Kiso looked at Yuni, then back at Julian before replying, “What other part?”

Chapter Twenty One -

Kiso's words echoed in the dimly lit cave, casting disappointment onto the face of the Kamien prince. His pretty face had been visibly excited yet seemed to fade away in an instant upon hearing Kiso's reply.

Hesitating for a moment, Julian studied Kiso's face before sighing, "If you two don't have the artifact, it can't be helped. Nobody has seen or heard of the true artifact for centuries."

After discovering Kiso and Yuni didn't possess the map, the prince's attitude swung a one-eighty. His originally excited and charismatic appearance now seemed dreary and indifferent.

Thinking to himself for a moment, Julian shook his head, closing his eyes.

After several tens of seconds, Kiso determined this prince was no longer in the mood to talk. With a cold snort, Kiso turned to walk away while motioning for Yuni to follow.

The moment his back faced Julian however, Kiso sensed a powerful fluctuation of spiritual pressure from behind.

As Kiso gathered spiritual pressure of his own, Julian's eyes shot open and he yelled, "HOLD IT!"

Rising to his feet, Julian walked towards the now stationary Kiso and Yuni.

Kiso sensed Julian was up to no good and quickly sent Yuni a mental message, "Yuni, it seems this prince wants to make trouble for us, should we wait? Or...." Black lightning flashed in Kiso's eyes as he glanced sideways at Yuni.

Yuni nodded, she wanted to wait and see what the prince would do.

Kiso slowly turned around, the prince had a small whirlwind circling the ground around his feet and his hair was blowing from his own spiritual pressure. Seeing the prince was proficient in wind techniques, Kiso was secretly surprised. Wind techniques were exceedingly rare and difficult to grasp.

Julian raised a finger at Kiso and forcefully inquired, "If my father didn't send you two, who did?" He asked, yet loaded his gun and released the safety while waiting for Kiso's answer.

Kiso wasn't in the mood to fabricate any stories at the moment and honestly replied, "I came here on my own following a legend from my Thunderblack clan. Whether or not you believe me is up to you." When he spoke the final words, black lightning sparked around his body in an imposing manner.

Prince Julian's face changed when he saw the coiling black lightning around Kiso's body, he quickly withdrew his own spiritual pressure, a cold sweat forming on his back. Even if he attacked, he would likely suffer heavy damage in return, it wouldn't be worth it.

Trying to quickly smooth things over Julian smiled saying, "So it's like that! I was afraid that wretched dean sent you in here after me.."

Kiso's head tilted in curiosity as he asked, "I actually just met Dean Hanzi today, although our parting was not a favorable one." Shivers ran down his spine as he recalled that black smoke plume.

Julian hurriedly nodded, "Indeed! I can't imagine it would be! That Dean Hanzi is an Apostles of Death sect elder!"

Recalling a collage of unfortunate events, Julian's body trembled.

Looking at Kiso's face still filled with curiosity, Julian considered it as a chance to get on Kiso's good side. He quickly asked, "Kiso, how much do you know about these Apostles of Death?"

Kiso shook his head, "Nothing much. I heard a little bit from a family member. What I do know though, is that they killed some important people to me and must answer this debt."

The flames in Kiso's eyes were genuine, which caused Julian to breathe a sigh of relief.

"If it's like that, then I'll tell you a little bit about them." Julian returned to his seat on the floor, sitting cross legged.

Kiso and Yuni walked over as well and sat down facing him.

Julian took a deep breath and stared into Kiso's eyes as he began, "As you may know, my Kamien Empire encompasses the entire northern human realm. We have dominated the north for thousands of years, yet recently our power has been on the decline. My father, the king, couldn't find any cause for this sudden decline and had been growing extremely restless."

Kiso and Yuni nodded along with the story. Although Julian spoke like they should already know, this was actually a good lesson for them.

"That is, until around a hundred years ago." Julian was suddenly cut off as Yuni couldn't help but ask, "Prince Julian, just how old are you?"

Julian blinked a few times, then laughed, "I'm actually only twenty-five this year, this story actually originally was told to me by my father. He is the one that would cause your eyes to bulge and yours jaws to drop. This last year he finally turned one thousand years old!"

Kiso's eyes widened. What did turning one thousand years old mean? This prince's father was a true expert!

Kiso had learned from elder sage that when your spiritual pressure reached a certain density, it physically transforms your veins. The new veins never age and support much higher amounts of spiritual pressure. But to reach such a level? At most one of every ten million people might have a shot.

Considering the powerful man behind Julian, Kiso couldn't help but thank the gods he hadn't acted rashly before.

Watching Kiso and Yuni staring in wonder, Julian chuckled, it was a sight he had seen many times before.

Coughing, Julian continued, "Anyway, a hundred years ago, my father secretly accompanied one of his empire's army battalions for several weeks in hope of discovering who was killing his men off. Just when he was growing restless and about to return, a single hooded figure confronted his men. That hooded figure use incredibly sinister spiritual pressure and emanated a thick deathly aura. Seeing that figure about to attack his men, my father turned the tables on him and captured him."

