Chapter 50 - 48

Zero opened his system tasks to see his progress.

[System Tasks:

Main task

- Prevent the war between the Greatworld continent and the Phoenix continent (95%)

- Burn the Sphinx formula of Izi (45%)

- Solve the mystery behind the Xiu Royal family (10%)

Note: if failed to complete within two years time, punishment awaits.]

He wasn't able to find any evidences about the real culprit of the death of Xiu Ying so 95% was a reasonable progress. And the Sphinx formula?

'Right. Where was it?'

The young man was currently at an inn as he decided not to stay at the palace, knowing that it was still in chaos. And he would be cultivating that Phoenix Bloodline manual if it could help him destroy that black crystal. He decided not to cultivate in the system space as he was scared that once he got out, one year would passed already. And it was not very ideal to rely on the defected system.

Chun interestedly observed the young man as he started to cultivate the Phoenix bloodline manual. As of Chun's knowledge, the Phoenix bloodline cultivation art came from the ancient Phoenix spirit beast. A divine bird that could be only found in the Mountain Qi. It was said to be a favorite bird of the Creator.

The young woman was interested if the youth could activate the 24 seals of the Phoenix bloodline. The name Phoenix bloodline wasn't for only cultivators who had literally the bloodline of a phoenix but it was for martial practitioners who cultivated fire energy and it was perfect for a fire mage like Zero.

He opened to the next page as it where started the first step yet he was confused to the series of poetic passages.

'1. Fire is a free-form'

'2. Fire is a bait'

'3. Fire is absent'

'4. Fire is active'

'5. Fire is unpredictable'

'6. Fire is self-interested'

'7. Fire is needed'

'8. Fire is untaintable'

'9. Fire is respect and honor'

'10. Fire never put too much trust'

'11. Fire cannot be courted'

'12. Fire cannot be isolated'

'13. Fire cannot be overwhelmed'

'14. Fire cannot be divided'

'15. Fire can be depended'

'16. Fire won't left anything unscathed'

'17. Fire courts attention'

'18. Fire draws breath'

'19. Fire conceals thoughts'

'20. Fire invades trust'

'21. Fire approves force'

'22. Fire limits what is necessary'

'23. Fire transforms weakness into power'

'24. Fire never outshines the master'

The young man was still baffled by the written words on the manual. He turned again to another page and shows the meaning of the number one passage. He tried to see the other pages but it was all blank.

(Do you need help?)

Chun asked as she saw the helplessness of the youth. The girl smirked at Zero's state as she knew very well the poetic passages of the manual. It represented the 24 seals and if the martial practitioner that practiced this cultivation art would able to understand each meaning behind those words then they could gain enlightenment and would able to easily manipulate the fire energy without the use of a qi whirlpool and it meant that the use of qi energy had no limitations as the vast energy around the surroundings were plentiful. That's how overpowered this Phoenix bloodline cultivation art was.

"Do you understand this?"

(Yes. I've encountered this manual.)

Truthfully, she did not personally encountered the original form of the Phoenix bloodline manual but she just read it on the ancient books that was stocked on the Shuho household library. The books on that library were accumulated generations through generations. It was a bit more older than the Xiu Royal familiy's library.

"Oh. Then can you explain me all of this texts?"

Chun chuckled to the naivety of the youth as she replied.

(I cannot explain it to you all as it would not help you on your cultivation and it may lead to your death if you don't take it slow.)

Zero frowned but listened to the girl's advise.

(The first one is fire is a free form. Basically, it talks about you as a cultivator establishing formlessness. Not only in thoughts but in body, too.)

As if the explanation was a proceed buŧŧon, the imprinted figures on Zero's mind poured on his brain. He unconsciously started to sit in crossed legs as he ȧssumed formlessness.

Chun smiled as she thought, 'A fast learner.'

She was able to reminisce again her past profession as a teacher and she missed those students of her. 'Where are they at this moment? Are they still in Harconia Institute?' Right, she forgot to ask about the situation of that school.

