Truly Alive

174. Truly Alive

Seeing Arnold Stark's reaction, Aisha Patani immediately realized how ambiguous her words had been. Her lips tightened slightly as she prepared to clarify.

I took off the black sword and placed it on the table. "Did this belong to your old friend?"

I recalled how General Laurent had stared intently at this sword, and how this woman's gaze had unconsciously drifted to my waist when we met at the ruined temple.

Then there was that distant look in her eyes, as if lost in memories—something he had found puzzling until now.

Being naturally observant, I had noticed these details but hadn't dwelled on them. Now that she mentioned it, I was willing to discuss it openly.

… …

Aisha tensed slightly, then nodded. "Yes."

Besides the black sword, she realized she saw John as an old friend because he could easily understand her meaning without explanation.

Despite her vague language, he understood exactly what she meant.

"I'll give it to you once I obtain a new one."

I hung the dark ceremonial sword back on my waist. Even if I got a new magical weapon, I might not be able to use it effectively right away. She just wanted to keep it as a memento—I didn't think she would care about a short delay.

"Thank you." Aisha Patani seemed to prefer this concise way of communicating—without unnecessary explanations or emotional displays. She clearly struggled with social interactions.

Arnold felt just as confused now as he had when they discussed the Cosmic Devouring Crystallization technique earlier.

Wait, how did Kane know it belonged to an old friend? And how did they manage to explain everything with so few words? Do they not care at all that I can't follow their conversation?

Though he saw the three of them as the future young leaders of Cascadia, he couldn't understand why he felt so out of place among them.

"Arrange the Martial Abbey Cleansing as soon as possible—don't concern yourself with anything else," Aisha said before walking into an empty bedroom.

After she left for the next room, I turned to Arnold Stark. "What is Martial Abbey Cleansing?"

The honest-faced middle-aged man, having regained some confidence, explained without questioning the sudden inquiry: "The Martial Abbey Cleansing involves the golden statues left by fallen Vessels of Redeemer—like the ones we saw today. Think of it as consuming a portion of their golden bodies as an elixir for your own use."

"Of course, it's only a negligible part, and it will only pass through your body for ten breaths. Martial artists with excellent talent can retain around sixty percent, while average practitioners like myself can retain forty to fifty percent." Arnold recalled the scene when he first formed his crystal core: "I needed two cleansing sessions to form my core, followed by six more. Now I'm still a couple of steps away from fully crystallized... But since we use different crystallization methods, this is merely for your reference."

Upon hearing this, I suddenly felt relieved.

It was fortunate that Aisha had interrupted me earlier, otherwise I would have already used the absorbed lifespan to push through.

To reach the Perfection of Wave Realm, I had devoured countless beast cores and invested nearly six hundred years.

Nature was too stingy, and advancement demanded plunder.

The Martial Abbey Cleansing was nothing more than changing the target of plunder from vampires and natural treasures to the remains of fallen high-level practitioners.

"Speaking of which, General Patani just said that we should arrange the Martial Abbey Cleansing…"

Arnold swept up the ceramic pieces from the ground with his inner strength and glanced at me, his eyes filled with conflicting emotions. "So you truly understood everything? You weren't just pretending—and you don't need any more time to practice and familiarize yourself with it?"

I closed the panel and shook my head. "I won't need to."

I had spent a full six hundred and seventy-nine years. If it were the Will Embodiment of Sword, I would have nearly become a grandmaster in that time. The Cosmic Devouring Crystallization technique, no matter how complex, remained just a crystallization technique.

I understood the entire process thoroughly—I just needed to accumulate enough energy.

I closed my eyes, sensing the vast knowledge that had materialized in my mind.

This crystallization technique—widely regarded as the finest in New Terra and bearing the coveted "angelic grade" certification from the system panel—had just two key advantages over ordinary crystallization techniques.

Speed and volume!

It forms an extremely greedy Cosmic Devouring Nascent Crystal. Unlike other nascent crystals created by Crystal Realm experts that require careful nurturing, this crystal readily absorbs any type of energy—regardless of whether it's mixed or unsuitable.

I finally understood why Aisha Patani had recommended this technique to me.

Only a crystal core created through Cosmic Devouring Crystallization could harness the fierce vampiric power within my body.

However, such a voracious crystal core would naturally be more volatile and harder to control. That was why the Melting Sun Furnace was needed to suppress it.

Ultimately, this process would allow me to plant a Seed of Hope, harmonize it through the core as it grows from Embryo of Harmony to Infant of Love, integrate my consciousness with it in the process, and finally break the crystal core to ascend to the Realm of Ward of Nature.

Having gained a deeper understanding of the crystallization process, I abandoned my plan to create another golden statue.

Having already committed my consciousness to the Infant of Love, I couldn't transfer it to a Vessel of Redeemer. This wasn't merely about controlling two magical weapons—it was about completely entrusting my consciousness to a single vessel.

How could a single soul possibly split itself in two? Such an attempt would be madness.

I rose and exited the house, gazing at the towering Martial Abbey before me with a tinge of disappointment.

Suddenly, my fingertip trembled as a memory flashed through my mind.

The panel materialized before my eyes, revealing words I had previously overlooked.

[Soul Crucible: Can reshape a vampire's soul into an eternally bound follower—one who cannot transcend, willing to endure all worldly hardships, and exists solely to execute their master's supreme command.]

To execute their master's supreme command.

I murmured to myself, drew in a deep breath, and felt a daring idea take shape in my mind.

… …

The next day, Arnold Stark swiftly contacted the Vampire Hunters Registration Office.

Faced with a H.A.R.M. general who was about to undergo ten cleansings, even their efficiency improved.

Four black-robed figures quietly appeared before the Martial Abbey. Their weathered faces bore the deep marks of age, as though they were already half-claimed by the earth.

They entered the hall slowly, observing the young man in black armor standing beneath the thirteen golden statues.

With a subtle wave of their hands, a thick white fog materialized at the Martial Abbey's entrance, sealing the hall from the outside world.

"Sit cross-legged and concentrate," one of them commanded.

I sat on the futon. The location was a bit delicate, right at the point where the stares of all the tall golden statues converged. Each figure cast an unwavering gaze downward, their expressions carved with solemn authority. The convergence of their stern looks created an almost palpable weight in the air, as if their collective judgment pressed down from above.

Yet among these thirteen fierce statues, it was the more angry-looking 80-foot golden statue in the center that made my eyes instinctively narrow.

In the hushed Martial Abbey, the eyes of the Great Paladin suddenly shifted.

Steadying my thoughts, I knew my earlier observation had been correct.

While I remained uncertain about the other golden statues, this central one was undeniably "alive"...