Hae-Hyuk looked at the horizon. He considered what Jin managed to figure out. It wasn't a taboo breaking but it was without a doubt a small step towards that goal. And more than anything, it would be a step that would propel his battle capability beyond most of those at the 9th stage.

It seemed like a very simple solution at first sight. Since you can't create them, use them after they are created by someone or something else. But that's where the problem laid. You weren't the creator of said-element. And that meant that to it, there would not be any distinction between friends or foe. If you made a mistake, you would be the one to end up facing the element you tried to make use of. It was something that wouldn't happen if one was the creator of said element.

Self-harming. This was what this technique was considered to be like. Because all those who ever used it ended up at one moment or another injured by their own techniques. But did it matter here? Of course not. Because Hae-Hyuk didn't care about that. As long as the kids didn't die, he could heal whatever wounds they ended up with. And with practice, they would little by little master this dangerous technique.

Of course, there would always be risks but it was worth it. Because without that, they would have no chance against their future opponents. Especially considering they had yet to realize how to use the taboos they had previously broken.

Jin had managed to forge a soul spear in his soul sea but didn't even comprehend how to use it for. At the time Hae-Hyuk first saw it, when he touched him on the shoulder back at the end of the border war and checked him, he nearly fell from laughter. The kid had managed to create such a thing and didn't even use it. He had always pondered why he had even made it...

As for Min-Su, his situation was more complex. It was likely that he wouldn't be able to use it if not for something happening that would push him beyond his limits. He had managed to grasp something far beyond their levels unconsciously. Or rather, it was forced upon him... That was the reason Hae-Hyuk picked him as a disciple back then.

Either way, at the moment, both hadn't realized anything. Their true power was still concealed as potential. But this new idea that Jin managed to get? It would change things. Of course, they would never be able to create elements themselves but they would be to make use of them in some ways. This was no longer a potential but a reality. And this brought great joy to Hae-Hyuk.

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For it was an expected addition that he had been waiting for.

This technique was never taught to disciples yet he needed his two young ones to learn it and make it their own. Because they would face monsters who knew it and more. There were no reasons the other old demons didn't teach their own disciples some good stuff...

At this time, Sophia arrived and sat down next to him. He had noticed her from the start. She had arrived only a few seconds after Jin and decided to politely wait for him to finish first. Of course, she had been curious as well. But she didn't expect what she heard. She was sporting a serious and conflicted expression on her face at the moment. Because she understood the implications of practicing this technique...

Hae-Hyuk obviously understood and asked her: "Are you against them practicing this technique?"

Sophia nodded. And Hae-Hyuk asked something else as she had remained silent: "Why?"

Sophia hurriedly answered him, pouring out all her doubts: "That technique is dangerous! It is harmful to oneself!"

Hae-Hyuk chuckled and responded: "But powerful"

Sophia bit her lower lip before she courageously berated her Master: "They might develop an inner demon that will prevent them from cultivating further!"

Hae-Hyuk looked at her seriously. Disappeared was his smile. His blindfold was faced directly at her and she felt as if she could see him look into her. For the first time, her Master felt cold to her. She had suspected him to be evil as they arrived before but even when she confronted him back then, he had only laughed it off. Yet, right now, she could feel a coldness piercing enough to make her shudder.

He told her: "Their future is theirs. What I need is their present and at its best"

She was frightened out of her wits by his aura. Hae-Hyuk noticed it only after a few seconds and calmed himself down. Then, he returned to the amiable senior and master she knew, with his little smile. He soothed her: "Sorry if I frightened you. But don't forget that they are different from you. I picked them up for a specific reason"

Sophia nodded but remained unconvinced. It was more out of fear that she agreed. She decided to leave. Her emotions were rocking her mind too much right now. As she got up and began to walk away, she heard her Master's voice: "I am sure I don't need to tell you what not to do, Sophia"

Cold sweat permeated her back as she heard the veiled threat from her Master. She tried her best to keep her calm as she entered the mansion and went straight into her room. She jumped onto her bed and cuddled her pillow. It had been so scary!

As for Hae-Hyuk, he was laughing once more for a moment before he sighed.

As he gazed at the horizon, he whispered a few words: "I wish I could go back to those days too...when innocence wasn't a sin"