Chapter 180: Cloud Empire

The remainder of the translucent energy continued nourishing his soul. The limit then emerged, this time the translucent energy did not completely break the limit but compressed it, weakening it.

The limit remained, but now it was only seven days, not weeks. In a little over a week, he would be able to absorb the stones again and finally break through to the next stage.

The connection with the book then faded away, returning to its dormant and silent state. The translucent energy disappeared, leaving behind a mind of crystalline clarity and a body filled with newly acquired power.

Kyrian opened his eyes. His eyes flickered with even greater pressure. The habitual crimson remained. Kyrian thought it was right to continue with the blood eyes while he was in the Court.

He took a deep breath, a long and slow sigh that echoed in the silent room. A wave of deep, cold satisfaction flooded him.

Two stages. Advanced in a single night. With the limit reduced to a fraction of what it was. And a strengthened soul, making his perception sharper, his will more unshakable.

He stood up, his movements fluid and filled with a new, contained energy.

He looked at his hands, feeling his new strength. It was still insignificant compared to that emerald being. But the distance was shrinking. With every black mass devoured, he would draw closer to his goal faster.

The night was deep and restorative. After the whirlwind of energy and advancement, Kyrian’s body, still adapting to the new strength, demanded true rest.

He fell asleep with the rare sensation of tangible progress. The ghost of the root queen, a little more distant in his mind, was pushed to the depths by the glow of his renewed determination.

Dawn brought an interruption. Firm, measured knocks on the door of his quarters.

Kyrian opened his eyes, the crimson igniting instantly, clear and alert.

He put on his Main Branch robes, the heavy fabric settling perfectly over his shoulders, and opened the door.

A servant, head lowered and hands clasped, waited.

“Master Dong Zhen summons you to the Core Hall, Young Master.”

Kyrian nodded once, a gesture of acknowledgment, and the servant quickly departed. Without hesitation, Kyrian directed his steps toward the pulsing heart of the fortress.

Upon entering the vast hall, the scene was already set. Dong Zhen, an imposing figure in dark red, stood before the pulsing core.

Around him, the other five disciples were already gathered. Bai Zhu, with his arm now apparently healed, but his gaze still laden with resentment. Li Fen, an unmoving shadow. Yan Ling, calculating. Kai, impassive. And Mei Li, with her polished expression.

The morning training seemed to have been interrupted.

When Kyrian crossed the threshold, all eyes, including Dong Zhen’s, turned toward him. And, like a single organism, a wave of clear surprise and confusion swept across their faces. Bai Zhu almost let out a grunt. Yan Ling tilted her head, her analytical eyes scanning Kyrian at speed. Li Fen seemed to become even more still, if that were possible.

The reason was obvious. In a single night, Kyrian’s aura had changed. The density of his Qi, the subtle pressure he emanated, had clearly jumped two full stages. From the 3° to the 5° Stage of the Qi Liberation Realm was a leap that for others would take months, if not years, of arduous cultivation and resources.

Dong Zhen frowned slightly. His spiritual sense, subtle yet overwhelmingly more powerful, extended like a light hand, enveloping Kyrian. It was not hostile scrutiny but a quick check, laden with practical concern.

Advancing so rapidly, especially through unconventional means, could hide cracks in the foundation, spiritual instability, or the use of dangerous methods.

What he found, however, seemed to confuse him even more. Kyrian was… solid. More than solid. His foundation seemed strangely smooth, polished, as if it had been honed rather than forcibly expanded.

’Is it due to his innate talent? That aberration…’ The question echoed in Dong Zhen’s mind, mixed with resigned acceptance. Kyrian was a variable. Trying to apply common rules to him was futile.

With an almost imperceptible sigh, Dong Zhen withdrew his spiritual sense.

“Now that everyone is here,” his voice echoed, breaking the tense silence and dissipating the focus on Kyrian’s advancement.

“I have a mission for the six of you.”

Everyone straightened, attention turning to the master.

