《One Hell of a Monk: A Blood Monk's Rise [LitRPG Xianxia System]》


 Chapter 1 - Congratulations, Seeker Xue Dejiu

    The morning dawned obscure and cold despite the brilliance of the summer sun. The persistent fog of Mount Xuedou, where even the summer snows, once again shrouded its many peaks.


    It was another cold morning like any other, but this morning, in particular, heralded the Heavenly Snowy Temple¡¯s annual event. Children ages six to ten gathered in front of the grand nine-storied pagoda in the center of the vast temple grounds. In these violent times, more and more children were fostered and sheltered by the lay monks ¡ª pitiful children left without their kin.


    Some were left as babes in warm cradles outside the monasteries, while others were rescued and brought back to the temple by warrior monks descending from the mountain to devastated lands.


    ¡­Such was the reality of the war-torn world.


    Distantly bordering these children were monks of all standings overseeing the grand event. They don the temple¡¯s deep blue and white kasaya robes as joyous expressions dance across their faces despite their bald heads being uncomfortably topped white in snow.


    One by one, the children step before the Abbot, the head of their temple, as he holds a deep basket in one of his wrinkled hands.


    The Abbot would gently clasp their youthful hands with a smile before closing his eyes. ¡°What is your name, boy?¡±


    ¡°Xua Fan!¡±


    ¡°I see, I see. Xua Fan, you¡¯re the first. Are you nervous?¡± the Abbot softly asked to ease the boy.


    The boy deliberated for a few seconds before hesitantly nodding, focusing on the Abbot¡¯s hand. Then, in the next moment, the boy jerked his hand away from the Abbot¡¯s, startled by something invasively running through him.


    ¡°Above your years indeed! Amitabha!¡± the Abbot laughed as he at last opened his eyes.


    The monks who¡¯d experienced this event before could tell that their powerful Abbot judged if the children were capable enough to be bestowed a gift by flowing just a speck of his dense prana through the children.


    Then, the Abbot warmly patted the shy boy¡¯s shoulder before he reached into the basket at his side. The other children who crowded the square intently watched, practically climbing over the other as the Abbot revealed what he grabbed from the basket.


    ¡°Take this ¡ª a Hell Shard, supplied by our Warrior Monks in their crusades. As your teachers have taught you, this will awaken your class and initiate you into the Seekers Accord. It is a shame we must do so, but our temple mustn¡¯t misread the Dao and trail behind the flow of the world.¡± The Abbot frowned ever so slightly before returning to a pleased face as he placed the Hell Shard into the boy¡¯s cupped hands.


    ¡°Take it and tell us what class you¡¯ve received.¡±


    The boy stared intently at the jagged Hell Shard held in his small clasp. It was small, small as a pebble that he would find when he played outside, except that it looked nothing like a regular pebble. Its surface is an eerie, molten black, crisscrossed with veins of glowing red like the pit fires that heat the monastery outside. He tightened his grip on the Hell Shard and absorbed it before his face gawked in shock.


    The Abbot, monks, and other children watched the startled boy. It took a few seconds before the boy opened his eyes and his face beamed brightly, as though he heard something that the others couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°I¡¯m Xue Fan, Monk of the Heavenly Snowy Temple!¡± The boy laughed proudly.


    The Abbot smiled. ¡°It is a boon that our children and temple will grow strong ¡ª now go! Return to your teacher, little monk Xue Fan.¡±


    The child nodded with a smile as the Abbot walked over to the next child in line, all the while the group of children made surprised sounds as they eagerly awaited their turn.


    ¡°Xue Li, Monk of the Snowy Temple!¡±


    ¡°Xue Song, Monk of the Snowy Temple!¡±


    ¡°Xue Zhi, Monk of the Snowy Temple!¡±


    The cycle repeated over and over, and gradually the expressions of a few senior monks who oversaw the teachings of these young monks of the temple became lighter. They were relieved that only a handful thus far had been rejected by the Abbot. Although these few children didn¡¯t have the aptitude to become cultivators, they still could live peacefully as lay monks of the temple.


    Eventually, the Abbot came upon the last child in line, a particularly young one at that.


    Xue Dejiu is a fostered child like the others, sheltered because of the temple¡¯s magnanimity. Like the others, Dejiu was left without a family name, and in turn, given the Dharma name of their temple, Xue.


    ¡°Amitabha, last you are ¡ª tell me your name, child.¡± the Abbot coaxed.


    ¡°Dejiu. Xue Dejiu,¡± the boy responded, his voice quiet yet firm for his age.


    ¡°Xue Dejiu,¡± the Abbot intoned softly, his hand reaching for Dejiu¡¯s.


    The enigmatic Abbot that Dejiu had heard so much about from his teacher then closed his eyes. Using the brief moment of stillness as their hands locked together, Dejiu studied the Abbot¡¯s features. Two long white eyebrows drooped below his ears, and a wispy beard grazed the exposed, sunken chest of the old man. The Abbot looked every bit the part of the wise figure his teacher had described ¡ª odd, ancient, and like the sages he¡¯d heard about in stories.


    Before Dejiu could look anymore, he felt a deep jolt inside his body. Unlike the first child tested by the Abbot, Dejiu wasn¡¯t surprised but rather felt a little uncomfortable because of how intruding the Abbot¡¯s prana energy was.


    ¡­The Abbot¡¯s eyes opened and met Dejiu¡¯s with a warmth that momentarily eased the tension in his chest. ¡°Above your years, more so than the others, Little Dejiu.¡±


    Then, the Abbot extended his hand and placed the Hell Shard into Dejiu¡¯s small, cupped hands with a slight nod.


    With that, Dejiu tightened his fist around the Hell Shard, as much as his small hands and trembling strength would allow.


    Then he heard it just as strange characters appeared before Dejiu¡¯s eyes.


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure). The requirement to unlock the Seekers Accord has been met.]


    [Congratulations, Seeker Xua Dejiu. Receive your boons.]


    [Designating Class as Reward!]


    [...] [...] [...]


    [Class Designated! Class: Blood Monk]


    [Class Description: Having fallen upwards from the depths this pitiful herald of blood roams forever lost.]


    [Attribute[s]: Doomed Entwinement ¡ª Shattered Innocence]Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    [Attribute Description: Doomed Entwinement ¡ª This pitiful herald of blood is forsaken to be ever entwined with such twisted beings, the everlonging Daimons of rebirth. However, this bond comes with the same indescribable yearning for what has been lost in exchange.]


    [Attribute Description: Shattered Innocence ¡ª You cried the throes of struggle before you cried the tears of adolescence. An echo of innocence stolen and replaced by blood and steel.]


    [Path: ???]


    [Bloodright: ???]


    [Prana Core: Low Initiate]


    [Prana: 4/4]


    A sick feeling bubbles up in Dejiu¡¯s throat as he realizes something has gone wrong. Dejiu didn¡¯t know what was happening! Yes, he didn¡¯t know much of anything as the monotone voice spoke in his head, but he didn¡¯t hear the one thing he needed to hear most that the other children before him did¡­


    B-Blood Monk? Not a regular monk?


    The monks and children watched, waiting for Dejiu¡¯s face to brighten like the others and for his proud voice to call out his class.


    But when Dejiu¡¯s eyes snapped open, they were not filled with that same pride. His breath quickened and his heart wrung tight. Dejiu instinctively glanced to the far end of the square to his teacher as he recalled some of the teachings repeatedly ingrained in him.


    P-practice truthfulness. Abstain from false speech.


    ¡°Speak your class, child,¡± the Abbot urged gently, noticing the hesitation in Dejiu.


    Dejiu looked back at the Abbot before him and swallowed hard, his body faintly shaking as he forced himself to speak.


    ¡°B-Blood Monk,¡± he whispered, ¡°Xue Dejiu, Blood Monk of the Heavenly Snowy Temple.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s layered robes fluttered in the wintry wind along with his words as the square turned oddly quiet. Even at the age of six, he could tell that this wasn¡¯t supposed to be. To be different.


    Countless attentive eyes were on him, even from the youngest of children who, like him, didn¡¯t know what would come with a different class.


    ¡°Blood Monk? Amitabha, this was not supposed¡­¡± the Abbot echoed before raising a hand to his lengthy beard. ¡°I have yet to hear such a thing before. A Blood Monk?¡±


    The Abbot remained silent before he narrowed his eyes at the boy. ¡°This Seekers Accord calls you of the temple, but it seems you need more than this temple has given you thus far, I fear.¡±


    With that, the Abbot turned, his robes swishing like falling snow, leaving Dejiu standing amidst the silent echoes of his unspoken reprimand as his teacher came to him instead.


    Despite his teacher praising his honesty, he couldn¡¯t help but notice from that cold morning on, he was never met with the same warm smiles from the others again.


    ¡ª


    Seven winters passed over the peaks of Mount Xuedou, and with each snowfall, Dejiu¡¯s years in the temple slipped away like frost melting under the morning light. He had grown taller and quieter, his eyes reflecting both the sharp edge of youth and the deepening shadows of the temple etched into his heart.


    Today, as a gentle breeze rolled through the mountain temple¡¯s open walls, carrying the distant scent of pine and crisp snow, Dejiu found his mind wandering, boredom washing over his mind, and sleep alluring him. His eyelids grew heavy, lulled by Teacher Jiansu¡¯s soft-spoken teaching.


    Jiansu, his father in all but name, placed an aged scripture between them. ¡°Listen well,¡±


    ¡°The First Noble Truth, Dejiu ¡ª suffering is a part of life, woven into the world. To understand this truth is the beginning of peace.¡±


    Jiansu¡¯s hand lifted, briefly still, and then came down in a hard smack on Dejiu¡¯s head, his palm weighted with a tightly rolled scripture scroll. Startled, Dejiu¡¯s eyes snapped open, and he rubbed his head with a faint scowl, his face tinged with drowsy indignation.


    ¡°Stay awake, Dejiu,¡± Jiansu murmured, barely masking his amusement. ¡°The mind¡¯s wanderings are as dangerous as any daimon. Amitabha, you¡¯re thirteen now!¡±


    Dejiu sat up straighter, brushing the sleep from his eyes. With his usual patient demeanor, Jiansu continued as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°Consider this,¡± Jiansu said, adjusting his robe. ¡°The suffering of others is no different than your own. To offer them relief is to relieve yourself, yes?¡±


    Dejiu nodded, but his expression skeptical. ¡°How does one relieve suffering in a world that thrives on it? Purpose? Is that why this¡­ Seekers Accord exists? To expel the daimons from this world? Killing to save lives?¡±


    Jiansu let out a long, weary sigh as he gathered the worn edges of the leather-bound scripture. ¡°Killing, fighting, battling. You¡¯re fit to be a warrior monk if they would allow you.¡±


    ¡°...Can you ask those geezers again, Teacher?¡±


    ¡°Even stone yields to water over time, and they¡¯re not geezers,¡± Jiansu murmured, fastening the final knot with a flick. He glanced at Dejiu, his expression softening. ¡°Patience, like the threads that bind this text, is woven slowly.¡±


    Pah! Speaking in riddles and poems again. Dejiu thought.


    Jiansu placed the wrapped scripture back on the shelf, his gaze lingering a moment longer before drawing away, as if entrusting his teachings to time itself. ¡°They fear you would be too violent, too brash. And so they wish that you learn before you fight.¡±


    ¡°But Teacher!¡± Dejiu grumbled. ¡°I¡¯m behind the others! I have yet to learn anything! Cultivation, martial arts, the temple¡¯s Path, and anything about the Seekers Accord! How will I return the kindness of the temple at this rate? Is that not part of the teachings?¡±


    Jiansu turned, his brow lifted at Dejiu¡¯s words. ¡°To return kindness requires patience, Dejiu. For what is kindness if not enduring, calm in the face of desire? You seek techniques, power. But to rush toward strength without the wisdom to guide it is like releasing an arrow without aim.¡±


    ¡°But how can I give back if I have nothing to offer?¡± Dejiu persisted. ¡°Didn¡¯t you once say that to give fully, we must cultivate ourselves? How else am I to show my gratitude to the temple? To you?¡±


    Jiansu sighed, untying the string that bound the scripture in his hand, rolling it open to reveal a passage marked by faint ink strokes. ¡°Cultivating oneself begins here.¡± He pointed to his chest. ¡°It means restraining the fire of one¡¯s own will, seeking understanding before action, compassion before strength.¡±


    ¡°But Teacher,¡± Dejiu insisted, his gaze meeting Jiansu¡¯s, ¡°without the techniques, strength ¡ª my desire to protect is meaningless.¡± His voice lowered as he asked, ¡°Is my earnestness not enough? You know how they look at me. Maybe if I can show them through my actions, then they will stop acting as if I am any different from them¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough, Dejiu. We¡¯ll talk about this another time. I¡¯ll leave the scripture here, make sure to study this thoroughly and be able to repeat what you¡¯ve learned when I return to the temple.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s face waned at the change of topic, already knowing where his teacher was headed. ¡°...Stay safe, Teacher.¡±


    It didn¡¯t take long for Jiansu to disembark, patting and ruffling Dejiu¡¯s shaved head before stepping out of their humble room. ¡°I know you¡¯ll try and cultivate against my wishes, but after you do so, check the compartment underneath my sleeping mat. I have a gift for you.¡±


    Dejiu curiously raised an eyebrow but still waved off his teacher.


    With his teacher gone, he lay on his side and stared out the window, where the bleak mountain air swept in like a whisper. He could see the many peaks of Mount Xuedou, their icy tips glistening under the weak sunlight. The scene outside felt like a world away ¡ª those were the training halls he wasn¡¯t permitted to enter.


    Blood Monk, He echoed the very reason for his treatment.


    Sighing heavily, he summoned part of his Seekers Accord.


    [Class: Blood Monk]


    [Class Description: Having fallen upwards from the depths this pitiful herald of blood roams forever lost.]


    Forever lost¡­ He thought with a heavy sigh as he sat up in a lotus position and fixed his loose kasaya robes.


    Dejiu then closed his eyes. He visualized his flimsy core. It sat just beneath the navel, right where all his meridians flowed to and fro. Its state is pitiful, minutely holding more prana than a child. Such was the result of everyone, even Jiansu, not teaching him any cultivation methods. The Abbot himself forbade it that day. So he relied on his natural senses to draw in the prana in the air, and even then he could hardly call his rudimentary intake a cultivation method.


    He slowly breathed in the ambient prana.


    He evened out his breathing, inhaling and exhaling with his calm pulse. The prana flowed into his body according to his so-called cultivation method. Then, he willed the prana to flow through his core, then his meridians, and then back into his core. Willing and flowing prana in a certain way is the foundation of a cultivation method. Alas, his way was nothing more advanced than what a child could do.


    As if I can let those geezers stop me from growing stronger. He snorted to himself.


    For seven years, Dejiu cultivated inside this cold room alone or with Jiansu silently overseeing him. All day and into the night, Dejiu cultivated. If this was all he had to endure to escape this life, he would consider it a small price to pay. Spiteful much? A little.


    ¡­Without enduring the bone-chilling cold, how can a plum blossom have such a sweet fragrance? He told himself with a bitter smile.


    And so he cultivated, no matter how slowly he did so.

 Chapter 2 - Righteous in Wrath

    Dejiu opened his eyes with a calm breath and stared at his dark room. He quickly sat up and looked around.


    Damn! How many hours passed? He frowned as he wiped away the sweat from his brow.


    It¡¯s a habit he had whenever he focused too intently on his core and cycling no matter how little he accumulated¡­ time passed too easily whenever he cultivated.


    Stumbling in the dark, his foot stepped over the curled scripture Teacher Jiansu told him to study.


    ¡°Ah sorry, Teacher. I¡¯ll study it twice as much tomorrow,¡± he said to himself, now acclimated to the dark. Bending over to pick it up and store it somewhere else, he also lighted the only lantern provided in their shared chambers.


    However, when the lingering remnants of his dazed cultivation session flushed away, he remembered what Teacher Jiang mentioned before he left. I wonder what gift Teacher brought me?


    Folding away the thin mats they slept on, he lifted the small stone top, which harbored a small compartment with Jiansu¡¯s few possessions, which were allowed despite being an ascetic.


    Dejiu had mischievously rummaged through the small compartment before, but tonight he didn¡¯t need to listlessly search to find what his Teacher Jiansu had managed to obtain.


    He whistled in surprise. In the center of Teacher Jiang''s possessions was a familiar black stone lined in glowing orange, small enough to be covered inside his measly fist.


    A Hell Shard¡­what favor or accomplishment did Teacher do for the Arhat Disciples, no, maybe even an Arhat to allow this? he thought, grabbing the Hell Shard.


    Although some senior or warrior monks would personally foster a child as Teacher Jiansu did, favoritism and nepotism are strictly forbidden. Even as Teacher Jiansu descended the mountain to save lives from fearsome daimons, he was only allowed to claim the Hell Shards to empower himself or provide for the temple, not their personal disciples.


    Pilfering it was out of the question, so his teacher must¡¯ve done something remarkable to provide this.


    Thank you, Teacher. He thought as he crushed the Hell Shard.


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Tainted)]


    Wha¨C It¡¯s a Tainted level Hell Shard, not an Impure one? Dejiu frowned. Now it made even less sense how his teacher was able to procure a Hell Shard an entire level above what he received from the Abbot seven years ago. To obtain a Hell Shard of that level, his Teacher had to not only kill and harvest a Tainted daimon, but also be permitted to give it to Dejiu!


    Welp, no matter. It¡¯s a gift after all. Though, it¡¯s a shame that I must refine this abundant hell element prana into ice element for our temple¡¯s Path in the future, but it¡¯ll bring me closer to¡ª


    Dejiu¡¯s eyes raised the moment he absorbed the Hell Shard before he focused on his prana core.


    ¡­Hey, hey, hey! This can¡¯t be right!


    But before he could even inspect the odd feeling, he instinctively knew that he couldn¡¯t wait to act ¡ª immediately dropping to the floor, he returned to a lotus position. His prana core¡­ was on the cusp of breaking through.


    Shit! Where Teacher when you need him? I¡­ I just have to form the walls of my core with this prana, right!? His mind nervously raced. He¡¯s an idiot. The breakthrough wouldn¡¯t have been this startling if he summoned his Seekers Accord after cultivating or before he absorbed the Hell Shard.


    He heard it once from his Teacher long ago ¡ª prana backlash or deviation, a risk that came along with cultivating or recklessly breaking through without supervision and a teacher guiding him. The best case was he¡¯d throw up blood and must abstain from cultivating for a while¡­ and the worst case was he¡¯d cripple himself.


    But this was a chance of a breakthrough! Too late to go back now!


    Dejiu steadied his breath. He still felt the raw energy from the Hell Shard prickling inside him, stirring his prana core like embers waiting to ignite.


    ¡°Keurk!¡± He grimaced before he spat out some blood ¡ª already making the mistake of letting his prana run wild.


    He forced his focus inward, centering his senses as his body vibrated with the pressure. This is the problem with Hell Shards ¡ª the destructive and chaotic nature of hell element prana made it unwieldy, forcing those who wish to absorb Hell Shard to refine the prana into something more workable slowly. But at least for them, they had a choice!


    Pah! Too late now to worry about such things, Xue Dejiu! He thought with gritted teeth, tasting a bitter metallic tang on his tongue.


    He carefully began weaving the prana that swirled in his navel, thickening the walls that would form his core. He focused on the fragments he had already formed in his seven years of cultivating before coalescing into a proper and complete core with a dark, eerie pulse.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    The walls¡­ just form the rest of the walls, he reminded himself again, trying to ignore the throbbing of his heart. It pounded louder, syncopating with a rhythm he¡¯d never experienced before. His fingers pressed into his knees as he concentrated. A wave of clarity washed over him, and somehow, without having practiced this before, his prana core shaped itself into tighter layers with surprising ease. Each breath seemed to deepen the flow, pulling the cloud of prana right where it needed to go.


    In what he felt was minutes of intense concentration, he finally felt the efforts from his years of slow cultivation and the Hell Shards blend smoothly, forming the sturdy foundation of what he knew was the next stage¡ªMid Initiate.


    And just as he could visualize his newly formed prana core, he heard the familiar monotone voice of the Seekers Accord sound in his mind already confirming his core¡¯s status.


    [Congratulations, Seeker Xue Dejiu. This step on your Path is but a mere speck that will lead to all you seek.]


    [Your Blood Deepens.]


    [Prana Core: Mid Initiate]


    [Prana: 29/29]


    For a moment, he stayed in stillness, letting the new sensation soak in before his lips stretched and laughter escaped his lips. ¡°Ha! At last! The Tainted Hell Shard even pushed me beyond 25!¡±


    His eyes opened as the core settled. He felt stronger, centered¡ªyet couldn¡¯t shake the faint impression that something about the process had felt too natural as if he¡¯d been led without realizing it.


    Is this¡­ my talent? Ha, I must be talented all this time! Damn, those geezer monks. Their nonsense rules can¡¯t hold back my talents! He laughed.


    Also, his blood deepens? Whatever that meant¡­ but he had something better to think about! He¡¯s stronger!


    Celebrating alone in his dim room, he jumped and skipped. There were four levels inside the Initiate Stage ¡ª Low, Mid, High, and Pure. The Seekers Accord made it easier with numbers, each level being apart by increments of 25. Although the other monks-in-training that were present on that faithful day where he was bestowed his wretched class were likely all at the Peak Initate Stage or above, Dejiu finally was able to feel that his efforts weren¡¯t in vain.


    Then again¡­ most of them were older than me that day. So if I can reach the High Initate Stage in a few years, I won¡¯t be that far behind, right? Right!? He grinned, wiping away the trickles of blood leaking from his mouth.


    Opening his window, he threw his head past the sill, basking in the cold air and moonlight. He silently breathed in the icy air, staring at the distant moon. ¡°Hell element prana isn¡¯t compatible with the temple¡¯s Path. But if they aren¡¯t going to teach me the cultivation method and its techniques¡­ then what¡¯s stopping me from taking Hell


    Shards to help me breakthrough without refining them to ice prana?¡±


    He laughed, not too loud to wake the neighboring chambers of the White Blossom Monastery this late in the night, but he laughed nonetheless.


    ¡ª


    As the morning sun poked atop the many jagged peaks of Mount Xuedou, the cold air settled into the wooden prayer halls. Dejiu found himself kowtowing a little past the prayer halls¡¯ entrance. Deeper inside, the rhythmic chanting of his fellow junior monks filled the air.


    ¡°Righteous in wrath,¡± Senior Monk Liang¡¯s voice rang out, echoing the teachings of the Heavenly Snowy Temple. ¡°We gather not to indulge in strength but to harness it, to focus our resolve against the corruption that encroaches upon our world.¡±


    The daimons¡­ Dejiu thought with closed eyes, wishing Teacher Jiansu was faring well against them.


    Senior Monk Liang continued, ¡°Admit your shortcomings, request teachings, and dedicate yourselves to our sect¡¯s Path of Enlightened Winter.¡±


    At Senior Monk Liang¡¯s mention of the prized Path of their temple, Dejiu silently sighed, quelling a storm of conflicting emotions within him.


    Dedicate myself? You geezer! How could I if I¡¯m not even taught the first step?


    A ringing bell chimed through the prayer hall, signaling the end of the prayer. With that, Dejiu took advantage of his routine of remaining as close to the entrance as possible ¡ª leaving before the others could talk to him.


    Without a word, he turned on his heel and strode out of the hall, leaving the others behind. Their voices faded into the distance, replaced by the whistling winds of the mountain air. As he stepped into the biting cold, a sense of liberation washed over him. Here, away from the presences that felt like chains, he could finally breathe ¡ª if only for a moment.


    ¡°Junior Monk Xue Dejiu.¡± A voice reminiscent of howling wind said from behind.


    Dejiu froze before swiveling on the spot. ¡°Ah, hello Senior Monk Liang.¡± He said respectfully, clasping his palms together in a formal bow. Damn it Dejiu, you spoke too soon!


    Senior Monk Liang tilted his head at Dejiu, studying him. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re of the Mid Iniate Stage, now?¡±


    Attentive¡­ Dejiu inwardly thought, his head still lowered into his robe¡¯s sleeves.


    ¡°Yes, this one has managed a breakthrough yesterday,¡± Dejiu said respectfully.


    ¡°Amitabha, a great achievement¡­ though if I do recall from the other Senior Monks, I thought Warrior Jiansu was forbidden from teaching you our temple¡¯s cultivation method?¡± Senior Monk Liang asked pryingly.


    Dejiu''s face twitched, fortunately away from Senior Monk Liang¡¯s sight. ¡°I managed to do so without guidance. Teacher Jiansu played no role aside from providing a Hell Shard.¡±


    ¡°Ho¡­ I see, I see.¡± Senior Monk Liang said before adding, ¡°Then your duties must reflect your circumstances. Usually, another would do this, but I need someone to descend the mountain ¡ª you know of the Heifeng Prefecture, no?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t. I wasn¡¯t ever permitted to leave the temple grounds.¡± Dejiu said and lifted his head.


    ¡°Ah, right. You won¡¯t miss it then. It is a bustling city just a few paces from the steps leading down the mountain. They are our temple¡¯s liaisons for the world outside our temple. Reach the city and find the central square. Ask any noble, city guard, or city official for Senior Monk Xue Yuan. There, he will tell you of your duties, tell him you¡¯re taking over for the usual monk in their stead.¡±


    Dejiu frowned. There¡¯s a catch, right? His suspicion stirred. ¡°...May ask why I am being sent down the mountain?¡±


    ¡°Hmph. Because you should be strong enough to fend the environment alone. Now I needn¡¯t send someone else for this small task when it''s time better spent training.¡±


    It seemed like a cruel joke. He¡¯s being sent because he¡¯s strong enough? As if they didn¡¯t hinder him from being strong in the first place?! Dejiu stifled a scowl. ¡°Very well, Senior Monk Liang. I¡¯ll set off immediately.¡±


    ¡°Amitabha, I wish you safe travels, Xue Dejiu. Make sure you bring along a pack frame.¡±


    Dejiu respectfully bowed once more and waited until Senior Monk Liang turned around before he lifted his head.


    Of course, of course! Give me the menial duties. He sighed before he defeatedly walked to his sleeping chambers.


    It didn¡¯t take long for him to gather his things ¡ª he presumed he didn¡¯t need much after all. But his eye was pulled towards the end of the room. Leaning against a wall by a small weathered shrine, stood an old wooden pack frame and Teacher Jiansu''s spare monk¡¯s spade.


    It¡¯s customary for a monk to be able to defend himself, right? Teacher won¡¯t find fault with this. He thought, fastening the pack frame onto his back while eyeing the weapon.

 Chapter 3 - The Violence Necessary for Change

    ¡°Now I look like Teacher!¡± Dejiu grinned as he walked down an endless number of steps.


    Equipped with thick robes of deep blue and white, a wooden pack frame on his back, and a long pole arm with two ends ¡ª one end a regular spade¡¯s head, and the other is a gleaming crescent moon blade.


    He didn¡¯t know what came over him to bring the weapon with him, but at least he could begin training with his stronger Mid Initiate body. Better than boring himself with anything the monk he needed to find would make him do¡­


    Though it did feel right in his hands, perhaps he had the makings of a warrior monk, as Teacher Jiansu said.


    As if. He laughed.


    In his next step, he broke through the cloud of cold fog covering the mountain and the vast land below revealed itself. He paused his descent, taking in the sight.


    Boundless. That¡¯s the only word that came to mind. It¡¯s difficult to think that he used to live somewhere below the mountain long ago ¡ª a time he couldn¡¯t even remember before Teacher Jiansu saved him. The daimons killed his family and most of the village before the monks arrived all that time ago, but Dejiu couldn¡¯t remember a thing, he was simply too young to remember even the faces of his parents, much less any of the other surviving villagers.


    Though¡­ it didn¡¯t hurt to wish they were doing fine, wherever they were. Teacher Jiansu didn¡¯t mention much about them, not that Dejiu asked or anything.


    Sighing to himself, he brought the monk¡¯s spade behind his neck and across his shoulders before climbing down again.


    ¡ª


    By the time Dejiu reached the bottom of the steps, he gasped for breath, his legs trembling with each step. He hadn¡¯t expected the descent to be so grueling, every muscle in his body burning from keeping himself steady on the steep path.


    He slumped against the nearest boulder, sliding the monk¡¯s spade from his shoulder and letting it rest beside him. He hadn¡¯t felt so heavy in a long time, and he couldn¡¯t tell if it was the fatigue or the weight of everything he¡¯d brought down with him.


    ¡°I thought the walk down would be easier,¡± he groaned, rubbing his aching calves. Worse than the ache though was the cold! He dipped his hands into his groin to warm them. He¡¯s a vulgar monk, but a monk nonetheless.


    Though speaking of monks, Senior Monk Liang was right ¡ª he had already seen the distant Heifeng Prefecture¡¯s silhouette on his way down. It¡¯s far away but it didn¡¯t take some complex directions to reach. He just needed to pass the small snowcapped forest between the foothills and the city in a straight line.


    After a few minutes of rest, Dejiu recovered enough to reach his destination. Lifting off his rough seat, he finally stepped on level ground outside Mount Xuedou.


    ¡°Agh, my ass!¡± He muffled a curse.


    He hobbled through the wintry forest, his footprints marked the frost-laden grass. He cut down branches with the bladed end of his monk¡¯s spade, familiarizing himself with the lengthy weapon. There was something cathartic about it ¡ª the simplicity of the movement, the clarity of action.  The best was the freedom from the temple.


    For a moment, Dejiu paused, breathing heavily but with a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. This job isn¡¯t too bad¡­ they can¡¯t fault me for taking my time, right?


    But as he continued to walk¡­ the ground shifted below his feet. Then he heard the faintest tremor from the earth ¡ª a soft rumble, like a sigh from the earth itself.


    ¡°Wha¡ª¡±


    Before he could focus his hearing, the earth split before him. The ground swallowed into a round sinkhole, immediately widening into a chasm as Dejiu staggered and watched the scene unfold. It didn¡¯t even take a few seconds.


    He balanced himself and gawked as a jagged stone pillar forced its way up, rising like a twisted claw from the ground.


    He swallowed, his breath fogging in the chill air, but Dejiu was no fool. Despite the chill running down his spine, he knew what this was. After all, Teacher Jiansu was currently dealing with another similar scene elsewhere. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    It¡¯s a Pillarshard.


    It¡¯s how daimons would climb up into their world from the Seventh Hell.


    He swallowed, his breath fogging in the chill air as the sinkhole widened and widened. His eyes tensed and he brought the monk¡¯s spade in front of him.


    ¡°I-I am a monk of the Heavenly Snowy Temple. I have an obligation to fight.¡± He muttered. ¡°But I¡¯m no fool.¡±


    So he ran. Faster and harder than he ever had before. Shameless? Unbecoming? Improper? Perhaps. But more than shameless, it¡¯d be foolish to linger.


    Quickly unfastening the pack frame from his back, he rushed ahead and veered around the widening sinkhole, uneager to remain so close before the Pillarshard began to rise and daimons spilled from outward. He had no choice if he wanted to live.


    Dipping and dodging Dejiu wove through the trunks and branches, always keeping a steady eye beside him until the sinkhole was behind him. He broke through the sharp demarcation delineating forest and plains. With it behind him, he wouldn¡¯t dare look back.


    I¡¯m too far from the temple, I¡¯ll get run to the prefecture and call for the local seekers and that Senior Monk in charge. I can¡¯t handle this thin¡ª


    ¡°Fight.¡± A voice said, and Dejiu froze in his tracks. Sweat began to form on his bald head despite the cold winds billowing the rolling plains.


    Who? What the fuck was that¡ª


    ¡°Kill. Fight. Death. Blood. Battle. Daimon, behind.¡± The voice clawed through his mind as if etched into the back of his thoughts.  Dejiu remained still, bewildered, and shaking in place. Each word felt heavier than the last, drumming against his senses, flooding his veins with a feeling he didn¡¯t recognize ¡ª something raw and feverish.


    It was a woman¡¯s voice¡­ he didn¡¯t hear it from his ears, but rather his mind, just like the Seeker¡¯s Accord.


    However, he knew the Seeker¡¯s Accord well ¡ª and this woman¡¯s voice was the furthest thing from that.


    Dejiu¡¯s fingers tightened on the spade¡¯s handle. His breath hitched, fogging in the freezing air. And then he turned around despite his mind¡¯s protests.


    For a second, he thought he saw movement within the sinkhole, dark shadows swirling beneath the rising stone. He knew he should keep running and escape whatever was about to emerge, but the voice wouldn¡¯t let him move.


    He opened his mouth to scream, to croak and run, but it was as though he didn¡¯t have a mouth.


    ¡°Daimon, behind. Kill.¡± it rasped again, slower this time, like the voice of some buried hunger gnawing at the edges of his sanity. Against his better judgment, he stepped forward, drawn toward the twisted Pillarshard by an invisible pull.


    ¡°What is this!? Who¡¯s there?¡± he roared with as much vigor a person his age could muster. But the feminine voice only pulsed again with words he could hardly resist, a chant that grew louder, overwhelming his thoughts.


    ¡°Fight. Blood. Kill. Take shard.¡± The woman¡¯s voice flooded his mind.


    A shiver ran down his spine. The jagged stone tower that slowly rose from the sinkhole trembled as if something inside it was eager, waiting, pressing against the surface to break free.


    How is it rising so fast!? Dejiu¡¯s senses screamed as his head couldn¡¯t look away. No, no, no!


    He couldn¡¯t remain here any longer. The daimons inside the Pillarshard would erupt from the base in moments!


    I have to go! Run Dejiu! You fucking wretched monk, run! Move, move! He inwardly cried, but his body wouldn¡¯t listen.


    The woman¡¯s voice was no gentle whisper; it was a command, a demand, and it terrified him.


    But it didn¡¯t matter what he wanted to do¡­ because from the risen tower of jagged black stone, Dejiu watched as a daimon¡¯s monstrously long limb gripped the break apart a small hole.


    Inside that hole, an eye gleamed from the darkness, its sickly yellow iris piercing through, staring at the figure of Dejiu. Its surface rippled like molten gold, yet deadened and dull, as though it hadn¡¯t seen sunlight in centuries.


    [Seeker Xue Dejiu, you have entered an Impure Pillarshard¡¯s territory. Prepare yourself, Seeker!]


    Dejiu¡¯s heart sank at the words from the Seeker¡¯s Accord. This¡­ is real.


    [...][...][...]


    [You cannot leave the premises of this emerging Pillarshard. Snuff the Pillarshard¡¯s core or delve down to the Seventh Hell. Only death will await those who remain complacent.]


    [You have thirty days before your assault is forcibly relinquished.]


    What!? I can¡¯t leave? The script faded unhurriedly, replaced by new text.


    [A lone herald of blood, wretched in his approach, lulled by the words of a lingering creature of the depths¡­]


    To hell with this! What do you mean I lulled at the words of such a thing? She forced me!


    [To trust in the profane, and therein lie the marrow of his strength.]


    Fuck! You wretched accord! You and this woman alike!


    But Dejiu didn¡¯t get to finish his cursing.


    ¡­Because the first daimon has already broken out of the Pillarshard¡¯s stone base.

 Chapter 4 - Bing Xin, of Everlonging

    Amitabha! Amitabha! Dejiu earnestly prayed for the first time. Move, Dejiu! Move!


    The daimon broke apart the rising Pillarshard enough for it to fit through. Raggedly breathing, Dejiu studied the ferocious-looking being in front of him. Oh, fuck. Damn. I-I have to fight this thing? It looked like a wingless bird twisted and corrupted in such a way to adapt the few stories he had heard about the Seventh Hell¡¯s landscape.


    The creature loomed over Dejiu, a twisted daimon with a form as unnatural as its movements were relentless. Like a large bird that grew a pair of mishappened arms ¡ª if they could even be called that ¡ª was thick and compact, stretching and contracting in unpredictable spurts, each extension bringing jagged talons flashing toward him.


    ¡°Fight. Kill. Daimon.¡± The woman¡¯s voice urged violently in his head.


    ¡°I know, I know you wench!¡± Dejiu yelled with the cadence and word choice unbefitting a temple monk. ¡°I wanted to run! So hold your tongu¡ª¡±


    Rolling away from a cutting swipe of an abnormally long limb, Dejiu gathered himself and studied his foe. Its body is covered in solid coarse feathers, appearing almost petrified in parts, while others bled a sickly, dark ichor. Above its grotesque torso, a head devoid of features save for a narrow slit for an eye that glowed with a faint, haunting yellow light, like the dull embers of a dying fire.


    The daimon paused and cocked its head as though it was confused about Dejiu¡¯s ability to move, but continued its assault.


    Dejiu threw himself to the side, rolling to dodge a swipe as the daimon''s limb shot toward him again, short and stout but deceptively fast.


    ¡°Agh!¡± Dejiu cried. The talon shallowly nicked his back. He looked down below him to find his blood dripping into the snow, steaming as it did so.


    I-I can¡¯t keep this up. I have to attack. He thought, ignoring the pangs from his back.


    Although he knew he had to attack the daimon, it was much easier said than done. He didn¡¯t know the first thing about combat and using prana in battle, he barely even knew how to cultivate!


    But just as he lamented his prowess, the ominous woman in his head¡­ or wherever she was spoke once more. ¡°Duck. Stab. Kill.¡±


    She wanted to kill me by making me turn back from the prefecture! Now she wants to help? Dejiu frowned.


    In the next second, the wingless bird-like daimon hipped and hopped toward him and thrust its lengthy talon-ended limb once more. However, this time, Dejiu reluctantly listened to the malign voice and ducked clumsily on all fours. Snow stuck to his hands and feet, but he immediately followed with a weak thrust into the daimon¡¯s legs, miraculously drawing blood. The daimon lurched back in response and cocked its head at the wound dealt from the bladed end of Dejiu¡¯s polearm.


    In a high-pitched screech, the daimon engaged again despite its weakened leg.


    ¡°Kill. Upwards. Stab.¡± The woman said just as Dejiu lifted himself.


    Oddly entrusting his entire being to the woman¡¯s voice, his monk¡¯s spade clanged against the risen stone as he shifted his weight, sweeping it upward just in time to meet the creature¡¯s next attack. With an awkward and untrained movement, he plunged the crescent blade into its torso, twisting with all his strength.


    The daimon shuddered, its limbs convulsing as a dark essence began leaking from its wounds. A monotone voice sounded in his head.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Talon]


    ¡°You shut up too!¡± Dejiu snapped, though whether it was directed at the two voices in his head or the lifeless daimon before him, even he wasn¡¯t sure. He wanted to quiet his nerves. But his momentary triumph was short-lived as the next creature stumbled out.


    ¡°Carrion. Take. Feed.¡± The woman laughed, seemingly pleased with the kill.


    His gaze darted to the lifeless body of the Hollow Talon, its misshapen form sprawled out, black ichor pooling beneath it. The thought twisted his stomach, but he couldn''t deny the possibility. He could almost feel the lingering energy pulsing within the carcass ¡ª a Hell Shard.


    His fingers clenched around the handle of his monk¡¯s spade, the cold bite of the weapon grounding him for a moment. Absorb the Hell Shard? Is that what she wants?


    Without another thought, he rushed toward the corpse before the next daimon could crawl out.


    Dejiu could see prana, albeit at the most basic level. Cutting apart the flesh covering the area with the most concentrated and dense prana, he inhaled sharply before sinking his hand inside the wound. He dug and rummaged around the bloody mess before grabbing a hold of the Hell Shard and absorbing it.


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]Stolen story; please report.


    Acclimating to the influx of foreign prana, of the hell element much less, Dejiu steadied himself once more.


    ¡°Good boy. Kill more! Take more!¡± The woman flooded his mind again.


    Dejiu winced at the sudden remark and clutched his temple. Gah! Is she getting more coherent with her words? Why? The Hell Shard?


    But he couldn¡¯t forget where he stood as the next daimon¡­ another Hollow Talon broke free from the evergrowing Pillarshard.


    Inspecting his status before the next fight, he frowned.


    [Prana Core: Mid Initiate]


    [Prana: 13/29]


    I¡¯m this low!? And that¡¯s after absorbing a Hell Shard! God, by the Great Lotus Venerable! He pleaded, shaking his head at the Pillarshard.


    At least this is an Impure Pillarshard. It¡¯s the only saving grace of this situation. Only creatures of the Seventh Hell can emerge from this Pillarshard, those of the Impure level or equivalent to an Initiate Stage Seeker. As for how strong these Impure daimons could be¡­ Dejiu didn¡¯t want to think of it right now. But that was for later if they do appear.


    Besides, he had something he needed to do before the daimon was upon him.


    ¡°...Hey, miss? Mistress? Lady? Who are you?¡± He reluctantly asked. He still feared she was going to kill him from the inside or something.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Hello?¡± His fear waned and frustration replaced it. ¡°You¡¯re the one who damned me here you wen¡ª¡±


    ¡°I am called Bing Xin, my little monk. Enough dawdling around, that old bird¡¯s spawn is coming for your head.¡±


    ¡­And just like the woman¡ªBing Xin said, Dejiu steadied himself. Yep. Still a little jittery.


    But his nervous face grimaced and contorted at the sight of his new enemy. ¡°Um. Miss Bing Xin? What do I do? This¡­uh. This wingless bird is much bigger than the last one. ¡±


    But the mysterious Bing Xin didn¡¯t respond and his panic rose.


    ¡°Hello? Hey!? Miss!?¡± Dejiu stammered out. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I called you a wench earlier! Hey, Miss are you still there? The daimon is coming!¡±


    ¡°When the right arm thrusts forward, duck then run around it. Go inside the Pillarshard, don¡¯t fight. You¡¯ll die.¡± She finally said.


    Dejiu opened his mouth to curse her madness again, just as the daimon¡¯s long limb extended forward, aimed right between his eyes. Instinct took over, and he dropped into a low crouch, narrowly avoiding the attack.


    ¡°Go inside? Go inside!? Why would I ever go inside that hellish¨C¡±


    ¡°Jump right!¡±


    The coarse stone-like feathers on the daimon¡¯s torso fired where Dejiu stood just a second ago like a flurry of arrows.


    He looked back in shock. He just jumped from imminent death!


    ¡°I¡¯m going inside!¡± Dejiu belted his change of mind as he ran around the daimon. He dodged the storm of feathers with all he had. His prana was depleting rapidly despite how little he knew of using it for techniques and fighting, but miraculously he continued evading most of the feathers.


    ¡°Kreuk!¡± He gasped out in response to the sharp pain on the side of his right arm and leg.


    ¡°A little more!¡± The woman continued, almost gleeful despite his woes.


    ¡°I know!¡± He spat.


    Dejiu gritted his teeth as he staggered, clutching his injured arm. The sharp pain radiated from the fresh wound, blood seeping through his robes and staining the fabric dark. The daimon turned and scattered its stone-like feathers in another deadly barrage. Dejiu dove to the side, feeling the feathers slice through the air mere inches from him, the whistling sound filling his ears. Each dodge drained him further, his prana flickering like a candle in a storm, almost ready to sputter out.


    He managed a few more steps, dodging the daimon¡¯s talon, each movement becoming harder as his muscles weakened. His vision blurred, the weight of his prana growing unbearable, threatening to crush him from within. But the Pillarshard¡¯s entrance was now just a few feet away, radiating a chilling energy that made his skin crawl.


    With a final, reckless burst of speed, Dejiu flung himself through the Pillarshard¡¯s jagged opening, tumbling onto the cold, shadowed ground within. The daimon let out an enraged screech from behind, halting at the threshold, unable¡ªor perhaps unwilling¡ªto follow him in.


    Huh? Why can¡¯t it come in? Dejiu thought. There was nothing to stop it. But as he turned and looked around the Pillarshard¡¯s interior, he was even more confused. Shouldn¡¯t a Pillarshard be¡­ crawling in daimons?


