eye color to green, hair to blonde.
[...]
After some other changes, he turned around and started to leave. when he suddenly noticed a problem.
"Where even am i?"
...
On a road, currently a merchent caravan was heading through a forest. this merchent caravan was small as it only caried some rashions, and other mortal items that suite their needs.
Although this world was that of a cultivation, since it was a mortal realm, not everyone cultivated here. over 60% of the population in this world was of pure mortals, 35% of the rest were ordinary cultivators.
Anyways as the merchent caravan was heading towards a direction on the road, as they passed by jungle, they were very alert. after all, this was a jungle were bandits resided. although most of these bandits used to be mortals, some of these bandits were cultivators as well.
Feeling the risk, the guards in the caravan decided to keep their eyes open as they crossed the hundred kilometer distance covered by forest.
Soon, the caravan found a spot to rest. as the caravan came to a halt, a few people came out.
"Father, should we really stop the caravan in such a Jungle?" a silver haired beauty with purple eyes asked her father.
she wore a blue colored stlylized hanfu-like dress, with various designer diagrams over it. although she was beautiful, she was not very beautiful, considering that cultivators get a beauty enhancement, making them look very beautiful.
"ha ha my sweatheat, i know your worries, in fact i am also worried. but you see, we need to let the horses rest as well. we have been riding the caravan non stop for hours in the forest. it will take us atleast another to cross the forest." he replied.
These caravans were artificats, so they felt very light to the horses and they were able to run at their full speed without tiring out. and these horses were also not ordinary, since beasts by instinct knew how to cultivate, these horses could as well. hence they get very less tired.
"mhm...." she replied, her focus elsewhere.
right now, she was looking at a few shadows that were running around their caravan, using the forests to hide their presence.
before she could even say anything, the bandits dashed towards the caravan.
Sensing the arrival of bandits, the guards also immediatly started a counter attack.
Steel clashed against steel as the first wave of bandits burst from the undergrowth, howling with bloodlust. The caravan guards, though outnumbered, formed a tight circle around the wagons, blades drawn and eyes sharp.
"Protect the young miss!" shouted the captain, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek. He swung his saber, parrying a bandit's wild strike and countering with a swift kick that sent the attacker sprawling.
The silver-haired girl drew a slender sword from her waist, her hands trembling but her eyes resolute. "Stay behind me, Mei!" she called to her maid, who cowered behind a wagon wheel.
A bandit lunged at her, grinning with yellowed teeth. "Pretty little thing, aren't you? Hand over your valuables and maybe we'll let you live!"
She met his gaze with icy defiance. "In your dreams." With a flick of her wrist, she slashed at his arm, drawing blood. The bandit howled and staggered back, but another took his place.
All around, chaos reigned. Arrows whistled through the air, some thudding into the wooden sides of the caravan, others finding their mark in flesh. Horses neighed in panic, rearing and threatening to break free from their harnesses.
"Hold the line!" the captain roared, cutting down another foe. "Don't let them through!"
A guard fell with a cry, a dagger buried in his side. The bandits pressed their advantage, surging forward with renewed ferocity.
"Father, are you alright?" the girl shouted, glancing over her shoulder.
Her father, wielding a staff, knocked a bandit aside. "I'm fine! Just focus on yourself!"
A burly bandit with a jagged axe charged at the girl. She sidestepped, barely avoiding the deadly swing, and retaliated with a thrust to his thigh. He bellowed in pain but didn't fall.
"You're dead, little girl!" he spat, swinging again.
She ducked, rolling beneath his guard, and slashed at his ankle. He toppled, but another bandit grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms.
"Let go of me!" she screamed, struggling.
The captain saw her plight and tried to reach her, but three bandits blocked his path. "Miss! Hold on!"
The bandits jeered, tightening their grip on the girl. "Looks like we've caught ourselves a prize!"
Suddenly, a guard broke through, swinging his sword wildly. "Unhand her!" he yelled, but a bandit stabbed him in the back, sending him crashing to the ground.
The girl kicked and bit, refusing to give in. "You bastards! Let me go!"
One of the bandits laughed, pressing a knife to her throat. "Keep struggling and you'll die faster."
Her father roared in fury, but he was surrounded, unable to help. The remaining guards fought desperately, but the bandits' numbers were overwhelming.
The girl's heart pounded in her chest as the cold steel pressed against her skin. Tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to beg.
"Any last words, little miss?" the bandit sneered, tightening his grip.
The battle raged on around them, but for her, time seemed to slow. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the end.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the clearing. The bandits paused, startled, as a figure emerged from the shadows of the trees—a young man, his eyes cold and unreadable, clad in a simple purple-black martial artist outfit. His presence was like a blade drawn in silence.
Lucius stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the chaos. The bandits sneered, thinking him just another foolish youth.
"Who the hell are you?" barked the leader, brandishing his sword.
Lucius didn't answer. Instead, he raised his hand, and a crimson flame flickered to life in his palm. The air shimmered with heat, and the nearest bandits recoiled instinctively.
"Crimson Sovereign Flame—Burn," Lucius intoned, his voice low and calm.
A wave of crimson fire erupted from his hand, sweeping across the ground. Bandits screamed as the flames licked at their feet, forcing them to scatter. Lucius moved like a phantom, weaving through the chaos. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a whip of fire, striking down two bandits in a single motion.
The girl opened her eyes in shock, watching as her would-be killers fell one by one. Lucius's movements were precise, almost effortless—each strike a dance of death.
"Monster! Get him!" the leader roared.
Three bandits charged at Lucius, weapons raised. He met them head-on, his body shimmering as he activated Obsidian Skin. Their blades glanced off his hardened flesh, sparks flying. He countered with a spinning kick, enhanced by obsidian energy, sending one bandit crashing into a tree.
Another tried to stab him from behind, but Lucius vanished in a blur—Shadow Veil. He reappeared behind the attacker, grabbing him by the collar and hurling him into the flames.
The last bandit hesitated, fear in his eyes. Lucius's gaze was merciless. "Run," he said coldly.
The bandit turned to flee, but a jet of crimson fire caught him, knocking him unconscious.
The leader, seeing his men fall, lunged at the girl, knife pressed to her throat. "Stay back or she dies!"
Lucius's eyes narrowed. "Let her go. You have one chance."
The leader laughed, pressing the blade harder. "You think you can—"
Before he could finish, Lucius flicked his fingers. A thread of crimson flame shot out, slicing the knife in half. The leader stared in disbelief as the blade fell to the ground.
Lucius moved in a flash, grabbing the leader's wrist and twisting it until he dropped the hilt. With a single punch, Lucius sent him sprawling.
The girl stumbled away, breathless, her eyes wide with awe and relief. Lucius turned to her, his expression unreadable.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, his tone cool.
She shook her head, cheeks flushed. "N-no, I... Thank you. You saved me."
Lucius nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment. The girl's heart skipped a beat under his intense stare. She looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
He offered his hand to help her up. She hesitated, then took it, her fingers trembling in his grasp. For a brief moment, their eyes met—her gratitude and admiration clashing with his cold, distant calm.
"Good, what's your name, he asked."
"Asteria... Asteria Stwart."