156] – [Sinners]

The calm returning, the teal sky regaining its throne high above, Alexander and Elder Rong collapsed with a smile.

It was a smile of happiness, a smile of being content. A smile of arrogance, a smile of superiority.

During this clash, Alexander managed to regain another sliver of consciousness. Another shard of a long lost and eroded endless determination. He was now lucid, but still feeling strange things.

There was no going back any longer. The Heavens would never let this go. They already decided to tear face, therefore this tribulation would not be the last.

Ironic? The Heavens who should have helped them the most were now plotting against them. They could only admit their luck. If the Heavens could go all out, they would never be able to win.

But for some reason they were not pried to, they did nothing more.

Dusting themselves, both feeling their inner demonic nature fade slightly, they stared at one another.

Without hesitation, they shook hands as fellow brothers. It was a natural act, something instinctive. Sitting down, they stared at each other with peacefulness.

And without letting anyone else talk, Elder Rong parted his lips behind his beard.

"Alexander… We are now sinners of the Realms. Similar to the Greater Primordial Deity even. I never expected such an outcome, so I believe it is time to hide."

Sighing heavily, Alexander heard him loud and clear, yet he could not see how he could be so confident.

"Elder Rong, how do you plan on doing that exactly? The Heavens are no ants we can crush at will. In this case, we are the ants." His voice felt strange, sending shivers down the spines of many.

Stroking his beard, Elder Rong contemplated with a faint smile, examining Alexander's third eye.

"Simple. We will go to the Trial Forest's sealed world. I planned on getting you in there to begin with. This is the only place I can think of in the entirety of Limbo."

"Of course I don't claim it to be so grand, nor that this is the only choice in existence. But this is the only one I know. If you have another spot, do tell me."

Seeing him shake his head, Elder Rong sighed as well.

"Then let's go. To think we would go there not only for training, but also hiding… what a strange turn of events!"

Standing back up, Alexander still shook his head.

"We don't have time. With how things are progressing… I can say with certainty that cultivating with my own talent is pointless. Therefore…" A dark red energy forming a vortex inside his right palm, he looked around, glaring at people.

"Screw my foundation! Since I'm already in this situation, I might as well go all out."

The [Talent Devouring Art] was an ancient technique from the most mysterious of unorthodox practitioners in one of Valtos' Universes.

This technique was extremely powerful, but also very flawed. It was not without reason that Alexander never used it before. Such a technique was a perfect way to damn one's foundation. The more talents refined, the more difficult it was to reach greater heights. In a sense, it was a pointless technique.

But it was only so for some, and not others. After all, some people did not know how to use it properly.

If one only devoured peerless talents, would they need to absorb lowly ones as well? This technique did not work like that.

The more devoured, the better. The higher the quality, the better.

But even then, a powerful talent could not be compared with thousands of inferior ones.

When it came to one's foundation being damaged, it only came from the amount. Each talent would clash with one another, some fully incompatible with others.

Alexander used it before the tribulation, stealing a neutral and powerful talent from the youth. After which, he slaughtered some others trying to challenge him, stealing other neutral talents as well.

With such a technique, damaging his body's foundation, he would still be fine.

If the talents were fused with his soul on the other hand, it would have been catastrophic. It was surely possible, but who knew how dangerous it could be.

Even if this variation interested him for its clearly superior potential, he was not foolish.

Contemplative, Elder Rong raised his hand.

"You can go all out in the Trial Forest. There are countless talents going there all day long. We are now in the same boat, so why not cooperate fully? I always wanted you to go higher, can't you trust this old man a bit? Before being a Supreme Candidate, this old man is a teacher first and foremost!"

"…"

Thinking about it, Alexander found no issue with it. The more support, the better. Usually it was worse for him, but with this support being Elder Rong, he nodded.

"Let's swear an oath then!"

"Sure!"

Without hesitation, the two stood in front of each other. And as they were about to make said oath, wondering how it would turn out when the Heavens hated their guts, something strange happened.

"What the…"

"Are you kidding me?!"

Gazing up, the sky was fully covered in dark clouds. And what crackled within them, drowned in the thunderous roars and immortal chants, was not blue.

