Chapter 12: Chapter 11: Second Disciple - Kori, Meeting of 12 Elders
"Who are you?" A ghastly voice echoed through the cave.
"How did you enter this place?"
Xenos and Kori turned toward the source of the voice. The old man—Hiroshi Takashi Ishikawa, Kori's ancestor—was standing again. Despite his caved-in chest and shattered ribs, he slowly rose to his feet.
A dark, evil energy radiated from him. His crushed chest healed rapidly, his eyes turned completely black with eerie red pupils, and his body began to bulge unnaturally.
"Who are you to interfere and save the one I was about to kill?" Hiroshi snarled.
His voice was no longer human—it was deeper, distorted, and filled with malice.
"I will show you true power and bring you to accept the light... by freeing you from life."
Xenos stepped in front of Kori protectively, his sharp gaze locked onto Hiroshi. Watching him transform, he analyzed the situation carefully.
"I didn't expect someone to be contracted to an Underworld being. If the contract is physical, that means there are Underworld race members hiding in this world."
His expression darkened. "I need him alive to find out more."
Before Xenos could think further, Hiroshi vanished in a blur, reappearing right in front of him in an instant. His right fist shot forward like a cannon.
Anticipating the attack, Xenos clenched his own fist and met the strike head-on.
BAM!
The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the cave. Hiroshi was forced backward, skidding across the stone floor.
The old man growled, his reasoning slipping further as his underworld energy consumed him. "How... How do you have such power? No... No... This can't be...! Nether Power surpasses martial arts!"
His voice was filled with disbelief, but it only fueled his rage.
Realizing his previous attack failed, Hiroshi increased his power further. More Nether Qi poured from his body, causing the entire cave to tremble.
Xenos observed him carefully. "It seems he still can't fully control the Underworld Qi. The more he uses it, the more he loses his reasoning."
His eyes narrowed. "I need to finish this before he becomes completely brain-dead and loses all the valuable memories in his head."
Hiroshi lunged again, his movements becoming more erratic and wild—almost as if punching was the only technique he knew.
Xenos skillfully dodged each strike, his eyes scanning Hiroshi's body. He wasn't just evading—he was analyzing, searching for the core of Hiroshi's energy.
Hiroshi roared in frustration. The more his attacks missed, the more insane he became.
Then—Xenos found it.
The origin of the Underworld energy was near the heart.
Without hesitation, Xenos moved. He dodged Hiroshi's final punch and closed the distance in an instant. Channeling his Body Qi, he struck Hiroshi's heart with pinpoint precision.
A shockwave erupted from the impact.
Xenos didn't stop there. Using his Body Qi, he forced the energy deep into Hiroshi's heart, sealing the core from the inside.
The moment the core was sealed, all the dark energy pouring from Hiroshi's body stopped.
His grotesquely swollen frame deflated like a punctured balloon. His limbs shrank, his skin paled, and his once monstrous form became thin and frail.
Hiroshi's eyes flickered. He opened his mouth as if to speak—then collapsed.
Seeing him unconscious, Xenos stepped forward and swiftly performed an acupuncture technique to put him into a deep sleep.
Xenos muttered to himself, "If I kill him or destroy his core, the person behind him will surely find out. It's best to keep this matter hidden until I uncover the entire organization."
As Xenos was deep in thought, a trembling voice interrupted him.
"Sir... what happened to my ancestor?"
Xenos turned to Kori and replied calmly, "It seems your ancestor made a contract with the Underworld."
Kori's expression twisted in confusion. "Underworld?"
Xenos nodded. "Let's just say there is an unseen darkness infiltrating human society. These beings—this 'darkness'—are from the Underworld, and their goal is to annihilate the human race."
Kori's eyes widened. "What...?"
Xenos continued, "You'll understand more in the future. But I didn't expect to meet someone born with a 'Nine-Yin Body' here."
Kori blinked in surprise. "Nine-Yin Body? Is that the name of my physique? Sir, do you know anything about it?"
