Chapter 7: Shadow
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Chapter 7: Shadow
He did not need his Divine Sense to detect the presence of cultivators ahead as a Human Dao practitioner, but all that was visible to the naked eye was the lush planes stretching out into the distance, light azure clouds overlooking the grassy lands. What would once struck him as mundane now seemed peaceful, making Yao Shen wonder just how much his past life’s memories had managed to impact his personality in such a short period of time.
Well, the term ‘Human Dao Practitioner’ was both accurate, yet at the same time, wildly inaccurate. The Esoteric Dao's were truly both fascinating and utterly bizarre at the same time, for Yao Shen would dare not call him an expert despite being the only one to awaken the Dao since, perhaps, the Era of Turmoil, for the aspects of third stage practitioners was not entirely unknown to him.
It was closer to the ‘Dao of Sentient Beings’, or rather, the Dao that represented the will of the sentient beings. He was certain that his human domain could not be recreated if he were to use a lesser spiritual beast as its core, but if it was a beast emperor whose image he channeled, well it would still fail, but for different reasons. The resonance he felt with the mortal farmer was not an emotion that could be falsified, nor a concept that could be faked. The Heavenly Blessing he had received upon ascending to Soul Emperor had given him many insights and knowledge upon the true nature of his Human Dao, but it had not advanced his understanding of the mysterious 'Dao Path', indicating that the rumors had been false.
Without further adieu, Yao Shen gently landed upon the ground, Elder Han accompanying himself, landing a few steps behind him out of deference. He began walking forward with a relaxed expression on his face, smiling as he gazed at the azure sky. How ironic it was, for the Patriarch of the Heavenly Sky Sect to have incurred the wrath of the heavens, he thought with amusement flickering in his eyes.
He had always disliked the ways of the heavens— unfeeling, uncaring, ruthless and unchanging in its ways, but he had not really realized how abnormal his views were until much later in his cultivation journey. He would not say that all cultivators revered the heavens, but most held a trace of reverence for the heavens that was engraved into their very soul— for the ways of the heavens may be cruel, but its power was not to be disputed. And power was respected in Eliria, that much he knew held true about all seven continents.
The sect formation bore down upon them, but Yao Shen continued walking forward as he felt himself make contact. It was walking through a viscous bubble, but the sensation only lasted for a second before they reached the other side.
The loud cacophony of the outer sect made its way into his ears, a smile creeping on his face as he realized that he was back home. Finally, he let his divine sense expand, switching from passive to active mode as he took in the sights and smells. Dozens of young disciples milled about, through the crowded streets that had been smoothed over by Earth-aspected Cultivators and then paved over with flat, even rocks whose dimensions were both perfect and entirely identical. Sure, they did not have gravel roads and concrete houses, but any skilled workman would be floored at the master craftsmanship that had gone into the tiling. In a world of superhumans though, it was a feature that barely went noticed. The Dao Impartment Hall, Medical Pavillion, Sky Exchange Hall, and the various legacy family pavilions did not escape his divine sense, as young cultivators full of energy bundled forward with dreams of ascension. His focus shifted to the Ascension Stage, realizing that a fight was about to commence.
“Patriarch!” A disciple's loud voice rang in his ears as he bowed at a ninety degree angle, his cry stunning the disciples around him. Their gazes focused in the direction the disciple was bowing, resulting in stunned gasps, sharp breaths of air, and shock.
“The Patriarch has returned!” A disciple shouted in incredulous joy, even though the other disciples had already notified their fellow cultivators in advance, and his success in ascending to the fifth level was a hot topic of discussion— even if they had no idea what it meant or represented.
“The Patriarch has succeeded! The Patriarch is mighty!” Another disciple roared, with perhaps a little too much jubilation and a violation of protocol, not that he minded.
Elder Han felt a chill down his spine as he heard Yao Shen speak to the young disciple, his hands trembling as he gazed at the Patriarch with an expression of abject shock. His mortal father had passed over a hundred years ago, but Yao Shen’s voice was identical to his father, the words bringing him warmth and unearthing memories that he had long forgotten. The world of cultivation had transformed him from a mortal merchant’s son to a figure that struck terror into the hearts of the Heavenly Sky Sect’s foes, but why.... why....
