Transmigrated with my corruption system

Chapter 189: Chapter 188: The Path Beyond [I]

Deep inside the Greyson Residence, in an open courtyard designated for training the young generation.

A group of children could be seen playing freely as excited murmurs spread across the area.

At the side, an elder stood with the Greyson crest embroidered on his robe as he monitored all the figures present.

A thoughtful look hovered across his face as he stroked his beard repeatedly.

Among all the younglings present, his gaze lingered on a little boy at the center of the courtyard.

"Interesting... very interesting," the elder mumbled repeatedly for the umpteenth time as the murmurs surrounding the little boy filtered into his ears.

"Hey, Angus! Come play with us."

A few children around the little boy tried to persuade him, but the little boy remained steadfast.

His small frame was drenched in sweat as he sprinted across the little courtyard repeatedly, a determined glint flashing across his eyes.

When he was too tired to continue, he would stop briefly before shadowboxing into the empty air. Then he would continue, determined to push his little body to its limits in whatever little time he had.

At first, when the elder had seen the little boy break into this rigid schedule every day, he had wanted to reproach him.

The earlier years were usually designated for acquiring knowledge and learning the strategies of battle. Not this.

No matter how extremely one trained their physical body, there would hardly be any improvements. At least not without the help of great heavenly treasures such as those the great clans bestowed upon their younger generation.

If anything, the training could quickly go from being helpful to disadvantageous, as one could easily develop injuries that would hinder future growth.

With all this in mind, the elder had intended to stop the little boy from continuing. At least, that had been his intention.

But something about the little boy stopped him in his tracks.

The determination burning in his eyes was far brighter than that of some of the powerhouses he had seen locked in battles of life and death.

That had intrigued him, so he chose to watch the little boy closely instead. If any complications arose, he could easily snuff them out in the bud.

He was curious to see how strong his determination truly was. Was it just like a star, burning brightly for a short time before dying away? Or was it something engraved into his very being?

He got his answer soon enough.

No matter what challenge the little boy faced, he always managed to get through it. Never once giving up.

He became even more interested as he heard the little boy’s quiet mutters while pushing his body through gruesome training.

"I can’t give up... I can’t give up," Angus muttered repeatedly as he punched the empty air over and over.

He yearned for power. Power so vast that no one would ever look down on him or treat him badly again.

Having been exposed to the cruelties of the world, he had vowed never to be left in that state again. Powerless, with nothing he could do.

Everything and everyone he cared for had been taken away from him when the Greyson Residence invaded the Red Streaks Clan.

Yet strangely, he felt no undying urge for revenge. Instead, a void burned within his heart.

The more he grew, the more he understood the intricacies of the world and its cruelty.

Yet he had no power to go against it. He was just another figure trapped among the masses.

But all that changed when he met the young lord.

At first glance, he could tell he was different from the others.

At the second glance, he had confirmed it.

He could see it, the hollow glint flashing across his eyes. Something only someone who had lost everything to the world could truly understand.

Was that the reason the young lord had given him the gauntlets?

Staring down, his eyes drifted to his empty hands.

They were truly mystical.

Once he put them on, they had integrated with his flesh. Whenever he trained hard, he could feel warm streams of energy surging through his body, strengthening him.

In the span of a few months, his strength had more than tripled as he came to understand that what the young lord had given him was far greater than he could have imagined.

More importantly, the young lord had seen something in him when no one else had.

And now, with the news of the young lord’s departure, he was even more determined.

He would grow strong and follow in the young lord’s footsteps, becoming the great warrior he had once promised to be.

At the side, as the elder continuously monitored the little boy, the surprise he had once felt quickly morphed into full-blown shock.

This was unprecedented.

Was this why the little boy had piqued the young lord’s attention?

But that didn’t matter now.

He had to quickly share this information with the other elders so they could decide how best to nurture him.

As one monster departed, another one was born.

***

Elsewhere, at the edges of Tempest City, before the city gates.