Xenos nodded again. "I know quite a lot. It's one of the most sought-after physiques for cultivation. While it isn't a supreme-level body, it is still an extremely rare and powerful physique."
Kori hesitated before asking, "Then... do you know how to control the Ice Burst that happens to me?"
Xenos smiled slightly. "I do. But don't rush—first, we need to deal with the situation here."
Kori took a deep breath, calming herself. Her gaze shifted to her ancestor, lying unconscious on the ground.
Seeing her composed, Xenos instructed, "Call your father here. I will explain the situation to him, but tell him to come alone."
Kori nodded. "Yes, sir." After contacting her father, she turned back to Xenos. "Sir, my father will arrive in fifteen minutes."
Xenos thought to himself, Fifteen minutes... This ancestor holds a lot of valuable information. To perform Soul Searching, I need at least peak Qi Refining cultivation. Since I have time before her father arrives, I should use the bronze Lotus to increase my cultivation.
With that in mind, he turned to Kori. "I will be meditating. When your father arrives, ask him to wait."
Xenos then created a protective formation around himself and sat down in the center, closing his eyes.
As he entered meditation, a thought surfaced—he recalled a cultivation technique he had once obtained from the ruins of ancient human civilization. It was a technique meant to be cultivated from the very beginning, and since he was starting anew, this was the perfect opportunity to use it.
The 'Chaotic Beginning Technique'—a technique that assimilates all types of energy.
As he began cultivating the method, a petal of the Bronze Flower fell from his dantian. The petal dissolved into pure Qi energy, filling his dantian like a vast ocean. His cultivation began to surge:
Qi Refining Stage 1... 3... 5... 8... 9...
The energy kept accumulating, breaking past the usual limits.
Qi Refining Stage 10... 11... 12...
Finally, his body trembled as he shattered the Heavenly Limit, stepping into Qi Refining Stage 13.
As Xenos continued cultivating, Kori sat quietly in the cave, unsure of what to do. Countless questions swirled in her mind—questions about her body, her powers, and the mysterious man meditating before her.
She had spent years searching through ancient texts, hoping to understand her condition, yet she found nothing. But now, for the first time, she had a clue. Unfortunately, the person who might have the answers sat cross-legged in deep meditation, unreachable for now.
As she waited, she sensed a change. Xenos' body, which at first seemed like that of a normal human, began to radiate something different—something powerful. The aura around him shifted, transforming into something vast and overwhelming.
Looking at him now felt like standing at the base of a towering mountain, gazing upward in awe.
Kori clenched her fists. Who is he? Why did he come here and save me? How does he know about my physique?
She had no answers, only time to wonder.
Minutes passed, and then the silence was broken.
The door to the cave creaked open. A man stepped inside, his expression heavy with worry.
For the first time, he had heard true fear in his daughter's voice. She had pleaded for him to come alone.
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The moment he entered, Kori rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him in a desperate embrace.
Seeing his daughter safe, the man let out a deep sigh of relief. He was Kiyoshi Takashi Ishikawa, Patriarch of the Ishikawa family.
His gaze softened as he held Kori close. "You're safe," he murmured.
But his relief was short-lived.
When he finally took in his surroundings, his expression darkened. The cave was filled with signs of battle—cracked stone, shattered ice, and lingering traces of violent energy.
His eyes swept across the room, landing on two figures.
One was sitting in deep meditation.
The other lay unmoving on the ground.
His grip on Kori tightened as his instincts screamed at him to protect his daughter. His gaze hardened as he demanded, "What happened?"
Kori turned and gestured toward the fallen figure. Following her gaze, Kiyoshi's eyes fell on the unconscious man lying there.
His brows furrowed in confusion. He couldn't see the man's face clearly.
He didn't realize it was his own ancestor.
As Kori hurriedly explained the events that had transpired, Kiyoshi's emotions shifted rapidly—shock, anger, and, above all, relief that his daughter was safe.
