The Last Primal

Though they hadn't known this Young Master of the Azure Myst Sect for that long, but they never thought they would hear such a flustered, maiden-like tone of voice coming from her anytime soon. She always felt like this cool and collected leader than anything else.

Aiden smiled as he responded to her question.

"[Reptilian] I did walk around the city but I ended up here somehow. The more I thought about your words, the more I felt that they made sense so I went ahead and destroyed the Corpse Poison Sect. They have made both you and Dara sad after all."

Everyone looked at Tai Liu in surprise and could not contain their shock. Aiden's honest-sounding reply made everyone assume subconsciously that the Corpse Poison Sect was destroyed because of what Tai Liu said! It was as if the fate of this large organization was decided by her alone.

With a stunned expression, Tai Liu asked, "[Replian] Huh? What did I say?"

"[Reptilian] You told me that killing a few Corpse Poison Sect disciples was useless and would even make me a target for them to take revenge on." Aiden responded with a calm smile.

"[Reptilian] So, you decided to destroy the entire Corpse Poison Sect instead?" Tai Liu asked with an incredulous look. Did this guy really go to such extremes for a single sentence?

"[Reptilian] Yeah." Aiden shrugged his shoulders, responding matter of factly.

Hearing that, Tai Liu frowned tightly and nearly exploded on the spot. Is this guy for real?

'What I meant was for you to not provoke the Corpse Poison Sect! Yet, you went ahead and destroyed them instead!' she screamed inwardly, not daring to reveal it to the outside world.

Taking a deep breath of air, Tai Liu composed herself. She had lost her composure multiple times in less than two hours. She must not continue communicating with that person before her in the same manner.

Taking a large lungful of breath, she turned around and looked at her group she gathered and said apologetically. "[Reptilian] My friends, my fellow disciples…. I apologize.  I have caused you to make a wasted trip."

"[Reptilian] Y-young master! Please don't! I-It's fine! Really!" The disciples hurriedly came forward and replied trying to calm the distraught young master. They have never seen him in such a chaotic state and weren't ready to handle such a matter. On the other hand, the elderly uncle just stood silent by the side and smiled meaningfully.

By now, Tai Liu had already composed herself as she smiled in return.

"[Reptilian] Alright. Let's head back to the city's south. We have earned ourselves a rest."

…

They have made their journey back to the city's southern districts in relative silence. Whilst the team was mostly exhausted, they also didn't know how to handle this grey robed figure. For one, he seemed like a casual, easy to talk to, and down to the ground type of guy. Yet, in the next moment, whenever his temper flared up, he was a terrifying, unstoppable monster that culled the lives of dozens like it was nothing at all.

As they walked in an awkward silence, Tai Liu suddenly recalled something and turned to ask. "[Reptilian] Right, I didn't have time to ask before with all that was going on. Did you manage to gain anything from your trip to the Metal Tree Grove? Have you learned more of its legend?"

Upon hearing this question, not just Tai Liu but even Captain Dragha and the rest of the captains turned towards their Young Master, Aiden in hopes for some detailed explanation. So far, they have also haven't learned a thing as their master was silent even in their mental channel. He merely informed them that everything was fine and that their plan was still to go.

"[Reptilian] Hmm.. Yes I did." Aiden smiled and nodded after a moment of silent pondering, not explaining it any further.

Hearing Aiden's ambiguous reply, Tai Liu seemed to 'understand' that he didn't manage to obtain the Sword Emperor's inheritance. Furthermore, nobody thought that anybody could obtain the Sword Emperor's inheritance since there was already the impression of someone else doing so.

If it was any other time, Tai Liu wouldn't have continued pressing on as it would have made Aiden look bad.

However, after all that happened recently, she wanted to see him embarrassed today. She needed this to recoup some of her 'losses' he suffered today at the hands of this man.

With a teasing glance, she continued asking. "[Reptilian] So, what did you manage to gain? Could you have perhaps gotten the Sword Emperor's inheritance?"

Her way of asking was extremely obvious to anybody. Her teasing tone made it sure that  her true intentions weren't hidden.

"[Reptilian] Hmm. Yes, that is right." Aiden however, as if he had not seen or heard the remark, continued smiling and replied naturally, as though it was real.

Some of the disciples have begun to frown upon hearing his response.

"[Reptilian] Although this man is capable, he's dishonest and wants to put on appearances." They muttered to themselves.

Tai Liu pursed her lips and smiled before shaking her head without asking anything more.

When everyone was about to arrive at the city's south, a martial artist carrying a large two handed sword on his back sped over from outside the city gates, yelling the moment he entered the city with a frantic, excited look on his face.

"[Reptilian] Big news! After hundreds of years, somebody managed to obtain the Sword Emperor's inheritance again! The Sword Mountain collapsed and the spirit sea dried up! The Metal Tree Groove has vanished from the world completely! It is no more!"

Suddenly, Tai Liu's group slowed down and turned quiet. That piece of news was enough to stir up the entire city once again. In fact, it would cause a stir in the entire world as well, not just this small underground cave. Its waves would spread far and wide, etching themselves into the canals of history forever.

Normally, everyone should start to discuss and wonder about who obtained the Sword Emperor's inheritance thereafter. However, at that moment, everyone went silent.

That was because someone among them had just admitted to obtaining the Sword Emperor's inheritance! If both events had happened separately with some time in between, no one would have connected the dots.

But now that someone had just admitted to it, the news spread to the city! Everyone looked towards Aiden instinctively with strange expressions.

Was it for real? Did he speak the truth just now? Wasn't he only pretending to keep his cool image and not lose too much face?

It was a fleeting thought as everyone denied it internally right after.

The Metal Tree Groove was formed in the ancient era. Since then, countless geniuses had attempted and yet, only a single person had managed to pass the test and obtain the inheritance.

It was obvious how difficult a task this was. It was not ridiculous to call the figure so many years ago a peerless paragon of the era! A one of a kind genius!

Could a peerless paragon exist among their midst as well?

It was a mysterious and surreal feeling.

"[Reptilian] Everyone, I will go ahead and check on Dara. I hope she is now okay and does not suffer from any aftereffects." Right then, Aiden spoke and bid farewell with a gentle smile before his figure suddenly vanished, not even dust was left behind.

Only after Aiden was far away, did a disciple dare to speak up.

"[Reptilian] Y-young Master… Is it true? D-do you think that he was speaking the truth?"

"[Reptilian] Sigh… I have no idea as well." Tai Liu chuckled bitterly and shook her head. She didn't know what to think or feel anymore…

…

For the next period of time, the shocking news of the Corpse Poison Sect being destroyed was taken over completely by the similarly inconceivable feat of news of the Metal Tree Groove vanishing.

Nearly everyone worth anything in Ugburg City was discussing who the mysterious unknown Sword Master who obtained the fabled Sword Emperor's inheritance was. While everyone had different sayings and guesses, none of them had an accurate answer.

Among them, there were people who said that a strange, gray-robed cultivator obtained the inheritance.

Unfortunately, that saying did not mean anything much to outsiders. There were hundreds, if not thousands of Martial Artists with similar clothes.

However, Tai Liu and the others thought of Aiden instantly the moment they heard that.

Unfortunately, Aiden had been in seclusion during this period of time and Tai Liu did not have the chance to verify these rumored facts.

As time passed by, the atmosphere in Ugburg City became more tense.

Recently, many foreign faces appeared in the city and they possessed extraordinary strength. It was clear that the grand event of the Ancient Burial Ground's opening was drawing near.

All kinds of factions, faces or even lone wolves started appearing one after another, hoping to take a slice of this delicious cake and hope to change their fates!