In truth, Aiden was but dimly aware of the prodigious might enshrined within the talent of a prophet.
Seraphina, in hushed tones, expounded unto Aiden, "The gift of prophecy, once fully unfurled, bestows upon its bearer the power to pierce the veils of all things, discerning their very essence and unraveling the mysteries of existence with naught but a single glance. Truly, it is a talent as rare as a phoenix's feather and as coveted as a fabled elixir."
"Throughout the annals of time, the prophets have been few and far between. In the chronicles of recorded history, the last of their kind was a titanic being who strode across the boundless chasms of time and space. Such was the case in the long-lost epochs of antiquity."
"In this present age, a cornucopia of gifted souls and those with aberrant physiques abound, yet the prophets remain a breed apart. Tyrone Zhou's latent gift, it is plain to see, lies dormant and unawakened, such that he himself remains oblivious to the tempestuous power that slumbers within."
Aiden's eyes flickered with a glimmer of comprehension as he committed these words to memory, thence turning his gaze upon Tyrone Zhou.
Tyrone Zhou, quill in hand, perused the contract with meticulous care.
"Will you, in solemn earnest, aid me in my quest for vengeance once this covenant is sealed?" Tyrone Zhou's brow was furrowed with a lingering unease. It was not that he was averse to the bargain, but rather the specter of a broken promise loomed large in his mind. What if, after inscribing his name, Aiden were to forsake him? The consequences were too dire to contemplate.
Moreover, he was consumed with a burning curiosity to know the precise means by which they would engineer his revenge.
Radiant Sky, too, stood watch from the sidelines. His eyes were fixed upon the scene, eager to witness how this enigmatic master would empower such a forlorn and destitute figure as Tyrone Zhou to vanquish the young lord of the Heavenly Dao Sect.
Aiden inclined his head in assent and spoke with unwavering conviction, "Verily, we shall be your sword and shield in this quest for vengeance. Our word is our bond, and that which is inscribed upon this parchment shall be brought to fruition with unyielding resolve."
Tyrone Zhou raised a solitary finger and queried, "One final query lingers in my mind. By what stratagem do you propose to aid me?"
"A precious relic shall be placed in your hands, a talisman of power that shall embolden you to assail the very heart of the Heavenly Dao Sect and lay low Milo Ming." Aiden's voice was soft, yet carried a weight of certainty.
"What manner of arcane treasure could possess such fearsome puissance?" Tyrone Zhou's brow knit in incredulity, his skepticism writ large upon his features.
Radiant Sky, unable to contain himself, let forth a scornful laugh. "The Heavenly Dao Sect stands as an impregnable bastion, a colossus among the great powers of the Great Departure Land. Its halls are thronged with paragons of martial might. To think that you could breach its defenses with naught but a single weapon is the stuff of delusion and folly."
Aiden, unfazed by Radiant Sky's derision, swept his hand through the air. Thereupon, a divine pen, resplendent as polished jade and suffused with a faint crimson halo, materialized.
The Emperor's Pen!
"This is an immortal artifact, a weapon of the gods. It shall be lent unto you for a single week. Within that span, you shall march upon the Heavenly Dao Sect and smite Milo Ming. When the moment of truth arrives, the full might of this celestial weapon shall be unleashed, and the Heavenly Dao Sect will think twice before engaging you in direct confrontation." Aiden's lips curved in a faint smile.
He was resolute in his determination to claim Tyrone Zhou's talent. Even if it meant parting with the Emperor's Pen and expending a measure of divine sources, he deemed it a price well worth paying.
"Immortal weapon!" Tyrone Zhou's eyes widened in astonishment. He had heard tell of such wonders, yet never before had he beheld one with his own eyes. Each such artifact was a thing of singular beauty and terrifying power.
Radiant Sky regarded it with a solemn countenance. He had not anticipated that this mysterious figure would entrust such a potent weapon to Tyrone Zhou.
"If the Emperor's Pen is brought to bear in all its fullness, the Heavenly Dao Sect will find itself hard-pressed to resist. And if Tyrone Zhou's target is but Milo Ming alone, the elders of the sect will surely shy away from a direct clash." Radiant Sky, privy to the inner workings of the Heavenly Dao Sect, knew full well that with the appearance of the Emperor's Pen, Tyrone Zhou's vengeance was all but assured.
All that he must sacrifice was his own unique talent.
Mysterious!
Terrifying!
Unfathomable!
Such were the thoughts that coursed through Radiant Sky's mind. He no longer dared to dismiss the Heaven and Earth Bank with a casual shrug.
"Very well, I shall sign!" Tyrone Zhou's gaze was fixed upon the Emperor's Pen, his eyes aflame with a newfound determination. With a decisive stroke, he inscribed his name upon the contract.
