Chapter 1000 1000 - Threat In The Distance
Chapter 1000 1000 - Threat In The Distance
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For the next period of time…
Aiden behaved like a mortal, accompanying the old man daily, spending his days chopping firewood for fire, cooking, and chatting.
He was going to accompany the old man to the end of the road.
Aiden recounted his experiences in the years.
He started from all those years ago, starting from the moment he arrived into this world, this strange, yet surprisingly living realm.
He recounted every single bit in detail without hiding anything.
The old man had never heard of anything as such and everything was extremely fresh for him.
When he was excited, his energy level would rise as well.
Of course, as time passed by and the weather turned colder, the old man's health declined and the time he spent awake diminished as well.
Instead, he slept for increased periods of time.
In fact, he even told Aiden in a seemingly joking manner, "Who knows if I might just fall asleep as such one day and never wake up again."
Aiden did not reply as his heart soured in pain.
When the old man was awake, Aiden could not bear to leave.
He knew that every single minute spent between them was a minute less left.
Every single sentence he said was a sentence less for them remaining.
He would only leave after the old man was asleep.
After leaving the mansion, Aiden would move around the small town in an indeterminate direction, pausing occasionally to mull for a prolonged period of time.
He walked extremely slowly, as though he was strolling casually.
However, if any sharp martial artist were to pass by, they would be able to notice that there was a trickle of spirit energy leaking from Aiden's fingertip. It was like a sharp dagger that was carving something on the ground.
Mysterious scars would appear on the ground behind him one after another, looking like runic patterns.
A single breeze from the cold wind was all it took to cover the scars with dust.
When he sensed that the old man was awake, Aiden would return to the mansion to continue chatting with his brother.
Only when the old man was asleep, he would leave again.
Day after day, he repeated the cycle.
Nothing seemed to have changed.
However, Aiden could clearly sense the old man's deteriorating health. His lifespan was ending and he was already nearing its limits!
This day, after the old man entered slumber once more, Aiden left the mansion and pulled out a series of old flags from his storage bag – there were a total of 49.
The flagpoles were made of wood but there were no signs of corrosion.
The flags were made from unknown beast skins and had mysterious, complicated patterns on them. A single glance was enough to confuse anyone, as though their souls were drawn in!
Aiden flew through the air.
Everywhere he passed, he would examine for a long time before tossing down a flag.
The flagpole would slide right into the ground before vanishing after a mysterious glow.
One after another…
By the time he cast all 49 flags into the ground, he had already gone one round around the small town and was visibly fatigued with sweat on his forehead.
His act of tossing the flags looked simple but it took a huge toll on him mentally!
Suddenly, Aiden's heart skipped a beat and he returned to the mansion immediately.
The old man had already awoken by now.
Today, he looked to be in a much better condition.
However, Aiden's heart ached.
He was clear that this was a sign of the final respite of lucidity before the end.
The old man smiled gently. "Young Master, help me heat up a bottle of wine to warm my body."
"Alright."
Aiden came beside the old man and lit the furnace to boil water.
There was a bottle of wine in the boiling water.
The old man said, "Young Master, the things you've told me about your adventures, your martial art in this period of time are truly mysterious, magnificent, and inspiring. It's good that you want to establish such a bright future and help everyone become the best they can be. However, I can also tell that something such as this promise you made is even more difficult than ascending the heavens."
"That's right."
Aiden nodded.
To establish something like that was unlike that of the other, more established paths such that the masses without spirit roots could grow stronger… that was something that even the primordial emperors could not achieve, let alone a mere Martial Master like Aiden!
The path was endless and the future was unknown.
Nobody could help him.
The moment he decided on establishing such a future, Aiden was destined to be alone!
But of course, groups were only meant for sheeps – all ferocious beasts walk alone!
The old man declared loudly, "What sort of boldness is required to want to change the fates of all living beings in the world? Aiden, whether or not you succeed, I will definitely be proud of you!"
Immediately after, the old man looked somewhat dejected and sighed gently. "It's just a pity that I won't be able to witness that moment. Also, when I'm not around, young master you must live on well, and look after the others too. Do not leave them behind, please."
"I won't…" Aiden felt his nose stuffing up as he choked and was unable to speak.
The old man waved it off and pointed to the little furnace at the side. "Pour me a bowl of wine."
A faint fragrance wafted from the bottle of wine that was in the boiling water.
The wine was already warmed.
Aiden repressed the sadness in his heart and poured a bowl of piping wine for the old man.
After he received it, the old man gazed at the fragrant wine in the bowl with a dazed look.
In a flash, a suave young man in splendid attire seemed to be reflected on the water's surface. He raised his spear and led heavily armored cavalry into a war, dominating the battlefield!
One after another, the scenes flashed through the water's surface.
A long, long time later…
A glimmering snowflake landed on the wine and dispersed, breaking apart the water surface that resembled a mirror.
It was snowing.
This was the first snow of winter.
The end of autumn and the arrival of winter seemed to imply something.
The scenes from earlier had already vanished.
The only thing left on the water's surface was an old face.
The old man smiled suavely and raised his bowl of wine, downing it in a single mouthful!
It was as though he had consumed his entire life with that mouthful of wine!
"Good wine!"
With a loud laugh, the old man passed on.
Aiden collapsed and knelt with a thud. He gazed at the old man before him and could not hold back any longer as tears streamed like a fountain.
This day had eventually arrived.
Although he was prepared for it, Aiden still felt a heartbreaking sadness at the actual departure of the old man.
The deeper one was invested in secular affairs, the harder it was for them to sever them.
The deeper one was invested, the more painful it would be!
The skies gradually darkened.
The snow was getting heavier.
Aiden knelt before the old man motionlessly with a dazed expression.
He was a martial artist.
He was the strongest monster incarnate in history.
He was the second person throughout history who managed to cultivate to the Extreme Martial Knight realm.
Even so, he could not save his closest kin!
The snow fell heavily.
The temperature turned colder.
However, Aiden's heart seemed to be burning with a relentless blaze!
A long time later, the sound of people and horses could vaguely be heard from the South of Iron Mountain Range; the sound turned clearer as time passed by.
The hooves of the horses were getting closer!
Although ordinary people may not be able to sense it, Aiden could hear it clearly!
Pshew! Pshew! Pshew!
There were even sounds of spirit vessels speeding through the air in the clamor.
Far away, dust and earth was overturned!
With a cold expression, Aiden rose and his eyes surged with torrential killing intent. Soaring into the air, he sped towards Iron Mountain Range!
Dust billowed, the earth shook and the light of armors shone.
Far away, a black army was approaching slowly with a steely killing intent. A single look at the dense crowd would reveal that there were millions of people!
What was even more frightening was that the army was made up of a few million martial artists!
Those marching on the ground were fierce warriors.
Those riding on mounts were Martial Knight martial artists.
Above the army, there were even spirit vessels traveling through the air.
A few martial artists stood on the deck and looked down at the masses against the winds.
Those that could board the spirit vessels were all Martial Masters!
This was the allied army of the three dynasties.
Led by the princes of the three dynasties, this was an army that consisted fully of martial artists!