Zayn discovered the dead gorilla-like beast, which was nearly completely burned down.
Infinite Star congratulated him for killing the beast with ease. But Zayn was conflicted about the matter.
It wasn't like the gorilla-like beast was his first kill, he most probably killed the Snow Wolf in his first fight before. But he didn't notice it at that time.
The thing was, after killing the gorilla-like beast, he didn't feel any guilt or what so ever. He was conflicted about the matter of killing before the trip even started, but he would've never thought that after actually killing a beast, he wouldn't feel anything.
Nothing. No Guilt. No Remorse. No Sadness at all.
This left him speechless. He wasn't depressed at the matter right in front of him, he was contemplating about himself, about his person.
Because of his unavailable memories from his previous life, he really didn't know who he was. Normally, he just brushed it off and told himself that he was Zayn. He had a personality. But now, after not feeling anything, he started to wonder who Zayn really was.
Was he psychopath? A murderer? A killer?
The thoughts which emerged only made him more and more speechless. He thought that he had a well-built conscience, a great feeling about bad and good. But maybe he wasn't what he thought he was.
Was he even the Zayn from his previous life? Did the Daily System rob him from his personality?
Infinite Star noticed the Zayn's mood change, he thought that Zayn was depressed about killing the beast.
"Kid, you shouldn't feel depressed about killing. You should know that killing is a part of cultivation. It'll become easier for you, don't worry."
"...It's not that... I... I didn't feel anything... Is- Is that normal?" Zayn's voice felt empty and without any emotions right now.
Infinite Star didn't expect that kind of reaction from Zayn. He thought that Zayn would be impacted far more from killing than any normal cultivator, as Zayn wasn't accustomed to the cultivation world.
"Hmm... Kid, you shouldn't worry about that. I only theorized that, but the Infinite Star Qi should also be able to use the Qi in the environment to nourish the mind and let you feel calm in most situations. It's likely that my theory was right."
"Ouh... So, that's why." In Zayn's voice emotion again began to fill up. Infinite Star's explanation took the responsibility of the situation away from him to the Infinite Star Arts.
"..." Infinite Star was relieved that Zayn's mood changed slowly back, but he knew that the explanation was made up by him. He didn't know how to handle the situation any other way with Zayn. Any other cultivator would be happy about not feeling anything after killing, but Zayn wasn't any other cultivator.
"Kid, listen up. You should know that killing is essential in the cultivation world. The beast which you killed right now isn't able to kill any other human anymore. You did a great job for humanity with that. There will be always beasts who would want to kill humans only for food or just for entertainment, especially low-level beasts. Their intelligence isn't built higher than that.
In the future, you'll encounter beasts with well-developed intelligence, which could compete with the intelligence of humans. Those would also have built up a conscience and a sense of justice. So, killing them wouldn't always be necessary.
But, you shouldn't forget about the most hideous, hateful, monstrous beings. Humans! There'll be always killing between humans. You should also be prepared for that. At one time in the future, you'll have to kill a human. Everything else will be pointless.
Killing will be far more normal than now for you. That's why it's good that you don't feel anything from killing. This will be a blessing in the future."
"Hold on! Killing a human? I can understand your point for killing the beasts, but there'll be no way that I'd kill a human! No way!"
"Your experience is far too lacking to decide that. I promise you there will come a day where you will understand the path of killing. Now, your ignorance is only blinding you."
"No never! You may perceive it as ignorant, but I know that it's the right thing! I won't ever kill a human!"
"... Only if it would be that easy, kid! Remember this day. You'll laugh about your ignorance in the future."
Zayn ignored Infinite Star's warning. He affirmed himself again about his position towards killing humans.
'Never! I will never kill a human! There will be other ways!'
.
.
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From their earlier conversation, nothing remained. Zayn continued on his path to the cultivation side.
Occasionally Zayn encountered different beasts on his way there. The beasts always aimed to kill him.
Many different fights again different beasts occurred. After his thought process about killing and Infinite Star's affirmation, Zayn continued to fight against the beasts. At first, he held back, but Infinite Star, again and again, pushed him, to familiarize him with the path of killing.
During his traveling to the cultivation side, Zayn's Martial Skill and Movement Art improved. He only focused on the True Fire Fist and the Phantom Blade Movement Art. And he became well-versed with the usage of both.
The Phantom Blade Movement Art wasn't straining his legs so much anymore and his usage of the True Fire Fist became far more flexible.
As he didn't use real Qi Control, the potential of the True Fire Fist was still not brought out entirely.
"Hey, one question. I can use the Qi in the environment to supplement my own and fake Qi Control, right?"
"Yes?"
"Well, doesn't that mean that I could also use the remaining moves of the Phantom Blade Movement Arts? After all, the only thing which didn't allow me to use them was Qi Control."
"Yes, the usage of the complete Phantom Blade Movement Art should be possible, but learning too many things at once will only rob you of more time than you can afford. If you are able to perfect the first move of the Phantom Blade Movement Art, then I'd recommend that you learn the next move. And if you're able to perfect the second move, you should learn the next, and so on."
"All right! Great!" Zayn was now thrilled to perfect the first move and keep learning new things.
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At the same time, Vown observed all of that. He obviously followed Zayn behind to ensure his safety. Zayn was far too important for Vown to leave him alone on a dangerous trip like that.
He was impressed by Zayn's quick improvement. But after all, what he experienced with Zayn that wasn't able to shock him anymore.
Zayn seemed to be able to use Martial Skills with ease in the Body Refinement Realm. During the tournament, everyone thought that Zayn used it as a last resort and collapsed because of that. Vown noticed that Zayn didn't experience Qi Depletion, which was common to those who used Martial Skills in the Body Refinement Realm. But Vown brushed it off as Zayn using it as a last resort. Many impossible things became possible in last resorts, this was a common experience in the cultivation world.
However, Zayn displayed his Martial Skill freely against the beasts and defeated them with it. Vown was sure that Zayn had a deep secret on him, but he wasn't trying to force it out of him, as everyone had a story behind them with many secrets and it should only be told by themselves. This also included his own story.
What disturbed Vown was Zayn's killing spree. After Zayn's killing of the gorilla-like beast, Zayn seemed to be conflicted about the act of killing.
This seemed normal to Vown. He knew how hard it was for him to accept the path of killing in the cultivation world. He also was deeply conflicted. He had to take his time to process all that.
But what followed after Zayn's confliction was a brutal killing spree. It was true that Zayn was never the one who initiated the fight and that the beasts were also constantly trying to kill Zayn, but it was still disturbing to see Zayn's development.
Vown was aware that Zayn took the right position towards killing and he displayed his position pretty good, but it was far too fast for Vown's taste.
It was a blessing and a curse at the same time. He was glad that Zayn had a firm emotional level to be able to accept that, but he also feared that Zayn would become a monstrous being on his path.
Vown tried to reason Zayn's action, he really liked Zayn and didn't want him to become someone monstrous. He remembered about Zayn's Cultivation of Heart, how superior it was to everyone else's, including himself. Maybe that was the reason, Vown persuaded himself.
'That has to be the reason!'