The path of the Soul Emperor

Chapter 7

After a long journey, Alex finally arrived at a nearby city, sprawling across more than 10 kilometers.

Known for its peace and security, it was surrounded by three powerful guilds that guarded its borders.

With the money Ava had on hand, Alex managed to secure a modest place to stay, where he could focus on his training undisturbed.

Since his arrival, Alex had been working to stabilize his cultivation.

He'd recently broken through to the peak of the Infant Soul Stage, and while the progress was rewarding, it came with a hefty price: time.

Calculating carefully, Alex figured it would take him about two months of uninterrupted cultivation to reach a 90% stabilization rate.

Another two or three months would be required to push that number to a full 100%.

In total, it would take him half a year to solidify his foundation completely.

He realized that with each advancement in cultivation, the time needed for stabilization grew longer, and skipping this process would only result in a weakened foundation.

Moving forward without fully grounding his strength would mean an unstable core, which he would need to address with each minor breakthrough, costing even more time.

After a few days of focused cultivation, a familiar notification sounded in his mind.

{Ding! SYSTEM back online. Has the host missed me?}

Alex grinned. "Of course," he replied softly.

His moment of solitude was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Ava entered, a curious look on her face as she observed him sitting cross-legged on the bed.

"For a moment, I thought you were dead. Even our Orc friend was a little worried, though she didn't want to admit it or come in to check," Ava teased.

Alex shrugged nonchalantly. "Would it really matter to you?"

She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Not particularly."

Alex chuckled, the air lightening. "So, did you find what you were looking for?"

"Not yet," Ava replied, glancing away momentarily. "I'm actually heading out to find an old friend. I've located his whereabouts and need to meet him alone."

Alex nodded in understanding. "Are you taking Stella with you?"

Ava shook her head. "No, this is something I need to handle on my own."

With that, she turned and left the room.

As she walked down the hallway, she spotted Stella waiting quietly nearby.

Ava informed her, "I'm heading out. Alex seems to be doing fine."

Stella nodded briefly and retreated to her room, leaving Ava to sigh in exasperation.

"Those two are like oil and water," she muttered to herself.

She'd noticed that since Alex agreed to help her search for her lost siblings, her intense disdain for him had softened.

Ava now saw him as something closer to an equal, though she wasn't entirely convinced of his worth just yet.

On the other hand, Stella and Alex had barely exchanged words.

It surprised Alex to hear that Stella had shown concern, albeit in her way.

He didn't take Ava for a liar, so he believed her.

Observing his surroundings more closely, he noticed Stella had only gone out at night since they arrived.

He'd also realized that the other races in the city seemed wary of her presence.

The Orc race, notorious for its fierce nature, was often viewed as a threat, and discovering an Orc village usually led to an elite squad of adventurers being dispatched to eliminate the potential danger.

Pondering these things, Alex refocused on his cultivation, merging his soul and arcane energy in steady balance.

The next morning, he opened his door, ready for a change of pace, and found Stella preparing to head out.

She had covered herself with a long coat and mask, concealing her distinctive features. In the dim hallway, she glanced his way briefly before he spoke.

"Where are you headed?" he asked.

"Four days of idling is unbearable," she replied. "I'm going to join one of the guilds and take on some quests."

Alex nodded, but an idea formed in his mind. "Actually, I was about to leave the city myself. I thought about going on an adventure. Want to come along?"

Stella hesitated, her hand lingering on her mask. "Why hide yourself like that?"

"Monster races don't mix well with others," she replied.

Alex recalled that to get her through the city gates, he'd had to present her as being under his control, even filling out some temporary paperwork to satisfy the guards.

Although they had dissolved the slave contract upon entering, she was still cautious of attracting trouble.

"Fair enough," he shrugged. "It'll be a long trip since I don't plan on returning anytime soon. I don't care what others think—it's a shame to hide such a beautiful face."

Beneath her mask, Stella's expression softened into a small smile.

She kept the disguise, though, understanding that her presence might still cause them issues. "Wait, did you tell Ava?" she asked.

"Yeah. She said she'd call me if she needs help, but it seems she has things under control," Alex answered.

Some time later, they sat in a carriage together, Stella now removing her coat and mask.

She sat tall, her athletic figure visible beneath the combat attire she wore, which balanced function and elegance perfectly.

"So, where exactly are we going?" she asked.

"A town not far from here," Alex replied, keeping the reins steady. "There's something I need to retrieve."

He glanced her way and asked curiously, "Can't you use a humanoid form, like Ava?"

Stella shook her head.

"Ava belongs to the Beast races; they have different powers. Orcs like me don't share that skill. There is, however, an evolved form of Orcs known as the Kajin. They appear more human-like than standard Orcs."

Alex's curiosity deepened. "How does one become a Kajin?"

She looked thoughtful. "There are a few conditions. You'd need pure Orc blood and would have to reach a high rank, like C-Rank. Some are born as Kajin, often if one of their parents was of that form."

Alex took this in, intrigued. "Is that something you'd want?"

"Of course," Stella replied, almost wistfully. "Evolving into a Kajin would increase my strength fivefold."

"Then I'll help you make that happen."

Stella's expression was complex as she looked at him, finally asking, "Why would you do that?"

"Why not?" he replied simply, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

A faint chuckle escaped her lips. "You know I still intend to kill you, right?"

Alex shrugged, unbothered. "I know. But when you try, I'll just put you in your place and show you you're not strong enough yet."

Stella looked away, a hint of a smile on her face as she pondered his answer, choosing to let the moment rest without a retort.

{Author's Note}

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