It was a very bright grey.

They felt a familiarity from it, as if it came from their home. As if this silver lightning was a part of them.

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The entire sect world rumbled. A strange power caused all beings within it to kneel. They felt innate shame, looking at their past with derogative thoughts.

They realized a mismatch. They would never be enough, they would always be inferior.

This energy told them clearly.

They were mere bugs waiting to be stepped on.

The only two managing to hold themselves in place were Alexander and Elder Rong. The two of them sensed an urge to bow from the depths of their souls.

Yet, their Dao of Supremacy began to move by itself. This silver light deep in the clouds told them mysteries they could never fathom. Without comprehending what was happening, the powerful energy suppressing everything taught them untold secrets.

Without the ability to change heart or move, their mouths opened by themselves.

"I swear on my Dao Heart, I, Alexander, will never act with negative intentions toward Elder Rong."

"I swear on my Dao Heart, I, Azvon Rong, will never act with negative intentions toward Alexander."

"@#%!#§!!"

"@#%!#§!!"

Sweating profusely, they gasped for breath as two silver lightning bolts struck them. Unable to understand their own words from before. On their chests, on top of where the heart would be, a strange silver pattern took shape. It was both engraved on the body and the soul.

Shivering from such a method, they heard the thunderous roars shout once more.

And, above them, a blue lightning began to spread. Soon, this blue lightning surrounded by some clouds flew down. It stopped mid-air, a cloudy humanoid figure of crackling blue lights forming.

It was none other than the Vessel of Heaven. It was a first. The Vessel of Heaven appeared two times in less than ten trillion years. This was worthy of making history.

And the next scene would overshadow the previous one by countless folds.

As the Vessel of Heaven looked up toward the dark clouds of beautiful silver lightning bolts, it turned its head right.

Without noticing, another piece of the clouds separated, covered in silver lights.

It had no time to react when the silver vessel struck it on the face.

The world turned silent, the Vessel of Heaven sent flying far into the distance, lands uprooted from the shockwave as far as the horizon.

Left behind, just as the silver Heaven dissipated, a few words of despise.

"A little Heaven dares to act so arrogantly in front of me…

Unworthy!"

Gazing at the boundless Heavens, Elder Rong muttered under his breath.

"Heaven… from the Silver Land..? This can't be…"

.

.

.

Trial Forest's centermost region, strange gate.

In the middle of a lush forest of dark green, a portal of pale blue and purple spun like a vortex in front of two figures. It had been a few hours since the strange oath, now facing their hiding spot.

Azvon seemed confident, entering with Alexander.

Inside of it, the scenery changed drastically. No more were the trees, the leaves or even the teal sky. There was only darkness.

Looking around, his Divine Sense and eyes able to see everything, Alexander saw the two of them in the middle of an intersection. The dark grey walls had countless engravings on them, the cobblestone floor opposing their feet.

"A dungeon?"

Advancing, Elder Rong nodded.

"Not quite, but you have the right idea. This is a sort of dungeon, but more so a tomb. This is the resting place of a sage's corpse. This also is an inheritance ground. I have been here many times, and so did everyone else. My former disciple as well…" A hint of sadness flashing before his eyes, Elder Rong calmed himself.

"This sealed world was done by one of the strongest sages ever stepping foot in Limbo. To be honest, this being might have been from beyond where the sages reside. After all, as you may know, Limbo was never supposed to exist. It was not a plan, but the result of the Greater Primordial Deity's mischief."

Such a word to describe a mind collapsing event made Alexander chuckle. He felt this word to be quite situational.

"Mischief you say..? For some, sure. But for us, this is not just a mischief."

A chuckle escaping as well, Elder Rong nodded solemnly. Parting a few cobwebs.

"You're right. To us, this is definitely something much more potent than a mischief."

"Anyway, we are almost there." Passing through corridors of gloom, skulls crushed under their every steps, a hall was soon in sight.

It was quite grand, the flat ceiling reaching a few hundreds of meters high, while the free space was also not to be underestimated. At the center, above a few stairs, a giant cup.

"What you see above the stairs is an artifact left behind. I am not too sure about the use of it, but it is certainly of very high quality. Its grade is also unknown."