Why, even after a hundred years, the memory of his rotund, cheerful father embracing him tightly before he left for his sect bring a single, solitary tear to his eye?
“Elder Han?” Yao Shen asked, both confused and slightly concerned. “Are you okay?”
“Hmm.......? Yes, Patriarch,” Elder Han snapped out of a daze as he hurriedly wiped the tear from his eyes, before looking up at the sky. “It must be raining outside,” he added, undoubtedly flustered as he probed with his divine sense to be sure that no one else detected that disgraceful scene.
"Indeed, it must be,” Yao Shen added seriously, his head bobbing in agreement, even though the thought of rain getting past the sect formation was laughable. A cultivator’s pride was a delicate thing, one often more greatly valued than his very life itself— thus certain situations needed to be managed by a deft touch.
“Yes, Patriarch. It is an honor to serve you,” the young girl finally replied, with a bright smile on her face, intriguing Yao Shen. He had no doubt that it was his actions that prompted such a strong reaction from Elder Han, while it seemed to have rid the girl of her insecurities, at least for a short period of time. The act of projecting emotions was a harmless one, it only highlighted the certain emotion Yao Shen had selected, and even then it could not control their actions. But to be able to influence a Nascent Soul Cultivator when he had just used it casually.... Human Dao was truly terrifying.
Two bowls were placed in front of them a second later, the other two customers already having hastily departed after leaving payment. To eat alongside the Patriarch and an Elder was an intimidating prospect for most, let alone two Qi Formation cultivators, so he did not stop them.
Yao Shen’s divine sense detected a disturbance behind him, the shadows his back was casting beginning to roil and shift before they formed the vague silhouette of a human, whose features got clearer by the minute. A woman dressed in pitch black robes materialized behind Yao Shen and Elder Han, but neither of them were alarmed by her arrival. The shadows cast by their backs abandoned them, forming a cloak around the woman’s back that only served to further intimidate the disciples around her. Her white hair shimmered under the sunlight, her violet eyes staring at Yao Shen’s back but her face remained emotionless. She appeared to be in her early twenties, her short, lithe frame concealing the ferocious strength contained within. Her right hand rested upon a sheathed dagger, her eyes suspiciously flashing as she took in the surroundings and every face in the vicinity.
“Shadow,” Yao Shen acknowledged, but the seemingly young girl ignored him as she walked to his side and scooped a mouthful of soup from his bowl with his spoon, before cautiously sipping it.
“It is not poisoned,” she calmly stated, pulling out a fresh spoon from her void storage and gently placing it back into the bowl, before retreating a few steps and maintaining a watchful eye on the surroundings.
Yao Shen just sighed.
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Chapter 7: Shadow
He did not need his Divine Sense to detect the presence of cultivators ahead as a Human Dao practitioner, but all that was visible to the naked eye was the lush planes stretching out into the distance, light azure clouds overlooking the grassy lands. What would once struck him as mundane now seemed peaceful, making Yao Shen wonder just how much his past life’s memories had managed to impact his personality in such a short period of time.
Well, the term ‘Human Dao Practitioner’ was both accurate, yet at the same time, wildly inaccurate. The Esoteric Dao's were truly both fascinating and utterly bizarre at the same time, for Yao Shen would dare not call him an expert despite being the only one to awaken the Dao since, perhaps, the Era of Turmoil, for the aspects of third stage practitioners was not entirely unknown to him.
It was closer to the ‘Dao of Sentient Beings’, or rather, the Dao that represented the will of the sentient beings. He was certain that his human domain could not be recreated if he were to use a lesser spiritual beast as its core, but if it was a beast emperor whose image he channeled, well it would still fail, but for different reasons. The resonance he felt with the mortal farmer was not an emotion that could be falsified, nor a concept that could be faked. The Heavenly Blessing he had received upon ascending to Soul Emperor had given him many insights and knowledge upon the true nature of his Human Dao, but it had not advanced his understanding of the mysterious 'Dao Path', indicating that the rumors had been false.
