The next day, at the center of Xuan City, there was a large group filled it. They wore various colored robes and they excluded the aura of a cultivator, simply unreachable.
“Stay away from this area. No one is allowed to take a single step further from this point.” The guards were arranged in a manner that would form a barrier, preventing the citizen from unintentionally provoke someone.
“What's wrong? Is this the day where they will be carried back?” someone asked.
“That's right. They are here for a short moment but well, we know more things about them too.” The person beside him answered.
This day was the meeting day where a lot of elders that represents their organization showed up. From far away, even Ye Canghai could feel the power they had.
“They are all here?” this time Li Dian confirmed the situation with his subordinate.
“At the least, we can monitor and see for ourselves how they will react.” He just had the intention to see for himself whether the rumor about the central region was true or not.
He had heard about it from some of the disciples and an additional information that came from Wang Yu made him wonder.
It was said that the major powerhouse started to discard their weaker members in their ranks. The reason was unknown and that made Li Dian felt strange. Even though the lowest ranks of the major power was the weakest but their entire role was almost as large as the core member of their ranks.
That was why he did not know why they wanted to discard those disciples as if they were pests and only truly cared for some important person instead.
“Since they gathered at the appointed place then I shall greet them. Lead the way.” Li Dian ordered, which was followed by the soldiers’ movement to really implement it.
And at another place, Ye Canghai was ready as well. He was looking for this moment too, to see it with himself some representative which caused a member of his family to get harm.
“Look at those representatives in the center of the city. They mostly have their cultivation at the Late stage of Nascent Soul while I'm only entered Nascent Soul stage. They probably also participated in that war.” He felt depressed for a moment but he knew the exact reason why he was weaker than those elders.
“Even for someone like you to become this depressed, just like I thought, you wonder why Father in law made that decision on that particular day.” Then from behind appeared someone that Ye Canghai knew.
“I really don't know why Father made that decision but I will always respect what he decided upon. It was a fortune that only me and my brother got affected by it.” Ye Canghai turned around to see that same face but carrying an armor he recognized.
“This is the only thing that can be considered as a family heirloom and you are about to become someone important.”
“But I don't have confidence whether I am suitable for this, whether I can bear the consequences. If possible, I don't want this position.” Ye Canghai said while shaking his head. But at the same time, he took a step forward and now he directly faced with someone he knew the most.
“Here, let me don this for you.”
Ye Canghai could not help but look at the armor. He had seen it numerous times but he could not forget how his father had once worn it with dignity during the war.
Then Ye Canghai put out a book. He always carried it like a priceless treasure and indeed, it was a priceless treasure for him.
Opening the book, his face turned serious but at some point, his face started to redden and after that, he showed a saddened expression.
“You read that again?” Yu Feng who was donning the armor frowned when she saw it.
“And looks like you also read that part. How many times you read that part!?”
But Ye Canghai still looked at that book. Only after a long time did he closed the book.
“It has been a long time, truly a long time.” This time he released his intent all around him.
And part of the armor then shone, as if countless stars were inside it. A faint shadow of majestic dragon moved around the surface of the armor itself. The shadow of the dragon released the same intent as Ye Canghai, fully integrating his intent upon itself.
For him to did this, Yu Feng stopped for a moment and said, “It looks good on you. It made me remember the past.”
“No, not just the past but the reason why this piece of armor is still here as well.” Only after Ye Canghai said this that he stopped emitting his intent and help himself to don the armor.
“There are only several occasion where someone has to wear this Dragon Commander Armor, like today where we have guests from various background.” Ye Canghai finished with his armor and then he stood up. His eyes stared at his own armor, reminiscing about his father.
“For a second, you looked like Father in law. And surely when our sons see you in this armor they will surely admire you even more.” Said Yu Feng while smiling.
Ye Canghai had a serious but determined expression when he wore the armor. And only when he heard what Yu Feng had said that his expression turned soft.
“Now that my preparation is completed, should we call him?” asked Ye Canghai.
“He said that he would get out in time.” As Yu Feng wanted to say more words, she found out that a hand was holding onto her head.
Both of them stared at each other, did not move for a moment.