“You will depart today for the Cloud Empire.” The name fell like a stone into the silent lake. It was a distant, powerful force, a 3° level empire known for its vast trade and grand events.

“The Empire’s Centennial Auction will take place in one month,” Dong Zhen continued.

“Our informants have discovered that an item of singular interest will be put up for sale. An Extraordinary Blood Formation, a high-level defensive artifact, possibly of an ancient lineage. Its value to the Court is inestimable. Your duty is to acquire it and bring it back.”

A slight tremor of excitement and apprehension passed through the group. An external mission, in a distant empire, involving a high-level auction? It was dangerous and glamorous at the same time.

It was Kyrian who broke the collective expectation, his clear and emotionless voice cutting through the air.

“Why us? I am certain there are more experienced and stronger cultivators among the elders for a task of such importance.”

The question was direct, almost challenging, but carried the cold logic that Dong Zhen seemed to appreciate. All eyes turned to the leader.

Dong Zhen did not seem irritated. A thin smile, laden with grim experience, touched his lips.

“Sitting here, cultivating in safety, does not forge true strength. You need experience in the world out there. Experiences of life and death, of intrigue, of facing other young talents inflated with their own pride.”

His gaze swept over each of them, settling last on Kyrian.

“At this auction, chosen disciples from dozens of forces, large and small, will be present. There will be competition before, during, and after the auction. When I was young, I also participated in an event like this.”

The memory seemed to amuse him in a sinister way.

“It is a perfect battlefield to rub the arrogance of geniuses against one another. You will make enemies. You will face provocations. Some of you may even die. It is exactly what you need.”

The explanation was clear. The blood formation was the pretext, the bait. The true objective was to throw them into the political and competitive jungle of the cultivation world, forcing them to grow or break away from the relative safety of the Court.

Kyrian nodded slowly, understanding perfectly. It was brutal logic, but efficient. Dong Zhen was not cultivating greenhouse flowers, he was forging weapons. And a controlled yet lethal battlefield, like a centennial auction, was the perfect anvil.

“Good,” Dong Zhen said, seeing acceptance in Kyrian’s eyes and the mix of anxiety and determination in the others. He raised his hand.

And then, something that made even Bai Zhu’s breath catch happened. In the air before Dong Zhen, a mountain of spirit stones materialized. It was a disordered, glittering pile with at least several thousand stones, most of medium grade, but with a respectable number of high-grade ones mixed in. It was a fortune that would make any disciple salivate, enough to sustain years of luxurious cultivation or purchase exceptional items.

“Kyrian,” Dong Zhen ordered, his gaze fixed on the crimson-eyed youth.

“You will lead the group. These stones are to secure the blood formation. Use your discretion to bargain. And also…” He paused meaningfully.

“It will be up to you how to use the remaining stones, whether for the group’s needs or for your own… preparations.”

The implication was clear, the leftovers were his. It was an enormous vote of confidence or a bait to test his greed and leadership. The gazes of the other five disciples fixed on the pile with a mixture of envy, covetousness, and forced respect. They were talented, but Kyrian was the chosen one, the bearer of the treasure.

Kyrian showed no emotion. He merely extended his hand, and, with a thought, the colossal pile of spirit stones vanished into his spatial ring, stored away. The financial weight of the mission now rested on his shoulders.

“Good,” Dong Zhen said, satisfied with the efficiency.

“You had best depart early. The road is long.” He then tossed a rolled scroll toward Kyrian, who caught it in midair.

“This is the map to the Cloud Empire. The route is marked. The journey will take approximately fifteen days if you maintain a good pace.”

He looked at the six youths before him, the new generation of the Bloody Court, a volatile mixture of talent, arrogance, trauma, and potential.

“Remember. You represent the Court. Your actions reflect on me. Do not disappoint me. And do not die stupidly.”

With one last penetrating look, Dong Zhen turned and disappeared toward his quarters, leaving the six disciples alone in the hall. The weight of the mission, the fortune, and the expectations pressing down on them, and the long road to the Cloud Empire ahead.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep