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Chapter 97: The Soul Of A Half-Immortal...
🕑 Added 2024-02-27 01:04:01 +0000 UTCSlifer smiled at Vowron, he couldn’t help but act a little arrogant, "You should bow to your superiors." With that, he released his Void Realm aura, the aura of a higher being forced Vowron's head down.
"W-what the hell are you?" Vowron spluttered, eyes wide.
"Someone way above your pay grade," Slifer replied smugly. He placed his palm on Vowron's forehead before the Black Death Sect Master could react.
"Soul Search!"
Slifer plunged his consciousness into Vowron's soulscape, looking through the demon's memories. Images and memories flashed through Slifer's mind as he sifted through the chaos that was Vowron's life. He saw a young Vowron, no more than five or six, walk in on his father going berserk, brutally murdering his mother. The boy watched, paralyzed, as his mother's blood painted the walls.
Another vision showed a teenage Vowron joining the Black Death Sect, seduced by promises of power. Slifer watched as Vowron rose through the demonic sect's ranks, killing and backstabbing along the way.
One memory displayed Vowron slaying his own father under his master's instructions, his eyes cold and vacant.
Even patricide meant nothing on the path of demonic cultivation.
Slifer shook his head. Vowron was just throwing useless memories at him, hoping to obscure the truth. But Slifer would not be deterred so easily. He pressed deeper, sifting through the Lich wannabes millennia of memories.
Buried beneath the superficial recollections, Slifer found distorted images.
Is this it?
He focused, making out a massive tree silhouetted against a crimson sky. No, not just a tree - some ancient demonic tree but he couldn’t get a good look at it. Slifer reached for it, trying to understand.
But the instant he touched the memory, Slifer felt a force shove him violently from Vowron's soul. Slifer's eyes snapped open just as Vowron's lich-like form collapsed into dust before him.
Ding!
You have killed a Half-Step Immortal Demonic Cultivator
You have gained 3000 Karmic Credits
"A failsafe on his soul," Slifer muttered. Vowron had prepared well, imprinting a self-destruct mechanism deep within his spirit.
Slifer wiped sweat from his brow. The people behind Vowron were clearly formidable, perhaps even at the Greater Immortal Realm, to implant such a potent failsafe on a Half-Step immortal…Slifer felt like he was getting in way over his head.
He stared down at the pile of ashes that minutes before had been the Black Death Sect leader. Now what to do? Destroy the remains? Use them for some creepy demonic ritual?
As he pondered, he suddenly thought of an idea. Slifer waved a hand, gathering up Vowron's ashes into a small glass vial he produced from a ring on his finger. The vial disappeared back into his storage ring. He had little skill in alchemy, but these ashes may prove useful one day. It was the remains of a Half-Step Immortal after all, it must count for something, right?
For now, he had more pressing concerns. Slifer needed to meet with the Elders on how to deal with the Black Death Sect in Vowron's absence. And he needed to advance his own strength before things escalated further.
Something was going down; he could feel it.
***
Slifer sat waiting in the Disciplinary Hall, browsing idly through the Shop. He was pleased to see the Disciplinary Hall's karma farming was continuing smoothly without him having to lift a finger.
Maybe I should just hole up here indefinitely until I reached Immortal Ascension or something?
Slifer recalled reading stories where the protagonist secluded himself for centuries before emerging unstoppably powerful.
But no, hiding indefinitely wasn't an option, as tempting as it sounded. He couldn't shirk his duties as Supreme Elder. And more pressingly, he didn't trust this world's Heaven's Will to ignore an interloper like himself. Eventually he would have to face more tribulations sent by the Will of this world. Hiding would only delay the inevitable. Especially when Heavenly Trials were not only limited to tribulations.
The scariest tribulation is a cultivator manipulated by Heaven’s Will…
"Supreme Elder." Grand Elder Tenzin's voice jarred Slifer from his thoughts. He looked up to see the Elder waiting patiently.
"Tenzin, come in, take a seat," Slifer said, waving the man over. Best to continue to build goodwill with one of the few Elders who was trying to gain his favour.
They made small talk about sect affairs until Grand Elder Lydia glided in. Slifer greeted her as well and directed her to have a seat. Lydia inclined her head politely, face unreadable as always. She rarely spoke during meetings, seemingly content to simply observe.
