Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 607: One Heaven’s Disappointment

***

One Heaven nodded in approval at Alex's progress.

However, his face shifted subtly right then, detecting something inside the illusory labyrinth of the Heaven-Earth Concordance formation.

"Something intriguing is on the verge of occurring," he declared abruptly. "The sorcerers from the hidden heavens, who entered alongside you, are on the brink of confronting a mighty corrupted entity."

He cast a glance toward Alex.

"This presents a fine chance to witness the capabilities of this era's sorcerers. Care to join me?"

"Certainly," Alex replied instantly.

One Heaven flicked his hand.

The very next moment, the pair disappeared—materializing inside the maze.

Invisible in mid-air, they floated above, surveying the conflict below.

Down there, the Chosen Sons and Daughters from the Holy Lands battled fiercely against the frenzied were-croc human.

"Heaven Secret Sect disciples..." One Heaven whispered, observing his sect's latest generation tackle the immense peril.

Alex overheard the murmur.

His eyes swiftly turned to Hiro and his sect brothers.

They narrowed while he watched their fight against the icy aberration.

A few times, his focus darted from the skirmish underneath to One Heaven, quietly pondering if the elder would step in.

Yet One Heaven stayed completely motionless.

Not even a twitch when one sorcerer fell dead.

Even as his own sect's heirs teetered on collapse, he observed without a flicker of emotion.

In time, the sorcerers steadied themselves.

They reorganized. And now, fully aware of the peril, they cooperated genuinely.

In unison, they felled the rampaging human.

All had to unleash their ultimate secrets—courting grave wounds that might stunt their future growth.

Yet they triumphed in the end.

The lead Heaven Secret Sect disciple surged forward at the key instant, landing the killing strike before regeneration could kick in.

It showcased raw tenacity.

Unyielding determination.

Bold decisiveness.

Still, One Heaven just shook his head in disdain.

Alex creased his brow faintly, baffled by the elder's demeanor across the whole clash.

Following a brief respite, the remaining sorcerers rallied, readying for the next challenge.

But apparently... One Heaven was done watching.

Right as the group neared the trial gate for the maze's following segment, One Heaven gestured.

Suddenly, the sorcerers, Alex, and the elder teleported into a fresh cavern room.

In its heart loomed a gaudy statue—at least that's how Alex saw it.

The carving portrayed One Heaven during his youthful peak.

The instant the Heaven Secret Sect disciples spotted it, they knelt promptly.

They prostrated in deep respect before the statue.

Only then did One Heaven let out a gentle sigh and motion again.

The statue slid away, exposing a pedestal underneath.

Atop it lay a tome... one the elder had placed there offhandedly before.

The Heaven Secret Sect disciples drew near with profound reverence and took the book.

However, tension thickened the air as they did.

A hint of avarice gleamed in the other sorcerers' gazes.

The strain hung heavy.

One Heaven noted it, irritation flashing across his features.

With yet another gesture, a doorway appeared.

Luckily, the sorcerers held back, avoiding any clash.

They departed the Heaven-Earth Concordance area in strained quiet.

Once they had left, Alex faced One Heaven.

"I don’t get it," he stated. "If you were aware that sorcerers—your own sect's heirs, even—arrived simultaneously with us, why lead us to the stele mountain rather than them?"

He furrowed his brow a bit.

"Why hand your legacy to strangers when your bloodline is right there?"

"My descendants...?" One Heaven echoed.

He shook his head.

For a split second, Alex glimpsed what seemed a scornful smirk on the elder's face—but it faded too fast to confirm.

One Heaven directed his stare toward where the sorcerers had gone.

His gaze appeared to bore through dimensions, as if tracking their fading forms.

"Those pampered youths can never shoulder the burden of world salvation," he stated evenly.

"You witnessed it—the haughtiness ingrained in their stance."

"Cloistered lifelong in the Holy Lands' Hidden Heavens, they've lost touch with this world's true Heaven."

"Legacy bearers must cherish those below them."

He halted momentarily.

"But their pride, scorn, self-importance... and scorn for main Heaven's folk—"

"They'd squander the legacy."

His tone chilled.

"Worse, they'd surely crumble before Gu Mo and the betrayers."

He pivoted back to Alex and went on,

"Moreover, I figured an outside menace might unite the sorcerers... yet I erred."

"The Holy Lands have nestled too cozily in their Hidden Heavens. Despite the plane facing assaults from all sides, they waste energy on trivial infighting."

His voice grew icier.

"Bestowing the legacy on any would worsen rifts—snaring the heir in pointless feuds and squandering this plane's last shot against the looming doom."

The elder exhaled, sorrow tinting his words.

"That an outsider like you displays more compassion for this plane's inhabitants than its own deluded elites who deem themselves above all..."

He stopped.

"Maybe I erred... sealing the Hidden Heavens too flawlessly back then."

Alex knitted his brows.

"Then why hand them the manual?" he questioned. "You know full well what'll unfold when they return with it..."

His eyes sharpened abruptly.

’...A poisoned chalice!’

Dawning hit him.

"Why?" he pressed, incredulity lacing his tone.

"A diseased tree demands felling to clear space for sturdy growth," One Heaven answered steadily. "The Holy Lands rot already, so I'll hasten it."

He declared it firmly.

"It might jolt them into rooting out the rot."

"Or maybe not."

He shrugged lightly.

"Regardless, as they bicker over the inheritance—fancying themselves the rightful Legatee—they'll stay occupied."

A subtle spark lit his eyes.

"Potentially even luring Gu Mo and the traitors' focus."

He met Alex's gaze squarely.

"Thus buying you—the actual Legatee—the time to strengthen."

Alex's eyes flashed.

’This elder...’

’He’s utterly forsaken this sorcerer generation.’

Thereafter, they dropped the topic.

One Heaven waved, whisking them back to the courtyard by the Trial Steles.

Alex’s wives and retainers had assembled there already.

The instant they felt his presence—

They stiffened.

’Late-stage Great Mage... how?’

That thought struck first.

Yet soon they saw their error.

His actual level still stunned regardless.

"Well done, Master," Udara beamed.

Though unchanged outwardly, Alex sensed her smile held extra allure somehow.

"I figured you'd breakthrough at last, but leaping to late-stage Elite Mage?" Zora grinned too. "You must've reaped hefty rewards."

"Seems I'm not alone in that," Alex noted astutely.

Zora had hit late-stage Elite as well.

"The trial yielded gains for me too," she explained. "It broke past Father's restraining seal."

Alex grinned ruefully.

’Some fight tooth and nail for every step forward...’

’...others are freaks who deliberately brake their own ascent.’

He eyed her.

Briefly, envy stirred in him.

Curse or no, Zora's aptitude was monstrously superior.

Eleanore lingered at mid-stage Elite, yet Alex knew her alchemy had leaped ahead markedly.

Udara displayed no rank jump. Still, her aura had evolved—intent and mastery evidently refined.

How far? Time alone would reveal.

Inspecting his followers, Alex noted Havel's breakthrough to Elite during his closing trials.

With Silver's prior advance, all four soul-bound followers now stood at Elite.

Sugud and Mordor trailed at Intermediate.

Sugud especially—

His grin hadn't faded since crafting a functional robot prototype from their prior talks with Alex.

That feat dwarfed any cultivation lag in his mind.

Finally, via his link, Alex detected shifts in his beast allies.

They'd transformed somehow.

Power had surged noticeably.

Without direct sight, he couldn't gauge fully, but he guessed they'd hit Elite too.

All told—

This plunge into the Heaven-Earth Concordance talismanic realm proved a massive win for most of his inner circle.

***