Chapter 115 — The Elders
.
.
They all gathered at the summit of the second highest structure in the inner city, their gazes not bypassing the highest structure which stood kilometres away.
That highest structure was the castle. The home of the Lord Tier Boss of the Underworld.
The underworld was just like a dungeon, so it was going to have a final Boss — and in that Frost Castle was the final Boss, sitting at number 1 of the inner ranking.
The people gathered here were five in number and they all wore the same color of robes. White with intricate silver designs. One of their faces looked familiar — it was the man who had shoved Socrates into the Underworld.
Elder Hestruin.
"By the order of the Northern Gladiator, we attack the Frost Castle tonight." announced Elder Zhan, his voice low against the quiet cold of the summit.
"This time we have to clear this dungeon... and prepare a better opportunity for the Northern Gladiator to march in." Elder Siphon added, and the rest nodded.
"Speaking of opportunity, I never expected us to get this chance so soon." Elder Bil stated — and they all turned to Elder Hestruin.
"Who would have thought that the boy we sent to the Underworld to die would be the one to break the balance that has existed for years." Elder Zhan said.
"For the past years, the Asura clan has dominated the top 50 of the dungeon ranking and they could act freely in the inner city — but that kid not only broke into the top 100 but the top 50, causing the Asura clan members to return to the Frost Castle and giving us the best chance to prepare for a strike."
"It's secret knowledge that the death of a core member will be mourned for three days... This is a rite among the Asura clan. Black is a core member, so all the clan members have been in the Frost Castle since yesterday performing the rite — which ends tomorrow. That's why we ought to strike tonight." Elder Hestruin added.
"Socrates really delivered an opportunity for us on a golden platter... I've been trying to kill a core member of the Asura clan for the past few years and I haven't managed it. A boy that just joined the inner city not more than a year ago has made such a huge contribution." Elder Siphon sighed.
"Every core member of the Asura clan is a Master Realm body cultivator... So just how was Socrates able to kill one?" Elder Zhan asked — and they all turned to Elder Hestruin.
"Everything about the boy just doesn't make sense." Elder Snyf stated for the first time.
"He's a broken cultivator... He can use energy but can't store it inside his body... How was he able to kill the Sky Pavilion Elder? How did he survive in the underworld to this extent? When I touched his body I got the feeling of a Foundation Establishment cultivator — but he's not one... Everything about him just doesn't make sense..."
He turned again to Elder Hestruin, whose hands were folded behind his back as he watched the snow drift down.
"Socrates the Son of Trueblood... He was trained in martial arts in a local dojo in the Hellenic Republic.. the young master of the Trueblood clan.. he killed Alee, his sister's fiancé, at the cost of his meridians, brought here by the Northern Gladiator.. passed the Gladiating traditions due to a noble sacrifice... became the champion of the Earth Pavilion, his prize was taken from him and then the most important...." Elder Hestruin leaned forward — and the others' ears perked up.
"He cultivated under the sculpture of Lady Achillia and established a connection with an ancient King Tier Cultivator..." The moment those words left Hestruin's mouth, the whole room of Elders shook with shock.
"Unbelievable.. that sculpture has been discarded since...."
"I cultivated under it for months and couldn't establish a connection..." Elder Zhan sighed.
"A King Tier Cultivator can create their own separate space on Earth... Just like the Bermutha Island that was artificially designed by the Northern Gladiator... My guess is that Socrates must have been dragged into a separate space which contained the consciousness of the Goddess of Death..." Zhan added.
"You're right but not entirely...." Elder Hestruin stated as everyone stared at him for more.
"Socrates didn't just come back alone.... He came back with the consciousness of the Goddess of Death..." The Elders' faces contorted with extreme shock.
"His sea of consciousness harbors the soul of Lady Achillia.. although I'm not aware of what deal they struck... But a King Tier soul living in his body..... That's a great treasure."
"He's a threat to even us at the Master Realm..." Elder Siphon's body shook involuntarily.
"What do we do? What's exactly your plan, Elder Hestruin?" Elder Snyf asked.
"We have to extract the soul from his body after this mission... I had a hypothesis before but now I've confirmed it... I've purchased a soul extraction array but it needs three people to activate and the target must be conscious... So we need something to keep him under control... Imagine gaining control of a King Tier soul... Abundant spiritual energy, ancient knowledge, ancient martial arts, ancient formation techniques..." Elder Hestruin replied.
"Great treasures... Great treasures..." The Elders' eyes widened with greed.
"I suggest we make Socrates a member of the Heavenly Pavilion and announce his merit to everyone..." Elder Zhan produced a box and handed it over to Hestruin through the use of spiritual energy — which he slipped inside his storage ring without checking it.
"Give him his Golden Token. I've already upgraded it but it belongs to him anyway — this will give him joy." Elder Cunn added as he flung the golden token to Hestruin.
"I have what you're looking for... An item that could control the boy. I wanted to use it for something else but this matter is more important.." Elder Siphon pulled out a box and opened it, revealing a small round purple pill — its color radiating outward, pleasing and almost appetizing to the eye.
"This is the Web-Plant Poisonous Pill."
"Web-Plant Poisonous Pill... A Grade 4 poison that could kill a Master Cultivator in an instant." Elder Zhan stated.
"Yes exactly.. but only if the planter of the pill wishes it. Once swallowed by an individual, it generates poisonous webs inside their body — webs that can be controlled by the planter. If the planter wills it, he can crush the web, destroying the pill inside the target, and the poison will destroy that individual immediately." Elder Siphon explained.
"This is a good treasure.. I'm sure you're not bringing this out of goodwill." Elder Hestruin stated — and Elder Siphon laughed.
"Elder Hestruin is always cautious... I want the body of Socrates. It's a sturdy body suitable for refining into a puppet." Elder Siphon made his demand.
No one objected.
"Hehehe. That's good." He closed the box and passed it to Elder Hestruin who nodded.
"I'll go make preparations.. We attack the Frost Castle tonight." He said — and then vanished as if he had never been there, the cold air of the summit closing around the space he had occupied.
"As expected of someone cultivating the wind attribute.. so fast." Siphon muttered — and the Elders glanced at each other and vanished as well, l
eaving the summit empty, the snow drifting down into the silence they left behind.