Min-Su was apprehensive at the moment. The doubt ever present within himself. As Hae-Hyuk reached him, he was mentally prepared to be betrayed. The reason he stayed there was that he did not see any other options but to trust in Hae-Hyuk. Flee? Where?! How?! It was impossible. Jin probably used the only means of escape available in this trial. Then again, Min-Su was not very optimistic regarding Jin's survival. The void was a place that even Hae-Hyuk wouldn't dare rush in, let alone someone as weak they were. In fact, most space-type cultivators used solely their own space-materialized element and never touched upon the wild ones. There was an insane difference in lethality of both and the difficulty of control was like heaven and earth.

With no way out anyways, even as he doubted, he kept trying to reaffirm his belief in his Master.

It was not easy. As Hae-Hyuk was in front of him, he wondered what he would do if his Master really tried to kill him. Well, would he even have the chance to resist?

Before he could react, Hae-Hyuk made his move...and hugged Min-Su.

That's right, he hugged him.

Min-Su reciprocated the hug without being certain of what was going on. Was it actually not true? Would Hae-Hyuk not kill him? Was Jin a liar? Or had he been brainwashed as he first thought?

As Hae-Hyuk hugged him, he whispered into his ear: "Thank you so much, Min-Su, for believing in me until the end and bringing me the victory"

He took a step back while still firmly holding Min-Su by the shoulders and gently hit them twice to convey his gratitude in a seemingly manly way. Then, he stated: "I didn't misjudge you. I am glad I took you in as my disciple. You have me proud"

Min-Su was a little bashful and did not quite know how to react. To think he doubted his Master mere moments ago... How foolish he had been! Then, he recalled Jin and could not help but ask Hae-Hyuk: "Master, Jin jumped... Will he survive?"

Hae-Hyuk sighed and said: "We saw and heard everything. It is very unfortunate for him. Unfortunately, it is impossible to survive the chaotic void. Only the boat we took to come here is capable of navigating safely through it and it is a peak grade 7 treasure. Probably the only one in this world in fact. Jin is dead"

Min-Su sighed. As he expected, Jin did not escape. He simply died. He became angry at this thought. While he would have had to fight him otherwise, he was unable to swallow that his best friend got tricked like that. He needed to find the culprit or at least know who it was. Since Hae-Hyuk saw everything, he probably knew. He asked him: "Master, who dared to trick him?"

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Hae-Hyuk sighed and shook his head as he said: "I don't know exactly who but I know where the culprits might be. The Saints will be investigating it themselves later"

Saint Alvaro added with a smile: "Indeed, we will as it is our duty to do so, young man"

Min-Su nodded while reciprocating the smile. Then, Hae-Hyuk asked him: "That aside, since you have won, tell me. Is there something you wish for?"

Min-Su did expect to be rewarded if he won but never quite took the time to think of it. Now that he was faced with the situation, he didn't know. Was there anything he wanted? ... His family. He wanted to go home and be with them. That's the first and only thing that came to his mind. He could continue to cultivate within the safety of his clan and the company of those he loved. This would be nice.

He answered Hae-Hyuk: "I just want to go home and live happily with my family"

Hae-Hyuk nodded.

Then, before Min-Su could react, a hand breached through his thorax and grabbed at his heart. It was Hae-Hyuk's.

Min-Su was dying. He was unable to speak due to his imminent end. He looked at Hae-Hyuk with disbelief, pain and incomprehension. What was going on? Hae-Hyuk knew that Min-Su did not have long so he stated firmly: "I swear to make sure that your family won't lack anything and bring your corpse back home. Thank you for everything, my dear disciple. Rest in peace, I am proud of you"

Min-Su tried to speak. No sounds escaped his mouth. In fact, his mouth did not even move. He felt every part of himself be torn from the inside. His soul sea was being shattered and absorbed through Hae-Hyuk's hand.

Then, he lost his senses one after another until none remained. Strength left him and he lost consciousness.

He died in his Master's arm from his Master's arm.

Hae-Hyuk took out his hand from the body of his disciple. He held a small yellow colored pearl within it as well as bits of a soul. Saint Alvaro walked up to the corpse and sighed: "Another talented youth is sacrificed for us seniors. ... That aside, Hae-Hyuk, why did you go so far as to take his soul? He won't be able to reincarnate that way, I don't think I need to remind you"

Hae-Hyuk grabbed the soul remnant with his other hand and put it to his mouth before swallowing it. Then, he answered: "I can't take or give lifespan like you Saints but the lifespan is contained within the soul. This was the lifespan I originally shared with him. It was mine to begin with"

Saint Alvaro's eyebrow rose as he asked back: "Then where was his own?"

Hae-Hyuk sighed as he stated: "It disintegrated long ago, around one or two months after I took him under my care"

Saint Alvaro nodded. Considering that they were talking about the taboo of the 50th stage, it made sense. An average soul could never hope to sustain such a tremendous power. No wonder that kid was so powerful. He had been gifted with his Master's soul from the very start. Then again, he pitied him in the same way for even his soul no longer remained. Not only did he die but his soul would never reincarnate.