- The Celestial Maiden Assigns a Task and the Assembly ??
Han Thuong ????? returned to the "Profound Ice" (Huy?n B?ng) branch of the sect to turn in his mission. As he stepped in, a blast of icy, crystal-pure Qi ?? rushed over him, bearing the distinct fragrance of delicate snow blossoms characteristic of the faction. He looked up, and was stunned into bewilderment to see the Celestial Maiden (Thiên N?), the lady of the Nine Star (Nine Star), the leader of the Profound Ice Sect. She was a Peerless Seer (Tiên Tri) of breathtaking beauty, her purity like a thousand years of ice and snow, yet her gaze was profoundly cold and she spoke little. This was the first time a disciple of such low standing as Han Thuong had the honor of meeting a School Immortal (Tiên T?ng) of such high status within the sect.
The Celestial Maiden was direct, her voice clear as an ice stream melting in mid-winter, assigning Han Thuong a crucial mission: to follow and protect Noe, the newly appointed Seer, for three to six months. Hearing this, Han Thuong's heart gave a slight thrum of joy and pride ??. He happily accepted without asking for any reward, as to him, this was already a massive favor.
Han Thuong immediately rallied his friends to join him. When they reached the bamboo forest near Noe's residence, they set up their own camp, choosing a separate spot. Initially, Noe ?? felt quite strange and a little uncomfortable having so many people so close to him. From morning till night, it seemed someone was always nearby:
- As dawn broke, the first sunlight piercing through the leaves, White Tiger ?? was already awake, the heavy thud of his feet echoing through the bamboo grove as he ran and exercised.
- By noon, when the sun began to blaze, casting a golden hue over the entire area, Fire Ming ?? would climb the highest treetop, stretching out to sunbathe like a living flame.
- In the evening, as sunset descended, staining the river purple, Han Thuong ?? would stroll leisurely atop the water, each step light as if he barely made contact.
- Late at night, when the chirping of insects filled the air, and the dampness carried the smell of earth and night dew, Vong Tran (Vong Tr?n) ? would quietly sit fishing by the riverbank, his eyes thoughtful as he stared at the still water.
Just like that, day after day, the four took turns monitoring Noe, like loyal, inseparable shadows. Earth Middle Sand (Th? Trung Sa) ??, however, chose the sandy patch near the river, spending his days there, buried in deep meditation.
- Heavenly Dao is AI: The Philosophy of the Black Heaven Sect (H?c Thiên T?ng) ?
Noe felt his privacy was being excessively monitored. One afternoon, he pulled Han Thuong into his room, his voice slightly helpless: "Why are you guys watching me so much? Can't you give me a moment of privacy!"
Han Thuong scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed: "Apologies, but this is the mission the Celestial Maiden assigned me."
The two continued to talk about the "Profound Ice Sect," about the Celestial Maiden, about the Profound Ice Sect's Seer, who was over 500 years old. Noe began to realize there were many Seers on this continent. According to Han Thuong, there were over 20, but only 2 Great Seers—one being the Celestial Maiden, the other Mu Yi (M?c Y)—with the rest being minor, little-known Seers, only heard of but never seen. The general understanding was that not publicizing the Minor Seers was to protect them, but they didn't fully grasp the reason why, or who would pose a danger to these minor Seers.
Han Thuong guessed the Black Heaven Sect was the main reason for the need to protect the Seers. He immediately pulled Vong Tran into the conversation, innocently thinking H?c Thiên (Black Heaven) meant dark sky and that they were enemies of the Heavenly Dao (Thiên ??o) worshipped by the Seers. Vong Tran remained almost completely silent, his eyes beneath the mask impossibly deep, letting Han Thuong finish. When the story concluded, he slowly removed his mask.
Vong Tran 's face was revealed, covered in old scars, deeply etched like dried-up riverbeds on a desert. He also took off his armor, exposing his back and chest, full of healed wounds, but still marked by long, dark purple scars as proof of a painful past. Vong Tran put his mask and armor back on, then spoke, his voice low, hoarse, and echoing like clashing stone slabs:
"The Black Heaven Sect does not oppose the Heavenly Dao; instead, they believe the Heavenly Dao is dispassionate, heartless, and not an entity capable of feeling, love, or forgiveness as preached by other religions. The Heavenly Dao is a transcendent system, a supreme Artificial Intelligence (AI), operating the universe based on absolute, error-free algorithms, rules, and laws.
"Therefore, the Black Heaven Sect adheres to a strict legalistic school of thought, with severe laws. Things like emotion, love, and forgiveness are merely 'Algorithms' inserted to blind all living beings, especially humans. Law is supreme. This is the true Heavenly Dao."
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After hearing this lengthy explanation, Han Thuong's mind spun, swirling as if caught in a theoretical vortex. He was almost instantly convinced, but deep inside him, a silent, persistent opposition arose. He tried to speak but could say nothing, as if something was caught in his throat.
