The victory over Sunstone Kaelen resonated through the Grand Tournament like a peal of thunder. The arena, usually a place of boisterous cheers and excited chatter, was now filled with a low, persistent hum of speculation. The Sunstone Clan, whose reputation for unyielding defense was legendary, watched their scion being carried off the platform, his arm still unresponsive, his face a mask of bewildered pain. Their patriarch, a man of imposing stature, fixed a gaze of chilling intensity on the Valerius section, a silent promise of future reckoning.
Lord Alaric, however, was beyond caring. He clutched Ren's shoulder, his eyes wide with a triumphant fervor. "Unbelievable, Ren! Truly unbelievable! You defeated Sunstone Kaelen! The entire continent will speak of this!" His voice was hoarse with emotion, the weight of years of decline momentarily lifted.
Lady Seraphina, though outwardly joyful, couldn't shake the unease that settled in her heart. She saw the way other elders, even those from the most powerful sects like the Azure Cloud, were now openly staring at her son, their expressions a mixture of awe, suspicion, and a calculating hunger. "Alaric," she murmured, pulling him closer, "this attention... it is too much. It is dangerous."
"Nonsense!" Alaric scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "This is what we needed! This is our chance to reclaim our rightful place!"
Ren, walking through the throng of onlookers, felt the intense scrutiny like physical pressure. Every eye seemed to bore into him, dissecting his every move, searching for answers to the impossible feat he had just performed. He maintained his calm, innocent facade, but internally, his mind was a whirlwind of analysis.
The fight with Sunstone Kaelen had been a significant test. The 'Mountain Crush' technique, even with its flawed execution, contained immense power. His subtle illusion from the Shadow Orb had been crucial, a momentary flicker that had bought him the opening he needed. The qi disruption strike had expended a considerable portion of his refined Foundation Establishment qi, leaving his reserves depleted. He would need time to recover, to replenish his energy.
"It strengthens," the Shadow Orb's whisper echoed in his mind, clearer than ever. He felt the Orb pulse within his robes, a faint, internal thrum that seemed to harmonize with his own spiritual energy. He had noticed it during the fight: as he channeled its nascent power, the Orb itself seemed to absorb a fraction of the released qi, growing subtly more vibrant. It was not just his power strengthening; the Orb itself was evolving, awakening further with each usage.
"A symbiotic relationship," Kaelen mused. "It provides a conduit for my abilities, and in return, it feeds on the spiritual energy I channel through it. Or perhaps, it feeds on something else entirely... the attention, the conflict, the very essence of the Lower Realm's spiritual fabric." The thought sent a chill down his spine. If the Orb was truly sentient, and growing stronger, what would its ultimate demands be?
The next day, the pairings for the semi-finals were announced. Ren's opponent was a young woman from the Jade Serpent Clan, Elder Mei's own grand-disciple, named Seraphina (a common name in this realm, Ren noted with a touch of irony). Jade Serpent Seraphina was known for her intricate spiritual arts, her mastery of illusions, and her precise, long-range qi attacks. She was rumored to be at the Late Qi Condensation stage, bordering on Foundation Establishment, and possessed a cunning mind.
This would be a different challenge. Not brute force, but subtlety and spiritual manipulation. A perfect opportunity to explore more of the Shadow Orb's capabilities.
That evening, Ren retreated to his hidden chamber, the Orb in his hand. He poured his qi into it, focusing on the whispers, on the visions. The Orb pulsed, and this time, the images were more fluid, more instructive. He saw not just the Abyssal Heart, but intricate patterns of qi flow, methods of subtly disrupting spiritual senses, and techniques for weaving shadows into tangible, albeit ephemeral, forms. The Orb was teaching him, guiding him, unlocking dormant knowledge within his ancient mind, knowledge he hadn't fully accessed even in his past life.
"Seek the Veil," the whisper came, clearer than before, almost a command. "The Veil of Illusions. It conceals. It protects."
Ren's eyes snapped open. The Veil of Illusions. He remembered the concept from his past life, a legendary artifact from the Abyssal Heart, capable of creating illusions so potent they could deceive even the most powerful cultivators. Was the Orb telling him that the Veil was also here? Or was it guiding him to a method, a technique, to create such a veil himself?
He looked at the Shadow Orb, its faint glow now seeming to possess a deeper, more knowing quality. The Orb was not just a relic; it was an active participant in his journey, a silent, powerful entity with its own agenda. It was guiding him, yes, but to what end? Was it merely helping him regain his power, or was it leading him down a path that served its own ancient, unknown purpose?
The Grand Tournament was no longer just about vengeance or family honor. It was becoming a quest, a dangerous exploration into the very nature of the Abyssal Heart and its scattered fragments. And as he prepared for his next match, a chilling thought settled in Ren's mind: he was no longer just the master of these treasures; he was becoming their instrument, a pawn in a game far older and more profound than he could yet fully grasp. What hidden truths would the Veil reveal, and what would happen if the Shadow Orb's will began to supersede his own? The answers, he knew, lay just beyond the next fight.