When I resolved to die fighting, all of my fear and panic faded away. Everything that held me back, all of my useless thoughts and emotions, disappeared. All that remained was the thrill of the fight, and the desire to defeat the opponents before me. I continued using the Living Candle technique, even though I knew that I would pay a price for it later. However, that didn’t matter. I couldn’t stop using it. Otherwise I would lose, and losing meant death.

  I charged Cultivator Vivian, throwing caution to the wind. She swung her halberd at me, destroying the last layer of my magic barrier, but I didn’t care. I continued forward and swung my fist at her. She blocked it with her bracer/shield. However, unlike when I first fought her, I was in the One With The Fist state. Cultivator Vivian blocked my attack, but I knocked her back. For the first time ever, I gained ground against her.

  Uncertainty filled Cultivator Vivian’s eyes. To her, I must have looked like a demon from the Underworld, especially with blood coating the front of my body. I let out another laugh, before I launched myself at her again. However, she wasn’t alone.

  Her companion, the other disciple from the Thousand Blade Sect in mid Foundation Establishment, intercepted me. He attacked with his massive two-handed sword in an overhead swing. I could’ve blocked it with my bronze buckler, my gauntlets, or even Armor of the Celestial Warrior. However, I forwent defense in favor of offense. I used Wind Dash Shoulder Slam to close the distance between us and get inside his reach.

  His attack still connected, the blade cleaving into my left shoulder, but it had lost a lot of its power. Pain radiated from my shoulder and I felt a burning sensation. Poison. Of course. I should have expected it. However, my attack connected as well. My shoulder slammed into his chest. I heard a sickening crunch as his rib cage caved in. My opponent spat out a mouthful of blood, spraying some of it on my face. However, this wasn’t enough to kill a cultivator of his caliber.

  “Junior Brother Azure Blade!” Cultivator Vivian shouted.

  Ah, so that was his name. Good. At least now I knew what to call my foe. Not that it mattered. He was going to die soon anyway.

  I reached up to finish him off. Before I could, Cultivator Vivian attacked and drove me away. My bronze buckler blocked her blow, saving me from a grievous injury. However, it had taken too many attacks already and shattered.

  Cultivator Vivian positioned herself between me and Cultivator Azure Blade. The latter was still conscious somehow, though he looked like he was in a great deal of pain. He pulled a bottle of Healing Pills out of his storage ring and swallowed a mouthful of them.

  I snarled, but remained in my current position. The injury to my left shoulder had caused more damage than I realized at first, or maybe it was the poison coursing through my body. Regardless of the reason, my left arm hung limp and useless at my side, reducing my battle prowess. The disciples of the Thousand Blade Sect were not to be underestimated. I stopped using Living Candle, to keep my condition from worsening even further.

  “Junior Brother Azure Blade,” Cultivator Vivian said, her expression hard, “Leave and rejoin the others. You no longer have a place in this fight.”

  Cultivator Azure Blade looked at her, startled.

  “What?” he asked. “No, I can’t leave you-…”

  Cultivator Vivian made a slashing gesture with her hand, cutting him off.

  “That wasn’t a suggestion, Junior Brother.” She said. “Leave. This demon is mine.”

  Cultivator Azure Blade’s expression contorted, but in the end he nodded.

  “Very well, Senior Sister Vivian.” He said.

  Cultivator Azure Blade threw a hateful glare in my direction, before he flew off in the direction where we had left the others behind. I let him go for the same reason why I didn’t interrupt their conversation, it gave me a chance to consume pills: Antidote Pills for the poison and Healing Pills to restore some of my lost vitality. The latter wouldn’t be enough to undo the effects of Living Candle, but they would help mitigate the damage.

  “You have fought well, Cultivator Flamewind.” Cultivator Vivian said. “Despite your foul nature, I acknowledge you as a worthy opponent.”

  I let out a derisive snort.

  “How generous of you.” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

  “Indeed.” Cultivator Vivian said in a serious tone. “So, I will make you an offer. I will use my most powerful attack against you. If you are able to endure it and survive, I will let you live.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. This was obviously a trap. In my current condition, I was no match for Cultivator Vivian, even with Living Candle. Why would she let me live? Maybe she just wanted me to finish me off without any fuss.

  “Why would you do that?” I asked, making no attempt to hide my suspicion.

  Cultivator Vivian smiled at me, which took me off guard. There was no derision or mockery in her smile. I gaped at her in shock.

  “I want you to live and grow strong,” she said with complete sincerity, “So you may become a stepping stone to help me reach greater heights in the future.”

  I stared at her for several moments, before I burst out into laughter.

  “You’re insane.” I said, giving her a crooked smile. “You’re willing to let me live for a reason like that?”

  “My father once told me that a worthy rival can be the perfect catalyst for one’s growth.” Cultivator Vivian said. She nodded in my direction. “If you survive my most powerful attack, then I will acknowledge you as my rival.”

  I burst out into laughter again and shook my head.

  “I must be as crazy as you are,” I said, “Because I’m seriously contemplating accepting your offer.”

  Cultivator Vivian shrugged.

