The Cunning Treasure Hunter-Chapter 118: Secrets of the Forbidden Grounds

"You said fourteen years old?"

"Oh, dear Primordial Celestial Lord..."

"…Since when did you start believing in Taoism?"

"In moments like these, it’s best to pray to every god that exists."

There was no way Jordan, the Young Blade of the Heavens, would lie.

Not to his savior, no less.

And he was a martial artist at the early stage of the Transformation Realm.

He would never misjudge the level of an opponent who had surpassed Peak Mastery.

"…So everything you say is true?"

"Have I ever deceived you, Elder?"

"You’ve broken a few promises, though."

Jordan let out a deep sigh.

"Then I must complete the Primordial Transcendence Pill as soon as possible."

"You’ve been working on it?"

"One can never be too careful. I have been refining it continuously. Another month, and it will be complete."

The process was grueling.

It took twelve years of constant heating and vigilant care to refine just a single pill.

If the fire were to be extinguished even once, the entire process would be ruined.

Moreover, it had to be fueled by rare and spiritual medicinal ingredients.

Nothing ordinary could be used.

Every material was a precious elixir, each one capable of altering fate itself.

It was an unbelievable luxury.

But the effects were undeniable.

It could restore a shattered core, reconnect severed meridians, and even reshape a broken body.

It was worthy of its name—Transcendence Pill of No Equal.

"Fourteen years old... Fourteen…"

Immortal Pharmacist muttered. Explore stories on novelbuddy

The younger the recipient of a supreme pill, the greater the effect.

And this was true tenfold for an elixir like the Primordial Transcendence Pill.

Most importantly—

Jordan had taken the pill when his body was already ruined.

The pill had saved his life, but it could not push him to greater heights.

His body, already matured at the age of thirty, could only absorb so much of its power.

Most of the pill’s energy had been spent healing his wounds.

But this time—

That would not be the case.

"However, that child is a Celestial Blade Star."

At those words, Immortal Pharmacist paused for a moment.

Yet, his smile did not fade.

In fact…

His grin grew even wider, enough to make Jordan momentarily uneasy.

"Is that not good news?"

"…You think so?"

"I have lived long enough to see it all, and I tell you—there is no revolution without blood."

Jordan nodded.

He was right.

From time immemorial, the strong have trampled the weak.

And if the weak wanted to escape their fate…

There was only one way.

To take up the blade, sever the oppressor’s head, and become the new strong.

That was the unchanging law of the martial world.

If they hated the Sword Lord’s rule, then they needed the power to oppose him.

It did not matter what form that power took—be it an organization or a single blade.

What mattered was overwhelming strength—strength enough to crush the Sword Lord beneath their feet.

And in the martial world, strength was measured in blood and steel.

If one wished to overturn the rule of the Sword Lord Zephyrion Akrest…

They would have to tear down everything he built.

Countless lives would be lost.

A sea of blood would be spilled.

But if they were not prepared for that—

Then they had no right to step into Reverse Heaven Unity in the first place.

Both Immortal Pharmacist and Jordan had already accepted that truth.

And Vera…

She was the same.

"Will this child join Reverse Heaven Unity?"

"Aiden is the one who found her. By now, she has likely reached Aria."

"This is… intriguing."

Immortal Pharmacist stroked his long beard.

Then, he glanced at the small cauldron, where the pill had been simmering for eleven years and eleven months.

"When the Thousand-Weapon Physique appeared in the Akrest Clan, I thought it was all over."

"You mean Theron?"

"Yes. That brilliant little brat. From what I hear, though, he’s nothing like his father or grandfather."

Jordan shrugged.

He had been exiled from the Akrest Clan for twenty years.

And Theron was seventeen.

There was no way he could judge him.

"…Still, he carries the Akrest bloodline."

"Then don’t act like it means anything. You carry the Akrest bloodline too, do you not?"

"Bah. That’s true, but… I had nearly forgotten about that."

Jordan chuckled dryly.

Immortal Pharmacist laughed as well.

Then, he opened another cauldron, where a viscous liquid bubbled.

"Your medicine is almost ready."

"Good. My body has been aching like hell."

"You could always just die, you know."

"Elder, I brought you good information, didn’t I?"

Secluded Training Grounds of the Everstone Clan

This was the most dangerous and forbidden place within the Everstone Clan.

It was filled with the most complex formations and deadly mechanisms.

Even more than the leader’s Hall.

At its entrance, Aria and Vera stood side by side.

