.
.
.
---
/Two and half hours later…/
"... It's going to happen soon. The next cycle."
"How long has it been? Eight hours?" Wuizi asked as he yawned
'I actually slept there for a moment… And my cultivation increased substantially.'
'What happened?'
"... You really slept in the middle of the trial, huh… That's new, even for me. Hoho…"
"... Has anything interesting happened?"
"Only the top thirty are left, together with a few stragglers… Take a look at some of the floors between the 130th and 149th floors, it seems some disciples have just given up on climbing and have chosen to remain still and Cultivate."
"If they can enter a meditative state and focus, they can equalize the energies inside and outside their bodies, so they've been using it to resist the pressure and Cultivate for longer… Albeit it won't last for long."
"... What about your disciples?"
"The two youngest have stopped at the 153rd floor and are now giving them all to cultivate… Honestly, they've done better then I expected."
"As for my eldest, he reached the 167th floor but stopped there as well. He still seems intent on climbing and is doing so ever so slightly. I wager his goal is the 170th floor as a milestone. Many are like him right now, trying to reach the next milestone."
"... I wager it was due to the doubling pressure, right?"
"Yes, it has forced many down their tracks as soon as it came the first time. Only a few can keep going. Such as your disciple."
"My disciple? N… Guan is?"
"Take a look yourself, the lad has just breached the 181th floor! He's fifth in the leaderboard."
"!"
[196th Floor - Lao Famin - (King Crow Peak) - 2Min, 23 Sec per floor]
[184th Floor - An Biyu Zhaili- (Mystic Veil Peak) - 2Min, 33 Sec per floor]
[182nd Floor - Polrus Za- (Twin Titan Peak) - 2Min, 34 Sec per floor]
[181st Floor - Miri Sapla - (King Crow Peak) - 2Min, 35 Sec per floor]
[181st Floor - Guan Feixue - (Ritual Peak) - 2Min, 35 Sec per floor]
"It's quite a close fight for the second and third place… But first place is…"
"Yes, that child is quite… Monstrous. Had it not been for this increased gravity, he'd certainly be at the end by now, however, it seems the end of the path shall remain a mystery for now."
"You should be proud though. Your disciple went further then anyone ever imagined… It's something to be celebrated, regardless of the conditions you two share."
"Hm… Right."
'While I don't like the fact Nulan has attracted some attention, maybe its for the best things ended like this.'
'The highest ranking candidate of the Black Iron Peak is far below her and so, our bet ends like this.'
'We'll be paid and that previous issue will be solved, albeit there's still that issue with the Seven Treasures…'
[174th Floor - Jiu Wuso - (Rulling Axe Peak) - 2Min, 42 Sec per floor]
'Even this brat is quite far, he can't even pass that hurdle… He probably wasted too much time getting there and now he's stuck.'
/Coom!/
"Hm? What's happening?"
The leaderboard suddenly began to spark with light!
"Heh, looks like someone is trying that again." Ruji laughed as he scratched his beard
"What's going on?"
"It's their last stand." Someone said on the side as they sighed loudly
"Peak Master Dorim." Wuizi said as he bowed lightly to the elder
"No need for formalities. Just look below kid."
As he said that, Wuizi looked down to see one of the contestants suddenly charge through the trial as he burst his energy!
Like a comet, he ran through everything in his path, climbing one, two, three… Five floors all at once!
However, once he reached his sixth… His energy vanished as his momentum crashed down.
/THROW!/
Soon enough, he was thrown outside.
"... I see now…"
'The disciples must've realized their time is coming to an end. Once gravity doubles again, its likely no one, even the strongest of them all will be able to fullfill their true potential, so they've been pushing themselves to their limit to try and break through as many floors as they can in one go before being thrown outside.'
'Their last effort. By exploding all of the energy within themselves as they perform multiple techniques at once, they can move as if they were on ordinary ground, if only for a moment.'
"... I imagine this leaderboard isn't the actual one, right?"
"Correct, it only shows those that still remain, the true leaderboard will only be shown at the end."
"..."
/Coom!/
/Coom!/
Distracted by his thoughts, the leaderboard suddenly flashed within light again!
'It's that brat, looks like he realized he wouldn't be able to hold on any longer.'
[174th Floor - Jiu Wuso - (Rulling Axe Peak)...]
[175th…]
[176th…]
[177th…]
[178th…]
[179th…]
[180th…]
[181st…]
[182nd…]
[183rd…]
[184th…]
[185th…]
[186th…]
[187th…]
[188th…]
[189th…]
/THROW!/
"... That was quite the burst." Wuizi said as he gave the boy a nod of approval
"You should've been awake before, there was a kid who skipped thirty floors. He was the smarter out of everyone. He spent all his energy to explode from the 150th floor to the 189th floor before gravity doubled."
"Really?"
"If you hadn't slept, you would've seen it."
"..."
Slightly embarrassed, Wuizi turned to face the other disciple who was quickly rising through the ranks.
[182nd Floor - Polrus Za- (Twin Titan Peak) ...]
'Third place huh… Good luck.'
[183rd Floor…]
[185th Floor…]
[187th Floor…]
[189th Floor…]
"..."
'Will he be able to cross this hurdle?...'
[190th Floor…]
'... He did it.'
[191st Floor…]
[192nd Floor…]
[193rd Floor…]
[194th Floor…]
[195th Floor…]
/Throw!/
"Another one reached their limits… Only five minutes left."
"Quite a few have reached the higher floors, I thought the Sect Lord had been the highest record in recent times."
"And he still technically is aside from Lao Famin. He reached the 191st floor without much issue within three hours, he then sat down and Cutivated until the trial ended."
"He never tried to push himself for a higher record… The patriarch was known to be lazy when he was younger, that said, his Cultivation Speed was always monstrous so I can't say how it would've been if he had poured his all onto it during his younger years."
"..."
'He was more of a monster then I thought.'
/Coom!/
"… Hm?!"
"Heh, looks like your disciple has finally decided to move. She's been meditating for almost twenty minutes already."
"..."
Nulan's aura seemingly enveloped her body as she began climbing with resolute but slow steps.
As if the pressure did not affect her, she moved gently and graciously through the tower, leaving behind a faint trial of colorfull energy that quickly dissipated in the air.
'She's performing her movement art to its extreme… This isn't good.'
'Nulan's Cultivation can't support her extreme high understanding of the technique, by trying to push it further beyond the confines of her abilities, she may end up falling into Cultivation Deviation.'
