Year 5591
Aurelius, after receiving his inheritance, was sent back to the kill tower. Suddenly, he heard a voice from the Tower Spirit, "Welcome back, Mr. Aurelius. It has been 11 months since you entered to receive the inheritance. Mr. Bahadur is waiting for you; please visit him after exiting the tower."
Aurelius, after hearing the voice, fell into deep thought. "So, it took 11 months, ahh..." Then he replied, "I will be meeting the teacher after leaving the tower; inform him of my return," to which the Tower Spirit replied, "Sure."
Aurelius left the tower and walked towards Bahadur's mansion. After 5 minutes, he arrived at the designated mansion. Aurelius then rang the bell of the mansion, and the door opened automatically. As he entered, he heard a voice from the house spirit informing him that "Mr. Bahadur is expecting you; he is waiting in the garden."
After understanding, Aurelius went directly to the garden. The garden was not big but small, surrounded by greenery. In the middle of the garden was a white table and two chairs. Bahadur was sitting in one of the chairs and reading the underworld newsletter. When Bahadur heard a sound, he looked towards it. Seeing Aurelius, he put on a warm smile and asked him to sit on the chair opposite him.
Aurelius responded politely and sat opposite Bahadur. Seeing him seated, Bahadur signaled to the maid to serve tea. After taking the first sip, Aurelius said, "I am really envious of you, teacher. This tea is one of the best I have ever had. The bitterness helps us remember the battles we fought. The energy it releases when we swallow a sip sends a cooling sensation to our soul and helps in comprehending the essence of battle."
Bahadur laughed hearing it and replied, "Of course, you need to be envious. The tea is one of the rarest in the 9-level underworld. I heard it is common in the 999-level underworld, but here, you need to have 8th level cultivation and venture deep into the 8-tier Southern battlefield to find the warrior tree. Each leaf of the warrior tree can be ground and made into tea."
Aurelius then responded, "999-level underworld?"
Bahadur said, "You must not know this information at your current level. Since the universe is split into three realms due to the primordial war, the underworld is also split into four levels. First is the 9-level underworld, where all the souls from pocket dimensions or hidden dimensions arrive after their death. Next is the 999-level hell, where all the souls who die in the spiritual realm arrive. Afterward is the 9999-level hell, where all the souls who die in the celestial realm arrive. And finally, the 99999-level hell, where all the souls from the primordial realm arrive."
"Well, I don't know major information about them. Now, forget about that. How was the inheritance? Did you get it?"
Aurelius responded, "Thanks to the teacher's guidance, I was finally able to receive the inheritance."
Bahadur listened and responded with a smile, laughing out loud. He said, "Good... Good... I have already expected it. Since the time you comprehended Sword Intent, I knew you would succeed in getting the inheritance."
Hearing the praise, Aurelius also smiled lightly. When he heard "Sword Intent," he fell into deep thought. That was the day with the help of Obsession Echo, he was finally able to comprehend Sword Intent.
Flashback, Year 5232
Aurelius arrived in front of Bahadur and asked, "Teacher, I have reached the peak of the Sword Qi realm. How do I reach the next level, Sword Intent?"
Bahadur replied, "I never expected you to reach the peak of the Sword Qi realm. What is more impressive is that you have reached the peak of Sword Qi in your soul body. If you had an actual flesh body, you could have reached it even faster than now."
He continued, "Sword Intent, as the name implies, is to let your sword understand your intent towards the sword. Every person has their own understanding of why they wield a sword. Some use it to kill, some to protect, some for defense, some for money... There are many different reasons to wield a sword, but whatever the reason may be, it should stem from you. Look deep inside your being and understand what the sword represents. When you understand, that is the time you will comprehend Sword Intent."
Aurelius listened carefully and went back to his residence to comprehend.
Year 5242
Aurelius arrived once again to Bahadur and asked, "Teacher, for a decade I have tried to comprehend Sword Intent, but I feel something is stopping me from understanding it."
Bahadur, listening to the complaint, replied, "Kid, Sword Intent is a realm for those who have reached the 6th level in cultivation. You are already impressive to have reached the peak of Sword Qi at the 4th level of soul cultivation."
Aurelius looked at his teacher and said, "Teacher, I know you definitely have a way to cross this bottleneck. Please, can you guide me?"
Bahadur sighed, "Okay, if I don't help you, I fear you will not forget about Sword Intent and may develop a heart demon."
"There is a way, but it is too dangerous. That is one of the reasons I don't really want to tell you."
