6 Appearance at the Ruin

One month had passed since Shura and Claira returned from Entel Settlement. Many things had happened during that one month.

The nature of the mysterious object that had hit him in the head had finally revealed itself in its complete form. This occurred after he had broken through to the Fiend Noble level.

Although Shura's experience and understanding of cultivation and life were limited, he had never heard of any cultivators being in a state where they simply had to wait for their cultivation to increase. It was a novel experience to feel it himself and the experience had given him an epiphany. Sometimes, just wanting something did not mean it would happen. And sometimes good fortune came unexpectedly even without looking for it.

After reaching the Fiend Noble level Shura had become strong enough to possess the basic qualification to tap into the power of the mysterious thing.

Shura had always been subconsciously questioning what had happened to him. What was the true nature of the mysterious thing that happened to him? What was it exactly? Was it some physical object, or some intangible and nebulous thing?

The moment he broke through to the Fiend Noble level he found out. After becoming a Fiend Noble the peculiar situation of his senses had been solved as well. His senses returned to normal. People and things did not appear odd or sound differently anymore.

The object that had struck him on the head was both a physical object and also something intangible as well. It was very powerful object from beyond the sky. It was the memory fragments of a very powerful being given form as a physical object! This memory fragment had carried a tiny trace of vitality and energy of the fallen being.

The trace of vitality and energy of the memory fragment had nourished his body while the memory fragment had been buried within his soul because he wasn't strong enough to accept it. But now that he had become a Fiend Noble and had a qualitative change to him, it became possible for the fragment to fuse with his soul.

The fragment of that fallen being perfectly fused with Shura. A massive ocean of memories flooded his mind. All sorts of knowledge became his. Since it was only a fragment and not the entire memory, it was not surprising that there was only memory related to knowledge.

With the massive amount of new knowledge, Shura became confident in himself. The first thing he did after breaking through was to begin a practice of a new body-strengthening technique. This was a very powerful and primordial martial arts technique from the memory of the fallen supreme being.

This technique was called the Wrathfire Refinement technique. The practitioner would convert whatever energy they cultivated with into wrathfire. Wrathfire was a peculiar type of flame that was not a flame possessing both destructive and restorative property. He could constantly temper his body everytime this fire coursed through his meridians and body.

Once cultivated to the highest level he would have an indestructible body with limitless strength and vitality.

All of Shura's demonic energy in his body had already been converted into wrathfire. The wrathfire unceasingly tempered his body and made him stronger at a minute and imperceptible level each passing moment

He wouldn't just keep this wonderful technique to himself. After he had practiced it and felt the result of the technique he told Claira about it. He taught her all of the details of the technique but didn't mention its origin or what height she could reach with it.

She was slightly curious but didn't insist on asking. Just like Shura, she soon saw great improvement in her strength with just a little bit of practice.

After Shura had obtained all these knowledge, his horizon broadened. He now felt that he stood on a high mountain compared to him standing on a plain before.

But even with a broadened worldview, he still wanted to become stronger and experience the world.

Soon, news of a mysterious ruin appearing nearby spread throughout the city. The Slayer Organization and a large faction nearby—Wolf City—fought over the right to the ruin.

From the little details that he heard, Shura knew that this ruin had an extraordinary origin and there might be things inside that would be advantageous to him. As soon as he heard the news he set out with Claira for it.

…

The ruin was a city. In the middle of the city was a palace. The city was a wreck while no sign of aging or damage could be seen on the palace. The craftsmanship of the palace was superb. Pale light shot into the sky from the palace. The surrounding empty plain had a sharp contrast with the ruin of the city like it had appeared all of sudden out of thin air.

Two groups of people stood facing each other in front of the large gate of the massive palace. It had only been three days since the discovery of the ruined city and the palace. No one had made a move for it yet.

One side all covered their faces with masks that had bestial qualities. Their visages could cause fear to all who looked at them. They were members of the Slayer Organization.

The other side all wore clothes of different styles and colors. They were from Wolf City.

The strongest people on both sides were Fiend Lords, one level higher than a Fiend Noble.

Kulin, a Fiend Lord and the leader of the Slayers present spoke, "Leave."

The Wolf City leader sneered. "Leave? You slayers are really arrogant, thinking you're the master of the world. Wolf City discovered this ruin, it belongs to us."

"The land is the territory of the Slayers, it is not your Wolf City," Kulin replied.

"The heavens and earth have no owners, cut the bullshit. We're already giving you enough face by letting you go inside. You have no right to hog the whole place to yourself," the Wolf City leader said.

"Do you want to die?" Kulin spoke coldly.

Shura saw all of this from a distance. The distance closed as came nearer to the palace.

"The Slayers are indeed domineering," Shura said. Shura hadn't interacted much with the members of the Slayers, so he hadn't seen their famous reputation for himself before.

Kulin looked over the two newcomers. "Just a Fiend Noble, and a Fiend Master?"

"What's wrong with that?" Shura asked, and stopped in front of the two groups. Claira stood next to him.

"Aren't you afraid of dying?" Kulin asked.

Shura looked into Kulin's eyes. Was this man misunderstanding something? All he did was made a casual comment.

"Aren't you?" Shura asked back.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahaha," Kulin laughed uncontrollably. The slayer members beside him all snickered.

"What's so funny?" Shura asked.

Claira jabbed him in the arm. Shura looked at her and made an expression as if asking, "What?"

Claira shook her head and sighed. This dummy was hopeless.

Shura looked at the group of slayers and he instantly saw their cultivations.

"Just two Fiend Lords and seven Fiend Nobles," Shura said calmly with a straight face.

He was only a lower-stage Fiend Noble. But he didn't fear Fiend Lords. He could fight with a lower-stage Fiend Lord. And he would at least be able to flee from a higher stage Fiend Lord. Claira was a late-stage Fiend Master. When she fought a late-stage or even a peak Fiend Noble, she wouldn't fear either. That was how miraculous and powerful the Wrathfire Refinement technique was.

"Are you serious?" The laughter on Kulin's face was dead. He gazed at Shura deeply.

Shura pointed to the massive gate of the palace and said, "I want to go in. Are you going to stop me? Correction, am I going to die?"

Claira looked at Shura in disbelief and hit his shoulder softly. "Are you trying to get us killed?" she whispered.

Shura looked at Claira with an incredulous face and pointed to himself. "Me? No, I'm not trying to get us killed," he pointed at Kulin and the slayers, "they might try to get us killed though."

Kulin's face twitched as he stared at Shura. This kid wasn't giving the Slayers face at all. They were being openly mocked!

"Are you going to do it or not? The high and mighty slayers killing a bunch of low-level kids. Would you like to drag the name of the Slayers into the mud?" Shura asked.

"If you're not gonna do anything, I'd like to go in. That's okay with you guys from Wolf City right?" Shura asked.

The Wolf City leader nodded and didn't say anything. He was elated. Someone finally dared to give the Slayers a tough time. But he was soon worried. The young man was too young and reckless. His words were seeking death.

"To kill or not to kill," Shura said as he looked at the Slayer leader. The people had the weird thought that aside from asking if the slayers were going to kill him or not, it was also a question to himself whether he should kill or not.

But how was that possible? This young man was only a Fiend Noble with a Fiend Master next to him. What were they next to Fiend Lords and seven Fiend Nobles? Had he lost his mind?

Kulin gritted his teeth and shouted, "Kill!"

Two of the Fiend Nobles, both at middle-stage, moved toward Shura and Claira. They struck with the intention to kill in one strike.