Without further adieu, Yao Shen gently landed upon the ground, Elder Han accompanying himself, landing a few steps behind him out of deference. He began walking forward with a relaxed expression on his face, smiling as he gazed at the azure sky. How ironic it was, for the Patriarch of the Heavenly Sky Sect to have incurred the wrath of the heavens, he thought with amusement flickering in his eyes.
He had always disliked the ways of the heavens— unfeeling, uncaring, ruthless and unchanging in its ways, but he had not really realized how abnormal his views were until much later in his cultivation journey. He would not say that all cultivators revered the heavens, but most held a trace of reverence for the heavens that was engraved into their very soul— for the ways of the heavens may be cruel, but its power was not to be disputed. And power was respected in Eliria, that much he knew held true about all seven continents.
The sect formation bore down upon them, but Yao Shen continued walking forward as he felt himself make contact. It was walking through a viscous bubble, but the sensation only lasted for a second before they reached the other side.
The loud cacophony of the outer sect made its way into his ears, a smile creeping on his face as he realized that he was back home. Finally, he let his divine sense expand, switching from passive to active mode as he took in the sights and smells. Dozens of young disciples milled about, through the crowded streets that had been smoothed over by Earth-aspected Cultivators and then paved over with flat, even rocks whose dimensions were both perfect and entirely identical. Sure, they did not have gravel roads and concrete houses, but any skilled workman would be floored at the master craftsmanship that had gone into the tiling. In a world of superhumans though, it was a feature that barely went noticed. The Dao Impartment Hall, Medical Pavillion, Sky Exchange Hall, and the various legacy family pavilions did not escape his divine sense, as young cultivators full of energy bundled forward with dreams of ascension. His focus shifted to the Ascension Stage, realizing that a fight was about to commence.
“Patriarch!” A disciple's loud voice rang in his ears as he bowed at a ninety degree angle, his cry stunning the disciples around him. Their gazes focused in the direction the disciple was bowing, resulting in stunned gasps, sharp breaths of air, and shock.
“The Patriarch has returned!” A disciple shouted in incredulous joy, even though the other disciples had already notified their fellow cultivators in advance, and his success in ascending to the fifth level was a hot topic of discussion— even if they had no idea what it meant or represented.
“The Patriarch has succeeded! The Patriarch is mighty!” Another disciple roared, with perhaps a little too much jubilation and a violation of protocol, not that he minded.
Elder Han felt a chill down his spine as he heard Yao Shen speak to the young disciple, his hands trembling as he gazed at the Patriarch with an expression of abject shock. His mortal father had passed over a hundred years ago, but Yao Shen’s voice was identical to his father, the words bringing him warmth and unearthing memories that he had long forgotten. The world of cultivation had transformed him from a mortal merchant’s son to a figure that struck terror into the hearts of the Heavenly Sky Sect’s foes, but why.... why....
Why, even after a hundred years, the memory of his rotund, cheerful father embracing him tightly before he left for his sect bring a single, solitary tear to his eye?
“Elder Han?” Yao Shen asked, both confused and slightly concerned. “Are you okay?”
“Hmm.......? Yes, Patriarch,” Elder Han snapped out of a daze as he hurriedly wiped the tear from his eyes, before looking up at the sky. “It must be raining outside,” he added, undoubtedly flustered as he probed with his divine sense to be sure that no one else detected that disgraceful scene.
"Indeed, it must be,” Yao Shen added seriously, his head bobbing in agreement, even though the thought of rain getting past the sect formation was laughable. A cultivator’s pride was a delicate thing, one often more greatly valued than his very life itself— thus certain situations needed to be managed by a deft touch.
“Yes, Patriarch. It is an honor to serve you,” the young girl finally replied, with a bright smile on her face, intriguing Yao Shen. He had no doubt that it was his actions that prompted such a strong reaction from Elder Han, while it seemed to have rid the girl of her insecurities, at least for a short period of time. The act of projecting emotions was a harmless one, it only highlighted the certain emotion Yao Shen had selected, and even then it could not control their actions. But to be able to influence a Nascent Soul Cultivator when he had just used it casually.... Human Dao was truly terrifying.
