Slifer walked over to where Leah lay. He released a sigh, "I never wished to kill your father, but he didn't leave us much room for conversation."
Moaning with the effort, Leah pushed herself to her feet, steadying her shaky legs. "If you hadn't taken me away," she spat, eyes alight with anger, "he would never have come after you in the first place."
He winced internally. She wasn't wrong. But it wasn't actually him who had made the choice; it was his predecessor. How can I explain to her that it was not 'me' but another 'me'? He mused. Unfortunately, he couldn't very well tell her the truth of the situation.
He cleared his throat, attempting to find the right words. "Actually, Leah, I... I wanted you as a disciple."
She looked at him as if he had grown a second head. "Then why," she began, voice trembling, "did you slaughter those who were sworn to protect me?"
He took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "You possess an incredibly rare cultivation body. With my teachings, you could reach heights you've never imagined. Your father, and even you, I presumed, wouldn't willingly let you be my disciple. So, I... I had to use alternative methods."
Inside, Slifer cringed at his own words. The truth is, the original Slifer probably wanted her for darker purposes. To use her as a cultivation furnace perhaps. The thought left a bad taste in his mouth.
Leah's eyes held a mixture of disbelief and shock. "So, you're saying... you killed them... all for me?"
Slifer hesitated, then nodded slowly, "Yes, in a way."
He paused for a moment, "Would you consider being my disciple?"
Internally, he almost chuckled. She’ll say no, for now at least. But I can play the long game. Slifer knew the nature of demonic cultivators too well; they were notorious for exploiting any situation to their advantage, even if it meant sacrificing their own kin.
Leah's eyes widened a tad, and he could see the gears turning within her mind. The fall of her father left her vulnerable in the Black Heart Sect, a place where her privileged status had earned her a host of enemies. The Black Heart Sect's lethal competitiveness was a stark contrast to the relatively tame Black Rose Sect. A return to her sect, he understood, meant a death sentence that awaited her, it would be those who seemed the most loyal to her to be the first ones to stab her in the back.
Amelia, who'd been quietly observing the exchange, finally broke her silence. "Master, you already have so many disciples... Isn't Amelia enough for you?"
Slifer's skin crawled a bit under Amelia's gaze, which was perhaps a tad too possessive. Before he could respond, a System message popped up.
Maximum Disciple Capacity Reached No More Disciples Can Be Accepted
He dismissed the alert with a thought, its message irritating but irrelevant. I don't need the System's approval to guide her. If Leah accepts my offer, we can work around the formalities.
His objective was clear: persuade Leah to accept him, mend the fractured relationship, and hopefully, prevent further conflict. He did not like the idea of a young genius dedicating their life to get revenge on him, he couldn’t hide behind Hughie’s luck forever.
But ending her life... could I really do it?
The more he observed Leah's young face, the more he realized he couldn't stomach the idea of bringing her any more pain. She's practically a child in the grand scheme of things. The last thing I want is to add her blood to my already stained hands.
Leah seemed to ponder the offer, her face going through a range of emotions. It was apparent that she was at a crossroad, faced with a choice between vengeance and survival. The world of cultivation was cruel, and sometimes, one's mortal enemies turned into unlikely allies under the harsh laws of survival.
Exceeding Disciple Limit Will Result in Continuous Credit Deduction
Slifer's face darkened, the System's limitations ever testing his patience.
Yet, another notification followed almost immediately:
Task: Kill or Reform the Demonic Cultivator Description: Having orphaned a young demonic cultivator, resentment now brews in her heart. It falls upon you to cleanse her spirit, either through the release of death or the path of reform Reward for Kill: 20 Credits Reward for Reform: Extra Disciple Slot
His eyes widened at the potential reward for reforming Leah. So, the System isn't totally against me taking Leah as a disciple. But first, she needs to be "reformed." Challenge accepted.
He shifted his focus back to Leah, whose seemed to have made a decision. “I'll never accept you as my master! Not after you took my father from me!” She spat at him with all the venom she could muster.
With a casual tilt of his head, Slifer dodged the unsavory projectile effortlessly. What’s with this girl and spitting? he thought, almost amused. Would she like a taste of her own medicine?
Before he could react, Amelia’s hand struck Leah’s face again, snapping, “You don’t deserve to have him as your master!”
Frowning at the escalating situation, Slifer put on a stern mask, addressing Morvran, “Keep her under house arrest. If she doesn’t come around in a while, she can rot in the dungeon.”
