Yeah... not statues. And, they can hide their cultivation from me even at my level and me focusing directly on them... these things are at least as strong as I am... maybe stronger.


    maybe if we leave the path... they won''t follow?


    "Hello, Liu Jie,"


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "There''s no need to learn our names,""you and your friends have good hearts. We offer each of you advice from our divinations. Will you heed my words, Liu Jie?"


    "I''ll certainly do my best,"


    "How delightful. I see you''ve spoken this way before. You''re at a bottleneck in your cultivation, Liu Jie. You work as hard as you can, and yet feel as though you make no progress. This is because cultivation is not merely about gathering and refining Essence. Cultivation is a journey and like any journey, the choices you make shape your destination. You do not advance because your martial heart is at war with itself. A crossroads is coming. One that will force a change from you. Either you will make your darkness serve you, or it will enslave you. Choose wisely and remember that your choices will shape you and your cultivation,"


    "What choice will I have to make? What should I choose?"


    "If I told you that, it wouldn''t be your choice. Good luck, Liu Jie. We have faith in you... and we are deeply sorry for what is coming. We are bound by the rules of our contract and cannot save you from the darkness,"


    "Is there nothing more you can tell me?"


    "We have already done all that we can. Good luck, Liu Jie. This universe needs you more than you know,"


    Yeah... literal blood running along the walls, but I''m sensitive just because I think that''s freaking weird? Sure.