Two bowls were placed in front of them a second later, the other two customers already having hastily departed after leaving payment. To eat alongside the Patriarch and an Elder was an intimidating prospect for most, let alone two Qi Formation cultivators, so he did not stop them.
Yao Shen’s divine sense detected a disturbance behind him, the shadows his back was casting beginning to roil and shift before they formed the vague silhouette of a human, whose features got clearer by the minute. A woman dressed in pitch black robes materialized behind Yao Shen and Elder Han, but neither of them were alarmed by her arrival. The shadows cast by their backs abandoned them, forming a cloak around the woman’s back that only served to further intimidate the disciples around her. Her white hair shimmered under the sunlight, her violet eyes staring at Yao Shen’s back but her face remained emotionless. She appeared to be in her early twenties, her short, lithe frame concealing the ferocious strength contained within. Her right hand rested upon a sheathed dagger, her eyes suspiciously flashing as she took in the surroundings and every face in the vicinity.
“Shadow,” Yao Shen acknowledged, but the seemingly young girl ignored him as she walked to his side and scooped a mouthful of soup from his bowl with his spoon, before cautiously sipping it.
“It is not poisoned,” she calmly stated, pulling out a fresh spoon from her void storage and gently placing it back into the bowl, before retreating a few steps and maintaining a watchful eye on the surroundings.
Yao Shen just sighed.
Chapter 7: ShadowHe did not need his Divine Sense to detect the presence of cultivators ahead as a Human Dao practitioner, but all that was visible to the naked eye was the lush planes stretching out into the distance, light azure clouds overlooking the grassy lands. What would once struck him as mundane now seemed peaceful, making Yao Shen wonder just how much his past life's memories had managed to impact his personality in such a short period of time. Well, the term Human Dao Practitioner' was both accurate, yet at the same time, wildly inaccurate. The Esoteric Dao's were truly both fascinating and utterly bizarre at the same time, for Yao Shen would dare not call him an expert despite being the only one to awaken the Dao since, perhaps, the Era of Turmoil, for the aspects of third stage practitioners was not entirely unknown to him. It was closer to the Dao of Sentient Beings', or rather, the Dao that represented the will of the sentient beings. He was certain that his human domain could not be recreated if he were to use a lesser spiritual beast as its core, but if it was a beast emperor whose image he channeled, well it would still fail, but for different reasons. The resonance he felt with the mortal farmer was not an emotion that could be falsified, nor a concept that could be faked. The Heavenly Blessing he had received upon ascending to Soul Emperor had given him many insights and knowledge upon the true nature of his Human Dao, but it had not advanced his understanding of the mysterious 'Dao Path', indicating that the rumors had been false. Without further adieu, Yao Shen gently landed upon the ground, Elder Han accompanying himself, landing a few steps behind him out of deference. He began walking forward with a relaxed expression on his face, smiling as he gazed at the azure sky. How ironic it was, for the Patriarch of the Heavenly Sky Sect to have incurred the wrath of the heavens, he thought with amusement flickering in his eyes. He had always disliked the ways of the heavens unfeeling, uncaring, ruthless and unchanging in its ways, but he had not really realized how abnormal his views were until much later in his cultivation journey. He would not say that all cultivators revered the heavens, but most held a trace of reverence for the heavens that was engraved into their very soul for the ways of the heavens may be cruel, but its power was not to be disputed. And power was respected in Eliria, that much he knew held true about all seven continents.The sect formation bore down upon them, but Yao Shen continued walking forward as he felt himself make contact. It was walking through a viscous bubble, but the sensation only lasted for a second before they reached the other side. The loud cacophony of the outer sect made its way into his ears, a smile creeping on his face as he realized that he was back home. Finally, he let his divine sense expand, switching from passive to active mode as he took in the sights and smells. Dozens of young disciples milled about, through the crowded streets that had been smoothed over by Earth-aspected Cultivators and then paved over with flat, even rocks whose dimensions were both perfect and entirely identical. Sure, they did