"Darkness Chamber - When a person enters the Darkness Chamber and closes the door, they will be isolated from the outside world. Slowly, all the voices will vanish, and then you will only hear the blood flow inside your body. You can feel your heart's sound as it contracts and relaxes, and as the blood pumps out and spreads throughout the body. Slowly, even that sound will disappear. Finally, you will hear only your thoughts, everything you think, every minute detail, every inspiration. You will hear it louder, ten times louder."
"Inside the Darkness Chamber, if you try to comprehend your Sword Intent, then you will have a higher chance to understand your own intent."
"Let me tell you beforehand, many people who took the Darkness Chamber lightly became insane after coming out. Because it's not just hearing your thoughts, you will hear all the good and bad thoughts. So, do you really want to experience it?"
Aurelius, listening to this, replied with a serious expression, "Yes, teacher."
Bahadur nodded and said, "Prepare for one year, cultivate your mind, and come to my mansion. I will take you to the Darkness Chamber."
Aurelius nodded and left to cultivate his mind.
Year 5243
After 1 year, Aurelius, along with his teacher, traveled to a special area in the southern battlefield. Bahadur used his special privilege pass to enter with Aurelius. After filling out all the forms and registering Aurelius, and signing a waiver form, Aurelius was finally taken to the Darkness Chamber.
The Darkness Chamber didn't look anything special, just a small gate at the entrance. After showing the token to the guard, and the guard checking all the details, Aurelius was permitted to enter inside.
Before entering, he heard his teacher saying, "I will be waiting for you outside. The Darkness Chamber will be locked for 1 hour, so regardless of whether you comprehend or not, the chamber will open."
Aurelius, understanding this, went inside the chamber. When the door closed, the light from outside also vanished along with it. Now, the chamber was dark, so dark that it was hard to see his own hands. After finding a spot, Aurelius finally sat on the ground.
Time slowly passed. First, Aurelius stopped hearing sounds. Next, he started hearing his blood pumping through his whole body. Afterwards, everything became quiet; he couldn't hear anything. He started to comprehend Sword Intent, trying to make out his own intent. Finally, in the darkness, Aurelius started to hear vague sounds. He was unable to make out what it was but slowly began to understand the voice.
"What is the voice?" "What is the voice?" "What is the voice?" "What is the voice?" "What is the voice?" "It is so vague." "What is the voice?" "It is so vague." "It is so vague." "What is the voice?" "I think I can hear it." "Vague." "I think I can hear it." "I think I can hear it." "I think I can hear it." "It's my voice." "It's my voice." "It's my voice." "It's my voice." "My inner voice." "My inner voice." "My inner voice."
Hearing too many voices at once, Aurelius tried to calm down and focus on comprehending Sword Intent. Finally, Aurelius started to comprehend Sword Intent.
"Sword, why do I use it?" "Because it's cool." "Doesn't need to fear ammo." "Because women will fall for you." "NO, that is not the reason." "What is the reason?" "Love." "Family." "Friends." "No... no... they are external reasons." "What is the internal reason?" "Why am I even thinking about the sword?" "What is happening? Why am I distracted?" "Is it not time for me to comprehend?" "Why am I comprehending?" "Why am I losing hope?" "What is hope?"
Aurelius's mind was going through inner turmoil. He was trying to calm and focus, but like a small spark that can burn a whole forest, a small bad thought gave rise to all sorts of negative thoughts. After what felt like an eternity, an even deeper voice came out, pushing all the negative thoughts aside, giving rise to a singular voice, a voice that had a story to tell, a voice that needed to be heard, a voice filled with despair and carrying hope with it.
"Lord, we believe in you. We will sacrifice ourselves for the future." "Aurelius, my friend, let us old men pave the way for you." "Aurelius, thanks for believing in me when no one else did. Let me create a path for you." "Emperor, don't worry. We will shed our blood for the future." "Lord..." "Emperor..." "Aurelius..."
All the voices sounded like familiar people but also like strangers. Then suddenly another voice sounded, a voice he was familiar with, a voice that sounded exactly like his own.
"Why?" "Why?" "What did I do wrong?" "Why did it have to be like this?" "My love, my friend, my people, why do you have to sacrifice?" "Why?" "Why?" "What did I do wrong?" "Why did it have to be like this?" "My love, my friend, my people, why do you have to sacrifice?"
All the negative voices started to disappear and more determined voices started to appear.
