Kaevryn watched the Crimson Vital Sect's starship depart from the docking platforms of the Thousand Veils Sect headquarters. The vessel moved steadily away from the colossal structure before rging into the regulated spatial lanes beyond the artificial sky. For several monts he remained standing there, his gaze following the shrinking ship until it disappeared among the streams of traffic.
His thoughts, however, were far from calm. The events of the trial replayed repeatedly in his mind, each mory raising new questions rather than answers. The more he analyzed what he had seen during the confrontation between Nightshade and Adrian, the more impossible the situation appeared. The questions refused to settle, and eventually he turned away from the platform and made his way back toward the inner chambers.
He moved quickly through the corridors of the massive structure until he arrived once again at the conference room where the negotiation had taken place.
The doors parted at his approach, responding to his elder token.
When Kaevryn entered the chamber, he saw that the Sect Leader had not yet departed. Nightshade remained seated exactly where the negotiations had occurred earlier, his posture relaxed as if nothing unusual had happened at all. If soone had entered the chamber without knowing the events that had transpired, they might have believed the Sect Leader had been sitting there peacefully the entire ti.
Kaevryn approached and bowed respectfully. "Sect Leader."
Nightshade turned his head slightly in acknowledgnt, though he offered no imdiate response.
Kaevryn hesitated for only a mont before speaking again. The questions pressing against his mind had refused to quiet themselves since the trial had concluded, and now that they were alone, he could no longer restrain them.
"Sect Leader… there is sothing I cannot understand," he began carefully. "During the trial just now, Elder Adrian evaded every single one of your attacks while you were concealed by your authority technique. Your concealnt remained active throughout the entire exchange, and at no point did he negate it. Yet even under those conditions, he avoided every attempt you made to reach him."
"I am deeply familiar with the concealnt authority technique you used. Without negation, it should be impossible for anyone to perceive your position while it is active. Given those circumstances… how was such a thing possible?"
Nightshade remained silent for several seconds, watching Kaevryn calmly.
Encouraged to continue, Kaevryn spoke again, organizing the thoughts he had already turned over countless tis since the confrontation ended.
"I have considered several possibilities since the trial concluded," he said. "During the confrontation, Elder Adrian revealed comprehension of multiple arcane concepts such as Ti, Shadow, and Space. That alone marks him as an extraordinary cultivator. Individuals with such breadth of comprehension rarely co from insignificant backgrounds."
He paused, choosing his words with care. "If he truly originates from one of the major sects beyond this galaxy, then it would not be unreasonable to assu that he possesses authority techniques far beyond anything minor sects like ours could develop."
"We know that certain major sects possess divine concepts specifically designed to counter concealnt-based techniques," Kaevryn continued. "There are authority techniques capable of piercing layered veils, unraveling distortion fields, or exposing the hidden movents of assassins who have perfectly concealed themselves. Because of that… I began to wonder whether Elder Adrian might possess so form of authority technique specifically designed to perceive through concealnt, sothing capable of directly countering the concealnt authority techniques used by our sect."
The explanation sounded reasonable even to his own ears. It accounted for everything he had witnessed. A specialized technique developed by a major sect would explain Adrian's seemingly impossible performance.
Silence filled the chamber once again.
Nightshade finally spoke. "It is not that simple."
Kaevryn straightened slightly, listening carefully.
"When an authority technique is active," Nightshade said slowly, "there are only two reliable thods for bypassing it. One is negation, where one's authority directly overrides the technique. The other is to employ a separate authority technique specifically designed to counter the first. As you ntioned, major sects do indeed possess such counterasures."
He paused briefly before continuing. "But that is not what happened here."
Kaevryn frowned faintly.
"If Elder Adrian had used an authority technique to see through my concealnt, I would have noticed it imdiately," Nightshade explained calmly, "Reality itself normally prevents cultivators from directly perceiving the rule modifications occurring during an authority technique. However, the effects cannot be completely hidden."
"Experienced cultivators like us can still detect the presence of such techniques through surrounding mana fluctuations, subtle distortions in reality, or slight shifts in authority distribution within the domain. No matter how refined a technique may be, traces always exist."
Kaevryn nodded slowly. This was fundantal knowledge, authority techniques left ripples in the fabric of reality and the one standing within the enemies domain can easily see it.
