Chapter 34: Echoes of Sovereignty
In the cultivation world of Penglai, a land teeming with lifeforms locked in an eternal struggle for immortality, martial techniques stand as the cornerstone of a cultivator's strength. These techniques, as diverse as the universe itself, extend to any conceivable method, embodying the full spectrum of the cultivator's imagination and comprehension.
As cultivators tread their paths, these martial techniques evolve into profound arts, capable of shattering mountains, dividing seas, and piercing the veils of reality, marking each step towards the pinnacle of cultivation and the quest for eternal life.
These martial techniques form the backbone of power in Penglai, with the most common among them often stemming from ancient lineages. These techniques, honed and refined across countless generations, are closely guarded secrets of the various sects and clans.
Within these sects, disciples dedicate lifetimes to mastering the arts passed down to them, each technique a legacy of their forebears' wisdom and strength. As such, these techniques become the centerpieces of the sects' power, symbols of their prestige, and the key to their enduring legacy.
The most hard to understand, and mysterious martial techniques are occasionally discovered through fortuitous encounters or ancient inheritances. These techniques, often shrouded in mystery and legend, require not only exceptional skill but also a stroke of destiny to acquire. Adventurers and cultivators alike dream of stumbling upon such treasures, knowing that a single technique can alter the course of their fate, granting them untold power and the potential to ascend to the ranks of legends. Whether hidden in forgotten scrolls within the ruins of a fallen dynasty or bestowed by a chance meeting with an ancient entity, these rare techniques are the stuff of dreams, coveted by all who seek to leave their mark on the annals of Penglai.
In his past life as Xue Feng, Darius's quest for martial prowess led him on countless adventures. His knack for "acquiring" techniques was legendary. Once, he infiltrated the Cloud Piercing Temple under the guise of a lowly disciple, only to vanish with their prized Golden Body Sutra. Another time, he engaged in a high-stakes game of Go with an ancient hermit, wagering not treasure, but secrets. Darius won, of course, walking away with the hermit's Ethereal Steps Technique. These escapades were numerous, each more audacious than the last, earning him the moniker of "The Glutton"—not for food, but for the rich feast of martial knowledge he relentlessly pursued.
Regardless of the name he bore, before Darius shattered his cultivation to create the Taiji Talisman Technique, there was one technique he relied upon above all others.
In his early days as a mortal, Darius stumbled upon a mystical jade, concealed within was the dormant soul of a formidable elder. This elder became Darius’s savior, accompanying him on his journeys, imparting wisdom and his first cultivation and martial techniques.
But unbeknownst to this eccentric elder, Darius possessed a wary nature and a extraordinary intellect, slowly discerning the hidden alterations in the techniques taught to him, alterations meant to transform him into a vessel for the elder's soul. With astute insight, and a dose of luck, Darius reversed their fates, transforming the elder's soul into an immortal pill instead.
The first martial technique taught by this ancient elder, the Tyrant's Phantom Fist, was initially full of flaws intended to ensnare Darius. Over time, he eventually refined and perfected the technique, unlocking its true essence. This fist technique embodied tyrannical dominion and absolute control, allowing Darius to project a celestial image of his attack across distances, striking with a force that shattered both defense and the very structure of space.
In its first layer, the Echoing Strike, Darius learned to synchronize his qi with his physical force, sending forth a phantom fist that mirrored his own attacks. Though it started as a mere echo of his physical might, through diligent refinement, Darius enhanced its reach and impact, transforming it into Sovereign's Reach. This advancement saw the celestial fist glow with intense energy, capable of transcending space to deliver its tyrannical power.
The culmination of his efforts and insight birthed the Celestial Tyrant's Decree, a layer where the phantom fist morphed into a colossal avatar of his will. With a singular punch, Darius could now unleash a god-like force, an entity of qi that obliterated all in its path, embodying the absolute authority of a celestial tyrant.
Yet, mastery of such a transcendent technique was not without its trials. Darius, at the culmination of the Tyrant's Phantom Fist, faced a tribulation, a fight against the heavens to decide whether he could wield this immense power without falling to its corruption. Emerging victorious, Darius solidified his legacy as a sovereign of martial prowess, capable of bending the cosmos to his will with the Tyrant's Phantom Fist as his conduit. This technique, once a perilous gift from a deceptive senior, became the cornerstone of Xue Feng's beginnings.