'Its similar to a weight lifter that knows the form, breathing method, and has the perfect mentality but his body is frail… No matter how well he can perform, he can't compete with others champions… At least not without some risk.'
'She's in a pseudo trance right now, any wrong move could royaly screw her up. On that same note, if she takes too long, other issues may arise aside from that.'
'Her Cultivation is rising constantly, something that shouldn't happen since she's moving. My case is unique due to the Runes, but those were made by an multidimensional being…'
'If she reaches a bottleneck, something terrible will occur if she keeps moving.'
"... Can we pull our disciples from the trial forcibly?"
"Of course. There are rules in the trial, if any are broken by someone we will punish them instantly. But if you asked this question… Then you must be worried about your disciple."
"..."
"From the looks of it he's fallen onto a trance… I can understand what you're thinking about, if anything bad happens we'll pull him out."
"Thank you."
[182nd Floor - Guan Feixue - (Ritual Peak) …]
[183rd Floor…]
[185th Floor…]
[187th Floor…]
[189th Floor…]
Slow and steady, she climbed up the tower, leaving all behind.
One step at a time, not running, slow and steady steps…
Her aura grow larger with every floor she climbed rather then dimming. Her momentum rising with every move.
[190th Floor…]
She surpassed the next hurdle without any issue, pushing into the next floor soon after:
[191st Floor…]
[192nd Floor…]
[193rd Floor…]
[194th Floor…]
[195th Floor…]
Finally, she reached the last floor where none had successfully passed aside from the number one in the leaderboard…
/Step…/
Her legs trembled slightly, but even so, she pushed herself further and climbed onto the 196th Floor!
[196th Floor…]
Just when everyone thought she would stop, Nulan walked right past Lao Famin who had been meditating all this time, climbing onto the 197th floor!
"... To think someone would surpass him… While he's been meditating for every half an hour, its still impressive given how high they are. The pressure on those floors would be equivalent to the Aura of a pseudo Fetal Soul Cultivator. It would be hard even for this old man to resist it."
/Shine!/
[198th Floor…]
"Incredible. This is a record hard to set up."
"..."
'Come on Nulan, focus… You can't keep moving on like this.'
[199th Floor…]
As she stepped onto the last floor, rather then keep moving, she sat down and began meditating.
Her aura decreased and her momentum fell as blood fell from her nose and eyes.
"! This isn't good…"
"Calm down child, it's not as bad as it seems. He may have hurt herself a little but he'll manage…"
/Coom!/
/Coom!/
/Coom!/
/Coom!/
/Coom!/
Just as the old man spoke, a few minutes before the gravity doubled again, the tower shone with bright light once more.
"There it is, the end of this trial."
The disciples began their last hurdles as they climbed like beasts, trying to push past their old records.
They were all geniuses in their own right, talented individuals within this generation.
Many succeeded but several failed as well…
/Throw!/
/Throw!/
/Throw!/
/Throw!/
...
…
Within a minute, a dozen disciples were thrown out of the tower with varing degrees of injury.
"The end is upon us…"
'From the last to the first place, they've all began moving.'
Lao Famin opened his eyes from his meditation…
An Biyu, the Sky-Piercing Flower began her ascent…
Miri Sapla, the Poisonous Flower steeled her resolve…
'Where's the third flower?... Right, she's known as the Heavenly Flower, master of formations… She's likely somewhere else undergoing another trial.'
'I can understand why they call them flowers… They're all pretty. Like comic characters in real life…'
'I wonder how the other regions are going? Their trials are likely as intense as ours.'
Wuizi's expression tensed…
'War… I wonder how long do we have…'
/Kuom… Buom!/
Gravity doubled once more.
/THROW!/
Another dozen were thrown outside as they lost their consciousness. And aside from a handful of disciples, all others were gone.
"Well well… Would you look at that?" Ruji said as he looked at the last floor of the tower
"That brat… Maybe he wasn't as boring as I thought he was."
Instead of breaching the last floor, Lao Famin, upon reaching the 199th floor, sat down on the ground and began cultivating like Nulan.
He seemed to have no intention on advancing at all. Maybe it was pride, respect, or honor. He decided to remain at the last floor.
Whatever reasons he had, he did not display under his emotionless expression.
"It seems even the most talented of this generation has his pride… Rather then taking the ultimate prize no one's been able to attain for the last few centuries, he'd rather remain and compete with someone who surpassed him before… Even if said person is at their limit."
"... Will gravity double every hour until it reaches them?"
"Yes. There's still seven hours left, but no matter how strong both of them are, they won't last two more. Even that brat has shown some signs of being affected by the weight, if it increases two times more…"
"..."
'Nulan seems to have reached a balance with her Qi. So if she believes she can endure… I'll let her be.'
'Her Cultivation is still increasing at a fast rate, even more then before… Each hour here is likely equivalent ten days outside if not more.'
'She may be able to break through if she can resist for three hours, if she lasts all seven, she may be able to break through twice… What a ridiculous situation…'
/Crunk…/
As he thought of that, several of the elders, including Ruji, got up from their seats, leaving only Wuizi left.
"Are you all leaving?"
"Of course kid. My disciples must be waiting for me." Dorim replied as his expression turned solemn
"This is a good time to help them recover and rest. After all, they won't have a lot of time left once the next trial begins." Ruji added as he stretched his back
"I see… In that case, we'll see each other tomorrow once the final trial begins."
Ruji nodded as he smiled lightly before leaving.
Dorim acknowledged his words as he left after him.
The remaining elders also gave him light nods before leaving.
'... While my standing seems about the same, their attitude towards me has greatly changed… Cultivation truly is everything in this world.'
'I may be no supreme Genious, but with my Cultivation and age, I'm likely comparable to some of their top disciples from their perspective. This way, its just a matter of time before I grow into the position of a proper Peak Master.'
'They must be thinking that within five or ten years I'll be at the Eight or maybe even Ninth Revolution, from there, it's a matter of luck and talent… Some take decades to break through, others mere years…'
'I don't plan to take that long. Either way, its nice to be treated normally for once.'
Wuizi closed his eyes as he fell into a meditative state.
With his disciple's Cultivation flowing back onto him through the Rune of Return, for every hour she spent inside cultivating, if she gained ten days of inner energy, he received fifty.
While the energy seemeasly flowed onto his body, he focused and internalized it as much as he could.
