The Shining Star Above The Heaven
Chapter 108: Aldrian’s Gains

Chapter 108: Aldrian’s Gains

Aldrian sat cross-legged on his bed after returning to his room. After he had met with the head of the Thunderous Shadow Pavilion, he felt it was time to review what he had gained from recent events. He first examined his own information.

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Aldrian Aster

Domain : The secret realm, The Ivory empire, The Demon Territory of Barisan continent

Age : 14 years

Cultivation : Middle Earl

Current energy : 422,497 (+3 /15m)

Energy needed for the next stage : 520.001

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After his comprehension session, during which he made the entire Demon Territory part of his domain, his cultivation speed accelerated, and he even broke through to the Middle Earl stage. This breakthrough meant that it took him just under a year to advance from the Low Earl stage to the Middle Earl stage—an astonishing speed that would surely make others seethe with jealousy. With his cultivation rate now even faster, he estimated that he could make another breakthrough in less than a year!

Aldrian was truly satisfied. With the Demon Territory under his control, his movements within that region would be much more flexible, giving him a significant advantage if any problems arose. He would be able to catch those devils much more easily.

The only downside was that his cultivation level was still too low to fully manage his vast domain. He couldn’t search for or monitor every individual in his domain simultaneously. Instead, he would have to search place by place, which would take time. But this was something he could handle later, it wasn’t something that could be done all at once with his current cultivation level.

After checking his own information, Aldrian turned his attention to what he had gained from the Heavenly Demon’s Scripture. New knowledge about demonic cultivation and techniques had already embedded itself in his mind. He had tested one of these techniques on Arson Vuran, and the results were evident. The other techniques from the Heavenly Demon also piqued his interest.

Besides the Everlasting Demonic Follower, there was a technique that hypnotized its target, compelling them to follow his bidding without even realizing they were under his control. It was a terrifying ability, making the target believe that all their actions were of their own volition, when in fact, everything had been predetermined by him. This technique would prove incredibly useful in certain situations, and it also gave Aldrian insight into how he could further develop it in the future.

There was also the Heavenly Demon’s Eyes of Truth, similar to what Baek Ji-Min possessed, which he could use if he wished. What puzzled him, however, was why techniques from the Heavenly Demon’s Flower Scripture were also included in the Heavenly Demon’s Scripture. He hadn’t had the chance to ask more questions due to the appearance of that ’being.’

The memory of that ’being’ stirred anger in Aldrian’s heart once again, but he quickly suppressed it. He still wondered what it was and why the Heavenly Demon had fought with that creature. The sheer presence of that entity—its colossal eyes covering the entire ceiling of the ’White Realm’ and the overwhelming pressure it exuded—had left him with a lingering sense of urgency.

"Whatever that thing is, it’s still far beyond my reach. I need to get stronger—quickly." Aldrian clenched his fist, but suddenly, a thought emerged in his mind.

"So, the Heavenly Demon is still alive? Then how could the Heavenly Demon’s Scripture be comprehended by his disciple? Didn’t Sect Master Ryu Hyuk-Jae say that this technique could only be understood by one person?" Aldrian sensed that something was missing. If what Sect Master Ryu Hyuk-Jae had said was true, then there must be some information he wasn’t aware of.

He didn’t know yet why the Heavenly Demon had created the other two scriptures, but his main scripture, the Heavenly Demon’s Scripture, was the ultimate proof of his legendary status. It symbolized the Heavenly Demon the most, as it encapsulated his lifetime of effort and experience and immortalized it in scripture.

"It seems like I can only find out more if I meet him again." Aldrian sighed.

He then opened his palm and released the Heavenly Demon’s demonic energy. A black-crimson energy that looked wicked but actually it’s not, because the negative energy that he had already refined with ease, as written in the scripture. The properties of this demonic energy were almost the same as his golden energy, which made him wonder where the Heavenly Demon had gotten his inspiration to create his cultivation technique.