Finally Grand Elder Wyatt arrived, out of breath and red-faced. Slifer noted with satisfaction that he must have rushed all the way here. Serves him right after his past attempts to trip up Slifer. Let him stand awkwardly while the others sat.
It’s like owning a dog, you need to show them who’s the alpha…
Once Wyatt had caught his breath, Slifer cleared his throat. "Elders, I've called you here to discuss our next moves given recent events. The chaos caused by the Black Death Sect must be answered."
Tenzin nodded sagely. "Too right, too right. We cannot let such violence stand."
Wyatt quickly added, "With both the Black Heart and Black Death leaders gone, those sects will be directionless. Now is the time to assert dominance before they can regroup."
"Going to war would stretch our sect thin when we've already suffered losses," Tenzin cautioned.
Wyatt waved a hand dismissively. "This opportunity is too good to pass up. The heavens themselves have delivered our rivals into our hands. Together the three sects would be unstoppable. The three sects as one is how it was always meant to be."
"And how do you propose we manage three sects when we can barely handle one?" Tenzin countered, frowning. "The Sect Master is still in secluded cultivation, we don’t have enough manpower or resources to control an expanded territory."
"In time we can groom new elders from the conquered sects and extract greater taxes and tributes from the increased populace," Wyatt argued. "Without leaders to unify them, they will fracture and be easily dominated."
“I can’t believe that I am saying this about you of all people,” Tenzin shook his head firmly. "But your thinking is dangerously short-sighted. The people will resent such heavy-handed occupation, and without the strength to enforce it, we'll face endless turmoil and rebellion."
As the two men debated, Slifer listened intently, weighing their words. Lydia sat silently, not bothering to give input one way or another.
When the arguing grew heated, Slifer held up a hand. "Enough. I will be making personal visits to both sects to assess the situation."
The Elders lowered their heads. Dispatching an Ascendant cultivator like Slifer would certainly settle matters. None could hope to oppose someone so powerful. But it wasn’t appropriate for them to suggest that the Supreme Elder himself act.
It’ll be nice to get some fresh air…even if it is in another demonic sect.
In truth, Slifer would prefer relaxing in seclusion. But he couldn't pass up this opportunity. And entering the Death Sect HQ may reveal clues about Vowron's goals.
Decision made, Slifer stood up abruptly. The Elders quickly followed suit. Without another word, Slifer retrieved brought the Divine Ark from his storage ring.
Just as he was about to jump on, a high-pitched voice called out. "Master, wait for me!"
Slifer turned to see Val soaring towards him. He smiled involuntarily at the sight of the bubbly creature.
Val sat down on his shoulder, scaly tail swishing in the air. "Where are we going? Is it a fun trip?"
"A quick business trip," Slifer clarified. At Val's crestfallen look, he relented. "But I suppose my fierce dragon bodyguard would be useful."
Val scrunched her snout. "Who're you calling fierce?" But she seemed pleased at the prospect of an adventure.
Wasn’t she just trying to convince me she was fierce enough to scare Vowron…why the sudden change?
Deciding there was no use trying to understand what was going on in the head of a baby dragon, Slifer moved to board the ark once more, Val piped up again. "Oh, I brought a friend. Hope that's okay!"
Slifer raised an eyebrow. "Friend?"
"That would be me." A female voice answered. Slifer turned to see Leah, the young cultivator from the Black Heart Sect. The same girl who Morvran had accidentally kidnapped when Slifer first arrived in this world, the girl he was supposed to be mentoring.
"Leah? What a...surprise," Slifer greeted awkwardly.
Leah bowed. "I wish to see my sect again after so long away. Can…can I join you?" Behind Slifer, Val pleaded with big eyes.
Seeing Slifer's hesitation, Val pleaded. "Come on, Master! The more the merrier."
Slifer chuckled inwardly. Fine, a young disciple and cute dragon could come. They'd probably get into antics and misadventures, but things had been too tense lately. And maybe I would be able to finally convert her to the righteous side and get me that extra disciple slot.
"Alright, welcome aboard."
Comments
fity0208
Small typo on the system message -half step instead of -half step immortal
