章 2: The Path of Devouring
Kael stood in the grand halls of the Ardent family estate, his mind racing with the possibilities ahead. He had knowledge the original Kael never had: the novel's intricate details, key events, and opportunities hidden throughout this world. One such opportunity was now looming on the horizon—an ancient treasure, the Devouring Sword.
In the original story, this weapon had been a pivotal moment for the protagonist, a young cultivator destined to become the world's strongest. He had stumbled upon the sword in a remote, hidden cave on the outskirts of the Ardent family territory. The sword was imbued with the Law of Devouring, one of the ten supreme laws of the world. With it, the protagonist had risen from obscurity to challenge the greatest powers of the cultivation world.
But Ethan—now Kael—knew about this event long before the protagonist would even come close to the sword. His advantage was clear. He could claim it for himself. He would seize this power, and the world would bend to him. The protagonist could stumble through his fate without his weapon; Kael would ensure that he was the one to rise above all.
The sun had yet to rise as Kael prepared for his journey. The hidden cave was located far beyond the Ardent estate, deep in a range of treacherous mountains known for their perilous conditions and vicious beasts. No one ventured there without a reason, and that made it the perfect place to find the sword.
Dressed in the black battle robes of the Ardent family, Kael grabbed a storage ring and slipped it onto his finger. Inside was everything he would need: medicinal pills, spirit stones, and a handful of talismans. He wouldn't rely on the Ardent family for help this was his quest alone.
As he made his way to the stables, Kael summoned a spirit beast to carry him. It was a sleek black stallion with fiery eyes and a mane that seemed to flicker with embers. One of the prized spirit mounts of the family, this beast could cover the distance in less than half a day, far faster than any human could on foot.
Climbing onto its back, Kael urged the beast forward, and together they sped off into the night, leaving the estate far behind.
Hours passed in silence as Kael approached the mountain range. The sky was now a pale gray, with dawn slowly breaking over the horizon. The air grew colder, and the trees gave way to jagged, rocky paths. The atmosphere here was oppressive, filled with the raw, untamed energy of nature.
Kael dismounted at the base of the mountains, his eyes scanning the jagged peaks for the hidden cave. He remembered the description from the novel, it was near a cluster of dark stones, concealed behind a thicket of dead trees. It took only a few moments before his keen gaze caught sight of it: a narrow entrance, half-covered by dense underbrush.
He moved with purpose, his movements calculated. The original protagonist had barely survived the trip, facing ferocious spirit beasts and natural traps. But Kael had come prepared. As he approached the cave, he unrolled one of the talismans from his storage ring and activated it. A faint golden light enveloped him a protective barrier against the hidden dangers within.
The cave itself was dark, its entrance yawning like the maw of a beast waiting to consume him. Kael strode in without hesitation, the soft glow from a spirit stone illuminating his path. The deeper he ventured, the colder the air became, and a faint pressure pressed down on him. The cave wasn't empty; it pulsed with ancient energy, as though the laws of the world themselves were watching him.
He reached a large chamber after some time, and there it was the Devouring Sword. It lay embedded in a stone altar at the far end of the room, its dark blade shimmering with an eerie light. The air around the sword seemed to twist and distort, as though reality itself was bending to its will.
Kael's heart quickened. The sword was even more imposing than he had imagined. It pulsed with a power that called to him, beckoning him closer. The Law of Devouring one of the ten supreme laws of the universe was contained within that blade. It wasn't just a weapon; it was a force of nature, a power capable of consuming anything in its path.
The original Kael had never even heard of this treasure, but Ethan had read about it countless times. He knew its potential and its dangers. The Devouring Sword was not a tool to be wielded lightly. In the novel, the protagonist had nearly lost his life trying to master its power. But Kael was confident he could succeed where others had failed.
He stepped forward, feeling the pull of the sword. The pressure in the chamber grew heavier with each step, as though the sword was testing him, judging whether he was worthy. Kael smirked. He had no need for the sword's approval. He was here to claim it by force if necessary.
Reaching the altar, Kael extended his hand toward the hilt of the sword. The moment his fingers brushed against it, a surge of energy shot through his body, and the room trembled. The ground beneath him cracked, and a violent gust of wind howled through the chamber.
Kael gritted his teeth, steadying himself as the power of the sword tried to overwhelm him. He could feel the Law of Devouring tugging at his very being, as though it sought to consume him, to tear him apart from the inside out.
But Kael was no ordinary cultivator. He had the advantage of foresight and the iron will to match. He had prepared for this.
Summoning the full force of his cultivation, Kael directed his Qi to form a protective barrier around his core. The Devouring Sword's energy clashed against it, but Kael held firm. Slowly, he wrapped his spiritual sense around the sword, binding it to his will.
For a moment, the resistance grew stronger, and the pressure mounted. But Kael didn't falter. He had spent years honing his mind and spirit. He wouldn't be defeated by an artifact, no matter how powerful.
Finally, the sword's resistance broke. The oppressive energy in the chamber dissipated, and the blade pulsed once more this time in recognition. It was his.
Kael gripped the hilt tightly and lifted the sword from the altar. The dark blade hummed in his hand, its weight perfectly balanced. A sense of satisfaction surged through him. This was a weapon worthy of his ambitions. With it, he could devour anything in his path—resources, enemies, even the heavens themselves.
He inspected the sword closely, feeling the ancient power coursing through it. The Law of Devouring was now his to command, and the world had just shifted in his favor. The protagonist, who was destined to find this sword, would now be left powerless, forced to carve out his path without the artifact that had once been his key to greatness.
Kael sheathed the sword and turned to leave the cave. His heart was calm, but his mind raced with the endless possibilities. This was only the beginning. He had changed the course of the story, and from here on out, he would continue to reshape his fate.
As he stepped out of the cave and back into the cold mountain air, Kael glanced up at the rising sun. A smirk tugged at his lips. In this world, he was no longer a mere heir of a cultivation family. With the Devouring Sword in his hands, he was a force to be reckoned with—a man who would devour the world's destiny and claim it for himself.
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