The library stretched for hundreds of meters, containing a variety of books of different types. Lian was still in the early stage of Qi Condensation, but his soul had already reached the pinnacle of his previous cultivation. As Zeke, he had already undergone countless celestial baptisms, and his mind had been tormented for a thousand years while cultivating the Demonic Diagram of the Infernal Heart.
When he touched a book, all the information flowed into him like a free current. Riria was by his side, watching him devour books quickly without any signs of mental exhaustion. Her astonishment grew as memories of a terrifying explosion of Qi surged in her mind, turning the six assassins into a bloody mist. She felt a deep fear when recalling that event. Now, Lian was completely different from what she remembered.
Riria recalled reading about the "Devil of the Heart," a phenomenon that occurred when someone's mind collapsed. The resulting power from the "Devil of the Heart" could surpass the person's original power. She realized that the exchange for that power could have been none other than Lian's own life. A feeling of guilt for not being able to take proper care of Lian haunted her. Could the Devil of the Heart be what happened to Lian?
"Riria, are you feeling alright? Is your eye scar hurting?" Lian asked, startling her for a moment.
"It doesn't bother me. I decided to leave it as a reminder that I must become stronger." Riria responds with a relieved and happy expression.
A devil of the heart turns a person into a chronic psychopath. The person would lose all their feelings and concerns for others. They would only desire revenge or kill at any cost. Their mind would irreversibly distort.
Lian had changed, but he still cared for her.
Lian sincerely smiled and commented, "It's a good combination. Your bright eyes and pointed ears give you an air of mystery and admiration, making you even more beautiful."
"...Aren't you studying? No, joking around," Riria replied with a slightly awkward expression. It reminded her that Lian truly changed somehow.
When Lian's mother took her in, Lian was only five years old. As he grew up, his admiration and love for his older sister naturally grew. Riria, with her pointed ears, had pale and luminous skin, glowing with a gentle radiance. Her delicate features were harmonious, enhancing her exotic beauty. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, contrasting with the brightness of her appearance. Her intensely red eyes conveyed a mysterious aura, clearly revealing her mixed heritage of human and elven blood.
As Lian recalled these memories, he felt an intimate connection with Riria. Their mother had always encouraged them to be together, and now he understood the reason as he explored the first books he found in the library. 'Mother was quite bold, now that I think about it.' He just smiled and shook his head.
The summary went like this: Albedo Clan: Its founding patriarch faced a demonic ambush in the Central Forest, near the clan's current castle. To survive, he ventured even deeper into the forest. There, as he found a place to recover, a divine light penetrated his mind. That was how he learned their now Albedo's Clan Destroying Shiny Art, using its power to establish the current clan.
The story seemed clearly like fiction. Descendants always fantasize and greatly embellish their past. Lian cast his indifferent gaze at the copy of the divine skill, which was contained in a crystal that seemed to be made of jade. The crystal had an elaborate internal formation, accessible only to descendants of the Albedo Clan.
He wouldn't waste time learning something from a mortal world, though. Based on its summary, it should be an art specialized in counterattacks. Clan members should have a strong understanding of defensive elements like wood, earth, or ice to cover the skill's weaknesses.
Riria, being an elf descendant, already had a natural affinity with wood Qi since birth. 'This ability was rare among humans, but my mother was probably encouraged by the clan to unite me with her, aiming to create powerful cultivators that combined the clan's divine skill with elven blood,' Lian thought for a moment.
From Riria's recent reactions, Lian realized that she was already aware of this situation and probably willingly accepted becoming a concubine. Well, the clan's plans had little importance to him. After reading some ancient books, Lian closed his eyes but was quite astonished since he finally found the information he was seeking.
This place is called the Purplecloud Continent. Naturally, Lian noticed the fact that it carried the same name as his own from his previous life. It was just a small continent that existed on a mortal planet, where Lian was born and lived in the early part of his life. 25,000 years ago, a major event occurred known as the "Great Upheaval."
An apocalyptic Qi came from the cosmos, causing tremors throughout the planet. In a matter of milliseconds, everything started to crumble as the world was devastated by the gods. However, true immortal rays descended upon the continent, completely free of impurities, giving the feeling to have existed since time immemorial. In the next instant, the continent was snatched away to a safe location in the blink of an eye.
Since then, the continent has been surrounded by a vast sea of pure, crystalline green. No cultivator, no matter how powerful, has been able to enter or leave it alive. Not even their bodies were recovered. Any attempt to navigate the skies towards other continents resulted in the draining of Qi from all flying vessels, followed by the sinking of the entire population of such vessels into the sea.
'Purplecloud Continent, the same name given in my honor when I reached the pinnacle of the mortal world. It was also the place where I married Lyn and where I saw her for the last time.' Painful memories flooded his mind, bringing with them a sense of deep anguish. Those memories would never disappear from his mind.