Now, in a moment that echoes the culmination of countless battles and insights, Darius anchored himself in the center of the training field, each muscle tensed, ready. His right fist pulled back close to his body, his left arm extended, hand steady and open. Beneath him, his legs spread wide, rooted deeply into the earth. The air around him quivered, heat shimmering off the ground in visible waves. On his drawn back fist, tiny flickers of flame danced into existence, growing, weaving around his knuckles.
In his early training with the Tyrant's Phantom Fist, Darius harnessed insights from Penglai's constellations, letting the celestial patterns guide his mastery. These starry configurations, rich in lore and power, offered profound connections to the cosmos, enhancing his technique beyond mere physical prowess.
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However, upon arriving in Gaia, Darius found the celestial knowledge sparse. Here, the heavens above seemed neglected, with mages and scholars focusing their attentions and studies primarily on the elemental forces rather than the vast tapestry of stars. The sun and moon stood as the only celestial beacons that captivated Gaia's inhabitants, their radiant presence a focal point of magical and scholarly pursuit.
'In the sun's embrace, life flourishes, under its gaze, shadows bow, and at its wane, all returns to the dust from whence it came,' Darius focused, his eyes reflecting the fiery dance of solar flares. 'This sun, a solitary sentinel in the heavens, guides my path, its inferno a forge for my will. As it bestows life, so shall my technique embody its dominion; as it covers the land in light, so shall my power reach across the realms; and as it concludes the day, so shall my foes meet their end beneath its gaze.'
"Solar Tyrant's Fist!" Darius's shout split the silence, his fist surging forward. The flames that had been encircling his hand vanished as a sharp crack split the air.
Excitement emanated from Jarek, stance poised, his sword at the ready. To him, outwardly Darius appeared unchanged, his vision unable to discern the gathering mana. The moment Darius's fist moved, Jarek's body tensed, his gaze sharp for any hint of attack.
Then, without warning, flames covered his sight. A sudden pain shot through Jarek's nose, eyes stinging with tears as he staggered back, baffled. "What the?!.."
Darius's smile erupted; it was quick, a spark before the storm. Flames danced on his fists, each strike sharp, quick, then vanished into daylight. The cycle rapidly repeating.
Jarek shook off the initial strike, his nose tingling, but his sight was quickly drowned in flames again—a fiery punch landing squarely on his jaw with a thud. Reeling from the impact, he raised his sword in front of his face, lightning crackling to life around it with a sharp hiss. His lightning aura flared, a thunderous crack echoing as it snuffed out Darius's next few punches.
"Little shit," Jarek muffled, mini explosions crackling around his head.
'Find the gap!' Darius's mind roared, unleashing a storm on his father.
Darius's arms blurred into streaks, fire erupting from his fists with each rapid punch. His eyes, strained, framed by veins bulging and pulsing with a fiery red hue. Jarek, in response, turtled up, arms raised, blocking the onslaught, each impact sending sparks and flames flying, but showing no signs of breaking through.
'Now!' Darius's thought sliced through the chaos. In that heartbeat, Jarek shifted, muscles tensing to spring forward. Yet, in that fleeting moment, Darius caught the subtle flux in Jarek's mana, a telltale shimmer from defense to offense. Seizing the opportunity, Darius's fist veered, a spectral fist targeting the side of Jarek's knee. Jarek stumbled, his launch thwarted. Capitalizing on the opening, Darius followed through—a flaming punch to Jarek's chin then swiftly to his stomach.
Aware that Jarek was holding back, Darius understood his strikes weren't truly harming his father, yet they served to keep him at bay.
Resorting to his defensive stance, Jarek raised his arms, a barrier against the relentless assault. Each hit landed with a hiss, followed by the soft thud of fire mana exploding upon contact.
'My mana is running out. I have to create an opening,' Darius thought, desperation creeping in. Out loud, he taunted, "Blue wolf? More like blue pup!"
Jarek's aura froze, the vibrant crackling halting in mid-air. Slowly, Jarek lowered his hands, his gaze locking with Darius's.
From the sidelines, Amara's laughter broke the tension. Panicked, Darius flung punches faster, each landing on Jarek but to no effect.