Even now, Wuizi's Cultivation began to rise…
…
Four hours later…
[Wuizi Xue - 22
Cultivation Stage - Heavenly Core 6th Revolution
>Traits:
Calm; Heart of the Scholar; Passive Analyst; Suppressed Emotions
>Constitution: N/A
>Cultivation Techniques:
Sutra of the Grand Moon - High Enlightenment
Three Season Skipping Blade - High Enlightenment
Jade Eye Tempering Art - High Enlightenment
38 Maneuvers of the Dancing Lion - High Enlightenment
Internal Core Shapping Art - Minor Enlightenment
…
>Talents:\
…
>Inner Desires:
…
>Description:
…
]
As he expected, within three hours, Nulan broke through the 4th Revolution despite the immense pressure around her. The massive boost thanks to the Rune gave Wuizi enough energy to burst through his barrier as well and rise even further.
'At this rate, if she can last till then end I'll breakthrough again… I wouldn't mind if this was back in the mountains but I'm in the middle of the Sect…'
'Once this ends, I'll talk with her a little before rushing back to Ritual Peak to master some kind of concealment art…'
/Step…/
"Hm?"
As he was distracted, within the tower, Lao Famin stopped meditating, walking to the stairs leading to the last floor.
But before he left, he turned to look at a still meditating Nulan and said:
"That artifact you wear. It's suppressing your potential."
"!!"
"?!"
Not only Wuizi but Nulan was surprised by his words.
While she was meditating, she was still a little aware of her surroundings, and the moment Lao began to move, she woke up from her deep concentration.
His words… Completely awakened the rest of her slumbering body.
"You…"
"Everyone has their reasons to hide something, I won't take that away from you. But while your secret has been kept for long, its time to let go of it."
"The thought of it being revealed is gnawing at your mind, halting your progress. It may be little now but eventually, it'll become more then just a worry."
"Let go of your regrets while you still can and throw away that which binds you. This is my advice for you."
With that, Lao turned around, vanishing within the last remaining steps.
/Clang!/
Lao Famin reached the 200th floor, something no one had been able to achieve in the last few hundred years.
"..."
Due to her shock, Nulan lost her concentration and with it, her carefully maintained stability.
/Throw!/
As the weight fell on her, she chose to forfeit before something terrible happened, and as her body flew across the air, Wuizi quickly took her, leaving the trial area soon after.
The reason for that was because he was sure that regardless of how much the Sect Lord wished to push the competition forward, they'd have to delay the next set of trials due to this incredible event.
And while everyone went crazy as the news spread, Wuizi took this time to discuss some thing with Nulan…
…
/Later…/
"Master… How did I do?"
"Do I need to say anything? You did exceptionally well. Far better then any of the disciples of the Black Iron Peak and those fools at the restaurant."
"Either way, how others performed is irrelevant to us. Congratulations for your performance, the only thing that matters here is that you did your best till the very end."
"Thank you master."
Nulan smiled as she took a small pin from her hair, slightly changing her appearance as she returned to her feminine self.
The hairpin was like a small lion with his haw open through which hair would pass, it seemed to be made of stone and it was quite old.
If not for him already knowing what it did, it would've been hard to tell if it was an artifact or not.
"... You've never done this before me."
"... I know… I've decided to stop pretending."
"Is this your decision?"
"So you know… Yes, this is my decision… Because I've already been considering this for quite some time."
"Pretending to be someone I'm not is tiresome and stressful. I've always loved myself but feared what being me could do to… Well, me…"
"But I've realized that everyone has their issues and troubles and that fleeing from them won't make me stronger, it'll make me weaker."
"I can surpass my problems alone. No… I will."
"... Alright. It'll be a thorny road though."
"I know, but at the very least… I'm not alone." She said with a faint smile as her expression grew red
"Right… I'll take care of it, until you're ready to take it back." He said as he put the pin on his hair
/Shum…/
The hair pin shone faintly as a strange feeling enveloped Wuizi, but rather then confusion, he immediately understood what the artifact did.
Information poured onto his mind, simple but concise instructions.
'With this, I can now maintain a ruse in front of others. In fact, this artifact is quite potent, it should even be able to hide me from a weak or insensitive Fetal Soul Cultivator.'
Seeing this, Nulan blushed even more before she nodded faintly and turned around.
"Go rest, you need it… We should have some time given what happened at the tower."
"Be mindfull that like this time, the next trial may be different from what I told you. The Sect Lord has made it clear he'll change the way this Sect operates, so be prepared for anything."
"Once the trials are over, we'll resume our training. There's much I need to teach you, including some techniques of the Sect so we can blend in with the others."
"Understood master… Goodnight."
"Night."
/Shaa…/
Nulan left the room as her hair waved in the wind.
Free from its constraints, it was now able to go whenever it wished, as it was meant to be…
The night passed and the sun arrived, bringing forth alarming news…
…
/The next morning…/
Sitting by a bonfire as they cooked breakfast, Nulan waited with a focused expression as she listened to her master read a letter:
"... The competition has been delayed… As expected. Instead, it seems multiple facilities will be open to ordinary disciples and multiple programs will be put in action to provide services to those that perform something for the sect in exchange."
"Wasn't that already something we had?"
"Yes, but this time its far more pronounced. They're providing far more then they ever did… But we won't need those things for now. What matters is what'll happen in two months."
"They'll be opening the Central Mountains for all disciples."
"Central Mountains?"
"It's a massive nature reserve full of resources. If you try to feel the Qi of the area, you'll notice that its all moving elsewhere like the tides in the ocean. The entire mountainrange and its immediate surroundings have their Qi concentrated in a smaller area, that is the Central Mountains."
"Resources, minerals, beasts, herbs… The perfect place to look for opportunities… For those that have contributed for the Sect."
"After that, the Sect Lord will resume the competition in four months. Or six from now."
"Once that's done, within the same time gap of four months, the Sect Lord will conduct the Sect wide disciple competition to rule out the best of the best of the entire generation. And from the looks of it, he'll leave the competition open for disciples of other Sects."
"What? Wouldn't that mean they would be able to get our rewards?"
"Yes, but I wager the Sect Lord indents to put pressure on us to improve or his extremely confident, he's truly going all out on this, I can't be reminded of that enough…"
'He could have other plans as well…'
"... We should make our return soon. We'll Cultivate far better and faster outside then here." He said deeply after some thought
"I'm ready to leave anytime!"
"Of course… But not now, I have some things left to solve… At most we'll be departing the day after tomorrow. This is a good time to rest and do nothing."
"Resting is good, Cultivating all the time takes its toll on our bodies."
Nulan nodded, tending to the bonfire.
Once the food was done, they parted ways.