“I doubt that I can do this well. Even now, I have no intention to claim this position so if I make any mistake in my leadership, you can warn me. Or at the worst scenario, just removed me from my position.” Said Ye Canghai.
“Don’t blame me for being harsh at that time then.” Yu Feng held his hand in return as she sighed softly.
“And the last thing, how is it going? That matter between Yuan’er and Li Dian's daughter Li Ling, what about it?” Ye Canghai suddenly remembered that matter just as his naughty hands slipped expertly into Yu Feng's clothes.
Suddenly felt that hands, Yu Feng held it in a death grip. She then said, “With how things going on around the two of them, I think that as long as Yuan'er have a slight affection for her then it will be successful.”
Then she continued, “And you should not do this for now. We have guests to attend.”
Despite saying that, Yu Feng's breath became heavy for a second.
“You're right. Let's go to the appointed place. I believe that he will be there in time.” With that, Ye Canghai stopped his hands from teasing his wife.
“Good.” After regained her composure that Yu Feng replied and the two walked together toward the center of the city.
-
In the familiar room inside Ye Residence, Manstein was standing at the entrance.
But his eyes focused more to the altar in front of him. He had a deep impression of this altar due to the fact that it was the reason he could be separated from Ye Yingyuan's body, completely free.
“There must be another item which can merge multiple souls into one body albeit temporary.” Manstein said while still looking at the altar.
“There is.” Alice confirmed it as well before she hesitantly continued, “But it is much harder to find than this Spirit Severing Altar.”
For Manstein, it was just his speculation that if there was something to separate the soul then surely there would be the opposite which could sustain multiple souls together.
But in the data storage of Intelligent Assitance Device, there was no such item recorded down. Instead, there was a trail of such item only in name and no physical appearance.
After he saw the altar until he satisfy his heart, he once again reevaluate the entire night of his secluded meditation.
“Now I started to breath using Breathing Technique at the level of half reflex. I only lack time.”
His breath rhythm started to form the standard breathing technique but sometimes it was also like regular breathing. This was not something that can be mastered in a single day. It needed a certain amount of time before he could reflexively using breath technique to the point of every breathing is a breathing technique.
“So what you decide in the future? Do you want to make some clones or to independently raise your own strength?” at some point Alice asked with curiosity.
She wanted to know what Manstein would do now that he could integrate cosmic essence to his own energy source, forming a unique Cosmic Qi type.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Perhaps a clone or two will be good for safety purpose. But...I remember that rebuild a body is not as easy as creating a clone.” Manstein solemnly said.
Because the one who had to do it was supposed to be at Nirvana stage and they had to understand Body Incarnation and Creation.
Without sufficient knowledge and power, no one could rebuild one's body even if they had the intention to. At this thought, Manstein felt that his luck...was really good. Perhaps it was because something interfered with his fortune?
“Some sage said that fortune comes with karmic virtue. And misfortune also comes with karma. Will this affect my situation?” because remembering his luck, Manstein somehow thought about this.
“The seal placed in your soul, I'm afraid that it will interfere with karma. This is something that even cultivators cannot touch or do anything about.” Alice said in a grim tone. But Manstein knew that was the truth.
Even cultivators in their deepest selves is still a mortal who had karma. Currently, they has been researching about ways to understand karma bit by bit and still does not find a method.
But Tribulation and Retribution Seal in his soul could make Manstein understand how the seal worked by using karma.
“At the least Alice, this seal is still beneficial to me. There is no loss if there is no profit as like there is no weakness without strength.” Manstein just had to accept it and found the seal’s advantage.
“I understand but even my understanding about it is lacking. No one truly knows the workings of karma.” Replied Alice in worry.
“But we have a trace of how it worked in a simplified version.” And where did Manstein got that part, of course, it had something to do with the soul seed which resided in his soul.
“Don't tell me that you have some clues regarding this matter?” this caused Alice to wonder what kind of information Manstein had.
“Actually, even everyone already knows about this so this is just me reciting what was known.” Manstein said before he continued, “Anything we do in this world, no matter how small it is, shall affect us in the future. Too familiar with that phrase right?”
“So it's true that you got that same phrase but why did you still tell me?”
“I told you about it but I emphasized the word ‘no matter how small our act'. It means that everything that I do, it will return to me as a counter.”
