Now, he just couldn't believe the words this girl had said. It was as if she had momentarily forgotten that they had almost killed him earlier. And then stalked him for months. Moreover, all this time, Purple Illusion had not taken a step to help Kai! On the contrary, she had favoured her brother in every way possible in this action!
- Please! Don't kill him! He's all I have! - Starting to sob, the girl begged!
She stretched out her arms and began to create a purple barrier around Silver Spear's unconscious body.
Except... There was too little energy in her.....
She was only able to create a small hemisphere that couldn't protect the entire body.
- Trash...' Kai said coldly, "The Dance of the Shadow Marks," he said calmly.
Kai said this out loud on purpose so that Purple Illusion would fully feel the moment of reckoning. In the blink of an eye, Kai found himself near Silver Spear's body!
Naturally, he found himself right behind the barrier. His victim's body lay quietly at Kai's complete disposal. All of Purple Illusion's actions were simply ridiculous. It seemed like it was clinging to its last, fading chance!
The next second, there was a strange pop and the sound of bones breaking! Immediately after that, blood mixed with flesh flew everywhere! Kai's entire face instantly turned scarlet in colour!
This was a strike that lightningly smashed the Silver Spear's head! Purple Illusion didn't even have time to react! Her brother instantly lost his life!
- Noooo! You're a demon! - The girl screamed in horror and despair!
But it didn't end there... Before her eyes, all of the Silver Spear's blood began to be absorbed into Kai's body, concurrently turning the headless body into a dry mummy!
Looking at her brother's body, she felt incredibly devastated. It seemed that this picture had stunned her so much that the Purple Illusion had fallen into a stupor!
Watching this, Kai didn't hesitate and used the Shadow Mark again, appearing right in front of the girl's face.
- Shut the fuck up! - Kai snorted disdainfully and drove his dagger straight into her lower jaw. In a way that nailed her tongue to her palate, but didn't kill her!
- Kghaa... Kghaa... - From the sobbing girl's mouth, blood instantly started pouring out.
- You'll be the perfect finishing touch! You chose the wrong person as your victim and now you've paid for it. Goodbye two-faced scum! - Kai said coldly and with a deft movement of his other hand, he blew the head of the Purple Illusion clean off.
All of its blood immediately began to rotate in space and then rushed into Kai's body.
At this moment, he even closed his eyes, enjoying the process. Kai already knew very well how it would end!
- Doom! - There was a rumbling sound from the wave of energy spreading out. And in the centre of this action, stood Kai.
- Hehe... High Stage of the Cloud Sphere! - Laughing evilly, he said in admiration.
Slowly opening his eyes, Kai looked at his hands and clenched his fists. With such an action, he couldn't see any difference in changing his combat power. It seemed like he made this movement just instinctively.
Looking at the two mummies that were lying at different sides, Kai smiled evilly.
- Who knew... Who knew... It's a good thing I decided to linger in the Shadowlands! - Kai excitedly let out a cheerful smile.
After that, he quietly went to collect all the goodies that the duo had. They were Personal Apprentices, and about 150-ranked ones at that. The items they had with them were definitely not trinkets. Kai absolutely did not want to lose such a thing for nothing!
After a few minutes, Kai flicked his fingers lightly and the two bodies instantly turned into ashes. And then the ash itself vanished into thin air without a trace.
- A worthy end for you two. Hehehe... - Kai said cheerfully and walked forward.
At this moment, he wanted to find a secluded place and cultivate the Invisible Kings Torture Technique well. Although Kai had broken through to the High Stage of the Cloud Sphere. But there was still a lot of undeveloped duo energy in his body. And also, it was necessary to finally establish himself at this stage.
This was a practice that was universally accepted by martial artists. It was better if after a breakthrough, you meditated for a few days and got used to the new power.....
There wasn't even a shred of pity for Silver Spear and Purple Illusion in Kai's mind. Sometimes people could ruin other people's lives without a second thought, without showing even the slightest bit of compassion. But at the same time, when they became victims themselves, they expected forgiveness!
This duality of behaviour surprised Kai a little. It was the first time he had ever encountered such a thing. If he hadn't experienced the mortal danger this duo had provoked.... Perhaps Kai would have even shown compassion towards them.
Likewise, Kai didn't care at all about the backstory of the two of them or the reasons for their personality development. About the source of Silver Spear's mental instability and Purple Illusion's unhealthy attachment and obedience.
Everyone in this world has a story to tell. Everyone has their own reasons for doing what they think is right. But neutrality towards others can exist as long as their story doesn't intersect with yours.
The brother and sister duo decided that their life line should cross with Kai's. Alas, the result was such that Kai's line was the one that interrupted it.....
No time for reflection or regret. A lot of amazing stories have been cut short before they're finished. Much better, to focus on his own!
