Vahn deliberately stopped at the 501st step. He knew this was enough to earn maximum attention while keeping his full talent at bay. Only a foolish person would reveal a higher potential than necessary.
The mont he stopped, the humming and golden light subsided. But Vahn also heard a deeper calling from the Stairway itself, sothing like a desperate, ancient cry for help. It was likely a residual spirit or artifact related to the true secret of the Stairway, a calling reserved for a cultivator with a unique core like his. But Vahn couldn’t cross 10,000 steps just yet; he needed to stick to the plan. Whoever or whatever was calling would have to wait.
"Young man, Congratulations! Congratulations! You have great potential in you," shouted one ecstatic elder.
"I would love to take you into My Peak, but alas, that drunken bastard got really lucky," lanted another, clearly referencing the Drunken Master.
Once he stepped down, several elders and Peak Masters gathered around him, practically jostling to beco his master. Even Elder Roland was present. Vahn watched him, finding a cynical amusent in the thought: If he knew I was the sa boy who beat his nephew Gareth, how would he feel then?
Nevertheless, Vahn followed Veerion, his proclaid escort, to the Drunken Master Peak.
While flying on Veerion’s Flying Sword, Vahn decided to use the ti to achieve two goals: intelligence gathering and Strength developnt.
Since he would no longer want to ride on others’ coattails, he ntally noted to learn a Movent Technique that would allow him to fly as well.
But still, standing behind Veerion, his enemy, and successfully infiltrating a Core Peak, Vahn felt a strange sense of thrill. He was deep in the enemy’s den, and no one could even recognize him.
He was deeply thankful for Lilith’s disguise; it was truly flawless, just as she claid.
Upon arriving at the Drunken Master Peak, Vahn was t with a scene of picturesque chaos. The Peak was very spacious but unkempt. And the air was dense with the scent of fernted spirits.
Vahn was led to the central hall where the Drunken Master sat, an old man with perpetually flushed cheeks and an easy, disarming smile.
The Master was imdiately warm and boisterous.
"Young man, you must be the fire prodigy Veerion brought ! Co, co, sit!" the Drunken Master slurred happily, offering Vahn a jug that slled dangerously potent.
Vahn exchanged pleasantries with the old man, and their conversation quickly devolved into a surprisingly warm-hearted and codic exchange. The Drunken Master was clearly less concerned with politics and more interested in good wine and genuine talent.
Vahn observed the Peak’s sparse population. There were only Veerion and one other young girl who were his only disciples, and Vahn was now proposed to be included as one.
Vahn, however, truthfully didn’t want any master from his enemies. He knew that once they learned his true identity, they wouldn’t hesitate to cut him down.
To the old man’s question about taking him as a disciple, Vahn played the card of the devoted student. He cupped his fist and replied with sincere regret,
"Elder, I am deeply honored by your offer. However, I already have a powerful master who granted his guidance. I would need to ask my master to gain permission to accept another master."
The old man was montarily displeased, his lips forming a pout. But then he laughed heartily, finding the situation amusing. He jokingly slapped Vahn on the back, a deceptively powerful blow that Vahn’s new Shadow-Woven Inferno Cuirass silently absorbed.
"Haha! This old man has many Fire Arts in his collection, so you should hurry if you want to learn them!"
Vahn nodded respectfully, "Thank you esteem elder. I will talk it out with my Master soom then give you my answer."
"Blurp... That’s good. Till then, you can choose a spare Cave and live here."
That’s how he successfully delayed the Master Discipleship ceremony for now.
Afterward, as Veerion left for his duties, the young maiden approached him.
"Junior brother, it’s nice to have another additional mber to the family. My na is Kimon Dellhaze, an Inner Court disciple just like you."
She introduced herself in a warm tone. She was beautiful, gentle, but Vahn noted she wasn’t on the level of his wives.
Still, he politely cupped his fist. "The pleasure is mine, Senior Sister. My na is Va, no, Damien Infernos." He nearly slipped out his original na, but fortunately stopped before she could take it suspiciously. "Since we’re in the sa circle, I hope we would get along well."
"Indeed we will," Kimon replied. "Now, follow . I will show you a good Cultivation Cave."
And that’s how Vahn spent the rest of his day. He accepted the cave and settled in.
However, In the evening, Vahn quietly slipped from the Peak, using his Shadow Transformation Art.
Kimon didn’t notice a thing; she assud he was cultivating inside his cave quietly, as she had her own cultivation to attend to.
But one person noticed his disappearance after unconsciously using his Spirit Sense to propel himself: the Drunken Master.
Sleepy and drunk, the Master murmured, "Burp, where did this brat disappear at this hour? What secret is he hiding?"
He extended his formidable Spirit Sense further, spanning from the towering peak to the very bottom, covering dozens of kiloters.
And soon, he saw Damien.
The old man’s eyes narrowed, not with suspicion or coldness, but with amusent.
He saw Vahn sitting on top of a tree, cross-legged, bathing under the moonlight, quietly cultivating.
"What a diligent brat... cultivating under moonlight to increase the cultivation speed. But still, have our caves’ cultivation arrays beco so weak nowadays that he had to resort to going outside? If other people find out about this, wouldn’t I lose face? No, no, I will have to ask old man Dulhando to upgrade all cultivation arrays imdiately."
Afterward, he retracted his Spirit Sense, leaving Vahn alone to his business, convinced the new disciple was simply a hardworking young man obsessed with finding the strongest ambient Qi.
But the mont his spirit sense was retracted, Vahn disappeared once again. And this ti no one took notice.
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