The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Chapter 112 Shadows Meet the Sage

The dark pupils of Vera gazed steadily forward.

Her jet-black hair, tied in cascading layers, swayed lightly in the soft breeze, yet her expression betrayed a subtle discomfort.

Master Aiden observed her closely. Her usual composed demeanor seemed fractured, replaced with something unfamiliar. Ever since joining Suncrest Sect, she had shown remarkable resilience—calm and determined. But now, she seemed... fearful.

"Are you all right?" Aiden asked softly.

"Master... I think I've truly come to understand what it means to be a Celestial Blade Star," Vera whispered.

Aiden's expression remained unreadable as he responded, "Is that so?"

"Yes. The suffocating stench of blood... the overwhelming exhilaration that wells up inside me—I felt it all."

Vera lowered her gaze, clutching her Falling Blossom Sword tightly, the cold steel of its scabbard pressing against her forehead. She let out a slow, trembling sigh.

"Are you afraid of yourself?" Aiden asked after a moment.

"I... am."

"Then remember this: if you hold onto who you are, you won't lose yourself, no matter what fate tries to dictate."

Aiden reached out, gently brushing her hair aside before placing a reassuring hand on her head.

"You are my disciple, the younger sister of Marcus, Ethan, and Jace, and above all..." His voice softened as he leaned closer. "...you are a warrior of the Suncrest Sect."

The declaration brought Vera to lift her head slightly, her gaze locking with Aiden's.

"You must focus only on who you are. By doing so, you'll find the strength to defy the path written by your stars," Aiden continued, his tone steady yet kind.

"Do you truly believe so?"

"I do. A person is never truly alone."

"A person is never alone..." Vera repeated, her voice a mere whisper as she mulled over his words.

"Yes. That is why ideals persist, revenge is sought, and debts of gratitude are repaid," Aiden explained.

"And what drives my desire for revenge, Master?"

Aiden's lips curved slightly. "Because you are the daughter of Black Cherry Sword Sovereign Victor, are you not?"

Vera paused, pondering the meaning behind her Master's words.

Aiden pressed on, "You are not merely a Celestial Blade Star, Vera. You are Victor's daughter, my disciple, the benefactor of the Eastern Mountain Fiery Blade clan, the comrade of Master Nathaniel, the trusted friend of Theron, and the cherished younger sister of your senior disciples. Every name you bear is a reflection of the bonds that tie you to this world."

Aiden's voice took on a resolute edge. "Destiny may carve a path for you, but it's the connections you forge—your relationships, your debts, and your choices—that can twist it to your will."

A faint smile graced Vera's lips as she nodded. "Thank you, Master. I understand now."

Her voice grew lighter as she added, "Perhaps when this is all over, I'll spend my days reading, just as you have."

Aiden chuckled at her rare attempt at humor, but their lighthearted exchange was cut short when the doors to the reception hall swung open.

Both Master and disciple turned their attention to the figure that stepped through.

It wasn't the one they were expecting.

Standing tall and imposing was a middle-aged man with sharp features and an air of authority that filled the room.

"So, you've come to see my daughter?" he asked, his voice carrying the weight of his position.

This was none other than Edwin, the leader of the Everstone Clan, known across the realm as the Heavenly Minded Sage.

Originally, they intended to visit the Inner Hall Master's Chamber, not the leader's Residence. Neither Aiden, Aria, nor Vera had any plans to come here.

But Edwin was already well-informed. The Everstone Clan's vast intelligence network, reinforced by the Nomads' Sect, ensured that little escaped his notice. Indeed, the reason Aria could lead the Reverse Heaven Unity was because the leader had silently granted his approval.

As Aiden and Vera recounted their deductions, Aria added her own insights, accumulated from months of observing Vera alongside Jordan.

The leader raised a brow at their words—not out of doubt, but surprise.

A fourteen-year-old martial artist nearing the Mid-Stages of Transcendence, who had progressed from Peak Perfection to her current level in mere months.

Even for the leader, this revelation carried weight.

His sharp gaze lingered on the small, pale girl before him, whose frail appearance belied the terrifying potential to one day pierce the heavens and bring destruction upon the earth.

"You're saying the Shadow Emperor himself seeks to kill this girl," Edwin mused, his tone calm. "And you want to bring her into the Reverse Heaven Unity?"

