Fire Spirit Mask (II): Knowledge

[ALL POWER MUST BE MASTERED, ALL ENERGY CONTROLLED. IT IS THE ADVENT OF SEEKING PERFECTION IN ALL THINGS THAT WE DO AND GAIN THAT HAS MADE US SO INCREDIBLY UNIQUE, AND THE VERITABLE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

MANY BELIEVE THAT POWER CORRUPT, HOWEVER THE TRUE MEASURE OF HUMANITY STEMS FROM OUR REACTION AND ADAPTATION TO POWER. SIMPLE AS THAT MIGHT SOUND, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WE'VE FALLEN SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS. BUT ITS NOT OUR FAULT, WE'RE FLAWED AND VERY MUCH BROKEN INSIDE FROM THE VERY MOMENT WE WERE BORN, THE IMPERFECT SEEKING PERFECTION. WE ARE HUMAN.

BUT NO SINGLE POWER IS BAD, ONLY TWO THINGS MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO POWER AS A WHOLE, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DO TO GET IT, AND HOW YOU USE IT. THAT'S THE TEST HUMANITY'S FACING, AND THAT'S TEST WE ALSO SEEM TO BE FAILING.]

THE CHRONICLES OF THE FIRST KING OF MAN

Alex once again found himself in the circular platform, at first it was just made of a dull gray stone, but right now there seem to be a demarcation on it. The direction that led to the archway of fire was lit up tiny embers of blood red flames. And this flames stretched from the midpoint of the platform and up the stars to the archway.

"For a boy without knowledge about spirits, spirit kings and their abilities, you were surprisingly able to withstand the pressure of putting a mask on for the first time, and retaining your sanity through out the whole ordeal. Your mental fortitude and power is something that even the spirit kings of old would never have matched."

To be honest at this point Alex had already grown numb to the amount of praises he's had to receive. Yes he was talented in every aspect, great! Now if everyone could just stop repeating it like it was a mantra, then Alex would very much appreciate it. But never the less this was a chance for him to ask questions that have been plaguing him since he received the seven spirit masks, and the polymorphic piece of wood that held them.

"I know you have lots of questions, and quite honestly I don't really like it when people ask me questions. So it's better if you just sit down and listen."

All Alex could hear was the sound of Nezha's voice reverberating through the space, he couldn't see his body, and Alex knew his body was probably beyond the fiery archway, but nonetheless if Nezha wanted Alex to listen and not ask questions, then Alex would listen. If there are things he doesn't understand, be could just as easily ask after Nezha was done.

"As you well know there are beings, creatures in this world that exist under the normal glare of the mortal gaze. Some call them souls, others ghosts, but the thing is anything supernatural, with a consciousness, that exists within the confines of this mortal plane, or any other; is invariably and without a doubt a spirit.

Just as there a numerous stars in the sky, so too are the amount of spirits in existence within the mortal world, and the spirit plane. Majority unfortunately don't really care about life as a whole, some of them are drive by desires or an instinctual racial disposition that causes them to do harm. Spirits like ghosts, wraiths, nightmares and many others are drawn to the anima of any living being, their very life force, or in essence their spirit.

Devouring this spirit, in much the same way Qi demons and beasts devour each other to grow and evolve, would help the spirits become more powerful and give them the chance to exert more control on mortal world. Most of the natural disasters that happen are almost never a cause of nature, rather powerful elemental spirits who just want to spill blood and cause trouble.

It's the spirit King's job to keep the spirits in check, to serve as a bridge between the waking world of the mortals, and the unseen world of the supernatural. And in that regard it brings me to my next point, spirits are not the only things that a spirit king has to protect, protect against and rule. Qi might be the most prevalent practice, but back in my time the supernatural was even more vast, creature who could wield spirit energy of many forms to cause great good, or great damage.

This world is not as simple as you think it is, werewolves, vampires, harpies, angels, demons, and true blooded dragons all exist. Hidden and forgotten by most of the world as Qi has taken center point in the advancement of power. But the practice of spirit has not been entirely forgotten. The witch doctors of the dark continent, the shamans of the new world, and the mages and wizards of the empire of Albion all practice variations of the art of spirit. And in doing so, without a king to control the traffic of spirit in the world, they're all at risk of having their spirits devoured by malignant spirits. And now more than ever, since the spirit world is rearing for a war with the mortal world."

This was a lot for Alex to take in, it was like saying underneath the Wulin and the cultivation world itself, was an even more powerful and secret world that had the potential of screwing everything over for everyone, it was absolutely mind blowing.

"There has not been a spirit king for hundreds of years, without his rule and control, spirits have ran rampant, they've whispered evil and separated the world into multiple divisions, making everyone the enemy of the other, just so that spirits can come and invade and devour. And once they're done here, they'll move on to the next world, and the next, and the next.

You see spirits are in essence anima, the energy and fuel that helps a mortal body move and breathe and live. When said mortal dies, his soul and anima will become one, and based on characteristics of race, behavior and abilities during their life time, it would decide what they will look like and become as spirits. But the thing about spirits is that just like humans, we want to grow stronger, we want power, and a chance to actually have mortal flesh again, to have blood and bones, a feat that only high level spirits or spirits born, rather than made have acquired.

Which is why currently there are two main factions within and outside the spirit world, the faction of the living spirits, those that can actually live and interact with the mortal world, and the faction of the unseen spirits, very much like the ghosts you can't see or touch. You have to find a balance between the two factions, and the mortal world, and defend it.

Being spirit King is not just something that's suddenly decided, it's a cosmic duty born of destiny and balance. You could say the universe chose you, which is why it gave you the skills to survive both the cultivation world and the spirit world. Your talents, hour strengths were not given to you for nothing, it was so that you can protect the world and the people within it. But not just this world, your destiny spans countless worlds and your real kingdom is not even here, it's waiting for you in the space between worlds, the gate realm. But that's a story for another day, you understand what's at stake here, and while putting such responsibility on your young shoulders might be too much, I know you will do the right thing. However just because you have to save the universe, doesn't mean you can't have a life.

The path of Qi and cultivation will tell you that the journey to immortality is lonely, and until you get to the peak no one else matters due to how difficult it is to trust people. That's nonsense! Humans, especially the sprit king is not powerful alone, you draw power from the spirits willing to bow to you, to have faith in you and choose to follow you. When you have someone to fight for, then you fight all the hardest, even someone who has nothing to loose won't fight as hard you would. So believe in yourself and try to enjoy your childhood as much as possible, mine was crappy considering my father tried to kill me. Now! Let me tell you about the cultivation of spirit kings!"