NOVPUB
Chapter 105: The Old Man in the Shadows
When cultivators begin to cultivated Heaven and Earth energy, their dantian and meridians adapt to the cultivation method they practice. If a cultivator follows the orthodox path, their energy will be shaped accordingly. If they practice demonic cultivation, their energy will be molded into demonic energy, and so on.
This is fundamental knowledge and an absolute rule in the world of cultivation. What if you want to switch from orthodox to demonic cultivation? You would need to completely rebuild your dantian and meridians to accommodate the new energy.
Such an endeavor requires immense resources and an iron will because destroying your own cultivation means erasing a lifetime of hard work. Moreover, losing your cultivation can lead to death, as without it, your body’s natural lifespan will quickly catch up, slowly deteriorating without the energy to sustain its functions.
And what about wielding two types of energy at once, for example, both orthodox and demonic? The answer is simple: it’s impossible. The two opposing energies would turn your body into a battlefield, resulting either in crippling injuries or death before you even realize your mistake.
If someone somehow managed to wield both types of energy, it would overturn everything known about cultivation, the very principles passed down since ancient times. And that’s exactly what they witnessed in Aldrian as he demonstrated two different energies in each of his hands.
His left hand held the Heavenly Demon’s energy, while his right radiated his usual golden energy. The sight shattered their understanding of cultivation, leaving them on the brink of madness. How in the world had Aldrian accomplished such a feat?!
Sect Master Ryu Hyuk-Jae’s eyes nearly bulged from their sockets as he witnessed the absurdity of the situation. He couldn’t begin to explain how Aldrian was able to wield two different energies. After seeing Aldrian comprehend the Heavenly Demon’s scripture and unleash demonic energy, Ryu had assumed that Aldrian had fully embraced the path of a demonic cultivator.
Following their meeting in the Thorny Flower Garden, Ryu was convinced that Aldrian would forsake his orthodox cultivation, as he’d agreed to his "plea."
"This man is willing to abandon his cultivation to fulfill the destiny of the Heavenly Demon’s scripture. What an honorable man!" Ryu had thought at the time. He was prepared to wholeheartedly support Aldrian, a man seemingly ready to give his all to the Heavenly Demon.
But when the golden energy suddenly manifested alongside the demonic energy, Ryu’s mind went blank. For a moment, he wondered if it had something to do with the Heavenly Demon’s scripture—but quickly dismissed the thought. After all, the Heavenly Demon’s energy was still demonic in nature. Nowhere in the historical records was there mention of the Heavenly Demon wielding two types of energy.
"So he already knew about it and just decided to go along with comprehending the scripture? I feel stupid for getting sentimental over his supposed determination," he thought, feeling scammed by the young man, but all he could do was sigh.
"Whatever, at least the Heavenly Demon’s scripture has found a successor." For now, all he could do was continue to observe the situation and see how things unfolded.
"The Heavenly Demon’s energy... it feels almost identical to mine. I can even sense a similarity to my golden energy, but the Heavenly Demon added negative energy to his own, creating the Heavenly Demon’s energy," Aldrian mused. 𝚗𝚘v𝚙𝚞b.𝚌𝚘m
"My golden energy... how should I describe it? It feels more original?" he thought, dispersing the energies before glancing at Sect Master Ryu Hyuk-Jae.
"Sect Master, may I be excused? I’d like to rest after being in a state of comprehension for so long." He still couldn’t believe that a whole year had passed outside while he was cultivating—he was now 14 years old.
"Sect master may I excuse for this time? I want to rest after I in comprehension state all this time." He really can’t believe the time outside already a year pass, now he is 14 years old.
"Ah, yes, of course. You must be tired—please, take a rest," he replied awkwardly.
As Aldrian walked past them, he sent Baek Ji-Min a voice transmission.
"Let’s talk again later—if you’d like that."
Baek Ji-Min’s eyes widened, but a smile still formed on her lips as she watched him leave. Xin Haotian, Eleine, and Sylphia followed closely behind him.
While those in the Heavenly Demon Temple of the Piercing Heaven Sect realized that a monster had been born, the world outside remained in disarray, still trying to grasp the magnitude of what had just happened.
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In Vermilion City, an old man with a hunched back shuffled through the crowd, leaning on his cane. He ignored the chatter around him regarding the recent strange events, though he too had felt the terrifying phenomenon—a force so powerful it made even his heart tremble. The pressure was akin to that of a Heavenly Tribulation, yet he also sensed the fury of the dark clouds, as if Heaven itself was enraged at someone.
He didn’t fully understand what had happened, but he thought it was good news for him. This was the moment he had been waiting for, the moment to finally make his move. After so long of hiding, he had come out of the shadows because he had found an intriguing target. The old man, an assassin from the Thunderous Shadow Pavilion, had arrived in Vermilion City months ago, tracing Aldrian’s trail.
He moved with extreme caution and precision. As an emperor-stage assassin, his abilities ensured that no one below his level could detect him, and even those above him would struggle to locate his presence. Now, as he deliberately masked his aura and blended into the crowd, he was confident no one would realize he was there. His very presence in the city, undetected by the likes of the Thorny Flower Garden and the Piercing Heaven Sect, was proof of his skill.
Still, he knew better than to underestimate the three great sects of the Demon Territory. After tracking Aldrian’s movements in the city for months, he had deduced that his target’s last known location was within the Piercing Heaven Sect. It was a dangerous place, even for someone of his caliber, and one misstep could cost him his life without a chance to reconsider his actions.
After much deliberation, he had decided to bide his time. And now, with the sudden appearance of the black clouds, he knew he could take advantage of the chaos they caused. It was the perfect opportunity to slip into the Piercing Heaven Sect unnoticed. Even with the sun still shining in the sky, he was undeterred from his mission. Without anyone noticing, he vanished from the crowd, leaving no trace behind.
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The events that had shaken several regions of the continent were still the topic of conversation well into the night. By now, the sky was dark, adorned with stars and the moon, casting their light as celestial ornaments.
Inside the Piercing Heaven Sect, in his personal chamber, Aldrian rested with his eyes closed. He wasn’t cultivating at the moment—just allowing his body and mind to recover after spending a year in a state of comprehension. He was still baffled by the difference in the flow of time between the ’white realm’ and the outside world.
Not long after returning to his room, without realizing it, Aldrian drifted off to sleep—a testament to how deeply fatigued his body and mind were. The last time he had fallen asleep so unknowingly was back in Balin, after exhausting himself with countless tasks.
Now, though he was awake, he kept his eyes closed, savoring the moment of relaxation. He hadn’t yet taken the time to thoroughly assess what he had gained from his comprehension, but that could wait. As he lay there, moments later, he sensed a faint disturbance in the vicinity of the Piercing Heaven Sect.
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The old man moved through the shadows as if he were one with them. The hunched figure who had relied on a cane while mingling in the crowd was gone, replaced by a strong, muscular figure cloaked in black. His face was hidden behind a mask, ready to carry out his mission.
His movements were swift and silent, not even the faintest sound betraying his presence. When he reached the outer wall of the Piercing Heaven Sect, he stopped atop a tall tree, its leaves and branches illuminated by the pale moonlight. Hidden within the shadows of the branches, he began calculating his next move, carefully planning his entry and exit.
Just as he was about to proceed, he suddenly sensed a presence—someone had appeared above him, floating in the air.
"Well, well, looks like a rat trying to sneak in." A voice came from above.
