《Life After Reaching The Pinnacle》


 Chapter 1 - 01: StarHaven

    <h4>Chapter 1: StarHaven</h4>


    In the Endless Expanse of the nk Domain, a young man could be seen sitting in a bored manner. In his eyes, there was nothing but pure abyss and chaos. But currently, his entire focus was on a little white cat sitting on his shoulder.


    "How long has it been since we''ve begun wandering like this?" the young man asked, yawning. His expression clearly showed pure boredom.


    "What, already bored?" the small white cat cast a disdainful gaze toward the young man and said.


    The young man just hummed in reply, clearly too bothered to even respond.


    "You know, Aadi, it''s only been a few million years, and you''re already like this. What will you do for the rest of your life?" the cat said to the young man named Advait, or nickname Aadi.


    "Oh, it''s already been that long, huh," Advait looked into the pitch-ck eyes of the cat and said, "Say Asty, we''ve already reached the peak, so what now?"


    "I asked the same question to you before, remember? And what was your answer? ''We will do whatever we want,'' so just do what you want and let me sleep." After saying this, Asty turned her head to the other side and began snoring.


    Aadi''s eyes twitched at seeing this, and as he thought about his answer, he sighed. After all, he did tell her that.


    "I know I can do whatever I want, but nothinges to my mind. Give me some suggestions, will ya?" Aadi said, poking his finger into Asty''s belly.


    "Get your filthy hand off my divine body, you wretched human." Asty growled at Aadi and almost bit his hand, if Aadi hadn''t retracted his finger in time.


    "Ah, that line again," Aadi just rolled his eyes at Asty and said, "Stop being annoying and tell me what to do. I don''t want to sleep for eternity like you."


    "You haven''t taken a disciple until now, just take some and then enjoy watching their journey, or you could do what those MCs from those novels you''ve read from that blue-green do." Asty said without opening her eyes.


    "So, you''re telling me to start from the bottom again? But that isn''t very interesting, and if I do it by cloning, that wouldn''t be much different than taking a disciple and observing them." Aadi said.


    Asty opened her eyes and nced at Aadi''s confused expression, remembering something that one of their enemies had said about Aadi when he proimed to reach the peak of the world.


    "With that shitty IQ of yours, you want to reach the peak? Dream on, boy. Even if I let you go now, you won''t be able to even reach my level, let alone the peak."


    If he found out where Aadi stands today, he would surely crawl out of his grave andin to the heavens about how unfair it was.


    "What have you done to your conscious mind?" Asty asked.


    "Oh, you can tell? I''ve done nothing but just sealed a part of my mindset so I can fully enjoy whatever I do." Aadi replied in an obvious manner, after all, that''d be too boring if he had the mindset of the most powerful being to exist.


    "I see, that''s why your shitty IQ ising out in waves." Asty said as if it were a matter of fact.


    "Huh? What do you mean?" Aadi asked, utterly confused as to why Asty was insulting his IQ.


    Asty stared speechless at Aadi and said, "Forget it. What I meant earlier was to try to live like those Bigshot MCs who live like mortals in a dog-eat-dog world, by opening a restaurant and doing full face pping."


    "But they don''t know they''re powerful, but I am and will be the strongest, and I know this fact," Aadi said, full of arrogance. Well, he has the right to be arrogant.


    "Meh, minor details, and just get lost. Let me sleep peacefully." Asty just rolled to the other side, and this time she really fell asleep.


    Aadi sighed and said, "Well, no harm in trying, and if I see someone interesting, I can even get a disciple."


    "Hmm hmm, yosh, let''s do it!" Aadi shouted and stood up in excitement. Unfortunately, or fortunately, no one was there to share his excitement.


    "But what should I do for a living? The restaurant is obviously canceled, ''cause even I don''t want to eat my food, let alone others''."


    "I can learn it in an instant, but there''s no fun in that."


    "Ahhh, I''m good at nothing except beating someone up. What should I do?"


    Aadi sat down again, dejected. "Should I learn it? Nah, I won''t break my own rules."


    While Aadi was mumbling, an idea came into his mind. "That''s right, I can just open a bookstore where I''ll sell all those novels I''ve read."


    "Okay, now that''s decided. So the other problem is, which world should I go for?"


    After thinking for a while, Aadi shrugged his shoulders and said, "Who cares? I''ll just choose randomly."


    With that said, Aadi picked up the sleeping Asty and vanished from there. Once again, the nk Domain became what its name is for - nk.


    ........


    In the vast sea of void, therey an enormous blue-whitish floating.


    Suddenly, space fluctuated above the enormous, and a young man with a white cat on his shoulder appeared there, looking down at the enormous.


    "So this world, huh?" Asty stared at the and said.


    "I thought you''d continue to sleep, so what happened to eternal sleep?" Aadi asked.


    "My sleep is very important, even more than your existence, but how could I miss this adventure? Especially since there is a chance of you taking a disciple." Asty said, clearly excited for their adventure.


    "But I detected Divine energy from this world, so this clearly is a Divine world. Are you going to start with this?" Asty asked with a little frown on her face.


    "Nah, you see, there are many lower realms under this Divine World. I''ll just choose one of them and see if there''s anything interesting. If not, we''ll go to the Divine World," Aadi said after thinking for a while.


    "Oh, fine with me. By the way, what''s the name of this World?" Asty asked, looking at the.


    "Wait a minute, let me ask the world itself!" After saying this, Aadi closed his eyes.


    After a while, Aadi opened his eyes and said, "It''s the Azure Divine World."


    "Oh!" Asty asked, "What about the lower realm? Which one are we going to?"


    Aadi smiled a bit and said, "StarHaven."

 Chapter 2 - 02: Maple Town

    <h4>Chapter 2: Maple Town</h4>


    In the StarHaven lower-realm, there is only onergendmass named Haven Continent, surrounded by an Endless Sea and some small inds. The continent is governed by five big empires, each ruling over several small kingdoms under them.


    "So, just the typical aristocrat system, huh?" Asty said after listening to Aadi''s evaluation of the Starhaven lower-realm.


    Currently, they were sitting on a hill, gazing at the walls a little distance away from them.


    "What about the power system?" Asty asked, looking away from the walls.


    "Well, it''s simple actually. This realm, or should I say this whole world,prises an energy known as Profound Energy, and the people who practice and use this energy are called Profound Artists," Aadi replied.


    "So, just the cultivation system," Asty said in a monotonous tone.


    "Why are you asking me all this? Just check for yourself," Aadi asked.


    "I''ve sealed almost all of my cultivation so I could truly enjoy this adventure with you. So, I suggest you also do the same, try to live like a normal person, and maybe you could get something unexpected," Asty said, and Aadi almost saw a halo forming above her head.


    Only after listening to Asty did Aadi check her cultivation, and he had the urge to smack her head off after what he saw.


    ''This is what you call normal? Find me that normal person who could literally erase hundreds of Azure Divine World from existence with just a snap of fingers!''


    Although it''s true that Asty has sealed almost all her powers, her existence is special in itself, so how could she be anything normal?


    "Anyways, I''m not going into details. Just remember there are five Saint Lands behind each of the Empires and a bunch of sects and academies spread all over the world."


    "As for cultivation stages, they are:


    ¡ï Foundation Profound Stage


    ¡ï Essence Gathering Profound Stage


    ¡ï Spirit Profound Stage


    ¡ï Origin Profound Stage


    ¡ï Earth Profound Stage


    ¡ï Heaven Profound Stage


    ¡ï Ruler Profound Stage


    ¡ï Saint Profound Stage


    ¡ï Monarch Profound Stage


    And thest one, Divin-"


    "Yeah yeah, I don''t want info dumps. Let''s go." As Aadi was exining details about the power system, Asty jumped off his shoulder and interrupted him.


    ''But you''re the one asking,'' Aadi wanted to yell at her, but he kept it in.


    "What are you doing?" Aadi asked as he watched Asty change her overall appearance, though she looked the same, previously she looked majestic like a Beast God, but now she looked like a neighborhood cat.


    "Why am I not surprised?" Asty sighed upon hearing Aadi''s questions and said, "Just change yourself too. Do you think these mere mortals will be able to withstand our presence? Especially those eyes of yours, even those old monsters of Celestials will lose just by looking into your eyes, let alone these mortals."


    Only now Aadi understood, so he changed himself into an ordinary 25-year-old young man with in clothes.


    Now Aadi has sky-blue eyes with an above-average face and white-silver colored hair, with a height of 5.9ft. As for Asty, well, she became what she is... a white cat.


    Aadi picked up Asty and put her on his shoulder, but she climbed onto his head and said, raising her little paw, "Let the ride begin, my unworthy mount."


    Aadi''s eyes began to twitch upon hearing this, and he held her face in his hand and...


    "It''s an RKO out of nowhere!"


    ... mmed her head hard on the ground.


    Asty stood up and growled at Aadi, "YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS HUMILIATION!" She jumped on him, her intentions clear to scratch his face.


    Of course, Aadi didn''t stay still and counterattacked, and it was at this moment that the 1000-years blood war began.


    After ''ying'' with Asty a little, Aadi arrived at the entrance gate of the town and entered the town.


    As it was only a little town with mostly mortal people living in it, it didn''t have much security or checking, so people coulde and go as they wished.


    Though there was something that attracted Aadi - the big Maple Tree at the entrance.


    "So this is the reason it''s named Maple Town." Aadi stared at the big tree and mumbled, "But it clearly has Divine aura in it, so why don''t the Practitioners have used it?"


    "Ignorance isn''t always bliss," Asty answered upon hearing Aadi''s mumblings.


    Aadi hummed in agreement and said, "Well, what''s it got to do with us anyway? Let''s see around how we can open our bookstore here."


    Aadi began wandering around to get familiar with the town.


    After around 2 hours, Aadi had traveled and visited all the ces of the town and arrived at a half-broken house at the corner of the town.


    Currently, Aadi and a middle-aged woman were staring at each other as if they were in an eye-blinking contest.


    "Are you sure, boy?" The middle-aged woman, Rose Mn, the owner of the house, asked Aadi once again, "Why do you want this house where even birds won''t sh*t? The only good thing this house has is its peaceful environment and that restaurant a little distance from here."


    "I''m sure, Aunty Rose," Aadi replied politely. "Besides, I only have money for this, and as I''m going to open a bookstore here, it needs a peaceful environment, so this is a perfect ce for it."


    "What you said is also true. Fine, since you''ve decided, just do the payment, and this house is yours from now on." Rose said as she handed Aadi a wooden te with some characters written on it.


    Aadi took the wooden te from Aunty Rose and handed her a few coins. After confirming the money, Aunty Rose went on her way.


    Aadi turned his face towards the house and raised his hand, but before he could do something, two little paws blocked his eyes.


    "What is it, Asty?" Aadi asked and put his hand down.


    "Normal, remember?" Asty reminded Aadi again. "Money is okay, but you''re going to make the bookstore without using your power."


    Aadi remained silent for a while, then said, "Fine, I''ll do it, but you''re with me into this."


    "But what can a little and weak cat like me do?" Asty asked innocently.


    Aadi just snorted and walked to the house, which is going to be his home from now on.

 Chapter 3 - 03: The Heart鈥檚 Desire

    <h4>Chapter 3: The Heart''s Desire</h4>


    At this moment, Aadi and Asty were looking at a two-story house.


    That''s right, after a whole week of work, they had finally built the bookstore. It wasn''t luxurious, but it was simple and clean. Surrounding it was a clear patch ofnd and a little pond with a shore made of marbles.


    At the top of the building was a ck que with "Cosmic Valve" written on it.


    Asty was looking at the que with aplicated expression.


    "Although it''s not the best, it''s still good," Aadi said, clearly satisfied with his work. "All that''s left is to get the books, but before that, this garden needs to be filled with herbs, and the pond also needs to be filled."


    After that, Aadi waved his hand, and the whole garden was filled with divine herbs for which worlds would go to war to obtain them. ''Twin Dragon Fruit,'' ''Chaos Thunder Grass,'' ''Ice Spirit me Grass,'' etc., were growing like normal grass all over the garden.


    At the same time, Asty also waved her little paw, and an invisible barrier appeared, blocking all the divine aura of the herbs.


    The pond, after nourishment, became a soul pond. Just by drinking a cup of soul pond water, one''s soul could be advanced to the next stage.


    Inside the house, different types of books filled the bookshelves. The bookshelves were arranged systematically around the ground floor, and at the center were tables and chairs.


    "So, you even mixed something into the books, huh?" Asty said after seeing the books.


    "If it were a normal bookstore, how would I be able to be a hidden expert? I just did some tweaks here and there so that whoever reads them can get some benefits. Besides, what they get depends on their cultivation, so..." Aadi continued his exnation as to why he did all of this, but Astypletely ignored him.


    After that, Aadi and Asty began living their ordinary lives and managing their little bookstore.


    But as the town was filled with ordinary people, nothing major happened besides some bored peopleing to read the novels. But as they had no Profound energy in their bodies, they gained nothing but entertainment. Aadi also blocked the excessive Profound aura emitted from the divine herbs for their safety.


    A monthter...


    A young man with silver-white hair could be seen sitting elegantly in afortable chair. His eyes were focused on the book he was reading. Aside from him, there was a white cat sleeping peacefully on a cushion on the table.


    Asty woke up and rubbed her sleepy eyes with her little paws. After that, her gazended on Aadi, or more precisely, the book he was reading.


    "Battle against the Hell? You even changed the name," Asty asked after reading the title of the novel.


    "As if you''re the one dealing with copyrights," Aadi just rolled his eyes at Asty''s remark.


    Asty stared speechless at Aadi and changed the subject. "Does this realm have any chosen? I mean, I could clearly feel the cmity this realm''s going to face, so the chosen should already be born?"


    "Of course, it has. Normally, I would have ignored him as most of them are righteous pricks, but this one''s got me a little interested. Do you know why?" After saying that, Aadi became silent, trying to make it more suspenseful. "He has the ''The Heart''s Desire''."


    Asty became dumbfounded upon hearing this and was silent for a while before asking, "Are you trying to be funny here?"


    "Well, it looks like Azure Divine World''s Spirit once saw the original and tried to duplicate it. And guess what? It seeded. Although it''s only a copy and could not even contend with 1% of the original, it''s the ''The Heart''s Desire.'' That''s why I said it''s going to be interesting, especially if he ascends to the Divine World." Aadiughed in excitement as he imagined everything.


    "And here, I thought it was the original," Asty sighed in relief as she knew its true power. Although it wasn''t much to the current her, she has seen the true terror of it herself and knew how much of a pain in the ass it was once it waspleted.


    As they were speaking, they detected someone outside their house and went to see who it was.


    As soon as they arrived outside, they came upon a sight of a bloodied girl. Her clothes were tattered, and her face and hair were covered in soil and mud.


    "Quite a sight it is," Asty said in an emotionless tone.


    On the other hand, Aadi had a surprised expression on seeing the girl and began tough lightly. "Fate truly is a bitch."


    Asty turned her head and saw Aadiughing, and she asked in confusion, "What happened?"


    Aadi was someone who bes happy over little things from the start, so she wasn''t very surprised seeing himughing like this.


    Aadi calmed down and said, "Let''s get her in and heal her. I''ll tell you everythingter."


    Asty just nodded and helped Aadi get the girl inside the house. Afterying her down on the bed, Aadi fed her a few healing pills he had been making in his free time.


    "Now can you tell me what happened to make you this excited?" Asty asked, as she was very curious to know about it.


    "Remember I told you about the chosen of this realm?" Aadi asked.


    "Yes, so what about him? How is he rted to this girl?" Asty asked, as she felt something familiar in the girl''s blood but couldn''t point out what it was.


    "Well, there is a very high chance that the chosen and this girl will be fatal enemies. Their Karma is already attached to each other."


    "Normally she would have be a stepping stone for the chosen, but her blood makes thingsplicated." Asty guessed after hearing Aadi''s response and asked, "Which bloodline is it to even block ''The Heart''s Desire'' way?"


    "The Rulers Bloodline, and although it''s very diluted, it''s still there." Aadi said, making Asty''s eyes widen in shock. She wasn''t even this shocked after learning about ''the Heart''s Desire'' existence as she was now.


    But she calmed down soon and asked, "What are you going to do with her?"


    Aadi smiled and said, "Well, it''s about time I have my first disciple."

 Chapter 4 - 04: The Ruler鈥檚 Bloodline

    <h4>Chapter 4: The Ruler''s Bloodline</h4>


    The Ruler''s Bloodline, a bloodline that even the heavens fear. Why? Because heaven''s most powerful weapon is tribtion''s thunder, and anyone who possesses the Ruler''s Bloodline carries the power to control that thunder.


    It was said that a woman in Immemorial times ate a part of the Thunder Origin Source of the universe and managed to live to tell the tale. After that, she became one of the rulers of that universe, and that''s how this terrifying bloodline came into existence.


    And since this bloodline originated from the Origin Source of the Universe, it can control anything as long as it''s rted to thunder.


    But as time went by and many generations passed, the bloodline began to dilute more and more, and the descendants had to use various methods to make their bloodline as pure as they could. After all, the purer the bloodline, the more control they would have over thunder.


    Many things happened because of which the said bloodline became extinct.


    At present, only some ancient monsters know about this bloodline, but even to them, it''s only a legend. That was one of the reasons Asty was shocked.


    Aadi looked at Asty, as he was well aware that Asty once held this bloodline, and her bloodline was purer than any other. She was also present when that n was annihted.


    Now that there was someone with this bloodline in front of her, he wondered what kind of expression she would have, but s, she had her usual stoic face.


    "I can somewhat understand why you want her as a disciple considering our history and her potential," Asty said, looking at the girl sleeping peacefully on the bed.


    Now that her face was healed and cleaned, her small, beautiful, fair face was shown. She had neck-length ck hair with some purple bangs.


    "Well, that put aside, can you take care of those insects first?" Aadi said, turning his head towards outside.


    Asty sighed and disappeared from there. The next moment, she appeared at the top of the house. She saw three people who had just arrived and were searching here and there.


    If she remembered correctly, in this realm''s power system, two of them were in Earth Profound Stage, and one was in Heaven Profound Stage.


    This was a lineup of at least Kingdom level. ''Did that girl offend someone from royal blood, or what?'' Asty wondered, but then she remembered her beautiful face. ''Or maybe she rejected a prince''s proposal.''


    At this moment, the Heaven Profound Stage artist spread out his Spiritual sense across the town. Naturally, it passed by their house without detecting anything.


    He frowned upon detecting nothing and murmured, "Strange, it''s like that girl disappeared from existence. I can''t even detect her residual aura."


    As Asty was going to act, she detected something and stopped. She raised her head and looked at the clouds, her gaze piercing through theyers of cloud.


    What she saw was an old man who had just arrived and was watching the same three men from the clouds.


    After some time, the old man raised his hand, which resulted in the forming of an energy palm. The old man then shot out that palm in those three men''s direction.


    The palm traveled at a very fast speed and ttened an area of 10 meters with those three men as the center. They died without even knowing anything.


    The old man thennded at the ttened surface. As he was contemting something, he saw a white cat leisurely walking towards him from the corner of his eyes.


    He was dumbfounded as he didn''t even detect iting and even now, he couldn''t detect its presence or see its cultivation stage. He became wary and asked, "Who are you?"


    Naturally, the white cat was Asty. She became a little interested in the old man and hade to join the fun.


    Asty ignored the old man''s question and said, "How strange, I never thought I would see the peak of this realm so soon."


    ''She can even see my cultivation stage?'' The old man was once again surprised. One had to know he was currently touching the ceiling of the realm and was just one step away from ascending to the Divine World. The people of his level could be counted on one hand.


    For someone to so casually see his cultivation, she was definitely some powerhouse.


    ''Is she from the Divine World? But that can''t be as the restrictions would have expelled her.'' The old man asked Asty once again, "Who are you? And where is that girl? I''m telling you her background isn''t something you can deal with."


    Asty continued walking and said, "Oh, so you know about her, even better."


    At this moment, the old man had already decided to fight to the death as the girl was very important.


    Just as he was preparing to attack, a thunderbolt sounded in his mind, his body began trembling, and his eyes rolled back. His body fell forward, and he was still alive, but his breathing was rough.


    "Using thunder in a spiritual attack is always fun," Asty said with a smile and turned around to walk towards the house.


    The old man''s body floated and followed Asty.


    The town''s people had already holed themselves up in their houses as they thought some powerhouse was fighting.


    ¡ª--------------


    On the other side, as soon as Asty entered the house, she heard Aadi say, "ording to me, this girl is most likely from the Divine World, as her body has a powerful formation that will activate once she''s on herst breath, and I doubt even in the Divine World someone will have the power toy this formation. I''m really getting excited just by thinking of the future."


    "I''ve brought someone to verify your ims," Asty said, throwing the old man to Aadi''s side.


    Aadi nced at the old man and said with a surprised tone, "Divine Tribtion Profound Stage? So my theory is correct."


    "Well, then let''s begin interrogations."

 Chapter 5 - 05: Indra Verma

    <h4>Chapter 5: Indra Verma</h4>


    At this moment, Aadi was looking at Asty with a speechless expression, while Asty peacefullyy on her cushion,pletely ignoring Aadi''s gaze.


    "You used a spiritual attack, and as if that wasn''t enough, you even mixed your thunder in it," Aadi said, turning his focus away from Asty and gently making the old man sit on the chair.


    "Well, he''s alive, right? What more do you need?" Asty responded, still closing her eyes.


    Aadi sighed and asked, "Who''s doing the interrogation? Do you want to?"


    "Not interested," came an instant response from Asty.


    As Aadi already expected this, he sat on the chair opposite the old man and began observing him.


    "Oya oya, someone actually put Reve Mark in his spiritual sea, and it''s a very strong one," Aadi was slightly surprised, as putting Reve Mark on someone''s spiritual sea for a long time wasn''t something anybody could do.


    Anyone who has this Reve Mark will have utmost fear and reverence towards the one who put it.


    He raised his hand and twisted his index and middle finger a little. The result was a small pocket dimension.


    It was something Aadi made in his early days. This pocket dimension can store anything that has existence, be it physical or spiritual, or anything else.


    Aadi then shifted the Reve Mark to the pocket dimension, also healed the damage Asty did to the old man, and created a little spiritual disturbance in the old man''s spiritual sea to wake him up.


    The old man groaned a little and became confused for a second, seeing unfamiliar surroundings. It was then he remembered how he became unconscious, and his body began to tremble just by remembering that terrifying Thunder.


    "Oiiiiii, are you listening to me or not? Hello, hello, mic testing, hello 1¡­.2¡­.3? Nothing? Hey Asty, look, I told you he''d be stupid. Now, what do we do? I was looking forward to the interrogation," seeing the old man in a daze, Aadi took this chance to berate Asty.


    "But I held back, okay? Who knew this old man would be this weak," Asty snorted in response and said, "Just check his memories, and you''ll find everything. Why are you doing these pointless things?"


    "Who are you?" The old man asked aftering back to his senses and seeing Aadi sitting in front of him. His first thought was, of course, to use his cultivation, but he soon realized that he couldn''t even feel his cultivation.


    "Seriously, do you have a tape recorder in your throat or what?" Asty said in annoyance after hearing the same question from the old man.


    Only after Asty spoke did the old man shift his focus from Aadi to Asty, and as soon as his gazended on Asty, a chill ran down his spine, and his body turned cold with fear.


    He would never forget that thunder; it was even more terrifying than the divine Tribtion Thunder he experienced during his breakthrough at the Divine Tribtion Profound Stage.


    "Oh my, looks like you traumatized him, little Asty," Aadi chuckled a little and said, observing the old man''s state.


    "Isn''t it better then? Now he''ll tell us everything easily," Asty said as she opened her eyes, walked towards Aadi, and jumped on his shoulder.


    Aadi nodded in agreement and took out a pill from the pocket dimension and flicked it into the old man''s mouth.


    It was a Soul Calming Pill, a pill that helps in calming one''s mind.


    The pill''s effect made the old man calm down, and he began analyzing his situation and finding a way to escape. But s, all he could see was his death by that thunder, making him shiver.


    "So tell us everything about yourself and that girl," Aadi asked, seeing the old man''s ''rxed'' expression.


    The old man knew his situation, so he asked in hesitation, "I don''t know what someone of your caliber is doing in this realm, but I''m telling you that figure isn''t something you can handle. Even in the Divine World, he''s most likely standing at the top."


    ''So he still fears him, quite understandable, as the Reve Mark has been in him for a long time, so even after removing it, it still left its effect,'' Aadi sighed, thinking about it.


    "We''ll handle ourselves, so just tell us everything. After all, even if you don''t tell us, we have many methods for it," Aadi said.


    The old man still hesitated, but he knew that he''d die for sure if he didn''t tell, so he began revealing everything. "My name is Indra Verma. I''m from the Verma n of the Land of Starlight, one of the 5 Saint Lands. About seventeen years ago, I attained the Ninth Tier of Divine Tribtion Profound Stage and was going through the process of ascending to the Divine World."


    "But someone stopped the process and suppressed me with just a wave of his hands. I had met beings from the Divine World, as my Land of Starlight has some connections there, but he¡­.he was on apletely different level¡­"


    Aadi and Astypletely ignored his ramblings about how great and powerful that man from the Divine World is. They only began listening when he got to the point.


    ".....so he gave me a little baby and told me to protect her till she reaches my level in secret and told me to name her Aurora Ashborn."


    "So I brought her to a small n named Ashborn in the Coralhelm Kingdom and settled her there as the daughter of the Patriarch of the n¡­"


    ''Why didn''t he just let her grow in the Land of Starlight?'' Asty asked Aadi through voice transmission, which allows one to speak in another mind using spiritual sense.


    ''Maybe his IQ went low after all that Reve Mark is quiteplex, and his spiritual sea has some cracks I noticed when I was healing him,'' Aadi replied through voice transmission.


    As Indra continued speaking about his past, Aadi quickly interrupted, "Stop! Stop! We get it, now tell me how Aurora ended up in this situation under your protection?"

 Chapter 6 - 06: Dao of Cake

    <h4>Chapter 6: Dao of Cake</h4>


    As Indra continued speaking about his past, Aadi quickly interrupted, "Stop! Stop! We get it. Now tell me how Aurora ended up in this situation under your protection?"


    Hearing that, Indra Verma smiled wryly and said, "Sometimes, I began to lose control of my body after that incident seventeen years ago. Since then, I would hide whenever I felt like I''m losing control, and when I regained control, I once again began to protect her."


