'Seven of them?.' He looked behind him where the Town was and then shook his head in disappointment. He darted forward and rushed into the Bamboo Forest.
His footsteps were as fleeting as the summer wind, and as his figure left its hold, seven shadows soon passed in great haste.
Six followed Kiel in the Bamboo Forest, but one remained outside.
A young man wearing scholarly clothing stood just before the Bamboo Forest's entrance. He had a smile plastered on his face as he looked into the distance admiring the speed which Kiel performed.
"It appears I was correct, for a fraud such as he to get the best of me, Iren of the Silver Brush, it would appear that I require to further temper my insight."
It was Iren, the same young man who asked Kiel to join them for lunch. He followed Kiel to dispose of the fraud that plagued the world.
He believed Kiel until a few minutes after they left each other's sight when he came to the realization that Kiel was but a fraud and not an actual Rune Scholar. Iren came to the conclusion after recollecting the scribbles he dared called Runes.
What respect he held became disgust and quickly he called upon the authorities to apprehend this fraud. But, he had been too late and had already left.
"Flaunting a front he cannot uphold to gain recognition and respect, these are the kind of person I hate the most… it would be best to rid of such a person before he starts scamming someone to be his students and lead others astray. I cannot have Rune Scholars be defamed because of another fraud."
Often Iren did not mind others. Even overlooking petty crimes when no one was hurt. None aspires to be a criminal. Iren believed people were led astray by uncontrollable circumstances.
No one was born inherently evil. Iren believed.
However, he takes pride in being a Rune Scholar, and seeing someone desecrate his profession made his blood boil. Being a Rune Scholar carried a lot of weight and responsibilities, and he does not want the views of his people being tarnished.
To be one, was not so simple as others would believe. A Rune Scholar was a far more complicated prefession.
Being an aspiring Single-Star Rune Scholar who wished to raise his star in the upcoming Examination at the end of the year. Iren needed the money so he accepted the offer.
Iren of the Silver Brush was employed by the Dragon Blood Sect to teach its First Young Master the way of Rune Scholars after he showed talent. He did not like the Dragon Blood Sect, but he had no choice because to become a Rune Scholar, one needed resources. And they did not come for free.
Not only that, Iren’s personality did not allow him to choose a master. He could not trust anyone but a book. Thus, he was alone to fend for himself. But because of his passion towards the craft, he did not mind the hard work he had to put in order to learn and improve.
Thus, his anger towards Kiel, who dared flaunt such a front of a respectable Rune Scholar made him flare. Iren encountered such frauds before, and now, he wanted nothing more than to make such people disappear… but this was the first time he fell for such false prestige.
"As a Rune Scholar, it is my duty to protect others from such frauds." Iren whispered underneath his breath.
"How admirable, for you to care for others so much is something I envy."
Iren was just about to head into the bamboo forest and search for the fraud when a voice entered his ears. The voice belonged to none other than Kiel.
Though his voice was amiable as before, Iren no longer had it in him to be tricked, and Kiel knew this as well as he pressed his spear against the Young Rune Scholar's Back back.
"How can you be here? I could have sworn that I saw you went deeper into the forest to hide. How did you get behind me?" Iren asked, utterly confused.
"You are correct, but right before you entered, I left tracks heading deeper by moving the bamboo using Spirit Energy while I snuck to the side and waited for your people to pass me by. I then simply circled and went back here. Though I did not expect to see you here alone." Kiel calmly explained.
"Do you not know that it is of great disrespect to impersonate a Rune Scholar? Do you know what will happen to you if you are to be exposed?" Iren asked while his hands carefully moved towards his sleeves.
If he could get the brush he had with him, Iren would be able to retaliate.
However, the bamboo roots suddenly burst out from the ground and moved up as if they were alive. They then grabbed hold of both Iren's wrists, dragging him down to his knees.
It was painful, but to Iren, it didn't matter, for what was more important was the fact the roots were actually infused with life and were being controlled, "This is...." his eyes widened in disbelief.
Iren grew silent, his groan being the only sound coming from him. He could not rip his eyes away from the roots.
Kiel then spoke, "You fear that I am a fraud; is this enough proof?"
"Ho—how? You didn't even touch them!? Wait, are these Ethereal Runes!? Ho-How can that be?! Wait, does that mean,, a-are you—" epiphany dawn upon Iren, stuttering, words eventually failed to come out of his mouth.
Kiel did not respond and had the roots retreat back into the dirt.
“N-no! Wait a minute!” Iren scrambled to try and take the roots back. But the runes had been lifted. Gone without a trace of them ever being present.
Iren was freed, but only disappointment and shame could be found on his face instead. His will to fight had been snuffed from him like a wisp. He looked on, unable to even comprehend what kind of man he suspected of being a fraud.
