Chương 191: His Potential - Passing of Time.
An inhaling and exhaling of breath were all that could be heard in the pitch black room, even then there wasn't a single instance of echo as if the room itself was a void that was devoid of anything but that single person, the faint beating of his heart and throbbing of his veins were the only sounds that accompanied his loneliness, his thoughts scattered and refocused on one thing as his Qi was bound inside.
This room was a 'Isolation Chamber', one of the 'benefits' of being an inner disciple was access to this type of room of which there were only tens available in the sect, it was a room used for extreme mental training, there was no light, there were no scents, the walls were sound proofed and echo proof, the formation actively dispersed Qi; Inside the cultivator was nothing but a mortal but nothing but their thoughts to support them.
It was scarcely used because even a cultivator would go insane when left to themselves for long periods, it was like being blind and death at the same time as having no physical stimulation, the rooms temperature was even regulated to be exactly the same as the cultivator's skin temperature so there was no reinforcement of reality from a cold floor.
The one inside right now, was Shu He and Shu He alone.
He had entrusted Shu Xue to Elder Bai while he was here, even though they had a connection that surpassed walls and formations he supressed it as to not distract him, he had come here for one reason and one reason only.
To develop his one and only advantage.
Throughout his entire journey outside the sect, Shu He always thought to himself, that he was only 'slightly strong', it may be an arrogant thought yet it was true; As a cultivator he would put himself above average for his level, but that was it, when dealing with those weaker than him it was easy, for those equal to his level he had difficulty but he felt he could assure victory, yet when fighting those above him he could barely eek out survival.
Logically, there wasn't anything wrong with that, rather it was normal, who would think about defeating those that were realms above them? But in front of Shu He, he saw those that stood above the pinnacle and compared himself to them.
Even watching Tai Hui and Gang Bo fight he felt lacking, the two moved exceptionally well and stood strong even when fighting one another, Tai Hui's skill with a variety of weapons was growing day by day and Gang Bo had soared with support from the Sect Master, Shu He doubts he'd be able to defeat him in a one on one.
And it wasn't just them.
Although he keeps it under wraps, Wei Yu has been pushing himself past his limits, just seeing the Qi roiling from his body when they met a few days back, Shu He could tell he had caught up in cultivation in the past 6 months, he and Mei Ling had been working as a duo and bashing their heads together, behind his soft exterior there was a sharpness present in his eyes that wasn't present before.
Yun Jiang, who was his elder, had started cultivation was had already surpassed him in realms long ago, but his combat abilities weren't his focus, he had begun to touch upon the true realm of experts when it comes to crafting, even touching upon the realm of intent.
And beyond that, he experienced the power and persistence of the enemies that chased him back in Sunnyside, the operatives of Hive, the higher up that almost put him in check and then Elder Su, Su Wei who effortlessly dealt with them.
Then even above that…
The Zan Clan founder, who he had begun to learn his technique from.
Long Tian, the one who had him inherit his technique.
And the old white sage that he met that day.
He had begun to realise just how insignificant he was, just how little he knew of the world, just how weak he was right now…
And just how much potential he held in his hands.
He was akin to a canvas, with the most beautiful of paints laid off to the side, right now he had only eked out a few tiny strokes, but compared to the vastness of the white paper they were completely non-existent.
These cards he had been dealt… he had to make use of them.
Was there any point to his life if he didn't?
He needed the strength to protect what he wanted to protect, and to do what he wanted to do… even more so now he had gained a family member, he hadn't expected to feel such a thing again after dying once, and witnessing his parents die in front of him in the second.
But he truly missed it and was glad to experience it once again.
And this time, he wouldn't let it slip through his fingertips.
He had already put in the request to leave on the Keystone Pilgrimage, it would be an estimated six months until he was given approval.
Until then…
Alchemy, Medical Skills, Beast Taming and his Cultivation, he had to take everything and run as far as he could with it, but there was one thing he can work on here and now.
He lifted his hands as he focused, he felt his Qi flow through his body and then out of it, through 'himself' before they formed a ball of water and fire a distance away from him.
It was his 'advantage', something no one else could do, and he had to capitalise on it.
…
"Black sects… Hive…" A youthful voice echoed in the large chamber filled with pure, iridescent light as three figures kneeled towards the man on the throne, his pure white embroidered robes and the veil covering his face indicative of his status.
"How many of their bases have we crushed in the past five years?" He asked, yet no one answered, they didn't want to answer, nor did they feel the need to.
The answer way simple – too damn many.
"They truly are pests that live up to their name… they pop up like insects scurrying around searching for food." One of the three sages present, an old man spat in anger.
"And yet we haven't found anyone of importance! Why do none of them know what we want?!" the sole old lady there almost cracked the ground as she dug her nails in to the pristine floor.
"…" The third, another old man remained silent with a downcast expression.
"And where is the 3rd?" The man on the throne asked as the glowing eyes behind the veil washed over the three causing them to shiver.
"…She said she was dealing with a new lead and couldn't return in time for your summons, Emperor" the previously silent old man replied, earning him a questioning stare from the Emperor.
"Did she now."
The words laid on their shoulders as they cursed the missing sage.
'''Why the hell would you not come?! We'll all be punished!''' was what they collectively thought and feared. They all glanced at one another, swearing to their hearts that they'd drag her back in apology.
A sigh was heard as they all looked back to the man on the throne, he leaned on his knuckles as his pure golden hair leaked out of his veil and the corner of his displeased mouth peeked from the corner.
