Hostility

Sparks seem to fly between Lucifer and Zen's father as they stare at each other.

But ultimately Lucifer was still a guest and had to be courteous, so he clasped his hands and bowed.

"Greetings, Sir." though he greeted Zen's father, his seemingly arrogant smile was still there.

"Humph..." Zen's father harrumphed and turned his back, entering the household.

Lucifer chuckled lightly before hearing Zen's mother chiming in. "Please, come in."

"Thank you, ma'am." he said and entered Zen's house.

Lucifer was guided to their living room which had a long table in the middle with a few furniture. He sat comfortably while Zen's mother helped with the preparation for dinner. It didn't take long and soon maidservants came in with trays of food and placed them on the table.

Zen and his parents ate with Lucifer engaging in some light conversations every now and then, he learned about the names of Zen's parents. His father's name is Ren Silver and his mother's name is Sherry Silver. They also were subtle when inquiring him about his origins, though he would answer them with some vague answer such as belonging to a nearby village or he just found Zen due to pure coincidence.

Technically he didn't lie but he also didn't tell the truth.

He did met Zen due to pure coincidence and he was already sealed up in that cave for a couple hundred years so it could be said that he did came from around the area.

Once they finished eating, Sherry carried her tray back into the kitchen along with Zen. They made it a practice to teach their child how to properly clean after himself. After the two exited the room, Ren disappeared from his seat and so did Lucifer.

The window opened and two shadow dashed out followed by a trail of wind.

There was a small bamboo forest outside the house and it was here that the two shadows stopped, standing on top of bamboo canes they stared into one another.

"You really like bullying the weak, do you?" Lucifer's tiny figure compared to Ren adult body was quite comical.

"Humph, I wouldn't call a kid who could keep up with me a weakling." Ren snorted.

Ren had black hair that fluttered with the wind but with the moon shining above, it's light made it look like Ren's hair was silver. He seemed to be nearing his thirties and yet his aura exuded a dense amount of vitality.His eyes contained a sharpness that seem like a blade, one could easily tell that he walked the path of the blade.

Compared to him, Lucifer stood in front of him with his childish body. But Ren knew that even though this kid in front of him had the appearance of one, the mere fact that this kid was on par with him on speed even when he limited himself to the 9th stage of the Body Tempering realm proves that he definitely isn't simple.

And there have been records of experts favoring to appear as a young child.

There have even been cases of evil cultivators possessing the body of a kid.

"So, who are you really?" Ren seriously asked.

Lucifer sighed and said. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Shing...

Lucifer was prepared for any follow-up questions Ren might ask even some sort of outburst was something he was preparing but he definitely didn't expect Ren would just draw his sword. He could already feel the sharp sword-aura that was circulating around Ren.

Woosh...

The wind blew from Ren towards Lucifer and without hesitation, Lucifer jumped back.

Swoosh...

Bam...

A Bamboo piece fell into the ground. It was the top part where Lucifer was standing upon.

"Whoa, easy there-" Lucifer was surprised but he didn't get to finish his sentence before Ren followed up his attack.

'Dammit, this fellow is acting rashly. Are all father's like this? I know mine certainly wasn't.'

Lucifer jumped around avoiding Ren's sword, a lot of the bamboo canes fell one by one from Ren's sword.

Ren jumped towards Lucifer and slashed down.

Ding!

But suddenly his sword was parried, the force of the impact caught Ren by surprise. Though he wasn't using his full strength, it was just enough to pressure any warrior beneath the Body tempering realm but this boy...A kid who he is certain hasn't cultivated yet actually overpowered him by relying on brute strength.

Ren took a step back and noticed a dark chain nearing two meters was in Lucifer's hand.

"Humph!" Ren was a bit ashamed that a kid actually parried his sword strike and he attacked once more.

Lucifer smirked and with the Divine Subduing Chain and charged as well.