Iren turned around and saw Kiel looking down upon him. There was no pointed object to be found, and seeing the bangle hanging on his wrist, Iren put them together and found Kiel to be even more mysterious.
Before him was a genuine master.
Kiel then spoke, "I do not wish to kill anyone, and I have already shown you my legitimacy. However, if you wish and think otherwise, wanting to preserve your pride and honor for making a mistake, I will not back off and end everyone here, including you and the six others who disturbed my peace. I do not want blood; I only wish to be left alone."
With words getting colder with every word uttered, Iren felt his heart was in trepidation.
Iren responded the only way he could.
Planting his head on the earth.
"Please forgive this lowly one for not seeing your greatness and the magnanimity you have shown my student and me earlier. For someone like me to doubt your skills because of speculations I formed, I have wronged you, Great Master. Please, punish this pitiful practitioner as you see fit."
"I did not show magnanimity; I apologized because I was in the wrong. Nothing more." answered Kiel.
"How could I have so much hubris for thinking I could grasp your intent? Once again, I apologize, please, take my life as compensation for my mistake!" Iren insisted on paying for his sins.
This mistake almost cost a man's life and endangered six more. To take such risks because of his selfish vendetta. Death by a thousand cuts was not enough.
He planted his head on the ground. Seeking forgiveness and mercy on the heart of the Grand Master
Kiel shook his head; he did not like such a person. To behave unable to read through truth and lies. Only believing what they wanted. Seeing nothing but their own values. He could not even accept simple truths when it conflicted with what he believed as true
‘He’s so persistent.’ Kiel sighed.
"I see, then your punishment shall be reclaiming my peace and forgetting you have seen my face and skills. Ensure that no one is to disturb me, forbid your people from seeking me out. I have limited patience in dealing with people who seek me out for connection and forgiveness. I am only so patient with you because you made your move against me to protect the dignity of Rune Scholars against dubious scammers. However, I cannot say that I will act the same to others."
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Iren wished to ask Kiel for guidance once this was over; however, hearing his words, he found his impertinence damning. He raised his head and agreed with his terms, "I understand; I shall forbid anyone from seeking the Great Master."
"Then, that is enough." Kiel was just about to leave but saw Iren gnashing his teeth from his frustration with himself.
'If you can, help those you can offer your hands to. Then, maybe, they will help others, and those they help will help others. That is the only way to pursue true peace, my son.' Noah's words suddenly repeated in his head.
Once more, Kiel shook his head "I shall take my leave, but before I do, I will give you a piece of advice. Stagnation starts with their place of self. A rooted tree may grow in a pot, but only when its roots are freed and set into the great world can it grow to touch the skies."
Iren lifted his head. His eyes glittering as he repeated the words in his mind.
'...hmm, he’s quite smart. This should get him off my back' Kiel did not want Iren, who saw his skills roaming about carrying his knowledge in his head. He couldn't kill him as well as it would only create more trouble and attention, so this was his only way to drive him away.
When the light in Iren’s eyes disappeared, Kiel released a sliver of killing intent. The birds of the bamboo forest flew away in a fright as Kiel left the words, “Do not let your hubris hurt others.”
Not a second later, Kiel was no more.
The people who entered the forest quickly responded to the killing intent. They found no one at the Bamboo Forest entrance other than Iren who was on his knees kowtowing to nothing.
Iren was not apologizing but thanking a teacher who left him such an important lesson.
'Spread reach and I can touch the skies... the mysterious master actually gave me such valuable teaching despite everything I have done….' Iren managed to interpret his words, ‘I need to stop remaining in a pot.’
“Sir Rune Scholar, are you okay!?” one of the six men anxiously asked.
When Iren raised his head, he had a peaceful expression on him, " — I am quitting as Young Master Jire's teacher; I am simply unqualified."
A day later, Iren would leave the Town thanks to Kiel's words to actively search for a connection with the World. When asked by the Sect, Iren answered, "I am unqualified… and be warned, the bamboo forest is now the den of a Tiger. Enter it for no reason, and I doubt the Celestial Phoenix Mountain can save you."
Iren’s words threw the entire Rose Town for a loop. The bamboo forest suddenly became a forbidden land, fearing the Master hidden inside.
But to everyone’s dismay, Kiel had already left the bamboo forest for some nameless forest opposite of it. He wouldn't stay where others could possibly connect the dots.
He found a steep cliff and carved out its side with a spear.
With steady steps, Kiel went to find a suitable boulder to become his door and went back to the cave. He cut his index finger and used his blood as ink to draw Runes.
Kiel created a simple formation to conceal his Spirit Energy.
Kiel used 30 Runes at the Boulder.
The runes appeared, connected, and glowed as they activated.