    ¡°It¡¯s because of that progenitor of these fledgling birds.¡± The woman answered, confirming her ability to hear his thoughts.¡°The fat one won¡¯t follow because of the progenitor¡¯s will . As for how vacant this is? Most of his spawn die ¡ª too weak to endure even the weakest of Hells. Most surviving ones are injured and weak.¡±


    ¡°That¡­ is considered weak?¡± Dejiu cried out. He still clutched his wounded limbs. ¡°But never mind that. Who¡¯re you? And why can I hear you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, my little monk. I am called Bing Xin.¡±


    ¡°My ass! Your name doesn¡¯t explain any of this!¡±


    ¡°Ho¡­ then the best answer I can give is no answer at all. Summon your Seekers Accord and find your Attributes.¡±


    Dejiu frowned but still did as she told.


    [Attribute[s]: Doomed Entwinement ¡ª Shattered Innocence]


    [Attribute Description: Doomed Entwinement ¡ª This pitiful herald of blood is forsaken to be ever entwined with such twisted beings, the everlonging daimons of rebirth. However, this bond comes with the same indescribable yearning for what has been lost in exchange.]


    [Attribute Description: Shattered Innocence ¡ª You cried the throes of struggle before you cried the tears of adolescence. An echo of innocence stolen and replaced by blood and steel.]


    Immediately, it clicked. Dejiu¡¯s eyes widened and he felt the sudden urge to vomit for not noticing something he should¡¯ve known the moment a voice other than the Seekers Accord appeared in his head.


    ¡°You¡­ you are a daimon?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, my little monk. I am called Bing Xin an everlonging daimon of rebirth.¡±

 Chapter 5 - Where Gods Do Not Venture

    ¡°Can you leave me?¡±


    Dejiu was unenthusiastic to say the least. He nervously walked down the desolate interior of the Pillarshard. It was almost dark¡­ but through the small cracks webbing the stone walls glowed a brilliant, or perhaps in a hellish orange. Because it was exactly that ¡ª the light of the Seventh Hell.


    ¡°I cannot, my little monk.¡±


    ¡°Please?¡± He asked, skittish because the spiraling stairwell he was on opened into a chamber.


    ¡°I cannot. Besides, how else are you going to survive the Seventh Hell? You need my knowledge and strength.¡±


    ¡°...Who said I was going to withstand the Seventh Hell, wasn¡¯t I supposed to snuff the Pillarshard¡¯s core? Kill the guardian and all that? Then leave?¡± He asked again. His echoing steps stopped because he didn¡¯t want to enter the chamber before she informed him of¡­ anything at all really. He was doomed without her despite how much he disliked her.


    ¡°You will do that too, but what then? You only know half the story. Those monks, they didn¡¯t teach you much of cultivation, the Pillarshards, the many hells, or even the world ¡ª you don¡¯t know anything. You are nothing more than a child.¡±


    ¡°I think I know some stuff¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try and bluff yourself into delusion, my little monk. How long do you think I was present in your life?¡± She quickly dismissed him.


    Dejiu frowned and reread the attribute that led him to his answer.


    [Attribute Description: Doomed Entwinement ¡ª This pitiful herald of blood is forsaken to be ever entwined with such twisted beings, the everlonging daimons of rebirth. However, this bond comes with the same indescribable yearning for what has been lost in exchange.]


    ¡°Since I was born, maybe?¡±


    The daimon left him answerless for a while as he stood in the dark. ¡°I wonder.¡± She said.


    Dejiu¡¯s face twitched at her nonsensical answer.


    ¡°Hmph. Then can I ask you this ¡ª did you¡­ play a hand in why the Seekers Accord granted me my Class?¡±


    She once again left him waiting for a few minutes. ¡°I wonder.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s hands wrapped around the shaft of his monk''s spade tightly. Not answering? This woman¡ªdaimon! God, what did he do to deserve this!?


    ¡°I heard that, my little monk. There is nothing you can hide.¡± She whispered and read his thoughts.


    ¡°Quit calling me that!¡± Dejiu growled but immediately brought a hand to cover his mouth in case he alarmed whatever was nestling inside the chamber the stairs led to.


    ¡°Though I will say¡­ if you doubt my sincerity, I have much to teach you. First, before you walk towards this daimon den to die fruitlessly, sit in the lotus position you monks love all so much.¡±


    ¡°What makes you think I can trust you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Should I force you to walk to your death?¡±


    ¡°No Ma¡¯am!¡± Dejiu complied immediately. He plopped down and kowtowed on the warm stone stairs. ¡°Amitabha, I couldn¡¯t be more grateful! Please find the kindness in your heart to teach this garbage, insolent, stupid monk!¡±


    Bing Xin laughed. ¡°Good boy. Now close your eyes and visualize your core as you¡¯ve always done.¡±


    Dejiu did as told and visualized his prana core. Flimsy as it is, he still looks upon it proudly.


    ¡°What I will teach you is called the Dark Flower cultivation method. It is my own curated method, so treat it well.¡±


    Dejiu raised his eyebrows in glee. He couldn¡¯t believe his ears. She was going to teach him? This called for something he once saw the lay monks secretly indulge in when he was cleaning the outer monasteries ¡ª wine!


    ¡°A cultivation method? Really? You¡¯re willing to teach me something precious¡ªwait.¡± Dejiu¡¯s tone immediately lowered. ¡°This wouldn¡¯t be a¡­ daimonic cultivation art now would it, Miss Bing Xin?¡±


    ¡°It is, it is made by me after all. A daimon.¡±


    Dejiu frowned. ¡°...Miss Bing Xin, you know that I¡¯m from a Buddhist temple. One that preaches for righteousness. The noble symbol of peace in the Shenguo Kingdom. A Buddhist sect that has ancient roots said to be tied to The Honored Buddha himself.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    ¡°Why speak the obvious? I¡¯ve been trailing along with you for a long time. What of it?¡±


    ¡°Must I spell it out? Although the other people my age have mostly grown out of their nosey, rude, and obnoxious phase, they still outcast me and have quite creative and backhanded ways of calling me a dangerous piece of garbage without outright saying it.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°You daimon wench! If I learn a daimonic cultivation method, I¡¯ll be persecuted instead of outcasted!¡±


    ¡°What if you die tomorrow? You¡¯re worrying about the wrong things. Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t find out. Just avoid that Abbot when you return to the surface and your worries won¡¯t come to fruition. Never let him touch you as he did seven years ago.¡±


    He frowned. ¡°...Fine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not such a bad thing now, is it? You will be stronger all the same. Now focus. The Seekers Accord tells you that your prana capacity is at 51. But do you know what proportion of which elements you have?¡±


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t. I¡¯ve just been brutally breathing in and cycling my prana whichever way I feel best. You know this don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about a sixty to twenty split between ice and hell element prana.¡±


    ¡°Sixty to¡ªwait what about the remaining twenty?¡±


    ¡°Blood prana. Death prana.¡±


    ¡°You said what!?¡± Dejiu wanted to peel his scalp or chest and find wherever this Bing Xin was inside of him. ¡°How come no one ever told me I have such murderous sounding elements?¡±


    ¡°In element-rich areas like Mount Xuedou ¡ª the surrounding environment is absorbed into the body and integrated into the core, the child¡¯s core takes on the aspects of that particular element, and the corresponding prana is produced multifold, as they cultivate. You? They probably assumed that you¡¯ll follow suit.¡±


    ¡°Damn¡­ that doesn¡¯t sound good.¡± Dejiu frowned.


    ¡°Ah, blame those monks. I haven¡¯t been able to help you all this time because of this deplorable Abbot. He¡­ he is quite a powerful person. Do take my advice and stay away from him for both our sakes. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be ousted. Anyway, my point here is that this Dark Flower cultivation method fits you more whatever the temple would teach you. You will never reach the heights of the Arhats and the Abbot if you mindlessly follow their teachings.¡±


    ¡°Now, visualize your core and shape it into a flower. Whichever one you¡¯d like, though I do have a good guess as to which you¡¯d choose.¡± Bing Xin laughed.


    Dejiu paused and thought about it. Though it seemed a little funny to be thinking of the many flowers he read about in a botany scroll while he sat outside a den of monstrous daimons while being inside a Pillarshard, but who cares! Anything to survive he supposed. Then he came to a choice. A mountain avens, one of the only flowers he could see grow atop the frigid mountain.


    ¡°Beautiful choice, my little monk. Now, draw in and soak the ambient prana and convert it as you¡¯ve always done to cultivate.¡±


    Dejiu listened and began to follow her guidance. His breathing and cultivation was going fine, a little more rough than he thought it would be. ¡°What is this supposed to¨C¡±


    Without warning, he felt something burst inside. Something that shouldn¡¯t have burst and somewhere he shouldn¡¯t feel pain. ¡°Gah! ¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fracturing apart your weak prana core to make reconstruction easier. That pitiful excuse of a core does not fit with my cultivation method.¡±


    Dejiu wiped the blood dripping from his lips with his sleeve and frowned. His hard work over seven years¡­ gone! He couldn¡¯t even wish it farewell. He clasped his hands and recited a small prayer for his dead progress.


    ¡°Enough fooling around.¡± Bing Xin didn¡¯t let him off the hook. ¡°Now spread those flimsy things you call the walls of your core into the petals of that flower you chose. Cycle your prana carefully because I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve realized what type of environment you¡¯re sitting in.¡±


    Still brooding over his destroyed core, he answered, ¡°The Seventh Hell. Volatile and destructive hell element prana.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, the hell element prana is obviously strong here ¡ª you don¡¯t even need to reach the Advanced Stage and be given greater sight to tell. As for fracturing your core, I¡¯m sorry for breaking your measly ¡®progress¡¯, but trust me.¡±


    ¡°A daimon with sympathy? Pah! Fine, fine!¡± He said a little angrily. Doing as she said, Dejiu forced his prana core to mold into a white mountain avens flower. However, when he tried he realized that changing how he envisioned his core for the past seven grueling years turned out to be much harder than he thought. Sweat formed on his bald head. His robes eventually turned slick, even wetting the stone he sat atop.


    It felt like hours before he could form something. Probably because it was. But he told Bing Xin the moment he completed it.


    ¡°I¡¯m done, but my avens is really thin in prana. Is this okay?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, the change in outlook was the purpose of this.¡±


    ¡°...Now what?¡±


    ¡°Your prana has always raced through your meridians in a pattern unrestrained by any cultivation method and teacher. I do not have a manual to teach you nor do you have the time to read. So to teach you, I will take hold over your body as you watch. I will cycle your prana just once according to the Dark Flower cultivation method and teach your first technique belonging to the Dark Flower cultivation method ¡ª Wilted Stem.¡± Bing Xin said.


    Dejiu nodded. He¡¯s going to learn cultivation method and techniques!? Alright, he was on the fence with learning from a daimon but hearing this now sounded kind of exciting. He was already committed to absorbing Hell Shards without care, so at this point, it was too late to worry. Not like the temple was going to teach him its cultivation method anytime soon anyways.


    ¡°I can only do this once as of now so study how I manipulate your prana and burn it into your memory. I should also say that it¡¯s going to hurt you.¡± Bing Xin nonchalantly continued.


    ¡°What? Hurt? Why¡ª¡±


    In the next second, Dejiu opened his mouth to ask more but only screams escaped. Bing Xin invasively and violently changed something inside, starting with his core¡¯s prana and meridians. It was as if the Seventh Hell¡¯s infernos unleashed inside.

 Chapter 6 - Light Work Baby, Light Work!

    [Modified Dark Flower Cultivation Method has reached Ordinary attainment level.]


    ¡°Ah come on, that was nothing for you little monk!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about that. Just teach me how to fight.¡± He muttered, covered in sweat and internal bruises.


    He cursed her painful cultivation method. Bing Xin made him repeat what she demonstrated until he heard the notification that he attained an Ordinary attainment level ¡ª the lowest of attainment levels. Ultimately, it paid off.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know how much of a boon I¡¯ve given you. Now inside this chamber are¡­ hm, let¡¯s see. Three of those old bird¡¯s spawn. Kill them. Take their Hell Shards. The more Hell Shards you take, the more I can help you all the while strengthening yourself.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can. I ran from that big one¡ª¡±


    ¡°A shame to see how you¡¯ve fallen.¡± Bing Xin said before adding, ¡°Then kill yourself doing so.¡±


    Dejiu scoffed. ¡°Fine, fine. Just three, right? Are you sure I can kill them? Do you have a feud with this daimon you call an old bird?¡±


    ¡°You know nothing of their progenitor, nor will I tell you because I cannot speak of his true name, little monk. Otherwise, you would die a timely and excruciating death. Just fight as I told you and remember how we¡¯ve gone over the cultivation method. You¡¯ll learn the Wilted Stem technique that way. Don¡¯t worry, the Seekers Accord will confirm if you learned it.¡± Bing Xin laughed.


    He sighed. Jumping in place to get blood pumping through his veins, Dejiu stepped down towards the chamber the stairs led to. Hours have passed and despite how much he yelled past the ordeal Bing Xin forced upon him, the Hollow Talons haven¡¯t ascended to find him in such a vulnerable state.


    Okay¡­ left in the dark as usual. Dejiu thought with a frown, half wishing she¡¯d say something. Not saying anything now, huh?


    His steps echoed and slowly the chamber revealed itself. Dark and hellish, odd pieces of carcasses littered the rugged black stone ground. At least it was brighter though ¡ª more and more of those openings on the walls illuminated the chamber in all of its hellish glory.


    And she said I¡¯ll have to venture to the Seventh Hell¡¯s floor? Dejiu¡¯s frown somehow lowered even further. Glancing at his wounded leg and arm, he found himself wishing he¡¯d at least pack some healing pills or elixir¡­ well if he had any in the first place.


    Taking a steady breath, he took a final look at the safety of the entrance room, double-checking that his spade was all fine and dandy. He¡¯d made all the preparations he could. It¡¯s time to enter.


    ¡°Damn geezers.¡± He cursed just as the harrowing wingless bird-like daimons came into view. He shook his head to throw off his nerves, Seventh Hell creatures or no, it wasn¡¯t like him to quake in his boots at the first sign of a fight when strength was his goal all this time.


    Dejiu threw his head around, looking all over the walls and ceiling for more of the creatures in case Bing Xin lied. Nothing. He could feel his heart thumping in his chest, failing to calm even as he leaned onto the soiled cave wall. Pain, thankfully easy to ignore, shot through his arm and leg, radiating from his bandaged wounds in lockstep with his heartbeat.


    ¡°Hoo¡­¡± He groaned to himself. ¡°At least they aren¡¯t like the big one.¡±


    An aggravated cawing followed the three Hollow Talons¡¯ carnage. They trampled their way to Dejiu from the other end of the chamber. Dejiu took a deep breath and calmly brandished his spade as he recalled what Bing Xin told him just moments ago. Make them come to you. Huh.


    A single Hollow Talon barreled ahead of its brethren and approached Dejiu rapidly. Furious, yet eager to decimate the young bald monk.


    Dejiu ran forward, the Hollow Talon spreading its in response before slinging them ahead to meet him.


    The true weak points, he reminded himself, catching sight of a dim glow amid the creature¡¯s dense, rocky feathers. Bing Xing¡¯s guidance echoed in his mind: Ignore the hollow shadows. Strike only where the faint light breaks through.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Although he could brute force his way again as he did with the first Hollow Talon, it wasn¡¯t sustainable.


    Dejiu darted to the creature''s right and braced low. He lunged with his monk¡¯s spade, the blade slicing forward to pierce one of the glowing points of cracked feathers in the creature¡¯s abdomen. The Hollow Talon shrieked, its long limbs clawing at the ground, momentarily stunned as dark ichor speckled from the wound.


    The faint glowing meant they were still healing ¡ª weaker than the dull rock-grey ones. He thought. He wasn¡¯t done, after all this Hollow Talon gave him the courtesy of meeting one-on-one.


    The hardened steel pierced through the bulbous weak points, spilling dark ichor freely across the floor as it clattered against the stone below with a harsh clank. The Hollow Talon screeched. Flailing, desperate to rid itself of the weapon embedded in its torso.


    ¡°Leave it wallowing in its own guilt, little monk. Let its blood spill helplessly.¡± Bing Xin laughed as Dejiu dashed to the pair of Hollow Talons. ¡°Now, the Withered Stem reinforcement technique!¡±


    [Prana: 11/29]


    Confirming he had enough prana in case he messed up his first true prana technique, Dejiu inhaled sharply and cycled his prana, following the volatile current Bing Xin demonstrated for him.


    Immediately he felt his meridians sprain and almost burst, but the pain came with a burst of physical might all over his body ¡ª the first method of the Dark Flower cultivation ¡ª Wilted Stem.


    He tensed and took advantage of the Hollow Talon¡¯s poor senses and slid his knee in a quick pass from the wicked talons lined at his head.


    With gritted teeth from the searing pain of his strained meridians, Dejiu lunged, his hand stiffened like a spear. He drove his fingers with precision into the faintly glowing gap in the first Hollow Talon¡¯s chest, feeling the hardened carapace yield beneath his strike. Sickly ichor oozed from the wound, spilling over his hand, thick and foul. The daimon shrieked and staggered. It wasn¡¯t dead.


    Then the remaining Hollow Talon was on him, talons flashing in the dim light. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the slash. His body ached from the Wilted Flower reinforcement technique. It''s only a temporary burst of strength after all. The prana technique seeped into the muscles and bones, increasing the amount of strength that the body could output beyond being safe ¡ª something he found himself liking due to the lack of stringent requirements to learn.


    ¡°Of course you like it, you misfit monk!¡± Bing Xin laughed, her voice dripping with mockery as Dejiu narrowly dodged a talon that whizzed past his bald head.


    He scowled, but not before a different voice intruded into his mind and characters appeared.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Talon]


    Dejiu smiled, but not before his hand impaled the remaining Hollow Talon. Without pause, he dislodged his hand and circled around the daimon and found another faintly orange chink in its array of stone feathers. His hand spilled more ichor, some even splattered on his face but he didn¡¯t mind because he heard confirmation of the kill.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Talon]


    ¡°One left my little monk, quickly go and retrieve the Hell Shards!¡± Bing Xin said with glee before he heard something else.


    [Wilted Stem Technique has reached Ordinary attainment level]


    Finally! He smiled.


    Bing Xin said he was supposed to hear both the cultivation method¡¯s and the technique¡¯s Ordinary attainment level almost concurrently because of the overlap in skill. All the technique was is just the Dark Flower cultivation method used in motion and cycling the same way instead of sitting and drawing in prana.


    He smiled just before his reinforcement technique wore off and he felt¡­ weak. Incapacitated even. Wheezing out and in the Seventh Hell¡¯s air, he looked at the carnage of his doing.


    Amitabha, did Teacher Jiansu ever say that daimons may find enlightenment in death? Hard to imagine.


    After a few seconds, his hands rummaged through the holes of his making and he pulled out three Hell Shards and laid them on the ground.


    ¡°Hurry, boy. I¡¯m getting hungry.¡±


    ¡°Just wait. I need a moment to take it in. You know that I haven¡¯t even seen two of such treasures at once, let alone three.¡±


    ¡°Bah, treasures? Those measly things? In time, you¡¯ll drown in such level of wealth.¡±


    ¡°Wealth? This lowly monk wouldn¡¯t dare think such a thing!¡±


    ¡°Hush, boy. Your greed knows no bounds.¡±


    ¡°Ahem. Right, sorry Miss. I¡¯ll be taking them now.¡±


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]

 Chapter 7 - Hello? Hello...!?

    [Dark Flower Cultivation Technique (Modified)]


    [Attainment Level: Ordinary]


    ¡°Hey, Miss Bing Xin? Why does the Seekers Accord call it modified?¡± Dejiu smiled, his eyes focused on his attainment level.


    ¡°Exactly what it means. I changed it for you. Ask it for an explanation of the method.¡±


    Dejiu raised an eyebrow. ¡°I can do that?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve never learned a cultivation technique, not even the basics among basics. Of course you wouldn¡¯t know what you can do with your Seekers Accord. Now get to it.¡±


    Her remarks were like a slap to his face when he was already on the ground. He sighed heavily and complied. ¡°Give me a description of the Dark Flower cultivation technique.¡±


    Immediately, characters flooded his eyes and a monotone voice sounded in his ears.


    [Dark Flower Cultivation Technique (Modified)]


    [Lost in the climb, [Redacted] longed for nothing more than to see the Heavens. In doing so, [Redacted] tempered her mind, body, soul, and most importantly, her core. But not all can follow the same Path. And so when the eight petals bloom brilliantly, know that you have attained the strength to climb to the same Heavens [Redacted] had longed to see.]


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t explain much of what I asked. And who is this¡­ redacted thing? It must be you, right?¡± Dejiu frowned and kicked aside another Hollow Talon corpse from blocking his path down the next flight of spiraled stairs.


    Though, not before claiming his treasures of course.


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    Dejiu looked behind, studying the fallen daimons. He just finished another chamber of two Hollow Talons, this time he became more effective in the Dark Flower cultivation technique. Also more acclimated to the temporary burst of painful strength.


    ¡°I won¡¯t tell you.¡± Bing Xin laughed.


    ¡°...Fine.¡± Dejiu muttered before asking, ¡°How much longer until we can reach the guardian of this Pillarshard?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Just keep descending and focus on continuously using the cultivation technique..¡±


    Dejiu frowned but focused again.


    Each of his steps echoed through the massive Pillarshard ¡ª it felt odd. Here he was, walking down to the Seventh Hell alone. Well not truly alone, but it surely felt like it. He¡¯d wager anything to have the experienced Teacher Jiansu by his side. Walking alone into the unknown was a risk that could get him killed. But it seemed it was also his only option.


    Time passed without disturbance. No Hollow Talons and no chambers.


    Oddly enough, he grew a little bored of constantly cycling his prana even though the sharp occasional pang brought him out of his torpor.


    ¡°Miss Bing Xin, can you tell me more of the Pillarshards?¡±


    Left answered for a while, Dejiu frowned.


    ¡°...What do you wish to know?¡±


    ¡°All that I don¡¯t know, obviously.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°You have a sharp tongue despite being a little monk.¡± She chided.


    ¡°Better than not saying something direct,¡± Dejiu said, recalling the many times other monks, his age or not, made backhanded comments. Although they wouldn¡¯t outright insult him, all it meant was to leave it unsaid.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Well, to begin with, what you asked earlier ¡ª the guardian of this Pillarshard is at the bottom. Meaning the moment we reach the last floor, we¡¯ll be on the Seventh Hell¡¯s floor.¡±


    ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t you know how long it will take to reach¨C¡±


    ¡°No, and that brings me to the next point. Pillarshards are simply the pillars that connect the many Hells to your Earth. And so the Pillarshards rise ever so slowly until it breaches into your world. However, they could grow on both ends. One end strives to reach the highest of skies, and the other strives to reach the bottoms of the Hells. Although the Seekers Accord has called this an Impure Pillarshard, that was more than half a day ago. Who knows if the bottom of this Pillarshard reached the Sixth Hell.¡±


    Dejiu paused. His foot dangled and hovered over the next step. ¡°Am I dead if it does?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Perhaps. But even if it reaches the Sixth Hell, or even lower, it isn¡¯t your problem. Do you recall the Seekers Accord message?¡±


    ¡°No-¡±


    When he tried to remember it, the line of text appeared.


    [You cannot leave the premises of this emerging Pillarshard. Snuff the Pillarshard¡¯s core or delve down to the Seventh Hell. Only death will await those who remain complacent.]


    ¡°Convenient¡­ ah, I see. So I¡¯ll be traveling the Seventh Hell?¡± He nodded.


    ¡°It depends on what we find, little monk.¡±


    Frowning with doubt, Dejiu walked more before asking, ¡°Then how about the guardian? Will it be really strong? Actually, no, it can only be of the Impure Stage, right?¡±


    ¡°It will be. But Impure Stage or not, you¡¯re still too weak to face it.¡±


    ¡°You know what it is?¡±


    ¡°I have a good guess.¡±


    ¡°Could you tell me about it like the others? What does it look like? What strengths and weaknesses does it have?¡±


    ¡°Enough chatter, this is a good place to rest. You must sleep.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t sleep.¡±


    ¡°How come?¡±


    Dejiu stopped climbing down the stairs and blankly looked up. ¡°What if you take over my body? I¡¯ve only trusted you this far because I had no choice in the matter. Sleep? You know how much I can go without sleep. Sure I¡¯m injured, tired, and hungry¡­ but I could probably hold up for a while. Although I¡¯m halfway to Hell myself, I won¡¯t let you trample over me.¡±


    However, only laughter rang inside his head before Bing Xin replied. ¡°Not wanting to be trampled on, there are two ways. One is to become strong, strong until no one dares to step on you. Another is to turn into the shittiest of garbage, something so foul that no one would want to step on. I think you¡¯re the latter as of now. I won¡¯t possess you, little monk.¡±


    ¡°Wench.¡± Dejiu grunted, yet satisfied with her answer. He sat with his back against the outer wall of the interior, right against the crisscrossed glowing lines that exposed the Seventh Hell. Cozy and warm in the hellish expanse¡¯s embrace on his back, he set his double-ended spade across his lap.


    ¡°Wretched little monk. Sweet dreams.¡± She said.


    ¡°To think I¡¯d be sleeping on the steps of a Pillarshard ¡ª the same steps leading into Hell. Ha! Accompanied by a daimon as well. Teacher Jiansu would be appalled.¡± He said wistfully.


    ¡°...I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll ever be appalled with you.¡±


    Dejiu smiled at her remark and closed his eyes.


    ¡ª


    Bing Xin watched the little monk drift asleep. He looked vulnerable, more than he already was. Armed with nothing more than robes and a metal spade, he looked out of place. Bloodied and tired as he is. But she knew the truth. Talking about his teacher made her remember the first time she made contact with the little monk ¡ª ah, it would be improper to call Dejiu that. That was before his teacher found him and was made a monk.


    She could remember it all so well. The tantalizing feeling from back then.


    The child she found that day.


    The child she found covered in blood that day.


    The child she found draped in daimon innards.


    The child she found with fists mangled enough to show cracked bone.


    ¡°Fitting. Oh so fitting.¡± She laughed to herself. ¡°Violence found him first and has never left.¡±


    She recalled the second Attribute he possesses yet never understood.


    [Attribute Description: Shattered Innocence ¡ª You cried the throes of struggle before you cried the tears of adolescence. An echo of innocence stolen and replaced by blood and steel.]

 Chapter 8 - Less Than A Dogs Droppings

    Dejiu woke with a yawn. It washed away the remnants of slumber, replaced with the hot tinge of the Seventh Hell¡¯s air.


    ¡°Pah, pah! To think you guys live here¡­¡± Dejiu coughed and rubbed his dirty kasaya robe over his mouth.


    ¡°Good morning, little monk. Begin training your cultivation method, you mustn¡¯t falter with just this.¡±


    ¡°Right, right,¡± Dejiu said, scratching his tingling behind as he got up to do some stretches. ¡°Agh, my ass hurts. Do you have sleeping mats in the Seventh Hell? Wait¡­ are you even from the Seventh Hell?¡±


    ¡°Curious?¡± Bing Xin paused briefly before coyly saying, ¡°We can play a game before you cultivate. Sit down and take a guess, just one. I won¡¯t confirm any others, so do be careful. I swear it.¡±


    Dejiu sat in a familiar lotus position and closed his eyes. Shit. I want to know, but just one? Uhm. Which one should I pick? If she somehow attached herself to me¡­ and even hid from the Abbot¡¯s senses all this time, then she must be really strong, right? Now that I have the time to think about it, isn¡¯t this bad? Like really bad?


    A small shiver ran down his back as his mentality broke past the absurdity of what was happening to him. Dammit Xue Dejiu, how¡¯d you even get into this mess?


    After a long pause, he took a small gamble. ¡°Are you¡­ from the First Hell?¡±


    Bing Xin erupted in laughter before she responded. ¡°I¡¯m not. Now enough dawdling, begin cultivating. You know what to do ¡ª use those petals.¡±


    Dejiu muttered an insult. With the hellish air biting into his skin, he closed his eyes. He pictured the mountain avens, the same one he once saw blooming defiantly in the snow. Probably the only flower from the botany book he saw in person. Its pure white petals unfurled in his mind''s eye, glistening with frozen dew.


    He inhaled deeply, pulling in the volatile ambient prana around him. His core wavered, unstable, as it always was ¡ª but this time, he approached it differently. The base idea was already formed from yesterday after all.


    He circulated the prana in layers, mimicking the blooming of the flower. The prana flows outward from the core in concentric spirals, each layer representing a petal. The petals are formed by condensing prana into concentrated bursts of energy, which gradually spiral inward and "fall" back into the core like shedding petals. But he did so in a series of ¡°seasons¡± just as a normal flower would wilt in the winter and bloom in the spring.


    Except when it wilted, it hurt like hell. A common outcome because his breathing and prana cycling wouldn¡¯t align. Well, also the nature of his prana too, who wouldn¡¯t thought that destructive hell prana would hurt?


    Instead of forcing the prana into rigid order, Dejiu allowed it to flow naturally, guiding it with his will. Spring.


    The first spiral of prana formed, like a single petal unfolding. It quivered, raw and unrefined, but Dejiu kept his focus. The first petal is the hardest of spring. The first must carve the way for the others to follow.


    Each cycle grew more stable as he layered one petal upon another, forming a blooming spiral of energy. Sparks of volatile prana burned at the edges of the petals, and Dejiu gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his brow.


    The spirals intensified, glowing faintly within his body. But just as he reached the seventh petal, a burning jolt of pain tore through him and he spat blood. He felt something trickle down his eye, hopeful it was just tears instead of blood. Normal. What a wild flower, but such is the nature of destructive prana.


    Dejiu grinned as he guided the cycle through summer. Summer follows the bloom of spring.


    The spirals collapsed inward, threatening to shatter his aspen flower core. Fall, like petals in the mist-laden wind that ushers a new winter.


    Instead of resisting, Dejiu allowed the spirals to crumble. The energy surged inward, collapsing into his flower core, condensing into something sharper, more dense. One cycle of the seasons is completed. Amateurish? Yes. But completed nonetheless.


    Again.


    ¡ª


    [Prana Core: Mid Initiate]


    [Prana: 32/32]


    How many Hell Shards have I taken in now¡­ but even then, I¡¯m already rising much faster than I have before. Dejiu thought as he weakly stood up. The effort had drained him, and his head throbbed from the strain of focusing so intensely. But he couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°It is an excellent technique for your stage, little monk.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°Ah, right. I forgot this woman can hear anything and everything.¡± Dejiu said. He picked up his spade and continued his descent.


    Then he frowned. His right hand clutched the spade¡¯s shaft and then released it. He did it again a few times before he looked up and asked, ¡°Miss Bing Xin? Am I stronger?¡±


    ¡°Very slightly. It is a wonder how you didn¡¯t notice it yesterday despite absorbing all those shards yesterday, even breaking through to the Mid Initate Stage.¡±


    ¡°Huh. Yeah, you¡¯re right¡­ I am stronger.¡± Dejiu slowly laughed.


    ¡°Yes, you have gotten stronger. A little better than a dog¡¯s droppings, but droppings nonetheless. I think you¨C¡±


    Bing Xin oddly paused before her tone shifted.


    ¡°Little monk, complete the next two chambers on your own. Take no more than a day no matter how dangerous it is. Kill them. Kill them all. Guile. Might. Sacrifice. Those three principles alone will take you far, little monk. I must leave you for a moment, someone¡­ troublesome has arrived.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Dejiu blurted out, immediately looking around his surroundings. ¡°Hey, hey explain more!¡±


    But no one responded.


    Muffling a curse, Dejiu suppressed his urge to ask her again because he knew he¡¯d get no response. ¡°Someone troublesome? Where even is she?¡±


    And so he climbed down ¡ª truly alone this time. But that didn¡¯t stop him from improving his passive prana cycling. With each step, he trained to circulate his prana better.


    Eventually, he came upon the first chambers he must pass alone. And it was¡­ different.


    A single enemy. A single Hollow Talon, but one starkly similar to the big one he ran away from, unlike the three from earlier.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got this, right?¡±


    But before he could step foot into the chamber he stopped himself.


    ¡°You¡¯re in the Seventh Hell practically, you fool.¡± Dejiu slapped his cheek hard. ¡°Being cocksure is how you end up mauled or impaled.¡±


    Before she left me, she said that these Hollow Talons act¡­ weird because of their progenitor. That¡¯s why the one above didn¡¯t chase me back inside. Amitabha! That wench! She didn¡¯t expand on why!


    His mind came to a conclusion. It was dumb, to say the least. But he¡¯ll still push his luck because even with the temporary strength burst he obtained from his cultivation method, he didn¡¯t think he could kill the ugly thing.


    Surpass my limits? Bah, this isn¡¯t some heroic tale. Come on Xue Dejiu, you¡¯re a bald monk.


    His decision? He was going to run in and inflict as much damage as he could swiftly and run back to the stairwell. He had one major reason to believe it would work. It was because the fat thing could barely fit through the entryway to the stairs. Having explored a little, he realized it was damn near a miracle for the fat one he escaped from even climbed up!


    ¡­Regardless, even if the thing could chase him onto the stairs, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about long curved attacks with its abnormally long limbs. They¡¯ll be wedged against the walls. It¡¯ll be a frontal assault.


    ¡°Well it¡¯s one thing with words, to put it in action¡­¡± He muttered, studying its torso for any of the faintly glowing weak points. Sure enough, there was. More, even. An area depleted of stone-like feathers exposed an entire swathe of shriveled skin. And beneath that shriveled skin? A smoldering orange.


    ¡°Heh.¡±


    Dejiu lightly jumped and cocked his arm. He wondered what weakened and injured these Hollow Talons ¡ª something to do with their progenitor? Perhaps even among daimons, these wretched wingless birds were persecuted. Just like he¡¯d be if his daimon companion was revealed. Ha! That¡¯ll never happen, right?


    Tired of delaying his attack any longer, Dejiu moved on from his musings. ¡°Now!¡± He used the Wilted Stem technique for a burst of strength.


    His prana cycled quickly, like the onset of a spring sun melting away the snow surface. He ignored the harsh caws of the daimon and hunched himself in a bundle of explosiveness.


    ¡°There it is!¡±


    He wouldn¡¯t be caught in the stoney feather barrage again, leaping into a dirty tumble before rushing once more. He was so close now. The hellish chamber seemed to narrow to the dense pulse of blood running through his veins, and the wicked jolt of his feet impacting the ground with every frantic step.


    Dejiu¡¯s eyes narrowed. Locked on that orange point. In a single fluid motion, Dejiu burst past its two arms, drawing his spade back before fiercely stabbing the broad spade-end. The cracked feathers around the weak point gave in and his entire spade¡¯s head punched through the daimon¡¯s torso. The cold iron weapon made for penetrating blows and burying corpses cut through with ease.


    A broad cut the width of a skinny man¡¯s torso spilled so much ichor that Dejiu thought the Hollow Talon would die immediately. But he wasn¡¯t so lucky.


    ¡°Amitabha!¡± He yelped. The left arm came crashing against the side of his side. Fortunately, he rolled with the blow, but that didn¡¯t mean he was clean.


    His prana cycling was disrupted ¡ª something anyone else wouldn¡¯t have an issue with because of how long they¡¯ve been cultivating. But it simply wasn¡¯t second nature to Dejiu yet. So his meridians strained under his violent mix of prana, and he tasted the metallic tang of blood. His head felt dazed and riled up, but Dejiu forced himself to ignore the radiating ache of his¡­ everything.


    He had bigger things to worry about. Much bigger, because that thing outsized him by a lot.


    He staggered to his feet and eyed the entrance he came into the dim chamber from. Fat bird, try to run with that spade in your gut!


    Feinting another attack on the daimon, he pivoted and ran away. Try it!


    The daimon sent another flurry of feather arrows again, but Dejiu had long been accustomed to it. The accuracy was poor too, especially as it¡¯s lumbering towards him. He tried to focus on his plan, but then Bing Xin¡¯s words echoed in his head. ¡°Let its blood spill as it wallows in pain? Something among those lines?¡±


    He shook his head. Her words influenced him more than he liked. Teacher Jiansu would smack him top down if his word choice got any worse.


    ¡°Huh,¡± Dejiu grunted as he passed the entryway. He climbed the spiral stairwell as the bleeding Hollow Talon lumbered madly behind. ¡°I wonder if I could meet Teacher Jiansu in the Seventh Hell¡¯s floor. Now that¡¯d be something fun.¡±

 Chapter 9 - Death To All... She Told Me To

    Dejiu positioned himself oddly. Currently, his body is in the air. Technically.


    Just seconds ago, he decided to leap at the daimon¡¯s beak because of how high he was after climbing a few stairs. A good decision? Maybe.


    He¡¯s figuring out the answer to that right now, wrestling the lumbering wingless bird. His hand had already penetrated its neck. With a bleeding neck and leaking torso, it¡¯ll only be moments before the daimon dies. So he dismounted the cawing mess and landed behind it with a stiff crash and roll. He didn¡¯t have to commit to suffocating it or some other brutal way to crush its long neck.


    More importantly, he didn¡¯t want to linger if it suddenly turned smart enough to crush him against the Pillarshard¡¯s walls. So he ran back into the empty chamber.


    Looking behind he figured something he forgot to consider early. The daimon couldn¡¯t turn around inside the stairwell. Ha! This fat thing.


    It¡¯s a certain death.


    Dejiu¡¯s blood calmed along with his prana flow. Relieved of the tension, he sat in the empty chamber waiting for the Hollow Talon to die. Slowly.


    Even without her presence, Bing Xin¡¯s voice echoed inside. ¡°Let it wallow in guilt and blood.¡± It overshadowed the death throes¡­ or caws of the dying daimon. It¡¯d be something she¡¯d say. Was her demeanor rubbing off on him?


    A shiver ran down his back. Talk about bad influences!


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Talon Scavenger]


    ¡°Not bad, not bad at all!¡± He said dryly, getting up and noticing the change in the daimon¡¯s name. A scavenger rather than a regular Hollow Talon.


    [You have attained a Soulbound Remnant: Scavenger¡¯s Soaring Bracers]


    [Soulbound Remnant: Scavenger¡¯s Soaring Bracers]


    ¡°Huh?¡± He huffed out in confusion. ¡°What is this? A Soulbound Remnant? Bracers?¡±


    Dejiu stood still, letting the Seventh Hell¡¯s air softly tinge his skin.


    ¡°Damn geezers! I bet everyone else knows of this!¡± He erupted. ¡°Just how much information have they withheld from me!? Seekers Accord, explain!¡±


    Left without an answer, Dejiu¡¯s indignation only smoldered hotter. Scoffing his grievances, he returned to the task at hand. His spade was still embedded in its torso and he also needed to retrieve the Hell Shard.


    Climbing over the daimon¡¯s behind, he hopped over its head and landed beside his spade¡¯s shaft. Shaft wedged deep into his armpit and clasps, he yanked it out, spilling a puddle of entrails and ichor.


    Taking advantage of the premade cut, he shoved his arm inside and clawed for the Hell Shard. He quickly found it and absorbed it without caring to bring it out.


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    ¡°Hoo¡­¡± He sighed before he summoned the Seekers Accord, more specifically, the status of his prana core.


    [Prana Core: Mid Initiate]


    [Prana: 24/36]


    Dejiu let go of his discontent, pleasantly surprised to see his fast rise towards High Initiate. Coupled with a cultivation technique and quite the access to Hell Shards, it won¡¯t be long before he catches up to the others ¡ª perhaps even beyond them. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Hmph. I¡¯ll ask Bing Xin about what a remnant is later. Just keep culling them, Xue Dejiu. That¡¯s all you need to worry about. It wasn¡¯t a secret now. He needed to risk himself in battle to progress. To kill and cull.


    Although the daimons themselves were probably the most dangerous entity in the Seventh Hell, he couldn¡¯t remain complacent. They would be the whetstone he needed to hone his skills just that little bit further. Being a cultivator or a seeker is demanded as such. You either took every opportunity you could to eke out another iota of strength, or you died. The Seekers Accord rewarded accordingly.


    Bah, as if I¡¯ll stand there and die like that.


    His drive for more led him deeper into Hell¡¯s depths. Stepping to the next stairwell, he continued down. Careful to remain diligent in his training, his prana never stopped being circulated according to the boon he was given. Even as hours passed. At least it felt like hours, the Pillarshard¡¯s interior didn¡¯t change all too much. But through the thin cracks in the outer walls, he could see it.


    The Seventh Hell was slowly being revealed to him through these small crevices.


    He didn¡¯t like what he saw. Despite the thin haze of ash covering most of the land, it was everything he imagined any Hell would be. Pits of roaring flames, spewing flames, ash-laden air and horrific beasts. For better or for worse, he couldn¡¯t clearly see the daimons roaming the floor due to how distant above he was, but he¡¯d still see an occasional silhouette move.


    Between traveling these lands or snuffing the Pillarshard¡¯s core¡­ I wonder which is better. Can I kill the guardian? Or could I survive the wicked expanse?


    At least he¡¯s getting stronger though. Cultivating aside, it¡¯s fortunate that the first technique, Wilted Stem, didn¡¯t require much. Rudimentary prana control that pretty much follows the cultivation method itself, poor senses of an Initiate Stage, and a whole lot of will to bear the strain on his body ¡ª Dejiu couldn¡¯t ask for more.


    ¡°I¡¯d bet my robes that she isn¡¯t doing this out of goodwill.¡± He said to himself. ¡°But the results are undeniable. Ah, what was this called in the teachings again¡­? Avaricious? Meh, they brought it down on themselves the moment they treated me differently. Their considerations were as empty as a monk¡¯s wallet.¡±


    After walking endlessly, Dejiu narrowed his eyes. ¡°Lo behold. The last one she told me to cleanse.¡±


    He approached the swelling entrance, but what he saw made him hesitate.


    ¡°How in the Seven Hells¡­¡± Dejiu whispered as his head wrapped around the corner. What he saw didn¡¯t make sense. He practically circled the circumference of the Pillarshard when its top broke through the ground, so the size of this chamber shouldn¡¯t be possible. But the size of the chamber wasn¡¯t the most shocking thing, it was the occupants.


    Hollow Talons, but another¡­ variant? A different type of spawn? They were smaller than the rest and matched his height. Two arms, and two legs ¡ª both of which were more human-like than he¡¯d like. The stone feathers looked like small plates molded together into armor. In their hands was an array of varied weapons, all made of larger stone feathers. They held plumed mismatched blades and wedged knives. Most importantly, the talons that clutched their weapons were caked in dried blood and gore ¡ª coincidentally they each had claw wounds over their eyes.


    What made them blind themselves? Damn that woman, if only she¡¯d tell me more of these daimons before she left. He figured with the clues before him.


    Dejiu peeked over the wall and studied their movements. Ten in total and grotesque in appearance. The way they moved, it seemed unnatural. They were scattered across the much larger chamber, their figures shambled across in meaningless rounds. Occasionally they would even bump into each other, returning a peck and caw before resuming their rounds.


    Their patrol was lilting, seemingly without any true vigilance. Like old, half-remembered, orders ¡ª a bodily habit followed blindly. Or maybe they were waiting for something. Was it the will of their progenitor? He didn¡¯t know, even after he inspected them for half an hour.


    Blind, definitely, blind.


    But their blindness raised questions he couldn¡¯t solve without fighting them. How would they use their weapons to fight? He didn¡¯t know. Sound? Smell? Well, he was going to find out with the weak plan he devised. And if this works, I can get one free kill!


    He was going to catch one far away from the rest of its daimon compatriots. If it lingers far from the rest and close to the stairwell, he¡¯ll test how sensitive their blinded senses are.


    This is new. Sneaking? Me? The last time I tried to sneak was to steal some Hell Shards from the inner sanctum to speed up my cultivation. Shame I failed though. Hmph, I¡¯ll never forget the beating that day. Damn geezers. He grinned.


    [Prana: 33/36]


    Good enough. Time to go, Xue Dejiu.

 Chapter 10 - Monk Of The People

    Dejiu bent down, rooting around for a loose stone.


    ¡°If it worked once..¡± He found one, working it loose. ¡°This should do nicely.¡±


    He needed to get closer. ¡°Now¡­ where do I want to do this.¡±


    He scanned the group surrounding the next stairwell. There. A bit to his left.


    He tossed it above their heads, hitting some rough debris in the far corner of the chamber. Oddly enough, only a single daimon looked that away, at least proving that they could sense something other than themselves.


