NOVPUB
Chapter 166: Strange Monk
Duke Valiard and the others looked at the monk with suspicion, but they held back from taking any action. They knew that monks generally appeared friendly to others, yet after everything they had just gone through, they needed to be cautious. They couldn’t sense any cultivation from this monk, which only added to their uncertainty about him.
Aldrian also attempted to read the monk’s intent and mind, but he was stunned when he sensed that the monk’s entire body was shielded by a powerful layer of karma. The karma laws surrounding him were so complex that Aldrian thought they were the most intricate he had ever encountered.
Curiously, he examined the monk’s information, but when he saw the details, he was shocked.
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Karmasiddhi
Age : 89,032 Years
Race : Human
Cultivation : Peak Emperor
Cultivation technique : Grace of the Karma Buddha
Attack techniques : Golden Palm, Voice of Dharma, Dharmapala’s Annihilation Palm, Asura’s Strike, Karmic Strike, Karmic Curse.
Defense technique : Golden Body Dharma
Movement technique : Buddha’s Celerity
Supporting technique : Karma Buddha’s Eyes.
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He was shocked to discover that this monk was at the Peak Emperor stage, the most powerful being he had ever encountered.
"Could this monk be the abbot of a Buddhist sect?" he wondered. With such a high level of cultivation, there was no way this could be an ordinary monk. He even doubted that the monk’s face was his real face—this was the first time he couldn’t distinguish between a disguise and the true appearance. He guessed it had something to do with the monk’s profound attainment in karma laws. He even dared to admit that this monk might have a greater mastery of karma than he did!
"You may call this humble monk simply ’Karma Seeker.’ May I know the benefactor’s name?" the monk asked, cupping his hands in respect.
"My name is Aldrian Aster. You can call me Aldrian, teacher."
"Aldrian Aster—what a great name. I hope I haven’t caused you any trouble, Benefactor Aldrian."
"No, not at all." Although Aldrian was still somewhat suspicious of the monk’s intentions, the monk didn’t seem to have any ill will. After that, the monk paid some energy stones to the teleportation station operator, stating he would join Aldrian’s group. Once the operator confirmed this, the monk sat beside Aldrian, remaining perfectly still and silent, as if he were one with nature.
Aldrian decided to start a conversation with the monk.
"Teacher ’Karma Seeker,’ are you also interested in the middle divine-grade sword and came to visit Dalahan City for it?" 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝘣.𝘤𝘰𝑚
"No, I’m not interested in an object like a divine-grade sword. I visit Dalahan to follow karma and to gain more karma," the Karma Seeker monk said.
Aldrian felt a bit puzzled, but he nodded and accepted the answer, not wanting to pry too deeply into others’ affairs. When their number was called, it was their turn to enter the teleportation portal. Without hesitation, they stepped in. However, the monk cast a brief glance at the box Duke Valiard was carrying and then turned to Aldrian.
"Benefactor Aldrian is a man of righteousness—a man of righteousness," the monk remarked.
Aldrian couldn’t quite grasp the monk’s cryptic way of speaking, but he simply replied.
"Teacher, you seem fond of complimenting people. But isn’t that what we all should be? To be righteous?" he said as they entered the teleportation portal.
"Of course, what the benefactor said is true. However, not every being’s heart can hold righteousness, and even if they have a righteous heart, not all of them can bear the weight of that righteousness," the monk said as they walked and stepped into the teleportation formation. Instantly, they arrived at the teleportation formation in Dalahan City, but Aldrian continued to ponder the monk’s words.
"It’s true that the weight of a righteous heart can only be comprehended through implementation in one’s life. It’s worthless to possess a righteous heart if you allow injustice or evil to prevail," Aldrian sighed. "But in this cultivation world, where injustice and evil are everywhere, can an ideal like a righteous heart truly prevail?"
They had already exited the teleportation portal when Aldrian finally stopped contemplating these thoughts. As they walked further from the teleportation station, the monk turned to Aldrian and said,
"I think this is where we part ways. Thank you for your generosity, benefactor Aldrian. I hope you can always walk the path of righteousness, the path of the ’sovereign,’" the monk said.
Aldrian was stunned, he looked at the monk intently but still cupped his hands and slightly bowed his head.
