You must reach Ascendant Realm

The moment was broken as Mason pulled away, a look of annoyance flashing across his face.

A voice came through the door, clear and formal, "Young Master, it is time."

The voice belonged to Zhao Ming, Mason's personal servant, a man in his fifties who had served Mason's family for decades. With a deep sense of duty and respect, Zhao Ming held a crucial position in the household. He was not only a servant, but also a mentor and a confidante to Mason.

Despite the interruption, Mason's eyes remained locked on Fiona. As he slowly withdrew, the intimacy of the moment lingered, leaving them both breathless. With a final glance, he adjusted his clothes, composing himself as he turned to the door. "Come in, Zhao Ming."

The door creaked open, and a man of average height with a dignified bearing walked in. His hair was tied neatly into a topknot, streaked with gray, and his eyes held the wisdom of many years. He was dressed in a simple dark robe, a silver insignia of a Phoenix pinned to his chest, signifying his status as Mason's personal servant.

"Begging your pardon, Young Master Mason, Princess Fiona." He bowed deeply, his eyes filled with respect. "My Lord, your uncle requests your presence in his study. It's an urgent matter."

Fiona, who had remained silent until now, rose from the bed. Her heart raced as she looked at Mason, silently asking if she should accompany him. Before she could utter a word, Zhao Ming addressed her, "Princess, I'm afraid this matter concerns only the Young Master. Your presence would not be appropriate."

Mason caught her worried glance and squeezed her hand reassuringly. He had to face whatever was coming on his own. As the future head of his clan, he couldn't hide behind Fiona, no matter how much he wished he could.

"Lead the way, Zhao Ming," Mason said, turning his attention back to his servant.

With a final bow, Zhao Ming led the way, Mason following him through the lavishly decorated hallways, their steps echoing through the silent mansion. They passed countless doors, each uniquely carved with depictions of mythical beasts and legendary figures from the realm of cultivation.

*****

Finally, they stopped in front of a massive door, intricately decorated with a pair of phoenixes facing each other, an emblem of The Vermillion Phoenix Clan—Ashen Flame Sect. Without another word, Zhao Ming pushed open the door, revealing the study room.

The room was richly furnished, filled with ancient scriptures and countless artifacts. The air smelled of old parchment and cedarwood, a testament to the countless hours spent within these four walls, studying and contemplating. The walls were lined with bookshelves, filled to the brim with ancient scrolls, their edges tinged yellow with age. Behind a massive rosewood desk sat a man who could only be Mason's uncle.

Uncle Li was a powerful cultivator, his strength known far and wide in Paragon Valley. His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, held an unnerving gaze that seemed to pierce Mason's very soul. His silver hair was tied up, a few strands framing his ageless face. His robe, dark blue and trimmed with golden thread, was embroidered with the image of a phoenix in flight. The powerful aura he emitted was a testament to his high cultivation level.

"Mason," Uncle Li's voice boomed across the room, causing the scrolls to tremble on their shelves, "We've received a message from an unknown enemy."

Mason's heart pounded in his chest, a cold dread creeping up his spine. The seriousness of Uncle Li's tone suggested a grave threat looming over their sect.

"The enemy seeks to ruin the bond we've built with the Empress of The Gold Dragon Dynasty," Uncle Li continued, his gaze hardening. "They want to bring chaos into our sect, weaken our alliances, and claim the treasures that our ancestors have protected for generations."

His mind did a quick calculation and analysis of the situation, trying his best to align the information he had received from his system.

"But how..." Mason started, his mind racing to process the information. The enemies of his sect, as vast as the realms of cultivation, were numerous, but an enemy daring enough to send a direct message was a rarity.

"I don't know," Uncle Li cut him off. "But we need to be ready. Our sect and alliance's survival depends on it."

As Uncle Li spoke, Mason could see a glint of fear in his eyes, a sight that unsettled him more than anything else. Uncle Li, a man who had seen countless battles, a man who was a legend in the cultivation world, was worried.