not have gravel roads and concrete houses, but any skilled workman would be floored at the master craftsmanship that had gone into the tiling. In a world of superhumans though, it was a feature that barely went noticed. The Dao Impartment Hall, Medical Pavillion, Sky Exchange Hall, and the various legacy family pavilions did not escape his divine sense, as young cultivators full of energy bundled forward with dreams of ascension. His focus shifted to the Ascension Stage, realizing that a fight was about to commence. Patriarch! A disciple's loud voice rang in his ears as he bowed at a ninety degree angle, his cry stunning the disciples around him. Their gazes focused in the direction the disciple was bowing, resulting in stunned gasps, sharp breaths of air, and shock. The Patriarch has returned! A disciple shouted in incredulous joy, even though the other disciples had already notified their fellow cultivators in advance, and his success in ascending to the fifth level was a hot topic of discussion even if they had no idea what it meant or represented. The Patriarch has succeeded! The Patriarch is mighty! Another disciple roared, with perhaps a little too much jubilation and a violation of protocol, not that he minded. Elder Han felt a chill down his spine as he heard Yao Shen speak to the young disciple, his hands trembling as he gazed at the Patriarch with an expression of abject shock. His mortal father had passed over a hundred years ago, but Yao Shen's voice was identical to his father, the words bringing him warmth and unearthing memories that he had long forgotten. The world of cultivation had transformed him from a mortal merchant's son to a figure that struck terror into the hearts of the Heavenly Sky Sect's foes, but why.... why.... Why, even after a hundred years, the memory of his rotund, cheerful father embracing him tightly before he left for his sect bring a single, solitary tear to his eye? Elder Han? Yao Shen asked, both confused and slightly concerned. Are you okay? Hmm.......? Yes, Patriarch, Elder Han snapped out of a daze as he hurriedly wiped the tear from his eyes, before looking up at the sky. It must be raining outside, he added, undoubtedly flustered as he probed with his divine sense to be sure that no one else detected that disgraceful scene."Indeed, it must be, Yao Shen added seriously, his head bobbing in agreement, even though the thought of rain getting past the sect formation was laughable. A cultivator's pride was a delicate thing, one often more greatly valued than his very life itself thus certain situations needed to be managed by a deft touch. Yes, Patriarch. It is an honor to serve you, the young girl finally replied, with a bright smile on her face, intriguing Yao Shen. He had no doubt that it was his actions that prompted such a strong reaction from Elder Han, while it seemed to have rid the girl of her insecurities, at least for a short period of time. The act of projecting emotions was a harmless one, it only highlighted the certain emotion Yao Shen had selected, and even then it could not control their actions. But to be able to influence a Nascent Soul Cultivator when he had just used it casually.... Human Dao was truly terrifying. Two bowls were placed in front of them a second later, the other two customers already having hastily departed after leaving payment. To eat alongside the Patriarch and an Elder was an intimidating prospect for most, let alone two Qi Formation cultivators, so he did not stop them. Yao Shen's divine sense detected a disturbance behind him, the shadows his back was casting beginning to roil and shift before they formed the vague silhouette of a human, whose features got clearer by the minute. A woman dressed in pitch black robes materialized behind Yao Shen and Elder Han, but neither of them were alarmed by her arrival. The shadows cast by their backs abandoned them, forming a cloak around the woman's back that only served to further intimidate the disciples around her. Her white hair shimmered under the sunlight, her violet eyes staring at Yao Shen's back but her face remained emotionless. She appeared to be in her early twenties, her short, lithe frame concealing the ferocious strength contained within. Her right hand rested upon a sheathed dagger, her eyes suspiciously flashing as she took in the surroundings and every face in the vicinity. Shadow, Yao Shen acknowledged, but the seemingly young girl ignored him as she walked to his side and scooped a mouthful of soup from his bowl with his spoon, before cautiously sipping it. It is not poisoned, she calmly stated, pulling out a fresh spoon from her void storage and gently placing it back into the bowl, before retreating a few steps and maintaining a watchful eye on the surroundings. Yao Shen just sighed.
