Fire Lake

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Leroy could feel the energy above the lake in some areas. It was a chemical fire that was above the lake and by the burning of it all, he couldn't tell immediately how it was lit. Carrying Chu Mu on his back, he jumped around while devouring it into the Internal Space. Not cultivating it just yet, but letting his Flame Vortex Core spin sucking it all in only.

Chu Mu was too comfortable on his back, not saying a single word feeling a stir with her own cultivation. Leroy was very aware that it was just a very feminine male now. But travel made things odd enough without him having to travel differently.

A few others begged a little attention to be wary of anyway.

A young teen male, a teen female around the same age, and an old man landed not to far away. Chu Xue and Chu Quan walked out from a path as well. The old man addressed the young female. Paying ample respect to her when doing so. The different stations between them clear.

"The old man is the Light Lion-ice Patriarch. The boy near him is Chu Xue. Rumor has it he was expelled from the Heavenly Theocracy Akademy for odd reasons." The old man said. Eyes keeping an eye on Leroy and Chu Mu afterward. "The black-skinned youth is Leroy of the Light Shentai Family and the girl on his back is Chu Mu of the Light Lion-ice Family. Leroy... is something of an enigma lately, lady Jing Lin."

"How so?" the Lady was intrigued but not overly so.

"Rumors suggest he is against the Rebels and Nobles who abuse their powers. Citing he is training among other things keeps him from having to report to the Military and his Occupation as a Student. His growth has been contributed to him fighting and cultivating almost nonstop the last few months." Jing Jue hesitated to say a few other unsavory rumors. But it was better she was aware of some matters. "He cares not for a person's station and speaks with a sharp tongue. Having insulted the vice-principal Jin who happens to also be his teacher as well as other Nobles who outrank him. Not to mention his own principal was upset with him."

"How did he make the old principal upset?"

"He broke the arms of his son and former disciple in the tournament. As well as leaving a burn mark on his arms and back due to some words exchanged beforehand about..." Jing Jue cut a few parts out about what needed to be said.

"I understand." Lady Jing Lin walked forward to start her training. "I'm going to train now, you two can go back!"

"Yes, take care, young mistress!" The two saluted as Lady Jing Lin jumped into the water. The moment she was gone, they gave each other a look and then moved toward Leroy's group.

Leroy watched as Chu Mu exclaimed excitedly about her breakthrough. Entering into the Qi Refining Realm was the best thing that happened to her. So excited, she missed the Jing members coming over.

"Patriarch Chu Quan, long time no see." Jing Jue said. He said nothing to Leroy who observed the changes in Chu Mu.

"Jing Jue, do you have any business with us?" Old Chu Quan did not like the Jings to much. One of the reasons he was not interested in the Jing's family matters, was due to the arrogance of some of them. 'Up to no good, it seems despite the interference made by Offical Leroy.'

"Humph!" Jing Jue snorted. He gave Chu Xue a look over trying to figure out what was so great about him. "Is this the kid from your Light Lion-ice Family who got into the Heavenly Theocracy Akademy and caused a scandal with two noble families above your station?"

"You already know the answer to that!" Chu Xue met his gaze with one of his own. His thoughts on other matters that just came to light. 'A scandal with two noble families? Did I make it bad for sister Victoria? I heard she was doing fine thanks to the Mercenary Guild when traveling.'

He didn't even consider the North Lord's daughter.

His look at Jing Jue upset the old man. But not as much as the disciple near him. Jing Hao wanted to put Chu Xue in his place. While crushing a Rebel Collaborator.

"When our elders are talking," Jing Hao charged circulating his qi. "it's not your place to speak up!" His arm came around like a whip. Chu Xue braced himself for a fight, but a blur got in his way.

*Fwish!* A fire fist extended towards Lin Hao. Faster than he could dodge, he had no choice but to attempt a block.

*Bam!* Jing Hao went flying back and smashed into a tree unmoving. He was not dead but he was not doing ok in the slightest.

'Jing Hao is at the Foundation Establishment Realm 3rd Rank, he is no match for a member of the this new Noble Family!' Unable to tell the cultivation level of Leroy, he didn't think he was anything more than someone who enter into the beginning stages of the Foundation Establishment Realm with the help of pills at the most. 'I was told that he took something to boost his cultivation before the tournament and would drop back down worse afterward! Someone has lied to me!'

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"Am I air or something?" Leroy said coldly. "Since when did brats think it ok to cause trouble in front of me? Especially with a loyal member of the empire breaking through with her Cultivation?" He looked towards Elder Jing threateningly. 'If he provokes a fight and I kill him then the body of the Jing brat, I can learn a lot about the Jing family secrets and what they are up to in the area.'

Elder Jing Jue felt sweat drop down his back. The rumors about Leroy were starting to sound more believable in regard to his strength. But he had no reason why he was stuck in the middle of this. Especially the way the Dark Tiger-fire Family had suppressed the growth of the Light Lion-ice Family over the years.