The youth opened his eyes after doing the first step. He felt light from the experience. Knowing that the first seal was now opened which was located on his nape. Zero was unaware of his fast progress as the Phoenix bloodline cultivation art was profound and it included extensive practice that needed decades of learning and a year to open the first seal.

"Let's proceed to the next step. Explain it to me, too."

Chun smiled in a mischievous manner as she stated.

(Before I teach it to you. May I ask you about Harconia Institute?)

"Harconia Institute? The institute that experienced a catastrophe. You said that you were there as I saw those memories of yours."

(Yes. Specifically, I was killed there.)

Zero wrinkled his brows and asked, "How---"

(How am I alive? That's a good question. I'll tell you if it's the right time. So what about Harconia Institute? The students there? Teachers?)

"I remembered that the students there were injured as well, some died and some survived. The teachers had severe case, though, as a young master from a renowned household in Sereign continent died. The vice headmaster was crippled and the headmaster retired. To sum it all, the Harconia Institute was closed due to the extreme damage and the dark energies that were still present there," Zero backtracked to what he heard from the mouth of Xiu Ying as the third princess would usually talked news to him even if it wasn't necessary.

'Xiu Ying. I hope I was there in her last moments.'

The youth was saddened as he remembered the third princess that who did all the things that could

grab his attention. He missed her and he wanted to know who killed her, and he would make sure to not let that murderer get away from it.

Both of the two individuals went silent as they were drawned on their thoughts of regrets and sadness.

Chun was silent due to the unprecedented information. Because of her, they met a tragic fate but she still hoped that her seven students were one of those that got survived.

----- 

(Be warned)

White Moon Palace.

Inside the bed chamber of the first princess. Restraining mȯȧns and groans would be heard inside as the first princess was being punished by a man. This man was none other than the leader of the Serpents and a right hand of the deity of Mischief and Deceit.

Kilius was known to be the Royal advisor of the Greatworld king. But they did not know that amidst to this, he was playing the royal family on his palm. He was appointed by the deity to look for the silver box and be wary about the Great Conqueror. And to his boredom, he destroyed the life of the ice princess by planting seeds of doubt in the head of King Xiuwei. Even generations of advisors passed in the Xiu Royal family were his people, just to make the life of the betrayer, miserable.

But unexpectedly, a tangent had appeared. An existence of the Great Conqueror, and he was happy to have a mission on eliminating that being as it opposed the power of his Master.

Currently, the first princess was lulled into soulessness as she was under the control of Kilius.

"Please…please… no no... I don't want it.." Xiu Meihui mȯȧnėd as thrusting sound for the 20th time on the maiden's wall was heard. A rope was tied tightly on both the first princess' hands as it was attached to the bedpost. She was in her lacy night dress with no undies beneath.

The first princess begged to stop but it was opposite to her actions as she was mȯȧning in pŀėȧsurė. This was the punishment for getting attached with someone as she was just a pawn of Kilius.

The White Moon Palace was strangely deserted as no one was in the rescue for the first princess. She cried until she lost consciousness yet her body was still welcoming the sensation that the man was giving.

Kilius stopped his thrusting as a popping sound resounded after he ceased his movement. The popping sound came from the pocket of lollipop that he was suċkɨnġ. He was amazed as he observed the panting woman on her bed.

Truthfully, he just used illusions to led the first princess in the noose. His specialty was deceit as it was given by his Master. He hated touching humans so he preferred his illusion to do the action while he would watched at the side.

He frowned in disgust at the still panting princess as she do herself, again.

"Filthy humans should die," he stated as he remembered a princess that he killed a month ago. He smirked as he launched his clawed hand to the maiden's ċhėst and the panting human stopped from breathing, never able to see the light again.

She had no use to him as he knew already who was the Great Conqueror.

And fortunately, blood shall splatter.