Looking around a bit, Alexander saw four stone pillars support the ceiling in each corner, a small corridor on the opposite side as well.

While walking, heading for the corridor opposite of theirs, Alexander opened his mouth.

"Elder Rong, I wanted to ask. As someone from the Lured Cloud Sect and having quite the status, do you know where the sages are? They most definitely are not in the Core Territory, so where?"

Even while visualizing the entirety of Limbo, Alexander noticed there to be no space left. Were the sages small particles? Did they live underground?

Or was there something else, like a sealed world?

"…"

Remembering old tales and drunken words from Ivan Lugoff, Elder Rong first wanted to address something else.

"Alexander, or should I call you brother Alexander? I am very old, but you are not so young either. More importantly, I feel like, as two Supreme Candidates, we should help each other as fellow brothers. It is a bit shameful of me, but why not call me brother Azvon? We will stay in this place together for quite a long time. Why bother with honorifics now?"

Stroking his chin, Alexander nodded.

"It is true, and I honestly do not mind. So, I guess brother Azvon can now shed lights upon my doubts?"

"I can, I can…"

"The sages… are in a different place. I cannot say for sure if it is a sealed world or not, but to reach them, you have to pass through the Sealed Gate. This Sealed Gate is basically the place where peak Heaven Surpassing Realm experts ascend. And it is located beneath the Saint Hall."

"To answer the question in your mind, yes, the Saint Hall is in charge of it. That's why people never want to offend them. They have connections with it, often times calling a sage over here."

Thinking about it some more, Alexander showed a faint smile.

"Well, I don't think we would mind offending them now. Are they stronger than the very Heavens?"

Opening his eyes wide, Azvon felt the confidence seep out of his accomplice.

"Did you do something before coming to the Lured Cloud Sect?" Azvon was not fond of prying into the past of others, but this made him curious.

"Maybe… I said one time that my body was destroyed. That's because I inadvertently fought with Lu Shu."

Tensing up, Azvon was quite shocked.

"Lu Shu?! Are you talking about Lu Shu, the Saint of the Void?"

"That's the one."

His eye twitching a bit, Azvon felt like Alexander was a little calamity in the making.

"But I don't think he'll care for me too much. It wasn't my intention to fight him, nor was it a fight worthy of his anger. I'm still angry at him for playing with me on the other hand, but I can't deny pure strength. It was my fault, I wasn't good enough."

"Mmh! Like you said, it doesn't matter either way. We have offended the Heavens. Compared with them, the saints are nothing but kids playing house."

"Exactly. If he wants to pursue the matter, even if it's against the ten saints, I don't mind teaching them the difference between them and me."

Stroking his beard once more, Azvon's eyes sparkled.

"Well said! Well said! Screw those saints. I am now in the Heaven Surpassing Realm as well, while you are already half a step into it. When the time comes, we'll show them the strength of the Supreme Candidates. We'll reclaim the Silver Land! Hahaha!!"

Raising a brow at his words, Alexander smiled.

"Senior knows how to talk! Sorry, I meant brother Azvon. This is the kind of brother I like! But is that Silver Land your hometown?" It was a genuine question. A question Azvon was happy to answer.

"Finally someone is interested! Do you know how many times I was denied the opportunity to talk about my research? Anyway, the Silver Land is a place I don't know much of. But according to the steles, legends, myths and everything I have seen in my life, this place is where a civilization of Supreme Candidates existed. It most likely was a sealed world or another world from our own. If the Realms are one part of a giant picture, the Silver Land would probably be another piece."

"I see…" Alexander looked pensive, also thinking how Azvon suddenly looked so happy. Both of them were.

'Must be the Heart Demon. Just like me, he finally managed to make progress with it. Should be the reason we feel so well.'

Little did they know, their happiness was bound to dissipate very soon.

It was only a bout of freshness, a calm before the storm. Without realizing it, they naturally became lighthearted, arrogant even. It came not from their success, but from their doom.

Riding the gentle wave while ignoring the tsunami on their tail. Soon to be drenched in fear as realization would struck them.

The Heavens were not the passerby from the road, but the meteor ready to unleash its terror.