    "But this time, when I returned, all I saw was ruins of the Ashborn n. The whole n was annihted, and the courtyard was filled with blood and corpses, but I discovered that Aurora wasn''t among them. So I followed the trails and arrived here."


    After listening to Indra Verma, Aadi frowned a little and said, "If you knew about your condition, then why didn''t you take precautions?"


    "I did. I left a High-Grade Saint-Tier spear, which can kill even a Saint Profound Stage artist, in the hands of Ashborn n''s Patriarch, who''s ate-Heaven Profound Stage, so.." Indra Verma''s voice trailed off as he now understood the situation.


    Aadi sighed at this typical situation. There''s a golden rule in the cultivation world - not to bite off more than you can chew. Obviously, someone would have leaked the news of the existence of the Saint Tier weapon in the hands of the Ashborn n.


    In the kingdoms, usually the highest cultivation stage is Ruler Profound Stage, so the appearance of the Saint-Tier weapon would have stimted the greed of many people or maybe even the Royal family, and the Ashborn n was wiped out to erase the evidence.


    After some time, Aadi said, "Okay, so now that everything is clear, you can go and do whatever you want. As for Aurora, I''m going to take her as my disciple, so her safety is pretty much guaranteed."


    Asty even waved her little paw to shoo him away.


    Indra Verma became rmed and hurriedly kneeled, saying, "My lord, can you also take me under you? I''m fine with anything, being a servant or gardener or anything, just take me under your wing."


    Indra already knew this was his only choice if he wants to continue his cultivation journey. If he decides to ascend to the Divine World, he''ll have to face that man, and staying in this little realm means he''ll just die of old age.


    Aadi became dumbfounded seeing this. ''For god''s sake, you''re standing at the peak of this realm, where''s your dignity?''


    "Nah, I don''t have anything for you. Just go and enjoy your life; don''t disturb me," Aadi said, and Asty even red at him.


    Indra Verma wanted to continue persuading, but when he saw the icy gaze of Asty, he swallowed all his words back and stood up to leave the house dejectedly. He was about to open the door when¡­


    St


    ¡­a cake appeared out of nowhere and smashed right into his face. He stood rooted as he didn''t even know where that cake came from. ''What the hell!! Where is this cakeing from?''


    Indra hurriedly cleaned his face, and then he heard Aadi''s voice filled withughter.


    "Oi, old man, be careful; there are many types of traps I''veid out just in case a thief appears," Aadi said with a harmless smile.


    ''Thief my ass!!'' Indra didn''t even want to stay here anymore, so he just opened the door and flew away in case another ''trap'' opens.


    In the room, Aadi wasughing, and even Asty had a smile etched on her face.


    "It''s been a while since I''ve used my Dao Of Cake. Refreshing it, Asty?" Aadi asked.


    Asty said to theughing Aadi, "You love doing this, huh?"


    "Yeah, but did you see his face? Pfffft, haha, damn, that was satisfying," Aadi said, stillughing.


    "Now what?" Asty ignored his actions and asked.


    "Tch, you''re never going to understand the true Dao like this. Sigh, anyway, let''s take a look at Aurora first. If she wants revenge, she can take it herselfter," Aadi said as this was important and walked towards the bed where Aurora wasying.


    At the same time, Aurora also woke up and, as she opened her eyes, she began to look around vigntly.


    "Yo, how are you doing, little girl?" Aadi said yfully.


    Aurora immediately sat up and searched for her dagger in her clothes, but she didn''t find it. So, with no other choice, she brought her hands into boxing position and asked, "Who are you?"


    Asty held the urge to roll her eyes at this repetitive question.


    Aadi could understand her vignce as her whole n was wiped out in front of her, and he''ll use it to motivate her a little bit.


    "Who am I? Hehe, then let me introduce myself. My name is Advait, or nickname Aadi, and as for my profession, I''m just a humble owner of this small bookstore," Aadi said.


    The room fell silent after that as Aurora looked at him with an expression that said ''do you seriously think I would believe you?'' and Asty, well, she was used to this nonsensical behavior of Aadi.


    "So you expect me to believe that an owner of a small bookstore took me from the hands of a Heaven Profound Stage artist?" Aurora asked.


    "Nobody really cares whether you believe it or not," Aadi shrugged his shoulders and said.


    "Besides, if we want you dead, do you seriously think you would be able to resist?" Asty added.


    "The cat can speak!!!" Aurora waspletely dumbfounded after hearing Asty, as she knew that for Profound beasts to talk freely, they needed to be at least at the Ruler Profound Stage.


    As Profound Beasts are known for being stronger than humans in the same stage, meaning this little white cat she had ignored until now, can trample over the kingdoms she lived in.


    But after hearing Asty''s words and thinking about her situation, Aurora rxed a little but still kept her guard up.


    ''Still cautious, huh? Well, it''s good at least this will save her life in critical situations,'' Aadi smiled and thought.


    "Oh yeah, I forgot to mention her. So this little cat is my friend, and her name is Asty. Be careful of her, as her temper is as high as the sun''s temperature," Aadi said in a yful tone, which earned him a smack on the back of his head by Asty.


    "That aside, I''ve a question for you." Aadi lost his yful tone and said seriously.


    "Do you want revenge?"

 Chapter 7 - 07: Aurora

    <h4>Chapter 7: Aurora</h4>


    "Do you want revenge?"


    After hearing Aadi, Aurora remembered the scene where her n was being massacred, and her body trembled a little.


    Aurora calmed down after some time and said, "I don''t know about revenge, but I certainly want them to pay for what they did."


    Aadi was quite amused by listening to this and asked, "But judging from your tone and expression, you don''t actually hate them, do you?"


    Aurora wryly smiled a little and said, "Well, technically I''m still alive because of them, that''s why I don''t particrly hate them."


    Aadi was getting more and more interested and asked with a smile, "Can you please borate a little?"


    Aurora was taken aback, seeing that creepy smile on Aadi''s face. Fortunately, that smile came only for a moment, so she calmed down a little.


    "Well, my time in the n wasn''t necessarily good. Somehow everyone knew that I was adopted, but they never bullied me or anything. They just didn''t want to associate with me, so I hadn''t any connection with the n aside from my father," Aurora said and continued.


    "It''s like living in a city, and someone annihted it. While you''ll still hate them, it won''t be to the point of revenge. In my case, this annihtion actually helped me."


    "Sometime ago, the First Elder and Second Elder of my n got to know about the Saint Tier weapon that my father held. Greed obviously surfaced in their minds. But they were both weakpared to my father, even if theybined forces, not to mention the Saint Tier weapon."


    "So, the First Elder poisoned my father, and he died after some time. And since the Second Elder was the weakest, he contacted the Royal family and told them everything, hoping to get something good from them as he knew he hadn''t the capability to wield that weapon."


    "I don''t know why, but the First Elder hated me a lot. So the first thing he did after bing n head was to kill me, but before that could happen, the royal family came and massacred the entire n, including the Second Elder who gave them information. The First Elder couldn''t even use the Saint Tier weapon before he was killed."


    "I was somehow able to escape using an escape talisman that my father gave me, but even with that, I suffered heavy injuries as they relentlessly pursued me. One of their attacks also crippled me. That''s why, although I''m crippled, I''m still alive," Aurora finished as she sat down, hanging her head low.


    ''For beginners, her mindset is quite impressive, as after all that, she''s able to keep herself rational,'' Aadi thought, impressed by how Aurora dealt with the situation.


    "I see, I understand all that, but how are you going to live from now on? As you know, the royal family is going toe after you since they don''t want the information to leak, as even they don''t have the capability to safeguard the weapon," Aadi asked.


    "I''ll do something," Aurora answered, as she didn''t have anything specific in her mind.


    "So, why don''t you be my disciple? I like your mindset, and your potential is also quite good," Aadi asked.


    Aurora was dumbfounded, hearing this. Even though she didn''t know the cultivation stage of the person in front of her, just by being with that cat, she could tell he''s powerful. She didn''t expect such an opportunity to present itself before her.


    Aurora didn''t hesitate and kneeled down, saying, "Disciple greets Master."


    This time it was Aadi''s turn to be surprised, as he didn''t expect her to ept this offer so easily. Aadi asked, "You don''t think I have some ulterior motives?"


    Aurora shook her head and said, "Doesn''t matter, my life is already pretty much over now that I''m crippled. I''ve nothing else to lose now."


    "People will die to get what you have, little girl," Asty said, chuckling a little after listening to Aurora.


    Aurora tilted her head a little in confusion as she didn''t understand what Asty was talking about.


    "We''ll talk about itter in your training. For now, you can go and freshen up a little. There''s a hot spring beside the pond in the backyard; you can go there," Aadi said.


    Only now Aurora saw her tattered clothes. Her face went bright red with embarrassment, and she said, stuttering, "I-I''m going to freshen up."


    She stood up and ran towards the pond without even looking back.


    "Well, I didn''t expect her to be the shy one," Aadi said, chuckling.


    "Oh yeah, Asty, do you have some of your clothes? Give her some," Aadi added, turning towards Asty.


    Asty just sighed, jumped down, and went towards the pond.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Outside of Maple Town


    There was currently a pit in the shape of a hand, and two people were standing in it, observing it.


    One was a middle-aged man, and the second one was a teenager.


    "Woah, I didn''t know Heaven Profound Stage Artists are so powerful," the young one eximed in surprise.


    "No, this attack isn''t from a Heaven Profound Stage Artist. I''m in the same realm, but I can tell that if this attack hits me, I''d be blown into pieces," the middle-aged man exined, hearing from his disciple.


    "Huh, but we detected someone from the Heaven Profound Stage, right master?" the young one named Rey asked his master in confusion.


    The middle-aged man named Jav K shook his head and said, "We certainly detected that, but this attack... I doubt even His Majesty the Emperor would be able to handle it."


    Rey was dumbfounded hearing this. Mind you, the person they were talking about was in the Ruler Profound Stage. For him to be like that, this person''s strength¡­


    Rey couldn''tplete his thoughts as Jav said, "I think it''s likely to be a Saint Profound Stage powerhouse."


    Rey and Jav sucked in their breath just by thinking about it, as Saint Profound Stage Artists were highly regarded in the Whole Empire.


    "Let''s check around the town. Although I doubt these mortals would know anything, no harm in trying," Jav decided and began to walk towards the entrance of the town.


    Rey also followed his master to Maple Town.

 Chapter 8 - 08: Aurora (2)

    <h4>Chapter 8: Aurora (2)</h4>


    Bob''s Restaurant, Maple Town


    In the morning, Bob''s Restaurant was filled withughter, as usual. It was the only restaurant in town where many people and travelers came for rest and meals. The building was a simple two-story structure, with the restaurant on the bottom floor and living quarters above.


    Most of the tables were upied, and the topic of discussion wasmon.


    "Did you hear that soundst night? I was so terrified."


    "Yeah, there must have been some high-level Profound Artists fighting."


    "I just shut the door of my house and holed myself up."


    "Well, there''s nothing we can do about it aside from praying that their attack doesn''tnd on us."


    "Seriously, why didn''t they just fight in an open ce? Whye to a ce filled with people?"


    As these discussions continued, two individuals at a nearby table silently listened to everyone''s conversation.


    "Looks like everybody has holed themselves up in fear. It seems we can''t gather any information here, Master," Rey said.


    "Sigh, I already expected that. Let''s go. We can deliver this information to His Majesty, and he can decide what to do," Jav K said, standing up and leaving some coins on the table.


    Rey followed his master, but as they were leaving, Rey''s gaze fell upon a nearby building.


    "Master, that building is the closest to where the fight happened. Shouldn''t we ask the inhabitants if they know something?" Rey asked, pointing towards the building.


    "I doubt we would find anything. They must have shut themselves up as well," Jav K shook his head.


    "No harm in trying, Master," Rey said.


    "Fine, let''s go," Jav K agreed.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    On the other side, as Aurora reached the hot spring, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. The events of the day had been overwhelming, and now she found herself in the presence of a mysterious and powerful individual like Aadi. She had no idea what her future would hold, but the prospect of bing his disciple intrigued her.


    She had been observing Aadi and knew that he didn''t have any bad intentions; he had even saved her and taken her as his disciple. She had decided to be fully loyal to him.


    As shey in the hot spring, some ck goo-type substance began to excrete from all over her body. She was shocked and hurriedly cleaned herself, but it took nearly 30 minutes to do so. Aurora was surprised as she could feel her body had be stronger. She didn''t know what had happened, but she could tell it was because of the water she was bathing in.


    ''So even the water they bathe in has such qualities,'' Aurora thought. ''Even those body-strengthening pills I took back in the n didn''t strengthen my body this much, and using them was even painful, but this didn''t even feel ufortable.''


    Aurora went outside the hot spring and put on the new clothes Asty had left for her. After changing, she went towards the library where Aadi and Asty were.


    As she approached the library, she overheard Aadi''s and Asty''s conversation.


    "Hey, Asty, can I ask you something?"


    "Nope."


    "Oii!! It''s just one question, you know!"


    "Fine, but it better be something good; otherwise.."


    "Yeah, yeah, we''ll see thatter. So here''s my question... Asty, are you stupid?"


    "What are you getting at?"


    "No, I mean, there''s always ''U'' in ''stupid.''"


    "...that was way toome and cringe."


    "Hey, you aren''t following the script!"


    "Oh? And how do?"


    "You should have said there''s also ''I'' in ''stup''..oi, that''s cheating! You can''t use my weapon against me!!"


    "Well, you''re the one who said you''re stupid."


    After hearing their conversation, Aurora burst outughing. Seriously, just before, she was thinking they were some Bigshots, but now... is this how powerful people live their life?


    Both Aadi and Asty turned their heads toward theughing Aurora and smiled.


    "Hey, Aurora, tell me, was my joke good?" Aadi asked, after Aurora finished herughing session.


    "Yes, Master, it''s way too good." Aurora happily said. She has already decided to be loyal to them, so why shouldn''t she be happy?


    All of a sudden, as if thinking of something, Aurora looked at Aadi with wide eyes.


    "How do we know your name when you didn''t tell us?" Asty asked the question Aurora had in mind.


    Aurora nodded her head as she was confused about it.


    "Well, I told you people will die to get what you remember," Asty responded. "Tell me, do you want to know everything about yourself and your destiny? Tell me, are you sure you want to be Aadi''s disciple?"


    As Asty finished speaking, a terrifying spiritual pressure descended upon Aurora, forcing her to kneel. Even the floor made with precious materials cracked under the pressure. Although it was spirit-based pressure, it was so intense that it could materialize in the physical world.


    If Aurora hadn''t undergone that change in the hot spring, she wouldn''t have been able to withstand this pressure. Her bones began to crack, and blood came into her mouth.


    Aurora gritted her teeth and forced herself to kneel properly, saying, "Yes, I want to be Master''s disciple, and I don''t want to drag his name down by my actions. Please tell me everything and make me someone who will befit Master''s disciple."


    Asty smiled and withdrew her pressure, then jumped down from Aadi''s shoulder and began to walk towards the pond. "Let''s go. Your training is starting now, and I''m the one who will be teaching you as I have more knowledge about your bloodline than him. You can learn from himter."


    As soon as the pressure was gone, Aurora spat a mouthful of blood and began panting heavily. Then, she stood up with difficulty and followed Asty with great determination in her eyes.


    The only one left in the room, Aadi, smiled wryly as he thought, ''She really doesn''t change,'' but Aadi also knew that for Ruler''s Bloodline, no one could understand it better than Asty. So, for Aurora to have Asty as her teacher was a blessing.


    Aadi then looked at the still closed door of the library and said with a crazy smile, "Time to entertain our first cultivator guest."

 Chapter 9 - 09: Astonishment of Jav Kela

    <h4>Chapter 9: Astonishment of Jav K</h4>


    At present, Rey and Jav K stood before the closed door of the building.


    Rey examined the que and read aloud, "Cosmic Valve? What is the meaning of this, master?"


    Jav K shrugged, remarking, "I don''t know. Perhaps the inhabitants came from another region to settle here. In any case, knock on the door."


    Rey nodded, approaching the door. However, his attention was drawn to a button on the door''s side,beled ''press''.


    "Press? Should I press this?" Rey didn''t ponder much and pressed the button. The moment the button was pressed, an electric current surged from the button to Rey''s body, using him as a conductor.


    Though it didn''t cause significant harm, Rey''s face darkened, his hair stood on end, and ck smoke emanated from his body.


    This happened so swiftly that Jav couldn''t react in time. Nevertheless, he hastened to Rey, inquiring with concern, "Are you alright, Rey? What just urred?"


    "I-I don''t know. I just pressed that button," Rey stammered, as the electricity hadn''t inflicted substantial damage, but he felt numb all over. Swiftly, he retrieved basic Tier-1 Healing pills, ingesting them, and channeled his Profound energy to enhance their effect.


    Jav furrowed his brows, studying the button. He became cautious and watchful; he had never encountered anything like it before. "Could it be a rune? But I should have detected it as soon as it activated."


    As he pondered, the closed door swung open, revealing the visage of a young man with silver-white hair.


    "Oh, I didn''t anticipate having customers so early. Wee," Aadi greeted, ushering the two inside. Rey''s appearance had returned to normal, thus Aadi perceived nothing unusual.


    Observing Aadi, Rey''s initial thought was to inquire about the strange device. Without waiting for Jav, he pointed at the doorbell and asked, "Um, sir, what''s that?"


    Aadi followed his gaze and responded, "Oh, that''s the doorbell. When you press it, a sound rings inside, and I''m alerted that someone is at the door. Unfortunately, it''s malfunctioning now, so it doesn''t always work."


    ''Ah, so this is a bookstore,'' Jav mused. Meanwhile, he surveyed the interior, observing rows of books. Yet, a sense of something amiss nagged at him. He refrained from immediate questioning and simply stated, "Yes, we are travelers passing through this town. We thought of acquiring some books for the journey."


    "Very well,e and persue what interests you," Aadi invited, leading the way as Rey and Jav entered.


    Upon entering, a warm current of air enveloped them, purifying their bodies and sharpening their minds. Even their stagnant cultivation seemed invigorated.


    Both Rey and Jav were astonished. Profound energy permeated the bookstore in overwhelming density. It was rich yet not stifling; they felt as if they could remain here indefinitely.


    Jav found himself even more taken aback, having visited the Energy rooms of the Selero Empire that utilized Profound Energy Gathering Arrays. Still, this room surpassed even those levels.


    One residing in such an environment couldn''t be ordinary. Jav had already surmised that this individual was a formidable figure seeking solitude from the world.


    Rey experienced a minor breakthrough on the spot. His eyes widened, and he was about to voice a question when his master''s stern nce silenced him. Reyprehended the message: speaking could prove fatal.


    Jav had formed a hypothesis. It was probable that this expert had settled here for tranquility. However, earlier that Heaven Profound Stage Artist had likely disrupted the expert, who responded by reducing him to ash. The mere thought sent shudders down Jav''s spine.


    Aadi''s voice brought them back. "Why linger at the entrance? Join me inside, and let me know your reading preferences."


    Jav guided Rey forward, stating with respect, "Haha, we possess limited knowledge of books. We shall assess them and then make our selection."


    Remaining longer in this ce was a wise choice. Jav intended to derive maximum benefit, especially for his disciple, who would gain greater advantages due to his lower cultivation level.


    Aadi merely shrugged, settling into his chair and resuming his reading of "Battle through the Hell".


    Engrossed in his book, he remarked, "My store mainly offers novels, usually in volumes due to their size. If you decide against a book, kindly return it to its proper volume''s location."


    "Certainly, we will," Jav agreed, prompting Rey to peruse the books while he selected one from a nearby shelf.


    Suddenly, Aadi''s eyes widened momentarily, then returned to normal. He murmured, "So ''The Netra'' has awakened as well. The universe is in upheaval ¨C first ''The Heart''s Desire'', then ''The Ruler''s Bloodline'', and now ''The Netra''. Wait, the Ruler''s bloodline... Asty, what is she up to? I must investigate."


    Standing, Aadi informed Jav K, "Take your time. I have an errand to attend to. I''ll be absent for a while."


    Jav, who had just retrieved a book, responded swiftly, "Certainly, sir. We''ll read here."


    The opportunity to linger in this ce was too enticing to miss.


    Departing early would be foolish; Jav nned to spend time here, reaping its benefits. Moreover, his disciple would gain more from the prolonged exposure.


    Aadi nodded and proceeded to the backyard where a pondy.


    Stepping into the pond, he submerged himself and reached its bottom. Remarkably, his attire remained dry. A circr hole caught his attention, and he entered.


    This portal-like hole transported Aadi to a barren realm. Mountains dominated thendscape, apanied by an endless desert devoid of sand, featuring only rocks.


    He traversed the terrain, discovering Aurora seated on a rock. Blood and wounds marred her form, surrounded by a fifteen-meter radius of thunder and lightning. asional bolts erupted from her body.


    Across from her, Asty sat on another rock, a serene smile on her lips, her tail swaying.


    Aadi joined Asty on her rock, questioning, "What have you done, Asty?"


    With her gaze fixed on Aurora, Asty replied, "Nothing much. I assisted her in awakening her Bloodline. Why? What happened?"


    Aadi sighed, revealing, "Someone has awakened ''The Netra''."


    At first Asty widened her then looked away as she was guilty of something.


    Squinting his eyes, Aadi asked "Asty, what did you do?"

 Chapter 10 - 10: Golden Portal

    <h4>Chapter 10: Golden Portal</h4>


    A while ago¡­


    Asty was walking towards the backyard where the pond was, Aurora was silently following her. She was excited because now she can be stronger and curious as she was now crippled so how was Asty going to train her.


    Asty continued to walk and finally stopped at the shore of the pond. Although the pond wasn''t very big, it''s depth was huge so one can''t see they bottom from the top.


    "Looks like we have to make our own training ground as thatzybum didn''t expect to gain a disciple so quickly and never built anything for training." Asty sighed and looked at the pond and a idea came to her mind.


    "Let''s go we''ll make this training ground in the pond." Asty said as she raised her paw to enter the pond but stopped and looked back at Aurora and said "But you''re a mortal so I guess you won''t be able to breathe underwater, how troublesome."


    Aurora wanted to retort that nobody could breathe underwater except some water element Profound Artists but even they have to expend arge amount of Profound energy in using it. But she kept her silence as her sixth sense told her it wouldn''t be good.


    Asty waved her little paw and a water bubble appeared around Aurora with her as centre. Aurora tried to touch it but her hand passed through it easily, the bubble bulged a little bit it didn''t explode.


    "You don''t need to worry, juste with me." Asty said as she entered the pond, she let the water of the pond sank her as her destination was the bottom of the pond.


    Aurora hesitated but also followed Asty and entered the pond. Aurora was shocked as she could breathe underwater now, she could see the water outside the bubble. It was a magical scenery she hasn''t even imagine before. Some small fish would asionally pass by her bubble.


    As the water bubble not only preventing water to go inside, it was also blocking any aura and energy from going inside, that''s why Aurora didn''t know that even the weakest among these small fish is a Ruler Profound Stage, after staying in this Heavenly pond for a month their cultivation has skyrocketed.


    Soon they reached the bottom and Asty was the first tond followed by Aurora. Aurora was a little confused by Asty''s action as she didn''t know what she was doing, how can this be training ground?


    Asty then walked towards a somewhat in area, after reaching there she began to draw a big circle. After drawing it she stood at the center of it.


    After that Asty''s eyes changed to golden colour and space around her began to distort and some cracks appeared near her as if cutting the reality itself. The circle under her also changed as space began fluctuating in it and its colour changed into bright golden colour.


    Aurora was dazed seeing this heavenly phonenomina, she couldn''tprehend what was going on. She just stood there like a statue. Now she firmly believed Asty was out of the world and on a level she could only dream of reaching.


    After some time, the phonenomina stopped and only the circle emitting golden light remained, upon which Asty levitated, it was a strange sight of a cat levitating within the water.


    Asty then stared at Aurora with her golden eyes. Aurora felt something tremble with her but she doesn''t know what it was.


    "You felt it, didn''t you? It was the bloodline resonance as we share the same bloodline." Asty said, her eyes returning from golden to pitch ck.


    Aurora was first dumbfounded and then became excited, she didn''t know where she got this Bloodline from but one thing was sure, she could be strong as Asty someday and perform techniques like Asty, just by thinking that Aurora became escatic but Asty''s following word''s shattered all her dreams.


    "Don''t be delusional, what you have isn''t even a minuscule portion of what I have and even with that, you would have bear many hardships, but for now even building your foundation will be difficult but it all depends on you so good luck on what you''re going to face." Asty said with a light innocent smile.


    But for Aurora that smile felt like it was from the devil itself, she wanted to ask what she meant but before she could, Asty entered and disappeared into the golden light of the circle.


    As Asty left, the bubble surrounding Aurora lost the energy source and burst out, enabling the outside water to fill the gaps.


    Aurora didn''t even time to think as all the water came down upon her and and drowned her. The pressure was too great for Aurora to handle and she immediately knelt down on her four limbs and she shut her mouth to save whatever air left in her. The pressure not only came with volume of water but also it''s quality, it was very dense.


    Blood began to appear in the water as various cuts began to appear on Aurora''s body bringing sever pain to her, her vision began to blur but she still persisted remembering Asty''s words. She understood the meaning of them now, only by being tenacious enough and persist in situations like this can she be powerful like Asty.


    Aurora tried her best to raise her head but it proved to be very difficult as even moving an inch brought her intense pain and her injuries grew, she was already numb in some parts of her body but she still tilted her head and her gazended on the golden portal, she knew if she wanted to survive she had to enter that.


    She gritted her teeth and crawled towards the golden portal, it was just a few steps away but this small distance felt like infinite to Aurora.


    ''crack''


    A crackling sound came as bones of Aurora''s whole hand broke, she wanted to scream but she held it in fear of taking the water in. Now she was not only facing the pressure from the water but also beginning to feel suffocation.


    She could only look at the golden portal as it was the only thing that could save her.

 Chapter 11 - 11: Goal

    <h4>Chapter 11: Goal</h4>


    Aurora waspletely drained out of energy and she was just 2 meters away from the portal but she wasn''t even in the condition to look at that, her whole body was bloody every bones fractured and scratches all over her body, no doubt she''ll die at this rate.


    It is as at this moment Aurora felt something awakening in her, seeing that this wasst hope she concentrated on that feeling, soon some lightening began to surround her and she hurriedly sat up and looked at the portal, her eyes were full of determination, she felt like she could do anything in this state.