"Vera, step exactly where I step. Only move when I give the signal."

"…I understand."

But Vera had already seen it all.

Formations were nothing more than a person’s intent frozen in space.

Because of that, they carried traces of killing intent.

And the place untouched by killing intent…

That was the safe passage.

’…Found it.’

The path untouched by blood, free of even the faintest trace of death.

That was the Life Gate.

Aria glanced at Vera, then furrowed her brows.

Something about Vera’s calm demeanor made her feel uneasy.

Aria’s Suspicion

Before Vera had even stepped forward, she was already gazing ahead, as if she knew exactly where to place her feet.

’…A coincidence?’

Aria shook off the unsettling feeling and continued walking.

She was a Celestial Blade Star.

A child of slaughter, cursed with boundless martial talent.

She may have been brilliant, but there was no way she could locate the Life Gate without studying formations.

This was a science, not something one could grasp through intuition alone.

This was the culmination of centuries of accumulated knowledge within the Everstone Clan.

’…Wait a moment.’

Yet step after step, the same thing occurred.

No matter how carefully Aria moved, Vera followed precisely, landing on the exact same spots—without even looking at her.

Instead, her black eyes were already focused on the next step, as if she had already determined her path.

"…Vera?"

"Yes, Minister of Internal Affairs?"

"Can you… see the Life Gate?"

She knew how foolish the question sounded.

She was Aria, the most talented strategist of her generation.

Especially when it came to formations and battle arrays, she ranked among the top five living experts.

"I can see it."

"Of course, I thought so… Wait. You can?"

"Yes."

She answered so calmly, without hesitation.

And Aria could not dismiss it as a lie.

If Vera said she could see it, then she could.

It was simply unbelievable.

"…Then tell me, where do I step next?"

"Three paces northeast. Blink three times before you move."

It was flawless.

She had pinpointed the exact location of the Life Gate—without a single miscalculation.

Aria’s eyes widened in shock.

"How…? Have you studied formations before?"

"I have not."

Vera answered truthfully.

She was not merely Aiden’s ally.

She was his comrade, someone who shared his dream of slaying the Sword Lord and tearing down the heavens gilded in gold.

And now—she was Aria’s comrade as well.

It was she who had approved her entry into Reverse Heaven Unity.

"Then how…?"

"I can see it. The killing intent and malicious energy in this place. Red lines, thin and vivid, spread across the floor…."

Vera moved forward, ahead of Aria.

The formation had shifted over time, yet she found the Life Gate again—without hesitation.

And then the next, and the next…

"Formations are, after all, created by men. If there is no killing intent present, then that place must be the Life Gate, must it not?"

"…That is… correct."

At that moment, Aria finally understood why the world feared the Celestial Blade Star.

Of course. Of course, they did.

It was not just formations.

Wouldn’t she see the same lines of death in combat?

When someone swung a sword at her, wouldn’t she see the blood-red trajectory of the attack?

And in turn…

Wouldn’t she also see the most vulnerable points of her enemies?

If all of it was visible to her eyes…

Then she could effortlessly avoid fatal strikes and land fatal blows without error.

All because she could see it.

Aria let out a bitter sigh.

"…Are all Celestial Blade Star like this?"

"I would not know. I have never met another."

And she never would.

For in every generation, only one was born.

Just as there was only ever one Heavenly Demon at a time.

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Following Vera, Aria stepped deeper into the Everstone Clan’s formation.

All she had to do was step where Vera stepped.

She no longer needed to rely on the complex mental calculations she had spent years mastering.

She simply had to follow.

"This is… a little disheartening."

"…I apologize. I did not intend to reveal it."

"I asked. You only answered. I know that."

The Secret Training Grounds of the Everstone Clan

After some time, they arrived at a hidden cave—the Everstone Clan’s most secretive retreat.

Even Aria had not expected to visit twice in such a short time.

"This is it. The Everstone Clan’s Forbidden Training Grounds."

Aria stepped inside first.

The glow of night pearls embedded in the ceiling illuminated the cavern.

In the center of the grand chamber, beneath the largest and brightest pearl,

Someone sat in meditation, legs crossed.

"…Huh?"

At that moment—

Vera drew her sword.

Swish!

She swung it between Aria’s arm and waist, deflecting something.

Clang!

A dagger, coated in poison, was sent flying into the stone wall.

"…Impressive, child."

The figure, who had been seated in meditation, rose to his feet.

A strange, eerie laughter echoed through the cave.