  “If you don’t, I’ll kill you anyway.” She said. “You’re no match for me, not in your current condition. If you accept my offer, you may yet live.” Her smile widened. “Consider it a challenge.”

  That… made it easier to swallow. Much as it galled me to admit, Cultivator Vivian was showing me far more mercy than I would have were our positions reversed. If I accepted her proposition then I would owe her a debt. At least she already told me the way to repay that debt: growing stronger. She intended to use me as a stepping stone in the future. It stung, but my pride wasn’t more important than my life.

  “Very well,” I said. “I accept your challenge. Hit me with your most powerful attack.”

  “Prepare yourself,” Cultivator Vivian warned, before she started forming a series of hand seals.

  I snorted. There wasn’t much I could prepare. I used up all of my Shield Talismans, and Cultivator Vivian already destroyed the magic barrier created by my crimson robes. They retained spiritual nature, so I would be able to use the magic barrier again in the future, but not any time soon.

  That just left my Heavenly Shield mystic art and my Armor of the Celestial Warrior innate ability. I would wait until after I saw the nature of Cultivator Vivian’s attack before deciding whether or not to use them. Living Candle would just worsen my condition even further, so there wasn’t any point in using it.

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  As Cultivator Vivian formed her hand seals, the qi in the area around us gathered in the air above her, like a vortex. The sky darkened as rain clouds formed and spread out all above us. The smell of water filled the air, full of vitality and life. I found it pleasant. Even so, I didn’t let my guard down.

  “Celestial Rain!” Cultivator Vivian shouted.

  Rain began to fall from the clouds. I braced myself. While it was impossible to dodge rain, at least at my level of power, I could endure it. However, I soon realized that this wasn’t ordinary rain. Each drop shone with a golden light, one that I found familiar: divine qi. The rain was comprised of divine water qi. It wasn’t much of a threat for someone like me.

  In fact, when the first drops of rain hit me, I realized that this rainfall wasn’t a threat at all. It felt cool and refreshing. I soon realized that this mystic art wasn’t an attack. When I took a closer look at the rain, I realized that the divine water qi had strong properties of purification. Any other demon or demonic cultivator would have suffered serious injuries, or even died. Against a divine demon such as myself, it affected me not at all.

  No, that was a lie. The rain of divine water qi affected me, but in a beneficial way. It purified the last lingering traces of poison within my body. My injuries remained, but at least the poison was gone. I wanted to laugh. Instead, I closed my eyes and let the rain wash over me. As long as I didn’t take in the divine water qi, which would cause qi deviation, I would be fine.

  The rain lasted for several minutes. When it ended, I opened my eyes. The sky grew clear again, revealing the ever-present sun once more. Its heat evaporated the water, until no traces of it remained. It was as if the rainfall never happened.

  Cultivator Vivian stared at me in disbelief, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. She looked pale. Using that Celestial Rain mystic art of hers had taken a great toll on her. If I attacked her now, my chances of winning were much higher than they were before. However, I refrained. Cultivator Vivian showed me mercy. I would not repay her kindness with betrayal.

  Besides, if Cultivator Viviana intended to use me as a stepping stone in order to reach greater heights, why couldn’t I do the same to her? She was already more powerful than me, and she would only grow stronger in the future. The thought of facing her again filled me with anticipation.

  I recalled her words from earlier and grinned. She spoke true. A worthy rival could indeed be the perfect catalyst for one’s growth, and I chose her as mine. She stirred my demonic nature in a way no one else had until now.

  Cultivator Vivian flew towards me until we were just a few dozen feet apart. She had regained some of her composure, though traces of disbelief still lingered in her eyes.

  “How did you survive that?” She asked. “No demon or demonic cultivator could resist my Celestial Rain mystic art, not without great effort. You… You did nothing. How is this possible?”

  I grinned at her.

  “Come now, Cultivator Viviana.” I said. “Isn’t it obvious? I am a disciple of the Dawn and Dusk Sect. You should know the answer to that question.”

  Cultivator Vivian narrowed her eyes at me.

  “Divine Demon.” She spat out.

  I lifted my good arm and summoned a golden Fireball in my palm.

  “Correct.” I said, before letting the Fireball dissipate. “Doesn’t this make me an even more worthy rival for you? If I hadn’t been a divine demon, that last attack of yours would have killed me.”

  Cultivator Vivian snorted, but didn’t refute my statement.

  “If you’re a divine demon, then you must be Darian Wind Dance,” she said instead. “I’ve heard of you. You’re the Frenzied Fiend’s son.”

  That didn’t surprise me. I was well-known within the Dawn and Dusk Sect, if only because I was a divine demon. Word of my existence was bound to reach the outside world sooner or later.

  “Perhaps this was always meant to happen.” Cultivator Vivian said with a chuckle. “I can’t wait to tell Father about this.”

  I blinked at her and gave her a questioning look. However, she didn’t elaborate. Instead, she made a shooing gesture at me.

  “As I promised,” Cultivator Viviana said, “I will let you live. You are free to go now.”