    She ignored all the pain and tried to jump into the portal and barely seeded. The moment she entered the portal, she began to feel dizzy and her eyes dimmed, and she lost consciousness. All the lightning surrounding her went into her body as if it were never there.


    The ce where she arrived was a endless desert with high mountains. Asty was sitting and watching Aurora in relief. If Aurora even failed this test Asty would have to raise the training standardter but it looks like Aurora will be okay with normal training.


    Asty then jumped from the rock and went towards the bloodied Aurora, after reaching her she stuffed a high tier healing pill in her mouth. Aurora''s body began to heal at visible rate, all her bones were healed and there were no marks of scratches anywhere, just the blood was all over her body, it was quite ironic as she just came out of water.


    Actually it was Asty who bnced the pressure otherwise with Aurora''s body she would have been crushed to death in no time.


    After some time, Aurora woke up and looked left and right in confusion and only after seeing Asty did she remember everything and began to feel dread, she really thought she was going to die but somehow she made it.


    "Oh you''re awake huh, how are you feeling?" Asty came in front of her and asked.


    "I don''t know."Aurora said as she looked down.


    "Well this test was for two things, first to check to your determination and second was to temper your body so it could actually handle your bloodline when it awakens." Asty said and went back to the rock she was sitting on.


    Aurora also followed her and sat on a nearby rock, she looked she was contemting something.


    "You don''t need to think much about it, since you possess this Bloodline, you have to go through something like that very often." Asty said and then asked in a serious tone "These things aside, tell me Aurora, what is your goal?"


    Aurora came out of her thoughts and heard Asty and she became confused. She began to think about her goal but nothing came to her mind, as although she wants to be stronger but that can''t be counted as her goal and neither she had her family nor she wants any revenge.


    "I have none." Aurora responded honestly as she truly can''t think of anything aside from trying to live happily.


    "It''s good that you''re honest and if you had said something like saving the world or bringing peace or something like that I would have kicked you out right now." Asty nodded in satisfaction at her answer, she truly hated those self righteous bastards.


    Aurora wiped the sweat on her forehead and heaved sigh of relief, sure enough honesty is the best policy, although she didn''t have a goal but she wanted to be stronger so having Asty''s guidance was very necessary.


    "But master Asty what is your goal?" Aurora said as she thought maybe she will find her goal after listening to Asty.


    "You don''t have to say master or anything, just call me Asty and as for my goal I''ve already achieved it so it doesn''t really matter but if you want to know it''s very simple actually I just wanted to be side by side with Aadi wherever he goes and whatever he achieves, you see Aadi''s talent was way above mine and if I wanted to be with him I had to set a goal like this." Asty said with a smile a she remembered her days where she went through many hardships by just thinking of being with Aadi.


    Aurora eyes widened, she didn''t expect such answer, she achieved such high level just for being with Aadi but then she asked "If you''re saying master''s talent was above yours then what was his goal and has hepleted it?"


    "His goal too was pretty simple actually, he just wanted to stand at a level where even if every existence went against him, he''ll be the winner, even if millions came he could defeat them, he wanted that type of power and yes he has already reached that level that''s why he came to this ce to pass his time and as always i tagged along with him." Asty said.


    "Well enough about that, do you have anything you want to do?" Asty again asked as thought that after listening to their goal maybe Aurora would have an goal of her.


    Aurora''s eyes became firmed and she said "I don''t have anything but my master has taken me in at my lowest, I want to be the strongest so I don''t sully my master''s name."


    Asty smiled and said "Good although it''s a stupid goal but nevertheless it is something that can drive you to move forward, now let me tell you some things about your destiny so you be prepared and then I''ll help you awaken your bloodline and then I''ll heal you Profound veins so you can cultivate again.


    "My destiny?" Aurora asked in confusion.


    "Well I''ll first tell you about your bloodline and then other things" Asty said as she began to tell Aurora about the Ruler''s Bloodline.


    If anyone who knows Asty saw the current scene, their jaws would definitely drop to the ground in shock as Asty was never one to talk long with anyone except Aadi, for her everything and everyone was troublesome and she couldn''t be bothered to deal with them.

 Chapter 12 - 12: Awakening

    <h4>Chapter 12: Awakening</h4>


    After Asty finished telling about the Ruler''s Bloodline, Aurora has her mouth wide open she knew that her Bloodline was powerful but to think it could be this storng. Her brain was shut off and she couldn''t even think of properly.


    A power to control any type of thunder, what kind of ridiculous ability is that.


    Asty left Aurora in her daze as even she knew for someone like her this kind of ability was truly something. But there was one thing that Asty didn''t tell her about the bloodline as she thought it wasn''t necessary now.


    After some time Asty broke Aurora''s thoughts by smashing her little paw in her face.


    "Okay back to reality, sure this Bloodline has the capability to control any type of thunder and rule over it but it''s only possible if your bloodline is pure and concentrated otherwise you''ll be like any other person." Asty said.


    "Then what about my bloodline Asty?" Aurora asked a little excited about her Bloodline now.


    "You haven''t even awakened it and your bloodline is very dilute, nevertheless you can increase it''s concentrationter by putting hard efforts." Asty said.


    Aurora nodded in understanding and then asked "Asty since we''re talking about bloodline and bloodlines are inherentent, does that mean my birth parents have the same bloodline?"


    "Yes it''s possible or maybe it''s just one if ancestor of your have that bloodline and you got this by luck." Asty responded and asked "Do you want to find them?"


    "Yes I had that thought when I got to know I was adopted and someone left me at the n, at that time i thought my parents abandoned me so i wanted to look for them so i can get my answer but then i realized it''s pointless so i gradually forgot about it." Aurora took a deep breath and continued.


    "But after listening to the power of Ruler''s Bloodline, I''m sure that my parents are also powerful if they possess this Bloodline and maybe they got some difficulties so they had to leave me here that''s why I''m gonna look for them, after all even if they didn''t raise me, they brought me into this life so I had to repay them." Aurora said with a fierce expression.


    "Well atleast you got yourself a goal now so we can began our training, go over that rock and sit, first we have to temper your body and soul so it could restrain the bloodline, otherwise you''ll just die during awakening." Asty said as she walked towards the rock.


    Aurora also followed and sat down on the rock, as Asty did some things with the rock.


    "Are you ready, as this will bring enormous pain but you can awaken your bloodline now otherwise it can take several years to naturally awaken it or it''s also possible to not even awaken, choice is yours and I''m telling you this will bring massive pain as this time it will affect even the soul." Asty said in a stern voice because she knew that pain, it wasn''t something anyone could handle but if one can persist it will bring enormous benefits.


    Aurora''s body trembled a little as she remembered that pressure from before but her resolve strengthen once she thought about her parents and her master. She need to be strong, pain is nothing if she truly wants to b someone strong.


    With great determination and resolution, Aurora said "I''m sure Asty, I''m ready for whatever you throw at me." ''No pain no gain, no pain no gain'' she muttered under her breath to erase her fear.


    Listening to this, a sadistic smile on Asty''s face and she said "It''s your decision, you better not regret itter."


    Aurora shuddered seeing that smile and asked in fear "Um Asty can I take back what I said just now, I think I need to properly train first."


    Asty smiled even more and said "Hehe I''m afraid that''s not possible."


    Before Aurora could say anything to persuade Asty a yellow bolt of lightning emerged from the boulder Aurora sitting on and entered her body.


    "Aggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"


    A loud painfull scream resounded in the endless desert, Aurora cried in agony as she felt like every cell of her body rupturing and getting repaired at the same time, her bones were crushed into powder and reformed again, every internal organ was turned into paste.


    This was just the beginning though as she felt like her brain spilling into many pieces, her mind being hammered by hundreds of hammers at the same time. Even she didn''t know how she was holding it till now.


    As the yellow lightning was wrecking havoc inside her, a pale yellowish me emerged from Aurora''s body covering her whole body and counterattacked the yellow lightning, the yellow lightning was extinguished immediately as the might of the me was terrifying.


    Aurora now was lying on her own blood and her body was beyond recognition but she was being healed at a visible rate through the array Asty set up on the rock. A short time after, she waspletely healed, if there wasn''t the blood on the floor, one wouldn''t even know something like that happened.


    On the side, Asty mumbled "Oh Ipletely forgot about the seal protection that her father engraved on her, oh well it will be usefulter so I''ll let it be and just stimte the bloodline."


    As she said, she put her little paw on Aurora''s chest and her eyes eyes turned golden. A bolt of red lightning emerged behind Asty and as Asty directed it, it entered Aurora''s body. This lightning wasn''t normal one, it was madepletely from the Ruler''s Bloodline, so this bolt held terrific power.


    The bolt of lightning didn''t damage Aurora''s body much as her body was stronger than before and Asty was controlling it.


    Under the stimtion of the bolt of lightning, Aurora has her whole body turned red and if one looked inside her body, they would see that some parts of Aurora''s blood was turning gold and flowing towards her heart.


    After all the golden blood particles gathered in her heart, they began tobine together to make a big ball of golden blood. Afterpletion of the golden ball, it began to rotate at a fast pace.


    From now on, all the blood of Aurora will flow through this golden ball and will get purified and get some properties of the golden ball.


    This was the first stage of Ruler''s Bloodline awakening.

 Chapter 13 - 13: Seven Apertures Array

    <h4>Chapter 13: Seven Apertures Array</h4>


    As the the golden ball was spinning in its own axis and Asty thought the awakening waspleted, a terrifying blue me erupted in Aurora''s heart and covered it perfectly. Asty was surprised and watched in interest at the heart.


    The blue me surrounded the heart and small runes began appearing on the heart, there were a total of seven runes all around the heart and one on the golden ball.


    "Interesting, her father is quite good to even think this far ahead, by using the Bloodline''s Awakening momentum, he engraved the Seven Apertures Array on her heart making it a modified Eight Exquisite Pill Heart normally this would have been impossible but due to Ruler''s Bloodline and the Heso Phoenix me he actually seeded, what a clever fellow." Asty was really amused by Aurora''s father for n.


    "With the help of this heart she''ll advance in alchemy by leaps and bounds well whatever that''s Aadi''s department so he''ll handle it." Asty mumbled.


    After the awakening waspleted, Asty fed Aurora Mind Calming Pill and let Aurora rest a bit as there was an array for healing so she also fell asleep on a nearby rock.


    After an hour, Aurora woke up and immediately sat up and her face became pale in fear, she doesn''t want to go from something like that ever again. It was just pure torture. But to her surprise she was able to remain calm even after all that, she wondered when did her mindset be so strong.


    "Oh you woke up huh." Asty sensed Aurora waking up and also woke up and said "you''re Bloodline is awakened now although it''s just initial stages for now that''ll be more than enough."


    Aurora forgot all her sorrow and beamed with joy and asked excitedly "What can I do in the initial stages? Wait but I''m a crippled so can i even use them"


    "You don''t need any type of energy to use Bloodline abilities, here it''s a low level thunder try to control it." Asty said as she threw the same yellow small bolt of lightning towards Aurora.


    Aurora became confused as she didn''t know how to control it but she tried to focus on the lightning bolt and control it but that lightning bolt just stopped for a moment and then hit Aurora, electrifying her. But this time it didn''t do much damage.


    "Okay so that''s your task for now try to control them, oh yeah although you won''t need Profound energy to control it but your spirit will get fatigue so be careful." Asty said as she threw more lightning bolts and after again fell asleep.


    Currently lightning bolts we''re dancing around Aurora, as she tried to control them but they just stopped for a moment and again hit her. Aurora gritted her teeth and went towards another boulder and sat down on it. This time she entered in a meditation state to focus on the lightning bolts.


    And this was sight that greeted Aadi when he came down.


    ¡ª---------------------


    "...and something like that happened." Asty finished telling Aadi what has transpired here in a short version.


    Aadi facepalmed and murmured "That''s why The Netra'' was awakened and here i thought this universe has a problem."


    Asty was surprised and she asked "Oh it has awakened here, now that''s got me interested I really look forward to fight those old guys again, so where is the person who awakened it."


    "Sigh it''s happened because of you, you know, you awakened her Bloodline just like that, without making a proper barrier and the heaven''s will of this universe sensed it, I''m pretty sure it would have tried to interfere in her Awakening but because you built this space it couldn''t." Aadi sighed and said.


    "So it awakened The Netra'' to counter the Ruler''s Bloodline huh, she''s gonna have a bunch of powerful peopleing on her, I''m looking forward to it." Asty said with a smile.


    As of now Aurora have retracted the lightning in her body as she could control it now.


    She heard their conversation and became confused so she asked "What''s this about Netra and my challenges, Master?"


    "Well nothinges free in the world so because of this Bloodline you''re gonna have to face a bunch of powerful peopleter." Aadi said and asked "Do you want to know about your opponents?"


    Aurora expression became solemn, if someone like her master was calling them powerful they were definitely way above her reach but she nodded as she knew she had to face everything.


    Though it was just the misunderstanding in her side as both Aadi and Asty couldn''t care like about it as for them they were just a bunch of kids ying around. It''s just that all these things happening in the same universe have surprised them.


    "Agh again info dump, I''m gonna sleep now." Asty rolled her eyes at Aadi and went to her sleep, she knew Aadi has a thing to exin things like those third rate antogonist.


    Aurora was a little puzzled by Asty''s action but seeing Aadipletey ignoring Asty, she also began to listen to Aadi carefully as she''s gonna face these people in the future.


    "Well first you need to understand that there are many worlds and small realms under them, this realm you''re living in us just one of them, so when a realm or a world faces cmity that could destroy it, they chooses a person and grant him/her it''s blessing so that person bes someone strong and can save the world. This realm''s boundary is being connected to a nearby realm which is much stronger and war hungry beings lurk there, so there''s a high chance of this realm being destroyed but it can be saved by heavens chosen. Your first opponent will be this realm''s heaven''s chosen, why? Find it yourself. And as blessings this realm has given him the heart''s Desire''"


    Aadi took a break after saying that as he allowed Aurora to digest this much. After some he continued "Well I can''t exin much about the heart''s desire as you won''t understand it now but just understand that it''s power isn''t limited to this realm but even to the divine world this realm is connected to."

 Chapter 14 - 14: Healing

    <h4>Chapter 14: Healing</h4>


    Aurora was silently listening to Aadi and the more she heard the more dumbfounded she became, for her these people sounded very powerful, she had to face someone like them, but she has also had her confidence, she believes that with her Bloodline and hard work she can definitely defeat them.


    Aadi then continued "The Heart''s Desire'' is a well a device, which ifpleted can even possess the power to control the whole world as it''s made from the world''s origin itself and remember, this heart''s desire is made up of Azure Divine World''s origin, the world under which this realm is. Fortunately for you, it''s iplete now as the current host wouldn''t be able to handle it''s full power now and for it to beplete the host had to find origin sources of Azure Divine World which are scattered around the world."


    "I''ve checked it, the only origin source this realm has is The Moon, the water element origin source, so you''ve got time to develop yourself, as he had to travel across many realms and world to find every single one of them."


    "Oh yeah the more origin sources he collects the more powerful he''ll be, as every origin source will grant him full ess and control to that particr element like your thunder. For example, if he obtained the moon which is in this realm, he''ll haveplete control over water and anything rted to it, be it ice or steam, and his affinity with it will also increase helping him in advancing his cultivation very fast."


    Aurora fell silent upon hearing this, she herself has experienced theplete control so she could understand how frightened her opponent will be if he gains control over every element andpletes the heart''s desire.


    Just think, you''re fighting with someone in a death battle and you use any elemental technique but it wouldn''t do any damage to the opponent as he can just control and even counter it towards you, you''ll be easily defeated.


    Moreover she just had control over thunder but he''ll have everything under his control. Although she considered all of this, she wasn''t frightened or anything, as she firmly believed she woulde out on the top. Her belief didn''te from her Bloodline but her master.


    What Aadi didn''t tell her was that even though the heart''s desire was terrifying, it couldn''t bepared to the Ruler''s Bloodline, it can be seen from how the heaven''s will of the universe had to interfere itself when Aurora awakened but it didn''t care about the ''the Heart''s Desire'' existence, it clearly didn''t take it as anything worthy.


    Aurora digested all the information and then asked "Wait doesn''t than mean he''ll be a multi elemental cultivator, that''s gonna be a problem."


    Aadi nodded his head and said "You''re right, that''s why I''ll begin training you now but as youck suitable foundation I''ll first help you with that."


    Aurora eyes became resolute and determined and she said "I''m ready master, but what about the other one you spoke of."


    Aadi responded "Don''t worry about it, I''ll tell you when the timeses, so let''s start by fixing your Profound vein and then we''ll spar a little to see your battle instinct and knowledge."


    Aurora nodded.


    "Good, now I think you already know but I''ll still exin, Profound veins are like blood veins in your body, they cover every part of your body and helps in taking in the profound energy of the atmosphere into your body through which you begin your cultivation journey, meaning Profound veins are very important for you cultivators, as it also determines your talent. The wider the profound veins the more profound energy you can take every time you cultivate and faster you progress."


    "It also determines the elements you have affinity with, your parents lineage, the ce you''re born and things like these affect the elements affinity you have. There are also many grades of veins but you don''t have to worry about it as after going through the awakening you already possess the best grade there is, I''ll just have to heal and connect them."


    Aadi then went towards Aurora and put a finger on her forehead and said in a stern tone "Don''t resist."


    Aurora nodded, closing her eyes and the next moment she felt a warm current of energying from her forehead, the warm current of energy spread went into every part of her body and began to heal every tiny Profound veins and also some minor injuries that remained after the awakening.


    ''crack''


    A crack sound came as all of Aurora''s Profound veins were connected once again, Aurora open her eyes and she could now feel the profound energy in the air. Although she went from something like this once before, she still felt mesmerized by this phenomena, every pores of her body began to greedly absorb Profound energy without her even trying.


    Since Aurora wasn''t cultivating using any cultivation manual, all the profound energy just went into various parts of her body and strengthened them.


    "Okay so now that''s done now we can move to our sparring section but familiarize with your surroundings first so you can give your bestter."


    Aurora nodded, closing her knuckles making a first she punched in the air, after that she raised her leg and again kicked at the same spot, like this she began doing air boxing.


    After getting the hang of it, she coated her hands with profound energy, she punched again but this time, a deafening sound came as the force in those fists wasrge and the moment it came contact with the air, it produced a sound like that.


    Coating ones body with profound energy wasn''t something an amateur could do but as Aurora has already been a profound artist before this was easy for her.


    She continued air boxing using Profound energy for two hours before she waspletely exhausted andid on the ground, panting. But she was d as she could disy her powess very well now. She wanted to impress her master so she immediately sat up and begin absorbing Profound energy to replenish her reserves little.


    After some time she stood up and said to Aadi with a feirce glint in her eyes.


    "Let''s spar, master."

 Chapter 15 - 15: Spar

    <h4>Chapter 15: Spar</h4>


    At the moment, Aurora and Aadi were standing at some distance facing each other, there waspletely silence in the surroundings. Even Asty has woken up and was watching from a little distance away.


    Aadi was sizing up Aurora, as she appeared somewhat nervous but her posture was great, like she was ready for going to the battlefield. Likewise Aurora was also doing the same but all she could see was Aadi''s rxed manner.


    After seeing no moment from Aadi, she understood that he''s telling her to start the spar.


    Aurora took a deep breath and ran towards Aadi in her full speed, at the same time she covered her fists and legs in Profound energy, giving her speed a boost. She reached Aadi in no time and swung her first at Aadi''s face but Aadi just tilted his head slightly to avoid her fists.


    Aurora knew that won''t work that''s why she immediately retracted her hand and kicked Aadi''s knee to distract him a little so she could follow up her n.


    Aadi simply smiled and caught her leg and threw her to the side on a small hill, breaking that into pieces.


    "You didn''t fight anyone till now or what? This is just in boring, your every attack is predictable, believe me with this you won''t be able to defeat even an opponent on the same level as you, try to fight with your instincts not your brain." Aadi said as Aurora stood from rubble of rocks.


    "Remember fighting with your brain is good but sometimes you have to rely on your instincts, I just saw what you were trying to do, now again try to fight me but this time with your instincts not your brain." Aadi grinned and said.


    Aurora thought about Aadi''s words and nodded in agreement, as she felt like her body was telling to avoid that kick but she still did that and this was the result.


    This time Aurora reached faster than before and punched at Aadi with full force while keeping eyes on Aadi''s moment, but she retracted her first immediately and crouched down and swung her leg clockwise at Aadi''s abdomen.


    This time Aadi jumped to avoid her kick andnded on Aurora''s behind and tried to karate chop at her neck, as soon as Aadi had jumped Aurora''s instincts were screaming at her to dodge quickly and this time she listened to her instincts and rolled forward barely avoiding Aadi''s karate chop.


    The ground beneath where attack wasnded had a deep cut in a straight line. Aurora began to sweat in fear, just by thinking what would have happened to her if she didn''t dodge in time.


    Aadi waved his hand and said to Aurora "Although I now understand everything but still try onest attack with your full power, whatever you can think of in your current state."


    Aadi already grasped Aurora''s battle pattern so there was no need for pointless beating.


    Aurora nodded and decided to try what was in her mind when she trying to control the lightnings bolt.


    Aurora stood up and took a deep breath, then she pointed her hands forward and closed her eyes. She went into a mediation type state while standing.


    She focused fully in her body and concentrated on the lightning coursing throughout her body, this was the same lightning she had absorbed before in her body, any other person would have exploded by now but her Bloodline allowed her to store lightning inside her body, this was what she found out before.


    She began to move all the lightning into her palm, soon Aurora''s hand was covered lightning but Aurora wasn''t satisfied with this and she began to concentrate the lightning into her palm making it more dense, soon all the lightning around began to circle around her palm but it was just revolving around a small lightning sphere on Aurora''s palm.


    Aurora hand began to tremble from the force that the dense lightning sphere held, she even then forced the remaining lightning revolving around the sphere to go inside the lightning sphere.


    She could now control lightning better but her control still wasn''t on the point to handle the dense lightning, her palm has some cracks and blood was flowing out but she still finished the lightning ball she had in her mind.


    Currently, a small yellow lightning ball was rotating at very fast face in Aurora''s palm, but a sudden idea stuck on Aurora''s mind and she decided to try that too even though her condition wasn''t very good.


    "Don''t do that, I know you''re thinking of mixing Profound energy into that lightning ball but I''m telling you it''ll be futile and you might even be exploded into pieces, you''re very weak for that now." Aadi''s voice stopped Aurora''s thinking, as she looked at Aadi in surprise.


    Mixing two energy itself was very difficult, let alone pure elemental one; what Aurora was thinking would have resulted in her instant death if she even tried it.


    Aurora nodded and ran towards Aadi with her lightning ball in her hand, she already knew this attack won''t do anything to Aadi, this was just a disy of her capabilities to Aadi so she just directly directly sent her palm towards Aadi''s chest.


    The moment the lightning ball came into contact with Aadi it suddenly disappeared from Aurora''s palm and whatnded on Aadi''s chest was just simple p.


    Aurora eye''s widen in shock, she thought even if nothing happened to Aadi with that attack, atleast some shy should have happened, she did her best in that attack but it vanished just like that.


    Aurora''s eyes dimed slightly but a tap on her shoulders forced her to look up where she saw Aadi grinning, then Aadi pointed his finger at her right, she moved her head and looked towards the mountain ranges.


    On top of one the mountain she saw her lightning ball, it was descending on the mountain with a fast pace, and soon itnded.


    ''kaboom''


    With a resounding crescendo, the lightning ball finally released its pent-up power. Brilliant bolts of lightning burst forth in a symphony of crackling energy, streaking across the sky in all directions. The mountain trembles under the force of this explosive release, and the ground beneath the everyone''s feet vibrates as if echoing the very heartbeat of the storm.

 Chapter 16 - 16: Betrayal

    <h4>Chapter 16: Betrayal</h4>


    Aurora watched in awe, she couldn''t believe an attack of hers had caused such destruction. She was a Spirit Profound Stage Artist before being crippled, even then she couldn''t achieve something like this. She even wondered if this attack was hers to begin with.


    There was nothing left where the high mountain once was, only a deep crater was there, everything there turned into dust.


    "It''s because of Asty''s lightning you absorbed earlier, you won''t be able to achieve such results by yourself with your current strength but once you begin converting and storing your own lightning in your body, you''ll be able to achieve things like this pretty easily." Aadi said.


    Aurora had a look of realization, as she has guessed, this wasn''t her power but a borrowed power. After listening to Aadi, she was excited and looking forward to the time when she''ll be able to possess this power.


    "Though you did good in controlling that lightning and I have to say you''re better than I expected." Aadi said with a light smile.


    As they were conversing, they didn''t notice that a big golden paw shape thunder forming behind them. Suddenly, Aadi''s eyes went wide and he quickly turned around but it was toote.


    That thunder paw hit Aadi in the chest, sending him flying through mountain to mountain. Aadi stabilized himself after crashing on some boulder and wiped the ck blood that wasing out of his mouth.


    "I had to say you chose a perfect time huh, Asty." Aadi said, narrowing his eyes at Asty, who was currently levitating above in the dark golden clouds with thunder surrounding her whole body and her eyes turning golden.


    "Well this was the best opportunity for striking you, you were in your weakest state." Asty said with a smile and as if listening to her emotions golden thunder danced around everywhere making the sight as if weing cmity.


    "Heh, so what? do you truly think I would go down without a fight? Let''s see whoes on top then." Aadi smile in craziness and stood up.


    "Well then show me if you''re still the old Aadi that I know." Asty also responded with a crazed smile.


    As soon as her voice fell, Aadi stomped his leg, making strange characters appear, all those characters then went in all parts of this small space that Asty created, these characters then merged with it making this space strong.


    These characters also went to Aurora who had her brain fried by how things escted quickly, these characters made a thin water like barrier around her.


    "Well I was gonna do that anyway so let''s begin, shall we? I''m looking forward to what you''re gonna use this time." Asty chuckled and shot the thunder at Aadi, at the same she activated her domain, filling the whole ce with golden thunder.


    Aadi just pped the thunder away and activated his own domain, blue mes began to emerge from Aadi''s body and shot in every direction. Aadi''s domain also pushed Asty''s domain back.


    Currently, both domains were covering the whole space, dividing it by half. In one part all one can see is golden Thunder dancing around and on the other side was a hell made of terrifying blue mes whose temperature was unknown.


    The area where the two domains collided has green coloured smoke.


    Space around them began to rupture just by being in contact with the blue me and golden thunder.


