NOVPUB
Chapter 109: Please Spar With Me
Inside the room, Aldrian sat face-to-face with Baek Ji-Min. A table between them held all kinds of snacks and two glasses of hot tea. As they spoke, Aldrian recounted his experience comprehending the Heavenly Demon’s scripture. Though he didn’t share all the details, it was enough to keep Baek Ji-Min entertained.
"You’re incredible. I still can’t understand how you wield two different energies. I suppose you really are that special," she said with a smile.
"Of course. Haven’t you seen me already?" Aldrian teased.
"By the way, when you saw my being’s essence, can you describe it in more detail?" Suddenly, Aldrian changed the topic.
Baek Ji-Min was briefly puzzled but soon responded, "Like I told you before, it felt like I was in a vast void—inside a space of darkness. There was absolutely nothing. But above it, there was a golden light. I couldn’t look at it for long, but I felt drawn toward it. Beyond that, I didn’t notice anything else." 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
Aldrian pondered her words for a moment.
"The golden light must be that ’star’ as for the darkness... that sounds exactly like what I saw and felt. There was nothing—no sensation, no presence. It was like I was one with the void, yet, at the same time, I was a separate entity from it."
"The only thing that made me realize I was still different from the void was my ability to move, to think. My will as a human was still intact."
Aldrian’s thoughts grew clearer. He was now almost certain, that void was his ’being essence,’ the truth of who he really was.
"Can you visit the ’being’s essence,’ either physically or spiritually?" Aldrian asked, watching as Baek Ji-Min shook her head.
"How can we visit something that’s abstract in nature? It’s not a place, nor does it have a form for you to visit, even in your spiritual state. I could only see and sense your ’being’s essence,’ but that doesn’t count as truly being there. It’s more like witnessing the ’truth’, but I’m not actually present within it. Do you understand what I mean?"
"A ’being’s essence’ isn’t something that can be seen normally. The only reason I could see it is because of my eye technique. Before comprehending the Heavenly Demon’s Flower scripture, I didn’t even know such a thing existed. The term ’being’s essence’ only appears in the Heavenly Demon’s Flower scripture—or at least that’s all I know of."
Aldrian was stunned.
"But I visited that place! Is there some kind of mistake?"
His thoughts shifted to the Heavenly Demon. Was it him who made it possible to enter such a place? He realized he was missing crucial information. If he wanted to return to that void, he needed to understand more about a ’being’s essence’.
He looked at Baek Ji-Min and wondered if reading the full content of the Heavenly Demon’s Flower scripture would offer any answers.
"Miss Ji-Min, may I visit the Thorny Flower Garden’s temple of the Heavenly Demon and read the Heavenly Demon’s Flower scripture?"
Baek Ji-Min raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Why would you want to read that scripture? You already have your own Heavenly Demon scripture."
Aldrian sighed.
"It’s nothing. I just wanted to find more information about the ’being’s essence.’ It seems connected to me," he explained, sharing a small part of his experience visiting the place he could only describe as the ’being’s essence.’
Baek Ji-Min was stunned by Aldrian’s story.
"That’s truly unbelievable. But from what I understand, the ’being’s essence’ isn’t a place, it’s something abstract. Every being has their own ’truth,’ but it can only be seen through the eye technique in the Heavenly Demon’s Flower scripture."
She then looked at him with a determined expression.
"I’ll try to talk to my mother, but I can’t promise you anything. We are talking about the secret of our sect, so I don’t know how she will react."
Aldrian smiled.
"It’s fine. Whatever the outcome, I’ll accept it. I just need to see what I can uncover in the future."
They chatted a bit longer, discussing other topics, before Aldrian excused himself. The moon had already reached its peak, and it was time for him to head back.
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The next day,
The disciples of the Piercing Heaven Sect were busy doing their daily activities, like practicing their combat techniques, cultivating in seclusion, comprehending something to reach enlightenment, and others. Aldrian looked at all of this with an amused expression as he stood near the training field designated for sparring.