No sooner had the contract been signed than it took flight, coming to rest in Aiden's outstretched hand. He scrutinized it with a careful eye and nodded in satisfaction. "Excellently done. First, I shall claim your talent, and then the Emperor's Pen shall be yours."
Tyrone Zhou's brow creased with worry. "How will you wrest it from me?"
Aiden's smile was reassuring. "Fear not. Your life shall remain intact."
With measured steps, Aiden approached Tyrone Zhou from behind and laid a gentle hand upon his brow. "Relax. Empty your mind of all thoughts. The ordeal shall be over in the blink of an eye."
Tyrone Zhou heeded his words, allowing his thoughts to drift away and his mind to become a blank slate.
His cooperation was a balm to Aiden's plans.
Aiden was well pleased. Such acquiescence on Tyrone Zhou's part was a boon.
Buzz!
Aiden extended his hand and placed it upon Tyrone Zhou's forehead. His fingers curled into a claw-like shape and made a grasping motion in the air.
It seemed as if he had seized hold of something intangible yet weighty. Despite the palpable burden, Aiden's visage remained impassive, his resolve unshaken.
Tyrone Zhou, however, was not so fortunate. His face contorted in agony, his body writhing in a desperate struggle as he let loose a piercing cry.
His talent was being torn asunder, and the pain was beyond endurance.
Aiden regarded him with a cold and dispassionate eye. He would not relent. This talent was his prize, and he would have it at any cost.
"It hurts!"
"My whole body is aflame!"
Tyrone Zhou roared, his struggles growing more frantic, yet he could not break free from Aiden's grasp.
"Endure but a moment longer. It shall be over in a minute." Aiden's voice was cold, but his words were like a gentle breeze, coaxing Tyrone Zhou to grit his teeth and persevere.
As the seconds ticked by, a swirling mass of vivid, multicolored halos was drawn forth by Aiden. Countless visions of the future danced upon its surface. A mere mortal, were they to cast their gaze upon it, would be lost in a maelstrom of confusion, their mind ensnared for all eternity.
Even Radiant Sky, with his considerable cultivation, felt his senses reel and his thoughts scatter like leaves in the wind. Unable to maintain his composure, he hastily averted his gaze.
Inwardly, he was astounded. He had not anticipated that Tyrone Zhou's talent could be so terrifying.
And now, this fearsome gift belonged to this mysterious figure. At this moment, Radiant Sky's doubts were dispelled. He began to ponder, with a heavy heart, whether he should enter into a bargain of his own.
Aiden paid him no heed. After a minute had elapsed, he deftly extracted Tyrone Zhou's talent.
Boom!
Tyrone Zhou's body suddenly felt lighter, the pain ebbing away like a receding tide. He regained his composure, his brow beaded with sweat, but the agony was no more.
At the same time, the light in his eyes dimmed, replaced by a vacant stare. From this moment on, his path of cultivation would be strewn with greater obstacles.
The talent of the prophet now rested in Aiden's hands.
Seraphina approached, bearing a jade box. She opened it with a deft hand, allowing Aiden to deposit the talent within, and then withdrew.
Aiden returned to his seat and regarded Tyrone Zhou. With a wave of his hand, he summoned forth the Emperor's Pen.
Boom!
The immortal weapon materialized, its presence exuding a crushing pressure that made Tyrone Zhou and Radiant Sky gasp for breath, their skin feeling as if it were about to split asunder.
Aiden casually brushed his hand over the pen, and its fearsome aspect was masked. He then proffered it to Tyrone Zhou.
"In a week's time, I shall send an emissary to reclaim the Emperor's Pen. You have but a single week. Make haste." Aiden's voice was a solemn reminder.
Tyrone Zhou grasped the Emperor's Pen. The hatred in his eyes was almost palpable, a tangible force that threatened to consume all in its path. He ground his teeth and declared, "A week is ample time. I shall storm the Heavenly Dao Sect and avenge my father, mother, sister, and brother."
"May success be yours." Aiden's smile was one of benediction.
He had infused the Emperor's Pen with a terrifying reservoir of ten thousand divine sources. The pen could be activated at will, lending Tyrone Zhou the power to subdue the Heavenly Dao Sect.
Aiden didn't feel a bit of heartache about paying ten thousand divine sources. Instead, he felt that he had made a profit.
"You can leave now. Remember, you only have a week." Aiden waved his sleeve and Tyrone Zhou disappeared immediately.
In the hall, only Aiden and Radiant Sky were left.
"Now, do you want to make a trade?" Aiden looked at Radiant Sky and asked lightly.
Radiant Sky was in a dilemma. Having witnessed the birth of a trade, he no longer doubted its authenticity.
But the question was, did he want to make a trade or not?