Chapter 278 278: Spear

Boom!

The deeper he went, Richard could no longer control the flames within the abyss.

They began to take shape—lions and tigers—roaring as they lunged at him, making him feel genuinely threatened.

Whoosh!

Richard swiftly entered Void Mode again, and they immediately lost track of him.

In the end, it was still easier to resist the opposing force in Void Mode.

The reason he hadn't used it earlier was because he wanted to adapt first—there might come a point where even Void Mode would no longer be enough.

But as he reached the middle region of the abyss, he began to feel that even Void Mode could no longer withstand the upward force.

What shocked him was what he saw below.

The end of the flames seemed to be about 3 kilometers beneath him. Yet about 1 kilometer below his current position, there was a different kind of flame.

Its upper portion formed the head of a ferocious dragon, complete with eyes that seemed alive—glowing with an intensely bright golden light.

The opposing force appeared to come from the dragon's breath.

Just… its breath alone.

This was clearly the true power of a Grand Sovereign, while the flames above were nothing more than diluted remnants.

Even so, this was likely just a casual release of power—like lifting a finger. If it were an actual attack, the destruction would be endless.

Richard hesitated.

If he unleashed more of his strength, he believed he could break through the opposing force.

But this dragon-shaped flame… was a different matter.

He feared the consequences would be severe.

"Show yourself, boy!"

Suddenly, the dragon opened its mouth and spoke.

Richard was utterly shocked—and before he could even react, he was forced out of Void Mode.

Buzz!

The void power around him vanished.

He released his own flames, which appeared calm and natural—almost ordinary.

Yet with them, he managed to hold back the surrounding fire—something even Ancient Sovereigns could not achieve.

"Genius," the dragon said again, clearly surprised.

"What are you?" Richard asked, suspecting it was merely a manifestation of the Demon Flame Grand Sovereign's power.

"Hmph. Do you not know? Power released by a Grand Sovereign can develop a life of its own," the dragon replied.

Though it was not a real dragon—only flame shaped like one—it could speak. Calling it a dragon was not unreasonable.

Moreover, if it were to leave this place, its strength would likely surpass even Ancient Sovereigns.

The Fire Spirit Queen's claim that a fourth-stage Ancient Sovereign could rival the weakest Grand Sovereign now seemed like an exaggeration.

"So you are a living manifestation of power…" Richard said, intrigued. "Are you guarding a treasure below?"

"There is no treasure here. You've been deceived by foolish rumors," the dragon replied.

Richard frowned.

Was it lying?

It didn't seem necessary.

If the Grand Sovereign had left something behind, it would have been meant as a legacy. There was no need to lie.

"Then what lies below?" Richard asked.

"Something dangerous. Leave. It is not for you to interfere with—unless you wish for this land to be destroyed."

Richard frowned deeper.

Did this mean his journey would end with nothing?

"But boy, since you've made it this far—and you are a genius of fire—I will naturally give you a reward," the dragon added.

Richard straightened immediately.

"What is it?" he asked.

"My master's spear."

The dragon exhaled, and a transparent crimson spear emerged.

Whoosh!

The spear floated toward Richard, stopping right in front of him.

A majestic golden light radiated fiercely from it, dazzling his eyes.

"My master had no clan or faction. He has already rewarded those who supported him. Only this spear remains. You may use it as your weapon," the dragon declared.

A Grand Weapon.

Although Richard already possessed something even greater—the Skylight Sword of his ancestor—it didn't make this spear any less valuable.

He accepted it without hesitation.

The spear did not resist him.

Though it was said one must reach the Ruler Realm to wield a Grand Weapon, Richard was confident he could use it now.

After all, he was already stronger than most Rulers.

Only the Skylight Sword remained unusable for now—it required more than mere Ruler-level strength.

With his current foundation, he might not even need to reach the Ruler Realm—perhaps the peak of the Lord Realm would suffice.

"Thank you," Richard said.

"Leave. If you become a Grand Sovereign in this era, do not forget to return the spear to me," the dragon said.

"Haha, don't worry."

Richard chuckled before leaving.

At least he had gained something.

From now on, he would fight using this spear.

Just as he had entered, he exited the abyss silently.

'But what exactly did the Demon Flame Grand Sovereign hide down there?' Richard still wondered.

As he appeared in the distance, light gathered before him, forming the figure of a slender woman with straight red hair—young and vibrant.

Who else could it be but the Fire Spirit Queen?

Their connection through the World Magic Aether allowed her to detect him the moment he appeared.

However, Richard was slightly confused—it wasn't her real body, only a manifestation.

"Queen?" Richard asked.

"Richard, I have returned to the Land of Spirit due to some issues in my kingdom. I hope you don't mind," the Fire Spirit Queen said gently.

"If you have time, you should come. There is a good opportunity for you," she added.

She was no longer cold toward him—perhaps she now believed he truly had the potential to become a Grand Sovereign.

"It's fine…" Richard replied. "I'll go there later. By the way, is there any news about my grandfather?"

"He is well. He returned two years ago and has resumed managing his clan. By the way, your mother and Grace are also in the Land of Spirit."

"What are they doing there?" Richard asked in surprise.

The Fire Spirit Queen hesitated.

"What is it?" Richard pressed.

"The Sun Spirit Kingdom… it is the strongest faction in the Land of Spirit. Throughout its history, it has produced four Grand Sovereigns—strong enough to rival even the Order of the Heaven Emperor. Your mother has married their king in this generation and has become their queen. The king was supposed to compete for the World Magic Aether, but he has now sworn to support her instead."

Richard: "…"