Varis ascended to the highest point of the stronghold, where his sister sat, meditating in a space of serene isolation. Her aura enveloped her like silk, rendering her invisible to all except Varis, who alone knew where to find her. He floated upwards on his aura until he was at her eye level, arms crossed, observing her.
“So much space for you to expand your reach, should you choose to stay here, of course,” Rhaelar said, her voice calm and welcoming.
“What are you and the clan playing at?” Varis asked, his tone edged with suspicion.
Rhaelar sighed softly and opened her eyes, meeting his gaze with a steady look. “What manner of conspiracy have you concocted this morning, little brother?” she asked.
“The Shadai clan’s Shadow Blade Cultivation Manual you included in the chest—why would you give that out to a nobody?” he demanded.
Varis knew the cultivation methods of the Shadai clan were among the clan’s most closely guarded secrets, sealed away in the restricted sections of the Knowledge Halls. Only those who had been acolytes of the halls were even aware of their existence, and all were warned not to speak of such ancient knowledge lightly. Seeing it in the chest had been a shock, a change that had not escaped his notice. He was here for confirmation of the puzzle pieces he was slowly putting together.
“As a master of the clan, very few things are beyond my authority, brother,” Rhaelar responded gently.
Varis narrowed his eyes. “I’m not stupid, esteemed master,” he began, “you’re a new master, strong, yes, but not strong enough to overrule the patriarch’s standing order on such matters. This means you were given authority, along with something else I can’t figure out yet.”
“You know what your problem is, Varis?” Rhaelar asked, her voice tinged with both amusement and exasperation. “You don’t see the bigger picture. You assume everything is a petty fight for power. It’s why when Uncle suggested to the patriarch that we send you to deal with the revenant issue, Mother and Father hastily agreed,” she continued.
“The convergence is coming, brother. You were merely a lord the last time it occurred, so I understand you weren’t privy to certain... delicate knowledge.” Rhaelar rose to her feet, her silver irises shimmering, a feature that had drawn many suitors to the gates of the imperial clan, seeking her hand in marriage. Their father had either destroyed those who threatened or sent the rest back home broken, much to his sister’s morbid delight.
“Powers are on the rise, Varis. An unprecedented number of masters have emerged across the continent, increasing the threat to the clan tenfold,” she explained.
“It’s why the patriarch is hosting that summit, isn’t it?” Varis muttered.
“Yes, but that’s beside the point. You see the clan’s actions as meddling, as if you are the center of its focus. But the clan is merely making a statement to both its allies and its enemies,” she said.
“And that statement is?” Varis asked, his curiosity piqued.
Rhaelar’s gaze hardened. “You’re not stupid. Piece it together, or I fear there is little hope for you to meet the patriarch’s expectations.”
Varis suppressed his surprise, maintaining a cold detachment. Why would the patriarch be involved? What was so important that the clan was moving in secret? He pushed these thoughts aside, focusing on the question at hand. He thought about it, his mind racing even as he maintained eye contact with his sister.
“The clan giving out one of its most guarded manuals to a nobody either means they want their enemies to see that the manual of a once-powerful clan is the least of the weapons in their arsenal or they want their allies to understand the strength they wield,” he said aloud.
Rhaelar shrugged. “Surface-level thinking, brother. Think deeper.”
Varis frowned, pausing as his eyes widened. Then he frowned again as Rhaelar nodded.
“I see you’re getting closer,” she said.
“It can’t be possible, can it?” he said, his voice barely a whisper.
“We have reliable information that the Cheng and Huang clans now have hidden outer members close to advancing to master ranks, with vassal clans of their own,” Rhaelar explained. “The rest are merely rumors, but the fact that individual cultivators are accumulating enough resources and enlightenment to advance to the third barrier is a warning sign.”
“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a rapid series of advancements across the empire,” Varis argued.
“True, but this time, it’s becoming something unprecedented. Another reason why the summit is being held,” she replied. “The technocracy is tearing itself apart, with various factions trying to advance as quickly as possible, and the last stage of the surge isn’t helping matters.”
“It still doesn’t fully explain why we would give out the cultivation manual of one of our most hated enemies. If the various shadow assassin sects hear of this, or worse, the Brotherhood, they’ll all come hunting for it,” Varis said.
“Assuming the great clans don’t betray themselves by sending their vassal forces after it,” Rhaelar said with a soft smile.
“So all this, just to root out the clan’s enemies without considering the consequences?” Varis asked.
“You ensure your two precious lords are strong enough to handle whatever comes their way. Let me deal with the consequences,” Rhaelar replied. “Besides, I believe she has taken the bait,” she added, glancing down at the settlement where, no doubt, the chest had been opened.