"I will change it." "If fate predetermined the path, I will break it." "Nothing can stop me from achieving what I want." "I will break the chains that bind me." "I will change the destiny of everyone." "I will slash heaven if it stops me." "I will break the chessboard of the Grand Dao." "I will create a new chessboard where I will be the player." "I will change my past." "Create a new beginning." "Write a new chapter."
All the voices created from obsession transformed Aurelius. All the thoughts from a strand of intent combined to form a Sword Intent in his heart. The small intent, like a small spark, started to grow, enveloping his heart, then his soul body, and outside his body.
The Darkness Chamber, which absorbed everything, started to react when Sword Intent appeared outside the body. Sensing the Darkness Chamber's energy trying to make the Sword Intent submit, the Sword Intent felt this and, enraged, shouted out. The Sword Intent was born not to submit to anyone, and now the Darkness Chamber was making it submit. The Sword Qi increased, trying to break all the restrictions of the darkness. Finally, the Sword Intent could be seen even from outside the Darkness Chamber.
The moment the Sword Intent appeared, the guard, Bahadur, and many others sensed it. They were jaw-dropped, as it was impossible for Sword Intent to appear outside the Darkness Chamber.
Bahadur mumbled, "What the hell did the kid do inside? Didn't he go inside to comprehend Sword Intent?"
The Sword Intent started to grow, trying to break all the restrictions and announce its presence. After a while, it went back inside Aurelius's heart.
The moment the Sword Intent appeared, the King of Hell, the old man - Aurelius's master, 13 dukes, and 7 lords of the underworld sensed its presence.
After a while, Aurelius opened his eyes. He had no understanding of what had happened, but he got up and left the Darkness Chamber.
Back to Present, Year 5591
Bahadur continued, saying, "You should have seen me at that time, I was literally shocked. Who would have expected something like this to happen?"
Aurelius smiled politely, but his face showed he was pondering the crises his future self might have faced.
After a few brief moments, Aurelius said, "Teacher, I think it's time to graduate and return to the battlefield. The Knight Lord honour token is waiting for me."
Bahadur fell silent upon hearing this. After a while, he said, "Almost 500 years... Teaching you is one of my greatest achievements. Go to the registration hall; I have already notified them, and they have prepared the graduation certificate."
Aurelius and Bahadur hugged and parted. Afterwards, Aurelius left the mansion to get the graduation certificate, completed all the necessary details, and left the training hall.
After leaving, Aurelius gave one last look and headed towards the battlefield.
Year 9991
Aurelius thought, "It's been 4400 years. I was finally able to complete all the missions, and now that I have the Knight Lord Honour Token, it's time to leave for the Trial of Lust."
As he was deep in thought, he heard voices—Jake, Lana, and Chris. They were his companions for these 4400 years, all three walking the warrior path.
Jake came towards him and asked, "Aurelius, I heard you are leaving?"
Lana added, "Come on, why don't you stay with us? We make a good team; we can conquer all the battlefields."
Chris chimed in, "Yes, man, stay with us."
Aurelius smiled at them and said, "Nah, man. I have achieved my goal. I have reached the perfection of the 4th level and I have gained the Knight Lord Honour Token. Now, it's time to depart and complete the Trial of Lust."
Lana was the first to respond, "Ohh, I forgot. You are walking the path of royalty, ahh?"
Chris added, "Really, man, I almost forgot about that. Seeing how you fought all the abominations, I really thought you were on the warrior path."
Jake finally said, "Yes, Aurelius, we really forgot about it. We walk different paths. Go and walk your path. If you need any support, let us know."
After a few more exchanges, Aurelius and his friends went their own ways.
Aurelius looked at his friends and then left towards the gate of the battlefields. Just as he was about to step outside the gate, an alarm sounded. He felt vibrations from his watch. As he tapped the watch, a virtual screen appeared, showing the icon of a red message. He tapped the icon.
WAR NOTICE
URGENT: BREACH IN THE SOUTHERN BATTLEFIELD
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Attention to all personnel in the Southern Battlefield:
A critical breach has occurred in the Southern Battlefield. Immediate action is required from all available forces.
Details of the Threat:
- Three 5-tier Abominations have suddenly appeared.
- Two Abominations are identified as Initial 5-tier.
- One Abomination is identified as Mid 5-tier.
All personnel in the Southern Battlefield are requested to join the fight immediately. Your prompt response is crucial to contain and neutralize this threat.
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Stay vigilant and prepared for immediate deployment.
Issued by: [Major Luther]
As he looked at the notice, Aurelius, who had been about to leave the battlefield, instead turned and walked toward it.