Blood flowed out of his nose while his eyes turned bloodshot. He was in pain. This was not the effect of drawing Runes using blood but using Ethereal Runes earlier.
"It seems I overextended too much trying to chase the young man away." What Kiel showed Iren was called the Ethereal Runes, something far beyond what he could do.
Ethereal Runes was essentially the ability to draw runes using spirit energy. Controlling bamboo roots was not something Kiel could do without sacrifices.
But what he had done was nothing special but mere light tricks used by Masters to attract unknowing youths to their ranks. The roots could only show a burst of strength in the first few seconds, but it was nothing special; Kiel used that so that Iren would get off his back.
He could kill all of his trackers, but that would result in a fight, so, again, he didn't do anything excessive. And by using Iren, he managed to clear his name and have others leave him alone in fear of his retaliation.
Though the price came with him experiencing some light backlash, it was nothing serious.
Why fight when it's not needed? He merely needed to show understanding.
Why pursue anything further? Kiel could fight, but he also needed to stay low, and that's what he did.
If needed, Kiel could fight without provocation, but he would not fight even if provoked if the situation told him not to. Self-control was crucial for achieving anything significant in life.
Proceeding to close his cave, there was only darkness inside.
In the dark, Kiel brought out his spear that hummed in delight.
His training began.
Grasping the range and space inside, Kiel moved his spear for three whole days, only taking breaks every twelve hours to eat and rest.
On the first three days, he managed to grasp the feel of the World through the soles of his feet. His eyes grew accustomed to the dark, and as he saw marks on the cave's surface, he shook his head in disappointment.
'My intent is leaking; I must first contain it to regain my previous ways.'
Kiel spent another five days refining his touch. His food had already been depleted two days ago. However, at this time, he no longer needed such luxury.
He poured everything into his spear, regaining his sense of self from his bloodied past yet changing it to suit his current self. His eyes grew sharper, but even that was abandoned..
'I am bound to abandon my eyes… I must grow accustomed to this. If I cannot fight blind, then I should just take my own head now.' Kiel's movements sped up, his muscles screaming and his bones creaking, with his bones snapping in two, and his body collapsing Kiel finally managed to retrieve himself.
Retrieving the feeling of the spear, he extended his body to his weapon and then had his spear integrate with the World creating an enclosed domain around him.
He plopped down as both legs were destroyed; his arms suffered the same fate. He groaned in pain but forced himself up nonetheless. With the spear by his side, Kiel began meditating.
The reforging of the body began. Kiel was not refining his body but simply healing it. Mist escaped Kiel's mouth, and as he opened his eyes to observe his surroundings, there were no more added spear marks.
"How long have I stayed here, Boros?"
"Eight and a half months… It is currently the thirteenth month, and approximately 86 days before the end of the year. The Flow of Life has finally reached its limits. I sometimes don't love how good my creations are." cursed Boros.
"Is it possible to do it now?" Kiel ignored Boros' bragging.
"You are at your most vulnerable, physically speaking. It is possible. I already finished preparation two months ago, in fact."
"Why didn't you tell me then?" Kiel asked as he felt his body ache.
"You were in a trance; you wouldn't have been able to reach the peak of the Fifth Step if I woke you up."
After the Ouroboros answered, Kiel sighed, he stood up after finding his core. He looked around and moved his spear with ease.
Kiel did not utter a response.
He carved a simple Rune on the ceiling using the spear and had a light shine down upon him.
Kiel regained his lost ability to carve Runes using the spear.
This method was used by most Rune Scholars who specialize in combat. But that was just a test; it was not time to start with the real challenge.
'Let us begin.' Kiel's spear moved with elegance, fluid like a calm river, and before long, a total of 124 Runes were carved, "This is my limit."
It would be impossible to etch even 30 of these Runes with his cultivation, but Kiel managed to push himself to the limit using his soul. He avoided any backlash.
Souls were not used for combat because it's an auxiliary tool for cultivators to supply themselves with the necessary energy when needed.
The 124 Runes glowed a bright silver, and Spirit Energy poured in the enclosed cave. Dense Spirit Energy came in, it wasn't pure as Kiel did not bother placing any purification formation, but it was enough for him.
With this, Kiel built a makeshift [Spirit Cultivation Chamber]; it should last him for two months until the stone surface the Runes had been etched on crumbles.
The concentration of Spirit Energy granted Kiel a suitable environment to cultivate. He did not even have to use the Spirit Stones.
Kiel closed his eyes, his breathing stable and his mind clear. He began meditation, "I shall finish this in a month."
In fear of being given away and having to leave his family's side for resources, Kiel did not cultivate. But, now, he decided to take a step forward.