While Wuizi never said where he went, he returned soon after to welcome some guests…
It was time for the Black Iron Peak to do as promised.
…
"... Wuizi… No, Peak master Wuizi. I've brought my nephew so he may apologize for his offense."
As he had previously discussed with the Vice Peak Master of the Black Iron Peak, their little bet had finally come to an end.
But rather then him, he was met with a surprise… The Peak Master came himself!
"Greetings to the Peak Master of Black Iron Mountain."
"No need for formalities son. It's a shame this is the first time we've met recently, I was quite busy during the competition to oversee the Fallen God's Nail. I heard there was quite some commotion there."
"Yes… But we can leave the small talk for another time."
"Of course, we're both busy so it's to be expected… That said, where's your disciple?"
"Hm? She's over there."
"..."
Nulan's expression was heavy as she looked at the boy, almost as if she wanted to skin him alive.
"That's odd, I heard he was a boy?"
"Due to certain circumstances, Nulan kept her gender hidden. Its a personal matter, I hope it doesn't bother you."
"Not at all. However, this does makes things worse. Pulling a lady's hair and being so rude is an extreme offense to the opposite sex."
"I…"
"Silence! If not to apologize, you'll be speaking little today!"
"Urg…"
"Peak Master Wuizi, as discussed last time, my Black Iron Peak will provide some compensation for the trouble we've caused you. Be also informed I'll punsih this kid personally."
"I'm glad, but the one who needs the apology isn't me but her."
"... You heard him."
"... I… I apologize. I…"
"Where's your sincerity? Have you forgotten she has every right to challenge you to a duel? Put your head on the ground! Else she'll do it herself."
/SMACK!/
The boy pushed his head onto the ground as he exclaimed:
"I'M SORRY! PLEASE! I'VE DONE YOU WRONG!"
"... Alright. I'll forgive you… But never forget."
With those words, Nulan turned around and returned to her dorm room.
"She's talented and level headed, she'll go far no doubt."
"For compensation, take these two Perfect Core Pills."
"Two? One should be enough for this…"
"The second one is a gift of mine, take it as a reward for advancing to the Heavenly Core Stage after all these years. The Sect would've likely given you a reward in normal times, but these aren't normal times…"
"I hope we can start anew. The past may be rough but the future will be even harsher, this time, regardless of everything, we'll need to bend together if we wish to succeed."
"... Alright."
Wuizi took the two shinning pills and stored them in his robes before sending the man away with the troublemaker, bringing silence to the Peak once more.
"Are they gone?"
"Yes. Quite strange of you to leave so soon…"
"... I didn't like his gaze. It wans't bad but… It made me feel uncomfortable."
"Hm… I can understand. The Peak Master of the Black Iron Peak was know for being a playboy in his earlier days and now he acts as a matchmaker for his sons, so…"
"Eww… No thanks."
"You didn't even let me finish."
"I don't want to."
Wuizi rolled his eyes.
"Here, take these pills, its the compensation for that little issue."
"This color… Perfect Core Pills?"
"Correct."
"Then… Take one Master, I only need one. There's little purpose in taking two at once. The effects are barely a tenth if taken again, so…"
/Pat…/
"M-Master?!"
"Thank you for being considerate, but I have no need for such pills."
'With my Cultivation talent, unless taking another pill has zero effect on her, I may as well give it to her. The effects will be higher no matter what.'
"No need? But the pills can increase one's potential…"
"That's a misconception, what the pill does it clean the body of impurities and unclog hidden energy, usually improving one's constitution in the meantime."
"Even more of a reason not to take another, it'll do little any other pill can't already do. Keep it."
"Hm… If that's your wish, I'll reserve it for another time."
'Might as well keep it for another disciple.'
"Now, take the pill and consolidate your Cultivation, we'll be departing as soon as you're able."
"In the meantime, I'll get some paperwork done. If you have any questions regarding your progress, find me in my office as always."
"Understood master."
The two parted ways quickly, with Wuizi staying behind, lost in thought:
"Hm… We'll likely not return anytime soon so I should get myself ready…"
'There are three things I must do: Memorize new Manuals to improve our techniques, gather resources, and lastly, find a new disciple!'
'Nulan is talented but if I want to improve my standing and might, I'll need multiple disciples to boost my Cultivation.'
'Even with Nulans boost, the difference between our Constitutions will continue to grow, eventually, even with her support, she'll surpass me again.'
'I'll need to either increase my talent for Cultivation or acquire multiple disciples to boost my growth rate. And the latter is far easier then the former.'
'Besides, the more disciples I have, the more opportunities for copying their Talents and unique abilities I'll acquire!'
'And on that note, I have the perfect target in mind…'
Instead of returning to his room, Wuizi turned around and left the peak on foot, entering the city with a careless attitude.
…
/Moan~.../
"Ahhh~... UMn!..."
/Silence…/
Later that day, at a large establishment…
"... Sigh."
A black haired man put on his robes as he covered a women in faint fabric.
Looking back at her, he felt slightly bad for what he had done but rather then gnaw at himself, he left before she could wake up.
Never sticking to the road, he turned left and right amidst many roads, stopping only when he arrived at a dark alley.
"... I know you're here. Reveal yourself!"
"..."
/Step…/
From the darkness, a man stepped out with his arms on his back.
With a simple dark robe covering his entire body and a hairpin tying his long blond hair, Wuizi walked before the man with a light attitude, even as he showed clear aggression towards him.
"You… Have we met before?"
'He looks familiar…'
"We did, once. Around a month ago in the flying ship."
"... Right! I remember you now… But… What are you doing here?"
"Nothing much. Just confirming something… You're a strange person you see, and I needed to understand the circumstances around you first before approaching."
"... What do you want?"
'I can't figure out his Cultivation, he feels like a mortal but at the same time not… This means he's either way above my level or under some sort of technique or artifact.'
"I'll answer that if you answer a question I have… What did you do to that girl?"
"!"
The man's body tensed, but he soon sighed lightly.
"What else? I…"
"Don't. I'm not so foolish. When Ying and Yang Qi mixture, it leaves behind clear traces on the untrained body, and afterward, the Qi settles as the natal true Qi within oneself dissipates… But in your case, it remains."
"This means you never copulated with her. But that is none of my business. My question was for one reason only…"
Wuizi stepped forward.
"Why can I detected natal Yin QI in your body?"
"?!"
The man grew extremely evasive as he stepped back, tensing even further.
"Don't be afraid, I have no intention of harming you in any way. But as you know, when a man has such robust Yin QI, it can only correlate to so many possibilities. So regardless of my original intentions, now that I've approached you, I must reach this discussion's conclusion."
"..."
The man remained still, knowing full well he could not escape this mysterious man's grasp.
Before, he tried to escape but found himself unable to bring forth his Qi at all. Which only meant a thing…
His Qi control had been deprived of him. Either through a formation, an artifact, or skill alone.
"First possibility… You took it from someone else and added it onto your body."
"While maintaining the natal Yin QI for long isn't possible, it can be stolen from caste women without much issue. And while its a women's business who they chose to lose it to, its also not against possibility one may be coerced onto it, if they're aware or not."
"Your face tells me its something like that but not quite… Then let's go for the second possibility."
"Constitution."
"!"
"... Like women can be born with strong bodies and thick blood full of Yang Qi, men can be born with divergent flesh."
"A body of cold that attracts the night, freezing blood akin to a body's… A constitution that makes men resemble women. A Yin QI body. Which is what I believe you possess."
"Now… Most Yin QI constitutions are fine, our Sect is pretty neutral in those endeavors. But the issue comes from a certain few that have to be kept in check…"
"Constituions that incentive demonic practices that go against the ethics of the world. Devouring the essence of women and converting it onto yours… You wouldn't know anbytrhing about that would you?"
"No! I do not practice demonic arts in any capacity!"
"You're eager to dony but not prove. That leaves us with few possibilities."
"If you're draining the Yin QI of women without relying on demonic arts, there's only one Constituion which could benefit or perform such act…"
"..."
"The Cold Sun Demonic Body, one of the Eleven known Heavenly bodies known."
'The Cold Sun Demonic Body is a Constituion that completely changes the inner essence of a man, making them possess an immense amount og Yin QI at birth rather then Yang Qi.'
'This usually means they die young, however, by absorbing the Yin QI from others, you can convert it into Yang Qi and reach a balance. Not only that, the Cold Sun Demonic Body can take away certain aspects from other Constitutions and strengthen itself.'
'If the Cold Sun Demonic Body merges with its counterpart, the Blazing Moon Heavenly Body, one of the Mythical Constitutions from ancient times will manifest, but that's only a myth.'
'It's unknown if both bearers of these unique bodies must take each other lives of become Dao companions, turning both into bears of the Mythical constitution.'
'There's also a line of thought where the son or daughter of both have a chance to awaken as the bearer of said Mythical body.'
'However, due to the nature of how easy it is to grow stronger with this Constituion, it is considered Demonic, different from its counterpart for it appears only in women and they tend to be more… Conservative with their bodies.'
'But his biggest concern is likely what people can do if they get ahold of him… They can drain his blood and transform it into an incredible medicine for both men and women alike.'
"... What will you do to me?"
"You're not denying nor confirming it, I don't like this… But I'll tell you regardless."
"You're a virgin and not a practicer of Demonic Arts, I have no reason to persecute you, but you must be aware that even if I leave you be, the only thing that awaits you is a life of constant migration."
"This musn't even be the first Sect you joined, only one of the many you wandered off to over the years. Joining a new place, draining the women of their Yin QI, and moving on…"
"After so long, you aren't even a Heavenly Core Cultivator. At this rate, you'll never even become a Fetal Soul. How ironic, given that the pill made from your blood could awaken someone with the potential to even transcend said state."
"..."
"So I'll give you a preposition."
"... I'm listening. Not that I have a choice."
"Don't misunderstand, you do have. And I can swear that if you wish to leave, not only will I never pursue you, I'll never speak of this matter with anyone."
"But that would mean severing any ties we have and could ever have. Compared to giving up the possibility of any resemblance to an ordinary life, does a few minutes listening to me cost anything?"
"..."
"Good. Here's the deal… Become my disciple."
"What?!"
"You see… We aren't so different." Wuizi said as he raised his arm to him
He released a portion of his Qi, greatly surprising the man.
"Y-Yin QI… But how…"
"I also bear a unique body, but mine is incomparable to yours, and so are my conditions. I made the best of what I was given while you… Well, I can't speak of what I don't know."
"My name's Wuizi Xue, Master of the Ritual Peak and today, I ask of you to become my disciple. Not just a title but a true disciple."
"!"
"I'll present you with the means to ascend and pursue the limits of your Talent, and in exchange, you'll promise me to never pursue a path of darkness and reach your limits by challenging yourself… That is, until you can convince me otherwise."
"In the pursuit of higher enlightenment, staying stuck in one path is unwise, but when dealing with a being such as yourself, one must exercise all of the caution they can muster."
"How about it?"
"... Everything you said… Is true. But I have a condition, and a question as well."
"If I accept… What will you ask of me?"
"Nothing. The only requirements my disciples have is to train and listen to me from time to time. If you desire to follow my orders beyond merely our relationship, then I'll earn that right myself through time."
"Even if the Sect requests you to hand me over?"
"More then the Sect, my life and those around me come first. The Sect is meant to bolster talent and uphold righteousness, not the other way around."
"Not replying to such ludicrous request would not be a betrayal of the Sect, even if none see it as so."
"... My condition is simple… To maintain my Cultivation, I need to drain the Yin Qi of women. I'll have to continue doing so for a very long time and one day, by associating with me, others will frown at you."
"Let them."
"I'll never share the Yin QI I gather. Others have offered such exchanges, I refused them all."
"I don't need it. My Cultivation is stable enough as it is."
'If he refused them it means he killed them soon after… That is what he must've done to survive. By refusing him like this, I'm agreeing with taking on this burden as well.'
"Then… If you can tolerate the words and gazes they'll throw at you and contain my secret, I promise to devote myself to you as long as you can guide me down the right path." He said as he got on his knees
"I'll do so, that is a promise I'll hold close to my heart. That until the day you can declare yourself to the world, I shall retain your secret. Even if it results in others shunning me."
"Then… Take my bow. I'm Fayie Sanding."
"... Wouldn't you prefer to continue with the formalities back at the Peak? This place isn't very hygienic…" Wuizi said as he looked at the dark alley, the ground itself was a little muddy
"If I cared about such things, I wouldn't be alive now. To survive, more then once I hid in mud and ate trash, this much is nothing." He said strongly as he smashed his forehead against the muddy ground
Once, twice, three times… Nine times.
The ceremony was complete.
"..."
Wuizi approached the man, whipping the mud off his face with his robe.
"I've seen your determination. From now on, I, Wuizi Xue will guide you towards the path of prosperity."
Without the latter knowing, Wuizi imprinted a rune onto his body:
[Condition fulfilled]
[Searching… Linking… Displaying information]
[Fayie Sanding - 26
Cultivation Stage - Foundation Establishment 4th Revolution
>Affinity: 17
>Mood: Fear-2; Hope-5; Nervousness-4;
>Cultivation Techniques:
Draining Palm of Lakma - Intermediate Enlightenment
Twelve Secrets of Bodily Illusion - Intermediate Enlightenment
Ghostly Steps - Intermediate Enlightenment
…
(Information Locked - Low Affinity)
]
'Hm… He has a few Techniques with quite high mastery but dozens of smaller ones that aren't worth mentioning. The reason for that is obvious.'
'He's a wanderer, he likely takes whatever technique he can find but only invested his time on a few, the rest is just for show.'
'Draining Palm of Lakma is self explanatory, its likely there to assist on his goal of absorbing Yin QI from females.'
'Twelve Secrets of Bodily Illusion is an illusion art likely meant to assist in making his targets forget and misunderstand what happened so he can continue to run.'
'Ghostly Steps is a movement art, likely meant to assist him in moving around and escaping from dangerous situations.'
'Now, whatever story he told me… Could be a lie. But it doesn't matter anymore. As long as he remains within the realm of what I take as acceptable, it'll be fine.'
'His Affinity is quite high but likely because he thinks he knows a secret of mine. Unfortunately for him I have no Yin QI aside from the little bit I was born with.'
'My extra Yin QI comes from Nulan's Cultivation. Everytime her Yin QI rises so does mine. And this will likely remain a thing for as long as she remains a virgin. Not that its an issue… For now.'
'Eventually her Yin QI may overwhelm my Yang Qi, which will lead to some issues down the line, but its something simple to resolve as I can just expel it.'
"Let's return… But a few things as we move."
"I have and will likely gather more disciples. While I won't ask you to be transparent with them, I request… No, I order you not to force your techniques on them under any circumstances."
"Yes! That much is obvious… And if they do ask, I'll try to explain it to them… Disciples shouldn't fight and distrust each other."
"Good. You'll fit right in then… Let's go!"
Wuizi called for his flying artifact and had Fayie stand next to him. Like this, they flew to the heavens, reaching Ritual Peak in a few minutes.
…
"We've arrived. The male dormitories are over there as you can see. Avoid stepping into the female dormitories unless strictly necessary."
"My office is in that tower over there and so is the library, you're free to peruse the books and contact me throughout the day aside from nightime unless I give you permission."
"Aside from a few rules, you're free to do as you wish."
"Understood!"
/Step step!/
"Master! You're back!... Who?"
Nulan ran in their direction as she noticed Wuizi's aura in the sky, but when she got closer, her expression fell.
"Nulan, don't be so rude… This is your fellow disciple now, how about we greet each other first?"
"Greetings! I'm Fayie Sanding senior sister!"
'Her emotions are clear, I'm a thorn in her path towards master!'
"... Nulan Xuexi… Greetings."
"Don't be so defensive Nulan… Now, let's resume our operations."
Wuizi turned to the side as he moved to his office.
"Fayie, pick a room in the dormitory and settle down. I imagine you have a temporary home somewhere so move your things inside at your discretion."
"Once you're done, meet me in my office. We have much to discuss."
"Meanwhile, Nulan, come with me. I imagine you have something to ask me."
"Understood!"
"... Yes."
While Fayie replied with energy, Nulan felt extremely odd to have him around, and with good reason.
"..."
'This will be a long conversation…'
The day passed with much tension.
…
Although Wuizi tried his best to explain the situation, Nulan's impression of Fayie was as bad as it could get, but with some convincing, she let go of the discussion. For now.
Following that, Nulan became increasingly clingy and defensive, and while Wuizi recognized portion of the reason why, he chose not to confront those feelings yet.
Later that day, Wuizi taught Fayie some of the basic Cultivation Manuals of the Sect while also helping him let go of all previous manuals he had learned aside from his core ones.
It was important to focus on a few things rather then mastering a thousand. And while some Cultivators would few hesitant in abandoning what they learned, Fayie felt no remorse at all, in fact, he even proposed writing down everything he remembered from each Sect for him to learn.
In the first place, for someone with little talent like him, the techniques he learned from each Sect aren't meaningful at all if not already spread out in the market, this way, there was little to consider.
In the very first night together, Wuizi passed down the essencial basic techniques of the Sect to Fayie.
In the second day, Nulan entered seclusion as she took down the Perfect Core pill, meanwhile, Wuizi continued to help Fayie master and cultivate faster, staying with him for several hours and spending little time alone.
Whenever they training ended, he would depart for the library and memorize the higher ranked manuals as his position permitted him. And in the little time he had left, he would write down some of the techniques derived from the Rune of Disassembly.
On the third day, Fayie broke through the 5th Revolution, but his cultivation was so slow it barely did anything to his.
On the seventh day, Fayie broke through the 6th Revolution, and at the same time, Wuizi called down Hogwi to appraise all of the Manuals he had written, including those he had made during his month in the vault.
On the ninth day, Nulan broje through once more as she completely absorbed the pill's effects, reaching the 5th Revolution while also pushing Wuizi's to the pinnacle of the 7th Revolution.
Her previous breakthrough during the trial had severely boosted his Cultivation, and if not for him holding it down since breaking through in front of the elders would've been problematic, Wuizi might've reached the 8th Revolution by now.
This was also the day Hogwi finished appraising all of the Manuals he had been given. Their sheer number astounding.
Wuizi delivered over twenty manuals to him, and like before, it would likely take many days for them to be fully appraised, but like before, they made a deal of value, one he was certain would come through like before.
With the money he made, he exchanged most of them for resources he would later pick up directly at the Turtle's Throve shop at South Gate.
On the tenth day, Nulan finally came out of secluded isolation, and after a well deserved meal together, which she hated due to Fayie's presence, the trio departed from the Sect.
After a short stop at South Gate to collect his resources, the trio left in a hurry toward the wilderness, fully aware of their persuers…
Even with their increased Cultivation, it seemed this time there would be no escaping…
…
/Stop…/
"Hm? Why are we stopping?"
"Someone's after us."
"What?!"
"This is unrelated to you. I thought this was due to something else but it seems I was wrong. Either way, I'll end this right here and now."
Wuizi stopped her flying artifact atop a mountain near the precipice, feeling the presence of multiple foes around them.
