The Empyrean Monarch

Prologue The sky was red, as if the sun was about to set. Only, it was supposed to be night, a calm, serene night filled with both silence as well as the flickering light that came from the twinkling stars and the shimmering moonlight. It was hot, as if the sun had set in the middle of the sky, gazing upon all creation. Yet no, in truth, the sun was not even supposed to be seen at that moment,as the stars were brightly illuminated in stark in contrast to the absolute darkness that was night. Then how was that possible? How was it hot when there was no sun? How was it bright as dusk when only the stars and the moon could be seen drifting about in the sky? Questions a lot of questions could be asked about this peculiar scene alone. However, no matter how one thought about it it just did not seem plausible. And then a powerful voice echoed... Patriarch Brightsky, show yourself and give me an explanation. Now! There, in the middle of the brightly lit sky, was a lone man. His long black hair was fluttering in the winds. He looked like a deity that stood above the world. He was clad in black robes, as if his very being was painted with darkness. His eyes were black, calmly gazing upon a silver tower that stood on top of a mountain peak. Overall, his demeanor seemed aloof, as if the world had nothing to do with him. Although somehow, in his voice that seemed to express no emotion, a burning hatred that could make ones skin crawl with fear could be sensed. In the place where he stood, a much more stunning scene was unfolding. Around his body, four layers of different colored flames were swirling. These layers of flames were the ones illuminating the dark night. Even brighter than the stars and the moon, even hotter than heat brought by the burning sun, these flames were truly imposing. The outermost layer, the Red Flame, covered the largest area. Third in terms of brightness, fourth in terms of heat, the feeling it gave off was akin to a general, gazing upon his hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Although it seemed to be very striking, compared to the other layers of flame, it was substantially weaker. From the outermost Red Flame, the next layer was the Orange Flame. Compared to the Red Flame, and perhaps, even with the remaining two innermost layers of the flames, the Orange Flame seemed much more filled with life. It was rhythmically moving like a slender snake, in the great forests. While it wasnt the brightest, it still gave off a feeling that it was at its most natural form, signifying that it was the most powerful flame that the lone man could utilize. If a supreme expert could see it, he could easily tell that this Orange Flame had been mastered to the highest degree. The scene exemplified the insight of a person that had conquered the Dao of the Searing Flame! Moving on to the next layer, the Yellow Flame, which was increasingly smaller than the other two outermost layers of flames, could be seen swirling about. It was also filled with life but it was more or less a hundred times inferior to how zealous the Orange Flame was. Like a child that had finally learned to walk, gradually exploring the endless possibilities that life had in store for him, the yellow flame was weak but hidden in its frailty, a limitless potential was slowly emerging. Inside the Yellow Flame, the innermost layer, which was also the smallest and the least dazzling, could be seen pulsing rather than swirling. This innermost layer, the Green Flame, was brighter than any other layer of flames in some moments but relatively nonexistent most of the time. While it seemed to be very brittle, the Green Flame still gave off the most terrifying pressure among all the other layer of flames. During the moments when it was distinctly brighter than any of the other layers, its heat and its surging power was simply way beyond what normal cultivators could ever imagine. While the Yellow Flame was similar to a child with limitless potential, the Green Flame was akin to a peculiar newborn child, an infant that had been established as a peerless genius from the day he was born. These four layers of flames, which were swirling around the lone mans body, represented a strength that only supreme experts could fully understand. Within the Sovereign Realm, only one legendary figure could exhibit these four different layers of flames. A lone figure clad in black, seemingly heartless, seemingly emotionless. That person, famed as the supreme among the supremes, the Chosen Heir of the Primordial Flame God, the Flame Monarch! In the Sovereign Realm, hearing his title would induce both fear and amazement. Slaughtering millions of lives during the war between the four empires of the Sovereign Realm, annihilating the renowned Blood God Sect for their atrocities, defeating Sovereign Lao Shao in an honor duel his feats and accomplishments, all of them are simply amazing. Only one such person had fame surmounting the entire Sovereign Realm. Surprisingly, after he had achieved all of these, the Flame Monarch suddenly vanished without a trace. Without knowing where he was going, whether he was still alive or not, the Flame Monarch became a fable, the hero of a legendary tale that had never lost its fame and prestige through the ages. Soon after his disappearance, a hundred years passed by, the imminent changes gradually drawn themselves upon the entire Sovereign Realm. The legend passed on, never forgotten, never relinquished. He was a hero that was deemed as gone forever. No one ever thought that the person from a legendary tale, would once again appear within the Sovereign Realm. Swoosh! Greetings, Flame Monarch. A slicing sound reverberated in the air as three figures appeared before the Flame Monarch, forming a triangle based on their positions. All of them bowed their heads and cupped their hands as the one in the middle greeted the Flame Monarch. I need your explanation. Now. said the Flame Monarch with a voice that sounded so calm and frightening. Your majesty, I do not understand. What kind of explanation does I, the Patriarch of the Bright Sky Sect, owe you? replied the man in the middle. Patriarch Brightsky, we havent met for a long time and now, you actually dare to talk like that before me? Patriarch of one of the majors sects, hahahaha! Truly exquisite and powerful, just how arrogant have your sects become since Ive gone into seclusion?! exclaimed the Flame Monarch. As he spoke, the Red Flame that was swirling around him suddenly burst out and encircled the three men before him. Understanding the Flame Monarchs intention, the man whom the Flame Monarch called Patriarch Brightsky, suddenly shouted, Flame Monarch you dare?!