All Kai was thinking about now was how he could quickly secure his place at the High Stage of the Cloud Sphere and go to the Shadow Sect. The tournament should start in the next few months and Kai had better not delay.
Realising all of this, he sat in meditation for about three days. Finally absorbing all the energy, he decided that it was time to return. So, he calmly walked towards the entrance gate.
- Hello Mr Immortal Drunkard! - Respectfully shouted one of the guards and instantly bowed.
- ''Hello guys! Hehehe. - Laughing, Kai gave out.
As soon as the group of men saw the Personal Apprentice coming out in his uniform, they instantly put all their business aside.
- You've been in the Shadowlands for a long time... Recently, the Guardian of the Mountains rebelled, and we were beginning to think the worst... - Shaking his head sadly, the man said.
By coincidence, he was one of those who had launched Kai into the Shadowlands. So he knew perfectly well that he had been there for about six months. That was a long time.
- Oh, come on. I know you guys only thought here for card games and booze. Heh-heh. - laughing merrily, Kai gave out, instantly unmasking the guards, -I don't like all that flattery, so you don't have to bother. - Smiling, Kai added.
- 'Ha ha...' the man laughed awkwardly, 'Mr Immortal Drunkard is very perceptive...' The guard replied with a crooked smile.
- Listen, I have two questions at once, - Kai interrupted, - Has the Guardian of the Mountains caused much trouble? And how do I pay for my visit to the Shadowlands? - Kai asked quickly.
- Erm... Yes... A lot of disciples were probably killed. The elders have already gone to investigate the matter. I'm really glad that you survived...'' The guard said with a slight sadness.
He seemed to be really worried about it. He didn't want to see many of his fellow students die in the area he was guarding. It was obvious that he was quite loyal to the Shadow Sect.
- As for the second question, you don't have to worry. We're reporting directly to the Shadow Sect. When they get there, your Reputation Points will automatically be deducted. - The man added politely.
- Thank you for answering my questions. - Kai said with a friendly smile, 'Alright guys, keep having fun, I'm off! Hehehe. - Kai laughed and ran towards Shadow City.
So far he didn't see any wagons, so he decided to get to one of the nearest villages and find travelling companions there....
After a week, Kai finally arrived in the City of Shadow. He was now approaching the territory of the Shadow Sect.
- Eh... I'm back... - Kai breathed in a full breath.
When he arrived at the first settlement, it turned out that there were no guides there. All Kai could get was a horse. He was briefly explained how to ride. But Kai wasn't very good at it...
That's why the journey took so long. Only in the past few days, he had finally become accustomed to the process and was able to travel normally.
'We need to head to the Shadow Palace. I haven't bathed in a hot spring in ages!' - Dreaming thought Kai.
Entering the Shadow Sect's territory, he calmly walked in the direction of his home. Looking at those beautiful streets, Kai's mood was rising. He liked the atmosphere of the gigantic Shadow City quite a lot.
- Hey Sister Iris... - Suddenly, Kai caught the edge of his ear.
At that moment, he felt like all the hairs on his body stood up! It was Taemi's voice. And she was obviously together with Iris.
'Those two seem to have a pretty good chemistry...' - Kai thought, looking at the square in the distance.
All of Kai's senses were very sharp, so he noticed them from a distance. At this moment, the two girls were smiling and laughing sweetly. From the first glance, it was clear that they got along very well. One could even say that they had become close friends.
- Where does Brother Kai disappear to? - Taemi said sadly.
- I don't know... That... That... - Iris began to blush and stutter.
It seemed like she was starting to remember the rather racy evening they had 'spent together'. When she recalled it, her face would instantly turn red. At times like this, she wished that all those memories were just her bad dream!
- No way... Not tonight...' Kai said with a grin.
Without thinking at all, Kai turned around and used the Shadow Tag Dance. He decided that he would take a different road and quietly bypass this couple....
If they caught him, they wouldn't give him a pass. Kai had fallen into such a trap once before. As a result, his whole evening had gone down the drain... Tonight, he really wanted to rest. Thankfully, he managed to get home without any adventures....
Lying in the hot water and unceremoniously sipping wine straight from the barrel, Kai was in a state of serenity.
- Good...' Kai exhaled after taking a sip of wine.
This evening, he wouldn't devote a second to cultivation. He would even go straight to bed and not meditate. He wanted to have a normal, human evening.
'We'll have to find one of the Elders and ask about this Tournament... If there's time left before it, it would be a good idea to visit the archives of the Array Alliance and the Alchemy Alliance. Still, there might be something interesting to find there...' - Kai said in his mind.
When he finally relaxed, he remembered that he had completely forgotten about this item in his original plan. There were a limited number of really useful records about Alchemy and Arrays in the Library.