Anger boiled within him toward his ancestor, but he forced himself to remain calm.
Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention toward the meditating figure.
He didn't have to wait long.
Five minutes later, Xenos' eyes slowly opened.
His gaze met Kiyoshi's.
"You're finally awake," Kiyoshi said, his voice steady but laced with curiosity and caution.
"You must be the father of that child," Xenos said, his gaze steady.
Kiyoshi nodded cautiously. "Can you tell me what happened here?"
Xenos crossed his arms. "That's what I need to find out. How did a human form a contract with a being from the underworld?"
Kiyoshi frowned. "A being from the underworld? What are you talking about?"
Xenos studied him for a moment before replying. "Do you really think humans are the only race in this world?"
The sudden shift in the conversation caught Kiyoshi off guard. He stared at Xenos, confused.
Xenos continued, his voice calm but firm. "The world is far bigger than you think. The beings of the underworld have already set their sights on this universe."
Kiyoshi's confusion deepened. "The underworld... universe...? What exactly are you trying to say?"
Seeing his skepticism, Xenos decided to explain in detail. He spoke of the Space Gates, of how the underworld beings were using them to invade, kill humanity, and steal the very life source of the universe. He revealed that these creatures were already hiding among them, manipulating events from the shadows.
The more Kiyoshi listened, the more it sounded like a far-fetched fantasy. A delusion.
But then, he looked at his daughter—her serious expression, the lingering fear in her eyes. He looked at the unconscious ancestor lying on the ground—a once-respected figure now a twisted being tainted by dark energy.
What if this is true?
Even though doubt lingered, Kiyoshi could no longer dismiss the possibility entirely.
Xenos, noticing Kiyoshi's hesitation, smirked slightly. "I know you don't fully believe me yet. That's expected."
He turned toward Hiroshi's unconscious form. "Which is why I'm going to show you undeniable proof."
With that, Xenos walked up to Hiroshi, placed his palm on the old man's head, and activated the Soul Searching Technique.
Kiyoshi watched silently, unsure of what Xenos was doing but sensing that something extraordinary was about to unfold.
As the technique took effect, Hiroshi's memories began flowing into Xenos' mind—revealing the truth hidden beneath the surface.
The memories unraveled like a flood, pulling Hiroshi back into the past.
It started with his childhood, but Xenos swiftly skipped ahead, stopping at a crucial moment.
[January 1, 3037, approximately one year ago.]
[All the ancestors of the twelve great families gathered at Mount Ember. As was tradition, every decade, a secret meeting took place among them to discuss the path beyond Apex Cultivation.]
[The meeting proceeded as usual. The twelve elders shared insights gained over the past decade, continuing from their last gathering on January 1, 3027. Discussions stretched on for days, covering breakthroughs, theories, and speculations about cultivation's highest realms.]
[On the fourth day, an unexpected visitor arrived—a man from the Von Hohenberg Family. His presence sent shockwaves through the room. The Ancestor of the Von Hohenberg Family immediately spoke up, his tone sharp. "Maximilian? You're Adrian's brother—the current patriarch's brother. How did you find this place? What are you doing here?"]
[Maximilian smirked before stepping forward. "I bring an opportunity. Immortality. Submission to the Underworld grants power far beyond the limits of Apex Cultivation. Why stop here when there's an entire world beyond?"]
[The memory fractured at that moment, skipping ahead to a scene of chaos.]
[A devastating battle erupted. The twelve ancestors fought with all their might but were utterly defeated by Lord Lucien—an overwhelming force beyond their comprehension. With the elders at his mercy, Lucien made an offer: submit to the Underworld or perish.]
[Six families accepted the deal—the Garcia Family, Ishikawa Family, Björk Family, Jiang Family, Moretti Family, and Abara Family.]
[For the remaining six, Lucien intended to kill them, but Maximilian intervened. He explained that the ancestors' souls were tied to their respective ancestral treasures—if they died, their entire families would know. Acknowledging this risk, Lucien chose to seal them away instead.]