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

Ren's sword and Lucifer's chain clashed numerous times, they were visibly equal during these clashes but Ren could faintly sense it...He was actually being pressured by Lucifer! By a kid!

Suddenly, Lucifer disappeared from his sight.

Quickly looking left and right, Ren still couldn't find Lucifer but then he sense a threatening stare from behind him.

Swoosh!

Ding!

Lucifer attacked from behind Ren but his Divine Subduing Chain was once again met by Ren's sword. Lucifer was feeling excited, this would be his first fight ever since being awakened by Zen.

While Lucifer was exhilarated Ren was feeling down. He was actually forced by a ten year old kid who has no signs of cultivation to use the power of the Foundation Building realm.

Ren sheathed his sword and took a fairly deep breath. He stared at Lucifer and asked.

"What do you intend to do with my son?"

Lucifer also took back his Divine Subduing chain and answered back. "Zen saved my life. I am only repaying this favor."

"Oh? Exactly how are going to repay him?" Ren furrowed his brows.

"You could already guess it yet you still ask..." Lucifer didn't answer him and just shrugged it off.

But he quickly followed it by saying. "Remember these herbs and boil them in water. Have Zen bathed in this water everyday, it will cleanse his body making it easier for him to lay down a sturdier foundation. After a week I'll be back."

Lucifer then uttered about ten medicinal herbs. Ren didn't believe him at first but he remembered it nonetheless, he certain that none of the herbs Lucifer mentioned were poisonous.

The Heavenly realm had knowledge regarding almost everything and as a top existence in the Heavenly realm Lucifer naturally knew of them. The medicinal formula the lowest of the low in the Heavenly realm but here in the Mortal realm it would probably be an elixir of some sort. The herbs to concoct the original formula would be natural treasures in this world and would be scarce so Lucifer changed the herbs that was used to suit Zen's current state. Though the herbs were changed they were still herbs that had similar properties and would still be effective.

Woosh...

Ren jumped and went back to the house, leaving Lucifer by himself.

"Sigh...Such a doting father." Lucifer sighed with a bit of laughter.

Looking up and seeing the bright moon in the sky Lucifer walked towards a certain direction.

...

Three days has passed and Lucifer still didn't return. At first Zen was nervous that Lucifer might've ditched him the night they arrived and had dinner but that night his father came back and ordered their maids to prepare a bunch of herbs.

These herbs were then boiled and his father a child of a maid bath in it. When that child showed sign of his body being cleansed. His father had another batch made and had Zen bath in it.

Just after a night of bathing, Zen already had a large majority of impurities expelled from his body.

After seeing this, Ren was now sure that Lucifer had no evil intention. He informed Zen that the formula for this medicinal bath was from Lucifer and hearing this made Zen instantly jump for joy.

'the Young Lord didn't abandon me and is actually starting to help me train!'

That night, Ren had the parent of the servant child and the other maids who brought the herbs all swear an oath to keep the formula of the medicinal bath a secret for now. The herbs themselves were not that rare but you would have to spent quite a bit to acquire them.

The Silver Stallion Clan was not lacking in them but very few would be able to exchange for them. But as the Second Elder of the Clan, Ren could exchange for them easily. To compensate those who were involved, Ren rewarded them with 20 silver each.

Ren was certain that the other elders would soon pay attention to his actions and lead to them questioning him about his recent acquisition of herbs. But he wasn't afraid of them, even if they realize that mixing these herbs would create the medicinal bath it wouldn't matter much because by then Zen would've already cleansed his body.

If anything, he would even contribute this medicinal formula as it could help the clan grow.

After three days of bathing in the medicinal bath, Zen had nearly expelled almost all of the impurities from his body. He could already feel the subtle changes his body has undergone, all of his physical capabilities were enhanced.

Getting out of the bath, Zen suddenly heard his mother Sherry calling him.

"Zen, time for your martial art training!"

"In a minute, mom~" Zen answered and quickly dried himself before changing into training clothes.

