The half-day-long lecture from Caidie provided Aza'zel the opportunity to understand his position on the evolution spectrum.
His current body had three genetic sequences, each consisting of nine genetic codes. The formation and enhancement of codes in the foundation-building phase are mainly autonomous, where the foundation-building techniques set the general track for evolution.
"What comes after the nine transformations?" Aza'zel asked, feeling curious about Caidie's level.
"That's not for you to know now," Caidie shook her head while clicking her tongue. "I'm here mainly to warn you about exposing your potential to the myriad races. If they find out that you're undergoing more than three transformations, that's nothing short of a death sentence."
Aza'zel was confused for a moment before he suddenly realized. "You mean that the second and third volumes of the martial technique are bait?"
"More or less," Caidie agreed. "It's fine if you get the first volume, you'll only be under closer scrutiny than the rest. However, those who practice the second volume are those with the potential of four, five, and/or six colored crystals."
Aza'zel continued on, "Despite the nourishment of the origin of energy from the Sacred Staircase, that's not enough to justify the surfacing of such talents so early in the development of the Lower Abyss, especially if we factor in the ten thousand years period of decline."
Aza'zel furrowed his brows. "However, my foundations have been set already, and I can't switch to a different martial technique as things stand."
"I know, why do you think I'm here?" Caidie raised her eyebrows, smiling. "I've already procured the second and third volumes for you, but you need to hide yourself from the public eye while consolidating the remaining genetic sequencers, as they wouldn't be able to differentiate your potential after you've finished the nine transformations."
"Well," Aza'zel didn't particularly mind staying low in the dungeons until he finished going through the nine transformations, but he didn't expect himself to be cornered in the same space as Wendy, despite having intended on advising her otherwise.
Caidie fetched out a booklet and tossed it over, explaining as she did so. "The diagrams in this booklet depict the martial forms you're lacking; these will help regulate the energy patterns in your body and prepare it for the follow-up elevations. You can ask your girls to demonstrate for you, I have some other things to attend to."
Aza'zel wanted to say something, but the booklet had barely enjoyed the warmth of his grip for a moment and Caidie had already left. For some reason, Aza'zel had the thought that Caidie's evolution was influenced by their childhood games of hide and seek, where she would try her best to outmaneuver his senses.
The more he thought about it, the more speechless he felt. Of course, if he utilized the abilities of Soulguider, it would have been easy to detect her presence within a certain range, but Aza'zel wanted to limit the use of his totemic seals openly as much as possible.
Aza'zel inspected the booklet. "I should adjust myself to ocular perception in a few days, and I can practice the twelve forms of the fourth stance with my spiritual energy as a catalyst by then."
Just as he murmured to himself, a ridiculous thought suddenly surfaced. "What if I tried to compound my genetic sequences by using my spiritual energy as a catalyst for the initial three stances?"
Caidie didn't have dual totemic seals and so, it was only natural that she hadn't considered compounding her innate talents into her genetics, but he was different.
He didn't have one totemic seal, but he had three of them.
The first seal capitalized his bloodline energy while the second seal capitalized his spiritual energy… As for the third seal, as far as Aza'zel was concerned, it was some sort of an ephemeral energy that he had yet to understand.
He could already perceive that his path to evolution would enjoy a multi-dimensional metamorphosis, a unique path never ventured before. The more he thought about it, the more excited and anxious he was to try it out.
"I have nothing to lose by trying it out," Aza'zel convinced himself, calmly storing the booklet into the pocket of his trench coat, turning around thereafter, and rushing toward the Nameless Valley.
Foregoing his casual pace, Aza'zel gradually picked up his speed as he went from a relaxed jog to a full-on sprint, his gray cloak flapping haphazardly.
Flaunting his physical fitness so openly is, in a sense, quite the reckless thing to do. Even though he maintained his speed to the limits of ordinary humans and nothing more, no one would ever draw attention to themselves in a land of kill or be killed.
However, the two groups Thorns and Shadows were already preoccupied with handling each other, so Aza'zel wasn't worried they'd target him. Moreover, he had a firm belief that the girls had built a reputation for the small team by now, given their capabilities.
Even from a distance, Aza'zel could hear people discussing the 'Gray Robes', and most had come to the consensus of calling them 'Gray Rain', thanks to their gray raincoats.
There were seven of them, each crueler than the last.
According to the description, the girls wouldn't even bother discussing collaborations or friendly invitations, but would always aim for the kill to save time and procure precious resources.
There was also a piece of bewildering news that he caught on a whim of surprise.
Wendy was injured?
Aza'zel contemplated the validity of such a rumor as he progressed deeper into the Nameless Valley.
Hardly had he entered the neutral hunting zone when someone blocked his path, though. Aza'zel had long since detected this person the moment they entered his world of echoes, but he hadn't expected them to detour and block his path.
Judging from the silhouette in his perception, this was a tall woman.
"What do you want?" Aza'zel asked, his tone even.
Honestly, he was very impatient to reach the deepest layers possible of the dungeon to seclude himself from the outside world.
"Lady Thorns sent me," the woman breached the main topic directly. "She said to keep an eye for whence you enter the Nameless Valley, she has something to request of you."
The woman looked around as she spoke. "Don't worry, no one is close enough to hear our conversation, and Lady Thorns won't meet with you in an open location."
Aza'zel touched his chin. "So, she's really been injured, huh? Quite the terrible timing… Hm, you must be one of her close confidants, I assume?"
The woman didn't respond, she merely waited silently for the reply.
Aza'zel scratched the back of his head. "Well… I'm quite busy at the moment, is it so urgent?"
"She only mentioned one thing," the woman replied after a bout of silence. "She said that you're partially responsible for what happened, and you should know the reason why if you think things through."
Aza'zel wondered what happened for Wendy to accuse him responsible, especially when she was the one injured. If it was her involvement with Kane, then he had long since washed his hands clean from the dispute.
At least, he washed his hands clean on the surface.
With these thoughts in mind, he tucked his hands into his pockets and said, "Go on, I'll be right behind you."