The weather was overcast with black clouds, and the winds were cold. Winter had just begun; some liked it, while others did not.
The northern continent was famous for its winds and snow in winter, unlike the other continents. The central continent had a moderate climate, balancing wind, rain, and heat, while the southern continent was characterized by a hot climate with low rainfall. As for the rest, it depended on the season.
Seil Fu visited Bako's house for the fourth time to check on Farkan and found him still asleep. Bako told him that he hadn't woken up for four days.
"Is he okay, Seil Fu?"Bako asked, turning his gaze to Seil Fu.
"I don't know. I'll try to wake him up this time."
Seil Fu sat beside the sleeping Farkan and started shaking him to wake him up. After several attempts, Farkan suddenly sprang up, aiming to gouge out Seil Fu's eye, but he stopped immediately upon seeing his face.
"Sorry, I was close to killing you," Farkan laughed.
Seil Fu's face turned completely pale from Farkan's sudden movement.
"It's fine. Caution is important, Farkan."
"You two can return to your work, Seil Fu, Bako."
"You said three days, but never mind," Bako said as he looked into Farkan's eyes.
"Sorry, my sleep wasn't intentional. Tonight, I'll be leaving..."
"But where are you going, Farkan?"Seil Fu asked in surprise.
"I've made my decision. I'm returning to the kingdom," Farkan said, then turned his cold, intimidating gaze to Seil Fu.
"Tonight, I'll tell you what to do."
"Understood."
Seil Fu stood up, and he and Bako left the room, leaving Farkan alone.
In the kingdom, the sounds of stormy winds and rain began to fill the air.
In an ornate room within the palace, the great master Lan Tian was sleeping.
He opened his calm eyes and stroked his beard slightly, then got out of bed and opened the window. Within seconds, the room became cold.
He gazed at the sky, and a tear fell from his eye.
He had not been unconscious from the beginning; he was merely sleeping with his eyes closed. He had heard the words of Yan Yue and the king during their second visit to him.
"Your Majesty, seven of Great Master Lan Tian's colleagues have died. He considered them like his disciples... They perished due to the remnants of the poison that infiltrated their lungs."
"No injuries other than the deaths?" the king asked.
"Unfortunately, no."
"This is bad." The king waved his robe with his right hand and left the room.
Yan Yue looked at Great Master Lan Tian with concern.
"Sorry for not arriving earlier."
He felt deeply dejected and sorrowful for failing to protect both his colleagues and himself. Then, he remembered the young talents who had been killed by Farkan.
He broke down in tears...
"I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. I couldn't protect you."
Lan Tian held back his sobs. A few minutes later, Yan Yue left the room.
"I must find a way to cure my illness and reach higher ranks," he thought to himself.
Suddenly, the healer entered, looked at the bed, and did not find him there. His gaze shifted until he spotted him standing by the window.
"Great Master, return to your bed!"
The healer ran to him, closed the window, and helped Lan Tian back to his bed.
He examined him thoroughly and found that he was fine.
"Rest more, Great Master. I'll be back shortly."
He left the room, heading to summon the king and his deputy.
Yan Yue was leaving the royal palace when he saw the healer running.
"Why are you running? Did something happen?"
Yan Yue asked, puzzled.
"Huff... huff... The master has awakened!"
Yan Yue returned to the royal palace and informed the king of the great news. The healer, the king, and the deputy all headed toward the master's chamber.
"Lan Tian, I'm glad to see you're well," the king said.
"I appreciate Your Majesty's concern for me," Lan Tian replied in a low voice.
"Rest more to recover your strength."
"No, tomorrow I will return to work."
Both the deputy and the healer advised Lan Tian to rest longer. The king smiled and looked at him.
"You are free," the king said respectfully.
"I thank you, Your Majesty."
"Deputy Yan Yue, if possible, bring in students at the development stage so I can refine them further."
"As you wish, Master. But there are no more than five, as not many students have chosen the flight path."
"Very well."
After saying that, he saluted while lying down. They all left, leaving him alone in the room.
He decided never to repeat his mistake and not to fall into a spiral of depression like some others.
Farkan was sitting cross-legged, clasping both hands together, with his consciousness focused inward.
"Hehehe, reaching the fifth rank had a very low success rate by using that forbidden method."
He spoke to himself while smiling, but he had already made his decision beforehand to use this method.
"If I had failed, I would have turned into a monster, losing all control."
Lu Bi's will spoke to Farkan.
"Damn you, Fourth Elder! I curse you and hate you!"
"Hah?? You're still here, you insect?"
Farkan manifested his own will and slaughtered him.
"Just thinking about his face makes me nauseous."
"When I return to the kingdom, I'll decide which path to take. Once I decide, I'll go buy abilities that align with my path."
Abilities always took the form of essence crystals, each with a specific color. When acquired, they would automatically merge with the user's body and be placed in their core. Some were common, some were rare, and some required specific rituals to be produced.
Night fell, and Seil Fu entered Bako's house, heading toward Farkan's room. He found him standing, his hair hanging over his face, and his eyes resembling an abyss.
"Let's go!"
Farkan spoke and walked with imposing steps, with Seil Fu beside him. Then, Farkan looked into Bako's eyes, bowed to him, and left the house with Seil Fu.
Near the perimeter of the Demon Alliance, Seil Fu opened a portal that transported them to the forest near the kingdom. It was vast and filled with both strong and weak beasts.
They entered and disappeared. Upon arrival, the portal closed.
"Farkan, one of the alliance leader's deputies has gone on a mission assigned by the leader within the kingdom. He informed me that security has been heightened, and guards have been stationed at the region."
"Oh, wonderful."
"What will you do, Farkan?"Seil Fu asked with concern.
"Wound me all over my body."
Seil Fu was shocked and refused.
"Seil Fu!"
Farkan shouted at him, insisting he do it. Seil Fu drew his sword from his waist.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
He inflicted some wounds, but not too many.
"Again," Farkan said.
Seil Fu cursed internally; he did not want to harm him.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Farkan's body was now covered in blood, and his wounds were severe.
Farkan drew his own sword and stabbed himself.
"Argh!" He spat out a large amount of blood.
"I knew you would refuse this request, so I stabbed myself."
He handed his sword to Seil Fu.
"Throw it somewhere, but not in the kingdom's region."
Farkan turned his gaze toward the kingdom and instructed Seil Fu to chase after him. He also told him to enter the portal and return to the alliance territory if any guards arrived.
They both ran toward the kingdom, with Farkan's face covered in blood and Seil Fu carrying his sword, running behind him.
"Intruders!" a guard shouted.
"Attack them!"
"Wait, wait, it's—the Fourth Elder! Protect him!"
A person from the flight path spoke, flying toward Seil Fu.
Seil Fu opened the portal, entered it, and vanished.
Farkan collapsed unconscious, covered in serious wounds.
The guards swarmed around him.
"Idiots, we must take him for treatment! Move aside, move aside!"
One of them picked him up and flew toward the kingdom.
.
.
.
.
.
The End