'Seven Heavenly Core Cultivatores, three underneath the 2nd Revolution, one at the 4th, two at the 5th, and likely the one after us from last time… 6th Revolution.'
"Nulan, if things go south, you'll take care of the weaker ones. I'll deal with their leader."
"Understood."
"... What about me?"
"... Stay quiet and don't make too much noise."
"Right away!"
/Swoosh!/
"They're here."
In the distance, before and behind them, a group of Cultivators approached them, circling them in the air.
Looking around with a carefree expression, Wuizi asked out loud as he greeted them:
"What seems to be the issue here, friends? Can I help you all with anything?"
/Land…/
One of them, their strongest, landed before him, asking in a demanding tone:
"Are you the disciple of the four-finger scholar?"
"Four-finger?... Ah, the old Peak Master did indeed only have four fingers in his left hand… He passed away long ago when I was still a child. Are you perhaps an associate of his?"
"We could say so."
"Your tone is quite stiff… My master didn't make much enemies but if you are one, then there isn't much for me to tell you. By the time I grew old enough to begin Cultivation, both he and his direct disciple had passed away."
"I'm not an enemy. I merely have a single question. Your master, he owed us something, an answer, and I want to know if you have it."
"Answer? But to what?"
"Something he was looking for, something we believe he found. Ever heard anything about it?"
"... Hard to say. The old man was never someone to speak much, even if he did, I remember so little of my times as a child I wouldn't be able to pinpoint anything on the matter. I'm afraid you would have more luck looking for his past compatriots."
"We already did, they had nothing to say."
His tone was heavy, implying something even heavier…
"..."
'Did this guy just admit to having hunted down the previous members of Ritual Peak? Not all remained in the Sect but I haven't heard of many in the last few years… If ever.'
'I found it strange how some seemingly vanished despite their Cultivations being low. Was this guy behind it all?'
"Then there's little for me to say as well. As I said before, everything the old master left behind was a bunch of old tomes and scrolls, none of which revealed anything related to him on a personal level."
'That much is true, I only know this place through my memories though.'
"You're free to peruse those scrolls if you join the Sect, they're free for all to study, it's not that big of a deal."
"Hm… Then what are you doing here in the wilderness?'
"The Sect, while plentiful, does not possess the conditions to harbor our needs. So I made the radical choice and took to the wilds to search for opportunities. Not much to say."
"... That's odd. How do you explain your disciple's heightened Cultivation? Last time I heard of her she was only… Wait a minute, last time I saw you two she was…"
/SLASH!/
Feeling the ever increasing distrust in the man's tone. Wuizi struck first, aiming not at the man before him but at the weaker Cultivators in the air!
A single sword strike containing the essence of Summer, powerful and heavy, hot and harsh, the mighty of nature befell the three Cultivators directly behind him.
/BURN!/
The weakest of the trio, the 4th Revolution Heavenly Core was the first to fall, turned to ashes, he barely even had the time to scream.
"DAMMIT!"
"AAAAHHH!!"
The other two on the other hand struggled momentarily, with the one to his right succumbing immediately as his body caught in flames, meanwhile, the other one blocked the flames but was instantly thrown onto the distant ground like a comet.
"YOU!"
/SMASH!/
The 6th Revolution Cultivator behind him quickly acted before the others could react, striking with his fist toward him!
/Parry, smash!/
However, thanks to the artifact hiding their Cultivation, he mistook Wuizi for a 4th Revolution Cultivator and was deeply surprised as his strike was parried before he received a deadly blow in his stomach!
/SLASH!/
At the same time, Nulan was the third quickest to reach, attacking the three 2nd Revolution Cultivators in the sky with her sword, bringing forth the mighty of the second season, skipping the first.
She instantly took down all three of them without giving them the time to take their last breath.
"Nulan, take care of him. He'll make a proper opponent."
"Understood!"
/Dash!/
Nulan dashed past him as she jumped after the man. Despite the different in their Cultivation, she was fearless as she swung her blade at him.
Her eyes shinning faintly, she saw beyond her opponent's outline, taking a peek into his internal energy and muscles as he moved, anticipating his moves before they even began!
/CLANG!/
/CLANG!/
In desperation, the man pulled a spear from his back, barely blocking Nulan's offense as she confidently pushed him back several steps whenever they clashed,
Even with higher Cultivation, it took him a portion of his core energy to block her every blow. And worse, whenever she struck, his hands would suffer terrifc backlash, either burning or freezing from the elemental power within her blade.
"DAMN IT ALL!"
After a dozen clashes, the man pierced with his spear, but rather then do anything impressive, Nulan gently evaded his strike with her footwork before piercing with her sword through his stomach, shattering his Heavely Core!
"T-This… To lose to a lower…"
"Humph."
"Wait, don't hill him yet, I have questions."
Wuizi approached from behind, stepping between them as his gaze fell on the man's face.
"What do you know about my Master's legacy?"
"... So you knew… Did he leave something in the end?"
"No."
"... Of course he didn't… He'd rather have it all end then to entrust it to anyone else… You, just like all others, were never cared for by him. Merely stranges he took in for his own self steem."
"... That may be true, but for as long as I grew, he took care of me and nothing less. That's all that matters."
He held the blade on his stomach.
"I'll give you a preposition. You tell me what you know, and I'll consider between sparring you or not."
"... Tche. Don't give me those foolish lines. I know better… Do you even know who you just killed? Those were my people, my everthing and now… They're all gone."
"... I see. But if you cared so much about them, why bring them in the first place? You hypocrite, from the beginning, the value of whatever my master left behind was higher then the lives of those on the ground right now."
"So I'll ask you again, would you prefer to join them and accomplish nothing, or tell me what you know and maybe give yourself more time to live?"
"..."
"Hum… You're either very noble… Or you fear life more then death. Let's do it like this then. Fayie, bring forth his memories."
"W-What? I can't, his cultivation…"
"Has been lost, he may still have some lingering energy but its no higher then a mortal's, that said, if you're still hesitant…"
/STAB!/
"COUGH!"
Wuizi stabbed his fist onto the man's chest, and immediately after, bright light began traveling through his arm before being released onto the air.
"Cough!... This art… W-What even is it? I… I don't…"
"I made it. This would be the first time I'm using it though… I call it the External Essence Manipulation Method."
'It was made by using the Rune of Disassembly on the Draining Palm of Lakma and rewriting it into a new technique with a new purpose. But its incomplete.'
'Well, it was just a test, once I perfect it, I'll impact it onto Fayie so he can cast aside his borderline demonic technique.'