  I narrowed my eyes on her, just in case she had something nefarious planned. However, she seemed sincere. Still, I remained vigilant. I turned to leave, but stopped. This was my chance to speak with a disciple of the Thousand Blade who didn’t want to kill me, or at least one who was willing to speak with me. An opportunity like this might never come again.

  “I wish to ask you a question, Cultivator Viviana.” I said. “Will you answer it?”

  She narrowed her eyes at me.

  “My patience isn’t infinite, Demon.” she said. “Leave before it runs out.”

  “I will make it quick then.” I said. “I heard that my kin, Clan Wind Dance, have strong ties with the Thousand Blade Sect. Have you heard of my cousin, Lucius Wind Dance?” I swallowed. “Is… Is he well?”

  Cultivator Viviana blinked at me, before pursing her lips in thought.

  “I may have the knowledge you are looking for.” She said. “However, why should I tell you?”

  She hadn’t outright rejected me, which meant that there was a chance. I pulled out the storage bag that contained all of the Violet Sand that I had collected thus far and tossed it to her. Cultivator Vivian caught it and peered inside. Her eyes widened.

  “You would give this to me?” she asked, shocked. “For knowledge that I may or may not have?”

  I nodded.

  “Yes.” I said, a hint of desperation in my voice.

  Magic treasures and contribution points were important to me, but not as important as Lucius. I hadn’t heard news of my cousin in a long time. Years ago, I sent Elliot to deliver a message to him. However, Elliot didn’t bring back a reply. There hadn’t been time for one.

  Cultivator Vivian studied me for several seconds, before she sighed and tossed the storage bag back.

  “Congratulations.” She said in an annoyed tone. “You succeeded in making me feel pity for a demon. This is a first. It feels… Wrong.” Her expression soured. “To answer your question, I have heard of Lucius Wind Dance. He became an inner disciple of Flowing Sword Peak some time ago. From what I heard, he is a rising star over there. Some even say that he may become a core disciple in the near future.” She glared at me. “There? Satisfied?”

  I gave her a grateful smile.

  “Yes.” I said. “Thank you, Cultivator Viviana.”

  I gave her a martial salute, or tried to at least. It was difficult, with only one functioning arm.

  “You’re welcome.” Cultivator Vivian said. “Now leave.”

  I nodded, before I retrieved my flying sword and flew off to find someplace to rest and recuperate.

  The aftereffects of overusing Living Candle hit me several minutes after I left Cultivator Viviana. Pain, unlike anything I had ever felt before, struck me. It felt as if the very core of my existence was being ripped apart. Combined with the hollowed out feeling that pervaded my body, it felt as if something important within me had cracked and now my very life force was leaking out. The pain from my injured shoulder was nothing in comparison.

  By some miracle, I managed to keep flying, but I didn’t know for how long. I looked around for some place to settle down and deal with my injuries. However, there was little shelter to be found in the Violet Desert hidden realm. The best I could find was a rocky outcropping just large enough for me to carve out a cave.

  I flew over to the rocky outcropping and dug out a small shelter for myself. After I settled in, I hid the entrance as best I could by piling stones in front of it. Unfortunately, I left my array flags behind when I fled from Cultivator Viviana and Cultivator Azure Blade, so this would have to do.

  Just as I finished hiding the entrance, another wave of pain washed over me and I collapsed. I felt my vitality drain away in a steady flow, like water leaking out of a cracked bowl. That was the danger of these sorts of techniques. They caused internal injuries like this. If I didn’t fix this somehow, or at least stem the flow, I would die.

  I pulled out a bottle of Healing Pills and consumed them one after the other. As the pills worked to heal my body and restore my lost vitality, I closed my eyes. When I learned the Living Candle technique, Willow taught me a method for this exact situation, just in case it ever occurred. The disciples of Crimson Fiend Hall specialized in techniques that used vitality, so they also knew ways to deal with the aftereffects. I never thought I would ever need it, but I was grateful to my past self for listening to Willow’s words.

  Using my spirit sense, I scanned my body for my internal injury. This took me a few tries. The pain caused my concentration to waver. However, I succeeded in the end. I resisted the urge to curse when I found the injury. When I compared myself to a cracked bowl earlier, I hadn’t realized just how accurate it was. At the core of my being was a wound, out of which leaked my vitality.

  I used my qi to plug the wound. This took a great deal of care, since I didn’t want to exacerbate the wound and make it wider. The pain and constant drain of vitality didn’t help matters either. Sweat poured from my body in rivulets and I gritted my teeth. Little by little, I filled the wound with my qi and stemmed the flow of vitality. I let out a sigh of relief.

  Once I saw Willow again, I would have to thank her. The method she taught me was crude, but effective. Without it, I would have died in this place. However, it was just a stopgap measure. The wound itself remained, and I just slowed down the flow of vitality, I hadn’t stopped it. I needed to find someone who could heal the wound, since I had neither the knowledge nor the expertise to do it myself.

  That was a concern for later. Right now, I needed to rest. After using my spirit sense to take one last look at my surroundings, to make sure there were no threats around, before I fell into a deep sleep.

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  This chapter was edited by Radriel7