Bhoumik's heart ached with a mix of gratitude and guilt. He had inherited a power tied to a long-dead sect—a responsibility he had never asked for. He had told Indrali before that he had no intention of rebuilding the sect, but he had promised to fulfill one final wish: to seek revenge for the destruction of the Frozen Sun Sect, even if he did not wish to revive it.
"I understand, but…" Bhoumik hesitated, his voice low, "I still don't understand why you chose to protect me. You could've let Ren Zhaoyang kill me. After all, the world would be safer without someone like me around. So why didn't you?"
Indrali's gaze grew more intense, her voice filled with conviction despite her weakened state. "Because I believe that everyone deserves a chance to decide their own fate. You were born with the Lotus Devouring of Infernal Void constitution, but that doesn't mean you are doomed to be a monster. Your destiny is your own, Bhoumik. I believe you can control it, and that's why I chose to protect you."
Her words struck deep within him. Bhoumik looked down at the floor, a storm of emotions swirling within him. In his past life, no one had ever given him a chance. He had always been looked at as a burden, an outcast. But now, in this new world, someone had seen him as more than just his curse. Indrali had risked everything because she believed he could be something greater.
He clenched his fists, his mind made up. "As I've said before, I won't rebuild the Frozen Sun Sect. That's not my path." He looked at her, his expression firm. "But I will honor my promise. I'll take revenge for the sect's destruction. For you. For the legacy of the Frozen Sun."
Indrali's lips curled into a weak smile. "Then that's enough for me."
Bhoumik knelt beside her, his voice quiet but determined. "Indrali… teach me. Teach me everything you know. All the techniques, all the power of the Frozen Sun Sect. I need to be stronger if I'm going to keep my promise. I can't rely on others to protect me forever. I need to be able to protect myself—and you."
Indrali's eyes gleamed with approval despite her exhaustion. "Very well, Bhoumik. I will teach you. But be warned—this power comes with a heavy burden. The techniques of the Frozen Sun Sect are dangerous, and not all who learn them can master them. But if you are truly committed to this path, I will guide you."
Bhoumik nodded, his resolve unwavering. "I'm ready. I'll do whatever it takes."
The cave grew silent as the weight of their decisions settled between them. Outside, the snowstorm continued to rage, but inside, there was a sense of calm. The darkness of Bhoumik's cursed constitution was still there, lurking just beneath the surface, but now he had a purpose. He had a goal, and more than that—he had someone who believed in him.
Indrali closed her eyes again, allowing herself to rest. There was still much to be done, many battles to be fought, but for now, they had a moment of peace.
Bhoumik sat in silence, watching the fire flicker. He knew the road ahead would be dangerous, and the Zhaoyang clan would come for him sooner or later. But with Indrali by his side, and with the techniques of the Frozen Sun Sect to guide him, he would be ready.
He wasn't just a cursed boy anymore. He was something more.
And for the first time in a long time, he felt like he had a future worth fighting for.
Days had passed since the fierce battle against Ren Zhaoyang, and Bhoumik found himself in a new chapter of his life—one filled with purpose and determination. Under the cold, unwavering watch of the mountains, Bhoumik began to cultivate again. The fire within him had been reignited, spurred by Indrali's belief in him and the weight of his promise to take revenge on behalf of the Frozen Sun Sect. His cultivation had stagnated at the 1st level of Master Realm before his cursed constitution had awakened, but now, with renewed focus, he could feel the energy within him growing.
Days of meditation turned into weeks, and slowly, Bhoumik could feel his spiritual energy increasing. The void-like hunger of his Lotus Devouring of Infernal Void constitution seemed to resonate with the world around him, drawing in ambient energy. His body, once weak, began to strengthen. His mind, once clouded with doubt, became sharp. The power flowing through him was immense, yet he knew he had only scratched the surface of what he could become.
After several days of intense focus, a breakthrough came. Bhoumik felt the surge of energy, a torrent that threatened to overwhelm him but one that he controlled, guiding it through his meridians with precision. His cultivation had advanced to the 3rd level of Master Realm. It was a small victory, but it gave him hope.
He stood from his meditative position, feeling the strength in his limbs and the clarity in his mind. His first thought was to find Indrali.
Later that evening, the fire crackled in the heart of the cave, its light casting long shadows on the stone walls. The flickering warmth contrasted with the biting cold of the frozen world outside. Bhoumik sat beside the flames, feeling the heat soothe the ache in his muscles from his recent cultivation. Across from him, Indrali sat with a calm yet slightly weary expression. Despite her wounds from the battle, she had recovered remarkably well, her resilience showing through.
The silence between them was comfortable, only broken by the occasional crack of the firewood. Bhoumik took a deep breath, his face serious as he spoke. "Indrali… there's something I need to talk to you about."
Indrali tilted her head, sensing the gravity in his tone. "What is it, Bhoumik?" she asked, her eyes reflecting the firelight as she focused on him.
He hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "I need to know everything you've read about the Lotus Devouring of Infernal Void constitution. What are its abilities? What am I truly capable of?"
Indrali's expression grew serious. For a moment, she said nothing, lost in thought. After a few moments of silence, she spoke. "What I know comes from ancient texts, fragments of knowledge passed down from generations. This constitution is rare, and its full potential has never been fully realized. But what I do know is that the Lotus Devouring of Infernal Void grants terrifying power, and with it, a terrible cost."
She looked into the fire, her voice quiet but steady. "The first ability of your constitution is to devour energy—any type of energy. Whether it be elemental energy, spiritual energy, or even the life force of living beings, you can absorb it and use it to fuel your power. The second ability makes you immune to curses and forbidden backlashes. This means that no curse or forbidden technique can harm you directly, which is a unique advantage."
Bhoumik listened intently, his eyes fixed on her.
"The third," Indrali continued, her voice lower, "is pure destruction. This constitution carries a power that cannot be easily controlled. It consumes everything around it—like an endless void that devours without discrimination. That's why so many who have carried this curse have fallen to it. They lose control, and it destroys them from the inside out."
Bhoumik remained silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of her words. Destruction, hunger, and a constant threat of losing control. This power was as much a curse as it was a gift.
Indrali's eyes met his. "You asked me what I know, and that's all I've learned. The rest is lost to time. No one has ever truly mastered this constitution. Most either died trying or were killed before they could."
As Indrali finished speaking, Maya slithered into the cave, her massive form coiling gently around Bhoumik. Her cold, reptilian eyes glinted in the firelight as she regarded him carefully. "You're thinking of cultivating further with this cursed constitution, aren't you?" Maya's voice was deep and hissed slightly, but it carried a hint of concern.
Bhoumik nodded, clenching his fists. "I know the dangers, but I'm not foolish. I understand that I need to become stronger in combat first—to learn control. If I can't master my abilities, they'll master me."
Maya's eyes narrowed, her coiled body tightening slightly around him. "Then first, you must sharpen your combat skills. If you cannot fight, you cannot hope to survive the powers you carry. Tomorrow, we'll begin by finding some beasts for you to test your strength. Start small, and as you grow stronger, you'll learn to harness that destructive power."
Bhoumik smiled faintly, shaking his head. "I'm not so foolish as to rush into something I'm not ready for."
Indrali watched them both, then nodded in agreement. "Maya is right. Tomorrow, we'll explore the region. There are plenty of creatures around here that will serve as good practice. Be ready."