"Do it now."
"... Alright."
Fayie approached the man warily before placing his two palms on his temples.
/Flash!/
His eyes flashed with light as the man was thrown into a trance, the next moment, Fayie said:
"Just ask him whatever you want now, he'll reply, albeit not for long. His mental strength was still far too much for me and he could overwhelm me at any time."
"His health is also not very good, if he forcibly breaks through this hipnosis, he may end up dying soon after…"
"Alright. I'll make this quick."
"Why are you after Master's inheritance?"
"... The inheritance… Has nothing to do with your master…It belongs to us too. We wanted it but were denied before we could we prove ourselves, the stigma of the past brands us."
"Stigma? How are you all connected? How come you came to learn of all of this?"
"Long ago… After the downfall of the Sect, its possessions were divided amidst those still around to collect them. Amidst those, three treasures were valued above all…"
"The Sacred Earth Manuals; The Ancestral Tablet; and the Treasury. The fight and search for this treasure marked an era of bloodshed in the region, one that has been long since forgotten, washed away in the sands of time."
"Of the three treasures, the Ancestral Tablet was lost, its location unknown. And the Sacred Earth Manuals split appart, portions of the art now linger in every Sect less then two thousand years of age."
"And lastly, the Treasury was vied by all of those aware of its existence for it represented more then ancient treasures… It represented the possibility of not only finding the Ancestral Tablet, but maybe even accessing the lost arts of the Sect if not a grander portion of the Sacred Earth Art."
"However, only a few knew of its existence, the original Clan in charge of the Vault's maintenance and protection… The Fwoju Clan."
"They took care and expanded the Vault, increasing its defenses and treasures over the centuries as they worked on a secretive goal… Until it all went down as they neared perfection."
"A clash between the members of the Clan split it into multiple pieces, a clash believed to have been started not from within but outside… As the Fwoju Clan was not the sole one to survive the end of the Sect."
"Other disciples and Clans aware of the vault vied for it, and they would stop for nothing. But amidst the secrecy and defenses of the Fwoju Clan, they were forced to be creative… To break them down…"
"The Fwoju Clan shattered, but not before bringing down many of their foes with them to hide their secrets, and for long, it was believed the location of the Vault had been lost. That was, until remnants of the Clan were found."
"For ages we investigated all kinds of remnants, and eventually, we found out one but could not pursue it, and before we knew, our lead was gone… That was until you arrived."
"... Which Clan are you from? How many others are out there seeking this inheritance?"
"We belong to no Clan, not anymore… My ancestors were once part of the Fwoju Clan, making this Inheritance rightfully mine… The others are just assistants in the journey, you could even call them mercenaries."
"I gave them a second chance when no one would… Not that they deserved it…"
"... After the fall of the Clan, not many remained aware of its existence, those that did tried their best to erase their records so they could search for the vault unimpeded. I'm only aware of three groups still aware of this. There could be more, loners or small groups like mine, either way, I haven't seen nor heard of any in the area in decades."
"Why?"
"Master, the connection is beginning to fail."
"Already?"
"A-Apologies…"
"No, don't be, focus."
"... Because the Ancient Sect was not located in this particular zone, we're far from where they were known to operate, what few tend to realize is that the entire region. From beyond the Blue Plains and the Southern Sects to the North… All of it was under the Sect's rule."
"To them, this place was still within their doorstep…"
"Tell me their names and locations!"
"I… Cough!"
"Master, from the looks of it he'll succumb to his injuries before his hipnosis will end…"
"No, he won't."
Wuizi focused as he transferred some of his energy through his arm and into the man's body, helping him stabilize if only for a moment.
"The… Southern Chenu Clan… The hidden Fuxi Clan… And lastly, the Immortal Raven Sect."
"!"
'The Immortal Raven Sect… To think I'd hear of them here.'
"Now tell me! What is this research the Fwoju Clan was doing! What took them thousands of years to complete?!"
"It was… Haa… A platform… A foundation for them to seek out what their ancestors… Could not find…"
"The Ancestral Tablet… Recorded… A place… They wanted… To reach it…"
"S-Sacred land… Somewhere beyond… Innachievable by land… S-Somewhere… Somewhere…"
With his dying breath, the man aded:
"... where Myths and Legends still tread…"
/Thud/
As the man's body grew limp, Wuizi pulled his hand from his chest before shaking the blood off his fingers, too lost in thought too pay attention to his disciples.
Minutes passed in silence until he finally turned around to face them again, by now, Fayie had already recovered from his exhaustion.
"I apologize for my silence, Fayie, I hope you're okay?"
"I'm fine, if anything, just a little tired."
He then turned to Nulan.
"... Are you okay?"
"... Yes, Master. There's no way such an unskilled individual could tire me in any manner."
"..."
'For Cultivators on Nulan's level, fights usually either end quickly or take far too long… No, this is the trend.'
'The higher the Cultivator's level, the longer a fight can take. And usually, from their perspective, time seems even slower.'
'When two beings who can clash dozens of times each second fight for an entire minute, just how long does time seem from their perspective?'
'This fight must've at most lasted a few minutes from her perspective despite only lasting half a minute.'
Either way, Wuizi approached her, using his robe to wipe out a bead of sweat and a streak of blood floowing from her forehead and cheak respectively.
"I'm not asking about that." He said deeply as he looked at her with a serene gaze
"I-I…"
[Nulan Xuexi's affinity has considerably increased]
"..."
'And you call me the gigolo master…'
"... Killing should usually be the last option, not because I'm a pacifist, not because we're righteous, but because the death of our oponents by our hand is far too grand of a weight for us to carry after they pass."
"The lighter it may seem, it accumulates over time. You can forget what you ate yesterday, but a soul you reaped will haunt you for ages. And in this torment, those we took down will rejoice."
"Don't give them the pleasure."
"It is easy to kill, hard to spare, difficult to subdue… But even the latter is not always the option."
"Alas, dwindling on possibilities is not my style. Lets resume our journey, there's much to think and discuss." He said as he looked at Fayie
"We were lucky this time for our foes weren't clean of heart with their intentions toward us, but we won't be given the privilege of morality every time. If ever…"
"To kill or be killed, the victorious wrights down history, this is reality."
""...""
Silently, they all continued on their journey, but not after Fayie reminded him to collect the spoils, which them prompted him to clean the evidence.
This was his first time fighting and killing someone before, so the fact completely passed through his mind. Either way, within a few minutes, they were back on the road toward the silent wilderness.
...
.
.
.
Notes