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Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Envoy of Abyss
Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Envoy of Abyss
"This last journey was quite fruitful. My relationship with Su Ling has improved significantly, but there's still a long way to go."
Ru Shenshen gave him a knowing smile. "I spoke with Su Ling recently. She's definitely jealous of the attention you've been giving to others. She tries to hide it, but it's clear as day."
Aric raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Jealous, you say?"
Ru Shenshen nodded. "Yes, she's conflicted. She doesn't want to admit her feelings, but they're there, bubbling just beneath the surface. I've been doing a bit of matchmaking on the side, encouraging her to spend more time with you."
Aric leaned back, considering her words. "Interesting. So, what's your plan?"
Ru Shenshen's eyes twinkled with mischief as she explained, "I've been arranging a series of events that will push her closer to you. The next major sect event will be a series of cultivation trials in the ancient forbidden grounds. Although it was going to happened later, but since the annual sect competition had to be stopped early, this event is conducted a little earlier."
"The Ancient Forbidden Grounds are the special grounds that connects it to a different space. It's a dangerous place, but it's also where many secrets and treasures are hidden."
Aric nodded, following her logic. "Go on."
"Su Ling is bound to join the trials," Ru Shenshen continued. "I'll ensure that she's paired with you, or rather, Yu Haotian. The trials will be grueling, pushing you both to your limits. She'll be forced to rely on you, to trust you with her life. There will be moments of vulnerability, opportunities for you to protect her, to show her that she can't resist the connection between you two."
Aric's mind worked through the possibilities. "A life-threatening situation would definitely accelerate her feelings. And if I save her at a critical moment…"
"Exactly," Ru Shenshen agreed. "In the heat of battle, when everything else fades away, she'll start to see you not just as Yu Haotian, but as someone she can depend on, someone she might actually care for."
Aric smiled, appreciating the elegance of the plan. "You've thought this through well."
"If Ru Shenshen weren't born as a daughter of destiny, she would have been the villainess for sure.", Aric thought.
Ru Shenshen leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And once she's emotionally compromised, we'll create situations where she has to confront her feelings. Moments of tenderness, where she can't deny the connection. A simple misunderstanding here, a moment of jealousy there… all building up to the point where she'll have to admit to herself what she's been trying to ignore."
Aric's grin widened. "You're quite the strategist, Ru Shenshen. With this plan, Su Ling will be mine in no time."
Ru Shenshen returned his smile, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "It's only a matter of time, Aric. She's already halfway there. With a little more effort, she'll fall completely for you."
Aric nodded, his mind already envisioning the upcoming trials. Su Ling's heart would be another prize in his collection.
"Very well," Aric said, his voice filled with confidence. "Let's set this plan in motion. Su Ling won't know what hit her."
Ru Shenshen smiled, pleased with how everything was unfolding. "Leave it to me. I'll make sure everything goes according to plan."
Aric looked down at the tiny Void Dragon cradled in his arms, its deep, otherworldly eyes gazing up at him with an almost knowing intelligence. He smiled softly. "Oh, I haven't named the dragon yet."
A moment passed as he thought, and then inspiration struck. "Let's name you Drogon," he declared with a satisfied nod.
Ru Shenshen, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Quite a unique name," she remarked, curious about its origin.
Aric's eyes glimmered with a hint of nostalgia as he replied, "It reminds me of home."
Inwardly, Aric thought to himself, "This was a powerful dragon I saw on television in my past life. It indeed reminds me of home."
With that, Aric handed the baby Void Dragon to Ru Shenshen.
"Take care of Drogon," Aric instructed. "Ensure he receives the best resources for growth. His identity must remain hidden at all costs—if others find out about his existence, it will lead to more chaos than we can handle."
Ru Shenshen nodded earnestly. "I'll protect him with my life, and no one will discover his true nature," she vowed.
Aric gave her a small, appreciative smile before turning to leave. "I trust you, Shenshen. I have some matters to attend to, so I'll be away for a while. Take care."
Aric gave her a final nod before leaving, his mind already drifting back to his next plans.
Later, as Aric sat alone in his quarters, he accessed the system once again to check on the status of Ye Chen. The information was displayed before him:
[Name – Ye Chen]
[Age – 19]
[Cultivation Level – Core Formation (8th Stage)]
[Strength – 59]
[Agility – 53]
[Intelligence – 52]
[Charm – 42]
[Physique – Heavenly Dragon Physique]
[Bloodline – Heavenly Dragon Bloodline]
[Cultivation Techniques – Heavenly Dragon Ascension Art, Azure Flame Sword Art, Dragon's Wrath Fist, Wind Shadow Steps, Soul-Soothing Melody]
[Skills – Swordsmanship (Advanced), Alchemy (Intermediate), Formation Arrays (Basic), Beast Taming (Intermediate)]
[Protagonist Halo – 24,000]
"Its has fallen quite low. That's good. But now the rewards won't be that great." Aric kept pondering. "Should I quickly finish this one, or should I focus on the next one?"
And the next day, he went back to the Heavenly Demonic sect, disguised as Ye Chen.