Nightshade looked directly at Kaevryn, "But when I faced Adrian… there were no such traces. There was no indication whatsoever that another authority technique had been activated."
"He did not use an authority technique."
For a mont, Kaevryn simply stared at him, his mind refusing to accept what he had just heard.
"That… is impossible," he said finally, the words erging almost involuntarily.
Nightshade did not respond.
Kaevryn inhaled slowly, attempting to reorganize his thoughts. "If he did not negate your technique… and he did not use an authority technique of his own…"
His voice trailed off as the logical conclusion lood before him, impossible yet inescapable. "Then how did he perceive you?"
The question hung in the air between them, unanswered.
Kaevryn shook his head faintly, struggling to reconcile the idea with everything he understood about cultivation. "Sect Leader… if he truly did not use an authority technique, then what we witnessed ans he stood against your authority technique the way a mortal stands before a god."
is the ho of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
"When a god alters reality, that alteration becos the truth for those beneath them. Mortals cannot perceive beyond it because reality itself enforces the change. If that principle holds true… then how could he possibly see through it?"
Nightshade's gaze drifted briefly toward the far wall of the chamber. "I do not know," he admitted quietly.
The confession startled Kaevryn more than anything else that had been said. The Sect Leader rarely admitted ignorance about anything related to cultivation.
"But I am certain of one thing," Nightshade continued, his eyes still fixed on the distant wall. "Whatever he used to perceive … it was stronger than reality."
The words hung heavily in the air.
Kaevryn's mind recoiled instinctively from the implication. His hands tightened at his sides as he processed what had just been said.
Stronger than reality?
The idea itself sounded absurd.
"That cannot exist," he said slowly, shaking his head as if the physical gesture could dismiss the notion entirely. "If anything truly existed that was stronger than reality itself, then it would have to surpass the Heavenly Order."
Every cultivator in the universe knew of the Heavenly Order. It defined the universe's rules, governed arcane concepts, and structured the entirety of reality from the movent of galaxies down to the formation of essence seeds within cultivators' bodies.
The Heavenly Order was absolute. To surpass it would an stepping beyond the boundaries of reality itself.
Kaevryn voiced the inevitable conclusion, his voice barely above a whisper, "Would that not imply transcendence? Yet Elder Adrian is only a Peak Rule Stage cultivator. He has not even reached the Astral Stage."
The contradiction was fundantal. Transcendence represented the ultimate goal of all cultivation, the final step that no one in recorded history had ever achieved. Even the great sects, with their billions of years of accumulated knowledge and their most powerful cultivators, had never produced a being who transcended.
And yet they were discussing the possibility that a Peak Rule Stage cultivator might possess sothing that surpassed reality itself.
Nightshade's expression remained unreadable. "That," he replied quietly, "is precisely what confuses ."
He fell silent for a mont, his gaze lowering slightly as the mory resurfaced in his mind with uncomfortable clarity.
"When I looked into his eyes…" Nightshade began, then stopped, searching for words that refused to co easily.
Kaevryn waited.
"I saw sothing," Nightshade finally said, "It was… profound, Sothing vast and impossible to fully grasp. Even now, I find myself unable to properly describe it."
"It felt ancient," Nightshade added after a mont. "Far older than anything I have encountered. And yet simultaneously… it felt like the beginning of sothing. Like standing at the edge of creation itself."
Kaevryn remained silent, unsure how to respond to such a description.
After a mont, Nightshade looked back at Kaevryn, "Tell
sothing."
"If you reject my explanation," Nightshade continued calmly, "then offer another. Elder Adrian saw through my concealnt without negation and without employing an authority technique of his own. He reacted to my movents as though he could perceive them clearly."
"Furthermore, his reactions were not delayed. He did not stumble or hesitate. He moved with complete certainty, as if my concealnt did not exist at all."
"It was almost as if he was seeing directly through reality itself. And even more strangely… it felt as though reality allowed him to do so."
Silence filled the chamber once again, thick and oppressive.
Kaevryn could not offer an answer. No matter how he turned the problem within his mind, examining it from every angle he could conceive, he could not construct a logical explanation that accounted for all the observations.
Every possibility he considered collapsed under scrutiny.
If Adrian had used negation, Nightshade would have sensed the authority clash imdiately. If Adrian had employed an authority technique, traces would have been visible. If Adrian possessed superior perception through natural ans, it would not have functioned against an active authority technique that literally altered reality itself.