    Dejiu shuffled, careful not to let his loose robes drag over the jagged stone ground. His feet moved swiftly. He couldn¡¯t miss this opportunity in the senseless patrol ¡ª a lone daimon extending close to his stairwell, leaving behind the other nine. Will it hear him? Smell him? He¡¯ll figure it out.


    Each step was careful as he stepped over loose stone and stray fissures with ease, his passage near silent compared to the soft wafting of ashy hell air shifting inside the Pillarshard. Always careful to keep an odd rising or a semi-devoured carcass himself and his targets.


    Their disjointed patrol always seemed to leave one watching in his direction simply due to how many there were. Well actually¡­ did that even matter with their clawed eyes? Bah, he wasn¡¯t going to risk discovery before he killed at least one No matter how obliviously troubled they seemed.


    Being extra careful, he shimmied around the poor wingless chap holding a stone feather knife in its finger-like talons. Now or never.


    Breath caught in his throat. Dejiu moved.


    Splintered feathers caved in. Bashed fleshed and dark ichor exploded from the back of its disfigured head. Its body crumpled. The malformed humanoid body dropped lifelessly. Don¡¯t think so much about killing, Dejiu.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Craven Soldier]


    And it didn¡¯t go unnoticed. A hideous crack rang out across the chamber after all.


    The nine others looked his way with cocked heads at once. Guttural caws filled the room. However, Dejiu frowned and raised an eyebrow. Did they seem a little¡­ too synchronous?


    Ah, well, one taken down is better than nothing. Steeling himself he dashed back to the narrow entrance. Holding his place inside the stairwell, ready to make his stand.


    Now I can¡¯t be surrounded. Three at the front at most. And I have a polearm¡­


    With a jerky lilting gait, the daimons set off towards him. Ready and willing to rend the flesh from his bones for a quick meal.


    The first one through the arched entrance was armed with a longer, slimmer, sword-like feather. Its jagged edge met his shaft with a parry, and in a burst of strength, he wedged his spade deep into its less armored neck. Almost beheading the daimon.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Craven Soldier]


    The corpse lifelessly lurched forward. Following it is another wild swing from overhead coupled with a thrust from the right. These soldiers were closing in quickly, swarming the entrance.


    He narrowed his eyes and let the overhead swing miss as it hit its fallen kin¡¯s body. Splattered in ichor, the daimon stumbled over its off-balance swing as Dejiu shifted his attention to the one on his right. He blocked the thrust and caught the blow. Rotating to the bladed end of his spade, he used his distance and thrust at its clawed eyes. The two prongs of his crescent moon blade perfectly lodged into its already empty eyes. He just took advantage of the softer skin rather than redundantly blinding them.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Craven Soldier]


    ¡°Agh!¡± He cried.


    He was too slow on the kill, the daimon that stumbled recovered enough to cut at his leg. Feeling a warm trickle on the side of his calf, Dejiu scowled brought down the spade end and crushed the daimon¡¯s head. ¡°Idiot! You already have the best position, how could you slip up!¡± He reprimanded himself. His inexperience was showing.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Craven Soldier]


    His left leg felt weak, but he couldn¡¯t worry about it because there were still five more of the flock left. Fortunately, he was right ¡ª the addition of their fallen flock only aided in his high ground and spade¡¯s distance.


    He poked, impaled, stabbed.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Craven Soldier]


    Four more. Ichor spilled, running down the stairwell. Each step the flock would gain, Dejiu was already ahead despite being on the back foot and awkwardly climbing stairs simultaneously. It must¡¯ve been Buddha¡¯s grace that he hasn¡¯t lost his footing.


    They all surged into range the moment they breached the debris of their fallen. Their contorted movements mixed in an unnatural surge of speed almost like he did, only they moved inhumanly despite their humanoid appearance.


    Dejiu¡¯s face blanched.


    He could withdraw his strike and attempt to dodge the incoming blow. However, the only way he could do that would be to throw himself to the side. Leaving him unbalanced and the initiative firmly out of his hands. No time. He had to commit killing the daimon in exchange.


    He braced his core, twisting slightly to minimize his profile.


    ¡°Kruek, damned daimon!¡± He cried, his spade drew a straight line across another daimon''s head.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Craven Soldier]


    He freed a hand and dislodged the feather sword from his lower left. His robe a bloody mess. ¡°Gah!¡±


    An unsettling amount of blood spewed out from his wound, but fighting a grounded battle against this many would be worse.


    Despite his advantage, they had numbers. Armor too, can¡¯t forget that. One day, he¡¯ll get the battle robes of a warrior monk, until then, he¡¯ll just have to ignore the sharp discomfort in his abdomen.


    He backstepped and gained higher ground. One daimon swung a comically heavy feather hatchet of sorts, cleaving into the Pillarshard¡¯s steps. Dejiu ascended another step in time. He lunged and stabbed into the top of its soft head.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Craven Soldier]


    Pivoting, he dislodged its bladed end and blocked an attack before pushing them, sending them toppling. He earned a few seconds alone with a single wingless soldier of the two left. But before he attacked, his face paled.


    The Wilted Stem¡¯s temporary strength ended.


    Dejiu grit his teeth. His prana cycled brilliantly, but the blooming season is impermanent. Ever fading. So he¡¯s stuck with regular cycling.


    His spade weakly punched into the daimon¡¯s torso, but it barely drew blood. Damn armor. He even had the force of thrusting downwards! Unfair!


    The daimon shoved his shaft aside and closed the gap. A vicious swing later, Dejiu felt its jagged edge rind his left arm. It pulled flesh and what was left of his robes. ¡°Urgh!¡±


    If that wasn¡¯t any better, the one he kicked down earlier trailed behind this daimon.


    "Praise be to Buddha." He croaked.


    He pulled back his spade¡¯s shaft. Weakly blocking the onset of attacks he held his ground. Quickly killing this daimon took precedence over meekly defending. Otherwise, the other one would join.


    ¡°Die!¡± He cursed un-monk-like.


    His prana tried to bloom, but it was like a flower resting beneath heavy snow. Alive, but biding for spring. It''s a poetic way of saying he can¡¯t focus using a newly learned cultivation method in the heat of battle and while being injured.


    ¡°Damn it all!¡± Fiercely breaking past its humanoid hands, Dejiu made a savagely idiotic move. He impaled the daimon at its torso but used his momentum to follow through and dive from the stairs. With his blade deep inside and still embedded, he made sure to aim his dive to send the other remaining daimon flying.


    CRASH!


    Dejiu croaked and gasped as he tumbled down. He wanted to make sure he was alive, but the wingless soldiers wouldn¡¯t let him. ¡°Fuck, how are they both alive!¡±


    It was a scramble at the entrance. He wrestled the one with his spade still lodged inside. It¡¯ll die soon, but strength still flowed through its veins. Dejiu wrapped his hands around its coarse and rugged neck, but he couldn¡¯t find the strength to finish before the other crawled to his leg.


    He kicked behind him at the other soldier¡¯s head. ¡°Get off!¡±


    But then his eyes caught something ground ¡ª a stone feather hatchet. Immediately, he abandoned his desire to crush its neck. He scrambled past and reached the feather hatchet. He spun and thwacked the daimon at his feet repeatedly.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Craven Soldier]


    Without pause, he crawled to the last daimon. It still struggled to lift itself or dislodge the lengthy spade in its torso. Dejiu brought the hatchet overhead.


    ¡°Kill them all, right Bing Xin?¡± He smiled, but the sight was horrifying. He brought down the hatchet onto its head.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Hollow Craven Soldier]


    [You have attained a Soulbound Remnant: Craven¡¯s Rejuvenation Pill]


    He¡¯s spent. Exhausted enough not to claim his ten Hell Shards, he rolled over and into the puddle of ichor. His eyes looked at the ceiling, but his gaze was aimed beyond. To where the unseen sky was above the surface, he raggedly declared, ¡°This one is called Xue Dejiu, I don¡¯t need orders to kill daimons.¡±

 Chapter 11 - Like a Proud Mother

    Bing Xin watched. She dealt with the issue a little earlier than expected and returned to see a bloody struggle against many foes. Ah, is there anything better? Watching the little monk use his wits and strength to kill. Yes, she could have helped, but what then? There was no absolutely desperate situation in this world, there were only those who despair.


    She needed to see if he had truly fallen from back then. Fortunately, he hasn¡¯t.


    Today, his spade aims below even the very depths of many Hells, his heart pointed to the Heavens.


    To be with her meant he needed to be merciless and cruel, a murderer and a calamity. To fall upwards from grace, far enough so there will be no place in heaven or earth for them. They¡¯ll face the consequences with a smile, reveling in all that is gained in turn.


    One day. One day when this calamity strikes, all birds shall fly.


    ¡ª


    ¡°This is unheard of. Stupid, even. But what else could I do?¡± He muttered.


    Dejiu was holding a piece of the Hollow Craven Soldier he killed an hour ago.


    ¡°You must eat, my little monk. How else will you recover your strength? That remnant could only heal your wounds, not your hunger.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I at least cook it first?¡±


    ¡°Cook with what fire? You could try to smoke it by having it sit against the hellish air seeping through the walls, but it¡¯ll be hours after you died of hunger before you feel satisfied in its doneness.¡±


    ¡°Wench.¡± He muttered. Bringing it to his lips he grimaced. Vomit threatened to spill out. Not only was it daimon meat, but these ones were quite humanoid. Even this piece of flesh was cut from its thighs after plucking the stone feathers off.


    Dejiu halted his breathing and bit down. He tore a small chunk so he wouldn¡¯t have to chew. Immediately swallowing, he found that he couldn¡¯t evade the taste. ¡°Kreuk!¡± He choked out.


    ¡°Stop your crying little monk. Finish your meal, however much you can. You have earned it by killing them.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Dejiu said between horrific squelches. ¡°Did you return to me from whatever you were busy with before I ended the battle?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not telling.¡±


    ¡°No fun, no fun. Well, it doesn¡¯t really matter for what I wanted to ask ¡ª do you know why these Hollow Craven Soldiers blinded themselves?¡±


    ¡°I know of it. Do you wish to hear? You may want to blind yourself too.¡±


    Dejiu tensed and swallowed what disgusting bits he had procrastinated to eat. ¡°I do.¡±


    Bing Xin laughed. ¡°I was joking little monk. Ah, but you may blind yourself later ¡ª it¡¯s because of a certain terror even among Impure daimons. Of course that whelp is nothing compared to me, but you¡¯re even less than that thing.¡±


    ¡°Is it near me?¡± He asked fearfully.


    ¡°A little. Far away, yet close. Where do you think it is? Guess.¡±


    Dejiu rubbed his head in thought. ¡°Far away, but close? Doesn¡¯t that just leave the guardian of this Pillarshard?¡±


    ¡°In a way. But you¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°Will you explain further?¡±


    ¡°No. Otherwise you¡¯ll blind yourself. Such is the nature of its powers.¡±


    A shiver ran down his back. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Ho? Thanking me? What brought about this change? A life and death battle? Thankful for the gifts I have bestowed to you?¡± She madly laughed again. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°A little. I would¡¯ve died tenfold so far, but I can¡¯t forget that you¡¯re the reason I¡¯m here in the first place.¡± Dejiu stood up, tired of eating. Even a little bit made him full. ¡°Time to claim what''s mine.¡±


    It took him a few minutes before ten Impure Hell Shards lay before him. Of course he could¡¯ve absorbed them immediately upon digging them out, but come on! This was much more satisfying.


    With a giddy smile and a mad gaze edged in greed, he glazed over his jewels.


    ¡°Wipe that drool.¡± Bing Xin said, ending his klepto daze.


    ¡°Huh? Oh! You¡¯re right.¡±


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    The monotone voice continued until all ten were done. He could¡¯ve cut it short, but once again, he erred on the side of satisfaction. Actually, should he? He¡¯s supposed to be a monk. Tested by the mountain¡¯s cold. Tempered in abstinence. An ascetic by nature.


    ¡°As if.¡± He laughed as he grabbed his spade.


    He stretched his arms and shoulders using the lengthy shaft. Healed and full, he¡¯s ready to descend again.


    That rejuvenation pill worked brilliantly. He thought as he inspected his body.


    Bing Xin returned when he was resting atop a puddle of daimon blood. There she taught him how to access the soulbound remnants he obtained. It turned out all he needed to do was will to summon it ¡ª just like when he wanted to summon the characters of his Seekers Accord.


    A shame he could only use it once though ¡ª a consumable. He recalled the description.


    [Soulbound Remnant: Craven Soldier¡¯s Rejuvenation Pill]


    [These malformed soldiers led their kind through the Seventh Hell. Each of them sought to obtain wings, but in their pursuit, they lost their sight. Stored in their pockets, these poor pills failed to return their sight, but they could be used for other things.]


    [Remnant Grade: Mid Impure]


    [Remnant Type: Consumable]


    At least he obtained something else though¡­ bracers! Initially, he didn¡¯t even know how to wear them, but fortunately, they just appeared on his forearms! Shaped to fit perfectly too!


    [Soulbound Remnant: Scavenger¡¯s Soaring Bracers ]


    [Captains of their abominable kind, these scavengers took it upon themselves to find meals for their young. Abandoned by their progenitor, to scavenge was all they could do. Provides average defenses against physical attacks.]


    [Remnant Grade: High Impure]


    [Remnant Type: Armor]


    Interesting. Although she¡¯d likely know more than me, it''s nice to know a little more of my foes from this.


    Dullgrey, the bracers looked to be the same stone feather material that covered each of the three types of daimons he¡¯d seen. Luckily they looked and felt sturdy. Unluckily they were a little heavy. ¡°Hey, can these break? Or will it return to my soul or something?¡±


    ¡°Enough damage and they¡¯ll break like any other bracers. They¡¯ll also be destroyed at the moment of their owner''s death.¡± She answered.


    ¡°Huh. Okay,¡± He nodded. ¡°How do I recover damage then?¡±


    ¡°Dismiss it. It will slowly recover and repair itself inside the soul.¡±


    He looked at the bracers again and his mind churned. Beautifully plated in layered feathers, he reckoned he could see these for quite the sum if he sneaked to the Heiyang Prefecture later to sell them. Provided he survives the Seventh Hell of course.


    ¡°Wait, can I even sell these?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps. You must make contact with the buyer to transfer it though. The Seekers Accord makes the trade almost intuitive.¡±


    Ah, but the future was bright, brilliant even! He could even see the light at the end of the tunnel. Although the light looked hellish, it was light nonetheless.


    I wonder what Teacher Jiansu wears to battle. Leg and arm bracers? Gauntlets? A jian? A nine-ringed dao!? Amitabha! I¡¯ll kill more of these guys if it means I get to have more gear! More to wear, more to sell! He grinned.


    ¡°Enough dawdling, little monk. Cultivate.¡± She said sternly, ending his dreams short.


    Dejiu sighed as he complied. ¡°Not descending for more daimons? I was ready.¡± He sulked. He really wanted to try getting more remnants.


    She didn¡¯t respond, but he still listened. Her hawk-like eyes were always watching¡ª


    A life-threatening shiver ran down his spine as he closed his eyes.


    Oops. Maybe he shouldn¡¯t have thought that. He forgot that her bat-like ears were always listening¡ª


    ¡°Cultivate.¡± She ordered.


    ¡°...Yes, Miss Bing Xin!¡± He whimpered.

 Chapter 12 - Detestable Cursed Land

    [Prana Core: Mid Initiate]


    [Prana: 42/42]


    ¡°Damn. Seeing my rise like this makes it feel like the seven years I spent pushing my nose into the grindstone was wasted.¡± He mumbled and wiped the sweat from his bald head.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t. It showed your grit. Not many could be driven enough to grind away for years at something that seems unachievable.¡± Bing Xin said.


    Dejiu frowned and stood up, ready again to descend the Pillarshard. Is she being nice or patronizing me?


    ¡°Quickly reach the high initiate stage and continue to use the Wilted Stem reinforcement technique. You haven¡¯t noticed it, have you?¡± She asked as his steps echoed down the stairwell.


    ¡°Noticed what?¡±


    ¡°Your base strength without using Wilted Stem. The technique starts off small and humble, but as you advance, it slowly increases your base strength. This will pay dividends when your greater, but temporary burst lasts longer because you can handle the strain better.¡±


    ¡°Wait really?¡± He asked as he clenched his fist.


    ¡°Indeed. I¡¯ve said it before, haven¡¯t I? This is my curated technique. Of course it¡¯d be this valuable.¡±


    Dejiu walked, lost in his wondrous delusions. After a long while, he asked, ¡°Are there any other techniques from the Dark Flower cultivation method?¡±


    ¡°Many. But you need to advance before you can learn them. As cultivators progress through each new stage, their prana becomes more potent and more dense. Although the minor stages inside the Initate Stage itself aren¡¯t as evident, you will still be able to do more with less.¡±


    ¡°...I see.¡± He said, already training on his passive prana cycling.


    ¡ª


    Hours passed before Dejiu noticed something different.


    The sounds of the outside became increasingly louder over time, but when he heard a piercing roar, he knew the Seventh Hell¡¯s floor was close. But because it was close, it also meant something else should be too if he hadn¡¯t misinterpreted what he learned.


    So he asked.¡°Is the next chamber last? The one with the guardian and Pillarshard¡¯s core?¡±


    He waited a while for Bing Xin to respond. The silence was unsettling given the nature of his question.


    ¡°It is.¡±


    ¡°...Do I have to face it?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t. Because we¡¯re close enough to the guardian¡¯s chamber now, I can tell the Pillarshard is in the process of becoming a Tainted one. Very close. The chamber is already below the Seventh Hell¡¯s surface, descending to the Sixth Hell. But that also means you can leave this Pillarshard and venture the Seventh Hell until the Seekers Accord will forcibly relinquish your control.¡±


    ¡°Ah! So if I can leave the Pillarshard and survive until then I¡¯ll be saved? Thank the Genesis Venerable!¡± Dejiu sighed.


    He felt relieved. All that talk about blinding himself made him worried that he had to face the monstrous thing¡ª


    ¡°You can. But are you sure you want to leave it all behind?¡±


    Dejiu frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Let it go any longer, the Pillarshard becomes Tainted. Daimons of the Sixth Hell will follow. What about your Heiyang Prefecture? The people there? That Hollow Talon Scavenger you ran from must¡¯ve alerted the temple of the Pillar Shard at their feet, but they cannot enter before that time limit is over. What if it reaches the Fifth Hell? The fourth? The third? Hm? Not even your almighty Abbot could handle such beings.¡±


    His heart sank the moment he stopped. ¡°How? There''s no way it could descend that fast right? I mean it''s only been a few days and it hasn¡¯t even reached the Sixth!¡±


    ¡°Who knows? Let''s say you wait it out and test how much the Pillarshard could descend before that thirty-day control limit is over. Which Hell will it reach in that time? How would you feel when it opens an onslaught of daimons from that level.¡± She continued.


    ¡°Onslaught!? But I thought you said this Pillarshard is a little special! That¡¯s why it isn¡¯t flooding in daimons!¡±


    ¡°Like I said, who knows? Perhaps it will change by then. Ah, but you¡¯re no fool, correct? This is only a possibility. You won¡¯t die for a possibility, will you?¡± Bing Xin said mockingly.


    ¡°...How much time would I have before that?¡± Dejiu said through gritted teeth.


    ¡°About fifteen. Enough time to grow strong enough to fight if you continue as diligent as you are.¡±


    He stood in thought. Minutes passed. Snorting, he responded, ¡°Hmph. Fine. I hate those deceitful and misleading words you say ¡ª who knows. Sounds like trouble, and you¡¯re doing nothing more than pulling at my virtue. But I¡¯ll play along. I¡¯ll kill enough daimons on the Seventh Hell until I¡¯m strong enough to kill the guardian before it reaches any lower. It''s not like I wasn¡¯t planning on getting stronger anyways.¡±


    Bing Xin paused and left his gallant words linger in the hot empty stairwell.


    ¡°Good response, little monk. Kill them. Slaughter them. Let their lives feed your growth. If there is one thing that the Seventh Hell doesn¡¯t lack, it¡¯s quantity.¡±


    ¡°Hmph. As if I need orders to do so.¡± He shook his head with a scowl. Bing Xin was hiding something, but the fact that it was a possibility that the Pillarshard could get even worse than reaching the Sixth Hell put him at a crossroads.


    ¡°Tell me, is there anything else I could do to accelerate my growth?¡±


    ¡°There is, but you must reach the Advanced Stage, though that is far from now. As for your strength, focus on what you can do. I will be able to teach you another technique soon.¡±


    ¡°I see. I guess there''s no other way about then ¡ª I¡¯ll kill as many daimons as I can.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± She said with a satisfied ring that he didn¡¯t like. It felt like she was having her way.


    With newfound vigor, he eventually reached the Seventh Hell¡¯s floor. The outer wall opened and he could already see the hellish landscape from atop the steps. He slowly walked down and ignored the spiral that led to the final chamber. Like he said earlier, he¡¯ll face it later.


    More of the Seventh Hell was revealed to him, but he felt more than he saw.


    ¡°Agh!¡± He muffled a curse. ¡°It¡¯s like I walked into an open fire.¡±


    Words on scriptures and scrolls couldn¡¯t explain this feeling. Lesson exchanged couldn¡¯t either.


    Hot. Dry. Malevolent.


    The inside of the Pillarshard must¡¯ve been cleansed somehow because the wave of ash tinged his eyes and airway. He took a moment to acclimate himself. Wiping away the tears with a dirty sleeve, he braced himself. Here it goes ¡ª my first step in Hell.


    He stepped off the dark stone and into the gravely dry ¡°earth.¡±


    Dejiu sighed, taking in the expanse before him. Abysmal as it was, the place had a strong feel.


    It feels befitting, now that I¡¯m here. Caligraphy alone doesn¡¯t do the words justice. I guess you just need to see it firsthand to understand. Looking at the loathly land, Dejiu could only lightly smile, recalling something he once read.


    ¡°A desolate land abandoned by the Gods and Buddha.


    Forlorn creatures replaced beast and man alike.


    Cinders replaced morning dew


    Spewing flames replaced winds.


    Today I step foot onto Hell, but my heart is held high.¡±


    He shook his head at the old poem¡¯s recital and wandered off at Xing Bin¡¯s discretion. She¡¯ll lead him to the first of many abominations. But it only took seconds. He vastly underestimated what she meant by quantity.


    Such was the nature of hell.


    It crawled with daimons.


    He affirmed himself and set forth towards the fiend. Dejiu¡¯s black eyes seemed to reflect the burning madness of the Seventh Hell¡¯s daimonic blaze.

 Chapter 13 - Head Out The Water

    Dejiu was sprawled in ichor-soaked dirt, trying to catch his breath. The poor air made it exceedingly difficult. It was incredibly hot out, to the point that he was already thirsty again after a few minutes since he drank putrid blood.


    The monotone voice of the Seekers Accord echoed inside, replacing a certain tactless daimon in his head.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Ebon Hunger]


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget the Hell Shard, little monk.¡± Bing Xin said.


    ¡°I-I need a moment.¡± He croaked and rose to his knees. ¡°Ah, what can I do for some cold rice poultry with onions? Miss Bing Xin, do you have the power to make a bowl appear in my hands? ¡±


    ¡°Hmph, fool. You can¡¯t rest in Hell.¡± She said.


    ¡°What do you mea¨C¡±


    Clack! Clack!


    ¡®Huh? Clack?¡¯ He thought, but too slow to register the sound¡¯s source.


    Dejiu yelped away from the corpse beside him as he fell back. Scrambling back to his feet, he horrifically watched something begin pushing out the Ebon Hunger¡¯s flesh. A gruesome sound of tearing flesh sounded from within and another monstrous daimon burst out.


    He blinked twice to make sure he was seeing things right. What in the Seven Hells is tha¨C


    Just as reality dawned on Dejiu, the small daimon whipped its head at him. Two jagged and chitinous blades, no, pincers lashed where he stood. Dejiu rolled. Although his reaction was a little late, at least he avoided being injured or killed. He¡¯s trying his best here in the face of hellspawn.


    Bing Xin erupted in laughter as he struggled for his life. The daimon within the corpse was small. Like a slender worm with two blade-like pincers for teeth. His spade¡¯s shaft blocked the attacks before bringing the spade end flat overhead and slamming down on the daimon¡¯s outstretched limb. A heavy thud and a strong tremor in his hands told him that his attack worked.


    His hands felt a little numb from how heavy his hit was, but he didn¡¯t complain. He succeeded in crippling it.


    ¡°Die!¡± He cried before thwacking the overgrown parasite.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Wretched Corpse Lurker]


    [You have received a Soulbound Remnant: Lurker¡¯s Disguise]


    ¡°Damn right it is wretched. Amitabha, at least I am too small for the thing to lurk inside my corpse. I wouldn¡¯t wish anyone to find a human corpse hosting this thing.¡± He groaned and cursed. ¡°Miss Bing Xin, I would¡¯ve appreciated you telling me about its presence in advance.¡±


    ¡°But I did? Now get to it ¡ª the Hell Shard!¡± She said excitedly.


    ¡°No, I wanna see this soulbond remnant first.¡± He said, willing it into existence. He felt a small tug at his prana, another thing he realized as his control became progressively better. It wasn¡¯t enough to shift the number in his Seekers Accord, but manifesting a soulbound remnant took smidges of prana. Was the prana going to his soul? Was manifesting it a technique per se?


    But before he could further ponder on the intricacies of his new remnant, what revealed itself made him pause. Dejiu stood in silence, broken only by his raspy exhausted breath. The fuck is this?


    [Soulbound Remnant: Lurker¡¯s Spinnerets ]


    [Remnant Grade: Low Impure]


    [Remnant Type: Tool]


    [Stripped from a lurker shunned by all ¡ª this one, in particular, finds solace inside the bodies of larger beings. Once activated, it envelops the user in a damp, mucus-like cocoon, mimicking the aura of a larger predator to deceive lesser beings. Provides no actual defense and minimal practical use except as a last-ditch attempt to avoid attention. ]


    It looked like¡­ a mouth. Yes, that sounds about right ¡ª a malformed mouth. It was wet and silky. It''s kind of hairy even. The description itself sounded odd. Why would it even be capable of that weak attempt? He couldn¡¯t imagine a predatory daimon that would turn away from a meal wrapped in a cocoon no matter how strong it felt.


    ¡°Stop gripping that thing and get to the Hell Shards!¡±


    The unusual forced cheerfulness in her voice made his stomach twist. I¡¯ll deal with this mouth later. He dispelled the remnant.


    Moments later, he claimed the two Hell Shards.


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    ¡°You know, I really prefer the Seekers Accord¡¯s voice over yours.¡± Dejiu attempted a weak laugh. ¡°It''s magnanimous monotony and all that. You lack it.¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°...One day you¡¯ll regret your words.¡± She said.


    ¡°Right, right. Hey, back to my meal plan, I¡¯m going to eat the Ebon Hunger rather than the worm-looking lurker¡ª¡± He froze. ¡°Huh. Is that what I think it is?¡±


    Beside the Wretched Corpse Lurker was some hellish undergrowth. Most importantly, his eyes caught the appearance of something he didn¡¯t expect he¡¯d find here in hell ¡ª a bush of peppers. ¡°Well, life finds its way everywhere.¡± He whistled with a smile.


    ¡°Hey can I eat this? It looks like a pepper.¡± Dejiu asked as he picked the overly red pepper from its stem. ¡°Finally a side dish to foul daimon meat.¡±


    ¡°You could¡­ if you¡¯d like to poison yourself. It¡¯s weak, but your robust insides could likely wane off most of the effects. Perhaps your affinity helps too.¡±


    Dejiu narrowed his eyes and pocketed some peppers. ¡°I¡¯ll keep a few to test then. Probably throw them somewhere inside the Pillarshard to store too. They also might be worth money, right?¡±


    ¡°Likely.¡±


    He grinned. His coffers were empty like any monk, but that doesn¡¯t mean he shouldn¡¯t at least try filling them. After learning a daimonic cultivation method, does something as small as accumulating wealth matter at this point? How else would he obtain Hell Shards on the surface?


    Dejiu turned around and grabbed the Ebon Hunger¡¯s carcass by its limp leg. He dragged it behind on his return to the Pillarshard and tossed the few peppers into a corner for safekeeping.


    ¡° Cultivate before you eat. It¡¯s as safe as safe Hell could be for a while. Repeat the Dark Flower cultivation method for a few cycles. I¡¯ll tell you when to stop.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah? Like I can trust you after that show!¡± He retorted. But his words said one thing and his body said another ¡ª he was already seated in a lotus position. Hey, it''s almost a habit now to listen to someone who could force him to die.


    ¡­It''s been five days down here in the Seventh Hell¡¯s surface. That leaves him about time days to confront the guardian. But it¡¯s hard to say if his confidence is rising. In these five days, he¡¯s only been able to secure the smallest of perimeters around the Pillarshard ¡ª a measly fifty or so steps from the wandering daimons. It fluctuated constantly. One moment he¡¯d overextend a little past that only for Bing Xin to warn him of a swarm of abominations too powerful for him to fight brushing sides with his so-called ¡°territory¡± and he¡¯d return to the Pillarshard¡¯s shelter.


    The volcanic hills to the east.


    The deep chasm to the west.


    The jagged obsidian spires to the north.


    The molten marches to the south.


    Each direction promised death. Each boundary teemed with daimons, no matter how many he slew ¡ª and this number wasn¡¯t low over the two five he survived out here. Hell, a wandering flock of injured Hollow Talons managed to push him into the Pillarshard again! Repeatedly! Speak about mortifying! Is this a bird''s nest?


    But all this death and battle wasn¡¯t without purpose. Dejiu grinned as he cultivated and visualized the first petal unfolding before the rest followed suit.


    [Prana Core: Mid Initiate]


    [Prana:49/49]


    He could almost laugh! Well, if he wanted to lose concentration and spit out blood of course. His prana quantity has grown immensely, but a shift came with his gains. A side effect of the Dark Flower cultivation method that couldn¡¯t truly be called a side effect was the refining of prana.


    The hell element prana has outweighed his ice element ¡ª slowly refined to reflect his surroundings and cultivation method. Well, and obviously the main source that propelled him through the stage ¡ª Hell Shards.


    Hell. Ice. Blood. Death. All things swirling in a vicious storm within.


    His prana elements were¡­ morbid to say the least.


    Well¡­ I wouldn¡¯t have grown this strong without doing so. Besides, killing daimons would show my virtue. Right?


    As he coped in silence, he cultivated. Drawing upon the prana-rich expanse, he felt it. The onset of a breakthrough. The cusp. He¡¯s reached the critical amount before High Initiate. Fortunately he could actually feel it this time without the need of looking at his Seekers Accord. Can¡¯t make a mistake like last time.


    ¡°Miss Bing Xin? I¡¯m ready.¡± He said from the winter phase of the Dark Flower cultivation method.


    ¡°Good, good! This part is vital.¡± Bing Xin paused and let him gather himself before she continued.


    ¡°Focus on condensing your prana as densely as possible. Like burying your mountain avens under a winter storm.¡± She guided him.


    He listened intently, drawing in the ambient prana. Pushing it all down to his eight-petalled aspen core, he visualized the mountain avens under layers of snow, their fragile forms enduring the storm. The prana swirled chaotically, volatile and sharp, resisting his will.


    "Denser," Bing Xin urged, her voice cutting through his concentration. "The storm must crush it entirely. Do not let it scatter. A flower buried too shallow will die before the thaw. Living beings compete, the weak are eliminated. You are not of the weak."


    Dejiu grit his teeth, his breath oddly fogged in the Seventh Hell¡¯s infernal air. His meridians screamed with strain as he compressed the energy further. The visualization sharpened ¡ª snow falling harder, winds howling louder. Each petal of the aspen core shuddered, threatening to collapse under the force.


    "More! Make it unyielding!" Bing Xin¡¯s tone was almost forceful rather than guiding.


    The pain was unbearable now, his very core feeling as though it would fracture. But then, a shift ¡ª the storm in his mind began to solidify. The petals no longer trembled. They gleamed, frost-laden but steadfast. The prana compressed into a tiny, radiant point at the core of the aspen, dense and unyielding.


    Unknown to Dejiu, the air stilled. A translucent white avens flower bud appeared above his head. Slowly it bloomed, and two petals unfurled as Dejiu continued his inward breakthrough. However, it stopped. Its already translucent appearance waned and faded.


    In his focused daze, he couldn¡¯t smell the rich scent that radiated from this dispersed projection. He only caught a faint, but fleeting hint as he opened his eyes as a High Initiate.


    ¡°Hoo.¡± He sighed with a small grin.


    [Congratulations, Seeker Xue Dejiu. This step on your Path is but a mere speck that will lead to all you seek.]


    [Your Blood Deepens.]


    [Prana Core: High Initiate]


    [Prana: 55/55]


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± He blurted at the characters before him. ¡°An extra 5 above 50!?¡±

 Chapter 14 - Enough Dawdling

    ¡°You¡¯ve succeeded. It''s just your first breakthrough using the Dark Flower cultivation method. That¡¯s all there is to it. Enough dawdling, little monk.¡± Bing Xin said.


    ¡°But how? How did I obtain another five on my Seekers Accord?¡± Dejiu asked. His eyes nonsensically glazed up and down over the same characters. Half gleeful, half shocked. At least his breakthrough a little past Mid Initiate made sense because he took a Tainted Hell Shard!


    [Prana Core: High Initiate]


    [Prana: 55/55]


    ¡°I¡¯ve already answered. Take it as you wish. ¡±


    ¡°Not even a small explanation? Isn¡¯t this important?¡± He complained.


    But it was useless ¡ª he already knew this. Once, Bing Xin was set on something; nothing in the world, heavens, or hells could change her mind other than herself. He¡¯s come to know a little more than he¡¯d like about her over their shared time.


    ¡°...Fine. How about the whisper I hear from the Seekers Accord when I break through? You weren¡¯t there the first time I heard it when I advanced to the Mid Initiate Stage.¡± He shifted topics as he recalled that weird message.


    [Your Blood Deepens.]


    A shiver crept up his spine. Yep. Weird ominous message to add on top of his weird Class.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already gotten your answer ¡ª your Class. It¡¯s nothing more than the Seekers Accord¡¯s own way of telling you that you¡¯ve grown stronger in your own way.¡± Bing Xin answered.


    He raised an eyebrow. Anything about his Class was welcome knowledge. He never asked the temple what it meant. Then again, by the quizzical and almost baffled reactions of everyone that day, they didn¡¯t know either. ¡°Care to explain more? You answered that thinking I know what my Class even means.¡±


    ¡°A Class is the confluence of one''s innate affinities blended with their circumstances. It¡¯s how the Seekers Accord gives name to your specialization. Obviously your affinity to hell and death prana is a byproduct of this connection to blood, hence the name.¡±


    Dejiu frowned, his thoughts swirling. Hell and death prana? Connection to blood? He hadn¡¯t asked for any of it, but here it was, carved into his very being. The ominous message still hung in his mind.


    [Your Blood Deepens.]


    ¡°So just a message?¡± he asked after a nervous pause.


    ¡°Yes, take it as you will,¡± Bing Xin replied cryptically.


    Dejiu exhaled sharply, his body tense. His fingers twitched at his side, aching to move, to act. ¡°Fine. That¡¯s all well and good, but more importantly, am I ready to face the guardian?¡±


    ¡°Almost. You need to learn the second technique of the Dark Flower cultivation method.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m able to learn it now?¡± His tone changed. Another technique!


    ¡°Not quite, it¡¯s too premature to teach the true technique. I¡¯ll be teaching you a modified version that¡¯s already beyond your means. Once you ascend to the Advanced Stage, that¡¯ll be when you¡¯ll utilize it better.¡±


    He frowned. ¡°What is it? Another reinforcement technique?¡±


    ¡°No. You¡¯ll be learning a striker technique ¡ª you won¡¯t be able to kill the guardian otherwise.¡±


    Dejiu nodded. He agreed, he needed something definitive to slay the guardian.


    Reinforcer techniques enhance their body for offensive or defensive reasons, but he¡¯s already learned something useful like that.


    Striker techniques are as it sounds ¡ª to strike, to attack. Typicallly expels your prana from you. Attacks he needs direly after facing the many variants of Hollow Talons and the other daimons he came across over these two days.


    Shaper techniques shape stable, physical manifestations or objects made of prana. These differ from striker techniques in that they are able to exist independently from their originator once they are created. That is only possible due to the branch of shaper techniques ¡ª instiller techniques. They specialize in instilling a certain method to allow these objects to remain indefinitely if the creator wishes.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    There were more types of technique domains and subdomains under those three, but the few teachings and scriptures Dejiu was permitted access to only went up to general knowledge. Even then he¡¯s still missing gaps. Just look at the situation he¡¯s in! Or rather, the situation he¡¯s down, considering he¡¯s below the world preparing to battle a Pillarshard guardian.


    He¡¯s been rucking around the Seventh Hell so much that he almost forgot the worst thing about this excursion ¡ª the guardian. Actually, who was he kidding? He¡¯s been scared shitless from the moment Bing Xin said it was a terror among daimons.


    ¡°Focus, little monk. It¡¯ll be like the last time I showed the Wilted Stem technique ¡ª except this time, I¡¯ll be able to demonstrate it again if you need it.¡± Bing Xin said, cutting his musings short.


    Dejiu nodded. He¡¯s a little apprehensive at the ease of which she can employ her control over him, but hey, what could he do against the almighty? The difference was of heaven and earth.


    ¡°Withering Palm. It¡¯s a blend of a striker technique and an instiller. The object? Your foes. You¡¯ll instill condensed bursts of your chaotic prana into them.¡±


    Dejiu sat down, his ass warm from the hell floor. He closed his eyes and awaited her direction. However, he did feel that the first sentence alone was enough to tell this technique is vicious. What more could he expect from a daimon?


    ¡°Each palm or fist you pelt them with will weaken them. The first few blows will reduce their integrity, even if they have an active defensive reinforcement technique. Eventually, this will be broken, and their flesh will be more susceptible to damage until it withers.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s emotions and face turned fickle. At first, he smiled. Of course he did, it sounded powerful! But then he frowned after he considered the repercussions of being seen using such a technique ¡ª no, even simply possessing it! He¡¯d be peltered with questions. If he says he devised it himself, that¡¯ll only prove the old geezers¡¯ misgivings of him!


    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t this kind of¡­ vile? I¡¯m a monk of the Heavenly Snowy Temple! What if I¡¯m seen using this malevolent technique? I can¡¯t imagine it won¡¯t be excruciating as you progressively decay.¡±


    ¡°What do you imagine the striker techniques of your temple¡¯s Path are? What was the intention behind their creation? To tickle them into submission?¡±


    ¡°...I see. Sorry, I should¡¯ve thought about it more.¡±


    ¡°Think no more of it. I¡¯ll control your flow again.¡±


    Dejiu nodded. But then a deep frown tugged at his lips. He remembered what happened the last time she took the reins from him.


    A dry chuckle left his lips. ¡°Miss Bing Xin? Is this going to hurt¡ª¡±


    And there it was ¡ª the excruciating pain that came with it. From just below his navel, his prana core felt like a vicious pit of flames that ignited every meridian. His mind tried to study this spread as though he wanted this burning pain to sear itself into memory so he wouldn¡¯t have to experience it again.


    ¡ª


    ¡°No. Not like that. You¡¯re being too reserved. Bursts. Condensed. You¡¯re delivering debilitating strikes with the intent to pick them apart.¡± Bing Xin said.


    ¡°I know, I know! But I could handle the strain on my body for about six or so palms, but rather than the physical strain¡­ I¡¯m struggling with more of the mental. I mean, just look at its head.¡± Dejiu¡¯s face darkened. Although he wasn¡¯t so much a proper monk, his nose stuck to temple scriptures for as long as he could remember. The kinds that speak of benevolence and virtue.


    ¡°Hmph. In due time little monk.¡± Bing Xin scoffed.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Red Maw]


    He swallowed hard. This Red Maw was small and rabid ¡ª a good test to see how skilled he¡¯d be in adaptability with a fast foe. For once he hunted the beast rather than held his ground. But seeing the effect of just three Withering Palms was enough to make him vomit.


    The mixed scent of scorched flesh and decay.


    The warped maw of his doing. Even if it was a daimon, he couldn¡¯t help but feel distasteful of the method.


    ¡°Such is your Path. Death, blood and hell element prana is quite the mix.¡±


    Dejiu sighed. The technique was difficult. Ideally, he¡¯d concentrate dense amounts of those three prana elements onto his palm, but they proved unwieldy. Turns out, ice prana wouldn¡¯t be that applicable.


    Bah, where was he going with this? He couldn¡¯t even differentiate the different prana elements he¡¯s gathered inside him, much less pick them apart to use. That¡¯s why she said the technique was modified in the first place to accommodate this.


    More than that was the fact his prana control still needed work.


    Another factor is that he hasn¡¯t used the Wilted Stem reinforcement technique enough to strengthen his body. It¡¯s only been a few days since he¡¯s even been learning despite Bing Xin providing him all he needs to heighten his strength quickly.


    The last factor that was hindering him was the striker technique itself. Albeit modified, it¡¯s still too advanced for him to learn.


    He clawed open the bloody mess for its Hell Shard. ¡°And my body is supposed to handle using this striker technique in every blow in the future?¡±


    [You have obtained a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    [Prana: 22/55]


    Satisfied with the influx of hell prana, he looked up. It was hard to keep track of time ¡ª pretty much impossible without the help of Bing Xin. The constant orange sky obscured time. Endless fighting and cultivating did too. Unfortunately, the lack of sleep as well.


    He¡¯s tired. He¡¯s hurt. He doesn¡¯t want to think. Sometimes the thought of leaving this alone springs in his mind.


    ¡°How much longer until the Pillarshard descends to the Sixth Hell?¡± He groaned tiredly.


    ¡°About nine days. After that, the guardian advances to the next stage. You¡¯ll have no hope by then. Expect a vicious onslaught to rise too ¡ª daimons from the Sixth Hell climbing the Pillarshard. Daimons other than the old bird¡¯s spawn.¡± She coaxed him.


    He scoffed. She knew exactly how to induce a guilty conscience. Just had to mention the what-ifs.


    ¡°Nine¡­ huh,¡± Dejiu muttered as he wiped away daimon ichor from his hand. By now, his kasaya robes once white and blue have been stained in this same ichor, the original colors nowhere to be found.


    He got to his feet and headed for the daimon.


    Already cycling his prana, he grits his teeth. ¡°Again.¡±

 Chapter 15 - Embergrove

    It¡¯s the next day. Dejiu squatted low, hidden by the wide cover of a tree adapted to survive the Seventh Hell¡¯s floor.


    He frowned. Would it be a daimonic tree or a hell tree? Argh, what are you thinking!?


    He shook his head. For what felt like the hundredth time, he hid. He was south of the Pillarshard, further away than he dared before. Well, it was still about seventy steps from the Pillarshard, but those seventy steps felt hard-earned. Especially with how quiet he tried to be. He¡¯s on the prowl this time after decimating the population of daimons yesterday. Well, enough that he can extend a little further before something too powerful or too many comes close and he¡¯s forced to hide inside again.


    ¡°Are you sure you want to do this? It won¡¯t be long before something too strong comes wandering closer around. You might be routed if you stay this far out.¡± Bing Xin warned him. ¡°Bravery and idiocy share a border.¡±


    ¡°Shut it. I decided I¡¯m gonna kill this wretched daimon.¡± He snapped.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Bing Xin laughed from within.


    ¡°How much time do I have left to practice and train?¡± He shifted topics.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see, seven and a half days. But you mustn¡¯t push yourself that much beforehand. Make sure to leave enough time to recover before you face the guardian.¡±


    Dejiu scowled and gripped his spade harder.


    [Prana Core: High Initiate]


    [Prana: 55/55]


    Earlier this morning, well not really morning because it was always scorchingly orange-red, he killed a few daimons south of the Pillarshard ¡ª the area with molten rivers. Or was it called a marsh? Anyways, the daimons he found looked like the fish he saw in books. Weird creatures without legs. Weird, because why wouldn¡¯t you have legs? But weird didn¡¯t stop him from harvesting their Hell Shards and practicing his Withering Palm. He killed one after it launched from the molten rock and he quickly dashed aside to dodge the splashed molten rock and the massive jaws. Once it landed on flat ground¡­ it was disappointing. Really! So Dejiu stabbed it.


    Then another pounced from the molten rock.


    He killed it.


    Then another sprung on him!


    And then he killed it. He finished it with a palm.


    Three daimons came and died. That¡¯s all there was to it.


    But then this menace suddenly emerged from the same deep waters of molten rock as these fish daimons. Dejiu tried to kill it like the others, but this one seemed to be a predator among predators. It had legs! So it thrashed about with its massive body and Dejiu couldn¡¯t handle its might. The menace snagged his three kills and burned him in the process. His tattered robes were one thing, but his three Hell Shards! His fucking Hell Shards! Damned the thing!


    This led him to now. Hiding behind a tree close enough to the molten river a few hours later after he recovered enough. He already has bait lined against the riverbank. A succulent fish-daimon carcass. Dejiu made sure to cut it open so the ichor could spill out and its entrails were revealed.


    ¡°Hehehe.¡± He grinned madly.


    His spade is going to gut that four-legged fish. He¡¯s sure of it. Hopefully hit it with a series of Withering Palms too because the technique hasn¡¯t even reached Ordinary attainment yet. Perhaps this menace could push him and the technique to the next level.


    ¡°Should¡¯ve listened better yesterday. You wasted time roaming about when I told you there was nothing to find. You could¡¯ve killed this daimon if you slept and recovered earlier. I know what''s best for you.¡± She chided him.


    ¡°Fine, fine. I get it.¡± He muttered as this morning¡¯s fruitless hunt replayed in his head. She¡¯s probably even more disappointed because she was obsessed with Hell Shards.


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill it soon¡ª¡±


    Dejiu didn¡¯t finish his sentence because he¡¯d heard the bubbly flow of molten rock change. He shook his head and focused. The menace was approaching. Sucker smelled a free meal. Not this time!


    When he peeked around the tree he saw two visceral eyes poking through the flowing surface. A predator¡¯s glint unmistakable. Come on you overgrown beast. Take it like the others. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Dejiu eyed his bait. A carcass the size of himself perfectly placed not too far from the molten marsh, but enough space to fight before it could run back into its territory.


    His heart pounded, but his breath steadied. Endless fighting down here alone, well partially alone, had made him sharper.


    The molten surface parted, and the creature emerged. The daimon¡¯s flesh was strange¡ªlayered in overlapping plates, each one hard and glinting like shards of polished stone, as if the beast had been forged rather than born. A hulking form of warped muscle dripped with liquid fire, steam rising where its molten flesh met the air.


    ¡°They are called scales, you mountain ape.¡±


    It took a cautious step forward, the molten ground solidifying beneath its four clawed feet. The beast was massive, its head alone as big as Dejiu¡¯s torso. It¡¯s hard to believe such a daimon was of the Impure Stage. Every step was just like before but it was slower than Dejiu had expected. Is it cautious?


    ¡°Good,¡± he whispered under his breath. ¡°You should be scared.¡±


    He summoned his bracers and crouched lower. His legs coiled, ready to launch. As the beast sniffed the air, inching closer to the carcass, Dejiu''s plan unfolded in his mind ¡ª he¡¯ll strike hard and fast before it could retreat. The molten marsh was its domain, but the open ashy ground was his.


    The creature paused, lowering its head to inspect the bait. That was his moment.


    Dejiu darted from his cover, his footfalls light and deliberate. Wilted Stem. The burst of strength flooded his limbs as he closed the gap in an instant. With a sharp cry, he swung his spade downward at the exposed nape of the beast¡¯s neck.


    The spade end struck true, sinking deep into its flesh. The creature bellowed a deafening roar of pain and fury that violently shook and splattered the molten rock in every direction. Dejiu gritted his teeth and lifted his loose robes and bracers to cover most of the splash. But he could only cover so much as he groaned. Specks burned through his robe.


    He shifted his focus to his spade because something odd was happening. The blade quietly hissed in the creature¡¯s blood. Fuck, even it¡¯s blood is this hot!?


    It was fascinating in a morbid way. But he couldn¡¯t think about it now as he lowered his arm and delivered a Withering Palm. A flash of dense prana flowed into his palm before he launched it.


    FSH!


    A quick sear sounded. It hurt. But it was helpful. The foolish idea of using a barehanded technique on such a hot creature wasn¡¯t his plan ¡ª it was Bing Xin¡¯s. She said it¡¯ll teach him the importance of maneuvering in and out quickly. To deliver his strikes and prana in violent spurts. It¡¯ll also help with his evasive footwork because he¡¯s horrid to say the least.


    The beast twisted, its massive tail swiped in a blind arc. Dejiu jumped back just in time, the ground where he had stood moments before exploding into shards of rock and dirt.


    ¡°It¡¯s tougher than the others,¡± Dejiue muttered.


    The daimon¡¯s voice in his head chimed in with its usual condescension. ¡°You might want to rethink the bravado. This one¡¯s not like the fodder you¡¯ve been hunting.¡±


    Dejiu ignored it, his focus narrowing on the creature¡¯s movements. It was hurt but far from defeated. He needed to exploit its rage and drive it further from the molten marsh¡ªaway from its escape route. The beast lunged, its molten claws carving furrows in the ground as it charged. It leaked immense amounts of ichor yet its vigor didn¡¯t wane.


    Dejiu dodged to the side, his feet skimming over the uneven ashy terrain. The creature skidded past him, disoriented for a moment. That was all he needed.


    With a grunt, he surged forward, slamming a Withering Palm on its side. Then another. And another. Quick ins and outs. The molten blood burned his hand but he didn¡¯t let go. Instead, shimmied to the front and grabbed his spade¡¯s shaft. He dragged the spade end out as the fish-like daimon let out a death throe.


    It thrashed. Dejiu noticed it¡¯s weakened state.


    He took advantage of it and rushed forward to not waste his Wilted Stem¡¯s use. Dejiu brought the spade overhead and swung it down. He cleaved at its head again with a visceral and sloppy slam. His spade was lodged into its skull yet it somehow wildly thrashed again. Dejiu held on, riding the chaos until the creature collapsed onto its side with a final, guttural growl.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Embergrove¡¯s Stalker]


    The molten marsh hissed and bubbled behind Dejiu, the sound of the daimon¡¯s defeat replaced with the seething landscape. So it¡¯s called the Embergrove? And I¡¯m only at its edge. Will there be stronger daimons somewhere deeper there? Is it the same in the other directions? He sighed and dislodged his spade.


    ¡°Ouch.¡± He yelped. With the heat of battle gone, the quiet burning pain in his hands intensified.


    ¡°Enough. Take it¡¯s Hell Shard, it¡¯s near the peak of the Impure Stage so it¡¯s good.¡± Bing Xin said.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± He muttered.


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    He didn¡¯t forget the Hell Shard from his bait.


    Looking back to his base per se, the Pillarshard stood unfathomably tall like a grotesque beacon. Being this far out here, he realized that the ring around a hundred steps out made the immediate area look like a scar carved from the Seventh Hell. It''s like the original terrains in each four directions tried to claim it back from the Pillarshard. It made him wonder how it formed in the first place to leave such a desolate mark.


    ¡°Curiosity won¡¯t save you against the guardian later,¡± She snarked, dragging him back to the present. ¡°Your Withering Palm still needs work. Cultivation too. Get back inside the Pillarshard and train.¡±


    He grabbed his spade and grumbled, ¡°Can¡¯t be a little nicer? I thought I did good here.¡±


    ¡°Want me to praise you?¡±


    Dejiu cleared his throat awkwardly. ¡°Nope, I¡¯ll get back inside then.¡±

 Chapter 16 - I Hate This Place, Lets Fall Deeper

    [Prana Core: High Initiate]


    [Prana: 57/57]


    ¡°Hoo.¡± He sighed and brushed the sweat from his body. He just finished cultivating after killing that four-legged fish daimon. ¡°Once again, this Dark Flower cultivation method is monstrously efficient.¡±


    ¡°It is. Let alone individuals, many sects and clans would desire a manual of it. Even your Shenguo Kingdom¡¯s military and many noble families would desire it.¡±


    ¡°Really? The Heavenly Snowy Temple would rather throw it away than teach it.¡±


    ¡°You Buddhist sects and temples may seem righteous, but they¡¯d stop at nothing to obtain more power. They wouldn¡¯t turn away from daimonic cultivation if it is of this quality. That¡¯s how you humans are.¡± Bing Xin said.


    ¡°And who''s to say your temple won¡¯t house it to prevent others from falling into temptation? What if one monk in charge of safekeeping the cultivation method fell to their desire for strength? Well, aside from you of course.¡± She remarked.


    Well, that''s a slap across his face. It¡¯s true. In the end, he¡¯s learning it anyway. Even if he wasn¡¯t in such a life-and-death situation, he¡¯d still crumple before the allure of strength. That¡¯s who he was. Although he didn¡¯t know much of the daimonic, it couldn¡¯t be that bad. Nothing happened to him nor has he read anything about other cases. And if he continued to kill daimons, wouldn¡¯t his actions outweigh the nature of his cultivation? Strength had always justified itself, hadn¡¯t it?


    But then again¡­ Bing Xin¡¯s words clawed his mind. Buddhist sects and temples? As in plural? He knew a bit about other temples, well just one other, but the way she said it threw him off. What did she really know?


    ¡°Wait. How much do you know about¡­ the world above?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Little. Too little.¡± She said.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask further ¡ª why are you attached to me?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t say, little monk.¡±


    Dejiu frowned. But he did learn a little. He¡¯ll take that. Proof was in short supply, but he¡¯ll make do with trust. The thought of her origins from her few words did spark suspicion in his mind. Techniques. Language. Knowledge. Everything she has shown so far only leads to her being an ancient daimon. Perhaps one that had terrorized the world above the many Hells for centuries before he was born. He just didn¡¯t know.


    Although she did seem wary of the Abbot, Dejiu knew that she had been present in his life even before his earliest memories. She likely hibernated with her tail tucked ever since he crossed paths with the Abbot that day. Maybe he was just grasping at straws, but he had a feeling he was right.


    But that led him to the question; What happened when he was an infant for him to fall within her grasp? It¡¯s frustrating for him to think about it. And she wouldn¡¯t bother explaining it to him.


    Only Teacher Jiansu knew of his barren past aside from the few nameless villagers. And who knew where they could be after so many years? Would they even recognize him, much less remember anything about him?


    ¡°I wonder, little monk. Where is that precious Teacher Jiansu?¡±


    Dejiu stood and half listened. ¡°Likely home. Reading his scriptures, his nose buried in the old calligraphy. The cohorts of warrior monks led by an Arhat or Arhat disciple aren¡¯t to be trifled with. They likely snuffed their Pillarshard by the time I¡¯ve begun descending my own.¡±


    He grabbed his spade, feeling rejuvenated. Time to hunt. There''s nothing like growing stronger. It''s addicting. How fast he¡¯s growing is unheard of as far as he knows. It reminds him of Teacher Jiansu¡¯s tellings of noble scions from the Shenguo Kingdom¡¯s capital, the vibrant city of Lingzhou. Those scions were raised with all the treasures in the world ¡ª Hell Shards, elixirs, prana fruits, pills, and more. Probably even soulbound remnants.


    Dejiu sighed. Alas, he was a monk. Birth alone doesn¡¯t dictate his access to treasures. Strength and virtue did.


    He walked and walked, oddly even Bing Xin couldn¡¯t lead him to any daimons. Perhaps they were scared of the emergence of a bald monk from the Pillarshard. Well, at least he hoped. But before he could find any daimons, he found something equally as exciting to see.


    ¡°Now what do we have here?¡± From beneath some hellish undergrowth, east of the Pillarshard, Dejiu saw something that made his mouth water.


    ¡°Hey can I eat this? It looks like a pepper.¡± Dejiu asked as he picked the overly red pepper from its stem. ¡°Finally something to add to foul daimon meat.¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°You could, if you¡¯d like to poison yourself. It¡¯s weak, but your robust insides could likely wane off most of the effects. Perhaps your affinity helps too.¡± Bing Xin said.


    Dejiu narrowed his eyes and pocketed some peppers. ¡°I¡¯ll keep a few then, throw them somewhere inside the Pillarshard to store. They also might be worth money, right?¡±


    ¡°Likely.¡±


    He grinned. His coffers were empty like any monk, but that doesn¡¯t mean he shouldn¡¯t at least try filling them. After learning a daimonic cultivation method, does something as small as accumulating wealth matter at this point? How else would he obtain Hell Shards on the surface other than being rewarded for good deeds¡ª


    ¡°Little monk. Run back to the Pillarshard.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°No time. Go. Now.¡±


    ¡ª


    ¡°Feng Yue Huang, what of your scouting?¡± A young man with eyebrows that were as upright as a sword. His eyes were bright and shining, periodically sending out sharp glances that looked like a dragon¡¯s or a tiger¡¯s. Why wouldn¡¯t he? He, one of the ten young masters of the Feng Clan led a daimon-hunting cohort. Not a complete cohort, but a cohort nonetheless.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there young master Feng Mu.¡± Feng Yue Huang responded.


    ¡°Mm, good. Aid them at the front. I¡¯ll take care of diplomacy once we reach this Pillarshard you spoke of.¡± Feng Mu said through pursed lips. His thick eyebrows tensed as he tried to squint to where


    ¡°Leave it to this Feng Yue Huang!¡± The ragged man, Feng Yue Huang responded.


    Feng Mu nodded. To think their mission to the Seventh Hell would result in disaster. A shame on their clan. As the leader and the youngest of the ten young masters in the Feng Clan, this failure spoke of his fall. His position in the clan wasn¡¯t the strongest. His elder brothers and sisters¡­ wretched eagles. They always stepped on him to prove their pull in the clan. Just because their father, the clan head sired them first.


    He scoffed. He swore that he¡¯d never let anyone step on him again, but alas, he was too hasty. The Seventh Hell wasn¡¯t to be trifled with. If only he knew when he left with his cohort¡­


    What remained of twenty of his youth followers had dwindled to a mere injured and hungry ten. Facing this failure, Feng Mu¡¯s humiliation and pain in his heart grew. To inspire followers as the weakest of the young masters was a lofty feat, yet he wasted ten precious lives. They were to be his arms and legs once he ascended the mantle of clan head!


    ¡°Young master! The Pillarshard is in sight!¡±


    Feng Mu looked up with weary eyes. It¡¯s been too long since they¡¯ve been lost. And before the singed sky, the eternal cloud of ash revealed a towering behemoth ¡ª a Pillarshard, their lifeline. It''s their ticket back to the surface. But this land¡­ who¡¯s territory was it?  They were still beneath the Shenguo kingdom, right? Their Feng Clan¡¯s name and wealth would surely aid them in this time of peril.


    Feng Mu narrowed his eyes and addressed the nine before him. ¡°I¡¯ll take lead.¡±


    ¡ª


    ¡°There¡¯s people!? Who is it? Monks? Did Teacher Jiansu and the others not return to the surface?¡± He asked excitedly.


    ¡°Little monk, you have no idea how vast Hell is. How much the people of the surface have carved their greed into its depths. Like miners clawing at a vein of gold, they have dipped their hands into Hell¡¯s maw, grasping at its treasures. Each shard, each daemon¡¯s bone, each infernal trinket has become a currency of power.¡± Bing Xin scoffed as if it was common knowledge.


    ¡°Shit, not monks? Then can they help me kill the guardian?¡± He frowned.


    ¡°They cannot. You retain control over the Pillarshard¡¯s assault for thirty days. Remember?¡±


    Dejiu jogged his mind and remembered the message he heard.


    [You have thirty days before your assault is forcibly relinquished.]


    It had been chaotic at the time, and his mind wasn¡¯t in the right place. Well, he wasn¡¯t sure if his mind was back to normal now, but in any case, he remembered.


    ¡°Alright, but why did you tell me to go inside here?¡± He asked as he paced back and forth at the Pillarshard¡¯s entrance. He felt anxious. His timeline was short enough to begin with.


    ¡°They cannot enter until your thirty days are over, nor can those monks enter the Pillarshard from above. Little monk, you¡¯ve only seen the best of people ¡ª and even then you were still treated as an outcast and disregarded. Those strangers are not monks. They are dangerous.¡± Bing Xin said.


    ¡°...Fine. So what now? I can¡¯t go outside and practice the Withering Palm technique now that they are outside. That only leaves the guardian. I was supposed to have six days to train!¡±


    He felt anxious. His timeline was short enough to begin with. Time was being wasted, time better spent training to prepare to face a damn guardian!


    ¡°Hello? Hello!? From who¡¯s faction is assaulting this Pillarshard? We are from the Feng Clan! We seek refuge to the surface!¡± A commanding voice bellowed from afar.


    Dejiu turned his head and squinted. He spotted nine figures standing apart from a bustling crowd ¡ª cultivators, their presence unmistakable. Long swords rested on their backs or at their hips.  They wore white robes with golden streaks. Even from afar, Dejiu made out cyan eyes and long hair that fluttered from behind.


    ¡°Oh. They saw me.¡± Dejiu blurted. ¡°Miss Bing Xin, what do I do?¡±


    But she didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°Bing Xin?¡±


    His heart pounded. Should he just go down? No, it was a damn guardian! He can¡¯t just go down haphazardly with these guys at his front door. First needed to calm himself!


    ¡°Hey? Miss Bing Xin? I¡¯m sorry for the past transgressions this lowly monk has done to you. I should¡¯ve relinquished my body over to you from the first moment you talked to me!¡± He kowtowed at the entrance.


    All the while the ten cultivators watched.

 Chapter 17 - Thats A Monk, Right?

    ¡°Young master¡­ what is he doing? Is that a monk? Is he prostrating to us?¡±


    ¡°He must recognize our clan¡¯s robes! Of course, he¡¯d be prostrating to us.¡±


    ¡°I agree, Junior Brother! Young master, the heavens haven¡¯t abandoned us!¡±


    Feng Mu stared puzzledly. They were a hundred steps from the Pillarshard before the Seekers Accord prevented them from getting any further. This meant the Pillarshard wasn¡¯t anchored but was in the process of being sieged.


    As a young master of a prosperous family, he knows what a Pillarshard siege should look like. But this¡­ didn¡¯t seem right.


    ¡°Ah, hello cultivators and seniors from the Fang Clan.¡± The monk manically prostrating at the entrance said before he stood.


    Feng Mu¡¯s face twitched at the mistake. But before he could correct the person, his brows raised. The person was bald and young. Tall and a little skinny. Loose and tattered robes covered in blood or ichor, only small patches revealed its original colors. Young. Very young.


    ¡°Young master!¡± Feng Yue Huang whispered with glee. ¡°I recognize those deep blue robes! We¡¯re in luck, it''s a Buddhist monk!¡±


    Feng Mu nodded. He could work with this. Clasping his hands, Feng Mu bowed. ¡°Greetings, young monk. I am called Feng Mu, the tenth young master of the Feng Clan. May I ask which Buddhist sect you hail from?¡±


    He looked up and studied the monk. Young, but High Inititate¡­


    ¡°This one is called Xue Dejiu, of the Heavenly Snowy Temple.¡± The monk, Xue Dejiu, returned a formal bow.


    ¡°Forgive me for asking, but may you allow us entry into your Pillarshard? We only seek to return to the surface.¡± Feng Mu said.


    ¡°...Apologies, cultivators from the Fang Clan, but I cannot.¡±


    ¡°It is Feng Clan, young monk. Not Fang.¡± Feng Mu¡¯s brow twitched as he straightened his back. ¡°We¡¯re from the Shenguo capital, Lingzhou. Our clan is known far and wide for our unparalleled talent in cultivation, our mastery over sword arts, and, naturally, our grace and dignity. Call for other your senior monks, they¡¯ll know of my clan.¡±


    Who wouldn¡¯t know the Feng Clan? Even the Shenguo King wouldn¡¯t dare cross their clan head!


    Xue Dejiu scratched his head, his lips twitching awkwardly into a polite smile. ¡°Ah, of course. The¡­Fang Clan. You¡¯re famous, yes?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Feng!¡± Feng Mu corrected, color rising to his face. He turned to Feng Yue Huang, ¡°Are you sure this is a monk from our lands? I refuse to believe we traveled beyond the Shenguo kingdom if he¡¯s holding his head this high.¡±


    ¡°It should be. The Heavenly Snowy Temple¡­ I think it may lie within the kingdom, but I don¡¯t know exactly where. I only know that there are a handful of temples, but most are near the capital.¡± Feng Yue Huang whispered meekly.


    ¡°Useless thing.¡± Feng Mu barked. The monk¡¯s insolence has irked him so. But his face twisted into forced politeness before he turned back to face the monk.


    ¡°Young monk Xue Dejiu, may you please ask for a senior? I am sure we can come to an arrangement befitting such an esteemed Buddhist sect. I fear daimons may encroach us in this place despite your mighty force vanquishing the Pillarshard.¡± He said with clasped hands. ¡°Again, we seek to return to the surface. I can promise gifts and wealth to your temple in exchange.¡±


    He watched the monk once again scratch his head awkwardly.


    ¡°Um¡­ I don¡¯t know, young master of the Fang Clan. I¡¯m by myself, really.¡±


    Feng Mu¡¯s forced smile faltered for a fraction of a second. ¡°Just you? Surely, there must be someone more¡­experienced who holds the authority to negotiate?¡±


    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m by myself. I have to kill the guardian soon. Maybe after that? I don¡¯t have that much time before its too late.¡± Xue Dejiu shrugged his shoulders. ¡°I don¡¯t really know how this all works. I can¡¯t defend ya¡¯ outside and all. I¡¯m a little busy.¡±


    I''ll be busy with your mother! Bullshit! Does this monk play me for a fool? A lone monk, High Initiate or not, killing a guardian alone? Argh! My clan could level your temple without another word! Feng Mu¡¯s face twitched.


    ¡°I can toss some daimon meat though. I have too much to spare. I killed this fish like one earlier.¡± Xue Dejiu rambled on. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Feng Mu paused and raised an eyebrow. Is he serious?


    As Xue Dejiu continued to prattle, Feng Mu turned to his followers. ¡°Do you think this idiot monk is telling the truth?¡±


    ¡°He may¡­ the Pillarshard might¡¯ve swallowed him whole or he walked in.¡±


    ¡°Is this scoundrel truly so foolish to enter such a thing?¡±


    ¡°He may not even know what a Pillarshard is before he headed in.¡±


    ¡°He might¡¯ve been sleeping on the ground as the earth split open and he wandered in.¡±


    Wait. Did he say his times almost up? As in the thirty days of control? Feng Mu¡¯s mind shifted to a scheme. His earlier endeavor resulted in a grand failure. But if he could claim this Pillarshard after the monk dies or exceeds the time limit, then he could wander inside and lay claim to it. His father would be proud ¡ª after all, that''s the whole reason he even descended into the Seventh Hell in the first place! A free Pillarshard for the clan? His status as the Tenth Young Master might rise!


    ¡°Ah, very well young monk. We will make camp outside then. We wish you luck.¡± Feng Mu said pleasantly with clasped hands.


    Xue Dejiu laughed, returning  a beaming smile. ¡°Of course, of course! Thank you, comrades of the Fang Clan! I¡¯ll hurry and slay this guardian. ¡±


    Feng Mu feigned a smile in return. He bowed again to the monk before he turned around.


    As he did so, a dark smile tugged his lips. Ha! The heavens haven¡¯t forsaken me after all.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Bastards. I know that two-faced smile.¡± Dejiu muffled a curse as he walked down the Pillarshard. He¡¯d be a fool if he hadn¡¯t learned anything about insincere and deceitful faces over the past seven years.


    Putting aside his skill in seeing through dishonesty, this was bad. Very bad. If defeating a guardian wasn¡¯t bad as it is, he has another menace, no, a group of them waiting outside!


    To think the very thing preventing more monks from helping him was the very thing protecting him right now ¡ª the fact he had thirty days to assault the Pillarshard alone.


    ¡°Gah, just my luck. Amitabha, this monk has had enough.¡± He said before he looked up. ¡°Bing Xin! I could still hear you laughing!¡±


    Dejiu scowled as he recalled the conversation he shared with Feng Mu. Laughter blared in his ears as he forced himself to smile at Feng Mu and his company.


    ¡°Ah, it was too funny little monk¡±


    ¡°Ah, it was, wasn¡¯t it? Not! This is bad!¡± Dejiu cried. ¡°They¡¯ll be waiting for me if I live! What did I do to deserve this?¡±


    There''s a lot he could do. But there''s also a lot he didn¡¯t know. Sure he riled Feng Mu up, but doing so was enough to help him gauge who this Feng Mu and his posse were.


    ¡°Miss Bing Xin, how much longer until the guardian reaches the Sixth Hell?¡±


    ¡°A few days. Not enough time to reach an ordinary attainment level in Withering Palm without foes to practice on. However, it is enough time to scheme little monk.¡±


    ¡°A monk mustn¡¯t scheme. A monk mustn¡¯t kill without reason. But to be righteous in wrath¡­ that must also extend to humans too, right?¡± Dejiu muttered to himself as he thought of the cultivators outside.


    If he could see Bing Xin right now, then she must have a wide smile. Before he could even begin to scheme, it seemed that she already succeeded hers. This entire fiasco¡­ it was too weird.


    ¡°Hey. You knew something like this would happen, right? Maybe not exactly what, but now that I think about it, every time I tried to push ahead beyond a hundred steps, you would warn me of approaching daimons. I didn¡¯t think much about it at the time because you were right a few times and daimons attacked in droves. But that perimeter ¡ª there''s something you¡¯re withholding about it.¡±


    Dejiu paused and looked up. He didn¡¯t know why he did that when she was inside him somewhere, but the way she always spoke made it feel like she was always watching him from above.


    He was left without an answer for a while before she finally responded.


    ¡°...Ah, you found me out, little monk. You¡¯re right. Go beyond a hundred steps and you would be forcibly let go from your Pillarshard¡¯s assault. That would also mean that the monks waiting at Mount Xuedou¡¯s footsteps would descend immediately to save you.¡±


    ¡°You forced me down here! You prevented them from saving me. If I relinquished my control then they could¡¯ve come down earlier to help conquer this Pillarshard before these cultivators showed up! You wanted me to stay here so some fucking reason!¡± His face twitched. He was right, this was all a scheme from her. His skills in seeing through dishonesty still needed work it seems.


    ¡°Indeed. I do want you to say here. And if you live, is it so bad? You emerge stronger. You¡¯ll be rewarded for conquering the Pillarshard. You¡¯ll obtain more remnants, Hell Shards, and experience. Isn¡¯t that everything you desired?


    ¡°Enough. You know what I mean. That doesn¡¯t change the fact that you fostered this outcome. I almost forgot ¡ª you¡¯re a daimon.¡±


    ¡°Indeed I am, little monk. But that doesn¡¯t change your circumstances, does it?¡± Bing Xin¡¯s voice dipped, her tone laced with venomous amusement.


    ¡°Do you think my nature will matter when the blades are drawn? When that Feng Mu¡¯s greed turn to action? When you¡¯re forced to retaliate? Oh no, little monk ¡ª when you stain your hands with their blood, it won¡¯t matter if I influenced you to remain down here without help. Although I have a part in these circumstances, the fact is that they wish to do you harm ¡ª something I didn¡¯t influence.¡±


    Dejiu frowned. ¡°Maybe those cultivators are plotting aren¡¯t so bad. Sure that guy, Feng Mu, was hiding a nasty face, but I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s willing to kill me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, now you care about the particulars? Don¡¯t humor me, little monk.¡±


    Dejiu didn¡¯t reply and sighed.


    It felt like each and every action he did was a result of her doing. He didn¡¯t like it. But what could he do but play at her whims?

 Chapter 18 - Premature Descent

    Should I attack them first? A thought that no monk should ever think of intruded his mind.


    Perhaps he had spent a long time accompanied by Bing Xin, but the fleeting thought still came across him. What if he attacked them, they wouldn¡¯t expect an attack from a monk, right? Much less a monk from one behind them.


    Sure he¡¯ll relinquish his access to the Pillarshard and the guardian, but the Pillarshard was right below the mountain. More powerful monks would descend, perhaps even Teacher Jiansu would too. But what then? He attacks those of the Feng Clan, but those who survived would chase him up the Pillarshard. Even if he returned to the other monks, he¡¯d have nothing going for him. He¡¯d be accused of killing another in a malicious attack before confirming they were going to attack him, and rightfully so.


    And that was considering it all went well and he didn¡¯t die immediately.


    ¡°Worry about the guardian. I¡¯ll tell you what to do afterward.¡± Bing Xin snarked.


    ¡°Hmph. Fine.¡± Dejiu frowned, still not over his forced companionship with her. ¡°Care to explain more of this guardian before I head in? Or are you going to withhold that information too?¡±


    ¡°Why the change in tone, little monk? Have you forgotten all I¡¯ve done?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not having this conversation again, Miss Bing Xin.¡±


    ¡°No fun, no fun.¡± She said. ¡°I will not tell you about this guardian because I cannot. But I will tell you of the chamber itself.¡±


    Bing Xin¡¯s words pulled Dejiu¡¯s frown lower.


    ¡°It is vast, very much more than what you¡¯d imagine thus far. The creature inside will be there, huddled near the Pillarshard¡¯s core ¡ª both the source of its own power and the Pillarshard itself.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s own power?¡± Dejiu raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s one of the ways a daimon could advance stages. A shortcut if you will. Though there are downsides, I won¡¯t bore you with such information.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Go on.¡±


    ¡°I cannot tell you of the daimon guardian other than it is capable of blinding you. Trust those instincts of yours and strike to kill. No holding back, no wavering. Any more aid I¡¯ve already provided would go against my previous arrangements and do more harm than good. You will slay it on your own or die trying.¡±


    Dejiu nodded and plopped down on the warm steps. He wasn¡¯t worried about daimons attacking him here so he decided to cultivate before heading further down. Although he descended a little prematurely, he had already done much of the preparation.


    ¡°Hoo¡­¡± He sighed and closed his eyes to cultivate.


    ¡°Smart decision, little monk.¡±


    ¡ª


    [Prana Core: High Initiate]


    [Prana: 57/57]


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Ah, a shame I didn¡¯t hit 58,¡± Dejiu muttered and went over everything that could aid him in battle. ¡°Can I even use this?¡±


    [Soulbound Remnant: Lurker¡¯s Spinnerets ]


    [Remnant Grade: Low Impure]


    [Remnant Type: Tool]


    [Stripped from a lurker shunned by all ¡ª this one, in particular, finds solace inside the bodies of larger beings. Once activated, it envelops the user in a damp, mucus-like cocoon, mimicking the aura of a larger predator to deceive lesser beings. Provides no actual defense and minimal practical use except as a last-ditch attempt to avoid attention.]


    In his hand was a gross mouth. A mouth and its spinnerets?


    With the mouth in his hand, Dejiu activated the remnant. Immediately, damp silk spewed out. Already knowing what it¡¯d do from the description, he allowed the silk to spew until it covered him inside a cocoon. Moments later, a human-sized cocoon was nestled atop the Pillarshard¡¯s step.


    Dejiu breathed, he felt a little suffocated beneath the layers but it was doable. He couldn¡¯t find any way to use it against the guardian wrapped in mystery. Even if the dangerous aura radiates from the cocoon, what then? Doesn¡¯t stop a daimon from eating me. No matter how witless it was.


    He was right about to dismiss the quiet drain on his prana from using the tool before an idea sprung in his head as he thought of the doom waiting for him outside. Perhaps..?


    Cycling his prana into the hands at his back, he cut away the slimy silk rather than dismissing it. It took a long time to keep the cocoon¡¯s form with it collapsing without the human inside, but he stepped out, leaving the hollow cocoon atop the steps. ¡°Miss Bing Xin, is that dangerous aura on the silk still present?¡±


    ¡°...It is, little monk. Ah, what a sly plan I can see.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like you. But those principles you told me days ago ¡ª guile, might, and sacrifice. I think I understand a little bit now.¡±


    ¡ª


    He continued to descend deep into the Pillarshard. But each step only made him want to turn back. Relinquish his control or not, it didn¡¯t matter. If he didn¡¯t belong in the Seventh Hell, then he shouldn¡¯t have even thought of breathing the Sixth¡¯s air.


    Dark. Cold. Merciless. There weren¡¯t even the same cracks on the walls to let the expanse¡¯s air seep and waft inside yet the pecker at his groin wanted to relieve itself. He had a perverse feeling of both wanting the ability to see outside the confines of the Pillarshard, but he fears that should he do so, he¡¯ll forever damn his vision here.


    And this thing wants to descend to this place? He shivered as he thought of the guardian.


    ¡°Enough dawdling, little monk. It¡¯s ahead. I will not help you fight as I did so before.¡± Bing Xin said, cutting his thoughts.


    He sighed. Summoning his Seekers Accord in its entirety, potentially for one last look, he sighed again.


    [Seeker: Xue Dejiu]


    [Class: Blood Monk]


    [Attribute[s]: Doomed Entwinement ¡ª Shattered Innocence]


    [Path: ???]


    [Bloodright: ???]


    [Prana Core: High Initiate]


    [Prana: 57/57]


    [Techinique[s]: Wilted Stem ¡ª Withering Palm]


    [Soulbound Remnant[s]: Scavenger¡¯s Soaring Bracers ¡ª Lurker¡¯s Spinnerets]


    ¡°It¡¯s not complete, little monk. You¡¯ve yet to discover much of the other aspects of strength. That is another reason you mustn¡¯t die today.¡±


    ¡°Damn right I can¡¯t die. I don¡¯t even know half of these things, let alone the stuff I should know.¡±


    ¡°I will tell you in due time.¡±


    Dejiu breathed in a deep breath and took another step. But before a certain daimon¡­ or perhaps daimoness could speak to him, he heard a deep rumble coming from where the stairs widened into an entrance.


    He clutched his spade tightly. He willed his precious bracers to existence. Feeling their hefty, but secure embrace he nodded. This is it.


    And then he entered.

 Chapter 19 - Timely Talon

    Bing Xin watched the foolish monk head inside the room of pure darkness. He couldn¡¯t see a thing yet he still wandered inside. Ah, but that wasn¡¯t the blindness she warned him against. Darkness alone wasn¡¯t enough to warrant such worry. The old bird¡¯s influence was much more wicked than that.


    ¡°What was it again?¡± She pondered before she reached the thought she remembered the old bird¡¯s words.


    "Time is a cruel illusion, blinding us to our decay or growth until the mirror of the past forces us to see what we''ve become. To see the present is to be blind to the passage of time; only in looking back do we uncover what it has stolen or bestowed. But to see the future is to blind oneself to the present, trading certainty for the shadows of what may never come."


    Bing Xin reminisced of an era torn by the ravages of time. Ah, so poetic. She eyed what Dejiu needed to face ¡ª but a mere fragment of a bygone era of the many Hells.


    [Choros, Lesser Veil of Aged Decay.]


    ¡°Go on, little monk. Win my wager.¡±


    ¡ª


    I need her help more than ever, but I¡¯m alone. Dejiu thought, wandering around the darkness. He had no flame and no light. Not that he thought it would do a thing. Because her words were so misleadingly ominous, he didn¡¯t think a flame would help him. Well, maybe his nerves. On the other hand, at least he didn¡¯t die yet.


    He¡¯s been wandering inside the chamber for about a minute. Other than the profane air that pressed against his airway, nothing happened. Ah, but that wasn¡¯t to say the chamber itself didn¡¯t feel oppressive. Because it was.


    Darkness swallowed each footfall. His breath echoed, swallowed by the void, and still, there was nothing but the weight of the air around him. There was no light, no direction. It was as if the darkness itself had no end, no beginning ¡ª just a vast, endless nothing.


    The faintest hum buzzed in his ears, barely audible, but persistent. It was as though the very air was alive, watching him, waiting. He couldn''t shake the feeling that something was lurking just out of sight, moving with him in the dark. It was maddening, the sensation that he wasn¡¯t alone, yet unable to perceive any form or shape to cling to. Even worse than the ever-present Bing Xin.


    Dejiu took another step and it felt different. He passed through something beyond a mere entrance.


    Before he could think of the repercussions of his step, the air in front of him shifted. An eye ¡ª larger than his entire body opened. As though the darkness itself were the eyelids, the faintly glowing eye peered at Dejiu. Or perhaps into him.


    Dejiu staggered back, feeling his knees tremble beneath him. The eye watched, unblinking. Dejiu felt startled, but before a second passed he drove his spade into the eye. He was frightful, but no slave to it. His instincts demanded him to cut it down. Strike to kill!


    He stabbed through the eye, dark ichor poured out. Pulling his spade out he stabbed it again. And again. And again.


    Each time more fierce than the other. He used the Wilted Stem reinforcement technique to hasten his attacks and make them more powerful. He drove the spade deep into a flurry of stabs. But the soft eye wouldn¡¯t react. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Dejiu roared with might. He was going to kill the thing and leave. Ichor spilled out with each blow, illuminated by the eye¡¯s glow. Feeling it splatter onto his robes and face, he didn¡¯t stop. His spade stabbed with the desire to kill.


    ¡°Wha¨C¡±


    He trembled and felt an unfathomable pull on his entire being as he suddenly fell to the ichor-ladden ground.


    Dejiu tried to step up but he couldn¡¯t. His body refused to move as though he was stuck in place. He looked at the eye and noticed it had lowered its gaze to match his position. Fuck! What now!?


    He wanted to scream, but it felt like he had no mouth.


    The only thing that moved was his prana. With nothing else to do, he cycled his prana faster. Violently. Brashly.


    He didn¡¯t know what overcame him, but he wanted to be able to do something. Uneager to find out what the eye was capable of, focussed on the Wilted Stem technique and turned it up. It was reflective of the winter phase of the Dark Flower cultivation technique. Like how his mountain avens would wilt underneath the pressure of snow, deprived of sun and nutrients. But there was a certain energy to that ¡ª the struggle for life. He yearned for it now, he needed that temporary burst of strength more than ever.


    Come on! Come on Dejiu! Kill that monster! Kill the fucking thing, damn it! He urged.


    His meridians burst. It didn¡¯t hurt, at least not now. But it didn¡¯t matter. Spring. He¡¯ll usher in a new spring!


    In his peripheral, it seemed that the eye strained itself and pulsed. Black vessels of ichor revealed themselves around its pupil as though it gazed with more intent. Dejiu felt more motionless pressure press not on his body, but his mind. His senses dulled even more, but left without choice he focussed on his prana rather than his body.


    Then the eye glowed brilliantly.


    From the wisps of darkness, something coalesces beside the eye. Dejiu watched in horror as he cycled his prana for some strength. Get up, you useless monk! This pressure, it¡¯s buying time for something!


    The darkness shimmered like glass as it formed solid. After a second, a small manifestation of darkness formed beside the eye like a molten mess as its form stabilized. As for the eye itself? It looked overstrained, the vessels burst themselves without Dejiu¡¯s doing as more ichor poured out. It hovered back and away from him.


    But he couldn¡¯t worry about that now. Feeling returned to his hand! Without pause, he focused his prana into the ends of his palm to perform the Withering Palm. He didn¡¯t care how much prana it used, he wanted it to hurt. He wanted to feel anything.


    Another second passed and his right shoulder and arm burst from the inside. Violent pockets of volatile prana cycled recklessly, but purposely. He used what little he knew of the Withering Palm and applied it here.


    ¡°Kruek!¡± He spat blood. It was good! His senses were returning!


    If the eye could look startled, it did. Ha, was it not in the eye¡¯s plan for him to move before that thing formed completely?


    A bloody smile stretched across Dejiu¡¯s lips as he turned his body to stand. Wry laughs followed.


    He looked at the coalesced darkness beside the eye ¡ª likely something it formed with a lot of resources by how much it strained itself. The eye looked like a step from death it such a thing was possible.


    But before he walk over to drive his spear into the eye once more, he stared at the dark figure now stabilized as it stood between himself and the giant eye.


    It was himself.


    Back when he was seven or so. No, perhaps even younger. A child that looked like him but also not.


    Because what child would have blood splattered on a sparsely covered body?


    What child would have a cut so deep on his cheek that revealed teeth inside his mouth?


    What child¡¯s hands would have skin so mangled that bone could be seen?


    But most importantly, what child would be smiling in such a state?

 Chapter 20 - Killing Ones Self

    Damn!


    That was the only thought Dejiu could think of as he dodged the child¡¯s mangled fist. He almost fell back from the unexpected speed, but he allowed the fist to graze him before he let one hand go of his spade and delivered a Withering Palm. The child staggered but advanced like a rabid dog.


    The good thing was that he returned a good blow. The bad thing was his horrific discovery after one brief exchange with his disfigured past self ¡ª the center of his vision had a black spot.


    Does each blow I take make me progressively blind? Unfair! This is the blinding Bing Xin said?


    He rubbed his chest where his child self cut through robe and skin alike. Another realization dawned on him, the fist probably would¡¯ve caved his chest in if not for his quick reaction. The child somehow possessed unbelievable strength. Honestly, he¡¯d take blindness over sure death, so now he didn¡¯t mind that black dot in his sight anymore.


    ¡°Time to kill myself,¡± Dejiu muttered a curse.


    The child Dejiu charged again, fists moving like an experienced warrior. Each blow was followed by a gush of wind and a maniac¡¯s smile. The real Dejiu tried to ascertain how to survive this unusually powerful kid, but this speed was beyond even the Wretched Corpse Lurker. The two pure-black eyes were filled with bloodthirst, rage, malice¡­ and hunger.


    You¡¯re me, you wretched little bastard! Help me kill the fucking guardian! Also, how does it feel better at combat than me?


    [Prana: 20/57]


    Damn!


    With his prana being rapidly depleted, he cursed at the eye. Whatever forced him down and dulled his senses forced him to viciously and wastefully cycle it. His right arm and shoulder felt weak and fragile from the backlash. He had relied too much on his self-destructive cultivation methods and prana, but at least it broke him free from the pressure.


    But if not for his pathetic state, this child version of him wouldn¡¯t hold a candle! Well, maybe not, the wretched thing was unbelievably strong and agile. However, pondering over what¡¯s done could come later because the child was forcing him away from the damned glowing eye.


    ¡°Die!¡± He screamed at himself.


    Bringing his spade over his head, he brought it down to slam the child¡¯s head in. He wanted to cave its skull in, but it withdrew, only to engage around the spade¡¯s shaft. Shit!


    The child threw a palm at his abdomen, but Dejiu instinctively twisted himself to make the blow brush a little less than a finger deep. More of his blood spilled. More black dots erased his sight.


    Dejiu focused his prana into his left and delivered another Withering Palm. It landed. He smiled, it would prove its worth with multiple blows. Already, the child¡¯s chest looked on the verge of decay. Inside the few small cracks, darkness revealed itself. ¡°Brat.¡± He coughed, clutching his abdomen.


    [Prana: 13/57]


    Dejiu dashed with his bladed end in front. He thrusted and expected a parry from the small hands. As expected, the child pushed his shaft aside, but in a single smooth movement, Dejiu threw another Withering Palm at its chest.


    Guile!


    [Prana: 11/57] The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    More darkness revealed itself from the child¡¯s chest. It¡¯s working. The child¡¯s smile was wiped away, replaced by a wicked and wrathful face. It looked especially harrowing with the exposed teeth, but who was Dejiu to be scared by himself as a child?


    Having firmly driven the point home to his child self that this was a fight to the death, Dejiu advanced again.


    His bladed end made the front. He switched his angle of attack and spun with his flailed attack to overcome the child¡¯s expectation. Momentum guided him and he turned the shaft slightly to slam his spade end into the child¡¯s small arms.


    [Prana: 8/57]


    Feeling the darkness inside the child somehow fracture, he knew it was a dreadful blow.


    Might!


    Dejiu didn¡¯t let the child rest. Withering Palm was working, the child slowed slightly. So he rushed again despite his bleeding stomach. Although the black spots in his vision hindered him even more in the dimmed chamber, he wouldn¡¯t lose his advantage.


    [Prana: 6/57]


    The child shook its head and charged to meet him. Fists came flying, and Dejiu brought a hand¡ª


    Sacrifice!


    With a violent jerk, Dejiu twisted his body, a sharp pain slicing through his bracer and right arm as he drove his spade¡¯s shaft down toward the child¡¯s thrusting fist. But before he could strike, he saw his own hand hanging limply at the wrist.


    He had done it.


    His right hand was gone. Severed clean at the wrist, right through his High Initiate grade bracer. The stench of blood, mingled with the fading remnants of his prana, filled the air. Time itself seemed to stop, the stillness of the chamber devouring all sound. The child faltered, its wicked expression twisting with confusion and pain. Its face twitched in a grotesque imitation of life.


    Dejiu''s breath came in shallow gasps, his vision blurring from blood loss and the relentless assault on his body. Yet, through the haze, he could see it¡ªthe exposed darkness, the crack in the child¡¯s chest, now wider than before, leaked a tarry substance that seemed to shudder against the touch of the air.


    "Now... you die."


    The child¡¯s eerie black eyes widened as the grip tightened. There was no fight left in it. The darkness inside its chest trembled, but it couldn''t recoil. Dejiu''s left hand was relentless, pressing inward, until with a sickening crack, the child¡¯s neck snapped.


    The darkness that had once filled its eyes began to dissipate, like smoke in the wind. It slumped lifeless, a broken reflection of everything Dejiu had come to fear. But he didn¡¯t stop, he didn¡¯t hear a message. So he brought a final Withering Palm to its leaking chest.


    A booming crunch sounded.


    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Choros¡¯ Veil of Spite]


    He stood over the lifeless body of his past self, shaking from the effort, but with one, cold certainty in his mind. It¡¯s over.


    [Withering Palm Technique has reached Ordinary attainment level]


    Hmph. Ordinary after all of that?


    Dejiu tightened his grip and stumbled his way to the stationary giant eye. He also dismissed his damaged bracers to save prana.


    [Prana: 2/57]


    Enough to kill. He¡¯s going to stab the eye. He¡¯ll be damned if blind dots in his vision, a missing hand, and the onset of weakness from the Wilted Stem technique were going to make him turn back.


    Stepping before the eye once more, Dejiu stared back at the glowing mass. His breath ragged, blood dripping from his severed wrist, he stared.


    The vessels of the eye¡¯s iris looked burst, probably just as Dejiu¡¯s meridians were. ¡°Damned thing. I¡¯m bleeding out.¡±


    He groaned, looking down at himself. ¡°You¡­ I didn¡¯t think a guardian was gonna be like this. A summoner type of thing? Doesn¡¯t matter. You can barely move, much less defend yourself.¡±


    ¡°Die!¡± He stabbed the eye just as he had done before that child self was summoned.


    And an unimaginable amount of ichor spilled from his spade.

 Chapter 21 - Elixir of Cairn’s Essence

    [You have slain an Impure Daimon: Choros, Lesser Veil of Aged Decay.]


    [You have obtained a Soulbound Remnant: Elixir of Cairn¡¯s Essence]


    [Remnant Grade: Peak Impure]


    [Remnant Type: Consumable]


    Dejiu collapsed onto the ichor-flooded ground. It poured into his ears and tinged his skin a sickly color, but it didn¡¯t matter.


    [Prana: 0/57]


    He¡¯s exhausted. He used everything he had, and more. Hell, he¡¯s gonna bleed and die without caring for his wounds but he¡¯s too tired to do so. Death sounded better. Maybe he¡¯ll be reincarnated. He¡¯ll wake up in a noble family¡¯s house in the capital. He¡¯ll spoil himself with riches. Where have the temple teachings gotten him?


    Wet coughs escaped his lips. ¡°M-Miss Bing Xin? Take my body, I don¡¯t care anymore. Pah!¡±


    The metal tang coated his throat, any more liquid and he¡¯ll suffocate before he bleeds out. ¡°Damned blood monk. How am is a blood monk bleeding out?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve won.¡± Bing Xin said darkly. It reminded Dejiu of her cursed tone that day she forced him down the Pillarshard. The tone and cadence of a daimon.


    ¡°The fuck do¨Cdo you mean you won?¡± Dejiu spat out nervously. ¡°Me dying? Hey, are you really taking over my body!?¡±


    ¡°You even cheated, but I still won. Stupid thing.¡± Bing Xin continued.


    ¡°Wait-wait-wait-wait!¡± Dejiu was wet slick in the eye¡¯s warm ichor, yet an unfathomable chill ran across him. A menacing cold, colder than what he felt from being suspended inside the Sixth Hell. Was this death? If it was then he took back what he thought earlier ¡ª he wanted to live!


    Dejiu looked to where the cold was coming from¡­ and to his horror, it was the collapsed eye just steps away. From the eye, a shadowy figure rose. It wasn¡¯t like the manifestation of his childhood self. It much much darker.


    ¡°Accept your loss. Your gamble failed.¡± Bing Xin said.


    Dejiu¡¯s confusion climbed. ¡°Gamble? I never gambled! I¡¯m a monk¡ª¡±


    Bing Xin¡¯s ramblings didn¡¯t make sense. It wasn¡¯t until he realized another shadowy figure was rising as well. One from his body. Wait¡­ her voice. Echoing? It¡¯s¡ªit''s not in my head!


    Dejiu opened his mouth to ask Bing Xin what was happening, but he didn¡¯t dare speak as something forced his attention back to the shadowy figure above the daimon¡¯s corpse.


    ¡°And you, Bing Xin? This¡­ vessel. This does not count as cheating?¡± An unfamiliar voice said. One unlike Bing Xin¡¯s and the Seekers Accord. It sounded old. Ancient.


    ¡°I¡¯ve played my cards. You have yours. I wasn¡¯t the one who used my presence to overwhelm your detestable spawn. Accept your loss, old bird.¡±


    Old bird? Dejiu listened against his wishes. Fuck! So that was it? She wasn¡¯t talking to me earlier? And what¡¯s this about a gamble?


    Bing Xin revealed the identity of the shadowy figure from the daimon¡¯s corpse ¡ª the progenitor of the Hollow Talons and likely this eye daimon as well. That¡¯s what she called the old bird. But so what? He wanted to die! He wanted to gauge his eyes out, crush his throat! Had his body not been rendered utterly useless in the battle, the two presences alone were enough to make him do it!


    ¡°You overstep, wretched bird. Lower your presence. Corpses shouldn¡¯t mingle with the living.¡± Bing Xin hissed. ¡°This vessel is mine and mine alone.¡±


    ¡°Corpse? And what does that make you?¡± The voice waned. The shadowy figure slowly retreats into the corpse. ¡°Ah, but a mere projection¡­ Bing Xin, there will come a day when your joy turns to ash in your hands. Your safety will be nothing more than a dream, and then you''ll know that this debt was paid. I¡¯ll wait for you and this vessel in the depths below.¡±


    Dejiu half-listened. Silently praying this ordeal would be over soon, he waited until the figure¡¯s presence retreated entirely before he gasped out. ¡°Miss Bing Xin? What now? Am I safe?¡±


    ¡°Take your spoils first. That pill will help you recover.¡±


    [Soulbound Remnant: Elixir of Cairn¡¯s Essence]Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    [A fledgling turned champion. A champion turned vessel. Choros, the Lesser Veil of Aged Decay was the lowest among [Redacted]¡¯s prized spawn. But even so, Choros was to usher in a new age for [Redacted]. Failing miserably at the hands of a pitiful herald of blood, all that is left is a pill for the victor. Enhances eyesight and prana sight. Provides minimal injury recovery. Due to the heritage of this one¡¯s progenitor, an abundance of elementless prana is provided.]


    [Remnant Grade: Peak Impure]


    [Remnant Type: Consumable]


    Dejiu cultivated slowly to regain enough strength to move his wounded left hand. Opening the small flask, he dumped the elixir into his mouth. The warm tinge spread and he focussed on assimilating the prana into him.


    [Your Remnant Has Been Destroyed]


    In moments, he felt strong enough to sit up and further absorb the elixir.


    ¡ª


    [Prana: 64/64]


    ¡°Hoo¡­¡± He sighed and bandaged where his unholy copy severed his right hand at the wrist. Looks like he¡¯s not going to bleed to death today. Or die from some horror of Hell¡¯s depths. Thank the Genesis Vernerable he got a pill that helped him recover enough. And pushed his prana up!


    ¡°Done?¡± Bing Xin asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m done. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll die.¡± He said.


    Dejiu accomplished killing the guardian. Surviving the ordeal with that ¡°old bird¡± as Bing Xin said. But there was a little problem left. Bing Xin¡­ she¡¯s in front of him. Well, at least her dark silhouette.


    She sat in front of him. She wore a flowy black robe which could hardly conceal her graceful figure. Long shadowy hair hung just above her waist. Dejiu couldn¡¯t see her eyes and face in the darkness of the chamber, but he was skeptical that even if she was under the brightest and most brilliant of skies could he see them.


    ¡°Now what? I got enemies waiting above.¡± He asked.


    She pointed towards the corpse. ¡°Take the Hell Shard.¡±


    ¡°...Fine.¡±


    Dejiu scoffed. Bing Xin was commanding as ever, manifested or not¡ª


    ¡°I can still hear your thoughts.¡± She snorted with a venomous look.


    ¡°Forgive this lowly monk. Your wish is my command!¡± Dejiu wanted to collapse.


    [You have acquired a Hell Shard (Impure)]


    Dejiu raised an eyebrow. It¡¯s still hard to believe the thing was classified as an Impure Daimon.


    ¡°Think of it as a scion from a noble clan. Given the best of techniques, resources and everything. However, borrowing the presence of their leader does much of the heavy lifting. Besides, it was trying to advance using the Pillarshard. Had it advanced, no ordinary Advanced Stage cultivator would be capable of handling it. Your luck knows no bounds.¡±


    [Prana Core: High Initiate]


    [Prana: 65/65]


    ¡°Cannot complain with this. It even nocked up by one.¡± He smiled. Turning to Bing Xin, he asked, ¡°Where is the Pillarshard¡¯s core?¡±


    Bing Xin pointed in a random direction and he nodded. He wandered around the dark chamber, a little better than before. The elixir worked its magic. He could see more than just the floor! Ha!


    But before he could celebrate seeing almost ten steps around him as he walked, a distant orange glow became increasingly brighter and stronger as he came close. He was going to turn back to ask Bing Xin about it, but he blinked to find Bing Xin ahead of him.


    He frowned. ¡°New tricks?¡±


    She shook her head and changed topics. ¡°Touch the core, the Seekers Accord will give you two options. One, you will snuff the core. Extinguish the Pillarshard and crumpling it to dust. You will have almost a day to climb back to the surface. Two, you will maintain the core under your control by feeding it Hell Shards. The Pillarshard could descend further but you must feed it even more Hell Shards. I¡¯d advise against continuing its growth for now if you choose this option.¡±


    Dejiu squinted his eyes in thought. ¡°What do you think I should do?¡±


    ¡°What makes you ask me?¡± She laughed.


    ¡°You made me go down here. To fight the guardian as well. And I haven¡¯t even gotten to ask you about that thing that rose from the daimon¡¯s corpse and your wager. Everything!¡± He complained.


    ¡°In due time, little monk. Ah, but I would maintain this Pillarshard. It would be quite a boon to keep such a bridge to the Seventh Hell so close to the temple.¡±


    Dejiu scratched his bald head. ¡°I see. It¡¯s something they could easily defend as well, right?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, a foothold into the Seventh Hell.¡±


    ¡°Any benefit to snuffing the core?¡± He asked.


    ¡°The Seekers Accord will bestow you a greater appraisal than you would obtain by choosing the other option ¡ª not to say that your performance isn¡¯t already something unheard of.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s this about the appraisal? I didn¡¯t read or hear about this.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll be granted a reward for either option you pick. The greatest of seekers are granted befitting awards after all.¡±


    Dejiu frowned. He didn¡¯t know which to pick. Each had their benefits.


    ¡°Again, I would pick to maintain the Pillarshard. Although you may gain greater and more immediate benefits from whatever the Seekers Accord deems befitting, be it a remnant or something else, you¡¯re bound to receive something no less than what you have already accomplished. Besides, this is a mere Impure Pillarshard.¡±


    Pondering to himself, Dejiu paced back and forth. This was a decision harder than choosing to wake up for the morning prayer or getting beaten by Teacher Jiansu. Hmmm¡­. I mean, she¡¯s not wrong. I¡¯d have better inclination to snuff the core had it been a Tainted Pillarshard, but if the situation had reached that point, I¡¯d have no chance to even kill the guardian.


    But then he remembered something. His fist hammered into his palm as it dawned on him. I¡¯m brilliant!


    His lips pulled into a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll maintain the Pillarshard.¡±

 Chapter 22 - She Laughed As They Arrived

    [Seeker Xue Dejiu, Choose The End You Seek!]


    [SNUFF THE CORE]


    [Extinguish the Pillarshard. Reduce it to dust, severing its connection to the Seventh Hell. This action will grant a [Greater Appraisal], reflecting the magnitude of your accomplishments in this trial. You will have 24 hours to ascend back to the surface before the Pillarshard''s influence dissipates entirely.]


    [Reward: [Greater Appraisal], increased recognition among Seekers, and an artifact commensurate with your valor.]


    [Consequence: The Pillarshard will cease to exist, and the pathway to the Seventh Hell will close indefinitely.]


    [MAINTAIN THE CORE]


    [Claim the Pillarshard as your own. Its power will remain under your control, enabling the growth of this bridge into the Seventh Hell. To sustain it, you must periodically feed it Hell Shards. This option bears the potential for greater long-term rewards and strategic advantages.]


    [Reward: Immediate attunement to the Pillarshard, granting access to [Core Mantle: Impure Hellbridge] and other unique opportunities as it develops.]


    [Consequence: The Pillarshard remains a beacon for Daimons, and its growth will require vigilance and resources to prevent catastrophe.]


    [...][...][...]


    [The Seekers Accord awaits your decision.]


    Dejiu¡¯s fingers on his left hand hovered over the second option.


    The decision came easy. Sure he was sacrificing potentially a greater appraisal from the Seekers Accord, but he was forgetting one thing ¡ª the rewards from the Heavenly Snowy Temple. There''s no way he wouldn¡¯t be rewarded for this, right? Or at least have his deeds recognized. Teacher Jiansu would be proud too, that he thought of the temple in his decision. Teacher deserved it. Dejiu likely would¡¯ve died if he was still on the cusp of Low Initiate without the Tainted Hell Shard he was given.


    He smiled and selected the option.


    [Commencing Assessment.]


    [A lone herald of blood, wretched in his approach, lulled by the words of a lingering creature of the depths. He trusted in the profane and therein lay the marrow of his strength. Talons were dulled and ichor was spilled. Alone, this herald of blood proved his claim to the Pillarshard. The fearsome guardian who possessed a fragment of [Redacted]¡¯s power was felled and the lone herald claimed his mantle.]


    [...][...][...]


    [The Pillarshard has been subdued, its guardian laid low by your hand. Through blood, resolve, and violent defiance, you have surpassed the boundaries of mortal capability and claimed small dominion over the depths. The Seeker''s Accord acknowledges your triumph with the following reward(s):


    [Appraisal Granted: Exalted]


    [Congratulations, Seeker Xue Deiju. Receive your boon.]


    [Designating Soulbound Remnant as a reward]


    [...][...][...]


    [You have received a Soulbound Remnant: Diluted Droplet of [Redacted]¡¯s Blood]


    [Remnant Grade: Pure Tainted]


    [Remnant Type: Consumable]


    [Remnant Description: A droplet reaved from cold desolation. Lamentable and silent, it is unfathomable to think even the most diluted of droplets remain.]


    [...][...][...]


    [You have received an Attribute: Lone Assailant]


    [Attribute Description: Lone Assailant ¡ª A single tree may not form a forest, but it can still reach the sky and block the sun. When fighting without allies nearby, your prana consumption is reduced by 10%]


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    He grinned but before he could ask more about the Core Mantle and everything else he gained, a rumble shook the Pillarshard.


    ¡°Get ready. If the monks truly wait at the top, it will be too long before they can descend this far. Those Feng Clan cultivators will reach you before the monks do.¡±


    ¡°I know. I¡¯ll ask about my gains later. Those Feng Clan cultivators, they dare try and take the fruit of my efforts? Courting death.¡± Dejiu muttered a curse.


    ¡°Bing Xin! Tell me. I forgot to ask, but how strong are they?¡±


    ¡°...Two Low Initiate. Six Mid Initiates. Two High Initiates. All weary and worn down. Likely possesses remnants befitting a lofty clan if that Feng Mu wasn¡¯t overstating the prowess of his Feng Clan and his position as a young master.¡±


    ¡°I see. And my plan, you¡¯ve already read my mind?¡±


    ¡°Indeed. A dangerous monk you are.¡± She laughed.


    Dejiu cackled as he plopped down beside the giant eye. ¡°Peace is an option. If they choose to come down here, then they abandoned that option. If they choose to head to the surface as they said they would, so be it.¡±


    ¡ª


    ¡°Young master, the Pillarshard!¡± Feng Yue Huang exclaimed from behind Feng Mu. The invisible barrier the Seekers Accord imposed on outsiders was lifted.


    ¡°Finally that insolent monk croaked! Let¡¯s go.¡± Feng Mu addressed the other eight of them. A shame that Feng Jie died of hunger and her wounds, but their rations had been exhausted long ago. It was bound to happen.


    Fortunately, they only had to brave a handful of attacks from daimons outside the hundred-step perimeter of the Pillarshard. Indeed, the heavens haven¡¯t forsaken them.


    The nine of them rushed inside.


    ¡°Young master, look!¡± Feng Mie said as she clutched her stomach. ¡°The monk¡¯s rations!¡±


    Feng Mu narrowed his eyes with glee. They¡¯ve been sustaining themselves on putrid daimon meat, but even so, they had limits. They wouldn¡¯t eat bug-like daimon meat. They¡¯d fall sick before their hunger would be satisfied. But to think the monk would have peppers and better quality daimon meat!


    ¡°Quickly eat and recover your strength. We might not even have seen the end of our luck!¡± Feng Mu said. He just realized that this Pillarshard goes quite the ways below. If they can kill the guardian and claim the Pillarshard before any others from above can claim it, then he could reclaim his honor and recoup his losses.


    Eventually, they finished the abundance of food, leaving not a single string of meat or crunch of pepper. A shame they didn¡¯t have rice prepared, but they were in Hell. They continued their descent. A chorus of exclamations and awes sounded. They were really descending into the Sixth Hell! This was better than they thought!


    Trailing behind Feng Mu would mean that the clan head would reward them greatly if they claimed such a thing! If it was close to the Sixth Hell it wouldn¡¯t take much to feed the core to advance the Pillarshard!


    Feng Mu smiled. His redemption was within his grasp. That damned Feng Wu Jie¡­ his insolent half-brother who stole his spot as the ninth young master. He¡¯ll prove them all right.


    For almost an hour they descended the steps. Eventually, the cracked stone slabs beneath their feet turned cold ¡ª a good sign of how deep the Sixth Hell they¡¯ve come.


    ¡°...Young master. Just ahead.¡± Feng Yue Huang said from the vanguard.


    With that, they all drew their swords. Beautiful jians forged from their clan''s best smiths. It took a lot of favors for Feng Mu to arm his followers with such precious blades.


    The spiraling steps widened into an entrance. It was pitch black.


    ¡°Feng Mie, you have a remnant that gives off light, correct?¡±


    ¡°I do, young master.¡± She responded coquettishly.


    ¡°Take lead beside Feng Yue Huang.¡±


    Feng Mie nodded. She was a little scared like the others. Who wouldn¡¯t? The air itself was more oppressive than anything else they¡¯d experienced just descending below the Seventh Hell¡¯s floor. But she had to appease the young master. If Feng Mu followed his promises, then she¡¯d be his concubine ¡ª perhaps even the mistress of the Feng Clan.


    After a quick brief on their formation, they entered the pitch-black chamber. Feng Mie willed a handheld lantern remnant. It flickered weakly, but to her disappointment, it only illuminated just three or four steps ahead of her. The darkness of this chamber wasn¡¯t natural.


    Feng Mie looked disappointed. ¡°Forgive me, young master. This-this isn¡¯t¨C¡±


    ¡°Enough, keep going.¡±


    The cohort continued to wander straight ahead wearily. With the trusty hand of Feng Mu, Feng Yue Huang, and the beauty Feng Mie leading them they pressed forth.


    Feng Yue Huang raised his hand beside Feng Mie¡¯s lantern. They all stopped. Feng Mu pushed his way ahead.


    ¡°Do¡­do you feel that?¡± Feng Yue Huang nervously asked Feng Mu.


    ¡°Mm. Ahead. That aura¡­ Peak Initiate? No, this makes sense if the Pillarshard is this close to reaching the Sixth Hell¡± Feng Mu said. The guardian was a little stronger than he wished, but it was fine. A few losses were fine. What more was a few more deaths when the core was right before him.


    ¡°Advance. We¡¯ll strike. It¡¯s odd that it hadn¡¯t attacked us, but we¡¯ll take it.¡± Feng Mu added.


    The eight of them nodded. Immediately, Feng Mie was joined by the others behind and they rushed ahead. Their Feng Clan¡¯s cultivation method thrived amongst their own. They could display strength greater than the sum of their added pieces. A Peak Initiate daimon would fall!


    Feng Mu joined the front. His jian reared to his side.


    What was revealed under Feng Mie¡¯s lantern made his face grimace. A giant eye covered in a wet silky substance. It was oddly looking at them motionlessly just before they came upon it. But its strength was undeniable. The air it radiated was mighty.


    Feng Mu unleashed the greater version of his clan¡¯s striker technique, privy only to the young masters ¡ª Severing Branch. A blast of sword element prana expelled in a slash of their swords. Denser and stronger than the other eight could do.


    ¡°Hah!¡± He grunted.


    A brilliant grey slash released from his jian¡¯s edge. It cut through the wet substance covering the eye and left a deep cut in the split second they discovered the wicked eye!


    A storm of other weaker slashes followed. Each left their shallow marks before they plunged their blades into the eye. Ichor spilled as nine blades thrust into the giant eye. They all have coordinated themselves to circle around the massive girth.


    They pelted it in stabs and cuts before they hopped back to disengage. They prepared for its retaliation!


    ¡°Did anyone get the kill message?¡± Feng Mu asked from the center of their formation.


    ¡°No, young master.¡± Feng Yue Huang said.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t¨C¡±


    A wet thud sounded from where Feng Mie stood with her lantern.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Their eyes followed the lantern, their only light source.


    ¡°Feng Mie!¡± Feng Mu yelled. ¡°Shit!¡±


    But it was too late. She died, confirmed by the lantern dispersing into nothing.


    What was that? What did the eye do? Was that an invisible striker technique? No, but it sounded like something whistled through the air before she was struck. A projectile? Shit, he couldn¡¯t worry, they had no light!


    ¡°Circle! Circle!¡± Feng Mu barked.


    They shuffled to Feng Mie¡¯s corpse.


    Feng Mu could barely see his own feet, but what he saw horrified him so. Whatever struck Feng Mie severed her arm and left a wide gash deep into her torso. He bent down to see what hit her, finding a long¡­ shaft. A spade¡¯s shaft embedded in his follower.


    Immediately, he heard steps from somewhere around the chamber echoing. His mind raced. Then he concluded.


    ¡°The guardians dead! It¡¯s that pesky monk! Kill him!¡±

 Chapter 23 - Pesky Monk

    ¡°The monk didn¡¯t die! He killed the guardian!¡± Someone shouted in the dark.


    It was hard to hear the Feng Clan¡¯s voices when Bing Xin¡¯s laughter filled his ears.


    Dejiu snorted. He dashed hard. In a crazed leap, he picked off someone too far outside their pitiful ring formation. He jumped so they couldn¡¯t hear his steps approaching.


    In a shadowy trail of loose robes, he delivered a devastating Withering Palm onto the Feng Clan member. A scream sounded below his palm. Before he could finish the foe, the stubble on his head rose as he dodged a sword-like striker technique.


    But the damage was done. The Feng Clan member struck with Withering Palm already had decaying skin on his chest.


    Because of his attack, the ring shifted to their fallen member before they joined together. Dejiu circled around and let his steps echo. He ran to the woman¡­ Feng Mie they called her? He pulled his spade out and frowned. It took several seconds, but the blade end eventually came free, a crunch of bone hinting at what had kept it stuck in there so tightly other than the fact he only hand a single hand.


    He grimaced at the sound and smell. Killing people left a bad taste.


    Don¡¯t think so much about killing, Xue Dejiu. He told himself.


    He turned around the shaft so his bladed end showed. As a chorus of frightful sounds and gasps sounded, Dejiu struck again. This time he impaled someone using his spade¡¯s reach. They couldn¡¯t see it. The spade would look like it appeared from the darkness.


    He killed another Feng Clan member, this time a young man. Likely eighteen or nineteen. Dejiu could see their faces with his sight.


    He grimaced.


    Another died.


    Screams followed.


    Another died.


    This time a woman. She looked kind of pretty. Prettier than the nuns at the temple. She died with blood spilling out her mouth. Odd, did he strike her stomach, or did Withering Palm inflict more damage inside than he thought? Well, doesn¡¯t matter ¡ª she died anyways.


    It was hopeless if they wanted to leave. Even Dejiu would be hard-pressed to find the entrance this deep inside the vast dark chamber in a few seconds.


    Dejiu ignored the mad cries of the remaining four and delivered a storm of Withering Palms as he engaged and disengaged. Then he picked up his spade again and continued to slaughter them.


    All the while Bing Xin laughed. He could barely see her even with his new sight, but her laughter rang clear as always. Could other people see her? He hadn¡¯t even asked her that.


    Another died. This time they had enough time to curse him.


    ¡°Wait, wait!¡± Feng Mu yelled. ¡°Young monk! We apologize. We shouldn¡¯t have come down here! We didn¡¯t know you still lived!¡±


    Dejiu snorted. ¡°And what would¡¯ve happened when your cohort in full found me injured after slaying the guardian?¡±


    ¡°We apologize! Please, let us go! We¡¯ll ignore that this happened! I¡¯ll forgive you! Our clan wouldn¡¯t pursue you or the temple you hail from!¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°There''s no guarantee you will. I¡¯ve already decided to follow through with my decision as did you all.¡± Dejiu whispered. He still circled them, letting his steps echo.


    ¡°Please! We have treasures! Treasures you can¡¯t even imagine! My father would grant you them!¡± Feng Mu pleaded.


    Dejiu cackled. ¡°Trying to bribe a monk?¡±


    ¡°Urgh! Fuck you! Calling yourself a monk after this slaughter!¡± Feng Mu said, unleashing a storm of vicious techniques around him. Feng Mu accidentally grazed his own clansmen. He¡¯s desperate. ¡°I¡¯ll fucking kill you and your temple!¡±


    Dejiu inhaled and stopped running. He pulled his arm back and threw his spade at one of the three. The crescent-bladed end found its mark. A thud followed by a yelp and another died. Dejiu ran for the remaining two and delivered a Withering Palm with his one hand after dodging another desperate flurry of their sword prana.


    ¡°Kruek!¡± The other Feng Clan member croaked out. Dejiu slammed the cultivator down and killed him.


    Only Feng Mu remained.


    The sour scent of piss mingled with the scent of blood. Feng Mu ran out of prana, crawling toward the only remaining light source in the chamber. The ever distant daimon corpse ¡ª its light slowly fading. Did Feng Mu want to see the face of his one-handed killer?


    ¡°Damned monk! What type of monk kills and poisons? I¡¯ll curse you from the heavens!¡± Feng Mu gasped out. He waved his jian back and forth to ward away Dejiu.


    Dejiu walked towards the crawling Feng Mu. Poisons? Is the decay effect of Withering Palm that lethal?


    He looked down at Feng Mu who rested his back against the giant eye daimon¡¯s corpse.


    ¡°I''ll remember your face at least.¡± Dejiu frowned.


    ¡°Go to Hell! Fuck you¡ª¡±


    Feng Mu¡¯s head burst under Dejiu¡¯s left palm. In a decayed mess of flesh and blood, Feng Mu died.


    And Dejiu turned into a killer as a woman laughed in his ears.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Miss Bing Xin, did I have to kill them?¡±


    ¡°Of course you did¡ª¡±


    ¡°I guess I shouldn¡¯t have asked you. I already knew your answer.¡±


    ¡°...They were bound to kill you had you not received that elixir. Had the guardian been a smidge stronger. Had the old bird turned wrathful and wounded you further. You did the right thing and defended yourself, little monk.¡±


    ¡°The right thing.¡± Dejiu echoed.


    ¡°They escalated it. Leave one wolf alive, and the sheep will never be safe. It''s better to eradicate them and end the cycle of hatred before it begins.¡±


    Dejiu agreed. It pained him to, but he agreed. More than that actually, he felt annoyed at the part of him questioning his decision.


    He wore a frown as he ascended the many stairs with a dead body in tow.


    Eventually, he reached the Seventh Layer¡¯s floor. His eyes flicked to where he stored his daimon meat and pepper. Bastards. I''ve already killed you all, so who do I blame for my lost peppers?


    He sighed and set the body of Feng Mu against the entrance, his face and head unrecognizable. To think this is why a monk doesn¡¯t use a blade-ended polearm. He thought, brushing his hand against the dulled spade end.


    A monk''s customary weapon is a double-ended polearm. One end a spade. The other is a crescent-shaped blade. Although both ends could be used for battle, the spade end was used if a monk came upon a corpse on the road so they could properly bury it with Buddhist rites. Cleaning the blood off his spade, he walked into the Seventh Hell.


    He¡¯s a monk in the end. He knew the rites to speak to the dead. Even if he was the one who caused their demise.


    So he dug a burial hole for Feng Mu. It was hard to do with one hand but he got it done.


    He walked back to the entrance to drag Feng Mu beside the hole. His frown lowered further as he smelled the decaying man. Rolling Feng Mu into the hole, he buried him beneath the rocky gravel of the Seventh Hell.


    Until Feng Mu was completely covered, Dejiu brought his hand and wrist¡¯s bloody stump together and closed his eyes. He recited some prayers and chants he had memorized under Teacher Jiansu.


    ¡°I¡¯m a monk of the Heavenly Snowy Temple. I have an obligation.¡± He whispered to himself before he continued to chant and hum.

 Chapter 24 - Far Too Late

    Monks poured from the entrance. Only monks of the Peak Initiate and above were present, yet there were only a scant few of them. Most were in the Advanced Stage. Each was disciplined and hardened, likely experienced with delving into Hell¡¯s depths.


    ¡°Teacher?¡± Dejiu asked quietly as he turned around. He saw a familiar bald head at the back.


    ¡°Xue Dejiu?¡± The head pushed through the crowd of weary monks.


    ¡°Teacher Jiansu!¡± Dejiu smiled widely.


    Jiansu pushed to the front and pulled Dejiu into a warm hug. It wasn¡¯t normal for monks to hug each other, but Dejiu couldn¡¯t care. They were family in all but name. If we severed our mortal ties, then we could just make more.


    Jiansu looked flustered. A confused face mixed with worry. Why wouldn¡¯t he be? His prized and only disciple stood before him covered in daimon ichor. ¡°Y-your hand! What happened? Who¡¯s blood is this? Who is buried beneath here? No, how are you¨C¡±


    ¡°Alive? I killed it ¡ª the guardian.¡± Dejiu interjected. ¡°I¡¯m sorry teacher, but I was swallowed into this Pillarshard when I was sent to the Heifeng Prefecture. And from there¨C¡±


    ¡°Wait on your recount, Xue Dejiu. And Warrior Jiansu, I¡¯d like to hear more of this disciple you have.¡± A booming voice said from behind the crowd.


    Dejiu raised his head and turned to find the voice¡¯s source before something whispered into his ear.


    ¡°Little monk, I¡¯ll be hiding. Although it¡¯s not needed now, I wouldn¡¯t want to alert that Abbot of yours through his Arhats and those below them.¡± Bing Xin said before the invisible pressure inside felt weak and small.


    Dejiu¡¯s face twitched but thought nothing of it as he found the voice¡¯s source. And he didn¡¯t want to test his luck. His eyes narrowed at the silver prayer bead bracelet jangling on the monk¡¯s wrist.  It was an Arhat¡¯s disciple, beneath only the ten Arhats and the Abbot himself.


    Black represented Lay Monks. Red for Junior Monks like Dejiu. Orange for Warrior Monks like Jiansu. Yellow for Senior Monks. Silver for Arhat Disciples. Gold for the Ten Arhats. White for the Abbot.


    Still, for such a monk to appear¡­ was he in trouble? What warranted the appearance of such a high-standing monk?


    The crowd parted like reeds swayed by a storm as the Arhat Disciple stepped forward.


    ¡°I too am curious as to how you survived, blood monk. The last I heard from Warrior Jiansu¡¯s ramblings ¡ª you were a mere Low Initiate. How?¡± The Arhat Disciple said. There was a certain connotation when he said blood monk that Dejiu recognized and didn¡¯t like.


    His words sounded like a question but were more like a commandment. Dejiu gulped and stiffened. Amitabha, he looks intimidating. Is this what all Arhat Disciples look like? What of the Arhats themselves?


    The man was lean and extremely tall. His frame wrapped in the same loose blue-white kasaya robes of the temple. His shaved head gleamed, and faint patterns resembling frost trails adorned his skin. However, piercing gray eyes stood in stark contrast to his sun-darkened skin. They were like storm clouds over a snowfield. Slung over his back was a staff capped with twin shards of ice.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Jiansu nocked a hand over Dejiu¡¯s still posture into a bow. Understandingly, Dejiu continued the formal bow with Jiansu at his side with clasped hands.


    ¡°Honored disciple Xue Bing Lie,¡± Jiansu said.


    The Arhat Disciple, Xue Bing Lie returned a bow before motioning the other lower-ranked monks to spread out and form a perimeter. ¡°The blood monk¡­ high Initiate, hm?¡± Xue Bing Lie muttered with a slight frown.


    ¡°I fought for my life in these depths, honored Disciple Xue Bing Lie. Strength and treasures follows that struggle.¡± Dejiu said, holding up the bloody bandages that covered where his right hand should be.


    Xue Bing Lie waved at Dejiu dismissively. ¡°Come, we¡¯ll ascend to the surface. We can talk about your experiences on the way.¡±


    Not going to heal my hand or something? Dejiu stifled a frown and nodded. ¡°Are you not needed to oversee the other monks?¡±


    Xue Bing Lie motioned for Jiansu to follow before he responded. ¡°They¡¯re accustomed to expansion in the Hells despite the few chances they get.¡±


    Dejiu grabbed his spade from Feng Mu¡¯s burial and followed Xue Bing Lie. Jiansu looked like he wanted to say something be decided against it and trailed behind Dejiu. Sorry, Teacher, but I¡¯m worried about not being persecuted or put to death.


    The trio walked in silence for a while. Dejiu didn¡¯t know why, he was just waiting to be asked questions like an interrogation. But somehow this made it harder to breathe. Was it the exercise of climbing steps? His injuries? Or the Arhat Disciple¡¯s presence?!


    ¡°I heard you two earlier. So you were swallowed by the sinkhole, huh? And I assume the Seekers Accord didn¡¯t allow you to leave.¡± Xue Bing Lie said.


    ¡°Yes. But before that, I must mention I advanced to Mid Initiate with the help of a Hell Shard.¡±


    Before Xue Bing Lie could ask further, Jiansu cut in. ¡°You advanced with that? Thank goodness.¡±


    ¡°...I see. Your teacher personally slew a troublesome Advanced Stage daimon for that. Likely at the peak of it¡¯s stage. I deemed it permissible for him to provide it to you. He was adamant on it.¡±


    Dejiu exhaled sharply. ¡°Thank you both, really. I would¡¯ve died without advancing. I managed to kill a daimon before something beyond my means appeared. I circled past it and decided to descend the Pillarshard.¡±


    ¡°Just one emerged? Odd. Very odd. Usually, the entire Pillarshard would be flooded with daimons, especially the topmost chamber. Hundreds would be normal. Most want to ravage the surface lands after all.¡± Xue Bing Lie stroked his chin. ¡°Though, that one you left above the surface did alert us.¡±


    Dejiu decided against explaining the odd nature of the daimons he learned from Bing Xin about their progenitor. That information will just oust him simply because he shouldn¡¯t be able to know it.


    ¡°Days passed and I became progressively stronger. But at the cost of that strength, I strained my meridians and core with many Hell Shards ¡ª more than I could even handle at times.¡± Dejiu said. His mind churned, trying to come up with a solution to the most pressing issue with the Feng Clan.


    He can¡¯t figure out a way to explain how there are eight bodies in the guardian¡¯s chamber.


    Dejiu exhaled slowly, the memory sharp in his mind. ¡°When I reached what should have been the lowest level, I saw something that made me stop. An entrance to the Seventh Hell. Outside were cultivators. Not daimons, but people, ten in total. They claimed they only wanted to ascend to the surface once the time limit was passed. But I wasn¡¯t sure.¡±


    ¡°I ignored them and descended below to the guardian¡¯s chamber and managed to slay it alone,¡± Dejiu said, his tone somber. ¡°Then I waited. If they spoke the truth, then once the Seekers Accord allowed them to enter the Pillarshard, they held the decision to ascend or descend. They decided to descend. And when they arrived in that guardian¡¯s chamber, I protected myself.¡±


    Xue Bing Lie¡¯s narrowed his eyes. ¡°How so?¡±


    Against all instinct and reason, he admitted, ¡°I killed them.¡±

 Chapter 25 - Memorial

    ¡°You¡­ killed them?¡± Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie frowned. But it was understandable. Although their temple¡¯s principle was to be righteous in wrath, killing wasn¡¯t something so easily dismissed.


    Dejiu shifted uncomfortably under Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie¡¯s gaze. ¡°I did. I think they descended to kill the guardian, but they didn¡¯t think I¡¯d succeed. They were going to kill me, the nine of them.¡±


    Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie¡¯s chin rested in his fingers as he mulled over Dejiu¡¯s ordeal. ¡°A difficult choice, but the right one. I cannot find fault with that. But nine? I thought you said there were ten cultivators.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that last one. I counted ten the first I saw them. But nine descended.¡±


    ¡°So there could be someone out there that could know of this?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    ¡°Did they tell you who they were?


    ¡°Um. The one I buried called himself a young master of the Feng Clan.¡±


    Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie''s expression hardened at the mention of the Feng Clan. ¡°The Feng Clan? You¡¯re certain?¡±


    Oh fuck. Are they really a big deal in the capital Lingzhou? Dejiu noticed the change in expression of both Teacher Jiansu and Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie. But he couldn¡¯t lie about the corpse¡¯s origins. They all wore similar robes and probably possessed something that identified them.


    ¡°Yes. The one I buried was called Feng Mu. He called himself a young master.¡±


    ¡°You blood thirsty fool!¡±


    Dejiu tilted his head. Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie¡¯s tone was sharp and low. Suddenly the surroundings grew cold and Dejiu widened his eyes. ¡°Teacher? H-honored disciple? Wha¨C¡±


    He looked down. An unfathomable cold spread from his toes. It was ice. He¡¯s being encased in a thin layer of ice starting with his feet.


    It quickly rose, covering his waist. From behind, Dejiu heard some muffled yells from Teacher Jiansu. Dammit! What is this! Fuck, am I dying? Bing Xin! Bing Xin, who cares about being revealed ¡ª come out! Help!  Dejiu kicked and struggled. Nothing worked. The strength between him and someone of Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie¡¯s standing was like heaven and earth.


    In a blink, his entire body was covered in ice. The last thing he could make out before his eyes closed was Teacher Jiansu yelling his name.


    ¡ª


    Dejiu woke up shivering in the same clothes. He didn¡¯t find the Arhat Disciple or Teacher Jiansu, but he did find technically find another teacher.


    ¡°Thaw well, little monk?¡± Bing Xin said, her shadowy manifestation sitting across from him. ¡°It¡¯s been three days since that Arhat disciple froze you.¡±


    ¡°Three!?¡± He blinked a few times before he sat up. But he tried to post himself on his right arm and forgot he was missing a hand. ¡°Ouch.¡±


    His eyelids were half-frozen along with his entire body it seemed. He felt slow and weak. ¡°W-where is this?¡± He asked through clattering teeth.


    ¡°Hm¡­ That Arhat Disciple muttered something about the Hundred Penance Gaol.¡±


    ¡°The what? I don¡¯t even know that name!?¡± He cried. ¡°Damn! Just when I thought things were going well. I slew a guardian myself and survived an attack of cultivators! This fucking temple!¡±


    His voice cracked, frustration spilled out. He felt betrayed despite knowing what the older monks thought of him. But an Arhat Disciple too!?


    He looked around and all he could see was¡­ frost-coated stone. Shoot, it may even just be ice. Oh, better yet, he was behind bars. Cold-iron he presumed. Maybe even hundred year cold-iron if the gaol¡¯s name wasn¡¯t for show. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°¡­Am I going to be executed? For defending myself? Gah! This damn temple!¡± His anger reignited.


    ¡°Enough rambling. You aren¡¯t a child, a tantrum doesn¡¯t fit you. Besides, I heard that you¡¯ll be heard out from the Arhats soon. That leaves us in here alone for a while.¡±


    He sighed. Icy breath left his mouth. Well, if they had time as she said, then he did have a lot he wanted to ask that he couldn¡¯t get to earlier.


    ¡°Is it safe to talk in here?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Indeed. They didn¡¯t leave anyone to oversee your stay.¡±


    ¡°Of course they didn¡¯t.¡± He muttered a curse as he looked at the thick rolled iron bars. ¡°Hey, can you tell me about the Pillarshard? About that thing at the end?¡±


    Bing Xin¡¯s silhouette turned at him before laughing. ¡°That thing? Ah, to call that old bird a thing!¡±


    Dejiu watched her bring a finger beneath the veil covering her face, presumably to wipe a tear.


    ¡°That old bird, I cannot speak of his true name. It¡¯s almost the same vile protection that the old bird¡¯s spawn, that guardian, possessed. Weaker, but similar.¡±


    ¡°I would be blinded?¡± He recalled something she once said.


    ¡°Worse. Prematurely learning the guardian¡¯s name would blind you while learning the true name of the old bird would kill you at best.¡±


    ¡°...Thank you for not telling me.¡± Dejiu shivered. Although she likely didn¡¯t think of it, that was another way of her being able to kill him without a thought. Just speaking a name would damn him to a fate worse than death if she''s being honest. And Dejiu was no fool to test that after what she¡¯d already done. Or should he? I mean, if the Arhats wanted to execute or oust him, what¡¯s the worst that could happen?


    ¡°Little monk, look at me.¡±


    Dejiu opened his eyes wider, a little confused. ¡°Why?¡±


    He noticed the shadows seemingly grow darker around her. His anxiety rose. In his peripheral, he noticed that even the shadows of his holding cell grew darker.


    ¡°Hey, um. Miss Bing Xin?¡± He asked nervously.


    But she ignored him. She stared at him, her shadowy veil seemed to writhe and squirm. It made her even more difficult to look at.


    ¡°The Wings That Shelter Time.¡±


    Dejiu clutched his head. It wasn¡¯t a sharp or fleeting sensation. It was a deep, grinding, and crippling ache that felt as if Bing Xin began viciously cutting away inside his head. His knees buckled, and he hit the cold floor hard, convulsing as his body betrayed him, kicking and twisting like a fish pulled from the water.


    Through the pangs, he glared at Bing Xin, still perched on the window sill. He couldn¡¯t see her expression, but if her phantasmal form had one, it was likely indifference. She gazed down at him with the detachment of a spider observing a caught fly.


    Dejiu sucked in a breath. He coughed violently, the raspy sound pulling him back into the agonizing present. His chest heaved, each inhale a knife against his lungs.


    "What in the Seven Hells did you do?!" He spat.


    ¡°Answered your question. I couldn¡¯t say the old bird¡¯s true name, but that¡¯s the old bird¡¯s title.¡± Bing Xin tilted her head like nothing was wrong.


