A long time ago in a far off place around the time Ryuk was 14.
A small bodied boy slammed a tree with his fists. Although the boy was small his muscles were compact and he had a envious vigour. He was very good looking and at the side their were a few servants bowing without a slight change.
The boy sighed as he looked at the bruises and wounds on his hand. Long ago he would have cried greatly feeling the burning pain, but now his senses had perhaps dulled or become too great to recognize such damage. In fact the burning pain at times struck him uncomfortably, but at other times he felt great pleasure.
The boy had managed to break the large and heavy tree, but he seemed to have no joy and even the servants at the side seemed indifferent.
A old man with a long black beard falling neatly into a loose robe dropped down. On his arms and legs the old man wore bracers which seemed extraordinarily heavy enough to even cause their to be fluctuations in the air at any moment. Their was a black crescent moon on his forehead beating like a heart.
The old man said with a shake of his head "Not good. Not good. Your brothers and sisters can already destroy the purple deepening tree. It is truly that maids blood that hinders you child."
The boy had scuffled to the side with his head low while the servants had gone to their knees. The servants seemed to he mere decorations in this place.
The old man seemed to be find the boy pitiful and reached into his glabella and pulled out a manual.
He said "I had checked and you seem to have an affinity with understanding, deconstructing and mastering the energies in the universe. Although I'm not sure try this. Even though you're not fit for fighting perhaps we can save your life and make some use of you as a formation master. Do read well. As a demon prince you best not let me down."
The boy took the book and his eyes seemed to sparkle. He looked a the old man, but the old man had dissapeared. The boy's originally warming heart hastily retreated into a coldness unlike a childs. He tightened his balled hands and silently went into a room.
...
Ryuk had a good sleep and went to the formation division. His Cultivation had reached the peak and he could make a breakthrough at any moment, but he didn't. Ryuks soul had even undergone intense improvement. This greatly scared Ryuk about how his prior snail pace seemed to not be as fast as lightning. Ryuks body Cultivation hadn't improved significantly, but that was to be expected unlike the other two forms body Cultivation needed medicines, treatments and other such methods to improve. Furthermore it needed an extremely precise control to do and wasn't a passive reaction like qi Cultivation which automatically upgraded when it reached a limit.
Ryuk planned to do his body Cultivation after doing the first step of Overlord hunting the world. He was going to use the lightning field in his masters abode.
Ryuk was quite excited to do formation as he wanted to see Blacks talents as well as his first few tests with Yin Yang truth seeking eyes. Although Ryuk knew Black was talented in formation Ryuk wasn't sure how talented.
Ryuks Yin Yang truth seeking eyes was of course a technique as well, but it wasn't as Heaven defying as the name sounded. It just allowed one to see past all illusions, see all items in existence. He wasn't sure about whether he could do what Shen Yuling did nor did he really want to. Firstly although Eye Bloodlines were powerful they needed alot of circumstances to be powerful such as the level of the bloodline, the Cultivators soul etc. So in essence it was a more general version of Shen Yuling's Yin Yang Universe Devourer eyes, but more emphasized in it's seeking ability.
Ryuk had done some investigations and calculations in his mind and had eventually developed a technique for it, but he wasn't sure whether it would work much less alter his bloodline.
Ryuk entered a misty place where the energy of the universe was in perfect sync coalescing into a extremely powerful array.
Similarily their were light runes to guide those who had an identification token. Ryuk came to the front and saw a guard bare chested with large inscriptions dug into his skin shining occasionally. They method of inscription Ryuk was familiar with as his turtle shell has ancient ones.
Ryuk entered fairly easily and was led to a old man floating with his eyes closed. The man hummed as in deep meditation and only after 20 minute's of keeping Ryuk standing did the man 'notice' Ryuk.
The old man held his chin high and said "So your the twerp little Riel has sent to me?"
Ryuk bowed slightly.
Without any care the old man sent a ring to Ryuk and casually waved him off.
Ryuk found this to be quite awkward.
Even if he didn't expect respect or a warm shoulder the dismissive and rude attitude was extremely hard to swallow. Firstly they were both Cultivators and although this old man was a senior in both Cultivation and age the arrogance and disdain truly felt unorthodox. Secondly Ryuk could tell that the old man was inspecting him those 20 minute's he had to wait not concentrating on other things, he was making Ryuk learn his place.
Ryuk wasn't the type of person to scheme or ploy against others and thus wasn't all that well versed in mental combat, therefore he liked it better if someone was upfront with how they truly are to prevent misunderstandings and unnecessary hardships.
Ryuk still bowed and left.
The old man opened an eye slightly "Talented. In both qi Cultivation, soul Cultivation and even body Cultivation he seems capable. He is shown to have an extremely high aptitude towards Alchemy and forging. He's a total and complete risk towards me becoming the next sect master. That bastard Riel is not only Younger, but has been stuck in Cultivation for so long. Yet I a far better candidate has been continuously passed over. Now finally I've managed to weaken his reign and power in the sect and this brat comes! If the Alchemy and forging factions and their affiliated patriarch join with Riels one I'll never have a chance. I'll need to do something about that kid. Murder or defaming him. Something I need that brat out. Haha, and the worse part is his affinity with energy of the universe is fucking monstrous!"
The formation elder didn't notice a small ant crawling around.
Ryuk meanwhile outside laughed "So it's like that... Well I should solve this guy for master. Little dot you can come back."
Ryuk wanted an invisible army and heard of an aloof eccentric and his ant army.
Ryuk now is also an aloof eccentric having made millions of normal ants his pets.
To make it worse he stuffed a good amount in the Superior housing of Mooneye and Dion to absorb their small amounts of residual energy that is emitted from them in select durations as well as the energy supplied to their houses which Ryuk was shocked to find on par or even better considering the purity and atleast 100x better than his abode.
His ants were basically live or die for Ryuk following him as a small cult. Some had reached rank 3 and that had been after only a few months.
...
Ryuk was in front of Riel and was playing Tic tac toe.
Riel laughed "Your bad at chess, but good at this. My concubine introduced me to this and I believed it was a very smart game as common as it was in the secular world. You always plan two steps ahead. If you can win your like an assassin hiding in the shadows. You don't like losing so you keep drawing to understand how I play and to confuse me about your play style. Your calm and focused on a goal making sure you don't lose although as you make your way. Your willing to bide your time. A good quality a practitioner needs."
Ryuk smiled and then a still expression appeared "Master. The formation head I overheard..."
Riel smiled and shuffled Ryuks hair and said "Don't worry about me. Just do as good as you can with your studies. I'm still not out of the running. Don't discount your old master here."
Ryuk looked at that smile and felt a warmth fill him.
Ryuk had always been the one to hold the most burden in his eyes with no family, no money and the constant pressure of being a weakling. Others would scream at others or drink for their problems, yet Ryuk never did. He held it all in except for when his mother was insulted. Even now he felt people were too selfish wanting others to blame and to free themselves from the burden. Yet his master similarily held up the burden and anger boiling inside putting on a smile so those he cares about don't frown. Ryuk had realized their were those who were like his master, but seeing his master show off in front of his eyes like a proud person not begging or arguing about his problems. He was inspired and awestruck.
Riel didn't need a big speech to impress Ryuk. He just needed his actions.
Ryuk kowtowed and hugged his master. Leaving Riel stunned for a moment before he patted Ryuks back gently.
Ryuk left and the Moon had already risen high into the sky.
Ryuk looked upon its lunar luster and said firmly "Don't worry master. I will always be their to carry your burden. I'll help you defeat that little punk!"