Stranger: Back Home-Chapter 10 - 9: Eldest disciple - Maximo

After eliminating everyone, Xenos walked toward the cottage.

Before entering, he used an acupuncture technique to put the two guards—or rather, the two people keeping surveillance—to sleep. Since he wasn't sure if they had hostile intentions, it was better to neutralize them without harming them.

As he approached the cottage and pushed open the door, he noticed that Maximo was gone.

"It seems he left while I was dealing with those assassins."

The moment he stepped inside, a fine green powder sprinkled down from above, landing on his skin.

Xenos immediately recognized it. "Poison? He's quite cautious..."

A slight smile formed on his lips as he examined his surroundings. "I thought he simply left his sister here, but no... He's turned this entire house into a death trap."

Everything— the walls, the floor, even the very air inside—was laced with poison.

"Interesting..." Xenos muttered. "This toxin is strong enough to kill an Organ Refining stage warrior—equivalent to a Great Grandmaster Realm."

Without hesitation, he circulated his cultivation technique, easily expelling the poison from his system.

He then walked further inside, heading toward the bed where Maximo's sister lay motionless.

Sumanth's earlier words about her had been bothering him, and now that he was here, he needed to confirm it himself.

As Xenos stepped closer, his gaze fell on a frail 10-year-old girl lying on the bed.

She appeared healthy on the surface, but something felt off.

Since he couldn't use spiritual Qi in this world, he couldn't fully assess her condition, but even without it, she gave off an unsettling feeling—like she was hollow inside.

Understanding the situation, Xenos directly contacted Elder Eva.

"Elder Eva, I need to talk to you."

Elder Eva responded with a slightly irritated tone. "What is it, kid? I'm already working on the pills you asked for. What happened?"

Xenos replied seriously, "Elder Eva, can you take a look at this girl? Her condition feels strangely familiar."

Hearing his concern, Elder Eva released her divine sense and scanned the young girl in front of Xenos.

After a brief silence, she spoke in a grave tone. "It looks like someone forcibly took her soul from her body, kid."

Xenos narrowed his eyes. "Soul snatching?"

Elder Eva hummed in agreement. "Hmm... It looks that way."

Xenos frowned. "But isn't she just a mortal? Soul snatching usually doesn't harm the body, right?"

Elder Eva explained, "Yes, that's normally true. But this girl is special. Her soul is far more developed than an ordinary mortal's. From what I can sense, her soul spark has already evolved into a Soul Body."

Xenos's expression changed. "A Soul Body?!"

Elder Eva continued, "Not just that. The one who performed the soul snatching technique hasn't fully mastered it, which resulted in this condition. I also can't sense any soul-body resonance from her, which means her soul isn't in this plane anymore. It must be trapped in another space."

Xenos was shocked.

A Soul Body was rare. Normally, a person was born with a soul spark, a tiny flicker of energy residing in the pineal gland, which radiated life energy throughout the body. As a person aged, their soul sparkgradually weakened, and once it completely faded, natural death would occur.

The evolution from soul spark to Soul Body was an extremely rare phenomenon. Many mistook it for a nascent soul, but in reality, a Soul Body was a stage between the two. Only those blessed by the heavens or possessing an ancient bloodline could be born with it.

For a 10-year-old mortal human to have a Soul Body was unheard of.

But what really made Xenos frown was the lack of resonance.

"If her body is still alive and her life thread is intact, that means her soul hasn't been devoured... and if it's not on Earth, then the only possibility is a Space Gate."

"A separate dimension?" Xenos muttered, deep in thought.

As he pondered the situation, Elder Eva spoke again.

"This girl's bloodline is... unusual. There's divine energy within her blood, and it's similar to... star energy."

Xenos's eyes flickered. "Divine energy?"

Elder Eva confirmed, "Yes. I recall the last Emperor of the True Human Universe mentioning something about this when he last visited. He spoke about certain individuals being blessed with ancestral powers due to their past merits... or something along those lines. I don't remember the full details, but Elder Leo might know more."

Xenos nodded in acknowledgment.

Elder Eva continued analyzing the girl before sighing. "Normally, a mortal would have died instantly from such a violent soul extraction. But this girl... it looks like she put up a fight. Someone must have used a forbidden technique to heal her soul sea and life essence, preventing her from dying completely."

Her voice grew thoughtful. "I presume it was that kid, Maximo, you mentioned earlier."

She paused before adding, "The healing pills I made won't be enough for him. I'll need to examine him in person. But you can still give Maximo the curse removal pills—those will definitely help him."

Xenos nodded again.

Elder Eva sighed. "It'll take some time, kid. I'll contact you once the pills are ready."

With that, she withdrew her soul thread and ended the conversation.

(Soul Thread: A communication method used by those inside the Tower to connect with people outside. Only recognized individuals and elders can use it.)