Manstein said that because he had seen what happened to the bearer of the seal he had. They could attract more powerful effect of karma from their everyday life!
Some of them became humble and more attentive, trying to tie good karma with every single living being. And another, they had to face their nightmare due to their own karma.
Manstein was afraid, truly afraid that his karma would hit those around him. He had committed numerous demerits from his previous world and he was afraid that it would affect him in this world as well.
“Then are you planning to follow the path of Ye Family?” Alice now understood what that meant. Manstein could not do too much demerit nor did intentionally committed crime.
“Like someone said, follow the footprint and you will find the source of that footprint. I just follow their way of life, nothing more.” Manstein shook his head. He turned around, seemed to leave the place where the altar was placed.
“Like a saying that those who got near the perfume shop will emit a fragrance of perfume while those who lived near the blacksmith will smell like metal and smoke.” Alice agreed to that point. As long as Manstein stayed this way, it would not cause anything bad.
“Yeah, looks like their character is spreading to those they interacted with. Perhaps, I am also included.”
After that, he left the place. He started to think about The Golden Core which he extracted from Nightstalker King. Last night, he tried to absorb more qi from it but it seemed less effective.
“You better not thinking about devouring the core.” Warned Alice. She had a gist of what Manstein had been thinking since last night but she insisted Manstein not to devour the core.
“But the situation, if I become the cause of this then I will not be able to face anyone here.” Although Manstein had wanted to devour the core directly, he knew that there was a good reason for the warning.
He had been absorbing the core's energy, refining it and increasing his own power step by step. He worried that he would not be able to find another resources to help him increased his power so he felt the desire to devour the core instead.
But the core actually belonged to someone else, and at higher stage of power far beyond his current power at that. If there was something in it, even Alice would not be able to help him given the situation.
“Don't worry. Once we visit that place, you can be at ease for some time. I am here to help you so just act carefully and we will safely pass any trials that come in our way.” Alice comforted Manstein.
Manstein nodded in agreement, “Right, your words made me less anxious. Just hope that nothing happen to it.”
Manstein walked out from the room and made some final adjustment to his physical body. It was because he had acquired some sight into the method to use
Manstein then focused his attention, his qi circulation to be headed towards his feet. At Qi Condensation stage, one could not fly due to their limited energy reserve. Not only that was the reason but it also included the density of one's qi that enable someone to be able to fly.
‘Let’s move from the entrance of the residence to the center of the city with this...’
As Manstein started to raise the quantity of his energy right at his feet, he made those energies which already gathered at his feet react!
It created a burst of mass release energy below his feet. But when Manstein wanted to take a step forward, he miscalculated the difficulty of Violetforce technique. A faint violet qi appeared and flashed below his feet but Manstein was thrown far away from his appointed destination.
The place where he hit, was just at the wall in front of him. He heard a cracking sound as his face landed first onto the wall.
‘Looks like my nose is broken.’ Manstein felt the pain. He did not blame anyone but himself for this. He had to adjust his output and that was where he wrong.
“Are you fine?” Alice asked.
“Like usual, the pain is there but not really affect me. I'm almost completely numb to this kind of pain.” Replied Manstein.
He tried to steadily stand while touching his nose. He could see a trace of blood from his nose but he did not expect that this body of his now felt more comfortable than ever.
“I did not expect that my body is getting better at every moment. I can feel the pain more than ever and even slightly miscalculated the amount of energy output I have to send.” Manstein smiled as he knew that his condition was getting better. He did not dare to say that he could fully adapt to his newly created body, as he only used indirect manner against opponents for now.
“Fortunately you follow my suggestion not to engaged in direct confrontation. Now that I say about your body condition, you already tried it. Are you that excited to see it for yourself?” Alice stern voice could be heard within his consciousness.
“I only used a bow and simple formation before but it really is not good to me. And those two situations made me realized that the previous methods I used can only serve as supplementary. I can't get used to using formation and bow either but I can steadily understand its simple principle.” Said Manstein before he continued, “That’s why I'm happy that I can use my own body to confront my opponent!”
That was how he truly felt. If he did not know for sure how good his body was, he would not be able to do anything for sure. Despite his device said that his body condition was already ‘good’, he did not know what the device’s definition of ‘good’ truly meant.
