Calron was stunned at the revelation.

Titan core?

Calron recalled his encounter with the Ivy Green Python on Rendel Island. Back then, he’d felt an uncanny familiarity the moment he laid his eyes on that core. Was it because the Lightning Primordial created it?

“How is it possible to awaken an element within a path walker’s body?”

It was impossible for an element to exist inside a path walker. Calron could fathom if it was solely for the Spiritual stage, as the elemental core was still intact then. However, starting from the Vajra stage, the core merged with the physical body and then, during the Saint stage, it assimilated to the soul. None of this could be done if the dao circles had already taken root there.

After all, this was the reason why Calron had to abandon his entire cultivation before becoming a path walker.

“I don’t know the specific details, only Taranis does. We helped him with his research on how our bodies used the dao circles and our control over the dao. Taranis would then conduct experiments on his own body to eventually develop the Titan cores. If you want more details, then you should ask Taranis’ little helper over there.”

The tiny dove flew over to Martial and pecked on the curly tail, eliciting a sharp yelp from the latter.

“Why should I help that bastard? He smells and I don’t like his dumb face.”

The black piglet harrumphed and deliberately swiveled his head away from Calron’s direction.

“You’re the one who was drooling all over my neck!”

Calron accused the pig, but Martial paid no heed to him.

“Do you really want to be stuck in that spirit form for eternity? Tell the boy.”

Blood added from the side. His words appeared to have alarmed the pig as Martial quickly faced Calron.

“I’m a very generous and benevolent boar. I’ll forgive you, considering the greater picture. Now, come closer if you want to hear the details.”

Martial underwent a complete shift and spoke to Calron in a kind voice, beckoning him to approach.

“Great, now tell me.”

Calron ignored the babble coming out of the pig’s mouth. He just wanted to hear how the Titan cores worked.

The moment Calron was a foot away from Martial, the black pig abruptly smacked Calron on the face and sprinted away.

“This little-“

Calron summoned a volley of Blood Pellets and hurled them at the escaping pig.

“That was for kicking me on the snout earlier, bastard!”

Martial hollered while nimbly dodging every missile targeted at him.

Calron’s eyes glowed with a crimson light as he prepared to trigger his Blood Kingdom domain.

“Enough.”

Blood rebuked both Martial and Calron, as a wave of suppression fell over them. Martial quickly brushed it off, but Calron struggled to maintain his lucidity. Blood noticed Calron wincing, and the suppression dissipated right then.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“One more disruption from you and I’m barring you for a three weeks.”

Nature flew over to Blood’s shoulder and glared at Martial.

“Tch, fine.”

Martial grumbled, but acquiesced once he saw that both Blood and Nature were serious. The black pig then wobbled over to Calron. Martial kept his furry head low, and peeked at Calron to see if the young man would retaliate.

However, Calron stood still and waited. He would get his shot at the chubby pig eventually, and he’ll be sure to enjoy that day to the fullest. With both Blood and Nature keeping their eyes on the two of them, it was best not to anger them further.

The black pig observed the pleased smirk on Calron’s face and knew their battle of attrition wasn’t over yet.

“Taranis found a way to isolate the soul inside a living being and bind that soul to a highly conductive gem. So when that creature would undergo its awakening, the elemental core would form inside that gem. This allowed Taranis to consolidate the whole cultivation system within that single gem, instead of the body.”

Martial pointedly ignored Calron’s smug expression as he explained. Just like Calron, the black pig was plotting as well.

“Those Territory Lords you saw on the island all originated from a group of animals that once volunteered to house the Titan cores inside them. The previously simple creatures gained enhanced intelligence after the core fusion, and it significantly increased their cultivation speed as well.”

Blood stated, nodding at Martial’s explanation.

“Do they die after the Titan core is extracted?”

Calron remembered the agony etched on the Python’s face when the core on its chest was exposed.

“Yes. Since the Titan core essentially contains their very soul, the instant you take the core out of their body, the beast will die as well.”

Nature spoke in a gentle tone. She seemed to have guessed what Calron was thinking about, so she continued.

