Chapter 147: Infinite Flow of Yin and Yang
The days passed slowly as the half-destroyed ship plowed through the red waters of the River of Blood. The hull creaked with every wave, as if it might split in two at any moment, but still the ship continued on its course, carrying with it the echoes of the recent slaughter.
Under Audrey’s instructions, all the bodies of the deceased were thrown into the river. Some tried to resist; their protests were brief, as their fate ended up being the same as that of the pirates. The corpses disappeared beneath the red waters. After that show of authority, no one else dared to complain. Fear was stronger than any order.
With discipline restored, Audrey assigned various tasks. Some were to calculate provisions, weighing every grain of food and every drop of water. Others were ordered to clean the deck, which was still stained with blood. No matter how hard they tried, the metallic smell lingered, and the wood remained stained, as if the ship itself refused to forget.
And so the days passed. There were no events of great significance; the journey, so far, had been relatively uneventful. The calm, however, was tinged with tension. No one spoke more than was necessary.
Kael, for his part, remained completely calm. He knew the route to Vigerth Mountain well and also had experience in handling boats. Thanks to this, at least in terms of navigation, there was no cause for concern.
Feeling the breeze hitting his face, Kael remained seated on the deck of the ship. His gaze was lost in the clear sky, watching the clouds with a calmness that contrasted with the uncertain fate of the ship.
According to his calculations, it would take between five and ten days to reach Virgerth Mountain. However, there was a particularly dangerous stretch along the route they were taking: waters infested with sea beasts, such as devil fish, creatures that stalked ships and turned voyages into floating graves.
With the crew decimated and a lack of qualified personnel, the ship would most likely end up sinking, dragging almost everyone left on board down with it.
In his mind, Kael had already projected the most likely outcome: most would die. Perhaps only Michel and he would survive. Both were in rank 7, and their chances of living were considerably higher than those of the others.
What’s more, neither of them was the type of person who would sacrifice themselves for strangers. To Kael, the lives of others were merely a resource, as expendable as a dry leaf falling to the ground.
"Hmm..." he exhaled softly, crossing his legs naturally.
Several space rune rings appeared in his hands. Inside them were the treasures he had obtained from his clan’s vault: Zu, magic manuals, aura crops, and a wide variety of resources.
Until now, he hadn’t had enough time to inspect them calmly. This journey, fraught with uncertainty and danger, provided him with the perfect opportunity to do so.
He was already at rank 7, but until now, he had not made any real use of the Zu. This was the path that interested him the most and, at the same time, the one that offered him the least experience. The risk was high, but the potential that awaited in those relics was even greater.
However, before beginning, Kael reviewed what he was using at that moment.
The only things he possessed were the aura cultivation technique "Crimson Plum Circulation" and the manual "Flower Hemomancy." Both arts had the same limit: rank 7.
Powerful in appearance, but essentially a wall that he would sooner or later have to replace.
Kael knew this with absolute clarity. Sooner or later, he would have to replace them with higher-ranked ones.
His eyes fell on the spatial rune rings he carried with him. With a slight movement, he activated one of them, and from inside it, he began to take out various aura cultivation techniques and manuals.
Several 3rd Circle and 4th Circle magic manuals appeared before him:
Nebulous Cryomancy, 3rd Circle and 4th Circle.
Stellar Mist and Rime, 3rd Circle and 4th Circle.
Gelid Veil Sorcery, 3rd Circle and 4th Circle.
These three were magical manuals. The first contained the arts of mist magic, the second was based on star magic, obtained from the magical inheritance of the Lord of the Stars, and the third was a compendium of ice magic.
Between the three of them, they covered a range of techniques that extended from the 3rd Circle to the 4th Circle. With them in his possession, Kael would not have to worry about the Magical Path until he reached rank 5.
However, he knew full well that all this could change at any moment. If he found a magic manual of higher quality, or of a more unique nature, he would replace the current one without hesitation.
Kael looked at the manuals silently for a brief moment. His thoughts raced.
First, he ruled out "Nebulous Cryomancy." Although it possessed its own ingenuity, it lacked offensive arts; its techniques were limited to confusion and escape. For him, that was secondary, useful in specific situations, but incapable of becoming his mainstay.
Luego, desechó "Stellar Mist and Rime". La fusión de conceptos brillaba en el papel, pero la práctica no aportaba la solidez que él requería. Era un manual híbrido, demasiado disperso, y Kael no tenía interés en derrochar energía.
Finally, he placed his hand on "Gelid Veil Sorcery." Of the three, this was the most complete: it contained both methods of attack and defense. It filled the void of immediacy and practicality. It wasn’t the most dazzling, but it was solid, secure, and reliable.
The choice was made. With a calm movement, Kael put away the other two manuals.
He didn’t need them, but they still represented tangible value that he could take advantage of. Once he reached Vigerth Mountain, they could be sold without any problems. For him, these manuals were nothing more than liquid resources, additional capital that could be transformed into advantages.
In any case, he had no immediate need for money. Kael actually possessed enough mana stones and origin stones; his wealth placed him in the category of a millionaire.
At this moment, there was no economic pressure forcing him to act quickly. Of course, there was always a margin of uncertainty: an exceptional situation could force him to spend large amounts of his capital.
But until then, there was no reason to worry.
Returning to his goal, Kael moved on to aura cultivation techniques. Five techniques, rated between six and seven stars, unfolded before him:
Aura Cultivation Black Sun Circle, 6 and 7 stars.
Aura Cultivation: Infinite Flow of Yin and Yang, 6 and 7 stars.
Aura Cultivation: Purple Seas, 6 and 7 stars.
Aura Cultivation: White Flames of the Red Demon, 6 and 7 stars.
Aura Cultivation: Wind of Seven Scents, 6 and 7 stars.
Unlike magic manuals, all of these aura cultivation techniques were valuable in their own right. The choice, in this case, was more about taste and strategy than quality.
However, even among treasures, there were always nuances. Each technique had its advantages and limitations, and it was the bearer’s ability that determined whether they would shine or fail with them.
The aura cultivation technique "Black Sun Circle" was inferior compared to "Purple Seas and Seven-Scented Wind." Although all had their pros and cons, the true value lay not only in the technique itself, but in the mastery of the user.
An aura master who did not understand the essence of his method was doomed to failure, no matter how advanced the technique in his hands.
On the path of the Aura, that was the immutable rule: technique provided the foundation, but it was the user who determined its greatness.
After careful consideration, Kael chose the aura cultivation technique "Infinite Flow of Yin and Yang" as something that suited his plans.
Now he no longer had to worry about the Magical Path or the Path of Aura, at least until he reached rank five. That was the limit of mortal existence, the pinnacle that separated the human from the divine.
Where he was one step away from obtaining the Divine Throne, that goal that had crushed the ambitions of countless beings, and he had failed like everyone else.
But this time would be different.
The failure of the past was nothing more than a testament to the cruelty of the world. He understood that history did not remember those who aspired, but those who managed to snatch the unattainable.
In his previous life, he was just another piece on the board, a replaceable pawn. Now, with the experience of failure and the vision of someone who had already contemplated the end of the road, he knew what he had to do.
When wars break out, you will not be carried away by delusions of grandeur or dazzled by the magnitude of the powers that will appear.
You will not be a disposable pawn, sacrificed for the advancement of others. You will be a true player on that immense board, where the pieces are lives, and the goal is nothing less than divinity.
Because divinity was not a gift, nor a written destiny.
It was an endless struggle, a testing ground where the weak became the foundation, and only those with an unbreakable will...
Could claim the right to sit on that throne and obtain true divinity.