“I will leave this place. And don’t even thinking of finding me, approaching me, interacting with me or any other kind of interaction directly or indirectly.” Manstein went silent for a while before he said this. He had already gained enough determination to do it.
‘This includes you too, Alice. I can’t bring you with me in my way to become stronger.’ Even Manstein went as far as not letting anyone go with him. He had a reason for this but the process of becoming stronger would be very ugly.
‘As expected! You already resolved to do this but since when?’ Alice was shocked to hear it. She did not expect that Manstein would ask for her to get away from him. But she wanted to know since when he thought to do this matter.
‘Since the very start. This is the best thing to do but I need you to safeguard all of the people here in this city before I am going. Now the thing is, are you willing?’ Manstein knew the final obstacle to this was actually this woman that actually his junior from his previous world.
‘I am not willing! There is a better way to do this as long as I am with you.’
‘You don’t understand at all after a long time in this world, Alice? You don’t understand how ‘it’ works.’ Manstein cut her words immediately. His eyes looked at the ceiling but actually he gazed further than that, he stared at the vast thing which covered the world.
‘What do you mean? So you just leave your biggest support here and go out without protection?’ Alice retorted but her tone was filled with a tint of sadness.
‘Because your enemy is my enemy, I don’t want any enemies to find out about you and Senior Wang okay. Furthermore, we only know the general idea of what is going on the continent. We don’t know the details and the aim. Besides, I am the best person since they will never know my origin, my identity whatsoever.’
Manstein then stood up and smiled before he left the place, to the outside.
“What’s wrong with him?” Li Dian asked with concern. Something seemed off when that man suddenly got up and left.
“I don’t know what he is thinking but it is better for us to respect his decision. I hope that whatever he does, it is for good.”
“Wait.” And then Ye Yingyuan rushed, following soon after Manstein.
-
“Why? You admit that you are weak, so why do you want to go outside?” Ye Yingyuan pulled MAnstien to the side. Manstein just went along and smiled a little.
“Because this is important for me to get stronger on the shortest time possible. Going outside this city will give me a higher chance to do that. But I will certainly do something you and your family, even the world will see it as ruthless.” Manstein replied kindly. He would miss this day where everything was calm, peaceful and pure.
“But here is more suitable for you to develop yourself. And more than that, you have someone strong to protect you so why the decision?” seeing that Manstein did not change his decision, Ye Yingyuan asked the reason instead.
“I received so many from you, your family, even Alice and Senior Wang Yu are giving me help but that does not help that I am only a greenhorn. Being protected ensure your survival but that is all there is to it, I can’t develop my potential to the fullest if that is the case.”
Manstein only said what was half-truth and the most suitable for Ye Yingyuan to be accepted. He also murmured, But the fastest way to increase your power without diminishing your potential and side effect is the path I take previously.
And that path was to let Manstein do literally whatever he wanted in this world where strength takes priority over moral. It was somehow suitable to gather strength this way. But of course, Manstein had the real reason why he did this though.
‘And yet what is the greatest illusion of all?’ Manstein thought while pondering about something after he read another part of the hero and the demon. Because of this that he acted and planned everything, creating a possible result from what he is going to do.
‘First I should create some failsafe plan. And then I need to complete my learning of the introduction of the seal.’ He could only learn but could not directly copy things from the Intelligent Assistance Device.
He did not want to believe that he had to do the things he had done in the past again! In fact, he felt reluctant to do it after he got revenge. But this time, he simply wanted to get the power that needed time to accumulate in the shortest period possible. This reason was already crazy but the fastest way to gather resources were two, finding a treasure trove which was hidden or plundered them from others.
That was the reason why Manstein had to pave that path again. He realized that only plundering from others would he was able to strengthen himself faster. Finding treasure trove needed luck but Alice had already told him every hidden place that contained these treasures. The problem was some of the places was dangerous for the current him.
Manstein sighed. He went to the courtyard and stood amidst the white snow covered the ground. He called the current status for his body, doing a routine check-up with the device.
‘It is said that the requirement to become a Sealmaster is high, especially in the control of Soulforce. Should I try to learn a few simple seals now?’ one of the preparations he had to do was to learn about a seal.
It was an open secret that Allway Sect in the past had this Sealmaster which deterred the entire world of cultivation alone. The Sealmaster was so strong that no one could harm him even when he just stood up in the middle of the battlefield.