    Aadi clicked his fingers and hundreds of thousands of blue portal began to form behind him, out of these portals came blue ming swords.


    Aadi then threw these blue ming swords at Asty, Of course Asty didn''t stay still, she also made uncountable number of thunder arrows and threw them at Aadi.


    ''kaboom''


    The swords and arrows traveled rapidly and collided with each other in the middle of their domain and exploded, clearly their power level was equal.


    If it was only one it would have been normal but when thousands of these explosion happened, it was a wonderful sight. The whole sky was filled with the explosives of the endless arrows and swords.


    "There''s no point in this shy battle Asty, just admit defeat as you can never defeat me in a fist fight." Aadi chuckled as he withdrew all the swords in the portal.


    "Well that''s true, for me to defeat you I had to go into my true form and it''s too troublesome to be in that form, so why don''t we decide by that who''ll be the winner." Asty said as she also withdrew her arrows.


    As soon as Asty''s word fell, thunder began to condense around Asty forming a big human hand.


    "Oh so that''s how you gonna do, well I''m ready for that," Aadi said and he also condensed his blue mes into a big human hand.


    Asty nodded at Aadi and the two brought their hands forward and yelled at the same time.


    "Rocks Paper Scissors"


    As the two big hands showed the result, Aadi has a look of despair and Asty has victorious look. Asty''s hand showed an open palm and Aadi''s hand showed a fist. Clearly Aadi had lost.


    Aadi fell to his knees in despair but then heughed out aloud. Asty has a confused look on her face as she heard hisugh. It was clearly her victory then why was heughing.


    "I already knew something like this would happen so I prepared a triumph card just for dealing with you hehe be prepared for your defeat Asty." Aadi chukled sinisterly and sucked back all the blue me into his body and put his hand into his pocket dimension.


    Asty also absorbed all the thunder andnded on the ground as she stared at Aadi or more precisely at his hand which was in pocket dimension. She was really looking forward to what Aadi has left in his arsenal.


    Aadi showed a slight smile as he saw Asty''s curious gaze, he brought out a football sized box out of the pocket dimension and showed it to Asty.


    Asty''s eyes went wide in surprise and she took a step back in shock. She stuttered and asked.


    "This this this¡­ how can you have this? It''s impossible,,"

 Chapter 17 - 17: Instincts

    <h4>Chapter 17: Instincts</h4>


    Aurora just watched everything with her eyes wide open, her brain has long stopped working, she couldn''t understand what had just happened.


    When the explosion urred because of the collision of the arrows and swords, she backed down and fell on the ground, although there were runes negating the pressure and any damageing towards her, the mere presence of the attacks has blown her mind.


    But when she saw the green mist forming where both Aadi''s and Asty''s domains were, she felt like she understood something but at the same time she didn''t.


    All of this caused such a mess in her mind that she nearly lost consciousness.


    All of a sudden, everything vanished in front of her eyes and she came back to her senses, and saw Aadi and Asty facing each other with a clear high tension among them.


    Asty took a deep breath and said in a threatening tone "I don''t know how you got that but give it to me this instant."


    Aadi just smiled and responded by shaking his head "I can give you this but you have to promise me that you won''t attack me unless I attack you for the next 7 million years and by that I mean without using time dtion."


    Asty began contemting as there were only three things she liked to do, first of course is sleeping, second is bullying Aadi and third is this box. Now she is in a pinch. After thinking for a while, she decided her answer.


    Asty clicked her tongue and said "Tch Fine, I won''t attack you but you''ll be one to train basic things to Aurora."


    Aadi just shrugged his shoulders, he knew she wasn''t going to train Aurora either way so it doesn''t really matter.


    Aadi then threw the box towards Asty and immediately heard a shout from Asty "Be careful bastard, even if you work for millions of years you can''t afford it."


    Aadi''s eyes twitched after hearing that and he simply looked away, he didn''t want to answer her, arguing with a fool only proves there are two.


    Asty hurriedly caught the box and looked at it like it was the world''s greatest creation. Her eyes shined in excitement and one could even see drooling out of her mouth.


    After looking at it for a while, she put that box in her pocket dimension reluctantly.


    ''smah''


    Just as she turned her head towards Aadi, a cake appeared out of nowhere and smashed at her little face.


    She wasn''t even surprised by the following loudughter as she has already imagined something like this, she knew Aadi was a petty person so he would definitely take revenge but she didn''t think it would be this soon that''s why she was caught off guard.


    Aadi was rolling on the ground,clutching his stomachughing out loud.


    Asty shook her whole body to get rid of the cake, soon her white shiny fur came back again and there wasn''t even a piece left of cake in her.


    "I still don''t understand what is so fun about this." Asty sighed and said. She walked towards Aurora who was watching them with a speechless expression.


    Aadi contained hisughter and stood up, he also walked behind Asty and replied "As I said before, you''ll never be able to understand the dao of cake, wait maybe that''s why you''re weaker than me."


    Asty didn''t even looked back, snorted and said "Yeah, and who was getting his ass kicked just a few moments ago."


    Aadi responded with a straight face "Of course it was because I was in my weakest state otherwise you''ll never be able to even touch me."


    At the same time Aadi finished his shamelessment, they reached Aurora who hadn''t changed her expression till now and was still looking at them with the same expression.


    She was really shocked to the core, one minute they were fighting and the next moment they acted as if nothing has happened, she even wondered ''Am I really in good hands? Did I just choose crazy people as my Masters?''


    Aadi came and crouched down in front of Aurora and said with a chuckle "Oya Oya am I sensing fear from your body? Tell me Aurora, do you fear the power that we just showed?"


    Aurora was confused by Aadi''s word but then followed his gaze and found her body trembling, she was even more confused as although she felt fear from watching the battle, it wasn''t to this extent.


    "It''s okay, Fear is good, it tells you what weakness is. And once you know your weakness you can be even more strong." Aadi said he patted Aurora''s head, calming down her whole body.


    Aurora lowered her head and enjoyed Aadi''s pat, she felt veryfortable and safe under his hands, she felt even if the whole world wanted her dead she''ll be safe under these hands. She suddenly remembered Aadi''s goal that Asty told her and smiled a little, she forgot everything and just sat there in happiness.


    "As for the trembling of your body, it''s a good thing as well. You see, you have very strong instincts and it was because of them you reacted like that. And as these instincts are body rted, and you''re mind was on something else you weren''t in sync" Aadi exined as he retracted his hands.


    Although Aurora felt a little sad but she didn''t ask for more. She began thinking about Aadi''s words, she suddenly had a look of realization and asked "Master, is that the reason you told me use instincts in our spar?"


    Aadi nodded in agreement and said "Yes I noticed it so I wanted to confirm it, you''re really lucky to be born with them as it takes years of training and fighting for others to gain that."


    Aadi clicked his fingers and all then runes disappeared from the dimensionol space and everything returned to normal.


    Aadi as if just remembered now told to Aurora "Oh yeah if you want power like that, you won''t have to wait long as we just used Ruler Profound Stage strength."

 Chapter 18 - 18: Essence Gathering Profound Stage

    <h4>Chapter 18: Essence Gathering Profound Stage</h4>


    Aurora was surprised to hear Aadi, but she was now bing ustomed to these two, so she wasn''t dumbfounded.


    "We just used pure elemental Domain, but we perfected the domain, making it much more powerful than what others can achieve," Aadi exined. He continued, "Anyway, considering everything you''ve been through so far, you''re already at the peak of the Foundation Profound Stage, so you can try to break through."


    Aurora nodded, as she had already noticed her progress and was a half-step into the Essence Gathering Profound Stage. The Foundation Profound Stage was all about strengthening the body to store Profound energy when one enters the Essence Gathering Profound Stage.


    It was simr to a water bucket; the stronger and sturdier the bucket, the more water it could hold.


    After enduring all that torture and experiencing Bloodline awakening, her body had been strengthened to its fullest.


    Aurora sat cross-legged and closed her eyes, entering a meditative state. In just a few seconds, she could feel the profound energy surrounding her. She began absorbing it from the surroundings, and since the profound energy was very dense in this ce, she didn''t encounter any problems.


    Next, she started distributing the absorbed Profound energy into every cell of her body. This was the Essence Gathering Profound Stage, where one gathered Profound energy from the atmosphere and stored it in the body''s cells.


    After some time, a bright light began to emit from Aurora''s body as she slowly opened her eyes, excitement shining in them.


    "I can feel that I''m much stronger than before, Master. Now, even if someone at the Spirit Profound Stage were my opponent, I could easily defeat them," Aurora eximed, standing up.


    She couldn''t believe that there was a genius who could actually fight against an opponent from a stage much higher than their own.


    "Why are you so excited? Given your Bloodline, you should be able to fight against opponents at least three major stages above you. That''s nothing," Asty scoffed, remarking.


    Aurora''s excitement dwindled, and she calmed down.


    "Well, anyway, I''m thinking of starting by training you in battle awareness and teaching you some basic skills of alchemy, as you have the talent for it," Aadi said, motioning for Aurora to follow him.


    Aadi then began to walk towards the portal, with Asty jumping over his head.


    Aurora''s eyes began to shine brightly as she heard the word "Alchemist" and eagerly asked,ing in front of Aadi, "Really, Master? Can I be an Alchemist?"


    Aadi looked at her strangely and replied, "Yes, you have the talent to be one, and under my guidance, you will be a famous Alchemist known everywhere."


    Happiness and excitement overflowed from Aurora, and she smiled in a peculiar manner.


    Aadi and Asty could already guess the reason, but he still asked, "Why are you so eager to be an Alchemist?"


    Aadi tried to bring down her excitement and, with a smile, she responded, "Hehe, I''ve heard many things about Alchemists, Master, and one thing ismon among them¡ªthey''re very rich!"


    "I knew it," Aadi and Asty thought simultaneously. They could practically see the dor signs on her face now.


    Asty sighed and said, "Just as I expected. How can your disciples be normal, Aadi? The first one is a money lover, huh?"


    Aadi snapped his fingers in front of Aurora and said, "Think about thatter, but yes, you''ll be rich if you be an Alchemist, so work hard."


    Aurora nodded and made a silent vow to work really hard in her heart.


    As they reached the portal, Asty jumped down from Aadi''s head and dered, "I hate training arcs, so I''m going outside. You can do time dtion in this dimensional space and train her."


    Aadi pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement and said, "Sounds good. We''ll be mainly fighting and studying, so it doesn''t really matter. At most, it''ll take five months, so I''ll just set the time dtion to 1 hour equals 150 days. You can enjoy the outside."


    Asty jumped onto the golden portal, and it vanished.


    Aadi then pped his hands, and runes appeared all around, covering the entire dimensional space.


    Aadi sensed something and immediately facepalmed. He muttered, "She already had time dtion on, and it''s even stretched this much."


    Shaking his head, Aadi turned around and said to Aurora with a wide grin, "Hehe, shall we start now, my disciple?"


    For some reason, Aurora shuddered, but she still nodded.


    On the other side, Asty emerged from the pond and began walking towards the bookstore.


    She noticed two people standing beside the bookshelves, but she ignored them and went straight to her pillow and fell asleep.


    Jev and Rey also noticed her, but they dismissed her presence, assuming she was a pet of the store owner.


    Unbeknownst to Asty, she had unconsciously activated time dtion, causing time to remain the same here as before, with a ratio of 1 second to 1 billion years.


    Jev K randomly selected a book from the shelf and picked it up. He nced at the title, "Nine Rivers of Heaven," but didn''t think much of it. He opened the book to the first chapter and began reading.


    After reading just one page, his eyes widened. He could sense insights about cultivation appearing in his mind.


    Shocked, he hurriedly turned to the next page and once again felt the surge of insights.


    "I was right," Jev thought excitedly. "This ce is extraordinary. Just by reading a book, I can gain insights." He couldn''t contain his excitement as he considered his stagnant cultivation for the past few years. He had been stuck at the sixth grade of the Heaven Profound Stage, but now he could feel that he could break through to the seventh grade.


    Jev immediately sat down on the floor and began his breakthrough, knowing that this was the perfect ce for it.


    Soon, he opened his eyes and almost shouted with joy, but he restrained himself so as not to offend the owner. He still couldn''t believe that he had achieved something he had been struggling with for years so easily.


    Sensing movement from his clothes, Jev reached into his pocket and pulled out a red stone emitting a dim light.


    He infused the stone with some Profound energy, causing it to shine brightly, and a voice emanated from it.


    "Third Elder, His Majesty is summoning you. There is some strange activity in the Coralhelm Kingdom."


    Jev narrowed his eyes and replied, "I''ming."

 Chapter 19 - 19: Bhadru Kela

    <h4>Chapter 19: Bhadru K</h4>


    Jev K was deep in thought, there had been some strange movements from Coralhelm Kingdom for the past few days, and it was very likely that they wouldunch a war against K Kingdom.


    Everything had been in peace for the past few years so he couldn''t understand why the Coralhelm Kingdom was taking such moves.


    In the past Coralhelm Kingdom never attacked K kingdom as it was weaker than K kingdom. The King of Coralhelm Kingdom is a Third-grade Ruler Profound Stage Artist and the King of K Kingdom is a fifth-grade Ruler Profound Stage Artist.


    Just with this difference, they didn''t initiate any wars, but now all of a sudden a n was annihted and a war was on the horizon.


    Although it was all only their guess, that was the only thing they interrupted from Coralhelm Kingdom''s movement.


    Jev K was very worried about this but now looking at the book in his hands he smiled as he saw hope in these pages.


    He decided to bring this book to the king, as with the help of this book he''ll definitely break through to thete stages of Ruler Profound Stage, By then even if the Coralhelm Kingdom prepared some triumph card they would still win.


    He looked around and found his disciple sitting cross-legged in meditation, he instantly understood that he had broken through. He wanted to continue to stay here but he needed to see the king as soon as possible.


    He looked around but didn''t find the owner. He wanted to leave early but it looks like he''ll have to wait.


    "You can take it and pay next time youe here." Just as he was contemting, a female voice sounded across the bookstore making his hair stand in fright. He looked around and found the source of the voice, Asty was sitting on her pillow and looking at him.


    ''A Ruler Profound Stage Beast'' Jev K almost screamed out and took a step back in fear. He didn''t expect this little cat to be in the Ruler Profound Stage.


    He calmed down and thought ''Right since she''s the owner''s pet, how can she be ordinary, I''m getting senile with age to not even realize this''


    By now Rey has alsopleted his breakthrough and is smiling wide. He has also read one of the books and got some insights for his level. In just a day he broke through two minor stages, and he was beaming with joy.


    Jev K nodded at Asty and hurriedly pulled Rey and left the bookstore. He had enough surprises for today and didn''t want to be dumbfounded again.


    Arriving outside the town, he flew away at full speed towards the capital city of the K kingdom.


    In the bookstore, Asty just casted a nce at the door and again slept.


    Since Jev K was a Heaven Profound Stage Artist, his speed was very fast and soon he arrived at the Capital city, he didn''tnd there and directly went towards the inner city where the Royal Pce was.


    Soon, a magnificent and majestic pce came into view, Jevnded at the giant entrance gate, startling the guards stationed there. Seeing who it was, they hurriedly saluted at him.


    Jev K nodded at them and released Rey who was still in a daze. Jev K said, "I''m going to see His Majesty, you should go and stabilize your cultivation."


    "Yes, Master." Rey came out of his daze and replied.


    Jev then went inside the tall tower which was the Royal court. Most of the important meetings are held here.


    Upon arriving in front of that door of the court, he knocked on the door three times. A voice then came from inside.


    "Come in"


    Jev pushed the door and walked in, he kneeled in front of the king who was sitting on the throne. The king was a middle-aged man with ck hair and had a stern expression. There was a frightening invisible aura surrounding him¡ªregal,manding, a figure of authority that seemed molded by the very essence of the kingdom. Seeing Jev his expression softened and he smiled at him.


    "You know you don''t have to follow these formalities when we''re alone." The King, Bhadru K, said seeing Jev kneeling in front of him.


    Jev continued kneeling and said, "You''re the king of this kingdom and this is just a form of respect I had for you."


    Bhadru sighed in defeat as he knew nothing would change Jev''s mind so he changed the subject.


    "Have you found anything about that Heaven Profound Stage Artist, Jev?" Bhadru asked.


    "He''s already dead, your majesty," Jev responded.


    Bhadru raised his brows in surprise and asked "borate"


    Jev smiled and ignoring Bhadru''s question he said "Please check my cultivation."


    Bhadru didn''t think much and checked Jev''s cultivation, he stood up in surprise and said with a smile "You broke through to thete stage of Heaven Profound Stage! Haha, that''s a piece of very good news now that we''re in this situation, but you were stuck on that stage for so long, did you encounter any opportunity?"


    Jev smiled even more and recounted everything without hiding anything.


    Bhadru''s face was filled with shock, the more he listened the more dumbfounded he became. After hearing everything, he sat down on the throne and went silent.


    This information was too much for him and if this was true then his kingdom was blessed by the heavens.


    For confirmation, he asked "Are you sure about this, Jev? This matter is very big and can lead our kingdom to great heights."


    "The biggest confirmation is his beast partner, as you know Ruler Profound Stage Beasts are arrogant to the bone and will die rather than be a beast partner." Jev just shook his head and said.


    Bhadru nodded in agreement as even he knew that. Jev then handed the book to Bhadru. Bhadru took it and took a deep breath, If this was true then this book could help him achieve the stages of the Ruler Profound Stage.


    He opened it and began reading the first page.

 Chapter 20 - 20: The Tomb

    <h4>Chapter 20: The Tomb</h4>


    Bhadru closed the book just after reading the first page, as he took a deep breath to suppress his happiness. With just one page he could feel his bottleneck loosening, he was now sure that the owner was some Bigshot and it was his blessings that the owner built his bookstore in his kingdom.


    Jev was confused seeing Bhadru closing the book, he could break through now so why did he stop reading?


    Seeing Jev''s confused expression, Bhadru said: "You''re forgetting that breaking through in Ruler Profound Stage and above leads to surrounding Profound energy Disturbance so I had to make some preparation so that I didn''t alert others, Coralhelm definitely has a triumph card so hiding my cultivation is best for us now."


    Jev nodded as he knew about that, he said "Then you can visit the expert as we haven''t paid the price of this book and it will show our goodwill towards him."


    Bhadru instantly agreed and said, "Good idea let''s go and I''ll bring ming Amru pearl as the payment for this book."


    Jev smiled upon hearing that, the ming Amru pearl was the heirloom of the Royal K Family, it was acquired by their ancestor after a tragic war. Whoever holds that pearl can do a whopping 50% more damage using fire-rted techniques.


    As if remembering something, Jev said "Due to the expert, Ipletely forgot to tell you, your majesty. A tomb of Heaven Profound Stage Artist was found on the border of our kingdom and the surrounding kingdoms are already on the move, They''ll probably reach the tomb in three days, also There''s a Rune formation in the tomb which only allows entry to those who are in Origin Profound Stage and are under 25 years old, also judging by the formation only 50 people can enter at a time."


    Bhadru''s face turned solemn hearing that and he said "If it was just a heaven Profound Stage Artist''s tomb, it would have been but given there''s a rune formation, that person was most likely a Rune formation master and that creates trouble for us as everyone would want a share of it."


    Thinking of this Bhadru clicked his fingers and a figure in a ck coat appeared kneeling in front of them.


    "Here at yourmand, your majesty." The figure''s voice was vague and one couldn''t guess its gender listening to its voice or from its figure.


    "Gather all the elite of the young generation, Jev and you will be leading them and you''ll depart for the tomb tomorrow morning," Bhadru said to the figure who nodded and disappeared.


    He was a member of the Dark Crow squad which was established for the sole purpose of obeying the king. Only Elite can get into this squad.


    Bhadru then turned towards Jev and said "Let''s go, we''ll first meet with expert." As he said he also put the book in his storage ring.


    Jev and Bhadru then flew away towards Maple Town.


    On the other side, Aadi entered the bookstore with Aurora following him.


    Now, the whole aura of Aurora was changed, her expression was calm as if nothing could make her fluster. Her steps were steady and in rhythm.


    After five months of fighting with Aadi, she has learned a lot and mastered many techniques and even her Bloodline abilities.


    As Aadi looked around the bookstore, he tilted his head in confusion "Weird, why do I feel like I forgot something?"


    After a moment, he shrugged his shoulders as he said "Well if I forgot then it must be something insignificant, yup definitely that."


    After he turned towards Asty and directly appeared behind her and jumped on her "Asty I missed you so much."


    Before Asty could react, she was already in Aadi''s embrace, she tried to get out of these shackles as she said "Let me go, you stupid brainless idiot."


    Aadi ignored Asty''s action as he tightened his grip even more around Asty''s body, he said "Your dictionary is as bad as ever Asty."


    A vein popped out on Asty''s forehead as she bit Aadi''s hand, making him release her, she immediately jumped out andnded on the top of a bookshelf."


    Asty red at Aadi, and said "You''ll pay for this humiliation, little fucker."


    Since he could do nothing to Asty now, Aadi turned his focus on Aurora and said "Hey Aurora I detected a tomb a little distance away from here and it''s most likely of a heaven Profound Stage, You can go and search it, it''ll serve as your training ground and you''ll be able to check the results of your training."


    Aurora''s eyes lit up at the mention of the tomb, She didn''t care about any treasure but she wanted to see the fruit of her training as all she got in thest five months was constant beating, she was never able tond even a single attack on Aadi, that''s why although she knew progressed, she didn''t knew by how much.


    "Thank you, Master," Aurora said as she felt like she should say this.


    Aadi just smiled and was about to say something when his gazended on an empty corner of a bookshelf. He now remembered the two people who came to his bookstore and he asked Asty "Did those two buy a book? Where''s the payment?"


    "Yes, they did and I told them to payter as they''ll definitelye again." Asty had alreadye down from the bookshelf and was resting on the pillow, she answered, still closing her eyes.


    Aurora just looked at them with a strange expression, even after spending months with them she still didn''t understand any of them, they were so powerful but cared about some money.


    Aadi thought for a moment and an idea came to his mind, he smiled a little and said "Well looks like Aurora got somepany in her adventure of the tomb."


    Aurora showed a confused expression at Aadi''s words but a loud ring sounded in the bookstore which broke her thoughts.

 Chapter 21 - 21: The Torch

    <h4>Chapter 21: The Torch</h4>


    Jev and Bhadrunded outside the maple town. After entering, Jev took the lead and began walking towards the bookstore. It didn''t take long for them to reach the bookstore.


    "It looks so normal; I wouldn''t even be able to imagine that an expert lives here if you hadn''t told me," Bhadru sighed, looking at the bookstore with reverence.


    "Remember, Jev, since the expert wants to live peacefully and normally, don''t speak unnecessarily, understand?" Bhadru said in a low and stern voice.


    Jev recalled how Aadi had been interacting with them and understood everything. He nodded, not wanting to offend him.


    Bhadru then went towards the door and was about to knock when he noticed the bell button. Curiously, he pressed it. The moment the button was pressed, an electric current surged from the button to Bhadru''s body, using his finger as a conductor.


    Jev saw what happened and realized he had forgotten to warn Bhadru about the bell. He hurriedly went towards him and asked, "Are you okay, your majesty? I apologize for forgetting about this bell."


    "I-I''m fine, but what was that?" Bhadru asked with a trembling voice, his body numb all over. All of his hairs were standing, and ck smoke wasing out of his body. He quickly took out a Tier 3 Healing pill and ate it.


    As Bhadru circted his Profound energy to maximize the pill''s effect, Jev exined everything to him about the bell. While they were speaking, a voice came from inside.


    "The door is open; you cane in."


    Bhadru took a deep breath in nervousness and slowly opened the door, entering inside. The sight of a young man elegantly drinking tea, a young girl serving him tea, and a catzing around came into view.


    Bhadru also noticed the density of the profound energy. Although he was surprised, he kept his face straight and controlled his excitement.


    "You can browse through the bookshelves and see what you like," Aadi said as he sipped his tea.


    Soon, Jev also entered. He said, "Sir, we''ll do that, but we came to pay for the book I took this morning."


    Aadi nodded and said, "Since you took only a single volume, you can pay 2 low-grade Profound stones. If you buy the whole set, I can even give you a discount."


    Bhadru and Jev didn''t think much of the price. It was very expensive for normal books, but was this bookstore normal?


    Bhadru took out two low-grade Profound stones from his storage ring, went forward towards the table, and ced the Profound stones there.


    "These stories are really good, sir. We''ll finish this one first and then buy the others," Bhadru said with a smile. If he bought the set now, what excuse would he use toe here again?


    Bhadru then took out a cricket ball-sized crimson pearl. It had runes on it, and its temperature was so high that Bhadru had to coat his hands with profound energy to protect them.


    He held out the pearl and said, "I really liked your books, so I want to give you this pearl as a present, a gesture of goodwill."


    "It must be a treasure. I can''t ept such an expensive gift, but still, thank you for the sentiment," Aadi shook his head and politely rejected the gift.


    "It''s not a treasure or anything; it''s a simple essory. It isn''t expensive. I insist you take this," Bhadru continued to smile.


    "In that case, I''ll ept it." Aadi didn''t press further on the topic and took the pearl with his bare hands, ying with it.


    Bhadru wanted to warn him about the temperature, but before he could, Aadi had already taken it. However, when he saw how casually Aadi was handling the pearl, he immediately shut his mouth in defeat.


    As Aadi tossed the pearl in the air, he identally touched a particr rune, causing the pearl to light up brightly.


    "Oh, it''s actually a torch. It''s been a long time since I''ve seen one," Aadi eximed in excitement.


    He then turned the pearl off and on by touching the rune, finding fun in it.


    Jev and Bhadru were almost in shock, their jaws dropped. This pearl was their heirloom for generations, and many had died just to protect it. This justified how incredible it was. The person in possession of this pearl became 50% stronger if they had a fire Profound vein. Even for those with other Profound veins, it was a treasure, as it increased their Fire resistance by 50%. And now, this treasure was being used as a mere torch.


    Aadi stopped ying around with the pearl and said to both of them, "I really appreciate this gift. You have my thanks."


    Jev and Bhadru returned to their senses and waved their hands, showing it wasn''t a big deal.


    Aadi gestured for Aurora to serve tea to both of them and invited them to sit down. Jev and Bhadru epted without ceremony and took their seats.


    As their minds were on various things, they only now noticed Aurora clearly. Their eyes went wide in surprise as they saw her cultivation.


    Ninth Grade Spirit Profound Stage Artist!! At this young age!!!