Morvran acknowledged with a sharp nod, then reached out and grasped Leah's hair, lifting her to her feet. She let out a piercing scream and kicked at Morvran's legs, shouting, “Let go of me, you bald-headed oaf!”
Slifer watched as Morvran dragged the thrashing Leah away, his bald head gleaming in the light as it bore the brunt of Leah’s verbal onslaught.
He shook his head, a plan forming in his mind to turn Leah's loyalties towards him. Kidnappers manage to do it all the time. It's just a matter of breaking and reshaping. Stockholm Syndrome, that’s what they call it.
As he began to walk away, with Amelia closely tailing him, a System Notification blinked into existence:
Ding! Congratulations! Your Disciple Fenlock Has Broken Through Reward: 25 Credits
He raised an eyebrow. It hasn’t even been an hour. How on earth did the lad manage a breakthrough so quickly?
Fenlock emerged from his quarters, the aura of Peak Core Formation radiating off of him in vigorous waves. He clenched his fists tightly and his face hardened with resolve as he muttered fiercely, "Junior Sister, no one will keep me away from you, not even Master."
----------------------------------------
Slifer sat cross-legged on the ground in his courtyard, a circle of disciples surrounding him. Amelia had stubbornly claimed the seat to his right, an almost protective aura about her. On his left, Caelum was seated, his gaze flitting between his sword Bloodthorn and his master, Slifer, with an unspoken query swirling in his eyes.
Opposite to Slifer sat Fenlock and Hughie, the former emanated a newfound aura of confidence after his breakthrough, while the latter seemed to wish for nothing but the earth to swallow him whole, distancing him from the scrutinizing gaze he imagined from his master.
The silence was palpable as they all awaited Slifer to speak, yet he seemed to be lost in another world. His face cycled through an array of expressions - surprise, annoyance, and then a trace of glee.
Within the stillness, Caelum's thoughts roamed wild. Is Master experiencing some sort of enlightenment? I've heard rare geniuses undergo such states. It's not something one can seek, it just...happens. Could Master be one of those rare geniuses?
Hughie, on the other hand, sat in growing discomfort. Is Master staring at me? The thought nagged at him, causing his gaze to drop to his hands. He remembered the touch, shuddering at the recollection. If only Master were a beautiful woman, the thought fleeted, but he banished it immediately. But I had to be chosen by an old man, an ugly one at that. Heavens no!
In reality, Slifer’s focus was entirely occupied by the System notifications that floated before his eyes.
Ding! Congratulations! You Have Completed The Requirements To Unlock Your Reward
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
What could it be? His heart skipped a beat as another notification emerged.
You Have Gained The Ability To Learn Your Disciples’ Skills Ability: Mirror Mastery Description: “I taught you everything you know, not everything I know.” Techniques Will Be Converted To A Righteous Version, Showcase To Your Disciples The Power Of The Righteous Path
Slifer's eyes widened in realization. This sounds so OP! So, the System doesn’t hate me after all.
Relief washed over him. With this, maybe there's a chance to break through...
Current skill level: 1 User can only take 1 skill per disciple, only the skill they most commonly use The conversion of this skill incurs a cost
His smile briefly faltered. Ah, all these conditions. Now, this is the System I am accustomed to, he thought with a tinge of sarcasm.
Focus Your Attention On A Disciple And Activate Your Ability
Slifer redirected his attention to his disciples. Clearing his throat, he crafted a believable excuse for this gathering. “It's been a while since I've checked on your progress," he said calmly, his eyes shifting to Hughie. Hughie is the only disciple that definitely has protagonist level potential, surely he has multiple OP techniques.
"Hughie, how has your cultivation method progressed?" He inquired.
Hughie froze for a split second. I knew he’d pick me, he thought bitterly, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "Master, I...I have yet to breakthrough to the second layer," he confessed, his voice tinged with embarrassment.
Slifer observed as the technique manifested before him through the system.
Technique - Bloodforge Ascension As injuries accumulate, the user's body becomes a conduit for malevolent energy, morphing them into a nightmarish titan of destruction. Current Level: 1 – enhances stats by 1 substage, defense and regeneration enhanced by 2 substages Warning: High likelihood of death due to injuries being a requirement for activation Warning: Low Will Stat can lead to loss of control
Interesting technique, I wonder what the righteous version is like.