“Now I understand what you do and so you understand me. Perhaps, this is the effect of having multiple souls in one body. But the consequences are just as dangerous as the benefit so it is only suitable for an emergency.” Manstein now had something in his head which he did not remember doing any of it.
“Hmm, now I am determined to be stronger because of that. I truly thank you, I will not let what happen to you in the past happen to me this time.” An understanding look emerged from Ye Yingyuan’s face.
Essentially, they could see each other’s memories for a certain period of time. Like Manstein knew that someone had used Li Ling to do something which he lacked the whole picture while Ye yingyuan could see what happened to Manstein when he was just a fine child.
All of this was done through their link originated from their soul. Somehow, spirit Severing Altar could not cut this off and that was how it was.
-
“Ah, this is the time for me to leave,” Manstein said while checking his clothes with his right hands. His left hands were drawing an imaginary thing by moving his index finger around.
After the sun appeared on the sky after a long winter and the first flower bloomed, Manstein already stood at the edge of the city. His eyes only saw the mountain range that divided the region of the continent.
‘Ugh, drawing the seal without paper and ink sure is hard. Keep practicing then, in hope to understand what that word means.’
Manstein also received a slight improvement over time. He was at the peak of the first level in Qi Condensation stage but that was so weak compared to the average cultivator. That was his cultivation power but his battle prowess increased again since the training room at the Forgotten Pond was useful.
From [Wave Vision], [Purple Haze Art], even his movement technique was improved. His movement technique was only for his current self because it involved his footwork. Once he got into the next stage, this movement technique would be obsolete because that was the stage where he could fly.
“Let me tell you this senior, don’t underestimate your enemy but most of all don’t underestimate yourself! And I also have to say not to overestimate something that you don’t know of. That’s my advice.” Alice was in a good mood today. Manstein had to bring her with him at all his journey from now onward!
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“Yeah, whatever. But thank you for helping me locate every single treasure trove you have created in the past. But what about them?” Manstein shifted his look and turned his head as only a few people knew he was going out.
“Don’t worry so much about it. This city will be our base for the future so it is a must for someone with sufficient strength to hold it. Now that our preparations are complete, let’s say goodbye and quickly go to the first treasure trove!” Alice said.
“Now that everything is in place. I am grateful for what you all have done to me. So just treat everything you have today as part of my repayment.” Manstein then had to face every face that he had seen. He asked Alice to place unto all of the entire city a certain seal, this was his failsafe plan.
“Are you still going?” Ye Yingyuan asked. Manstein only nodded at that and then came Ye Xiaobai.
“How’s the bow? I just add something to make it better. Besides, the one who made that bow is not me. I am the one who designed the model of the bow.” Manstein could see the large glove that also became the portable bow. He did not even give it a name after completing its design so he left it to the one who wielded it to decide.
“It is good. I will certainly repay this kindness. So, be careful out there. I heard that some people patrolled about a hundred days away by foot. This is what Yue told me about.” Ye Xiaobai reminded.
“I will keep that in mind. Perhaps their presence can be considered both good and bad news. And be careful of your legs.” Manstein appreciated the warning and reminded him back in return because he felt a presence just beside Ye Xiaobai.
There was only a sentence inside Manstein’s head, ‘Too late.’
“Ow, it hurts…my foot…” Ye Xiaobai felt a stinging pain on his right legs. It felt like his inner bones and muscles were being ground to pieces. He knew that giving this information would make someone displeased but he had to do it.
“Before I forget, I want to give you something since you will be following Miss Yi right?” Manstein gave a piece of paper to Ye Qingcheng. Manstein just gave him a location of an immovable weapon that became famous for years in the past but everyone just ignored it as of now.
They believe that the weapon was too high of an artifact even the old and powerful cultivator had failed to lift it up from its place. Alice only realized that the weapon corresponded with the right person. In this case, the right bloodline.
They were planning to get who the person that gave Ye Qingcheng’s bloodline was, both Manstein and Alice.
“What’s this? A map of the immovable weapon, right? But it has been a long time since anyone tried to take this weapon away and probably someone is waiting for someone to successfully pick up so they will just steal it in return.” Ye Qingcheng confused about this and Manstein smiled bashfully.
“The map is important, not just for showing the way. So Always carried it with you. And for everyone, I can only say to you to stay away from me at all times in any circumstances. Even if it means my death, just stay away until the sign is showed to you.” Manstein breathed out and gave everyone one last look.