Jarek vanished; a loud crack of thunder and a flash of lightning erupted directly in front of Darius. Jarek reappeared, hand resting on Darius's head.
Darius's fingers wrapped around Jarek's wrist, straining to pry his father's iron-like grip from his head.
"Careful, boy," he warned, before violently hurling Darius through the air.
'Why are my parents like this?' Darius questioned, right before his flight ended, crashing through the roof of the nearby, newly repaired, storage shed.
----
Jarek stood over both Amara and Darius, his frame casting a long shadow in the fading daylight. Below, Amara's hands, bathed in a gentle blue glow, weaved threads of mana around Darius's injuries.
Noticing Darius's dejected expression, Amara and Jarek struggled to suppress their laughter. Amara, her voice warm with a hint of mirth, apologized, "Sorry, we probably just needed to let off some steam from today. A lot has happened."
Darius, lifting his gaze, replied, "I was the one who asked for this, so I can't complain. I'm sorry I overestimated myself."
Jarek, his smile broadening, said, "Claiming you would prove your path by besting us both, and asking us to hold back only a bit was, admittedly, a bit foolish. But we are proud of you."
"But I didn't defeat mother, that was just a fluke. And, I couldn't do anything against you, a lucky hit or two that did nothing was all my boasting could amount to."
Jarek exchanged a glance with Amara, then turned back to Darius, his gaze sharpening, voice deepening. "Do you see us as pushovers, Darius, or are Knights and Mages truly so weak in your eyes?" His expression hardened. "Underestimating your opponent is a direct path to defeat. I thought you understood that. Seems we need more training sessions to correct this oversight."
Amara shook her head, flicking Darius's forehead lightly.
"Ow," Darius flinched, hand going to his brow.
"And here I thought my son was the smartest boy alive," she lovingly teased, "I stuck to Tier 1 spells, and your father hadn’t even tapped into his knight skills, not until you pushed him," she said, rolling her eyes. At her words, a hint of color crept into Jarek's cheeks.
"I don't see how this is supposed to help," Darius retorted, pushing himself to stand. A wince flashed across his face as he quickly reached for his head.
Amara's smile was warm, genuine, settling on Darius with a comforting glow. "My sweet little wolf, think. That last spell? It was 3rd tier. The wall it created should've held against an attack of its own tier." Her gaze then drifted to Jarek, an unspoken understanding passing between them. "And your father, the only reason he didn't use any skills, is because the one time he tried, you stopped him."
Jarek's eyes began to glow, his smile broadened, drawing Amara close to his side. Resting her head against her husband briefly, she went on, "You really do not have a good view of the world, Darius. I would say that's your biggest weakness right now. You can't even properly gauge your own strengths or your opponents."
Darius's gaze dropped to the ground. 'She's right. I genuinely believed I could outmatch them with just a slight restraint on their part. My entire understanding of Gaia stems from books. This is embarrassing.' His face began to flush, ears burning with the admission.
Jarek's tone shifted, taking on a lower note as he addressed Darius. "You have more than proved yourself, Darius. Do you really think an apprentice knight or mage, someone who has just stepped into their system like you, could accomplish what you did today?"
The question lingered, its impact clear as Darius tightened his fists and met his father's gaze squarely. "No."
"Has anyone else in the last two thousand years done what you achieved today?" Jarek's voice grew louder, his eyes locked on his son.
"No."
"Then I, no, we would be fools not to believe in you, son. If you say you can make us stronger, our only question is, what do we need to do?" Jarek's face lit up, his eyes shimmering with admiration for Darius, nearly spilling over with emotion.
Darius's face broke into a wide grin as he jumped, enthusiasm sparking in his eyes. "You won't regret this! I'll ensure that no one can stand against the Valdene Family, anyone who does, will only be seeking death!" Laughter bubbled up from within him, joining the declaration with infectious joy.
Jarek's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of approval in his tone. "Seeking death? I like that!" His laughter mingled with Darius's.
In that moment, laughter and solemn promises intertwined, reinforcing the Valdene family's bond. Their shared laughter, ringing through the air, wasn't just a release; it was a pledge of their collective strength and a vow to protect and elevate their legacy. Unseen by the world of Gaia, this family's resolve was quietly forging a new path.