Both Aiden and Aria nodded without hesitation.

"Aria you're the leader of the Society, are you not?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"That's why Aiden came to me," Aria replied.

"Then that's for you to decide. My concern lies elsewhere."

Leaning forward, the leader placed his elbows on his intricately carved desk, his sharp eyes narrowing.

"You said you sensed traces of the Bloodshadow Pavilion on the body," he directed the question to Vera.

The girl nodded, and Aiden remained silent, letting her speak.

"Yes, leader."

"And how can you be so certain?"

"As I mentioned, my senior brother was wounded by the blade of someone trained in the Bloodshadow Pavilion's Blade Arts," she explained.

"The Soul Slaughter Sword, then," Edwin murmured, clicking his tongue.

He added, almost to himself, "Lucky to have survived. Without the Transcendent Wisdom Sutra from the Iron Fist Sect, he wouldn't have."

"I remain deeply grateful to Master Nathaniel for that," Vera said sincerely.

"As you should. Still, the Bloodshadow Pavilion lost both its leader and deputy—there shouldn't be anyone left to carry out such tasks," he noted.

Both Aiden and Aria nodded in agreement.

"But do you know who trained their late leader, the Black Iron Curved Blade Ezekiel?"

"Don't tell me..." Aria gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

Even Aiden's eyes widened in shock.

"Yes, Aria. Your guess is correct. He was the apprentice of none other than the Shadow Emperor himself."

"But leader, if the Shadow Emperor is involved..." Aiden began, concern evident in his voice.

"Calm yourself, Aiden. This is the Everstone Clan's Estate—our ancestral stronghold," the leader said confidently.

This was the domain of the Heavenly Minded Sage, fortified by the finest formations and mechanisms known across the nine provinces.

To emphasize his point, Edwin unsheathed his sword.

As his energy surged, the blade ignited in a vibrant aura, far more intense and focused than the sword energy wielded by ordinary masters.

"That's..." Aria gasped.

"Blade Force," she whispered, unable to look away.

It was known that most of the leaders among the Five Great Families had achieved at least the Early Stages of the Heaven Realm.

But the Everstone Clan was an exception. In its entire history, only two of its leaders had reached such heights.

Until now.

"Father, could it be...?"

"Yes," Edwin confirmed. "It is the Heaven-Revering Gate Art."

The Heaven-Revering Gate Art was the pinnacle of the Everstone Clan's martial legacy—a fusion of their cultivation techniques and formation mastery. By channeling natural energy into the upper core and opening the Gate of Heaven, one could ascend to the Heaven Realm.

The technique was not without its risks. Only those who had perfected the Great Celestial Art and achieved Peak Perfection could even attempt it. Even then, the chances of failure were so high that previous attempts often resulted in lifelong disability.

"I heard the Heaven-Revering Gate Art hadn't been practiced since the leader of sixty years ago became a cripple," Aria said.

"That's true. But I succeeded," he replied simply.

Was it sheer luck? Or had the family's mastery of formations and mechanisms evolved to ensure success?

If it were the former, only Edwin would ascend.

If it were the latter, any future leader who met the requirements could ascend to the Heaven Realm.

"It's not perfect yet. There are still dangers to overcome."

"Even knowing that, you attempted it?"

"What choice did I have?" he asked, his tone resolute.

The leader sheathed his blade and turned his gaze to his daughter.

"My youngest dreams of standing against the Sword Sovereign himself."

"Father..."

"Let the Shadow Emperor come," he declared, his voice steady.

The leader closed his eyes, then opened them again, revealing the eyes of a true warrior—not merely a strategist.

"If he was already in the Heaven Realm thirty years ago, then at best, he has reached the Mid-Stages now. Martial growth slows to a crawl after one reaches such heights, especially for someone already in their twilight years."

Vera nodded. For a body that had taken sixty years to cultivate to the Heaven Realm, thirty more years would yield little improvement. The body would grow frail, the mind less sharp, and the spirit tethered to its aging vessel.

"And even if I cannot defeat him outright, I will not fall easily," Edwin declared.

Between the estate's intricate formations and the strength of a Heaven Realm cultivator, the challenge of assassination was immense.

Even the Shadow Emperor, who once slew a Heaven Realm Master, had never faced a fortress as impregnable as this.