Many disciples cast curious glances at him, wondering who this young man was. He clearly stood out, not wearing a disciple’s robe and simply standing there, observing. Though news of Aldrian’s arrival at the sect had spread a year ago, no significant updates followed, and over time, his existence had faded into the background. Sect life continued as usual, and most disciples hadn’t even seen his face, so it was understandable that many didn’t recognize him.
While Xin Haotian, Eleine, and Sylphia had been occasionally spotted walking through the sect since last year, Aldrian had remained unseen. Now that this unfamiliar young man had reappeared, some disciples speculated about his status, remembering the rumors that tied him to the sect master and the elders. They didn’t dare approach him recklessly, fearing they might offend someone important.
But, as they say, "moths are drawn to a flame." A person still approached Aldrian, a robust and tall man who now stood beside him, looking down with a challenging presence. Aldrian glanced at the man, recognizing him from the temple of the Heavenly Demon the day before but chose to ignore him.
Judging by his robe, Aldrian knew the man was from the Black Dragon Pavilion. Now that he was standing close, Aldrian could study him in greater detail.
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Kang Yong-Jin
Age : 130 years
Race : Human
Cultivation : Middle Earl
Cultivation technique : The Heavenly Demon’s Black Dragon Scripture
Attack techniques : Demonic Dragon Fist, Fist of Obliteration, Void Punch, Dragon Roar
Defense technique : Dragon’s armor
Movement technique : Dragon stomp
Supporting technique : Black Dragon’s form, Dragon aura
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Aldrian raised an eyebrow, realizing this man had comprehended the Heavenly Demon’s Black Dragon Scripture. From the information Aldrian had studied, he knew this cultivation technique leaned heavily toward body cultivation. Recalling the people from the Black Dragon Pavilion like the envoy he first met at Dual Peak Horns, the sect master, and now this man—it became clear that the Black Dragon Pavilion specialized in body cultivation techniques.
He observed the man with a calm expression. Though Aldrian had grown taller over the past year, he was still shorter than the sturdy, robust figure standing before him. He waited for the man to speak, and soon enough, the towering figure cupped his hands in a formal gesture.
"Please spar with me," the man said.
The surrounding disciples were stunned. They all knew who this man was—the young lord of the Black Dragon Pavilion, famous throughout the Demon Territory, Kang Yong-Jin. His immense power and love for combat were well-known. Now, he was challenging this unknown young man? This would surely be an entertaining spectacle.
Aldrian tilted his head slightly, his expression curious.
"Why me?"
"Because I think you’ll give me a good fight," Kang Yong-Jin replied confidently.
Aldrian studied him for a moment, reading the competitive spark in his eyes, before nodding.
"I see, he’s just the typical fighter always looking for a strong opponent."
"So, you agree?" the man pressed.
"Sure, it’s a good way to pass the time. I’m curious to see how strong the successor of the Black Dragon Pavilion truly is." Aldrian replied.
As if by instinct, the crowd cleared the training field, making space for Aldrian and Kang Yong-Jin. Word of their impending spar quickly spread throughout the sect, causing an excited buzz. Disciples rushed from all corners to witness the spectacle.
"Who did young master Kang challenge to spar?" one disciple asked.
"It’s that guy who arrived at the sect a year ago."
"Is he any good?"
"If young master Kang challenged him, he must be the real deal!"
The voices of excited disciples echoed around the training field, and even the elders had caught wind of the event. They immediately reported it to Sect Master Ryu Hyuk-Jae. His response?
"Let them fight! It’s a good chance for the disciples to get to know young master Aldrian better," he said with a smile.
By the time Xin Haotian, Eleine, and Sylphia arrived at the training field, it was already packed with spectators. At the center of it all, Aldrian and Kang Yong-Jin stood 100 meters apart, facing each other, ready to begin their sparring match.
"To be honest, when I first heard about you, I felt skeptical," Kang Yong-Jin said as he took a battle stance. His hands clenched into fists, radiating a powerful aura that made the surrounding arena tremble slightly.
"But after I saw what you did yesterday, I have to acknowledge that you are a strong opponent worthy of my fight!"