The Heavenly Demon seemed to know about his mysterious power, like the Eyes of the Heaven. he felt that the Heavenly Demon knew more about him and the origin of this power but was refusing to reveal anything. The fact that his Eyes of the Heaven didn’t work on the Heavenly Demon disturbed him even more.

Lastly, the place where the Heavenly Demon threw him out from the ’white realm’—what kind of place is that? It was a realm of total darkness, with only a single source of light like a star in the distance. He then remembered his talk with Baek Ji-Min and wondered if that was his ’Being essence.’ All of those memories also appeared when he approached the source of light.

Now he was 90% sure that he had other experiences in places beyond his 14 years of life. It felt really strange, but he thought about a cycle that most people believed in—a cycle of reincarnation.

It looked like a reincarnation cycle, a cycle of samsara that shaped the lives and deaths of all beings in the universe. Did those memories come from his past life or something? Those memories also seemed too random, leaving him confused about which one was the real ’him.’ There were many ’characters’ that he had played during that time.

Another question then popped up: were the strange visions he had since childhood also from his past experiences? All those strange visions felt quite real, and he had experienced many emotions while witnessing them, although they weren’t as strong as the feelings he had when he was in that dark place.

He wondered how he could return to that place. Maybe, there, he could finally uncover his ’truth’ and find what he had been searching for, just as the Heavenly Demon had hinted. But to do so, he knew he needed to grow stronger, faster, in order to unravel the many mysteries still surrounding him.

In conclusion, this trip to the Piercing Heaven Sect had been incredibly fruitful and insightful. He was glad he had accepted Sect Master Ryu Hyuk-Jae’s offer.

"No wonder he dared to take an oath with the Heavenly Demon’s karma at that time to entice me. He must have received a sign from the Heavenly Demon that the destiny bearer thing wouldn’t work for me. I felt it after I comprehended it; this scripture is extraordinary, and I can truly feel it. The strong, intangible force, like karma, tried to bond with me, but it dissipated after it touched me. I presume that’s the destiny trying to connect with me."

Sect Master Ryu Hyuk-Jae, having such a strong karma bond with the Heavenly Demon’s Scripture after years of trying to comprehend it, likely received signs from the Heavenly Demon himself.

"Somewhere... he must be somewhere. A place full of beings as powerful as that ’thing,’" Aldrian mused. Though that place was far beyond his reach for now, he would move steadily in that direction.

After counting his gains, Aldrian slumped back on his bed, closing his eyes for a moment. But then he remembered something, and he quickly sat up again. Reaching out with his senses, he scanned the entire sect until he located what he was looking for. In an instant, he teleported in front of a room.

From inside, he could feel a resonance, a familiar connection to the person within. Without waiting long, the sliding door opened, revealing a beautiful woman with red eyes. She was wearing a night robe that didn’t diminish her elegance, if anything, it made her look even more refined. She smiled warmly at him, unable to hide her joy at sensing his presence.

"Have you been waiting for me all this time?" Aldrian asked.

"No, I’ve just been cultivating. It’s my habit to cultivate at this hour," she replied with a smile. "Please, come in. I want to hear about your experience with the Heavenly Demon’s scripture."

Aldrian raised an eyebrow and teased with a smile, "Are you not afraid to invite a man into your room at night, all by yourself?" Baek Ji-Min blushed in embarrassment.

"You won’t do anything to me. I know you won’t; you have your own morals and standards," she replied, looking at him despite her flushed face. He smiled at her response, still holding her gaze.

"Thank you for your trust. I also want to talk to you about something." He then stepped inside the room but glanced back at the empty space outside, into the shadows of the night. He nodded his head before entering the room and closing the door.

In the shadows, the guardians tasked with protecting Baek Ji-Min were stunned when Aldrian looked directly at them. They were Emperor-stage cultivators and were sure they had concealed their existence to the best of their ability, yet he still found them. No wonder he was the destined one for the Heavenly Demon’s scripture.