    Dejiu paused and reluctantly thought back to her words. But just as he repeated the being¡¯s title, pain filled his head again. Damn it! Forget, Dejiu! Forget this wench¡¯s words!


    ¡°The old bird¡¯s title alone is enough to make you crumple. Now imagine I told you his true name.¡± Bing Xin laughed.


    Dejiu wanted to hurl, but slowly he acclimated. ¡°Well, thank you for your consideration! It wasn¡¯t like I was already waiting for a hearing that would decide my fate!¡±


    He shook his head a little. ¡°Enough about that. How about this core mantle the Seekers Accord talked about.¡±


    Characters spawned in front of him.


    [Pillarshard Core Mantle[s] of Seeker Xue Dejiu]


    [Slot 1: Unnamed]


    [Unnamed Pillarshard Grade: Impure]


    [Descension Status: 67%]


    [Would you like to name this Pillarshard?]


    ¡°Name it, if you will. More options will open.¡± Bing Xin said.


    Dejiu complied. He rubbed his bald head in thought. Name¡­ a name. What do I name it? Like a person¡¯s name? No, or a title? Oooh how about something cool? Like Hellbridge? Temple¡¯s Gate?  Or something about the guardian and daimons? Hollow Burrow? Talonfall? Damn, that sounds kind of nice. Maybe the Arhats might spare him if he not only conquered a Pillarshard for the temple but also named it cool.


    ¡°Hurry up.¡± Bing Xin hissed.


    ¡°Yes, Miss!¡± Dejiu frowned. He quickly willed the slot to be named Talonfall. Hey, it sounded good in his head. It made sense too ¡ª Hollowtalons and the like.


    [You have selected the name, Talonfall]


    [Do you confirm your selection?]


    ¡°Yes!¡±

 Chapter 26 - Ah, I see. Thats what she meant.

    [You have selected the name, Talonfall]


    [Do you confirm your selection?]


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    [Slot 1: Talonfall]


    [Pillarshard Grade: Impure]


    [Descension Status: 67%]


    [Core Mantle Options Available:]


    [Spawn Inhabitants ¡ª Empower Pillarshard]


    Dejiu raised his frozen eyebrows. This was all new to him ¡ª new, but welcomed. Ha! His focus trailed towards the first option.


    [Spawn Inhabitants Effect ¡ª Sacrifice descension status to generate natural inhabitants. Inhabitants bend to your will. Inhabitants cannot leave Pillarshard¡¯s domain.]


    ¡°Miss Bing Xin, can you explain this a little more?¡± He asked after trying and failing to get further explanation. Some of the terms weren¡¯t too clear.


    ¡°The natural inhabitants are the original daimons that populated the Pillarshard. Think of those Hollow Talons and soldiers.¡±


    Dejiu nodded. But then his curiosity sparked further. ¡°...Does it also include the guardian?¡±


    ¡°Indeed. But it will take an immense amount of Hell Shards to bring that descension status to the amount needed.¡±


    ¡°How much?¡±


    ¡°A hundred percent. You will be given the option to complete the descent to the Sixth Hell or to spawn the guardian.¡±


    ¡°I see. Then what is this about the domain? How large is the domain and what does it do?¡±


    ¡°A hundred steps. The same reason I never allowed you to leave a hundred steps back then. That is the base domain range. Now that you¡¯ve conquered it, you and your allies have a greater advantage in case of intruders. Well, perhaps not in your case.¡±


    Dejiu frowned. That didn¡¯t sound good. Well, not saying anything really sounds good out of her mouth, but this was worse. ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°Your strongest prana element will be replenished faster within the Pillarshard and its domain. Only you and those you deem as allies will share this. However, your strongest is the hell element. Those monks do not share this trait.¡± Bing Xin answered.


    ¡°...¡±


    Dejiu sighed, icy breath escaped. Of course! Just rub it in. Bah, who cares, at least he¡¯ll be stronger inside there. Well, if the Arhats didn¡¯t decide to do something extreme like execute him or something.


    He moved along and checked the second option available.


    [Empower Pillarshard ¡ª Sacrifice descension status for a variety of empowerments.]


    [Options Available: Expand domain ¡ª Heighten prana replenishment ¡ª Build infrastructure ¡ª Heighten The Call]


    Most of them were self-explanatory¡­ except one. ¡°Miss Bing Xin? What¡¯s The Call?¡±


    ¡°The Call to less resilient and strong-willed daimons towards the Pillarshard. Why do you think those monks are setting up a perimeter the moment they flooded from the entrance?¡±


    ¡°...Oh. Well, I guess that¡¯s handled.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    ¡°Indeed. You¡¯re fortunate that you didn¡¯t have to defend it the moment you conquered it. Well, aside from those poor Feng Clan cultivators.¡±


    ¡°Poor!? I¡¯m the damned poor one. I¡¯m here in this frozen cell because of them and their greed!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget your lack of wealth.¡±


    His face twitched, perhaps cracked if it was frozen. ¡°I¡¯m a monk, of course, I¡¯m penniless!¡±


    Now, tell me about the remnant.¡± Bing Xin said.


    Dejiu glared at her. Is this the right time? Shouldn¡¯t she be formulating a plan to break out? Or an elaborate scheme to lie with her wits to help save him?


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting, little monk.¡±


    ¡°Fine, wench! It''s your fault if I¡¯m ousted or executed.¡±


    He closed his eyes and willed his reward to come forth.


    [You have received a Soulbound Remnant: Diluted Droplet of [Redacted]¡¯s Blood]


    [Remnant Grade: Pure Tainted]


    [Remnant Type: Consumable]


    [Remnant Description: A droplet reaved from cold desolation. Lamentable and silent, it is unfathomable to think even the most diluted of droplets remain.]


    ¡°Redacted? Is this your blood, Bing Xin?¡± Dejiu asked as he recalled the description of the Dark Flower cultivation method.


    Perhaps. She said snarkily.


    He sighed. Of course she couldn¡¯t give him a clear answer. What more could he expect? Well if it was one consolation, it likely was her blood. The damned description itself was as mysterious as her answers.


    He turned his attention back to the actual object.


    In his left hand was a small¡­ ice sphere. Cold to the touch, the frozen blood never seemed to melt. Dejiu frowned. Initially, he pushed his reward to the back of his head because of circumstances. The Seekers Accord called it a consumable. Should he swallow it? That¡¯s what it means, right? Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Why am I just noticing it? Before he could even consider consuming it, he realized its grade.


    ¡°Pure Tainted?¡± He whispered. A Pure Tainted reward for conquering an Impure Pillarshard?


    ¡°Indeed little monk. You completed it alone. You started as a Mid Initiate. That old bird¡¯s meddling. You were rewarded accordingly even with my help. You don¡¯t know how much of an achievement you made. The Seekers Accord recognized that.¡±


    Dejiu watched as her shadowy figure dispersed into the darkness of the night before her hazy hands covered his own. Clouds of darkness surrounded him as she swirled and looked at the frozen blood sphere.


    ¡°Ah, but the blood¡¯s ranking is a little low if you¡¯d ask me. Nevertheless, this is perfect.¡± Bing Xin said.


    He frowned. Perfect for Bing Xin was very different from perfect for him. ¡°What do you mean by perfect?¡±


    Bing Xin¡¯s silhouette swirled a bit. Is she excited? ¡°This will solve your problem of affinities and prana elements. Remember what I told you back then?¡±


    ¡°Oooooh! Will this help me fit inside the temple more? I was a little worried about Teacher Jiansu teaching me when I don¡¯t have much ice element prana insid¡ª¡±


    ¡°No. Your prana affinities wouldn¡¯t change. You¡¯re most tied to the following in ascending order; Ice, death, hell, blood. You could reach the Earthly Stage after a lifetime of using the temple¡¯s cultivation method. But it would be idiotic to do so. A constant cycle of cultivating in the highest and coldest of peaks where ice prana is richest, yet it would still be tainted by your affinity to other elements no matter how distant they are. Then it¡¯ll take an absurd amount of time to refine them back to ice. Futile.¡±


    I-I see. He thought downcastedly. Looks like it wasn¡¯t even too late to learn the temple¡¯s cultivation method ¡ª it was never fit to begin with.


    ¡°But it would be almost equally as foolish to ignore your affinity to ice element prana. So I will teach you how to use all you were born with. First, advance to the Advanced Stage. I cannot do anything with this frozen blood until then.¡± Bing Xin said.


    What¡¯s next for me then? Another Pillarshard? Dejiu wondered.


    ¡°No. I doubt you¡¯ll be able to.¡± Bing Xin answered.


    He frowned. Huh? How come?


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon, little monk.¡±


    He opened his mouth to ask further, but he heard quick steps coming into the room. He narrowed his eyes to the hallway that led to his cell.


    Four figures emerged.

 Chapter 27 - Hearing

    Two of the figures were familiar faces ¡ª Teacher Jiansu who looked unusually meek, and Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie.


    ¡°Junior monk, Xue Dejiu. You¡¯re in the presence of the Ninth and Tenth Arhat of the temple.¡± Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie said formally as he gestured to the other two.


    One looked ancient while the other oddly looked as young as someone like Dejiu. The younger one was a nun rather than a monk.


    ¡°This one is called Xue Dejiu.¡± Dejiu echoed meekly. Oh, Buddha! Have mercy on this lowly monk. I only killed those who were deserving!


    Eventually, the older Arhat spoke. ¡°This is the one you spoke of, Xue Bing Lie? Hmph, you¡¯re right. The stench of hell is rampant on him no matter how many days passed.¡±


    ¡°Young. Very young.¡± Was all the nun said. Weird.


    Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie motioned to the older Arhat. ¡°This is my esteemed master. The Ninth Arhat of the Heavenly Snowy Temple, Xue Hanfeng.¡±


    Ninth Arhat Xue Hanfeng gave a curt nod.


    ¡°I am called Xue Xuanyang, young monk. Tenth Arhat of the temple.¡± The nun followed.


    Dejiu didn¡¯t know what to say. He¡¯s stumped! So he decided to do the best thing possible ¡ª stand and wait until they ask him something and say as little as possible¡­ and as self-serving as possible.


    ¡°I will keep this short, young monk. You¡¯ve done the temple a great deed. Although a trifling Impure Pillarshard isn¡¯t worth the attention, it is conveniently close to Mount Xuedou. It¡¯s rare for such a thing to appear so close to our home.¡± Arhat Xue Hanfeng said through his wispy beard.


    With his lowered head, he grinned. Seven Hells¡­ this is what this is about? I thought I was going to be ousted for killing those Feng Clan people or even colluding with a daimon! Ha!


    "However, your transgressions cannot be overlooked," Arhat Xue Hanfeng continued, his voice a cold wind cutting through Dejiu''s temporary relief.


    ¡­Damn.


    Xue Xuanyang, the nun Arhat, spoke. "In your pursuit of survival within the Pillarshard, you¡¯ve displayed recklessness unbecoming of a monk of this temple. To so gruesomely spill the blood of cultivators¡ªwhether they intended to harm you or not¡ªis a grave act. Your decision, however justifiable in your eyes, stains the name of the Heavenly Snowy Temple. Much so considering your peculiar Class."


    ¡°You ambushed them. You poisoned them. You killed them in such a vicious manner that some bodies couldn¡¯t be identified.¡± Arhat Xue Hanfeng accused. ¡°This is precisely why cultivation was not to be taught to him. A Blood Monk? To think the Abbot allowed such a thing seven years ago.¡±


    Dejiu stifled a scowl and feigned a shiver instead. It always went back to his damned class. His gaze flicked to Jiansu who lingered to the side with Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie. Jiansu¡¯s expression was one of quiet regret. Dejiu knew exactly why ¡ª because his teacher was the one who saved him and brought him to the temple. So whenever Dejiu bore the brunt of the temple¡¯s ire, Jiansu partially felt at fault.


    Dejiu kowtowed. His bald head slammed against the frost-streaked floor in a show of repentance and guilt. But inside there was a storm. Ambushed? Well, obviously I did! They outnumbered me! And poison? When the hell did I poison them? Was it Withering Palm maybe? Argh, so what? And viciously killing them? Dead is dead!


    Dejiu knew better than to speak his mind. Every word he wanted to hurl at them would only dig the pit beneath him deeper.


    ¡°Forgive this lowly monk!¡± He pleaded. ¡°But they didn¡¯t give me an option! I did not poison them either.¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± Arhat Xue Hanfeng interrupted, his tone final. ¡°We¡¯ve been told of that trap of food you left by the Seventh Hell¡¯s entrance. Excuses will not absolve you. As monks, we are tasked with preserving peace in the realm. You have disrupted it with malicious actions, no matter your intent.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s heart sank. Now that he thought of it, Bing Xin did say that the peppers he picked were likely poisonous to others because they didn¡¯t share the same affinity. Yep. It¡¯s looking quite bad now. But those bastards stole and ate his food, and now he¡¯s getting blamed for it?


    ¡°And who made them eat it? It was their choice to eat. It was hardly a trap, it was my storage for food!¡± Dejiu said.


    ¡°Food? Hellish produce that only daimons consume? Playing to their hunger as you leave food so conveniently before their eyes.¡± Arhat Xue Hanfeng snorted.


    ¡°Ye¨C¡± Dejiu paused to think of his answer first. ¡°Yes. I didn¡¯t know at the time, nor have I tried to eat them. So I didn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Enough. The many mangled bodies are telling enough. To think our temple raised such a vicious fiend.¡± Xue Hanfeng waved his hand. ¡°We have already decided on our ruling ¡ª You will remain inside the Hundred Penance Tower for nine days as our temple settles the matter with the Feng Clan. Although we gained a foothold into the Seven Hells, it cost us dearly.¡±


    How!? Is that why there were nine of them instead of ten? A runner?Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Arhat Xue Xuanyang added, ¡°Indeed. Their young master possessed a certain remnant that notified someone from their clan. In a matter of hours, we have already received a Feng Clan emissary from the capital.¡±


    Fuck those rich clans! He cursed. Then there wasn¡¯t even a reason to kill all of them! He could¡¯ve spared Feng Mu if the entire thing was going to come to light regardless!


    At this point, Dejiu¡¯s anger and frustration were boiling over. He did what he could to survive. He obtained a Pillarshard. Because of some arrogant young master, he was being blamed for something that shouldn¡¯t even be an issue.


    ¡°They demanded we hand over the perpetrator, but although you are the furthest from a proper monk, you are still miraculously recognized as a monk of the Heavenly Snowy Temple.¡± Arhat Xue Hanfeng grumbled before he motioned to Xue Xuanyang.


    ¡°Now, take your reward. You owe this to Tenth Arhat Xue Xuanyang.¡±


    From Arhat Xue Xuanyang¡¯s robes, a small wooden box flew towards Dejiu. It flew between the cold iron bars and landed in front of him.


    Wait what? A reward? Dejiu hesitantly looked up and grabbed the box. It was heavier than it looked and bracketed by a clasped lock on two sides. Decorated in intricate designs, the wood was beautiful and thin.


    ¡°Open it, junior monk.¡± Arhat Xue Xuanyang said. Dejiu looked up and noticed something odd. The geezer-like Ninth Arhat looked extremely displeased while she looked a little amused.


    Swallowing his anxiety, Dejiu complied.


    The clasp was simple, but his fingers shook so badly that he fumbled thrice before he finally got the lid open. When he saw what rested inside, he nearly dropped the box.


    There was one pill shaped like a many-petaled lotus. Pure white like freshly fallen snow.


    ¡°One of our temple¡¯s staple pills, the Heavenly Ice Essence Lotus. We have heard that you have absorbed an abundance of Hell Shards. You must refine your volatile hell element prana to that of ice. The prana replenishment factor of our temple¡¯s foothold relies on you, junior monk Xue Dejiu¡± Arhat Xue Xuanyan said.


    Dejiu was surprised. This was amazing! That condition didn¡¯t sound so bad. Damn right he¡¯ll accept, he even gets to leave a treasure on top of his life!


    ¡°Of cour¡ªurk!¡±


    ¡°Agree now and it would seem like you are too eager.¡± Bing Xin cackled from wherever she was inside him.


    The Seven Hells is this daimon thinking!? What if they sense her!? Dejiu cleared his throat to play it off. He wanted to mutter a curse at the daimon, but he didn¡¯t want the already displeased geezer Ninth Arhat to misinterpret him.


    ¡°Uh, is that truly a treasure befitting my accomplishment? You said it yourself, it''s the temple¡¯s foothold and all. Um¨Csurely I deserve something a little more considering I haven¡¯t even been taught the temple¡¯s cultivation method.¡± He sheepishly said.


    Outside, Dejiu nervously smiled. Inside, he cursed with everything he knew. You fucking wench! Let me go! How many times are you going to try and kill me? You¡¯re pushing my luck ¡ª I¡¯d be happy to leave with just my head! Also, aren¡¯t you supposed to be laying low? Huh!? Huh!?


    Arhat Xue Hanfeng¡¯s face twitched. A menacingly half-tranquil smile stretched across his old face. A cold pressure, colder than anything Dejiu felt before pressed down on him.


    Oi! Hey, Miss Bing Xin! You damned daimon! Look at him! He¡¯s pissed! He¡¯s seething!


    ¡°Shameless misfit! The Buddha teaches us that the desire for more blinds the heart, and yet here you stand, blinded by your own delusions. ¡± The old Arhat¡¯s voice was like winter¡¯s breath, cold and cutting.


    ¡°N-no, honored Arhat, I-um, require strength to undertake more responsibility. The weight of the Pillarshard is heavy, so I must be able to bear it. Surely you can see the reasoning?¡± Dejiu said. He was bullshitting! Spouting dogshit! He didn¡¯t want to say any of this, but that daimonic coil around his heart wouldn¡¯t lessen otherwise.


    Arhat Xue Hanfeng glared at him. ¡°The Buddha himself abandoned all worldly desires to seek enlightenment. Do not think that you can barter righteousness for ambition¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ninth Arhat Xue Hanfeng, I think there is merit in rewarding the young monk further. His words are true. No matter his methods, for a newly advanced Mid Initiate to conquer a Pillarshard by his lonesome is unheard of. Much less one without remnants and a cultivation technique. In another light, he could be a prodigious warrior monk.¡± Arhat Xue Xuanyang rebuked.


    Dejiu was flabbergasted. No way this is working! Miss Bing Xin, I¡¯ll never doubt you again!


    Somehow Arhat Xue Hanfeng turned ever more bitter. ¡°Reward him? I was adamant against providing even this pill! It¡¯s already more than a reward to not throw him out of the temple¨C¡±


    ¡°That is off the table. To survive is not to be punished. True, his nature must be investigated or suppressed for his interest and the temples¡¯, but had it been another junior monk, then they would be rewarded for the same deeds.¡± Arhat Xue Xuanyang said before turning to Dejiu again.


    From Arhat Xue Xuanyang¡¯s robes, another small wooden box flew towards Dejiu. He cupped his hands for the small box to land.


    ¡°I¡¯ve given you a second pill. You¡¯ll likely advance with these. Refine them well, Xue Dejiu.¡± Arhat Xue Xuanyan said.


    Dejiu kowtowed again. ¡°Thank you for your magnanimity and mercy, esteemed Arhats!¡±


    The two Arhats turned around. Both had different gaits. The damned geezer had heavy steps while the nun walked with grace.


    Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie and Teacher Jiansu shuffled behind. His worried teacher looked like he wanted to say something, likely about his missing hand, but it wasn¡¯t the right place and time. Dejiu couldn¡¯t blame him ¡ª they were in the presence of two Arhats. People that even Teacher Jiansu hasn¡¯t seen despite how long he has been in the temple. Dejiu already made his teacher lose face seven years ago. Add everything he¡¯s done since then ¡ª fighting back against those who wanted to pick on him, repeatedly attempting to steal Hell Shards, failing to run away from the temple, the ordeal with the Pillarshard, and his shameless request to two of the exalted figures of the temple. Of course Teacher Jiansu couldn¡¯t say something.


    ¡°Ah, I forgot.¡± Arhat Xue Xuanyang looked behind and asked, ¡°Did you name the Pillarshard yet?¡±


    Dejiu raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly from behind the iron bars. ¡°Talonfall. I named it after the types of daimons I found inside.¡±


    ¡°Talonfall.¡± Arhat Xue Xuanyang echoed with a nod.


    They left and Dejiu shivered alone. It wasn¡¯t a few minutes later until he saw the shadows of his frozen cell grow darker. Darkness manifested in the form of a veiled woman followed by laughter.

 Chapter 28 - It does sound bad

    Dejiu let out a deep breath. Relief expelled, he felt like he just escaped death. Probably because he did.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that too risky?¡± He said. ¡°I would¡¯ve been lucky to not be handed over to the Feng Clan. I think the Tenth Arhat had something to do with it because that geezer did not like me at all.¡±


    ¡°So what? I got you another one of those prized pills, haven¡¯t I?  Besides, in face of death, a person¡¯s death is no different from a pig¡¯s or dog¡¯s, what¡¯s the difference? This was hardly a risk, and if it was, I wouldn¡¯t have allowed it to get that far unless there was something profound to obtain.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s face twitched. That¡¯s right. There was truth in her words. He looked down at the two small lacquered wood boxes. Two of the temple¡¯s staple pills were inside here. But staple? Would it be a staple pill if he hadn¡¯t heard of it before today?


    ¡°Enough dawdling. Get to that pill. That Arhat wasn¡¯t lying, this pill is worthy of being your temple¡¯s staple pill.¡± Bing Xin¡¯s form swirled through the air and around the box. ¡°Quite the abundance in ice element prana.¡±


    Before that, he had a few things he wanted to ask. ¡°Miss Bing Xin, do you happen to know what the temple had to give in exchange for killing the Feng Clan¡¯s young master?¡±


    ¡°Your teacher¡¯s teacher is Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie. Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie¡¯s master is the Ninth Arhat. Your massacre ended up stretching to him. It wasn¡¯t the temple that gave something in exchange, it was that Arhat you called a geezer. I believe he surrendered one of his faraway Pillarshards.¡± Bing Xin said as she swirled back in front of him.


    ¡°Oh. Well, I guess that¡¯s enough to piss anyone off.¡± He scratched his bald head.


    He sat in the lotus position across from Bing Xin¡¯s silhouette. Time for some cultivation and pills! Prepared, he opened one box. He looked down at the pristine white pill. These are precious, right?


    But precious or not, there was another factor to consider. One so important that he couldn¡¯t do anything without considering it.


    ¡°Does it matter if I use these or not? Or would they intrude on your wicked plans with me?¡± He asked sarcastically. How could he forget the most important factor ¡ª colluding with a daimon?


    He watched as Bing Xin mimicked his lotus position before him.


    ¡°They gave it to you under the presumption that like all the others in this temple, you hold an affinity to ice element prana and that you¡¯ll slowly regain balance as you refine everything else to it using these rich pills. Ah, but for my plans? You could take them, they¡¯ll make you advance after all. You know better than I that my plans have strengthened you.


    ¡°Sure, sure¡­¡± He muttered as he prepared to cultivate.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    [Prana Core: High Initiate]


    [Prana: 65/65]


    ¡°Little monk. Relax yourself. I will handle the absorption of these pills and the last breakthroughs of the Initiate Stage.¡± She said.


    Dejiu raised an eyebrow. Sure he said he¡¯ll never doubt her again, but that was his relief talking. ¡°Why? Your plans?¡±


    ¡°Indeed. This will be one of the few things that I cannot teach in time, so I will do it myself.¡±


    He frowned. Every time she took hold, indescribable pain spread from within. But if he gets stronger¡­ well, no complaints there. Collude with a daimon once, who cares if he does it again? He sure doesn¡¯t anymore. It was far too late to care about it now.


    ¡°Fine. At least tell me what you¡¯ll do.¡±


    ¡°It will be a long explanation. Do you recall the prana inside you?¡±


    He frowned. ¡°Um. Let¡¯s see ¡ª Ice, death, blood, hell.¡±


    ¡°At a glance, there''s too much. A Path would usually have one or two elements. Adding more does not make it stronger. Think of your Abbot ¡ª there are only two.¡±


    Dejiu nodded. It was new information but welcomed. Though he did have to ask, ¡°How do you know he has two?¡±


    ¡°From your initiation to the Seekers Accord seven years ago. He ran his prana through each child to gauge whether or not they had the talent to be a cultivator. If they were worth being initiated with a Hell Shard. I studied that smidgeon of prana without his knowing.¡±


    ¡°What are they? Well, other than ice.¡± He asked, getting a little sidetracked. Getting a being as unfathomable as Bing Xin to tell him about another mysteriously powerful being was a little intriguing.


    ¡°Life.¡± Bing Xin¡¯s voice softened. ¡°Back to your prana, you¡¯re a special case.¡±


    ¡°Ooh! Special? That sounds pretty good!¡± Dejiu grinned and tooted his horn. Who didn¡¯t want to be special?


    ¡°In a way. If you were left to your own devices, never fostered by the temple or found by me, you¡¯d be a mad beast, tearing through anything in sight until your body shattered under the strain of unbalanced prana. A beast driven to settle his prana, reaping lives and cultivating through blood and death, foolishly adding without care. Efficient, but very messy.¡±


    ¡°...¡± He gulped.


    Alright, maybe not that special. ¡°So what you¡¯ll be doing will prevent that?¡±


    ¡°A little. ¡±


    Dejiu frowned. He looked at her veiled face intensely because he recognized that tone. It was the tone she gave when she wouldn¡¯t expand further. So he didn¡¯t bother asking.


    ¡°For now, I will prevent any waste from the valuable pills. It requires time and precision ¡ª something you cannot begin to do because of two things. One, you cannot differentiate different prana elements at your level. Two, you only recently learned the Dark Flower cultivation method no matter how quick your uptake is, you cannot reach nor sustain my level of control. This is where the advantage of having an exalted being such as I with you.¡±


    Her self-gloating aside, it sounds bad. Maybe painful. Actually, no, it certainly sounded painful as he recalled each time she took the reins.


    ¡°...I see, but what will this lead to? Isn¡¯t it all the same if I advance to the next stage on my own?¡±


    Bing Xin paused and stared at him for a few seconds before she answered.


    ¡°To set the foundation before I manifest part of myself into the physical world.¡±

 Chapter 29 - Achieve Failure

    ¡°To set the foundation before I manifest part of myself into the physical world once you become an Advanced Stage cultivator.¡± Bing Xin said, her voice dark and serene.


    Dejiu stared back dumbfoundedly. Wasn¡¯t she technically in the physical realm right now? Okay, maybe he shouldn¡¯t be worrying about technicalities. He should be worried about being the catalyst that will usher in a being into the physical realm.


    ¡°I need a good reason to allow a daimon like you into the physical world.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll get stronger.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sold! Let¡¯s breakthrough.¡± Dejiu said without pause.


    Sure, maybe he shouldn¡¯t be so careless about this, but what could he do? Let¡¯s say he purposely tries to hinder her control of his prana when she absorbs the pills for him. He¡¯ll die! Likely. Very likely. The prana backlash would be too much for him to handle. He¡¯ll only incur death or injury. Besides, let alone Peak Initiate, he¡¯ll be an Advanced Stage cultivator after this! Ha!


    ¡°Good.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Ingest the pill and control your breathing as you usually do. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡±


    Grasping the pill between two fingers, he placed it inside his mouth and swallowed.


    Dejiu felt the pill¡¯s potent energy surging down his throat and spreading through his meridians like a snowstorm. The shadowy silhouette of Bing Xin swirled around and returned inside him.


    So she can¡¯t control my prana cultivation and cycling in that shadowy form, huh. He thought, letting her take the reins.


    ¡°Most cultivators your age would only gain about eighty percent of the pill¡¯s prana, the rest wasted in excess. Yet even that is enough for most because of how dense these precious pills are.¡±


    He visualized his core ¡ª the resilient mountain aspen right before the calamitous snow. The downfall of pure ice element prana from the Heavenly Ice Essence Lotus.  The vivid scene of cycles and seasons manifests in stark, violent clarity.


    Seasons came and went, fleeting as time was. But snow always lingered and piled. He noticed the downfall of ice and snow wasn¡¯t as quick as it was when he first ingested the pill, but now it seemed dragged out. Winter was slower but pronounced. Was this what she meant that it took time?


    He summoned his Seekers Accord to watch.


    [Prana: 67/67]


    Without further consideration, he studied everything intently, observing her method with an almost desperate focus. She cycled his prana through his meridians and core in accordance with each season. Each cycle compressed the energy further, making it denser and more potent. He could see how the snow wasn¡¯t merely falling¡ªit was accumulating, transforming into something greater. Like each downfall forced his flower to bloom stronger the coming spring.


    [Prana: 68/68]


    The prana gathered within his flower-core, each layer of snow contributing to its bloom. With every rotation, the petals of his inner essence grew fuller, denser, and more profound. The once translucent layers began to shimmer with depth and solidity, an intricate manifestation of her control. She was refining his power with a precision he could only marvel at, leaving no trace of waste or instability.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    As he watched, awe mingled with determination. He wanted to understand it fully. And so time passed. A constant cycle of seasons flowed.


    The only measure of time he had was simply the characters of his Seekers Accord. Even then, it wasn¡¯t telling of time, but progression.


    [Prana: 73/73]


    The cycles continued. Snow gathered in his core with languid precision, yet something gnawed at his thoughts ¡ª a sense that something was off.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he ventured hesitantly, his voice reaching into the depths where her presence lingered. ¡°Is the snow supposed to be¡­ faster now? Or is something going wrong?¡±


    Her voice came softly, but there was an edge of strain to it. ¡°Snow? Ah, I see. You¡¯re observant. Yes, the process is becoming sluggish.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°So, what happens if it slows too much? Does it just¡­ stop?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t stop,¡± she replied. ¡°But inefficiencies creep in. We risk losing some of the pill¡¯s potential.¡±


    He watched the snowflakes in his visualization hasten. It felt wrong like the energy was being squandered. Gritting his teeth, he spoke again. ¡°What if I take over for a while?¡±


    There was a pause. ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, me. I¡¯ve been watching what you¡¯re doing. I can handle it for a bit ¡ª give you time to recover or whatever it is you need to do.¡± He grinned, though she couldn¡¯t see it. ¡°Trust me, I won¡¯t screw it up.¡±


    Her presence stirred. ¡°It¡¯s risky. Your understanding of the cycle is shallow. If you falter¡ª¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± His voice was firm. ¡°I¡¯ve got this for a while. Not to your level, but I think watching you over this period made me understand more.¡±


    Silence lingered for a moment before she sighed. ¡°Very well. I will loosen my control. One misstep, and you¡¯ll face a backlash that will leave you crippled.¡±


    Dejiu felt her hold retreat, and suddenly the energy coursing through him became his to command. Immediately he felt like he was fighting against an avalanche to protect a fragile flower with all his strength, all while trying to keep prana from slithering through his grip. If he lost concentration for one second, the strings of prana would escape and the snow would crush him along with the flower.


    He took over in the middle of winter. A period meant to overload his core before stabilizing with another bloom. Another layer.


    The weight of the snow bore down mercilessly, a suffocating pressure that stretched his focus thin. The prana from the pill coursed like ice-edged rivers, turbulent and wild, threatening to overflow and wreak havoc on his meridians.


    His prana yearned for control, but nobody was here now to provide that for him.


    He forced his erratic breathing to match the deliberate rhythm of his cycling. The avalanche of packed snow and ice eased slightly, the chaos narrowing into defined streams ¡ª his meridians. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was manageable. He coaxed the prana toward his core, layering it onto the petals.


    Spring. A long winter will give way to spring. Too long, and the flower will never bloom.


    He coaxed the prana toward his core, layering it onto the petals. Shifting the cycle now felt like trying to change the course of a river with his bare hand. Slowly, almost reluctantly, the icy torrents began to warm. The oppressive weight of winter lifted as prana shifted into a new form. Buds of new petals appeared at his core, and the flower unfurled faintly. Life began to pulse through him with renewed vigor, and the balance returned.


    Strained, he kept this up. Always trickling the unforgiving and ever present ¡°snow¡± as summer passed and autumn came.


    Again and again.


    Seasons came and went.


    It wasn¡¯t perfect. He knew that well.


    But he went until he couldn¡¯t bear the strain from the pill any longer, and more. Until he reached failure.


    No, rather it should be said he achieved failure. Because only then could he win.


    [Congratulations, Seeker Xue Dejiu. This step on your Path is but a mere speck that will lead to all you seek.]


    [Prana Core: Peak Initiate]


    [Prana: 75/75]


    [Prana: 76/76]


    [Prana: 77/77]

 Chapter 30 - More Words! More Changes!

    Dejiu ingested the second pill after they drew out every bit of prana from the first. After cultivating inside this holding cell, he suspected that Arhat Xue Xuanyang must¡¯ve played another part in this. The Hundred Penance Gaol was convenient. It radiated strong ice prana, more than the rest of the mountain open to junior monks like him. A shame, really. She probably did that to make it easier to refine the rest of his prana into ice, but he¡¯s just going to breakthrough instead.


    Well, no matter. He¡¯d emerge stronger regardless. Arhat Xue Xuanyang had left it up to him, the environment, and the rich pills to shape to reform his abundant hell element prana. Honestly, no one really taught him how to refine his essence. The pills came before the teaching, not that he¡¯d learned it, it was far too late to learn the temple¡¯s cultivation.


    So if he walked away without ice prana as his central element, who could blame him? Couldn¡¯t he say it was a lapse in their judgment? Dejiu never really heard anyone else, much less a monk at the temple, to possess a strong affinity to the destructive hell element and other morbid-sounding ones. Maybe they simply didn¡¯t know how to reform him.


    Yes, yes. Of course. He couldn¡¯t be in the wrong.


    Through a sad laugh, he studied Bing Xin¡¯s iteration of the Dark Flower cultivation method. It was just too valuable. Much more valuable than any pill. Well, maybe not all pills because the Heavenly Essence Lotus just showed him what a prized pill coupled with an elite cultivation method and teacher could do. Damned highborn nobles and scions.


    At one point, he tried to alter his breathing a little bit to see how she would adapt. After a multi-tasking scolding along with a sharp coil around his heart, Bing Xin got him to breathe in the proper pattern.


    He did learn though. Alot.


    He took hold of absorbing the pill for longer and longer periods for her to recover. The moment he saw her wavering and the snow¡¯s onset sped up, he took over to slow it down again.


    And eventually, he came upon the cusp he¡¯s been dreaming of.


    [Prana Core: Peak Initiate]


    [Prana: 99/100]


    It¡¯s just one step now. He thought as the text whisked away.


    ¡°Go on, little monk. Cultivating in this body of yours is taxing. Hurry and advance so you can get us more Hell Shards.¡±


    Dejiu complied.


    He pulled upon his will. If the Heavenly Ice Essence Lotus was like the cloud that snow fell from, it was dwindling in size, just enough to break through. Thankfully his shameless pleading got him two pills.


    He inhaled deeply and invigorated himself before he used momentum to break through. The entire process was slow thus far, but from the previous breakthroughs he made, he knew that he must focus on denseness and momentum.


    Although she was silently watching him, her old words echoed. Focus on condensing your prana as densely as possible. Like burying your mountain avens under a winter storm. Dejiu grit his teeth. His meridians screamed with strain as he compressed the energy further. The source of snow, he¡¯ll viciously draw from it until the last wisps are drained. His visualization sharpened ¡ª snow falling harder unlike before. Each petal of the aspen core shuddered, threatening to collapse under the force of a mighty avalanche. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    He sustained this moment as long as he could.


    Then he felt a shift. His flower no longer trembled. They gleamed, densely. Thin layers overlapped each other beautifully.


    His visualization changed too. The once wintry white mountain avens turned a pale red. Blooming defiantly against the old snow storm, its pale red petals reminded him of a lone cultivator bleeding and clawing ever closer to the heavens.


    ¡°Hoo.¡± He sighed with a small grin. He opened his eyes to the lines of text before him.


    [Congratulations, Seeker Xue Dejiu. The step on your Path is but a mere speck that will lead to all you seek.]


    [Prana Core: Low Advanced]


    [Prana: 100/100]


    [Modified Dark Flower Cultivation Method has reached Adept attainment level]


    [You have obtained a Class Advancement]


    [You have obtained Advanced Prana Sense]


    [Advanced Prana Sense ¡ª The ability to better perceive and differentiate prana elements in your surroundings. Over time, your senses will refine, uncovering even the faintest traces of prana and enhancing your cultivation. The appearance and clarity of prana will adapt uniquely to your Path as you advance.]


    The text wisped away. He looked down to find him seated atop a frozen puddle of filth. Impurities from my body and meridians? He pulled his arm up to smell himself and he reeked. To smell this bad in the cold was a difficulty!


    He looked at his stub for a right hand. With narrowed eyes, he felt confused when it looked a little red.


    ¡°I can hear what you¡¯re thinking, little monk. Take a look around yourself. Tell me what you see.¡±


    Dejiu did as asked and looked around his cell. Was there something different about the cell? Did something change when he was in a cultivation daze? It took a long while studying all around him but he couldn¡¯t pinpoint anything odd. Still as cold and frosty as ever. Maybe a little whitish-blue¡ª


    Whitish-blue?


    ¡°You can differentiate different prana elements with your senses. While the Initiate Stage allows you to sense ambient prana better, you can now bluntly tell them apart. Especially the ones you¡¯re accustomed to or the common elements you can find. Earth, wood, metal, fire, water. They are not necessarily the easiest to find, but they are the easiest to cultivate. As you¡¯re seeing, something like ice is obvious because of how overly strong it is in this cell.¡±


    ¡°Ah, it is important to mention that some varieties of prana are far harder to see than others. Those take time and training to see. The types you can see better than most are obviously hell, blood, death, and ice ¡ª remember, not all Advanced Prana Senses are the same. ¡±


    Dejiu nodded. ¡°Anything else special?¡±


    ¡°Your core. As you cultivate and cycle your strongest prana through your core, the core will eventually take on these aspects and begin to produce that specific prana on its own. In your case, that prana mix. It will lessen your reliance on the environment. More importantly, the condensing of your core comes a potency and quantity of prana that was previously unachievable. You can use more techniques of the Dark Flower cultivation method now.¡±


    He smiled. She wasn¡¯t wrong in that he¡¯ll emerge stronger. Screw refining his prana like the Arhats want. Strength above all! Well, until he¡¯s thrown into another cell of course. Just wait until he becomes strong enough that they can¡¯t walk over him anymore. When he¡¯s so crucial to the temple they are forced to accept him.


    ¡°Getting ahead of yourself, little monk?¡± She cut his musings short. ¡°Summon your Seekers Accord on your Class. Check that advancement.¡±


    He sighed, foggy breath escaped.


    [Seeker: Xue Dejiu]


    [Class: Blood Monk of the Heavenly Snowy Temple.]


    [Class Description: Having fallen upwards from the unhallowed depths only daimons reside, this pitiful herald of blood walks his own demented path.]


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Dejiu noticed the Class had changed, as well as its description. More words! Ultimately, the description was similar, but it had a different flair to it¡ªespecially that last part. What in the Seven Hells does it mean by demented path?!

 Chapter 31 - Soul this, Soul that, Slow down!

    ¡°Who knows? That spree below the depths was quite the scene.¡± Bing Xin said. She once again appeared in a swirling black mass.


    From the very first moment Dejiu laid eyes on his Class¡¯s line of text, he knew there was no way he could try telling anyone from the temple about it. Back then, he never revealed it. Even Jiansu and some other senior or warrior monks who asked him weren¡¯t given it. He could only thank his younger self for having the wisdom to withhold that already morbid-sounding information.


    Now, he was even more inclined not to share it. This description is dying with him!


    ¡°Can you explain this?¡±


    ¡°More of your Class¡¯s nuances will be revealed with each advancement. Take it as the Seekers Accord¡¯s view on your cultivation thus far.¡±


    Dejiu nodded. Definitely should not reveal his dementedness as the Seekers Accord calls it. Though, it does raise the question, ¡°Is the Seekers Accord always watching?¡±


    ¡°It sees all and hears all.


    ¡°Is it alive?¡±


    Bing Xin paused for a while. Her inscrutable shadowy veil hid anything and everything Dejiu hoped to see.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if omniscient constitutes it as alive, little monk. I believe it is neither sentient nor mindless. Think no more of it. Countless before you have pondered the same answers until madness claimed them before answers did.¡±


    Dejiu sighed. She¡¯s right. He¡¯ll be running himself to the ground if he thinks of it any longer, besides, he already had one near-omniscient being inside him. What makes another?


    He giddily laughed before he felt Bing Xin constrict his insides and he regained his focus. ¡°Alright, alright. What now? Actually, how many days have passed?¡± He asked after looking at the frozen filth below him again.


    ¡°Eight. Hold out for another day and they¡¯ll let you out of the Hundred Penance Gaol.¡±


    ¡°Eight, huh.¡± He echoed, a little flustered. Cultivating and breaking through for eight consecutive days wasn¡¯t something he could do without Bing Xin. While he did help her, she carried most of the heavy lifting.


    ¡°What could I do in the meantime?¡±


    ¡°Ponder upon your path to enlightenment. Recall sutras. Immerse in Buddha¡¯s teaching¨C¡±


    ¡°Seriously.¡±


    ¡°There''s nothing much. You could work on the Wilted Stem reinforcement technique and try to bring it up to Adept. The first cultivation method technique goes hand-in-hand.¡±


    Dejiu stood up to train. But it turns out she wasn¡¯t done talking.


    ¡°Or I could tell you of my plans now since you became an Advanced Stage cultivator.¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    He sat back down. ¡°Tell me, I¡¯m intrigued. Just how will an almighty daimon manifest to the physical world and how will it improve my strength.¡±


    ¡°Through soul cultivation.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Dejiu frowned. ¡°Well, I guess you¡¯re already going to explain since you know the extent of my knowledge. Or I guess lack thereof.¡±


    ¡°Most things weren¡¯t taught to you because of your Class. From cultivation, techniques, Paths, the Seekers Accord, daimons, Pillarshards, the many Hells.¡± Bing Xin listed. ¡°But some things weren¡¯t taught because the temple doesn¡¯t know of such things.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s heart pumped faster. What she was getting at was exciting. Something even the temple doesn¡¯t know!? He¡¯s in!


    ¡°I will train you to open your soulspace earlier. The Seekers Accord makes this innate for cultivators at the Earthly Realm, but I can teach you to do it now.¡±


    He raised an eyebrow. Honestly, he¡¯s pretty lost without her regardless of her ancient and secretive knowledge, but in general things as well. It was new knowledge that the Seekers Accord even did that.


    ¡°Why should we open it earlier? Actually, no. What is a soulspace? ¡°


    ¡°Exactly as it is. The space inside your soul.¡± Bing Xin said bluntly. ¡°We¡¯ll open it earlier to begin a long process of soulforging a weapon capable of holding a fragment of myself.¡±


    ¡°Soulforging?¡±


    ¡°Using advanced shaper and instiller techniques inside your soulspace. I¡¯ll explain more later when it comes to it but focus first on making the aperture to open the soulspace prematurely with soul cultivation.¡±


    Dejiu felt like he had a headache. Soul this, soul that. He didn¡¯t even have time to process everything he¡¯s gained from reaching the Advanced Stage!


    ¡°You should already be faintly aware of your soul by now.¡± She continued without care.


    ¡°The reason I had you compress your core many times before your breakthroughs is so you could feel immense pressure bearing down on your very soul. This overarching pressure forces you to be aware of things you shouldn¡¯t be capable of this early in cultivation. However, being aware isn¡¯t enough ¡ª many talented prodigies are capable of such a feat, and perhaps somewhere in this vast world, my knowledge isn¡¯t so secretive as you think.¡±


    ¡°But this knowledge is useless when the alternative is better, right?¡± Dejiu grinned. He already understood what she was getting at.