“But you shouldn't.....directly injure your body in the process. Secondly, you already tried something stressful for your body by using Violetforce. It's not good if you cannot master it but it is worse if you don't know the consequences of your action.” At the sight of Manstein trying to fix his broken nose, Alice sighed.
“Now we know the necessary point of my body, at least when using my ability. So there’s no need for you to worry.” Manstein had already done with his nose as the leftover blood still remained on his hand. But his gaze never changed from the place where the supposedly the center of the city was located.
He could feel it, large and imposing qi centered around that place. It was like a large cloud was hanging there, waiting for the storm to descend upon the land.
“So many of higher stage cultivators gathered at this place on this day. This caused the air around us to be full of qi.” The phenomenon Manstein had witnessed just now was the result of those cultivators gathered at the same place.
Every time he breathed, there were some traces of dense qi floating around him like mist.
“Just follow the dense qi. It should lead us toward the center of the city.” Said Alice.
Manstein nodded and this time he still used the same first technique of
“Are you sure you can handle it this time?” even though Manstein did not voice his pain nor did Alice ask about it but she still worried about Manstein failed again.
“Just watch me.” As if he knew Alice would ask, Manstein used a smaller amount of movement when he stepped the ground.
Like a wind, he moved farther and faster than his running speed with this move alone.
“I did it!” successfully accomplish his first effort to try the move, there was something for Manstein to feel proud of.
“Just with this alone and you are excited like this. What a disappointment.” Said Alice as she let her thought out with her words.
“Again!” because Manstein looked back and saw that he moved a meter at that moment, he wanted to try again. Using Violetforce as a supplementary movement was not uncommon but for Manstein, it was something new, something foreign to his mind and body.
Despite having most of the information and experience from the device but in the end, it could not compare with real-time experience, with his own body!
“Don't get so excited, Senior.” Even Alice could not help but amused when she saw Manstein became so excited over something so simple as this.
But she also saw that despite the first time Manstein experienced it himself, he could quickly adjust his condition to be able to walk with the supplemental power of Violetforce.
‘Violetforce is the first technique of Violet Haze Art. It mainly focused on letting out the violet colored qi to show the effect. The color reflected the intention behind the technique, short but effective. That is why Violetforce is making the user well balanced in almost all aspect, making the art itself good for offense and defense.’ Murmured Alice.
‘But to do this, one has to learn their energy output to the finest detail before they can practice with this and yet he did it with his movement as a medium.’
She could see that the movement Manstein made in his every step became more refined as if the movement of his feet was a perfect practice for Manstein to truly master Violetforce.
One step at a time and it would become a thousand!
‘Is this the move I should do when I use Violet Haze Art?’ Manstein slowly came to a realization. He even did it as he walked with Violetforce technique.
He walked, towards the place where the density of qi was the largest. He also executed breathing technique while he walked using the Violetforce technique.
Everytime he moved, it felt like a violet wind passed through. Aside from cultivators perhaps no one could see he moved throughout the city unperturbed.
“What was that?” when Manstein passed through some people, they felt a gush of wind passed. But when they looked around, they failed to notice anything.
“Don’t know. But it's better if we are safe now that dozens of cultivators crowded the center of our city.”
When he saw the crowded street filled with less gap to pass through, that was where he had to see his own judgment skill to perfectly avoid them. Lots of people standing at the large street still made it crowded no matter how large the street was.
“Dense. Even my movement is affected by this.” Manstein commented when he saw the street was full of people still dared to stand near the densest place in the location.
Not only dense of people but also dense in the quantity of energy around him.
“Because they are being protected by those guards in front of us. Quick go there!” added Alice.
Then he walked slower, to avoid the crowds and bump into any of them while improving his movement ability at the same time. Manstein's eyes narrowed as he focused all his attention on his movement and his environment.
He would often train this so that his brain would remember it without him manually did it, to let him did this at a subconscious level.
And at the same time in front of him, Manstein could see some city guards standing and holding the line to prevent people to get through. That was where he should go.
But what he truly wanted was to go to the entrance of the budding around it. He remembered someone was entering the building a moment ago so he had an idea to enter the building.
‘So that is where you wanted to watch this event.’