Varis said nothing, turning to descend slowly. He paused. “If there are any other schemes at play here, I would like to know now,” he said, glancing back slightly.
“None that should concern you, Highlord,” she replied.
Varis stiffened, then resumed his descent, keenly aware of her gaze following him.
*******************************
The three heirs met in the room that connected their quarters, the atmosphere thick with tension. Only Wol, the peak lord ranker, remained outwardly calm, his expression neutral amidst the charged emotions of the room. Unlike previous meetings, their servants were absent, and the building was cloaked in an unusual silence.
“We were informed there was only one lord within the settlement,” Chun began, his tone uncharacteristically serious. “Now, there are two.”
Emi couldn’t help but notice the shift in Chun’s demeanor. Normally easygoing, he seemed to grasp the gravity of their situation. It was a change she appreciated, yet it also added to the unease she felt.
Wol, who had been quietly observing, interlaced his fingers thoughtfully. “I’ve met him—this Tunde,” he said, capturing the attention of the other two heirs.
“Is he worthy to face us?” Emi asked bluntly. The mere memory of Tunde’s presence in the wastelands—his aura of raw rage and bloodlust—sent a shiver down her spine.
Wol considered her question before answering. “He hasn’t reached the peak of the lord rank, but there’s something about him that I can’t quite define.”
“They say he’s a beast in battle,” Chun added, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
“Please,” Emi scoffed. “The people here would call anyone a hegemon. They have no idea what it means to be a true cultivator at our level.”
“And that’s precisely our problem,” Wol interjected. Seeing their confused expressions, he continued, “They don’t understand what it’s like to face a real cultivator—someone at our level. They’re used to raw brutality, but they’re about to encounter something far more refined and dangerous.”
“You both?” Emi asked, picking up on Wol’s implication.
Wol shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Yes, two lords, two battles. I assumed Chun would want to test his skills against one of them, and so would you.”
Emi studied him for a moment before speaking. “You never intended to fight him, did you?”
“Of course, I do,” Wol replied, feigning indignation. “But as you pointed out, the Cheng clan’s interests come first. Unless, of course, you want to forfeit that right?”
Emi held his gaze, her expression impassive. “Does that mean you’ll be presenting the four adepts to face those of Black Rock?”
“It seems only fair,” Wol responded, his tone measured.
“Two adepts,” Chun interjected, catching Wol off guard. Emi hid a smirk; there was more to Chun than she’d initially thought.
“What?” Wol’s voice betrayed his surprise.
“Two adepts, nothing more,” Chun repeated firmly.
“I agree,” Emi added. “This was supposed to be a series of four duels. Adding a lord battle brings it to five. Four adepts is excessive.”
“Given that I’m not participating in the lord fights, I think it’s only fair,” Wol argued, a frown forming on his face.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Chun held his ground. “The Highlord instructed us to resolve it among ourselves, and we have. By majority vote.”
Wol’s eyes flashed with anger, but he controlled his temper. Exhaling slowly, he masked his rage with a calm demeanor, though Emi could see through the façade.
“You’re both making a big mistake,” he warned.
“Oh? How so?” Emi challenged.
Wol looked at them with a mixture of satisfaction and resignation. “Because you’re giving them exactly what they wanted.” With that, he turned and left the room, leaving Emi and Chun to contemplate his words.
*************************
Tunde opened his eyes as he completed another cycle of the **Heavenly Aura Refinement Technique**. Feeling refreshed, he stood up and glanced around, wondering how to make use of his spare time since Varis wasn’t there. Just then, the stone door opened with a grinding noise, revealing Varis and a seemingly healthy Miria.
She smiled at him, albeit cautiously, wary of the Highlord who closed the door behind them with a flick of his aura.
“You’ve grasped the beginnings of the cultivation technique. Good,” Varis said before turning to Miria. “You have little time to make that manual yours. Get to it.”
Tunde watched Miria move toward a corner of the room, where a black book with golden inscriptions lay. The Highlord assessed Tunde for a moment before speaking.
“Refinement of aura is a continuous process until you reach the peak of your rank,” he began. “It not only eases your path to advance through the heavens' crucible but also increases the lethality of your attacks. Right now, you’re merely coating the edges of your weapons with aura, despite what you might have led yourself to believe.”
Tunde nodded, noting Varis’s movements as he stepped forward.
“No more Ethra elixirs for the both of you. You cultivators from the borders have grown too reliant on them, using them whenever your bodies lack Ethra,” he continued.
“Pardon me,” Miria interrupted softly. “But isn’t that what they were meant for?”
“Elixirs are a last resort, intended for emergencies in battle and used sparingly,” Varis replied. “What isn’t widely known, especially to those lacking a proper background or education, is that they can serve as barriers to physical advancement.”
Tunde frowned as Varis continued.
