Right now, Kai stood in his Spirit Sea and watched the scarlet book floating above the lake. Everything that had happened was too sudden and amazing. So far, Kai found himself in mixed feelings.
He was beginning to realise more and more how insignificant he was. It seemed to Kai that he was in the middle of an incredible world filled with mysteries and riddles. But the saddest part was that he was surrounded by a fog of ignorance. It was a very strange feeling.
Kai felt as if he were in a thick, impenetrable fog, knowing that behind it lay amazing things. Except he couldn't look at them! It both pissed him off, but also made him incredibly curious. It was like he had an itchy spot he couldn't scratch.
"The only option to pacify this stupid feeling is to climb higher and higher. While I'm no genius at thinking, I've already noticed the stronger I get, the more I learn." - Thought Kai.
Pondering this, he slowly returned with his consciousness to his physical body. He was still a little wet. At the dictates of thought, a thin layer of Astral Sacrifice Fire appeared around him, instantly vaporising all the moisture.
- Super... They didn't leave me any clothes... - Kai said, looking around.
Seeing a bed not far from him, he decided to sit down and think for a while. He needed to put his thoughts on the shelves. Since, completely naked, he had nowhere to rush, he decided to do it now.
Slowly walking over to the bed, he climbed on it, sat in the lotus position and closed his eyes.
"So... First things first, I need to summarise the approximate level of my powers and how I should develop them. The bad thing is, I don't know much about them myself." - Thought Kai, in mixed feelings.
"The Dance of the Shadowmarks, is the least of my headaches. Considering at what critical levels I have to develop other aspects of my power... Getting stronger, there will likely be no problem with moving to new levels." - Pondered Kai.
Because of the Eyes of Essence, Array Mastery, as well as the open Spiritual Sea, practicing the Shadow Mark Dance shouldn't be a difficult process for Kai. When his strength rises, he will be able to gain the ability to use new levels of movement techniques. It would just take minimal practice.
"Next comes my crafting skills. I'm already at a high level, more like even at the top of the Border Beast City's craftsmen. For me, that will be enough for me for a long time to come. Although alchemy is amazing, I'm more interested in using the Astral Sacrificial Fire as a combat power... I'll dedicate a few months at most, to learning modern crafting methods and return to practising martial arts." - Firmly decided Kai.
He needed some time, to adapt his methods to modern times. He wasn't interested in researching and developing the craft any further. Most likely, the current level of understanding, would be enough for a long time to come.
"And from the next moment onwards, the mysteries begin... I am now certain that the Invisible Kings Torture Technique is the cause of my strange energy. Although Kessia didn't tell me much, there are some things I can figure out on my own. Thankfully, I have a scroll with the technique, and I don't need advice to cultivate it. The plan of action before the Cloud Sphere is clear. After finishing it, I'll get further instructions from the scroll..." - Pondered Kai, sitting in the lotus posture.
Kai understood exactly how he should cultivate in the near future. It was necessary to completely absorb the Invisible Kings. Every wound and injury inflicted on the Kings, nourished Kai's body. He realised that at one point, he would be able to completely absorb all of their energy. Most likely, at that moment, the next stage of the Invisible Kings Torture Technique would be revealed to him.
"Ah, I almost forgot... I'll need to find out about the Spiritual Sea. The fact that I have it open is strange. But the good thing is that there are other people who possess it, so its nature is clear." - Kai thought, remembering that he had to find out everything about the Spirit Sea.
- What follows is a complete mess... Kessia's bloodline and the Eyes of Essence. - To himself, Kai uttered to himself.
''In both cases, I somewhat understand where they came from. But their nature and principles, I don't even roughly realise." - Kai thought.
In the case of the Eye of Essence, he was sure that the root cause was the sphere. Everything he had experienced back then was definitely not an illusion. But that was where the sphere came from? What does it represent? Is it man-made or naturally created? What kind of powers does it possess? Why did he encounter it in the first place? Where is it now? There were too many questions, but not one answer.
It was the same story with the bloodline. Kai had received it from a strange girl whose consciousness had been alive for an incredible amount of time. She told a strange legend about ancient creatures. Logically everything led to the fact that he should have received the Asura bloodline. But asking this question to Kessia directly, Kai received an ambiguous answer. Rather even a negative one...
Once again, a dozen questions arose..... How does a pedigree work? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Where does it come from? How to develop it? What kind of concept is it? Is the bloodline an analogue to a cultivation technique or is it something else? Why hadn't he heard of it before, even from Master Mo? All that was left was speculation and conjecture.
"Hmm... It's very complicated... Speculating about the Eyes of Essence is useless at all. I'll just think of them as my innate ability. I'll just rejoice in my innate advantage. Some are born into wealthy families, some are sons of Elders of large sects. That's their innate advantage too." - Thought Kai with a frown on his face.
Although Kai was currently sitting in the lotus posture, he was not in meditation. He started rubbing his closed eyes from the weight of thinking.
"Good thing with the bloodline, I have a clue. Namely, blood absorption... Perhaps I should get out into the Endless Wasteland. Or maybe there's something I need within the city limits. I'll check with Diso later." - Kai reasoned.
Kessia had said that by absorbing the bloodline, Kai's instincts had stored the methods of its development. So, it was simple. One would have to go and find out.
"Alright, that's settled. The plan of action is roughly clear... But beyond that, I have three promises left. And I hate being in debt." - Kai thought.
When he finished his self-analysis of all his abilities and a rough plan of development. Kai proceeded to another important topic.
"The first and easiest is to promise General Lukias. Classes in the Border Beast City are enough for me as it is. So I think it won't be hard to complete my term of service. I still need time to enter the Cloud Sphere." - Pondered the first promise Kai made.
"Next... I promised Master Mo that after reaching the Cloud Sphere, I'll go to the Shadow Sect. I don't know exactly how to realise this yet, but closer to that time, I think it will be clear. With Fatty's current power, getting some information shouldn't be difficult." - Kai thought with a smile, remembering Master Mo.
Kai already knew that once he finished all the business in Border Beast City and reached the Cloud Sphere, he would head onwards. But at the moment of smiling, Kai remembered his last promise and became a little sad.
- ''The most important promise, I also made to Master. I must prolong his life. - In deep thought, Kai said, sitting down with a sunken face.
"Why am I so downcast! I'm a fucking alchemist right now! Not that I'm an alchemist, I'm the heir to the Astral Alchemy Emperor technique! Hehehe." - Kai suddenly became enthusiastic.
- Although I don't know all the nuances of Old Man Mo's health since he never told me about it. But I'm sure that the next time I meet the old man, I'll be able to think of something! That old fart won't die that easily! Hehehe. - With a laugh, Kai shouted and hit his palm with his fist.
- Bang! - There was the sound of the door opening!
It was at that moment that three people rushed into the room at once. The maid, the Elder who had previously ordered Kai to be brought here, and another imposing middle-aged man.
- Kai stupidly said, sitting completely naked in the lotus posture with his fist in his palm.
The room was instantly silent....