    After that bath in the hot spring, Aurora''s body was cleared of any filth, making her look quite young¡ªwell, she was actually young.


    Bhadru suddenly had an idea and proposed it to Aadi, "Sir, you see, a tomb of a runemaster has been found nearby. Only Origin Profound Stage Artists and those below can enter it. How about allowing your disciple to explore the tomb with our team? We''ll guarantee her safety."


    Jev''s eyes lit up as he understood Bhadru''s n. He added, "I''ll personally lead the team, so you can rest assured."


    Asty watched this drama unfold silently, rolling her eyes in annoyance. This was far too clich¨¦ for her. She could predict every single line they would deliver.


    She just couldn''t guess why Aadi was enjoying this whole y and even acting alongside with them.

 Chapter 22 - 22: Flamingo

    <h4>Chapter 22: mingo</h4>


    Aadi smiled and said, "She needs some experience, and she''ll be safe in your hands, so I won''t be worried about her. After all, I''m just a normal bookstore owner. If something happened to her, I... sigh."


    Jev and Bhadru looked at Aadi with a speechless expression. They really wanted to shout at him, but did they have the guts to do that? They just thought, ''Whatever you say is right.''


    "What do you think, Aurora? Do you want to go and experience it?" Aadi asked with a gentle smile. He looked like the most gentle person you could find.


    Aurora, of course, didn''t fall for this gentle smile. Gentle? That would be thest word she would use for Aadi. Where was this gentle side in those five months when he tormented her with a smile?


    But still, he was someone she respected from the bottom of her heart. Aurora responded with a calm and respectful voice, "I would like to explore that, Master."


    Aadi nodded and said to both Jev and Bhadru, "So it''s settled then. Whenever you go with your team, just take her along. She won''t be taking any treasures and all; she just wants to experience the tomb."


    Aurora had a look as if her whole world was destroyed. She wasn''t interested in treasures, but she could sell them for a lot of money. Just thinking about the losses, she almost shed tears. Aadi cleared his non-existent tears and thought in his heart, ''Everything I''m doing is for you, my disciple. Forgive your master.''


    Asty watched everything with a strange expression. Use some logic, who sends their disciple with someone they''ve only met once?


    She was really questioning the IQs of everyone here. She thought Aadi''s IQ was the worst, but now her opinion was changing.


    Of course, Jev and Bhadru didn''t notice anything, as they were staring at the tea in their hands with a constipated look. They turned towards each other and saw the same pain in each other''s eyes. They nodded at the same time, understanding each other''s situation.


    "Haha, sir, we just remembered something important, so we have to leave now. As for the tomb, we''lle to take her tomorrow morning," Bhadru said, trying to be as polite as possible, but his smiling constipated look made it even weirder.


    "Oh, sure, but at least finish the tea," Aadi said innocently as if he didn''t see thier constipated look.


    "Some other time, sir. It''s really important. Good day, sir." Bhadru said and immediately ran away from there, with Jev following him at the same speed.


    Aadi saw them running and controlled hisughter, but still, heughed in the end.


    "Hey Aadi, do you have that aura that every MC has which makes everyone around him dumb?" Asty jumped over, stillughing Aadi, and asked.


    Aadi coughed and said with a straight face, "Of course not. Do you really think I''m someone who would use something like that?"


    "Yes," was an instant response from Asty.


    Aadi and Asty looked at each other for a minute before Aadi averted his eyes and said, ignoring Asty''s smirk, "Prepare for tomorrow, Aurora. This could be life-threatening for you. Remember, if you''re facing the unknown, overestimate it in every way so you can be better prepared."


    Aurora nodded her head and said, "Understood, Master."


    "Also, we won''t help you even if you''re in danger. So explore the tomb with utmost caution," Aadi said in his unusually serious tone. "Don''t believe everything you see, especially if there are pills and such."


    Asty looked at Aadi with a mysterious smirk. She knew Aadi''s soul was almost obliterated when he went to explore such tombs.


    Aurora listened carefully and engraved everything in her heart. She knew that although her master was slightly... yeah, slightly crazy, he treated her really well. So she believed anything Aadi said.


    Aadi nodded and brought out two daggers from his pocket dimension and gave them to Aurora.


    The daggers had thin des and long hilts, with three gems engraved. They were a pitch crimson red, looking as though they had been washed with blood for years.


    "I''ve been observing your techniques and concluded that you can wield daggers the best. Take these as a present from me. For your adventures in the lower realm, these daggers will suffice. I''ve sealed most of their power, and you can break the seals as you get stronger," Aadi exined as he handed the daggers to the still shocked Aurora.


    Aurora could feel a terrifying me aura emanating from these daggers. She took the daggers from Aadi and began observing them.


    "Their name is mingo. They apanied me in my younger days. I haven''t used them much since then. Now they''ll apany you on your journey," Aadi said with a gentle smile.


    Asty smiled seeing Aadi''s behavior. He was as overprotective as ever.


    Aurora brought down her excitement and took out a small dagger she had been using for practice. She brought it closer to her forehead and made a light cut, causing it to bleed.


    After that, she closed her eyes and condensed her spiritual energy around the blooding out of her forehead. She brought it closer to the daggers.


    This drop was her blood essence, which is usually found near the forehead. This blood contains a fragment of one''s spirit, so if someone wants to refine an item, they have to use the blood essence.


    Aurora assimted the blood essence with the daggers, using her spiritual energy. The daggers began levitating in front of Aurora.


    Soon, a terrifying aura gushed out from both the daggers, and the room''s temperature spiked.


    Aurora, still closing her eyes, put both hands forward. As if in response to hermand, both daggers flew toward Aurora''s hands.


    Aurora caught both of them easily and held them in a reverse grip.


    She finally opened her eyes, and one could see the joy in her eyes.


    "These are awesome, Master!" Aurora eximed. After refining the daggers, she gained information about them¡ªThe mingo.

 Chapter 23 - 23: The Boat

    <h4>Chapter 23: The Boat</h4>


    Jev and Bhadru flew away from the maple town at their full speed, only stopping when they entered a dense forest. Theynded on the bank of a wide river.


    Both of them couldn''t hold on any longer and...


    ''boom''


    ...farted out loud. They were panting heavily but stopped at the ''sweet'' aroma. Quickly shutting their mouths and noses, they were feeling a little ufortable, so they jumped into the river.


    After bathing for a full hour, they returned to the shore and smiled at each other.


    "Looks like it was a wise decision to gift the ming Amru pearl to the expert. He must have seen our goodwill and given that divine tea. But s, we''re too weak for something like that divine tea," Jev shook his head in regret and said.


    "Yes, we just took one sip, and I can already feel the cirction of Profound energy in my body increase. Even the quality of my Profound energy has improved. It''s much more dense than before. But s..." Bhadru said.


    Bhadru''s eyes lit up as he remembered something and said to Jev in excitement, "We don''t have to worry much. We''ll have more chances for bootlicking... cough cough, I mean showing our goodwill. Remember to take good care of his disciples. Also, don''t interfere too much with her. The expert probably wants her to experience the world. Also, warn all the brats who''ll go with you tomorrow. Tell them it''s my order. If they identally offend her and the expert decides to take revenge, that will be the end for us."


    Jev listened to every word of Bhadru with full attention and agreed with him.


    "Let''s go. I''m going to break through in the next few days," Bhadru said.


    Jev and Bhadru then flew away toward the capital city.


    The next morning, Jev arrived at the maple town very early and went to the bookstore. Arriving there, he looked at the bell button as if it were his biggest enemy and knocked on the door. He wouldn''t make the same mistakes as before.


    Soon, the door was opened by Aadi, who smiled and invited Jev inside.


    "It''s okay, sir. We have to leave early, as there are other people who have also discovered the tomb," Jev reluctantly declined Aadi''s offer.


    "Ah, I see. Well then, I''ll call Aurora," Aadi said as he went inside to call Aurora. Soon, Aurora arrived, full of enthusiasm. She was really looking forward to this adventure.


    "Well then, we''ll hand Aurora over to you and hope she returns safely," Aadi said with a sad expression. He looked like a father sending his daughter to school on her first day.


    "You can rest assured. She''ll be safe with us," Jev reassured Aadi and gestured for Aurora toe with him.


    Aurora bowed in front of Aadi and said, "I''m going, Master," before heading toward the exit of the town with Jev.


    Asty jumped over Aadi''s head and said, "So we aren''t getting much screen time for a while, huh?"


    "Yeah, I really want to skip this treasure hunt arc, but this is important for Aurora, so I''ll deal with it for now," Aadi said, closing the door.


    "Well, this is good. I can sleep in the meantime," Asty said, content with her current situation.


    "Well, I''ll also finish reading ''Battle through the Hell''. You should try it, Asty. It''s about a boy collecting Fires," Aadi suggested but saw that Asty was already in deep sleep, so he didn''t continue


    On the other side, after arriving outside the maple town, Jev and Aurora stopped. Jev then took out a small ball from his storage ring and infused his Profound energy into it.


    Suddenly, the ball shot out from Jev''s hand and turned into smoke. In just a few moments, the smoke cleared up, revealing a small 100m red-colored boat with runes engraved on it.


    "As we''re only a small kingdom, we can only afford this small traveling boat. Get on board. My team is just a distance away. After picking them up, we''ll head to the tomb," Jev exined as he jumped on the boat. He thought that since Aurora was Aadi''s disciple, she must have seen many high-tier treasures and might find this boat small.


    In fact, it was the total opposite. Aurora had only heard about these fast-flying boats when she was in her n. She was amazed by the sudden appearance of this boat. But the first thing Aadi taught her was to keep emotions in check and control her facial expressions. This lesson was taught when she was getting beaten, so she kept a calm expression in front of Jev, impressing him even more.


    After both of them were on the boat, it ascended into the air and flew toward Wute City, where they were going to pick everyone up.


    The boat''s speed was very fast, and they reached Wute City quickly.


    Jev stopped the boat a little distance away from the city andnded it on the ground. He then took out a red stone and infused his Profound energy into it.


    This stone was engraved with runes and worked as amunication tool. By infusing their Profound energy, one couldmunicate with another part of the same stone. It also worked for sending signals, which Jev used to signal everyone.


    Aurora felt something and looked at a particr stone boulder a little distance away. Seeing nothing there, she felt strange and decided to be alert for anything.


    At the side of the stone boulder where Aurora looked, a figure in a ck cloak was sitting behind a tree, observing both Jev and Aurora.


    "Interesting. She really deserves to be a disciple of an expert. She even detected me, a Ruler Profound Stage Artist, with just her Spirit Profound Stage. What powerful instincts," the figure murmured, a smile forming on its face. It was genuinely impressed by Aurora''s instincts.

 Chapter 24 - 24: Fear

    <h4>Chapter 24: Fear</h4>


    Fourteen young men and women came towards the boat and jumped in it. They had already been informed of the meeting here, so upon receiving the signal, they arrived quickly.


    Once they were all on board, they noticed a breathtaking beauty standing there, looking at them with a cold expression.


    Most of the boys were mesmerized by her, but a single re from Jev brought them back to their senses.


    Among them were 8 boys of different ages, ranging from twenty to twenty-four, with cultivations ranging from the seventh grade Spirit Profound Stage to the eighth grade Origin Profound Stage.


    Clearly, they came prepared. These boys and girls were the cream of the crop of the K Kingdom. As if he were their leader, a twenty-four-year-old man stepped forward and greeted Aurora. "Hello, my name is Shihab, and I''m going to lead our team in the tomb because it doesn''t allow entry for anyone of Earth Profound Stage and above."


    He didn''t know anything about Aurora, but he had been ordered not to offend her. This order came from the king himself, so he guessed she was from some big n in the Empire, given her cultivation.


    Aurora nodded and replied with just one word, "Aurora."


    Shihab nodded, as he had already expected such an attitude. Most people from big ns tended to be arrogant and cold, but he could see that although Aurora was cold, she wasn''t arrogant at all. That put him at ease because he didn''t want any problems in the tomb. After all, he was the leader, and if anything happened, all the me would fall on him.


    Jev saw that everyone had arrived, so he inserted a Mid-tier Profound stone into the boat. Previously, he had used his Profound energy to power up this boat since there were only two people, but now even his energy wouldn''t suffice with this many people, so he used the stone.


    Soon, the boat ascended into the air and flew deep into the forest, as the tomb was located deep in the forest.


    Everyone sat in the corners of the boat, enjoying the breathtaking view of the dense forest.


    Among the fourteen people, Rey was also present, but he was hiding in fear as soon as he saw Aurora, so nobody noticed him. He silently went towards Jev and tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.


    Jev turned and saw his disciple''s face filled with fear. He furrowed his brow and asked, "What happened, Rey? Why are you acting like that?"


    Rey ignored his master''s question and instead asked, "Master, where did you bring that girl from?"


    Jev frowned and said, "Speak clearly."


    Rey, still trembling, said in a low voice, "Master, she''s Aurora Ashborn from the Ashborn n that was annihted in the Coralhelm Kingdom. She''s the adopted daughter of the n''s Patriarch."


    Jev''s eyes widened as he looked at Aurora in shock and then turned to Rey with a solemn expression. "Are you sure?"


    Rey nodded vigorously and said, "Master, for once, I can even forget myself, but not this devil."


    His face was filled with terror, as if he had remembered something horrifying.


    Jev began to contemte, and a sudden realization dawned on him. He thought, ''I see, probably Aurora managed to escape from the annihtion, and that Heaven Profound Stage Artist went after her. Perhaps the expert saw her potential and decided to take her as a disciple and killed that Heaven Profound Stage Artist.''


    ''But if the Ashborn n had such a prodigy, then why didn''t anyone know about it?'' Jev was fully focused and thought further, ''I see, maybe she wasn''t a genius before. Only after meeting the expert did she be a prodigy. It also exins her rapid growth in such a short time.''


    Basically, Jev believed everything was Aadi''s doing. Jev then looked at Rey and asked in confusion, "If nobody recognized her, how do you know her?"


    Rey exined, "It''s because she''s more beautiful now. She wasn''t this beautiful and powerful before. I met her in my travels when I went to the Coralhelm two years ago. I found a Green Lotus Flower, and she took it like a bandit."


    Jev was a little speechless hearing that, and he believed there was more to the story, as Rey wouldn''t fear her like this just over a Green Lotus Flower. Although it was a good treasure, he could easily afford it. He shook his head and didn''t ask any further.


    Although he maintained a calm demeanor externally, he was secretly gloating. Since Aurora''s n was massacred in the Coralhelm Kingdom, he believed it was most likely the royal family who did that, as only they had the power to annihte such a well-known n in such a short time. That made the Coralhelm Kingdom theirmon enemy.


    Soon, the boat began to slow down and stopped when they arrived at the base of arge mountain. There was a fifteen-meter rectangr hole at the base of the mountain, with many runes inscribed on its sides, covered by a thin membrane. Profound Artists were stationed at various distances to ensure that no one else could approach the hole.


    Seeing the boat, they bowed and allowed it to enter. The boatnded a short distance from the hole, and everyone disembarked.


    Aurora gracefully touched down and observed her surroundings, never letting her guard down since she had sensed something in the forest.


    Aurora could see many people who were also observing her team. She sensed many Origin Profound Stage Artists and even Heaven Profound Stage Artists.


    A bald middle-aged man stepped forward and said with a loudugh, "So, you finally arrived, Jev. If you had been a littleter, we would have gone in without you."


    Jev also chuckled and said, "Haha, what are you saying, Mark? We took some time because we had to choose from among many geniuses. You must have it nice, since there are only a few geniuses in your kingdom. I really envy you."


    Mark''s eye twitched upon hearing that. ''If you have so many geniuses, then give us some. We''ll manage.''

 Chapter 25 - 25: The Cave

    <h4>Chapter 25: The Cave</h4>


    As the tension between Mark and Jev began to rise, a middle-ageddy stepped forward from the third group and spoke up.


    "Why are you two fighting like children? Let the youngsters enter and have the opportunity to gain something, perhaps even the inheritance of the Runemaster," she said.


    Thedy was Tapori, a high-ranking member of the royal family of the Blossom Kingdom. This kingdom bordered both the Coralhelm Kingdom and the K Kingdom. Tapori herself was a Sixth Grade Heaven Profound Stage Artist.


    Mark, hailing from the Coralhelm Kingdom, was also a high-ranking individual within his own kingdom. Like Tapori, he too was a Sixth Grade Heaven Profound Stage martial Artist.


    On the other hand, Jev''s cultivation level was previously at the Sixth Grade Profound Stage, making thepetition between them intense. They had known each other since a young age.


    All three of them were present to protect the young men and women who represented the future of their respective kingdoms.


    Jev nodded in agreement with Tapori''s words and gestured for everyone to gather in front of the rectangr hole. Mark and Tapori followed suit.


    Soon, fifty young men and women stood in front of the rectangr hole. There were fifteen from both the K and Coralhelm Kingdoms, while the Blossom Kingdom had sixteen representatives. The remaining four were disciples of rogue Profound Artists. These rogue Martial artists possessed great power and even a single one joining a kingdom could disrupt the bnce. Hence, the kingdoms allowed a limited quota for them.


    Anticipation and nervousness were etched on the faces of the youngsters as they stood under the watchful eyes of the three elders. They entered one by one through the thin membrane.


    As soon as they passed through, they found themselves in a vast cave. Considering they were in a mountain, they didn''t think too much of it and began running further inside.


    The young individuals from the K Kingdom also desired to rush in, but they noticed Aurora, who was looking at the thin membrane with a furrowed brow. Shihab, noticing this, asked, "Is something wrong, Aurora?"


    Aurora continued to gaze at the barrier and just as Shihab was about to inquire further, she finally spoke. "Try attacking the membrane with all your power," she suggested.


    Shihab looked confused for a moment, but after contemting it, he decided to follow her advice. He raised his hands and began condensing water elements, shaping them into an arrow. The arrow became dense and focused, resembling a powerful projectile.


    "Water Arrow," Shihab muttered, beforeunching the condensed arrow towards the thin membrane. The arrow traveled swiftly and struck the membrane, causing an explosion upon impact. Surprisingly, the thin membrane remained intact, showing only minor ripples. It had sustained no damage.


    Shihab was utterly shocked to the core when his strongest attack, which concentrated water elements and possessed incredible speed, failed to cause any damage to the thin membrane. This arrow could easily pierce through the defenses of a Third Grade Earth Profound Stage, yet it had no effect on the barrier.


    "Just as I thought, we''re trapped here. We can''t go back outside, so our only option is to move forward. Let''s proceed with caution," Aurora calmly stated, herposure unwavering. She had anticipated this situation and seemed prepared for it. With that, she began walking deeper into the cave.


    Shihab snapped back to reality and asked, "But what if the elders outside can break through this membrane? Wouldn''t we be saved then?"


    His thoughts were logical, assuming a normal Heaven Profound Stage Artist''s tomb. They could have likely forced their way in with brute force. However, they didn''t want to take any risks in this particr tomb, knowing it belonged to a Runemaster. There was a high possibility of traps being present that would activate if the tomb was destroyed.


    Aurora stopped in her tracks, turning back to face Shihab. "I don''t believe so. This membrane was likely designed to trap us, and the creator of this tomb would have anticipated the arrival of high-level Profound Stage Artists. They would have made preparations. In any case, moving forward is our only choice," she exined.


    Aurora didn''t give any regard to the others, seemingly considering them as mere cannon fodder, especially given the current circumstances.


    "Sounds reasonable enough," Shihab nodded, signaling for everyone to proceed. They all started rushing forward.


    After a short while, they reached a point where the cave split into three paths, presenting them with a choice. Aurora paused, her gaze fixed on the three caves. She sensed a dangerous aura emanating from the second cave, while the other two caves had visible footprints. It appeared that the other two teams had chosen alternate routes, likely sensing the danger present in the second cave.


    Although the second cave emitted a dangerous aura, Aurora had a gut feeling that it was the correct path. Trusting her instincts, she confidently walked towards the second cave.


    The rest of the group, initially confused by Aurora''s choice, had witnessed her astute observation skills and decided to ce their trust in her once again. They followed her lead and ventured into the second cave.


    The cave stretched out before them, seemingly endless, and it took nearly an hour for them to reach its end. Fortunately, they encountered no traps along the way, leaving them in optimal condition. By now, they hadplete faith in Aurora''s abilities. Shihab even felt a tinge of embarrassment as the supposed leader, but he didn''t mind, knowing that Aurora''s leadership had kept the entire team safe.


    Upon exiting the cave, they came across the other team, who were resting there. It was evident that they had just engaged in a battle, as some of them sported minor injuries. It became apparent that they had fallen into the false paths within the other two caves.


    ''What in the world were these guys thinking? It was the most straightforward trap, and yet they failed even in that,'' Aurora eximed, her disbelief evident. She couldn''tprehend how they had managed to fall for such a simple ruse. ''And as for the creator of this tomb, were they inebriated or something when they designed this? Well, I suppose I can''t say much, given that there were those who actually fell for it.''


    Aurora was left utterly speechless by their fellow adventurers'' actions. Theirck of foresight and intelligence meant that their names were not even worth mentioning.

 Chapter 26 - 26: Red Horned Rat

    <h4>Chapter 26: Red Horned Rat</h4>


    As Aurora and herpanions exited the small cave, the other two teams also noticed their return. Observing them without any injuries, the members of the other teams clicked their tongues in annoyance, clearly realizing that the second cave was indeed the right choice.


    Silence hung in the air as they all eyed each other, but it didn''tst long. Suddenly, they heard faint squeaksing from the front. Over time, the squeaks multiplied, echoing from all around them.


    Startled, everyone immediately stood up, their guards raised high, forming tight-knit squads as they stood prepared for any imminent attack.


    Then, unexpectedly, a deafening ''boom'' reverberated from behind them. Every muscle tensed as they spun around to see a thick curtain of dust, stirred up by the impact, obscuring their vision.


    As the dust began to settle, though their sight was still somewhat impaired, they could make out the silhouette of a colossal figure standing before them. The figure slowly opened itsrge, menacing red eyes, sending shivers down their spines.


    Aurora, who had been standing nonchntly, snapped to attention, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the looming creature. "A mid-grade Earth Profound Stage Beast?" she muttered to herself, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "Isn''t this a bit overkill?"


    Profound beasts'' cultivation was categorized simrly to humans. First to third grade was considered Early Grade, fourth to sixth grade as Mid Grade, and seventh to ninth grade as High Grade.


    As the dust finally settledpletely, they could see the figure clearly. It was a massive grey rat with crimson eyes, sporting a menacing one-meter-long red horn on its head. It was a Red Horned Rat, notorious for attacking in hordes.


    Squeaks echoed around them, and in a matter of moments, they found themselves encircled by hundreds of Red Horned Rats, much smaller than the towering creature before them, which appeared to be the leader.


    Any lingering hope they had was shattered as they realized that not a single Red Horned Rat among the hundreds was below the Early Grade Origin Profound Stage. Their numbers were already a disadvantage, and now, even in terms of cultivation, they were at a significant disadvantage. Only a handful of them had reached the Origin Profound Stage. How could they possibly prevail against these odds?


    Though they possessed life-saving treasures bestowed by their elders, even if they managed to survive the onught of rats, the colossal Red Horned Rat remained a menacing presence.


    Aurora observed the despair in the eyes of herrades, but her focus was squarely on the massive Red Horned Rat. She smiled, sensing an opportunity to test her limits. Drawing her ming red daggers, mingo, she began to approach the creature with unwavering determination.


    Addressing Shihab as she passed him, Aurora instructed, "Just cover me and make sure these rats don''t hinder my battle. I''ll take care of the big one."


    Shihab was taken aback by her audacity but quickly responded, "That beast is two major stages higher than you. You''ll get killed. Let me handle it."


    Aurora, still advancing toward the Red Horned Rat, replied calmly, "Don''t worry. As long as these rats don''t interfere, I''ll be fine. I want to push my limits. Focus on your task."


    Shihab wanted to argue further but realized that this was their best option. He was resigned to the fact that he might only be able to stall the colossal creature for a brief time before meeting his end. He had no choice but to ce his trust in Aurora.


    Witnessing this exchange, the other members of the K Kingdom team arrived at the same conclusion. With death seemingly imminent, they decided to give it their all.


    Forming a tight V-formation, they faced outward, determined not to let a single rat breach their defenses.


    Meanwhile, the members of the other two teams, who couldn''t hear or simply didn''t care about the K Kingdom group, steeled themselves for the fight ahead. They were elite warriors who had faced death multiple times, and while fear coursed through them, they refused to go down without a fight.


    The smaller Red Horned Rats surged forward,unching their attacks on the group. On the opposite side, the colossal Red Horned Rat seemed indifferent to its smaller counterparts. Though it couldn''t speak, its demeanor mocked and taunted Aurora as Profound Beasts gain intelligence when they reach Spirit Profound Stage.


    Unfazed by its taunts, Aurora remained focused, observing the colossal creature and formting her battle strategy. Red Horned Rats relied heavily on their physical prowess andcked a wide array of techniques,pensating with their extraordinary strength.


    Aurora possessed a limited reserve of Profound energypared to the Red Horned Rat and knew she couldn''t engage in a prolonged battle using Profound energy and techniques. As a Spirit Profound Stage Artist, her endurance couldn''t match that of the Red Horned Rat.


    With determination, she gripped her daggers in a reverse grip and assumed a battle stance. Profound energy flowed into mingo, enveloping it in mes. She also encased her body in ayer of Profound energy.


    Without hesitation, she dashed toward the colossal Red Horned Rat, her speed remarkable. She closed the gap swiftly and, with precision, shed mingo at the creature''s legs.


    The Red Horned Rat reacted swiftly, swiping its w toward Aurora''s chest. She had no choice but to shift her daggers to defend against the impending strike.


    The force behind the w was overwhelming, and Aurora was sent flying backward, thrown dozens of meters through the air. She managed to stabilize herself mid-air andnded gracefully.


    Her lips curled into a crazed smile as she contemted the battle. "So, you possess such incredible physical strength. I underestimated you, but that''s just fine. It means I can fight to my heart''s content." Aurora assumed her battle stance once more, her determination unwavering, as she charged at the colossal Red Horned Rat with even greater speed than before. This time, she had made up her mind to go all out.


    The w and mingo again collided but this time, neither could push other out, clearly having the same strength.

