Chương 385: The Physical Force of Terror

We fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in our own thoughts as we continued sipping our drinks. My mother gazed around the tavern with quiet interest, while my father seemed to be processing everything we'd discussed. It was during this quiet moment that I realized I should take care of the bill. My parents didn't have many spirit stones, only what I'd given them during my last visit to the village, and even that was meant for their relocation expenses and emergencies.

Knowing my father, he'd probably try to pay with gold or silver coins from his savings, only to be told that the tavern operated on spirit stone currency like most businesses within the sect. The embarrassment on his face when he realized he couldn't properly pay for his son's milestone drink would ruin the entire evening. I couldn't let that happen.

"I'll be right back," I said, standing and making my way toward the back of the tavern where a discrete sign indicated the facilities. Instead of actually using the bathroom, I approached the bar where the proprietress was organizing bottles and cleaning glasses.

"Excuse me," I said quietly.

"I'd like to settle the bill for our table, but could you do me a favor?" She looked up with a knowing expression that suggested this wasn't the first time a young cultivator had made this request.

"Let me guess, you don't want your father to know you paid?"

"Exactly. He's a proud man, and this moment means a lot to him. Could you just tell him it's on the house for advancing in the tournament?" Her smile was warm with understanding.

"Of course, young master." I placed a small handful of spirit stones on the bar, probably more than the drinks were worth, but I was in a celebratory mood.

"This should cover it, with something extra for the excellent service."

"Very generous. Your father will never know." I returned to the table feeling pleased with the arrangement. The conversation had moved to my parents' plans for the Three Rivers Village, and I was able to contribute some suggestions about areas that might be suitable for a tailor's business. As the evening wound down and my father began looking around for our server to settle the bill, I had to hide a smile behind my cup. When he finally caught her attention and asked about payment, she beamed at him.

"Oh, that's already taken care of, sir. On the house for your son advancing to the next round. The sect likes to celebrate our successful disciples!" The look of pride that crossed my father's face was worth every spirit stone I'd spent and more. He sat up straighter in his chair, his chest expanding with paternal satisfaction.

"Well," my father smiled, "it seems our son has made quite an impression."

"It seems he has," my mother agreed, beaming at me.

"Though I still think he needs to eat more. All this cultivation and fighting, you're probably not getting proper nutrition." I couldn't help but laugh.

"Mother, my cultivation level means I could probably survive for days without eating if I had to. My body processes spiritual energy directly now."

"That doesn't mean you should," she replied firmly.

"Spiritual energy or not, you're still my son, and mothers worry about these things."

"And they always will," my father added with amusement.

"Even when you're an immortal with your own mountain peak, she'll probably still be concerned about whether you're wearing warm enough robes." My only response was a smile.

As the sky outside began to darken, painting the tavern's interior in shades of gold and amber, I knew it was time to return my parents to their guest quarters. The first day of our three-day preparation period would begin tomorrow, and I needed to start planning my approach to the individual battles. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

We made our way through the outer sect's winding pathways, past gardens where evening-blooming spiritual flowers were beginning to open and release their subtle fragrances. My parents walked slowly, not from fatigue but from a desire to extend these peaceful moments together.

"The sect really is beautiful," my mother observed, pausing to admire a grove of bamboo that glowed softly with accumulated moonlight.

"I can see why you've been happy here."

"It's become home," I agreed.

"Though I'll always consider where my family is my true home. This is just... where I work."

"That's a healthy perspective," my father said.

"Too many young people forget their roots when they find success." When we reached the guest quarters, I walked them to their door and waited while they prepared for the evening. My mother fussed over me one more time, making sure I had everything I needed, while my father offered final words of paternal advice.

"Remember what we talked about," he said, gripping my shoulder again.

"Be smart, be careful, and come back to us."

"I will," I promised.

"Both of you get some rest. Tomorrow I'll probably be busy with preparation, but I'll try to visit in the evening if I can."

"Don't worry about us," my mother said.

"You focus on what you need to do. We'll be watching from the stands and cheering you on." After final hugs and goodbyes, I made my way back toward my own quarters. The outer sect was quieter now, with most disciples either cultivating in their rooms or gathered in small groups discussing the day's events. A few nodded respectfully as I passed, they'd all watched the tournament themselves through the viewing arrays, witnessing firsthand my battles in the Fallen Realm and the breakthrough to Pseudo Elemental Realm.

Some looked at me with newfound respect, others with barely concealed curiosity about the red and blue energies I'd displayed, and a few with the calculating expressions of people trying to assess a potential future opponent. When I arrived at my room, it felt smaller than I remembered, though that might have been a side effect of my recent breakthrough to the Pseudo Elemental Realm. My spiritual senses were more acute now, making me more aware of spatial boundaries and energy flows.

I'd need to adjust to the enhanced perception over the next few days. As I sat down on my bed, my mind was already turning toward tomorrow's challenges. Three days to prepare for the individual rounds meant three days to train, strategize, and hopefully gain some insight into my potential opponents. Wu Kangming would be my biggest challenge if we both advanced far enough to meet.

His sword techniques were genuinely impressive, and that mysterious mentor of his clearly had depths of knowledge that went far beyond what most outer sect disciples could access. Wei Lin would be formidable too, with his energy conversion abilities and tenth-stage cultivation base giving him significant advantages. Actually, he might be my most difficult opponent for reasons that had nothing to do with raw power.

If we ended up fighting each other, I wouldn't be able to use the red and blue sun energies at all, the risk of Wei Lin's marketplace method accidentally absorbing those corrupting influences was too great. On that thought, I definitely needed to pay Wei Lin a visit for the conversation we'd postponed. He needed to understand exactly why those energies were so dangerous, and I needed to make sure he wouldn't try to experiment with them in the future. But that could all wait till tomorrow.

Tonight, I just wanted to get some rest. I was just reaching to remove my boots when something strange happened. The walls of my room began to waver, as if I were looking at them through disturbed water. The familiar furniture, my bed, desk, bookshelf, started to fade around the edges, becoming translucent and insubstantial.

"What the—" I began, then stopped as the world dissolved completely around me. The comfortable warmth of my quarters vanished, replaced by oppressive cold that seemed to seep into my bones despite my enhanced cultivation. The soft light from my room's spiritual lamps was gone, leaving me in absolute darkness that pressed against my eyes like a physical weight. And then I heard them. Screams. Distant but unmistakably human, filled with such raw agony that they made my skin crawl.

The sounds echoed from all directions, as if I were standing in the center of some vast chamber where hundreds of people were being tortured simultaneously. I tried to move, to activate Blink Step or even just take a normal step forward, but my body felt strangely heavy and unresponsive. When I looked down, I could barely make out my own hands in the darkness.

"Azure?" I called out mentally, fighting down the panic that was rising in my chest.

"Azure, what's happening?" But before any response could come, I heard footsteps. Slow, deliberate steps that echoed through the darkness with an authority that made the screaming voices fall silent one by one. Each footfall seemed to resonate not just through the air, but through my very bones, creating a rhythm that felt disturbingly familiar. A figure began to emerge from the absolute blackness ahead of me, resolving slowly like an image developing on paper.

At first, it was just a vague outline - the suggestion of a human form. Then more details became visible: the cut of expensive robes, the way shadows seemed to cling to the figure like living things, the unmistakable bearing of someone accustomed to absolute power. As the figure stepped fully into what little light existed in this hellish place, I felt my face go pale and my blood turn to ice in my veins. I knew that face. I knew those eyes. And I knew exactly why I was here.