He leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on so distant point on the wall, as if he were looking through ti.
"In the past, a long ti ago in the Northern Territory, there existed a 1° level force called the Five Demons Sect."
Kyrian listened in silence.
"It was a powerful sect. Extrely powerful. So powerful that it could rival the great sects of the Central Territory, those that command entire regions and have influence over kingdoms and dynasties."
"The Five Demons Sect dominated the entire Northern Territory with force and blood. There was no one who dared challenge them. Whoever stood in their way was killed. Whoever dared go against the sect’s foundations was annihilated, not just the individual, but their family, their sect, and their city."
Dong Zhen paused.
"They dominated the Northern Territory for hundreds of years. It was one of the darkest periods in the history of this region."
"How this sect was extinguished has been lost to history. The records are vague, contradictory, and full of gaps. So say they were destroyed by an alliance of other sects. Others say they were consud by their own malicious techniques. So even say they still exist, hidden sowhere, waiting for the right mont to return."
"But one thing is certain." Dong Zhen raised his hand, showing five fingers.
"The five paths of the sect, the paths of the five Demons who were the leaders of the sect, beca known as the malicious paths of cultivation."
He began to curl 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."
"Since the sect’s extinction, cultivators who follow these paths have been deed demonic and malicious by many. Hunted. Persecuted. Killed when found."
Kyrian listened to everything without interrupting. His face remained impassive, but his mind worked quickly.
Dong Zhen continued.
"But not all forces that hunt cultivators of these paths do so out of ideological conviction. So... have other motives."
"The White Tower is one of those forces. They present themselves as purifiers, as enforcers who cleanse the world of evil. But the truth is that they are driven by two things. Fear and greed."
"Fear that the Five Demons Sect may one day return. And greed, because every cultivator of the path of blood they kill, they loot. Techniques. Treasures. Spirit stones. Everything."
Kyrian frowned slightly.
"And the Blood Court? Why don’t we destroy them?"
Dong Zhen laughed, a bitter sound.
"If it were only the White Tower, I would have destroyed them long ago. They are strong, yes, but not stronger than us. In a direct confrontation, I and the Blood Court would annihilate the White Tower." He paused.
"The problem is the force behind them."
Kyrian raised an eyebrow.
"The White Tower is only the tip of the spear. The real force behind them is the White Palace, a 3° level force positioned at the center of the Northern Territory."
"The White Palace is powerful. Much more powerful than the Blood Court. They have elders in the Spirit Fusion Realm and a leader in the Spirit Domain Realm, in addition to connections with other 3° level forces throughout the Northern Territory."
"Behind the White Palace..." Dong Zhen sighed.
"Well, let’s just say the chain continues. 2° level forces. Perhaps even 1° level forces."
"That is why we cannot act openly against the White Tower. Because if we destroy them, the White Palace will co after us. And if we go against the White Palace, we will be annihilated."
Dong Zhen looked directly into Kyrian’s eyes.
"Do you understand now? It is not about strength. It is about politics."
Kyrian remained silent for a long mont.
"I understand." He said, finally.
"The White Tower acts arrogantly toward us because it knows we cannot retaliate without drawing sothing bigger."
"Exactly."
"And the young man who fled?" Kyrian asked.
"He said his master is the Great Elder of the White Tower. A cultivator of the Spirit Fusion Realm."
Dong Zhen frowned again.
"That is... problematic. This great elder is the most powerful person in the White Tower, not sothing we can ignore. If he cos after you personally..."
"You deal with it when it happens. Don’t you?" Kyrian said, his voice calm.
Dong Zhen looked at him for a mont, then shook his head.
"You are stubborn. But... well. You are right. For now, stay in the Court for a while. Train and grow stronger."
Kyrian nodded to Dong Zhen, but did not turn to leave imdiately. There was still sothing on his mind.
"About that..." he began, his voice calm but direct.
"I will not stay in the Court for long."
Dong Zhen, who was already preparing to end the conversation, halted his movent. His eyebrows lifted slightly, but his expression did not show surprise, only a silent confirmation of sothing he had already suspected.
"So you are leaving already?" he asked, leaning back in his chair again.
"When? And to where?"
Kyrian did not answer imdiately. He had already thought about it during the long days of the return journey, while Arcon cut through the skies and the cold wind struck his face.
The Blood Court was his temporary base, the place where he could train and prepare for what was to co.
But it was not his final destination.
Dong Zhen watched Kyrian with eyes that had seen many disciples depart.
So returned stronger. Others were never seen again. He knew Kyrian was different, soone with a destiny far beyond the Blood Court. There was no point in trying to hold him back.
"I will leave in the coming months," Kyrian said at last.
"My final destination is the Central Territory. But until then... I intend to explore a bit more of the Northern Territory."
Dong Zhen nodded slowly.
The Central Territory. The heart of the cultivation world. The place where the greatest sects clashed, where the rarest treasures were found, and where the greatest geniuses in history had left their marks. It was where all ambitious cultivators eventually headed.
Kyrian was no different.
"And regarding your affiliation with a force, do you already have any idea?" Dong Zhen asked.
"The Central Territory is dominated by them. Without a force behind you, you will be like a boat without a harbor."
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