Destiny in Cinders

The planters in the eastern farm plots simply can't account for the sheer amount of herbal concoctions being prepared. There must be a group of people in the manor that we don't know about. Perhaps those who are eliminated are kept at the farm for some time before they're sent down the mountain? But if so, why are they consuming the herbal concoction? What do the herbs really do without the beast flesh? Could that cult actually be the ones running Direlife Manor?

An Jing returned to his dormitory, his mind racing with questions. With the Spark and years of study behind him, An Jing had amassed significant knowledge. Between his wide-ranging experiences and access to the An clan's archives, he was certainly one of the most well-informed individuals in the world of Void Embrace.

Based on his time here, An Jing deduced that Direlife Manor likely had a shady background. He just hadn't considered the extent of it. On a purely emotional level, he was willing to put his faith in the manor, which made him willing to ignore certain details.

But with the details now laid bare before him, he found he couldn't ignore them even if he tried. Once the doubts had taken root, they became impossible to dispel. Regardless, he had to investigate the manor again to uncover its hidden secrets.

However, An Jing had no intention of acting that very night. He simply wasn't strong enough to sneak past the patrolling instructors undetected. Furthermore, the only access to the eastern farm plots was an open, straight path, so it was a trip he could only make on a dark, cloudy night.

Rather than launch into an investigation right away, An Jing had stayed up to practice, striving to quickly master Profoundstep. It was, without a doubt, one of the rarer body refinement techniques found in Grand Chen.

Nourishment and combat techniques were common in Grand Chen. In contrast, mental and body refinement techniques were valuable enough to serve as the core legacy of an entire martial lineage.

Just as An Jing categorized the other two parts of the Imperial Sky Seethrough Nurturing Art as assassination arts, Profoundstep inherently embraced the core philosophy of being like the hand of destiny itself—invisible and elusive.

The technique wasn't particularly fast; rather, it was silent and stealthy. It emphasized a quiet approach and a sudden, explosive burst of power, like a peal of thunder that quickly disappeared without a trace.

Herein lay the full advantage of a complete martial technique. Profoundstep wasn't quick, but Seethrough allowed for a burst of Armorpierce Impetus for critical acceleration. The boost was brief, but sufficient for any crucial moment.

Was the Imperial Earth Art primarily a manual focused on body refinement and direct combat? Or was it intended to nourish the muscles and meridians to better develop physical potential?

An Jing spent his nights meticulously studying the manual, using only the moonlight and his enhanced vision. By day, he went through the motions, concealing his true progress. With the number-one spot and all its benefits already secured, a little secrecy was fine.

However, An Jing's primary concern was the whereabouts of the herbs. A sense of foreboding had been nagging at him lately. The black patterns on what seemed like fey bones, the herbal concoction of unknown purpose, and the overly mysterious background of Direlife Manor all left him feeling bewildered.

That was just how An Jing operated; anything outside his control became a goal he actively pursued. He would never ignore a problem or lull himself into a false sense of security.

Before long, ten days had slipped away. An Jing rapidly achieved minor mastery of Profoundstep. He moved with cloud-like lightness, his steps absorbing all vibrations. He could crush the underbrush in the forest without making a single sound.

The technique integrated well with other cultivation methods. By cultivating a focused "Abyssedge" mindset while practicing Profoundstep, An Jing could accelerate the growth of his innate qi. Owing to this, An Jing felt his innate qi grow rapidly, and knew that he was on the threshold of entering the Aura Realm. But the timing wasn't right. Reaching the Aura Realm would cause a huge stir, draw attention, and ruin his chances of exploring Direlife Manor.

During this period of time, the number of children in Direlife Manor held steady at 108. The original number of over 240 had been reduced by more than half. However, those remaining were genuine elites with superior talent and stronger will. This was the final count; eliminations were officially over.

The boys and girls received the news not with joyful exclamations, but with a profound and heavy sense of relief. They made the cut. Nearly six months of rigorous training and nurturing had made them more composed, more mature, or perhaps... more ruthless.

Gu Yeqi and Cang Linzu were no exception. They became steadier and calmer; but for true friends, the bond deepened.

An Jing observed all of this. Cultivating the Imperial Sky Seethrough Nurturing Art changed his mental state, making his perspective more distant and oddly detached, like an observer high above, watching everything unfold below. Though he understood he should have feelings, he remained utterly tranquil and unmoved, operating with the disconnect of someone controlling a game character.

At first, An Jing was oblivious to this, but that changed one day when he received a bowl of water from Gu Yeqi and said a polite thank you. He finally realized something was amiss when he saw the strange look on Gu Yeqi and Cang Linzu's faces.

Were thanks even necessary between them? And even if they were, he didn't need to be so formal. A casual reply would have been far more appropriate. Such formality only created a sense of alienation and distance between them.

The cultivation techniques, diet, and training were altering his emotions. Fearless, selfless, doubtless, and decisive—this was perhaps the transformation that the Imperial Sky brought to them.

Yes, Abyssedge restrains emotions. Seethrough grants total tranquility, but can also manifest sudden, intense emotional outbursts. And through continuous practice, Profoundstep elevates one's mental state, granting a detached perspective.

An Jing grew cautious.

The effects will be even greater when I master the full Imperial Sky Seethrough Nurturing Art. What will I ultimately become?

Though it wasn't necessarily a good thing, countering the effects wouldn't be difficult.

At this point, Direlife Manor also introduced certain changes. With their numbers finalized, the 108 children were split into twelve groups, each named after one of the twelve stations. An Jing was assigned as the leader of the first group.

An Jing led the nine-person "Star Chronicle" group, composed of five boys and four girls most of whom originated from Brightmont and the surrounding northern-frontier region. Gu Yeqi and Cang Linzu were among them. As the only two remaining from An Jing's initial group, they now served as his trusted aides.

Along with striving for perfect harmony and meditating as a group, they were required to rehearse a unique and unusual combat formation. An Jing had seen similar drills back in his hometown, but these formations were likely designed for something far larger than humans. The rolls, jabs, and low-angle attacks were all highly targeted and specific.

Are they training us to hunt wild beasts?