"Thank you for the advice, teacher. I wish you a safe journey."
The monk simply smiled and turned around to walk away, blending with the crowd. However, in Aldrian’s mind, this monk seemed detached from his surroundings, the crowd appeared unaware of the monk’s existence. He walked away unhindered, as if an invisible wall surrounded him, preventing him from being touched by others.
"That monk’s intentions for approaching us seem directed at you, young master, he doesn’t seem interested in talking with us," Duke Valiard remarked.
Aldrian nodded and looked at the others. "Anyway, let’s head to the royal palace; we need to report in first."
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In the throne hall of the royal palace, King Douwin was facing a headache over the recent events in his kingdom.
"Those people seem insistent on seeing the Eternal Spirit Sword. Am I supposed to tell them that the Eternal Spirit already has an owner?" Many factions had been requesting an audience with him, and King Douwin was well aware of their intentions: to see and even acquire the middle divine-grade sword. He had rejected their requests, citing that the matter of the sword was for Duke Valiard to decide. However, some of them remained persistent, even bringing offers to entice him into helping them with the negotiations.
As the king of the Forgeheart Kingdom, he could act as he wished with them. However, being too harsh was not advisable, given that they belonged to prominent families and sects from their respective territories. Even imperial families had been reaching out to him. Additionally, he didn’t want to disclose Aldrian’s involvement to these factions, as he sought to avoid burdening him with such matters. Aldrian was someone he wanted to ally with.
He then saw a royal guard enter and kneel before him. "Your Majesty, Duke Valiard has arrived with Young Master Aldrian, seeking an audience."
King Douwin’s eyes brightened at the news. "Quick, bring them in."
Before long, Duke Valiard and Aldrian entered, accompanied by Mardred, who was still in disguise. King Douwin felt puzzled by this stranger but waited for their report. After bowing to the king, Duke Valiard addressed him.
"Your Majesty, I have returned to inform you that we successfully completed our mission."
"Is that true, then—" King Douwin began, glancing at the stranger before Mardred’s disguise shifted, revealing his true face.
"It’s been a long time, Your Majesty—or at least, to you," Mardred said with a smile.
King Douwin trembled as he stepped closer. Once he stood in front of Mardred, he embraced him warmly. "It’s good to have you back."
"Oh, come on, don’t be too sentimental; I’m already here, aren’t I?" Mardred chuckled, returning the hug—a brotherly embrace that reflected their deep bond as best friends and sworn brothers. After their reunion, King Douwin took his seat on the throne, looking at Duke Valiard and Aldrian with a proud expression.
"Excellent work, you two! Now, I want to hear all about your journey in detail," King Douwin declared.
"I’ll share the details, Your Majesty, but could you ask everyone to leave the hall except for us?" Aldrian requested.
King Douwin was puzzled by Aldrian’s request but obliged, ordering the surrounding royal guards to exit the throne hall. Once they were alone, Aldrian began to recount their journey to the Dragon Back Mountain.
King Douwin listened intently, his expression shifting between shock and solemnity as Aldrian recounted their journey. Aldrian, of course, left out details about the Origin Sword, only mentioning that Mardred had been found in the secret realm. When Aldrian described his battle against the greed devil, he revealed the Heavenly Blaze Sword from his storage ring. King Douwin’s eyes widened in astonishment as he rushed to examine the sword closely.
"It’s the true Heavenly Blaze Sword! So it was stolen by the greed devil! How could he sneak into the treasure vault? It doesn’t make any sense—the vault is protected by layers of traps that would instantly detect even someone with space laws if they tried to breach it!" King Douwin exclaimed.
"Yes, that’s true, Your Majesty. That’s why I brought it here," Aldrian replied, gesturing to the box they had carried with them. King Douwin’s curiosity piqued as he turned his gaze to the box, and when Duke Valiard opened it to reveal its contents, King Douwin was shocked yet again.
"Duke Badin?! So you brought him all the way here from the Badin Dukedom? Inside a box?"
"Yes, your majesty. Please take a look at this information crystal; it will explain everything."
King Douwin then watched as the recording crystal played, showing Aldrian interrogating Duke Badin. Once the recording concluded, the entire hall trembled, and King Douwin’s face contorted with rage, his aura flaring throughout the palace.
"Bastard!"