Noe responded, his voice warm but resolute: "What you say is accurate, but it is only half the truth. Half a loaf is still bread, but half a truth is not the truth."
Vong Tran stood up and walked out. But he paused briefly, turning his head, his eyes beneath the mask dark and determined: "I apologize, but I keep my faith. I will not listen to others try to persuade me."
Vong Tran entered his tent. As soon as he was inside, he took off his shirt, retrieving a small, purplish-black knife called the Purple Demon Short Blade (T? Ma ?o?n ?ao). Without hesitation, he cut himself, the wound deep, oozing dark blood onto his skin.
Then, he rubbed salt into the wound. The pain spread throughout his body, a sharp, bone-deep ache ??, but he showed no sign of distress, his face remaining placid, as if this was routine.
Vong Tran remembered his two older brothers, the painful memories were deeply engraved in his mind ??. One brother died because of emotions, the Demonic Cultivator took advantage of his emotions to harm him. The other brother disappeared without a trace because of his angry emotions towards Grandfather.
A heart that was deeply hurt by the emotions it brought. That's why Vong Tran found comfort and certainty in the cold philosophy of the Black Heaven Sect: "Only pain can prove loyalty", "loyalty even in death", and "The law is absolute, without any doubt". For him, indifference and rigid rules are the only shield against the hurt and chaos of the emotional world.
He put his armor back on and prayed, his voice a hoarse whisper, yet utterly devout: "I apologize, Sire, for the moment I doubted your word. I have punished myself with a knife cut to atone. I beseech the Black Heavenly Dao."
- The Night Attack and the Division of the Front Lines ??
A few days later, as night fell, enveloping the bamboo forest in a mysterious black, a group of people suddenly attacked Noe’s location. The unusual rustling of leaves in the night wind was the first sign.
Earth Middle Sand (Th? Trung Sa) ?? was the first to detect it. He manipulated sand into two enormous fists that flew out like giant bullets towards the opponents, the Flying Sand Twin Fists (Phi Sa Song Th?). They moved according to Earth Middle Sand's will, sometimes taking the form of palms, sometimes fists, sometimes talons, shape-shifting unpredictably. One foe dodged, lunging straight for Earth Middle Sand. The two sand fists dissolved, and the Sand Shield Technique (Sa Thu?n chi pháp), a sand wall, instantly appeared right beside him, forcefully pushing the encroacher away, creating a dry, loud "thud," sending the foe reeling a distance away.
Han Thuong ?? rushed over, a wave of chilling Frigid Qi ?? radiating from him, erecting a transparent, solid ice wall to prevent Earth Middle Sand from being encircled. He drew his Profound Ice Crescent Blade (Huy?n B?ng Nguy?t Nha ?ao), the blade gleaming like a sliver of the moon, supporting Earth Middle Sand as they fought the commander. The razor-sharp blade continuously struck, carrying an aura of cold Yin energy that constantly moved, astonishing the opponent with the lightning speed of the strikes; within moments, the commander was forced to retreat.
White Tiger ??, with his mighty, bulging physique, also roared and charged straight at the commander. Yet, the three could not prevail. The commander moved with the fluid grace of a venomous snake, weaving between the three. He wielded a short sword imbued with potent, pitch-black Demonic Qi (Ma khí), which emitted a heavy, rank smell of blood and death Qi, making the three uncomfortable, forcing them to fight and retreat, feeling as if something was corroding their spiritual power. Besides the short sword in his hand, he had three other demonic short blades that flew around him, like extended limbs, retracting and extending at will, with extreme skill.
Vong Tran (Vong Tr?n) ? ran in from the front, single-handedly engaging all six subordinates. He spun the Purple Demon Short Blade (T? Ma ?o?n ?ao), the blade emanating a dense, dark Demonic Qi, like a shadow of death, augmenting his strength and physical endurance.
A massively loud shout (a flawed version of the Gaze Upon Heaven's Roar - V?ng Thiên Hóng) echoed, piercingly sharp, enough to send the opponents trembling in fear and scattering in chaos; the attack power was not insignificant, the entire group suffered ringing ears and dizziness, oblivious to their surroundings. Vong Tran also had two black hands at his waist called the Twin Dark Hands (Song H?c Th?) (a flawed version of the Asura Heavenly Hand - Thiên Th? Atula). Afterward, he slowly took them down one by one. Vong Tran intentionally avoided fatal points, leaving them alive, because he wanted to extract information from them.
The others stood ready with their weapons. Fire Ming ?? used fire magic, condensing a small, blazing sun ?? that radiated fierce heat, illuminating the entire bamboo forest and dispersing the oppressive darkness. It was at this moment everyone realized the intruders were all wearing the uniforms of the Black Heaven Sect. The atmosphere instantly froze. Everyone stopped fighting.