...

Meanwhile, deep in the forest near the Silver Stallion Clan.

Lucifer was sitting on a rock near a lake. He had his eyes closed and it looked like he was meditating.

During these days, Lucifer was contemplating about which path he should take back to the Heavenly Realm. He first thought about his past then to the point of his brother's betrayal.

He was the bright and morning sun but now he was a mortal. Though he couldn't forgive Michael for what he did, his purpose was now clear!

To fight his way back to the Heavenly Realm to expose Michael's lies and stop him from starting a war in the Heavenly Realm.

Now that his aim was clear, Lucifer began to scour his memories for the proper cultivation arts for him to practice. He was a battle angel, one of the best...a Seraph with the title of the "Morning Star". Sure enough, Lucifer found three cultivation arts that suited him.

A Fire/Light attributed cultivation art called [Blaze Luminous Art] which draws upon the light of stellar bodies to refine and strengthen the body. This also allows him to form light construct using his Qi. The [Blaze Luminous Art] fitted his former self as the Morning Star.

The next one was a Supreme Sword art called [Nine Judgement Sword], a sword art that pursues righteousness and judges the wicked. This sword art only has nine moves and focuses more on refining the very basics of sword fighting but the nine moves of the [Nine Judgement Sword] are capable of shaking the heavens themselves when cultivated to the highest level.

Lastly, there was the [Phoenix Crossing Nirvana] Lucifer picked this art because of its Aerial fighting skills. In may not be of use for now because he doesn't have wings but it would greatly boost his fighting strength when he regains his wings.

These three were independent techniques with their own strength and weakness but Lucifer doesn't need three cultivation art so he does something others would deem as stupid while others would say he was daring.

Lucifer spent his days combining the mysteries of these cultivation art to create something of his own. Others would've failed to do this because each had has been refined over and over again by succeeding generations but Lucifer was trying to do this in just a few days.

He was confident because of his knowledge from the Heavenly realm, Lucifer was sure that his comprehension of the three arts would birth a new and even powerful Cultivation art.

On his third day sitting before the Lake, Lucifer was finally able to merge the three arts.

The result was the aptly named [Judgement of the Morning Star]

Lucifer then spent another four days to refine the [Judgement of the Morning Star]. On the fourth day a burst of power gushed out of Lucifer. When he opened his eyes, his eyes that were clear as the lake before him had a golden gleam.

There was an overwhelming feeling of strength welling up inside of him.

"So this what cultivating feels like...I believe I've reached the 4th stage of the Body Tempering realm."

Lucifer wasn't surprised, the [Judgement of the Morning star] was a Supreme cultivation art and the speed that Lucifer took to reach the 4th stage was actually slow. If Lucifer didn't stop his cultivation, he would've reached the 6th stage but that would leave his foundation to be mediocre and he didn't want that.

If others were to find out about his progress they would've called him a Heaven-defying genius...A monster even!

But Lucifer didn't feel that his progress was something to celebrate at, that was because there was something unique about the [Judgement of the Morning star]. Should he reach the 9th stage of the Body tempering realm, he won't breakthrough to the Foundation Building realm immediately.

Instead, the special feature of the [Judgement of the Morning Star] would occur. Using the entire energy of his entire cultivation, he would direct this energy to break down his body and refine it. This was the Nirvanic effect taken from the [Phoenix Crossing Nirvana] from when Lucifer merged the three arts.

Once the [Nirvanic Process] was done, he would then redo his cultivation at a normal pace like but his overall ability would be greatly enhanced, his physical body would be extremely sturdy like a heavenly treasure and his Qi would be incomparably denser than those in the same realm. Allowing him to cross several stage and even an entire realm to fight those with higher cultivation than him.

Should he be able to cultivate the [Judgement of the Morning Star] to its final stage, he would largely surpass his previous self. Standing on top of the Heavenly realm and defeating his brother Michael along with his monster army.