Pausing for a breath, Julian shook his head in disdain, "Unfortunately, the only information my father god from that man was that he belonged to the Apostles of Death sect. After giving the name of his sect, the man's body trembled and dissolved into ash. He had killed himself.

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Since that day, my father has done everything in his power to gather information on this sect, yet has been unable to gather any sturdy leads at all.

That is, until three years ago.

An Apostle of Death made a gigantic mistake and attempted to assassinate my father in his sleep. Although my father did suffer an unfortunate injury from the matter, he captured that Apostle.

It must be said that this Apostle was particularly sinister. He didn't mind one bit as he revealed all sorts of information to my father. Some of it was true, some false. The greatest piece of information that Apostle gave my father...Was this!"

Julian held up the metallic vial in his hand.

Kiso raised an eyebrow, he already knew the secrets behind the vial. He wanted to hear more about the Apostles of Death sect itself, so he cut in, "Julian, you should know I already know about the secrets of the vial. Did the Apostle reveal anything else? Like where the other members of the sect can be found?"

Julian's mouth opened, staring blankly for a moment, before replying, "Of course! That Apostle truly didn't have any regard for his sect at all! From what he told us, assuming its the truth, he gave three extremely valuable pieces of information.

First.. In the Apostles of Death sect, there are thirteen elders!

Second.. Each of those elders presides over an academy or a powerful branch sect!

Most importantly however, that apostle informed my father that the purpose for their sect's entire existence was the revival of a certain god. Unfortunately, he refused to elaborate on that last bit of information."

Swallowing hard, Kiso's face turned slightly pale.

"Thirteen Hanzis? Too difficult." Kiso shook his head in helplessness.

Julian smiled, again raising the metallic vial, "Right! That's why I said the most important piece of information was this!"

Kiso looked at the metallic vial in Julian's hand, then sent a questioning gaze at Julian.

On cue, Julian continued, "Since I truly have nothing to loose by telling you this, I'll share. The truth is, this vial is the key to enter the tower above, as you probably already knew.

However, these vials are two of many! They were created by an ancient expert who had discovered this cavern long ago. That ancient expert created the tower above to protect this cavern from the unworthy.

And just what is so special about this cavern that needs the protection of such an elaborate defensive formation?"

Julian's teeth shone as he smiled at Kiso and Yuni.

"A hidden technique!" He exclaimed, raising his chin into the air, waiting for their gasps.

Kiso glanced over at Yuni, who was trying hard to contain her giggles.

Opening a single eye, Julian looked at the two of them who clearly didn't seem the least bit surprised.

Frowning, Julian's previously exuberant voice dulled, "You already knew that too?"

Kiso nodded replying, "Yes. Although we don't know what the technique is or how to obtain it."

After hearing Kiso's words, Julian's eyes lit up and the smile crept back onto his face. Seeing his chance in appearance, Kiso's face brightened as well.

Julian took another deep breath, "Then it seems I still have something to tell you two! Although let me first tell you the significance behind this hidden technique.

I can tell you this for certain. The hidden technique found in this cavern, is the key to defeating the Apostles of Death! Even if they succeed in reviving that powerful god behind them, this technique was the original cause of that god's death.

However, since the Apostles of Death are in possession of the metallic vials, they certainly know that technique is located here.

My father and I believe that they are presiding over academies and sects in an attempt to locate someone that can use the vial to enter this cavern! Therefore, my father sent me here to investigate under a false identity.

After that apostle told my father that bit of information, he basically didn't sleep or eat until he discovered an ancient scroll recounting the battle between those two ancient gods. Unfortunately, the scroll was heavily deteriorated. The only things he was able to make sense of was that the spiritual pressure nature of the two gods was wind and death and that the name of the technique the wind god used, was Divine Wind!"

Kiso frowned, neither him nor Yuni possessed wind nature spiritual pressure.

Julian sighed and concluded, "Unfortunately, the only way to find that technique in this cavern is an artifact left behind by the wind god himself."

Kiso took a deep breath then sighed as he stood up and walked to the edge of the island.

Thinking over the information Julian just fed him, he was battling himself. On one hand, if he reveals the map to Julian, the hidden technique can be acquired and used to take down the Apostles of Death. That was something Kiso greatly wished for. Yet, if it was indeed a wind nature technique, he would likely be unable to grasp it. The revenge for his father's death would be taken by someone else's hands.

But, there was still a chance Julian's information was slightly incorrect. After all, that scroll had apparently been significantly damaged.

Nodding to himself, Kiso made his decision.

"Julian, Yuni, come over here for a moment." Kiso called back to the two still seated behind him.

As Julian walked up, he asked, "What is it Kiso? You suddenly walked off after listening to my stories, I thought you were angry.." Julian's expression was conflicted, he never had been treated in such a way. Growing up under the wing of the most powerful man in the northern human province always made people extremely cautious around him. Yet this young man in front of him dared to act in such a manor, in a way, it was refreshing to him.

Kiso turned around to face the two of them, reaching a hand into his clothes with a crafty smile on his face.

To Be Continued!