Kiel's open pores accepted the downpour of Spirit Energy. Kiel collected the energy; it was tedious, but he did it without complaints. His own Spirit Energy and bodily state functioned as the filter for the impure Spirit Energy, and as his energy peaked, the Ouroboros roared before Kiel could do anything.
The Spirit Energy inside his body coalesced and circulated in paths he didn't know existed.
Above Kiel's head, the ghostly figure of a black serpent biting its own tail appeared.
"I need to call upon it for a few seconds. However, even that is enough to make you go crazy. You and I are one and the same, but, unlike me, your origin is that of a Mortal who already has the entire history of the previous Universe. Are you sure about the risks?"
"I understand... I am ready."
When Kiel opened his eyes, his black pupils were silver, and his scleras were as black as the night sky even dusted with stars. With the assistance from the Ouroboros, conceptual realities outside of a Mortal's conception laid bare to man.
A split second passed, and Kiel had already shed a tear of blood. Pain surfaced; his head hurt so much he thought he would pass out, but to keep himself awake, Kiel forced his hands and stabbed his thumbs to his left shoulder.
"I have seen them all… I have grasped their location and entrance… stop!"
Boros circled around his head and connected their souls and existence to the beyond with a roar. They forcefully reclaimed their right to traverse the outside World!
Kiel felt his body burning, his chest hurt, but he did not care, and he wanted nothing more than to gouge his eyes out.
"Pass out now, and I will not be able to complete it, do anything, and hold out. I will—"
"Just do it!"
The heat became his nourishment.
A compacted bead formed in the space dead center of Ouroboros' body. The bead was a chaotic mess, it was grey in color, but it soon changed to several hues.
Kiel coughed out liters of blood as his orifices all bled. His body convulsed.
But he kept his consciousness as he jabbed another finger to his other shoulder.
"Your body is rejecting the bead. This was not supposed to be created in the first place, especially not in a Mortal fleshy cage. This pain is just the beginning, Ye Feng, it is about to begin, but if you survive this, I can force it to become a Beast Core!"
"Do...it!" he said as he coughed out more blood. His internal organs had already been damaged. If not for Kiel's twenty years long refinement, his flesh would have already melted. If not for the eight months of draining his spiritual energy, then, now, he would've imploded.
The Ouroboros forced the otherworldly and spirit energy to become a multi-colored bead. It violently shook right above Kiel’s body.
Then in reaction, a violent storm appeared inside of Kiel, and only after minutes of pure torment did the Boros speak, "I finished crafting it, prepare yourself, Ye Feng… the second phase is about to begin."
Kiel nodded his head while gritting his teeth.
The energy inside Kiel's body coalesced once more, and with the help of Boros, a hollowed heavenly sphere was completed.
His body violently shook as a Universe, the size of an adult's fist, came to form.
“Here it comes! The final impact! Hold on Kiel!”
Kiel could only groan as he gritted his teeth. Ouroboros let go of its tail and time and space inside the cave crumbled, squeezing Kiel from all sides.
“Hurry!”
Ouroboros moved quickly and snatched the multi-colored bead that was created outside with his mouth and dove into Kiel’s body.
Kiel’s skin cracked, and blood spurted out everywhere. Kiel lost a lot of blood, but the pain kept his consciousness intact.
The cave shook and Ouroboros traversed the violent clashes of energies inside Kiel. Swimming in the currents as it arrived in a world of cloud and dust. Where lightning and flames roared and at its center was the Hallowed Heavenly Sphere.
“There it is!”
Ouroboros rushed to the Hallowed Heavenly Sphere and entered it with the multi-colored bead inside.
BOOM!
A powerful wave of energies exploded within Kiel but soon, all the chaotic energy was sucked into the Hallowed Heavenly Sphere.
Equilibrium was met and space and time returned inside the cave settled.
Lying in a pool of blood, Kiel was barely breathing. But, he somehow survived the ordeal.
Inside his body, below his abdomen, was a hollow sphere, and inside was a compacted universe with a single multi-colored sphere floating in the middle of the Universe.
This hollow sphere was called the [Hollowed Spirit Bead], and the multi-color sphere was not something a Spirit Devourer should possess, a [Beast Core].
The Beast Core was something only a beast at the True Spirit Realm and above should have. It was different from a human's Hollowed Spirit Bead that housed a world for their Soul-Beast.
The Beast Core was a Spirit Beast's source of power, bloodline, and an innate connection with the World. Any Spirit Devourer cannot have a Beast Core. As a matter of fact, they created a Hallowed Spirit Bead to imitate its effect using a Soul-Beast.
But now, Kiel had both; it was unprecedented indeed. He was no beast because he had a Hallowed Spirit World, but he was also no Spirit Devourer because he had a Beast Core.
He had become a man that was no longer a man.
A Beast that had peered through the beyond.
He was a true aberration. A man whose place was questioned no matter where he stood.