    ¡°Indeed. The Seekers Accord rendered many things futile. But better? It depends on circumstance. For ours, it is best to begin now.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Soul cultivation ¡ª how do I begin?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already begun. Soul cultivation is comprised of three parts ¡ª strengthening the soul, refining the soul, and pacifying the soul. The overarching pressure of compressing your core¡¯s prana to its utmost limit serves two purposes for you. One, as I have already mentioned, faintly makes you aware of it in time. Two is that you are strengthening your soul. If your soulspace was the size of a grain of rice, then now it is a bean.¡±


    Dejiu was starting to get a little excited. This all sounded good. A little too good, but hey, Bing Xin never failed to deliver on her promises. ¡°Alright. Is there anything else I could do to strengthen my soul?¡±


    ¡°No. You can¡¯t.¡±


    He frowned. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°The traditional method of long ago would take too long. It would be tens of years of mindlessly scraping your will and senses to find the shape of your soul. No ¡ª I will shatter your soul ever so lightly. Soul injuries are nothing to trifle at, but if done right, your soul would only grow larger and stronger to resist. By then, you¡¯ll have no choice but to be aware of its size.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Dejiu¡¯s frown tugged lower. ¡°So, uh. Is this going to hurt?¡±


    ¡°I recall you once said that in order to escape this life, you would consider pain and grit a small price to spite the temple.¡±


    His face twitched and he rubbed his cold head. ¡°I did. I did say something like that. Multiple times even.¡±


    ¡°Bite down and close your eyes. Picture something nice. Somewhere beautiful. It''s fortunate we¡¯re in an isolated space.¡±


    Dejiu had a bad feeling well up. He did as told and prayed. ¡°Amitabha.¡±


    He clenched his teeth so tightly that his jaw ached. The command was easy enough to follow, but his mind struggled to overcome his anticipation. "Somewhere nice. Somewhere beautiful," He repeated internally.


    Then he felt it. The world within him roared to life. It was as if a fissure cracked across the core of his being, exposing something raw and undefended. The rush of suffocating blackness that clawed through him. It wasn¡¯t just pain it was like his insides were being unraveled.


    He nearly bit his tongue as he tried to suppress the sound, but it was impossible. No restraint could cage the agony.


    If anyone had been standing outside his cell, they''d be pounding on the door, convinced he was being flayed alive. For a moment, he wished someone was there. Someone to stop this. Someone to care. But Bing Xin¡¯s earlier words echoed faintly in the back of his writhing mind, ¡°No one oversees your cell.¡±


    It was a good thing actually. Otherwise, they''d assume he was dying.


    Because he almost was.

 Chapter 32 - Have Mercy On This Lowly Monk!

    He lay collapsed on the cold ground. A quaking headache, no, bodyache tremored throughout without pause. ¡°H-how many more times do I have to do this?¡±


    Bing Xin chuckled. ¡°Until you could sense your soul.¡±


    Through gritted teeth he asked, ¡°And when''s that?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°Of course you don''t!¡± He croaked. ¡°Now what?¡±


    ¡°There''s no way to refine the soul right now. As for pacifying? Sleeping is your only viable option to pacify and help heal your soul injury.¡±


    Without hesitation, Dejiu rolled over to his back. He needed this constant pain to stop. He didn''t care about staining his tattered and mucky kasaya robes.


    It was far too late now. Seems like everything for him has been too late¡­ lately.


    ¡°Ah.¡± He groaned tiredly. Sleeping atop filth and blood. What best to remind him of the days spent in Hell?


    Actually, there was something better to remind him of those days. Dejiu shifted his gaze and looked at his right arm. ¡°Miss Bing Xin, what do I do about my missing right hand?¡±


    He patiently waited for her to respond.


    ¡°Deal with it yourself. Hopefully you¡¯ll get lucky someway or another.¡±


    ¡°Huh!?¡± He scoffed. ¡°Can¡¯t you do your wishy-washy cultivation tricks? Some sort of secret knowledge? Cursed daimon techniques?¡±


    ¡°I could. Some of my options would be helpful, perhaps even better than waiting until you receive something capable of regrowing a hand. However, if you¡¯d like to graft a daimon¡¯s hand onto that stump, you¡¯re welcome to heed my earlier advice.¡±


    ¡°...¡± He frowned. ¡°Would there be a way to make it look normal?


    ¡°A long process, but it could be done.¡±


    He nodded and considered the graft. It was better than no hand, but he¡¯ll turn to some daimon-crossed abomination.


    Gazing into the frost-lined ceiling he sighed. ¡°Can I ask one more thing before I sleep?¡±


    Bing Xin left him waiting for a few seconds but he asked anyway.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Why what?¡±


    ¡°Why do all this? Throwing me into that wager with the Old Bird, helping me cultivate, teaching me all I know. What do you gain from this?¡±


    Bing Xin paused once more, but much longer because he didn¡¯t have anything to follow up with.


    And after a few minutes, she responded.


    ¡°What do you think are the Heavens, little monk?¡±


    She asked a short question, but it was infinitely hard to answer.


    ¡°The Heavens?¡± He paused. It was a weird question to return when he asked something unrelated. But he answered truthfully nonetheless. ¡°They¡¯re not a destination or a reward. For our temple, they¡¯re... an illusion, aren¡¯t they? A reflection of samsara¡¯s cycle. Beautiful, maybe, but still a trap. True liberation isn¡¯t found there. True peace is found in breaking free of the cycle altogether.¡±


    ¡°Besides, what¡¯s the point of striving for a realm if you can lose it all again? I¡¯d rather fight my battles here, in the dirt, and forge something lasting.¡±


    ¡°...I disagree, little monk.¡±


    Dejiu felt a shift and she surged out. He rolled over to his side to look at her.


    ¡°You may think the Heavens are out of reach, but not for me.¡±


    He chuckled a little. ¡°A daimon striving for the Heavens?¡±


    She didn¡¯t return a laugh like she usually did.


    ¡°Is it crazy to think like that, little monk? I was in Hell looking at Heaven, I am a daimon and you are human. Your love, your intrigue, your wonder, your hope, your passion. All things I could only watch from the depths, no matter how strong I became.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Her silhouette deepened the surroundings.


    ¡°Why? Why do you think there is a Heaven above you? You can¡¯t see it, whereas I can. Your world is my Heaven. A Heaven for daimonkind if you will. You all are living in paradise as beings blessed from birth while daimons are damned to a wretched fate. Yet you people spurned your blessings. You disgust me, yet I still long for all that you are.¡±


    Her words lingered in the air. Dejiu didn¡¯t respond immediately. What was there to say? He wasn¡¯t much of a thinker, she and Teacher Jiansu could attest to that. But her words made him think. Bitter words that felt like a reflection he couldn¡¯t quite dismiss.


    He exhaled slowly, letting the ache in his body meld with the silence. There were no answers tonight¡ªonly the wind''s chill and the exhaustion''s slow pull.


    She seemed to sense this too, whirling in a pool of shadows before she returned inside him once more.


    He closed his eyes, ready to sleep.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Wake up little monk. That Arhat disciple is coming.¡± Bing Xin urged.


    Dejiu was a little too immersed in his sleep to hear. His snoring seemed to irritate Bing Xin because she didn¡¯t wait another second before tightening some sort of invisible pressure around his throat and heart before he snapped awake with a yelp.


    He shot up and looked around for Bing Xin but her shadowy manifestation was nowhere to be found. ¡°Wha¨C¡±


    ¡°Your freedom is coming. Hear the steps?¡±


    ¡°Hm? Oh. Ok.¡± He muttered. The remnants of slumber whisked away as he blinked repeatedly, replaced by a throbbing pain. Yep. Soul injuries are not to be trifled with. What if someone else other than Bing Xin did this? He groaned to himself.


    ¡°You¡¯d die. Anyways, I must suppres myself. We¡¯d be too close to that Abbott once you leave this gaol.¡± Bing Xin said.


    Rubbing his eyes, he saw the faraway hall reveal Xue Bing Lie.


    And it didn¡¯t take long for Xue Bing Lie to realize something was wrong with Dejiu.


    ¡°Huh? You were given two pills, correct?¡± Xue Bing Lie asked with raised eyebrows that didn¡¯t fit his intimidating face. It looked kind of funny. If only Dejiu was so foolish to mention it though.


    ¡°Yep. Two pills, Arhat disciple Xue Bing Lie.¡± Dejiu nodded. He watched Xue Bing Lie form something with ice to cover his finger. It looked like a sort of elaborate and precisely made structure.


    Xue Bing Lie jammed his ice-coated finger with the structure inside the lock and the thick rolled iron gate swung open. Finally. Freedom at last!


    ¡°You were supposed to refine your prana to that of ice!¡± Xue Bing Lie said, staring at the puddle of blackish filth and blood in the center of his cell. ¡°Not advance!¡±


    Oh does he think the blood is from prana backlash when I broke through? Convenient if I must say! Dejiu inwardly grinned.


    He shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Didn¡¯t know how to. I just thought the pills would overpower the quantity of hell element prana in me.¡± He said bluntly. Truth be told he still didn¡¯t really know how to refine his prana. He could have a guess and try, but that¡¯d be wasted effort. Better time spent obtaining strength and treasures.


    ¡°Huh.¡± Xue Bing Lie muttered. ¡°That was dangerous. Breaking through. Wait, no, you were just in the High Initiate realm. You breakthrough twice?! Are you a brazen fool, Junior Monk Xue Dejiu!?¡±


    ¡°Ahem.¡± Dejiu coughed. ¡°It just happened. I felt a little prana backlash from the sudden breakthroughs, but I was still given two pills. A little blood, a little impurities. Nothing much.¡±


    ¡°Arhat Xuanyang wouldn¡¯t have given two precious pills if you were that close to breaking through! You misfit! You were supposed to refine them and fix your imbalance!¡± Xue Bing Lie began putting the pieces together.


    Dejiu shrugged his shoulders again and walked passed the thick iron bars. ¡°I just swallowed them. Not my fault I broke through with those. Arhat Xuanyang must¡¯ve underestimated how much prana was in the pill or how talented I am in drawing its full quantity. Nobody even taught me how to cultivate properly.¡±


    ¡°I see. Fine.¡± Xue Bing Lie muttered again with a frown. ¡°Come. We¡¯ll leave the inner sanctum.¡±


    It didn¡¯t take long for them to walk out of the Hundred Penance Gaol. Probably because there was only a single-digit number of cells, each connected by a single corridor. But what lay outside the gaol made Dejiu raise an eyebrow. Was this always here?


    The Heavenly Snowy Temple is separated into two rings. The vast outer ring was simply deemed the outer sanctum. Vice versa for the inner ring. They practically possessed the same buildings ¡ª monasteries, refectories, prayer halls, trainer halls, but these same buildings were made smaller for the inner sanctum due to how few people were allowed entry.


    But as he walked out, he found himself atop a singular spire somewhere beside the nine-storied pagoda at the inner sanctum¡¯s center. One of the spires that border the pagoda it seemed as he looked around. There were four of similar jagged spires that housed a single building atop. Each outside the four corners of the pagoda.


    He shifted his gaze and stared at the center of, well, the entire temple. The giant snow-capped pagoda just as it was seven years ago. Damn that fateful day. Especially that bastard Xue Fan. Dejiu can''t think of that day and those his age without forgetting a certain two-faced bootlicker and his cohort of young monks. Handsome, tall, charismatic. Even those young nuns who weren¡¯t even supposed to hold feelings of affection to others, much less a monk, held Xue Fan in high regard!


    Argh! Somehow it''s just coming back to Dejiu that he¡¯s back at the temple.


    He shivered. A biting wind grazed the exposed skin under his tattered kasaya robe and cut his musing. His entire upper half was practically exposed. His robes were held together by filthy and frayed fabric. One more thing I have to do now. He frowned.


    Xue Bing Lie motioned Dejiu. ¡°Grab my hand. We¡¯ll descend.¡±


    Dejiu complied and locked his arm around Xue Bing Lie¡¯s brazenly large arm.


    Then a hum sounded from beside Dejiu as Xue Bing Lie somehow conjured ice from his feet.


    ¡°Pretty cool. Literally.¡±

 Chapter 33 - Not Too Fast There, Monk

    ¡°You¡¯ve been permitted to learn the Frozen Heart cultivation method from warrior Jiansu. Now go on, I have matters to attend to in the inner sanctum.¡± Xue Bing Lie said and waved him off at the gate.


    Dejiu clasped his hands¡ªhand and bowed. ¡°Before I leave, can I ask where to go to get my hand back?¡±


    ¡°Ask Warrior Jiansu.¡± Xue Bing Lie said bluntly and returned a quick bow.


    Dejiu kept his head low and his back straight until the massive stone gate shut before him. Then his face twitched and he scowled. Yep. Let¡¯s just send the young monk back without addressing his missing hand. He¡¯ll be fine! He¡¯ll be busy learning the cultivation method he should have already known!


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget the soul injury. It would serve you well not to curry ire at your weakest. You may have reached the Advanced Stage, but you¡¯re still no more than a pile of dog shit. A little shinier, but shit nonetheless.¡± Bing Xin said after a short absence.


    He was almost happy to hear his personal daimon return. Actually, no, he did feel little happy. It was better than that Arhat disciple. However, the fact that she talked the moment the gate to the inner sanctum closed didn''t go unnoticed by him.


    ¡°Back?¡±


    ¡°Indeed. I can¡¯t risk that Abbott and his fingers from discovering me.¡± She said as she manifested herself. Shadows swirled from behind him and he saw a hand clutch his shoulders.


    ¡°Fingers?¡± He asked and puzzledly narrowed his eyes at the black-veiled woman. He needed to remind himself that others couldn¡¯t see her like this. It was still strange, this presence only he could see.


    ¡°The ten Arhats.¡± She answered.


    ¡°I see. I¡¯m just going to assume that I should not enter the inner sanctum any time soon.¡±


    ¡°Not soon.¡± She echoed.


    He nodded, a mistake because his headache rose again. ¡°Agh! How much longer until this soul injury is over?¡±


    ¡°About a week if you consistently sleep. Ah, but we¡¯ll do this again next week. And the following week.¡±


    ¡°...Until I can sense my soul.¡± He muttered a curse and headed for his shared sleeping chamber. Even after sleeping which she said was pacifying his agitated and injured soul, he didn¡¯t feel all too great. Especially with how Xue Bing Lie decided to travel faster using his ice.


    ¡°Hey, what do I do about not being able to learn the Frozen Heart cultivation method?¡±


    ¡°It''ll do nothing more than bring conflict to what you''ve already learned. You have two choices if you are ever confronted about it. One, you can feign ignorance, even weakness. Two, you can be so boisterous and adamant that you¡¯re capable of creating your own Path to enlightenment.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Dejiu frowned. ¡°Feign ignorance or audacious declare my own Path to enlightenment, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± She replied. ¡°Both are shields. The former deflects suspicion. The latter commands it to retreat entirely. Your choice depends on how much trouble you wish to invite.¡±


    A smirk curled on his lips. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind. But don¡¯t expect me to play meek for long.¡±


    His frown dissolved into a quiet resolve. It wasn¡¯t about the Frozen Heart cultivation method, boisterous declarations, or even subtle lies. It was about him. No matter the conflict or path chosen, Dejiu knew one truth ¡ª his strength would make the words of others meaningless. It''s the entire reason he cultivated in the first place.


    ¡°The choice is yours. Though, do take heed of how soon you¡¯ll be forced to decide.¡±


    He raised an eyebrow. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re permitted to learn the Frozen Heart cultivation method, you¡¯ll be joining the others your age in the training halls.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Sadly, this should¡¯ve been something he realized when Xue Bing Lie mentioned it. Shifting his gaze past the haze of falling snow, he spotted the distant training hall for junior monks. Inside, there was a majority of his misgivings of the temple. Training. Cultivating. Bickering. All without Dejiu. It¡¯s been about six years since he was driven away from regular classes because of how slow he was. How much he held back the class as a Low Initiate without a cultivation method against Mid or even High Initiates.


    Yep. Not fun. Not one bit. However, he''s already caught up to most of them. Probably. It''s been a while since he''s got a feel for how strong they are. Morning prayers alone weren¡¯t enough for him to gauge their strength. His senses simply weren''t on that level. He didn¡¯t even stay in their vicinity because he¡¯d long grown tired of having to listen to obnoxious ramblings about their advancements or how many treasures their teachers and mentors obtained for them. Pah! Some monks they were. Flaunting everything and anything.


    ¡°A while since you got a feel? A feel?¡± Bing Xin laughed. ¡°Don''t you mean the beatings they would give you?¡±


    ¡°Not my fault! Most of them were 12 or 13 while I was 7!¡± His expression turned flustered. ¡°While you were hiding from the Abbott, I could¡¯ve used a little help!¡±


    ¡°Should''ve succeeded in stealing those hell shards when you were a wee boy. Had you absorbed them, I would''ve been able to form words. To teach you earlier and make you strong enough to slap them helplessly across the face.¡±


    He huffed and went down the outer monastery¡¯s corridors. ¡°Not that it matters now. They stopped beating me up ever since Teacher Jiansu brought the matter up to the Senior Monks.¡±


    Dejiu looked up as he reminisced. ¡°Well, if they were proper monks, they would not have gone against the temple¡¯s magnanimous teachings in the first place. Perhaps they¡¯ll grovel at my feet to show their remorse.¡±


    ¡°...Not all people are like that. Even in this temple.¡±


    He opened the door to his shared room. Expecting to find Teacher Jiansu inside, he frowned when he found the room empty. No matter. Welp, straight to the training hall it is then.


    Spotting his spare kasaya robe, he undressed and finally changed into a fresh pair. He also changed the bandages around his stump of a right hand.


    ¡°In due time.¡± He said with a nod. ¡°With my soul injury and missing hand, I¡¯ll feign incompetence. Can¡¯t get into a fight here.¡±

 Chapter 34 - Breathing and More Breathing

    It was midday. The trek to the outer sanctum¡¯s training halls was short.


    Dejiu found himself wondering if this was truly the right move. He¡¯s about to enter the training hall he¡¯s been kicked out of for years. Sure Arhat disciple Xue Bing Lie permitted it, but where would he even begin? The first steps of learning the Frozen Heart cultivation method?


    ¡°Enough dawdling. Head inside.¡± Bing Xin remarked from inside him. She receded her shoddy form back inside him in case an Arhat disciple or Arhat happened to come across Dejiu because of his circumstances.


    He sighed and ruminated in front of the mighty gates. His ears perked at the grunts and heavy blows from inside, probably the work of palm strikes and fist techniques. Here goes nothing.


    Lifting a hand, he used the bronze door knocker mounted on the fierce visage of a lion-like guardian spirit. The metallic clang echoed sharply as the ring struck its base, sending a subtle vibration through the mighty gates. Inside, Dejiu heard the sounds of gritty training stop.


    He stepped back and waited, his thoughts raced faster than his heartbeat. Would they mock him again? Would he even be allowed to stay? Actually, he wouldn¡¯t put it past the monk in charge to kick him out again depending on who it is.


    The gates creaked open slightly and revealed a disciple peering out with narrowed eyes. "You? What business brings you here, killer?"


    Dejiu stifled a glare and bowed.


    ¡°Ah, Senior Brother Xue Li! I¡¯ve been told to come here by Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie. I¡¯ve been permitted to join the class again.¡± Dejiu said, ignoring what Xue Li called him.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything from Senior Monk Liang. Especially about a heinous killer. To think we¡¯re both called monks of the Heavenly Snowy Temple.¡± Xue Li said bluntly.


    This fucker. Just let me in¡­


    ¡°Senior Monk Liang must¡¯ve not told you then, Senior Brother,¡± Dejiu said. The monk in charge of today''s training didn¡¯t go unnoticed.


    Xue Li stepped out further, his gaze honed on Dejiu like a piece of meat at the market. ¡°Reprehensible thing. You dare call me Senior Brother? You besmirched the temple, even slaughtering a cohort of cultivators from the capital. Why would I accept someone like you?¡±


    ¡°Apologies, Senior Brother. But even the Arhats have tolerated my actions. Your acceptance doesn¡¯t matter¡± Dejiu said, his tone turned less formal. With Xue Li in full view, he studied his Senior Brother in case things turned awry.  Advanced Stage¡­ right?


    Xue Li narrowed his eyes and frowned. ¡°You know, my teacher was one of the ones who descended the Pillarshard that day. He told me of the corpses. The poison. As to why the Arhats spared you is beyond me. Senior Brother Xue Fan was right in rallying us against allowing someone like you to join us.¡±


    So this bastard did know I was to come here! And that Xue Fan too! Dejiu¡¯s face twitched. His patience couldn¡¯t keep up. Although he told himself for the thousandth time to feign incompetence nd accept what came his way, it was much easier in his head. This bald bastard was talking a whole lot of rubbish.


    Dejiu¡¯s plan cracked. ¡°Still sucking up to Senior Brother Xue Fan¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Someone hissed from behind the gate.


    Dejiu peered past Xue Li and spotted Senior Monk Liang.


    Dejiu and Xue Li faced Senior Monk Liang and clasped their hands, well, Dejiu with one hand, and bowed. Senior Monk Liang returned a curt bow before dismissing Xue Li.


    ¡°Already causing a ruckus, Xue Dejiu?¡± Senior Monk Liang scoffed. ¡°This is your first class, yet do you want to be kicked from the hall again?¡±


    ¡°No, Senior Monk. Senior Brother Xue Li was being difficult. I simply wanted to enter¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough.¡± Senior Monk Liang sighed. ¡°I was against allowing one such as you join us again, but to think the graces of the Snow Blossom Sage have allowed you to come back here.¡±


    ¡°Snow Blossom Sage?¡± Dejiu frowned. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Hmph. Don¡¯t even know the title of your benefactor? Even after protecting you from that mongrel of an emissary of the Feng Clan¡± Senior Monk Liang shook his head.


    ¡°Tenth Arhat Xue Xuanyang?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Senior Monk Liang¡¯s tone was thick with disdain. ¡°Now head in. I¡¯ll teach you the Frozen Heart cultivation method.¡± With a huff, he turned and began to walk toward the stone platform.


    Inside the vast snowy hall, Dejiu¡¯s gaze swept over the familiar stone platform. A smooth surface glistened under the dim light. It had been a long time since he had been in this hall, the place where monks trained, cultivated, and practiced techniques that seemed far beyond his reach. Well, not really. He wasn¡¯t going to learn those techniques anyway.


    Speaking out of reach, Dejiu spotted more faces.  Xue Song. Xue Zhi. Xue Mo Be. Gah, even Xue Fan¡¯s here. Damn baldy. They all felt like Advanced Stage cultivators like him. A handful of others were at the Advanced Stage, but Dejiu quickly realized he was amongst the top of the class in terms of pure cultivation.


    Heh. Take that. His vain side started talking.


    Whispers rippled through the air as some of them stared at him. Considering Xue Li knew what happened, Dejiu assumed the rest of them too. He started guessing what they¡¯d call him behind closed doors. Killer. Murderer. Blood fiend. Probably cripple too.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget corpse desecrator,¡± Bing Xin¡¯s voice teased in his mind, sharp as a cold wind. ¡°You did leave one of those fine young masters looking rather¡­ artistic. A shame no one around here appreciates your work.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s face didn¡¯t react to her snarky comment. Shut it.


    He ignored all the murmurs and followed Senior Monk Liang to the far end of the hall where a few junior monks cultivated in the lotus position with closed eyes. He was led a little past the group of cultivating monks towards a raised stone platform.


    Senior Monk Liang gestured down and pulled something from his loose robes. A manual. A true-blue cultivation manual! You mean you could learn to cultivate without enduring hellish torture from a daimon as she ruthlessly cycles your already volatile prana? Who could¡¯ve known?


    ¡°Enough, little monk. Focus on your acting.¡± Bing Xin snorted from inside.


    Dejiu didn¡¯t react to her words to appear normal before the many stares.


    ¡°Sit. Read the manual. It will guide you to the Adept level of the cultivation method. Though, you obviously need to start from the beginning.¡± Senior Monk Liang said and passed the manual to him.


    Dejiu retrieved the manual with one hand and a bow. ¡°Thank you, Senior Monk.¡±


    Senior Monk Liang¡¯s stare lingered on him for a while before he scoffed and turned away. ¡°Learn it quickly. When I confirm your progress, I¡¯ll permit you entrance to the first floor of the The audience did too. Though, Xue Fan and company¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t go unnoticed.


    That handsome prick. Dejiu could already see that sneer. Xue Fan was definitely cooking something up, he could smell it.


    Dejiu sighed and opened the manual. Although he did say it was far too late and pointless to learn this cultivation method, after being withheld from it for years he was little interested in why it was so renowned. He scanned the first two pages. His once intrigued and curious face slowly turned sour and bitter.


    What in the Seven Hells¡­ why is it so hard to understand? Am I illiterate? No, I mean most of it is drawings. I just gotta¡­ follow? He tried to cycle his prana just as the manual said to experiment. Who knows, he might be so naturally talented and gifted that he could perfectly mash the two cultivation methods together.


    But his prana just wouldn¡¯t go that way. It refused to.


    His breath hitched as a twinge of frustration spiked in his chest. It¡¯s like this thing was written to confuse people deliberately.


    Bing Xin¡¯s laughed through his mind like a sly whisper. ¡°You mean to say it wasn¡¯t written for someone as exceptional as you? Surely, little monk, you aren¡¯t suggesting that your unparalleled genius is faltering.¡±


    But the moment he tried again, his prana rebelled violently, sending a sharp pain through his core. He gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. His surroundings grew cold as his body resisted the unfamiliar flow, threatening to unravel the balance he had painstakingly cultivated with the Dark Flower method.


    ¡°Still trying, are we?¡± Bing Xin¡¯s laugh was cruel and knowing. ¡°Although I did say you could reach some heights with this technique, that was only if you learned it first. After the Dark Flower method, you can¡¯t go back.¡±


    His face twitched. Damnit Bing Xin! So when you said I had two choices now ¡ª whether to feign incompetence of brag about making my own Path and methods, I had no choice in the first place! I can¡¯t even learn this even if I wanted to!


    Dejiu put two and two together. I have to say that I¡¯m incompetent in this cultivation method AND I have to say I¡¯ll make my own Path!


    Laughter roared in his head.


    Yep. He played right into her hand. Who could¡¯ve thought?


    But before he could curse her anymore, the other Junior Monks cultivating around Dejiu opened their eyes and hastily cleared the way.


    Trouble came walking towards him ¡ª trouble named Xue Fan and his¡­ posse? Cohort? Bald entourage?

 Chapter 35 - Unscruplous Thing!

    ¡°Struggling, Junior Brother Xue Dejiu? I can exchange teachings.¡± The pompous Xue Fan came up to him with the others in tow. ¡°It¡¯s been years since you¡¯ve joined us in training. Have you forgotten your Seniors? We deserve a small greeting, Junior Brother.¡±


    Dejiu was still seated in the lotus position. He opened his eyes and looked up. If there was one word to describe Xue fan, it was sharp. Eyebrows sharp as swords hovered above slits for eyes. A pointy nose and a sternly proud smile. Truly the model face of his generation.


    Memories from long ago stirred.


    In each of those memories, the other monks looked so big. Tall. Both literally and in his head. But now it didn¡¯t seem that way so much anymore. Then again, no matter how far from reach they seemed even back then, Dejiu never let that stop him from trying to catch up. No, even more than that. He wanted to surpass them. That''s the entire reason why he chipped away at the gap for seven years no matter how slow he did so.


    ¡°It¡¯s because you know the fragility of life. Of people. Once your fists have been soaked in the blood of those cultivators¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough. I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡± Dejiu muttered before his face blanched. Oh shit. I said that out loud.


    Xue Fan narrowed his eyes but still showed the same mawkish smile. ¡°Has conquering a Pillarshard turned your head inside out, Junior Brother?


    ¡°Ah! Forgive me, Senior Brother,¡± Dejiu said, inclining his head just enough to feign humility. ¡°Sorry, it appears so, haha!¡±


    ¡°Brother Xue Fan, it''s only natural for our Junior Brother¡¯s mind to be a little¡­off after his display. Tsk. Unbecoming of a monk of our temple.¡± Xue Li said from behind with a pointed nose.


    Damned bootlicker.


    What Xue Li said earned quite a chorus of agreeing hums from fellow bootlickers.


    Infuriating as it was, Dejiu couldn¡¯t really say anything back. He thought it was a regrettable decision, but a past one nonetheless. Nothing he could do about it now.


    ¡°Tell us, Junior Brother,¡± Xue Fan interjected. ¡°What exactly went through your mind as you stood against the Pillarshard? It¡¯s difficult to figure out why you were there in the first place. Perhaps you lost your head entirely?¡±


    Dejiu opened his mouth to speak, but Bing Xin beat him to it. Her voice slithered into his thoughts, her tone dripping with disdain. She laughed, low and cruel. ¡°Look at this buffoon, Xue Fan. His position as the strongest in his generation lures everyone else into the temple¡¯s illusions of merit. And yet, what has he truly gained? This is why I cannot understand humans. Why you must bite into such empty promises of glory and honor.¡±


    ¡°Whether it comes to a clan, family, or sect, all gatherings of people are like this, little monk. The hierarchy is established. The path to promotion is vivid, but the path is almost endless. It plays into your nature to chase for more. Your temple is no exception.¡±


    Dejiu played meek. ¡°I believe I had my head struck too many times in the Seventh Hell, Senior Brother. I think that''s why I can¡¯t get this cultivation method to work for me!¡± He brought a hand to scratch his bald head awkwardly.


    That earned him some snickers.


    ¡°Ah, but for you to reach the Advanced Stage? What treasures did you stumble upon in Hell?¡± Xue Fan asked with a curious expression.


    Dejiu couldn¡¯t tell if he was serious or not. I mean, it was a valid question. If Dejiu was Xue Fan or anyone else for that matter, he too would ask that. Actually, he was pretty sure Jiansu wanted to ask something like that the first they reunited again outside the entrance to the Seventh Hell. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Hesitantly, he answered semi-honestly. ¡°I-uh, used some pills and stuff. Hell Shards too. I killed a lot of daimons so¡ª¡±


    ¡°Really? I thought you swiped them off those corpses after you killed them.¡± Xue Li said from behind.


    ¡°...¡± Dejiu¡¯s face twitched. Bing Xin roared with laughter inside him. Hell, even Xue Fan looked a little winded from his bootlicker¡¯s comment.


    ¡°Would you really be beyond that? You unscrupulous monk.¡± Bing Xin cackled and asked.


    Honestly, he kind of forgot to. It completely crossed his mind to scavenge from their rich scion robes. Maybe if he knew there was something certain to gain or something extraordinary. But killing them all alone had a bad taste. But before he could contemplate his bottom line, Xue Fan spoke.


    ¡°Speak up, Junior Brother. I fear our elders didn¡¯t investigate that enough, well, at least my teacher hadn¡¯t. He was one of the ones who delved below to recover those bodies for the Feng Clan¡¯s emissary. Did you pillage those bodies? Your reluctance to speak is not so befitting the veracity our temple teaches.¡±


    Dejiu frowned. ¡°Senior Brother, you mustn''t speak of things you haven¡¯t understood entirely yoursel¡ª¡±


    ¡°But it''s a fact you killed them, no? You, a monk, killed them in cold blood. Do you not understand how baffling it is that our elders spared you? Not only from severe punishment but also from the reaches of the Feng Clan? To think you spent a mere thirteen or so days inside the Hundred Penance Gaol. Tsk, tsk.¡± Xue Fan rambled harshly. That same upstanding and lofty tone.


    ¡°I defended myself.¡± Was all Dejiu replied. ¡°I¡¯ve already served my punishment ¡ª no matter how you and the rest of you all think of it. It¡¯s also a fact that the Arhats have settled the matter.¡±


    Xue Fan¡¯s lips curled into a mocking smirk. ¡°Oh, is that how you justify it, Junior Brother? ¡®The Arhats have settled it,¡¯ you say? You sound almost proud ¡ª proud of the elders'' mercy, not of your own deeds.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s fists clenched, but he refused to rise to the bait. ¡°What happened beneath the Pillarshard was survival. I will not apologize for staying alive.¡±


    ¡°Survival?¡± Xue Fan¡¯s voice grew louder, his tone theatrical. The air around Dejiu turned cold. ¡°You poisoned them! A monk, stooping to a rogue¡¯s tactics, using treachery to bring down cultivators battling a guardian! And let¡¯s not forget the methodical slaughter that followed. Do you call that survival?¡±


    How the hell does the story even twist that much!? Is he really saying I ambushed those Feng Clan cultivators while they fought the guardian!?


    More junior monks began glancing toward the commotion. Dejiu¡¯s eyes caught Senior Monk Liang in the distance, calmly instructing another monk, making no move to intervene despite the growing tension on the other end of the hall.


    Dejiu met his gaze, his voice cold. ¡°You weren¡¯t there, Senior Brother. Those cultivators wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to kill me if given the chance.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Xue Fan jabbed a finger toward him. ¡°But tell me this; when you cut them down, did you hesitate? Did you stop to think that those you were killing had homes, families, aspirations of their own? You call it survival, but I wonder if it wasn¡¯t just ambition cloaked in necessity. Your track record isn¡¯t so helpful. Attempting to steal our temple¡¯s stash of Hell Shards, getting kicked out from this very training hall¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a little too harsh, Senior Brother. Especially for one that hasn¡¯t even descended the mountain, let alone the Hells.¡± Dejiu muttered.


    ¡°Better than dirtying this temple¡¯s reputation. With people like you, the Shenguo Kingdom beyond these mountains will see us not as ascetics, but as killers. You know, back then you used to be better. Obnoxiously stubborn, but still better. You can¡¯t even see the wrong in your ways. It shames me to be of the same generation as one such as you. It also shames me to not have educated a poor junior in both cultivation and age properly.¡± Xue Fan chided.


    Xue Fan kept going and going. Dejiu sat there and took it all in. More memories stirred, regardless of whether he wanted them to or not. He¡¯s still immature. The moment Xue Fan¡¯s pompous face came this close he should¡¯ve known his emotions would be agitated. He just couldn¡¯t help it. His prana cycled a smidge faster. It collected densely into his only palm. The load of this guy! Obnoxiously stubborn? Stubborn!? Everyone else is stubborn in holding me back! Fucker, what if I Withering Palm you right no¡ª


    ¡°That would be ill-advised, little monk. He wasn¡¯t lying. You¡¯re still below him in cultivation. It would be ill-advised to turn to violence.¡± Bing Xin whispered.


    His face twitched. Dejiu exhaled grumpily and dispersed the prana from his left palm.


    Not today it seems. Not today¡­

 Chapter 36 - One Smiles Worth

    Blab. Blab. Blab. Xue Fan and Co kept going. Well, Dejiu was a little fortunate and thankful they didn¡¯t beat him like before. Maybe they did learn over the years apart. But Dejiu grew tired. He still wanted to try the Frozen Heart cultivation method a little more.


    ¡°Are you done, Senior Brother? I¡¯m behind in the lessons, years behind as you know. I want to go back to learning this cultivation method.¡± Dejiu muttered, a little annoyed. Maybe he was looking forward to some action now.


    ¡°Learning?¡± Xue Fan echoed. ¡°You think dabbling in scraps of cultivation techniques will have you prepared when it comes time for the Warrior Monk exam?¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s ears perked. The what? This was new.


    ¡°What¡¯s the Warrior Monk exam?¡± He asked, genuinely curious.


    Turns out, that question was a mistake. He could already see Xue Fan¡¯s eyes light up for something new to ramble on.


    ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t know?¡± Xue Fan asked. His smile grew wider. ¡°How surprising. Then again, why would you? A Junior Brother like the rest of us, yet so preoccupied with disgraceful escapades, couldn¡¯t possibly have time to keep up with something as significant as the exam that defines a monk¡¯s worth.¡±


    Dejiu fought the urge to roll his eyes. ¡°Just explain it already, Senior Brother.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Xue Fan replied. ¡°The Warrior Monk exam is the trial that separates the wheat from the chaff. It determines who among us is worthy to ascend to the rank of Warrior Monk, to bear the temple¡¯s banner into battle and into the Pillarshards.¡±


    ¡°And that is still far from now, Xue Fan.¡± Senior Monk Liang finally said, seemingly finished teaching from the other end of the hall. Dejiu peered past the shoulders of the small crowd and other monks who turned this way to find Senior Monk Liang trodding towards him.


    ¡°Return to your training,¡± was all Senior Monk Liang said before he turned away, his voice devoid of concern or curiosity. The monks dispersed like snowflakes in the wind, their whispers telling of their disappointment. Likely because they couldn¡¯t get a glimpse of a beating.


    Xue Fan¡¯s gaze briefly lingered on Dejiu before he turned around. His lackeys trailed obediently behind. Dejiu wanted to make a face at Xue Li, but decided against it as he made eye contact with Senior Monk Liang.


    Dejiu sighed.  Did Senior Monk Liang even care? Did he know Xue Fan wasn¡¯t going to try beating Dejiu again under the pretext of teaching him a lesson? Probably. The elders always seemed to look the other way when it came to Xue Fan¡¯s disciplinary methods. Actually, they likely welcomed it because Xue Fan¡¯s technically the de facto leader of their generation.


    He rubbed his temples. It didn¡¯t matter. Xue Fan could lecture, berate, or smirk all he wanted. Dejiu¡¯s path was his own, and he wasn¡¯t about to let some self-righteous bully dictate it for him.


    Still, it¡¯d be nice to hit him just once.


    Isn¡¯t that right, Bing Xin? He asked.


    ¡°It would be nice, but you mustn¡¯t. Again, he was not lying about the gap between your cultivation. In another life, his talent alone would¡¯ve made him my vessel. Alas, he fails in all other criteria to be fit.¡±


    Dejiu frowned. The load of this daimon! Is a daimon really telling me not to turn to violence? Huh!? Has Hell flipped over? This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°How far in the manual have you reached?¡± Senior Monk Liang picked up the manual and skimmed through some pages.


    ¡°Just a few pages. I think I can do well drawing in the prana into my core, but my prana refuses to move according to these pathways.¡± Dejiu said, still in the lotus position.


    ¡°After an hour or so or trying?¡± Senior Monk Liang sighed. ¡°All those treasures, pills, and elixirs you came upon could¡¯ve been used to help raise someone like Xue Fan to the Earthly Stage. A shame.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s face twitched. Damn geezer. I¡¯m literally in front of you¡­


    He gritted his teeth but managed to keep his voice steady. ¡°So¡­ Senior Monk. How about that Warrior Monk exam? Can you tell me more about it?¡± He forced a faint grin, shifting the topic.


    Senior Monk Liang lowered his gaze and set down the cultivation manual. ¡°The Warrior Monk exam is open for any Junior Monks who reached the Advanced Stage.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s eyes shone. This was a promotion coming! Could he trump the others in this? Perfect!


    ¡°Am I allowed to partake in this, Senior Monk!?¡± He asked excitedly. Warrior Monks were officials of the temple! He¡¯ll obtain much more freedom than a Junior Monk could ever have. After all, Teacher Jiansu was one!


    ¡°No. Absolutely not.¡± Senior Monk Liang snorted.


    Fucking geezer! My dreams! My freedom! He grimaced.


    ¡°For one, you are too young. Despite being in the same generation as Xue Fan and the others, they are five or more years older than you. Another reason is this!¡± Senior Monk Liang swatted the cultivation manual down. His gaze turned a little dark and reminded Dejiu about a time long passed.


    ¡°You can¡¯t even learn the rudimentary steps despite having access to heightened prana sense granted to Advanced Stage cultivators from the Seekers Accord! You¡¯re incompetent ¡ª no more than you were back then. No, perhaps even more! These beginning steps are something an eight-year-old could learn!¡±


    Dejiu scoffed. Was this the moment for the second thing he needed to get over ¡ª that he¡¯ll say he¡¯ll make his own Path? Pah, who cares at this point? He¡¯ll just be blunt.


    ¡°Senior, you gave me an hour! I need time for something new. I¡¯ve been cultivating my own for more than seven years, it¡¯s hard to go against seven years'' worth of tendencies.¡±


    ¡°Time is not a luxury you have, Xue Dejiu,¡± Senior Monk Liang said sharply, pointing at the cultivation manual. ¡°The Warrior Monk exam is not for those fumbling to understand the basics. ¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s chest tightened. The sting of those words, though familiar, burned fresh every time. But this time, he didn¡¯t feel like backing down. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that? You think I¡¯m not aware of where I stand compared to the others?¡± He gestured to the manual. ¡°You said it yourself, Senior Monk. I¡¯ve been left behind. But why should I change how I¡¯ve been finding success so far? Follow my Dao?¡±


    Senior Monk Liang¡¯s brows lifted, probably surprised by his words. For a moment, he said nothing, then leaned back slightly. ¡°Ambition without foundation is like building a tower on sand,¡±


    ¡°Fine. Cultivate as you wish. I¡¯ve only been instructed to show you the manual. Do what you will.¡± Senior Monk Liang muttered as he turned around to guide the other Junior Monks. The loose robes dragged behind as Dejiu got up and disregarded everyone else.


    His words weren¡¯t loud, but they were clear ¡ª the rest of the training hall was quiet. Xue Fan was tucked away near the center about to spar someone else, a sly smirk hidden beneath his gaze. Dejiu didn¡¯t care about training inside here anymore. Maybe to spar against the other Junior Monks for experience, but that¡¯ll only invite trouble until his series of soul injuries is over.


    He opened the gates and returned to his sleeping chamber in the White Blossom Monastery. Fortunately, he found a pleasant surprise, Teacher Jiansu.


    ¡°Sorry, Little Dejiu. I was busy inside the inner sanctum. Ah, to think in this old age I was deemed important enough to be busy inside there in recent times.¡± Jiansu said between his stretches.


    Smiling to himself, Dejiu nodded and plopped down on his sleeping mat. ¡°What was it about?¡±


    ¡°Something about the Warrior Monks to regularly descend your Pillarshard to train and expand.¡± Jiansu smiled before he got up.


    Jiansu came to Dejiu and pulled him into a deep hug. ¡°Welcome back, Little Dejiu. I couldn¡¯t say it earlier because of the Arhats and such but welcome back. You did well to survive, no one should fault you for that.¡±


    Dejiu welcomed it and tightened his hold. ¡°Sucks I¡¯m missing a hand though.¡± He laughed.

 Chapter 37 - Thwackeroo!

    ¡°I won¡¯t ask you about the Pillarshard. I trust your judgment down there, Little Dejiu.¡± Jiansu said as they sat by each other.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay. You can pick your mind.¡± Dejiu muttered, scratching his head bashfully. To be complimented by Jiansu was a rare occurrence. Jiansu always made it a point not to give those out so cheaply.


    ¡°No. Many have been answered throughout the investigation process. Though there are just two things I wanted to ask personally. One, did you truly poison them?¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s face turned a little red. ¡°I-uh kind of did. Not intentionally though.¡± He uttered shyly. ¡°I stashed daimon meat and some peppers I picked up from a bush nearby the entrance. It seems that they ate them before they headed down when I killed the guardian. Probably hunger from camping outside the hundred-step boundary.¡±


    ¡°I see. ¡± Jiansu nodded.


    Dejiu lifted his gaze and found a softer expression on his teacher. Probably because Dejiu relieved some worries with that. Damn the Feng Clan! They made Teacher Jiansu think he had turned maliciously violent! If that Feng Mu were in front of him now, he¡¯d batter that stupid head in agai¡ª okay, maybe not. Let¡¯s not go all Bing Xin.


    ¡°Then my second question is how many did you kill?¡±


    Huh? Dejiu tilted his head. He thought he¡¯d be asked about the missing monk¡¯s spade, his quick rise through the stage, what enemies he faced, something about the guardian, and anything else. Wasn¡¯t that obvious¡ªoh. Now that he thought about it, the first time he greeted the Feng Clan in the Seventh Hell, there were ten. However, only nine came to face him. Did Teacher Jiansu think he killed that runner or something?


    ¡°Nine ¡ª everyone who came down to reap my efforts,¡± Dejiu answered. ¡°But I do remember there were ten the first I saw them outside the boundary. Why?¡±


    ¡°We found pieces of a woman along with a few tattered patches outside the boundary area. I see ¡ª then she was likely killed by either hunger or by defending their small camp while they waited for either the ten days to be over or the guardian¡¯s death.¡±


    Jiansu nodded again. Hm? His expression softened even more! Ha!