 Chapter 27 - 27: Penetrating Flames

    <h4>Chapter 27: Prating mes</h4>


    Aurora withdrew the profound energy that was covering her whole body. Since her physical strength wasn''t enough, she decided not to take a direct hit from the Big Red Horned Rat and attack while dodging. She poured her Profound energy into mingo even more as red mes began to dance around her arms.


    The Red Horned Rat wasn''t unharmed from that sh; its paw had some burn marks, and its fur turned ck. Normal mes couldn''t have achieved this; Red Horned Rat''s defenses were high, but these mes originated from mingo.


    mingo, in its sealed state, provided two skills for the wielder. This was the first one: Prating mes. As long as the wielder provided Profound energy, mingo could produce these mes, which held the power to prate almost anything. The more Profound energy the wielder infused into mingo, the more powerful the mes would be.


    The Red Horned Rat saw this and was annoyed that it was hurt by an ant. It turned toward Aurora andunched itself towards her with its sharp w high, clearly intending to tear her apart.


    "Well, it looks like I riled it up. Looks like I''ve to use my movement technique now, ''Friction steps,''" Aurora mumbled and dashed towards the aggrieved Red Horned Rat.


    Friction Steps - A technique that allows the user to control the friction around its body.


    In just a moment, the Red Horned Rat and Aurora were face to face. The Red Horned Rat shed its w at Aurora''s chest with full force. Aurora also raised mingo and attacked the iing w; she nned to take the w head-on as she wanted to test something.


    As soon as the attacks collided, the ground behind Aurora shattered from the force, and her knees bent a little, but she held the daggers tightly and smiled.


    She increased the Profound energy in mingo, and the mes erupted from the daggers, burning the whole paw of the Red Horned Rat.


    The Red Horned Rat felt immense pain and attacked Aurora with its second w. Aurora saw thising and ducked by lowering her body, going behind the Red Horned Rat, and shed her daggers at its back. But she immediately jumped and backed away from her position as her instincts were tingling.


    And her instincts were right, as always, as the ground where Aurora was shattered by the Red Horned Rat''s thick tail.


    "Ipletely forgot about its tail," Aurora steadied herself and yed with her daggers beforeunching herself towards the Red Horned Rat again.


    This time the rat was more aggressive as it attacked with both of its ws rapidly. The rat even used its powerful bite.


    The rat didn''t stop its relentless attack against Aurora. It darted towards her to sh through her chest with its ws but was stopped by a dagger. A sh of dagger and ws ensued, and as Aurora fought, she was also mindful of the rat''s second weapon: its deadly tail.


    Aurora didn''t fight head-on this time and was just dodging its ws. As a w came once again, she jumped mid-air using the paw as support and gave a roundhouse kick to the Rat''s jaw and immediately backed away.


    "Hmm, so let''s see our findings. First, with my physical strength, I could go toe-to-toe with early-grade Earth Profound Stage Beasts, and if I just use my mes, then mid-grade Earth Profound Stage Beasts, and by going all out, I can definitely defeat High-grade Earth Profound Stage Beasts. As for Heaven Profound Stage¡­" As Aurora was contemting, she saw three small Red Horned Ratsing towards her.


    All of them were at Mid-grade Origin Profound Stage, probably slipped by others'' defenses. She turned towards everyone and saw that many had suffered serious injuries.


    She then raised one of the daggers high up and did a vertical sh; a ming sh emerged and shot at the three Red Horned Rats. The sh was very fast and cut the three Rats in half, like a knife cutting bread, and went past them, colliding with a boulder and destroying it.


    A silence reigned in the cave as even the Rats stopped and looked towards Aurora and the dead bodies of three Rats. Everyone had their jaws almost dropped to the ground.


    Cutting three Mid-grade Origin Profound Stage Beasts, just like that. Was she even at Spirit Profound Stage?


    This was a technique she developed herself after knowing the effects of mingo''s Prating mes. A long-ranged attack that cut through the defenses.


    Aurora noticed surrounding Profound energy gathering and turned to look at the source and found the big Red Horned Rat''s horn glowing.


    "So this is how you want to end, huh? With a big move. Well, honestly, you wasted your potential; you couldn''t even use your body to the fullest. Anyways, since you want a big move, I''ll give you that." Aurora smiled and stored her daggers into her and began controlling the lingering mes of mingo with both of her hands.


    She condensed all the mes into a ball and stretched that ball with her fingers to make it look like a red ming arrow. She even infused her Profound energy in it, making it even more dazzling and deadly.


    By now, the Red Horned Rat had also charged its horn with intense Profound energy; the horn was now bright red and shining.


    The Red Horned Ratunched its attack first, as a thick and dense red beam of Profound energy shot out from its horn.


    Aurora also shot out her ming arrow as it traveled rapidly towards the Red beam of the Red Horned Rat.


    A deep, thunderous sound reverberated in the air, making everything around it seem to vibrate as soon as the arrow and beam collided.


    A massive explosion urred from the collision. The impact was felt as much as it was seen. Abination of intense heat, bright mes, and a shockwave that radiated outward from the epicenter mmed everyone.


    Surrounding rocks and boulders were turned into dust by the shockwave.


    After the explosion, the immediate area was in ruins, with charred and mangled remains of rocks.


    Aurora was watching everything with a smile and was thinking, ''This should be enough for luring out the final boss.''"

 Chapter 28 - 28: The Hall

    <h4>Chapter 28: The Hall</h4>


    After the dust settled down, everyone could see the result of the sh between the Red Horned Rat and Aurora.


    Aurora was standing there, unharmed, with her hands crossed on her chest. As for the Red Horned Rat, its whole head was covered in blood, its horn broken, and a deep cut was there on its head.


    The Prating mes itself didn''t have much power, but once it went inside the Rat''s head, ignoring its defenses, it fried the Rat''s mind from the inside.


    Aurora smiled in satisfaction at her creation but immediately frowned when she saw the blood that wasing out of the Rat''s head absorbed by the ground. She thought as she rubbed the bridge of her nose, ''Don''t tell me it''s that shit? Seriously, I nowpletely believe Master; they follow every single step of the novels that Master forced me to read, what a drag.''


    ''Monster.'' Everyone who was watching her just had this thought in their minds. Defeating someone two major stages above was itself monstrous, and she did it without getting any major injuries. She couldn''t be considered a genius anymore; she was in a league of her own.


    Everyone from the K Kingdom understood now why the king was giving such importance to her. She could kill Earth Profound Stages now, but what about when she broke through to Origin Profound Stage?


    As they were thinking, the ground beneath them began to tremble, as if an earthquake wasing. They hurriedly stabilized themselves. Suddenly, a wall to their right shifted, revealing a passage.


    Shihab saw this and shouted, pointing towards the passage, "Everyone, enter that passage, hurry."


    Hearing Shihab, everyone turned to the direction of the passage, and their eyes lit up in hope. They readily stuffed whatever pills they had left and began running towards the passage, ignoring everything.


    Of course, the small Red Horned Rat didn''t stay still and attacked them with their ws and mouths. Some were unfortunate and had their guts cut open by the ruthless rats, and some had their necks bitten.


    Anyone who saw this sight increased their speed even more by using whatever movement technique they had, forcing themselves to the limit.


    Some who almost reached the passage could only despair when they heard squeakings right behind them; they could only hope now and run fast.


    ''If it is as I think, then I can''t let the deaths umte; it will just get worse.'' Aurora thought as she punched a rating to bite her, opening a hole in its chest.


    ''Friction Steps.''


    Aurora activated her movement technique and went in the direction of the passage, maneuvering between the rats. Once she was ahead of all the Rats, she stopped and turned around, facing the Rats.


    She rxed her mind as she took a deep breath and tapped her foot as she whispered, "me wall."


    Instantly, a big and wide wall of mes appeared in front of her; it almost reached the ceiling of the cave. The rats instinctively stayed away from the mes as they remembered the big Red Horned Rat.


    She just gave a nce at the wall and entered the passage along with everyone who survived. Only nine out of fifty managed to survive; even this was amazing considering the number and cultivation of those rats.


    Aurora sat down and asked, "If anyone has the earth element, close the opening of this passage, as my mes won''tst long."


    A man with a great build stood up and said, "I have the earth element; I''ll fix that."


    He went towards the opening and made a wall of earth, just like Aurora did, but he imbued massive amounts of Profound energy to make it sturdier and tougher.


    Everyone had a solemn look and was silently sitting and replenishing their Profound energy reserves. Aurora was also doing the same, as she knew she would face a tough opponent even more dangerous than the Red Horned Rat, so she wanted to be at her best.


    After some time, Aurora stood up, as she was brimming with profound energy now. She said, "There''s no point staying here; you''ll die anyway, so follow me if you want to continue this exploration."


    She didn''t wait for them and walked deep into the passage. Everyone also stood up and followed her. Aurora was the only hope they had if they wanted to be alive, so why would they stay here and die?


    After walking for some distance, Aurora came upon stairs which went downwards; she couldn''t see the end of it.


    Like any sane person, she began descending the stairs. The stairs went very deep, and it took them more than 2 hours to descend.


    When they were at the base of the stairs, they came upon a long corridor. Fortunately, this wasn''t long, and they reached the end quickly, but the sight they witnessed at the end of the corridor left them dumbstruck.


    At the end of the corridory an enormous hall with a white marble floor. The hall was adorned with intricate, golden carvings and featured a high-vaulted ceiling, from which hung crystal chandeliers that bathed the room in a soft, ethereal light.


    As they were observing the hall, a sound of pping alongside a deep voice came, which made everyone''s body tense.


    ''p, p, p.''


    "Wee, wee..."


    Just hearing this annoyed Aurora as she thought, ''Aghh, not this third-rate antagonist''s speech.''


    At the end of the hall, atop a raised dais of white marble, sat a pitch-ck throne. On that throne, a middle-aged man with spiky white hair sat casually while pping with both of his hands.


    "I really didn''t think there would be such talent in this backward ce. I really like those daggers of yours, so I''ll be taking those for safekeeping, as treasures like those can get you killed," the middle-aged man said with a smile as he stared at Aurora intensely.


    Aurora just looked at the middle-aged man for a few seconds and said with a sigh, "Honestly, I''m disappointed in you. I was expecting so much, and you... you disappoint me."


    Aurora was truly disappointed this time, as she was very excited about this trip, but this stupid fuck didn''t even use runes properly for traps or anything, and he was a runemaster; what a disappointment.

 Chapter 29 - 29: Runes

    <h4>Chapter 29: Runes</h4>


    The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes at Aurora''s words. He had worked hard to make this cave, and she was calling it a disappointment. He was also surprised that she could keep her calm after all that.


    "Getting full of yourself just because you''ve got a good talent, huh, little girl?" the middle-aged man said with a chuckle.


    "Well, yes, I''ve got a good talent, so shouldn''t I be proud?" Aurora asked, tilting her head cluelessly.


    The middle-aged man was speechless at this. Somehow, this little girl was getting on his nerves now.


    He decided to teach this little girl a lesson and covered the whole room with his spiritual energy, beginning to pressure the entire group.


    As soon as the pressure descended upon them, everyone except Aurora fell to their knees and coughed up blood.


    The middle-aged man saw Aurora standingpletely fine, without even a frown on her face, and narrowed his eyes even further as he thought, ''She withstood my full spiritual pressure that easily!! My work just got harder, huh? She''s troublesome.''


    Well, Aurora had to fight Aadi under his spiritual pressure in their training, so this spiritual pressure was just a light breeze for her.


    ''Early-grade Heaven Profound Stage! Just as I thought, things are getting out of hand, as he''s a runemaster as well. Fortunately, I didn''t use my Bloodline; it can be my trump card now,'' Aurora looked at the middle-aged man as she remembered Aadi''s teaching about runes.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    After a full eight-hour fighting session, Aurora was now resting, leaning her back against a boulder. She looked at Aadi, who was busy eating a weird fruit he had gotten from who knows where.


    "Master, I want to learn about runes," Aurora asked, as she was fascinated by the ''fight'' of Aadi and Asty and remembered what Aadi had done at that time.


    "Huh, you''ve got a good talent for alchemy, though. Do you want to be both an Alchemist and a runemaster?" Aadi asked after he swallowed the whole weird fruit. He didn''t really have a problem with teaching runes to Aurora; it just depended on her.


    "Not really, I''m content with being an Alchemist, but I''ll encounter runemasters in the future, right? So I''m asking so that I know how to counter them," Aurora shook her head and responded.


    "Hmm, I was gonna teach you that anyway, just a littleter, but if you want to learn now, I''ll exin its basics for you," Aadi said as heid on the same boulder, fully rxed. "It''s way tooplicated for the current you, so if you don''t understand anything, just ignore it; you''ll understand it in the future."


    "So, you can understand runes as a tool one can use to control the atmosphere''s energy as well as the atmosphere. We draw symbols and characters that resonate with the atmosphere and do many miracles. We can make these symbols and characters using our spiritual energy, but that''s too taxing, so only high-level runemasters who have massive reserves of spiritual energy make runes with their spiritual energy."


    "As for others, they use inks made from various rare ingredients and use them to draw runes. This method is mostly used, as one can''t really use the first method on arge scale, no matter how massive their reserves are. Of course, there are exceptions like me and Asty."


    "On that day, I used these runes to make a defensive formation around you and strengthened this whole space to a bullshit level, as I was expecting Asty to fight me with full power, but sigh, whatever."


    Aadi stopped here, letting Aurora digest all the information, and only continued after he saw Aurora was about to ask a question. "Don''t question now; you''ll understandter."


    Aurora had a vein pop on her forehead, but she kept silent and listened to her unreliable master.


    "Since every single rune has a function, we canbine many runes under certain conditions to generate a particr phenomenon. This is called Rune formations. I''ll demonstrate it to you."


    Aadi said as he pointed his hand upward to the sky, and three strange transparent characters appeared just above his hand. These three characters were connected to each other in a triangle with many tiny lines.


    All of a sudden, a big st of mes shot from the triangr formation into the sky. As if finishing the task, the rune formation faded away after that st.


    "You must have sensed the surroundings'' Profound energy when I made that rune formation; it''s because rune formation doesn''t take Profound energy from the runemaster, as it uses the atmospheric energy."


    "So, if you fight a runemaster, observe the opponent''s spiritual energy, as they can make formations like I just did. Check if they use ink; if yes, then check its quality. Also, observe their movements carefully; never underestimate them, as they could just be pretending to get beaten and make a formation sneakily."


    Aadi finished his monologue as he thought this was enough for Aurora now. He knew there were many ws in his exnation, but she would have to discover them herself.


    Aurora nodded and repeated Aadi''s exnation in her mind.


    ¡ª-----


    Aurora saw through the spiritual energy of the middle-aged man and determined that it was of a Heaven Profound Stage Artist. She turned towards others and helped everyone get to the corridor, thinking, ''These guys are really cannon fodder; that''s why I didn''t remember their names.''


    The middle-aged man just let Aurora do her thing, as he didn''t really care about the others; they would die anyway, so who cares where they are? They can''t get out of this ce.


    As both of them were nning their own ns, they were oblivious to two beings who were sitting on top of a nearby pir.


    Aadi had sunsses on and a big bucket of popcorn in his hands as he watched everything from the top. Asty, as always, was sitting on his head and asionally popping popcorn in her mouth.


    "Will you interfere if things go wrong there?" Asty asked.


    "Don''t worry; it won''t reach that point. Just watch as this will be my disciple''s first real battle. Hehe, I''m really excited," Aadi replied as he munched on the popcorn.

 Chapter 30 - 30: Sea of Flames

    <h4>Chapter 30: Sea of mes</h4>


    Asty popped another popcorn into her mouth and asked, "Did you tell her everything about runes?"


    Aadi shook his head and said, "Of course not. I just taught her some basics. Though I didn''t tell her everything, I want to see how her mind works when she''s facing something unknown."


    Asty then began focusing on the silent battlefield.


    On the other hand, Aurora had decided to send everyone into the corridor because of two things. First, the blood absorption she had seen before, and second, she wanted to observe the surroundings before fighting.


    After sending everyone back, Aurora began walking toward the throne as she took out her mingo. She asked while walking, "Do you have some stories of yours to tell me?"


    The middle-aged man looked at Aurora with a strange expression as he thought, ''We''re going to battle, and you want to hear my story! Whatever, I''m going to take her body, so I might as well tell.''


    "My name is Liam, and I am an Early-grade Tier 2 Runemaster. I was nearing the end of my life as I suffered some major injuries from my enemies when I chanced upon an ancient realm where I gained the inheritance of a Tier 3 Runemaster, I''m not sure though. But since I was about to die, the inheritance wasn''t of much value to me, but I discovered two rune formations in the inheritance."


    "One of them allowed me to keep my body and spirit stagnant, or should I say it stops the time for my body and spirit. The second one was a formation that allowed me to transfer my spirit to someone else''s body if their spirit is weaker than mine, basically, I get everything they have."


    "So I made this tomb of mine and engraved those two formations here. But almost 100 years went by, and nobody came. But the result was worth the wait; you''re quite talented, and if I take your body, I''m pretty sure this time I can rise even more."


    After finishing his monologue, Liam stood up, his face showing pure anticipation and excitement. He was looking forward to taking over Aurora''s body and avenging himself.


    Aurora, on the other hand, didn''t even pay much attention to Liam''s speech, as she was just wasting time so she could check if there are any offensive formations here. Although she wasn''t a Runemaster, she has researched about them in her resting time.


    ''There aren''t any big formations here, just some small ones here and there. Pretty sure they wore down after such a long period. As for the main two formations, I guess the blood he took from those who died was used in those formations. Even so, I have to be on guard,'' Aurora thought as she finished her observation and turned her head toward Liam.


    ''As I expected, this is the body-swapping cliche, tch.'' Aurora clicked her tongue in annoyance as she didn''t really like this trope. As she looked at Liam, she said, "You have lived a shitty life, so let me end this pathetic life of yours?"


    ''You''re also saying those shitty dialogues, you know.''


    Aurora felt that she heard her master, but she ignored it as she thought it was just her hallucinations.


    Liam looked at Aurora in interest. He said, "You''re wee to try."


    "Rock Fall," Liam whispered under his breath.


    Aurora raised her brows in surprise as she thought, ''So a chant is needed to activate a formation, no maybe there are other ways aside from chanting but this guy uses chants to activate the formations.''


    All of a sudden, many runes connected with each other with small lines appeared on the ceiling just above where Aurora was standing. A big spherical rock with a diameter of around ten meters came out of the Rune Formation and began falling on Aurora.


    Aurora didn''t even try to avoid it and shed with her mingo at the uing rock. A big ming sh just like before shot out from the mingo at the rock. The sh cut the rock in half and collided with the formation, resulting in shattering it.


    Both halves of the rock dropped on both sides of Aurora and shattered into many pieces.


    Liam squinted his eyes and thought, ''That me from the daggers is more troublesome than I expected; it even destroyed that formation.''


    At first, Liam just saw the fight between Aurora and the Red Horned Rat from far away, so he wasn''t sure about the power of Prating mes. That''s why he used the formation to probe the Prating mes.


    There were three ways to destroy a formation: the first one was to find the eye of the formation and close the formation from it; the second one was to find the weakest point of the formation and destroy it so that the formation stops functioning; the third one was the simplest, just destroy the formation with overwhelming power.


    The first two were very hard, as it was very difficult to find the eye of the formation, which was the most important part of the formation. The same was true for the second one, as other parts of the formation covered up the weakest point. That''s why the third one was the simplest but hardest, as it needed you to be very strong, capable of generating that overwhelming attack to destroy the whole formation.


    What Aurora did was simple; she just used a powerful attack that even the rock formation couldn''t handle.


    "Quite a powerful attack, but you''re depending too much on those daggers, you know. I would like to see how you fight once I take those daggers from you," Liam said as he stared at the mingo with interest.


    "Ohh, so you think all my poweres from these daggers, hehe then let me show you something good." Aurora felt amused by Liam''s words and said with a small crazy smile on her face.


    All of a sudden, mes began appearing on Aurora''s body. Slowly, they covered her whole body. Aurora didn''t stop there as she let the mes loose, and they filled the whole hall in seconds. The whole hall looked like a purgatory.


    With Aurora as the center, a sea of fire was formed in the massive hall.


    -------------------


    Hey, I''ve made my discord server, although it''s dead for now as nobody''s there but you can join it as I''m mostly avable there.


    https://discord.gg/hyuh5vqH

 Chapter 31 - 31: Liam vs Aurora

    <h4>Chapter 31: Liam vs Aurora</h4>


    Seeing the situation, Liam also revealed his element, which was water. He did the same as Aurora, but his water wasn''t drowning him; it functioned like a field. It also dispersed the mes and didn''t allow them to get near Liam.


    Aurora was standing in the middle of a sea of fire, mes covering her body. She put force on her legs and was ready for an attack.


    "<i>Friction Steps</i>." Aurora used her movement technique and shot at Liam at a speed far superior to before. The best way to fight a Runemaster was closebat, as they would have a hard time activating already formed formations.


    Liam smiled upon seeing that and brought his right hand forward, muttering "<i>Water serpent</i>." Numerous small water serpents began forming on the tips of his fingers, which he shot at Aurora with such speed that they reached her in just a few seconds.


    Aurora didn''t slow down a bit and continued zigzagging her way toward Liam. The first water serpent was soon going to hit her belly, but it evaporated as Aurora focused the mes on the spot the serpent was aiming for. There were many serpents, but due to her control over mes, maniption of the me over her body was smooth, and she managed to avoid getting hit by most of them.


    Aurora had given equal time to me control as she had to her Lightning control. She wanted to be an Alchemist, and me control was a must for it. She even had the Eight Apertures Exquisite Pill Heart, which helped her control the mes.


    She used her Friction Steps for whatever serpents remained. Although it was initially a movement technique, she had begun to use its concepts in situations like these.


    Aurora usually decreased friction between her legs and the surface to increase her speed. Now she did the opposite and increased the friction around her body. Of course, this resulted in her stopping since she was still in the starting phase of learning Friction.


    Liam saw this chance and whispered, "Earth Spike."


    Aurora was having a hard time dealing with the water serpents as she could sense the dense water element in them,bined with their insane speed. She was sure to lose her skin if they hit her. As she was thinking of ways to get out of the encirclement of the water serpents, her instincts screamed of danger behind her. Without thinking twice, she jumped up with her full power.


    ''Boom.''


    A small explosion urred where Aurora had previously been, as a sharp spikeing out of the ground met with the numerous water serpents.


    Aurora wasn''t unscathed. When she was jumping, her defenses were weak, and two water serpents had hit her: one at her thigh and the second one at her left hand. Blood was spewing out of the wounds as the holes were one cm deep.


    Auroranded a little distance away and stared at Liam warily. She was sure she could deal with his attacks if she used her lightning, but the instant activation of the formation was causing her problems, as she wasn''t even getting time to react. The only reason she was able to avoid that spike was because of her instincts.


    Aurorapletely ignored the wounds as if they weren''t even there and thought, ''Why am I even thinking so much? I always bring out my full potential when I''m fully depending on my instincts, even Master said this.''


    Aurora again jumped up and in mid-air she crossed both of her daggers above her and shed down, a cross-shaped wave of Prating mes cleaved its way towards Liam rapidly.


    At first, she was conserving the Prating mes because they consumed a massive quantity of profound energy, but now she was going to let loose.


    She positioned herself and gathered the mes from the surroundings as much as she could at the base of her legs. She decreased the friction around her body and shot at Liam directly behind the me wave.


    Liam stared at the uing ming wave with a stupefied expression. What Aurora had shown today had surpassed his expectations. He had seen many geniuses when he roamed the Starhaven continent, but nobody couldpare to Aurora. It wasn''t because of her cultivation; it was because of her instincts.


    The earth spike had reached her in less than a second, but she was still able to avoid it. He had thought that even if she reacted fast enough, as he thought she was a genius, she should have received some damage.


    But he was an experienced person and broke out of his daze instantly. He punched out with all his power, resulting in the formation of a big water fist that met the terrifying prating mes, causing the whole hall to fill with dense mist.


    Just after the mist was created, Aurora arrived near Liam and thrust her dagger at Liam''s neck.


    ''So the mes aren''t invincible. If used with enough power, even they can be extinguished,'' Liam thought as he parried the dagger aimed at his neck with his sword.


    Liam and Aurora began to fight in close range as their daggers and swords collided with each other.


    Although Liam was a Runemaster, he loved fighting. It was clearly shown now.


    The difference wasn''t much between them, as Liam had years of experience that Aurora couldn''t win against with just a few months of training. But shepensated for it with her instincts as she avoided most of the attacks on her vitals.


    After a final sh, they both separated and distanced themselves.


    Currently, both of them were riddled with shes and cuts, blood all over their bodies. Still, they didn''t even groan in pain and just stared at each other.


    "You''re quite skilled for your age," Liam said, wiping blood from the corner of his lips with a chuckle, marveling at Aurora''s pain tolerance.


    "And you''re quite weak for a Heaven Profound Stage Artist," Aurora replied with a chuckle as she also wiped the blood from her face. "What? Don''t have any profound techniques to use?"


    Contrary to her expectations, Liamughed loudly and said, "Haha, you''re right, I''m at my weakest. As for techniques, it''s true I never really learned them. For me, only two things mattered: Runes and pure closebat. Why would I waste my timeprehending those useless techniques?"


    Aurora looked at Liam with a speechless expression.

 Chapter 32 - 32: Aadi鈥檚 Death

    <h4>Chapter 32: Aadi''s Death</h4>


    Liam said, "The only profound technique I have learned is water serpent, so I''m not really using my full potential. Well, whatever, you''ve given me a good fight, but it''s time to end this."


    Aurora scoffed and said, "I''m just starting."


    "Before fighting again, why don''t you watch this?" Liam smiled and said.


    All of a sudden, Liam stabbed his sword to his right direction. Since mist was all over the ce, it wasn''t clear what he stabbed, but soon blood spilled, and it was revealed what or who was stabbed.


    Aurora watched in horror as she saw the familiar silver-white hair standing there with Liam''s sword in his chest.


    Aadi tried to take the sword out but coughed up blood in trying; it was clear there wasn''t any hope of his survival as the sword went right through the heart.


    He slowly turned his almost lifeless eyes towards Aurora and said weakly, "Run, Aurora. He''s very powerful. Don''t let my sacrifice be in vain."


    Liam smiled and took out his sword and threw Aadi''s body behind him. Aadi''s eyes were turning lifeless as he gazed at Aurora warmly and said hisst words, "...run."


    mingo dropped from Aurora''s hand as she rushed towards Aadi in panic.


    Liam was waiting for this as he covered his sword with the water element, just waiting for Aurora to get in range.