A lone figure stood, the morning breeze gently ruffling his hair and robe as they fluttered softly in the wind.

Behind him, a great crowd had formed. Their gazes were fixed on the dark-robed figure as soft murmurs spread through the gathering.

Yet among them all, none dared step forward.

Before a few figures broke away from the crowd.

Elders from the Greyson Residence.

Their heads were slightly bowed toward the figure before them.

Clearing his throat, Rysten walked up to the dark-robed youth before lightly tapping the ring on one of his fingers, shimmering with an obsidian light.

"I did as you requested," Rysten breathed.

The ring shimmered even more brightly as a large carriage suddenly appeared before them, drawn from his interdimensional storage ring.

Its surface was intricately carved from the highest-ranked materials they could get their hands on.

Inspecting it for a moment, a slow smile carved across Ulric’s lips as he nodded.

"Good... good. This will do."

It was spacious enough and resilient enough to withstand at least stray attacks without crumbling.

"What about the mounts?" Rysten pressed, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Are you sure you don’t want any?"

He questioned, remembering the young lord’s strange request.

What good was a carriage without mounts pulling it forward?

If he wished, the Greyson Residence had tamed several D-rank mounts bred specifically for occasions like this.

But after hearing the dark-robed youth’s reply, he only grew even more confused.

"No need," Ulric muttered, ignoring the puzzled glances cast at him.

"Huh?" Rysten mumbled.

He no longer questioned the young lord, but he couldn’t help wondering what he had planned.

He didn’t have to wait long.

He soon got his answer as Ulric’s eyes snapped shut for a brief moment.

When they reopened, they had turned a spectral dark, though only for an instant before a faint whisper slipped past his lips.

"Come forth."

For a few moments, nothing happened.

Then suddenly, a tremendous crashing sound echoed from the distance, drawing everyone’s attention.

The crowd instantly broke into panicked screams.

A massive beast was charging toward them.

The city guards stiffened as they watched the monstrosity rapidly approach.

Then they remembered Ulric’s earlier gesture.

Had he called it?

At the side, Rysten stared blankly.

From afar, they couldn’t make out the beast beneath the clouds of dust stirred up by its movement.

But as it drew closer, they finally saw it clearly.

It was a massive snake.

Towering to monstrous lengths, its frame was covered with dark shimmering scales interlocked across its body like a suit of armor.

"A Procan Python," Rysten muttered, recognizing the beast immediately.

One of the feared beasts that should have been residing deep within the wastelands.

But that wasn’t what caught his attention.

It was the crushing pressure the beast naturally exuded.

A C-rank demonic beast.

Unfazed by the crowd’s reactions, Ulric stepped forward.

A soft smile carved across his lips as he looked at the Procan Python.

He immediately noticed the changes.

Back when they fought, it had merely been a D-rank beast—not even at the peak.

Yet now it had crossed an entire major realm in only a few weeks.

Still, he wasn’t exactly surprised.

It was a shadow beast and possessed an utterly broken ability.

It couldn’t die.

As long as he lived, so would it.

With that ability, he supposed it had become far more fearless, allowing it to hunt even stronger beasts and accelerate its advancement.

Its once hollow, void-like eyes now burned with an intelligent glint.

Ulric could sense it was slowly developing sentience once more.

"Its scales had thickened into overlapping plates, while its length had nearly doubled, now approaching thirty meters."

He could also sense countless other changes hidden deep within it.

Behind him, the crowd slowly calmed as they watched how docile the beast was around Ulric.

It behaved almost like a loyal pet, leaving them staring in stunned silence.

Rysten’s suspicions were confirmed as Ulric turned slightly, the smile on his face widening.

"This will be my mount... hook it up to the carriage."

Although Alaric had advised against using a C-rank beast since it would attract even stronger beasts, Ulric had little choice.

Barely a week remained before the Academy selections.

Besides, he had failed to account for one thing.

He might actually want to attract stronger beasts.

They would make perfect sparring partners on the journey ahead.