Xenos stood in silence, processing everything.

"Earth is more mysterious than I expected. Five Heavenly Incarnates, and now a girl with divine energy? It's like someone is setting up a massive game..."

The more he thought about it, the more things started to connect.

"And what if she's not the only one? There could be others."

His mind drifted to the Twelve Ancient Families.

"If they're truly as ancient as they claim, who's to say they don't carry divine bloodlines as well?"

Xenos's eyes darkened. "I need to investigate this. And if multiple souls have been stolen... I need to bring them back."

His thoughts were interrupted as he stepped out of the house.

Maximo still didn't return.

Xenos walked to a wooden log outside the cottage, sat down, and lit a small fire.

The cold night air brushed against his skin, but he remained still, staring into the crackling flames as he contemplated his next move.

Xenos waited for Maximo.

After a while, he heard the hurried footsteps of someone approaching.

As he looked toward the sound, he saw Maximo running toward him. Each step was heavy—his shoulders burdened with wooden logs. His face was filled with panic as he noticed someone sitting outside the cottage, warming themselves by a fire.

As Maximo got closer, he stopped a few meters away and demanded in a grave voice, "Who are you?"

Despite his words, his eyes never left the cottage.

Xenos remained calm, watching him. Seeing Maximo's panic and how he kept glancing toward the cottage, Xenos finally spoke.

"Don't worry. Your sister is safe."

Even after hearing those words, Maximo's heart was still filled with unease.

Xenos gestured toward the log across from him. "Why don't you sit down first?"

With no better option, Maximo hesitated before sitting on the opposite log.

Seeing this, Xenos spoke in a calm voice. "As I said before, your sister is inside and unharmed. You don't have to worry."

Maximo slowly began to calm down, his breathing becoming steadier as he stared at Xenos.

After a moment, Xenos said, "I have to say, I'm impressed. A normal person would never endure the pain you've suffered and still live as if everything is normal."

Maximo responded quietly, "When the pain in your heart is greater than the pain in your body... you learn to live with it."

Xenos narrowed his eyes. "Pain in the heart, huh? Is it the pain of seeing your sister unconscious... or the pain of your crippled body? Or is it the powerlessness to change your situation?"

Maximo didn't reply. He simply stared at Xenos.

Xenos, however, could see the determination in Maximo's eyes. He saw a man who was not ready to give up, a man who would fight to change his fate.

Xenos continued, "What if I told you... the world you know is only the surface? That beneath it, a hidden darkness is rising, threatening to consume everything?"

Maximo remained silent.

Xenos didn't stop. "Behind this dark tide are beings not of this world... but of the underworld. The dead who refuse to stay dead."

A flicker of confusion crossed Maximo's face, but Xenos pressed on.

"Among those beings, there is a technique—one every undead master possesses. It's called Hades' Grasp."

Maximo's eyes widened.

Xenos nodded. "This technique has a unique ability—it allows them to extract a person's soul without them even realizing it."

Maximo's breathing quickened. He was putting the clues together.

"When someone uses this technique," Xenos continued, "the victim's soul is usually extracted instantly. But... there are rare individuals in this world—people born with an extraordinary sense of danger. Even if they are mere mortals, they can instinctively resist such attacks."

Xenos locked eyes with Maximo. "Like your sister."

Maximo shot to his feet. "What?! Are you messing with me?"

Xenos remained composed. "You're an alchemist, aren't you? You should be able to tell the condition your sister is in."

Maximo's panic only grew. "Is there any way to save her?"

Xenos didn't hesitate. "There is only one way—to bring her soul back."

Maximo clenched his fists. "But how?! Where do I even start?!"

Xenos raised a hand. "Calm down. I know you're desperate to save your sister, but ask yourself this—can you even save yourself?"

Maximo sucked in a deep breath, trying to suppress the growing turmoil in his heart. He looked at Xenos, his voice steady but pleading. "Sir... what can I do for you to save my sister?"

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Xenos's expression didn't change. "I'm not someone who takes advantage of others." He paused. "Even before I knew about your sister, I traveled far just to find you."

Maximo frowned. "What do you mean?"

Xenos leaned forward slightly. "I told you about the darkness hidden beneath the surface, didn't I? The space gates that mysteriously appear... they are all part of a grander scheme. That's why I have come—to find and train exceptional disciples to fight this coming darkness."

He looked straight into Maximo's eyes. "So, I ask you—will you take me as your master?"

Maximo's breath hitched. "If I do... will I be able to save my sister?"

Xenos didn't lie. "I can't guarantee that. But I can guide you on the path to saving her."

Maximo's hands trembled.

He didn't get the answer he wanted.

But deep down... he knew this was his only chance.

Slowly, he fell to his knees.

Lowering his head to the ground, Maximo kowtowed before Xenos.

He had made his decision.

That how Maximo becomes Xenos first disciple.........