And then Uncle Li said something that chilled Mason to his very core. "To safeguard our Sect, you must cultivate further and reach the Ascendant Realm."

Mason choked on his breath as he looked up at his uncle in shock. 'What did he just say?'

Mason was stunned. The Ascendant Realm was a mythical level of dual cultivation that only his father had ever reached before he went on his final mission into the Great Forest. It was said that one who reached the Ascendant Realm could command the elements, control life and death, and wield power beyond imagination.

'No... I can't.' The voice inside his mind protested against the prospect. 'I don't think I prepared myself for this sort of shit when I accepted this, Kitanai...'

[...]

A look of anger flashed across Uncle Li's face as he continued to speak, "I have already sent for your father's writings and notes." His voice took on a tone that made it clear he didn't need an answer right now. "The note spoke on the challenge after the full moon. You have until a few days before the next full moon to prepare yourself."

"But Uncle, the Ascendant Realm...," Mason began, but he was met with a stern gaze from his uncle.

"You are a Fusion Master, Mason. You were born on the auspicious 7 months and 9 weeks for this very moment. You must reach the Ascendant Realm. Our Sect's survival depends on it."

'If it were so easy for me to reach the Ascendant Realm, why hasn't it happened before?' A part of him thought. But then another part reminded him that he still had much to learn before he could even attempt to cultivate the Ascendant Realm. He felt like he was caught between a rock and a hard place: either he needed to accept that he needed to reach the Ascendant Realm or give up on this whole dream of becoming the Head of The Vermillion Phoenix Clan.

"Please don't joke with this as you've wasted years of your cultivation frolicking with ladies," Uncle Li scolded him, "It is time to act like the heir to my seat."

'That didn't sound too bad at first until you had to put it that way.' Mason grumbled under his breath as he fought to keep his temper down. As much as he wanted to be angry at his uncle, he knew that he would need all his wits about him if he was going to meet the challenge before the full moon which was approximately 24 days.

Mason took a deep breath as he calmed down. He knew that Uncle Li had been hard on him because he was worried about him.

*****

With the doors closed behind Mason, he let out a deep breath as he pushed off the doors and walked back to his room.

As he entered his chambers, he noticed that it had been cleared of all clutter, a pair of new robes hung neatly on the rack along with a few sets of clothing. They were simple robes, black silk with red trimming around the neckline and hemline. A red cord embroidered with the symbol of The Vermillion Phoenix Clan adorned the chest.

'Where's Fiona? Did she leave?' He asked himself as he looked around the room for his lover. But she wasn't here. There was a small note on the table next to his bed.

|I'm sorry to leave you behind, but I need to be by my father's side at this moment in time after I was summoned by my mother. I will make sure to come to visit as usual.

Fiona.|

He couldn't help but smile as he picked up the note and read it again. It was sweet of her to write this note; however, it left him feeling more alone than before. He didn't want to spend time alone right now, he needed someone by his side.

After reading the note several times, he crumpled it into a ball and threw it on his bed as he looked around the room.

Ding!

[Task: Cultivate to the Ascendant Realm with your partner(s) using:

•Balance and Harmony

•Mutual Respect and Understanding

•Deep Emotional Bond

•Shared Vision and Determination

•Purity of Mind and Body

•Physical and Spiritual Intimacy]

[Location: Ashen Flame Sect]

'You just had to bring these topics up!' Mason grumbled to himself as he replayed the events leading up to his uncle's order in his head.

'In simple terms, it combines dedication, understanding, respect and sex from both partners,' Mason thought as he walked over to his bed and picked up the crumpled note from earlier.

'At least I have one for now who fits this description.' He said as he turned his attention back to the note. He sat on his bed and stared at it for a long while before finally stuffing it into the pocket of his robe laid on his bed.

'A little adventure wouldn't hurt at this point.' Mason thought as slips on the robe in front of him. With one final look, he left his chambers behind.