“Don’t worry, we don’t need to kill the Territory Lords to get a Titan core for you. Back when Taranis offered the cores to the animals, he made a contract with them. In return for the power granted to them by the Titan core, the creatures would have to hand over one intact Titan core every hundred years.”

“If you ask me, those idiots got the better end of the deal. They get access to unimaginable power right when they’re born, and once in a blue moon, they offer the Titan core of an old beast that’s on its deathbed.”

Martial darted over to the window and stretched his belly while letting out a long yawn.

“I find it hard to believe that Taranis cared so much for mere animals?”

Calron asked, perplexed at the Lightning Primordial’s reasoning. He knew Taranis admired humans, but it was difficult to comprehend a mighty Primordial valuing the lives of beasts.

“Whenever it concerns the soul, things are rarely that easy, Calron. If the Titan core was not given with a free will, then if anyone used it, they would find their mind ruptured into bits. The old soul would linger inside the core and detonate itself upon contact with another soul. Taranis knew this. That’s why he made the contract with the beasts to offer an intact core every century.”

The Blood Titan answered Calron’s question.

“Why go through this much effort? Why didn’t Taranis instead create a dao system for cultivators? I wouldn’t have had to destroy my cultivation and could have obtained the dao circles faster.”

Calron faced the Blood Titan. He could have saved so much time if he’d didn’t waste so much of it trying to figure out how to control the dao.

“You know, I asked Taranis the same thing back then. It seems futile forcing his successor to convert to a path walker and then making them restart cultivating once again. Do you know what he said?”

Blood chuckled as Calron listened eagerly.

“He said he didn’t wish to give this power to someone who thought elemental cultivation was superior to the dao. Taranis wanted someone who understood the plights of both the cultivators and the path walkers. As a Primordial himself, he knew that the other Primordials couldn’t be defeated with only the elements or the dao. His successor would need to master both systems.”

“What an annoying man.”

Calron sighed as he sat down on the floor.

“I agree.”

The Nature Titan responded laughingly.

“Do the other Ancients know about the Titan cores?”

Calron leaned back on the floor and stared up. He could see a black hole in the ceiling. Just how high was the tree?

“Unfortunately, they do. We were in the middle of a war with the Gods then, so we all deeply trusted one another. When Taranis succeeded with his first Titan core prototype, we were all elated by the news. However, we soon discovered that the intel had been leaked to the Gods as well. There was only one possibility of this: we had a traitor within the Ancients.”

Blood talked in a deep voice, his throat snarling towards the end.

“It’s why we hide from other path walkers as well, little one. If news of our location were to spread to the Archaic Council, the Ancients would be sprawling here, trying to discern the whereabouts of the Titan cores. If they ever came to know that it’s hidden in plain sight within the Territory Lords’ bodies, all chaos would follow.”

The tiny dove brushed her wing gingerly against the Blood Titan’s face.

“So it’s just the four of us against a plethora of Gods and six Primordials?”

Calron chortled, looking at the sight of Martial lying with his belly up in the sun, the delicate tiny dove fluttering her wings, and then the only battle-capable person in the room, the Blood Titan.

“Don’t forget Star, you bastard.”

Martial commented lazily.

“I forgot about the fourth Titan! Where is he?”

Calron jolted upright as he just realized that the 4th Titan had been missing from the start.

“Star is… actually, we don’t know exactly where he is. He was supposed to be here when you arrived, but something must’ve delayed him. Unlike the rest of us, Star is capable of hiding within the folds of space and can navigate seamlessly through multiple dimensions. Don’t worry, he’ll probably meet you outside if he can’t make it today.”

The Blood Titan scuffled through his beard pensively.

Calron nodded. He was curious to see what the Star Titan looked like.

“So, are you ready?”

The Blood Titan stopped Calron’s train of thoughts.

“For what?”

Calron cocked his eyebrow in puzzlement. However, his question was quickly answered when the Blood Titan took out something from his pocket and held it out to Calron. The sound of thunder crackled in the vicinity.

Sitting regally on the Titan’s palm was a golden Titan core.