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Chapter 101: The Stone Tablet
The sunrise illuminated the Demon territory, especially around the Piercing Heaven Sect. The scenery was breathtaking, with glowing diamonds scattered across the land. It was the kind of beauty that could make someone reflect and comprehend on the mysteries of nature. That’s exactly what Aldrian was doing right now.
He sat cross-legged atop a cliff overlooking the Piercing Heaven Sect, deep in his comprehension session. He had been in this position for an hour, feeling the flow of energy and sensing its density more clearly, along with each element in the air. What Aldrian sensed was unlike anything others could perceive, allowing him to build a deeper connection with nature and the universe.
Each day that passed, his cultivation became even stronger, and as it did, so did his control over the energy around him. Inside his domain, he could manipulate the surrounding energy effortlessly, using only his will to command it, even stopping its flow entirely when he wished.
It’s an incredibly powerful ability. If his enemies were inside his domain, they would need at least the cultivation level of a grand duke to even attempt to forcefully absorb the energy within it, and even then, it would be extremely difficult. As for anyone below the duke stage? They shouldn’t even think about replenishing their energy.
He didn’t yet know the full extent of his domain’s power and could only uncover it gradually. At this time, he had already established his domain here, enjoying the process of comprehending each new stuff within it. Each of his domains wasn’t always the same, and it was refreshing for him to encounter something new, whether it was the composition of energy, new elements, or anything related to nature and the universe.
One place that particularly caught his interest was located atop a mountain. It now lay within his domain, but what made it special was the strong karmic thread tied to this location. A red building, with an ancient Eastern style and a sacred aura, stood here. Its presence made even the most formidable demonic cultivators feel humble before it.
"The Temple of the Heavenly Demon."
No one needed to tell him what kind of place this was. He was naturally drawn to it, sensing the karmic string connected to something beyond. Though he had never visited or seen this temple before, he knew that the karma here linked him to something deeper—something beyond the temple’s physical form.
He stopped his comprehension session when he sensed a few presences approaching from behind. Standing up, he turned to see Sylphia in front, followed by the others, including Ryu Dong-Geun. He exhaled softly.
"Let’s go," he said.
Together, they walked toward the Temple of the Heavenly Demon, which was perched atop a mountain shaped like a giant pillar with a flat top. This was the most secluded and highest point among the surrounding mountains. They ascended via a circular staircase, as flying to the temple by any means was prohibited.
After a long walk, they finally arrived at the grand temple. In front of it lay a vast open space, large enough to hold thousands of people. Although Aldrian had already observed everything earlier through his domain, standing here in person felt entirely different. For some reason, his heart raced—he had the sense that something here would change him in the future.
Outside the temple, Sect Master Ryu Hyuk-Jae was already waiting with some of the elders, just as Aldrian had seen the previous day. It was clear that very few people knew about the existence of the Heavenly Demon’s scripture.
Aldrian approached the sect master, intending to greet him. Although Ryu Hyuk-Jae appeared calm, with a smile on his face, Aldrian could sense the nervousness beneath the surface.
"Aldrian, how are you today? I hope you’re ready for today’s event. I believe in you," Ryu Hyuk-Jae said, patting Aldrian on the shoulder.
"You believe in the Heavenly Demon’s scripture’s hints, not in me," Aldrian thought to himself.
He proceeded to greet each of the elders, whom he hadn’t had the chance to acknowledge yesterday due to the sect master’s enthusiasm, confirming his suspicion that they were indeed the grand elders of the Piercing Heaven Sect.
"Let’s not wait any longer. Follow me, and I will show you the true Heavenly Demon’s scripture," Ryu Hyuk-Jae said, stepping confidently toward the massive red double doors.
Aldrian noticed the intricate formations etched into the doors. He could say with certainty that this was the most sophisticated formation he had ever encountered. According to his estimation, it would take him at least ten minutes to decipher it.