    His teacher¡¯s mood rubbed off on Dejiu. Giddily smiling he prodded for more. ¡°I think my choice was right down there. That guardian, it was pretty strong you know! A big ol¡¯ eye that could force me to the ground with a thought while it summoned something to beat me up!¡±


    Jiansu snorted. ¡°And what did you do to surmount this mighty daimon?¡±


    ¡°I blew up my insides and meridian!¡± He declared proudly.


    THWACK!


    ¡°Y-ouch!¡± He cried.


    Jiansu moved with an impossible speed, somehow holding an old tied-up scripture in his once empty hand and slapping it on Dejiu¡¯s bald head. ¡°Keep going.¡±


    Dejiu awkwardly rubbed his head. It already felt warm and swollen somehow. Damn, he forgot how brutal Jiansu was in response to his brashness! The beating that time, when he tried to steal Hell Shards, was done entirely by his teacher!


    ¡°I-uhm got up. Fought against a shadowy mimic of myself but as a child. He was pretty good. He moved fast and rabidly. But I slayed it after uhh¡­¡± Dejiu hesitated.


    ¡°What? Spit it out.¡± Jiansu said.


    Dejiu eyed the index finger of his teacher stroking the weathered scripture. Shit. He¡¯s itching to hit me.


    ¡°It was strong but straightforward. So I-uh sacrificed my right hand¡ª¡±


    THWACKK!


    ¡°Gah! I wasn¡¯t even finished!¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°You sacrificed a part to either confuse it or close in the distance without losing your life to deliver a greater blow.¡±


    ¡°...Yes, I did do that, the latter I mean.¡±


    Dejiu rubbed his head again. My head! My smooth bald head! He wanted to mutter a curse but that¡¯ll earn another thwack.


    ¡°With the summon dead, I finished the guardian. It was defenseless so I just stabbed it until I heard the Seekers Accord confirm the kill. I got a pill though ¡ª I recovered enough to fight against those damned bastards¡ª¡±


    Jiansu brushed along the scripture.


    ¡°I mean, cultivator of the Feng Clan. Ooo! The pill also granted me a little better sight in the dark!¡±


    Jiansu raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hoo, such things are rare. For the Seekers Accord to grant something that precious ¡ª that guardian must¡¯ve been something immensely powerful for its stage.¡±


    ¡°Well obviously! What else could pose danger for the great monk Xue Deji¡ª¡±


    THWACK! CRCK!


    ¡°What did I say to deserve two? Two! Hits!¡± He cried.


    ¡°A monk of the Heavenly Snowy Temple mustn¡¯t be so boastful. To cling to pride in one¡¯s strength is to mistake the finger pointing to the moon for the moon itself.¡±


    ¡°Pah! More riddles. Anyways, you said those soulbound remnants are rare?¡±


    ¡°Rare. I myself could count how many guardians I slew personally on one hand. While the chances of guardians dropping some sort of remnant upon death are vastly greater than regular daimons, some people don¡¯t even receive anything.¡±


    ¡°Did that happen to you?¡±


    ¡°No. I obtained a peculiar remnant.¡± Jiansu closed his eyes briefly. Webs of light and shadow formed something atop his palm.


    ¡°A broken piece of glass?¡± Dejiu asked once the remnant was formed.


    ¡°Aye. A jagged shard of glass. Humble in appearance, but powerful.¡±


    Dejiu scooted closer and looked around. He tried to find something special, something he couldn¡¯t see at first glance. Teacher Jiansu called it powerful after all so he was curious. However, the only thing he found odd was how the sunlight from the window was reflected. ¡°What stage is it?¡±


    ¡°Peak Earthly.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Dejiu looked up and gawked at the thing. ¡°Huh?! For this thing?! What is it? What does it do? Can you kill anything with just a stab?¡±


    ¡°Stab. Death. Kill. Is that all you think of?¡± Jiansu jokingly snorted. ¡°No, but I must say, it is a consumable. If I activate it with a bit of my prana and point it at anyone, I could shatter their soul.¡±


    Before Dejiu could gasp in surprise, he felt something stir inside him and a shadowy being manifested beside him and his teacher. Invisible to all eyes other than his, Bing Xin appeared. Initially, his face threatened to pale, but he remembered that Bing Xin couldn¡¯t be seen like this. Apparently.


    ¡°Ho¡­ sorry for intruding on your reunion, but I must say, your teacher came upon quite the potent remnant, little monk.¡± She said as her shadowy arm swirled around Jiansu¡¯s outstretched hand holding the jagged glass.


    Dejiu ignored her. ¡°Shatter their soul? And anyone?¡±


    Jiansu cleared his throat. ¡°The Shard of Splintered Finality ¡ª For the wielder of this fateless shard, it offers invaluable aid in seeking finality. To catch the visage of your enemy spells doom for their soul. The enemy''s soul will be shattered, though the effect depends on the might of the reflected soul.¡±


    Dejiu exhaled. He quickly realized his breaths had been held this whole time. The presence of the glass shard was just as heavy as it seemed. Well, for obvious reasons of course. He already had his soul expertly, precisely, and purposefully shattered by Bing Xin. Even then he needed to rest his fragile and ever so delicate soul. Now for something to shatter it viciously¡­ it sent shivers through Dejiu. Spells doom? Sheesh, take me away!


    ¡°For the stand Warrior Monk, it¡¯s kind of surprising you hold this vicious thing in your arsenal.¡±


    ¡°I can take a page from your book, Little Dejiu. Actions and intent speak better.¡± Jiansu said, dispelling the horrific remnant. ¡°In my youth, I was summoned by the Abbot himself because of this remnant. Back then he mentioned that it could likely eviscerate almost anyone of or below the Earthly Stage, perhaps above as well. Perhaps it could also cripple those far above.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t anger your teacher.¡± Bing Xin laughed, her form returned inside him.


    ¡°Have you used it?¡± Dejiu asked.


    ¡°No. Not once. This is why I don¡¯t know for certain of its effects, but also the largest indicator of its potential. It¡¯s a consumable, not some sort of utility tool a charm of sorts. The moment I use it, the remnant will be destroyed.¡± Jiansu said nonchalantly, unraveling the scripture he used to slap Dejiu.


    Yep. Will not piss him off anymore. That¡¯ll be courting death!

 Chapter 38 - A Cold That Permeates All

    ¡°Now, Little Dejiu, did you complete the scripture reading I assigned to you before I left?¡± Jiansu asked with a slightly crooked smile and tranquil eyes.


    Dejiu cleared his throat. ¡°Ahem! Amitabha,¡± he clasped his hands. ¡°I was a little too busy to complete the task. Vanquishing daimons, conquering the pillars of Hell.¡±


    ¡°Heh.¡± Jiansu chuckled. ¡°I was joking. Get up, we¡¯ll go and train together.¡±


    It took a moment before Dejiu registered what Jiansu said. Training? That¡¯s weird. Although they were teacher and student, he wasn¡¯t really taught anything strength-wise. ¡°What do you mean? Train?¡±


    Dejiu looked at Jiansu who grabbed the massive monk¡¯s spade ¡ª the real one belonging to Jiansu, not the older one that his teacher used in his youth. Actually, wait, where did that one go? Did he leave it in the Seventh Hell?


    Spade in hand, Jiansu turned around. ¡°I heard it too, you know. You¡¯re allowed to learn our temple¡¯s cultivation method and martial arts. I¡¯ll teach you.¡±


    Dejiu raised his brow. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this!¡± He excitedly yelped.


    ¡°Ah, but with what weapon? I-uh, lost your spade. I don¡¯t know what happened to it after I got encased in ice¡ª¡±


    ¡°I threw it away.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I¡¯ll just stick with fists¡ªfist, sorry.¡± Dejiu corrected himself as Jiansu headed out their room.


    Dejiu followed his teacher. They walked out of the massive White Blossom Monastery that held almost everyone below the rank of Senior Monk. They made their way past the refectory, prayer halls, and other infrastructure of the outer sanctum. Dejiu looked up and inhaled a crispy breath of mountain air. It felt good. A little late-night session with his teacher. He couldn¡¯t ask for anything more ¡ª and he¡¯ll be taught martial arts techniques!? Ha! Seven years, he¡¯s been waiting for this!


    ¡°I fear some of those martial techniques cannot mesh well with our Dark Flower cultivation method and your distinct prana.¡± Bing Xin echoed.


    His face drooped into a frown and he groaned, ¡°Of course, of course!¡±


    ¡°What was that, Little Dejiu?¡± Jiansu turned around and asked.


    ¡°Oop, nothing. Ignore it. I just thought this was what I was waiting for all these years, you know.¡± Dejiu quickly recovered.


    ¡°Indeed, it''s been a long time coming, for both you and me.¡±


    Dejiu raised an eyebrow. ¡°How so?¡±


    Jiansu scoffed and turned ahead again. He looked up to the moonlit sky, revealed in its entirety without the mask of fog. ¡°One does not take in a student without the intention of teaching. When the Abbot forbade you from learning anything to increase your strength, I too felt like I¡¯ve been wronged. Perhaps you were too young to remember, but do you recall what color were the prayer beads I wore that day?¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Dejiu frowned and rummaged through his memories. He tried to remember but he just couldn¡¯t. It was like everything was turned murky, clouded by his Class after being initiated into the Seekers Accord. ¡°I can¡¯t, but what are you getting at?¡±


    ¡°I was demoted a few days after your initiation,¡± Jiansu said wistfully.


    A cold wind bit at Dejiu¡¯s cheeks. Jiansu didn¡¯t really talk much about himself ¡ª probably because most of it contained information forbidden to Dejiu before. Anything about Jiansu¡¯s exploits beneath the surface, fighting, cultivation, anything really. So hearing this revelation took Dejiu by surprise.


    He didn¡¯t say anything, he just took it all in. What Jiansu said kind of made him remember again how obtusely stubborn the temple was with him. It even affected his teacher who brought him in. Yes, Dejiu knew Jiansu was somewhat alienated inside the temple, like himself, though to a milder extent. Much of Jiansu''s isolation was by personal choice ¡ª a response to the treatment Dejiu had received. Perhaps to make Dejiu feel better and not as alone. It¡¯s something Dejiu appreciated a lot about Jiansu.


    But it also cemented his mind ¡ª what he did and will do from now. His rise to strength, he owed it to Jiansu and himself. And maybe, as audacious as it sounded, just maybe he could change how the temple operates. To be more forgiving to people like him. He wasn¡¯t asking for much, it just couldn¡¯t be too much to ask.


    Eventually they reached a small clearing near the temple¡¯s periphery. Well, not really. Technically the Heavenly Snowy Temple¡¯s reach encompassed the entire small mountain range, but obviously they weren¡¯t going to go that far. They only trekked to where the outer sanctum ends and there weren¡¯t any sentries in sight.


    Teacher Jiansu set down his monk¡¯s spade. Dejiu wondered what stage that weapon was. Probably Earthly like his teacher, right? Wait, no, was it a soulbound remnant? It couldn¡¯t be. Soulbound meant it was bound to the soul ¡ª so his teacher couldn¡¯t have summoned and maintained it all the time. It never dispersed nor formed out of nowhere in Dejiu¡¯s memory of his teacher. Huh, or could it? So how could you tell if something like that is a remnant?


    Argh, too much thinking. I¡¯ll worry about it later. Techniques! Training! That¡¯s what I need to focus on. He scratched his head.


    ¡°Already not in the mood to train, Little Dejiu?¡± Jiansu raised an eyebrow.


    Dejiu dropped his hand and shook his head. ¡°Nope. Just felt a little itchy in uh, my hand. Oh, speaking about my missing hand, Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie told me to ask you what I could do about it.¡±


    ¡°Hm.¡± Jiansu eyed his fluttering robe where his right hand should be. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Healers are scarce in this temple, most of us rely on remnants gained from the Seekers Accord to heal.¡±


    Dejiu frowned. Seems like that bastard of an Arhat Disciple just didn¡¯t want to deal with him. Hmph, one day Dejiu will get back at him. Maybe chop his hand off for a change¡ªwhoops, the Bing Xin part of him slipped out.


    ¡°Never mind then. Let¡¯s start!¡± He shifted topics.


    ¡°I see. Well to begin, I must tell you that I don¡¯t know where to start.¡± Jiansu said as he trodded a few paces away from Dejiu.


    Dejiu and his teacher¡¯s matching loose robes fluttered in the mountain peak¡¯s air. He narrowed his eyes and lowered his base. Instinctively, Dejiu knew where this was headed. A spar? HUH!


    ¡°I also want to know firsthand what my dear student has developed on his own to survive something anyone else your age couldn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t mention it back then, but your accomplishment is unheard of, Impure Pillarshard or not.¡± Jiansu said and brought his fists out into a tight stance.


    Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck. Dejiu shivered as he felt the chilly mountain air somehow turn colder. It wasn¡¯t like the menacing cold of whatever he felt from the fractures that revealed the Sixth Hell¡¯s expanse.


    It felt like a cold that permeates all.

 Chapter 39 - Hint of the Future

    ¡°Naturally, I couldn¡¯t tell you of my prowess in our temple¡¯s arts all this time. But our temple has quite a diverse types of arts and focuses. Much more than other Paths to power. I¡¯m sure you can recall Arhat Disciple Xue Bing Lie¡¯s ice. His mastery lies best in overwhelming groups. He blankets the battlefield with frost, slowing the movements of many, and creating an arena where his allies can dominate with a multitude of different techniques all complimenting each other.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s pulse quickened as the air around him grew sharper, colder. Frost crept outward from Jiansu¡¯s feet, delicate and ominous.


    ¡°But, I am not like him. Nor the other Senior Monks¡ªAh, I guess Warrior Monks because of that demotion.¡± Jiansu continued his tone deepening, ¡°Cold Rend, a striker technique. The only technique I learned belonging to our Path.¡±


    Huh? Teacher only knows one technique?


    Dejiu looked at Jiansu with wide eyes, his disbelief palpable. ¡°So you mean to tell me that this was the only technique you ever mastered? At your stage? How old were you again, Teache¡ª¡±


    KRCK¨CKRCKK


    Jiansu tapped his ice-laden foot onto the snow. Scary. Sensitive about his age? Yeesh.


    Jiansu smiled faintly, his expression somewhere between nostalgia and self-deprecation. ¡°Yes, Little Dejiu. It is the only technique I¡¯ve ever tried to learn. Not master. I haven¡¯t reached the end with this technique.¡±


    ¡°I stumbled upon this one in my youth. Back then, I learned enough to get by in my generation, but I happened to advance quite quickly into the Earthly Stage. I didn¡¯t have to undergo a special body reformation or anything, and I was content with that.¡±


    Body formation? Dejiu wondered. Damn it, Jiansu¡¯s speaking too fast, using too many terms he didn¡¯t know!


    ¡°You undergo a body reformation at the end of the Advanced Stage. Ignore it for now, I¡¯m slightly intrigued by this old man¡¯s story.¡± Bing Xin snapped.


    ¡°If you¡¯re permitted to choose a technique manual inside the inner sanctum¡¯s library, you will find techniques befitting each stage. Upon my rise to the Earthly Stage, I managed an exemplary deed and was allowed onto the third floor that obviously held techniques for my stage. I found this old striker technique manual stowed away on the back shelf. Ha! I remember that day well ¡ª the exalted keeper of our library even questioned my choice. Few in our temple¡¯s history chose to learn it. Even fewer continued to learn it.¡±


    Bing Xin laughed. Dejiu felt his insides stir and her graceful shadowy form manifested to oversee the teacher and student. In his peripheral, he spotted Bing Xin lying weightlessly on the snow like the phantasmal daimon she is.


    ¡°It¡¯s tediously difficult. Painful. It demands relentless commitment.¡±


    Bing Xin began to roar in laughter for a reason Dejiu didn¡¯t know.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ¡°Now,¡± Jiansu said. He stepped forward, his feet crunched against the frozen ground as the frost spread like a web, ¡°try defending this fist.¡±


    Dejiu had no time to think, only react. He moved instinctively, raising his arms in a tight guard. The frigid air around Jiansu¡¯s fist sent chills down his spine, but he braced himself. However, as Jiansu closed in, everything seemed to shift.


    The cold struck first, an unseen force that made Dejiu¡¯s muscles lock up. His arms refused to rise fast enough, his movements delayed by an instant too long. No, not just my body, Dejiu realized, panic mounting. My thoughts are slowing.


    Jiansu¡¯s fist bypassed his attempted guard, grazing Dejiu¡¯s shoulder with what should have been a light tap. Yet the moment it touched him, it felt like a shard of ice embedding itself in his skin, spreading frost deep into his muscles. His entire arm went numb.


    ¡°Kreuek!¡±


    Dejiu stumbled back and clutched his arm as the chill spread. His teeth chattered, and he could feel the frost not just in his body, but in his mind, dulling his senses. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It was as if every thought he tried to form was caught in a thick layer of ice, struggling to break free but unable to move. His senses dulled, his reactions growing sluggish.


    Jiansu lowered his hands and the frost-like aura receded back. ¡°Yes, the frost spreading at its touch is what you would expect from any ice cultivator. But the mind, Dejiu. That is what¡¯s special about this technique. It affects all. Daimons and cultivators alike. My ice does not scatter¡ªit strikes with purpose. Eventually, this focused frost may freeze the soul itself, silencing all resistance.¡±


    ¡°That is a good technique. Ah, so funny.¡± Bing Xin laughed again as Dejiu waited for the striker technique¡¯s effects to wear off.


    And why is it funny? He grumpily thought.


    ¡°Because it¡¯s reminiscent of your Withering Palm. A tad less insidious and potent, but a cruel technique all the same. Ha! To think such a thing was made from your temple little monk.¡±


    Ah, she¡¯s right. Was it a coincidence? Regardless, this could be a good thing! He could just say he altered his Teacher¡¯s technique according to his prana! Taking inspiration or something ¡ª he could say he¡¯s a genius!


    Dejiu smiled to himself. He was a little excited because he was thinking earlier about how he could explain his techniques like Wilted Stem and Withering Palm if he was to reveal them early. But now this opportunity fell into his lap. Ha! His teacher¡¯s the best!


    He met Jiansu¡¯s face again, who stood almost ten paces from him.


    ¡°Thawed yet?¡± Jiansu asked.


    Dejiu nodded.


    ¡°Good. Now, let''s have a quick spar. You don¡¯t have to hold back. Ah, I won¡¯t use this striker technique, it¡¯ll be too much for you.¡± Jiansu nonchalantly said.


    Did it hurt Dejiu¡¯s ego? A little. At least it was his teacher though.


    Dejiu dashed ahead. Wilted Stem was in full bloom. The temporary explosive burst of strength coupled with the extremely slow increase of his base strength was extraordinary in his opinion.


    He wanted to show his teacher what he was capable of! Except maybe Withering Palm. Perhaps that¡¯s a little too revealing of his uh, not-so-monk-like prana. Although Dejiu did say repeatedly that intent was most indicative of his virtue, come on! Death, blood, and hell element prana?!


    Jiansu returned nimble parries at a distance, never countering him. Dejiu didn¡¯t mind and continued the flurry of blows. The air seemed to crack with each blow as he closed the gap between them.


    ¡°Too direct,¡± Jiansu remarked casually. ¡°It¡¯ll work against weaker and lower-stage daimons, but what if you face more intelligent ones?¡±


    Dejiu pivoted and swung a low kick toward Jiansu¡¯s legs, aiming to sweep him off balance. But the kick was intercepted with almost disdainful ease¡ªJiansu¡¯s foot met his, halting the attack mid-motion. The impact reverberated painfully up Dejiu¡¯s shin. ¡°Gah!¡± He groaned after he rubbed his leg with a frown.


    ¡°Too predictable.¡±


    Dejiu exhaled an icy breath and dashed forward again. Feinting with his left and only hand before twisting to unleash a devastating elbow strike with his right. For a split second, he thought he might have caught his teacher off guard. Ah, if Bing Xin wasn¡¯t laughing, she¡¯d be calling him a fool.


    Jiansu¡¯s hand was already there, blocking the blow as though he¡¯d read Dejiu¡¯s mind. ¡°Better,¡± Jiansu said, a flicker of approval in his tone.


    Then, before Dejiu could react, Jiansu retaliated. His open palm struck Dejiu¡¯s chest¡ªnot hard enough to harm him, but enough to send him sliding backward several paces, his feet digging into the snow to keep from falling.


    ¡°Again,¡± he spat out phlegm¡­ and maybe a little blood.


    ¡°A monk mustn''t be so uncouth.¡± Jiansu chided with a frown.

 Chapter 40 - A Very Good Day

    Blow after blow, Dejiu quickly found the effects of his soul injury to be quite extensive. He tired quicker. His mind felt slow. Somehow his prana drained faster than he thought it should at this stage when he had access to better quality prana and recovery. Obviously Teacher Jiansu was picking him apart to learn more about how he fights because, needless to say, this was their first time training together. Dejiu¡¯s useless pride wanted him to prove himself.


    ¡°Disregarding what I said before, you fight well. I can see how you survived down there.¡± Jiansu said before delivering a heavy palm to Dejiu¡¯s stomach.


    ¡°GURK!¡±


    He skidded back, the wind knocked out. It took almost all he had to stay on his feet, but he still staggered and fell on his knees. His only hand burrowed into the snow. Taking a few moments to recover, he got up.


    [Prana: 20/100]


    Yep. Teacher¡¯s scary! The gap between Advanced and Earthly is definitely vast! He thought, rubbing his stomach. It¡¯s only been a few minutes too.


    ¡°O-of course I fought well.¡± He croaked out between ragged breaths.


    Jiansu picked up his monk¡¯s spade. Dejiu raised an eyebrow and wondered why his teacher would bring that if he wasn¡¯t going to use it. Well, he was fortunate though. He didn¡¯t want to take a stiff spade anywhere on his already battered body.


    ¡°Throw in remnants, techniques, immense luck, and the fact that the Pillarshard not only was the weakest among its kind but also possessed by far the least amount of daimons, I can see how you survived with this,¡± Jiansu muttered.


    ¡°Urk!¡± Dejiu groaned. This hurt more than his teacher¡¯s blows!


    ¡°Your footwork is ridden with bad habits. You don¡¯t have a proper set of fist techniques to mesh with your footwork, it feels like you¡¯re relying on a heavy palm you throw once in a while. Even then, that palm you¡¯re saving doesn¡¯t amount to much. You don¡¯t kick. You don¡¯t strike with all eight of your weapons. Have you just been overwhelming daimons with your these haphazard attacks and half-baked techniques?¡±


    ¡°Gah!¡± He groaned again. The second slap to the face!


    ¡°He¡¯s not wrong. Although I taught you two techniques, one is just a palm which is already the lesser version of the true technique, while the other simply improves your physicality. You¡¯ve been too reliant on my directions in difficult foes. Such was seen in that battle against the guardian and its summon ¡ª although sacrificing a hand wasn¡¯t anything, the fact that you were driven to that point is telling.¡± Bing Xin echoed after his teacher.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Gah!¡± He fell to his knees again. The third slap from the daimon who returned inside of him!


    ¡°Enough horseplay, Little Dejiu.¡± Jiansu said with a puzzled expression. Probably looking down at the snow-covered fool who¡¯s acting weird.


    ¡°Ahem.¡± Dejiu cleared his throat and got up. He brushed the snow off his kasaya robe and body before he rushed ahead to follow Jiansu. ¡°I was just uhm, taking in your teachings of course.¡±


    Jiansu didn¡¯t say anything. The wind whistled and howled around them on their return to the White Blossom Monastery.


    ¡°But it¡¯s good ¡ª your mind that is. It always was.¡± Jiansu finally broke the silence.


    Dejiu raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hmm?¡± His lips slowly raised. He¡¯s sensing a compliment.


    ¡°Like I said earlier, I haven¡¯t heard of such a thing. To survive a Pillarshard like that. Forced to eat daimon meat and drink their blood on your first descent. Surviving without knowing almost anything. Even when the Pillarshard was abnormal, the kind in the middle of descending to the next stage. Slaying a guardian alone, one practically a Tainted daimon in all regards. Too many would¡¯ve given up. The rest would¡¯ve died. You even survived and used your wit to defend yourself against cultivators at the end. I assume you were wounded as well.¡± Jiansu answered while he eyed Dejiu¡¯s missing right hand.


    ¡°But even before that. Before you stumbled into Hell, I don¡¯t think many could gruelingly cultivate for hours on end without a cultivation method and teacher. Putting off one backlash and prana deviation after another. You don¡¯t know to what ends. I¡¯ve been worried about those days when you¡¯d foolishly cultivate and wipe the blood from your lips. Or when you¡¯d show up to morning prayers internally injured.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s lips lowered. Half regretful and how guilty, he frowned. Yes, his teacher¡¯s words could be seen as praise, but it was praise slicked in concern from the only one who¡¯d care inside the temple.


    He fidgeted with his robe for a long while before he replied, ¡°Sorry. I know I say it every time, but sorry.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be. I¡¯ve always given in to your wishes against my conscience. Although it hurt to watch you every day, it hurt more to see how the temple treated you so.¡± Jiansu said before he scoffed. ¡°To think the temple that raised me from a boy so magnanimously would do this.¡±


    Jiansu ruffled Dejiu¡¯s bald head as they headed into their sleeping chambers. ¡°Tomorrow you don¡¯t have to show up to the training halls again. I¡¯ll teach you the cultivation method if you¡¯re struggling, but I¡¯m sure once you outgrow your habits of seven years you¡¯ll be quick to learn. You¡¯re smart that way.¡± Jiansu said before he snuggled into his sleeping mat.


    Dejiu was busy cleaning around the windowsill and doing some other stuff. Perhaps he didn¡¯t want to turn around so Jiansu could see his face. When was the last time Jiansu praised him as much as today!?


    Speaking of his teacher¡¯s sleeping mat, a thought came flowing through his head. ¡°Sorry, Teacher. I forgot to thank you for the Hell Shard. That Tainted one you left below your sleeping mat. It¡¯s the biggest reason why I¡¯m still alive, yet I forgot to thank you earnestly.¡±


    Still facing away from his teacher, Dejiu opened the window and Bing Xin spilled out from him. Her figure lay across the window sill. Despite the brilliant moonlit illuminating the peaks of Mount Xuedou, her shadowy form wasn¡¯t brightened in the slightest.


    Then he heard some clothing ruffle from behind. His teacher turned on his side. ¡°Ah, that?


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. While I¡¯m the weakest of Earthly Stage monks, I still want to be able to provide for my only student.¡±


    Dejiu smiled before he crept into his own sleeping mat.


    It was a good day. A very good day. He thought before the kind embrace of slumber took him.

 Chapter 41 - Spoke Too Soon

    It was the next morning. He woke up earlier than Jiansu and decided to cultivate as he basked in the morning glow. Half because it''s a custom at this point, half because a certain daimon nagged at him.


    Hey, could he sense the type of prana I¡¯m producing when I exhale¡ª


    ¡°Focus. Cultivate.¡± Bing Xin snapped.


    Sheesh. I was just being cautious.


    It goes without saying that his innocent questions and her snarky answers were said inside his head. He couldn¡¯t speak of course. He¡¯d be a fool to speak to the windowsill with Jiansu sleeping at his back.


    He calmly breathed and circulated his prana accordingly. His adept level of attainment wasn¡¯t for show. He felt comfortable now. Yes, it was still strenuous and cumbersome, especially the cycle¡¯s shift between winter and spring, but it was just something he had to put up with.


    Sweat beaded on his forehead and rolled to his nose. The morning gales howled and creaked the wooden window at its old hinges. He inhaled deeply. The rich ice prana of Mount Xuedou fueled him. He was a little worried about her plans and if cultivating here would be a good idea but she said it didn¡¯t matter.


    Hey, can you explain the prana types again? I know you said that if you or the temple never came into my life I¡¯d be endlessly killing to cultivate my Path. So what do they mean?


    He heard Bing Xin sigh before she replied, ¡°I¡¯ll start with death prana. There is no death without life, so you will never grow without taking the life of another. That¡¯s because every being possesses some life prana within them ¡ª their lifeline if you¡¯d suppose. Alone, it is difficult to cultivate, especially inside this temple devoid of death. That is why you only have smidgeons. However, this lack of death prana within you is another grace of luck because it¡¯s how destructive it is ¡ª to yourself and your foes.¡±


    ...Is that why Withering Palm is so vile? That decay, I still haven¡¯t gotten used to the smell and the sight of it. He frowned, remembering the Feng Clan cultivators.


    ¡°Indeed. But death prana could never be alone, remember? That leads you into blood prana. This ties best with death prana. Where is such a place that blood would spill constantly? It would only happen in places of death or slaughter. It will always come with life and death, and think of blood prana as that binding between all your other prana states. But blood prana will also make your techniques more damaging to the living and less effective on non-living things.¡±


    Can¡¯t see myself hitting walls or something. I¡¯m okay with that¨C


    ¡°Urk!¡± He croaked out. He messed up his prana flow and felt a little backlash.


    ¡°Fool. Well, that backlash brings me to hell prana. For even daimons, their very essence is hell prana, destructive and chaotic by nature. It seeps into everything they touch, and its presence lingers even after they¡¯re gone. That¡¯s why your prana flow is unstable¡ªit¡¯s like trying to tame a wildfire. If you can master it, it will give you strength beyond measure, but if you let it slip, it will devour you from within. Ah, and think about what happens when you possess both hell and death prana inside yourself. Do be careful.¡±


    Dejiu gritted his teeth, massaging his chest with one hand where the backlash had struck. It felt bruised inside. Great.


    ¡°If it¡¯s destructive to even you, think about your foes! You¡¯re bound to possess quite vicious techniques with those three prana types together.¡± She laughed.


    And how about ice? He asked. There¡¯s still one missing after all.


    ¡°Ice prana is rare in Hell, but in this temple, it thrives,¡± Bing Xin explained. ¡°I will snip that part of you and use it for myself in due time. The stillness, clarity, and preservation of ice will be my foothold. Ah, I can¡¯t wait to manifest myself into this realm.¡±


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Dejiu nodded before he noticed her vocabulary. Snip!? Will it hurt?


    ¡°...¡±


    Hey, reply damn it! I wanted to know if it¡¯ll¡ªOUCH! He grunted and tasted a little metallic tang in his mouth.


    He returned his focus to breathing and cultivation. Yep, before worrying about pain in the future, he should focus on preventing any more backlashes before he vomits piles of blood.


    Eventually, he finished another cycle of the Dark Flower cultivation method and sighed. ¡°Hoo¡­¡±


    [Prana Core: Low Advanced]


    [Prana: 101/101]


    Andddd up one! Dejiu smiled before he heard some clothes rustling on the other end of the sleeping chamber. He turned and found Jiansu waking.


    ¡°Cultivating again?¡± Jiansu asked between yawns.


    Wiping his brow with a sleeve, Dejiu replied, ¡°I woke up early and found the time. I can¡¯t slow down even after advancing.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Jiansu stretched his arms and rolled his shoulders. ¡°Stagnant water may seem calm, but it breeds rot. ¡±


    It was a good morning if his teacher was already talking in riddles.


    Dejiu grabbed a clean robe from the edge of his cot and slipped it on. The fabric was coarse against his skin, yet comforting in its familiarity. Morning prayer waits for no one. After that, he grabbed the red prayer bead bracelet he messily left on the ground before his ordeal with the Pillar and put it on his right wrist¡ªah, he can¡¯t.


    He frowned and put it on his left wrist. A shame. It felt uncomfortable.


    ¡°How would I get a remnant or something to regrow my hand?¡± Dejiu asked as he fiddled with the bracelet.


    ¡°Someone in this temple probably has one¡­ but obviously¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s helpless that someone would help me.¡± Dejiu filled in for Jiansu. ¡°Yep. Expected as much. So do I just leave it to luck and kill enough daimons or something?¡±


    Jiansu nodded sadly. It was natural for someone like Dejiu to hold the temple in low regard after everything. With the temple definitely possessing some sort of means to recover his missing hand, but not doing so on top of that? It was sad. Sad and disappointing. Any other monk would¡¯ve been privy to these resources even without an accomplishment. It¡¯s a missing hand for the Genesis Vernable¡¯s sake!


    ¡°That or achieve something great and specifically request for it. Perhaps you¡¯ll be given an audience to Elder Kaiyuan. Ah, sorry, I meant Third Arhat Kaiyuan. He holds most of the remnants available to be exchanged. A keeper of sorts. Oh, I forgot ¡ª do you know how remnants are transferred between people?¡±


    ¡°The Seekers Accord does most of the work, right?¡± Dejiu asked as they stepped into the cold stone corridor, their footsteps echoing softly.


    ¡°Yes. You¡¯ll be prompted when you make contact with someone and you will it to happen. Third Arhat Kaiyuan deals with most of these remnants, obviously excluding the personal and potent remnants of the other Arhats and the Abbot. He¡¯s bound to possess something capable of healing you, especially with how low your cultivation stage is ¡ª a potent remnant wouldn¡¯t be needed.¡±


    Leaving the White Blossom Monastery, Dejiu headed for the prayer halls for Junior Monks. Jiansu went to the one for his respective role. The faint sound of chanting echoed in the distance, guiding them to their respective destinations. Looks like their morning chatter took a little too long.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have any duties today. There¡¯s been no Pillarshards assigned to my cohort. Meet up where we trained yesterday after breakfast.¡± Jiansu said and waved Dejiu off.


    Dejiu nodded.


    It didn¡¯t take long for him to reach his prayer hall ¡ª once again headed by Senior Monk Liang, the geezer. He headed inside and went to his favorite spot near the entrance. Quick ins and outs. Just like using Withering Palm!


    He laughed a little to himself before he kowtowed and followed the ritual with the rows of Junior Monks. His lips moved with the chant, but his thoughts wandered.


    He had much to do.


    Recover enough before the next soul-strengthening cut from Bing Xin. Train his Wilted Stem and Withering Palm to Adept level attainment. Continue using Wilted Stem to raise his base strength too. Raise his cultivation quickly. Hopefully sell his bracers if he can or perhaps trade them in for Hell Shards. Train his basic footwork and martial arts. Ah, and learn about the Warrior Monk exam.


    It was racking his head just thinking about it all!


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget my plans. I will have to teach you part of the forger and instiller techniques once you¡¯re able to sense your soulspace.¡± Bing Xin scoffed.


    That too. But everything led him to the Seventh Hell. He¡¯ll gain strength faster that way too. He needed to return to his Pillarshard, Talonfall. It¡¯ll only benefit him doing so.


    ¡°Discipline and unity. Our Path of Enlightened Winter requires that much from you all. Dismissed. Attend to your duties before the afternoon¡¯s training session.¡± Senior Monk Liang announced, bringing Dejiu back to the present.


    Dejiu sighed. Discipline and unity. The words felt hollow after what he¡¯d seen beyond the Pillarshard. Out there, it wasn¡¯t unity that kept you alive ¡ª it was power. Yet here, they spoke as if those principles alone could shield them from the horrors of Hell¡¯s spawn.


    He got up and filed outside of the prayer hall like usual. It was the benefit of staying so close to the entrance. He didn¡¯t have to file along in a long line and deal with someone like Xue Fan talking¡ª


    ¡°Junior Brother, Dejiu!¡± A snarky voice addressed him from behind.


    His face twitched. You idiot. Spoke too soon.

 Chapter 42

    ¡°Good morning, Senior Brother Xue Fan,¡± Dejiu said, bowing slightly and clasping his left hand.


    Xue Fan decided to greet him on his way out. The two of them bowed to each other about two meters apart as the other Junior Monks awkwardly filed out of the way. Some chose to stay, obstructing the prayer hall¡¯s entrance. What¡¯s wrong with this guy? So blatant¡ª


    Dejiu frowned.


    From behind Xue Fan, Senior Monk Liang emerged. Placing a hand on Xue Fan¡¯s shoulder, Senior Monk Liang eyed down Dejiu. Well this can¡¯t be good. Not like it was ever good when Xue Fan¡¯s involved.


    ¡°Junior Monk Xue Dejiu, Xue Fan has offered himself to guide you through the Frozen Heart cultivation method. An exemplary display of unity within the temple ¡ª please be grateful he took it upon himself despite the coming Warrior Monk exam in a few months. Aiding a junior is behavior befitting a proper monk.¡± Senior Monk Liang said.


    Some monks murmured faintly, their glances darting between Dejiu and Xue Fan. Dejiu felt a deep resentment welling up but pushed it down. He inhaled through his nose, holding onto his composure with an iron grip.


    Dejiu¡¯s frown wanted to sink deeper, but he didn¡¯t want any more trouble. With his head still low, he replied, ¡°Ah, sorry Senior Brother and Senior Monk, but I already have an Earthly Stage teacher for guidance. Teacher Jiansu is bound to be a better teacher, no offense.¡±


    Xue Fan finally spoke, his tone smooth and magnanimous. ¡°Junior Brother, this isn¡¯t a challenge to your teacher¡¯s abilities. Think of it as a show of camaraderie. It¡¯s been years since we trained alongside each other, I could help bring you up to speed. I only wish to see you excel.¡±


    Ah, bullshit. He¡¯s going to beat me to build up his reputation or something. Maybe try to get me to transfer my remnants to him. Dejiu opened his mouth to speak but Senior Monk Liang took the initiative first, ¡°Warrior Jiansu? Yes, his cultivation stage is greater than Xue Fan¡¯s, but I¡¯m sure he can provide guidance as one in the same stage. What went well for Xue Fan might illuminate the struggles you face. After all, not all Earthly Stage monks achieve success, as Warrior Jiansu¡¯s own history makes clear.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s brow twitched, but he kept his gaze down. He could feel the judgment in the room, the other monks exchanging glances, waiting for him to react. Instead, Dejiu took a slow breath and replied evenly, ¡°I understand, Senior Monk Liang. But Teacher Jiansu¡¯s strength lies in his experience. He¡¯s taught me well, and I trust his guidance.¡±


    Xue Fan¡¯s smile grew sharper. ¡°Trust is important, Junior Brother. But trust shouldn¡¯t blind you to opportunities for improvement. I only wish to help.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s commendable that you hold your teacher in such high regard, Junior Brother. However, it¡¯s also important to understand the realities of the temple. Warrior Jiansu, despite his years of experience and his cultivation at the Earthly Stage, was once a Senior Monk. His inability to ascend beyond the mid-tiers of the Earthly Stage ¡ª and his failure to distinguish himself among his peers among other things ¡ª resulted in his demotion to Warrior Monk.¡±


    Dejiu felt a prickle of heat rise in his chest. He could practically hear the silent thoughts of the other monks.


    Senior Monk Liang continued Xue Fan¡¯s spiel, ¡°Warrior Jiansu was granted a second chance to serve in a different capacity, but it is no secret that his demotion was also a reflection of his struggles to maintain harmony with the other seniors. Such isolation often stems from one¡¯s inability to adapt or... one¡¯s failure to inspire trust. ¡±


    This geezer! If Dejiu could froth at the mouth, he would. But he¡¯d also be more than a fool than he already is to act.


    ¡°Fine! Let¡¯s train then, Senior Brother.¡± Dejiu¡¯s jaw set into a forced smile. ¡°I can exchange some stuff I learned in the Seventh Hell too if you¡¯d like.¡±


    ¡°Great! Let¡¯s make haste and get a headstart before the afternoon training session. I trust that you¡¯re accustomed to skipping meals, Junior Brother?¡± Xue Fan said, walking forward to meet Dejiu.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Dejiu¡¯s face was level with Xue Fan before they brushed sides. Xue Fan was already heading for the training hall. ¡°I am. Food is hard to come across in Hell.¡± He said as he followed Xue Fan.


    He looked behind and found Senior Monk Liang conversing with another Junior Monk. Hmph. Not coming, geezer? But before he could be certain, he saw a handful of monks break off from the vast line heading for the refractory to eat.


    Xue Li. Xue Song. Xue Zhi. Xue Yao Zhong. Xue Jiang He.


    ¡°Ah, little monk. You absolute fool. You¡¯ve gotten yourself into quite the pickle.¡± Bing Xin remarked.


    He frowned. Pickle? What is that?


    ¡°A saying. Pay it no mind.¡± She laughed before her shadowy form projected forward. He eyed her figure beside him and noticed how she didn¡¯t leave any snowprints.


    So what? It¡¯ll only be an hour or so before Senior Monk Liang and the other Junior Monks return from breakfast. It won¡¯t be taken out of hand. You know they used to take me outside the gates to beat me bloody and say a wandering beast did it when I left the temple grounds and they rescued me, right? You were technically there too!


    Before Bing Xin could reply, Xue Fan cut in pleasantly, almost overly so. ¡°You know, Junior Brother, I¡¯ve always admired your perseverance. Not many monks have survived a trip to the Seventh Hell and come back to tell the tale. Quite the accomplishment.¡±


    Dejiu glanced at him sidelong, the forced smile still plastered on his face. ¡°Thanks, Senior Brother. It wasn¡¯t by choice, though.¡±


    ¡°Of course not. But surviving such a thing takes skill, talent... and a little luck, doesn¡¯t it? Even a stray dog can learn the Dao if luck has graced its presence.¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s silently scoffed. Stray dog? He forced a laugh. ¡°Lucky for me, then. I couldn¡¯t ask for a more dedicated Senior Brother.¡±


    Xue Fan stopped. He turned around to face Dejiu with a deep scowl slick with disdain unbefitting a monk.


    ¡°I¡¯ve said it before and many times after ¡ª I don¡¯t believe you belong in this temple. Let alone a Junior Monk, you shouldn¡¯t even be a Lay Monk. The graces of your teacher and the specks of magnanimity of our elders have allowed you to retain your place. I don¡¯t agree. Many others don¡¯t as well. Junior Monks like us, the Warrior Monks who¡¯ve witnessed your actions, the Senior Monks who oversee our training, the Arhat disciples, and Arhats who dealt with the consequences of the Feng Clan¡¯s killings. You¡¯re nothing more than a jinx, a blight. Those actions in the Pillarshard only prove it. You don¡¯t belong here. You never have. I wish the best for this temple, and your presence cannot be tolerated.¡±


    Xue Fan continued. ¡°Do you know what the elders say in their lessons? Sometimes, a life should end for others to prosper. A rotting branch must fall to keep the tree strong. You, Junior Brother, should¡¯ve perished in that Pillarshard. Your death would have a purpose ¡ª a warning for the rest of us. Instead, you survived. And because of that, others paid the price. Think on that.¡±


    Dejiu said nothing, keeping his gaze ahead as he walked past the motionless Xue Fan. ¡°You were headed for the training hall, right? Let¡¯s not slow down now.¡± He muttered darkly. He could feel Bing Xin¡¯s silent amusement beside him, though her presence was more unsettling than comforting.


    Bing Xin¡¯s voice whispered in his mind, her tone dark and mocking. ¡°There it is, little monk. The righteous path laid bare. You should¡¯ve died, he says, because it would¡¯ve been easier for them. And these are your temple brothers and sisters? Your family?¡±


    Dejiu¡¯s fists tightened at his sides. They¡¯re not my family.


    Bing Xin chuckled softly, her voice like smoke. ¡°Good. Because they never were.¡±


    They reached the training hall, its stone walls tall and imposing, with faint scratches marking countless years of sparring and lessons. Inside, the air was cooler, and the faint scent of incense lingered. Xue Fan led the way to an open space, gesturing with an exaggerated sweep of his arm.


    Dejiu¡¯s eyes narrowed as he followed Xue Fan into the training hall. The room was sparsely lit, the early morning light barely reaching the cracked stone walls. The chill from outside seeped into the air, but the atmosphere felt heavy for another reason entirely.


    ¡°Remember your soul injury, little monk.¡±


    Not gonna help? Quiet down then. His gaze centered on the end of the chamber where the shadows deepened around her.


    Xue Fan gestured to where a set of worn training platforms waited. ¡°Let¡¯s begin with some sparring. Show me the techniques you¡¯ve picked up in Hell. Surely they¡¯re as deadly as you claim those cultivators you killed in cold blood were.¡±


    Dejiu snorted and looked behind. He noticed the five lackeys followed inside quietly. Ha! At least he didn¡¯t have to put up pretenses. ¡°I thought you were guiding my cultivation? My breathing?¡±


    ¡°Enough joking. You knew what was coming.¡± Xue Fan scoffed and surged forward.