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Chapter 21 - 21.The whispering journey

The marriage proposal from the House of Aurelius sent the Valerius manor into a frenzy of activity. Lord Alaric, now perpetually flushed with pride and excitement, oversaw the preparations for the formal engagement ceremony. Negotiations for the dowry and future alliances began in earnest, with the Valerius family suddenly finding themselves in a position of unexpected leverage.

"Imagine, Ren!" Alaric exclaimed one evening, poring over scrolls detailing the Aurelius family's vast territories and spiritual mines. "The resources! The influence! This alliance will not just restore us, it will elevate us beyond our former glory!" His eyes gleamed with a feverish ambition that mirrored, in a distorted way, Kaelen's own.

Lady Seraphina, though outwardly participating in the joyous preparations, remained troubled. She often found herself watching Ren with a quiet intensity, a maternal instinct sensing the profound detachment beneath his composed demeanor. "He is so young," she murmured to Alaric one night. "And the Aurelius heiress, Seraphina... she is formidable. Will he be happy?"

Alaric merely waved her concerns away. "Happiness is a luxury, my dear. Duty and power are the foundations of a great house. And Ren, he understands duty."

Ren, meanwhile, regarded the impending engagement with cold pragmatism. Aurelius Seraphina was indeed powerful, a true talent of this realm. The alliance would grant him access to resources he desperately needed for his cultivation and his search for the 'Source.' It would provide a perfect cover, allowing him to move with greater freedom under the guise of strengthening family ties. He saw her not as a future wife, but as a strategic asset, a tool in his grand design.

His cultivation continued unabated. The Shadow Orb's hum was now a constant presence, its whispers of Seek the Source. The Nexus. It is near. The path is clear. The Veil protects weaving into his very thoughts. He had pushed his Foundation Establishment cultivation further, his qi seed now the size of a small plum, radiating a dense, dark energy. He was now firmly in the Mid Foundation Establishment stage, his spiritual foundation solid as bedrock.

The Orb had also begun to subtly enhance his senses, allowing him to perceive spiritual energies with even greater clarity. He could now 'see' the faint energy signatures of the other Abyssal Heart fragments, like distant stars in a vast, dark sky, all subtly pulling towards the 'Source' in the Whispering Woods.

He continued his subtle guidance of Lyra. She was now effortlessly at the 5th Layer Body Refinement, her wind affinity allowing her movements to be incredibly agile and her qi to be surprisingly sharp.

[Target: Valerius Lyra]

• Cultivation Base: Body Refinement (5th Layer - Rapid Progress)

• Spiritual Roots: Above Average (Wind Affinity - Active)

• Special Notes: ...Innate talent for wind manipulation awakening. Growing loyalty to Valerius Ren.

Lyra, unaware of the true nature of her 'games,' was overjoyed by her progress. "Young Master!" she exclaimed one afternoon, demonstrating how she could now make a small whirlwind dance around her hand. "It's all thanks to you! I never thought I could do this!"

Her bright, earnest eyes, so reminiscent of his past disciple, stirred a complex emotion within Kaelen. He saw her pure loyalty, her unwavering trust. It was a quality he valued, a stark contrast to the betrayal he had suffered. He had chosen her for her talent, but her genuine devotion was an unexpected, and perhaps, dangerous, variable.

The discussions for the engagement ceremony brought up the topic of a 'pre-marriage quest' – a tradition among noble families for the engaged couple to seek a rare spiritual herb or artifact as a symbol of their future prosperity. It was the perfect opportunity.

"Father," Ren suggested one evening, his voice carefully casual. "For the pre-marriage quest, perhaps we should seek the 'Moonpetal Orchid.' It is said to grow only in the deepest parts of the Whispering Woods, and its essence is vital for the 'Golden Phoenix Art' of the Aurelius family." He had seen the Moonpetal Orchid mentioned in one of the Orb's visions, a rare spiritual plant that thrived near the 'Source's' suppressed energy.

Lord Alaric's eyes widened. "The Moonpetal Orchid! But Ren, the Whispering Woods are dangerous, especially its deeper reaches. Even the Aurelius family rarely ventures there."

"Precisely, Father," Ren countered, his gaze firm. "It would be a testament to our family's renewed courage, and my dedication to the alliance. A symbol of our willingness to face any danger for the Aurelius family." He knew the Aurelius family would be impressed by such a bold, symbolic gesture.

Alaric hesitated, then his face hardened with resolve. "You are right, my son! A bold move! It will show them the true spirit of the Valerius family! I will send a formal request to the Aurelius family for their permission to undertake this quest."

Permission was granted, with a polite caution from Elder Theron Aurelius regarding the dangers of the Whispering Woods. It was decided that Ren, accompanied by a small contingent of Valerius guards, would venture into the woods. Lyra, eager to prove herself and skilled in tracking, was also permitted to join.

"I'll protect you, Young Master!" Lyra declared, her small chest puffed out with determination, her newly awakened qi subtly flowing around her.

Ren merely smiled. Protect me? Little Lyra, you have no idea what we are truly seeking.

As the small expedition prepared, a subtle tension settled over the Valerius manor. The Whispering Woods were a place of legend and fear, a vast, ancient expanse where the spiritual energies were wild and untamed. Tales of powerful Spirit Beasts, ancient formations, and even lost cultivators abounded.

On the eve of their departure, Ren stood on the manor's highest balcony, gazing towards the dark, distant line of the Whispering Woods. The Shadow Orb pulsed, its hum now a resonant roar in his spiritual senses. The Source. It calls. The Nexus. It awaits. And now... the guardians stir.

A new, unsettling vision flickered in his mind: not of the Source, but of ancient, shadowy figures, cloaked and silent, patrolling the deeper reaches of the Whispering Woods, their movements swift and deadly. They were not Spirit Beasts, nor were they cultivators of this realm. Their spiritual signatures were unique, ancient, and undeniably tied to the Abyssal Heart.

Guardians. Kaelen's eyes narrowed. Someone else was aware of the Source, perhaps even guarding it. This was no longer just a simple retrieval. It was a confrontation. The Whispering Woods were not just a dangerous forest; they were a battleground, a hidden arena where ancient powers might clash once more. What secrets did these guardians protect, and what would happen when the Demonic Sovereign, guided by the Shadow Orb, finally stepped into their domain? The journey to the Source was about to become far more perilous than anyone in Xylos could ever imagine.

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