    When the distance between Liam and Aurora was just two meters, yellow lightning began crackling around Aurora as she arrived in front of Liam in an instant, in her right hand was a thin needle of dense lightning. Just by its presence, the needle was making the surroundings air heavy and high in temperature.


    Liam was too shocked at the sudden change of situation, so he was toote for dodging the attack of Aurora. He hurriedly made a barrier of profound energy in front of him.


    Aurora didn''t seem to care about the barrier and increased the amount of lightning around her even more as she shot her right palm towards Liam''s left chest.


    Liam''s barrier crumbled like a sheet of ss as soon as it got in contact with Aurora''s lightning, and Aurora''s palmnded on Liam''s left chest as she shot the lightning needle inside his heart.


    ''<i>Boom</i>.''


    Aurora whispered and detonated the needle, sting Liam''s left side into smithereens, blood and flesh exploded everywhere as lightning crackled all around.


    Aurora wiped Liam''s blood off her face as she watched Liam stagger and fall backward,ying in his own pool of blood, looking at her with a shocked and questioning gaze.


    Aurora went and sat beside himfortably and began talking, "When I said I was starting, I meant it, dumbass. You know I was beginning to enjoy the fight, and you just have to pull the worst card. If you''re wondering about that Illusion formation of yours, don''t worry; it worked on me, but the target you chose was wrong."


    Aurora beganughing as she remembered Aadi''s face in the illusion formation, and only after some time, she controlled herself as she continued, "Although I have known my master for a short time, I know at least some things about him. First of all, he''s arrogant to the bone, and that person admitting someone else is stronger than him, don''t make meugh. That illusion was full of ws. In the first ce, you couldn''t even touch him, let alone defeat him, so I knew from the start that it was an illusion formation."


    Liam smiled in self-mockery as he realized he could have fought a better fight if he used other things in his arsenal. He closed his eyes as he began waiting for his death.


    Aurora then took out a healing pill given by Aadi and ate it. She also took out a small strange red transparent sphere and after pouring some profound energy into it, she ced it near Liam.


    "I don''t know how it works, but since it was made by my master, it should work," Aurora murmured and stood up. She looked at the once mesmerizing hall, which was devastated by their battle, and nodded in satisfaction. Then she checked her condition. By now, some of her wounds had healed, so she ran towards the corridor where everyone was.


    The moment she arrived at the corridor and everyone saw her, their eyes went wide, and no words wereing out of their mouths. They were wondering the same thing: ''How is she even standing with those wounds, and what''s with all that blood?''


    Currently, Aurora was covered in blood from head to toe, cuts all over her body, and her clothes ripped in many parts. She looked like a beasting out after battle.


    Aurora didn''t care about their gazes and said, "I have severely injured him, but he has activated a formation that will blow up this whole tomb. So if you want to live, run towards the entrance."


    Just after saying that, she went inside the corridor. Everyone stared at each other and also followed Aurora.


    Shihab caught up with Aurora and said in admiration, "You defeated him? You''re really powerful. I''m sure he was much strongerpared to the Red Horned Rat, and you still defeated him."


    Aurora shook her head and said, her voice filled with regret, "I just won by fluke. If he was in his prime, I would have been dead in the first minutes. Besides, we didn''t get any treasures."


    Shihab turned speechless as he thought, ''We''re rejoicing here that we''re getting out safely, and you still want treasures!''


    He decided to stay silent and end their conversation.


    Unknown to them, a gray mist began appearing around Liam''s dead body, and after it covered his whole body, Liam''s body disappeared from there.


    "Hehe, Asty, looks like it''s beginning now," Aadi smiled and said.


    "Yes, and it looks like their opponents are going to be very troublesome. Hmm, this is going in an interesting direction," Asty also agreed with Aadi.


    "But still, I didn''t think it was the Infernals who would be the ones invading," Aadi said as he recognized the gray mist as it was the innate technique of many Infernals.


    [A/N:- My discord server


    https://discord.gg/fRHG8xe9 ]

 Chapter 33 - 33: Analyzing

    <h4>Chapter 33: Analyzing</h4>


    "Well, Infernals are a bunch of annoying things, but they''ll mostly face some low-level ones. Well, that aside, did you enjoy your disciple''s first fight?" Asty asked as she munched on the popcorn.


    "I don''t know what to say. I like how she used the situation to her favor, but I didn''t enjoy it much, so I''ll just give this battle six out of ten," Aadi said as he put his hand on the bucket to take thest popcorn, but another w already took it before he could.


    Aadi''s face darkened as he said in a low voice, "Give that back, Asty."


    Asty just snorted and ate the popcorn and licked her paw.


    "I was thinking of getting another one of those boxes, but now it seems it isn''t necessary," Aadi chuckled and said sinisterly.


    Asty''s eyes widened, and she said stuttering, "Y-Y-You''re joking, right? You can''t do this. I''m telling you, you''ll regret it."


    This time, Aadi scoffed and teleported himself to his bookstore. Asty, realizing that nothing can be done now, also teleported back to the bookstore.


    On the other side, Aurora was climbing up the stairs while analyzing her battle.


    She was sure that the power level she faced wasn''t of the Heaven Profound Stage, even though Liam was a Heaven Profound Stage Artist. Aadi had taught her about the differences in various cultivation Realms.


    First, Foundation Profound Stage. In this stage, you have to build your foundation as solid as you can, mainly strengthening the physical body.


    Second, Essence Gathering Profound Stage. In this, you have to sense the profound energy in the atmosphere and take it into the body, storing it across the body.


    Third, Spirit Profound Stage. In this stage, you have to create an ethereal spirit of your consciousness.


    Fourth, Origin Profound Stage. In this stage, you have to create an origin core just below your heart, which lets you store profound energy in massive quantities and even increases the quality of the profound energy.


    Fifth, Earth Profound Stage. In this stage, you have to solidify the origin core as hard as earth, meaning the harder and more solid the origin core, the more profound energy it can store.


    Sixth, Heaven Profound Stage. In this stage, you have to connect the origin core with environmental profound energy.


    Aurora didn''t understand much about this stage as it was far for her, but she knew that after connecting the origin core with environmental profound energy, one can gain the ability to fly and levitate.


    The Heaven Profound Stage Artists are considered to be very powerfulpared to Earth Profound Stage Artists. After you connect your origin core to the environmental profound energy, you gain immense control over profound energy and techniques.


    That''s why they are named Heaven and Earth, because they have the difference of heaven and earth. One Heaven Profound Stage Artist can defeat ten Earth Profound Stage Artists.


    This was the reason Aurora didn''t know why, but she was sure that Liam wasn''t using the power of the Heaven Profound Stage.


    Aurora''s eyes lit up as she remembered the strike Liam used to disperse the Prating mes. That punch contained the power of the Heaven Profound Stage, now that she thought about it.


    ''Maybe he has some hidden injuries that he didn''t recover from,'' Aurora could onlye to this conclusion; otherwise, there was no way one would lower his power level in a life-and-death match.


    Another thing Aurora noticed was the rune formations. At first, she thought the two big formations that Liam talked about were engraved by him. But Liam didn''t activate them even when he was going to die. That only leaves one conclusion: he wasn''t the one who engraved them.


    ''Maybe it was the Tier 3 Runemaster that dumbass was talking about who engraved those, and that dumbass just used them. Well, I have much to learn; it looks like I have to talk to Master,'' Aurora thought as she finally reached the top of the stairs.


    Aurora then went towards the ce where she fought Red Horned Rat and stopped, seeing the wall in front of her.


    "Ah, Ipletely forgot about those shrimps of Red Horned Rats," Aurora facepalmed and muttered.


    By then, everyone had arrived. Shihab went forward and asked, "How much time do you think we have? We can''t kill all those rats, especially since you''re heavily injured."


    Aurora shook her head and said, "Well, one of us has to stay and shift their focus until everyone has entered those caves. We can do the same as we did here in those caves."


    Everyone''s face paled when they heard Aurora; nobody wanted to stay as that was a suicidal move.


    "Oh yeah, I''m not staying, as I can for sure survive. I''m just helping with whatever I can," Aurora said as she sat down near the wall. "And decide quickly; we don''t have much time before this tomb explodes."


    Everyone began eyeing each other, as they were truly afraid. Aurora scoffed in her heart at these so-called geniuses of the kingdoms. Just after going through this much, they were already this afraid.


    After some time passed and seeing that the situation was going nowhere, a small boy came forward and said, "I''ll handle those damn rats. I''m a fifth-grade Origin Profound Stage Artist with the wind element as my element, so I''m much faster than those rats. I was the first one to arrive here, so leave those rats to me."


    The boy wasn''t an idiot; he just wanted to survive. His specialty was his agility, and hisbat power was very low. So, if he went alone, he wasn''t sure that he would survive.


    Everyone heaved a sigh of relief and looked gratefully at the boy.


    Seeing that they had made the decision, Aurora stood up and looked at the boy who was standing beside her.


    The boy nodded at her, signaling that he''s ready. Aurora then gathered some profound energy in her fists, making them even bloodier as some cuts opened up.


    She then punched the wall in front of her, and cracks began appearing on the wall, which copsed rapidly.


    "Eh? How''s he still alive?" Aurora asked in a surprised tone.

 Chapter 34 - 34: Rey is alive?

    <h4>Chapter 34: Rey is alive?</h4>


    "Eh? How''s he still alive?" Aurora asked in a surprised tone.


    Aurora saw a young man hiding behind a small boulder of rock. Surprisingly, no red-horned rats were attacking him as if he wasn''t there.


    The sound of the wall copsing had also gathered the attention of the red-horned rats. They were scattered all around. As soon as they saw who it was, they all began running towards the group.


    Aurora thought for a moment and said, turning to Shihab and pointing towards the young man, "Hey, can you get that boy here?"


    Shihab followed Aurora''s hand and also saw Rey. He was surprised as he recognized the young man; he was Jev''s disciple, Rey. He was really surprised to see him alive, as he thought he had died.


    Shihab then answered Aurora, "Yes, don''t worry, I can get him here. Can you stop those rats from getting here?"


    Aurora nodded in response and signaled to hurry up as the rats were getting closer. Shihab understood the situation and ran towards Rey with his movement technique.


    One red-horned rat came in front of him and attacked him. Shihab just shot a water bullet which hit the forehead of the rat, killing it.


    He was an Eighth-grade Origin Profound Stage Artist, maneuvering among these rats was easy for him. He soon reached Rey, who was crouching down as if to hide his existence, after killing a bunch of red-horned rats.


    Shihab knew they didn''t have much time, so he just picked up Rey on his shoulders. Rey eximed in surprise, "No!!! Don''t eat me! My meat doesn''t taste good!!"


    Shihab''s eyes twitched after hearing Rey and he shouted in a low voice, "Shut up! Did you eat your own meat or what, idiot?"


    Rey came back to his senses hearing the familiar voice and said, "Shihab? Why are you back? Did something happen?"


    "I''ll tell youter, but for now, just be quiet and fend off the rats which get in our way," Shihab responded and ran towards the group.


    This time Rey also attacked the rats which were in the way, and they soon reached the group. Upon arriving, they witnessed that everyone was keeping the rats at bay by firing a multitude of attacks of various elements.


    Since they had been freeloading until now, Aurora had ordered them to keep the red-horned rats away from the cave.


    Since they just needed to defend with everyone, it was much easier for them.


    Aurora stood up and gestured for everyone to back away a little. She then took out her mingo and gathered prating mes.


    She rxed her mind as she took a deep breath and tapped her foot as she whispered, "me wall."


    Same as before, instantly, a big and wide wall of mes appeared in front of her; it almost reached the ceiling of the cave. The rats instinctively stayed away from the mes as they remembered the big Red Horned Rat.


    Aurora then looked at Rey, who was standing beside Shihab, and said, "How did you conceal your presence from the rats?"


    Everyone''s eyes widened when they realized that they couldn''t sense Rey; if they weren''t seeing him standing there, they would have just ignored him.


    Rey took a step back in fear hearing Aurora and replied with a low voice, "My master gave me an artifact that conceals the user''s presence. As long as the opponent doesn''t exceed the Earth Profound Stage and isn''t focusing on me, I could erase my presence from them."


    ''Just as I expected,'' Aurora thought as she smiled and said, pointing at the boy, "Then you can give that artifact to him; he''s going to distract the rats so we could escape, soter he could use that artifact."


    Rey hesitated a little but remembering Aurora''s past actions and her strength, he took out a small cuboid-shaped gray-colored metal box with some small rune formations engraved on it. He gave it to the boy, who took it and imbued his Profound energy in it.


    His presence instantly disappeared, and to everyone, he wasn''t even there. He saw everyone''s reaction and understood that the artifact was working. He then retracted his Profound energy as he didn''t need the artifact now.


    He then took a deep breath and activated his movement technique ''Heavenly Wind'' and leaped across the diminishing mes.


    He danced around the battlefield as he attracted the attention of the rats by attacking them and led them to the opposite side from the three caves.


    The group, seeing the chance, ran at their full speed towards the second cave.


    They encountered some rats, but they dealt with them easily and reached the second cave.


    Aurora then fired a me bullet at the ceiling, which was a signal for the boy. He understood that, and after going behind a big rock boulder, he activated the artifact, and his presence was concealed.


    He then, in his concealed state, moved slowly along the walls and soon reached the second cave, while the whole group of angry red-horned rats was confused as to where their target had gone. In anger, they smashed the surroundings.


    The boy turned his head, saw the destruction caused by the Red Horned Rats, and had a drop of sweat on his forehead. He thanked the heavens and met with everyone. He also gave the artifact back to Rey.


    Shihab then gestured to the big man who had made a wall before to do the same to this one. The big man silently went and made an earth wall which covered the whole cave.


    "We don''t have much time, so hurry up," Aurora said and began walking towards the entrance of the tomb. The group also followed her.


    It didn''t take long for them to reach the entrance where Aurora again facepalmed.


    ''I''m really forgetting important things,'' Aurora thought as she looked at the sealed entrance with an irritated expression.


    When everyone arrived at the sealed entrance, they felt as if the temperature of the surroundings had dropped. They shuddered for some reason.


    Aurora turned towards everyone with a terrifying expression on her face.


    Everyone took a step back in fear.

 Chapter 35 - 35: Explosion

    <h4>Chapter 35: Explosion</h4>


    Everyone took a step back in fear, seeing Aurora''s twisted face.


    "You see, you''ve all been freeloading until now, so you''d better do something productive now. I can see that the seal has weakened, so break it; I''m resting," Aurora ordered, and ignoring everyone, she sat a little distance away. "Oh yeah, since this seal has weakened, it means that Liam guy has died, so the tomb could explode anytime now."


    Hearing Aurora, the group immediately began to use their strongest attacks on the seal. After a few minutes, some cracks began to appear on the seal, which made the group ecstatic. They unleashed their attacks without caring for their Profound energy reserves or anything.


    But only cracks were appearing, and the seal didn''t look like it would break soon.


    Among the attacks, a big me wave hit a bigger crack, and the seal broke like a mirror and dissolved in the air.


    Of course, that attack was from Aurora, who was getting impatient as the thing she had ced beside Liam could explode at any moment.


    She then jumped out of the entrance as everyone followed her.


    They heaved a sigh of relief as soon as they got outside; finally, they were safe.


    The three elders of the three kingdoms also arrived soon after sensing them. They frowned when they saw the number of people who survived. Especially after seeing Aurora''s condition, they were really stunned to see her like that.


    Jev went to Shihab and asked, "What happened inside? Why did only eleven of you survive?"


    Max and Tapori also listened closely to their conversation.


    However, before Shihab could say anything, the earth beneath them began to stir.


    At first, there was a low, ominous rumbling, like the growl of a slumbering giant awakening from a deep sleep. The air crackled with tension, and the ground trembled beneath the feet of everyone. The mountain''s once-steady facade began to fracture, as if the earth itself were breaking free of its rocky prison.


    All of a sudden, with a super loud noise that shook the whole world, the mountain burst open. Smoke and dust shot up into the sky, blocking out the sun and turning day into night.


    The three elders hurriedly erected a barrier covering everyone, pouring every ounce of their profound energy into a single barrier. They felt death hovering over them and knew everyone would die if this barrier broke.


    Eventually, the barrier couldn''t handle the pressure and broke. Fortunately, Tapori used a defensive artifact and covered everyone. The other two also supplied the artifact with profound energy.


    The noise was deafening, like a thousand thunderstorms happening all at once. The rocks sizzled and popped from the extreme heat, and animals ran away in fear. Lightning shed inside the dark cloud of dust, making it look like the end of the world.


    The mountain kept exploding, and it seemed like the Earth itself was crying. There was a rush of hot mud and rocks rolling down the mountain, causing even more chaos. The ground kept shaking, and even the elders were stunned by the incredible, wild power of it all.


    Aurora was just watching the destruction with a drop of sweat on her forehead.


    ''Phew, now I feel grateful that the dumbass died easily,'' Aurora thought. Aadi had just told her that the stone just explodes and could even kill Heaven Profound Stage Artists. That''s why she was confident when she was fighting. If she had used this as her trump card, she would surely have died with Liam.


    Only after what felt like an eternity did everything calm down, and Tapori retracted her artifact. She was breathing heavily as using the artifact took a toll on her body.


    What they saw left them dumbstruck; they could only describe the aftermath with only two words: pure devastation.


    In the aftermath, the once-mighty mountain now looked like a broken and smoky ruin. It was all messy and destroyed, and thend around it became a perilous and transformedndscape.


    The elders were now even more curious as to what had caused such destruction. They were sure that even they couldn''t produce an attack of this level.


    Jev turned and looked at Shihab, who had just calmed down. Shihab noticed Jev''s gaze and understood, so he told him about everything from red-horned rats to Liam and how Aurora herself defeated him, although they didn''t watch how it ended.


    Shihab could have told everything to Jev after they reached the kingdom, but since everyone already saw everything, there was no point in hiding.


    As for the three elders, the more they heard, the more dumbfounded they became, especially when Shihab told them about the battle between Aurora and Liam, who was at the Peak-grade Earth Profound stage, ording to him. Their eyes almost popped out of their sockets.


    ''I have to have her on our side or she has to die; the K kingdom can''t have such a genius. She''ll definitely be a problem for us in the future,'' Mark thought as he nced at Aurora, who was still looking at the devastation. Unconsciously he released some killing intent towards Aurora, but that was only for a moment as he controlled himself.


    Of course, Aurora immediately turned her head, sensing the killing intent. Even if it was released for a moment, it was easy for her to sense it. Seeing who it was, an idea came to Aurora''s mind.


    She dropped to her knees and coughed up blood, her body trembling, and blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. She stared at Mark with a determined look and shouted, "How could you bully a junior as a senior, even though I saved everyone from your kingdom?"


    Mark, who was nning his ns for Aurora, became dumbfounded hearing the usations Aurora ced on him.


    Jev also turned his attention to Aurora, hearing her shout, and as soon as he saw her situation, fear and anger rose in his heart, and he immediately released his full power of High-grade Heaven Profound Stage. His mind was just filled with one thought: ''I''m really gonna die if the expert finds out about this.''


    Mark and Tapori both looked at Jev in horror and amazement as they thought the same thing: ''Seventh-Grade Heaven Profound Stage!!''"

 Chapter 36 - 36: Compensation

    Chapter36 - 36: Compensation


    All ns of killing Aurora vanished from Mark''s mind. There was nothing he could do now that Jev had reached the Seventh-grade Heaven Profound Stage. Even Tapori silently went to check up on the survivors of her kingdom, clearly showing that whatever was going to happen had nothing to do with her.


    The gap between Seventh-grade and Sixth-grade was huge. It was considered a minor stage on its own. That''s why terms such as early, mid, and high grade were used among the cultivation stages.


    If Jev decided to attack him, even if he somehow survived, he was sure to suffer major injuries and might even be left with a lifetime of them. He didn''t want that.


    Jev asked in a low voice, controlling his anger, "What is the meaning of this, Mark? Do you want to kill a genius from our kingdom in front of my eyes?"


    "What the heck are you saying? I didn''t do anything. That girl is just making things up," Mark shouted in his defense. He was truly bewildered by how things were going.


    As if waiting for the moment, Aurora coughed up even more blood. Her face went pale, and she looked like she could die at any moment.


    Jev was even more horrified and hurriedly went toward Aurora, giving her some high-quality healing pills. He then looked at Mark and growled, "Do you still want to deny it? Can''t you clearly see what you have done? Let me tell you, if anything happens to her, I''ll hunt you down to the ends of the earth."


    "Don''t be arrogant, Jev, just because you''re more powerful now. I said I didn''t do anything, which means I didn''t do anything. If you still don''t believe me, you can do whatever you want. Coralhelm isn''t afraid of anyone," Mark hissed in anger. He was truly on the verge of exploding, and he hadn''t even done anything yet.


    Jev was going to rebuke Mark but Aurora stopped him by putting her hand on his shoulder and said in a weak voice "I don''t want the kingdoms to go on war for me, I''ll be happy as long as hepensates me with something."


    Everyone turned speechless and looked at Aurora with various type of gazes.


    ''Who''s going to war for you? And whatpensation, it''s clear that you''re trying to scam me.'' Mark wanted to shout those words at Aurora but he kept them in.


    By now, even Jev had calmed down and understood that Aurora was just trying to scam Mark. Of course, he decided to support her. He always wanted to get back at Mark, and now this was a good chance. How could he let it go?


    Jev hesitated but, as ifing to an agreement on something, he sighed and said, "Fine, I''ll do as you say. But you''re too kind for this world, Aurora. You''re letting go of a person who tried to kill you so that the innocent soldiers of our kingdom don''t die a pointless death. Don''t worry, I''ll make Mark give you thepensation you deserve."


    Jev''s tone was full of righteousness, and it looked like he was ready to fight for justice.


    This time even Aurora looked at Jev with a speechless expression. ''The hell!! Where do these soldiers and sacrificee from? What the heck are you talking about, old man!? But I have to say, his acting is good. He can actually do an act with me.''


    By now, every single person had understood the situation, as Aurora''s and Jev''s acting was way too bad. Even a ten-year-old child could do better acting than them.


    They were all thinking of just how shameless they could get.


    But in Jev''s and Aurora''s view, their acting was top ss, and they were even proud of it.


    Jev then turned his head to Mark and said in an overbearing tone, "Mark, since Aurora has decided to forgive you, I won''t attack you, but you better give her suitablepensation."


    Mark understood his situation, since they had already decided, what was the point in arguing? ''Since you have a big fist, you can do whatever you want.'' Mark knew that, so he just took out a broadsword and threw it at Jev regretfully.


    "It''s a broadsword named Firestorm, and it''s an Origin Grade sword. I think it''s goodpensation for something I didn''t even do," Mark said as Jev began inspecting the sword.


    Seeing that the sword was real, he gave it to Aurora, who also checked it and looked satisfied with it.


    Mark scoffed in his heart and said, "I''m going if you''re done with your drama."


    After saying that, he turned around and began walking with the few surviving members of his kingdom. However, before he could advance much, a voice came from behind him, making him stumble on the rocks.


    "Hey, it''s just a sword that I can''t use. It''s too big for me. Can you give me something else?" Aurora asked innocently as she waved the sword in the air.


    Mark took deep breaths to calm his emotions; otherwise, he was afraid he''d kill this girl right at the moment.


    He then took off his storage ring, threw it at Aurora, and flew off. He didn''t want to stay a second longer.


    Aurora caught the storage ring and clicked her tongue in annoyance, mumbling, "What a cheapskate. It''s just a sword, anyway."


    Everyone who was nearby heard her and almost had an urge to give her a smack.


    Tapori had also slipped away, seeing that the drama was over.


    Jev also returned to his usual self and looked at Rey, Shihab, and Aurora, who were the only ones who survived in the tomb. He sighed, thinking of the incident today.


    "Let''s go back," Jev said and began walking. Since the explosion had destroyed everything in the surroundings, their boat was also destroyed, so they could only go by running.


    In a room of a luxurious grand pce, a youth was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed on his bed. The air around him seemed to crackle with an overwhelming aura, radiating a majestic andmanding presence.


    All of a sudden, his eyes shot open, and his whole body began trembling as if he had witnessed something horrifying. His eyes were filled with unease and a little fear. It was then he heard a voice.


    [Oh! What happened? Is there something that can make the bearer of ''The Heart''s Desire'' uneasy?]

 Chapter 37: Dustin Coralhelm

    37 Chapter 37: Dustin Coralhelm


    The youth ignored the voice and took deep breaths to calm down. After a few minutes, he was able to calm himself.


    The youth then replied to the voice, "It''s not me who is feeling uneasy; it''s the heaven''s will of this realm. Apparently, it has sensed a terrifying power in this realm that could actually harm the heaven''s will, and it is basically telling me to find it." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    [Oh, are you sure it''s not talking about our neighbors? Because I didn''t sense anything of such a level aside from those mongrels doing their activities here and there.]


    The youth shook his head and said, "It''s not about those Infernals. Although they are a threat, they aren''t to the point that they possess power that could even make heaven''s will fear. I have sensed the fear in it."


    [Now that I think about it, it must be a descendant of a powerful being, as they carry a terrifying inheritance in the form of Bloodline and all. Since even I couldn''t sense anything, then they must be well-protected. Dustin, what did the heaven''s will actually sense, and where?]


    The youth named Dustin was surprised that even the voice couldn''t sense anything and responded, "You know that I never understand it fully. It''s just that since I''m connected to it, I can feel what it wanted to say, so I''m not sure. But it just sensed that power for a few moments, and it could tell that if the person wielding that power continues to grow, it could be a threat to it, even more than our neighbors. As for the location, it couldn''t pinpoint it, but it was in this Empire."


    [Dustin, be cautious. The people who possess the power to even make heaven''s will fear are very rare, almost to the point of extinction. But know this, every single one of them possesses overwhelming power and a cultivation base.]


    [The Infernals themselves don''t possess the power to harm this realm; it is their realm''s heaven''s will that is troublesome. So you can understand the threat this unknown power poses; I can understand the fear the heaven''s will is feeling.]


    There was silence in the room for a few minutes as both Dustin and the voice fell into their thoughts.


    Dustin then suddenly asked, "Hey, the powerful descendant you were talking about, can she be the Ashborn girl?"


    [It''s impossible for her to possess such power now. Even the top brass of their n doesn''t have the power to make the heaven''s will fear. And even if they did, there would be just one or two who stand at the top of the Divine World. Their bloodline is powerful but not that much.]