“Not all impurities are purged from the body during advancements, and the higher you go, the fewer are eliminated. As your cultivation advances beyond the physical realm, these impurities clog your Ethra lines until you eventually hit a roadblock.”
Varis pointed at Tunde, “I was able to purge your impurities completely because I used a hundred-year refinement pill—something that costs six hundred thousand lumens.”
Tunde’s eyes widened at the revelation. That single pill was worth that much? It was a pity Ani hadn’t yet reached the stage where she could make such pills; they could have made a fortune.
Turning to Miria, Varis continued, “And you, your spirit was nearly broken under the power of a Highlord—and a weak one at that,” he said, causing Miria to blush in shame. “I had to sacrifice one of my irreplaceable elixirs just to heal you, ensuring you didn’t wake up as a mere husk of a cultivator.”
Folding his hands behind him, Varis addressed them both. “You might be wondering why I sacrificed my resources for you two.”
Tunde and Miria exchanged a hesitant look before Tunde spoke up, “Because the benevolence of the Highlord is as wide and deep as the endless sea?”
Varis maintained his indifferent expression, clearly waiting for a more meaningful response.
“Because we’re useful,” Miria said softly.
Varis gestured for them to continue.
“It’s an investment,” Tunde added.
“Good, you’re scratching the surface,” Varis replied. “You both are resources. If you prove yourselves useful, you may advance; if not, you’ll be discarded.”
This was something Tunde could relate to. In the world of cultivation, nothing was given as a gift. As long as he knew what he was getting into, he was fine.
“I cannot train you until after the duel and you have proven yourselves worthy acolytes of my teachings. But I will make the field even,” Varis continued. “The heirs have decades of experience in duels and cultivation, which you cannot breach in one week.”
“But you have something they lack: raw battle experience—experience without rules or the safety of a clan behind you. They are skilled, precise, and accurate. You bring flexibility and unpredictability to the battle.”
“What about the others, the adepts?” Tunde asked.
“They will lose,” Varis said bluntly, his words hitting Tunde like a pike to the heart. “They will do their best but will fall short against the old adept monsters of the clans.”
Tunde said nothing, merely clenching his fists and taking a deep breath.
“And if we both win our duels, that makes it a draw?” he asked.
Varis seemed amused. “Interesting. You think you’ll both defeat two of the empire’s top lords?”
“We have no choice,” Tunde replied.
“Then it’ll be a draw, which means you would have proven capable of holding your own against other sects and clans.”
Tunde found some comfort in that as the Highlord opened his void ring, removing another manual and an affinity crystal that filled the room with raw pressure. Miria stared at the crystal with bated breath as Varis handed it over to Tunde, along with the manual.
“Perhaps it was fate, or perhaps you were just lucky that I have the exact affinity you requested,” he said. “That is the cultivation art of a combat sect that once resided within the enclaves of the Heralds. It should guide you on your path forward.”
Finished with Tunde, Varis addressed them both clearly. “I expect to meet a complete lord by the time you step out of this chamber,” he said, turning to Miria. “You know the origins of that manual, don’t you?”
Miria nodded slowly.
“Good. Understand that manual; don’t just copy it. Make it yours and develop something entirely new. Good luck.”
As he turned to leave, he paused, reaching into his robes and pulling out a void ring. Tossing it to Tunde, he said, “The Ethra elixirs are still inside. I trust you’ll heed my warnings regarding their use.”
Tunde watched as Varis opened his own void ring, releasing several large boxes that were stacked upon each other.
“Food, water, clothes, and something special I would advise you not to open until you have completed becoming true cultivators. Again, good luck,” Varis said as the stone door ground open and then closed behind him, the audible lock groaning into place.
Tunde turned his attention to the force affinity crystal, then back to Miria. “How did that happen?” he asked, gesturing at the manual in her hands.
Miria shrugged. “I wanted in on the duel,” she replied. “You, on the other hand, finally came clean to him about your affinity situation.”
Tunde picked up the force affinity crystal, finding that its power made it difficult to move. “I didn’t really have a choice, to be honest,” he murmured, gazing at the crystal.
Miria looked around the room, her expression thoughtful. “Why does it feel like we’re sinking deeper into his clutches?” she asked.
Tunde studied the book in front of him, its worn-out pages filled with faded illustrations of a fighting style and descriptions of its techniques. “Then we get strong enough to remove ourselves,” he replied.
Settling on the ground, Tunde sat cross-legged on the smooth stone floor, placing the force affinity crystal in front of him. The air was thick with the raw power of the crystal, which glowed brightly within the enclosed training chamber. The earthy aroma of the stone walls mixed with the crystal's energy, while soft, flickering light from nearby crystals cast dancing shadows, creating an atmosphere of intense focus and anticipation.