The only remaining explanation was the one Nightshade had offered, that Adrian possessed sothing stronger than reality.
But that explanation was impossible. Kaevryn's thoughts spiraled in circles, chasing answers that refused to materialize.
After several minutes passed in quiet contemplation, Kaevryn finally spoke again. "What are we going to do about this… Sect Leader?"
Nightshade suddenly chuckled softly, the sound incongruous against the weight of their conversation. "What can we do in the first place?" he replied with faint amusent threading through his words. "We may be one of the strongest minor sects within this galaxy, but even we cannot stand against sothing like that."
Kaevryn considered that for a mont before speaking again, his voice hesitant. "Should we… inform the other upper minor sects?"
The question was logical. If Adrian represented a potential threat, or even just an unknown variable of such magnitude, the other powerful sects deserved to know.
"No."
The answer ca without hesitation.
"We have signed a contract with the Crimson Vital Sect," Nightshade continued, "That contract binds us to favorable terms for five hundred years. Whatever Adrian's true nature might be, he has shown no hostility toward us. Quite the opposite, he has provided us access to resources we desperately need."
He stood from his chair, shadows swirling briefly around his form before settling into stillness.
"Furthermore," Nightshade added, moving toward the window that overlooked the vast expanse of their headquarters, "if what I suspect is true, then Adrian is not soone we can afford to antagonize. If he truly possesses power beyond our comprehension, then our best course of action is to maintain cordial relations and avoid drawing unnecessary attention."
The logic was sound, presented with the sa careful reasoning Nightshade applied to all strategic decisions.
Kaevryn nodded slowly, understanding the wisdom in the approach even if the situation remained deeply unsettling. "That makes sense."
Nightshade's expression grew more serious. "Pass a notice to the entire sect. No one is to accept missions targeting the Crimson Vital Sect. Ensure that we do not end up on their bad side."
"Understood," Kaevryn replied imdiately.
"The Crimson Vital Sect appeared to be nothing more than a small alchemy sect until now," Nightshade continued, "Yet they concealed an existence like that within their ranks. We have no idea what else they might be hiding."
"It is possible that Adrian is not the only anomaly they possess. Sect Leader Hestia herself is already a terrifying individual. She created her own divine concept and ascended to Peak Rule Stage through her own efforts, sothing that typically requires backing from major sects or extraordinary fortune and potential."
"Now they have also gained Adrian. Two Peak Rule Stage cultivators in a sect that was nearly destroyed just months ago. That alone defies normal patterns of developnt."
His gaze hardened slightly as he turned back toward Kaevryn. "No one will be able to stop the rise of the Crimson Vital Sect. It is only a matter of ti before they beco one of the strongest minor sects in this galaxy. It would be far wiser to form an alliance with them while they are still in the early stages of their ascent."
Kaevryn understood imdiately. At present, the Crimson Vital Sect was only a lesser minor sect and had not even reached upper minor status. Their UNI-Market Index hovered around fifty-four points, far below the eighty required for upper minor classification.
Yet with the individuals now present within that sect, Hestia with her self-created divine concept, Adrian with his incomprehensible abilities, and whatever other secrets they might possess, their rise was inevitable.
Eventually, they would not only reach upper minor status but likely beco one of the most influential and strongest minor sects within the Androda Galaxy.
By establishing favorable relations now, while they still needed allies and resources, the Thousand Veils Sect could secure a position of mutual benefit before the Crimson Vital Sect's power made such arrangents unnecessary.
It was the kind of long-term strategic thinking that had kept the Thousand Veils Sect thriving for six million years.
Kaevryn bowed respectfully, "I will pass the order to the entire sect, Sect Leader."
"Good," Nightshade acknowledged with a slight nod.
With that, Kaevryn turned and exited the conference chamber, the doors sealing silently behind him as he departed to carry out his instructions.
Nightshade remained alone in the vast chamber, the shadows responding to his presence by deepening slightly in the corners of the room.
His gaze lingered on the far wall, unfocused, as the mory of Adrian's eyes returned to him once more with uncomfortable clarity.
He murmured quietly to himself, the words barely audible in the empty chamber, "What… are you?"
The question received no answer, lost in the silence of the conference room.
Reviews
All reviews (0)