    Dustin whispered under his breath, "So there are now three opponents for me? The Infernals and the unknown are definitely my enemies, as they both can harm the heaven''s will, and that''ll cause me severe injuries and even death as I''m connected to it. The only one left is the Ashborn girl. Looks like I need to use her in my battle."


    He then asked, "Hey, are you sure she''s alive?"


    [If she can be killed by a bunch of Heaven Profound Stage Artists, she won''t be a member of The Great Ashborn n. But are you sure you want to befriend her? You do know that your sh with the Ashborn n is inevitable.]


    "As expected, she survived, huh? That old man literally created enmity between us for a Saint Tier weapon. What an idiot. I swear, after solving all my problems, I''ll kill him first. If he didn''t do that, I would just need to focus on the Infernals and that unknown power and face the Ashborn when I go to the Divine World. Now it''s all messed up." Dustin rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance.


    [Well, it''s natural. You''re the bearer of ''The Heart''s Desire.'' You''re taking it too lightly, Dustin. ''The Heart''s Desire'' is something that even those outside of the Divine World fear, so it''s natural that you have so many enemies.]


    "''The Heart''s Desire,'' huh? Well, speaking of that, I''m going to find ''The Moon.'' I can''t dy it now; I need more power." Dustin clenched his fists as he said.


    [You''re way too weak to assimte with ''The Moon.'' You''ll just die in the process.]


    Dustin brushed off the voice''s warning and said, "Judging by the things that are going, I''m going to die before even getting the chance to go to the Divine World, so I might as well try to assimte with ''The Moon.'' I would get a cultivation boost after assimtion, right?"


    [Yes, you''ll most likely advance a major stage or two. It depends on how much assimtion you can achieve in the first try. That''s why I was trying to stop you from getting ''The Moon,'' though it will be hard for your current state to even get near it. After all, ''The Moon'' is under the surveince of the Land of Frozen Lotus, the strongest force in this realm.]


    Dustin stood up from his bed and looked outside the window as he said, "You don''t need to worry; I have ns for it."


    Dustin put his hand on his chest as he said with an arrogant tone, "After all, I am Dustin Coralhelm, the sole owner of ''The Heart''s Desire.'' I''m destined to be the conqueror. These minor obstacles are nothing."


    As he said that, he released an overwhelming aura, causing even the surrounding space to crackle and the air to be heavy as many elements began to gather around him.


    [I just hope you''re ready for whatever you''re going to face from now on. It''s not that easy to stand at the top of the Divine World.]


    Dustin stayed silent in response, as even he knew that. He whispered, "Well, I''ll just deal with everything my way."


    ------------------


    "I''M BACK, MASTER!"


    Aurora shouted at the top of her lungs as soon as she entered the bookstore. She was really excited to tell Aadi about her adventures and her battle. However, what greeted her wasn''t something she was expecting

 Chapter 38: Again?

    38 Chapter 38: Again?


    Since the matter of the death of almost every genius was significant, Jev just dropped Aurora near Maple Town and went to the capital city with Shihab and Rey.


    Aurora had almost fully healed, except for her hands as she used prating mes directly, so it left some damage at the cellr level, which is hard to heal. But her control over mes saved her hand.


    Standing at the entrance, Aurora saw how lively Maple Town was and smiled. You could see the smile on people''s faces wherever you went, and these smiles weren''t fake, like she was used to in her n. She felt happy here.


    Aurora sighed and began walking towards the ''Cosmic Valve'' with a big smile on her face. She was thinking about the rewards she got from Mark. Although she wouldn''t use the sword, it wasn''t a problem as she could just sell it. In addition to the sword, she also received a plethora of gold coins, which were mostly used for currency, as Profound stones were rare and only used by rich mfs and those with high cultivation.


    On the way, many people saw her and nodded in greetings, as they thought she was a traveler passing through town.


    As she was returning the greetings with a smile on her face, a rather fat middle-aged man came in her way. When he looked at her, he smiled warmly and said, "Hello, youngdy, I''ve never seen you before. Are you perhaps traveling through here?"


    "Hello, yes, I''m new here, and you''ll see me more often from now on as I''m a disciple of the owner of that bookstore on the corner," Aurora responded politely but in her mind she was thinking ''It feels like a conversation with those NPCs in the RPG novels i read.''


    "Oh, you''re thatd''s disciple. I didn''t expect you to be into literature. Well, good for you. He''s actually a nice guy. He''s been eating at my restaurant for the past month as our ces are close. You can alsoe and try," the fat man, Bob,ughed and said.


    Aurora smiled and didn''t say anything in response. She almost forgot that her master was actually pretending to be a normal guy. She then promised Bob that she''d visit his restaurant and bid farewell to him.


    She then walked along, humming a tune she had heard once, towards ''The Cosmic Valve,'' which didn''t take long.


    Aurora arrived in front of the bookstore and, without permission whatsoever, opened the door by kicking it and shouted at the top of her lungs...


    "I''M BACK, MASTER!"


    However, what greeted her wasn''t a warm wee but a sweet cake right in her face.


    Aurora just stood there as the cake slowly dripped down from her face. She wasn''t shocked or anything, just speechless at Aadi''s behavior.


    She sighed as she couldn''t do anything to stop this ''dao of cake'' that her master was so fond of. She just couldn''t understand what excitement her master gained from doing this.


    She wiped the cake from her face and looked at the smiling Aadi, who was sitting on his usual chair with a hand supporting his face as he leaned down on the table. She sighed and went toward him, sitting in the opposite chair.


    "Why are you so down? I''m just showing you the ''dao of cake'' so you can follow the path of your master and make the ''dao of cake'' renowned across the world," Aadi said as he threw a water bubble at Aurora''s face, as there was still some cream left on her face.


    After that, Aurora cleaned her face once more. She thenpletely ignored Aadi''s words and said with excitement, "Master, wanna listen about my exploration? I''m telling you, it was way too clich¨¦d, like I felt I''m a protagonist or something..."


    Aurora continued to talk for some time, telling all of the things she experienced on this tomb exploration. Aadi just listened to her without minding her asional punches thatnded on him when she demonstrated how she punched and kicked in her battle against Liam. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Good job, you utilized the situation quite well. Though I have to say you would have lost if that guy you fought was in his prime," Aadi said, praising Aurora.


    Aurora giggled happily, as praise from Aadi was very rare. She then remembered something and asked, "By the way, Master, why do you think that guy didn''t use his full power?"


    Aadi shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Do you think anything is free in this world? I''m pretty sure spirit transfer and body preservation formation are very costly in this realm, and that guy, using them with his meager cultivation. I''m guessing that maintaining the formation cost him his cultivation base."


    Aurora tilted her head in confusion as she asked, "But I sensed his spirit strength, and it was clear that he was a Heaven Profound Stage Artist."


    Just then, Asty entered the room and said, "Is this guy''s stupidity rubbing off on you or what? What does spirit have to do with the cultivation base? Which idiot taught you that?"


    Aurora was even more confused as she said, "It was actually taught to me by a n elder. He said that spirit strength grows as our cultivation stage grows. So we can guess the cultivation of our opponents by sensing their spirit, as it''s a little easierpared to normal detection."


    "What do you expect from a realm, little Asty? It would be a surprise if anyone here knows about spirit cultivation; they just go with the flow," Aadi said.


    "So you mean you didn''t teach anything about alchemy to her? What the heck were you actually doing in the five months then? It''s the basics for an Alchemist to cultivate their spirit if they want to be high-level Alchemists," Asty rolled her eyes as shemented.


    After saying that, Asty came near the table, jumped on her cushion directly, andidfortably on it.


    Aurora just listened from the sides as her mind was processing the information. She never even thought that spirit can be cultivated; she thought it''s just a part of cultivation that grows alongside normal profound cultivation.

 Chapter 39: Spirit Cultivation

    39 Chapter 39: Spirit Cultivation


    Asty and Aadi were currently staring into each other''s eyes without blinking, as if it were a contest. The whole bookstore was engulfed in a tense atmosphere.


    Aadi decided to break the silence and spoke, "I didn''t teach her spirit cultivation because I was focusing on something else. Spirit cultivation isn''t necessary for now."


    Asty retorted as she scoffed at Aadi, "Heh, just say you forgot. Why are you making so many excuses? And spirit cultivation isn''t necessary? What the heck are you saying? Forget about Alchemy, where it''s very important, even in battles, it helps a lot. I can already tell that you just taught her to fight and nothing else."


    Aadi looked away and started whistling, as if this had nothing to do with him. He really forgot to teach, as he was enjoying the feeling of teaching his own disciple.


    Asty showed a smug grin to him and turned to Aurora, who was just silently sitting and watching the drama with a bucket of popcorn in her hands.


    As soon as she sensed Asty''s gaze, she hid the popcorn and smiled at Asty.


    Asty shook her head in disappointment as she said, "I really shouldn''t have let this dumbo spend five months with you alone. You''re behaving just like he did in his younger days."


    Asty put the situation at the back of her mind and said, "Anyway, I''ll tell you about spirit cultivation, as that can help you gain control over your Bloodline, at least more than normal."


    "You see, there are many types of cultivation, but mainly you can say all those fall into three categories."


    "One, Body cultivation. In this, you use blood cirction to make your body more powerful, or you can provide pressure to your body, which helps in breaking through the limits of the body. Since you aren''t following this path, I''m not exining much."


    "Second, Essence Cultivation. I guess you already know about it, as I''m expecting that this dumbo at least taught you the basics of Essence Cultivation," Asty said as she casted a slight nce at Aadi. Aurora nodded, as it was true that Aadi had taught her the basics of Essence Cultivation. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Seeing Aurora nod, Asty continued, "The third one is spirit cultivation or soul cultivation. This is the mostplex among the three. When you cultivate your spirit, it gets stronger and helps in many things, like increasing the control you have over energy and all."


    Asty stopped to see whether Aurora had understood or not. Seeing Aurora deep in thought, Asty also remained silent.


    After some time passed, Aurora had a look of realization and asked Asty, "Hey, Asty, isn''t that simr to the soul cultivation I''ve read about in the novels that master gave me?"


    Aurora had an innocent, excited expression as she discovered something very amazing ording to her. But she didn''t know that she just created andmine and stepped on it.


    Asty''s face darkened upon hearing Aurora, and she gradually turned to look at Aadi with a terrifying expression.


    It would have been aical scene to see a cat act like that, but sadly, the ominous energy in the bookstore could erase all these thoughts.


    "So, instead of teaching her about spirit cultivation, you were actually turning her into a nerd like you," Asty said as she slowly walked towards Aadi.


    Aadi scratched the back of his head as he defended himself, "You see, Asty, rest is necessary, right? So I gave her those so she didn''t get bored by fighting all day."


    Angering Asty was thest thing anyone would do if they knew her. She was a quiet person and ignored most of the things; that''s why when she is angered, you should just agree with whatever she says.


    Asty hummed in agreement and asked, "If you can give me one more reason, I''ll let the matter rest."


    Aadi shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Haven''t you seen the results already? She has read about those scenarios, so she could escape from the tomb. Most of the novels here are based on real stories, so it actually helps her."


    Asty thought about it and nodded in agreement. Knowing about those things really helps a lot, as Aadi often used these things to get what he wanted in the past.


    Aadi then sighed as he again looked at Aurora, who was again eating popcorns. Her eyes twitched as she asked, "You intentionally did that, right?"


    Aurora choked on her popcorn hearing Aadi and hastily responded with an innocent face, "What are you talking about, master? I didn''t do anything."


    Asty and Aadi looked at the innocent expression of Aurora and thought, ''She can definitely be a great con artist with that ability to change expression.''


    Seeing that both Asty and Aadi were silent, Aurora decided to ask the question she had in her mind, "Asty, you said I''m behaving like master? Can you tell me more about him and how he was?"


    Asty rolled her eyes at Aurora and said, "I would describe him in just two words: Dumbfuck and random. He just does things randomly. And yeah, that habit of popcorn, he also had that, like once there was a war between many expanses, and the result of that decided the future of trillions of lives, and he was watching the whole war with a bucket of popcorn in the middle of the battlefield."


    Aurora imagined the scene in her mind and instantly understood why Aadi did that. It was so exciting and satisfying. She then thought of something and asked, "Wait, if there was a war, why didn''t anyone attack my master? How was he enjoying the whole war peacefully?"


    Asty smiled a little, remembering that time, and replied, "It''s because of him that the whole war was going on. He was the sole reason so many people were fighting with their lives on the line."


    Aurora was even more confused and asked, "Why would such arge number of people fight each other because of master? What did he do?"

 Chapter 40: Event(1)

    40 Chapter 40: Event(1)


    Aadi lightly chopped Asty''s head and said, "Why are you opening my history, little Asty?"


    Asty sent a bolt of lightning to Aadi through his hand and said, "It''s because it''s fun remembering your dark history."


    Aadi shook his hand and replied as he sighed, "Do you want to kill me or what? Why are you giving me this Primordial Chaotic lightning in this frail body of mine?"


    Asty just rolled her eyes at Aadi''s shamelessness and turned to Aurora and answered her, "The war was happening because this master of yours destroyed their universe''s cosmic valve. And don''t ask what that is, as you don''t have to know it now."


    Aurora thought for a bit and asked, "So those people didn''t attack master because he was already more powerful than them? Then why would they fight among themselves?"


    This time Aadi replied, "Don''t think too much about it, they were just fighting for their survival. Basically, me destroying the cosmic valve resulted in their death."


    Asty added, "And he did that just because he wanted to see what happens if the cosmic valve is destroyed. Anyways, that''s a talk for another time. For now, let''s focus on you, as the cmity of this realm is arriving a little sooner."


    Aurora wanted to ask more, as she was interested in the outer world, but held herself back. She began thinking about Asty''sst words. Although she wasn''t obliged to save this realm, she wanted to fight against the Invaders.


    Her reason was simple: when she reached a higher level, she would remember this realm as her starting point and the ce where she met her master, so she didn''t want the realm to be destroyed.


    Aadi went towards a bookshelf and took out a book named "Soul Overlord." He then went near Aurora and gave her that book, saying, "You have just read some small novels, so read this long one now. It''s based on a world where spirit cultivation is the main focus. This will give you some ideas about how spirit works, and it''ll be easier for you to understand spirit cultivationter."


    Aadi then added as he looked at Aurora, "You have already reached the peak of Spirit Profound Stage, so first break through to Origin Profound Stage and stabilize your cultivation, then I''ll teach you about spirit cultivation."


    Aurora nodded in agreement, as she already felt that she could break through to the Origin Profound Stage anytime she wanted.


    Aadi then looked outside from the window, but his focus was somewhere else. He suddenly smiled and whispered under his breath, "Looks like we''ll have some fun, though they are just cannon fodder, so I won''t waste my important resources. But I can''t let them go easily, ke ke ke ke."


    Asty looked at Aadi''s smile and knew he was nning something in his mind. She just prayed that whoever his target was would rest in peace in the afterlife.


    Aadi brought down his excitement and turned towards Aurora with a smile, saying, "Hey, you can reach Origin Profound Stageter. First, I''ll show you something fun today. You can take it as your reward for your first win."


    Aurora was confused but knowing Aadi, she was sure it would be something fun, so she just nodded.


    "Good, now then I''m off to make some preparations for the uing event." After saying that, Aadi disappeared into nothingness.


    In the bookstore, only Asty and Aurora remained. Asty shook her head in disappointment and said, "I still don''t understand why he even bothered to open this bookstore. He doesn''t even take care of it. What if some customeres now?"


    Aurora stayed silent, as her mind was on the event Aadi was talking about. Asty also justy on her cushion.


    In a dense forest of tall, thick trees, two figures d in full ck suits were traveling by jumping from branch to branch. It was midnight, so in their ck suits, they traveled unnoticed. They also wore wolf and bear masks on their faces.


    They were soon out of the forest but they still traveled silently with very high speed towards a certain direction. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    It didn''t take long before they were standing in front a big maple tree.


    The one with the wolf mask asked with a voice that was hard to discern, and one wouldn''t be able to tell their gender by their voice, "Hey bear, why are we moving so cautiously in the town of mortals? And what is the mission? I just came back from my previous mission, and I was sent here. It better be something good."


    The one with the bear mask replied in a simr voice to the one with the wolf mask, "This mission hase from His Majesty himself, so you can understand the importance of this mission."


    They began to walk stealthily around the town as the bear masked figure exined, "The mission we got this time is to investigate a prodigy girl. We have found that she could fight against Peak Earth Profound Stage Artists when she''s just a peak Spirit Profound Stage Artist."


    The wolf masked figure was shocked and asked, "If there is such a prodigy in K Kingdom, why didn''t our spies report about her to us? Was K Kingdom cultivating her in secret as their trump card? But it doesn''t make sense to reveal her now when she''s still weak."


    There were many thoughts going on in both of their minds. Even the king of Coralhelm Kingdom was confused and wary of K Kingdom now, which is why he sent these two experts in stealth to investigate the prodigy of K Kingdom.


    But he didn''t know that he was just digging a deep grave and even covering it for these two by sending them to Aadi.


    In a dark ce, a low, crazyugh echoed. The ce was pitch ck, so nothing could be seen. Then, a voice that could send chills down anyone''s spine was heard.


    "He he, finally preparations are done, and now the show shall start."

 Chapter 41: Event(2)

    41 Chapter 41: Event(2)


    The bear-masked individual listened to his partner and responded, "Whatever the reason may be, we just need toplete our task. If we can kill her, that''s the best oue, but if there''s a problem, then we should simply report everything to his majesty."


    The wolf-masked individual said, "What problem could we encounter in this ce? We''re both peak Earth Profound Stage Artists, and together we have even killed many Heaven Profound Stage Artists. Killing her will be easy; we just need to see if there''s any protector assigned to her. By the way, why would she be living in this mortal town?"


    The bear-masked individual shook its head and said, "Well, we have to be cautious as Sire third died around this area, so it''s better to be careful. As for why she is living here, we don''t know; in fact, we don''t even know if she''s here. It''s just that our spies said that Jev K spent some time here, andbined with the death of Sire third here, it was too much of a coincidence, so we are here to check."


    The two of them checked the whole town and didn''t find anything suspicious. Even the people were just mortals. They then went to thest building in the town.


    The wolf-masked individual stood before the bookstore and said, "Hey, I''m getting a bad feeling from this bookstore. Can we go back and inform his majesty about this bookstore so he can handle it by sending some of the elders?"


    The bear was also feeling uneasy like the wolf, but he made up his mind and said, "It''s a mission, Wolf; we have toplete it. Let''s just check, and if we find something, we''ll retreat."


    The wolf hesitated but nodded after considering the mission. If they went back now and reported false information, they would face punishment for failing the mission.


    They had just taken a step forward when...


    Ssh


    ...A cake appeared out of nowhere and smashed into their faces. Their masks broke immediately as soon as the cakended on them, smearing cake all over their faces.


    They both were startled and immediately assumed battle stances. Daggers appeared in their hands after they threw away the cake, and they scanned their surroundings to identify the source of the attack. They didn''t even pay attention to the cream that was on their faces.


    They looked around, but there was nothing but silence in the atmosphere. They became even more alert and kept their guard up.


    The one with the wolf mask, a middle-aged man, suddenly felt a crawling sensation on his cheek that made him want to scratch it, but he didn''t pay much attention to it. However, the itching spread to every part of his body.


    He couldn''t maintain his focus any longer and began to scratch lightly, but as the itch worsened, he started scratching vigorously while still keeping an eye on his surroundings.


    The same thing happened to the other one as he scratched his face. But the itching didn''t stop; instead, it spread to his whole body, and he started scratching his entire body like a monkey. He felt a sense of satisfaction during and immediately after scratching, but the itching returned, so he scratched again.


    He coated his whole body in profound energy and tried to alleviate the itching, but it increased even more. He groaned in pain. Since profound energy wasn''t working, he covered himself in mes, but even then, it had no effect. It was as if the itching was fused with his body.


    He turned around and found his partner in the same condition, his partner was even rubbing his whole body on the ground and scratching at the same time.


    The bear gritted his teeth and spoke with difficulty as the itching increased every second, "Hey, it must be... that thing we got attacked with... it''s because of that this itching is happening... nothing is working... we have to run... let''s go."


    His partner heard him, but he wasn''t in any condition to respond. His whole face was red and swollen, small bumps on his cheeks, and even some blood began to ooze from open sores.


    Seeing his partner''s condition, the other one stopped paying attention to him and immediately took some healing pills, hoping that it could stop or at least lessen the itching so he could seek help for this itching. As for his partner, he couldn''t care less about him.


    At the top of the bookstore, Asty, Aadi, and Aurora were watching the whole drama with their sunsses on, even though it was night, and a big bucket of popcorn.


    Asty munched on the popcorn and said, "This was the show you were talking about? It''s kind of disappointing; I was expecting much more. Don''t tell me it''s just itching powder cake you''ve prepared; it will be in boring."


    Aadi rolled his eyes at Asty and replied, "It''s because you''ve seen my great inventions before, so of course, you will find this level of show disappointing. Besides, they don''t deserve my great inventions. I''m using the simplest version of the Dao of Cake on them. It is the greatest honor for them. The only reason I''m even bothering is to teach Aurora about the various uses of the Dao of Cake and that killing your enemy isn''t the only solution."


    Aadi then pointed his finger at Aurora, who wasn''t even listening to their conversation and was just enjoying the spectacle before her. "See, she''s enjoying it and learning from it. Besides, this is just the first thing; there are two more."


    As he said this, a big circr hole appeared beneath the two spies, and they immediately fell into the hole as their screams echoed from within.


    A sound of something falling into a body of water echoed from the hole.


    The two men were very anxious, and the moment they fell into the hole, fear gripped them. They didn''t even know who the enemy was, so the unknown was even more frightening.


    When they reached the bottom, they found that the whole hole was filled with water. They sighed in relief and allowed themselves to float in the water.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 42: Event (3)

    42 Chapter 42: Event (3)


    The two men fell into the water and groaned a little as the water made contact with the open sores. They immediately tried to use profound energy to stand on the surface of the water, but they realized they couldn''t use their profound energy. In fact, they couldn''t even sense it, as if they didn''t have any profound energy to begin with.


    They could only let themselves drown in the water, as they couldn''t even swim manually because they had to scratch their whole bodies.


    They held their breath in the water and continued to scratch like monkeys. Their skin was now red, and blood was leaking out from the open sores, coloring the water.


    The two men didn''t care about the enemy, as they understood that their enemy was just ying with them. They would have been dead by now if the enemy wanted. They just did whatever they could to stop the itch. Soon, they discovered that the sensitivity of their skin was increasing.


    They were horrified at the thought and began to struggle against the water to get out. They understood that this water was the reason for the skin sensitivity, so they didn''t want to stay here a second longer.


    But due to the heightened skin sensitivity, the water pressure they felt also increased, making it hard for them to move. Adding to their misery was the itching, whose effect was now multiplied.


    Even just a single scratch they made felt like hundreds of swords cutting their skin. They were losing their minds with that level of pain. They were from a shadow army that was directly under the king and had been tortured in many ways, so they had high pain tolerance.


    But the feeling of being cut by hundreds of swords made them almost lose their sanity. They wanted to scream in pain, but they couldn''t even do that as the water would enter their mouths.


    Just as they were in despair, suddenly their surroundings changed as all the water and even the hole disappeared.


    Now they were lying on the ground surrounded by trees.


    Sensing their freedom, their bodies told them to scream because of the pain, but suddenly the pain changed into something else as they tried to scream. Only a moan of pleasure sounded from their mouths. It was because they discovered that their pain was turning into pleasure.


    Their brains were overloading as they were experiencing pain and pleasure consecutively. First, they felt pain, and then immediately after, pleasure. Thebination of these was driving them insane.


    The pain and pleasure were something they had never experienced or expected before.


    They couldn''t take it any longer and lost consciousness. Even as their consciousness faded, they just regretted taking this mission and cursed the king for sending them here without any information on the enemy.


    Their bodiesy on the ground motionless as three people approached them.


    Of course, after all the torture, their bodies were beyond recognition.


    Aadi looked at the bodies of both and sighed in disappointment. "What a waste of using Pleasure water on them. I thought they would at least survive this one so I could use my third thing that I prepared."


    Asty also came and jumped on his head and satfortably. She then said, "I didn''t expect you to remember this water, even though I almost forgot it. But I have to say the show was just one level above the worst. If I had to give it a rating, it would be 2/10. It wasn''t very interesting, and you just satisfied your sadistic side."


    Aurora also chimed in as she said, "Yes, master, although I enjoyed the show, it wasn''t up to what I was expecting."


    Aadi looked at them speechlessly and said as he raised his hands in the air, "In my defense, I didn''t want to use my precious invention on them, and secondly, you didn''t watch the main section of the show." n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Asty ignored Aadi''s excuse and instead asked, "What are you going to do with these two?"


    Aadi looked at the two dead bodies and shrugged his shoulders, saying, "I''ll just toss them into the dark dimension. Our old ''friend'' is wandering around this universe for the ''Netra'' anyway, so he''ll enjoy the treat."


    Asty raised her brows in surprise and said, "So soon? Looks like those old fogies can''t wait, huh? Well, just toss these to them; they''ll enjoy the meal."


    As always, Aurora just listened to their conversation and put it at the back of her head. She didn''t understand them anyway.


    Aadi put his right hand on one of the bodies. Slowly, a ck mist beganing out of his hand and covered the whole dead body. The mist was pitch ck and devoured everything it touched, even space itself. Only a chaotic void was left in that ce, as the body was also devoured by the mist.


    Aadi did the same with the other body and turned, only to see Aurora with her mouth wide open, as if a big apple could fit in. But Aadi noticed that she was staring at the now chaotic void with yearning. Aadi smiled and went forward and put his hand on her head, patting her.


    Aurora came back from her daze as she felt a warm feeling in her heart while enjoying Aadi''s pat. Soon, a smile emerged on her face as she forgot about everything.


    While continuing to pat her, Aadi said to Aurora, "Don''t worry, you''ll gain power like that in the future, and not just this, you''ll be powerful enough to stand at the top. After all, you''re the disciple of ''The Quintessential Emperor.''"


    "Yeah, you''re the first disciple he has ever taken. He''ll do every experiment he wanted to do on his disciples, right, Mr. Emperor?" Asty said, snickering as she tapped Aadi''s face with her paw.


    Aadi caught Asty''s paw and replied with the same tone, "Hehe, I also had a big list of things I wanted to experiment on my partner, want me to try them on you?"


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