The door contained various formations from detection, seals and even killing formation. Ryu Hyuk-Jae put his hand on the door and he inserting his energy. The formation lighten up and the sound of the door’s mechanism moving creating creaking sound. After the formation dim and the door return to normal the giant door open showing what is inside.
Aldrian was truly amazed by all of this; it was vastly different from the Temple of the Heavenly Demon in Dual Horns Peak City. He had never seen the temple in Thorny Flower Garden because he had never found it, and his domain did not cover that area. Still, he believed this would be the grandest, as it was the place where the Heavenly Demon’s scripture located.
Inside the temple was a vast hall with nine giant pillars. There was no excessive furniture, only three engravings on the center ceiling. A light symbol surrounded by an ambigram, representing the Heavenly Demon was at the center, flanked by a dragon and a flower on either side. The thought that came to Aldrian’s mind as he looked at those engravings was of the three scriptures of the Heavenly Demon.
At the end of the hall stood the altar, identical to those found throughout the Demon territory. Sect Master Ryu Hyuk-Jae then stood in front of the altar, his expression solemn, devoid of the joking and easygoing demeanor he had displayed earlier. Suddenly, he knelt and kowtowed, followed by the other demonic cultivators.
"We are here to fulfill our role for the destined one," he said softly.
Rising to his feet, he released a wave of energy before slicing his fingertip and allowing a drop of his blood to fall onto the symbol at the center of the altar. The symbol lit up, and the ground in front of the altar trembled before splitting open to reveal a hidden mechanism.
After a few moments, a large stone tablet rose into view, presented before everyone in attendance.
"Aldrian, I present to you the Heavenly Demon’s scripture," Sect Master Ryu Hyuk-Jae declared.
Aldrian and the others gazed at the stone tablet in astonishment. To be honest, Aldrian hadn’t expected the Heavenly Demon’s scripture to be engraved on the surface of a stone tablet. He had thought he would see a scroll or a book, but to find it on a stone tablet was surprising.
"This is the foundation of the Piercing Heaven Sect—no, I dare to say this is the foundation of demonic cultivation, demonic cultivators, and all that is connected to the Heavenly Demon. The Heavenly Demon himself, as the creator of demonic cultivation, inscribed his lifelong cultivation techniques and the teachings of the Way of the Heavenly Demon on this stone tablet, which his sole disciple later brought back to be comprehended."
Aldrian nodded, studying the stone tablet intently.
"May I try to read it now?" he asked.
"Go ahead. It’s already in front of you. What’s written here can be read by anyone, but none have ever been able to fully comprehend it. I hope you succeed," Sect Master Ryu Hyuk-Jae replied, stepping back to give Aldrian more space.
Without further ado, Aldrian stood in front of the tablet. It was filled with many sentences rich in hidden meanings and philosophical insights. He read with full concentration when he suddenly became drawn to a few lines above the others:
The way of the universe is the way of the Heavens
The way of nature is the way of the Heavens
The bind of karma is the bond of destiny
The Heavens have their rules, I have my own
If the Heavens leave me, I will leave them
If the Heavens fight me, I will fight them
Destiny is for me to shape
Suddenly he felt something click in his mind.
I’m tied to the universe
I’m tied to nature
All of this is my own karma
Why I am different is also my destiny
As Aldrian repeated these lines, his mind was suddenly transported to an era long before this one. He found himself in an unknown place, filled only with white, like being inside the pure white realm.
He looked down at his attire, it was still the same robe he wore in the temple. Surrounding him was nothingness, so he began to walk, moving without direction, simply following where his feet took him.
He didn’t know how long he walked, but with each step, it felt like déjà vu, as if he had traversed this place before. A slight pain throbbed in his head, causing him to grimace, yet he continued onward.
Not long after, he came upon a solitary structure, a small pavilion in the midst of the white expanse. Inside sat a handsome young man with black hair and red eyes. Aldrian recognized him, he had encountered this man before, albeit indirectly.
"That’s the man I saw in my vision."
