Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation Chapter 335: White Tower (2)

He slumped back into his chair, his gaze fixed on a point far off on the wall, as if peering through the veil of time.

"Ages ago, in the distant Northern Territory, there once thrived a force of the first rank, known as the Five Demons Sect."

Kyrian remained attentive, absorbing the words.

"It was a sect of immense power. So formidable, indeed, that it could stand toe-to-toe with the greatest sects of the Central Territory, those that held sway over entire regions and influenced kingdoms and empires."

"The Five Demons Sect ruled the Northern Territory through sheer might and bloodshed. None dared to defy them. Any who stood in their path met death. Any who dared to challenge the sect's very foundations were utterly annihilated—not merely the individual, but their entire lineage, their sect, and their city as well."

Dong Zhen paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle.

"For centuries, they lorded over the Northern Territory. It was undeniably one of the darkest chapters in this region's recorded history."

"The manner of this sect's downfall hasvanished into the mists of time. The surviving records are scant, rife with contradictions, and riddled with omissions. Some accounts suggest they were brought down by a coalition of other sects. Others posit they were consumed by their own devious techniques. A few even whisper that they still endure, concealed somewhere, patiently awaiting their opportune moment to re-emerge."

"However, one aspect remains undisputed." Dong Zhen raised a hand, displaying five fingers.

"The five fundamental paths of the sect, each representing one of the five Demon leaders, became infamously known as the malevolent paths of cultivation."

He began to retract his fingers, one by one.

"The Path of Blood. The Path of Corpses. The Path of Bones. The Path of Souls. And the Path of Poison."

"Ever since the sect's disappearance, cultivators treading these paths have been widely branded as demonic and wicked. They are hunted. They are persecuted. They are eliminated on sight."

Kyrian listened without a single interruption. While his expression remained unreadable, his mind was a whirlwind of rapid thought.

Dong Zhen continued his narrative.

"Yet, not all who pursue cultivators of these paths do so from a place of moral conviction. Some... harbor ulterior motives."

"The White Tower stands as one such entity. They present themselves as paragons of purity, as arbiters tasked with purging the world of iniquity. But in reality, their actions are fueled by two primary drivers: Fear and avarice."

"The fear stems from the possibility that the Five Demons Sect might one day make a comeback. The avarice is born from the spoils : every cultivator of the blood path they eliminate, they plunder. Their techniques. Their treasures. Their spirit stones. They take it all."

A subtle frown creased Kyrian's brow.

"And what of the Blood Court? Why do we not simply eradicate them?"

Dong Zhen let out a laugh, tinged with bitterness.

"Were it solely the White Tower, I would have seen them dismantled long ago. They possess strength, it's true, but they are not superior to us. In a head-on confrontation, the Blood Court and I would utterly crush the White Tower." He paused for a beat.

"The true complication lies in the power backing them."

Kyrian's eyebrows lifted slightly in curiosity.

"The White Tower merely represents the vanguard. The actual power propelling them forward is the White Palace, a force of the third rank strategically positioned at the heart of the Northern Territory."

"The White Palace wields considerable influence. Far exceeding that of the Blood Court. They boast elders within the Spirit Fusion Realm and a leader commanding the Spirit Domain Realm, complemented by extensive connections with other third-rank factions across the Northern Territory."

"Yet, behind the White Palace..." Dong Zhen exhaled a weary sigh.

"Let us just say the hierarchy continues even further. Forces of the second rank. Possibly even forces of the first rank."

"This, precisely, is why we cannot openly move against the White Tower. Should we destroy them, the White Palace would inevitably target us. And if we were to challenge the White Palace, our complete annihilation would be assured."

Dong Zhen met Kyrian's gaze directly.

"Do you grasp the situation now? This is not a matter of raw strength. It is a complex web of political maneuvering."

Kyrian remained in thoughtful silence for an extended period.

"I comprehend," he finally stated.

"The White Tower behaves so brazenly towards us because they are aware that any retaliation on our part would inevitably provoke a far greater force."

"Precisely so."

"And the young disciple who fled?" Kyrian inquired.

"He claimed his master is the Great Elder of the White Tower. An individual who has reached the Spirit Fusion Realm in cultivation."

Dong Zhen's frown deepened.

"That presents... a significant predicament. This Great Elder is undoubtedly the most formidable presence within the White Tower, a factor we cannot afford to disregard. Should he decide to pursue you personally..."

"You would handle it when it arises, would you not?" Kyrian asked, his tone remarkably steady.

Dong Zhen studied him for a moment before shaking his head slowly.

"Your stubbornness is remarkable. But... yes. You are correct. For the immediate future, remain within the confines of the Court. Focus on your training and enhance your strength."

Kyrian inclined his head in acknowledgment to Dong Zhen but did not immediately turn to depart. A lingering thought still occupied his mind.

"Regarding that..." he began, his voice calm yet resolute.

"I do not intend to remain within the Court for an extended duration."

Dong Zhen, who was already poised to end their conversation, paused his motion. His eyebrows twitched slightly, though his expression betrayed no surprise, merely a quiet confirmation of a suspicion he had harbored.

"So, you are departing already?" he inquired, settling back into his seat once more.

"When? And where exactly are you headed?"

Kyrian offered no immediate response. The thought had already taken root during the protracted journey back, a period marked by Arcon's swift passage through the heavens and the biting chill of the wind against his face.

The Blood Court served as his provisional sanctuary, a location where he could hone his skills and ready himself for the trials that lay ahead.

However, it was not to be his ultimate destination.

Dong Zhen observed Kyrian, his gaze reflecting the countless departures of disciples he had witnessed over the years.

Some returned with enhanced strength. Others vanished without a trace. He recognized that Kyrian was an anomaly, a figure destined for a path far exceeding the confines of the Blood Court. Therefore, any attempt to impede his progress would be futile.

"I shall depart within the ensuing months," Kyrian stated at long last.

"My ultimate destination is the Central Territory. Yet, prior to that... my intention is to further explore the Northern Territory."

Dong Zhen gave a slow, deliberate nod.

The Central Territory. This was indisputably the epicenter of the cultivation world. It was where the most formidable sects vied for dominance, where the rarest of treasures could be unearthed, and where the most exceptional geniuses throughout history had left their indelible marks. It was the ultimate goal for all cultivators driven by ambition.

Kyrian was no exception to this universal aspiration.

"And concerning your allegiance to a power, have you formed any preliminary ideas?" Dong Zhen posed the question.

"The Central Territory is largely under their dominion. Without a supporting force, you would be akin to a vessel adrift without a harbor."