Beside him lay a small, intricately carved wooden box containing the precious Divine Core Empowerment Pill, which he had withdrawn from his void space, realizing it was wise not to keep it within the void ring.
Taking a deep breath, Tunde centered himself, preparing for the crucial moment. His heart pounded in his chest, both from excitement and the daunting challenge ahead. He had already cultivated his cosmic affinity to a reasonable degree but now aimed to fuse it with the force affinity to create a powerful new concept, one he had yet to name. This would elevate him to a full-fledged lord rank cultivator.
With steady hands, Tunde picked up the force affinity crystal, feeling its raw power resonate with his existing cosmic energy. Closing his eyes, he allowed his senses to fully attune to the crystal’s essence. Slowly, he began to draw the energy into his body, feeling the unfamiliar force intertwine with his cosmic affinity.
[Notice: You are beginning to absorb force Ethra affinity!] Ifa’s voice echoed in his mind.
As the two energies started to merge, Tunde quickly retrieved the Divine Core Empowerment Pill from its box. The pill was a deep, iridescent blue, swirling with minute star-like flecks that seemed to contain congealed Ethra within.
[You have consumed a core empowerment pill; energy is fusing with other energies to hasten the process!]
He swallowed the pill, feeling a surge of potent energy course through his veins, amplifying his cultivation and fortifying his body for the upcoming trials.
Just as the energies began to harmonize, Tunde felt the oppressive weight of Heaven's Crucible descend upon him.
[Notice!: Heaven’s Crucible has descended!]
It felt as if reality itself resisted his advancement, an invisible barrier pushing back against his progress, threatening to crush his spirit and halt his breakthrough. The room grew colder, and an overwhelming pressure bore down on him.
Tunde gritted his teeth, his determination unwavering. He focused his mind, visualizing the core within his body. It glowed brightly, a radiant orb of combined cosmic and force energies, struggling to solidify into a new, unified concept. Channeling the empowering energy of the pill, he used it to bolster his resolve and strengthen his core.
Minutes felt like hours as Tunde battled against the crushing force of Heaven’s Crucible. Sweat dripped down his face, his muscles strained, and his mind wavered under the relentless pressure. But with each passing moment, the core within him grew brighter, more stable, and more powerful—a swirling mass of black and white energies.
Finally, with a triumphant push of his willpower, Tunde broke through the barrier. The pressure lifted, and a wave of euphoria washed over him as the energies coalesced into a brilliant, stable core within his lower abdomen, a few inches below his navel. The core radiated with the newfound power of his concept, marking his ascent to the lord rank as a cultivator.
Tunde opened his eyes, now blazing with newfound strength and confidence. He had successfully fused the force affinity with his cosmic affinity, creating a stable core that brimmed with his concept Ethra. The training room, once an arena of intense struggle, now felt like a sanctum of victory and profound transformation.
[Notice: You have advanced to lord rank (early-tier)!]
[Ethra core has been created (Mid-tier)]
[Tempering has increased to mid-tier]
[Strength has increased to 120]
[Agility has increased to 130]
[Constitution has increased to 140]
Tunde breathed heavily but steadily, his body feeling undoubtedly stronger as he got to his feet. Miria stared at him, surprise in her eyes.
“What?” he asked.
“Not a single drop of impurity,” she said.
“I guess the refinement pill worked well then,” Tunde replied.
He felt like a new being as his screen came up with his updated table.
Cultivator’s Table
Name: Tunde Dark Fist
Stage: Lord [Early-tier]
Ethra Heart: Lord [Mid-tier]
Ethra Core: Lord [Mid-tier]
Essence Flame: Cosmic [ember]
Tempering Art: Void Forged
Tempering Stage: Lord [Mid-tier]
Aura Stage: Lord [Mid-tier]
Aura Art: Asura’s Breath [mid-grade]
Battle Art: Flowing Fists
Concept: No Name
Ethra Affinities:
- Cosmic Ethra
- Force Ethra
Attributes:
- Strength: 140
- Agility: 130
- Constitution: 140
TECHNIQUES
Imbuement: Void Strike [tier 4]
Projection:
- Void Spheres [tier 4]
- Void Discs [tier 4]
Dominion: Null
Special Technique:
- Void Touch [tier 4]
- Ethra Sight [tier 4]
- Void Space [tier 4]
- Irin [tier 2]
He gathered his Ethra in his palm, a swirling mass of black and white energy that coalesced with newfound depth and strength. Tunde smiled, recognizing his transformation into a full-fledged lord, technically on par with the heirs. All that remained was to complete his fighting style.
Picking up the manual, he settled back down on the ground. With Miria a few paces away, he began to read through the manual of the Boundless Wrath Sect.