"If I could only squash them myself…" the sound of gritting teeth accompanied by the drowning feeling of pressure pushing against the skin of the sages filled the room, they felt sweat leak from every inch of their bodies as a chill began to embrace their minds.
And then they were released from it, allowing them to breathe again as they all tilted over to catch their breaths.
"Continue tracking them down, employ every sect to the fullest, no exceptions" the Emperor commanded as the three kneeled as deep as they could.
"Yes, our Emperor!" They replied before rushing off like scurrying bugs.
All that was left was the man on the throne who laid back and looked at the glimmering sun like light on the ceiling while murmuring.
"So, this is our enemy, Father…"
…
It had been two months since Tai Hui left the sect, he had already long since passed the border between the Metal and Water regions and was happily enjoying the tropical climate of the Water region, as a former scholar he had long since longed for the idea of journeying the world as opposed to being cramped in a room all day, so he was happy to truly live it.
He walked along a sandy road with the sea roaring to his left, he had just entered the Lower Claw of the Flood Dragon Archipelago, whereas the Everlasting Ocean Sect resided in the Left Eye according to the information he was given, so he had a while to go, yet he wasn't rushed.
He had no time limit, so he'd take his time and enjoy himself.
"Seafood certainly is different from what I'm used to, but it's great! I wonder if there's a way to import it to the sect myself, so it isn't too expensive…" he mumbled to himself as he chewed on the bones of a small fish while walking along, his long black hair fluttered in the wind as it was tied up.
In his hand he carried a long silver spear with leather grips, yet at his waist was a saber on the left and a whip like weapon on the right, in the end he never carried a single weapon and liked to have variety, this earned him more than a few strange looks wherever he went of course.
All of a sudden, he stopped in silence before he slammed his spear into the ground, burying the end before he let go as a smile grew on his face.
It was not a smile of joy however, it was a smile in the face of fear, he felt a chill grasp his spine and mind as he grabbed the saber's hilt while turning ever so slowly to the side as if a faster movement would end his life, then and there.
His eyes turned and found the object of this fear, there stood a man in his prime wearing simple grey robes as his long white hair flowed in the wind like a silver flame with a gentle smile formed on his pristine face, his eyes were closed to a slit yet Tai Hui felt every inch of his body being judged like he was a piece of meat on a chopping board.
The biggest thing that Tai Hui feared was that this man wasn't there even a microsecond ago, he wasn't anywhere near him, it was like he had flashed into existence then and there.
Yet Tai Hui's grin deepened after all this.
"What good senses, you didn't draw your weapon" The strange man spoke, his voice as smooth as silk and as sickly as sugar reinforced wine.
"You'd be dead if you did" the man spoke as if it was a simple fact, like a rule of the world, there was no arguing or opposition.
"You." Tai Hui managed to push back his fear and spoke. "I've heard of you".
The man's smile crept up his face like a maw preparing to open "You have? I wonder where from?" He tilted his head, yet his movement didn't feel human, it was almost like a puppet being directed by a monster.
"Ah right, Tai Min." Tai Hui's heard skipped a beat upon hearing that name.
"Did your uncle tell you?" his eyes opened ever so slightly revealing a black void beneath, Tai Hui immediately looked away as to not become entranced.
"Does it matter? He's dead." Tai Hui spat back.
He barely knew his uncle, he had fallen away from the rest of his family many years ago, yet Tai Min had approached him many years back about what had happened to him, hoping to rope Tai Hui into whatever mess he was in.
Tai Hui back then of course treated him like a raving lunatic and ran off, but ever since becoming a cultivator he had vividly remembered every moment of that memory.
"That's true" The man's eyes closed, and his shoulders twitched like a shrug.
"…" Tai Hui's tongue froze, he didn't know what to say, he didn't even need to ask why he was here, it was obvious to him.
"You seem smarter than him. Don't you want to know? The truth to this world, the path to freedom? A way to be stronger than everyone else" the man's words were laced with poison, dredging the interest of all that listened.
Yet Tai Hui scoffed "Do you think honey laced words will work with me?".
"No" the man stated, yet his smile deepened "But you still can't help but become intrigued, aren't I right?".
Tai Hui's pupils shrank slightly as his mind span, his hand twitched on the hilt of the saber and his feet drifted apart slightly, yet in the end he paused and released his grip, he relaxed his stance and stood up facing the strange man.
"Fine, you got me" he awaited his fate.
In the next moment, both of them were gone.
That day, Tai Hui disappeared from the world.
…
Seven months later, deep in the central mountain of the Titanic Steel sect there was a chamber that had been silent for more than five years, inside was simple stone room filled with little but a stock of food that had been long since emptied.
Yet in the centre of such a chamber a single man sat in meditation, his skin had begun to pale as signs of emancipation set in on his face, yet he didn't stir a single inch.
It had been like this for years now, yet not a single person had disturbed him, he was deep within his mind, separated from the material world.
Yet now-
His eyes opened as they glowed with a sharp light, his body erupted with a spectacular aura that grew and grew.
And then, the sect shook.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
ShiroN3K0
ShiroN3K0 I thought for a long time about how to move forward, and this is what i decided. I could go through detailing each and every action that was taken, but that would get too boring, i was worried the story was becoming a bit monotone with the recent chapters.
With this chapter, this arc is over, the next can begin.
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