The dimly lit training hall echoed with the sound of grunts and the clash of weapons as Kalen stood among the other recruits, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Every day in the Black Sect was a relentless test of endurance and skill, but what separated this cult from the martial orders Kalen had known before were their cultivation methods—dark, sinister, and yet strangely alluring in their potency.
The first thing Kalen learned was that the Black Sect’s approach to cultivation was rooted in siphoning power from external sources, specifically drawing on the ambient dark energy present in the Black Fortress and the surrounding lands. This energy, known as *Nightrun*, was a twisted form of spiritual qi, corrupted and amplified by the sect’s centuries-long influence. While normal cultivators sought harmony with the natural world, the Black Sect focused on dominating and bending the energies of their environment to their will.
#### **Black Sect’s Core Cultivation Method: The Path of the Abyss**
The Path of the Abyss was the foundation of the Black Sect’s cultivation system. It was based on a radical departure from conventional practices, focusing not on growth through inner balance, but through destruction and consumption. The cultivators on this path would consume the life force and spiritual energy of others—whether they be plants, animals, or even humans.
**Stages of the Path of the Abyss:**
1. **The First Abyssal Vein (Foundational Stage):**
At this stage, initiates were taught to open their Abyssal Vein, a hidden spiritual channel in the body. Opening this vein allowed the cultivator to channel dark qi into their body, enhancing their physical strength and senses, but at a cost. The Abyssal Vein required regular feeding of external life energy, making the cultivator dependent on consuming life force to grow stronger.
Kalen learned this technique early on, but unlike the other recruits who eagerly embraced it, he resisted the urge to use it recklessly. Instead of feeding it constantly, he carefully siphoned only enough energy to survive while experimenting with merging the dark energy with his own icefire power.
2. **The Second Abyssal Pulse (Core Formation Stage):**
Once the Abyssal Vein was stable, the next step was to cultivate the Second Abyssal Pulse, which involved condensing the stolen life energy into a core of darkness within the dantian (the energy center). This pulse acted as a reservoir of raw destructive power, capable of being unleashed in combat. The downside, however, was that as the core grew, it would slowly erode the cultivator’s sense of morality and empathy, corrupting their spirit and mind.
Kalen saw the change in other initiates who reached this stage. Their eyes grew hollow, their actions more brutal and merciless. They embraced the chaos, allowing their cores to swell with power. But Kalen knew better. He focused on controlling the corruption, using his icefire energy to shield his mind from the worst effects, keeping his core stable without losing himself to the darkness.
3. **The Abyssal Shadow (Nascent Soul Stage):**
This was the ultimate goal for Black Sect cultivators—the formation of an Abyssal Shadow. At this stage, a cultivator could manifest a shadowy version of themselves, a dark spiritual avatar that could fight alongside them. The Abyssal Shadow was an extension of the cultivator’s soul, but once again, it came with risks. If the shadow was damaged or destroyed, it could severely injure or even kill the cultivator.
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The Abyssal Shadow also required constant feeding, drawing not only from external life sources but also from the cultivator’s own energy. Kalen watched as some of the most advanced members of the sect struggled to control their shadows, becoming hollowed-out husks of their former selves, bound to the darkness they had created.
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#### **Fighting Styles of the Black Sect**
The Black Sect’s combat techniques were as brutal and unorthodox as their cultivation methods. Their fighting styles revolved around using the Abyssal Qi they cultivated to overwhelm their opponents with raw, destructive power, often sacrificing defense for devastating offense.
1. **Abyssal Palm:**
One of the most commonly taught techniques, the Abyssal Palm was a strike infused with dark qi that, when it made contact, would drain the life force of the target. The attack didn’t just deal physical damage—it also sapped the opponent’s energy, weakening them for further attacks. The more powerful versions of this technique could cripple an opponent’s meridians, leaving them unable to gather or circulate qi.
Kalen struggled with this technique. The idea of stealing another’s life force went against everything he had been taught, but he knew he had to master it if he wanted to survive. Instead of using it recklessly like the others, he practiced controlling the amount of life force he drew, merging it with his own energy rather than consuming it completely.
2. **Soul Severance Strike:**
This was a more advanced and sinister technique that targeted not the body, but the spirit. A cultivator using this strike would channel Abyssal Qi into their weapon or fists and, with a precise blow, sever the spiritual connection between a person’s mind and their qi. This could temporarily paralyze an opponent’s cultivation, leaving them defenseless.
Kalen watched as one of the sect’s elders demonstrated the Soul Severance Strike on a captive, reducing the man to a lifeless husk within moments. It was a terrifying display of power, one that left Kalen shaken. Yet, the concept fascinated him—the ability to sever an opponent’s connection to their own qi was a powerful tool. If he could learn to wield it without falling into darkness, it could be a game-changer.
3. **Shadow Step:**
One of the more stealth-oriented techniques, Shadow Step allowed the user to blend with the shadows, moving almost invisibly from place to place. Unlike traditional movement techniques that relied on speed and agility, Shadow Step involved manipulating the surrounding darkness to cloak one’s presence.
Kalen quickly saw the advantages of this technique. While the others used it as a way to ambush their enemies, Kalen found that it worked perfectly with his icefire cultivation. By combining Shadow Step with the ice aspect of his power, he could slip into the cold, silent void between moments, making his movements unpredictable.
4. **Dark Flame Technique:**
This was the pinnacle of destructive techniques in the Black Sect. Dark Flame was an Abyssal Qi-infused fire that burned not just the body, but the soul itself. Once ignited, the flames would continue to consume their target until nothing was left but ash. Unlike regular flames, Dark Flame could not be extinguished by water or traditional means. Only the cultivator who cast it could control it.
Kalen felt an eerie resonance with the Dark Flame technique due to his own mastery of fire. However, where the Black Sect used fire for pure destruction, Kalen began experimenting with fusing the ice aspect of his powers with it. The result was a dangerous and volatile combination—flames so cold they froze and shattered everything they touched. It was a delicate balance, and Kalen knew it was a technique he would have to master carefully.
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#### **Kalen’s Assimilation of the Black Sect’s Methods**
Over the next weeks, Kalen continued to absorb and assimilate the teachings of the Black Sect into his own path. He was careful not to let the Abyssal Qi corrupt him, always balancing it with his icefire energy. While others in the sect became hollowed-out vessels for the dark powers they wielded, Kalen remained in control, his dual elements stabilizing the chaotic energy he harnessed.
He spent hours in secret, meditating on the balance between the opposing forces within him. He realized that the Abyssal Qi, while destructive, could be controlled if tempered by his icefire cultivation. Instead of letting the darkness consume him, he would bend it to his will, just as the Black Sect sought to dominate the world around them.
Each technique he learned, he adapted. The Abyssal Palm became a technique of precision, where he would siphon just enough energy to weaken his opponents without killing them. The Dark Flame technique, fused with his icefire, became something more—a weapon of both destruction and creation, capable of freezing or burning at his command.
By the time the Black Sect elders realized Kalen’s potential, it was too late. He had mastered their methods, but on his own terms. The path of the Abyss had become a part of him, but it did not define him. Instead, Kalen stood at the threshold of a new cultivation path, one that fused the destructive power of the Abyss with the purity of his own icefire energy.
And with it, he knew he would bring the Black Sect to its knees.