‘A bunch of people from an influential figure in the continent is here. Is this going to be fine?’ Manstein doubted it because sooner or later they would face pressure from left and right.
And that was how he went away. He felt that concern gaze from the Ye Family, which made him warm in his heart but also guilty. He still had the last part of the soul seed from Ye Shui and he did not know what to do with it.
He then ran, training his footwork while his left hand was practicing to draw an imaginary seal. He was fast compared to the first time he tried but still, it was slower than the average!
‘I have to be strong. Strong enough everyone that obstruct me will be wiped from my way and everyone I want to protect will be safe.’
-
Sun rays penetrated the clouds in the evening. For Manstein though, it was the third evening outside Xuan City. He sat down under a tree, revolving his qi to the place in his abdomen. The first level of Qi Condensation was to form a condensed qi and the size of it inside Manstein was just a drop of condensed qi.
It was so minuscule but a faint multi-colored qi radiated from it. The Cosmic attribute qi that Manstein had could absorb any kind of qi in nature without refining it. And Manstein barely completing the first mastery over [Purple Haze Art]: Violetforce as he produced a purple aura that felt strong.
He was trying to enhance his Wave Vision as well but it failed. He opened his eyes and a light came from his eyes as he could see many waves in his surroundings. It was the same view he had ever since he got the technique.
“So how much far can my sight go when it reaches a new height?” Manstein could only imagine while his finger kept practicing to form a basic seal. His finger was moving in the same pattern and that actually formed a small and weak seal that generally used as a practice.
“Strong Soulforce is good for a Sealmaster but the Soulforce I possess is like a bit off. As expected, before Nascent Soul stage the Soulforce will be like fluid that is hard to control and its potential is limited. The seal I am trying to make is starting to have something in it…Alice?”
The finger he used to make a seal in the thin air started to feel like something was formed from it. Its faint line gave Manstein a little hope as that would mean he formed a seal just by drawing its form in the thin air.
“Looking good. You are really good at something when serious but is this fine? You mastering so many techniques from the various profession is going to get your progress in cultivation stagnant. But you will use your device to help you save the progress and integrated it with your memory.” Alice knew that Manstein was progressing as fast as weed grew in the backyard.
“Unfortunately, everything the device stored including experience from several experts is going to be a reference at most or become my knowledge. I can’t use it to do things myself as their power and condition are different from me. I mean, how a method only Nascent Soul cultivator use can be useful to the current me?”
Manstein shrugged his shoulder but his eyes flickered. The device gave him a prompt that a strange signature was nearby.
“Senior looks like someone is searching for the first treasure trove. I can feel that they truly have a key to enter it though. What shall we do?” Alice asked Manstein for his opinion.
[Signature captured within detection. Weak energy and thin energy layer protecting their body, 89% chance the signature belongs to the being with cultivation below Foundation Establishment]
“I don’t know what idea you have but I will tail them, understanding what they are doing. From the looks of it, they are here on their own accord without any supervision from their elders. That is why I am not afraid of following behind them.” Manstein stated his idea.
Without someone stronger than Peak Qi Condensation stage, Manstein had few to be afraid of. The time he spent on estimating his battle prowess at the training ground stated that his power was equal to the level 4 Qi Condensation cultivator. That was just a normal cultivator though but it proved just how strong his Qi and ability at his level.
Then Manstein used the aspect that made him gain stealth from the meditation tactic Natural Flow-Sync. This allowed him to blend with nature as per his understanding of nature, add that his knowledge increased from reading many records from his Intelligent Assistance Device.
He walked using the movement technique that he trained with, rushing through the bush and roots with ease as his feet moved and step at the right place to avoid slip.
When he arrived, he could see a dozen of young men and woman using their sense to detect something. The leader that Manstein concluded from seeing the person with a sphere on his right hand was looking at the direction of the mountain in front of him.
“According to the map in the sphere, the location of the treasure trove is supposed to be at the foot of that mountain. Come on, we only lack a piece of the jade to complete the key. I have this jade but you all better not think about grabbing it from me. You all weaker than me and don’t think about scheming to eliminate me either, you know what I mean.” A young man with a blue robe and a special token on his waist said to all the people around him.
‘Oh, I think they are here after separating themselves from their group. They are the disciple from Seven Color Sect, but that sphere is not his. I remember a disciple from that sect received it from a place in Xuan City but from the looks of it, that person was eliminated.’ Manstein remembered that some people knew about this treasure trove, it was the people from Seven color Sect that often wandering this near to get something from the trove.