This time, many people who were unaware of him, knew the name Ye Chen.
Because he was the guy who successfully disrupted the competition of the Starry Sky Sect, he also was the main cause behind the death of Fu Hong and the destruction of Dongzhai.
As he approached the sect's council hall, he was summoned by three influential elders: Elder Mo Xuan, Elder Feng Jiao, and Elder Yan Shu. Each of them carried an air of authority and power, and their eyes gleamed with approval as they looked at the young man they believed to be Ye Chen.
Elder Mo Xuan, with his long, silver hair and piercing gaze, was the first to speak. "Ye Chen, your actions have brought great renown to the Heavenly Demonic Sect. You have spread fear and chaos, and in doing so, you have shown the might of demonic cultivators to the world."
Elder Feng Jiao, a middle-aged woman with an aura of coldness, nodded in agreement. "Indeed. You have done well to disrupt the orthodox sects. This is no small feat."
Elder Yan Shu, the most scholarly of the three, stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Your actions in Dongzhai were particularly commendable. Not only did you sow chaos, but you also weakened the resolve of our enemies. "
Aric, still in the guise of Ye Chen, bowed respectfully. "Thank you, honored elders. I merely did what was necessary for the glory of the Heavenly Demonic Sect."
Elder Mo Xuan smiled, a rare sight. "Your humility is noted, but do not downplay your achievements. For your contributions, we have decided to promote you."
Elder Feng Jiao continued, "As of today, you are no longer a Nomad of the Abyss," he declared. "You are now an Envoy of the Abyss, with all the privileges and responsibilities that title entails."
In the hierarchy of the Heavenly Demonic Sect, disciples were categorized into several ranks:
Nomads of the Abyss – The entry-level members, tasked with basic missions and often used for more dangerous or sacrificial roles.
Envoys of the Abyss – Those who had proven themselves through their actions, granted access to higher-level techniques, resources, and missions of greater importance.
Scions of the Abyss – The elite, groomed to inherit the sect's legacy and secrets. Among them, the most powerful and talented were known as Descendants, with the highest rank being the First Descendant.
The news of his promotion was met with murmurs of approval and envy from the gathered disciples. But one figure remained silent and watchful: Long Tianyun, the First Descendant, and the sect's most formidable cultivator.
Long Tianyun stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied the young man who had made such a name for himself. Though his expression was neutral, there was a subtle tension in the air, a clash of invisible forces.
"Ye Chen," Long Tianyun said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight, "you have done well to bring glory to the Heavenly Demonic Sect. But remember, fame is fleeting, and the path you walk is dangerous. Do not let your accomplishments cloud your judgment."
Aric, fully aware of the scrutiny he was under, bowed respectfully. "I understand, First Descendant. I will continue to serve the sect with diligence and caution."
Long Tianyun's gaze lingered on Aric for a moment longer before he turned away, his expression inscrutable. Aric couldn't shake the feeling that the First Descendant was somehow aware of his deception, or at the very least, suspicious of him. Perhaps it was the will of the world itself pushing against him, as it always did when he disrupted the protagonist's path.
The recent days had been frustrating for Aric. Despite his relentless efforts, he was unable to locate the Daughter of Luck and Ye Chen. Aric wanted to find the daughter of luck to extract some villain points via her.
As he pondered his next move, a new idea began to form in his mind. If he couldn't find the Daughter of Luck directly, perhaps he could look more into Long Tianyun. The First Descendant was not only the strongest among the sect's ranks but also one of the most mysterious. Little was known about his personal life, which intrigued Aric even more.
Driven by this curiosity, Aric began to dig deeper into Long Tianyun's past. His efforts bore fruit when he stumbled upon a small, seemingly insignificant piece of information—Long Tianyun had a sister. It was a fact known only to a select few within the sect, and it was no wonder why. Unlike her brother, Long Tianyun's sister was a mere mortal, with no cultivation talent to speak of.
Her existence was an anomaly in the sect, a secret carefully guarded by her brother.
"Interesting," Aric murmured to himself as he sifted through the information his mind-controlled followers had gathered.
According to what he learned, Long Tianyun and his sister had grown up as orphans, struggling to survive in a world that had little mercy for the weak. During one of the elder's visits around the region, he discovered the siblings duo. On further findings, Long Tianyun had shown great cultivation potential, but his sister, Long Daniela, was not as fortunate.
Despite her brother's efforts and the aid of one of the sect's elders, Daniela remained unable to cultivate.
It was a situation that would have driven many to despair, but Daniela had chosen a different path. Realizing that the world of cultivation was not meant for her, she decided to leave the sect and live as an ordinary mortal. Yet, despite the distance, Long Tianyun remained fiercely protective of his sister, visiting her regularly and ensuring she had everything she needed to live comfortably.
Aric's lips curled into a sly smile. "So, Long Tianyun has a weakness after all. A sister hidden away from the sect, a mere mortal... This could be the key I've been searching for."
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. "Daniela, hmm," he mused aloud. "Looks like I have to start with her."