"I think we all need to settle down." Old Chu Quan said. Their subservient personality was strong in that he wanted to take the gentle route over other matters.

"Take your trash and leave." Leroy turned away looking back at Chu Mu. 'A small amount of that energy from the lake and my Flame Vortex Core Qi does wonders. And it doesn't look painful as before. Interesting.'

"Of course." Jing Jue picked up Jing Hao quickly. The shallow breathing did not look good. "Your Light Shentai Family has just started, to think you would be so heavy-handed just now."

"Heavy-handed?" Leroy smiled over his shoulder. A ball of fire was created in his open palm with crackling sparks. "I can show you heavy-handed if you do not leave! Don't start none, there won't be none!"

"Wait!" Chu Xue jumped in between. "Official Leroy, I think we can settle this without escalating it any further!" Not wanting to make matters worse was the best outcome. Especially with the match coming up. "Any grievance can be talked out later!"

"This old man will remember this!" Jing Jue didn't like the fireball was still growing. Chu Xue's request was ignored. "We will have an account later!" He took off like a scared rabbit.

"Ehem!" Old Chu Quan cleared his throat. "Chu Xue watches over Chu Mu and cultivates diligently in this area. Do not go towards the center islands." Seeing the boy understood he turned to Leroy. "I wish you luck in whatever you are looking for. This old man has matters to attend to."

"Uh-huh." Leroy nodded before heading towards the lake. He finally remembered there were some things worth getting nearby but it was deep underwater when compared to the notes. Releasing the children and the Nun, he explained to them to be careful. "A good chance to cultivate don't go too far inward and stay close to one another."

it was a shame this area was not close to the Phenomeom before. It would have done wonders for the area and Leroy's exploration.

"The air feels stifling." Nun Clarissa could feel the Qi and a few of the chemicals that lingered. "I will make sure no one goes too far away."

She listened as Leroy explained a few more things about what to expect in the area. As well as the cold water effects that should help with a few techniques. And with the cold water affecting the people nearby like a type of poison, it would be best if they drink from reserves.

"Make sure you use whatever you have to make it out if you are attacked. Items can be replaced but you have only one life." That was another thing to keep an eye out for. "Hup!"

*Splash!* The water went high as Leroy used his qi to push it out of the way when he dived in. The cold assaulted him quickly.

With a spin of his Flame Vortex Core, the Cold Qi was taken in and circulated into the metal seed. The temperature not affecting him in the least. He didn't even use his Flame Martial Arts to resist the poison either.

The deeper he went, the faster the strange energy affected his cultivation. The Flame Vortex Core spun faster and faster as if it was a natural tonic for it. Words and various iconography appeared within the flames but turn faded and became unable to be read.

Taking the little attention away from the Leroy focused on everything down here instead. Passing deeper down he moved to pass what looked to be kelp. But it glowed in a purple color and stung his flesh.

Stopping once it started to burn to much and actually blistered his skin, he pushed to cultivate not wanting to miss the chance. Using his Internal Space to the best of his ability, he allowed oxygen to flow from it into himself as needed.

No longer having to run out of air it was easier to use Spatial Sense and the Metal Seed to start mapping the area near him out. With each pulse and feedback of information, he was able to point to broken structures underneath him.

A quarter of a mile down after some time he was able to make out a temple that was long since abandoned. Not a single living creature could be detected and the very most the Qi was very dense but a poison type.

Tempering the Body came first as once the pressure released a little from the concentration he moved down to keep causing it to wrack his body.

Hour after hour was spent with him sinking down changing further body-wise. Despite the oxygen flow his lungs started to burn and tear. Circulating Flame Vortex Qi it was forced together like a bandage and recovered a little.

"Grr!" The pain was much different compared to when he tempered his body in the beginning. 'Improving but this Poison Qi is really something else! Already pushing my Flamelighting Dantian to fight back but prevent anything else but I might have bitten off more than I can chew too soon!'

Slightly dizzy and barely keeping his lungs from turning to shreds, Leroy wasn't ready for his skin to melt and his muscles to be completely exposed. He drifted down for just a brief moment out of control and was pulled in by a powerful force.

"Blrrrpp!" The mix of Cold Qi, Poison Qi, and Water Qi started to rampage into his body now that his focus was broken. Refocusing and not fighting against the pull since he was way too far down he swam down eagerly. "!"

The first piece of structure he grab felt beyond cold as his tendons and fingertips ripped as he forced himself further down with physical strength. Pushing against more buildings he tried to draw a little Qi from either of his sources but couldn't concentrate enough.

'There is a chance!' Leroy spotted a large opening that was big enough for him to try something. 'Here we go!' Eyes burned and barely able to make out images he was made aware that the area was different. "Owww!"

He slipped through a Formation that only kept the opposing forces out and not a person. Of course, he was too jacked up to do anything about it immediately and slipped into a sleeping state with the air hitting his exposed nerves with enough issues he couldn't take it.