Technique - Thunderstrike Ascension The user, when struck by Heavenly Lightning, becomes a conduit for celestial energy, morphing into a mighty titan of righteous fury Current Level: 1 – enhances stats by 1 substage, defense and regeneration enhanced by 2 substages Warning: Requires a high Luck Stat to survive the strike of Heavenly Lightning Warning: Low Will Stat can lead to loss of control
Slifer’s face darkened as he mulled over the revised technique's description. Such a technique would have been perfect, but the high luck stat... I'd be dead before activating it.
Hughie, witnessing the shift in his master's demeanor, felt a chill run down his spine. As his master seemed lost in thought, Hughie hastily mentioned, "Master, I... I just need a little more time, a little more experience. I can feel the breakthrough nearing."
Slifer's attention drifted as he pondered on the possibility of acquiring more skills from Hughie, yet a System notification cut through his thoughts.
Upgrade Insight To Learn More
Slifer shook his head, knowing full well that he could not afford to spend credits on upgrades now. There isn't the luxury of credits for Insight...
Misinterpreting the gesture, Hughie deflated, thinking the head shake was directed at him. He’s going to use this as an excuse to punish me.
However, to Hughie’s surprise, Slifer directed his gaze towards Fenlock. “Fenlock, share your cultivation method.”
Fenlock cleared his throat, his hands awkwardly producing a flute from his robe. "My... my previous master found me suited for Sound cultivation. I... I have some talent in music," he shared hesitantly, his face a shade of red. The memories of mockery from other demonic cultivators, who called him 'soft,' plagued his confidence.
With a mental command, Slifer activated the ability the System had granted him.
Technique: Demonic Path of Emotions Through the medium of music, the cultivator channels destructive attacks
Fenlock watched his master’s face for any sign of approval or disapproval, while Slifer marveled at the uniqueness of the cultivation method. Music as a conduit for destruction... it was something truly profound in its own right.
Slifer, with a raised brow, inquired, "Can you only use offensive attacks with this technique?"
Fenlock hesitated briefly, then shook his head. "No, Master. The effects of the attacks depend on my emotions and my will at the time."
Ah, that makes sense why his Will stat is high, Slifer thought,
As he opened his mouth to speak, Fenlock interrupted him hastily, “Master, I don’t need any guidance.”
Fenlock was worried that his master would use cultivation as an excuse to keep him locked in his quarters, he couldn’t allow that to happen, not again.
Slifer blinked, momentarily taken aback. Inwardly, he exhaled in relief. Good, I wasn’t going to offer any guidance anyway. I’m hardly familiar with ordinary cultivation, let alone the nuances of sound cultivation.
However, not wanting to seem negligent, he responded, "It's the duty of a master to ensure the progress of his disciple. Demonstrate your technique."
With a hesitant nod, Fenlock directed his gaze to a nearby tree, he took a deep breath, summoning his feelings—particularly the annoyance of his master's perceived attempts to keep him away from his junior sister. With this emotion fueling his technique, he played a haunting melody on his flute.
As the notes flowed from the flute, they seemed to take on a sinister life of their own. The air around Fenlock vibrated with the intensity of his emotions, and the melody grew louder, more menacing. The soundwaves condensed into visible, pulsating ripples, like ethereal snakes, and they streaked towards the unsuspecting tree with terrifying speed.
The notes condensed into visible soundwaves that streaked towards the tree, smashing into it with a resonating shockwave. The bark shattered, leaves disintegrated, and the solid wood splintered into fragments, erasing the tree from existence.
Slifer watched the display, his expression unreadable. Impressive. But this technique... it isn't for me. He knew his limitations. Music had never been his forte, and the System, in its typical fashion, would likely require him to painstakingly level the skill himself.
"That was impressive, Fenlock," Slifer began, attempting to offer constructive feedback. "Perhaps, for greater control, you could intertwine the essence of your soul with your flute. Let the medium become an extension of your spirit." He was winging it, but from his vast reading experience, geniuses in these types of novels gain inspiration from the most ridiculous sayings. Let’s see if this holds true here.
Fenlock bowed deeply, thanking Slifer, “Thank you, Master. Your insight is invaluable.”
Slifer turned his gaze toward the spot where the mighty tree once stood. Perhaps, he thought, I should be more careful around trees in this sect. I certainly don't want to get on the bad side of a demonic tree.