[Later, Hiroshi discovered a shocking truth—Maximilian, driven by jealousy toward his brother, had conspired with Nikolai Volkov to perform a forbidden ritual, opening a gateway to Hell itself.]
[With the forbidden pact sealed, the Von Hohenberg and Volkov Families enslaved their own elders, seduced by promises of immortality and absolute power. They overthrew their patriarchs and took control of their respective families by force.]
[Hiroshi also learned that another dark lord was overseeing the Volkov Family. However, his knowledge was limited—he did not investigate further.]
[After their submission, the ancestors received their first command—to harvest divine souls. They were given a special token to identify "Good Divine Souls." Using the Hades Touch, they would extract these souls, store them in Soul Containers, and deliver them to their master.]
[Then, the next order arrived—"A Heavenly Incarnate has been born. They must be eliminated."]
[When Hiroshi realized that one of the Heavenly Incarnates was his own descendant, he hesitated. He waited, hoping that Kori's ice burst would end her life on its own. But when she survived, his doubts faded, and he resolved to kill her himself.]
[The memory ended.]
After absorbing the full scope of Hiroshi's memories, Xenos let out a deep sigh. He hadn't expected the infiltration to run this deep. The top powerhouses of Earth had already been enslaved. The world's strongest cultivators—those meant to protect humanity—were now nothing more than puppets of the Underworld.
A heavy silence filled the cave as he processed the implications. How many more had already fallen? How long before the Underworld made its final move?
He turned to Kiyoshi, extending his hand. "See for yourself."
A faint glow flickered between them as Xenos transferred the memories directly into Kiyoshi's mind. The patriarch's face contorted with disbelief as the memories unfolded. His breath grew heavy. His hands trembled. "This can't be true... can it?" But no matter how much he wanted to deny it, the truth was now imprinted in his very soul.
Kiyoshi exhaled sharply, his voice hoarse. "This... This is beyond anything I imagined. So much has been happening right under our noses, and we never even noticed."
Xenos remained silent, letting him process it all.
After a long pause, Kiyoshi spoke again, his tone heavier. "If this is real... then the chaos to come will be unlike anything we've ever faced." His eyes darkened. "But tell me, Xenos... do you truly believe we can fight against them? That thing—Lucien—defeated twelve Apex-level ancestors alone. He's beyond powerful."
Xenos met his gaze and nodded. "We can. But not if we stay in the dark. That's why I need your help."
Kiyoshi straightened. "What do you need me to do?"
Xenos laid out his plan, detailing the measures that needed to be taken. He spoke of gathering intelligence, forming a hidden resistance, and cutting off the Underworld's influence where possible.
Kiyoshi listened intently, then nodded. "I will help." His voice was steady, his decision firm.
A small smile tugged at Xenos' lips. "Good."
After a moment of silence, Xenos turned his gaze toward Kori. "There's one more thing."
Kiyoshi followed his eyes, his brows furrowing. "What is it?"
Xenos met his gaze squarely. "I want to take your daughter as my disciple."
Kiyoshi stiffened. Normally, he would never have considered such a thing. Entrusting his daughter's future to a stranger? Unthinkable. But now... Xenos had earned his trust. Not only had he saved Kori's life, but he also knew about her physique—her Nine-Yin Body.
Kori herself looked at Xenos, eyes wide with surprise.
Kiyoshi exhaled slowly, his gaze shifting between Xenos and his daughter. "And you can guide her? Teach her to control her power?"
Xenos nodded. "Better than anyone else could."
Kiyoshi closed his eyes for a moment, then finally spoke. "Very well. I will entrust her to you."
Xenos turned to Kori. "Kori, do you accept me as your master?"
She hesitated only for a moment before lowering her head. "Yes, Master."
With that, the Master-Disciple Rite was performed, sealing their bond. Kori Ishikawa had become Xenos' second disciple.