Chapter 74: The training ground.
After Eva left the room, Alaric stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes. He took a deep breath and got ready to return to his work, making new compounds and pills. Creating these mixtures was a daily part of his life, and he approached it with a calm sense of purpose.
He owed his success in alchemy to his unique ability to imagine the real world in his mind and to follow careful, instinctively learned methods. Without this gift, the process would have felt tedious and overwhelming. It wasn’t just about mixing ingredients; it required attention, patience, and a special knack for understanding how things worked.
Alaric was genuinely grateful for his talent. He often wondered how far he could have gotten without it. Sometimes, he caught himself thinking about whether Old Tian would have ever noticed him if he hadn’t shown such promise. These thoughts made him realize how much his abilities shaped his path.
Deep down, he already knew the answer: it was a definite no. People who were called Blessed weren’t picked by chance. They already had remarkable skills long before fate or the heavens paid attention to them. Some believed that, even without any special destiny, these people were meant to stand out and make a difference in the world.
If Alaric hadn’t been born with talent, he never would have been chosen as a Blessed. Without that, Old Tian would never have noticed him, and Alaric probably wouldn’t have survived this long.
Sometimes, Alaric let his mind wander to alternate realities. What if he wasn’t here right now? If he had died earlier, what would have happened to Eva? Would she have faced her past and come out stronger, or would she have been lost when she met that tricky spirit? Would Oliveria have stepped in to help her, only to make things more complicated, or would she have let fate run its course?
He couldn’t guess what choices Eva or Oliveria might have made, but right now, none of that mattered. What mattered was that he was here, and he was determined to protect Eva no matter what happened.
It made him smile to think about how most people viewed their life partners. Many saw them as a backup plan, a way out of trouble, or someone who could help hide their flaws. In his world, a life partner was supposed to be a shield for those strong enough to earn one. But with Eva, things were different; he couldn’t just see her as his shield or protector.
Eva was his sword, strong, sharp, and always ready to stand by his side. In turn, he was her shield and support. They would face challenges together, and if the journey ever became too hard, they would face failure together, too. That was their promise to each other.
He smiled to himself, thinking, ’What ifs, huh... Those are always interesting to consider.’ With that, he let out a soft chuckle and went into his chamber to focus on his work.
...
The training grounds occupied a vast section of the city, enclosed by sturdy stone walls etched with protective formations that had weathered countless years of use. Wide fields of packed earth stretched across the compound, divided into specialized areas for different forms of training. Some sections contained wooden dummies scarred by thousands of strikes, while others held weapon racks stocked with practice swords, spears, staffs, and bows.
Groups of cultivators paired off to spar, their movements carefully watched by instructors and other trainees. Now and then, the sharp sound of weapons clashing or the shouts of effort would break the usual calm, but the atmosphere always returned to one of focus and discipline. Even with so many people training at the same time, the grounds never seemed packed or chaotic. Every section was planned out to make sure everyone had enough space to practice without getting in each other’s way.
Unlike the training facilities found elsewhere, the grounds reflected the city’s preference for practicality over spectacle. There were no grand monuments celebrating famous warriors or extravagant arenas built to impress visitors. Every structure served a purpose.
Formation arrays embedded beneath the earth softened impacts during sparring, while observation platforms enabled instructors to monitor multiple training areas simultaneously. Crystal markers displayed schedules, rankings, and training recommendations, helping practitioners efficiently track their progress. The entire complex carried an air of professionalism, more like a place where excellence was systematically cultivated than one where people fought.
At that moment, two instructors stood on one of the raised platforms, watching the activity below. Eva had chosen these instructors herself because each of them was especially skilled in ways that set them apart from most cultivators. She wanted only the best to teach her people.
One of them, Bai Long, who wore a dark robe and a cloth covering his eyes, paid close attention to the cultivators at the archery section. He was a Flesh-refinement stage cultivator who had recently reached the peak of that realm at 21, largely due to the flesh-refinement compound and years of accumulated effort.
Now, Bai Long spent his days in the city teaching archery to the new recruits. He shared everything he had learned over the years, from basic techniques to the tiny details that made the difference between a beginner and a true marksman. He took pride in helping others grow, remembering how difficult it had been for him when he started.
Behind him was his assistant, who, although not as skilled as he is, is very noteworthy for his achievements. If given enough resources and time, he would achieve great things in life.
"They’re doing well," Bai Long commented to his assistant, Kalakan, nodding in approval as he watched the trainees hit their targets or correct their stances.
Kalakan, whose skin was a rich, warm brown and whose eyes were narrow and sharp, smiled a little. "Yes, Instructor Bai, they’re looking strong today," he agreed, his tone respectful but proud of the students’ progress.
Bai Long reached for the necklace hanging around his neck, his fingers tracing the shape of the pendant. It was a small silver arrow, about as long as his thumb, hanging with the tip pointing downward. The arrow’s tip was made of obsidian, so dark it seemed to soak up the light around it instead of shining. Along the shaft, there was a single, perfectly straight line engraved, a mark of precision and focus.
Bai Long closed his hand around the pendant, brought it close to his face, and whispered a prayer: "Oh great Unerring One, I don’t ask that they be protected from all harm, but that they find courage to face whatever comes. Let them not wish for their pain to disappear, but give them the heart to overcome it. Bless them with your will."
"Quite the pious man you are. Not many would believe in gods at a time like this, when the gods have grown silent. Some even believe them dead. What makes one such as yourself, who has grown to become powerful yourself, believe in such things?"
Bai Long’s voice was steady, his face set with determination. "I think it’s times like these, when things are hardest, that a person’s faith matters most. It’s easy to believe when life is comfortable. But when the world feels empty, that’s when true faith is tested. For me, losing faith now would mean I never truly believed in the first place. I refuse to be one of those people."
Kalakan nodded, respect clear in his eyes. "You really do have a strong will."
"Do not praise me too much, I might make the mistake of taking it to heart and become complacent." Bai Long replied to his assistant, before changing the topic, "How is that kid doing?"
Kalakan looked puzzled for a moment. "Which kid?" Then he remembered and let out a small laugh. "Oh, you mean the one who challenged Miss Eva?"
"Yes, that’s him. I think his name is Hondao?"
"Yes, that’s the one. He was taken to his room after he wore himself out. That kid really does have a lot of determination."
"I’m not so sure about that," Bai Long said thoughtfully. "Sometimes, the people who try the hardest to stand out are actually struggling the most inside. I hope he comes to see that he’s already among the most gifted here. If he can get past his doubts, he’ll be a huge asset to us."
"He really shouldn’t be so hard on himself for losing to Miss Eva. Even if we teamed up, we couldn’t beat her. But what surprises me is that he also lost to Miss Eva’s companion, the one none of us has even met yet."
Bai Long, still blindfolded, turned his head slightly toward Kalakan. "You should be careful, Kalakan."
Kalakan looked surprised. "Why?"
"Consider this a chance at learning, Kalakan. If one could be considered a companion to one of great stature, as Miss Eva, they mustn’t be ordinary by any means. It would be fatal for you to assume otherwise. And through his micro expression, when he spoke of that event, he seemed to be more afraid of this companion than Miss Eva herself."
Kalakan looked on in confusion. He knows that despite his superior’s blindfold, he could still see properly, if not, he wouldn’t be an archer, not to mention instructing in the ways of archery, but he never knew he had such great perception.
"Interesting..." Kalakan said, breaking into a grin. "Now I’m really looking forward to meeting this guy myself."
"Before that, you should check up on Hundao. I have a very bad feeling about his situation. It reminds me of something I would rather forget."