“They called it a trove despite it only the first layer of the entire trove? This is why I like to make it layered just like the onion.” Alice chuckled but Manstein kept looking at them.
‘This kind of reassembling the jade to form the key that allows one to enter the trove is good. This man knew that the sphere contained an additional part to unlock the second layer of the trove and this allowed him to reap all the treasure on it. But this cannot be done solely by this man alone, someone must be helping him. That token on his waist must be a sign.’ Manstein had to use them as his meat shield because Alice mentioned a few traps to test the incoming people that want her trove.
But it would not be easy since Manstein knew that despite without the elders' protection, that man with the sphere was strong enough to fend for himself at the least. This was supported by his exclamation previously so Manstein probably could not take that man’s life yet.
‘His cultivation is at the level 8 of Qi condensation. That Qi layer on his body can be seen from here, this is not going to be easy since I have to count another eleven people.’ Manstein was thinking about how he should use them in order to achieve his goal.
“Senior Ma, I found the piece of jade you are looking for.” Another young man held a piece of jade on his hand. The senior he mentioned was the person with the sphere that was trying to get the treasure at the second layer of the trove. He was a blue robe disciple, Ma Liang.
The young man could only force his face to give a better impression of himself, smiling towards this Ma Liang.
“Good.” Ma Liang’s reply was short, he even used a bit of attractive force to make the piece of jade to come to him. Then he waved his left hand and a round plate made from jade appeared. It looked incomplete because of the missing parts but it had been attached mostly by using qi.
The last part then came to the place in the round plate, completing the entire round plate.
“Let’s go.” As Ma Liang and his group left, Manstein also followed. Manstein realized that the group went towards the narrow crack between the stone at the foot of the mountain. They then saw a giant gate with the corresponding round pattern in the middle of it.
“As usual, the plate to enter the treasure trove belongs to Seven Color Sect. Fellow disciple, you better thank me for this opportunity as this will be the last thing we do in this region.” Ma Liang said.
‘Damn it, why did the Sect Leader just agree to the result of that negotiation!? It stated that the powerhouses from the central region are not to enter this region for a decade. Worse, it had been approved by someone from Hengduan Sect. Fortunately, I am a son of one of the elders in the sect so I can use this opportunity to gain a fortune.’ Ma Liang thought and decided to do it.
Even if his fellow disciple tried something, he still had one trump card to use in such case. This was what Manstein had deducted and he tried to make Ma Liang revealed his card first. Soon after the plate was placed, the gate opened and made a creaking sound. After that, they entered simultaneously.
“Senior, do you know that this first layer of treasure trove also contained a hidden room? It contains many things that we need to improve your talent. And from your thinking, I judge that you will use some demonic means to increase your spiritual root quality.” Alice said this purposely.
“Is that so? It can’t be helped then. Increasing my ability to absorb more qi before refining them is a must. To increase my talent, we need some rare materials and then we also need some spiritual root from people. The problem is, I have to completely decapitate any means those disciples have from signaling anyone!”
Manstein only followed them not too near to get their sense to pick his presence nor too far to not hear what they were saying.
“A pity, they wiped this place clean. Not even a speck of dust remained here.” A young woman saw the first layer and it turned out to be completely empty. She wore an orange robe and had the cultivation the fifth level Qi Condensation stage.
Manstein realized that the disciple did not grade based their strength but rather their talent for cultivation. That Ma Liang was actually the strongest and the most talented among them. This made him pursed his mouth, changing the plan that actually already formed.
“What is the trap that located at the entrance of the second layer?” Manstein asked curiously. It was said by Alice that the trap could repel Culture Core cultivators away but what kind of trap that enable it to repel such strong people?
“You know it when you see it.” Replied Alice. Manstein then thought about it when he found the answer.
“Is that true? The trap is actually the one that reflects the attack and amplifies it. That’s going to be a problem for me as well then.” Manstein knew what kind of trap he had to deal with but to disarm it was the real trouble.
Using Wave Vision, he could see the entire structure of the trap that had been set despite located behind the gate to the second layer. The easiest thing to do was to destroy and the hardest was to create something, this was what Manstein understood when he saw the trap.
‘The point is, I have to create a seal to restrict its function of reflecting the attack. To do that, let those disciple try it themselves first.’